US Congressman’s Brother Lands No-Bid Contract to Train DHS Snipers
https://www.wired.com/story/us-congressmans-brother-lands-no-bid-contract-to-train-dhs-snipers/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
Posted into Security News @security-news-WIRED
Is anarchist science possible?
As an experiment, we got together a large group of computational neuroscientists from around the world to work on a single project without top down direction. Read on to find out what happened.
The project started as a tutorial on a new technique at the @CosyneMeeting 2022. We realised that the technique was easy and cheap for anyone to use with a lot of low hanging fruit.
neural-reckoning.github.io/cos…
At the tutorial we announced a 1-2 year open research project that anyone could join, starting from the materials of the tutorial, and a few starting questions we found interesting, but with no other constraints. We were inspired by the Polymath Project in mathematics.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymath…
31 people contributed to the project, joining for monthly meetings to discuss progress. All code was publicly available throughout, and when we started writing up the work in progress was also fully public. You can see that version here: comob-project.github.io/snn-so…
Not everyone who was involved made it to the paper (didn't respond or couldn't find contact details), and not all are on Mastodon, but authors include: @marcusghosh @TomasFiers
@GabrielBena @rory
We used GitHub and Jupyter notebooks to coordinate development, with a website showing everyone's current code and results to make collaboration easier. We used @mystmarkdown and GitHub actions to automate this.
comob-project.github.io/snn-so…
So how did it work out? Well, some things went well and others not so well. We published a paper with our results and reflections on the process. If you're interested in spiking neural networks, sound localisation, or anarchist science, check it out:
eneuro.org/content/12/7/ENEURO…
Generally, the infrastructure we built worked well, as did the monthly meetings. Starting from the tutorial was a good decision because it gave everyone a common reference and meant they could easily get started.
However, the lack of direction meant that we didn't achieve very coherent results in the end. We don't think this is a catastrophic problem, but when we try again, this is something we'd like to address. If you have thoughts or would like to be involved, get in touch!
Ultimately, we didn't achieve a scientific breakthrough in this project, but we did show that without top down direction or any specific funding, we could organise a large group of scientists to work together and publish their research in a good journal. We think that's a hopeful sign for the future!
#neuroscience #computationalneuroscience #compneuro #anarchism #science
Spiking Neural Network Models of Interaural Time Difference Extraction via a Massively Collaborative Process
Neuroscientists are increasingly initiating large-scale collaborations which bring together tens to hundreds of researchers. At this scale, such projects can tackle big challenges and engage diverse participants.eNeuro
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Fashion retailers partner to offer personalized AI styling tool ‘Ella’
https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/04/fashion-retailers-partner-to-offer-personalized-ai-styling-tool-ella/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
Posted into Latest TechCrunch Stories @latest-techcrunch-stories-Techcrunch
Fashion retailers partner to offer personalized AI styling tool 'Ella' | TechCrunch
Ella provides recommendations to customers across the three retailers on what to purchase or rent to make an outfit come to life.Dominic-Madori Davis (TechCrunch)
Oltre al fatto che la fisica del pallone sembra ancora pessima (come da tradizione in fm, dall'avvento del 3d), cosa mi interessa della grafica 3d migliorata (grazie ad unity) in un manageriale di calcio?!
youtube.com/watch?v=_cDQi5kwuH…
- YouTube
Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.youtube.com
Frosia is fighting for her life. This brave little cat has both cancer and leukemia, and she urgently needs a CT biopsy and treatment to have any chance at survival. Without help, her future is painfully short.
The first step alone costs $1,200.Help us reach the goal:
donorbox.org/hope-for-frosia-a…
Let’s fight for Frosia. She can’t do it without us. 💜
#cats #cancer #mutualaid #help #CatsOfMastodon #catstodon #catsofpixelfed #canada
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AI logistics startup Augment, from Deliverr’s founder, raises massive $85M Series A
https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/04/ai-logistics-startup-augment-from-deliverrs-founder-raises-massive-85m-series-a/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
Posted into Latest TechCrunch Stories @latest-techcrunch-stories-Techcrunch
AI logistics startup Augment, from Deliverr's founder, raises massive $85M Series A | TechCrunch
The new funding, which was led by Redpoint, comes just five months after the startup launched out of stealth with a $25 million seed round.Marina Temkin (TechCrunch)
Comic: "You Act Like You Don’t Want Me Around" from ROONIE THE RABBIT
RABBIT: Sometimes you act like you don't want me around. SQUIRREL: Yes, in fact, I often do not want you around. RABBIT: See, there you go! You're very convincing. I almost believe you. SQUIRREL: Please. Go away.rooniecomics.com
new private sector jobs added in the usa in august: just 54,000
adp’s chief economist saying: “the year started with strong job growth, but that momentum has been whipsawed by uncertainty.”
Labor market growth slows dramatically in August with U.S. adding just 54,000 jobs, ADP says
U.S. private-sector hiring rose less than expected in August, according to ADP.Alex Harring (CNBC)
The shopkeeper who checks his goods.
#Tokyo #Japan #35mm #Olympus #OlympusXA #KodakGold200 #streetPhotography #filmPhotography
Eredità da 12 miliardi, il futuro del gruppo Armani - Notizie - Ansa.it
https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/economia/2025/09/04/eredita-da-12-miliardi-il-futuro-del-gruppo-armani_80cb55bb-fea7-410a-963b-e74aeef87e43.html?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
Pubblicato su Economia @economia-AgenziaAnsa
Eredità da 12 miliardi, il futuro del gruppo Armani - Notizie - Ansa.it
Scudo con lo statuto. La famiglia e il braccio destro Dell'Orco (ANSA)Agenzia ANSA
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Si staccano dal corteo ProPal e bloccano un binario: il blitz in stazione a Pisa, circolazione ferma per un'ora
https://www.open.online/2025/09/04/pisa-manifestazione-pro-pal-stazione/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
Pubblicato su ULTIME NEWS @ultime-news-OpenGiornale
Si staccano dal corteo ProPal e bloccano un binario: il blitz in stazione a Pisa, circolazione ferma per un’ora
La situazione si è risolta senza scontri con le forze dell'ordine. Ritardi fino a due ore per alcuni convogliUgo Milano (Open)
584/730
Favorite kitchen knife
📷 Fujifilm XT-5
#fujiFilm #fuji #photography #fotografie #730Project #dailyPhoto #obxPhoto #kitchen #knife #productphotography #blackchili
VW: *verkauft eine Currywurst als originales Bauteil*
Renault: *hold my baguette*
📸 : Canon EOS Rebel XS
⏳️ : 2015-08-27
#photography #nature #butterfly #butterflies #invertebrate #wildlife #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #naturelovers #pixelfednature #macrophotography #macro #mastophoto #fediverse #photooftheday #cangeo
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Elena ``of Valhalla'' likes this.
Fortunately the DOJ and Trump don't trump the Constitution (yet). The 2A has no qualifications embedded in it. It's a right afforded to all Americans regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, is blatantly unconstitutional, and even SCOTUS would be hard-pressed to side with Trump on this one.
Because the moment you allow any qualifications or restrictions to be placed on the Bill of Rights you run the risk that someone else later on down the line could make the same claim that no Republican should be allowed to own a gun, too.
And that'll never happen.
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I think John Mastodon has been writing under a pen-name.
#JohnMastodon #Mystery #Mastodon #Books #Fiction #Canada #NovaScotia
🎶 Mas eu só quero educar meus filhos
Tornar um cidadão com muita dignidade
Eu quero viver bem, quero me alimentar
Com a grana que eu ganho não dá nem pra melar 🎵
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Scientists hail cancer breakthroughs
semafor.com/article/09/04/2025…
Scientists hail cancer breakthroughs
Novartis’s radioligand therapy targets mutations in tumors, delivering radiation only where it is needed.Tom Chivers (www.semafor.com)
Hell is Us, a brand-new action RPG, just hit Steam today.
And it’s not shy about what it is. This is a semi-open world, clue-driven game where there’s no map, no compass, no quest markers. Just you, your notebook of leads, and the guts to actually explore. It’s like someone finally asked: “what if we ditched Ubisoft-brain design and just trusted the player?”
The setup: you’re Rémi, a peacekeeper who comes back to his homeland of Hadea, a country already torn apart by civil war.
And because that isn’t miserable enough, a supernatural calamity has unleashed pale chimeras—things modern weapons can’t even scratch. That’s why combat is melee-focused, with swords and polearms instead of rifles. The one bit of “tech” you do get is KAPI, a four-rotor drone that can scan, distract, or even attack with different modules. Think of it as your little cyberpunk buddy tagging along while you figure out why the world went sideways.
And here’s food for thought: at what point does a “AA” game become AAA? Because this sure looks the part. Unreal Engine 5. Full HDR. Dynamic lighting that makes every ruined corridor look painterly.
And the recommended specs are nothing to sneeze at—an RTX 2080 Ti or RX 6750 XT are baseline if you want it running as intended. Translation: budget rigs are going to sweat. But if you’ve got the hardware, this is a stunner.
PC players also get DLSS 4 support right out of the gate, and even GeForce NOW streaming. So you’ve got options whether you’re maxing out your rig or kicking back on a couch.
Presentation is top tier. The soundtrack is lush, the voice acting (yes, Elias Toufexis plays Rémi) nails the mood, and the environments drip with atmosphere.
And the accessibility suite is robust: color-blind modes, camera tweaks, directional audio cues, difficulty sliders, subtitle scaling. This is the kind of design you usually see in bigger studios, not mid-sized teams.
Controls? Full gamepad support, Xbox or PlayStation, no issue.
Officially Windows-only, but Steam Deck and Linux players are already chiming in on ProtonDB saying it runs fine with tweaks.
Developer Rogue Factor is best known for Necromunda: Underhive Wars—which landed with mixed reviews. But Hell is Us is already hitting way higher. Launch reviews sit in the high 70s/low 80s on Metacritic, and Steam’s user rating is trending “Very Positive.” Not bad for a game leaning this hard into old-school, no-handholding design.
Price is C$64.99. Definitely not budget, but still cheaper than the C$90–100 you’ll drop on a modern AAA. And frankly? Most AAA titles don’t look or sound this good.
store.steampowered.com/app/162…
Hell is Us on Steam
If war is the closest we get to hell on earth, it's because Earth harbours the worst of demons: humankind. In an isolated country ravaged by infighting, discover the secrets of your past and deal with the repercussions of a mysterious calamity.store.steampowered.com
bbc.com/news/articles/czry5k52…
#trump
'We lived through hell,' say Venezuelans released from mega-prison in El Salvador
Four men deported from the US to a notorious facility in El Salvador tell the BBC after their release they were mistreated.Gustavo Ocando (BBC News)
TikTok Offers Movie Ticket Sales In-App, Powered by Fandango
A new expansion of TikTok's in-app shopping options.Andrew Hutchinson (Social Media Today)
Alplochschlucht 08/2025
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#travel #vorarlberg #nature #outdoor #austria #alplochschlucht #pentaxmx #kodak200 #analog #filmphotography #ishootfilm #filmisnotdead #35mm
mediacites.fr/enquete/lyon/202…
"Professeur des écoles à Lyon, François est père d’un enfant de deux ans. Alors que l’Etat reconnaît sa paternité , l’Éducation nationale s’obstine à le considérer « sans enfant », lui bloquant l’accès
« Homophobie institutionnalisée » : le rectorat de Lyon refuse de reconnaître la paternité d’un prof en couple avec un homme
Professeur des écoles à Lyon, François est père d’un enfant de deux ans. Alors que l’Etat reconnaît sa paternité , l’Éducation nationale s’obstine à le considérer « sans enfant », lui bloquant l’accès aux divers dispositifs prévus par la fonction pub…Mathieu Périsse (Mediacités)
Google’s chief executive Sundar Pichai appeared at the White House on Thursday, days after a crucial court decision left most parts of his company intact after a trial that threatened to break up the search giant
thenationalnews.com/future/tec…
Google's Sundar Pichai visits White House for AI meeting after regulatory slap on the wrist
IBM chief executive Arvind Krishna also at meeting of Task Force on Artificial Intelligence for EducationCody Combs (The National)
📸 : Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
⏳️ : 2025-09-01
#photography #landscape #parkscanada #parks #naturephotography #novascotia #eastcoast #canada #mastophoto #fediverse #photooftheday #femalesolotravel
Out today: “The only reason we haven’t returned to the days of ‘coat-hanger abortions’ is because of the medication abortion pill. I ask you: ‘When will this be enough? How many women have to die or suffer severe bodily injury because they couldn’t access the care they needed?’”
texasobserver.org/texas-legisl…
#Texas
Texas Legislature Passes ‘Bounty Hunter’ Ban on Abortion Pills
House Bill 7 attacks one of the last remaining options for reproductive care in Texas and declares legal war on blue states.Mary Tuma (The Texas Observer)
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Our favourite #Okonomiyaki place – oishii! 😋
#Tokyo #Japan #35mm #Olympus #OlympusXA #KodakGold200 #streetPhotography #filmPhotography
For today's Summer of Art Throwback Week, Natasha dressed in scuba gear because why not
#art #DimestoreNovel #NatashaWinter
Marktbericht: Erwartungsfrohe Wall Street
Mit Zins-Zuversicht erwarten die US-Anleger die morgigen Arbeitsmarktdaten. Die US-Aktienindizes legten allesamt zu - genau wie zuvor der DAX, der schlechten Fundamentaldaten trotzte.
➡️ tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/finan…
Marktbericht: Zinshoffnungen hellen Stimmung etwas auf
Der DAX dürfte heute positiv in den Handelstag starten, aber weit nach oben wird es wohl nicht gehen. Neue US-Zinshoffnungen werden positiv aufgenommen, die finanzielle Situation Frankreichs gibt aber zu denken.tagesschau.de
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About twice as much on average! Same in public dollars, but then matched over again with private expenses.
Every time there’s a survey about public approval for single-payer it’s popular, but as with climate action, trans and reproductive rights, public opinion isn’t allowed to reign when lobby money shows up.
I'll always gladly volunteer American horror stories of bankruptcy, canceled coverage, unaffordable meds, and overall limited care thanks to our insurance system. There are enough incentives for denial of care without the force multiplier of shareholder profit and eight-figure C-suite compensation.
My whole family was in medicine and half of the practice in the US is getting the insurers to pay for absolutely unquestionably necessary care. They want you totally healthy or dead ASAP.
@JamesAshburnerCBR @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social @lisamelton
access to the medical science that increases life expectancy is paywalled in the US, thus life expectancy is lower than elsewhere
WHO puts US life expectancy at #40, lower than Costa Rica, Panama, & Peru as well as any country you have ever considered rich
🎶 A little bit of Monica in my life
A little bit of Erica by my side
A little bit of Rita is all I need
A little bit of Tina is what I see
A little bit of Sandra in the sun
A little bit of Mary all night long
A little bit of Jessica here I am
A little bit of you makes me your man 🎵
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marcelcosta
in reply to Dan Goodman • • •This is very interesting!!
I am interested in knowing how was the feeling with the monthly meetings. In my experience, most of the times only when there are (relatively close) recurrent meetings projects develope efficiently.
Reading the comments below, I ask myself: how was the compromise of the people? Was stable (meaning people attending to most of the meetings)?
Thanks for sharing and documenting!