Non-IT News Thread
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NASA takes to the air to capture amazing new images of shockwaves
Technique may one day lead to return of commercial supersonic flight.
To take these unprecedented photos, the space agency updated the imaging system on one of its Beechcraft B200 Super King Air aircraft. NASA scientists upgraded the camera so that it could capture a wider field of view, improved its connection to data storage, and increased its frame rate to 1,400 frames per second.
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Trump dealt blow as US trade deficit jumps
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47472282 -
The Tesla Model 3, reviewed (finally)
We finally get some proper seat time in Tesla's mass-market electric vehicle.
When the Model 3 was first announced in 2014, we didn't know much more beyond that it would cost $35,000, have a range of at least 200 miles, and be 20-percent smaller than a Model S. Two years later, the prototype was revealed to the world—and the world went nuts for it. Tesla was inundated with $1,000 deposits, filling its coffers with hundreds of millions of dollars in preorders from excited customers around the world a year before production (and its associated hell) even began. Despite Tesla's well-publicized woes, Model 3s began to trickle and then flood out of its factory in Fremont, California, throughout 2017 and 2018, first to customers in North America, more recently to Europe. Just last week, Tesla announced it was ready to start selling the Standard Range version of this car en masse.
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@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
The Tesla Model 3, reviewed (finally)
We finally get some proper seat time in Tesla's mass-market electric vehicle.
When the Model 3 was first announced in 2014, we didn't know much more beyond that it would cost $35,000, have a range of at least 200 miles, and be 20-percent smaller than a Model S. Two years later, the prototype was revealed to the world—and the world went nuts for it. Tesla was inundated with $1,000 deposits, filling its coffers with hundreds of millions of dollars in preorders from excited customers around the world a year before production (and its associated hell) even began. Despite Tesla's well-publicized woes, Model 3s began to trickle and then flood out of its factory in Fremont, California, throughout 2017 and 2018, first to customers in North America, more recently to Europe. Just last week, Tesla announced it was ready to start selling the Standard Range version of this car en masse.
I really dislike the dash - all the instrumentation on the middle display - yeah - no.
No physical volume knob.. etc
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Here are the most popular PlayStation games, based on public trophy data
New algorithm can "time travel" using trophy dates for past player estimates.
Gamstat launched in December as a clearinghouse for information gleaned from that "MyPS4Life" data leak. But in recent weeks it has unveiled a new algorithm—as outlined on the about page and in more detailed discussions with Ars Technica—that takes inspiration from previous efforts like Steam Gauge and Steam Spy (before Valve shut off the data spigot, in any case).
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OxyContin-pusher Purdue blames everyone but itself for opioid crisis
Illicit drugs and dealers are currently driving deaths, Purdue argues.
In a motion to dismiss an explosive lawsuit brought by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma argues that it is not responsible for the current epidemic of opioid overdoses as the Commonwealth alleges—even if the people now overdosing were initially patients who became addicted to opioids while using its highly addictive painkiller.
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Huawei sues US government over product ban
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47478587 -
Dragon has docked—but the real pucker moment for SpaceX’s capsule awaits
NASA, SpaceX watch for a stable Dragon, good parachute performance on Friday.
It started when the spacecraft’s Falcon 9 rocket hit its instantaneous launch window early on Saturday morning, streaking into the black Florida sky as if it were the world’s greatest firework. Once in space, Dragon popped open its nose cone, called home, and began firing its thrusters as anticipated.
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Russia’s passive-aggressive reaction to SpaceX may mask a deeper truth
"Elon Musk has built the ship of the future."
One of the big questions surrounding the first launch of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft was how the Russians would react. They have held considerable sway in the International Space Station partnership by controlling access to the orbiting laboratory since the 2011 retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle. So far, the Russian response has been one of throwing small bits of shade here and there but trying not to be too obvious about it.
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With Rape Day ban, Steam shows it’s not as “hands off” as it claims
Lack of guidelines leads to capricious, reactive responses to controversy.
Since last June, Valve has claimed that "the right approach is to allow everything onto the Steam Store," with only minor exceptions for content that is "illegal or straight-up trolling." But Valve's decision to block controversial upcoming title Rape Day from Steam shows its actual moderation policy is more reactive and restrictive than originally promised.
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@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
With Rape Day ban, Steam shows it’s not as “hands off” as it claims
Lack of guidelines leads to capricious, reactive responses to controversy.
Since last June, Valve has claimed that "the right approach is to allow everything onto the Steam Store," with only minor exceptions for content that is "illegal or straight-up trolling." But Valve's decision to block controversial upcoming title Rape Day from Steam shows its actual moderation policy is more reactive and restrictive than originally promised.
I can't say I'm surprised about that... at least for that title.
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Sorry Amazon: Philadelphia bans cashless stores
The city follows only Massachusetts, which has banned cashless stores since 1978.
The law takes effect July 1, and it will not apply to stores like Costco that require a membership, nor will it apply to parking garages or lots, or to hotels or rental car companies that require a credit or debit card as security for future charges, according to the Wall Street Journal. Retailers caught refusing cash can be fined up to $2,000.
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@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Sorry Amazon: Philadelphia bans cashless stores
The city follows only Massachusetts, which has banned cashless stores since 1978.
The law takes effect July 1, and it will not apply to stores like Costco that require a membership, nor will it apply to parking garages or lots, or to hotels or rental car companies that require a credit or debit card as security for future charges, according to the Wall Street Journal. Retailers caught refusing cash can be fined up to $2,000.
I always thought the Amazon stores would require a membership to be able to go in and buy stuff as it would immediately get charged to the card you have on file with your amazon prime account.
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Supporters of the new law, however, say that not accepting cash hurts poorer residents who may not be able to afford or qualify for a credit card or who want to avoid fees that come with changing cash into a prepaid debit card. Additionally, privacy advocates say that being forced to use a digital form of payment to buy things is a de facto requirement to share records of their purchases with third-party companies.
OK I get this bit.
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Shkreli directing notorious pharma co. from prison. It’s still losing millions
Shkreli is reportedly making deals and advising officials to make a comeback.
Shkreli is just 16 months into a seven-year prison sentence over securities-fraud charges. He landed in jail last year for running what federal prosecutors described as a Ponzi-like scheme that duped investors of his hedge funds. According to prosecutors, the fund siphoned millions from a pharmaceutical company he founded, called Retrophin.
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@mlnews why in the hell is he allowed to have a cellphone. It's contraband! WTF. . .
This guy is a smug shitstick as well, so just have a prison guard punch him in the stomach until he gives it up.
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Venezuela power cuts: Blackouts hit Caracas and spread
Most of Venezuela has been hit by an electricity blackout.
The power cut plunged the capital Caracas into almost complete darkness during rush hour on Thursday, before extending to other areas. The government of President Nicolás Maduro has blamed the opposition, accusing them of sabotage.
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A “serious” Windows 0-day is being actively exploited in the wild
Unpatched flaw used in combination with Chrome exploit doesn't work against Win 10.
Unidentified attackers have been combining an exploit for the unpatched local privilege escalation in Windows with one for a separate security flaw in the Chrome browser that Google fixed last Friday. While that specific exploit combination won’t be effective against Chrome users who are running the latest browser version, the Windows exploit could still be used against people running older versions of Windows. Google researchers privately reported the vulnerability to Microsoft, in keeping with its vulnerability disclosure policy.
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As anti-vax movement gets weirder—and dumber—Facebook announces crackdown
Anti-vaxxers falsely claim measles prevents cancer and can be treated with antibiotics.
Facing scrutiny for allowing anti-vaccine lies and conspiracy theories to fester and spread on its pages, Facebook announced Thursday a set of steps it will take to rid its platform of misinformation—which has seemingly become even weirder and more idiotic recently.
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SpaceX Dragon demo capsule returns to Earth
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-47477617
