Intuit demanded that The Verge delete a portion of an interview with its CEO that centered on Intuit's controversial lobbying efforts.

Intuit Begs Journalists to Delete Part of Interview With Its CEO

DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and ... the 200 million proteins that researchers have identified,” the Nobel committee at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in its announcement....

Google AI scientists win Nobel Prize in chemistry - The Verge

It’s not enough to adjust some settings. Time to ditch the cloud.

Notifications still remind us of things we’d rather forget - The Verge

The 2024 Moto G Power offers wireless charging, a fetching vegan leather back panel, and battery life for days. It’s also loaded with the worst kind of bloatware.

Motorola Moto G Power 2024 review: a good phone spoiled by bloatware - The Verge

By Andrew Webster, an entertainment editor covering streaming, virtual worlds, and every single Pokémon video game. Andrew joined The Verge in 2012, writing over 4,000 stories.

Captain America and Black Panther face off in the first trailer for 1943: Rise of Hydra - The Verge

Here’s what the staff of The Verge told us about how they’re going to grow things for spring, along with some rather unusual gardening tools.

The Verge’s favorite gardening gadgets - The Verge

By Victoria Song, a senior reporter focusing on wearables, health tech, and more with 11 years of experience. Before coming to The Verge, she worked for Gizmodo and PC Magazine.

The Evie Ring is cleverly designed but has some first-gen quirks - The Verge

As you can see in the video below, which FediForum shared with The Verge, Cottle can navigate to his Threads account settings and toggle on an option called “fediverse sharing.” Meta will then show a pop-up explaining what exactly the fediverse is, along with some disclaimers Meta will ...

Meta just showed off Threads’ fediverse integration for the very first time - The Verge

Exclusive: Playtron tells us about its ambitions to create an operating system specifically for PC gaming handhelds, following in footsteps of Steam Deck, Legion Go, and more.

Playtron: the startup hoping to Steam Deck-ify the world - The Verge

Verge

verge

The most frequent cryptocurrency question I answer relates to the cryptocurrency Verge and why it fails to offer realistic privacy. Verge is a project which claims to be secure, anonymous, and private. When we’re talking about privacy, the canonical group to focus on are law enforcement and government targets. They are journalists, dissidents, political activists, and criminals (sometimes subjective to a government). Their safety and freedom depends on their anonymity as they make and receive payments from associates, employers, merchants. In this scenario, receiving a regular set of payments from Wikileaks could get you killed in Russia. First, let’s cover what Verge claims to offer: IP addresses are hidden with TOR, making it difficult to connect real-world identities to transactions. Even though the blockchain is transparent, nobody can tell who is transacting with whom. (Not yet implemented) Wraith protocol. This is stealth addresses. It allows a sender to construct a one-time unique address for the recipient that the funds can be sent to and which can be retrieved by the recipient without needing to interact with the sender. It provides privacy to the recipient of funds. At the time the funds are sent, nobody knows who the recipient is. Now let’s cover what law enforcement and government use to track extremely high-value targets, like Ross Ulbricht: Blockchain analysis, where transactions associated with their targets (e.g. deposit address for silk road marketplace) are traced through the blockchain. At fiat/cryptocurrency gateways, they are required to follow strict anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) laws, which will require users to give up their identity to connect bank accounts and cash in/out. If transactions can be traced to one of these gateways, they can be subpoenaed and reveal the identity associated with a given address/account. This analysis is extremely broad and powerful. More blockchain analysis. Anything you touch with your transactions are still under the purview of this technique. Business partners, merchants, etc. If you buy coffee at Starbucks with a cryptocurrency, cameras can link you to the location and time of the transaction. Now your bank account is known, how you spend your money, where you get your money from, etc. Your financial life is on the blockchain and any part of it, properly de-anonymized, reveals the entire network of your financial history. Verge does not have meaningful privacy and never did Verge does not defend against any known methods of deanonymization Today it is not a secret how government and law enforcement operates. There is a long history of arrests from using Bitcoin (see: ). All existing forms of compromise have come from ways of connecting real world identities to transactions by tracing the transactions through the blockchain. Not a single case has ever involved someone revealing their IP address when sending a transaction. https://shouldhaveusedmonero.xyz/ This fact should be alarming. We know how arrests happen today and Verge’s main privacy feature does not address this and never did. This is a huge disconnect between Verge’s claims and privacy in the real world. Any government target could have been using Verge and it would not have made a different. Running Bitcoin over Tor (or Verge) is unsafe Running Bitcoin over Tor (that’s pretty much what Verge is) has been studied from a privacy perspective, underscoring my point that this combination was hardly a new idea with Verge. It turns out not to be entirely safe: . The attack outlined in the paper is setting up malicious Tor nodes, and the spamming the Bitcoin network with mal-formed transactions through Tor. The honest nodes will get blocked from the network as an anti-spam feature and only the malicious nodes remain. This attack is easy to execute and it makes running Bitcoin over Tor more risky than just over the clearnet. https://arxiv.org/abs/1410.6079 Verge’s Wraith Protocol alone is weak privacy even if it does get implemented The Wraith Protocol is actually a well-known feature called stealth addresses. It has been known for several years, at least 2015: . It was even a candidate for Bitcoin at one point. (It was not integrated due to performance issues.) https://github.com/genjix/bips/blob/master/bip-stealth.mediawiki Stealth addresses allow the sender to generate a unique address for the recipient that they can detect and control without any cooperation from them. One way to think of this is if the recipient generated a unique Electrum address for each transaction. Same concept. This provides privacy only for the recipient. With blockchain analysis, when a stealth payment is made it is impossible to tell who the recipient is at the time of the transaction. Stealth payments alone are weak privacy. This is because people need to combine inputs for most of their payments, especially if they have one address per transaction for maximum privacy. However, if Wikileaks were to accept stealth payments, and send all of those stealth payments to an exchange (which follows AML/KYC laws), then all of those stealth payments lose their anonymity. Now it’s clear you just donated to Wikileaks. This is why privacy is hard. There is no silver bullet. Verge’s optional privacy is unsafe In practice when users are given the option to use privacy, they stick with the transparent default and only use private features when they need it. The result is that anyone using the privacy features are now a much smaller pool, so when you do use the private feature, you both stick out and have a smaller pool of people to hide in. It is analogous to wearing a ski-mask outside on a warm day. Nobody knows who you are, but you stick out and wearing the mask draws attention to you. Default privacy is considered a necessity by privacy experts. This way, the pool of people you blend in with is much bigger, like a herd of Zebras running together. It is hard to see individual Zebras because they all give each other cover. And with default privacy the people who do need it do not draw attention to themselves because their behavior does not change. Everyone blends in with each other and is indistinguishable. Everyone wears the Guy Fawks mask. Bonus section: Verge’s privacy solution is not even original You don’t need Verge to run your cryptocurrency over Tor Tor is just an anonymous proxy network. What this means is that it takes internet packets and just re-routes them through different servers, so that no single server knows both the content you are transmitting and your IP address at the same time. It is possible to connect your full-node to a Tor entry-node and broadcast your transactions through the Tor network. If you wanted, you could also have your full-node operate as a hidden service so that incoming transactions have no way of knowing your IP address as well. What Verge provides is just a convenience. It is not a new feature that hasn’t been thoroughly explored already. It’s just taking something everybody already knew about, and packaging it in a way that sounds flashy to a non-technical audience who has never heard of Tor before. Many other projects implemented stealth addresses (Wraith protocol) years ago Monero has had stealth addresses since its inception in 2014. Shadowcash also had this feature. Spectrecoin has this feature. Even Vertcoin, a cryptocurrency which doesn’t even claim to be a private one, has had it since 2014. There are likely many other projects with this feature, and they don’t take years to implement it or hype it up as the last private feature the world will ever need. The Wraith Protocol has been an oversold feature that is actually an existing feature of many of the same projects that Verge claims to outcompete. Verge makes false claims and puts others at risk This is why Verge is so universally hated. It’s not because anybody is afraid. It’s not because anybody is trying to hurt the price. It’s because Verge could get someone hurt with their false claims. There are parts of the world where people depend on privacy for their safety. Journalists, dissidents, political activists, criminals, citizens under oppressive regimes. For them, their privacy means their safety and freedom. If any of these people believe the claims of Verge and use this project for their transactions, they could get hurt or killed. Exercising caution in the name of safety limits into Verge’s and by extension profitability, and they seem to prefer profits over the safety of people in other parts of the world. Experts are deeply worries about these efforts of Verge to shill their insecure to cryptocurrency investors because it contributes misinformation into the space that could get someone killed (see: comments section of this article dismissing this analysis, claiming I have hidden motives, attacking my character, presenting false counterarguments all because it threatens Verge). marketing technology Some of Verge’s better-known false claims are: IP address hiding over Tor + stealth addresses (Wraith) makes Verge more private than any other project that exists. I can find exactly one research article on Bitcoin + Tor, and it suggests the combination is highly problematic. In contrast, the zerocoin protocol (see: ZCoin, PIVX) has 200+ citations. The zerocash protocol (see: ZCash, ZClassic, Zencash) has 100+ citations. Ring signatures used in Monero probably have even more citations than both zerocoin and zerocash protocols combined, being much older. Ring confidential transactions, used in Monero, also is an active area of research. (See: ). These research articles study the security, security, and efficiency of these systems. With each article we learn new things and have more eyes helping secure these technologies. Verge has none of this, and there is nothing to suggest that will change. https://eprint.iacr.org/2017/1066.pdf Monero’s private blockchain where nobody can see any information that would be useful for blockchain analysis is problematic because a transparent blockchain where everybody can see everybody elses’ balances is necessary for mass adoption. This is patently false. (See: ) https://www.reddit.com/r/vergecurrency/comments/75pi0y/great_infographic_on_verge/ Knowing the IP address of full-nodes is a security risk for those full-node operators, and not obscuring IP addresses is a security problem. Verge has on more than one occasion claimed false exploits that do not exist on other privacy projects. (See: ) https://themerkle.com/moneros-ip-address-leak-isnt-an-exploit-and-doesnt-affect-anonymity/ That Verge is a private and anonymous cryptocurrency. It does not prevent any known attacks at linking transactions to identities. (See: and ) https://arxiv.org/abs/1410.6079 https://www.coindesk.com/bitcoin-tor-anonymity-can-busted-2500-month/ Concluding remarks Verge is not private. It never was. This is not subjective. It fails to provide privacy in any meaningful way that would protect you from the people trying to violate it who could compromise your freedom or safety. It is no better than Bitcoin, which is considered dangerous to use for these purposes. This is enough to call Verge vaporware. Verge makes strong claims about their privacy that are not true. They make false claims about the privacy provided by legitimate projects for their own benefit. They make these false claims despite knowing that it could get someone hurt. It is clear that the team is marketing on false information for self-serving purposes. These are not honest intentions. They do not care about the safety and freedom of people who need privacy. They are claiming to fight for a cause they clearly don’t care about, and putting others at risk for financial gain. If they are somehow not a scam, which seems probable, then they are indistinguishable from one.

Verge fails to offer real privacy and is indistinguishable from a scam

Technology research company Gartner predicts that there will be 20.8 billion connected things in the world by the year 2020, which would equal almost triple the number of humans on our planet. Clearly, the Internet of Things is on the verge of radically changing the core fabric of our communities and the manner in which people live. Although IoT has the potential to make our lives much more efficient and enjoyable in a multitude of ways, many industries are going to have to weather the storm as the disruption takes hold, and there may be sectors that are unable to remain relevant within the rapidly changing landscape. Virtually every industry will feel the effects of the proliferation of IoT in our communities, but there are five sectors that are expected to be hit the hardest by these changes in the short-term. Health Most experts agree that the healthcare industry stands to benefit the most from adopting IoT. However, to date, it has proven to be one of the most delayed industries to put connected technologies into practice. At the same time, the increased prevalence of IoT will be impossible to avoid for much longer, and it is expected that new methods of data sharing will expand significantly over the next few years, including patient-reported health outcomes and data collected from medical devices or wearable hardware. Energy and Utilities Sensor-based communication has been a central component of this sector for years, including smart-meters, which allow companies to read meters via sensors to access real-time usage information. The next logical step will be a “smart-grid” concept, providing customers with the ability to switch between customer-owned renewable energy systems and traditional energy supplies. IoT technology will be critical in developing a smart grid that is adaptable to a variety of energy sources, which is essential in order for the sector to survive the evolving landscape. Retail The incredible growth of e-commerce and online shopping has posed a threat to traditional retailers for approximately a decade. Conversely, the application of recent IoT innovations to traditional brick-and-mortar assets provides the potential for a radical transformation of the retail industry. Combining real-time analytics with RFID and beacon-based technologies carries a wealth of possibilities for the retail sector, such as allowing companies to send push notifications to customers as they walk by the store to tell them about current sales, promotions and special deals, or even make automated checkouts when they leave the store. Transportation There is no question that efficient transportation of both goods and people is a key aspect of the smooth running of any economy or society, with a massive impact on productivity, health and environmental preservation. IoT is poised to disrupt this sector through the creation of transportation systems that are able to sense and respond to changes in real-time, thereby broadening operational efficiencies, improving public safety, and increasing fuel efficiency through capacity analytics. Government IoT technology provides the foundations for the concept of “smart cities,” a term used to describe ways in which technology can be used to create more efficient solutions for communities of people. Fujisawa in Japan is an excellent example of this concept being put into practice. The brainchild of Panasonic, Fujisawa has deployed IoT to use sensors to monitor buses, garbage bins, and automate transport. It is expected that a growing number of governments will start integrating IoT into the core services of cities, thereby utilizing the technology in an increasing percentage of city-run business. Virtually every industry either already has been or is about to be disrupted in one form or the other by the proliferation of IoT in all aspects of our communities, leading to an increasingly efficient and safe world for the future. Written by Igor Ilunin, head of IoT at DataArt .

Top 5 Industries on the Verge of IoT Disruption

If you haven’t read The Reality of Digital Nomads: Chasing Highs, Finding What? (Part 1), it delves into the challenges I faced as a digital nomad — the lack of stability, absence of community, and the constant stress and fatigue. A key takeaway is my suggestion that “digital homeless” might be a more fitting term for digital nomads. I end by comparing today’s nomads to historical figures like Mountain Hermits and Monastic Wanderers, who also led lives of solitude and self-reliance. Read <Part 1> The Reality of Digital Nomads: Chasing Adventure, Finding What? on Hackernoon! [Click Here.] <Part 2> The common thread that ties digital nomads, Christian monks, and Buddhist monks together is that they all leave their hometowns in pursuit of greater enlightenment and growth. For someone like my parents, watching their daughter constantly pursue challenges can be concerning. Yet, traveling as a digital nomad has been incredibly meaningful for self-discovery and personal growth. Before beginning this journey, I struggled with anxiety rooted in self-consciousness. I was the type of girl who loved popcorn but would skip it when at the theater alone, worried about what strangers might think if they saw me in line by myself. I’d even wait until the theater emptied out to shyly grab a bag on my way out. One unexpected advantage of having to work full-time while traveling is that you don’t really have the leisure to get swept up in all the local tourist attractions. Instead, you find small joys in visiting cafes where you can quietly observe locals while working, or by changing neighborhoods for an evening stroll each day to experience subtle differences in scenery. Contrary to the high-pitched dialogue often heard in Japanese anime, residential neighborhoods in Tokyo are always astonishingly quiet. In Siem Reap, children rummage through trash cans in search of necessities just a few kilometers away from one of the largest and most impressive religious monuments. In Asia’s most liberal city, Bangkok, located in the only country to have legalized cannabis, a less hipster and more capitalistic, and self-conscious scene can be observed, with people waiting their turn at beauty clinics as late as 9 PM. Meanwhile, in Bali, locals begin and end their day with religious rituals, with every store and accommodation advertising their fast Wi-Fi speeds. In Philadelphia, some cafes do not provide Wi-Fi or even allow laptop use, yet still manage to thrive. Seeing such differences in real-life cultures all over the world leads to the questioning of how much of who I am was shaped by the culture and environment I grew up in, this journey becomes a time of introspection. Traveling is the culture and community that shaped a significant part of my identity disappearing right before my eyes. I start asking myself, “Who am I without my culture?” and “What are my fundamental traits?” And from city to the next, the answers to these questions about myself slowly unveil. Who am I without my culture? There’s a unique liberation that comes with exploring “me” in a foreign country. Here, everyone sheds their familiar identity and becomes a foreigner, free from their usual roles and expectations. The term “foreigner” means “a person who does not belong to a particular group or community.” You’re not the hometown girl, recognized by her daily iced black coffee, or the guy who’s known for his DIY car washes since he moved in last year. Instead, you’re simply you, stripped down to the essentials, unbound by the routines and labels from home. One of the greatest advantages of traveling to many places is adopting the mindset of “I am a foreigner anyway.” This mentality of inherently “being different” is freeing. Although we are always unique individuals, experiencing multiple cultures and their contrasts makes this truth resonate deeply. Realizing that no two communities are identical and that we don’t need to conform to any single one allows us to uncover our true nature and personality. As innate social animals, we’ve grown accustomed to communal life over thousands of years. In Eastern cultures, where communal living is especially valued, we sometimes overlook a key fact: communities are composed of individuals, each with unique traits. Often, we subconsciously prioritize the identity of the community over our own, hesitating to adopt beliefs or behaviors that set us apart. As a foreigner passing through an area briefly, it’s rare to get much attention from locals, apart from the enthusiastic promotions of bar promoters. This freedom of not being seen, to simply blend into the background, is liberating and accelerates your self-discovery by giving you more space to allow yourself to be who you are. This is entirely different from wearing a bikini on the streets in Southeast Asia after wearing Confucian-style clothing in your home country. The initial adventurous spirit of arriving in a new place fades, and it’s in the period when you’ve grown somewhat familiar with the place but still don’t belong to the community that you start to see your authentic self emerge. In various cities across the world, I encountered my intrinsic kindness. Even when I didn’t care about how I might be seen to others, and was under a massive amount of stress, I remained kind to others. My shyness was replaced with lengthy conversations with cab drivers. This new found self became a source of strength and uplifted me in ways I hadn’t expected. Language barrier was surprisingly not much of a discomfort, but a factor that helped with self-discovery. How much do the words and sounds we hear around us everyday influence our thoughts? Even last weekend, while hiking in the utter peace of nature, I passed by a group discussing the housing prices of Seoul. Under the clear sky, their conversation made blurred my future into darkness. Koreans, as a whole, seem particularly focused on wealth and the economy, with a strong drive toward accumulating wealth. Since my only financial planning involves saving whatever is left after impulsively spending my salary, hearing these conversations makes me feel on the verge of a panic attack. Additionally, I’m often greeted by a YouTube ad playing the moment I get in although I pay for each ride. Just how much do the words and sounds around us in daily life influence our state of mind In this day and age, exposure to materialistic and consumerist attitudes and media isn’t an experience exclusive to my home country. However, in a foreign country, all advertisements and other people’s conversations just come across as noise, so even if I was exposed to them, I wasn’t really impacted by them. Of course, just because I can’t understand the language around me doesn’t mean that the influence of the culture I’ve lived in for decades simply disappears. Even in the laid-back atmosphere of Southeast Asia, I still found myself prioritizing efficiency and speed — like a true Korean. But when the surrounding noise faded, I began to hear an authentic voice within me — a voice I couldn’t hear as clearly back in Korea. It was the desire to pursue art and creative work, so I began writing again. Traveling to different places felt almost like being free of a past, and therefore your age. Perhaps it’s because, as a foreigner, you’re somewhat invisible, not part of that community’s recorded history — only by staying long enough, by becoming a familiar face, might you start to leave a mark. Or maybe it’s because the places woven into the history of my life are out of sight, and all I see is ‘new’ around me. Anyways, with the emergence of the unique voice inside me, I also stopped feeling so self-conscious of my age. The self-doubt that normally would have risen with the emergence of my authentic voice subdued in the seeming absence of the history it was born from. But the best part of being a digital nomad didn’t strike me until it was over.. I’ll tell you guys everything about it in Part 3, next week.. Thanks for reading If you haven’t read The Reality of Digital Nomads: Chasing Highs, Finding What? (Part 1) , it delves into the challenges I faced as a digital nomad — the lack of stability, absence of community, and the constant stress and fatigue. A key takeaway is my suggestion that “digital homeless” might be a more fitting term for digital nomads. I end by comparing today’s nomads to historical figures like Mountain Hermits and Monastic Wanderers, who also led lives of solitude and self-reliance. The Reality of Digital Nomads: Chasing Highs, Finding What? (Part 1) Read <Part 1> The Reality of Digital Nomads: Chasing Adventure, Finding What? on Hackernoon! [ Click Here .] Click Here <Part 2> The common thread that ties digital nomads, Christian monks, and Buddhist monks together is that they all leave their hometowns in pursuit of greater enlightenment and growth. For someone like my parents, watching their daughter constantly pursue challenges can be concerning. Yet, traveling as a digital nomad has been incredibly meaningful for self-discovery and personal growth . Before beginning this journey, I struggled with anxiety rooted in self-consciousness. I was the type of girl who loved popcorn but would skip it when at the theater alone, worried about what strangers might think if they saw me in line by myself. I’d even wait until the theater emptied out to shyly grab a bag on my way out. self-discovery personal growth anxiety self-consciousness. I was the type of girl who loved popcorn but would skip it when at the theater alone, worried about what strangers might think if they saw me in line by myself. I’d even wait until the theater emptied out to shyly grab a bag on my way out. One unexpected advantage of having to work full-time while traveling is that you don’t really have the leisure to get swept up in all the local tourist attractions. Instead, you find small joys in visiting cafes where you can quietly observe locals while working, or by changing neighborhoods for an evening stroll each day to experience subtle differences in scenery. Contrary to the high-pitched dialogue often heard in Japanese anime, residential neighborhoods in Tokyo are always astonishingly quiet. In Siem Reap , children rummage through trash cans in search of necessities just a few kilometers away from one of the largest and most impressive religious monuments. In Asia’s most liberal city, Bangkok , located in the only country to have legalized cannabis, a less hipster and more capitalistic, and self-conscious scene can be observed, with people waiting their turn at beauty clinics as late as 9 PM. Meanwhile, in Bali , locals begin and end their day with religious rituals, with every store and accommodation advertising their fast Wi-Fi speeds. In Philadelphia , some cafes do not provide Wi-Fi or even allow laptop use, yet still manage to thrive. visiting cafes evening stroll Tokyo Siem Reap Bangkok Bali Philadelphia Seeing such differences in real-life cultures all over the world leads to the questioning of how much of who I am was shaped by the culture and environment I grew up in, this journey becomes a time of introspection. Traveling is the culture and community that shaped a significant part of my identity disappearing right before my eyes. I start asking myself, “Who am I without my culture?” and “What are my fundamental traits? ” And from city to the next, the answers to these questions about myself slowly unveil. “Who am I without my culture?” “What are my fundamental traits? Who am I without my culture? Who am I without my culture? Who am I without my culture? There’s a unique liberation that comes with exploring “me” in a foreign country. Here, everyone sheds their familiar identity and becomes a foreigner, free from their usual roles and expectations. The term “foreigner” means “a person who does not belong to a particular group or community.” You’re not the hometown girl, recognized by her daily iced black coffee, or the guy who’s known for his DIY car washes since he moved in last year. Instead, you’re simply you, stripped down to the essentials, unbound by the routines and labels from home. foreigner, you, One of the greatest advantages of traveling to many places is adopting the mindset of “I am a foreigner anyway.” This mentality of inherently “ being different” is freeing. Although we are always unique individuals, experiencing multiple cultures and their contrasts makes this truth resonate deeply. Realizing that no two communities are identical and that we don’t need to conform to any single one allows us to uncover our true nature and personality. being different” multiple cultures and their contrasts As innate social animals, we’ve grown accustomed to communal life over thousands of years. In Eastern cultures, where communal living is especially valued, we sometimes overlook a key fact: communities are composed of individuals, each with unique traits. Often, we subconsciously prioritize the identity of the community over our own, hesitating to adopt beliefs or behaviors that set us apart. As a foreigner passing through an area briefly, it’s rare to get much attention from locals, apart from the enthusiastic promotions of bar promoters. This freedom of not being seen, to simply blend into the background, is liberating and accelerates your self-discovery by giving you more space to allow yourself to be who you are. This freedom of not being seen, to simply blend into the background, is liberating and accelerates your self-discovery by giving you more space to allow yourself to be who you are. This is entirely different from wearing a bikini on the streets in Southeast Asia after wearing Confucian-style clothing in your home country. The initial adventurous spirit of arriving in a new place fades, and it’s in the period when you’ve grown somewhat familiar with the place but still don’t belong to the community that you start to see your authentic self emerge. In various cities across the world, I encountered my intrinsic kindness. Even when I didn’t care about how I might be seen to others, and was under a massive amount of stress, I remained kind to others. My shyness was replaced with lengthy conversations with cab drivers. This new found self became a source of strength and uplifted me in ways I hadn’t expected. In various cities across the world, I encountered my intrinsic kindness. Even when I didn’t care about how I might be seen to others, and was under a massive amount of stress, I remained kind to others. My shyness was replaced with lengthy conversations with cab drivers. This new found self became a source of strength and uplifted me in ways I hadn’t expected. Language barrier was surprisingly not much of a discomfort, but a factor that helped with self-discovery. How much do the words and sounds we hear around us everyday influence our thoughts? Even last weekend, while hiking in the utter peace of nature, I passed by a group discussing the housing prices of Seoul. Under the clear sky, their conversation made blurred my future into darkness. Koreans, as a whole, seem particularly focused on wealth and the economy, with a strong drive toward accumulating wealth. Since my only financial planning involves saving whatever is left after impulsively spending my salary, hearing these conversations makes me feel on the verge of a panic attack. Additionally, I’m often greeted by a YouTube ad playing the moment I get in although I pay for each ride. Language barrier Just how much do the words and sounds around us in daily life influence our state of mind Just how much do the words and sounds around us in daily life influence our state of mind Just how much do the words and sounds around us in daily life influence our state of mind In this day and age, exposure to materialistic and consumerist attitudes and media isn’t an experience exclusive to my home country. However, in a foreign country, all advertisements and other people’s conversations just come across as noise, so even if I was exposed to them, I wasn’t really impacted by them. Of course, just because I can’t understand the language around me doesn’t mean that the influence of the culture I’ve lived in for decades simply disappears. Even in the laid-back atmosphere of Southeast Asia, I still found myself prioritizing efficiency and speed — like a true Korean. But when the surrounding noise faded, I began to hear an authentic voice within me — a voice I couldn’t hear as clearly back in Korea. It was the desire to pursue art and creative work, so I began writing again. authentic voice within me Traveling to different places felt almost like being free of a past, and therefore your age. Perhaps it’s because, as a foreigner, you’re somewhat invisible, not part of that community’s recorded history — only by staying long enough, by becoming a familiar face, might you start to leave a mark. Or maybe it’s because the places woven into the history of my life are out of sight, and all I see is ‘new’ around me. Anyways, with the emergence of the unique voice inside me, I also stopped feeling so self-conscious of my age. The self-doubt that normally would have risen with the emergence of my authentic voice subdued in the seeming absence of the history it was born from. But the best part of being a digital nomad didn’t strike me until it was over.. But the best part of being a digital nomad didn’t strike me until it was over.. I’ll tell you guys everything about it in Part 3, next week.. Thanks for reading

<Part 2> The Reality of Digital Nomads: Defying Sight and Sound

<Deel 2> Die realiteit van digitale nomades: trotseer sig en klank

<Част 2> Реалността на дигиталните номади: противопоставяне на зрението и звука

<পর্ব 2> ডিজিটাল যাযাবরের বাস্তবতা: দৃষ্টি ও শব্দকে অস্বীকার করা

<Parte 2> La realidad de los nómadas digitales: desafiando la vista y el oído

<Drugi dio> Stvarnost digitalnih nomada: prkoseći vidu i zvuku

<第2部> デジタル遊牧民の現実：視覚と聴覚を無視

<2-бөлүк> Санариптик көчмөндөрдүн чындыгы: Көрүү жана үнгө каршы

<2 dalis> Skaitmeninių klajoklių realybė: nepaisyti vaizdo ir garso

<Część 2> Rzeczywistość cyfrowych nomadów: rzucanie wyzwania wzrokowi i słuchowi

<Chikamu 2> Chokwadi cheDigital Nomads: Kuzvidza Kuona uye Kunzwika

<Частина 2> Реальність цифрових кочівників: заперечення зору та звуку

<پارٹ 2> ڈیجیٹل خانہ بدوشوں کی حقیقت: نظر اور آواز کی مخالفت

We have zombies from past crypto eras lurking on some exchanges and personal wallets: they’re called ‘deadcoins’. Sometimes, you can't tell a "live" coin from a dead one at first glance. If you hit buy or trade, the rotten thing might stay with you forever. Not a pleasant experience. Deadcoins are cryptocurrencies that have lost all or most of their value, have no active development, or have been abandoned by their creators and community. This can happen for various reasons, like scams, lack of interest, or poor execution of the project. Essentially, they’re digital assets that no longer have a viable future and are considered defunct. But here’s the catch: they may keep existing in some networks, and could still be available for trading on some DEXes. So, they’re like zombies, running around as they were programmed, but with no one to maintain their codes, make new plans, or even use them. They may keep some price and/or a low trade volume, depending on the coin, but it’s just zombie activity. Once in your portfolio, they’ll likely rot in there forever. What kills a coin? According to CoinGecko, over 50% of all cryptocurrencies (at least from the thousands listed in their platform), have died between 2014 and 2024. If you think about it, it was just meant to happen when a lot of people are only copying and pasting the same Bitcoin code with another name. Cryptocurrencies die for several reasons, and one common cause is the lack of interest or demand. Without enough users or investors, the project can’t sustain itself, leaving it with no real value. Another key reason is poor development; if the team behind the coin doesn’t deliver on their promises or the technology isn’t strong, people lose trust and abandon it. However, sometimes they’re created with the specific purpose of being deadcoins soon. In scams and frauds, they’re offered just to take money from investors, amid big and fake promises. Once the scammers are paid, they promptly disappear, leaving the coin worthless. On the other hand, in prediction markets like Prophet on Obyte, two or three tokens are created to represent potential results on a bet. Once the results are delivered, one or two of those tokens will become a deadcoin with zero value —but that’s expected from the beginning. Besides, competition in the crypto world is fierce, and if a coin doesn’t stand out or offer something unique, it can easily get overshadowed by more successful projects. Lastly, regulatory issues can kill a coin, especially if it’s new or has a small community. Governments might crack down on certain projects or declare them illegal, causing their value to plummet. When a coin faces legal trouble, people may be less likely to invest, and it often fades away. Prominent deadcoins You may think that deadcoins exclusively come from those shady Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) from 2017, scams and frauds, old jokes, or projects that never had enough relevance, right? Well, then you’d be wrong. Some deadcoins and failed projects have been in the top ten by market capitalization and/or have been a total hit for different reasons. There’s no such a thing as “too big to fail” and it would do us good to remember that at all times. Auroracoin (AUR): This coin even had its own blockchain and aimed to be Iceland's national cryptocurrency. It briefly hit the top 10 by market capitalization in early 2014, shortly after its launch. However, the hype was short-lived, and the coin quickly lost value due to regulatory challenges, skepticism, and lack of widespread adoption. Its market cap has decreased by 99% since then, and its team is running another project already.
Bitconnect (BCC): Launched in 2016, Bitconnect offered a lending platform promising high returns through its native token. It reached the top 10 by market cap in 2017. However, it was exposed as a Ponzi scheme in 2018, leading to its collapse and regulatory shutdowns. Bitconnect tokens are no longer actively traded. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6g8ShHEXns&embedable=true Terra (LUNA): Terra, launched in 2019, offered a stablecoin ecosystem with its native token, LUNA, reaching the top 10 by market cap in 2021. Terra's collapse occurred in 2022 when its algorithmic stablecoin, UST, de-pegged from the U.S. dollar, causing LUNA's value to plummet. Terra 2.0 exists as a new project, but the original blockchain was discontinued. The old asset (renamed LUNA Classic - LUNC) is still traded on some exchanges, with no small amount of risk involved. Zombie or not zombie Spotting deadcoins versus live projects, or those simply going through tough market conditions, requires attention to several key factors. A deadcoin often shows little to no development activity. If the team behind the coin has stopped updating its technology, releasing new features, or engaging with its community, that’s a red flag. In contrast, a live project going through a rough patch will usually still have active development and a committed team working to improve the situation, even if the market value has dropped. Another sign of a deadcoin is low or non-existent trading volume. If the coin can barely be traded on any major exchanges or only shows minimal movement, it indicates that there’s no interest or liquidity. On the other hand, coins in a market slump may see reduced trading volume, but they will still be available on multiple platforms, with some level of ongoing buying and selling, showing people haven’t completely lost faith. Community engagement also tells a lot. Deadcoins tend to have stagnant social media, forums, or developer channels, with little interaction or discussion. Live projects, even if struggling, will have active communities discussing solutions and the future. An engaged community often means that the project is still alive, despite setbacks. You can also sum it up with three questions: is the team long inactive on social media and code repositories, especially on X (Twitter), Discord, and GitHub? Is trading the coin nearly impossible? Are the founders in jail or running away from authorities? —yes, that happens. If the answer to those questions is “yes” for most of them, you’re totally seeing a zombie there. Could your coin die soon? Determining if a cryptocurrency is on the verge of dying can be tricky, but there are clear signs to watch for. One major factor is the absence of recent development activity. If a project doesn’t share a clear vision for future updates or improvements, it may indicate uncertainty or stagnation. Additionally, reduced community engagement is a strong indicator. If online forums and social media channels become quiet, it suggests that users are losing interest, which can be detrimental to the coin's overall health. Another concern is negative publicity or ongoing controversies surrounding a coin. Regular scandals, public exploits, or legal troubles can damage a cryptocurrency’s reputation, leading to a loss of trust among investors. Additionally, a lack of partnerships or real-world applications can hinder a project’s growth. Coins that struggle to find use cases or secure collaborations with other projects or networks often find it hard to gain traction and may face challenges in maintaining relevance. In contrast to the above, Obyte, along with its native currency, GBYTE, stands out as a thriving project with a vibrant community and constant updates. Its Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure ensures more decentralized transactions, and the ongoing development by its team reflects a strong commitment to improvement. Obyte’s focus on libertarian ideals has attracted a dedicated user base, while applications and improvements continue to grow, ensuring its place in the market. Overall, Obyte's proactive approach and engaged community signal a promising and decentralized future for all its users. Featured Vector Image by Freepik We have zombies from past crypto eras lurking on some exchanges and personal wallets: they’re called ‘deadcoins’. Sometimes, you can't tell a "live" coin from a dead one at first glance. If you hit buy or trade, the rotten thing might stay with you forever. Not a pleasant experience. Deadcoins are cryptocurrencies that have lost all or most of their value, have no active development, or have been abandoned by their creators and community. This can happen for various reasons, like scams, lack of interest, or poor execution of the project. Essentially, they’re digital assets that no longer have a viable future and are considered defunct. Deadcoins are cryptocurrencies that have lost all or most of their value, have no active development, or have been abandoned by their creators and community. But here’s the catch: they may keep existing in some networks, and could still be available for trading on some DEXes. So, they’re like zombies, running around as they were programmed, but with no one to maintain their codes, make new plans, or even use them. They may keep some price and/or a low trade volume, depending on the coin, but it’s just zombie activity. Once in your portfolio, they’ll likely rot in there forever. What kills a coin? According to CoinGecko , over 50% of all cryptocurrencies (at least from the thousands listed in their platform), have died between 2014 and 2024. If you think about it, it was just meant to happen when a lot of people are only copying and pasting the same Bitcoin code with another name. According to CoinGecko According to CoinGecko over 50% of all cryptocurrencies (at least from the thousands listed in their platform), have died between 2014 and 2024. Cryptocurrencies die for several reasons, and one common cause is the lack of interest or demand. Without enough users or investors, the project can’t sustain itself, leaving it with no real value. Another key reason is poor development; if the team behind the coin doesn’t deliver on their promises or the technology isn’t strong, people lose trust and abandon it. However, sometimes they’re created with the specific purpose of being deadcoins soon. In scams and frauds, they’re offered just to take money from investors, amid big and fake promises . Once the scammers are paid, they promptly disappear, leaving the coin worthless. On the other hand, in prediction markets like Prophet on Obyte, two or three tokens are created to represent potential results on a bet. Once the results are delivered, one or two of those tokens will become a deadcoin with zero value —but that’s expected from the beginning. In scams and frauds , they’re offered just to take money from investors, amid big and fake promises In scams and frauds In scams and frauds Prophet Prophet Besides, competition in the crypto world is fierce, and if a coin doesn’t stand out or offer something unique, it can easily get overshadowed by more successful projects. Lastly, regulatory issues can kill a coin, especially if it’s new or has a small community. Governments might crack down on certain projects or declare them illegal, causing their value to plummet. When a coin faces legal trouble, people may be less likely to invest, and it often fades away. Prominent deadcoins You may think that deadcoins exclusively come from those shady Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) from 2017, scams and frauds, old jokes, or projects that never had enough relevance, right? Well, then you’d be wrong. Some deadcoins and failed projects have been in the top ten by market capitalization and/or have been a total hit for different reasons. There’s no such a thing as “too big to fail” and it would do us good to remember that at all times. Some deadcoins and failed projects have been in the top ten by market capitalization and/or have been a total hit for different reasons. Some deadcoins and failed projects Some deadcoins and failed projects Auroracoin (AUR): This coin even had its own blockchain and aimed to be Iceland's national cryptocurrency. It briefly hit the top 10 by market capitalization in early 2014, shortly after its launch. However, the hype was short-lived, and the coin quickly lost value due to regulatory challenges, skepticism, and lack of widespread adoption. Its market cap has decreased by 99% since then, and its team is running another project already. Bitconnect (BCC): Launched in 2016, Bitconnect offered a lending platform promising high returns through its native token. It reached the top 10 by market cap in 2017. However, it was exposed as a Ponzi scheme in 2018, leading to its collapse and regulatory shutdowns. Bitconnect tokens are no longer actively traded. Auroracoin (AUR): This coin even had its own blockchain and aimed to be Iceland's national cryptocurrency. It briefly hit the top 10 by market capitalization in early 2014 , shortly after its launch. However, the hype was short-lived, and the coin quickly lost value due to regulatory challenges, skepticism, and lack of widespread adoption. Its market cap has decreased by 99% since then, and its team is running another project already. Auroracoin (AUR): early 2014 early 2014 Bitconnect (BCC): Launched in 2016, Bitconnect offered a lending platform promising high returns through its native token. It reached the top 10 by market cap in 2017. However, it was exposed as a Ponzi scheme in 2018, leading to its collapse and regulatory shutdowns. Bitconnect tokens are no longer actively traded. Bitconnect (BCC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6g8ShHEXns&embedable=true https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6g8ShHEXns&embedable=true Terra (LUNA): Terra, launched in 2019, offered a stablecoin ecosystem with its native token, LUNA, reaching the top 10 by market cap in 2021. Terra's collapse occurred in 2022 when its algorithmic stablecoin, UST, de-pegged from the U.S. dollar, causing LUNA's value to plummet. Terra 2.0 exists as a new project, but the original blockchain was discontinued. The old asset (renamed LUNA Classic - LUNC) is still traded on some exchanges, with no small amount of risk involved. Terra (LUNA): Terra, launched in 2019, offered a stablecoin ecosystem with its native token, LUNA, reaching the top 10 by market cap in 2021. Terra's collapse occurred in 2022 when its algorithmic stablecoin, UST, de-pegged from the U.S. dollar, causing LUNA's value to plummet. Terra 2.0 exists as a new project, but the original blockchain was discontinued . The old asset (renamed LUNA Classic - LUNC) is still traded on some exchanges, with no small amount of risk involved. Terra (LUNA): was discontinued was discontinued Zombie or not zombie Spotting deadcoins versus live projects, or those simply going through tough market conditions, requires attention to several key factors. A deadcoin often shows little to no development activity. If the team behind the coin has stopped updating its technology, releasing new features, or engaging with its community, that’s a red flag. In contrast, a live project going through a rough patch will usually still have active development and a committed team working to improve the situation, even if the market value has dropped. Another sign of a deadcoin is low or non-existent trading volume. If the coin can barely be traded on any major exchanges or only shows minimal movement, it indicates that there’s no interest or liquidity. On the other hand, coins in a market slump may see reduced trading volume, but they will still be available on multiple platforms, with some level of ongoing buying and selling, showing people haven’t completely lost faith. Another sign of a deadcoin is low or non-existent trading volume. Community engagement also tells a lot. Deadcoins tend to have stagnant social media, forums, or developer channels, with little interaction or discussion. Live projects, even if struggling, will have active communities discussing solutions and the future. An engaged community often means that the project is still alive, despite setbacks. You can also sum it up with three questions: is the team long inactive on social media and code repositories, especially on X (Twitter), Discord, and GitHub? Is trading the coin nearly impossible? Are the founders in jail or running away from authorities? —yes, that happens . If the answer to those questions is “yes” for most of them, you’re totally seeing a zombie there. You can also sum it up with three questions: that happens that happens Could your coin die soon? Determining if a cryptocurrency is on the verge of dying can be tricky, but there are clear signs to watch for. One major factor is the absence of recent development activity. If a project doesn’t share a clear vision for future updates or improvements, it may indicate uncertainty or stagnation. Additionally, reduced community engagement is a strong indicator. If online forums and social media channels become quiet, it suggests that users are losing interest, which can be detrimental to the coin's overall health. Another concern is negative publicity or ongoing controversies surrounding a coin. Regular scandals, public exploits, or legal troubles can damage a cryptocurrency’s reputation, leading to a loss of trust among investors. Additionally, a lack of partnerships or real-world applications can hinder a project’s growth. Coins that struggle to find use cases or secure collaborations with other projects or networks often find it hard to gain traction and may face challenges in maintaining relevance. Another concern is negative publicity or ongoing controversies surrounding a coin. In contrast to the above, Obyte , along with its native currency, GBYTE, stands out as a thriving project with a vibrant community and constant updates. Its Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure ensures more decentralized transactions, and the ongoing development by its team reflects a strong commitment to improvement. Obyte’s focus on libertarian ideals has attracted a dedicated user base, while applications and improvements continue to grow, ensuring its place in the market. Overall, Obyte's proactive approach and engaged community signal a promising and decentralized future for all its users. Obyte Obyte applications and improvements applications and improvements Featured Vector Image by Freepik Featured Vector Image by Freepik Freepik Freepik

Zombies Among Us: Deadcoins & How to Spot Them

Zombies entre nosotros: monedas muertas y cómo detectarlas

زامبی ها در میان ما: ددکوین ها و نحوه تشخیص آنها

Zombeja keskuudessamme: Deadcoinit ja kuinka löytää ne

Les zombies sont parmi nous : les Deadcoins et comment les repérer

Zombies Among Us: Deadcoins e como detectalos

हमारे बीच ज़ॉम्बी: डेडकॉइन्स और उन्हें कैसे पहचानें

Զոմբիները մեր մեջ. Deadcoins և ինչպես նկատել դրանք

私たちの中にゾンビがいる: デッドコインとその見分け方

Zombies Among Nos: Deadcoins & Imaynatataq chaykunata riqsina

ዞምቢ ኣብ መንጎና: Deadcoins & ከመይ ጌርና ንርእዮም

Zombies Among Us: Deadcoin'ler ve Bunları Nasıl Tespit Edebilirsiniz

我们身边的僵尸：死亡币及其识别方法

Winter is coming, and the night just got darker and full of unthinkable horrors. I’ve never thought that GoT would become a prelude to a real-life tragedy. This was the only TV show that got my family’s unanimous attention and acceptance to this day. It goes without saying that for our daughter to watch it my wife and I had to do some serious PG-13 heavy lifting. We had two parallel-watching sessions. Some episodes had to be left out and for some scenes, our daughter had to leave the room and get back after we were done with the fast-forwarding. It was worth it. Our daughter’s room was covered with her drawings of dragons and pictures of Dany Targaryen. We got carried away. There’s a huge picture of her sitting on the Iron Throne replica in our living room. I still remember waiting for hours in line and sharing my pain with other parents at the local GamesCon, so our kids could live out their fantasies for a brief moment. Those were some different and innocent pre-AI times. Today’s kids aren’t any different. They still want the same things, but the available tools are next level. I really wanted to write a nice and inspirational AI chatbot story, but… As soon as I typed “ai chatbot” in Google, I got slammed with the news headlines. Do it and see for yourself. The New York Times and The Verge were the most objective and restrained. I don’t recommend you go down the rabbit hole of The Washington Post and Reddit comments. I consider that my choice for the story’s illustration is appropriate because of the genuine desire of its author to express his feelings and protest at the same time. I feel the same way about my story’s title. No, I’m not going to share what happened because I want you to spend some time researching and then getting back to continue reading with the right kind of emotions and respect. I just can’t TL:DR someone’s life for your convenience. As a parent, I feel that I just dodged a digital bullet because my daughter is now old enough to have real instead of imaginary friends. For kids, an age gap of only a few years is the equivalent of decades for adults. Character AI lawsuit just got caught in the crossfire between the two most polarizing issues, one of the tech and the other of political nature. The First Issue - The minimum age for using AI The minimum age for minors to interact with AI ranges from 13 to 16. It’s 13 in the USA and mostly 16 in Europe. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) has been around in the House and Senate since 2022. Why it’s taking so long to protect kids? “It’s a political issue that has bipartisan support, while also appearing to be extremely difficult to govern without infringing on First Amendment protections.” And, there’s this, as well, the KOSA “would require online platforms to take actions to protect the safety of users under the age of 17.” The bipartisan support has become so rare that when you hear about it, you know without going into the details it’s a very serious matter. Unfortunately, we also have to accept the reality of another kind of “bipartisan support” between the First Amendment “absolutists” and the Big Tech opportunitists. So, nothing is going to change here. The lawsuit “also named Google and its parent company Alphabet in the filing. Character.AI's founders worked at Google before launching their product and were re-hired by the company in August as part of a deal granting it a non-exclusive licence to Character.AI's technology.” The most reasonable suggestion of Character AI Reddit fans is doomed to fall on deaf ears: The Second Issue - Gun Control The second issue is all about the Second Amendment. Isn’t it ironic to have this kind of semantic “alignment?” The countless mass shootings haven’t changed a thing about the gun control debate. Sadly, one more young innocent life that’s lost can only prolong a series of pointless debates. The blaming game has no beginning and obviously will have no end: What can you possibly expect to change after reading the comments such as these? What Is Going To Be The Most Likely Outcome of Character.AI Chatbot Lawsuit? It seems that at Character.AI, they’re preparing for and expecting a settlement. I did my best to check the dates. Almost the same day the lawsuit was officially filled, the company published a list of Community Safety Updates on its official blog page: “Moving forward, we will be rolling out a number of new safety and product features that strengthen the security of our platform without compromising the entertaining and engaging experience users have come to expect from Character.AI. These include: Changes to our models for minors (under the age of 18) that are designed to reduce the likelihood of encountering sensitive or suggestive content.
Improved detection, response, and intervention related to user inputs that violate our Terms or Community Guidelines.
A revised disclaimer on every chat to remind users that the AI is not a real person.
Notification when a user has spent an hour-long session on the platform with additional user flexibility in progress.” Who is praying for Sewell Setzer III who was only 14 years old when he “died by suicide on February 28th, 2024, “seconds” after his last interaction with the bot?” Winter is coming, and the night just got darker and full of unthinkable horrors. I’ve never thought that GoT would become a prelude to a real-life tragedy. This was the only TV show that got my family’s unanimous attention and acceptance to this day. It goes without saying that for our daughter to watch it my wife and I had to do some serious PG-13 heavy lifting. We had two parallel-watching sessions. Some episodes had to be left out and for some scenes, our daughter had to leave the room and get back after we were done with the fast-forwarding. It was worth it. Our daughter’s room was covered with her drawings of dragons and pictures of Dany Targaryen. We got carried away. There’s a huge picture of her sitting on the Iron Throne replica in our living room. I still remember waiting for hours in line and sharing my pain with other parents at the local GamesCon, so our kids could live out their fantasies for a brief moment. Those were some different and innocent pre-AI times. Today’s kids aren’t any different. They still want the same things, but the available tools are next level. I really wanted to write a nice and inspirational AI chatbot story, but… As soon as I typed “ai chatbot” in Google, I got slammed with the news headlines. Do it and see for yourself. The New York Times and The Verge were the most objective and restrained. I don’t recommend you go down the rabbit hole of The Washington Post and Reddit comments . The New York Times The Verge The Washington Post Reddit comments I consider that my choice for the story’s illustration is appropriate because of the genuine desire of its author to express his feelings and protest at the same time. I feel the same way about my story’s title. the story’s illustration No, I’m not going to share what happened because I want you to spend some time researching and then getting back to continue reading with the right kind of emotions and respect. I just can’t TL:DR someone’s life for your convenience. As a parent, I feel that I just dodged a digital bullet because my daughter is now old enough to have real instead of imaginary friends. For kids, an age gap of only a few years is the equivalent of decades for adults. Character AI lawsuit just got caught in the crossfire between the two most polarizing issues, one of the tech and the other of political nature. The First Issue - The minimum age for using AI The minimum age for minors to interact with AI ranges from 13 to 16. It’s 13 in the USA and mostly 16 in Europe. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) has been around in the House and Senate since 2022. Why it’s taking so long to protect kids? “It’s a political issue that has bipartisan support, while also appearing to be extremely difficult to govern without infringing on First Amendment protections.” And, there’s this, as well, the KOSA “would require online platforms to take actions to protect the safety of users under the age of 17.” political issue online safety The bipartisan support has become so rare that when you hear about it, you know without going into the details it’s a very serious matter. Unfortunately, we also have to accept the reality of another kind of “bipartisan support” between the First Amendment “absolutists” and the Big Tech opportunitists. So, nothing is going to change here. The lawsuit “also named Google and its parent company Alphabet in the filing. Character.AI's founders worked at Google before launching their product and were re-hired by the company in August as part of a deal granting it a non-exclusive licence to Character.AI's technology.” named Google and its parent company Alphabet The most reasonable suggestion of Character AI Reddit fans is doomed to fall on deaf ears: The Second Issue - Gun Control The second issue is all about the Second Amendment. Isn’t it ironic to have this kind of semantic “alignment?” The countless mass shootings haven’t changed a thing about the gun control debate. Sadly, one more young innocent life that’s lost can only prolong a series of pointless debates. The blaming game has no beginning and obviously will have no end: What can you possibly expect to change after reading the comments such as these? What Is Going To Be The Most Likely Outcome of Character.AI Chatbot Lawsuit? It seems that at Character.AI, they’re preparing for and expecting a settlement. I did my best to check the dates. Almost the same day the lawsuit was officially filled, the company published a list of Community Safety Updates on its official blog page: Community Safety Updates “Moving forward, we will be rolling out a number of new safety and product features that strengthen the security of our platform without compromising the entertaining and engaging experience users have come to expect from Character.AI. These include: Changes to our models for minors (under the age of 18) that are designed to reduce the likelihood of encountering sensitive or suggestive content. Improved detection, response, and intervention related to user inputs that violate our Terms or Community Guidelines. A revised disclaimer on every chat to remind users that the AI is not a real person. Notification when a user has spent an hour-long session on the platform with additional user flexibility in progress.” Changes to our models for minors (under the age of 18) that are designed to reduce the likelihood of encountering sensitive or suggestive content. Improved detection, response, and intervention related to user inputs that violate our Terms or Community Guidelines. A revised disclaimer on every chat to remind users that the AI is not a real person. Notification when a user has spent an hour-long session on the platform with additional user flexibility in progress.” Who is praying for Sewell Setzer III who was only 14 years old when he “died by suicide on February 28th, 2024, “seconds” after his last interaction with the bot?” Who is praying for Sewell Setzer III who was only 14 years old when he “died by suicide on February 28th, 2024, “seconds” after his last interaction with the bot?”

Character AI Chatbot Lawsuit: Imaginary Friends and Real Guns 

Tired? Burned Out? You Might Just Be Bored

Yorğun? Yandı? Sadəcə Darıxmış Ola bilərsən

Κουρασμένος; Κάηκε; Μπορεί απλά να βαριέσαι

¿Cansado? ¿Agotado? Puede que simplemente estés aburrido

Canso? Queimado? Podes estar aburrido

疲れている？燃え尽きている？退屈しているだけかも

Pavargote? Perdegė? Jums gali būti tiesiog nuobodu

Уморен? Изгорени? Можеби ќе ви биде досадно

Obosit? Ars? S-ar putea să te plictisești

Umechoka? Umechomwa? Unaweza Kuchoshwa Tu

சோர்வாக? எரிந்துவிட்டதா? நீங்கள் சலிப்படையலாம்

Charchadimi? Yondimi? Siz shunchaki zerikishingiz mumkin

Ndidiniwe? Utshisiwe? Unokuba Ukruqukile

WordPress is Entering its End-Stage Founder Period

WordPress está entrando en su etapa final del período de fundador

WordPress entre dans sa phase finale de création

WordPress ap antre nan Peryòd Fondatè Etap Fen li yo

וורדפרס נכנסת לתקופת המייסדים הסופי שלה

WordPress は創業期の終盤に突入

WordPress Memasuki Tempoh Pengasas Peringkat Akhir

WordPress Tukuchiy-Etapa Kamachiq pachanman Yaykuchkan

WordPress vstupuje do záverečnej fázy zakladateľského obdobia

ВордПресс улази у свој завршни период оснивања

WordPress inaingia katika Kipindi chake cha Mwanzilishi wa Hatua ya Mwisho

ወርድፕረስ ኣብ መወዳእታ ደረጃ መስራቲ ግዜኡ ይኣቱ ኣሎ።

WordPress Son Aşama Kurucu Dönemine Giriyor

Yes, bad mental health days happen even for hackers. I had one last week. And I'll tell you how I turned it around in about 45 minutes. I had been stressed about more than a few things. To name a few... Business has not been great lately.
I hadn't slept great the night before (it happens, even to sleep hackers sometimes).
There are some exciting but intimidating pivots I'm in the midst of making with my business (which involves a lot of work and learning some new things).
And the looming threat of nuclear war (in the part of the world where my little family lives!) Then, my wife made a perfectly understandable, concerned comment while rushing out the door to attend to matters in Sofia, which set me off. So, I dove into work with ferocious intensity. But I was less productive than I wanted to be. My MacBook was dragging a bit (it needed an optimization which it received), a Brazilian guy messaged me who was excited to read my book for men but my e-commerce store was broken because of a really annoying issue with my new hosting company (so I sent him the book for free - and the store is now fixed, by the way), and some new AI toolsI'm experimenting with were frustratingly not delivering the creative vision I had in my head.When my wife came home a few hours later, it was time to deal with one of my least favorite things in the world: customs paperwork for importing supplements. Getting a package of Biohacking goodness in the EU is often like negotiating with a very litigious demon for the release of your soul from purgatory! My wife is great; she handles most of the unpleasant mess of paperwork this entails, but she had a lot of questions to ask me about the package, interrupting what I was trying to do. Standing in front of my laptop (facing way too many open browser tabs), seething at the world, I realized I was about to blow up at my wife and her small barky dog (my little frenemy here in our abode). I had promised her and myself earlier this year that I'd handle my anger better and that blow-up episodes were behind me, along with explaining to her that sometimes, I needed her to stop talking and give me space. So that's what I did, and it was really time to close my laptop. I sat down in the chair where I meditate, slipped on my headphones, put a calming Brain.FM binaural beat on in my headphones, and I just breathed. Slow in the through the nose filling my belly, slow out the mouth. After 10-15 minutes, I returned to my senses. It was time for a little positive self-talk, so I reviewed the last few days; they had been stressful, but actually, I got a lot of important things done, almost all the important things. All things considered, I was doing pretty well as a husband and entrepreneur this week. And there was a lot of reason for optimism about this year (except for the nuclear war concern, which is a good thing I got a stash of "Nuke Pills" - Potassium Iodide). So, I borrowed a bit from Dr. Joe Dispenza's transformative meditation and began future-casting gratitude. In faith, I raised my hands and quietly praised my Creator (in advance) for the beautiful life waiting for me, where my efforts would come to fruition. After about 30 minutes of that, I was back to cool cat Jonathan. Then, it was time to do a coaching call with one of my favorite clients. The client was also struggling with life a bit; I listened attentively, and I think I was able to provide some insight, inspiration, clarity, and out-of-the-box solutions. It ended up being a downright decent day. To summarize, what works when compounding stress and to-dos push you to the boiling point? Know when to get off the damn computer or your "smart" device.
Establish a rule with your loved ones or domestic partners - sometimes, you need silence and privacy.
Have a designated private space for relaxation - go there.
Binaural beats are a game-changer for mood - have some just a few clicks or swipes away at any given time.
Take 5-10 minutes just to breathe - I know it's boring, but it works!
Positive self-talk - praise yourself for what you've done right recently.
Then, future-cast gratitude - be thankful for the life you'll have. Hopefully, you can borrow from my tool kit when you inevitably find yourself on the verge of a blow-up, meltdown, or panic attack. Yes, bad mental health days happen even for hackers. I had one last week. And I'll tell you how I turned it around in about 45 minutes. I had been stressed about more than a few things. To name a few... Business has not been great lately. I hadn't slept great the night before (it happens, even to sleep hackers sometimes). There are some exciting but intimidating pivots I'm in the midst of making with my business (which involves a lot of work and learning some new things). And the looming threat of nuclear war (in the part of the world where my little family lives!) Business has not been great lately. I hadn't slept great the night before (it happens, even to sleep hackers sometimes). There are some exciting but intimidating pivots I'm in the midst of making with my business (which involves a lot of work and learning some new things). And the looming threat of nuclear war (in the part of the world where my little family lives!) Then, my wife made a perfectly understandable, concerned comment while rushing out the door to attend to matters in Sofia, which set me off. So, I dove into work with ferocious intensity. But I was less productive than I wanted to be. My MacBook was dragging a bit (it needed an optimization which it received), a Brazilian guy messaged me who was excited to read my book for men but my e-commerce store was broken because of a really annoying issue with my new hosting company (so I sent him the book for free - and the store is now fixed, by the way ), and some new AI tools I'm experimenting with were frustratingly not delivering the creative vision I had in my head. When my wife came home a few hours later, it was time to deal with one of my least favorite things in the world: customs paperwork for importing supplements. Getting a package of Biohacking goodness in the EU is often like negotiating with a very litigious demon for the release of your soul from purgatory! My wife is great; she handles most of the unpleasant mess of paperwork this entails, but she had a lot of questions to ask me about the package, interrupting what I was trying to do. by the way new AI tools Standing in front of my laptop (facing way too many open browser tabs), seething at the world, I realized I was about to blow up at my wife and her small barky dog ( my little frenemy here in our abode). I had promised her and myself earlier this year that I'd handle my anger better and that blow-up episodes were behind me, along with explaining to her that sometimes, I needed her to stop talking and give me space. So that's what I did, and it was really time to close my laptop. barky my little frenemy I sat down in the chair where I meditate, slipped on my headphones, put a calming Brain.FM binaural beat on in my headphones, and I just breathed. Slow in the through the nose filling my belly, slow out the mouth. After 10-15 minutes, I returned to my senses. It was time for a little positive self-talk, so I reviewed the last few days; they had been stressful, but actually, I got a lot of important things done, almost all the important things. All things considered, I was doing pretty well as a husband and entrepreneur this week. And there was a lot of reason for optimism about this year (except for the nuclear war concern, which is a good thing I got a stash of "Nuke Pills" - Potassium Iodide). So, I borrowed a bit from Dr. Joe Dispenza's transformative meditation and began future-casting gratitude. In faith, I raised my hands and quietly praised my Creator (in advance) for the beautiful life waiting for me, where my efforts would come to fruition. After about 30 minutes of that, I was back to cool cat Jonathan. cool cat Then, it was time to do a coaching call with one of my favorite clients. The client was also struggling with life a bit; I listened attentively, and I think I was able to provide some insight, inspiration, clarity, and out-of-the-box solutions. It ended up being a downright decent day. To summarize, what works when compounding stress and to-dos push you to the boiling point? To summarize, what works when compounding stress and to-dos push you to the boiling point? Know when to get off the damn computer or your "smart" device. Establish a rule with your loved ones or domestic partners - sometimes, you need silence and privacy. Have a designated private space for relaxation - go there. Binaural beats are a game-changer for mood - have some just a few clicks or swipes away at any given time. Take 5-10 minutes just to breathe - I know it's boring, but it works! Positive self-talk - praise yourself for what you've done right recently. Then, future-cast gratitude - be thankful for the life you'll have. Know when to get off the damn computer or your "smart" device. Establish a rule with your loved ones or domestic partners - sometimes, you need silence and privacy. Have a designated private space for relaxation - go there. Binaural beats are a game-changer for mood - have some just a few clicks or swipes away at any given time. Take 5-10 minutes just to breathe - I know it's boring, but it works! Positive self-talk - praise yourself for what you've done right recently. Then, future-cast gratitude - be thankful for the life you'll have. Hopefully, you can borrow from my tool kit when you inevitably find yourself on the verge of a blow-up, meltdown, or panic attack.

7 Lifehacks for Beating Back a Bad "Mental Health Day"

I Tried Perplexity For a Week, And I Don't Think AI Search Engines Can Replace Google.. Yet

আমি এক সপ্তাহের জন্য বিভ্রান্তির চেষ্টা করেছি, এবং আমি মনে করি না এআই সার্চ ইঞ্জিনগুলি গুগলকে প্রতিস্থাপন করতে পারে.. তবুও

Ich habe Perplexity eine Woche lang ausprobiert und glaube nicht, dass KI-Suchmaschinen Google ersetzen können.

Probé Perplexity durante una semana y no creo que los motores de búsqueda con inteligencia artificial puedan reemplazar a Google... todavía

J'ai essayé Perplexity pendant une semaine et je ne pense pas que les moteurs de recherche IA puissent remplacer Google... pour l'instant

मैंने एक सप्ताह तक पेरप्लेक्सिटी की कोशिश की, और मुझे नहीं लगता कि एआई सर्च इंजन गूगल की जगह ले सकते हैं.. अभी तक

私は1週間Perplexityを試してみましたが、AI検索エンジンがGoogleに取って代わることができるとは思いません...まだ

일주일 동안 Perplexity를 사용해 보았는데, AI 검색 엔진이 아직은 Google을 대체할 수 있다고 생각하지 않습니다.

Eu tentei o Perplexity por uma semana e não acho que os mecanismos de busca de IA possam substituir o Google... ainda

Я пробовал Perplexity в течение недели, и я не думаю, что поисковые системы на основе искусственного интеллекта могут заменить Google... Пока

Perplexity'yi Bir Hafta Boyunca Denedim ve Yapay Zeka Arama Motorlarının Google'ın Yerini Alabileceğini Düşünmüyorum.. Henüz

Tôi đã thử Perplexity trong một tuần và tôi không nghĩ công cụ tìm kiếm AI có thể thay thế Google..

我试用了 Perplexity 一周，我认为人工智能搜索引擎暂时还不能取代谷歌

AI: How ChatGPT and Big Tech are Shaping the Future of Artificial Intelligence

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