12 April 2024

DuckDuckGo is going to offer a Privacy Pro package, with VPN service, data removal service and ID theft assistance. Meanwhile, Google One is shutting down their VPN service after a year – because of lack of customers! Ha! Who in their right mind would purchase VPN from Google? It's like purchasing VPN service from the CIA.

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Apple is slowly making the move to Florida, too. 'Bout time.

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Andrew Ng is going to join Amazon's Board of Directors. They're getting serious about AI. Andrew could have helped Google again, so that tells you something about Google's culture.

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PSU is planning a major performing arts complex downtown to replace Keller Auditorium.  Hmmm. I don't think this is a good time to build something nice in downtown Portland. Look at all that glass that will need to be replaced after Trump wins the election.

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Speaking of election, you know what surprises me about the news that Biden may not appear on two states' ballots? That the Democrats aren't the least bit worried about this. Because they know that the election process won't matter. No matter how the vote goes, they'll somehow make Biden win. At 3 am. With suitcases of ballots that will be counted and double-counted, if need be. With electronic voting machines hooked up to the Internet.

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Suddenly, daycare is too expensive, and is now in short supply. Guess it's time to raise wages again, huh? And also another tax to pay for free daycare. Yup, that's the solution.

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Problems at Portland's largest outdoor housing. Just providing housing is not the answer as you can see.
Two months ago, Brown overdosed after taking meth that was laced with fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid. Staff at the shelter had to use the overdose-reversing drug naloxone — often called by the brand name Narcan — on her six times.

“The first thing in treatment you learn is you gotta change your people, places and things,” said Brown. “But it’s a challenge, because I’m living in, in the place where I OD-ed. I’m freaking surrounded by the people that are using [drugs], and I can’t make them stop.”

Brown has been on a waiting list for a sober housing program since her overdose. But she still hasn’t moved out of the shelter.
Yeah, who wants these shelters in their neighborhood?

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Agentic AI seems to be the new trend, but some companies clearly aren't ready. The latest is the Humane AI "pin", which is supposed to help you stay connected but not tied to your mobile devices and stay living "in the moment". The trouble is that it doesn't work well. It's gotten brutal reviews. The Verge says "it's not even close". Futurism calls it a "flaming dumpster fire". The company says that it's just social media hot takes.

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American tech isn't that strong. A South Korean firm wants to open a chip factory, but can't find enough qualified American engineers to staff it.  They're going to work with Purdue University to fix that problem.  Wonder when they'll start their DEI program?

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Childhood loneliness leads to psychosis later on. Or maybe the tendency to psychosis causes you not to have many friends? Who knows?

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