Oracle Corporation quietly published a blog post announcing that the U.S. government had authorized it to run generative AI on federal government data. That means pattern recognition, automated data analysis, and decision-making tools now approved to operate on your Medicare records and military systems, cleared at the highest civilian and Department of Defense security levels. (And yes, Oracle also just took over the infrastructure running your Medicaid and ACA data — that happened this week too, and we’ll get there.)
The AI running on the classified side is Grok, built by Elon Musk’s xAI, hosted on Larry Ellison’s cloud, processing Top Secret American intelligence data. That went live today. While you were watching Tehran.

Crosspost from https://sh.itjust.works/post/56181411

I just heard the founder of Buy Nothing New Month this morning and about this website. We don't have to wait for a particular month to take small actions (or large). The site is full of great ideas and apart from benefiting the environment, you will be benefiting your wallet. https://www.buynothingnew.com.au/

Container ships account for roughly 100 of ​the 750 ships ensnared in the Strait of Hormuz ‌backups following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, Jeremy Nixon, CEO of container carrier Ocean Network Express (ONE), said on Monday.

"About 10% of ​the container ship global fleet is caught up ​in this," Nixon said at S&P Global Market Intelligence’s TPM26 ⁠container shipping conference in Long Beach.

Maritime insurers ceased covering voyages through ​the strait between Iran and Oman, which carries around one-fifth of ​oil consumed globally as well as large quantities of gas, as Iran retaliated against U.S. and Israeli strikes. The commander of the country's ​Revolutionary Guards told Iranian state television Monday that any ​ship that attempted to transit the strait would be set aflame.

I actually flinched when I saw her face, the face of smug chastisement for caring about people's lives, the face of terror.  I flinched, and then had to make art to cope with the fear she struck in my three hearts

Via today's Ars article

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/43783882

After spending taxpayers’ money, Florida governor will likely be left holding bill for $608m promised by Trump administration

Ron DeSantis, Florida’s Republican governor, spent $1.2m of taxpayers’ money per day to open and operate the notorious immigration jail known as Alligator Alcatraz, court records obtained by the independent investigative news website the Florida Tributary reveal.

A switch in position by Donald Trump’s administration also now looks likely to leave Florida on the hook for at least $608m spent on the harsh Everglades detention and deportation facility and other immigration jails, the outlet said. That was despite gloating by DeSantis in September that the state would be reimbursed from federal funds.

James Uthmeier, DeSantis’s former chief of staff and Florida’s unelected attorney general, admitted last week the possibility that a federal reimbursement grant the governor had insisted was locked in might not be delivered after all.

FCC rejects protests because Charter and Cox don't compete directly in most places.

TEHRAN, IRAN—As groups of families and others gathered Sunday evening at cafes around Niloofar Square—a middle-class area in eastern Tehran—after breaking their fast for Ramadan, a series of explosions struck the area, leveling several buildings and killing over 20 people, according to witnesses at the scene and later reports from local news sources.

Witnesses who spoke to Drop Site said two explosions hit the area—a smaller strike in the vicinity, followed by a larger one that devastated much of the neighborhood, a tactic known as a “double tap” strike that is used to inflict maximum casualties.

Videos of the immediate aftermath of the attack showed several individuals dead and wounded as well as massive destruction on the street outside. In Cafe Ahla, next to the square, blood and debris soaked the floors. Several patrons who had been sitting there when the attack struck could be seen dead on the floor or with their mutilated bodies still sprawled across their seats.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/39351554

Samtime tries out a Fairphone 6 running Ubuntu Touch and it seemed pretty fine. Noted issues were the second camera not working, GPS/Map app being a bit weird, and imo, the screen showing all the apps you have open is terrible. But with the reg app store and waydroid, I think it could be almost managable to use.

My mom is a battery life fiend though, so that part she won't let go of. What's your thoughts?

No se les a pasado por la cabeza la idea de que... Tal vez la publicidad actual sobre los estandares de belleza y exito irreal a la hora de formar parejas, y que esto se puede deber a una crisis del capitalismo que se avecina. En la que los obreros son reemplazados por maquinas definitivamente, desaparecera la clase media, y la clase baja no tendra empleos con los que ganar dinero para comprar productos basicos. Mientras habrán mega ricos que estaran en sus barrios privados. Y exista la posibilidad de que todos aquellos que quedaron fuera del sistema definitivamente, se unan a atacar a esos millonarios. Para prevenir ese escenario las elites occidentales promueven estandares irreales, guerras y una desigualdad social terrible, para que la natalidad baje y afecte a la demografia. Puesto que si ya no seremos útiles ahora solo somos una amenaza, a la cual ya no tiene sentido explotar. Sinceramente no se si mi idea es muy estupidamente simple o tiene valor. ¿Ustedes que opinan? Gracias por leer

Perhaps she should've thought about that when she was cheerleading the crowd of neocons who are perpetrating all of this.

watch out for the bees I put under your cushion

BRUSSELS (AP) — The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes across the Middle East are quickly dragging Europe in, forcing the continent into defensive action to protect military bases and evacuate citizens caught up in the conflict.

Iranian attacks on Dubai and the closure of its airport have triggered a scramble among the wealthy to leave the emirates via alternative routes on private jets.

The normally glitzy city – a playground for billionaires, influencers and millions of international visitors – has been on edge since drones and missiles fired in response to US and Israel strikes on Iran damaged the airport and struck several high-profile hotels and landmarks.

The UAE defence ministry said it had continued intercepting incoming missiles and drones on Monday, as the country announced the closure of its embassy in Tehran amid the widening regional war.

Some in Dubai have headed for Oman, a four-and-a-half-hour drive, which has seen little disruption and where Muscat airport continues to operate, albeit with delays.

The majority of commercial flights from Muscat to Europe are fully booked until later this week, according to booking sites.

Samsung and the State of Texas have reached a settlement agreement over the alleged unlawful collection of content-viewing information through its smart TVs