#Kim McNamee

[agreatagency]

Dhvani and I's Wedding: A Year in the Making with a Top Planner

365 days until the big day, We're excited to say! Dhvani and I are busy as can be, Building a church, growing a business, and planning a ceremony.

We're also building a home, And we're never alone. You might ask how we spend time together, But we enjoy the carefree lifestyle, now and forever. We don't have any secrets that's true, But we're looking forward to saying "I do!"

Please pray for us as we move ahead, With hope and faith, we won't be led astray or misled. We'll be working on the wedding registry and playlist, And we're grateful for everyone's support, we must confess. Thank you for keeping us focused and on track, We can't wait for the big day, that's a fact!

Thank you for joining us on this journey as we plan our dream wedding. We hope our story has inspired you and given you some ideas for your own special day.

For updates and more, be sure to check out Vyas Wedding Talk. Remember, your wedding day is a celebration of love and commitment, and it should be reflection of who you are as a couple. With the right planning and a little bit of creativity, you can create a day you and your guests will never forget.

Thank you for reading, and we can't wait share more with you soon. Best regards,

All Rights Reserved

*VBK Weddings

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Papers for Week 31, 2023

Abnormal evidence accumulation underlies the positive memory deficit in depression. Cataldo, A. M., Scheuer, L., Maksimovskiy, A. L., Germine, L. T., & Dillon, D. G. (2023). Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 152(1), 139–156.

Internal neural states influence the short-term effect of monocular deprivation in human adults. Chen, Y., Gao, Y., He, Z., Sun, Z., Mao, Y., Hess, R. F., … Zhou, J. (2023). eLife, 12, e83815.

Mesolimbic dopamine adapts the rate of learning from action. Coddington, L. T., Lindo, S. E., & Dudman, J. T. (2023). Nature, 614(7947), 294–302.

Sensorimotor feedback loops are selectively sensitive to reward. Codol, O., Kashefi, M., Forgaard, C. J., Galea, J. M., Pruszynski, J. A., & Gribble, P. L. (2023). eLife, 12, e81325.

Multiphasic value biases in fast-paced decisions. Corbett, E. A., Martinez-Rodriguez, L. A., Judd, C., O’Connell, R. G., & Kelly, S. P. (2023). eLife, 12, e67711.

Hippocampal–cortical coupling differentiates long-term memory processes. Dahal, P., Rauhala, O. J., Khodagholy, D., & Gelinas, J. N. (2023). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(7), e2207909120.

The visual encoding of graspable unfamiliar objects. Federico, G., Osiurak, F., Brandimonte, M. A., Salvatore, M., & Cavaliere, C. (2023). Psychological Research, 87(2), 452–461.

Complex economic decisions from simple neurocognitive processes: the role of interactive attention. He, L., & Bhatia, S. (2023). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 290(1992), 20221593.

Behavioral encoding across timescales by region-specific dopamine dynamics. Jørgensen, S. H., Ejdrup, A. L., Lycas, M. D., Posselt, L. P., Madsen, K. L., Tian, L., … Gether, U. (2023). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(7), e2215230120.

Olfactory receptor neurons generate multiple response motifs, increasing coding space dimensionality. Kim, B., Haney, S., Milan, A. P., Joshi, S., Aldworth, Z., Rulkov, N., … Stopfer, M. A. (2023). eLife, 12, e79152.

Local memory allocation recruits memory ensembles across brain regions. Lavi, A., Sehgal, M., de Sousa, A. F., Ter-Mkrtchyan, D., Sisan, F., Luchetti, A., … Silva, A. J. (2023). Neuron, 111(4), 470-480.e5.

D2/3 Agonist during Learning Potentiates Cued Risky Choice. Mortazavi, L., Hynes, T. J., Chernoff, C. S., Ramaiah, S., Brodie, H. G., Russell, B., … Winstanley, C. A. (2023). Journal of Neuroscience, 43(6), 979–992.

Coordinated drift of receptive fields in Hebbian/anti-Hebbian network models during noisy representation learning. Qin, S., Farashahi, S., Lipshutz, D., Sengupta, A. M., Chklovskii, D. B., & Pehlevan, C. (2023). Nature Neuroscience, 26(2), 339–349.

Distinct early and late neural mechanisms regulate feature-specific sensory adaptation in the human visual system. Rideaux, R., West, R. K., Rangelov, D., & Mattingley, J. B. (2023). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(6), e2216192120.

Single spikes drive sequential propagation and routing of activity in a cortical network. Riquelme, J. L., Hemberger, M., Laurent, G., & Gjorgjieva, J. (2023). eLife, 12, e79928.

Testing, explaining, and exploring models of facial expressions of emotions. Snoek, L., Jack, R. E., Schyns, P. G., Garrod, O. G. B., Mittenbühler, M., Chen, C., … Scholte, H. S. (2023). Science Advances, 9(6).

Distinct replay signatures for prospective decision-making and memory preservation. Wimmer, G. E., Liu, Y., McNamee, D. C., & Dolan, R. J. (2023). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(6), e2205211120.

A dopaminergic reward prediction error signal shapes maternal behavior in mice. Xie, Y., Huang, L., Corona, A., Pagliaro, A. H., & Shea, S. D. (2023). Neuron, 111(4), 557-570.e7.

A discipline-wide investigation of the replicability of Psychology papers over the past two decades. Youyou, W., Yang, Y., & Uzzi, B. (2023). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(6), e2208863120.

Development of dynamic attention: Time-based visual selection for objects in motion between 6–12 years of age. Zupan, Z., Blagrove, E. L., & Watson, D. G. (2023). Developmental Psychology, 59(2), 312–325.

[flavorednarry]

niall

[katherine-mcnamara]

hey! i'm sending this to a couple people (so please know that you don't have to answer) but i'm looking for some inspo :) who are your favorite fcs over 30? thank you!

Okay please bare in mind that I don't know very many and some I do know I've 100% forgotten but like I hope this helps? I have weird taste according to people so like ALDFLFAFL but here's my over 30's faves!!

Merritt Patterson Katie LeClerc (has Meniere's disease) Taylor Cole Dominic Sherwood Harry Shum Jr Isaiah Mustafa Nicola Correia-Damude Jamie Lee Curtis Shanola Hampton Laurie Holden Casey Deidrick Adepero Oduye Ana Brenda Contreras Ashley Callingbull Bridget Regan Christine Adams Daniel Dae Kim Tony Leung Chiu-wai Meng'er Zhang Danielle Harris Scout Taylor-Compton David Ramsey Elsa Hosk Alexandra Daddario Jessica Stroup Jenna Coleman Ashley Madekwe Shelley Hennig Jessica Alba Kristin Kreuk Jamie Campbell Bower Liam Hemsworth Emmy Rossum Katie Cassidy Zawe Ashton Manny Jacinto Erika Ishii Clark Backo Tala Ashe Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Erin Cahill Willa Fitzgerald Shraddha Kapoor Zahn McClarnon Wunmi Mosaku William Petersen Jake Gyllenhaal Evan Rachel Wood Samira Wiley Idris Elba Elliot Page Penn Badgley Ben Barnes Theo James Emily Ratajkowski Richard Madden Kit Harrington Domhnall Gleeson Candice Patton Steven Yeun Alfie Allen Javicia Leslie Daveed Diggs Cress Williams Kayla Compton Charlie Barnett Daisy Head Lily Rabe Jessica McNamee Lewis Tan Tony Todd Tobias Menzies Timothy Omundson Sophia Bush Tanner Novlan Serkan Çayoğlu Robert Mesa Rick Gonzalez Phoebe Tonkin Nico Tortorella Nick Sagar Raymond Ablack Michelle Dockery Martha Higareda Mandy Patinkin Lyndsy Fonseca Lucy Hale Laura Harrier LaRoyce Hawkins Kim Cattrall Jordan Calloway Teyonah Parris Gina Torres Amy Adams Dev Patel Daniel Henney

[portlandnet]

The Portland Mask Project: update and appreciation

The Portland Mask Project has teamed up with NET to sew together batches of masks for communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. PBEM would like to thank the program leaders, Leigh Little and Amanda Westervelt, and the 60 volunteers cutting and sewing masks. The first batch of 600 arrived at PBEM this week!

The volunteers are: Patricia Fryer, Ellen Knutson, Liina Teose, Nancy Holmes, Douglas Young, Liz Shuster, Kathy Blondell, Andrea Binder, Stephanie Argy, Diane Pinney, Karen Hurst, Terry Clelen, Elizabeth Klein, Kay Hilt, Sarah Purce, Robin Prichard, Marion McNamara, Carol Porto, Lily Cool, Amy Chomowicz, Robert Bonner, Jill Davidson, Kate Hubbard, Carol Wise, Xande Zublin-Meyer, Thyra Hartshorn, Judy Amery-Ryland, Gwen Dulley, Lisa Souther, Nancy Mitchell, Steve Mitchell, Elena Hoffnagle, Enid Traisman, Ashley Talmadge, Kathie Zodrow, Taryn Wheeler, Margaret Havlik, Heidi McNamee, Elisabeth Reese Cadigan, Nancy Cheverton, Sheryl Keele, ME Andre, Linda Meng, Jan Young, Tia Regan, Amanda Westervelt, John Legler, Dan Wineman, Kate Fine, Shannon Hiller-Webb, Sara Langan, Bambie McNabb, Yashika Palshikar, Susan Staat, Eleni O'Neill, Alison Reddy Abel, Lois Haley, Becky Sondag, Michelle Mehr, Ali Young, Kim Lakin, and Leigh Little.

[yahoonewsphotos]

PHOTOS: The Year in Trumpland

President Trump's second year in office was filled with plenty of dramatic moments. There were the public embraces of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin; clashes with reporters and lawmakers at the White House, and the responses to mass shootings, hurricanes and wildfires that affected millions of Americans in 2018.

In January, Trump delivered his first State of the Union address, a carefully crafted speech aimed at bringing the country together as "one team, one people, and one American family." But the message did not seem to resonate, and the president spent much of the year lashing out at perceived enemies and political rivals.

And with staff shakeups; mounting investigations into the president and his orbit, and a reelection campaign already under way, 2019 promises a lot more drama for a president who seems to relish it. (Dylan Stableford/Yahoo News)

Photos: Evan Vucci/AP (3), Win McNamee/Pool via AP, Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP (2),

See more photos of The Year in Trumpland and our other slideshows on Yahoo News.

[sophierattueba2a]

Most influential images of my character design project, cited

(Click keep reading)

(2018). https://folkhorrorrevival.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/164-banshees.jpg. [image] [Accessed 11/02/21].

Found on Google images, original listing for this hammer no longer exists, but the origin of this image is https://www.medievalcollectibles.com/product-category/weaponry/medieval-pole-weapons/war-hammers/

Sola, B (2016) Available at: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/YGAEK [Acessed 11/02/21]

Warhammer posted on Reddit in (2017) https://www.reddit.com/r/history/comments/5wscaz/were_war_hammers_actually_used_in_medieval_battles/ [Acessed 11/01/21]

(2019). Javier Botet: Meet the actor behind Hollywood's monsters. [image] Available at: <http://_107095507_a06e0829-0c15-4a95-8b99-7079fa7f6789.jpg> [Accessed 11 February 2021].

Kim, J (2017). Mother Gothel. [image] Available at: <http://_107095507_a06e0829-0c15-4a95-8b99-7079fa7f6789.jpg> [Accessed 11 February 2021].

Original image seems to be from Permanent Ink, but I could only trace it back to (2016).  41 Tattooed Seniors Answer The Eternal Question: How Will Your Ink Look When You’re 60 Available at: https://www.boredpanda.com/tattooed-elderly-people/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic [Acessed 11/02/21]

McNamee, C (2013) Available at https://www.pinterest.ch/pin/705728204086327728/ [Acessed 11/02/21]

Original image apparently from polyvore.com but is n longer there.

(2016) Available at https://www.pinterest.at/pin/45106433752285023/ [Acessed 11/02/21]

Milos, B (2018) Available at: http://www.brendanmilosart.com/blog [Acessed 11/02/21]

Available at: http://www.gmcshahdol.org/nail.aspx?cid=748&shop=fashions+for+70+year+old+woman&xi=1&xc=23&pr=48.99&you=0

Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth. Available at: https://www.syfy.com/futurama/cast/professor-hubert-j-farnsworth [Acessed 11/02/21].

Screenshot from: The London Library (2016)  The London Library: at the Heart of Literature. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dd2tPNtz80 [Acessed 11/02/21].

alexlibris, Old leather bound book with the gilded frame, leather straps and brass buckles.The book is captured isolated. Available at: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/old-leather-bound-book-gilded-frame-1026960211 [Acessed 11/02/21].

(2016) Gravity Falls: Journal 3, Available at: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gravity-falls-alex-hirsch/1123577136 [Acessed 11/02/21].

Screenshot from:  Landis, J (1981) An American Werewolf in London. Polygram pictures, USA. 

Panel from L Stevenson, R (1943) Classics Illustrated -013- Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde. 

Hewlett, Martins (1990) Tank Girl: Get Knotted!. Clays Ltd England P.35

Screenshot from: Talalay, R (1995) Tank Girl. MGM United States [film]

[blogtintonghop24h]

Vợ chồng Eric Trump - con trai ông Trump giàu cỡ nào?

Trong số 3 người con của ông Donald Trump với vợ cả, Eric Trump được cho là kín tiếng hơn cả. Eric không tham gia nhiều vào sự nghiệp chính trị của ông bố quyền lực, cũng không thường xuất hiện trên báo chí như anh trai Donald Jr. và chị gái Ivanka.

Tuy vậy, điểm chung giữa 3 anh chị em là đều biết tận dụng mối quan hệ của ông Trump để ngày càng trở nên giàu có. Theo The List, Eric và vợ Lara Trump có khối tài sản lớn, cuộc sống xa hoa.

Eric Trump (sau cùng) sống kín tiếng hơn anh trai Donald Trump Jr. và chị gái Ivanka Trump. Ảnh: GQ.

Cơ ngơi đồ sộ

Theo Forbes, Eric Trump có khối tài sản 25 triệu USD , tương đương với anh trai Donald Jr., song kém xa chị gái Ivanka Trump và anh rể Jared Kushner ( 375 triệu USD ).

Tài sản của Eric chủ yếu đến từ công ty gia đình và các dự án kinh doanh. Anh có căn duplex sang trọng nằm trong sân golf Trump National Golf Club ở Westchester (tiểu bang New York), đồng thời nhận lương từ vai trò phó chủ tịch điều hành Tập đoàn Trump Organization.

Sau khi ông Trump đắc cử tổng thống năm 2016, Eric cùng anh trai Donald Jr. được chọn cùng điều hành hoạt động của tập đoàn. Trước đó, anh giám sát phần lớn hoạt động kinh doanh ở sân golf và khu nghỉ dưỡng của gia đình.

Bên cạnh đó, Eric còn hưởng lợi từ hoạt động kinh doanh của khách sạn Trump ở thủ đô Washington D.C. và nhà máy rượu Trump (Trump Winery) tại Virginia.

Năm 2017, Eric và Donald Jr. cùng nhau mở sân golf Trump International Golf Club ở Dubai, theo Golf. Nó được xây dựng bên trong cơ ngơi sang trọng, có khoảng 100 biệt thự mang thương hiệu Trump, giá 1,3 triệu- 4 triệu USD .

Eric Trump kiếm tiền chủ yếu nhờ công ty gia đình và các dự án kinh doanh riêng. Ảnh: Ian MacNicol/Getty.

Vợ chồng Eric và Lara Trump còn được cho là tận dụng mối quan hệ của ông Donald Trump để ghi tên vào các bất động sản hàng đầu ở thành phố New York. Theo ProPublica, Eric đã hợp nhất “3 căn hộ cao tầng sang trọng ở Manhattan, 1 trong số đó anh mua với giá rẻ từ cha mình, thành căn penthouse sinh lời”.

Mùa xuân năm 2016, không lâu trước khi ông Trump đắc cử tổng thống, Eric đã mua 2 căn hộ trong tòa nhà Trump Parc East với giá chỉ 350.000 USD /căn, thấp hơn một nửa so với giá được niêm yết ban đầu.

Theo ProPublica, những giao dịch giá hời như vậy thường được Sở Thuế vụ (IRS) coi như quà tặng. Tuy nhiên, chúng có thể không bị đánh thuế theo cách đó, các chuyên gia thuế cho biết.

Cuối năm 2017, Eric chuyển quyền sở hữu căn penthouse và một số căn hộ khác gần đó cho công ty 100 CPS Penthouse LLC.

Riêng trường hợp Nhà máy rượu Trump ở Virginia, sau khi mua được với giá hời, ông Trump đưa con trai Eric lên làm chủ tịch. Tuy nhiên, theo Town & Country, việc anh có bao nhiêu quyền tự chủ trong việc điều hành nơi này vẫn là điều bí mật.

Tháng 8/2020, ông Trump nói trong cuộc họp báo rằng ông sở hữu “một trong những nhà máy rượu lớn nhất ở Mỹ”, mặc dù trang web Trump Winery cho biết nơi này đang thuộc quản lý của Eric.

Theo truyền thông, sau khi mãn nhiệm tổng thống, ông Donald Trump có thể chuyển về sống ở dinh thự Mar-a-Lago (Palm Beach, Florida). Các con trai của ông cũng đã vung tiền tậu bất động sản lân cận.

Theo Mansion Global, Eric và Donald Jr. đã mua biệt thự đối diện Mar-a-Lago với giá 18,5 triệu USD .

Eric và anh trai Donald Jr. đã mua bất động sản đối diện Mar-a-Lago - dinh thự mà ông Trump có thể dọn về ở hậu Nhà Trắng. Ảnh: AP.

Lối sống xa hoa

Theo People, Eric Trump và Lara Yunaska kết hôn chính tại dinh thự Mar-a-Lago. Trong ngày trọng đại, cô dâu diện 2 thiết kế cao cấp của nhà mốt đình đám Vera Wang và đeo hoa tai kim cương từ dòng trang sức của chị chồng Ivanka.

Giống như mọi phụ nữ nhà Trump, Lara biết thể hiện đẳng cấp thông qua trang phục đắt đỏ, nhất là khi tham gia các sự kiện quan trọng.

Để theo đuổi lối sống xa hoa, tất nhiên, con dâu ông Trump cũng cần có khả năng kiếm tiền.

Theo HuffPost, Lara được hưởng lợi từ sự nghiệp chính trị của bố chồng. Cụ thể, theo một số nguồn tin riêng, vợ Eric Trump kiếm được 180.000 USD /năm thông qua công ty tư nhân do người quản lý chiến dịch tranh cử của ông Donald Trump thành lập.

Về phía Eric Trump, anh thể hiện lối sống xa hoa một phần qua sở thích săn bắn. Tuy nhiên, anh em nhà Trump cũng từng bị cáo buộc săn một số loài động vật có nguy cơ tuyệt chủng. Thậm chí, họ được cho là đã tác động đến chính sách để duy trì sở thích đắt tiền này.

Vợ chồng Eric và Lara đều kiếm được tiền nhờ các mối quan hệ của ông Trump. Ảnh: Win McNamee/Getty.

Nhờ mối quan hệ với ông Donald Trump, Eric và Lara Trump từng cùng các anh chị em khác tham dự bữa tiệc cấp nhà nước, do Nữ hoàng Elizabeth tổ chức, trong chuyến thăm Vương quốc Anh, theo People.

Trong các kỳ nghỉ chính như Lễ Tạ ơn năm ngoái, vợ chồng Eric Trump dành thời gian bên gia đình và các nhân vật quan trọng của Nhà Trắng tại Trại David - nơi nghỉ dưỡng của tổng thống nằm ở Maryland.

Vào mùa hè, gia đình 4 người của Eric Trump thích nghỉ dưỡng ở cơ ngơi xa hoa Seven Springs ở Westchester. Theo Forbes, ông Trump mua bất động sản này vào năm 1996 với giá 7,5 triệu USD , trước khi chia đất để xây 14 ngôi nhà riêng lẻ.

Với Eric, dinh thự rộng khoảng 5.000 m2 là "nơi quan trọng" khi anh được học hỏi kinh nghiệm kinh doanh từ cha mình và cầu hôn vợ. Anh kể trong suốt mùa hè, ông Trump luôn thúc đẩy các con tự tay làm các công việc như cắt cỏ, chặt cây, lát gạch, cắt thép hay sửa điện.

Eric gọi nơi này là "căn nhà cũ", trước khi chuyển ra ngoài và tìm kiếm tài sản cho riêng mình.

Theo Tri Thức Trực Tuyến

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Nguồn https://ift.tt/3oMiPac

[techcrunchappcom]

New Post has been published on https://techcrunchapp.com/apple-and-big-techs-product-launches-are-now-just-sideshows/

Apple and Big Tech's product launches are now just sideshows

Hello, and welcome to the Wednesday edition of  the Insider Tech newsletter, where we break down the biggest news in tech.

If you’re not already subscribed, click here to get Insider Tech in your inbox every week. 

This week: For Tim Cook and Apple, it’s Lights, Cameras … Sideshow!

Apple CEO Tim Cook at Apple Headquarters

Apple/Business Insider screen capture

If you’ve been eagerly awaiting the latest iPad you may have enjoyed Apple’s “Special Event” on Tuesday. But to me, Apple’s big event was mainly a sign of how the scripted product launches that Big Tech relies upon to control the news cycle are increasingly impotent.

It’s not all bad. As my colleague Avery Hartmans noted, the abbreviated, online-only product launch is preferable to the bloated in-person events of years past.

But I think there’s something else going on too:

Now that tech is at the center of the biggest political and geopolitical dramas, product launches have become sideshows that can’t compete with the main event. 

And yes, there’s the fate of TikTok, caught in the middle of the US-China tech cold war, which continued to play out in real time on Tuesday while Apple streamed.

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Win McNamee/Getty Images

Even Apple — at its own product event — couldn’t escape the regulatory clouds hanging over its business.

Spotify, a longtime critic of Apple’s App Store policies, took issue with the new Apple One bundle, which gives consumers Apple’s streaming music and TV services for $14.95 a month. Spotify, which sells its streaming music service for $9.99 a month, accused Apple of abusing its dominant position to unfairly package and promote its services. 

And Apple immediately raised eyebrows with the launch of Fitness Plus, its new fitness app. That’s because it will compete dozens of other small companies who make training and live workout classes, and who can only reach Apple users through Apple’s App Store (and by paying Apple a 30% fee on any revenue). As Julie Bort points out, Apple is competing with its own customers — on its own turf, with home-field advantages.

To be honest, it’s surprising that Apple went forward with the Fitness Plus announcement at this time, given the war against its App Store practices that Epic Games is waging.

Of course, this may have felt like a sideshow because Apple’s event on Tuesday did not feature the new, highly-anticipated iPhone. For that, you’ll have to wait until October, when Apple is expected to have another event to introduce its first 5G iPhone.

The iPhone launch is certain to generate a lot more excitement than this week’s event. But no matter what the new iPhone can do, and no matter how much hoopla Tim Cook and company bring to the table, Apple will be addressing a different audience — one with a less friendly view of Big Tech and with many other, bigger issues to focus on.

Facebook is easily bouncing back from boycotts

Getty Images

Kim Kardashian West has stopped posting to her Instagram and Facebook accounts to protest Facebook’s failure to stop the spread of misinformation on its platforms. But she’ll be back tomorrow. It’s a one-day boycott.

And remember that advertiser boycott of Facebook that started in July? Well, they made their point and now Facebook VP Nicola Mendelsohn affirms on Bloomberg TV that marketers are coming back to their favorite platform. Mendelsohn says the big brands have returned because they’ve seen the strides Facebook has made removing hateful content on the platform — except, of course, that notorious Kenosha militia post, or the post by a politician in India’s ruling party calling to shoot Muslim immigrants.

The Facebook executive did note that the company was successfully weeding out 95% of the bad stuff. Maybe for big brand marketers, that’s good enough…

Recommended Readings:

Meet Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith, the ‘statesman’ who’s spent 2 decades quietly reinventing the $1.6 trillion firm’s relationship with Washington, DC, and other Big Tech titans

Requests for sexual favors and unwanted touching: A new survey finds women in tech still report high rates of harassment three years after the #metoo movement

A leaked document and FCC filings show Amazon is working on a new industrial monitoring service called ‘AWS Thor’ that can predict when machines will break down

Popular spreadsheet app Airtable is now worth $2.5 billion after a new funding round that its CEO says will make it a stronger competitor to Microsoft and Google

Not necessarily in tech:

Former employees of Tanya Zuckerbrot’s popular F-Factor diet say she fat-shamed colleagues and policed their eating, causing terrified staffers to snack in secret

That’s it for this week. Thanks for reading, and if you like this newsletter, tell your friends and colleagues they can sign up here to receive it. 

— Alexei

Get the latest Google stock price here.

[agreatagency]

It’s your last chance to support our Little Caesars Fundraiser for Lake Forrest Church. Don’t be shy! Share our link one more time with anyone who loves pizza…

hint! hint! that’s everyone.

Even if you have purchased before, chances are you have already made, baked, or eaten your pizza, or redeemed a meal deal code, and are ready for more! Use the link to place your own order, today.

Our Fundraiser ends on Friday, July 5, 2024.

If you have any questions, please call 1-888-452-5487. Option 3, or email Fundraising@LittleCaesars.com.

Thanks for your participation!

[flavorednarry]

gary | niall

[thedrift-rp]

ANNOUNCEMENT #2

Hey everyone! It’s us again with some more updates.  As a way to thank all of our followers for being awesome, keeping the tag poppin, and being as psyched for Pac Rim antics as we are we’re giving everyone another opportunity to reserve some cool stuff prior to opening.

Since the Jaeger canon list is out now, all followers have an opportunity to make a second face claim OR a Jaeger canon claim. So long as you’ve posted one piece of member content (a graphic or drabble) you can send us your reserve through our askbox or in the discord. 

If you’re making a Jaeger canon claim, please send us the surname as well as the Jaeger name as well as a backup just in case your first claim is already taken. If you want an open jaeger spot just let us know which group (Mark I, II, or III) you want and your character’s name. (Again, please send a backup too just in case one group is full.) If you and another player already have your co-pilot situation sorted, only one person needs to make the jaeger claim for the both of you.

Example: Please reserve a Mark II open jaeger with Namey McName. (Backup - Sunset Fury, --- Kim) for Tiff!

Reserves will close in four days, on Thursday, August 10.  

We also want to encourage members to talk amongst themselves to figure out co-pilot situations if you are taking rangers or check out the requests in our tag and discord. There’s tons of great ideas and characters waiting to be snatched up!

Finally, we have a tentative opening date! Barring any disasters or kaiju attacks, The Drift will open on the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 16. 

- The Drift Staff

[agreatagency]

Our mission is to bring hope back into the church, to be a church that provides good value, connections and resources. To welcome the backsliders, teach those who are stuck in their faith, and create a safe environment for those that are lost through our business based service of Real Estate, Tourism and Insurance. We want to join people in love through weddings and family. And eradicate the false profits, while bringing ears from around the world to hear that the Lord has to say. And bring salvation and forgiveness to those Jesus Chooses. 🙏

[jamesgierach]

“LESSONS FOR STATE ON CASH BAIL” AND MUCH MORE

To: Gov. JB Pritzker, Chief Judge Timothy Evans, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, CC State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and CC President Toni Preckwinkle

CC: Frank Main, fmain@sun-times.com Tom McNamee, Chris McQuery

From: JEG, former aide to the late-Chief Judge John Boyle

Date: Monday, January 18, 2021

Summer 1968, as a DePaul law student and aide to then-Chief Judge John Boyle, I helped push an old oak desk into a space at the Cook County Jail under a hand-drawn “ROR” sign, the acronym meaning “Release on Recognizance” bail program, a program that would hopefully release Cook County Jail inmates awaiting trial, who, hopefully, would not commit new crimes while on bail. Chief motivation, likely: reduce jail occupancy and stop the drain on Cook County tax dollars.

The same motivation in 2021, spiked by COVID-19 imperative and a desire for better criminal justice for poor and Black inmates, has again put the bail bond system under the spotlight (“Lessons for State on Cash Bail?” Chicago Sun-Times, 1/18/21, news report by Frank Main) at a time when Cook County has 9,000 people in the sheriff’s custody, 5,400 at the jail and 3,600 more on house arrest with ankle bracelets.

THE PUZZLE

The puzzle — how to balance public safety with criminal justice for the poor who, often, happen to be minorities.

The proposed solution of the Illinois General Assembly is the bill it passed that would do away with the cash bail system. Maybe it will help but as a former Cook County assistant state’s attorney, I think we must recognize other realities pertaining to the criminal justice system.

FREEDOM, INCARCERATION, DELAY

One such reality is: A defendant charged with a crime is less likely to plead guilty if he is free on bond, can delay “judgment day,” and has a chance to “beat the rap” all together, because of future uncertainties. Witnesses die, move, forget, can’t be found, or may no longer be under duress from criminal charge themselves, later.

“Later,” sometimes, just never comes.

REDUCER, JUSTICE, DISCRETION

Another criminal justice reality is: reduced criminal charges can greatly expedite the arrival of Judgment Day.

A “reducer” is shorthand for the amendment of a criminal charge, often from a felony to a misdemeanor, the latter carrying a maximum jail time in Illinois of one year. Why would a defendant plead guilty to a reducer? Because auto theft, say, charged as a felony can put a defendant into a state penitentiary for years (incidentally, the incarceration bill then goes to the state rather than Cook County). Charge reduction is one of the best arrows in a prosecutor’s quiver, one that tends to prevent delay when “Justice delayed is (often) justice denied.”

TIME CONSIDERED SERVED, TIME ACTUALLY SERVED

Time was when an incarcerated defendant would routinely plead guilty after a relatvely brief jail stay for “time considered served, time actually served.”

CAR THEFT, JOYRIDE, CARJACKING

Time was when a car thief caught last night in the stolen car would go from arrest to jail; in the morning he’d go from jail to court, where he pled guilty to a “reducer,” and in handcuffs would leave court to serve a one-year sentence in the Cook County Jail for a misdemeanor. No delay, no continuances, no discovery, no motions, no lost witnesses, no slip between the cup and the lip.

Is one year of incarceration enough for a car theft, you ask? (We’re talking nonviolent, simple car theft here, not kids on a “joyride,” not carjacking, taking a vehicle from the person by use of force or threat of force).

I remember the assistant state’s attorney training me, who explained to the victim whose car was stolen and asked, why is the defendant only getting a year in prison on a misdemeanor when my car is worth “more than $150” (the misdemeanor-felony threshold in the early 1970s) as originally charged in the felony theft complaint for preliminary hearing, and not valued “at less than $150,” as the reducer complaint as amended charges?

COOK COUNTY CAR THIEVES GET ONE YEAR

“Because in Cook County if you steal a car you get one year in prison,” my teacher explained to the victim.

“But this isn’t the first time he stole a car,” the victim complained.

“Well, of course. He’s a car thief,” the prosecutor explained, “and in Cook County for that you get a year In jail.”

Is the alternative better?

FELONY CHARGING, DISCOVERY, MOTIONS, CONTINUANCES, BOND, PROBATION

Hypothetically, the auto thief steals a car and gets caught. Next morning he goes to court, and no deal is offered by the prosecutor on a reducer. The defendant pleads not guilty and bond is set at $10,000 which defendant cannot pay. Case is continued for two weeks for preliminary hearing on the felony charge.

Two weeks later, defendant’s attorney appears and requests continuance (full retainer probably not paid). First continuance requested by defendant, attorney needs time to prepare, State asked for a continuance last time. Continuance granted, car owner told to come back next court date. Bond reduction motion denied. And with that the felony charge, direct indictment/preliminary hearing, discovery process (discovery rights attach because it’s a felony carrying serious penitentiary prison time), continuance process and delay of justice wheels start to turn and slip.

Eventually, as the case drags on, defendant’s bail is likely reduced, defendant posts bond, and the defendant is no longer anxious for his speedy trial. He’s free. Maybe on a bracelet.

A year later, maybe, it’s judgment day. Is the witness still willing, how crowded is the court docket, how’s COVID-19 relief coming in prisons, has the crime lab witness retired, how much pressure to get cases off the docket to enable prosecution of last summer BLM rioters...maybe probation with time served.

NO INCOME, NO JOB, NO RIGHT TO CARRY A WEAPON

Probationers, like parolees cannot carry a gun. Some probationers and parolees cannot find a job. They get hungry. Their families get hungry. What to do?

Often the drug business is the answer, “the Saving Grace.”

The “War on Drugs” makes drugs a profitable business, and the drug business does not discriminate based on constitutionally-outlawed differences. Everyone is equally invited to deal drugs, because “Just say NO” prohibition doesn’t ask a prospective worker, “Have you every been convicted, or arrested, for a crime?”

Prohibition, again as a century ago, is the universal and fair employer of last resort.

Trouble is: the drug business is highly competitive, very violent, and as a practical matter necessitates that serious players come armed with guns and a willingness to use them. This dilemma presents the probationer or parolee with a monumentally important choice, follow the rules of prohibition or parole and go hungry, or break the rules, eat, and maybe get caught.

And even if apprehension by the authorities presents itself, there is still the last option, “It was either him or me. I wasn’t going back to prison.”

RETALIATION, LIFE STYLE

“I decided to eat, so I ran the risk of working for a gang, selling drugs on a corner and regularly carried a gun. A gun is good protection but you’re more likely to get shot doing things that other people do who sell drugs. Competition becomes your worst enemy, and he looks just like you. The more you succeed in the drug business the more valuable your ‘corner’ or ‘license’ becomes, the more danger you’re in. And soon, the streets become a greater risk to your life than the cops,” a brother explained to me.

“Sure, I broke probation but I ate, and I lived well with a steady income. Then my best buddy got hit, shot like a target on a gun range. I knew who did it, the Upside Down gang. I squared the score. Life was good. I’m off probation. Then Illinois legalized pot.”

“TAKE THE PROFIT OUT OF DRUGS”

As a candidate for Cook County state’s attorney in 1992, I sought to stop much of Cook County crime by “taking the profit out of drugs.” It was a counterintuitive political message, but it made sense to me for a number of reasons, some captured in my campaign slogan.

“Take the Profit out of Drugs;

To take Crime off our Streets; and

Taxes off our Backs.”

Catchy, I thought, but it did not catch on. Instead, leaders like Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) asked, “How much drugs do you want to give addicts?” And I was soon transformed from tough on crime (“If I ever do anything wrong, you’re the last person I want to be prosecuted by,” Bob, a Cook County deputy sheriff with 30 years experience at the Criminal Court Building, 26th and California) to a “soft on crime” liberal.

QUESTION FEARED, NEVER ASKED

During my Don Quijotic quests for state’s attorney in 1992 and Democratic primary race for Illinois governor in 1994 (“Ilinois’ First Drug Policy Reform Governor”), I feared only one question from some smart reporter that never came. The question was:

“Well, Mr. Gierach, suppose Illinois did legalize all drugs. And suppose it did deprive gangbangers of drug revenues. What can we expect from young, armed, Black drug dealers, use to the good life, and now deprived of their customer base. Should we be expecting armed raids on white people in the suburbs?”

The question never came.

RECREATIONAL POT, $1 BILLION

Back to our probationer who couldn’t carry a gun.

In 2020, Illinois changed the law and legalized recreational pot, the most popular recreational drug of them all. This change caused a big, $1 billion revenue shift in its first year when combined with already legal medical marijuana.

According to a front-page, 12/20/1992, Chicago Sun-Times headline (“$7 Billion: Drug Trade In the City and Suburbs”), the drug business is big business here.

Now, $1 Billion on $7 Billion is not nearly all the illicit drug business in Chicago and its suburbs, but it’s noticeably large, large enough for government to notice and gangbangers, too.

And now I wonder. Are armed robberies on the Magnificent Mile, shootings in the suburbs, and on metropolitan Chicago expressways a response to the seismic shift of illicit drug revenues to legal markets? Are Last Resort Employees telling us, telling me, the frightening question my mind contemplated 29 years ago really was a potential threat to fear? Maybe.

COURAGE, INSIGHT

Have we the courage and insight to press on with drug legalization? Cocaine, heroin, meth, hundreds of new synthetics and a long, United Nations “Yellow List” of criminalized drugs. Will we “Just say NO to Prohibition, Again?”

James E. Gierach

Palos Park, Illinois 60464

1.18.21

(708) 951-1601

Risk-Assessment Algorithm: Bail

Delayed-Punishment Algorithm: Crime, Plea of Guilty

Time Considered Served

Time Actually Served

The Reducer

Drug Policy