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July 20, 2023
https://mashable.com/article/apple-gpt-chatgpt-generative-ai-tool
Look out ChatGPT. Apple is reportedly working on a generative AI tool in the same vein as Open AI's popular chatbot. Bloomberg first reported the news on Wednesday, noting that some Apple engineers have dubbed the chatbot "Apple GPT." The report noted that the chatbot uses its own large language model (LLM) framework called "Ajax" and involves the work of several teams. Right now the chatbot is only being used internally at Apple, though some staffers reportedly believe the company could have a big AI announcement as soon as next year.
AI has been at the center of the tech world in 2023. OpenAI's ChatGPT burst onto the scene, though others such as Bing and Bard soon followed. Though AI chatbots remain popular, ChatGPT did see its first dip in traffic this summer after massive, rapid growth. To be fair, the tech seems to be in its infancy and its capabilities will only grow.
https://twitter.com/business/status/1681704903511506947
In a recent interview with Good Morning America, Apple CEO Tim Cook noted that AI needs to be regulated and that tech companies need to use exercise caution in how they rolled these products out. "I do think that it's so important to be very deliberate and very thoughtful in the development and the deployment of these," Cook said. "They can be so powerful that you worry about things like bias, things like misinformation — maybe worse in some cases."
In that same interview Cook did note that ChatGPT-style bots hold "great promise," describing it as "something that we're looking at closely." Now we know we might get Apple's version of the tool down the line.
snip
Apple GPT: Tech giant reportedly working on a ChatGPT, generative AI competitor
An announcement could happen in the next year, reports say.https://mashable.com/article/apple-gpt-chatgpt-generative-ai-tool
Look out ChatGPT. Apple is reportedly working on a generative AI tool in the same vein as Open AI's popular chatbot. Bloomberg first reported the news on Wednesday, noting that some Apple engineers have dubbed the chatbot "Apple GPT." The report noted that the chatbot uses its own large language model (LLM) framework called "Ajax" and involves the work of several teams. Right now the chatbot is only being used internally at Apple, though some staffers reportedly believe the company could have a big AI announcement as soon as next year.
AI has been at the center of the tech world in 2023. OpenAI's ChatGPT burst onto the scene, though others such as Bing and Bard soon followed. Though AI chatbots remain popular, ChatGPT did see its first dip in traffic this summer after massive, rapid growth. To be fair, the tech seems to be in its infancy and its capabilities will only grow.
https://twitter.com/business/status/1681704903511506947
In a recent interview with Good Morning America, Apple CEO Tim Cook noted that AI needs to be regulated and that tech companies need to use exercise caution in how they rolled these products out. "I do think that it's so important to be very deliberate and very thoughtful in the development and the deployment of these," Cook said. "They can be so powerful that you worry about things like bias, things like misinformation — maybe worse in some cases."
In that same interview Cook did note that ChatGPT-style bots hold "great promise," describing it as "something that we're looking at closely." Now we know we might get Apple's version of the tool down the line.
snip
July 20, 2023
https://mashable.com/article/sealed-apple-iphone-record-auction
An original, sealed 4GB iPhone just sold at auction for $190,372.80, more than 381 times its original price of $499. That's also three times the price of the next-highest sale of an original iPhone: a sealed first-edition 8GB iPhone that fetched $63,356 in February of this year.
This iPhone, sold on July 16 by LCG Auctions, likely fetched a premium thanks to two factors. The first is the rarity of the item itself; the auction house notes that the relatively minor price difference between the original 4GB iPhone ($499) and 8GB iPhone ($599) models meant more people opted for the doubled storage space.
The 4GB model was discontinued on September 5th, 2007, about two months after its June 29th release, making it a rarer find.
The second factor that likely contributed to the item's eye-watering price is the unique origin story of this particular phone. "The consignor was part of the original engineering team at Apple when the iPhone first launched," LCG Auctions notes.
snip
An unopened iPhone just sold for more than $190,000 at auction
The original model boasts "an innovative touchscreen, a 2-megapixel camera, and a web browser."https://mashable.com/article/sealed-apple-iphone-record-auction
An original, sealed 4GB iPhone just sold at auction for $190,372.80, more than 381 times its original price of $499. That's also three times the price of the next-highest sale of an original iPhone: a sealed first-edition 8GB iPhone that fetched $63,356 in February of this year.
This iPhone, sold on July 16 by LCG Auctions, likely fetched a premium thanks to two factors. The first is the rarity of the item itself; the auction house notes that the relatively minor price difference between the original 4GB iPhone ($499) and 8GB iPhone ($599) models meant more people opted for the doubled storage space.
The 4GB model was discontinued on September 5th, 2007, about two months after its June 29th release, making it a rarer find.
The second factor that likely contributed to the item's eye-watering price is the unique origin story of this particular phone. "The consignor was part of the original engineering team at Apple when the iPhone first launched," LCG Auctions notes.
snip
https://auction.lcgauctions.com/bids/bidplace?itemid=1102
Presented is the preeminent example of an original Apple iPhone: the elusive 4GB model released on June 29th, 2007. LCG Auctions is incredibly thrilled to bring this extraordinary collectible to auction for the very first time. One of the most important and ubiquitous inventions of our lifetime, the iPhone was first introduced by Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007 at MacWorld San Francisco. Just over five months later it was released at retail for $499/$599 on June 29th. The original iPhone included 4/8 GB of storage, an innovative touchscreen, a 2-megapixel camera, and a web browser. The iconic box featured a life-size image of the iPhone with 12 icons on the screen. It quickly became Apple’s most successful product, forever changed the smartphone industry, and was named the Time Magazine Invention of the Year in 2007.
It has also proven to be a popular high-end collectible. Over the last 9 months, a pair of 8GB versions of the 2007 factory sealed first-edition iPhone realized record prices. The October sale established a record price of$39,339 , and then a February sale of $63,356 established a new record price. These sales received widespread media coverage from major outlets including CNN, NPR, BBC, and others.
The original 4GB model is considered a “Holy Grail” amongst iPhone collectors. Its extreme scarcity is directly related to its limited production. Debuting on June 29th, 2007, alongside the 8GB model, the 4GB model was hampered by slow sales. Buyers chose to pay the $100 upcharge in exchange for double the storage space. The lagging sales resulted in Apple making the decision to discontinue the 4GB model on September 5th, 2007, just over two months after it was first released.
Our offering is an exceedingly rare, factory sealed, first-release 4GB model in exceptional condition. Virtually flawless along the surface and edges, the factory seal is clean with correct seam details and tightness. Labels on the reverse are correctly pristine beneath the seal. Outstanding color and gloss. Brand new, never activated. The phone’s provenance is pristine as the consignor was part of the original engineering team at Apple when the iPhone first launched. Collectors and investors would be hard pressed to find a superior example. Relevance and rarity comprise a winning formula for this red-hot collectible. Model A1203, Order MA501LL/A 4GB)
Presented is the preeminent example of an original Apple iPhone: the elusive 4GB model released on June 29th, 2007. LCG Auctions is incredibly thrilled to bring this extraordinary collectible to auction for the very first time. One of the most important and ubiquitous inventions of our lifetime, the iPhone was first introduced by Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007 at MacWorld San Francisco. Just over five months later it was released at retail for $499/$599 on June 29th. The original iPhone included 4/8 GB of storage, an innovative touchscreen, a 2-megapixel camera, and a web browser. The iconic box featured a life-size image of the iPhone with 12 icons on the screen. It quickly became Apple’s most successful product, forever changed the smartphone industry, and was named the Time Magazine Invention of the Year in 2007.
It has also proven to be a popular high-end collectible. Over the last 9 months, a pair of 8GB versions of the 2007 factory sealed first-edition iPhone realized record prices. The October sale established a record price of$39,339 , and then a February sale of $63,356 established a new record price. These sales received widespread media coverage from major outlets including CNN, NPR, BBC, and others.
The original 4GB model is considered a “Holy Grail” amongst iPhone collectors. Its extreme scarcity is directly related to its limited production. Debuting on June 29th, 2007, alongside the 8GB model, the 4GB model was hampered by slow sales. Buyers chose to pay the $100 upcharge in exchange for double the storage space. The lagging sales resulted in Apple making the decision to discontinue the 4GB model on September 5th, 2007, just over two months after it was first released.
Our offering is an exceedingly rare, factory sealed, first-release 4GB model in exceptional condition. Virtually flawless along the surface and edges, the factory seal is clean with correct seam details and tightness. Labels on the reverse are correctly pristine beneath the seal. Outstanding color and gloss. Brand new, never activated. The phone’s provenance is pristine as the consignor was part of the original engineering team at Apple when the iPhone first launched. Collectors and investors would be hard pressed to find a superior example. Relevance and rarity comprise a winning formula for this red-hot collectible. Model A1203, Order MA501LL/A 4GB)
July 20, 2023
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/world/middleeast/iraq-sweden-embassy.html
https://archive.li/jgXxB
Hundreds of protesters stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad early Thursday and set fire to parts of the building ahead of a planned demonstration outside the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm that has angered many in the Muslim world and drawn condemnation from the Swedish authorities.
The unrest was the latest ramification of a protest in Stockholm late last month in which a man tore up and burned the Islamic holy book outside the central mosque on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, horrifying Muslims around the world. Another demonstration was planned in Sweden on Thursday involving two people, according to a permit issued by the police, but it was unclear whether they would burn a Quran. Some Iraqis said they were also concerned that the Iraqi flag would be burned.
Sweden’s foreign minister, Tobias Billström, said in a statement that the embassy had been vandalized and partially burned in the attack at about 2 a.m. local time. Footage shared on social media showed part of the embassy in flames and people with pieces of the building in their hands.
https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1681817763243802625
https://twitter.com/lozy_king/status/1681811113812402176
https://twitter.com/RamAbdu/status/1681816704857391106
The Iraqi police fired water cannons to disperse the protesters, according to images shared on social media and news reports, and at least 15 protesters were arrested, an Iraqi security official said. A journalism monitoring group said that three photojournalists were also arrested while they were covering the protest and demanded their release.
snip
Sweden's embassy in Iraq is set afire: Protesters Angry Over Quran Burning Storm Swedish Embassy
The demonstrators, responding to a protest in Stockholm last month and one planned on Thursday, set fire to parts of the building.https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/world/middleeast/iraq-sweden-embassy.html
https://archive.li/jgXxB
Hundreds of protesters stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad early Thursday and set fire to parts of the building ahead of a planned demonstration outside the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm that has angered many in the Muslim world and drawn condemnation from the Swedish authorities.
The unrest was the latest ramification of a protest in Stockholm late last month in which a man tore up and burned the Islamic holy book outside the central mosque on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, horrifying Muslims around the world. Another demonstration was planned in Sweden on Thursday involving two people, according to a permit issued by the police, but it was unclear whether they would burn a Quran. Some Iraqis said they were also concerned that the Iraqi flag would be burned.
Sweden’s foreign minister, Tobias Billström, said in a statement that the embassy had been vandalized and partially burned in the attack at about 2 a.m. local time. Footage shared on social media showed part of the embassy in flames and people with pieces of the building in their hands.
https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1681817763243802625
https://twitter.com/lozy_king/status/1681811113812402176
https://twitter.com/RamAbdu/status/1681816704857391106
The Iraqi police fired water cannons to disperse the protesters, according to images shared on social media and news reports, and at least 15 protesters were arrested, an Iraqi security official said. A journalism monitoring group said that three photojournalists were also arrested while they were covering the protest and demanded their release.
snip
July 20, 2023
“The Only Democrat Who Has a Chance”: Joe Manchin’s White House Tease Threatens His Party’s Senate Prospects
Manchin dismissed concerns that he would be a spoiler for Joe Biden at a No Labels event in New Hampshire. “If I get in a race, I’m gonna win,” he said. But inside the Beltway, Democrats are also worried about what his winks at the White House could mean for party control.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/07/joe-manchin-west-virginia-senate-joe-biden-2024
https://archive.li/MvsaR
As Joe Manchin leaves the door open to a 2024 bid for the White House, the West Virginia senator insists he would never run merely to hurt Joe Biden’s reelection chances and boost Donald Trump. “I’ve never been in any race I’ve ever spoiled. I’ve been in races to win,” the senator said Monday evening at an event in New Hampshire sponsored by centrist group No Labels, which incidentally is looking for a candidate to head a possible third-party ticket. “And if I get in a race, I’m gonna win.”
https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1681055870988300291
Inside the Beltway, however, the fear isn’t just that Manchin could hurt Biden’s reelection chances should he take a run at the White House, but that he could also cost Democrats the Senate majority. As Matt Bennett, the executive vice president of public affairs at the moderate think tank Third Way—which opposes a third-party candidacy—put it, Manchin has “defied political gravity in West Virginia.” In the 2020 presidential election, Trump carried the state with 68.6% of the vote to Biden’s 29.7%. And yet, in 2018, Manchin eked out a victory over his Republican opponent, Patrick Morrisey, by a margin of 49.6% to 46.3%.
“He’s probably the only Democrat who has a chance of keeping that seat,” Bennett said in an interview with Vanity Fair, expressing a desire to see Manchin run for reelection in the Senate. As for winning the White House, though, “that is not possible and not gonna happen,” he said.
West Virginia’s increasingly rightward turn might be a reason Manchin is looking for alternatives; in a bid for reelection, he would likely face the state’s popular governor, Jim Justice (a Trump-era Republican convert). Onstage Monday evening, Manchin dodged when asked directly if he had plans to run as a third-party candidate backed by No Labels. That was “putting the cart ahead of the horse,” the West Virginia Democrat said. Following the event, Manchin also demurred on whether he would run for another term in the Senate. “I haven’t made any decision, nor will I make a decision until the end of the year,” he said in an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.
snip
related:
Are Democrats Burying Their Heads in the Sand Over Manchin's Flirtations With a Presidential Run?
Centrist group No Labels appears to be courting Joe Manchin to lead a third-party ticket, raising alarm bells that the group could spoil Joe Biden’s 2024 chances. Publicly, though, many Democratic lawmakers are dismissing the concern as mere political punditry.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/07/democrats-joe-manchin-joe-biden-presidential-election-2024
https://archive.li/x0Noo
On the surface, Democratic politicians are acting very nonchalant about the possibility that one of their own could mount a third-party presidential challenge against President Joe Biden. “There are often third-party candidates running, so I’m not overly troubled,” Senator Tim Kaine told Vanity Fair. Connecticut senator Chris Murphy said Thursday that it was too early to be concerned: “It is not on my list of things to worry about right now. I understand it’s an interesting conversation of a political class, but it’s a little premature to worry about it.” Others merely expressed their support for Biden and Kamala Harris. “Ah, let the pundits do that. But I’m all in for Biden-Harris,” Senator Raphael Warnock said when asked about the threat of a third-party candidate. “I think Joe Biden has a strong record to run on,” Senator Elizabeth Warren said. “I don’t think anybody can touch that.” Tina Smith echoed the sentiment. “Honestly, I’m focused on reelecting President Biden and reelecting a Democratic Senate and maybe even adding seats,” the Minnesota senator said. But Smith did add that the hubbub over a third-party candidacy was certainly not “helpful,” even if “it doesn’t change the fundamental dynamic of the race.”
Center stage is Joe Manchin and continuing speculation that he may make a bid for the White House as the independent, centrist, “No Labels” candidate. The latest development in Manchin’s will-he-or-won’t-he saga came Wednesday when news broke that the West Virginia senator will appear next week in New Hampshire for a town hall hosted by No Labels, a group that very firmly believes 2024 could be the year of the third-party candidate. While Manchin billed his planned appearance as an opportunity to engage in a debate “around common sense solutions to solve the pressing issues facing our nation,” he also stopped short of shutting down the possibility of a presidential run. “I’ve never ruled out anything,” he told CNN.
No Labels’ reasoning? Voters are tired of extremism and their candidate could siphon off enough voters from each major party for a victory. Thus far, polling does bear out this narrative in part: A No Labels candidate could very well pull voters away from the two major parties (that alone prompted Dritan Nesho, the chief pollster at No Labels, to tell Axios that the data shows “an unprecedented opening for the independent ticket”). But when it comes to who actually wins, No Labels’ own survey indicates that a third-party candidate is more likely to be a spoiler for Biden. According to a recent poll commissioned by the group, Biden wins 52% to Trump’s 48% in a head-to-head contest between the two. But in a three-way race, Trump wins 40% to Biden’s 39% with the third candidate securing 21% of the vote.
Privately, it appears, Democrats are fretting about this. “What we hear universally from Democrats is deep concern about this,” Matt Bennett, the executive vice president of public affairs at Third Way, a moderate Democratic think tank that has come out in opposition of a third-party candidacy. “We have not encountered a single Democrat who doesn’t think this is bad, other than, you know, Senator Manchin himself, basically.” “If [Manchin] runs for president, our message to him is: ‘You have no chance of winning. You are almost certain to end up a Jill Stein–level loser,’” Bennett says, a reference to the 2016 Green Party candidate, who only won 1.1% of the vote. “Do you want that to be your legacy?”
snip
Third-party candidate won't win but can 'absolutely spoil' election: Third Way group
Manchin at a No Labels event in New Hampshire. "If I get in a race, I'm gonna win"
“The Only Democrat Who Has a Chance”: Joe Manchin’s White House Tease Threatens His Party’s Senate Prospects
Manchin dismissed concerns that he would be a spoiler for Joe Biden at a No Labels event in New Hampshire. “If I get in a race, I’m gonna win,” he said. But inside the Beltway, Democrats are also worried about what his winks at the White House could mean for party control.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/07/joe-manchin-west-virginia-senate-joe-biden-2024
https://archive.li/MvsaR
As Joe Manchin leaves the door open to a 2024 bid for the White House, the West Virginia senator insists he would never run merely to hurt Joe Biden’s reelection chances and boost Donald Trump. “I’ve never been in any race I’ve ever spoiled. I’ve been in races to win,” the senator said Monday evening at an event in New Hampshire sponsored by centrist group No Labels, which incidentally is looking for a candidate to head a possible third-party ticket. “And if I get in a race, I’m gonna win.”
https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1681055870988300291
Inside the Beltway, however, the fear isn’t just that Manchin could hurt Biden’s reelection chances should he take a run at the White House, but that he could also cost Democrats the Senate majority. As Matt Bennett, the executive vice president of public affairs at the moderate think tank Third Way—which opposes a third-party candidacy—put it, Manchin has “defied political gravity in West Virginia.” In the 2020 presidential election, Trump carried the state with 68.6% of the vote to Biden’s 29.7%. And yet, in 2018, Manchin eked out a victory over his Republican opponent, Patrick Morrisey, by a margin of 49.6% to 46.3%.
“He’s probably the only Democrat who has a chance of keeping that seat,” Bennett said in an interview with Vanity Fair, expressing a desire to see Manchin run for reelection in the Senate. As for winning the White House, though, “that is not possible and not gonna happen,” he said.
West Virginia’s increasingly rightward turn might be a reason Manchin is looking for alternatives; in a bid for reelection, he would likely face the state’s popular governor, Jim Justice (a Trump-era Republican convert). Onstage Monday evening, Manchin dodged when asked directly if he had plans to run as a third-party candidate backed by No Labels. That was “putting the cart ahead of the horse,” the West Virginia Democrat said. Following the event, Manchin also demurred on whether he would run for another term in the Senate. “I haven’t made any decision, nor will I make a decision until the end of the year,” he said in an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.
snip
related:
Are Democrats Burying Their Heads in the Sand Over Manchin's Flirtations With a Presidential Run?
Centrist group No Labels appears to be courting Joe Manchin to lead a third-party ticket, raising alarm bells that the group could spoil Joe Biden’s 2024 chances. Publicly, though, many Democratic lawmakers are dismissing the concern as mere political punditry.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/07/democrats-joe-manchin-joe-biden-presidential-election-2024
https://archive.li/x0Noo
On the surface, Democratic politicians are acting very nonchalant about the possibility that one of their own could mount a third-party presidential challenge against President Joe Biden. “There are often third-party candidates running, so I’m not overly troubled,” Senator Tim Kaine told Vanity Fair. Connecticut senator Chris Murphy said Thursday that it was too early to be concerned: “It is not on my list of things to worry about right now. I understand it’s an interesting conversation of a political class, but it’s a little premature to worry about it.” Others merely expressed their support for Biden and Kamala Harris. “Ah, let the pundits do that. But I’m all in for Biden-Harris,” Senator Raphael Warnock said when asked about the threat of a third-party candidate. “I think Joe Biden has a strong record to run on,” Senator Elizabeth Warren said. “I don’t think anybody can touch that.” Tina Smith echoed the sentiment. “Honestly, I’m focused on reelecting President Biden and reelecting a Democratic Senate and maybe even adding seats,” the Minnesota senator said. But Smith did add that the hubbub over a third-party candidacy was certainly not “helpful,” even if “it doesn’t change the fundamental dynamic of the race.”
Center stage is Joe Manchin and continuing speculation that he may make a bid for the White House as the independent, centrist, “No Labels” candidate. The latest development in Manchin’s will-he-or-won’t-he saga came Wednesday when news broke that the West Virginia senator will appear next week in New Hampshire for a town hall hosted by No Labels, a group that very firmly believes 2024 could be the year of the third-party candidate. While Manchin billed his planned appearance as an opportunity to engage in a debate “around common sense solutions to solve the pressing issues facing our nation,” he also stopped short of shutting down the possibility of a presidential run. “I’ve never ruled out anything,” he told CNN.
No Labels’ reasoning? Voters are tired of extremism and their candidate could siphon off enough voters from each major party for a victory. Thus far, polling does bear out this narrative in part: A No Labels candidate could very well pull voters away from the two major parties (that alone prompted Dritan Nesho, the chief pollster at No Labels, to tell Axios that the data shows “an unprecedented opening for the independent ticket”). But when it comes to who actually wins, No Labels’ own survey indicates that a third-party candidate is more likely to be a spoiler for Biden. According to a recent poll commissioned by the group, Biden wins 52% to Trump’s 48% in a head-to-head contest between the two. But in a three-way race, Trump wins 40% to Biden’s 39% with the third candidate securing 21% of the vote.
Privately, it appears, Democrats are fretting about this. “What we hear universally from Democrats is deep concern about this,” Matt Bennett, the executive vice president of public affairs at Third Way, a moderate Democratic think tank that has come out in opposition of a third-party candidacy. “We have not encountered a single Democrat who doesn’t think this is bad, other than, you know, Senator Manchin himself, basically.” “If [Manchin] runs for president, our message to him is: ‘You have no chance of winning. You are almost certain to end up a Jill Stein–level loser,’” Bennett says, a reference to the 2016 Green Party candidate, who only won 1.1% of the vote. “Do you want that to be your legacy?”
snip
Third-party candidate won't win but can 'absolutely spoil' election: Third Way group
July 20, 2023
https://hypebeast.com/2023/7/vanmoof-ebike-bankruptcy-announcement-info
Independent Dutch e-bike company VanMoof has been declared bankrupt by the Netherlands authorities, hitting the brakes on its luxurious ride.
VanMoof’s boom began during the Covid19 pandemic, seeing expanding interest in its eco-friendly electronic bicycles worldwide. The brand was progressing upward, becoming synonymous with sophisticated bike frames that oozed with on-wheel elegance.
Following its “suspension of payment” court proceedings, VanMoof has declared that its Dutch structure has gone bankrupt, appointing two administrators to examine the possibility of a company refresh. VanMoof’s future is uncertain, but for now, it will close local retail operations effective immediately.
The brand intends to keep its international entities running while working to maintain its online and repair services for current bike owners. VanMoof’s 190,000 customers will still be able to ride, but online orders have been suspended, and its London and Paris shops have been shut.
snip
E-Bike Imprint VanMoof Hits the Brakes, Announces Bankruptcy
The Dutch brand’s much-hyped bicycles have been taken off the market.https://hypebeast.com/2023/7/vanmoof-ebike-bankruptcy-announcement-info
Independent Dutch e-bike company VanMoof has been declared bankrupt by the Netherlands authorities, hitting the brakes on its luxurious ride.
VanMoof’s boom began during the Covid19 pandemic, seeing expanding interest in its eco-friendly electronic bicycles worldwide. The brand was progressing upward, becoming synonymous with sophisticated bike frames that oozed with on-wheel elegance.
Following its “suspension of payment” court proceedings, VanMoof has declared that its Dutch structure has gone bankrupt, appointing two administrators to examine the possibility of a company refresh. VanMoof’s future is uncertain, but for now, it will close local retail operations effective immediately.
The brand intends to keep its international entities running while working to maintain its online and repair services for current bike owners. VanMoof’s 190,000 customers will still be able to ride, but online orders have been suspended, and its London and Paris shops have been shut.
snip
July 19, 2023
Label: Houseum Records – HSM004
Format: Vinyl, 12", EP
Country: France
Released: 9 Aug 2019
Genre: Electronic
Style: Deep House, House, Breakbeat
This EP promises a beautiful trip between melancholy sadness and optimism.
Berlin producer and DJ Marc Brauner, half of the Traffic Report duo, signs his first vinyl on Houseum Records with a new and more intimate EP, titled 'Sad But Ambitious'. The German delivers his introspective release with 5 tracks whose musical universe fluctuates between classic House, Breakbeat and Deep House. With this catchy title 'Sad But Ambitious', the EP succeeds in transmitting the musical sensibility of the producer.
We start with ‘He Said It’, a sample based Classic House track featuring warm pads, a pumping sub bassline, straight forward drums and a melody driven arrangement. It is meant as a tribute track to Clyde Stubblefield the former drummer of James Brown.
'Reach for You' is an emotional moody House track. It comes with a rolling drum pattern with moody pad sounds and a straight forward acid line finished off with some vocal chops on top. The track has a darker, more melancholic vibe than A1 but is still a dance floor ready tool. The kick drum is used in a different way to create a Breakbeat'ish African touch.
The title track of the EP has its name to mark a time in Marc Brauner's life where he felt sad about his life and work situation but still was ambitious enough to keep working on the tracks that are finally getting their release now. It comes with a nostalgic charm invoked by rising pads and classic drums combined with a deep bassline and a tear drop bell melody. It's a melancholic track, which you can both dance and cry too.
The last track of the vinyl ‘In a Dream’ is a House & Breaks piece. It consists of heavenly pads, a driving bassline, tight drums and a dreamy melody. This Breakbeat mood brings power and energy to the melancholic piece while remaining hope hopeful & uplifting at the same time.
The digital bonus track ‘No Title Yet’ demonstrates that it is particularly difficult to name a track so sometimes you come up with weird names or like this time with none at all. Vocal Chops and a floating bass give this track a cool and calm vibe and the drums put your feet to work.
Marc Brauner - Sad But Ambitious EP (Full Album Mix) (2019) Deep House, House, Breakbeat
Label: Houseum Records – HSM004
Format: Vinyl, 12", EP
Country: France
Released: 9 Aug 2019
Genre: Electronic
Style: Deep House, House, Breakbeat
This EP promises a beautiful trip between melancholy sadness and optimism.
Berlin producer and DJ Marc Brauner, half of the Traffic Report duo, signs his first vinyl on Houseum Records with a new and more intimate EP, titled 'Sad But Ambitious'. The German delivers his introspective release with 5 tracks whose musical universe fluctuates between classic House, Breakbeat and Deep House. With this catchy title 'Sad But Ambitious', the EP succeeds in transmitting the musical sensibility of the producer.
We start with ‘He Said It’, a sample based Classic House track featuring warm pads, a pumping sub bassline, straight forward drums and a melody driven arrangement. It is meant as a tribute track to Clyde Stubblefield the former drummer of James Brown.
'Reach for You' is an emotional moody House track. It comes with a rolling drum pattern with moody pad sounds and a straight forward acid line finished off with some vocal chops on top. The track has a darker, more melancholic vibe than A1 but is still a dance floor ready tool. The kick drum is used in a different way to create a Breakbeat'ish African touch.
The title track of the EP has its name to mark a time in Marc Brauner's life where he felt sad about his life and work situation but still was ambitious enough to keep working on the tracks that are finally getting their release now. It comes with a nostalgic charm invoked by rising pads and classic drums combined with a deep bassline and a tear drop bell melody. It's a melancholic track, which you can both dance and cry too.
The last track of the vinyl ‘In a Dream’ is a House & Breaks piece. It consists of heavenly pads, a driving bassline, tight drums and a dreamy melody. This Breakbeat mood brings power and energy to the melancholic piece while remaining hope hopeful & uplifting at the same time.
The digital bonus track ‘No Title Yet’ demonstrates that it is particularly difficult to name a track so sometimes you come up with weird names or like this time with none at all. Vocal Chops and a floating bass give this track a cool and calm vibe and the drums put your feet to work.
July 19, 2023
To witness Lionel Messi make his US debut might require a payday as big as his. Tickets for his expected first match on Friday for Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup are selling as much $110,000, according to a search on ticket reselling website Vivid Seats. That’s one of the most expensive ticket prices ever recorded for a MLS team.
Prices for some seats soared after the soccer superstar officially signed with the Major League Soccer team on Saturday in a deal reported to be worth between $50 to $60 million per year. Still, there are much cheaper options available for Friday’s game. The average price is $487, and some fans are traveling nearly 700 miles to see the match against Mexican team Cruz Azul, a Vivid Seats spokesperson said. Tickets to last year’s League Cup match between Inter Miami and FC Barcelona cost about half of that.
Prices for Messi’s MLS debut on August 20 against Charlotte are averaging $288, according to Vivid Seats, surging nearly 900% since early June when speculation began that Messi was coming to the US. Ticket prices overall for Inter Miami, currently dead last in the standings , have also jumped about 700% since then.
Messi, 36, is one of the most decorated athletes ever, winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or award seven times and was part of the World Cup winning Argentinian side last year. His deal includes an option for part-ownership of the club and a cut of the revenue from new subscribers to Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass streaming service, according to multiple reports.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi#Honours
Tickets for Messi U.S. debut cost up to $110,000
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/17/business/lionel-messi-ticket-prices/index.htmlTo witness Lionel Messi make his US debut might require a payday as big as his. Tickets for his expected first match on Friday for Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup are selling as much $110,000, according to a search on ticket reselling website Vivid Seats. That’s one of the most expensive ticket prices ever recorded for a MLS team.
Prices for some seats soared after the soccer superstar officially signed with the Major League Soccer team on Saturday in a deal reported to be worth between $50 to $60 million per year. Still, there are much cheaper options available for Friday’s game. The average price is $487, and some fans are traveling nearly 700 miles to see the match against Mexican team Cruz Azul, a Vivid Seats spokesperson said. Tickets to last year’s League Cup match between Inter Miami and FC Barcelona cost about half of that.
Prices for Messi’s MLS debut on August 20 against Charlotte are averaging $288, according to Vivid Seats, surging nearly 900% since early June when speculation began that Messi was coming to the US. Ticket prices overall for Inter Miami, currently dead last in the standings , have also jumped about 700% since then.
Messi, 36, is one of the most decorated athletes ever, winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or award seven times and was part of the World Cup winning Argentinian side last year. His deal includes an option for part-ownership of the club and a cut of the revenue from new subscribers to Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass streaming service, according to multiple reports.
snip
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi#Honours
July 19, 2023
This weekend, it’s a battle of the bombshells at the summer box office. Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” finally land in theaters Friday, after more than a year of online memes that have playfully pitted the films against each other. The star-studded projects couldn’t be more different: one is a sweetly subversive comedy starring Margot Robbie as the iconic doll, while the other is a cerebral, three-hour drama about the making of the atomic bomb.
And yet, the two films have become an unlikely double feature, with more than 200,000 moviegoers seeing both "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" on the same day, according to the National Association of Theatre Owners. “I think it’s the perfect double bill,” says Robbie, speaking to USA TODAY before the Screen Actors Guild strike. “It’s like having a steak dinner, then an ice cream sundae for dessert. I want both!”
The 'Barbenheimer' movie meme has blown up in 'unprecedented' ways
The “Barbenheimer” meme was born early last year when it was announced that Warner Bros.' “Barbie” would be released in theaters the same day as Universal Pictures’ “Oppenheimer.” Twitter instantly latched onto the dichotomy of the two films, cracking jokes about the light and dark nature of the respective movies, and their tongue-in-cheek battle for the soul of America.
https://twitter.com/yannhatchuel/status/1673459916630274051
https://twitter.com/kirawontmiss/status/1674496955517378562
https://twitter.com/SandbergEmmet/status/1674173810948419586
But the internet running gag has become a real-world sensation in recent weeks. Hundreds of handmade “Barbenheimer” T-shirts have flooded retail sites such as Etsy and Redbubble. Fan-made posters crop up daily on social media, garnering hundreds of thousands of “likes" for their eye-popping mashups. Opening-day screenings of both films have already sold out at theater chains including AMC and Alamo Drafthouse, while some independent cinemas around the country are offering movie-themed menus and “Barbenheimer” costume parties.
https://twitter.com/shadowknightdk/status/1680288331693977600
snip
The 'Barbenheimer' phenomenon: How a movie meme inspired the 'crazy, weird' double feature
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2023/07/18/barbenheimer-barbie-oppenheimer-movie-double-feature/70421503007/This weekend, it’s a battle of the bombshells at the summer box office. Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” finally land in theaters Friday, after more than a year of online memes that have playfully pitted the films against each other. The star-studded projects couldn’t be more different: one is a sweetly subversive comedy starring Margot Robbie as the iconic doll, while the other is a cerebral, three-hour drama about the making of the atomic bomb.
And yet, the two films have become an unlikely double feature, with more than 200,000 moviegoers seeing both "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" on the same day, according to the National Association of Theatre Owners. “I think it’s the perfect double bill,” says Robbie, speaking to USA TODAY before the Screen Actors Guild strike. “It’s like having a steak dinner, then an ice cream sundae for dessert. I want both!”
The 'Barbenheimer' movie meme has blown up in 'unprecedented' ways
The “Barbenheimer” meme was born early last year when it was announced that Warner Bros.' “Barbie” would be released in theaters the same day as Universal Pictures’ “Oppenheimer.” Twitter instantly latched onto the dichotomy of the two films, cracking jokes about the light and dark nature of the respective movies, and their tongue-in-cheek battle for the soul of America.
https://twitter.com/yannhatchuel/status/1673459916630274051
https://twitter.com/kirawontmiss/status/1674496955517378562
https://twitter.com/SandbergEmmet/status/1674173810948419586
But the internet running gag has become a real-world sensation in recent weeks. Hundreds of handmade “Barbenheimer” T-shirts have flooded retail sites such as Etsy and Redbubble. Fan-made posters crop up daily on social media, garnering hundreds of thousands of “likes" for their eye-popping mashups. Opening-day screenings of both films have already sold out at theater chains including AMC and Alamo Drafthouse, while some independent cinemas around the country are offering movie-themed menus and “Barbenheimer” costume parties.
https://twitter.com/shadowknightdk/status/1680288331693977600
snip
July 19, 2023
https://www.socialeurope.eu/social-media-the-harms-to-women-and-girls
‘Social media’ have become rapidly integrated into almost all aspects of human life and social organisation, from product marketing and political communication to health, fitness and dating. Despite their many positive affordances, it is however increasingly clear that women and girls experience online disproportionate and different harms online, compared with boys and men. These include: sexist stereotyping in online-advertising content and algorithmic targeting, negative body images induced by comparison with idealised images of women, misogyny and gender-based abuse, technology-facilitated coercive control, economic and political marginalisation, and side-effects of the dehumanisation and degradation of women in misogynistic pornography.
Our study, ‘The impact of the use of social media on women and girls’, was commissioned by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) of the European Parliament—to which we are presenting today—in response to growing concerns about the scale of digitally mediated harms experienced by women and girls. Academics, policy-makers and activists have recently devoted increasing attention to gender-based and sexual digital harm, with various large-scale surveys indicating its alarming scale and intensity.
This study uses data, reports and analyses from a wide range of sources—from academic scholarship as well as the European Union, national and other international institutions. It covers sexism and gender stereotypes in online advertising and the impact of pro-anorexia and ‘thinspiration’ content (images and text promoting thinness). It addresses gender-based and sexual abuse and harassment, coercive control and targeted hate campaigns against female politicians, journalists and other professionals. And it takes in algorithmic bias and radicalisation, misogyny in gaming and the general rise of male supremacism and pornography.
Targeted and judged
All these activities impair democracy and civic participation more widely and should therefore be of urgent concern to policy-makers, activists, legislators and educators. Among the most disturbing of our findings are the ways in which women are being targeted and judged on their appearance, subjected to image-based sexual abuse and silenced in public debate. The research shows that internet usage, particularly on image-based ‘social media’ platforms, is associated with increased body-image and eating anxiety, and that adolescents appear particularly vulnerable. Because girls grow up in a (real) society in which women’s bodies are routinely sexualised and used by others to assess their value, women tend to be more self-conscious of how they present themselves.
snip
'Social media': the harms to women and girls
Europe needs to address a major factor in the mental-health crisis facing adolescent girls in particular.https://www.socialeurope.eu/social-media-the-harms-to-women-and-girls
‘Social media’ have become rapidly integrated into almost all aspects of human life and social organisation, from product marketing and political communication to health, fitness and dating. Despite their many positive affordances, it is however increasingly clear that women and girls experience online disproportionate and different harms online, compared with boys and men. These include: sexist stereotyping in online-advertising content and algorithmic targeting, negative body images induced by comparison with idealised images of women, misogyny and gender-based abuse, technology-facilitated coercive control, economic and political marginalisation, and side-effects of the dehumanisation and degradation of women in misogynistic pornography.
Our study, ‘The impact of the use of social media on women and girls’, was commissioned by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) of the European Parliament—to which we are presenting today—in response to growing concerns about the scale of digitally mediated harms experienced by women and girls. Academics, policy-makers and activists have recently devoted increasing attention to gender-based and sexual digital harm, with various large-scale surveys indicating its alarming scale and intensity.
This study uses data, reports and analyses from a wide range of sources—from academic scholarship as well as the European Union, national and other international institutions. It covers sexism and gender stereotypes in online advertising and the impact of pro-anorexia and ‘thinspiration’ content (images and text promoting thinness). It addresses gender-based and sexual abuse and harassment, coercive control and targeted hate campaigns against female politicians, journalists and other professionals. And it takes in algorithmic bias and radicalisation, misogyny in gaming and the general rise of male supremacism and pornography.
Targeted and judged
All these activities impair democracy and civic participation more widely and should therefore be of urgent concern to policy-makers, activists, legislators and educators. Among the most disturbing of our findings are the ways in which women are being targeted and judged on their appearance, subjected to image-based sexual abuse and silenced in public debate. The research shows that internet usage, particularly on image-based ‘social media’ platforms, is associated with increased body-image and eating anxiety, and that adolescents appear particularly vulnerable. Because girls grow up in a (real) society in which women’s bodies are routinely sexualised and used by others to assess their value, women tend to be more self-conscious of how they present themselves.
snip
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Gender: FemaleHometown: London
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Current location: Stockholm, Sweden
Member since: Sun Jul 1, 2018, 07:25 PM
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