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How to get Notre Dame vs. Indiana College Football Playoff 1st round ticketsSuchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI’s strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time,” said a statement from OpenAI. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said “appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.” The city’s chief medical examiner’s office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide. His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a “happy, smart and brave young man” who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends. Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT. “Suchir’s contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn’t have succeeded without him,” said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what made him such an exceptional engineer and scientist was his attention to detail and ability to notice subtle bugs or logical errors. “He had a knack for finding simple solutions and writing elegant code that worked,” Schulman wrote. “He’d think through the details of things carefully and rigorously.” Balaji later shifted to organizing the huge datasets of online writings and other media used to train GPT-4, the fourth generation of OpenAI’s flagship large language model and a basis for the company’s famous chatbot. It was that work that eventually caused Balaji to question the technology he helped build, especially after newspapers, novelists began suing OpenAI and other AI companies for copyright infringement. He first raised his concerns with The New York Times, which reported them in an October . He later told The Associated Press he would “try to testify” in the strongest copyright infringement cases and considered a The New York Times last year to be the “most serious.” Times lawyers named him in a Nov. 18 court filing as someone who might have “unique and relevant documents” supporting allegations of OpenAI’s willful copyright infringement. His records were also sought by lawyers in a separate case brought by book authors including the comedian Sarah Silverman, according to a court filing. “It doesn’t feel right to be training on people’s data and then competing with them in the marketplace,” Balaji told the AP in late October. “I don’t think you should be able to do that. I don’t think you are able to do that legally.” He told the AP that he gradually grew more disillusioned with OpenAI, especially after that led its board of directors to fire and then rehire CEO Sam Altman last year. Balaji said he was broadly concerned about how its commercial products were rolling out, including their propensity for spouting false information known as hallucinations. But of the “bag of issues” he was concerned about, he said he was focusing on copyright as the one it was “actually possible to do something about.” He acknowledged that it was an unpopular opinion within the AI research community, which is accustomed to pulling data from the internet, but said “they will have to change and it’s a matter of time.” He had not been deposed and it’s unclear to what extent his revelations will be admitted as evidence in any legal cases after his death. He also published a personal blog post with his opinions about the topic. Schulman, who resigned from OpenAI in August, said he and Balaji coincidentally left on the same day and celebrated with fellow colleagues that night with dinner and drinks at a San Francisco bar. Another of Balaji’s mentors, co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, had left OpenAI , which Balaji saw as another impetus to leave. Schulman said Balaji had told him earlier this year of his plans to leave OpenAI and that Balaji didn’t think that better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence “was right around the corner, like the rest of the company seemed to believe.” The younger engineer expressed interest in getting a doctorate and exploring “some more off-the-beaten path ideas about how to build intelligence,” Schulman said. Balaji’s family said a memorial is being planned for later this month at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California, not far from his hometown of Cupertino. —————- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. or Canada is available by calling or texting 988. —————–

Negotiations for the EU-Mercosur agreement have concluded after 25 years. The two sides will now have to ratify the deal, but it could still be blocked as it has many opponents — particularly in Europe. "Today marks a truly historic milestone," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday in Montevideo, when the EU and the Mercosur trade bloc finalized their deal . She said that a "powerful message to the world" had been sent. "In an increasingly confrontational world, we demonstrate that democracies can rely on each other." Von der Leyen added that the agreement, which has been almost 25 years in the making, was "one of the largest trade and investment partnerships the world has ever seen." Connecting Europe with South America The EU-Mercosur agreement connects more than 700 million people on the European and South American continents. Some 450 million citizens in 27 EU states, and about 270 million in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. It does not yet apply to the Mercosur trade bloc's newest member, Bolivia, nor to Venezuela whose membership of the bloc has been suspended until further notice due to democratic backsliding. Most of the key points had already been agreed in 2019. The agreement will remove over 90% of tariffs on goods exchanged between the two blocs, which the European Commission estimates will save EU exporters more than €4 billion ($4.2 billion) per year. Rare earth elements needed for cars, machinery From the EU perspective, the main focus is likely to be on the import of raw materials and the export of cars and machinery. The bloc's interest in finalizing the agreement became more acute in the wake of the reelection of US President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened the EU with tariffs during his campaign . In view of the global geopolitical situation, von der Leyen said the agreement was "a political necessity." The EU hopes to become less dependent on China for its access to rare earth elements , for example. Mercosur states will be able to supply the EU with these raw materials that are crucial for modern technological products, like mobile phones and electric vehicles . In 2023, according to the EU, the Mercosur states exported mainly mineral products, food, beverages and tobacco to the EU, which in turn exported machinery, equipment, chemicals and pharmaceutical products. The trade volume between the two blocs that year amounted to around €110 billion. In the EU, particularly in Germany , car manufacturers will be likely hoping that the 35% import duty on cars will be reduced, while South American producers will be looking forward to being able to more easily sell meat, sugar and other such products to the EU. Environmental protection at risk, say critics Over the past five years, it has proven difficult to conclude the agreement largely because the EU has demanded stricter environmental regulations. These will be set out in an additional protocol. In its press release, the European Commission stressed that the current agreement had "strong, specific and measurable commitments to stop deforestation." Criticism of the agreement has also been voiced in South America in recent years. During his 2023 election campaign, the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, expressed his opposition to the deal, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio da Silva has also criticized the additional protocol. European farmers oppose deal In recent weeks, the agreement has also sparked vehement protests from farmers in the EU, particularly in France and Belgium. They fear unfair competition from cheap South American products, arguing that producers there benefit from lower environmental standards. The German Farmers' Association has also spoken out against the agreement, calling for negotiations to be restarted. Environmental organizations such as Greenpeace have rejected the agreement outright, arguing that continued rainforest deforestation to produce beef and grow soy to feed cattle will be catastrophic. Supporters of the agreement, meanwhile, argue that it will protect EU standards as well as quotas in certain areas, such as beef, poultry and sugar. The European Commission said on Friday that the interests of all Europeans, including farmers, would be protected by the agreement. EU member states in disagreement Opinions on the agreement also differ within the EU. France has been a staunch opponent of the deal , and on Thursday the office of President Emmanuel Macron said it had told von der Leyen that it considered it "unacceptable" in its current form. It said France would continue to tirelessly defend its "agricultural sovereignty." Poland and Italy have also expressed their doubts, while Germany and Spain both support the agreement. Recently, Germany had pushed increasingly hard for a swift conclusion. Though the agreement has been finalized, it's likely to be some time before it actually takes effect. Both blocs will have to ratify the deal, and it could still be blocked. The European Commission said that the end of the negotiations was a "first step." EU-Mercosur trade deal: A tale of two cattle breeders To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This article was originally written in German.CORVALLIS, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 26, 2024-- NuScale Power Corporation (NuScale or the Company) (NYSE: SMR), the industry-leading provider of proprietary and innovative advanced small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology, today announced the appointment of Diana J. Walters to its Board of Directors, effective December 20, 2024. With the appointment of Walters, the Board comprises 10 directors, six of whom are independent. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241218569078/en/ Diana J. Walters (Photo: Business Wire) Walters brings more than 35 years of leadership experience in the natural resources sector. She has held prominent roles, including serving as President of Liberty Metals and Mining LLC, CFO of Tatham Offshore, Inc., as well as numerous roles in the investment banking, capital markets, and advisory sectors. Walters currently serves on the boards of Atmos Energy, Trilogy Metals Inc., and Platinum Group Metals Limited, where she is Chair. She also serves as a Senior Advisor at Independence Point Advisors. “We are thrilled to welcome Diana Walters to NuScale’s Board of Directors,” said John Hopkins, President and Chief Executive Officer of NuScale Power. “Diana’s financial acumen and natural resources experience will support continued strong stewardship of NuScale as we work towards advancing the commercial deployment of NuScale’s NRC-approved SMR technology.” Walters received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Plan II Honors and a Master of Arts degree in Energy and Mineral Resources from The University of Texas at Austin. About NuScale Power Founded in 2007, NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE: SMR) is the industry-leading provider of proprietary and innovative advanced small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology, with a mission to help power the global energy transition by delivering safe, scalable, and reliable carbon-free energy. The Company’s groundbreaking SMR technology is powered by the NuScale Power ModuleTM, a small, safe, pressurized water reactor that can each generate 77 megawatts of electricity (MWe) or 250 megawatts thermal (gross), and can be scaled to meet customer needs through an array of flexible configurations up to 924 MWe (12 modules) of output. As the first and only SMR to have its design certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NuScale is well-positioned to serve diverse customers across the world by supplying nuclear energy for electrical generation, data centers, district heating, desalination, commercial-scale hydrogen production, and other process heat applications. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241218569078/en/ CONTACT: Media contact Chuck Goodnight Vice President, Business Development media@nuscalepower.comInvestor contact Scott Kozak Director, Investor Relations ir@nuscalepower.com KEYWORD: OREGON UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: NUCLEAR ENERGY GREEN TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT SOURCE: NuScale Power Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/26/2024 04:25 PM/DISC: 12/26/2024 04:23 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241218569078/enHow to watch UFC 310: Live stream Pantoja vs. Asakura anywhere

History Of The Chrysler Turbine Engine (And What Makes It So Unique)CORVALLIS, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 26, 2024-- NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE: SMR), the industry-leading provider of proprietary and innovative advanced nuclear small modular reactor (SMR) technology, today announced the results of its previously announced redemption of all of its outstanding warrants (the Warrants) to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the Common Stock). As of December 19, 2024 (the Redemption Date), approximately 97% of the Company’s outstanding Warrants were exercised by the holders thereof to purchase fully paid and non-assessable shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, which includes Warrants that were exercised prior to the announcement of the redemption. As a result, holders of the Warrants received an aggregate of 19,800,548 shares of the Company’s Common Stock in exchange for $227.7 million in cash proceeds to the Company. All unexercised and outstanding Warrants as of 5:00 p.m. EST on the Redemption Date were redeemed at a price of $0.01 per Warrant and, as a result, no Warrants currently remain outstanding and the Warrants have ceased trading on the New York Stock Exchange. About NuScale Power Founded in 2007, NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE: SMR) is the industry-leading provider of proprietary and innovative advanced small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology, with a mission to help power the global energy transition by delivering safe, scalable, and reliable carbon-free energy. The Company’s groundbreaking SMR technology is powered by the NuScale Power ModuleTM, a small, safe, pressurized water reactor that can each generate 77 megawatts of electricity (MWe) or 250 megawatts thermal (gross), and can be scaled to meet customer needs through an array of flexible configurations up to 924 MWe (12 modules) of output. As the first and only SMR to have its design certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NuScale is well-positioned to serve diverse customers across the world by supplying nuclear energy for electrical generation, data centers, district heating, desalination, commercial-scale hydrogen production, and other process heat applications. To learn more, visit NuScale Power’s website or follow us on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , X and YouTube . No Offer or Solicitation This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any offer of any of the Company’s securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216748078/en/ CONTACT: Investor contactScott Kozak Director, Investor Relations ir@nuscalepower.comMedia contactChuck Goodnight Vice President, Business Development media@nuscalepower.com KEYWORD: OREGON UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: NUCLEAR ENERGY SOURCE: NuScale Power Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/26/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/26/2024 04:15 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216748078/en

Superannuation is one of the most important financial tools for securing your , but how does your balance stack up against the average for Australians in your age group? Understanding where you stand can provide valuable insight into whether you're on track for the lifestyle you envision in retirement—whether that's a comfortable retirement with plenty of financial freedom or a more modest lifestyle covering the basics. Different retirement lifestyles Firstly, let's look at what a comfortable and modest lifestyle in retirement means according to Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia ( ). It is the peak policy, research and advocacy body for Australia's superannuation industry. ASFA describes a comfortable retirement as follows: The comfortable retirement standard allows retirees to maintain a good standard of living in their post work years. It accounts for daily essentials, such as groceries, transport and home repairs, as well as private health insurance, a range of exercise and leisure activities and the occasional restaurant meal. Importantly it enables retirees to remain connected to family and friends virtually – through technology, and in person with an annual domestic trip and an international trip once every seven years. Whereas a modest retirement strips back on things like international trips and leisure activities. It is described as: The modest retirement standard budgets for a retirement lifestyle that is slightly above the Age Pension and allows retirees to afford basic health insurance and infrequent exercise, leisure and social activities with family and friends. What do you need? Based on the assumption that the retirees own their own home outright and are relatively healthy, a comfortable retirement currently requires the following superannuation at 67: For a modest retirement, significantly less is required: How do you compare? That's how much you need, but how much superannuation do Australians actually have? Here's the most recent data according to QSuper: Do you have enough to retire comfortably? This is a difficult question to answer because everybody is different. But you can use a calculator like to plug in your numbers and find out whether or not you are on track to retire comfortably. If you are on track, that's great! If not, don't be too disheartened. Making extra superannuation contributions could help you get to target by the time you retire. But it is worth remembering that the comfortable retirement figures are for today. Due to inflation, someone that is now in their 20s will likely require significantly more when they reach retirement age compared with someone that is about to retire. So, always aim for more superannuation than you think you will need. It's certainly better to have too much than too little.Headed South for Winter? 5 Tips for Snowbirds About to Take Flight

A panel of authorities on the data center industry told Northwest energy planners Wednesday that the tech sector will take all the electricity it can get its hands on, warning of severe consequences if the region doesn’t respond in time. “We’re going to need to build more transmission faster than any time we have in the last 70 years as a region,” said Robert Cromwell, who consults with Northwest power utilities. He said the region is already flirting with rolling blackouts because peak energy demand is already near the region’s capacity to provide electricity. Data center demand is soaring because of artificial intelligence, which uses massive amounts of electricity for advanced computation. These powerful machines already consume more than 10% of all of Oregon’s power and forecasters say data center power use will be at least double that by 2030 — and perhaps some multiple higher. If the Northwest fails to add enough generation and transmission to meet the growing energy needs, Cromwell said periodic blackouts are inevitable at times power demand is at its greatest. He used an industry term, “rotating load shedding,” to describe rolling blackouts, which briefly cut off power to homes, businesses and even hospitals that need electricity to provide life-saving care. “Nothing will change policy faster than elected officials going to constituent funerals, and it won’t be for the better because it’ll be reactionary and less than fully thought through,” Cromwell told Wednesday’s meeting of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. Oregon has one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing data center industries, owing in large part to some of the most generous tax breaks anywhere in the world . Data centers don’t employ many people, but the wealthy tech companies that run them enjoy Oregon tax giveaways worth more than $225 million annually. Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta operate enormous data centers in central and eastern Oregon. Several other companies, including Oracle, LinkedIn and the social network X, have huge installations in Hillsboro. Earlier this year, the power council issued a forecast suggesting a range of possibilities for data center power demand through the end of the decade. In the middle case, the council said Northwest data centers would need 4,000 average megawatts of additional electricity in 2030. That’s an enormous jump in demand, equivalent to the power use of 3 million homes. And yet on Wednesday, Cromwell said the council’s median forecast is too low. “Your medium case is not high enough and your high case is probably pretty close to spot on,” he said. The high forecast predicts that data centers will actually need an additional 6,500 average megawatts in the next few years — equivalent to the power needs of nearly 5 million homes. “There’s no question in my mind that the demand for computation and AI, and the demand to plug in (computer processors), exceeds the available power that we have by 2030,” said Brian Janous, a former Microsoft vice president now consulting for industrial electricity users. There’s little prospect of blunting that growth by shifting demand to other data centers during peak times or through the invention of more efficient computers, Janous and others told the council on Wednesday. He said the demand for artificial intelligence is so high that data center operators will use all the electricity they can get and will operate all their facilities around the clock. When power demand exceeds supply, during winter storms or heatwaves for example, utilities and governments must make wrenching decisions about who loses power and for how long. Turning off power to data centers could preserve power for homes and hospitals but would have its own negative consequences. Think about the faulty CrowdStrike software update last summer, said panelist Sarah Smith, with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. That took down banks, hospitals, factories, news sites and many others as online systems went awry. “Air travel was disrupted for days,” Smith said. “There was a lot of really wide-ranging impacts you could imagine.” The Northwest Power and Conservation Council is a regional organization that works with utilities and governments in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington to balance future power needs and environmental protections. It convened Wednesday’s panel on data centers to help plan a new forecast the council will issue next year. Big tech companies generally accept the scientific consensus that carbon emissions are causing climate change. Until recently, most tech companies expressed public commitments to find renewable power for their data centers. Recently, though, Janous said they’ve become “willing to compromise, in the short run” on their clean power goals because they’re desperate for any source of electricity. Despite the data centers’ voracious appetite for power, the panelists expressed some hope that the region will be able to meet the challenge and, in time, push data center operators to return to their clean energy aspirations. They suggested a Northwest regional transmission authority, long under discussion, could help streamline the construction of new power lines and collaboration among western states. Data centers’ power needs are triggering expensive upgrades to the Northwest’s power lines and prompting construction of new power plants. There is growing concern among ratepayer advocates, regulators and politicians that households will end up bearing much of the cost of data center growth through higher residential power bills. On Wednesday, panelists said data center operators are highly motivated. They said tech companies probably be willing to bear the cost of additional power themselves, provided they have a pathway to get that energy quickly. “The companies that are asking for this infrastructure are extraordinarily deep-pocketed and there’s a huge willingness to pay,” Janous said, “because the returns they earn on the back end are massive.” -- Mike Rogoway covers Oregon technology and the state economy. Reach him at mrogoway@oregonian.com . Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe

Plastics treaty failure shows need to curtail oil industrySuchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI’s strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time,” said a statement from OpenAI. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said “appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.” The city’s chief medical examiner’s office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide. His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a “happy, smart and brave young man” who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends. Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT. “Suchir’s contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn’t have succeeded without him,” said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what made him such an exceptional engineer and scientist was his attention to detail and ability to notice subtle bugs or logical errors. “He had a knack for finding simple solutions and writing elegant code that worked,” Schulman wrote. “He’d think through the details of things carefully and rigorously.” Balaji later shifted to organizing the huge datasets of online writings and other media used to train GPT-4, the fourth generation of OpenAI’s flagship large language model and a basis for the company’s famous chatbot. It was that work that eventually caused Balaji to question the technology he helped build, especially after newspapers, novelists began suing OpenAI and other AI companies for copyright infringement. He first raised his concerns with The New York Times, which reported them in an October . He later told The Associated Press he would “try to testify” in the strongest copyright infringement cases and considered a The New York Times last year to be the “most serious.” Times lawyers named him in a Nov. 18 court filing as someone who might have “unique and relevant documents” supporting allegations of OpenAI’s willful copyright infringement. His records were also sought by lawyers in a separate case brought by book authors including the comedian Sarah Silverman, according to a court filing. “It doesn’t feel right to be training on people’s data and then competing with them in the marketplace,” Balaji told the AP in late October. “I don’t think you should be able to do that. I don’t think you are able to do that legally.” He told the AP that he gradually grew more disillusioned with OpenAI, especially after that led its board of directors to fire and then rehire CEO Sam Altman last year. Balaji said he was broadly concerned about how its commercial products were rolling out, including their propensity for spouting false information known as hallucinations. But of the “bag of issues” he was concerned about, he said he was focusing on copyright as the one it was “actually possible to do something about.” He acknowledged that it was an unpopular opinion within the AI research community, which is accustomed to pulling data from the internet, but said “they will have to change and it’s a matter of time.” He had not been deposed and it’s unclear to what extent his revelations will be admitted as evidence in any legal cases after his death. He also published a personal blog post with his opinions about the topic. Schulman, who resigned from OpenAI in August, said he and Balaji coincidentally left on the same day and celebrated with fellow colleagues that night with dinner and drinks at a San Francisco bar. Another of Balaji’s mentors, co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, had left OpenAI , which Balaji saw as another impetus to leave. Schulman said Balaji had told him earlier this year of his plans to leave OpenAI and that Balaji didn’t think that better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence “was right around the corner, like the rest of the company seemed to believe.” The younger engineer expressed interest in getting a doctorate and exploring “some more off-the-beaten path ideas about how to build intelligence,” Schulman said. Balaji’s family said a memorial is being planned for later this month at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California, not far from his hometown of Cupertino. —————- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. or Canada is available by calling or texting 988. —————–Al-Sisi, Frederiksen discuss strengthening Egypt-Denmark relationsNEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) — Jayden Brown had 17 points in Cent. Conn. St.'s 64-56 victory against Binghamton on Sunday. Brown added eight rebounds for the Blue Devils (3-3). Jordan Jones scored 15 points and added five rebounds. Davonte Sweatman shot 3 of 10 from the field, including 2 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 6 from the line to finish with 14 points. Tymu Chenery led the way for the Bearcats (2-5) with 16 points and four assists. Nehemiah Benson added 14 points and six rebounds for Binghamton. Gavin Walsh also had nine points and eight rebounds. NEXT UP Cent. Conn. St.'s next game is Sunday against UMass-Lowell at home. Binghamton squares off against Niagara on Friday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .It poured rain Thursday morning, but the 2024 LIFT Event still persisted in helping the underprivileged at the Tehama District Fairgrounds.

Stephen A. Smith backs a Timothée Chalamet sports media ‘pivot’ after impressive ESPN appearance

How many of us have received stocking stuffers that just seem like, well, filler? Cheesy little gifts we know we'll never use, promptly shoved in a drawer and forgot about by January. But as a kitchen product writer who used to bake professionally, I'm all about filling those socks on the fireplace with handy cooking tools. Whether you're shopping for aspiring chefs or cooking novices, these are my 10 picks — from a bestselling to a . They're practical, sometimes fun and entirely giftable. Happy holidays! Kitchellence 3-Stage Knife Sharpener Ototo Crab Utensil Rest ThermoPro Digital Meat Thermometer Kitchen Mama Electric Can Opener Oxo Good Grips Cookie Scoop Di Oro Silicone Spatula Flairosol Olivia Oil Sprayer Microplane Zester and Grater Le Creuset Stoneware Mini Round Cocotte Chef'n Herb Stripper This No. 1 bestseller sharpens, straightens, repairs and polishes to keep old blades looking and functioning like their former selves. Plus, it comes with a protective glove to help prevent cuts! "Old knives turned into new," raved a . "I used it for some older, cheap knives and luckily, I now do not need to buy a newer set ... I can easily slice up tomatoes again, and if the blade gets dull again, at least I have this new, effective sharpening tool to remedy the dull blade!" Who says kitchen tools can't be fun? This adorable crab can be used as a spoon/utensil rest or be clipped onto the side of a pot to prop open the lid. It's like having one's own little crustacean cheerleader while cooking. "I got this as a gift for our family's Secret Santa gift exchange," explained one . "Not only did it make me laugh, but it's also been incredibly useful! No more dirty spoons laying all over the stove; this is easy to affix to the side of a pot or pan and keep a stirring utensil handy while keeping it out of the way." Yes, this bestseller might technically be called a meat thermometer, but don't underestimate its value when it comes to liquids and baked goods, too. The most accurate way to tell if food is done cooking is by taking its temperature, and this gizmo presents a reading in seconds. "Professional chef here," wrote another . "Everything like a cake or bread could be tested, and you can cook with confidence and precision. Great design and no fuss. Seems like it will last as well ... Exactly what I was looking for." You could also go the electric can opener route for recipients who could use a completely hands-off tool. Well, almost hands-off — all they'll have to do is place it on top of the can, press the button and let it do the rest. "This product has been such a lifesaver in our kitchen!" exclaimed one . "Arthritis has hit us both hard, and opening cans has become an issue for us both. ... Oh my, what a game-changer it is. ... You are left with the lid and no sharp edges! I would recommend this item to anyone, arthritis or not!" Know a home baker? Using a cookie scoop is the best way to portion out dough to ensure each of their cookies are the same size. Not only will they look prettier this way, keeping everything as uniform as possible will help ensure they all finish baking at the same time, too. "I'm so glad I finally decided to buy a cookie scoop, and I wish I'd done it years earlier," shared a . "Each year for Christmas, I make a soft ginger cookie, and this scoop made it so easy this year. The cookies were uniform in size and looked so perfect I could have bought them at a bakery. The scoop is easy to use, fits comfortably in my hand and works beautifully. My repaired carpal tunnel hands were so happy to have something that made the job easy." Whisks might be more commonly associated with baking, but I find myself reaching for a silicone spatula like this much more often. The flexible design and rounded corner help it get into the curves of the bowl while mixing, and for more delicate batters, it allows for gently folding the ingredients in. Plus, it can be used to smooth the top out once everything's been poured into the baking vessel. Get it in six colors! "Easily my favorite kitchen tool," gushed a . "It's sturdy enough to cut cold butter, soft enough to lightly caress ganache, flexible enough to get every last drop of oil/melted butter/batter out of the bowl in single schliiiick and there isn't anything that doesn't wash off after the briefest rinse — not even hardened caramel." Grease is the word with this nifty gizmo. I love using it to lightly coat my pans with oil to keep food from sticking without being too rich — and it's never once gotten clogged. Plus, it's really pretty! Sometimes, practical gifts really are the best. "I bought an oil mister from a different brand that was constantly clogging, dripping and generally making a mess," shared a . "I finally gave up and tried the Olivia oil mister, and man did it make a difference. First, one or two sprays absolutely coats a pan or veggies or whatever with your oil of choice ... and it has shown no signs of slowing down or clogging. The best part? It doesn't drip or make a mess. It's very easy to fill, and despite the plastic top not being the most sturdy thing I've ever seen, it seems durable enough." My culinary life was changed when I discovered the Microplane, which makes quick and easy work of everything from zesting citrus to grating cheese. It's far less bulky than a box grater, and its handheld design offers much more control (meaning, less chance of nicking your fingers). It comes in 27 colors/prints! "Easy to use, easy to hold and easy to clean!" wrote a . "I love using this thing. The 'blades' on the microplane surface do not stick up very far, so even if you do accidentally run your hand across the grating surface, you're relatively unharmed - it's not like some of the old-fashioned ones where you get torn to bits. This thing will turn any hard cheese into little fluffy clouds of joy, for you to consume." How adorable is this personal-size pot? Le Creuset can cost a pretty penny, but if you're looking for a more affordable gift, this darling 8-ounce cocotte is the perfect find. It's perfect for heating up individual servings of cozy favorites like mac and cheese and oatmeal, or for storing butter at a spreadable room temperature. Get it in 14 colors. "I ordered this item with the hopes of using it as a salt crock and can say I am delighted with the choice," shared a . "It’s the perfect size and looks fantastic sitting on my stove. And the convenience of having salt so close at hand while cooking is the desired outcome." No one likes having to pick each and every little leaf off of their herbs or removing the stems from their kale. And with this top-rated herb stripper, your recipient won't have to. They'll just slide the stems through the hole that fits best, and the leaves will come off in one fell swoop. "This is one of those random kitchen gadgets that you would never even think about existing, but it's brilliant!" raved a . "We grew kale in our garden this fall and I was spending way too much time cutting the leaves off the stems. Then I stumbled across this tool ... I immediately ordered one and was very impressed! It saves me so much time stripping those leaves. I also use it for rosemary, oregano and other herbs. It really has come in handy way more than I would have thought, especially since we have a garden and I have lots of fresh, leafy veggies and herbs!" If you have , you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. . 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Two years ago, the Griffin family of Vancouver lost their daughter to a rare form of brain cancer. Today, they honor her memory by creating holiday-themed gift baskets for families facing the same fight. Maddy Griffin was 15 years old when she was diagnosed with astrocytoma, a rare type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord. She died in 2022 when she was just 16. But Maddy’s mother, Melinda Griffin, wanted her memory to live on. Melinda Griffin, a teacher at Riverview Elementary School, later created a Facebook page in her daughter’s honor called Miracle Maddy , where she spreads awareness of childhood cancers. On five major holidays — Valentine’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas — the Griffins create goodie baskets to deliver to pediatric oncology patients at two children’s hospitals in Portland. “I have befriended so many people in the cancer community because of this. I feel like Maddy has given me my mission now: to bring a little bit of joy,” Melinda Griffin said. “It’s not a fix, but it’s a momentary bliss for kids who are stuck in their current situation.” The Griffin family put together about 145 gift baskets this year. They planned to make their first delivery Friday to pediatric patients at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, where Maddy also received treatment. The baskets are made up of items donated by community members, including toys, stuffed animals, hats, books, candy and other holiday-themed stocking stuffers. They’re often organized by age and gender, but all require one thing: a stuffed animal, Melinda Griffin said. “It’s kind of like you build this kinship with these families,” Melinda Griffin said. “You connect to them and that’s really important to me. I don’t want to lose that.” ‘We couldn’t fix this’ In 2020, Maddy began experiencing headaches and blurred vision. Her family thought that she may need a new prescription for her eyeglasses, so they took her to an appointment at Mt. View EyeCare in Vancouver . That appointment happened to be on Aug. 11, 2020, Maddy’s 15th birthday. During the exam, optometrist Shannon Soper noticed fluid behind Maddy’s eyes and referred her to a local emergency room for further examination. At the emergency room, a doctor told the Griffin family that brain cancer could be the cause of Maddy’s symptoms. Maddy was transferred to Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in Portland where, after days of hospitalization, she was diagnosed with an inoperable form of brain cancer, grade 3 astrocytoma glioma. Astrocytoma, made up of star-shaped cells called astrocytes, targets the largest part of the brain. This tumor grows quickly and can spread to nearby brain tissue. A grade 3 tumor means that it grows faster and more aggressively than grades 1 and 2. Grade 3 astrocytomas and glioblastomas account for 10 percent of all childhood central nervous system tumors, according to Cleveland Clinic . “Even the way she battled this, we never let her know there was no cure,” Melinda Griffin said. “It was inoperable, but I didn’t want her to see what the prognosis was. We couldn’t accept that we couldn’t fix this.” Fighting for family Maddy immediately began chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Melinda Griffin said throughout treatment, Maddy’s high spirits never wavered. “She was an old soul,” Melinda Griffin said. Maddy was a student at Union High School, who loved classical music and spending time with her friends. She played piano and violin and enjoyed listening to music from the 1940s and ’50s, like Johnny Cash, her mother said. Over the course of her treatment, Maddy began to lose function on one side of her body, meaning it was difficult for her to play. That doesn’t mean she stopped trying, according to her piano teacher, Rebekah Meyers. “We just picked out the melody with her one hand. Who cares about the two hands at that moment,” said Meyers, who teaches at Beacock Music. “I didn’t want her to worry about having to use two hands. I wanted her to feel the joy in music.” In the last six months of Maddy’s life, she transitioned into hospice care. Maddy’s family took care of her at their Vancouver home. After almost two years of treatment, Maddy died Feb. 22, 2022. Throughout their grieving process, the Griffins said they leaned on the community for support. Riverview Elementary School raised enough money for Melinda Griffin to take a year off of teaching. Matt Griffin, Maddy’s father, is a manager at Fred Meyer and had flexibility within his job to be with family. The Vancouver community, Maddy’s teachers, friends and doctors were all there as a support system, Matt Griffin said. Melinda Griffin said the minute Maddy died, all the anger she felt went away. “It can happen to anyone. I think the reality is that it’s always someone else’s kid, but it touched us,” she said. “I think it’s really hard for people who haven’t experienced losing someone to cancer.” Now that Miracle Maddy is growing, the Griffins eventually want to start a nonprofit to continue making the gift baskets and spreading awareness about childhood cancer. After they finish deliveries for Christmas, they will immediately begin working on baskets for Valentine’s Day. Melinda Griffin said she can picture Maddy smiling down at her and what she’s created. “You have to find your why. I do it for her,” Melinda Griffin said. This story was made possible by Community Funded Journalism , a project from The Columbian and the Local Media Foundation . Top donors include the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, Patricia, David and Jacob Nierenberg, Connie and Lee Kearney, Steve and Jan Oliva, The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation and the Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund. The Columbian controls all content. For more information, visit columbian.com/cfj .

Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time,” said a statement from OpenAI. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said “appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.” The city's chief medical examiner's office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide. His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a “happy, smart and brave young man” who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends. Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT. “Suchir’s contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn’t have succeeded without him,” said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what made him such an exceptional engineer and scientist was his attention to detail and ability to notice subtle bugs or logical errors. “He had a knack for finding simple solutions and writing elegant code that worked,” Schulman wrote. “He’d think through the details of things carefully and rigorously.” Balaji later shifted to organizing the huge datasets of online writings and other media used to train GPT-4, the fourth generation of OpenAI's flagship large language model and a basis for the company's famous chatbot. It was that work that eventually caused Balaji to question the technology he helped build, especially after newspapers, novelists and others began suing OpenAI and other AI companies for copyright infringement. He first raised his concerns with The New York Times , which reported them in an October profile of Balaji. He later told The Associated Press he would “try to testify” in the strongest copyright infringement cases and considered a lawsuit brought by The New York Times last year to be the “most serious.” Times lawyers named him in a Nov. 18 court filing as someone who might have “unique and relevant documents” supporting allegations of OpenAI's willful copyright infringement. His records were also sought by lawyers in a separate case brought by book authors including the comedian Sarah Silverman , according to a court filing. “It doesn’t feel right to be training on people’s data and then competing with them in the marketplace,” Balaji told the AP in late October. “I don’t think you should be able to do that. I don’t think you are able to do that legally.” He told the AP that he gradually grew more disillusioned with OpenAI, especially after the internal turmoil that led its board of directors to fire and then rehire CEO Sam Altman last year. Balaji said he was broadly concerned about how its commercial products were rolling out, including their propensity for spouting false information known as hallucinations. But of the “bag of issues” he was concerned about, he said he was focusing on copyright as the one it was “actually possible to do something about.” He acknowledged that it was an unpopular opinion within the AI research community, which is accustomed to pulling data from the internet, but said “they will have to change and it’s a matter of time.” He had not been deposed and it’s unclear to what extent his revelations will be admitted as evidence in any legal cases after his death. He also published a personal blog post with his opinions about the topic. Schulman, who resigned from OpenAI in August, said he and Balaji coincidentally left on the same day and celebrated with fellow colleagues that night with dinner and drinks at a San Francisco bar. Another of Balaji’s mentors, co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, had left OpenAI several months earlier, which Balaji saw as another impetus to leave. Schulman said Balaji had told him earlier this year of his plans to leave OpenAI and that Balaji didn't think that better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence “was right around the corner, like the rest of the company seemed to believe.” The younger engineer expressed interest in getting a doctorate and exploring “some more off-the-beaten path ideas about how to build intelligence,” Schulman said. Balaji's family said a memorial is being planned for later this month at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California, not far from his hometown of Cupertino. —————- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. —————-- The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement allowing OpenAI access to part of the AP’s text archives.As the holiday season approaches, Taylor Swift’s makeup artist, Lorrie Turk , has revealed her favorite beauty gifts, offering fans a chance to recreate the superstar’s radiant look. Known for her work with Swift over the years, Turk has carefully curated a list of top beauty products for gifting, ranging from skincare essentials to cosmetics, as mentioned in a report by Page Six. Mocado Compact LED Mirror: A Travel Essential For those on the go, Lorrie Turk recommends the Mocado Compact LED Mirror, which she describes as “really great” for travel. The mirror is rechargeable, offers multiple magnification options, and features light settings ideal for flawless makeup application. This compact tool has become a favorite among shoppers, with over 400 units sold on Amazon in the past month. 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Lisa Eldridge Rouge Experience Refillable Lipstick: Perfect Red Lips Also Read : Softbank's Masayoshi Son announces $100 billion investment in front of Trump, ex-Obama advisers mock Biden disappearing in final months of presidency For makeup lovers who crave the perfect red lipstick, Turk highlights Lisa Eldridge’s Rouge Experience Refillable Lipstick. She calls it “the most gorgeous lipstick colors” and a must-have for anyone looking to add a pop of color to their makeup routine. The luxurious lipstick line is known for its rich pigments and smooth application, perfect for those who want to channel Taylor Swift’s iconic red lips, as mentioned in the report by Page Six. Yensa Super Serum Silk Foundation: Flawless Skin When it comes to foundation, Turk swears by Yensa’s Super Serum Silk Foundation, packed with vitamin C to nourish the skin while offering full coverage. According to Turk, Yensa’s foundation is her “personal favorite face makeup,” providing a silky texture and natural finish that ensures skin looks radiant and flawless, just like Swift’s. Mara Sea Sculpt Body Oil: Ultimate Hydration One of Turk’s most passionate recommendations is Mara’s Sea Sculpt Body Oil, which she describes as her “favorite body oil ever.” Made with a proprietary algae blend, the body oil promises to hydrate and sculpt the skin. Turk even jokingly wished it came in a “gallon size,” showcasing just how much she loves this product for achieving smooth and glowing skin. 111Skin Cryo De-Puffing Eye Mask: Eye Care Must-Have To combat puffiness and fatigue, Turk suggests 111Skin’s Cryo De-Puffing Eye Mask. These masks have become a staple for celebrities, and Turk, who works closely with Swift, also swears by them. Known for their ability to refresh tired eyes, these masks help reduce swelling and brighten the under-eye area, making them an essential part of any beauty routine. Also Read : Never ending search: Malaysia clears multi-million dollar funding to search for MH370 a decade after it disappeared; here' the new technology that will be used Alastin Skincare Restorative Eye Treatment: For Revitalized Eyes In addition to the eye masks, Turk also recommends Alastin Skincare’s Restorative Eye Treatment. This product is designed to reduce puffiness and fine lines, giving the eyes a rejuvenated and refreshed appearance. With its potent formula, it’s perfect for anyone looking to address signs of fatigue and aging around the delicate eye area. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder: A Smooth Finish Charlotte Tilbury’s products are a regular feature in Turk’s beauty routine, and she’s particularly fond of the Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder. This powder ensures that makeup stays in place throughout the day while blurring imperfections for a flawless, airbrushed look. It’s a must-have for anyone who wants to maintain a smooth, matte finish, just like Taylor Swift’s signature look. Revitalash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner: Lash Enhancement For luscious lashes, Turk suggests Revitalash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner. She writes that the formula “really works,” helping to enhance and condition lashes over time. Perfect for those who want to achieve the voluminous lashes often seen in Taylor Swift’s makeup routine, this lash serum is a game-changer for anyone looking to boost their lash game. FAQs How is Taylor Swift a billionaire? According to Forbes, the Grammy-winning artist has earned nearly $600 million from royalties and touring alone. Her music catalog is valued at around $600 million, and her real estate holdings are estimated to be worth $125 million. What is Taylor Swift's most listened to song? Earlier this year, "Cruel Summer," a track from her 2019 album Lover that many fans believed should have been a single, surpassed her iconic 2014 hit "Blank Space" to become her most streamed song. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )