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NoneBy MIKE CATALINI CHATHAM, N.J. (AP) — That buzzing coming out of New Jersey? It’s unclear if it’s drones or something else, but for sure the nighttime sightings are producing tons of talk, a raft of conspiracy theories and craned necks looking skyward. Related Articles National News | FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup National News | OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment National News | Judge rejects an attempt by Trump campaign lawyer to invalidate guilty plea in Georgia election case National News | Texas’ abortion pill lawsuit against New York doctor marks new challenge to interstate telemedicine National News | US military flies American released from Syrian prison to Jordan, officials say Cropping up on local news and social media sites around Thanksgiving, the saga of the drones reported over New Jersey has reached incredible heights. This week seems to have begun a new, higher-profile chapter: Lawmakers are demanding (but so far not getting) explanations from federal and state authorities about what’s behind them. Gov. Phil Murphy wrote to President Joe Biden asking for answers. New Jersey’s new senator, Andy Kim, spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in rural northern New Jersey, and posted about it on X. But perhaps the most fantastic development is the dizzying proliferation of conspiracies — none of which has been confirmed or suggested by federal and state officials who say they’re looking into what’s happening. It has become shorthand to refer to the flying machines as drones, but there are questions about whether what people are seeing are unmanned aircraft or something else. Some theorize the drones came from an Iranian mothership. Others think they are the Secret Service making sure President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster property is secure. Others worry about China. The deep state. And on. In the face of uncertainty, people have done what they do in 2024: Create a social media group. The Facebook page, New Jersey Mystery Drones — let’s solve it , has nearly 44,000 members, up from 39,000 late Thursday. People are posting their photo and video sightings, and the online commenters take it from there. One video shows a whitish light flying in a darkened sky, and one commenter concludes it’s otherworldly. “Straight up orbs,” the person says. Others weigh in to say it’s a plane or maybe a satellite. Another group called for hunting the drones literally, shooting them down like turkeys. (Do not shoot at anything in the sky, experts warn.) Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, lives near Round Valley Reservoir where there have been numerous sightings. She said she first posted photos online last month wondering what the objects were and became convinced they were drones when she saw how they moved and when her son showed her on a flight tracking site that no planes were around. Now she’s glued to the Mystery Drones page, she said. “I find myself — instead of Christmas shopping or cleaning my house — checking it,” she said. She doesn’t buy what the governor said, that the drones aren’t a risk to public safety. Murphy told Biden on Friday that residents need answers. The federal Homeland Security Department and FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” “How can you say it’s not posing a threat if you don’t know what it is?” she said. “I think that’s why so many people are uneasy.” Then there’s the notion that people could misunderstand what they’re seeing. William Austin is the president of Warren County Community College, which has a drone technology degree program, and is coincidentally located in one of the sighting hotspots. Austin says he has looked at videos of purported drones and that airplanes are being misidentified as drones. He cited an optical effect called parallax, which is the apparent shift of an object when viewed from different perspectives. Austin encouraged people to download flight and drone tracker apps so they can better understand what they’re looking at. Nonetheless, people continue to come up with their own theories. “It represents the United States of America in 2024,” Austin said. “We’ve lost trust in our institutions, and we need it.” Federal officials echo Austin’s view that many of the sightings are piloted aircraft such as planes and helicopters being mistaken for drones, according to lawmakers and Murphy. That’s not really convincing for many, though, who are homing in on the sightings beyond just New Jersey and the East Coast, where others have reported seeing the objects. For Seph Divine, 34, another member of the drone hunting group who lives in Eugene, Oregon, it feels as if it’s up to citizen sleuths to solve the mystery. He said he tries to be a voice of reason, encouraging people to fact check their information, while also asking probing questions. “My main goal is I don’t want people to be caught up in the hysteria and I also want people to not just ignore it at the same time,” he said. “Whether or not it’s foreign military or some secret access program or something otherworldly, whatever it is, all I’m saying is it’s alarming that this is happening so suddenly and so consistently for hours at a time,” he added. Associated Press reporter Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.Google's New Computer Chip May Tap 'Multiversal' Power to Function Billions of Times Faster than Supercomputers; Alphabet Stock Soars

Qatar tribune Tribune News Network Doha Facing intense infrastructure, funding and distribution challenges, Palestinian filmmakers at the 2024 Ajyal presented by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), shared their deep concern about future projects, even as they took pride in the commitment of young and established directors to pursue their passion. The Palestinian filmmakers – acclaimed directors Mohammad Bakri and Rashid Masharawi, actor and head of this year’s ‘Made in Qatar’ jury Saleh Bakri, and emerging filmmakers Mohammed Almughanni and Laila Abbas – said films from Palestine are important not only to address misinformation but also to encourage healthy dialogue and understanding about Palestine and its people. Veteran filmmaker Mohammad Bakri, whose film ‘Janin Jenin’ paints a stark picture of filmmaking challenges in Palestine: “There is no infrastructure for the film industry in Palestine, but there are individuals who do their utmost. In every geographical area where Palestinians exist there are different struggles, but we all share dreams of liberation, independence and dignity. In ‘Janin Jenin’, Bakri returns to the Jenin refugee camp 20 years after his original documentary ‘Jenin, Jenin.’ The film weaves together testimonies from survivors of Israel’s recent military operation and reflections on the continuing impact of the 2002 invasion. He added: “I salute the Doha Film Institute at the Ajyal Festival and respect their efforts in organizing such an important festival without extravagance, and with consideration for what is happening to our people in Gaza.” Bakri said that finances his films has been incredibly difficult but at the end of the day, “when I completed Janin Jenin, I looked at myself in the mirror, and I feel proud!” Echoing similar challenges, acclaimed director Rashid Masharawi, whose films have been applauded at festivals around the world, said it took three years for him to do another film, even after being recognized at Cannes. “Each time I start it is as if I am working on my first feature. The reality is that each film takes more time, effort and planning to realize.” He says it is important to make films even though “cinema is not a push of a button for immediate change. But everyone should participate, and I am trying as much as I can through my work to share the Palestinian narrative and refute the false narrative of the Occupation. Cinematic work makes me feel I am not helpless but rather an active participant in the change.” Masharawi said that his new film, ‘Passing Dreams’, which opened Cairo International Film Festival last week, was shot across Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Haifa, West Bank and across Palestine. “All these places are disconnected, and we required to ask for permission to move between them. But we make it happen, and what inspires and moves me is that despite these challenges young people in Palestine continue to make good films.” Masharawi is the curator of ‘From Ground Zero’ (Palestine), a collection of 22 short films created by filmmakers from Gaza, providing an intimate glimpse into the daily lives, struggles, and hopes of people living under siege. “What is happening in Gaza should be shown everywhere,” he said. “The massacre is different from anything that has happened before because it is being broadcast live. We should not get used to this. And what is killing us is not only the Israeli Occupation but also Arab silence.” Actor Saleh Bakri said that while cinema does not heal the wound, “it gives meaning and helps shake off the dust of helplessness.” Highlighting the everyday realities in Palestine, Bakri said “the very idea of a Palestinian city, has been destroyed. In the past, we had the great Arab artists come to Haifa from all over the world to perform. Today, my own natural audience cannot even enter a cinema.” Mohammed Almughanni, the director of ‘An Orange from Jaffa’ (Palestine, Poland, France), about a young Palestinian seeking to reunite with his mother by crossing an Israeli checkpoint, said the “power of cinema bridges the gap between us and the world, and between the people of Palestine. It is a way of expressing what is inside us, but the film industry in Palestine is very difficult because the circumstances make cinema a luxury that people cannot afford.” Laila Abbas, whose DFI-supported film ‘Thank You For Banking With Us’ (Palestine, Germany, KSA, Qatar, Egypt), is screening at Ajyal said that cinema asks difficult questions and creates dialogue. “I shot my film before the events of October 7. I wanted to stay away from politics, but this is impossible in the Palestinian context because that would mean detaching from reality. And I did not want Israel to also occupy my story.” Copy 22/11/2024 10

Booking Holdings Inc. stock falls Monday, underperforms marketPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Chris Austin's 20 points off of the bench helped lead Portland to a 74-64 victory over Lafayette on Saturday night. Austin shot 6 of 11 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line for the Pilots (5-8). Austin Rapp scored 15 points while shooting 4 for 6 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line and added eight rebounds. Kelson Gebbers shot 2 for 4 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 10 points. Justin Vander Baan led the Leopards (5-7) in scoring, finishing with 17 points and two steals. Lafayette also got 11 points and four assists from Mark Butler. Alex Chaikin also had 11 points. Portland entered halftime up 31-22. Austin paced the team in scoring in the first half with 12 points. Portland used a 14-3 second-half run to come back from a one-point deficit and take the lead at 55-45 with 8:56 remaining in the half before finishing off the victory. Rapp scored nine second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

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Zoom just reported Q3 results. The stock is slipping.Brighton were booed off after their winless run was stretched to six Premier League games by a frustrating goalless draw against away-day strugglers Brentford. Albion dominated for large periods on a foggy evening at the Amex Stadium and hit the woodwork inside four minutes through Julio Enciso. Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken also made a string of important saves before being forced off injured in the 36th minute, albeit his replacement Hakon Valdimarsson was rarely tested on his Premier League debut. Brentford, who remain without a top-flight away win this term, had an early Yoane Wissa finish ruled out for offside following VAR intervention but barely threatened, despite an improved second-half showing. The Seagulls remain 10th ahead of Monday’s trip to Aston Villa, with Thomas Frank’s visitors a position and two points below moving towards their New Year’s Day showdown with Arsenal. Brighton have plummeted from second place to mid-table amid a poor run of form which has increased scrutiny on head coach Fabian Hurzeler. Seagulls chief executive Paul Barber called for perspective from fans in his programme notes after revealing he revealed emails “full of doom and gloom” following the recent 3-1 home defeat to rivals Crystal Palace. Enciso, one of two players recalled by Hurzeler following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at West Ham, almost gave Albion a dream start. A poor pass from Bees goalkeeper Flekken was intercepted by Carlos Baleba and, following a neat layoff from Joao Pedro, Paraguay forward Enciso curled against the right post. Brentford arrived in Sussex with the worst away record in the division, having previously taken a solitary point from 24 available this term. Flekken saved well from Baleba and then collected a tame header from the unmarked Enciso before the away side thought they had snatched a 13th-minute lead. After being slipped in by Mads Roerslev at the end of a swift counter-attack, Wissa thumped high into the net beyond Seagulls keeper Bart Verbruggen only to be ruled marginally offside. Flekken made further saves from Brajan Gruda and Matt O’Riley before hurting himself keeping out a deflected Kaoru Mitoma cross and being replaced by 23-year-old Iceland international Valdimarsson. Brentford remained on the back foot and, aside from Wissa’s disallowed effort, offered little going forward in a one-sided opening period which somehow ended level. Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke produced a crucial block to deny Wissa as the west London club began the second half brightly before Christian Norgaard’s ambitious effort deflected wide amid groans from increasingly restless home fans. Hurzeler responded with a triple change, introducing Yasin Ayari, Simon Adingra and Yankuba Minteh in place of O’Riley, Gruda and Mitoma. Albion forward Pedro then escaped punishment in the 76th minute after swinging an arm at Bees substitute Yehor Yarmoliuk without making contact before defender Ben Mee became the second visiting player to depart injured. The introduction of Solly March in the 88th minute for his first appearance since suffering a serious knee injury in October last year briefly lifted the mood on the terraces. But, following a frantic five minutes of added time, some Seagulls supporters vented their displeasure at full-time as their club’s wait for victory goes on.

The NFL wished Taylor Swift a Happy Birthday with a TikTok of her and Travis Kelce’s most memorable moments—on and off the field. Kelce’s employer posted the video of the singer and his relationship, which already has racked up over 1 million views. The caption read, “Karma is the guy on the @Chiefs saying happy bday to me.” The clips showed Kelce and Swift celebrating his wins at games, the pair at her concerts, and her glitzed out in Chiefs gear. “If you told me 2 years ago I would be following the NFL on tiktok and not falling asleep everytime a game is on TV... never would’ve believed it,” wrote one commenter. “Happy birthday Taylor. Thank you for uniting the Swifties and the Football Fans together in the name of art and sport,” another wrote. Swift has been seen at many Chiefs games since the beginning of her relationship with the tight end, with him visiting her at some of her tour dates. karma is the guy on the @Chiefs saying happy bday to me 🎶 #taylorswift #traviskelce #nfl #kansascitychiefs Saturday Night Live alum Pete Davidson , known best to some for his past relationships with Kim Kardashian , Ariana Grande , Kate Beckinsale , and more famous women, now says he doesn’t want to be known as “this f---ing loser who just dates people,” in a new interview for W Magazine . to promote his new role as creative director for colorful sock brand Doublesoul, Davidson told the outlet his feeling that he was one of “a handful of celebs every couple of years” that the media “destroys,” after multiple run-ins with tabloids over his famous exes. “For some reason, I’m one of the people they chose to go after,” he said. But, he added, “It’s actually, in a way, a blessing, because it allowed me to take a step back and evaluate things. What do you want to be? Who are you?” Davidson said he only wants to be seen publicly “when it’s movie, stand-up, charity, or business ventures” and to focus on his stand-up career. “I’m someone who is from Staten Island, wanted to do stand-up, and if I got to do anything else because of stand-up, it was a miracle.” Posters are a great way to celebrate your favorite fandom. But if you’re looking for that real “WOW!” factor, nothing beats Fathead . For 17 years, Fathead has been an industry leader in officially licensed graphic wall art across sports and entertainment. You can even create personalized products, making big-head cutouts and life-size wall decals from your own photos. Installing the decals is a breeze. Unroll the decal and lie it flat. Wipe down your wall with a damp cloth. After the wall is dry, peel off the decal backing and apply it slowly, smoothing out any bubbles as you go. Need to adjust? No problem— Fathead decals can be peeled off and reapplied easily. No matter your favorite football team, Fathead has a wall decal for them . Free Shipping The basketball season has just tipped off. Celebrate your favorite player with a life-size wall decal. Free Shipping From everyone’s favorite web-slinging New Yorker to the fourth-wall breaking merc with a mouth, Fathead’s superhero decals burst with vibrant colors. You’ll marvel at how they bring your walls to life. Free Shipping If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission. The iconic sitcom Malcolm in the Middle will hit screens for the first time in 18 years, with a limited run of four episodes set to premiere on Disney+ . Frankie Muniz, who will reprise his role as Malcolm, announced the reboot Friday, along with Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, who play his parents. The original creator of the show will also return as a writer. The new series follows Malcolm returning home with his daughter for his parents’ 40th wedding anniversary, according to Deadline . Christopher Kennedy Masterson, who played the eldest brother Francis, and Justin Berfield, who played the middle child Reese, are likely to be asked to reprise their roles. Though it’s unlikely that Erik Per Sullivan, who plays the youngest brother Dewey, will make an appearance. He quit acting in 2010 and has not appeared at any reunions. Malcolm in the Middle first premiered on Fox in 2000 and ran for seven seasons. Its success as a family comedy is credited with paving the way for other single-camera sitcoms. Legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers is finally opening up about his strained relationship with his family. In his new documentary, Aaron Rodgers: Enigma , Rodgers explained that he has “stunted emotional intelligence” because of the lack of open emotion in his home growing up. “I think I saw my dad cry when my grandfather passed. And that might have been it,” Rodgers shared. “There wasn’t space for emotion.” Rodgers’ brother, Jordan, first opened up about the family’s rift during his time on The Bachelorette in 2016. During a hometown date with his now-wife JoJo Fletcher, the family explained that while they “miss” Rodgers, they no longer have a relationship with him. In a 2017 profile with The New York Times , Rodgers’ father, Ed, confirmed that he hadn’t spoken to his son in three years. “Fame can change things,” he said. At the time, Rodgers said he didn’t want to talk about his family publicly. In the doc, Rodgers spoke about his family while participating in an ayahuasca ceremony. The quarterback said the psychedelic drug allows users to “model a new way of thinking about masculinity, or what it means to be a man.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Consuming cannabis as an adult feels very different than doing so as a fresh-faced 21-year-old—so why should your smoking habits make your space feel like a disheveled college dorm room? NWTN Home’s collection of chic smoking essentials offers a more elevated way to enjoy cannabis in the comfort of your home. NWTN Home is a smokeware brand bringing craftsmanship to the cannabis industry by designing what they call “homeware for the high-minded.” Its weed-associated products are built to double as elegant and functional houseware items , helping you upgrade your home into a full smoking sanctuary. Plus, they make the perfect holiday gifts for your favorite creative cannabis connoisseur! This hand-poured, marbled ashtray rests atop a sleek melamine rolling tray and includes a helpful brass tool that can assist in your rolling process, making it the perfect blend of form and function. This standout stackable flower pot ashtray set is a surefire solution to keep your space clean—and your houseguests impressed. No cannabis collection is complete without something to smoke out of! These avant-garde gravity bongs are inspired by vintage housewares and designed to seamlessly blend into your barware and greenware set-ups. Released bodycam footage shows Paris Hilton’s ex-fiancé, Chris Zylka, in a chaotic brawl with police after a failed carjacking. Police in a Cleveland suburb first responded to reports of a shirtless, barefoot man walking in traffic in freezing temperatures on Dec. 4, local outlet WKBN first reported. Zylka was found in the middle of an intersection, where he allegedly tried to break into a woman’s car. He pointed a cell phone at the cops and began foaming at the mouth, leading officers to believe he was under the influence of drugs, according to the police report. Footage shows Zylka struggling with police officers and resisting arrest even after being tasered in the leg twice. He was then put in an ambulance by paramedics. The actor is now facing felony charges of assault and attempt to commit an offense, as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and aggravated menacing. Hilton and Zylka started dating in 2017 after being friends for years. He proposed in early 2018 during a ski trip in Aspen, Colorado, but they called off their engagement in November that same year. Vanderpump Rules alum James Kennedy is refusing to apologize for his domestic violence arrest . “We are in the process of conducting our own investigation into the allegations levied by the Burbank Police Department against James,” Kennedy’s attorneys said in a statement to the Daily Mail . “We understand that there were no injuries and we are hoping that, after careful review, the city’s attorneys will decide not to file formal charges.” Police were called to Kennedy’s home on Tuesday because of an argument between Kennedy and a woman. That night, Kennedy attended Kathy Hilton’s Christmas party with girlfriend Ally Lewber, though it’s unknown if she is the victim. Police told People that after an investigation, they arrested the reality star for misdemeanor domestic violence. He later posted $20,000 bail. A source at the Christmas party told People that Kennedy was acting “super aggressive.” “He was acting so erratic, running back and forth to the bar and body-checking people along the way,” the source alleged. “He appeared inebriated. Spent the evening mostly alone but when he did speak to people, he appeared irritated and rude.” A doctor has rubbished Brandi Glanville’s scary medical theory about her “deflated” face , saying he’s concerned about an infection that started via an injection. The 52-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum claims doctor s told her that it may have been caused by “a parasite that jumps around my face.” But Dr. Terry Dubrow, from Botched , has said he’s “concerned about an infectious process”. He told TMZ : “It’s an infectious process or a foreign body reaction to something she’s had injected.” A foreign body reaction is the response of biological tissue to any foreign material in the tissue, despite it often being inert and nontoxic, according to ScienceDirect.com Dubrow added: “Brandi needs a diagnosis... she has to figure out if there’s a microorganism in there. It’s not gonna be a parasite, it’s not gonna be something she ate... it’s going to be something that got into her bloodstream though, and seeded some foreign body.” Dubrow thinks Glanville either has a micro bacterium, a type of bacteria, or a fungus, a type of organism. Sick it! pic.twitter.com/hrtAzRwOCW A Buckingham Palace maid was arrested this week after she allegedly went “crazy” following a staff Christmas party which saw glasses and punches thrown in a London bar. A report in The Sun said as many as 50 royal servants gathered for an after-party following drinks at the palace Tuesday when the maid, 24, took a swing at a bar manager, threw glasses, and was ultimately arrested for common assault, criminal damage, and being drunk and disorderly. She was released after 24 hours with a fine. “The group walked in and this one girl just got hysterical,” a source told The Sun . “She started smashing glasses and abusing our staff members, so we had to call the police. I’ve never seen one person get that crazy during a night out. She was on another level.” A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident outside the workplace involving a number of Household staff who had previously attended an early evening reception at the Palace. While this was an informal social gathering, not an official palace Christmas party, the facts will be fully investigated, with a robust disciplinary process followed in relation to individual staff and appropriate action taken.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Apparently, boosting prostate health can actually be pleasurable—at least, that’s what premium sexual wellness brand MysteryVibe says. The Molto, an ultra-slim and bendable prostate vibrator designed by a doctor, is engineered to be the same size and width as a doctor’s finger and to mimic similar motions to that performed during an exam, allowing for not only intense prostate (the prostate is often hailed as the male ‘G-spot’) and anal stimulation but also a release of prostatic fluids. 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Because the Molto vibrator is an FDA-registered class II medical device, it’s also FSA/HSA eligible. Is Melania Trump finally back in action? The incoming first lady is joining Donald Trump on Sunday for a private dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Akie Abe, the widow of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, according to reports. Her husband, who was assassinated at a political rally in 2022, reportedly won over Trump during his first term with the proven combination of golf and flattery. Trump and Akie Abe have stayed close, with the president-elect regularly calling her to check in, a source told CNN. Melania Trump is scheduled to attend Sunday’s dinner, her latest public appearance after being largely absent on the campaign trail earlier this year. She also accompanied her husband to the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday for Trump’s ringing of the opening bell. Melania has always been a somewhat reluctant first lady, and it’s still not clear how much time she plans to spend in Washington after Trump takes office in January. She did, however, tell Fox & Friends last week that at least she knows what to expect this time around. Trump is set to have a private dinner this Sunday with Akie Abie, the widow of the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a person familiar says. The dinner will take place at Mar-a-Lago and Melania Trump is expected to attend. Trump and Mrs. Abe have maintained a close... The woman who accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape in 2006 has admitted she fabricated the entire story—18 years after her case captivated the nation before quickly falling apart. Crystal Mangum, the woman at the center of the scandal who is serving a prison sentence for the murder of her boyfriend years later, confessed to lying about the assaults in a new podcast interview. “I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn’t and that was wrong, and I betrayed the trust of a lot of other people who believed in me, and made up a story that wasn’t true because I wanted validation from people and not from God,” Mangum told the podcast Let’s Talk with Kat . Mangum, who was working as an exotic dancer who performed at a lacrosse team party in March 2006, called the three lacrosse players she previously accused her “brothers,” and asked for their forgiveness. “I hurt my brothers, and I hope that they can forgive me, and I want them to know that I love them and they didn’t deserve it. I hope they can forgive me.” The charges against the three lacrosse players were dropped by then-North Carolina Attorney General (and current Governor) Roy Cooper in 2007. The Durham County prosecutor who charged the Duke students was eventually disbarred and convicted of contempt of court for giving the defense incomplete DNA test results that would have excluded the lacrosse players, local station WRAL reported at the time. More than 18 years after the Duke lacrosse allegations, Crystal Mangum admits that she made it all up. "I testified falsely against [the lacrosse players] by saying that they raped me when they didn't...I made up a story that wasn't true...I hope that they can forgive me." pic.twitter.com/3yMjbQTQXHCoppin State wins 68-60 over Navy

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More One of Google’s latest experimental models, Gemini-Exp-1206, shows the potential to alleviate one of the most grueling aspects of any analyst’s job: getting their data and visualizations to sync up perfectly and provide a compelling narrative, without having to work all night . Investment analysts, junior bankers, and members of consulting teams aspiring for partnership positions take their roles knowing that long hours , weekends, and pulling the occasional all-nighter could give them an inside edge on a promotion. What burns so much of their time is getting advanced data analysis done while also creating visualizations that reinforce a compelling storyline . Making this more challenging is that every banking, fintech and consulting firm, like JP Morgan, McKinsey and PwC, has unique formats and conventions for data analysis and visualization. VentureBeat interviewed members of internal project teams whose employers had hired these firms and assigned them to the project. Employees working on consultant-led teams said producing visuals that condense and consolidate the massive amount of data is a persistent challenge. One said it was common for consultant teams to work overnight and do a minimum of three to four iterations of a presentation’s visualizations before settling on one and getting it ready for board-level updates. A compelling use case for test-driving Google’s latest model The process analysts rely on to create presentations that support a storyline with solid visualizations and graphics has so many manual steps and repetitions that it proved a compelling use case for testing Google’s latest model. In launching the model earlier in December, Google’s Patrick Kane wrote , “Whether you’re tackling complex coding challenges, solving mathematical problems for school or personal projects, or providing detailed, multistep instructions to craft a tailored business plan, Gemini-Exp-1206 will help you navigate complex tasks with greater ease.” Google noted the model’s improved performance in more complex tasks, including math reasoning, coding, and following a series of instructions. VentureBeat took Google’s Exp-1206 model for a thorough test drive this week. We created and tested over 50 Python scripts in an attempt to automate and integrate analysis and intuitive, easily understood visualizations that could simplify the complex data being analyzed. Given how hyperscalers are dominant in news cycles today, our specific goal was to create an analysis of a given technology market while also creating supporting tables and advanced graphics. Through over 50 different iterations of verified Python scripts, our findings included: Pushing Exp-1206 toward complex, layered tasks VentureBeat’s goal was to see how far the model could be pushed in terms of complexity and layered tasks. Its performance in creating, running, editing and fine-tuning 50 different Python scripts showed how quickly the model attempts to pick up on nuances in code and react immediately. The model flexes and adapts based on prompt history. The result of running Python code created with Exp-1206 in Google Colab showed that the nuanced granularity extended into shading and translucency of layers in an eight-point spider graph that was designed to show how six hyperscaler competitors compare. The eight attributes we asked Exp-1206 to identify across all hyperscalers and to anchor the spider graph stayed consistent, while graphical representations varied. Battle of the hyperscalers We chose the following hyperscalers to compare in our test: Alibaba Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Digital Realty, Equinix, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Huawei, IBM Cloud, Meta Platforms (Facebook), Microsoft Azure, NTT Global Data Centers, Oracle Cloud, and Tencent Cloud. Next, we wrote an 11-step prompt of over 450 words. The goal was to see how well Exp-1206 can handle sequential logic and not lose its place in a complex multistep process. (You can read the prompt in the appendix at the end of this article.) We next submitted the prompt in Google AI Studio , selecting the Gemini Experimental 1206 model, as shown in the figure below. Next, we copied the code into Google Colab and saved it into a Jupyter notebook (Hyperscaler Comparison – Gemini Experimental 1206.ipynb), then ran the Python script. The script ran flawlessly and created three files (denoted with the red arrows in the upper left). Hyperscaler comparative analysis and a graphic — in less than a minute The first series of instructions in the prompt asked Exp-1206 to create a Python script that would compare 12 different hyperscalers by their product name, unique features and differentiators, and data center locations. Below is how the Excel file that was requested in the script turned out. It took less than a minute to format the spreadsheet to shrink it to fit in the columns. The next series of commands asked for a table of the top six hyperscalers compared across the top of a page and the spider graph below. Exp-1206 chose on its own to represent the data in HTML format, creating the page below. The final sequence of prompt commands centered on creating a spider graph to compare the top six hyperscalers. We tasked Exp-1206 with selecting the eight criteria for the comparison and completing the plot. That series of commands was translated into Python, and the model created the file and provided it in the Google Colab session. A model purpose-built to save analysts’ time VentureBeat has learned that in their daily work, analysts are continuing to create, share and fine-tune libraries of prompts for specific AI models with the goal of streamlining reporting, analysis and visualization across their teams. Teams assigned to large-scale consulting projects need to consider how models like Gemini-Exp-1206 can vastly improve productivity and alleviate the need for 60-hour-plus work weeks and the occasional all-nighter. A series of automated prompts can do the exploratory work of looking at relationships in data, enabling analysts to produce visuals with much greater certainty without having to spend an inordinate amount of time getting there. Appendix: Google Gemini Experimental 1206 Prompt Test Write a Python script to analyze the following hyperscalers who have announced a Global Infrastructure and Data Center Presence for their platforms and create a table comparing them that captures the significant differences in each approach in Global Infrastructure and Data Center Presence. Have the first column of the table be the company name, the second column be the names of each of the company’s hyperscalers that have Global Infrastructure and Data Center Presence, the third column be what makes their hyperscalers unique and a deep dive into the most differentiated features, and the fourth column be locations of data centers for each hyperscaler to the city, state and country level. Include all 12 hyperscalers in the Excel file. Don’t web scrape. Produce an Excel file of the result and format the text in the Excel file so it is clear of any brackets ({}), quote marks (‘), double asterisks (**) and any HTML code to improve readability. Name the Excel file, Gemini_Experimental_1206_test.xlsx. Next, create a table that is three columns wide and seven columns deep. The first column is titled Hyperscaler, the second Unique Features & Differentiators, and the third, Infrastructure and Data Center Locations. Bold the titles of the columns and center them. Bold the titles of the hyperscalers too. Double check to make sure text within each cell of this table wraps around and doesn’t cross into the next cell. Adjust the height of each row to make sure all text can fit in its intended cell. This table compares Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), IBM Cloud, Meta Platforms (Facebook), Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud. Center the table at the top of the page of output. Next, take Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), IBM Cloud, Meta Platforms (Facebook), Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud and define the eight most differentiating aspects of the group. Use those eight differentiating aspects to create a spider graph that compares these six hyperscalers. Create a single large spider graph that clearly shows the differences in these six hyperscalers, using different colors to improve its readability and the ability to see the outlines or footprints of different hyperscalers. Be sure to title the analysis, What Most Differentiates Hyperscalers, December 2024. Make sure the legend is completely visible and not on top of the graphic. Add the spider graphic at the bottom of the page. Center the spider graphic under the table on the page of output. These are the hyperscalers to include in the Python script: Alibaba Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Digital Realty, Equinix, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Huawei, IBM Cloud, Meta Platforms (Facebook), Microsoft Azure, NTT Global Data Centers, Oracle Cloud, Tencent Cloud. If you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI. Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here . An error occured.Mississippi State vs. McNeese Predictions & Picks: Spread, Total – December 14

Chinese and Pakistani academic achievements in resistant rootstocks for economic forests and grafted and fodder plants were exchanged at the just finished 4th China-Pakistan Tropical Arid Non-Wood Forest Science & Technology Exchange Conference. Over 500 professionals from China and Pakistan attended the conference simultaneously in Zhengzhou and Gwadar, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Saturday. Starting from 2021, in the Belt and Road Engineering Research Center for Tropical Arid Non-wood Forest, professionals from the Chinese Society of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, China Overseas Ports Holding Company Limited, Yulin Holding Company Limited, University of Karachi, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, and Indus University, etc. are working together on germplasm resource collection and new variety breeding, improved variety seedling propagation, cultivation and demonstration of drought-tolerant and infertile-tolerant economic plants, and technical training. Supported by the center, a tissue culture laboratory and a seedling nursery have been built in Gwadar, integrating China’s advanced economic forestry technology with Pakistan’s local conditions. At the conference, Chinese and Pakistani researchers shared their latest findings on various topics, including grafting and cutting propagation of improved varieties of Eucommia ulmoides, the potential for transforming timber and non-timber forest products in arid regions of Pakistan with a special focus on the propagation of medicinal and oilseed plants, efficient heterologous biosynthesis of plant natural products, and a digital intelligent precision water and fertilizer control system for chestnut.After budget cuts, can the INE guarantee judicial election integrity? Depends who you ask

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SNP in fresh freebies row after minister took taxpayer-funded limo to Scottish Open ‘jolly’Controversial American firebrand Candace Owens has scored a big win in her ambition to promote a hard right political vision to crowds across Australia and New Zealand, with New Zealand authorities reversing an earlier decision to block her from entering their country. New Zealand’s immigration department had originally declined to grant Ms Owens a visa after Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke blocked her from entering Australia on character grounds. But this week, New Zealand Associate Minister for Immigration Chris Penk overturned that decision following a request from Ms Owens. “The Minister has granted Ms Owens a visa following a request for Ministerial Intervention,” a spokesman for Mr Penk told NewsWire. “Immigration New Zealand originally declined her visa application on the basis of section 15(1)(f) of the Immigration Act following Ms Owens being denied entry to Australia. “Subsequently, Ms Owens requested intervention from the Associate Minister of Immigration to exercise his discretion and grant her a visa.” Ms Owens said she was “thrilled” about the opportunity to travel to the South Pacific nation “to speak with the people, share ideas and engage in meaningful conversations”. “I applaud the minister for standing up for the rights of individuals to engage in political discourse without fear of being silenced,” she said. Ms Owens was initially scheduled to tour both countries across November but following Mr Burke’s intervention, the shows were rescheduled for early 2025. The first date on the Candace Owens Live tour is listed for Auckland on February 28 and then Brisbane on March 4, Sydney on March 6, Perth on March 8, Adelaide on March 9 and then Melbourne on March 10. Ms Owens remains blocked from entering Australia. “From downplaying the impact of the Holocaust with comments about Mengele through to claims that Muslims started slavery, Candace Owens has the capacity to incite discord in almost every direction,” Mr Burke said in October on announcing his decision to block her visa. “Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else.” Ms Owens blasted Mr Burke’s decision as a “petty act of vandalism” and launched an appeal. She has suggested her application was blocked due to her coverage of attacks on Palestinians in Gaza. “I just wanted to make sure that every person knows that despite me being fired, demonised, spoken ill about, I haven’t changed my position,” she said. “That’s what this really is, a petty act of vandalism. No one’s worried about me coming to Australia because they’re angry that they’ve put this narrative out about me and my listeners haven’t accepted it.” NewsWire understands the appeal process is ongoing. Ms Owens’ Ticketek page has stated ticket holders will be refunded if the Australian shows don’t go ahead. The influencer, who split from mainstream US conservative commentator Ben Shapiro and his news outlet The Daily Wire in March this year, counts 5.8 million followers on Twitter and some five million on Instagram. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim called on Mr Burke to cancel Ms Owens’ visa, arguing she failed the character test under the Migration Act. “At a time of unprecedented strains on the cohesiveness of Australian society, which is very largely the outcome of ignorant and malicious comment on social media, the last thing we need to be importing into our country is yet another so-called celebrity who has made racist and bigoted comments about Jews and other vulnerable groups,” he said. Free speech advocates have applauded New Zealand’s reversal. “We applaud Chris Penk for doing the right thing and defending the speech rights for Candace Owens and all Kiwis,” Free Speech Union chief executive Jonathan Ayling said. “It was appalling to see Immigration New Zealand follow in the footsteps of Australia and deny Owens’ entry on spurious grounds. It’s a dangerous situation to be in when the State begins to cherrypick which voices we hear from.”

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