Month: March 2024

Categories
Entertainment

These 10 Amazon Offers Are Underneath $10 With 1000’s of 5-Star Critiques

These 10 Amazon Deals Are Under $10 With Thousands of 5-Star Reviews

This shopper favorite has 15,800+ 5-star Amazon reviews.

If you’re still shopping, pamper your pet with these National Puppy day deals from Amazon.

When is Amazon’s Big Spring Sale?

The first Amazon Big Spring Sale runs from March 20 to 25, 2024. Amazon customers can shop deals on beauty products, spring fashion, electronics, home products, and more.

What is on sale during the Amazon Big Spring Sale?

Customers can shop deals on seasonal items including spring fashion, outdoor furniture, cleaning and organization products, and Amazon devices.

How can I find the best deals during the Amazon Big Spring Sale?

You can find curated deals from E! Insider Shop throughout the sale. New deals will drop throughout the six-day sale. You can also shop Amazon Big Spring Sale deals here.

Do I have to be a Prime member to shop the Amazon Big Spring Sale?

No, all customers can shop the Amazon Big Spring Sale. However, Prime members will have special access and exclusive deals. If you are not a Prime member yet, you can join now to start enjoying your member benefits including fast, free shipping and exclusive discounts.

How much is Amazon Prime?

An Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or you can pay $139 per year. Join now for a 30-day free trial.

How much is Amazon shipping?

Amazon shipping costs depend on the items ordered and shipping location. Thankfully, shipping on your order is free (and fast) if you sign up for a Prime Membership. Join now for a 30-day free trial.

How much is Amazon Prime Student membership?

Students can get Amazon Prime at a reduced price of $7.49 per month or pay $69 per year. Join now for a free 6-month trial.  

 

Categories
Health

How a lot individuals are keen to spend

How much people are willing to spend

Boxes of Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London, Britain March 8, 2024. 

Hollie Adams | Reuters

Demand for weight loss drugs is booming in the U.S. despite their limited insurance coverage and roughly $1,000 monthly price tags before discounts. 

But some patients are willing to pay more out of pocket for those treatments than others — and that desire is strongly correlated to their annual income.

That’s according to a recent survey from Evercore ISI focused on GLP-1s, a new class of medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Between Jan. 24 and Feb. 20, the firm surveyed more than 600 participants who are currently taking a GLP-1, considering the therapy or have taken it in the past but no longer do. 

The findings on how much patients are willing to spend underscore concerns about equity in access to the breakthrough drugs while insurance coverage is sparse.

GLP-1s include Novo Nordisk‘s blockbuster weight loss injection Wegovy and diabetes counterpart Ozempic, along with Eli Lilly’s popular weight loss treatment Zepbound and diabetes injection Mounjaro. 

A monthly package of a GLP-1 costs between $900 and $1,350 before insurance and other rebates. Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have savings programs that aim to reduce out-of-pocket costs for weight loss drugs, regardless of whether a patient has commercial insurance coverage. 

The majority — nearly 60% — of people surveyed with annual incomes of more than $250,000 said the maximum price they are willing to pay out of pocket for a GLP-1 is more than $300 per month. 

Only about 4% of people with annual incomes of less than $75,000 said the same thing. Of that group, 64% said the maximum price they are willing to pay out of pocket for a GLP-1 is $50 per month or less. 

The maximum people currently on a GLP-1 said they are willing to pay out of pocket per month was roughly in line with what they actually paid for treatment, according to the survey. The highest price respondents would accept paying skewed lower among those who used to take a GLP-1 or are thinking of taking the drug. 

More than half of people currently taking a GLP-1 said they are paying a monthly price of $50 or less out of pocket. Nearly 75% of those who used to take one of the drugs said they spent the same amount. 

A small share of both groups paid more than $750 out of pocket per month for a GLP-1.

The survey also asked respondents how long they stayed on the drugs.

Notably, more than 80% of those who used to take a treatment were only on a therapy for 12 months or less. Some people stopped due to cost, while others stopped a treatment because they hit their weight loss goal or experienced side effects.

That premature stoppage by some patients is one concern of certain insurers hesitant to cover them.

Still, nearly half of people who are currently taking GLP-1s said they intend to stay on the drugs permanently. Only 10% of those thinking of taking a treatment said the same thing. Of that group, more than 70% said they intend to stay on a GLP-1 until they reach their weight loss goal.

The survey also asked participants whether they would restart taking a GLP-1 if they regain weight after stopping the drug. The majority of patients across all groups — those currently on a GLP-1, thinking of it, or who used to take one — said “yes.” 

Among those who used to take a GLP-1, 42% said they gained “some” weight back after stopping treatment. Around 13% said they gained most of it back, while 23% said they gained all of it back. Another 23% said they remained at a lower weight after stopping the drug.

That weight regain is consistent with what has been observed in some clinical trials on drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound.

Another part of the survey asked participants about whether taking a GLP-1 affected their eating and drinking habits. 

More than 70% of respondents reporting eating less when taking a GLP-1, regardless of whether they have pre-existing conditions. That refers to other health problems, such as diabetes, asthma or high blood pressure.

The survey finding is no surprise: GLP-1s work by mimicking a hormone produced in the gut to suppress a person’s appetite and regulate blood sugar. Some treatments, such as Zepbound, mimic more than one gut hormone.

More than half of those without preexisting conditions said they drank less alcohol when taking a GLP-1. Around 27% said the treatment had no effect on their alcohol consumption, while 22% said they abstain from drinking. 

A greater share — 51% — of those with preexisting conditions said they abstain from alcohol. The remainder said they consumed less alcohol when taking a GLP-1. 

Several studies have demonstrated that certain GLP-1s curb alcohol intake in rodents and monkeys. But more research is needed in humans.

Don’t miss these stories from CNBC PRO:

— CNBC’s Gabriel Cortés contributed to this report

Categories
Technology

Italian PM seeks justice for deepfake porn video amid surge in circumstances

Italian PM seeks justice for deepfake porn video amid surge in cases

Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni is seeking €100,000 in damages after deepfake pornographic videos of her were shared online. 

Meloni is seeking compensation from a 40-year-old and his father over the deepfakes, which were viewed millions of times. The deepfake porn videos were uploaded prior to her appointment as prime minister in 2022. 

If successful, the PM has vowed to donate the money to a fund to support women who have been victims of gender-based violence.

While officials in this case were able to identify the perpetrators, who may now face jail time, most go under the radar. The creators and sharers of deepfake imagery are notoriously difficult to track down.   

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In 2016, researchers identified just a single deepfake porn video online. In the first three quarters of 2023 alone, 143,733 new deepfake porn videos were uploaded, according to a new investigation by Channel 4 News.

As part of the probe, the British broadcaster found videos of 4,000 famous individuals on the top 40 most popular sites for this kind of content. Of those, 250 were from the UK, including Cathy Newman, a presenter from Channel 4 News itself. 

“It feels like a violation. It just feels really sinister that someone out there who’s put this together, I can’t see them, and they can see this kind of imaginary version of me, this fake version of me,” Newman said. 

“You can’t unsee that. That’s something that I’ll keep returning to. And just the idea that thousands of women have been manipulated in this way. It feels like an absolutely gross intrusion and violation,” she continued. 

“It’s really disturbing that you can, at a click of a button, find this stuff, and people can make this grotesque parody of reality with absolute ease.”

The proliferation of AI tools has made it easier than ever before to create deepfake porn videos, which superimpose an image of someone’s face onto the body of another. 

Just this week, Dutch news channel AD uncovered a deluge of deepfake porn videos featuring dozens of Dutch celebrities, parliamentarians, and members of the Royal Family — all of them women. 

The most high-profile case of the year came last month, when explicit, non-consensual deepfake images of Taylor Swift flooded X, formerly Twitter. One of the videos racked up 47 million views before it was removed 17 hours later.  

While instances where celebrities are affected get the most press attention, this is a problem affecting women (and sometimes children) from all walks of life. Nearly two-thirds of women fear falling victim to deepfake pornography, according to a report by cybersecurity firm ESET published Wednesday.

“Digital images are nearly impossible to truly delete, and it is easier than ever to artificially generate pornography with somebody’s face on it,” said Jake Moore, advisor at ESET. 

In the UK, the incoming Online Safety Bill prohibits the sharing of deepfake pornography. However, in general, the law is struggling to keep up. In the EU, despite a number of incoming regulations targeting AI and social media, there are no specific laws protecting victims of non-consensual deepfake pornography. 

Many are now looking to AI companies to crack down on the creation of deepfake porn, and social media giants to control their spread online. However, relying on tech companies — who rake in ad revenue from the flurry of online activity on their platforms — to do the right thing may not be the best strategy. 

While we wait for the law to catch up, technologies like authentication systems, digital watermarking, and blockchain could help tackle and trace deepfakes — making us all more secure online.

“What we need is a comprehensive, multi-dimensional global collaboration strategy emphasising regulation, technology, and security,” Mark Minevich, author of Our Planet Powered by AI and a UN advisor on AI technology, previously told TNW.  

“This will not only confront the immediate challenges of non-consensual deepfakes but also sets a foundation for a digital environment characterised by trust, transparency, and enduring security.” 

Categories
Sport

Endrick, Brazil give England a wake-up name earlier than Euro 2024

Endrick, Brazil give England a wake-up call before Euro 2024

LONDON — England arranged these high-profile friendlies to help answer one of the few remaining questions about Gareth Southgate’s side: can they consistently deliver against the biggest nations?

Rather than silencing those doubts, Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Brazil at Wembley means they will grow a little louder. England are billed in some quarters as favorites for Euro 2024, but their record against the elite sides is one of the biggest factors tempering that enthusiasm. Southgate has made giant strides during his eight-year tenure, reconnecting the team with its fanbase and guiding a young side to a semifinal, final and quarterfinal in his three tournaments to date.

But each time they were undone by a side currently inside FIFA’s top 10 rankings, edged out in games of fine margins as weaknesses were exposed in defense and an inability to control games in midfield sacrificed promising positions.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Endrick’s 80th-minute winner settled a contest which underlined how those concerns still exist, despite the positive spin Southgate sought to put on it afterwards. “With 15 minutes to go, we’re thinking we’ve managed to see a lot of new players, we’ve had more than our share of the game, we’ve had as many attempts on goal as they have, so the difference in the end was one moment,” he said. “That is the ruthlessness of football at this level.”

Yes, it is. And it was the case in Qatar, the Euro 2020 final and at the Russia World Cup two years earlier.

Those who believed simply moving Jude Bellingham into a number ten position, shifting England away from 4-3-3 to something approximating 4-2-3-1, would be a panacea must think again. Bellingham was on the end of some rough treatment by a Brazil side palpably wary of his threat but he did not achieve the match-defining influence he so regularly delivers at Real Madrid. He cannot do it every time, clearly, but the longer there is daylight between his level for Real and that for England, the more focus will shift onto Southgate to find a better way to maximize his undeniable talent.

Endrick of Brazil celebrates at full-time during the international friendly against England at Wembley Stadium on March 23. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

England produced some good spells here without ever carrying a sustained threat. Of course, they were missing key players, most obviously all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane and winger Bukayo Saka. At the back, they were without Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Kieran Trippier, Marc Guehi and Luke Shaw — to name five — while Kyle Walker limped off injured inside the opening 20 minutes.

But England’s midfield issues and lack of a robust center-back pairing are longstanding issues that resemble red flags in considering their chances of success this summer. “We don’t have a lot of midfield players who play as a six in the league,” said Southgate.

It does not aid Southgate’s cause that Declan Rice is increasingly used as a number eight by Arsenal rather than the six he badly needs him to be; the lack of alternatives in part explains his prolonged loyalty to Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips, the latter finally omitted after a sustained downturn, while also justifying Kobbie Mainoo’s fast-tracking after just a handful of games at Manchester United.

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Mainoo, Anthony Gordon and Ezri Konsa all made their debuts here and while there were moments of encouragement for all three, Wembley passed its own judgement, resorting to throwing paper planes — the first after just 31 minutes — as challenges like this struggle to hold their own in the midst of an enthralling Premier League campaign shortly to reach its climax.

Prestige friendlies aim to capture the imagination. Endrick certainly did that, coming off the bench to become at 17 years and 246 days the youngest-ever male player to score a senior professional goal at Wembley for club or country. But for England, they are also important barometers gauging their readiness to end a 58-year wait for a major trophy.

To be the best, they must beat the best as the adage goes. Southgate’s record against teams currently ranked in FIFA’s top 10 is now seven victories from 17 games. It is difficult to dominate at the highest level, but England’s first 90-minute defeat at Wembley in 21 games dating back to Oct. 2020 is a further indication that they still have a distance to travel in becoming the all-conquering team they look on paper.

Tuesday’s game against Belgium offers another opportunity to improve that record. Southgate must do so without Kane, who will return to Bayern Munich as he recovers from an ankle injury, while Walker will be assessed following a muscular problem. However, Henderson and Cole Palmer could come into contention after they resumed training earlier on Saturday.

“Belgium have played a different eleven probably, or close to, so they will be a bit fresher,” said Southgate. “But we’re talking about a high-level game, a brilliant experience for the players. It will be a chance to see new players again and build towards the summer. I am not disappointed with the level of performance.

“I know in the end when you lose the game, there will always be a negative reaction to losing but I thought the crowd were really with the team, seeing a lot of inexperienced players going in and doing well so I am not down on the performance at all.”

He may not be down, but for England not to be out in similar fashion this summer, improvement is needed.

Categories
Science

Crimson Giants Provide a New Method to Measure Distance within the Universe

Red Giants Offer a New Way to Measure Distance in the Universe

For nearly three decades now, it’s been clear that the expansion of the Universe is speeding up. Some unknown quantity, dramatically dubbed ‘dark energy’, is pushing the Universe apart. But the rate at which the Universe’s expansion is increasing – called the Hubble Constant – hasn’t yet been nailed down to a single number.

Not for lack of trying.

In fact, there are multiple ways of measuring it. The problem is that these methods don’t agree with each other. They each give different numbers, which is a confounding – and exciting – puzzle. It means there may be new physics to uncover, if we look carefully.

This mystery is known as the Hubble tension, and it’s only becoming more intractable as measurement techniques become more precise. So astronomers are on the hunt for new and better ways to measure the expansion of the Universe.

In a new paper this week, three Swiss scientists describe a method for significantly improving one measurement technique.

The method uses a specific subset of red giant stars: old stars that have burned away most of the hydrogen in their cores. As they age, red giants get larger, less dense, and dimmer. But at a certain point in their evolution, they switch from burning hydrogen to burning helium, a change that causes a dramatic uptick in brightness. Stars in this phase of their life are considered to have reached the ‘Tip-of-the-Red-Giant-Branch’, or TRGB.

When stars in the TRGB ignite helium, they achieve a known, reliably measured level of brightness: they become ‘standard candles’, making distance measurements between them more accurate.

But that brightness isn’t perfectly constant: there are oscillations – sound waves rippling through the layers of the star. Scientists knew about these acoustic oscillations from previous studies of stellar evolution, but they hadn’t yet been accounted for in attempts at resolving the Hubble tension.

That’s what this new paper sets out to do.

“Younger red giant stars near the TRGB are a little less bright than their older cousins,” says lead author Richard Anderson. “The acoustic oscillations that we observe as brightness fluctuations allow us to understand which type of star we’re dealing with: the older stars oscillate at lower frequency – just like a baritone sings with a deeper voice than a tenor!”

“Now that we can distinguish the ages of the red giants that make up the TRGB, we will be able to further improve the Hubble constant measurement based thereon,” says Anderson.

That’s good news, securing new confidence in our understanding of how the Universe expands. However, by itself, it isn’t likely to resolve the Hubble tension. The widest gap amongst different Hubble constant measurements is between recent Universe observations: type 1A supernovae, cepheid variables, kilonovae, and red giants; and early Universe observations: especially the cosmic microwave background.

That tension remains. Still, the more confident we can be about the accuracy of our measurements, the more sure we can be that there is something new about how the Universe works waiting to be discovered. Accounting for the TRGB oscillations is a concrete step in that direction.

Learn more:

“The baritone of Red Giants refines cosmic distance measurements.” EPFL.

Richard Anderson, Nolan Koblischke, and Laurent Eyer, “Small-amplitude Red Giants Elucidate the Nature of the Tip of the Red Giant Branch as a Standard Candle.” ApJL, March 7, 2024.

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Categories
Entertainment

Why Nickelodeon Reportedly Ended Relationship

Why Nickelodeon Reportedly Ended Relationship

Dan Schneider, a former Nickelodeon producer, has found himself at the center of abuse allegations since the release of the ‘Quiet On Set’ docuseries. Now, The Shade Room is delving into why Schneider was severed from the company in 2018.

RELATED: ‘Zoey 101’ Actor Christopher Massey Speaks Out After His Mom Doubles Down On Her Support For Dan Schneider (Video)

Here’s What Nickelodeon & Dan Schneider Reportedly Stated At The Time

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Schneider was a former actor. He met Albie Hecht, a fellow producer and former president of Nickelodeon Entertainment, who hired him to work on the sketch comedy show ‘All That’ in the 90s.

The outlet reports that after four seasons, Schneider quit the series before returning to revive the show in 2001.

From there, the producer’s resume at Nick would grow. It would ultimately include shows such as ‘The Amanda Show,’ ‘Drake & Josh,’ ‘Zoey 101,’ and more.

However, on March 26, 2018, Schneider’s decades-long run at Nick would come to an end. According to the outlet, Nickelodeon and Schneider’s production company “agreed to not extend” its “current deal.”

“Following many conversations together about next directions and future opportunities, Nickelodeon and our longtime creative partner Dan Schneider/Schneider’s Bakery have agreed to not extend the current deal,” Nickelodeon and Schneider reportedly shared in a joint statement, per Deadline. “Since several Schneider’s Bakery projects are wrapping up, both sides agreed that this is a natural time for Nickelodeon and Schneider’s Bakery to pursue other opportunities and projects.”

Nickelodeon reportedly thanked Schneider for creating “a string of lasting, groundbreaking” kids TV shows for Nick “over the years.”

“We thank Dan and his Schneider’s Bakery producers, executives and social media team for their immeasurable contributions to Nickelodeon, and we wish them the best in their future endeavors. And Dan and Schneider’s Bakery are proud of the work they did together with Nickelodeon and will always remain big fans of the network,” Nickelodeon added, per the outlet.

Allegations Were Reportedly Stirring About Dan Schneider In 2018

According to Nellie Andreeva’s 2018 Deadline report, there had “been multiple complaints of abusive behavior against Schneider filed by members of his staff.”

Andreeva added that “Schneider had been under a cloud of suspicion,” This was reportedly due to his “treatment of some younger stars of his shows.”

Furthermore, now-deleted tweets of Schneider’s apparent interest in feet and the feet of Nick child stars “raised eyebrows.”

Andreeva also noted that Schneider was accused of enacting long work schedules and having “well-documented temper issues for years.”

Business Insider adds that multiple investigations were also launched into Schneider during his time at Nick. Schneider has alleged that a 2013 investigation did not “bar” him from working with the Nick actors. However, he “chose to give notes” to his cast “from his office.”

Additionally, the outlet notes that a 2017 investigation — sparked amid the #MeToo Movement — did not yield “evidence of inappropriate sexual behavior” by Schneider. However, “it did find proof of verbal abuse in the workplace.”

Here’s What Was Revealed About Dan Schneider In ‘Quiet On Set’ & His Response

As The Shade Room previously reported, ‘Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV’ aired on Sunday, March 17, and Monday, March 18. The four-part docuseries exposed the toxic work culture of popular kid shows between the 90s and 2000s.

Drake Bell, the former star of ‘Drake & Josh,’ revealed he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a Nick dialogue coach at 15.

Bell ultimately explained that Schneider was initially unaware of the incidents. However, he offered Bell his full support after becoming aware. However, the docuseries also showed accounts from multiple former Nick staff members who alleged Schneider promoted an “uncomfortable” work environment. Additionally, they alleged Schneider’s skits “sexualized” his child cast and even included racist jokes.

In an initial response to the docuseries, a spokesperson for Schneider seemed to defend his actions during his time at Nick.

“Everything that happened on the shows Dan ran was carefully scrutinized by dozens of involved adults, and approved by the network. Had there been any scenes or outfits that were inappropriate in any way, they would have been flagged and blocked by this multilayered scrutiny,” the statement read, per USA Today. “…If there was an actual problem with the scenes that some people, now years later are ‘sexualizing,’ they would be taken down, but they are not, they are aired constantly all over the world today still, enjoyed by both kids and parents.”

However, Schneider would ultimately admit to “[owing] some people a pretty strong apology” in a recently released interview.

RELATED: Former Nickelodeon Producer Dan Schneider Addresses Allegations Made By Drake Bell & Others In ‘Quiet On Set’ (Videos)
Categories
Health

Falling fertility charges pose main challenges for the worldwide economic system

Falling fertility rates pose major challenges for the global economy

Terry Vine | Getty Images

Falling fertility rates are set to spark a transformational demographic shift over the next 25 years, with major implications for the global economy, according to a new study.

By 2050, three-quarters of countries are forecast to fall below the population replacement birth rate of 2.1 babies per female, research published Wednesday in The Lancet medical journal found.

That would leave 49 countries — primarily in low-income regions of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia — responsible for the majority of new births.

“Future trends in fertility rates and livebirths will propagate shifts in global population dynamics, driving changes to international relations and a geopolitical environment, and highlighting new challenges in migration and global aid networks,” the report’s authors wrote in their conclusion.

By 2100, just six countries are expected to have population-replacing birth rates: The African nations of Chad, Niger and Tonga, the Pacific islands of Samoa and Tonga, and central Asia’s Tajikistan.

That shifting demographic landscape will have “profound” social, economic, environmental and geopolitical impacts, the report’s authors said.

In particular, shrinking workforces in advanced economies will require significant political and fiscal intervention, even as advances in technology provide some support.

“As the workforce declines, the total size of the economy will tend to decline even if output per worker stays the same. In the absence of liberal migration policies, these nations will face many challenges,” Dr. Christopher Murray, a lead author of the report and director at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, told CNBC.

“AI (artificial intelligence) and robotics may diminish the economic impact of declining workforces but some sectors such as housing would continue to be strongly affected,” he added.

Baby boom vs. bust

The report, which was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, did not put a figure on the specific economic impact of the demographic shifts. However, it did highlight a divergence between high-income countries, where birth rates are steadily falling, and low-income countries, where they continue to rise.

From 1950 to 2021, the global total fertility rate (TFR) — or average number of babies born to a woman — more than halved, falling from 4.84 to 2.23, as many countries grew wealthier and women had fewer babies. That trend was exacerbated by societal shifts, such as an increase in female workforce participation, and political measures including China’s one-child policy.

From 2050 to 2100, the total global fertility rate is set to fall further from 1.83 to 1.59. The replacement rate — or number of children a couple would need to have to replace themselves — is 2.1 in most developed countries.

That comes even as the global population is forecast to grow from 8 billion currently to 9.7 billion by 2050, before peaking at around 10.4 billion in the mid-2080s, according to the UN.

Already, many advanced economies have fertility rates well below the replacement rate. By the middle of the century, that category is set to include major economies China and India, with South Korea’s birth rate ranking as the lowest globally at 0.82

Meantime, lower-income countries are expected to see their share of new births almost double from 18% in 2021 to 35% by 2100. By the turn of the century, sub-Saharan Africa will account for half of all new births, according to the report.

Murray said that this could put poorer countries in a “stronger position” to negotiate more ethical and fair migration policies — leverage that could become important as countries grow increasingly exposed to the effects of climate change.

Categories
Science

The Best Scientific Fraud Of All Time — Half XXXII (Sea Degree Rise Version) – Watts Up With That?

The Greatest Scientific Fraud Of All Time — Part XXXII (Sea Level Rise Edition) – Watts Up With That?

From the MANHATTAN CONTRARIAN

Francis Menton

The Greatest Scientific Fraud Of All Time is the fraud by which government functionaries alter data collected and previously reported in official data bases in order to support a narrative of impending catastrophic global warming. No other scientific fraud in world history comes close to this one in scope or significance. While prior frauds may have scored a crooked scientist some funding or maybe some temporary fame, this one drives trillions of dollars of worldwide government spending and seeks to transform the entire world economy. The prior 31 posts in this series are all collected for your reading enjoyment at this link. (They are in groups of six posts each, beginning with the most recent. After each six, you must go to the bottom and click the “NEXT” button to get the next six posts.)

Those prior 31 posts have all concerned alteration of one particular sort of data, namely temperature records. The posts document how, at station after station, previously-reported data have been altered to make earlier temperatures cooler and later ones warmer, and thus to show an enhanced warming trend (or in many cases to replace a cooling trend with a warming trend). The altered temperatures then form the basis for hockey-stick shaped charts of world temperatures, showing rapid recent warming, and for claims from NASA and NOAA and the media that the most recent year or month was the “warmest ever.”

But why should we really care that the earth’s atmosphere is getting a little warmer? The UN has supposedly set some kind of Maginot Line at a 1.5 deg C temperature increase from 20th century levels — an amount so small that you can barely feel it when it occurs each day. The 1.5 deg mark is just not that all that scary. So the bureaucrats and leftists need a Plan B to scare the bejeezus out of the people. Plan B is sea level rise.

So don’t be surprised to learn that the sea level data, produced by NASA, have recently been altered — and of course, in a way to enhance the global warming scare narrative.

With a little looking you can quickly find hundreds of articles endlessly repeating the narrative that human-caused global warming is melting polar ice caps and thus causing the sea level to rise. But note that for this narrative to be effective requires more than just a linear rising. After all, skeptics quickly point out that the sea level has been rising at a slow, steady rate of a few millimeters per year since the end of the last ice age. So, to actually be scary, the narrative needs to be that sea level is not just rising, but that the rise is accelerating.

Sure enough, that is the party line. Thus here from the NASA website posted in November 2022 and still there today, we find a statement of the official position:

Global sea level has been rising for decades in response to a warming climate, and multiple lines of evidence indicate the rise is accelerating. The new findings support the higher-range scenarios outlined in an interagency report released in February 2022. That report, developed by several federal agencies – including NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Geological Survey – expect significant sea level rise over the next 30 years by region. . . . The researchers noted that the accelerating rate of sea level rise detected in satellite measurements from 1993 to 2020 – and the direction of those trends – suggest future sea level rise will be in the higher range of estimates for all regions.

NASA is the guru of the sea level rise data because, starting in 1993, NASA put up satellites with altimeters to measure sea level. The data have been made public on a NASA web page, and various researchers have gone through the data looking for trends. Some have claimed to find an acceleration in sea level rise. For example, a 2018 article in PNAS by Nerem, et al., titled “Climate-change-driven accelerated sea-level rise detected in the altimeter era” asserted that the authors had detected an acceleration of 0.084 +/- 0.025 mm/yr^2. But is that purported acceleration real and, if real, is it significant?

And no effort to scare you about sea level rise would be complete without a picture of some coastal community under water. So they provide this one from Norfolk, Virginia:

As if that had something to do with human CO2 emissions.

Reader Bill Ponton has looked into this, and has had some back and forth with NASA about what their data show. He has also come up with a few graphics to help make this understandable for the readers.

On February 24 Bill used the NASA sea level data since 1993 to create a graph, and then sought to fit two curves to the graph — one a straight line, and the other a parabola implying acceleration. Here are the results:

NASA SEA LEVEL DATA WITH LINEAR FIT

NASA SEA LEVEL DATA WITH PARABOLIC FIT

A first obvious question is, does your eye detect in the plot of data points any acceleration in the rate of rise? It is certainly not apparent to me. What is very apparent is that there was an anomalous increase in the rate of rise in 2017/18, followed by two years of actual decreases. Those two years of unusual increases may well explain the results of the Nerem, et al., paper (published in 2018).

The linear fit shows a steady increase of 3.2629 mm/yr. (That would be about one foot per century.). The R^2 is a measure of the closeness of the fit of the line to the scattered data points, and an R^2 of 0.9869 is a remarkably close fit. With this close a fit, and the line actually higher at the right side than the most recent data point, is there really any basis to claim an ability to detect an acceleration?

The second graph has a curve based on a quadratic equation, and therefore is shaped like a parabola — although it is almost impossible for the eye to detect the very slight upward curve. The fit, as measured by the R^2, is ever so slightly better than the linear fit, 0.9899.

Bill explains that the formula of the quadratic equation in the second chart would reflect an acceleration rate (if it is real) of 0.045 mm/yr^2, or only about half of that claimed in the Nerem, et al., paper.

Bill then commenced an email correspondence with a guy name Josh Willis at NASA. He asked Willis whether there was any reason to try to fit a parabola to these data, rather than just a straight line, to which he got the response “A linear fit is not a ‘simpler’ explanation, it is an incomplete one. The acceleration is real, and there is no justification for ignoring it.” Note that Willis has no basis for claiming that the acceleration “is real” other than the data, which are the same data that you and I can look at. Willis then referred Bill to the Nerem, et al., paper. But Bill pointed out that Nerem, et al., claimed an acceleration of 0.084 mm/yr^2, whereas the NASA data as of February 2024 at best would only support an acceleration rate of 0.045 mm/yr^2. Bill remarks, “Josh must have found this to be a troubling contradiction because soon after he indicated that he preferred our correspondence cease.”

But meanwhile, in early March the sea level data reported by NASA suddenly got altered. Here is a graph provided by Bill showing the NASA data before and after alteration:

Before Willis cut off correspondence, Bill got the following (totally inadequate) explanation for the alterations: “[T]he data on the websites was recently updated to include improved estimates of sea level from our first precision sea level satellite, TOPEX/Poseidon, and to correct small errors in later missions. Sure. Most of the actual readings have become lower, but an enhanced curvature has been introduced. The quadratic formula of the best fit for the red (altered) data points now would imply an acceleration rate of 0.065 mm/yr^2. That’s still well less than the 0.085 mm/yr^2 claimed in the Nerem, et al., paper, but at least not so embarrassingly far off.

Is all of this anything to get scared about? Absolutely not. As stated earlier, linear sea level rise of about 3.3 mm/yr is consistent with what has been going on throughout history since the last ice age, and implies a rise of around one foot by 2100. Nerem, et al., state in their paper that the acceleration rate that they estimate of 0.084 mm/yr^2 would imply sea level rise of 65 cm by 2100, which is 25.6 inches, or just over 2 feet. The rate of 0.045 mm/yr^2 derived from the unaltered NASA data would imply a much smaller increase by 2100 of about 16 inches, really not much more than the ongoing linear trend. Meanwhile, here in Manhattan, where everyone claims to believe the worst climate scare stories, the fanciest new condos continue to get built along the shoreline, just a few feet above sea level. The new thing is to put the building mechanicals a few floors up, in case some big storm brings the sea water into the basement.

What’s most interesting about all this is what it reveals about the sea level rise scare story. The claims of “acceleration” prove to be based on dubious extrapolations from data that show only very slight, if any, deviations from linearity. Those slight deviations may reflect some underlying process or may just reflect the effect on a curve-fitting exercise of one or two outlying data points. Our overlords modify the data to enhance the apparent acceleration, and then claim the ability to use a slight non-linearity to project sea level out 80 years or so to try to scare us with a few inches of difference. In the real world, the few extra inches are insignificant, and none of us will even be around then anyway. I plan to recommend to my grandchildren — all now 5 and under — not to live too near the coast in their retirement. That should take care of it.

The lengths that the bureaucrats will go to maintain their scary narrative are truly extraordinary. And what’s most amazing is how many seemingly smart people don’t see through it.

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Sport

Ladies’s March Insanity 2024: Specialists decide Ultimate 4, nationwide champ

Women's March Madness 2024: Experts pick Final Four, national champ

Mar 22, 2024, 09:00 AM ET

With the First Four completed and the first round of the 2024 women’s NCAA tournament about to begin, the overall question is obvious: Can anyone stop undefeated South Carolina?

It was the same question last year, and it turned out someone did: Iowa. This year, the Hawkeyes are a No. 1 seed along with South Carolina, and both teams are on the Albany side of the bracket. The Gamecocks appear to be comfortable favorites in the Albany 1 Regional, although ACC tournament champion Notre Dame lurks as a potential Elite Eight opponent.

Iowa has the projected toughest road in the Albany 2 Regional, which also includes defending national champion LSU. The two No. 1 seeds in the Portland regionals, Texas and USC, have long absences from the Final Four both are trying remedy. UConn is looking to return to the Final Four after Ohio State upset the Huskies in the Sweet 16 last season, ending their NCAA-record streak of 14 consecutive Final Four appearances.

ESPN’s Charlie Creme, Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel examine the bracket and, along with over 20 ESPN broadcasters and other digital reporters, predict which teams will advance to Cleveland for the Final Four — and which team wins the 2024 title. South Carolina is the overwhelming favorite among our experts.

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0:21

UCLA Bruins’ NCAA women’s tournament preview

Charlie Creme breaks down his forecast for UCLA’s NCAA tournament prospects.

If the Gamecocks don’t win the NCAA title, which team can?

Creme: Perhaps I’m living in the past too much with this one, but UCLA was clearly the second-best team in the country after beating UConn, Florida State, Ohio State, Princeton, USC and Oregon State in the first 2½ months of the season. With two weeks off since losing a double-overtime thriller to USC in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals, UCLA will have had enough time to regroup. Lauren Betts is the key. She hasn’t been as consistent since missing four games with a medical issue in late January/early February, but her 17 points and 18 rebounds against the Trojans in Las Vegas was a good sign.

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Voepel: Let’s make the case for a couple of teams. Texas is the No. 1 seed that has received the least attention nationally all season. Why? The Longhorns lost their best player, point guard Rori Harmon, in late December for the season and had to figure out how to play without her. They’ve done that, led by freshman Madison Booker, but they didn’t win the Big 12 regular-season title and kind of stayed under the radar. However, by the Big 12 title game, Texas looked like a postseason force. Defensively, the Longhorns can cause a lot of havoc for opponents. If they make the national semifinals vs. South Carolina, they at least have a chance at an upset.

Then there is No. 1 Iowa, which everyone seems to agree is in the toughest region. If the Hawkeyes get through it, they can draw on last year’s experience at the Final Four. Never underestimate the value of experienced guard play in the NCAA tournament, and Iowa has a lot of it.

Philippou: It would be fitting for a Pac-12 team to take home the trophy in the conference’s final year as we know it. Aside from UCLA as Charlie detailed above, USC and Stanford could contend. The Trojans have a transcendent player in JuJu Watkins, although they are inexperienced when it comes to March. They are a No. 1 seed, but will they feel pressure to win with the target on their backs? Even if it doesn’t pan out to be USC’s year, the experience they get this March can only help moving forward as Watkins & Co. look to make the program’s first Final Four since 1986 and win its first national championship since 1984.

No. 2 seed Stanford still has several players from its 2021 NCAA title team, mainly Cameron Brink, a WNBA lottery pick come April. But for the Cardinal to go far, their guard play will have to show up much more than it did in the Pac-12 tournament championship game, when aside from Elena Bosgana (9 points), no other guard had more than four points.

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1:40

The best of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark this season

Relive the top plays from Iowa’s very own Caitlin Clark before the women’s NCAA tournament.

We agree No. 1 seed Iowa has the toughest path to the Final Four. Will the Hawkeyes be the first 1-seed to lose?

Voepel: Iowa’s entire path is difficult. Round 1 is against a team that will have already won a game, Holy Cross. Round 2 is against Ivy League champion Princeton Tigers or West Virginia, which finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Big 12. If seeds hold, the Hawkeyes then face a team they split with during the regular season: Kansas State, which challenged No. 1 seed Texas in the Big 12 tournament semifinals. All this is before having to potentially face the defending national champion, LSU, or a team that was No. 2 in the rankings for a good portion of the season, UCLA.

The bracket is almost screaming at us that Iowa will be the first 1-seed to lose. But instead, the Hawkeyes might be the team that runs the toughest gauntlet to get to the Final Four. We saw Iowa at its best in the NCAA tournament last year, and could see the same again this year.

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Creme: It can’t be emphasized enough: Should Iowa advance, it will have to beat only one of the other two best teams in its region if chalk holds to reach the Final Four. The Bruins and Tigers will have to go through each other and Iowa to get to Cleveland. Advantage, Hawkeyes. Caitlin Clark won’t have to be as spectacular as she was last March for Iowa to reach that presumptive game in the Elite Eight, but she will have to be even more spectacular than she was a year ago for Iowa to win that and a Final Four game to reach the title game again. At minimum, I see Iowa making it to the regional finals, but all the other No. 1 seeds should advance that far as well.

Philippou: I also think the Portland 4 Regional is fairly open. Texas’ potential Sweet 16 matchup (vs. Gonzaga, Utah Utes or South Dakota State most likely) would pit the Longhorns against one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the nation — and we’ve seen Texas lose previously this season when it has allowed teams to get going from the 3-point arc. (In three of their four losses, Longhorns opponents have hit at least nine shots from deep.)

In Portland 3, some of the fallout from Elizabeth Kitley’s season-ending ACL injury for Virginia Tech is that the path gets a bit easier for 1-seed USC to make it deep into the bracket.

Outside of the 1-seeds, which team has the best shot to win the national championship?

Philippou: Let’s turn our focus to 3-seeds LSU and UConn. The defending champions got stuck in the toughest region, but they’ve been playing really great basketball toward the end of the SEC slate. The concern is whether they are too short-handed to make a deep run, especially with Last-Tear Poa coming back from a concussion (coach Kim Mulkey said Thursday that Poa is expected to play) and Mikaylah Williams (foot) potentially limited or not fully healthy.

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UConn is also working with a limited rotation, but the Huskies have three starters (Paige Bueckers, Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl) who have made two Final Four trips and appeared in a national championship game. How far can that experience take them, especially since they still rely so heavily on freshmen?

Voepel: It seems like NC State will make it back to the Final Four one of these years. It almost happened in 2022, but UConn beat the Wolfpack in double overtime at the Elite Eight. This year, the No. 3 seed Wolfpack have had their moments, so if their Portland No. 4 Regional bracket breaks the right way, let’s not rule them out of Final Four contention.

Among the No. 4 seeds, Kansas State (Albany 2 Regional) is the only one that seems to have a realistic shot at even the Elite Eight. Because if the Wildcats face Iowa in the Sweet 16, they have an early-season victory over the Hawkeyes to inspire them. Virginia Tech losing Kitley puts the Hokies — who made the Final Four last year — in more peril of even getting to the Sweet 16.

Creme: I’ll stick with the Bruins. Guard play is vital for a deep NCAA tournament run and UCLA has one of the best backcourt duos in the field in Charisma Osborne and Kiki Rice. Defensively, the Bruins can lock down opposing guards and would be an interesting pairing to take turns harassing Clark in an Elite Eight matchup. They would also be better than the LSU guards in a possible Sweet 16 encounter. Osborne came back for her fifth year for moments like these and should be ready to take full advantage.

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1:11

The numbers behind Iowa State vs. Maryland

Check out the key numbers in the matchup between Iowa State and Maryland in the women’s NCAA tournament.

Which double-digit seed might we see in the Sweet 16?

Creme: Creighton and South Dakota both reached the Sweet 16 as No. 10 seeds in 2022. Missouri State also went to the regionals as a No. 11 in 2019. Those are the most recent examples of a double-digit seed getting that far, but it isn’t a common occurrence.

If it happens again this year, keep an eye on 10th-seeded Maryland, with breakout performances from Shyanne Sellers. This has been a tougher than usual season for the Terps, but Brenda Frese knows March success. Sellers was asked to do a lot this season and quietly became one of the Big Ten’s most complete players. With Sellers compiling 25 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in the conference tournament quarterfinals, Maryland dominated Ohio State. If she can put together two more games like that, Maryland could ride into its fourth straight Sweet 16.

Philippou: Vanderbilt has already won a game in the tournament, taking down Columbia for a First Four victory Wednesday. Maybe the Commodores will use that momentum to keep things rolling and get past Baylor Bears and then the winner of a Virginia Tech-Marshall. While this is Vanderbilt’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 2014, coach Shea Ralph has been there plenty of times during her time coaching (and playing) at UConn. Vanderbilt fell to NC State by ibkt eight earlier this year in nonconference play, so perhaps behind tough defense and a big weekend from Iyana Moore, the Commodores can continue to turn some heads.

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0:29

Vanderbilt’s Iyana Moore drains dagger 3 to send Columbia packing

Iyana Moore drains a deep 3-pointer for Vanderbilt late in the fourth quarter to advance and play No. 5-seed Baylor.

Voepel: Not sure we’re going to see it this year. But a couple of other intriguing possibilities: In the Albany 1 Regional, No. 12 Florida Gulf Coast (which faces No. 5 Oklahoma) and No. 13 Fairfield Stags (faces No. 4 Indiana) have just five losses between them this season. Those teams will play at Indiana. After a heartbreaking upset at home in the second round as a No. 1 seed last year, the Hoosiers will be all the more vigilant about not being upset this year. But that can also add pressure.

Also worth noting: Albany No. 2 Regional No. 12 seed Drake is ninth in scoring offense (81.5 PGG) in Division I, which could pose a potential challenge to No. 5 seed Colorado and No. 4 Kansas State.

If no double-digit seeds get through the early rounds, what might be the highest seed in the Sweet 16? Perhaps two No. 6 seeds: Nebraska in Albany 1 and Tennessee in Portland 4.

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15:44

A conversation with USC’s Cheryl Miller and JuJu Watkins

Ahead of the 2024 women’s NCAA tournament, USC basketball legend Cheryl Miller and Trojans freshman superstar JuJu Watkins sat down for an exclusive interview with Andscape writer Sean Hurd.

Final Four and national championship picks

Which teams will reach the Final Four?

Andrea Adelson: South Carolina, UCLA, USC, Texas

Debbie Antonelli: South Carolina, Iowa, Ohio State, Stanford

Katie Barnes: South Carolina, LSU, USC, Stanford

Charlie Creme: South Carolina, UCLA, UConn, Stanford

Elle Duncan: South Carolina, LSU, USC, NC State

2024 Women’s College Basketball Championship Odds

Eric Frede: South Carolina, LSU, USC, Stanford

Sam Gore: South Carolina, LSU, UConn, Texas

Angel Gray: South Carolina, LSU, USC, Texas

Kelly Gramlich: South Carolina, Iowa, UConn, Stanford

Tiffany Greene: South Carolina, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Texas

Sean Hurd: South Carolina, UCLA, USC, Stanford

Andrea Lloyd: South Carolina, Iowa, USC, Texas

Meghan McKeown: South Carolina, UCLA, USC, Texas

Carolyn Peck: South Carolina, UCLA, USC, Stanford

Kevin Pelton: South Carolina, Iowa, UConn, Texas

Alexa Philippou: South Carolina, UCLA, UConn, Stanford

Roy Philpott: South Carolina, UCLA, Ohio State, Texas

Christy Thomaskutty: South Carolina, LSU, USC, Texas

Jake Trotter: South Carolina, Iowa, Ohio State, Texas

Brenda VanLengen: South Carolina, Iowa, Ohio State, Texas

Michael Voepel: South Carolina, Iowa, UConn, Stanford

Brooke Weisbrod: South Carolina, Iowa, USC, Stanford

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4:13

Staley says self-belief will drive Gamecocks’ postseason run

With the NCAA tournament on the horizon, Dawn Staley explains how South Carolina maintains its successful standard through accountability and commitment to buying into the strategy.

Which team will win the 2024 NCAA title?

Andrea Adelson: South Carolina over USC

Debbie Antonelli: South Carolina over Iowa

Katie Barnes: USC over South Carolina

Charlie Creme: South Carolina over UCLA

Eric Frede: South Carolina over USC

Sam Gore: South Carolina over LSU

Angel Gray: South Carolina over USC

Kelly Gramlich: Iowa over South Carolina

Tiffany Greene: South Carolina over UCLA

Sean Hurd: South Carolina over USC

Andrea Lloyd: South Carolina over Iowa

Meghan McKeown: South Carolina over UCLA

Kevin Pelton: South Carolina over UConn

Alexa Philippou: South Carolina over UCLA

Roy Philpott: South Carolina over UCLA

Christy Thomaskutty: South Carolina over LSU

Jake Trotter: South Carolina over Iowa

Brenda VanLengen: South Carolina over Iowa

Michael Voepel: South Carolina over Iowa

Brooke Weisbrod: South Carolina over USC

Categories
Technology

Hidden racial slurs are flooding throughout Russian media, AI reveals

Hidden racial slurs are flooding across Russian media, AI reveals

A glut of racial slurs hidden in slang has emerged in Russian digital media.

The insults were discovered by Osavul, a Ukrainian startup that uses AI to analyse information threats.

Osavul tapped language models to conduct a cross-platform survey of racial discourse in Russia. The system scanned over 5,000 messages across news sites and social media platforms, from US giants Facebook and X to Russian kingpins Telegram and VK.

The system highlighted the rise of various epithets for neighbouring countries, immigrants, and national minorities. Even Kremlin officials were spotted using the slurs.

Osavul said the vocabulary deliberately conceals the racial and ethnic undertones from foreign eyes.

“Russian slang helps to hide negative attitudes towards national minorities and immigrants inside Russia and gets hatred towards them in society,” Andrew Bevz, the startup’s chief marketing officer, told TNW.

The most widespread barb was “foreign specialist” (инностранный специалист). Used ironically, the term ridicules the qualifications and education levels of migrants.

Osavul also unearthed curious correlations between the slurs and current events.

Hidden in plain sight on Russian media

Neighbouring states were frequent targets of the insults. According to Osavul’s research, Russian neo-imperial discourse often depicts these nations as rebellious provinces and traitors.

A common example is using the phrase “on Ukraine” instead of “in Ukraine,” which implies the country is not truly independent.

Poland was also repeatedly denigrated. The AI system regularly detected the pejorative “psheks,” a Russian slur that imitates a common sound in spoken Polish.

The word’s prevalence aligned with political developments. Usage peaked after former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev posted the word on Telegram last August. It then spread across the internet.

Sightings of the term declined when Poland blockaded Ukrainian grain imports in September. Negativity towards Poles in Russian online spaces subsequently decreased.

Graph tracking usage of “Pshecks” from July 2023 to January 2024. Credit: Osavul

Another emergent “dog whistle” is the use of “Abramovichs,” (Абрамовичи) “Galkins,” (Галкины) and “Chubaises” (Чубайсы).

All three words are taken from the surnames of prominent Russian Jews. By pluralising them, users equate Jewish origins with opposition to Russia.

Osavul also discovered mockery of the Soviet ideology of “friendship of nations.” Across online media, the term “multinational” (многнационал) and its derivates have now harnessed to criticise diversity. 

These findings showcase AI’s potential to analyse online language. Bevz argues that they also expose a national trend.

“Russian society no longer believes in the ‘multicultural’ discourse inherited from the USSR and sold by the current government in the global arena,” he said.

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