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AI Fighting Climate Change : for better or worse
When it comes to fighting climate change, artificial intelligence (AI) could be a powerful tool – but only if used correctly. That’s according to Priya Donti, co-founder and chair of Climate Change AI. The organization is focused on promoting the use of AI to solve climate-related problems.
Donti explains that AI is a “general-purpose technology” with many potential applications related to fighting climate change. For example, AI can be used to optimize power grids for renewable energy integration or collect data about building footprints from satellite imagery in order to inform energy efficiency policies. But while the potential benefits of using AI in the fight against climate change are significant, there are also risks associated with its use.
Donti says that one major concern is that as data collected by AI systems become more detailed and nuanced, it could be used by commercial interests or governments for less noble purposes – such as increasing surveillance or expanding carbon trading schemes without actually reducing emissions.
Climate change is one of the most important issues facing humanity today, and artificial intelligence (AI) could be a powerful tool in the fight against it. However, AI can also be used in ways that exacerbate climate change or even cause more harm to the planet.
Organizations like Climate Change AI are working to ensure that AI is used responsibly and effectively in the fight against climate change. The organization runs educational events and workshops, but it also awards grants to researchers working on projects related to using AI to combat climate change. In April, Climate Change AI awarded $2 million in grants to 13 different projects ranging from using AI to estimate ice volume in glaciers to using it improve the prediction of extreme weather events.
According to Donti, who works with Climate Change AI, “AI is not some kind of ‘silver bullet’ in the fight against climate change, but it’s an additional tool.” One way that AI can be helpful is by speeding up scientific research so that new tools can be developed more quickly. For example, artificial intelligence systems could be used analysis past experiments to recommend which experiment is most likely to lead to the desired result. This would save time and money for researchers investigating solutions to climate change issues.
Another potential use for AI is monitoring the planet for changes associated with climate change in order to more detect and predict extreme weather event patterns Ashiftingsands melting ice shelves. However, as Donti points out, “AI definitely inherits the value systems and priorities associated explicitly or objectively with the data they’re given and the problems they’re meant to solve.” Therefore, it’s crucial that decision-makers involved with developing or utilizing AI don’t lose sight of the ethics office when doing so.. It would be all too easyforAIto end up exacerbating inequalities if it’s not managed correctly.
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Text-to-Image brilliantly executed by Google’s Imagen AI
There’s a new hot trend in AI: text-to-image generators. Feed these programs any text you like and they’ll generate remarkably accurate pictures that match that description. They can match a range of styles, from oil paintings to CGI renders and even photographs, and — though it sounds cliched — in many ways, the only limit is your imagination.
To date, the leader in the field has been DALL-E, a program created by commercial AI lab OpenAI (and updated just back in April). Yesterday, though, Google announced its own take on the genre, Imagenet Roulette, and it just unseated DALL-E in terms of accuracy of output according to Playwright’s Paul Mozur.
This latest text to image AI works by taking descriptions fed into it from whoever is using it at the time – be they written or otherwise – understanding them through natural language processing models before finally mapping them out as an original photo or painting using generative adversarial networks; two neural nets working against each other until one creates something believable enough to fool the other. And boy does this thing work well!
Just take a look at some examples below (provided by Google) where prompts were centered on what should be generated… In each case, the text at the bottom of the image was the prompt fed into the program, and the picture above was the output. Pretty fantastic, right?
In a move that is sure to amaze and delight people everywhere, Google has unveiled its latest AI project: Imagen, a text-to-image generator that can create pictures from textual descriptions with incredible accuracy. Unveiled at the annual I/O conference, Imagen is the product of years of research by Google Brain, the company’s in-house AI development team. And while many previous attempts at similar systems have often produced results that are smeared or blurry, Imagen seems to have cracked the code, creating images that are both strikingly realistic and coherent.
To show off just how well Imagen works, Google released a selection of pictures generated by the system in response to various prompts. In each case, the text at the bottom of the image was the prompt fed into Imagen, with the picture above being the output. As you can see, whether it’s depicting something as simple as “a cat sitting on a mat” or something more complex like “a group of people playing volleyball on a beach”, Imagen produces stunning results.
Of course, it’s important to remember that these are just some of Imagen’s best examples; when research teams release new AI models they always carefully select only their most successful outcomes (known as ‘cherry picking’). So while every image included here is undeniably impressive in terms of its fidelity and detail.
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Will Putin officially declare war on Ukraine 9th of May and why?
On May 9, Victory Day, Russia commemorates the country’s defeat of the Nazis in 1945. It is marked by a military parade in Moscow, and Russian leaders traditionally stand on the tomb of Vladimir Lenin in Red Square to observe it. Western officials have long believed that Putin would leverage the symbolic significance and propaganda value of the day to announce either a military achievement in Ukraine, a major escalation of hostilities — or both.
Victory Day is a public holiday celebrated in many countries around the world. It honors those who have served in World War II and fought for their countries independence. In Russia, it is also known as Den Pobedy and is one of the most important holidays of the year.
Putin has used previous national holidays for political gain. For example, he launched the invasion of Ukraine the day after Defender of Fatherland Day, another crucial military day in Russia. By doing so, he sends a message to both his domestic audience and his opponents that he is not afraid to use force if necessary.
May 9 also holds significance for Putin personally. He was born on this day in 1952, making him 66 years old this year. This means that he will be starting his 67th year as president of Russia on May 9 – an impressive feat considering he has been in power for almost two decades now. Given his age and lengthy tenure as president, there is speculation that Putin may be looking to secure his legacy before stepping down from office.
What better way to do this than by announcing a major victory over Ukraine on Victory Day?
Such an announcement would no doubt be met with cheers from Putin’s supporters at home and would boost his popularity ratings. It would also serve as a warning to other countries not to cross Russia or else they will suffer dire consequences. We will have to wait and see what happens on May 9 but one thing is for sure – it will be an eventful day with huge implications for both Russia and Ukraine.
In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, analysts are split on whether or not Vladimir Putin will declare war on his neighboring country. Putin has many options on the table, according to Oleg Ignatov, senior analyst for Russia at Crisis Group.
“Declaring war is the toughest scenario,” he said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — who has not formally declared war on Russia — imposed martial law in Ukraine when the Russian invasion began in late February.
Another option for Putin is to enact Russia’s mobilization law, which can be used to start a general or partial military mobilization “in cases of aggression against the Russian Federation or a direct threat of aggression, the outbreak of armed conflicts directed against the Russian Federation.” That would allow the government not just to assemble troops but also to put the country’s economy on a war footing. Russian forces have lost at least 15,000 soldiers since the beginning of the war, according to Nixey, and reinforcements will be needed if Moscow is to achieve its goals in Ukraine.
Mobilization could mean extending conscription for soldiers currently in the armed forces, calling on reservists, or bringing in men of fighting age who have had military training, said Ignatov. But it would also represent a big risk for Putin.
“It would change the whole Kremlin narrative,” said Ignatov, noting that the move would force Putin to admit that the invasion of Ukraine has not gone to plan. Full-scale mobilization could also damage the struggling Russian economy, he said. In addition, it could diminish support for Putin at home, as some Russians support the invasion of Ukraine without wanting to personally go and fight, the analyst said. “If they declare full-scale mobilization, some people wouldn’t like it,” said Ignatov.
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Travel in Time: The Mont Saint Michel
Mont Saint Michel, previously called Mt. Tombe, is a small island located in Normandy, France. The island was known for its nobility, as many of the French upper class were buried there. However, it was renamed St. Michel when the Archangel showed up to a local bishop.
The Abbey was built in 966, and shortly after that, the Monastery below it. The Monastery walls (La Merveille) were reinforced in the 13th century, so it remained intact during 100 years of war. The Golden St. Michel on top was added in 19 century only. Abbey and Monastery were dismantled after the French Revolution, but during Napoleon, the entire island was turned into a prison. After Napoleon, it was declared a national monument. Nowadays, Mont Saint Michel is a popular tourist destination, with over 3 million visitors each year.
Tips for visiting include buying tickets online in advance (there are two lines on the spot – one with online tickets [no one there], and one without tickets [more than 30 min waiting in line]), be aware that tickets are time slotted but French are flexible (we were almost an hour late, no one asked, just scanned the barcode), parking at the parking lot (10 Euros flat rate), walking towards St. Michel as you’ll look directly at this amazing site all the way from different perspectives making tons of pics (it takes around 45 min), and taking the shuttle bus back to spare your feet and because St. Michel will be behind you anyway.
It’s also recommended that you avoid eating on-site and instead eat before or after your visit, as the food is overpriced and not very good. In addition, avoid the numerous “historic and authentic” museums, tours, and experiences – they’re all money-oriented. For a more peaceful experience, come at night when there are fewer people on site.
In December 2021, my husband and I took a trip to the beautiful Mont St Michel. We were able to enjoy the beauty of this place with very few people around due to winter and COVID. Mont St Michel is an absolutely stunning historical landmark. It is well worth the 4-hour drive from Paris to visit.
I recommend packing your own food and water, as there are not many options for restaurants or cafes in the town. The experience of visiting Mont St Michel will take around 4 hours or less, depending on how many people are there. There is a lot of walking involved, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes! Also, if you plan on taking any pictures near the beach by the town, make sure you wear boots as sea mud surrounds the entire area.
Keep in mind that it can be quite windy and cold at Mont St Michel, so dress accordingly! There is a shuttle bus that goes from the information center 30 minutes away from Mont St Michel, but I would recommend walking instead. The views of Mont St Michel from afar are breathtaking and it feels amazing to see it in the distance and walk closer as pilgrims did in the past. Overall, we had an incredible experience visiting this extraordinary place!
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Scary: A body in a barrel, in a lake from the ’80s.
The discovery of a metal barrel containing the remains of a person killed in the 1980s has Las Vegas police wondering if other bodies may be found at Nevada’s Lake Mead. The victim, whose identity is still unknown, is believed to have died as a result of a homicide.
The barrel was discovered on the shore of the lake due to the ongoing drought, which has caused the water level to drop significantly. “It’s really odd in the sense that had the lake never receded, we would never have discovered the body,” said Lt. Ray Spencer of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. “Based on items recovered inside the barrel, investigators believe the victim was killed in the 1980s.”
Despite being unable to determine the exact age of the victim, investigators believe they know the sex and cause of death. However, due to the condition of the body, it will be difficult to identify them. University of Nevada, Las Vegas experts will assist in trying to determine who the victim is. Investigators are hopeful that the discovery will lead to more information about potential additional bodies that may be located at Lake Mead. Rangers with the National Park Service find one or two bodies every year at the lake.
The discovery of a skull and bones in a rusty barrel near Las Vegas has reignited speculation that the victim may have been killed by the Mafia. The barrel was found on Sunday by people walking along the shoreline of Lake Mead – America’s largest man-made reservoir.
While the sun shined on nearby boaters floating in the water, they peeked their heads inside and discovered a skeleton. “We were docking our boat to go home and heard a woman scream,” Shawna Hollister, a witness to the discovery, told KLAS-TV in Las Vegas.
“My husband walked over and found the body. His shirt and belt were the only things we could see over his decomposing bones.” Lieutenant Spencer of the Las Vegas Police Department said that investigators would “definitely not rule out” that the killing may have been Mafia-related, given that the victim was killed in an area near casinos dominated by mob activity in the 1980s.
Human remains have been discovered at Lake Mead, raising the possibility of a decades-old mystery being solved. The barrel was found by witnesses close to the receding shoreline, and authorities later confirmed that the contents inside were human remains. Investigators plan to scan missing-person cases from the 1980s in order to try and establish an identity for the victim.
The investigation could take years because of the need for DNA testing, which wasn’t available in the 1980s. If investigators are able to recover DNA samples from the remains, it will take extensive genealogy work to determine the person’s identity. Since 2000, the elevation of Lake Mead has dropped by nearly 150 feet because of “drought and climate change,” according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority. In August, the federal government for the first time declared a water shortage at Lake Mead, triggering cuts in water supply for the region.
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Astrance in Paris, a jewel 3 stars Michelin Restaurant
The restaurant L’Astrance is a unique and intimate culinary experience that offers an inventive take on traditional French cuisine. The restaurant is the result of a collaboration between Pascal Barbot, a renowned chef who draws inspiration from cuisines from all over the world to create his own unique style of French cooking, and Christophe Rohat, an experienced restaurateur who possesses an uncanny instinct for understanding and satisfying his guests’ desires.
The food at L’Astrance is truly sublime. The menu focuses on presenting fresh, seasonal ingredients in their most natural state, and the dishes reflect a deep understanding and respect for the inherent flavors of each ingredient. For example, the restaurant’s signature dish is a succulent slow-cooked lamb shoulder that is served with creamy mashed potatoes and delicious mint jus. Another standout dish is the pan-seared Foie Gras served with figs, balsamic vinegar, and hazelnut brittle – this dish perfectly showcases the richness and flavor of foie gras whilst also incorporating complementary flavors that enhance its complex taste profile.
What really sets L’Astrance apart as a culinary experience however is not simply the quality of the food, but also the attention to detail paid to every aspect of service provided by the staff. From discreetly attentive waitstaff who are always on hand to provide recommendations or answer any questions about the dishes, to Rohat’s passion for creating an inviting and hospitable atmosphere that makes guests feel welcome and at ease, every element has been carefully considered to ensure that diners have a memorable meal. Overall, I would highly recommend L’Astrance is a must-visit destination for any food lover looking for an exquisite culinary experience that showcases French cuisine at its best. The inventive dishes are expertly crafted using only fresh, seasonal ingredients, while Rohat’s passion for hospitality ensures that guests will feel welcomed and relaxed throughout their meal.
I’m not sure why some people had negative experiences at L’Astrance, because my experience was absolutely amazing. From the moment we arrived until the moment we left, the staff went out of their way to make sure our experience was perfect. We were a party of four and they had six people serving us – it felt like they had four people serving us and two people refilling water and bread constantly.
Not only were all the dishes delicious (my favorite was the duck), but also perfectly balanced in flavor. The service was impeccable – they were so attentive and detail-oriented, and really seemed to care about our experience. They were also funny and lighthearted, which made the meal even more enjoyable. I would highly recommend Astrance to anyone looking for an exquisite dining experience – it truly exceeded my expectations in every way possible!
WebSite: https://www.astranceparis.fr/
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Eurozone: 6 Months Of Unstoppable Inflation In a Row
The eurozone is in the grip of a record high inflation crisis, as prices spiral out of control for the sixth month in a row. This is putting pressure on the European Central Bank (ECB) to take drastic action, as consumers and businesses struggle with the increasing cost of living.
Vice President Luis de Guindos tried to reassure lawmakers over rising prices on Thursday, saying the eurozone is close to reaching peak inflation. The central bank sees price pressures diminishing in the second half of this year, although energy costs are expected to keep inflation relatively high. But many economists are not convinced by these assurances and believe that the ECB will have to act soon if it wants to avoid an all-out meltdown.
Prices are currently rising at an annual rate of 7.5%, well above the ECB’s target of 2%. This is causing enormous problems for people across Europe, who are struggling to make ends meet in an increasingly expensive economy. Businesses are also feeling the strain, as they find themselves unable to compete with rivals from countries such as China and India. The ECB has already cut interest rates twice this year, but some analysts believe that it may have to go further and launch a full-blown quantitative easing program in order to bring inflation under control. Such a move would be hugely controversial, but there is growing pressure on policymakers to take whatever steps necessary to avert disaster.
The ongoing war in Ukraine is having a significant impact on Europe’s economy, with energy prices rising and some countries facing the risk of recession. Russia’s energy firm Gazprom has halted gas supplies to two EU nations, Hungary and Poland, for not paying for the commodity in rubles.
The move has sparked fears that other countries may also be cut off. Analysts at Gavekal, a financial research firm, said that if Gazprom were to also cut supplies to Germany, “the economic effects would be catastrophic.” In Italy, central bank estimates are pointing to a recession this year if Russia cuts all its energy supplies to the southern nation.
The inflation rate in Europe rose to 1.5% in April, up from 1.2% in March, largely due to rising energy prices. Energy prices were up 38% in April on an annual basis, compared to a 44.4% rise in March.
Europe is in a precarious position when it comes to its energy security. A large portion of the bloc’s gas imports come from Russia, and if Moscow were to reduce flows, it could have a significant impact on households and businesses.
Alfred Stern, CEO of OMV, one of Europe’s largest energy firms, told CNBC Friday that it would be almost impossible for the EU to find alternatives to Russian gas in the short term. “We should be rather clear: in the short run, it will be very difficult for Europe, if not impossible, to substitute the Russian gas flows. So, this can be a medium-to-long-term debate … but in the short run, I think we need to stay focused and make sure that we keep also European industry, and European households supplied with gas,” Stern said. Separate data also released Friday pointed to a GDP (gross domestic product) rate of 0.2% for the euro area in the first quarter.
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“The French are very ungrateful”: the confidences of Emmanuel Macron’s father.
As the second round of the French presidential election nears, Emmanuel Macron’s father has given an interview in which he speaks about his son’s courage and character. Jean-Michel Macron is a neurologist by profession, and he says that he has a somewhat “distant” relationship with his son, but that he admires him greatly.
The French are very ungrateful
Jean-Michel MacronJean-Michel Macron describes his son as having the courage to stand up to everything that has been thrown at him, from the Covid pandemic to international crises like the one in Ukraine. He also notes that Emmanuel Macron has been able to win over many people who were initially skeptical of him, including those within his own party.
Looking ahead to the second round of the election, Jean-Michel Macron says he is not afraid of Marine Le Pen winning but admits that it is a risk. He urges everyone to get out and vote in order to ensure that his son remains president for another five years.
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Web Scrapping IS Legal, says US Appeal Court!
A U.S. appeals court has ruled that web scraping data that is publicly accessible on the internet is not a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), which governs what constitutes computer hacking under U.S. law.
This is a major win for archivists, academics, researchers, and journalists who use tools to mass-collect or scrape information that is publicly available online but may be at risk of disappearing in the future. The ruling by the U.S. Ninth Circuit of Appeals comes in a long-running legal battle brought by LinkedIn against a rival company called hiQ Labs, which scrapes public profile data from LinkedIn users with their permission. LinkedIn had argued that hiQ was violating the CFAA by accessing and copying this data without authorization, but the Ninth Circuit disagreed, finding that hiQ was not “hacking” into LinkedIn’s system since the data was already publicly available to anyone who visited those profiles on LinkedIn’s site.
This ruling could have far-reaching implications for how we think about access to information on the internet and what constitutes unauthorized access under the CFAA. It also highlights the importance of open-source scraping tools like Scrapy, which can be used legally to collect public data for research or journalism purposes without running afoul of anti-hacking laws like the CFAA.
What does Web Scrapping means?
Web scraping is the process of extracting data from websites. It can be done manually but is usually done using automated tools that extract data from web pages and store it in a format that can be easily analyzed, such as a spreadsheet. Web scraping is often used to collect large amounts of data that would be difficult or impossible to collect manually. It can also be used to extract data from sites that do not provide an API or have an API that is difficult to use.
Who uses Web Scrapping?
There are a number of reasons why people might use web scraping techniques. For example, someone might want to collect data from a website in order to create a dataset for academic or research purposes. Journalists might use web scraping to gather data about a particular topic in order to write an article about it. And businesses might use web scraping in order to price-compare products or track competitors. In general, anyone who needs large amounts of data that is readily available on the web may benefit from using web scraping techniques.
How to scrap websites? Check that video:
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Free Fall Tragedy, 14 years old Tyre died because of a manual setting.
On March 24th, Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old boy, fell to his death from the Orlando FreeFall ride at Orlando’s Icon Park.
The tower sits 430 feet tall and is billed as the world’s tallest free-standing drop tower. Riders are taken up to the top, tilted so they face the ground for several seconds, and then dropped at speeds up to 75mph.
Sampson was 6 feet, 5 inches tall, and weighed over 300 pounds when he fell from the ride. The harness for Sampson’s seat “was still in a down and locked position when the ride stopped.”
Quest Engineering and Failure Analysis released a report this week that found that the adjustment to the seat that Tyre Sampson fell from prevented safety sensors from shutting the ride down, even though the space between the seat and harness was too wide.
The report also noted that two individuals with similar height and weight as Sampson “were able to slip through the restraint opening without any assistance.” Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried said at a press conference Monday that an operator of the Orlando drop tower made manual adjustments to the ride, resulting in it being unsafe.
Fried did not specify when these changes were made or who specifically made them.
This tragic event has left many questioning whether or not thrill rides are safe. It is important to remember that while accidents like this are rare, they can happen. Always take precautions when riding any type of amusement park ride by following all safety guidelines provided by park staff members.
Are the amusement parks safe enough?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a variety of factors, including the specific amusement park in question, its safety record, the type of rides and attractions offered, and the overall safety protocols that are in place. However, there have been a number of high-profile accidents at amusement parks in recent years that have raised concerns about the safety of these facilities. In 2016, for example, a woman was killed when she fell from a ride at an amusement park in Australia. And in 2017, a 10-year-old boy was decapitated after he rode on an attraction at a water park in Kansas. These incidents illustrate the need for guests to exercise caution when visiting an amusement park and to follow all posted safety guidelines.
There are several things that can be done to prevent accidents like this from happening in the future. First, operators of amusement park rides should be properly trained in how to safely operate the equipment. Second, safety sensors and other safety devices should be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure they are functioning properly. Finally, riders should be instructed on how to safely ride the attraction and what to do if they feel unsafe at any point during the ride.