Why GPT-5 sucks; AI boyfriends lost; assault with a deadly sandwich; 'Eye of Sauron' pointed at Earth; Social Security may be screwed; Pentagon gets religion; Florida man yet again.
It's National Lemon Meringue Pie Day!
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Knee Deep in the Hoopla
Trump brings right-wing cancel culture to the Kennedy Center Honors, bans "wokesters": A Closer Look (Video)
Trump’s revenge campaign has a weakness. Prosecuting his enemies is turning out to be more difficult than he’d hoped—at least for now.
The damage to economic data may already be done. Trump’s pick to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t have to manipulate any numbers to undermine the reliability of the government’s jobs reports.
How Pete Hegseth’s zeal to bring religiosity to the Pentagon is dividing the military. Former Fox and Friends host’s ultra-conservative Christian nationalism causing ‘frustration’ within ranks, say experts.
Supreme Court formally asked to overturn landmark same-sex marriage ruling.
Social Security has existed for 90 years. Why it may be more threatened than ever.
Redistricting feud between California and Texas intensifies as other states threaten action.
An analysis of DOGE data reveals the organization saved less than five percent of its claimed savings from nearly 10,100 contract terminations.
There's a compelling theory why GPT-5 sucks so much. TLDR: Cost-cutting,
Women with AI ‘boyfriends’ mourn lost love after ‘cold’ ChatGPT upgrade. OpenAI’s release of GPT-5 prompts backlash in online communities for people with AI companions.
ChatGPT 5 power consumption could be as much as eight times higher than GPT 4 — research institute estimates medium-sized GPT-5 response can consume up to 40 watt-hours of electricity.
Man charged with assaulting federal agent with sandwich in D.C.
Walmart must pay millions for overcharging customers in California.
Microsoft's vision for the next version of Windows is an all-seeing, voice-controlled chatbot that gives you productivity 'superpowers'.
Meta’s AI rules have let bots hold ‘sensual’ chats with kids, offer false medical info. An internal Meta policy document reveals the social-media giant’s rules for chatbots, which have permitted provocative behavior on topics including sex, race and celebrities.
Astronomers in awe of terrifying "Eye of Sauron" that's pointed straight at Earth.
Harvard scientist proposes six-word message be sent to mysterious object aiming at Earth that he says is 'not natural'. TLDR: "Hello, welcome to our neighborhood. Peace!"
When drug rehabs prey on the patients they claim to serve. A new book brings needed scrutiny to bear on America’s drug treatment system.
Atlantic’s first major hurricane may be just hours away,
Florida man on trial for allegedly shooting date after dinner bill dispute.
Quote of the Day:
I don't think about whether people will remember me or not. I've been an okay person. I've learned a lot. I've taught people a thing or two. That's what's important. Sooner or later the public will forget you, the memory of you will fade. What's important is the individuals you've influenced along the way.
--Julia Child (Wikipedia link)
(More Julia Child quotes from the KGB Quotations Database)
Today’s holidays:
Chant at the Moon Day, Chauvin Day, I Love Cowboys and Cowgirls Day, National Back To School Prep Day, National Best Friends Day, National Check the Chip Day, National Failures Day, National Kool-Aid Day, National Leathercraft Day, National Lemon Meringue Pie Day, National Men's Grooming Day, National Relaxation Day, and Smith-Kingsmore Syndrome Awareness Day.
Astronomy Picture of the Day from NASA.
On This Day:
2013 – The Smithsonian announced the discovery of the olinguito, the first new carnivorous species found in the Americas in 35 years.
1998 – Apple introduced the iMac computer.
1995 – In South Carolina, Shannon Faulkner became the first female cadet matriculated at The Citadel (she drops out less than a week later).
1979 – The film “Apocalypse Now” was released in the US. (Video)
1977 – The Big Ear, a radio telescope operated by Ohio State University as part of the SETI project, received a radio signal from deep space; the event is named the "Wow! signal" from the notation made by a volunteer on the project. (Video)
1971 – President Richard Nixon completed the break from the gold standard by ending convertibility of the United States dollar into gold by foreign investors.
1970 – Patricia Palinkas became the first woman to play professionally in an American football game.
1969 – The Woodstock Music & Art Fair opened in Bethel, New York, featuring some of the top rock musicians of the era. (Video)
1965 – The Beatles played to nearly 60,000 fans at Shea Stadium in New York City, an event later regarded as the birth of stadium rock. (Video)
1956 – Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” and “Don’t Be Cruel” hit #1 on the charts, where it remained for 11 weeks.
1947 – India gained independence from British rule after near 190 years of British company and crown rule and joined the Commonwealth of Nations.
1945 – Emperor Hirohito broadcasted his declaration of surrender following the effective surrender of Japan in World War II; Korea gained independence from the Empire of Japan.
1939 – The Wizard of Oz premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, California. (Video)
1935 – Will Rogers and Wiley Post were killed after their aircraft develops engine problems during takeoff in Barrow, Alaska.
1914 – The Panama Canal opened to traffic with the transit of the cargo ship SS Ancon.
1899 – Henry Ford leaves Edison to start an automobile company.
1824 – The Marquis de Lafayette, the last surviving French general of the American Revolutionary War, arrived in New York and began a tour of 24 states.
1483 – Pope Sixtus IV consecrated the Sistine Chapel.
1057 – King Macbeth was killed at the Battle of Lumphanan by the forces of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada.
(For comprehensive lists of the day’s historical events, check here, here, and here.)
Some Birthdays:
1990 – Jennifer Lawrence, American actress
1989 – Joe Jonas, American singer-songwriter
1974 – Natasha Henstridge, Canadian model and actress
1972 – Ben Affleck, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
1968 – Debra Messing, American actress
1964 – Melinda Gates, American businesswoman and philanthropist, co-founded the Gates Foundation
1950 – Anne, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom
1946 – Jimmy Webb, American singer-songwriter and pianist (Video) (Video)
1938 – Maxine Waters, American educator and politician
1938 – Stephen Breyer, American lawyer and jurist, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
1936 – Pat Priest, American actress
1932 – Jim Lange, American game show host and DJ (died 2014)
1932 – Abby Dalton, American actress (died 2020)
1925 – Oscar Peterson, Canadian pianist and composer (died 2007) (Video)
1925 – Mike Connors, American actor and producer (died 2017) (Video)
1924 – Phyllis Schlafly, American lawyer, writer, and political activist (died 2016)
1923 – Rose Marie, American actress and singer (died 2017)
1919 – Huntz Hall, American actor (died 1999)
1912 – Julia Child, American chef and author (died 2004)
1892 – Louis de Broglie, French physicist and academic, (died 1987)
1885 – Edna Ferber, American novelist, short story writer, and playwright (died 1968)
1879 – Ethel Barrymore, American actress (died 1959)
1769 – Napoleon Bonaparte, French general and emperor (died 1821)
(A more complete list of today’s birthdays.)
Some Deaths:
2024 – Peter Marshall, American game show host, performer, and singer (born 1926)
2020 – Robert Trump, American real-estate developer, business executive (born 1948)
2015 – Julian Bond, American academic, leader of the civil rights movement, and politician (born 1940)
1995 – John Cameron Swayze, American journalist and actor (born 1906)
1982 – Ernie Bushmiller, American cartoonist (“Nancy”) (born 1905)
1974 – Clay Shaw, American businessman (born 1913)
1967 – René Magritte, Belgian painter (born 1898)
1935 – Wiley Post, American pilot (born 1898)
1935 – Will Rogers, American actor, comedian, and screenwriter (born 1879)
1057 – Macbeth, King of Scotland
(A more complete list of today’s deaths.)
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