Dead Space Remake: The Kotaku Review

Feeling excited, I wait for my PlayStation 5 to flicker on so I can go somewhere I haven’t before, the USG Ishimura, splattered with fresh blood by Motive Studio for its Dead Space remake, released January 27. The mining ship has always been the gray spinal cord to trigger-happy horror Dead Space, originally released…

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Source: Kotaku – Dead Space Remake: The Kotaku Review

The Most Dazzling Ocean Photos of the Year

The oceans remain one of the most unexplored places on the planet. But every once in a while, we get a glimpse of the beauty and terror they contain. This month, the Underwater Photography Guide announced the latest winners of its Ocean Art Contest, filled with plenty of these fascinating peeks under the water’s…

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Source: Gizmodo – The Most Dazzling Ocean Photos of the Year

Make a Fluffy Frosting Out of Sweetened Condensed Milk and Butter

Sweetened condensed milk is the ingredient behind many delicious treats, like dulce de leche, brigadeiro, Thai iced coffee, and a host of other delights. This viscous, sweet dairy is celebrated for its malty, candy-like flavor, and a thick consistency that allows it to stretch across different lanes of culinary usage.…

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Source: LifeHacker – Make a Fluffy Frosting Out of Sweetened Condensed Milk and Butter

TikTok's CEO will testify before a congressional committee in March

Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, will testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 23rd. Chow will discuss the app’s privacy and data security measures, its impact on kids and ties to China (parent company ByteDance is headquartered in the country). This will be Chew’s first appearance in front of a congressional panel, the committee said. TikTok COO Vanessa Pappas faced similar questions from lawmakers in September.

“ByteDance-owned TikTok has knowingly allowed the ability for the Chinese Communist Party to access American user data,” committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers said in a statement. “Americans deserve to know how these actions impact their privacy and data security, as well as what actions TikTok is taking to keep our kids safe from online and offline harms. We’ve made our concerns clear with TikTok. It is now time to continue the committee’s efforts to hold Big Tech accountable by bringing TikTok before the committee to provide complete and honest answers for people.”

Engadget has contacted TikTok for comment.

TikTok’s security and relationship with Chinese authorities have drawn the attention of US officials over the last few years. However, as CNBC notes, discussions between the US and TikTok appear to have stalled, as officials remain concerned about the possibility of China forcing it to hand over user data.

The company has tried to placate concerns from regulators and elected officials by storing US user data on domestic Oracle servers and deleting such data from its own servers in the US and Singapore. Oracle has been reviewing TikTok’s algorithms and content moderation models for signs of Chinese interference.

Last month, TikTok said it fired four employees (two each in China and the US) who accessed the data of several journalists. They were said to be looking for the sources of leaks to reporters.

Also in December, lawmakers passed a mammoth spending bill. The legislation bans TikTok from federal government-owned devices. More than half of all states have implemented similar bans on local government devices. Meanwhile, senators and members of Congress have renewed efforts to ban TikTok in the US entirely.

News of Chew’s appearance before the panel comes on Data Privacy Day. In a blog post, TikTok laid out some of its efforts to bolster user privacy, including a plan to set up a data center in Dublin this year to store UK and European Economic Area data.



Source: Engadget – TikTok’s CEO will testify before a congressional committee in March

How to improve and debug your shell scripts with ShellCheck

ShellCheck is a free and open source static analysis tool which can be used to check and improve shell scripts. It is able to highlight both common and edge-case errors, and suggest the appropriate fixes. ShellCheck can be used as an online or system utility, but can also be integrated as a linter in various text editors.

Source: LXer – How to improve and debug your shell scripts with ShellCheck

Coal in the U.S. Is Pointlessly Expensive

Nearly all of the coal plants operating in the U.S. are now more expensive to keep online than it would be to build entirely new renewable energy facilities in their stead, according to a new analysis by Energy Innovation, an energy and policy firm. The analysis found that 99% of U.S. coal plants supply energy that…

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Source: Gizmodo – Coal in the U.S. Is Pointlessly Expensive

Taxes Slow India's Solar Power Rollout But Boost Manufacture

An anonymous reader shares a report: In May last year Fortum India, a subsidiary of a Finnish solar developer, won the bid for a solar power project in the state of Gujarat. The project was due to be completed three months ago and would have generated enough electricity for 200,000 homes. But like many other solar power projects in the country, it’s been delayed as Fortum India struggles to source and pay for necessary components. “For the last six months, we have not been able to finish developing any new projects,” said Manoj Gupta, who oversees Fortum India’s solar projects in India. Gupta said solar panels and cells have become obstructively expensive because of protective taxes the Indian federal government implemented in April last year. The basic customs duty imposes a levy of 40% on imported solar modules and 25% on solar cells. The government says it wants to encourage the domestic manufacture of components required to produce solar power and reduce the country’s reliance on imports.

But solar developers say homegrown producers, while rapidly growing and being pushed along by policy initiatives, are still too fledgling to meet demand. Current cell and module manufacturing capacity in India is around 44 gigawatts per year, just a fraction of what’s needed to meet India’s renewable aims. In 2022, India had a target to install 100 gigawatts of solar energy as part of goal to add 175 gigawatts of clean electricity to its grid. But only 63 gigawatts of solar power were ultimately installed last year, according to Indian federal government data. India missed its 2022 renewable energy target by just nine gigawatts. “Without these duties we would have easily achieved our targets for larger solar projects, at least,” said Jyoti Gulia of the renewable energy research and advisory firm JMK Research. Most solar developers in India and around the world rely on China, with the nation producing more than 80% of the world’s solar components, according to the International Energy Agency.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.



Source: Slashdot – Taxes Slow India’s Solar Power Rollout But Boost Manufacture

This Google AI Music Will Freak You the Hell Out

If you’ve played around with ChatGPT at all, you know how impressive (and terrifying) AI can be. ChatGPT can generate just about anything you ask it to, with prompts as simple or as complex as you can think of. Well, Google has figured out how to do the same. But rather than spit out poems or computer programs,…

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Source: LifeHacker – This Google AI Music Will Freak You the Hell Out

Listen To The Google AI That Can Create Any Genre Of Music From Simple Text

Listen To The Google AI That Can Create Any Genre Of Music From Simple Text
Artificial intelligence mostly isn’t, at least not yet. Still, the artificial neural networks that humans have created are capable of some very impressive things, and you’ve probably seen plenty of examples of text and images created by computers that are extremely cool. What about music, though? There have been attempts to make AI music in

Source: Hot Hardware – Listen To The Google AI That Can Create Any Genre Of Music From Simple Text

Waste management in Sandy Springs GA

Waste management in Georgia

Waste management is an important issue for the state of Georgia. With a population of over 10 million people, the state generates a large amount of waste that needs to be managed responsibly. The state of Georgia has implemented several strategies to ensure that waste is managed in an efficient and sustainable manner.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is responsible for the management of solid waste in the state. The EPD has implemented several policies and programs to reduce the amount of waste generated, including the Georgia Recycling Program. This program encourages residents to reduce, reuse and recycle their waste. The program also provides grants and other incentives to individuals and organizations that are taking steps to reduce the amount of waste they generate.

The EPD has also implemented several other initiatives to reduce waste and improve waste management. For example, the EPD’s Recycling Market Development program provides grants to businesses that are interested in setting up recycling programs for their products. The EPD also provides technical assistance to businesses on how to reduce their waste and improve their waste management practices.

The state of Georgia is also taking steps to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has implemented several programs to reduce the amount of solid waste going to landfills. These include the Georgia Recycling Market Development Program, the Georgia Waste Reduction Program, and the Georgia Household Hazardous Waste Reduction Program.

The state of Georgia also provides funding for local governments to help them manage their waste. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs provides grants to counties for waste management projects. These projects can include waste-to-energy initiatives, composting programs, and other waste reduction and recycling programs.

The state of Georgia is taking a proactive approach to waste management. The EPD, the DNR, and other state agencies are working to reduce the amount of waste generated, improve waste management practices, and reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. In addition, the state is providing funding for local governments to help them manage their waste. By taking these steps, the state of Georgia is helping to ensure that waste is managed in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Dumpster rentals in Sandy Springs, GA

Sandy Springs, GA has seen a large increase in the need for dumpster rentals over the past few years. With the influx of people moving to the area and the growth in construction, the need for reliable and affordable dumpster rentals is on the rise. Dumpster rentals in Sandy Springs offer a variety of services ranging from residential and commercial waste removal to hazardous waste disposal.

If you are looking for a dumpster rental in Sandy Springs, there are several companies to choose from. Each company offers a variety of services tailored to the needs of their customers. From standard dumpster rentals to specialized services such as hazardous waste disposal, they have the perfect solution for your waste removal needs.

When it comes to residential dumpster rentals, there are several options available. Whether you are doing a one-time cleanout or a regular weekly or monthly rental, there is a solution for every situation. Residential dumpster rentals are also available in a variety of sizes to accommodate different types of waste removal.

For commercial dumpster rentals, there are a variety of options available. Companies in Sandy Springs offer roll-off dumpsters, front-load containers, and more. Depending on the size and type of waste being removed, these services can help businesses save time and money.

When it comes to hazardous waste disposal, it is important to choose a company that is knowledgeable and experienced with these types of services. Sandy Springs dumpster rental companies are well-versed in the necessary protocols and procedures to safely and legally dispose of hazardous waste.

No matter what type of dumpster rental you are looking for in Sandy Springs, there is a company that can provide the perfect solution. From residential and commercial waste removal to hazardous waste disposal, these companies have the perfect solution for your needs.



Source: PS4 News – Waste management in Sandy Springs GA

The Internet Archive's Calculator Drawer lets you relive high school math class

If you’ve been reading Engadget for a while, there’s a good chance your high school education involved using a scientific or graphing calculator during math class. Your old calculator might even be sitting in a desk drawer somewhere collecting dust. If you can’t find it, the Internet Archive’s latest project is here to help (via Ars Technica).

With the help of the team behind the Multi-purpose Emulation Framework (MAME), a project that has spent the past 25 years creating software that can emulate all sorts of gadgets, the archive now offers emulated versions of some of the most popular calculators of the past few decades. In all, The Calculator Drawer features 14 different models for Internet Archive visitors to noodle around, including the venerable Texas Instruments TI-81 from 1990.

Not every calculator of note from the past 25 years is part of the collection. For instance, you won’t find the Casio fx-7000g, the world’s first graphing calculator, on the list, but if you used a Texas Instruments or HP model back in school, there’s a good chance you’ll find something that should feel familiar. And if you feel a bit overwhelmed by all the buttons, worry not; the Internet Archive has also uploaded manuals for most of the included calculators.



Source: Engadget – The Internet Archive’s Calculator Drawer lets you relive high school math class

Spongebob’s New Game Isn’t Quite The Sequel To Battle For Bikini Bottom I Wanted

Back in 2020, after years of fans begging, THQ Nordic released a high-quality, beloved remake of the 2003 platformer Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom. Now three years later, developer Purple Lamp Studios is back with a brand new Spongebob game: The Cosmic Shake. And while it shares a lot with Battle for

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Source: Kotaku – Spongebob’s New Game Isn’t Quite The Sequel To Battle For Bikini Bottom I Wanted

Why You Should Never Lease a Car

In the current inflation-ridden hellscape of a car market we’re experiencing, you might see some advice that leasing is a solution to your car-buying woes. Wouldn’t you rather drive a shiny new car at a lower monthly payment, as opposed to financing a car—even if that means you’ll someday own it outright? While it’s…

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Source: LifeHacker – Why You Should Never Lease a Car

Japan Plans New Government Unit To Deal With Disinformation Campaigns

Japan’s government is making arrangements to launch a new unit next year that deals with the spread of disinformation. From a report: Experts say disinformation spread through social media networks could influence public opinion and cause social turmoil. Some analysts say Russia has employed such methods against Ukraine and that China has done so against Taiwan. Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu says spreading fake information not only threatens universal values but could also affect security.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.



Source: Slashdot – Japan Plans New Government Unit To Deal With Disinformation Campaigns

Forspoken: The Kotaku Review

Forspoken is a painfully flawed game. With a variety of rampant inconsistencies, its stilted presentation belies a gem of a story that centers women and feminine expression. In some ways that makes Forspoken a welcome breath of fresh air for fantasy games, as its 15 to 20 hour open-world campaign follows a woman of…

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Source: Kotaku – Forspoken: The Kotaku Review