Who Is the Doge and X Technician Branden Spikes?
(krebsonsecurity.com)
At 49, Branden Spikes isn’t just one of the oldest technologists who has been involved in Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As the current director of information technology at X/Twitter and an early hire at PayPal, Zip2, Tesla and SpaceX, Spikes is also among Musk’s most loyal employees. Here’s a closer look at this trusted Musk lieutenant, whose Russian ex-wife was once married to Elon’s cousin.
At 49, Branden Spikes isn’t just one of the oldest technologists who has been involved in Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As the current director of information technology at X/Twitter and an early hire at PayPal, Zip2, Tesla and SpaceX, Spikes is also among Musk’s most loyal employees. Here’s a closer look at this trusted Musk lieutenant, whose Russian ex-wife was once married to Elon’s cousin.
Shares of Starlink competitor Eutelsat triple; CEO says can fill Ukraine gap
(morningstar.com)
Talks with European leaders to replace Elon Musk's Starlink satellite services in Ukraine have "intensified" over the past two weeks, according to the chief executive officer of French rival Eutelsat Communications.
Talks with European leaders to replace Elon Musk's Starlink satellite services in Ukraine have "intensified" over the past two weeks, according to the chief executive officer of French rival Eutelsat Communications.
China aims to recruit top US scientists as Trump tries to kill the CHIPS Act
(arstechnica.com)
On Tuesday, Donald Trump finally made it clear to Congress that he wants to kill the CHIPS and Science Act—a $280 billion bipartisan law Joe Biden signed in 2022 to bring more semiconductor manufacturing into the US and put the country at the forefront of research and innovation.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump finally made it clear to Congress that he wants to kill the CHIPS and Science Act—a $280 billion bipartisan law Joe Biden signed in 2022 to bring more semiconductor manufacturing into the US and put the country at the forefront of research and innovation.
Eric Schmidt sounds the alarm over a 'Manhattan Project' for superintelligent AI
(fortune.com)
Eric Schmidt, Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang, and Center for AI Safety Director Dan Hendrycks are sounding the alarm about the global race to build superintelligent AI.
Eric Schmidt, Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang, and Center for AI Safety Director Dan Hendrycks are sounding the alarm about the global race to build superintelligent AI.
RIP (Finally) to the Blockchain Hype
(cio.com)
The blockchain hype starting in the late 2010s has nearly died, replaced by intense interest in AI and hurt by sketchy cryptocurrency and NFT schemes, some experts say.
The blockchain hype starting in the late 2010s has nearly died, replaced by intense interest in AI and hurt by sketchy cryptocurrency and NFT schemes, some experts say.
Volkswagen gets the message: Cheap, stylish EVs coming from 2026
(arstechnica.com)
In two years, this small electric Volkswagen will go on sale, for less than €20,000 ($21,338). In Europe, at least.
In two years, this small electric Volkswagen will go on sale, for less than €20,000 ($21,338). In Europe, at least.
50 Years in Filesystems: 1984
(koehntopp.info)
Progress is sometimes hard to see, especially when you have been part of it or otherwise lived through it. Often, it is easier to see if you compare modern educational material, and the problems discussed with older material. And then look for the research papers and sources that fueled the change.
Progress is sometimes hard to see, especially when you have been part of it or otherwise lived through it. Often, it is easier to see if you compare modern educational material, and the problems discussed with older material. And then look for the research papers and sources that fueled the change.
UK quietly scrubs encryption advice from government websites
(techcrunch.com)
The U.K. government appears to have quietly scrubbed encryption advice from government web pages, just weeks after demanding backdoor access to encrypted data stored on Apple’s cloud storage service, iCloud.
The U.K. government appears to have quietly scrubbed encryption advice from government web pages, just weeks after demanding backdoor access to encrypted data stored on Apple’s cloud storage service, iCloud.
Why 56k Modems Relied on Digital Phone Lines You Didn't Know We Had
(hackaday.com)
If you came of age in the 1990s, you’ll remember the unmistakable auditory handshake of an analog modem negotiating its connection via the plain old telephone system. That cacophony of screeches and hisses was the result of careful engineering. They allowed digital data to travel down phone lines that were only ever built to carry audio—and pretty crummy audio, at that.
If you came of age in the 1990s, you’ll remember the unmistakable auditory handshake of an analog modem negotiating its connection via the plain old telephone system. That cacophony of screeches and hisses was the result of careful engineering. They allowed digital data to travel down phone lines that were only ever built to carry audio—and pretty crummy audio, at that.
Mexican Billionaire Slim Cuts Ties with Starlink, Costing Musk $7B After Tweet
(msn.com)
Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has officially severed ties with Elon Musk’s Starlink, opting to invest in his own telecommunications infrastructure rather than relying on Musk’s satellite technology.
Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has officially severed ties with Elon Musk’s Starlink, opting to invest in his own telecommunications infrastructure rather than relying on Musk’s satellite technology.
Bangladesh's factories turn to surveillance, automation; workers feel pressure
(restofworld.org)
As Bangladesh’s factories turn to surveillance and automation, garment workers feel the pressure
As Bangladesh’s factories turn to surveillance and automation, garment workers feel the pressure
New U.S. Tariffs Will Impact Consoles, GPUs, and Physical Games, Say Analysts
(ign.com)
"The Trump administration has just implemented a new set of tariffs in the United States on goods coming from China, Canada, and Mexico, and analysts are warning gamers to expect these tariffs to begin impacting the price...and even availability...of video games, consoles, and other tech items."
"The Trump administration has just implemented a new set of tariffs in the United States on goods coming from China, Canada, and Mexico, and analysts are warning gamers to expect these tariffs to begin impacting the price...and even availability...of video games, consoles, and other tech items."
Meta keeps 'block' lists of ex-employees – and even a VP can't get you off them
(businessinsider.com)
Meta maintains internal block lists of employees who are ineligible for being rehired. BI spoke with former employees who said they were surprised to learn they were on these lists. Some former Meta managers said it could be nearly impossible to get employees off the list.
Meta maintains internal block lists of employees who are ineligible for being rehired. BI spoke with former employees who said they were surprised to learn they were on these lists. Some former Meta managers said it could be nearly impossible to get employees off the list.
Do We Age Steadily, or in Bursts?
(nytimes.com)
New technologies are giving scientists a better understanding of how the process actually works.
New technologies are giving scientists a better understanding of how the process actually works.
Watchdog fails to stop big vendor lock-in, say UK cloud market's smaller players
(theregister.com)
Britain's competition regulator is facing biting criticism from local cloud providers for declining to act on Committed Spend Agreements (CSAs), the sales tools that AWS and Microsoft use to lure customers.
Britain's competition regulator is facing biting criticism from local cloud providers for declining to act on Committed Spend Agreements (CSAs), the sales tools that AWS and Microsoft use to lure customers.
Core Power plans mass production of floating nuclear power plants
(world-nuclear-news.org)
Core Power of the UK has announced that it will develop a "US-anchored" maritime civil nuclear programme that will "bring floating nuclear power to market by the mid-2030s".
Core Power of the UK has announced that it will develop a "US-anchored" maritime civil nuclear programme that will "bring floating nuclear power to market by the mid-2030s".
China aims to recruit top US scientists as Trump tries to kill the CHIPS Act
(arstechnica.com)
On Tuesday, Donald Trump finally made it clear to Congress that he wants to kill the CHIPS and Science Act—a $280 billion bipartisan law Joe Biden signed in 2022 to bring more semiconductor manufacturing into the US and put the country at the forefront of research and innovation.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump finally made it clear to Congress that he wants to kill the CHIPS and Science Act—a $280 billion bipartisan law Joe Biden signed in 2022 to bring more semiconductor manufacturing into the US and put the country at the forefront of research and innovation.
Centennial Light
(wikipedia.org)
The Centennial Light is an incandescent light bulb recognized as the oldest known continuously operating light bulb.
The Centennial Light is an incandescent light bulb recognized as the oldest known continuously operating light bulb.
Waymo's Expansion: Cars, New Depots, and What's Next
(autonomycentral.net)
A couple of months ago, Waymo content creator JJRicks uploaded a video showcasing a factory he discovered, capturing close-up ground-level footage of the site. This factory turned out to be an assembly plant from Magna, where Waymos are constructed.
A couple of months ago, Waymo content creator JJRicks uploaded a video showcasing a factory he discovered, capturing close-up ground-level footage of the site. This factory turned out to be an assembly plant from Magna, where Waymos are constructed.
Utah becomes the first state to pass an app store age verification bill
(theverge.com)
Utah became the first state in the country to pass legislation requiring app store operators to verify users’ ages and require parental consent for minors to download apps.
Utah became the first state in the country to pass legislation requiring app store operators to verify users’ ages and require parental consent for minors to download apps.
Going 800Gbps at up to 1000km with the Marvell COLORZ III 800G
(servethehome.com)
Today, we have something really fun: a look at the Marvell COLORZ 800. This is a long-range 800G ZR+ optical module that comes in a standard OSFP pluggable form factor, yet it can reach over 500km or 1000km at 800Gbps speeds.
Today, we have something really fun: a look at the Marvell COLORZ 800. This is a long-range 800G ZR+ optical module that comes in a standard OSFP pluggable form factor, yet it can reach over 500km or 1000km at 800Gbps speeds.
NASA Turns Off 2 Voyager Science Instruments to Extend Mission
(nasa.gov)
The farthest-flung human-made objects will be able to take their science-gathering even farther, thanks to these energy-conserving measures.
The farthest-flung human-made objects will be able to take their science-gathering even farther, thanks to these energy-conserving measures.
Steve Wozniak Has Had It with Elon Musk's Antics
(gizmodo.com)
Steve Wozniak, perhaps the last of an old guard of tech guys who generally seem pretty chill, does not think particularly highly of Elon Musk or Donald Trump.
Steve Wozniak, perhaps the last of an old guard of tech guys who generally seem pretty chill, does not think particularly highly of Elon Musk or Donald Trump.
SpaceX's Texas Starlink Factory Produces 15,000 Dishes per Day
(pcmag.com)
SpaceX has published a rare behind-the-scenes video of its Starlink dish factory in Bastrop, Texas, which is preparing to expand.
SpaceX has published a rare behind-the-scenes video of its Starlink dish factory in Bastrop, Texas, which is preparing to expand.
Renault Is Giving Away Its Proprietary Tech to Stop EV Fires Quickly
(thedrive.com)
"Fireman Access" is a port emergency crews can access to flood the battery compartment and extinguish an EV fire in minutes. And now all OEMs can have it for free.
"Fireman Access" is a port emergency crews can access to flood the battery compartment and extinguish an EV fire in minutes. And now all OEMs can have it for free.