in the clear: 2024-06-03

This is a running list of various media I've looked at each week. It's mostly for reference and to give an impression of the type of news that I'm exposed to. Bullets are written by me and numbers are summaries of the respective article from an LLM.

If you have any suggestions or know of other good news sources, please leave a comment in the guestbook or reach out to me directly. I can't spend all my time reading about current events, but I like to try and stay informed whenever possible.

NYT: What Are Eco-Friendly Ways to Control Backyard Bugs?

1. Eliminating standing water in places like gutters, drainage pipes, and flowerpots can help reduce mosquito populations.
2. Using mosquito control dunks, which contain a bacterium that kills mosquito larvae, can be an effective method for controlling mosquitoes.
3. Creating a barrier of gravel, wood chips, or mulch around wilder areas can help prevent ticks from entering frequented areas.
4. Keeping grass short in areas where people spend time and removing leaves in the fall can also help reduce tick populations.
5. Strategies such as using outdoor fans and creating barriers can help minimize contact with mosquitoes and ticks.
6. It's important to consider the impact of pesticides on nontarget insects and the environment when controlling mosquitoes and ticks.

NPR: Step aside BMI, body composition tests are on the rise. Here's what to know

1. BMI is considered a crude measure of health, as it doesn't distinguish between muscle mass and body fat.
2. Body composition scans, which measure body fat and muscle mass, are becoming popular for tracking health progress.
3. There are different types of body composition scans, including MRI, DEXA, and bioelectric impedance analysis.
4. Bioelectric impedance analysis is commonly used in gyms and workout studios, and is reliable for tracking changes over time.
5. The InBody scan, for example, uses a safe electrical current to estimate fat and lean mass, and the results are sent to a smartphone app.
6. Regular strength training can help build muscle, reduce body fat, and improve overall health, especially as we age.

Washing Post: TikTok offered an extraordinary deal. The U.S. government took a pass.

1. TikTok offered the U.S. government control over its U.S. operations, including a kill switch, to address concerns about national security.
2. The Biden administration declined this proposal and instead signed a forced-sale law that could lead to a nationwide ban of TikTok.
3. The government has not publicly explained why it rejected TikTok's proposal, leading to a legal challenge from TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance.
4. TikTok's proposal, known as Project Texas, included allowing federal officials to pick the U.S. operation’s board of directors and giving the government veto power over each new hire.
5. The government's rejection of the proposal has led to a potential protracted constitutional battle and questions about the government's ability to regulate technology platforms.
6. TikTok and ByteDance argue that the sale-or-ban law violates the First Amendment by suppressing a platform Americans use for information and self-expression.

NYT: Electric Cars Are Suddenly Becoming Affordable

1. Electric cars are becoming more affordable due to falling battery costs, more efficient manufacturing, and increased competition.
2. Federal tax credits and state incentives can lower the price of electric vehicles, making them more accessible to a wider range of consumers.
3. Improved technology is leading to electric vehicles with longer ranges (over 300 miles) and shorter charging times (less than 30 minutes).
4. Many major car manufacturers, including Tesla, Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, have plans for affordable electric vehicles with prices starting at $25,000.
5. The electric vehicle market is transitioning from early adopters to a mass market, with a greater variety of models and price points available.
6. Manufacturing costs for electric vehicles are expected to drop below those of gasoline cars by 2030, even before government subsidies are factored in.

CNBC: Elon Musk ordered Nvidia to ship thousands of AI chips reserved for Tesla to X and xAI

1. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, plans to increase the number of Nvidia's H100 AI chips at Tesla to 85,000 by the end of 2024.
2. However, emails suggest that Musk diverted a significant shipment of AI processors reserved for Tesla to his social media company, X (formerly Twitter).
3. This diversion has caused delays in setting up supercomputers needed for autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots at Tesla.
4. Musk also announced that Tesla would spend $10 billion this year on AI training and inference, but Nvidia emails suggest this may not align with their bookings and forecasts.
5. Musk is the CEO of several companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, The Boring Co, X, and xAI, which could potentially divert his attention and resources.
6. Tesla is facing a sales decline due to aging electric vehicles and increased competition, and its reputation has suffered due to Musk's public behavior.

The Economist: Is America’s economy heading for a consumer crunch?

1. There are warning signs of a potential consumer crunch in the US economy, with monthly consumer-spending growth slowing and overall spending shrinking in real terms.
2. The drop in consumer spending has led to a reduction in the Atlanta branch of the Federal Reserve's GDP growth prediction for the second quarter of 2024.
3. Many Americans are relying on credit cards to meet their expenses, leading to an increase in credit-card delinquencies and a rise in subprime credit-card holders.
4. Florida, with its high delinquency rates, is at the center of this financial strain, particularly among low-income workers.
5. Despite these challenges, some remain optimistic, viewing the rising delinquency rates as a return to normality rather than a sign of a looming crisis.
6. The overall economy remains strong, with employment, initial jobless claims, and income growth all steady. However, with savings rates low and excess savings exhausted, continued spending will rely on further income growth.

NYT: Columbia Law Review Website Is Taken Offline Over Article Criticizing Israel

1. The Columbia Law Review website was taken offline by its board of directors after publishing an article critical of Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
2. The board had requested the article be held until June 7 for further review, but it was published on Monday.
3. The article, "Toward Nakba as a Legal Concept," was written by Rabea Eghbariah, a Palestinian human rights lawyer.
4. The board is not typically involved in the editorial decisions of the student-led organization.
5. The article's publication process was described as "somewhat irregular" due to concerns about censorship.
6. The board is considering restoring the website, but wants to append a note to the article stating that it was not subject to the usual review process.

NYT: They Spent Their Life Savings on Life Coaching

1. Life coaching is a booming, unregulated industry, with an estimated value of $4.6 billion in 2022, and a 54% increase in the number of coaches from 2019 to 2022.
2. The lack of standardized accreditation allows for anyone to claim the title of life coach, leading to potential exploitation of clients.
3. Billiejo Mullett, a registered nurse, invested $18,000 in a life coach school, but found the program to be of low quality and belittling. She was then pressured to spend more on coaching classes and business mentoring to boost her fledgling career.
4. Máire O Sullivan, a marketing lecturer, states that the life-coaching industry's rapid growth is due to an appetite for life coaching, but also artificial means, such as coaches coaching other coaches to become coaches.
5. Sunny Richards, a former project manager, had a six-year journey of emotional and financial distress after being drawn into life coaching, spending $3,000 per month on a coaching course.
6. The unregulated nature of the industry can lead to exploitation of vulnerable individuals, as seen in high-profile cases such as the Nxivm scandal and the Lighthouse organization in Britain.

Harvard Business Review: 4 Types of Gen AI Risk and How to Mitigate Them

1. Many organizations are exploring the use of generative AI, but concerns about privacy, security, copyright, bias, and other risks remain.
2. The article proposes a framework for managing generative AI risks, classifying them based on intent and usage.
3. The four types of risks identified are misuse, misapplication, misrepresentation, and misadventure, each with unique challenges.
4. To mitigate content creation risks (misuse and misapplication), organizations should develop capabilities to detect, identify, and prevent the spread of potentially misleading content.
5. The recommended actions include aligning organizational values with AI principles, mandating watermarking of AI output, and educating employees about AI risks.
6. Governments and organizations are currently navigating these issues independently, as regulations and laws are still being developed.

Forbes: Google’s Privacy Chief Is Out And Will Not Be Replaced

1. Google's Chief Privacy Officer, Keith Enright, is leaving the company after 13 years, with no plans to replace him.
2. Matthew Bye, Google’s head of competition law, will also depart after 15 years of service.
3. The departure comes as Google restructures its privacy and legal compliance teams.
4. The company aims to increase the number of people working on regulatory compliance.
5. Enright will remain with Google until September and has confirmed his departure on LinkedIn.
6. The restructuring includes shifting privacy policy work to individual product and engineering teams.

WSJ: New York Set to Restrict Social-Media Algorithms for Teens

1. New York state lawmakers have agreed on a tentative plan to restrict social-media companies from using algorithms to serve content to minors without parental consent.
2. The bill also aims to prevent platforms from sending notifications to minors during overnight hours without parental consent.
3. The legislation is a response to concerns about the impact of heavy social media usage on teen mental health.

NYT: What Does the Mayor’s ‘City of Yes’ Proposal Mean for New Yorkers?

1. Mayor Eric Adams proposed a "City of Yes" plan to update New York City's zoning rules, aiming to boost the economy and address a housing crisis.
2. The plan is in three parts: one addressing climate change, another expanding manufacturing areas and encouraging business, and a third focused on housing.
3. The second proposal, under vote, would expand manufacturing areas and allow more businesses in mixed-use buildings. It also permits dancing and comedy shows in venues with music.
4. The third proposal, yet to be voted on, aims to spur development of affordable housing, but has faced opposition from some city council members and community members.
5. The housing proposal includes ending parking mandates for new housing, allowing accessory dwelling units, and adding housing above businesses on commercial streets.
6. The plan could produce over 100,000 new homes over the next 15 years, but has faced criticism for potentially increasing density and affecting property values.

NYT: U.S. Clears Way for Antitrust Inquiries of Nvidia, Microsoft and OpenAI

1. The U.S. Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have agreed to divide responsibility for investigating Microsoft, OpenAI, and Nvidia, three major players in the AI industry.
2. The Justice Department will lead the investigation into Nvidia, the largest maker of AI chips, while the FTC will examine Microsoft and OpenAI.
3. This move is a sign of increasing regulatory scrutiny into the AI industry, with the potential to upend jobs, information, and people's lives.
4. The FTC has recently opened investigations into OpenAI's data collection practices and strategic partnerships between tech giants and AI start-ups.
5. The U.S. is currently behind Europe in regulating AI, with the E.U. having agreed on rules to govern the technology last year.
6. The final stages of the discussions between the FTC and Justice Department over the AI companies occurred within the last week, involving the senior levels of both agencies.

NPR: Give yourself and your kids a break — from screen time and from guilt

1. A new study found that the amount of time children spend on screens is strongly linked to their parents' screen use.
2. The study analyzed data from over 10,000 12- and 13-year-olds and their parents, examining habits like texting, social media use, and browsing the internet.
3. The researchers also considered whether screen use interfered with school work or daily life, and if kids wanted to quit but couldn't.
4. The study showed that one of the biggest predictors of problematic screen use in children is how much time parents spend on screens in their presence.
5. The researchers suggest that parents should role-model healthy screen behavior for their children, as they are a bigger influence than teens may think.
6. The study also found that keeping mealtimes and bedtimes screen-free can help reduce screen time and problematic screen use in children.

NYT Opinion: Why You Shouldn’t Obsess About the National Debt

1. The US national debt is over $34 trillion, but when measured against the size of the economy, it is not unprecedented or particularly concerning when compared to other countries.
2. Most debt crises occur when countries borrow in a foreign currency, making them vulnerable to liquidity issues.
3. Governments don't need to pay off their debt, they just need to ensure the debt-to-GDP ratio remains stable.
4. To keep the debt-to-GDP ratio stable in the US, a relatively small increase in taxes or cut in spending (2.1%) would be sufficient.
5. The current concern about the national debt is more a reflection of political dysfunction, particularly within the Republican party, than a fundamental economic issue.
6. The US economy is large and tax rates are relatively low, meaning there is no immediate crisis of fiscal sustainability. With the necessary political will, debt concerns could be easily addressed.

NYT: How Healthy Are Avocados?

1. Avocados are nutrient-dense, containing healthy fats, fiber, and various micronutrients.
2. They can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels by lowering LDL or "bad" cholesterol when consumed in place of saturated fats.
3. Eating avocados may lower heart disease risk due to their unsaturated fats and heart-healthy benefits.
4. Avocados support a healthy gut microbiome by providing fiber, which releases postbiotics beneficial for overall health.
5. They contain essential micronutrients like vitamin E, lutein, and potassium, which contribute to skin health, vision, and blood pressure management.
6. Avocados should be consumed as part of a diverse, balanced diet to reap their benefits, along with other fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy proteins.

Lawfare: AI Safety Laws Are Not (Necessarily) a First Amendment Problem

1. California's Senate Bill 1047 proposes safety requirements for developers of new frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models, which has triggered policy and legal critiques.
2. Critics argue that the bill could overregulate, stifle innovation, and squash competition in the AI industry, and that it may violate the First Amendment.
3. The First Amendment criticism is centered around two main theories: the restriction of model weights dissemination and the regulation of AI model outputs.
4. Model weights are not typically considered human expression as they are created through machine learning operations and not directly influenced by human beings.
5. AI system outputs are not seen as human expressions either, as they are designed to generate a wide range of outputs, many of which are not intended by the creators or users.
6. The bill, SB 1047, requires developers of frontier models to ensure model safety, which may restrict some open sourcing, but this restriction is not seen as unlawfully limiting expression.

WSJ: How Apple Fell Behind in the AI Arms Race

1. Apple is planning to unveil new AI features, including generative AI upgrades to Siri, at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2024.
2. These AI features will assist in message writing, photo editing, and summarizing texts, with a focus on user privacy.
3. Apple is reportedly planning to announce partnerships with major AI developers, such as OpenAI, Google, and Cohere.
4. The company has historically prioritized perfection, which has sometimes hindered its AI development progress.
5. Apple is considering allowing third-party AI providers to enhance or replace Siri, but no concrete plans have been announced.
6. Since the launch of Siri in 2011, Apple has continuously improved its AI capabilities, including the recent release of the Vision Pro headset with extensive AI features.

NYT: Is New York’s Economy Too Fragile for Congestion Pricing? Many Say No.

1. New York City's economic recovery is in progress, but it's not as strong as desired, with many jobs returning in lower-paying industries.
2. The plan for congestion pricing, which would toll drivers entering Manhattan to reduce traffic and fund transit improvements, has been halted by Governor Hochul due to concerns about financial burden on New Yorkers.
3. The plan was expected to raise $1 billion annually for improving the city's aging public transit systems, which are crucial for the city's economic health.
4. The poorest New Yorkers would have been least affected by the tolls, as most of them use public transit, and the plan included discounts and exemptions for low-income workers.
5. Critics argue that reducing traffic would help local businesses by making it easier for customers to reach them, but concerns about the impact on tourism and office workers have led to the plan's halt.
6. The city is currently facing a $15 billion funding requirement for the M.T.A., and it's unclear how this will be met without the revenue from congestion pricing.

NPR: Clarence Thomas discloses trips paid for by GOP donor as justices report financials

1. Justice Clarence Thomas disclosed belatedly that a GOP donor, Harlan Crow, paid for his travel and lodging in 2019.
2. Crow reportedly paid for Thomas' travel on a private jet and a superyacht tour in 2019, but this was not disclosed.
3. Several Supreme Court justices reported six-figure payments from book deals, including Ketanji Brown Jackson's nearly $900,000 advance.
4. Justice Brett Kavanaugh received $340,000 from Regnery Publishing for a book deal.
5. The Supreme Court justices are not required to reveal the value of their homes or their spouses' salaries.
6. The Supreme Court is adopting a code of ethics for justices, but it lacks a means of enforcement.

NPR: Parents are key when it comes to limiting screen time for kids, study finds\

1. A new study found that parental screen use influences the amount of time children spend on screens and the likelihood of problematic use.
2. Keeping meal times and bedtime screen-free can help reduce screen time and problematic use in children.
3. The study suggests that having screens in the bedroom can interfere with sleep in preteens.
4. Parents should consider their own screen use and the potential impact on their children.
5. It's recommended to set consistent family guidelines around screen use, without using screens as a reward or punishment.
6. Involving tweens and teens in setting these rules can help them understand and adhere to the boundaries.

NYT: Shrink the Economy, Save the World?

1. The concept of "degrowth" is gaining popularity, challenging the traditional view of economic growth as an inherent good.
2. Advocates of degrowth argue that constant expansion in high-income countries often leads to increased inequality and environmental harm.
3. The degrowth movement is a critique of the capitalist system, proposing a reduction in material and energy use to restore ecological balance.
4. Degrowth proponents, like anthropologist Jason Hickel, emphasize the need to address the climate crisis and challenge the "growthism" ideology.
5. Critics of degrowth argue that technological advancements can enable economic prosperity without ecological degradation.
6. The degrowth debate is not just about economics, but also a moral argument about redistribution and more equitable ways of living.

NYT: The E.U. Votes: What We’re Watching For

1. Voters in the 27 European Union countries are electing the new European Parliament's 720 members, which will shape the next five years of European policies.
2. The new balance of power in the Parliament will impact policies on climate, migration, Ukraine, and the Middle East, and influence the approval of the E.U. budget and top leadership.
3. The largest political group, the European People’s Party, is expected to maintain its top position, but other centrist groups are predicted to lose seats.
4. Far-right parties are projected to make significant gains, potentially becoming the second-largest group in the Parliament.
5. The Greens are predicted to lose a third of their seats due to the mainstreaming of climate change agenda and rural voters' dissatisfaction with green policies.
6. Polling accuracy is uncertain due to local factors and the potential for polls to overestimate the far-right and underestimate pro-E.U. and pro-Green voters.

NYT: Stuck in a Starter Home

1. The U.S. housing market is currently facing a crisis due to high interest rates, record home prices, and a shortage of inventory, causing a "rate-lock effect" that keeps homeowners from selling and first-time buyers from purchasing.
2. Many homeowners are "stuck" in their starter homes due to low mortgage rates, which they'd have to give up for a significant increase if they were to sell and buy a new home.
3. This situation has led to a decrease in the number of homes being sold and a reduction in housing inventory, making it difficult for prospective buyers to find affordable homes.
4. The issue is particularly challenging for first-time home buyers, who are often outbid and unable to afford the escalating home prices.
5. The crisis disproportionately affects those with lower incomes, as entry-level home prices are growing at a faster rate than higher-priced homes.
6. The lack of trade-up buyers in the market is causing a ripple effect, with homeowners unable to sell their starter homes and move up the property ladder.

NYT: Is Your Driving Being Secretly Scored?

1. The insurance industry uses automakers and smartphone apps to collect data on people's driving habits, creating a "driver score" that can affect auto insurance rates.
2. Many consumers are unaware of this data collection, as it often occurs through apps they already use, such as Life360, MyRadar, and GasBuddy.
3. These apps have opt-in features for driving analysis, which are provided by analytics companies like Arity. These companies analyze driving behavior for insurance purposes, but this is often not clearly communicated to users.
4. Arity sells access to driving scores of millions of people. Auto insurance companies can request a person's individual driving score, which is used to target potential customers based on risk categories.
5. Users often agree to share their data in small print during the sign-up process, but the implications of this agreement may not be clear.
6. The data collected can include how often a person brakes suddenly, speeds, or uses their phone while driving, and this information can significantly impact auto insurance rates.