#Digital Issue- Feb 2024

[cartoonistcoop]

The Cartoonist Cooperative ㅤㅤㅤㅤaligns with ㅤThe Boston Compass!

Through May, enjoy as Greater Boston Co-op members, MAXFOSTER ( @maxfosterstudio on socials ) , PomPoison ( @pompoisonstudio_ on socials ), Joe Bortner ( @joeb_draws on socials ), Adam Green, and E.B. Hutchins ( @ebhutchins.bsky.social ), turn the newspaper strip on its end in our dedicated "BCN Comics" section. Visit our main site to find out where to pick up a print copy at news bins and valued sponsors. Check out our digital edition to catch up on previous strips! Support nonprofit, independent, and free press!

Artists will have/have had their work featured in the following issues.

176 Dec 2024

178 Feb 2025

179 Mar 2025

180 Apr 2025

181 May 2025

Check out The Boston Compass here!

[sgiandubh]

The case against 'sharenting'

Yesterday, an Anon @bat-cat-reader got made me think. Long and hard, far and wide - research included.

Here is the Anon: https://www.tumblr.com/bat-cat-reader/750859423333908480/lo-bueno-de-estar-revisando-redes-constantemente?source=share . I wanted to piggyback first, then I realized the issue was way more important than the person in question. And decided to post everything separately.

Loved this very matter of fact, calm Anon and I totally agree with what was said about overexposing a child online.

This sudden surge of completely inappropriate information about that child raised an eyebrow, and then some more. It begs, as always when dealing with minors, the question of privacy, as opposed to using their image for what obviously is self-promotion. And more generally, what is called 'sharenting', a portmanteau combining 'sharing' (info) and 'parenting' that was quite recently invented by The Wall Street Journal to describe a more and more widespread phenomenon.

That some parents would just love to have and even share digital mementoes of their child(ren) is apparently ok. Others, however, choose to monetize their kids, turning them into a sales argument. I am still floored at such disingenuous choices, that might have serious consequences for their future. And I am not the only one, mind you: a 2018 report by England's Children Commissioner, the leading government official competent for protecting and promoting children's rights, found out that parental digital oversharing is a high risk behavior for the child.

Short term, as in identity theft ...

... to long term, as in lost academic or professional opportunities - the 2018 warning made only more compelling by the recent AI craze:

[Source: England's Children Commissioner Report 'Who Knows What About Me?', 2018 - online: https://assets.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wpuploads/2018/11/cco-who-knows-what-about-me.pdf]

You'll find this very recent article from The Guardian absolutely enlightening, too. I certainly did: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/26/son-social-media-parents-children

Particularly this - I am not a mom, so Mordor bitches will certainly point this salient detail out, you see. But maybe this journalist mom's POV could give them (and maybe even other people) pause:

Pedophile. Quite chilling, right? Pedophile rings actively searching for children photos inadvertently being shared online, to feed sick obsessions worldwide (do not be parochial and think those pics must be of an ambiguous nature!). Instagram being currently in very hot water for its strange content promoting algorithm, allowing pedophiles to easily access children photos and personal data, based on exif. Digital kidnapping, as in criminals pretending to be the child's parents, for various financial or pathological reasons.

Think I am a stupid, stupid shipper with an agenda? Then so is the US House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Commission. Last year, a joint statement has been released by two if its members (and before Mordor starts screeching about 'the MAGA mommies obsession for pedophilia', let it be said it is a bipartisan, Democrat and Republican initiative), about the fact that 'Instagram hosts a vast network of pedophilic content and that its algorithms are actively driving users to this content':

[Source: https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/pallone-rodgers-demand-answers-from-instagram-after-reports-the-platform-is-driving-users-to-child-sex-abuse-material]

It followed a long report on Instagram's less than responsible practices in the matter, published by The Wall Street Journal, not your next door digital gossip rag (subscribers only, but you'll have an idea: https://www.wsj.com/articles/instagram-vast-pedophile-network-4ab7189?st=mbga8lpdddfm5dh&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink)

Mark this statement: 'It is clear these companies cannot be trusted to protect children on their platforms'. I, not even a mom (but an aunt, a friend and a godmother, too), cannot even start to express my disgust at the hypocrisy of barely hiding children's faces on a certain blog, but at the same time allowing rabid speculation about a child's whereabouts, based on what is clearly a case of sharenting. All the mothers, grandmothers and aunts commenting under that post would have to take a long, hard look at themselves in a mirror. And also ask themselves why they allowed their personal fantasy to get an upper hand on common sense?

That is a terrible, terrible shame. And then people wonder why is C not sharing anything? Would you share your kid(s) to that mob? I wouldn't and it is my strong belief no mother in her right mind would.

Last but not least, reckless digital behavior comes with risks, costs and consequences. Including legal ones, taking into account what very probably is some loose, rather informal agreement of co-parenting (as opposed to a stricter, 50/50 shared custody system), as per Scottish family law. Something I shall briefly try to explain, for context purposes only:

Unlike many other legal systems in the world, the 1995 Scottish Children Act has a slightly different approach to custody (or what they call 'residence'), in which the child's best interest, as well as the parents' own agreement (called a Parenting Plan) are paramount. By the same token, it does not matter if the parents were married or just common law partners, for example. This allows for less cumbersome living and financial arrangements, provided the two parties agree, and also for quicker procedures, as the law does not encourage parents to go to Court, if an agreement has been reached ('no-order principle'). Mediation and legal assistance services are readily available to make every particular case fit in the local Parenting Plan framework. On the other hand, because in legal matters all things are (must be, really) symmetrical, it is relatively easy to have parental rights and responsibilities enforced (example: issue an order stipulating to cease and desist from posting on Instagram), or even removed, in Court. While removal is a bit of a hassle (supporting statements are required, either from an independent witness/not a relative or Social Welfare Services), the enforcement is way easier and just requires a basic contradictory procedure in Court.

For example, a child's proven overexposure on the Internet can very well be successfully contended in Court, if things go South. Especially in an emotionally loaded local context:

[Source: https://news.sky.com/story/seven-members-of-paedophile-gang-guilty-of-running-monstrous-child-sex-abuse-ring-13008082 - you read the article if you want, it's brutal]

I am not saying this will happen. What I am trying to say is simply that nobody (and I repeat: nobody) should play with fire, like this. Neither the parent, nor the public. This is a plea for decency across the dashboard I strongly felt I should make, if others won't.

No shitshow, no fantasy, no obsession should ever put a child's life at potential risk like that. You see, children are rarely asked if they would like to be shown off as circus monkeys.

[evidence-based-activism]

did you see the New York Times article with Biden and Trump’s heads photoshopped onto half naked bodies on weighing scales. I thought body shaming is bad? Imagine if it was Kamala or another female politician who had this done to them. If it’s wrong for women it’s wrong for men

Quick notes:

No, I had not.

It wasn't the New York Times it was the cover of New York magazine’s Health Issue (from July).

The photo illustration was by Martin Schoeller and the source images were from Seth Wenig and Mandel Ngan. In other words, men. Men made the image.

I personally find the illustration to be in poor taste. But that's pretty much a standard for political cartoons (vaguely offensive and poorly done).

Calling Harris by her first name while referring to Biden and Trump (and all the other male politicians) by their last names is sexist. You're demonstrating less respect for her as a professional.

---

My main point:

I don't need to "imagine" this being done to female politicians, because they are already facing something significantly worse: deepfake pornography. In fact, "ninety-six percent of deepfakes online depict women in non-consensual pornography" [1]. For example, a recent British investigation found "found evidence of over 400 instances of digitally altered deepfake pornography of more than 30 high-profile UK politicians" [2], all of whom were women.

Importantly, there is substantial evidence that this form of harassment is impacting women's ability to continue in their line of work [1].

So, that magazine cover was in poor taste, but it's also not impacting their (or any other man's) ability to continue in their line of work. It's not pornographic or even remotely sexualized. (I think you'd even have a hard time arguing it's objectifying – that is, reducing them to objects.) Notably, I've never seen a photo-shopped image of a woman in her underwear that wasn't explicitly sexualized.

In addition, please see this post for evidence that women face more issues concerning body image and sexualization/objectification in the media.

---

As an additional, important note: nonsexual deepfakes are also an increasing concern [3], such as the fake campaign ads and photos being passed off as real (e.g., the recent one of Harris spread by Musk). Please do not blindly trust any videos or photographs without some verification.

References under the cut:

Shukla, Vandinika. “Deepfakes and Elections: The Risk to Women’s Political Participation | TechPolicy.Press.” Tech Policy Press, 29 Feb. 2024, https://techpolicy.press/deepfakes-and-elections-the-risk-to-womens-political-participation.

Politico. (2024, July 2). How deepfakes could upend 2024's elections. Politico. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-nightly/2024/07/02/how-deepfakes-could-upend-2024s-elections-00166347

Floreani, Samantha. “From Politics to Porn: Will 2024 Be the Year in Which Deepfake Fears Finally Become Real?” The Guardian, 25 July 2024. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/25/ai-celebrity-deepfakes-generative-chatgpt-impact-politics-future.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Object permanence

I'm on a 20+ city book tour for my new novel PICKS AND SHOVELS. Catch me in DOYLESTOWN TOMORROW (Mar 1), and in BALTIMORE on SUNDAY (Mar 2). More tour dates here. Mail-order signed copies from LA's Diesel Books.

#20yrsago KGB Guide to London released by MI5 https://web.archive.org/web/20050303022107/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/releases/2005/highlights_march/march1/default.htm

#20yrsago Euro software patents reanimated through corrupt officials 0wned by Microsoft https://yro.slashdot.org/story/05/02/28/2223232/eu-commission-declines-patent-debate-restart

#20yrsago Deluded Sony music exec can’t read his own study https://constitutionalcode.blogspot.com/2005/02/us-market-not-antagonistic-towards-drm.html

#20yrsago Greedy DRM vendors want more in royalties than the total market for digital music https://web.archive.org/web/20050912194259/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2005-02-25-drm-infighting_x.htm?POE=click-refer

#10yrsago Ad-hoc museums of a failing utopia: photos of Soviet shop-windows https://memex.craphound.com/2015/02/28/ad-hoc-museums-of-a-failing-utopia-photos-of-soviet-shop-windows/

#10yrsago Your voice-to-text speech is recorded and sent to strangers https://www.vice.com/en/article/strangers-on-the-internet-are-listening-to-peoples-phone-voice-commands/

#5yrsago How to lie with (coronavirus) maps https://pluralistic.net/2020/02/28/pluralistic-your-daily-link-dose-28-feb-2020/#cartonerd

#5yrsago Let's Encrypt issues its billionth cert https://pluralistic.net/2020/02/28/pluralistic-your-daily-link-dose-28-feb-2020/#letsencrypt

#5yrsago Clearview AI's customer database leaks https://pluralistic.net/2020/02/28/pluralistic-your-daily-link-dose-28-feb-2020/#petard

#1yrago When private equity destroys your hospital https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/28/5000-bats/#charnel-house

[putschki1969]

Keiko's Feature in Today's Yomiuri Shimbun (Popstyle)

Today's issue (Feb 21) of the daily newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun contains a 2-page feature about Keiko. Tweet 1 | Tweet 2 | Tweet 3 | KEIKO Instagram Story There's nothing particularly exciting here but I am glad one of my acquaintances in Japan got me a copy.

Update: Here you can find the digital version of the article!

Yuki Kajiura LIVE vol.#20～Japanese Seal 20th Special～

We also got details for Yuki Kajiura Vol.#20 this summer. The tour is titled "Special Japanese Seal" which means that no Japanese songs will be performed. That's a bit surprising actually since many people speculated that the next tour would feature a lot of Kara no Kyokai songs since none of them made it onto the Kaji Fes. setlists. Oh well, this will still be interesting. Expect a lot of Kajiurago and English tracks in the setlist. Please note though that the exclusion of Japanese songs does not apply to the encore section.

Yuki Kajiura LIVE vol.#20～日本語封印20th Special～

2024.06.02 Tokyo・SWU Hitomi Memorial Hall 16:45/17:30 2024.06.09 Kanagawa・Kenmin Hall 16:45/17:30 2024.06.23 Tokyo・LINE CUBE SHIBUYA 16:15/17:00 2024.06.29 Osaka・NHK Osaka Hall 17:15/18:00 2024.06.30 Osaka・NHK Osaka Hall 15:15/16:00 2024.07.06 Aichi・Niterra Shimin Hall 17:15/18:00  2024.08.03 Saitama・Sonic City Civiv Hall 17:15/18:00 

【Appearing artists】 Yuki Kajiura（Piano/Chorus） Vocal：KAORI・KEIKO・YURIKO KAIDA・Joelle / rito・LINO LEIA Guest Vocal：Eri Ito

【Ticket price】 All seats assigned：￥8,800

FC Ticket Lottery：2024/3/1 15:00～3/10 23:59

URL： https://fictionjunctionstation.com/contents/ticket

[attorneyssphuket]

Thailand SMART Visa

1.1 Statutory Foundations

Established under Royal Decree on SMART Visa B.E. 2561 (2018)

Amended by Ministerial Regulation No. 377 (2021) expanding eligible sectors

Operates within Thailand 4.0 Economic Model under BOI oversight

1.2 Governance Structure

Primary Authority: Board of Investment (BOI)

Interagency Coordination:

Immigration Bureau (visa issuance)

Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) for tech qualifications

Ministry of Higher Education for academic validation

Technical Review Committees:

Sector-specific panels (12 industries)

Investment verification unit

2. Eligibility Criteria & Qualification Pathways

2.1 SMART-T (Experts)

Compensation Thresholds

Base Salary: Minimum THB 200,000/month (USD 5,800)

Alternative Compensation:

Equity valued at 25% premium to cash salary

Performance bonuses (capped at 40% of base)

2.2 SMART-E (Entrepreneurs)

Startup Metrics

Revenue Test: THB 10M+ ARR

Traction Test: 50,000 MAU

Funding Test: Series A (THB 25M+)

Accelerator Requirements:

DEPA-certified programs

Minimum 6-month incubation

3. Application Process & Technical Review

3.1 Document Authentication Protocol

Educational Credentials:

WES/IQAS evaluation for foreign degrees

Notarized Thai translations (certified by MFA)

Employment Verification:

Social security cross-check (home country)

Three professional references (direct supervisors)

3.2 Biometric Enrollment

Facial Recognition: 12-point capture system

Fingerprinting: 10-print electronic submission

Iris Scanning: Optional for Diamond tier

4. Privilege Structure & Compliance

4.1 Employment Rights Framework

Permitted Activities:

Primary employment with sponsor (≥80% time)

Academic collaboration (≤20% time)

Advisory roles (max 2 concurrent)

Restrictions:

Local employment outside specialty

Political activities

Unapproved commercial research

4.2 Dependent Provisions

Spousal Work Rights:

General employment permitted

No industry restrictions

Child Education:

25% tuition subsidy at partner schools

University admission priority

4.3 Mobility Features

Airport Processing:

Dedicated SMART lanes at 6 airports

15-minute clearance guarantee

Re-entry Flexibility:

Unlimited exits

72-hour grace period

5. Sector-Specific Implementations

5.1 Biotechnology

Special Privileges:

Lab equipment duty waivers

Fast-track FDA approval

50% R&D tax deduction

5.2 Advanced Manufacturing

Incentives:

Robotics import tax exemption

Industrial land lease discounts

THB 500K training subsidy

5.3 Digital Infrastructure

Cloud Computing:

VAT exemption on services

30% energy cost reduction

Cybersecurity:

Liability protections

Gov't certification fast-track

6. Compliance & Monitoring

6.1 Continuous Reporting

Quarterly:

Employment verification

Investment maintenance

Annual:

Contribution assessment

Salary benchmarking

6.2 Renewal Process

Documentation:

Updated financials

Health insurance (USD 100K)

Performance metrics

Fees:

THB 10,000 renewal

THB 1,900 visa stamp

7. Emerging Developments

7.1 2024 Enhancements

Blockchain Specialist Category

Climate Tech Fast-Track

EEC Regional Expansion

7.2 Pending Reforms

Dual Intent Provision

Skills Transfer Mandate

Global Talent Pool

8. Strategic Application Approach

8.1 Pre-Submission Optimization

Compensation Restructuring

Patent Portfolio Development

Professional Endorsements

8.2 Post-Approval Planning

Tax Residence Strategy

Asset Protection

Succession Planning

9. Risk Management

9.1 Common Rejection Reasons

Document Issues (32%)

Qualification Gaps (28%)

Financial Irregularities (19%)

9.2 Operational Challenges

Banking Restrictions

Healthcare Access

Cultural Integration

[mappingthemoon]

Zines Read 2024

The Desert Sun #53 / Billy (Dec. 2023)

The Desert Sun #54 / Billy (Jan. 29, 2024)

Proof I Exist #45: A 2023 Reading Log / Billy McCall (Jan. 2024)

Proof I Exist #46: Looking Back at 2023 / Billy McCall & Ed Kemp (Jan. 2024)

Trent Reznor, the Girls Who Wanted to Fuck Him, and the Boys They Grew Up to Be / David Leo

Behind the Zines #17 / Billy McCall (ed.) (Mar. 2024)*

The Desert Sun #55 / Billy (Feb. 29, 2024)

Lifecycle of the Moon Jelly / Qufu-lee

Birds I’ve Seen Outside, v. 1 / Alyx White (2020)

Birds I’ve Seen Outside, v. 2 / Alyx White (2020)

Birds I’ve Seen Outside, v. 3 / Alyx White (2020)

KnowhutIzine: An Attempt to Document All Things Worrell / Dakota Floyd & Rick V. (June 2021)

Notes on Anarchism / Noam Chomsky (x)

The Desert Sun #56 / Billy (Mar. 2024)

[private]

[private]

Self-Harm: A Zine About NSSI / Sharaya O

Leave Me Alone, Mom! How Conservative Christianity Ruins Everything / Sharaya O

People Think I’m Weird / Billy McCall

What Is Home?

Local Honey / Madison Greer (ed.) (2020)*

A Zine for Pride: Archiving LGBTQ+ History at UGA! / Kathryn Manis (2024)

Lover’s Eye / Mandy Mastrovita (Jan. 2023)

I’m Blue / Mandy Mastrovita (Mar. 2024)

[private]

The Desert Sun #58 / Billy (May 29, 2024)

Love Letters to ATL / Haley Lazerface & Tazza Moon (eds.) (June 2024)

Voting Vs Direct Action / crimethInc (2004)

[You will see your own reflection…] / SAD (2024)

Grow Your Own (for, like, cheap): The Ultimate Space Bucket DIY Guide (x)

C.U.N.T.S. Magazine: The Women’s Issue (2024)

The Desert Sun #59 / Billy (June 30, 2024)

[Tax Forms Enclosed: 1040EZ, 1040A, 1040] / S. Brooks (1996) (x)

Super/Simple Majority / Tony White (dir.) (July 2024)*

Notes on Libraries, Lesbians, and Pulp / Aiden M. Bettine (2023)

IT? / Jamison Lung

ZiNetwork Invitation / Dr. Tambone

Leftist Leaflets in Little Libraries #1 / Peter Miles Bergman (Summer 2017; 5th ed., 2023)

The East Village Inky #66 / Ayun Halliday (June 2022)

Pirate Jenny (2nd ed.) / Ina Wudtke (2024)

Rut Zine #296 / Bianca Martin (x)

Rut Zine #343 / Bianca Martin (x)

Sappy Gazette #1: Transpiring Time & Space / Abbie (2024)

Culays [Heavy] / Mustafa Saeed (2024)

Offset Printed Artists' Books: A Chronology, 1960-2005 / Tony White (cur.) (Jan. 2018)

Robert Blackburn / [Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop]

The Desert Sun #60 / Billy (July 30, 2024)

Overdue Books; Returning Palestine’s “Abandoned Property” of 1948 / Hannah Mermelstein (2014)

The Desert Sun #61 / Billy (Aug. 24, 2024)

Lost Constellations of Athens: Five Legends / Lauren Fancher (2024) (x)

If These Walls Could Talk: A PhotoJournal Look Inside the Crumbling Campus of Central State Hospital, Milledgeville, Georgia / Janet Fugett (2015)

The Booty Keeps the Score: The Disorganized Attachment Dating Skillbuilder Workbook / tawnee smith (Spring 2021)

Cathode Ray Mission #3 / K Ratticus (ed.) (Fall 2024)*

The Desert Sun #62 / Billy (Sept. 29, 2024)

The Desert Sun #63 / Billy (Oct. 29, 2024)

The Desert Sun #63.5: Political Edition / Billy (mid-November 2024)

Behind the Zines #18 / Billy McCall (ed.) (Sept. 2024)

Tin Can Telephone #9: Test Cards & Radio Phonics / DJ Frederick Moe

where you from? #7: this is how I know I will be okay. / hope amico (Sept. 2024)

Straightaway Tangent #3: In Parallax / Sheila B. Ackerman & August Personage (Nov. 2024)

The Desert Sun #64 / Billy (Nov. 28, 2024)

The Desert Sun #65 / Billy (Dec. 24, 2024)

Zines read in 2024; asterisks * denote zines I’m in! When available, I have tried to provide links for: a digital version of the zine, a page from which to purchase the zine, the author’s website or social media, an alternate version of the text online, or further information about the author/title. I’m not cluttering the list up with individual links for all of Billy’s zines; his stuff can be found at Behind the Zines Distro.

[lakecountylibrary]

Happy Black History Month! 1940s actor Canada Lee wants you to register to vote.

This PSA is from the September 22, 1944 issue of the Cleveland Gazette (a Black owned weekly publication that ran for 58 years)! Canada Lee was a professional boxer and later a successful actor, though his career was cut short by Hollywood blacklisting due in large part to his dedication to the civil rights movement.

This clipping is from the digital collection Black Life in America, which includes hundreds of Black-owned publications you can leaf through at your leisure using your LCPL card. (Not an LCPL patron? Your library may also have a subscription - ask them!)

Transcription:

For full employment after the war

REGISTER to VOTE

Canada Lee is registered and he wants people to know it. What's more, Canada wants EVERYONE to register. He points out that you can't vote unless you're registered. And, says Canada, "If you don't vote you're throwing away your most precious right of citizenship - the right to a government of the people, by the people and for the people." The popular actor known to playgoers and movie fans alike for his performances in "Native Son" and "Lifeboat" is currently playing in the all-Negro cast of "Anna Lucasta," latest Broadway hit.

Sources:

"Photograph." Cleveland Gazette (Cleveland, Ohio), September 22, 1944: 5. NewsBank: Black Life in America. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AAHX&docref=image/v2%3A12B716FE88B82998%40AAHX-12BAB256347DFD00%402431356-12BA05108AAE8710%404-12D5BACC39EE9100%40Photograph.

"Canada Lee." Contemporary Black Biography, vol. 8, Gale, 1994. Gale In Context: Biography, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1606000160/BIC?u=merr17317&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=a8611c44. Accessed 1 Feb. 2024.

[vindersdraws]

[𝔽𝕦𝕔𝕜 𝔼𝕥𝕤𝕪 𝔾𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕒𝕨𝕒𝕪]

Hey, so it looks like my issue with Etsy will not be solved. Not only did they put my shop on “vacation mode” they also decided to hold my funds, so people who paid for my art got their money taken by Etsy. I had three choices: 1) Honor the orders and pay for the items from my own pocket. 2) Cancel the orders and pay the cancellation from my own pocket or 3) Refund the orders and pay them from my own pocket. I chose 1 and all the orders should now be shipped. I just hope Etsy will pay the people back, if they’re not going to give me the money…

This week has been super shitty to me. I’m probably re-doing my kofi shop to deliver prints & stuff again. At least Printful has been pretty good to me.

Anyway, as such, I’m holding a “Fuck Etsy Giveaway”. The rules are very simple. Comment on this post and tell me something that gives you joy in your life or something that gives you hope for the future (or why not both, if you feel like it!) I think because of how the world is today, reminding ourselves about the good might actually be… well… Good.

Use the 🌕 emoji at the start of your comment when writing about joy and the 🌑 emoji when writing about hope.

There will be two winners and they will be chosen randomly. There will be two prices. First one will be a free “detailed style” commission from me and the second one will be a “simple style” commission from me. Winners will also receive prints of their commissions, the first place prize will be 21 x 30 cm matte art print and print-ready digital file of their commission and the second place will either get a sticker or a postcard (the winner may choose) + the print-ready digital file of their commission! The prizes will also be chosen randomly between the winners. Multiple comments will not make you any luckier btw ;)

More details about my commissions here: vindersart.carrd.co

Deadline to comment is 31st of December at midnight (UTC+02:00). The winners will be chosen during January 2024 and their prizes should be delivered between late-jan or mid-feb.

Good luck!

[bllsbailey]

Four plead guilty in massive bribery scheme at agency Democrats fought to protect from DOGE

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency essentially dismantled by DOGE amid complaints from Democrats that cutting waste would harm impoverished countries, is at the center of a massive bribery scandal.

A federal contracting officer and three businessmen have pleaded guilty in a scheme involving bribes like cash, NBA tickets, and a country club wedding in a scandal the Department of Justice (DOJ) said was part of a $550 million scam, Fox News Chief Washington Correspondent Mike Emanuel reported Friday. 

Roderick Watson, 57, worked as a USAID contracting officer, according to a DOJ press release, and pleaded guilty to "bribery of a public official."

According to the DOJ, Watson sold his influence starting in 2013, with contractors Walter Barnes, owner of Vistant, and Darryl Britt, owner of Apprio, funneling payoffs through subcontractor Paul Young to hide their tracks. 

Demonstrators and lawmakers rally against President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk as they disrupt the federal government, including dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, in Washington on Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

"During the scheme, Britt and Barnes paid bribes to Watson that were often concealed by passing them through Young, who was the president of another subcontractor to Apprio and Vistant," the press release explained. 

"Britt and Barnes also regularly funneled bribes to Watson, including cash, laptops, thousands of dollars in tickets to a suite at an NBA game, a country club wedding, downpayments on two residential mortgages, cellular phones, and jobs for relatives. The bribes were also often concealed through electronic bank transfers falsely listing Watson on payroll, incorporated shell companies, and false invoices. Watson is alleged to have received bribes valued at more than approximately $1 million as part of the scheme."

Former employees of USAID leave the headquarters building in Washington on Feb. 27, 2025.  (Leigh Green for Fox News Digital)

Vistant was awarded in November 2023, as part of a joint venture, a contract worth up to $800 million with one of the focuses of that contract being to address "a variety of issues affecting the root causes of irregular migration from Central America to the United States," an issue that President Joe Biden tasked then-Vice President Kamala Harris with during his presidency.

Several days later, that contract was canceled after USAID published a notice that said Vistant was excluded from government contracting due to "evidence of conduct of a lack of business honesty or integrity."

The joint venture then successfully sued the government over being put on that exclusion list and was re-awarded the contract and given a $10,000 payment in August 2024. 

"Corruption in government programs will not be tolerated. Watson abused his position of trust for personal gain while federal contractors engaged in a pay-to-play scheme," Acting Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Sean Bottary of the USAID Office of Inspector General (USAID-OIG) said in the press release.

"USAID-OIG is firmly committed to rooting out fraud and corruption within U.S. foreign assistance programs. Today’s announcement underscores our unwavering focus on exposing criminal activity, including bribery schemes by those entrusted to faithfully award government contracts. We appreciate our longstanding partnership with the Department of Justice in holding accountable those who defraud American taxpayers."    

Protesters hold placards as Pete Marocco, deputy administrator-designate at the USAID, attends a meeting with members of Congress to discuss foreign assistance on Capitol Hill in Washington on Mar. 5, 2025. (Kent Nishimura/REUTERS)

USAID was one of the public faces and most drastic examples of DOGE's efforts to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in government, and the effort resulted in the agency's programs being cut by 83%, while the programs deemed vital were moved to the State Department. 

USAID's website went dark, and employees were barred from entering its headquarters on Feb. 3, while others had their work put on hold. The Trump administration then announced that all USAID direct-hire personnel would be put on administrative leave.

The agency came under fire for many funding choices, including allocating $1.5 million for a program that sought to "advance diversity, equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities" and a $70,000 program for a "DEI musical" in Ireland.

During DOGE's sweep, it was revealed that U.S. dollars were ending up in the hands of terror-linked groups, such as funds reportedly providing "full funding" for al-Qaeda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki to attend college in Colorado, Fox News Digital previously reported. 

As DOGE was dismantling USAID, many Democrats and media outlets blasted the cuts, claiming they would harm impoverished recipients of aid across the globe and some, including U2 frontman Bono, who said the cuts would lead to over 300,000 deaths. 

Several House and Senate Democrats protested outside of USAID's headquarters in early February, expressing outrage over the layoffs and cuts, The Hill reported.

"Anybody who cares about good and effective government should be concerned about the waste, fraud, and abuse in government agencies, including USAID," Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said in the DOJ's press release. 

Fox News Digital's Diana Stancy and Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.

Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.

[wat3rm370n]

Crypto-printing power plant in PA poised to “pivot to AI”

Bitfarms bought the bitcoin printing power plant in Pennsylvania and now there’s speculation that it’s part of the so-called “AI revolution” while Bitfarms is accused of misleading.

This news came out the day after my last post about this Panther Creek facility.

Data Center Dynamics – Bitfarms gets $300m debt facility from Macquarie for Bitcoin and AI expansion Money to fund development of Panther Creek High project in Pennsylvania April 10, 2025 By Greg Thomson Panther Creek is one of the two sites that Bitfarms recently acquired amid its takeover of Stronghold Digital, along with the Scrubgrass site. The two sites, located next to coal plants, have the potential for nearly 1GW of energy for high-performance computing and artificial intelligence workloads. “Amidst the surging AI revolution and the growing demand for power and infrastructure, this financing arrives at a pivotal time following the close of our transformational acquisition of Stronghold Digital Mining,” added Gagnon. Gagnon foresees the potential for the deal to not only help expand Panther Creek, but also Scrubgrass, and Sharon – all of which are poised for operational expansion in 2025. The combined landmass of the three sites equals nearly 1,800 acres, all situated within the PJM (Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland) region.

AI is pretty much as much based on nothing as crypto, so this is speculation at the expense of our communities.

But fossil fuel industry surely loves this shit.

There Is No AI Revolution Edward Zitron Feb 24, 2025 Putting aside the hype and bluster, OpenAI — as with all generative AI model developers — loses money on every single prompt and output. Its products do not scale like traditional software, in that the more users it gets, the more expensive its services are to run because its models are so compute-intensive. For example, ChatGPT having 400 million weekly active users is not the same thing as a traditional app like Instagram or Facebook having that many users. The cost of serving a regular user of an app like Instagram is significantly smaller, because these are, effectively, websites with connecting APIs, images, videos and user interactions. These platforms aren’t innately compute-heavy, at least to the same extent as generative AI, and so you don’t require the same level of infrastructure to support the same amount of people.

I listened to the Eric Schmidt talk, and he said in August 2024 that he’d told the White House at that time that the US needed “to become best friends with Canada” because the power needs would be so enormous that Canada’s power would be needed.

Bitfarms Ltd. Announcement: If You Have Suffered Losses in Bitfarms Ltd. (NASDAQ: BITF), You Are Encouraged to Contact The Rosen Law Firm About Your Rights GlobeNewswire | The Rosen Law Firm PAYesterday at 5:53pm EDT NEW YORK, April 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On December 9, 2024, after the market closed, Bitfarms issued a press release entitled “Bitfarms Announces Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements.” In this press release, Bitfarms announced that it had “determined that its previously issued consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 [. . .] should be restated to correct a material error in the classification of proceeds derived from the sale of digital assets.” Bitfarms further announced that it is “also restating its financials to adjust for an error in the accounting for the redemption of warrants in 2023.”

[healthcarereport2032]

Liquid Biopsy Market Analyzing Growth & Segments 2032

The global liquid biopsy market was valued at USD 8.01 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 9.63 billion in 2024 to USD 58.64 billion by 2032, registering a robust CAGR of 25.3% over the forecast period. In 2023, North America dominated the market, capturing a 54.43% share.

The liquid biopsy market is set for substantial growth, propelled by the rising global prevalence of various cancers. According to Fortune Business Insights™ in its report "Liquid Biopsy Market, 2021-2028," the surge in cancers such as lung and stomach cancer is driving demand for advanced diagnostic solutions like liquid biopsy. This minimally invasive technique, which analyzes blood samples to obtain vital cancer-related insights, is becoming an essential tool in oncology, accelerating market expansion.

Request a Free Sample PDF:

Market Segmentation:

By Product Analysis

Assay Kits Driving Market Share

The kits & reagents segment led the market in 2024, fueled by the launch of advanced diagnostic assay kits offering faster and more reliable results. Key developments include Illumina’s TruSight Oncology 500 ctDNA kit (Nov 2023) and Guardant Health’s Guardant Reveal test (Feb 2021) for early-stage colorectal cancer monitoring. Growing approvals and favorable reimbursement policies are further boosting the segment. For instance, the FDA expanded the approval of FoundationOne Liquid CDx for breast and ovarian cancers in 2021. Meanwhile, the instruments segment is set for moderate growth, supported by new launches like Thermo Fisher’s QuantStudio Absolute Q digital PCR system (Sept 2021).

By Application Analysis

NIPT Segment Leads, Oncology to See Rapid Growth

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) dominated in 2024, driven by rising cases of genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome and increasing adoption of advanced prenatal tests like Yourgene’s IONA care (May 2021). The oncology segment is expected to grow at a faster pace, supported by early cancer detection initiatives and product expansions like Guardant Health’s Guardant360 Response test (June 2021).

By End User Analysis

Hospitals Dominate, Labs Gaining Traction

Hospitals held the largest market share in 2024 due to the rising demand for cancer diagnostics and prenatal testing, particularly in emerging markets. Reports indicate 25–30% of pregnant women in Australia opt for NIPT in private hospitals. Clinical laboratories are anticipated to grow steadily, supported by the increasing number of labs offering liquid biopsy tests globally, with over 200,000 labs operating in the U.S. alone.

Key Companies Featured in the Liquid Biopsy Market Report:

Guardant Health (U.S.)

PERSONALIS, INC. (U.S.)

FOUNDATION MEDICINE, INC. (U.S.)

Natera, Inc. (U.S.)

Illumina, Inc. (U.S.)

Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland)

Menarini Silicon Biosystems, Inc. (Italy)

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.)

QIAGEN (Germany)

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.)

Restraining Factors:

Cost Barrier: Liquid biopsy tests remain expensive, often exceeding $2,000 per test in the U.S. For example, a Guardant360-NGS test costs up to $3,557.6, significantly more than a traditional tumor tissue biopsy ($1,402.4). According to Healio (Dec 2023), colorectal cancer screening via liquid biopsy is 66% costlier than a colonoscopy.

Technology Costs: PCR and NGS-based assays offer superior clinical utility but involve high development and investment costs, further restraining market growth.

Reimbursement Issues: Insurance coverage is limited to metastasis, recurrence, and advanced cancers (stage III & IV), as per NCBI (2021). CMS does not cover liquid biopsy for early screening, reducing incentives for companies to invest in test development.

Lack of Awareness & Coverage in Developing Regions: Countries like India, China, and South Africa face adoption challenges due to low awareness and lack of insurance support for liquid biopsy tests.

Regional Insights:

North America: The liquid biopsy market in North America is expected to grow significantly, driven by expanding applications and increased research and development efforts in the region.

Europe: The European market is anticipated to expand at a steady pace, fueled by the rising prevalence of cancer and growing awareness of liquid biopsy among the population.

Competitive Landscape:

Technological Advancements Driving Intense Market Competition:

Key players in the liquid biopsy market are focusing on integrating cutting-edge technologies to enhance cancer diagnostics and treatment. The adoption of advanced techniques aims to improve disease detection and management, ultimately reducing the severity of life-threatening conditions. This continuous innovation is fueling competition among leading companies, enabling them to expand their market reach and strengthen their industry presence.

Key Industry Developments:

February 2024: Twist Bioscience Corporation launched a cfDNA library preparation kit to advance liquid biopsy research.

May 2022: Guardant Health, Inc. announced the availability of blood sample-based cancer testing services in Europe, now operational at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) liquid biopsy testing facility in Barcelona.

April 2022: Stilla Technologies partnered with Promega Corporation to provide a comprehensive digital PCR workflow solution for cancer research applications, including liquid biopsy and sentinel pathogen testing.

September 2021: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. collaborated with AstraZeneca to develop NGS-based companion diagnostics (CDx) to support AstraZeneca’s growing portfolio of targeted therapies.

July 2021: QIAGEN partnered with Sysmex Corporation to advance cancer companion diagnostics through ultra-sensitive liquid biopsy next-generation sequencing technology.

June 2021: Illumina Inc. and Next Generation Genomic Co., Ltd. introduced VeriSeq NIPT Solution v2 in Southeast Asia.

[gacmediadaily]

GRAPEVINE, Texas, Feb. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bill Abbott, President & CEO of Great American Media, joined industry leaders at the NRB 2025 International Christian Media Convention in Grapevine, Texas, as a featured panelist in the Vision for the Future of Values-Driven Media forum.

The discussion explored the rapid expansion of values-driven content, the increasing demand for faith- and family-focused storytelling, and how media leaders are shaping the industry's future.Bill Abbott, President and CEO of Great American Media, speaking on a panel at NRB 2025 about values-driven media.

Moderated by Adele Malpass, President of the Daily Caller News Foundation, the panel featured insights from Raymond Arroyo (Fox News), Cheryl Chumley (The Washington Times), and Yurisan Cordero (TelevisaUnivision). Together, they examined the evolving media landscape and the growing audience demand for uplifting, values-based entertainment.

Faith, Family, and the Future of Media

"The demand for storytelling that uplifts, inspires, and reflects the principles audiences cherish has never been stronger," said Abbott. "At Great American Media, we've built a thriving network by remaining steadfast in our commitment to faith, family, and country—offering content that resonates deeply with viewers seeking alternatives to mainstream entertainment."

Abbott highlighted the unprecedented success of Christmas programming, a genre he reinvigorated for TV—first at Fox, then at Hallmark, and now at Great American Media—as an example of uplifting entertainment that attracts audiences. He noted that while many networks face declining viewership, Great American Family, the company's linear cable network, has experienced significant audience growth by delivering meaningful, heartwarming stories year-round. In Q4 2024, Great American Family was the only network in its peer group to see household audience growth, according to Nielsen.

That momentum has continued into 2025, Abbott said, citing the success of County Rescue, which premiered its second season this week as part of Great American Family's "Faith & Family Sundays" programming event. "Faith & Family Sundays" features 30 consecutive weeks of new episodes from the network's original series, bringing faith and family together through compelling storytelling. Other series in the lineup include When Hope Calls and Vindication (Season 4).

"Our audience tunes in expecting to be uplifted and inspired," Abbott said. "Other networks may shock and surprise, but we provide entertainment without compromise—delivering high-quality storytelling that aligns with our values."

Faith-Based Media in the Digital Age

The panel also discussed the influence of digital media and Big Tech on faith-based entertainment, addressing issues such as censorship and content moderation as audiences shift from traditional cable to digital platforms.

Abbott emphasized that digital platforms are breaking down barriers, making values-driven content more accessible than ever. However, he urged technology providers to apply fair and consistent standards to faith-based content. "Free speech is free speech," he said.

As part of its digital expansion, Great American Media has grown its streaming footprint through Great American Pure Flix, a premier faith and family streaming platform.

"The technology of storytelling has evolved, but the need for faith-affirming narratives remains constant," Abbott concluded. "As long as audiences continue seeking these stories, we'll be here to tell them."

[beardedmrbean]

A federal subpoena has been issued requesting records from self-proclaimed "super mayor" Tiffany Henyard and others as authorities pursue a criminal investigation tied to the ousted mayor.

The subpoena was signed on Feb. 25, the day Henyard, a Democrat, lost the mayoral primary in Dolton, Illinois, by a landslide. The subpoena is tied to a development project involving land once reportedly owned by Henyard's boyfriend, FOX 32 Chicago reported.

The summons demanded a number of documents from 2014 until now, including copies of citations, code violations, emails, phone calls and text messages between property owners, tenants and village personnel. It also requested correspondence between property owners, tenants and village of Dolton personnel. The personnel included Henyard's boyfriend, Kamal Woods.

The subpoena is the latest development in an ongoing federal probe into the activities of Henyard while she was serving as village mayor and township supervisor.

DOLTON MAYOR TIFFANY HENYARD FOUND IN CONTEMPT OF COURT AFTER ALLEGEDLY STONEWALLING LIQUOR LICENSES

The Chicago suburb has faced a series of subpoenas during Henyard's tumultuous mayoral term. 

One subpoena served in April requested personnel and disciplinary files for almost 30 individuals. 

Another subpoena requested all documents related to indicted village administrator Keith Freeman and several companies he’s involved with. Federal authorities have accused him of making false statements and not reporting income in his bankruptcy petition.

Henyard, whose administration has been under fire for alleged financial mismanagement, was ousted with nearly 88% of the vote in the village's mayoral primary on Feb. 25.

Trustee Jason House, once an ally of Henyard, ran on a platform of transparency, pledging to restore accountability in Dolton’s government.

"Not only is Ms. Henyard depriving the public of what they deserve, it’s costing the village money," House said on Election Day. "Day one, every record will be turned over."

Henyard, who assumed office in 2021, has been heavily criticized by residents over her various scandals. 

Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, also a Democrat, was hired last year to investigate Henyard’s handling of Dolton's funds. The probe revealed that the village's general fund had diminished from a $5.6 million surplus in 2022 to a $3.6 million deficit in 2024, raising concerns about questionable credit card purchases and a lack of financial accountability.

She has also been accused of civil rights violations, and is facing numerous lawsuits over her alleged corruption.

Henyard's scandal-plagued tenure included a viral video in January when she was seen throwing herself into a brawl during a Thornton Township Board of Trustees meeting, after activist Jedidiah Brown had some strong words for Henyard.

"You've been a half-a-- mayor. But if you wanted to get up here and earn some respect, then you should have been able to respond to Lori Lightfoot's report about credit cards. You want to talk about them not coming to work, but we've been hearing what you've been doing while you've been at work," Brown said during the public comment section of the township meeting.

"And I'm going to give away the rest of my time because I think, on behalf of the Black Cookout Association, that we better take a vote… that we're going to exchange your Black a-- for Stephanie to be the newer member.… So all those against it say, ‘nay.’ All those in favor say, ‘aye.’" 

"You gone, b----," Brown concluded. 

The room quickly devolved into chaos, as bystander video showed Woods and Brown throwing punches at one another in the back of the room. Others joined the fight as security tried to separate the crowd. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to Woods' attorney, Beau Brindley, and the village of Dolton for comment.