#Data Collection Process UK

[smokingcreams]

Re: 8tracks

HUGE UPDATE:

As I said on my earlier post today the CTO of 8tracks answered some questions on the discord server of mixer.fm

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN INFORMATION ABOUT 8TRACKS AND THE ANSWERS THE CTO OF 8TRACKS GAVE, PLEASE, KEEP READING THIS POST BECAUSE IT'S A LOT BUT YOU WON'T REGRET IT.

Okay, so he first talked about how they were involved in buying 8tracks, then how everything failed because of money and issues with the plataform then he talked about this new app called MixerFM they developed that works with web3 (8tracks is a web2 product), that if they get to launch it they'll get to launch 8tracks too because both apps will work with the same data.

Here is what they have already done in his own words:

*Built a multitenant backend system that supports both MIXER and 8tracks

*Fully rebuilt the 8tracks web app

*Fixed almost all legacy issues

*Developed iOS and Android apps for MIXER

What is next?

They need to migrate the 8tracks database from the old servers to the new environment. That final step costs about $50,000 and on his own words "I am personally committed to securing the funds to make it happen. If we pull this off since there is a time limit , we will have an chance to launch both 8tracks and MIXER. … so for all you community members that are pinging me to provide more details on X and here on discord, here it is"

Here the screenshots of his full statement:

NOW THE QUESTIONS HE ANSWERED:

*I transcribed them*

1. "What's the status of the founding right now?"

"Fundraising, for music its difficult"

2. "Our past data, is intact, isn't?"

"All data still exists from playlist 1"

3. "Will we be able to access our old playlists?"

"All playlists if we migrate the data will be saved. If we dont all is lost forever"

4. "How will the new 8tracks relaunch and MIXER be similar, and how will they be different?"

"8tracks / human created / mix tape style as it was before

mixer - ai asiated mix creation, music quest where people earn crypto for work they provode to music protocol ( solve quests earn money for providing that service )"

5. "Why is 8tracks being relaunched when they could just launch MIXER with our 8tracks database?"

"One app is web2 ( no crypto economy and incentives / ) mixer is web3 ( economy value exchange between users, artists, publishers, labels, advertisers) value (money) is shared between stakeholders and participants of app. Company earns less / users / artist earn more."

6. "Will we need to create a separate account for mixer? Or maybe a way to link our 8tracks to mixer?"

"New account no linking planned"

7. "What do you mean by fixed almost all legacy issues and fully rebuilt the 8tracks web app?"

"We have rebuilt most of 8tracks from scratch i wish could screen record a demo. In Last year we have rebuilt whole 8tracks ! No more issues no more bugs no more hacked comments"

8. "Will the song database be current and allow new songs? For example if someone makes a K pop playlist theres the capability for new songs and old not just all songs are from 2012. There will be songs from 2020 onwards to today?"

"Current cut of date is 2017, we have planed direct label deals to bring music DB up to speed with all new songs until 2025. This means no more song uploads"

9. "The apps would be available for android and outside USA?"

"USA + Canada + Germany + UK + Sweden + Italy + Greece + Portugal + Croatia in my personal rollout plan / but usa canada croatia would be top priority"

10. "Will 8tracks have a Sign in with Apple option?"

"It will have nothing if we don’t migrate the database but yes if we do it will have it"

11. ""Will Collections return?"

"Ofc If we save the database its safe to assume collections will return"

12. "Will the 8tracks forums return?"

"No that one i will deleted People spending too much time online"

13. "No more songs uploads forever or no more songs until…?"

"Idk, this really depends on do we save database or no. Maybe we restart the process of song uploads to rebuild the and create a worlds first open music database If anyone has any songs to upload that is

We operate under different license"

14. "What is your time limit? for the funding, I mean"

"Good question I think 2-3 months"

15. "From now?"

"Correct"

16. "When is the release date for Mixer?"

"Mixer would need 2-3 more months of work to be released Maybe even less of we would use external database services and just go with minimum features"

17. "Do you have the link for it?"

"Not if we dont secure the database that is number one priority"

*That was the end of the questions and answers*

Then he said:

"You need to act bring here (discord) people and help me set up go fund me camping of investor talks fail so we secure the database and migrate data so we can figure out whats next"

He also said he'll talk with the CEO about buying him the idea of community funding, that all who participate should have a lifetime subscription and "some more special thing", we suggested a message on the 8tracks official accounts (twitter, their blog, tumblr) and he was okay with the idea but he said they need to plan it carefully since the time is limited.

Okay, guys, that's so far what he said, I hope this information helps anyone, I don't know if they get to do a community funding but take in consideration it's a plausible option and that what they want from us is to participate in any way like for example spreading the message, if most people know about it the best, they also want you to join their server so here's the link to the website of mixerfm and where you can join the server:

Keep tagging few people who were discussing about this:

@junket-bank, @haorev, @americanundead, @eatpandulce, @throwupgirl, @avoid-avoidance, @rodeokid, @shehungthemoon, @promostuff-art @tumbling-and-tchaikovsky

#8tracks

[drdemonprince]

something im kind of connecting the dots to re: your posts about shaming people who don’t wear masks…in ‘20 and ‘21 I spent a lot of time posting shaming instagram stories telling people they needed to mask, and i yelled at family until i was blue in the face bc they weren’t masking, having big weddings, etc. and it really created a rift (obviously) in my relationships. I’ve also spent a lot of time and energy in the past 4 or so years telling people that it’s not possible to be an ally to trans people if they still engage in any media created by jk rowling. Especially given that her anti trans manifesto has been cited in anti trans legislation in the uk, she says that she assumes that anyone who continues to engage with Harry Potter media approves of her transphobia, etc the list goes on. And yet i still see my friends going to the wizarding world of Harry Potter, marathoning the movies with their friends, going to see the new movies in theaters, and so on. Obviously my aggressive shaming posts and conversations (which have alienated a lot of people) aren’t doing jack shit. Your mask shame posts made me realize that it probably wasn’t right of me to do that. But I don’t see how I can stand up for what I believe in and show people that it’s not okay to keep doing this shit AND play nice and not create trouble. Do you have any thoughts?

Thanks for this great question and for sharing your experiences.

I think when we shame, part of it is a grappling with our own powerlessness. It feels terrible to confront that no matter how much we care, and no matter how much we plead, we cannot make another person take action. When people we love or rely on won't hear our pleas and won't take action, it wounds us so deeply, and it makes sense we react in anger or seek to shame them hoping it will make them care. But it isn't effective.

I think one of the first steps is accepting our powerlessness as individuals. We have to stop expecting ourselves to somehow persuade people to change their behavior and views, when all the research indicates that such change is rare, slow, and very hard, and cannot be accomplished on a person who does not already want to be influenced. We have to sit in the humility of not being able to make others care, and take time to grieve how badly it hurts. Our understandable and huge hurt feelings need to be processed. many of us have a powerful need to express our rage and have it witnessed by others who understand.

From there, we have to think very strategically about what kind of collective work we can do that will shift social norms, facilitate the behavior we want to see, and fight for systemic changes that will actually address the root issues.

This may be things like passing out masks at protests. Joining a local mutual aid fund to contribute to the expenses of people who are quarantining. Protesting an event space to make them institute a masking policy. Unionizing with our coworkers to demand paid sick leave. Shoplifting tests and redistributing them to people in need. Terrorizing the business leaders who dragged us all back into the office. Sharing the wastewater data. Asking loved ones about their COVID mitigation decisions in a sincere way. Organizing outdoor events for our communities. Paying for a buddy's vaccine.

There are countless ways for us to be plugged into an active community that is larger than us. The work is humble, and ongoing, and what you do personally will never be enough on its own, and you must accept that in order to believe that it does not have to be. We are in this together.

In short, I think the tough emotional realities of feeling disrespected and not cared for much be addressed by finding community with people who do care and will give us room to voice our outrage. And then we have to work together to create the circumstances that allow real systemic change to germinate.

Right now, people conflate that emotional need to express rage with the political need to take action. And what feels cathartic to do or say is not necessarily what's persuasive. There has to be room for both.

[thoughtlessarse]

Over the summer, a story circulated across news outlets claiming that eating plant-based burgers led to heart disease. “New research,” the Washington Post reported in June, “found eating plant-derived foods that are ultra-processed — such as meat substitutes, fruit juices, and pastries — increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.” “Vegan fake meats linked to heart disease, early death,” the New York Post declared. There was just one problem: The narrative was totally fake. The claim emerged from a study on plant-based “ultra-processed” foods by a team of nutrition researchers at the University of São Paulo and Imperial College London. Using data from a sample of 118,397 people in the UK who had reported what they ate over at least two days, the paper found that increased consumption of ultra-processed plant foods was associated with higher rates of cardiovascular disease and premature death, while eating non-ultra-processed plants like fruits and vegetables was linked to better health outcomes. But plant-based meats were virtually absent from the study: Just 0.2 percent of calories across the sample came from meat alternatives. The bulk of the plant-based ultra-processed calories instead came from what the authors describe as “industrialised packaged breads, pastries, buns, and cakes,” and “biscuits,” better known in the US as cookies — foods that have little to do with plant-based meats or other specialty vegan products. The new generation of vegan burgers, including Impossible and Beyond burgers, did not yet exist when the data was collected between 2009 and 2012. “With such a small contribution, we can’t draw any meaningful conclusions about plant-based meat alternatives specifically,” University of São Paulo researcher Fernanda Rauber, lead author of the study, told me in an email. That makes sense. Not many people, after all, regularly eat vegan meat alternatives. So why did the media focus on plant-based meats?

continue reading

[wayti-blog]

"For the first time, scientists have taken near-daily measurements of the sun's global coronal magnetic field, a region of the sun that has only been observed irregularly in the past. The resulting observations are providing valuable insights into the processes that drive the intense solar storms that impact fundamental technologies, and thus lives and livelihoods, here on Earth.

An analysis of the data, collected over eight months by an instrument called the Upgraded Coronal Multi-channel Polarimeter (UCoMP), has been published in Science."

""Global mapping of the coronal magnetic field has been a big missing part in the study of the sun," said Zihao Yang, lead author who pursued this research as a Ph.D. graduate at Peking University, China, and is now a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR).

"This research is helping us fill a crucial gap in our understanding of coronal magnetic fields, which are the source of the energy for storms that can impact Earth."

The international team is made of researchers from Northumbria University, UK; NSF NCAR; Peking University, China; and University of Michigan. The UCoMP instrument and is operated by NSF NCAR at the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory."

continue reading

[pennyblossom-meta]

Active plotlines in the Ides of April

Skip this post in case you've not read up to Chapter 07.

Contains spoilers, thoughts from the author and confusing notes with references. I'm writing this to situate myself given the big jumps and heavy plotlines the next few chapters will feature.

As you can tell, I enjoy planning this story far too much. Feel free to drop me a note, ask questions via anon or just argue with some of the plot points below.

Proceed with caution.

Main story -> The Ides of April Companion story -> The Curious Case of Anna Green.

Romance plot

I'll add the chapter references for this section.

Anna & L

Anna's bloody gauze(s) (chapters 1, 5 + companion story). No DNA match in any international database. Watari surreptitiously picks up a second set of gauzes for further testing in chapter 5 when Anna runs into him with yet another nosebleed at the To-Ho parking lot, during Misa's arrest sequence.

Anna's coin collection (chapter 2 + companion story). Watari confirms to L that a) one of the coins is called bu, real currency from the Edo period,

Watari: "(...) The bu is an authentic coin from the Edo Period, nowadays often on display at museums or secured by ancient history collectors. One single piece would be up for sale starting at 1.5 thousand, subject to the seller’s reputation."

and b) the Gringotts coin is made of pure gold and is neither fake or actively in circulation. L wonders if Anna was telling the truth when she mentioned it was exonumia (i.e., a collectible, not officially issued as currency by a government).

Watari: “The second coin is made of solid gold, though the minting — remarkable as it is — doesn’t match any known branch. The coinage alone is entirely unknown even if it bears Gringotts Foundation inscriptions, as they're not officially in circulation."

Anna's 1989 Macintosh Portable, quills, inkpots, books meant for different courses and inappropriate, old, leather suitcase (chapter 3 + companion story). L finds the entire apparatus questionable and makes a mental note of its strangeness.

L (and Near) run into a wall when trying to investigate Anna (companion story). So far, they've confirmed several red herrings and inconsistencies. It seems that Anna has not been present for the entrance exams, though the scores the got were not good. It begs the question why she was allowed to enrol in the first place.

Near: "(...) no record that Anna Green was ever present for the entrance exams, though, allegedly, she has scores for them. Below average at best, mediocre to the point that, under normal circumstances, no one with this poor of a performance would be considered for admission."

Additionally, she's taken up classes from different graduate schools, which shouldn't be possible,

L: "(...) Indeed, he thinks mildly, it was as if someone with no understanding of academia picked whichever classes they deemed most interesting, across several courses — and different schooling years. Like a patched blanket with no thought or structure, just a lot of questionable decisions along the way."

The only data available on Anna exists in the To-Ho student process. L considers whether she might be part of a smuggling network --- or in witness protection, possibly running away from a cult. Otherwise, there's not even records of Anna getting into Japan.

Near: “...doesn’t exist as a citizen of any country…no travel records in any airline or shipping company coming into or out of Japan…"

It's impossible to find anything on the father beyond his name (in Anna's student process): Atticus Cornelius Green. The mother has a birth certificate in Italy, 1955,, though nothing more can be found after age 11 until her death in Leicestershire, UK, in 1987, due to a freak accident. The maternal grandfather died shortly after from prolonged illness, though 'grief' was recorded as the catalyst.

Uses the highly selective, but virtually unknown and with no online presence, Goodfellow's Bank to pay for tuition, registered under the "apparently long-lived Gringotts Foundation", which was created in the mid 1800's. Mello could not find the physical office allegedly located in Charing Cross Road, London, and no one in the vicinity seemed to remember there ever was a bank by that name.

Anna's house, registered near Windsor, UK, is a ruin (according to Mello, although this was Muggle-Repelling Charms at work). In Japan, she's registered to live at an apartment 5m from away from the university, at the 8th floor. However, the building plans were changed a month before university started in April, stating the building has 7 floors, not 8.

In short, L is extremely suspicious of Anna for all these inconsistencies and the smokescreens, which appear perfectly plausible until investigated to the detail. However, he doesn't think she fits the profile to be Kira, nor is there anything tying her to the case. This is why he doesn't give her the Misa treatment, as there's no evidence to sustain the hypothesis.

L enjoys looking at Anna's picture (companion story). First hints of subtle romance.

L: "He skims through the first 10 pages for an overview, gaze tarrying for a few seconds too long on the picture of a young woman before he turns his attention to the screen."

Anna witnesses Misa's arrest and is subsequently "kidnapped" by L and Watari to keep the case under wraps (chapters 5, 6, 7). L's long term plan is to appease Anna in order to manipulate her, lulling her into a false sense of security so she can be more agreeable to his attempts to extract information. Note: This is a tactic he tries to convince Light to use on Misa in the manga/anime, after they're released from their 50 day incarceration. Light refuses, but I thought it would be very much like L to use it on Anna, especially given her questionable background.

Anna's books, her strange speech patterns (chapters 3, 6, 7). L is making mental notes of Anna's strange terms, like 'moving pictures', how she didn't know how to count money when they first met and try to pay back 3 times the amount she owed Watari.

Anna's 'cat' (chapter 6, 7). Given that the Task Force found cat hairs from the Second Kira, L wants to surreptitiously test if they belong to Anna's cat.

L gets annoyed at Anna for constantly questioning him. Anna detests that L and Watari keep lying to her (chapters 6, 7). That being said, because Anna isn't behaving like a normal civilian—being unusually perceptive of his L's lies and not backing down when she should be cooperative given the circumstances—make L more mistrustful of her. He's not entirely convinced that Anna's cat exists and calculates that there's a decent likelihood that it's a lie so she can escape once out of the hotel. He's somewhat enjoying the "banter", though. He assigns Moji to act as bodyguard should something go wrong.

SPOILERS (hidden side plots, featured later on in the main and companion stories)

L learns from Mogi that Anna was the young woman he was called to arrest for trespassing at Nanushinotaki Park and that she escaped without a trace. From Matsuda, he learns that he bumped into her near To-Ho, the day Matsuda met Light and some university students to go to Aoyama. Matsuda kept Anna's omamori so he could give it back, should he ever bump into her again—and he keeps it in his person at all times. L now has Anna's omamori.

Watari and Moji let L know about the ofuda plastered at Anna's front door. L is not happy about the implications and plans to interrogate Anna about this as well.

L is momentarily speechless when he sees Rufus for the first time glaring at him with yellow eyes from Anna's arms. He thinks it's a crossbreed between a small lion and a Norwegian Forest cat and internally ponders the smuggling network theory again.

Many of Anna's books are now charmed, and they contain bits of folklore and patched bits of other writings she had in her mind at the time of the spell, like plumbing, electricity circuits, etc. L will be very intrigued.

Anna Green's solo character arc

Hints of light depression, feelings of inadequacy, content to finally be a very long way from home and on her own.

Aware of her prejudice and bias against Muggles, though a lot of it she finds to be sensible.

Misses Millicent a lot.

Worried about what it means for the yokai to be so active. Anna doesn't understand why the Ministry staff was so scared that she encountered a Nurarihyon in Tokyo.

Finds the Ministry's overzealousness to be suspicious at best. Anna doesn't understand why would ban the word 'shinigami' or close the borders into Japan, but suspects they're omitting important information from the public.

Disgruntled that she might be followed by yokai. From strange feelings around the old places in town, to her nosebleeds at campus, she senses something is afoot.

Annoyed at Justin for interceding on her behalf so she could have her request to study in a Japanese university accepted.

Generally annoyed by Ryuga's existence given how much he sticks out like a sore thumb, uncaring, when she tries so hard to fit in with the Muggles.

Very much annoyed at Ryuzaki (previously Ryuga, a lie) and Watari for lying to her and trying to manipulate her while sounding plausible. Distrusts them both.

Wants to help the Muggles with what might be a wizarding problem that's leaked into their society, but hasn't quite accepted her role into all this.

Yokai

Strangely active in Japan, no one knows why.

Follow witches and wizards across the city, drawn to their magic.

Seem to understand human speech or, rather, their emotions, but act accordingly.

Yokai are deeply unhappy that they've been wrangled by wizardkind in order to prevent the exposure of magic.

Misc

Anna seems to be somewhat infamous in Japan already, due to being the first witch to attend Muggle university.

After Hiroshima and Nagazaki, only foreign witches and wizards live in Muggle cities across Japan.

Rufus seems to have taken a shine to Watari. Odd.

Sarah is a source of great information.

Midsummer is coming.

Samhain seems to be a difficult time in Japan.

Will we see more of the shopkeeper and the Ministry staff?

Anna took down the wards at her apartment, something's bound to happen any minute.

Anna's wand is now transfigured into a bracelet. There's nuance (and potential problems) to this.

That's it for now. We're in chapter 7, going into chapter 8. Stay tuned!

[anjumzm]

Midsummer Night

A Legacy of Gods Fanfic

JerCes Daughter x LanMia Son

Chapter 2

Theodore Sokolov King

I'm bored.

Literally and figuratively.

I'd expected the little bird to come out of her gilded cage after I left her hints pointing her in the right direction. God knows how I need my daily dose of chaos and what better way to initiate it than to rile up the Volkov princess, I want to see her out of her element, see her 'goody two shoe' image shatter, but it seems like I'll have to wait for a while before that happens now.

How boring.

Guess that's what being genuis does that to you, when it becomes so easy to want something and achieve it, in a manner that might look impractical to most of the folks around you, but you make it seem easy.The only competitors I have around are my cousins, namely Sean King, Uncle Eli's son, and the other being Dominic Sokolov, Uncle Bran and Uncle Niko's son, although I wouldn't consider the latter a competition considering our fields of excellency are poles apart.He's a known name amongst the Bratva, while I mostly keep to my domain of business, although I do like to get my hands dirty now and then. There's Jasper too, Uncle Creighton's son but since he's the youngest King heir, he's also the one who's most protected and looked after, to the point that no one on UK and US grounds would dare breathe wrong his way, fearing our collective wrath. I would never cross a line with the above fuckers, coz one thing that's been engraved in the mind of every King is:

Family above all.

Which is why everything is getting boring for me.

I've known that I was different from other kids since my childhood. While most of the kids my age struggled with basic mathematics I'd solve complex math problems within minutes. Be it series of domino puzzles, decrypting messages and riddles or learning new languages I could do it all. Although my parents,would be proud of my achievements and always flaunt them in front of their peers, deep down I know they were disturbed because of my detached nature. I cannot process emotions like others do.I once heard my Grandma talk to my Mom about how I inherited my father's aloofness, lack of empathy and his narcissist tendencies. I watched my mother's face fall as Grandma said that "If Landon was able to overcome his nature and become the loving husband and Father he is today, I'm sure our Theo will do the same"

But that's the problem, I cannot see the lack of empathy and emotions as a vice, rather it's my biggest asset. It makes me be over cautious, over calculating and the results are infront of us allA stronger empire than before commanded by a headstrong, handsome genuis with holier-than-thou personality. I've added more allies, more assets in my 3 years as the vice president than my COO Dad or CEO Uncle did in their inital years as leaders, a fact that's been praised by the Legends Aiden King and Levi King , my Granduncle and Grandfather. The same can be said about my cousin Sean, but he's been a few points back since the last ruckus he caused, and now I'm left to deal with the consequences.

Which brings me to the current issue, the stealing or more like taking the files containing deets on Mr.Williamson, the one who's been a thorn in our way since the Sean incident. Motherfucker thought he could blackmail The Kings. Seems like he has suicidal tendencies.

While I'd been planning and contemplating about ways to bring the fucker to his knees, opportunity came walking towards me in the form of Dominic Sokolov and his big mouth. During one of our ranting sessions, he might've slipped up this tidbit information about Volkovs having dirt on him and protecting him in return of some alliance bullshit.

What I'm if not an opportunist?

After rigorous planning, plotting and planting spys within the Volkovs fort I successfully got the data drive.I was planning to use my triumph card over Williamson, but than Aanya Volkov happened. I saw her speak at the Bratva meeting first time, eyes ablaze, hands twitching as though she wanted to strangle me to death and that's the most entertainment I've got in nearly 5 years, you see there's something alluring about breaking ones carefully and meticulously built good image. I've known her since my childhood due to her relations with my Aunt and Uncle creighton wife, Annika Volkov who also happens to be her Aunty, not to mention she's my little sister's best friend.

I'd seen her around the mansion but she would always keep her distance from me, as any sane person would.But then I learned something, which makes me believe that her soft spoken nature, all bright and pure is just an image.

Just like me, something sinister lurks within her too.

While I keep my beast at my shoulder, proudly on display for all to see, she's been taming hers from a long time.And I'll be damned if I let it be dormant any more.

I'll bring out your demons Aanya, even if I have to drag myself through your personal hell.

Time for my demon to meet yours.

[angelo-the-whistleblower]

Fun Fact about the Norwegian Passport:

A fitting Fun Fact title for this topic could be:

"Fun Fact: You Can’t Just Apply for a Norwegian Passport—You Have to Earn It First!"

This title captures the surprising truth that a Norwegian passport is only available to confirmed citizens, making it more exclusive than many people might assume.

Question:

The question that prompted that detailed explanation was essentially a two-part query:

"How to Apply for a Norwegian Passport?" "Norwegian Passport Requirements in 2025?"

The answer addressed both the application procedure and eligibility criteria as of 2025.

ChatGPT Answer:

Certainly. Let’s go through the Norwegian passport application process, step by step, as if I were your professor walking you through a structured, comprehensive lesson. This will help you fully understand the legal, administrative, and practical aspects of applying for a Norwegian passport in 2025.

1. Understand the Prerequisite: You Must Be a Norwegian Citizen

Before you can apply for a Norwegian passport, the most fundamental requirement is that you must already be a Norwegian citizen. Norway does not issue passports to permanent residents, visa holders, or even long-term residents unless they have been officially granted citizenship.

Gaining citizenship usually involves:

Living in Norway legally for several years (typically 7 years in the last 10),

Passing a language test in Norwegian or Sami,

Demonstrating knowledge of Norwegian society (usually via a test),

Having a clean criminal record.

You cannot skip this step. A Norwegian passport is proof of citizenship, not a path to it.

2. Secure a Norwegian National Identity Number

Once you're a citizen, the next technical requirement is possessing a Norwegian national identity number—this is the equivalent of a Social Security Number in the U.S. or a National Insurance Number in the UK.

This number is essential because:

It registers you in Norway’s Population Registry, which tracks vital data such as your name, address, marital status, and place of birth.

It links all official records about you, from tax to healthcare to immigration.

You usually receive this number automatically once your residence becomes official, but it must be active and updated for the passport application to proceed.

3. Determine Where to Apply

Depending on where you live, the application process changes slightly:

If you live in Norway, you’ll apply at a local police station that handles passport services. These stations typically require appointments.

If you live outside Norway, you must go to a Norwegian embassy or consulate. These diplomatic missions act on behalf of the Norwegian police in such cases.

The documentation requirements are the same, but wait times and processing durations may vary depending on location.

4. Collect the Required Documents

Regardless of where you apply, you’ll need to present official documentation that proves:

Your Norwegian citizenship (if you’ve recently been naturalized, bring your citizenship decision letter),

Your identity (a previous passport, national ID card, or another official government-issued ID),

Your registered personal details, such as your full legal name, place of birth, and gender, which must match the information in the Population Registry.

For children under 18, additional rules apply:

Both parents must appear in person with the child to consent to the passport application.

You’ll need the child’s birth certificate and both parents’ valid passports as proof of identity and authority.

In cases of sole custody, court documents must be shown.

5. Pay the Required Fees

As of 2025, the costs for a Norwegian passport are:

Adults (16 and older): 750 Norwegian Kroner

Children (under 16): 450 Norwegian Kroner

If you apply for a passport together with a national ID card, you receive a 20% discount on the total combined fee. This is an incentive for citizens to register for both credentials at once, as the ID card is useful within Europe where a passport is not always necessary.

6. Understand the Processing Times

Processing time varies based on:

Whether you’re applying in Norway or abroad,

How busy the issuing authority is,

Whether your data in the Population Registry is already accurate and up to date.

On average, in Norway, a passport takes about 10 working days to be ready, though during busy periods (e.g., summer), it can take longer. If applying from abroad, it may take several weeks due to diplomatic mail delays.

Keep in mind: if you’ve just acquired Norwegian citizenship, that process itself may take up to 30 months—so it’s important not to confuse passport processing with the much longer timeline for gaining citizenship.

7. Know the Features of a Norwegian Passport

The passport you receive is a modern biometric travel document that includes:

A digital chip with your fingerprints and photo,

A 10-year validity for adults (5 years for children under 16),

Compatibility with international border systems (such as eGates in Europe),

The ability to travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to 188 countries as of 2025—ranking Norway's passport among the strongest in the world.

8. Final Tips and Caveats

Ensure all your personal data is correct in the Norwegian Population Registry before applying. Even small discrepancies (like a middle name spelling error) can delay your passport.

If you lost your citizenship in the past and reacquired it after 2020, you’ll need documentation proving you were reinstated as a Norwegian citizen.

Passport photos are typically taken at the police station or embassy during your appointment, but it’s always best to check in advance.

If you view this process step-by-step, it becomes clear that the passport is a final reward of a multi-layered bureaucratic journey: first becoming a citizen, then confirming your personal registration, and finally applying through official channels.

Let me know if you'd like this explained with a real-world scenario or need help understanding the citizenship path itself.

P.S.: Norwegian Passport:

[alianoralacanta]

Alpine, Ocon, and a GPDR Park

According to Marcin Budkowski, who was an Alpine executive until 2002 and is now an analyst for Viaplay Poland (translated by Nischay Rathore at The Sportsrush), Esteban Ocon's attempt to join Williams mid-season was allegedly thwarted (at least in part) by use of the GPS system on his company car. Specifically, Marcin stated that an Alpine employee spotted the GPS tracker for his company car was in the Williams car park for 5 hours. The implications of this are interesting.

Despite Brexit, GPDR remains law in the UK, via the Data Protection Act 2018. This controls how personal data is used. Under this law, the data becomes personal if anyone can be individually identified by it. If Alpine had a pool of company cars and the system was to lend each one out ad hoc at need, the fact a given car has GPS, along with all the data it collects, is not personal information and thus not protected. GPDR would only become involved in that example once Alpine added the information about who had borrowed which car to the dataset. Since racing drivers generally need their company car across the season, and company cars themselves are most often a consistent perk rather than provided at need in the UK, it is more likely that Alpine provided a specific car to each staff member requiring one. This would mean the personal element was there from the beginning. If one receives anything from an employer, even if it is as trivial as a pen, one should be aware that a UK employer can record information connected with it provided GPDR principles are followed. GPDR requires that all personal information kept by a third party must have a lawful reason. The most common reasons this is done for a GPS tracker are insurance and helping staff who get lost. Lots of UK employers provide a discount to people who are willing to add a dashcam to their cars. Some won't insure certain people without a dashcam. The insurer does this to make it easier to gather evidence if there is a claim, as well as to attempt predictive risk assessment (this is not always to the customer's advantage, but is helpful often enough that it is specifically legal for an insurer). Employers who accept such insurance are in turn permitted to collect employee information relevant to insurance requirements. However, the insurance company would not be authorised to pass on the location information to Alpine - unless a claim had arisen from being parked in the Williams car park. Given that such would have made the story more interesting, and was not mentioned, we can reasonably assume this didn't happen. I believe we can rule out insurance as the reason this information went through this process. Helping staff who get lost initially doesn't look promising. We can probably assume that Esteban was not in the Williams car park to ask for directions. However, it would give Alpine itself a reason to have the GPS information in a non-crisis situation. After all, this would allow it to check on people who are expected somewhere and ask proactively if they need assistance. It would also fold into another purpose - checking if the car has been stolen. (No, nobody is going to believe that a thief would be so incompetent as to take a car belonging to one team and dump it in a different team's car park. That would run too much risk of being caught for too little reward. It does, however, establish the basic framework that would legally permit Alpine to discover Esteban's whereabouts).

In a legal framework which only controlled acquisition of personal information, an unscrupulous employer would be able to use this as an excuse to interfere with people's personal lives. Partially in an attempt to curb this, GPDR also controls the use and revelation of legally-acquired personal information. In summary: - One cannot use information for a purpose that was not originally cleared, without the informed consent of the individual whose information is at issue, unless it is in a limited range of exceptions - One cannot reveal personal information unless the individual specifically consents or it is in the limited range of exceptions - One must secure personal information against unlawful revelation I am not convinced that all 3 of these were satisfied. GPS trackers would not normally be used to track people's movements in their personal lives. Had Esteban been "on the clock" (within working hours), then it would have made sense that finding out he was within the Williams car park would be actionable (this would be a disciplinary offence under "wasting company time" or "not available to work", which are a part of employment contracts across the UK and thus an exception). However, a contract that allows someone to spend half a working shift not working without prior authorisation would be quite strange (and with that authorisation, the only possible check would be to establish the reason given could have been true). It is unlikely that Alpine would have told the journalists this way had there been an actual employment infraction. Either it would have kept silent and handled discipline behind the scenes, or presented an official press release about it. Not provided a rumour to a specific analyst who works for a media outlet and hope news percolated through in the form it desired. Thus, at some point I suspect it would have become clear that Alpine did not have the right to process the information further by law. It is vitally important for people who handle personal information not to reveal it unless and until it is legally appropriate to do so. This is why all those Not Always Right stories are anonymised - many of them were revealed to the website administrators against GPDR and similar laws, so information has to be redacted in order to make the published versions compliant. Rumours cannot be guaranteed to be provided with reference to the source's requirements for information security. Part of the reason many companies provide information security training to staff handling personal information is to control the risk of rumours acting as a leak source. One reason journalists don't always reveal their sources is to avoid getting their sources into disciplinary or legal trouble for GPDR breaches. This is why I don't think everyone at Alpine was complying with GPDR on this matter. In this instance, it probably isn't going to have much effect - but it is a good time to remind everyone that GPDR is a thing.

[heathermarielocke]

Effective XMLTV EPG Solutions for VR & CGI Use

Effective XMLTV EPG Guide Solutions and Techniques for VR and CGI Adoption. In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, effective xml data epg guide solutions are essential for enhancing user experiences in virtual reality (VR) and computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Understanding how to implement these solutions not only improves content delivery but also boosts viewer engagement.

This post will explore practical techniques and strategies to optimize XMLTV EPG guides, making them more compatible with VR and CGI technologies.

Proven XMLTV EPG Strategies for VR and CGI Success

Several other organizations have successfully integrated VR CGI into their training and operational processes.

For example, Vodafone has recreated their UK Pavilion in VR to enhance employee training on presentation skills, complete with AI-powered feedback and progress tracking.

Similarly, Johnson & Johnson has developed VR simulations for training surgeons on complex medical procedures, significantly improving learning outcomes compared to traditional methods. These instances highlight the scalability and effectiveness of VR CGI in creating detailed, interactive training environments across different industries.

Challenges and Solutions in Adopting VR CGI Technology

Adopting Virtual Reality (VR) and Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) technologies presents a set of unique challenges that can impede their integration into XMLTV technology blogs.

One of the primary barriers is the significant upfront cost associated with 3D content creation. Capturing real-world objects and converting them into detailed 3D models requires substantial investment, which can be prohibitive for many content creators.

Additionally, the complexity of developing VR and AR software involves specialized skills and resources, further escalating the costs and complicating the deployment process.

Hardware Dependencies and User Experience Issues

Most AR/VR experiences hinge heavily on the capabilities of the hardware used. Current devices often have a limited field of view, typically around 90 degrees, which can detract from the immersive experience that is central to VR's appeal.

Moreover, these devices, including the most popular VR headsets, are frequently tethered, restricting user movement and impacting the natural flow of interaction.

Usability issues such as bulky, uncomfortable headsets and the high-power consumption of AR/VR devices add layers of complexity to user adoption.

For many first-time users, the initial experience can be daunting, with motion sickness and headaches being common complaints. These factors collectively pose significant hurdles to the widespread acceptance and enjoyment of VR and AR technologies.

Solutions and Forward-Looking Strategies

Despite these hurdles, there are effective solutions and techniques for overcoming many of the barriers to VR and CGI adoption.

Companies such as VPL Research is one of the first pioneer in the creation of developed and sold virtual reality products.

For example, improving the design and aesthetics of VR technology may boost their attractiveness and comfort, increasing user engagement.

Furthermore, technological developments are likely to cut costs over time, making VR and AR more accessible.

Strategic relationships with tech titans like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, which are always inventing in AR, can help to improve xmltv guide epg for iptv blog experiences.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) hold incredible potential for various industries, but many face challenges in adopting these technologies.

Understanding the effective solutions and techniques for overcoming barriers to VR and CGI adoption is crucial for companies looking to innovate.

Practical Tips for Content Creators

To optimize the integration of VR and CGI technologies in xmltv epg blogs, content creators should consider the following practical tips:

Performance Analysis

Profiling Tools: Utilize tools like Unity Editor's Profiler and Oculus' Performance Head Hub Display to monitor VR application performance. These tools help in identifying and addressing performance bottlenecks.

Custom FPS Scripts: Implement custom scripts to track frames per second in real-time, allowing for immediate adjustments and optimization.

Optimization Techniques

3D Model Optimization: Reduce the triangle count and use similar materials across models to decrease rendering time.

Lighting and Shadows: Convert real-time lights to baked or mixed and utilize Reflection and Light Probes to enhance visual quality without compromising performance.

Camera Settings: Optimize camera settings by adjusting the far plane distance and enabling features like Frustum and Occlusion Culling.

Building and Testing

Platform-Specific Builds: Ensure that the VR application is built and tested on intended platforms, such as desktop or Android, to guarantee optimal performance across different devices.

Iterative Testing: Regularly test new builds to identify any issues early in the development process, allowing for smoother final deployments.

By adhering to these guidelines, creators can enhance the immersive experience of their XMLTV blogs, making them more engaging and effective in delivering content.

Want to learn more? You can hop over to this website to have a clear insights into how to elevate your multimedia projects and provide seamless access to EPG channels.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

A new era of solar observation

For the first time, scientists have taken near-daily measurements of the Sun’s global coronal magnetic field, a region of the Sun that has only been observed irregularly in the past. The resulting observations are providing valuable insights into the processes that drive the intense solar storms that impact fundamental technologies, and thus lives and livelihoods, here on Earth.

An analysis of the data, collected over eight months by an instrument called the Upgraded Coronal Multi-channel Polarimeter (UCoMP), is published today in Science.

The solar magnetic field is the primary driver of solar storms, which can pose threats to power grids, communication systems, and in-space technologies like GPS. However, our ability to understand how the magnetic field builds up energy and erupts has been limited by the challenge of observing it in the solar corona, the Sun’s upper atmosphere. 

Measuring the magnetism of the region through standard polarimetric methods typically requires large, expensive equipment that to date has only been able to study small segments of the corona. However, the combined use of coronal seismology and UCoMP observations makes it possible for researchers to produce consistent and comprehensive views of the magnetic field of the global corona  — the whole-Sun view one sees during a solar eclipse. 

“Global mapping of the coronal magnetic field has been a big missing part in the study of the Sun,” said Zihao Yang, lead author who pursued this research as a PhD graduate at Peking University, China, and is now a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR). “This research is helping us fill a crucial gap in our understanding of coronal magnetic fields, which are the source of the energy for storms that can impact Earth.​”  

The international team is made of researchers from Northumbria University, UK; NSF NCAR; Peking University, China; and University of Michigan. The research was funded by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Key R&D Program of China and supported by the Newkirk graduate student fellowship awarded to Yang by NSF NCAR. The UCoMP instrument was developed with support from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and is operated by NSF NCAR at the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory.

Upgraded instrument

Although scientists have been able to routinely measure the magnetic field on the Sun’s surface, known as the photosphere, it has long been difficult to measure the much dimmer coronal magnetic field. This has limited a deeper understanding of the three-dimensional structure and evolution of the magnetic field of the corona, where solar storms brew.

To measure the three-dimensional coronal magnetic fields in depth, big telescopes like NSF’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) are needed. With a 4-meter-diameter aperture, DKIST is the world’s largest solar telescope, and recently demonstrated its groundbreaking ability for making detailed observations  of the coronal magnetic field. However, DKIST is not able to map the Sun all at once. The smaller UCoMP instrument is actually better-suited to give scientists global pictures of the coronal magnetic field, albeit at lower resolution and in a two-dimensional projection. The observations from both sources are thus highly-complementary to a holistic view of the coronal magnetic field.

UCoMP is primarily a coronagraph, an instrument that uses a disc to block out light from the Sun, similar to an eclipse, making it easier to observe the corona. It also combines a Stokes polarimeter, which images other spectral information such as coronal line intensity and Doppler velocity. Even though UCoMP has a much smaller aperture (20 cm), it is able to take a wider view which makes it possible to study the entire Sun on most days.  

The researchers applied a method called coronal seismology to track magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) transverse waves in the UCoMP data. The MHD waves gave them information that made it possible to create a two-dimensional map of the strength and direction of the coronal magnetic field.

In 2020, a previous study used UCoMP’s predecessor and the coronal seismology method to produce the first map of the global coronal magnetic field. This was a crucial step toward routine coronal magnetic field measurements. UCoMP has expanded capabilities that makes it possible to make more detailed, routine measurements. During the UCoMP study, the research team produced 114 magnetic field maps between February and October 2022, or one almost every other day. 

“We are entering a new era of solar physics research where we can routinely measure the coronal magnetic field,” said Yang. 

Completing the picture

The observations also produced the first measurements of the coronal magnetic field in the polar regions. The Sun’s poles have never been directly observed because the curve of the Sun near the poles keeps it just beyond our view from Earth. Though the researchers didn’t directly view the poles, for the first time they were able to take measurements of the magnetism emitting from them. This was due in part to the improved data quality provided by UCoMP and because the Sun was near solar maximum. The typically weak emissions from the polar region have been much stronger, making it easier to obtain coronal magnetic field results in the polar regions. 

As a postdoctoral fellow at NSF NCAR, Yang will continue his research of the Sun’s magnetic field; he hopes to improve existing coronal models that are based on measurements of the photosphere. Since the current method used with UCoMP is limited to two dimensions, it still doesn’t capture the full three-dimensional magnetic field. Yang and his colleagues hope to combine their research with other techniques to get a deeper understanding of the full vector of the magnetic field in the corona. 

The third dimension of the magnetic field, oriented along a viewer's line of sight, is of particular importance for understanding how the corona is energized leading up to a solar eruption. Ultimately, a combination of a large telescope and a global field of view is needed to measure all the three-dimensional twists and tangles behind phenomena like solar eruptions; this is the motivation behind the proposed Coronal Solar Magnetism Observatory (COSMO), a 1.5-meter-diameter solar refracting telescope undergoing its final design study.

“Since coronal magnetism is the force that sends mass from the Sun flying across the solar system, we have to observe it in 3D — and everywhere all at once, throughout the global corona,” said Sarah Gibson, COSMO Development Lead and an NSF NCAR scientist co-author on the paper. "Yang's work represents a huge step forward in our ability to understand how the Sun's global coronal magnetic field changes from day to day. This is critical to our ability to better predict and prepare for solar storms, which are an ever-increasing danger to our ever-more technologically dependent lives here on Earth."

IMAGE: Illustration of the global coronal magnetic field as the Sun rotates. The background is the solar corona observed in extreme-ultraviolet waveband, with global coronal magnetic field maps measured at different time overlapped on top of it. Credit Image courtesy of Zihao Yang.

[dertaglichedan]

Harvard researchers pinpoint TWO ultra-processed foods that surge heart attack risk - as well as 8 that surprisingly don't

Sugary drinks and processed meats are the only two ultra processed foods associated with a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes, Harvard researchers have discovered.

The scientists used data collected from nurses and health professionals to test the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart disease and strokes from eating a range of different ultra-processed foods. 

But although they have long been vilified not all ultra-processed food (UPF) is made equal.

In fact, yoghurt, wholegrain bread and savoury snacks were shown to slightly reduce the risk of the diseases.

[bqsocial]

Instagram & Facebook – Win the Look – Nordic Naturals Christmas Decorations Prize Draw Terms and Conditions – 30/10/2024

The Promoter:

B&Q Limited, B&Q House, Chestnut Avenue, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 3LE

 Who can enter?

This promotion is open to all residents of the UK aged 18 years and over, excluding employees of B&Q Limited, their families, agents or anyone else connected with the promotion.

How to enter?

1️⃣ Make sure you're following @bandq_uk​

2️⃣ Like this post 🧡​

3️⃣ Tag 3 friends who would love this collection and tell us why!

Entries must be received by 23:59 on 3rd November 2024. Any entries received after this date will not be accepted.

 Entry:

Only one entry per person will be accepted. Third party or multiple entries by the same person will not be accepted and we reserve the right to disqualify any entries we reasonably suspect to have been made fraudulently including through the use of bots, computer software or by any other means. We accept no responsibility for any lost, damaged or incomplete entries or entries not received due to a technical fault or for any other reason beyond our reasonable control.

Prize details:

There will be 1 winner selected. The winners will receive the following prize:

1 x Green Merry Christmas Indoor Cushion

1 x Trees cushion

1 x Christmas Tree Fleece Throw

1 x Eucalyptus wreath with pinecones 50cm

1 x Paper Tree Medium Green

1 x Paper Tree Large Green​

1 x Paper Tree Medium White​

1 x Paper Tree Large White​

1 x 3 WICK RIDGED CANDLE IN GREEN

1 x Christmas Tree Candle

1 x 3 Wick winter candle with eucalyptus & lime

2 x White Spiral Lantern ​

1 x Layered Greens pack 100pcs​

2 x Paper bauble d15cm white​

1 x 12 pack of pinecones decs​

2 x Craft hanging house​

2 x Jute string wrapped bauble​

2 x Decoupage bauble trees 73mm​

2 x Decoupage bauble trees 73mm​

2 x 2pk paper stars white w/cut outs​

3 x Big hessian bow on clip​

2 x Wooden bead chain​

1 x Macrame star tree topper​

1 x LED Mini tree with pinecones​

1 x Small Gonk hessian​

1 x Medium Gonk hessian​

1 x Paper garland green – LAYERED GREENS

2 x 23cm  Frosted Mistletoe Pot White Berries

2 x Wool felt bauble leaves

2 x Tin mistletoe hanging dec

1 x 9pk Wool baubles 30mm Layered Greens

2 x Wooden Bead Ring with Leaf

1 x 30pk mini baubles Layered Greens

2 x cork bauble

2 x macrame tree hanging dec white

2 x macrame tree hanging dec green

2 x 2pk paper stars white w/o cut outs

The prize is non-transferable or exchangeable and no alternative is available. We reserve the right to replace the prize with a prize of equal or greater value where it becomes necessary to do so.

 Winner selection and prize fulfilment:

1 winner will be selected at random from all valid entries received.

The winner will be contacted via response to their winning comment by 5pm on the 13th November 2024. To receive the prize, the winner will need to respond via private message providing their contact details. If the winner fails to provide their contact details within 7 days of initial contact from the Promoter, the prize will be offered to the next randomly chosen entrant.

 Your Data:

We will process information about entrants in order to administer this promotion. For more information on how we use personal information, please see http://www.diy.com/customer-support/policies/privacy. By entering this promotion, you agree and consent to the processing of your personal data by us and by any third party acting on our behalf for the purposes of the administration and operation of the promotion.

Please note that we are obliged to either publish or make available on request the surname, county and, where applicable, the winning entry/entries of major prize winners. If you object to any of this information being made available in this way, please contact social.team@b-and-q.co.uk. We must nevertheless share this information with the Advertising Standards Authority where it becomes necessary to do so.

 Your acceptance of these Terms:

We reserve the right to refuse entry or refuse to award any prize to anyone in breach of these Terms and Conditions and/or hold void, cancel, suspend or amend these Terms and Conditions where it becomes necessary to do so. Our decision on all matters relating to this promotion is final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into.

 Liability:

By entering this promotion, you are deemed to have accepted and agreed to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

Insofar as is permitted by law the Promoter and its agents and distributors will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate the winner or accept any liability for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking up the prize except where it is caused by the negligence of the Promoter, its agents or distributors or that of their employees.

This promotion is in no way endorsed or administered by or associated with Instagram or Meta.

 Governing Law:

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions restricts your statutory rights as a consumer. This promotion will be governed by English law and entrants submit to the jurisdiction of the English Courts.

[vavuska]

I thought this one would be just another developer of mobile game that use The Sims 4 contents in its (fake) ads to fraud users by making people belive it is its game, when it has a completely different gameplay.

Unfortunately, Room Makover by FlyBird Casual Games is much more than this.

Room Makover has plenty of false ads. This time I actually tried the game, because the pictures and videos on Google Play were cute and I decided to give it a try.

I was so naive. Happens that the whole page on Google Play is full of fake contents.

It's just one of those mobile games in which you have to match and remove nails. Every time you pass a level, you will rewarded with bills that you can use to unlock part of a building under "makeover". You have just three option for every part of the building or the room to choose between.

There is nothing creative. Not actual building or cluttering rooms or decoring.

As, always, since I'm a curious little bitch, I decided to dig further into this FlyBird Casual Game and... Oh. God. Their site looks even less legit than LUCKY FORTUNE GAMES' one!

It is just a void page. There is nothing here. NOTHING. The only two working section are the privacy and conditions of use, in which they try to convince you that they didn't have any liability for damages or fraud committed.

The privacy one is curious, because mentions this Commissioner's Office in UK and a long list of partners. Both for ads and for data collection, which is hugely uncommon for this kind of games.

Sooooo... In this magical list of apps, I noticed a few tech nightmares, which I will explain briefly here:

Aarki is an AI company that builds advertising solutions to drive mobile revenue growth. Traslated from bullshit: they use AI to generate fake ads and sells it to shady corps.

Blind Ferret is the big deal here! Not only gave you digital marketing solutions, data collection and analytics, but also pays influencers and product placement on social media to promote the game and, hear me out, CREATE fake ads too! It's literally written in their site: "Our Creative Services don’t just make things look pretty. Our team uses data to guide us! How do we make brands shine? By turning the arts into a numbers game with top-performing creative content." This include: Graphic Design, Illustration, 2D Animation, Video Editing and Composition, Copywriting and conceptualizing.

InMobi is a big Corp that does native advertising, which means promoted contents, collabs with influencers, etc.

Ironsource. This one is a fucking cancer. IronSource Ltd. is an Israeli software company that focuses on developing technologies for app monetization and distribution, with its core production focused on the app economy. That would sound harmless, but Samsung use it in its budget and midrange smartphone to install multiple third-party apps during the set-up process. This platform slips bloatware on the pretext of recommended apps, leading to apps clutter and reduction in on-board storage space. The only purpose it exists on Samsung phones is to download games without your consent with no way to remove it (no app installed).

Mintegral is another fucking tech nightmare. Not only poses serious threats to your privacy and datas, but also uses malicious codes to spy your activity and when you seem intentioned to install a mobile app, Mintegral’s software would then fire off fake clicks on non-existent ads to claim credit for the install and essentially collect a bounty from app publishers who pay ad networks to promote their apps.

Mistplay is one of those "play to earn bucks" that I find very very dangerous. Because YOUR data are their revenue.

Tapjoy does monetization of ads and also surveys, that force users to download one from a long list of games, download it and playing for hours or since it is gained some in-game prize. This surveys are rewarded with credits and user can spend on the mobile game they actually want to play. Tapjoy has a huge market among IMVU users, who need credits to buy piece of clothing and accessories for their avi.

The other apps do mobile app marketing, using data collection that allow shady corps to target more gullable and naive people to scam. Plus they do also monetization surveys to earn money and at the same time forcefully grow the engagement of this shady corps.

Obviously, there is no user support mail listed in their Google Play page, but at least this has a contact mail listed on their website: flybirdgames2022@gmail.com

As always, stay safe and please tell me if you know more about everything above or know the person who create this build first.

Help people to stay safe.

Thank you.

<<< previous Coloring app uses design of The Sims 4 builds without the consent of the creators and other mobile developers steal TS4 speed build contents and claim it's the actual gameplay of their mobile game.

[mathslear]

Career Opportunities in Coding: How Coding Classes Benefit Future Career Prospects for Kids

Coding is the language of computers, and it is used to create everything from websites and apps to video games and robots. In today’s digital world, coding is a valuable skill that can open up a world of career opportunities for kids.

Here are some of the benefits of joining Coding Classes at a young age:

Coding can help kids develop problem-solving skills. Coding teaches kids how to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable steps. This is a valuable skill that can be applied to all aspects of life, from schoolwork to the real world.

Coding can help kids develop creativity. Coding is a creative process that allows kids to express their ideas and build things from scratch. This can help kids develop their imagination and problem-solving skills.

Coding can help kids develop a competitive edge in the job market. The demand for coders is growing rapidly, and kids who learn to code at a young age will have a significant advantage in the job market.

Exploring Career Opportunities through Coding Classes:

Web developer: Coding class graduates can become web developers, creating and maintaining websites and web applications using languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. With a starting salary ranging from £30,000 to £45,000, the journey into web development promises both creativity and financial reward.

Software engineer: The skills acquired in coding classes prepare kids for a career as software engineers, designing, developing, and testing software applications using languages such as Java, Python, and C++. The starting salary for software engineers in the UK typically ranges from £35,000 to £55,000, reflecting the value of their expertise in the digital realm.

Mobile app developer: Coding class graduates can venture into mobile app development, creating and maintaining mobile apps for smartphones and tablets using languages like Java, Kotlin, and Swift. As they step into the role of a mobile app developer, they can anticipate a starting salary ranging from £30,000 to £50,000 – a testament to the demand for skilled app developers in the market.

Game developer: With coding skills from classes, kids can become game developers, creating and maintaining video games for consoles, computers, and mobile devices using languages like C++, C#, and Unity. The starting salary for game developers varies, but it often falls within the range of £35,000 to £60,000, reflecting the competitive and lucrative nature of the gaming industry.

Data scientist: Coding class graduates can pursue a career as data scientists, collecting, analysing, and interpreting large amounts of data to aid businesses in making informed decisions. They use languages like Python and R for data analysis and report creation. As data scientists, they can expect a starting salary ranging from £40,000 to £65,000, showcasing the high value placed on their expertise in the realm of data.

Conclusion

Investing in coding classes is a wise decision for kids of all ages. These classes not only help kids develop problem-solving skills, creativity, and a competitive edge but also open doors to a variety of exciting career opportunities. At BYITC, we offer a range of coding classes designed to be fun, engaging, and educational for kids of all ages.

If you’re keen on exploring the world of coding through BYITC’s classes, please visit our website or sign up for a free trial class. We are eager to assist your child on their journey to learning the language of the future!

Originally Published at:

https://www.byitc.org/career-opportunities-in-coding-how-coding-classes-benefit-future-career-prospects-for-kids/

[zerosecurity]

Ascension Ransomware Hack Began by Employee Downloading a File

Ascension, a leading private healthcare provider in the United States, has revealed that a ransomware attack on its systems has potentially compromised patients' protected health information (PHI) and personally identifiable information (PII). The cybersecurity incident in May 2024 forced the organization to divert ambulances, postpone patient appointments, and temporarily disable access to electronic health records (EHR) and other critical systems.

Accidental Download Leads to Breach

In an update on June 12, an Ascension spokesperson disclosed that the ransomware attack was initiated after an employee accidentally downloaded a malicious file masquerading as legitimate. The company emphasized that this was an "honest mistake" and that there was no evidence to suggest the employee acted with malicious intent. However, the accidental download allowed the ransomware attackers to gain unauthorized access to Ascension's systems, resulting in widespread disruption and potential data breach. According to Ascension, there is evidence indicating that the attackers were able to steal files from seven servers used by associates for daily and routine tasks. These files may contain sensitive PHI and PII data of patients. The specific data accessed and the individuals affected are still being investigated by third-party cybersecurity experts. Ascension has stated that it will notify affected individuals and regulatory bodies once the full extent of the data breach is determined.

Recovery Efforts and Precautionary Measures

As of June 11, Ascension reported successfully restoring EHR access for 14 locations, with plans to complete the restoration process by June 14. However, medical records and other information collected during the system downtime may not be immediately accessible. To address potential identity theft concerns, Ascension is offering complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to any patient or associate who requests it.

Wider Impact on Healthcare Services

The ransomware attack on Ascension is part of a broader trend of cybersecurity incidents targeting healthcare providers and their suppliers. In the UK, two leading London hospitals were forced to cancel operations and divert emergency patients in early June due to a cyber-attack on a critical pathology services supplier. The incident prompted an urgent appeal from the NHS for blood donors and volunteers to mitigate the immediate and significant impact on blood transfusions and test results. As the investigation into the Ascension data breach continues, healthcare organizations and cybersecurity experts alike emphasize the importance of robust security measures, employee training, and incident response plans to safeguard sensitive patient data and ensure the continuity of critical medical services. Read the full article

[reasoningdaily]

ScienceAlert: FDA to Finally Outlaw Soda Ingredient Prohibited Around The World

An ingredient once commonly used in citrus-flavored sodas to keep the tangy taste mixed thoroughly through the beverage could finally be banned for good across the US.

The FDA proposed in November to revoke the registration of a modified vegetable oil known as BVO in the wake of recent toxicology studies that make it difficult to support its ongoing use.

"The proposed action is an example of how the agency monitors emerging evidence and, as needed, conducts scientific research to investigate safety related questions, and takes regulatory action when the science does not support the continued safe use of additives in foods," James Jones, FDA deputy commissioner for human foods, explained when announcing the proposal.

BVO, or brominated vegetable oil, has been used as an emulsifying agent since the 1930s to ensure citrus flavoring agents don't float to the top of sodas. Sticking a dozen bromine atoms to a triglyceride creates a dense oil that floats evenly throughout water when mixed with less dense fats.

Yet that's not BVO's only trick. Animal studies have strongly implied the compound can slowly build up in our fat tissues. With bromine's potential ability to prevent iodine from doing its all-important work inside the thyroid, health authorities around the world have been suspicious of the emulsifier's risks for decades.

In fact, BVO is already banned in many countries, including India, Japan, and nations of the European Union, and was outlawed in the state of California in October 2022 with legislation due to take effect in 2027.

Yet the FDA has been slow to convince. In the 1950s, the agency regarded the ingredient as generally recognized as safe (GRAS); an official classification afforded items that have either been appropriately tested or – for ingredients in common use prior to 1958 – don't appear to be harmful.

That changed the following decade when questions were raised over its possible toxicity, prompting the FDA to overturn its GRAS classification for BVO and temporarily limit its use to relatively small concentrations of no more than 15 parts per million exclusively in citrus-flavored drinks.

Data on the risks posed by even these small amounts of BVO over time hasn't been easy to collect, relying heavily on long-term studies that re-evaluate health effects in a significantly-sized sample of people. Yet the evidence has been slowly mounting.

A UK study in the 1970s found bromine was building up in human tissues, with animal studies linking high concentrations of BVO with heart and behavioral problems.

It's taken time, and a number of further studies, but on the back of more recent animal studies based on relative concentrations of BVO humans are likely to ingest, the FDA is finally convinced there is sufficient evidence to ban its use altogether.

Most major soda drink companies are fortunately ahead of the game. PepsiCo and Coca-Cola Co. have been phasing the ingredient out of their products over the past decade.

"Over the years many beverage makers reformulated their products to replace BVO with an alternative ingredient, and today, few beverages in the US contain BVO," said Jones.

The ban could be a sign of more things to come, with Jones announcing the agency is reviewing regulations that authorize the use of certain food additives, with a view to automatically prohibit the approval of any food coloring agents found to cause cancer in humans or animals, making for a more nimble bureaucratic process.

A final call on the FDA's reclassification of BVO still needs to go through a lengthy review process that will take time to complete.

With suitable alternatives to BVO already being used to make citrus drinks around the world taste tangy down to the very last drop, the ingredient isn't likely to be missed.