#managing e-waste in tech

[websyn]

How Sustainability Business Practices Powering Green Technology 

When we talk about sustainability, it is no longer just a buzzword—it's a driving force behind innovation and growth. As our businesses strive to reduce their environmental footprint, green technology is emerging as a powerful ally. We can invest in renewable energy sources like solar and wind and transform how we power our data centers, significantly offsetting energy consumption. But sustainability goes beyond clean energy; it's about optimizing operations and creating a brighter, more efficient future for our businesses and the planet. 

From adopting cloud computing to managing e-waste responsibly and training employees on eco-friendly practices, businesses are integrating sustainable strategies that benefit the planet and enhance efficiency and competitiveness. The future of green technology, particularly in optimizing energy consumption, lies in harnessing AI and IoT. These technologies can identify inefficiencies and automate energy management, offering eco-friendly services and solutions that are both innovative and sustainable. 

As companies embrace sustainability, the shift towards green technology reshapes the entire business ecosystem. Optimizing data centers—traditionally one of the largest energy consumers—is now a top priority. By leveraging cloud computing, businesses can drastically reduce their carbon footprint, improving energy efficiency while cutting costs. We can manage e-waste and ensure that equipment is recycled. 

Training employees in sustainable practices and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility throughout the organization is not just a task; it's a mission. This holistic approach to sustainability meets growing consumer demands for eco-consciousness and positions businesses toward a greener and more resilient future. Each of us has a crucial role in this transition, and together, we can make a significant impact. 

Sustainable Business Practices Helping Technology Go Green

1-Energy-Efficient Facilities  

Implementing energy-efficient facilities involves upgrading buildings with advanced insulation, smart lighting management, and smart energy management systems. This approach reduces energy consumption, lowers operational costs, and minimizes the overall carbon footprint, supporting long-term sustainability. 

2-Adopt the Cloud  

Cloud computing allows businesses to reduce energy usage by consolidating IT infrastructure. Cloud providers often use energy-efficient, renewable-powered data centers, enabling companies to streamline operations, enhance scalability, and contribute to global energy conservation. 

3-Embrace Green Computing Practices  

Green computing involves using energy-efficient hardware, optimizing software, and implementing power management strategies. By adopting these practices, businesses can lower energy consumption, reduce electronic waste, and maintain productivity while minimizing environmental impact. 

4-Establish Internal Equipment Recycling  

Internal equipment recycling programs ensure outdated technology is repurposed, donated, or recycled responsibly. Partnering with certified recyclers helps businesses reduce e-waste, safely dispose of hazardous materials, and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. 

5-AI and IoT To Optimize Energy Consumption  

AI and IoT technologies are the future. They monitor and optimize energy usage in real-time. By identifying inefficiencies and automating energy management, businesses can reduce waste, enhance operational efficiency, and significantly lower their carbon footprint. The potential of these technologies is truly exciting and promising for a greener future. 

Why Web Synergies? 

As business environments move forward, the challenges of a rapidly changing world, embracing sustainable practices is not just an option—it's a necessity. Integrating green technology into every aspect of your operations can reduce environmental impact while enhancing efficiency and innovation. 

At Web Synergies, we understand the power of sustainability in driving long-term success. Our commitment to helping businesses adopt eco-friendly solutions, from optimizing data centers to leveraging AI and IoT, positions us as a trusted partner in your journey toward a greener future. We can create a more sustainable world where technology drives progress and protects the planet for future generations.  

[reasonsforhope]

"As the world grows “smarter” through the adoption of smartphones, smart fridges, and entire smart houses, the carbon cost of that technology grows, too. 

In the last decade, electronic waste has become one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world. 

According to The World Counts, the globe generates about 50 million tons of e-waste every year. That’s the equivalent of 1,000 laptops being trashed every second. 

After they’re shipped off to landfills and incinerated, the trash releases toxic chemicals including lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and so much more, which can cause disastrous health effects on the populations that live near those trash sites. 

Fortunately, Franziska Kerber — a university student at ​​FH Joanneum in Graz, Austria — has dreamed up a solution that helps carve away at that behemoth problem: electronics made out of recyclable, dissolvable paper. 

On September 11, Kerber’s invention “Pape” — or Paper Electronics — earned global recognition when it was named a national winner of the 2024 James Dyson Awards. 

When she entered the scientific competition, Kerber demonstrated her invention with the creation of several small electronics made out of paper materials, including a fully-functional WiFi router and smoke detector. 

“Small electronic devices are especially prone to ending up in household waste due to unclear disposal systems and their small size, so there is significant potential to develop a more user-friendly end-of-life system,” Kerber wrote on the James Dyson Award website. 

“With this in mind, I aimed to move beyond a simple recycling solution to a circular one, ensuring long-term sustainability.” 

Kerber’s invention hinges on crafting a dissolvable and recyclable PCB board out of compressed “paper pulp.” 

A printed circuit board (PCB) is a board that can be found in nearly all modern electronic devices, like phones, tablets, and smartwatches.

But even companies that have started incorporating a “dissolution” step into the end life of their products require deconstruction to break down and recover the PCB board before it can be recycled. 

With Kerber’s PAPE products, users don’t need to take the device apart to recycle it.

“By implementing a user-friendly return option, manufacturers can efficiently dissolve all returned items, potentially reusing electronic components,” Kerber explained. 

“Rapidly advancing technology, which forms the core of many devices, becomes obsolete much faster than the structural elements, which are often made from plastics that can last thousands of years,” Kerber poses. 

PAPE, Kerber says, has a “designed end-of-life system” which anticipates obsolescence. 

“Does anyone want to use a thousand-year-old computer?” Kerber asks. “Of course not. … This ensures a sustainable and reliable system without hindering technological advancement.”"

-via GoodGoodGood, September 13, 2024

[olivergisttv]

The Ultimate Guide to Tech Recycling and E-Waste Management

In today’s fast-paced digital age, technology is advancing at an astonishing rate. While this means we constantly upgrade our devices to stay current, it also leads to a growing issue: e-waste. Old gadgets, smartphones, and other electronics often end up in landfills, contributing to environmental degradation. Tech recycling and e-waste management have become critical in minimizing the harmful…

[afrotumble]

[e-wastemart]

Impact of E-Waste on Human Health and the Environment

Have you ever wondered what happens to your old electronics when you don't need them anymore? It's important to know about electronic waste or e-waste and how it affects us and the planet.

What is E-Waste?

E-waste is what we call old electronic stuff like phones, computers, and gadgets that people throw away. For detailed guides on E-Waste visit our blog What is E-Waste Recycling? and Why It’s Important

Why Is E-Waste a Problem?

E-waste is a big problem all over the world. Every year, there is more and more of it. This is not good for our health and the environment.

Health Problems

E-waste has dangerous things inside, like lead and mercury. When these things get into our food and water, they can make us sick. Breathing in bad air from burning e-waste is also harmful.

Harm to the Environment

When we don't recycle e-waste, it piles up in big garbage places. This takes up a lot of space and can hurt the land and animals. Also, our electronics have special metals inside that we can use again, like gold and silver. If we don't recycle them, we waste these important things.

What Can We Do?

There are things we can do to help with e-waste:

Use E-Waste Recyclers: E-waste recyclers are people or companies who take our old electronics and make them into new things.

Learn About E-Waste Recycling: There are different ways to recycle e-waste, and it's good to know about them.

Recycling Types: E-waste can be recycled in different ways. Some parts can be used again, and some can be turned into new things.

Let's all do our part to take care of our old electronics and keep our planet clean and healthy.

For a more in-depth exploration of this critical issue, visit our blog Impact of E-Waste on Human Health and the Environment or explore our website, E-Waste Mart.

[chemicalmarketwatch-sp]

Powering a Sustainable Future: The Rise of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling

As the world leans towards sustainability and environmental responsibility, lithium-ion battery recycling has emerged as a crucial industry. With increasing awareness of the environmental impact of battery disposal and stricter regulations on electronic waste management, recycling these batteries is becoming more essential than ever. The high concentration of valuable metals such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium in lithium-ion batteries makes them prime candidates for recycling, helping to reduce dependence on virgin raw materials and promoting a circular economy.

Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Market is projected to grow from USD 16.23 billion in 2024 to USD 56.87 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 17.0% during the forecast period

Consumer Electronics: The Largest Contributor to Battery Recycling

The consumer electronics industry is projected to dominate the lithium-ion battery recycling market. The fast turnover of devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, and wearable technology results in a significant supply of batteries reaching the end of their lifecycle. As newer models push older gadgets out of use, the need for proper disposal and recycling becomes more pressing. With valuable materials like nickel, cobalt, and lithium recoverable from these batteries, consumer electronics remains the most lucrative segment in battery recycling. Additionally, stringent regulations surrounding e-waste disposal are further driving the need for sustainable recycling practices.

LFP Batteries Leading the Charge in Recycling

Among various lithium-ion battery chemistries, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries are expected to hold the largest share in the recycling market. Widely used in electric vehicles (EVs) and large-scale energy storage systems, LFP batteries are gaining preference due to their longer lifespan, enhanced safety, and superior thermal stability. As these batteries reach the end of their useful life, the extraction of valuable materials such as iron, lithium, and phosphate makes them increasingly attractive for recycling. With growing adoption in renewable energy and transportation sectors, LFP battery recycling is set to play a pivotal role in the industry’s expansion.

Asia-Pacific: The Epicenter of Battery Recycling Growth

Geographically, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to lead the lithium-ion battery recycling market. Countries like China, Japan, and South Korea are at the forefront of lithium-ion battery production and consumption, resulting in a surge of end-of-life batteries. The rapid expansion of industries such as renewable energy storage, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics has driven investment in innovative recycling technologies. Additionally, stringent environmental regulations and government incentives are further bolstering the market’s growth in this region.

Key Players Shaping the Future of Battery Recycling

Several prominent companies are driving advancements in lithium-ion battery recycling. Some of the major players in the industry include:

Glencore (Switzerland)

Umicore (Belgium)

Cirba Solutions (US)

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (China)

RecycLiCo Battery Materials Inc. (Canada)

These industry leaders are investing in cutting-edge recycling technologies to enhance efficiency and sustainability, ensuring that lithium-ion batteries remain a part of a circular economy.

Stay ahead with the latest trends – Download the PDF brochure 

Final Thoughts

Lithium-ion battery recycling is no longer an option—it is a necessity. With the growing demand for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and renewable energy storage, the need for sustainable battery disposal and material recovery is more urgent than ever. As regulations tighten and technological advancements improve recycling efficiency, the industry is poised for significant growth. By embracing recycling, we can power a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for generations to come.

[townpostin]

E-Waste Disposal Campaign Launched At RMS High School

Sambhav Sanstha Installs Recycle Bin, Educates On Environmental Impact A local NGO’s initiative aims to promote responsible e-waste management among students and staff at a Sonari school. JAMSHEDPUR – Sambhav Sanstha, a local non-profit organization, launched an e-waste disposal campaign at RMS High School Balichela in Sonari, installing a dedicated recycle bin and educating the school community…

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Apple fucked us on right to repair (again)

Today (September 22), I'm (virtually) presenting at the DIG Festival in Modena, Italy. Tonight, I'll be in person at LA's Book Soup for the launch of Justin C Key's "The World Wasn’t Ready for You." On September 27, I'll be at Chevalier's Books in Los Angeles with Brian Merchant for a joint launch for my new book The Internet Con and his new book, Blood in the Machine.

Right to repair has no cannier, more dedicated adversary than Apple, a company whose most innovative work is dreaming up new ways to sneakily sabotage electronics repair while claiming to be a caring environmental steward, a lie that covers up the mountains of e-waste that Apple dooms our descendants to wade through.

Why does Apple hate repair so much? It's not that they want to poison our water and bodies with microplastics; it's not that they want to hasten the day our coastal cities drown; it's not that they relish the human misery that accompanies every gram of conflict mineral. They aren't sadists. They're merely sociopathically greedy.

Tim Cook laid it out for his investors: when people can repair their devices, they don't buy new ones. When people don't buy new devices, Apple doesn't sell them new devices. It's that's simple:

https://www.inverse.com/article/52189-tim-cook-says-apple-faces-2-key-problems-in-surprising-shareholder-letter

So Apple does everything it can to monopolize repair. Not just because this lets the company gouge you on routine service, but because it lets them decide when your phone is beyond repair, so they can offer you a trade-in, ensuring both that you buy a new device and that the device you buy is another Apple.

There are so many tactics Apple gets to use to sabotage repair. For example, Apple engraves microscopic Apple logos on the subassemblies in its devices. This allows the company to enlist US Customs to seize and destroy refurbished parts that are harvested from dead phones by workers in the Pacific Rim:

https://repair.eu/news/apple-uses-trademark-law-to-strengthen-its-monopoly-on-repair/

Of course, the easiest way to prevent harvested components from entering the parts stream is to destroy as many old devices as possible. That's why Apple's so-called "recycling" program shreds any devices you turn over to them. When you trade in your old iPhone at an Apple Store, it is converted into immortal e-waste (no other major recycling program does this). The logic is straightforward: no parts, no repairs:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/yp73jw/apple-recycling-iphones-macbooks

Shredding parts and cooking up bogus trademark claims is just for starters, though. For Apple, the true anti-repair innovation comes from the most pernicious US tech law: Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

DMCA 1201 is an "anti-circumvention" law. It bans the distribution of any tool that bypasses "an effective means of access control." That's all very abstract, but here's what it means: if a manufacturer sticks some Digital Rights Management (DRM) in its device, then anything you want to do that involves removing that DRM is now illegal – even if the thing itself is perfectly legal.

When Congress passed this stupid law in 1998, it had a very limited blast radius. Computers were still pretty expensive and DRM use was limited to a few narrow categories. In 1998, DMCA 1201 was mostly used to prevent you from de-regionalizing your DVD player to watch discs that had been released overseas but not in your own country.

But as we warned back then, computers were only going to get smaller and cheaper, and eventually, it would only cost manufacturers pennies to wrap their products – or even subassemblies in their products – in DRM. Congress was putting a gun on the mantelpiece in Act I, and it was bound to go off in Act III.

Welcome to Act III.

Today, it costs about a quarter to add a system-on-a-chip to even the tiniest parts. These SOCs can run DRM. Here's how that DRM works: when you put a new part in a device, the SOC and the device's main controller communicate with one another. They perform a cryptographic protocol: the part says, "Here's my serial number," and then the main controller prompts the user to enter a manufacturer-supplied secret code, and the master controller sends a signed version of this to the part, and the part and the system then recognize each other.

This process has many names, but because it was first used in the automotive sector, it's widely known as VIN-Locking (VIN stands for "vehicle identification number," the unique number given to every car by its manufacturer). VIN-locking is used by automakers to block independent mechanics from repairing your car; even if they use the manufacturer's own parts, the parts and the engine will refuse to work together until the manufacturer's rep keys in the unlock code:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/24/rent-to-pwn/#kitt-is-a-demon

VIN locking is everywhere. It's how John Deere stops farmers from fixing their own tractors – something farmers have done literally since tractors were invented:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/05/08/about-those-kill-switched-ukrainian-tractors/

It's in ventilators. Like mobile phones, ventilators are a grotesquely monopolized sector, controlled by a single company Medtronic, whose biggest claim to fame is effecting the world's largest tax inversion in order to manufacture the appearance that it is an Irish company and therefore largely untaxable. Medtronic used the resulting windfall to gobble up most of its competitors.

During lockdown, as hospitals scrambled to keep their desperately needed supply of ventilators running, Medtronic's VIN-locking became a lethal impediment. Med-techs who used donor parts from one ventilator to keep another running – say, transplanting a screen – couldn't get the device to recognize the part because all the world's civilian aircraft were grounded, meaning Medtronic's technicians couldn't swan into their hospitals to type in the unlock code and charge them hundreds of dollars.

The saving grace was an anonymous, former Medtronic repair tech, who built pirate boxes to generate unlock codes, using any housing they could lay hands on to use as a case: guitar pedals, clock radios, etc. This tech shipped these gadgets around the world, observing strict anonymity, because Article 6 of the EUCD also bans circumvention:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/07/10/flintstone-delano-roosevelt/#medtronic-again

Of course, Apple is a huge fan of VIN-locking. In phones, VIN-locking is usually called "serializing" or "parts-pairing," but it's the same thing: a tiny subassembly gets its own microcontroller whose sole purpose is to prevent independent repair technicians from fixing your gadget. Parts-pairing lets Apple block repairs even when the technician uses new, Apple parts – but it also lets Apple block refurb parts and third party parts.

For many years, Apple was the senior partner and leading voice in blocking state Right to Repair bills, which it killed by the dozen, leading a coalition of monopolists, from Wahl (who boobytrap their hair-clippers with springs that cause their heads irreversibly decompose if you try to sharpen them at home) to John Deere (who reinvented tenant farming by making farmers tenants of their tractors, rather than their land).

But Apple's opposition to repair eventually became a problem for the company. It's bad optics, and both Apple customers and Apple employees are volubly displeased with the company's ecocidal conduct. But of course, Apple's management and shareholders hate repair and want to block it as much as possible.

But Apple knows how to Think Differently. It came up with a way to eat its cake and have it, too. The company embarked on a program of visibly support right to repair, while working behind the scenes to sabotage it.

Last year, Apple announced a repair program. It was hilarious. If you wanted to swap your phone's battery, all you had to do was let Apple put a $1200 hold on your credit card, and then wait while the company shipped you 80 pounds' worth of specialized tools, packed in two special Pelican cases:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/05/22/apples-cement-overshoes/

Then, you swapped your battery, but you weren't done! After your battery was installed, you had to conference in an authorized Apple tech who would tell you what code to type into a laptop you tethered to the phone in order to pair it with your phone. Then all you had to do was lug those two 40-pound Pelican cases to a shipping depot and wait for Apple to take the hold off your card (less the $120 in parts and fees).

By contrast, independent repair outfits like iFixit will sell you all the tools you need to do your own battery swap – including the battery! for $32. The whole kit fits in a padded envelope:

https://www.ifixit.com/products/iphone-x-replacement-battery

But while Apple was able to make a showy announcement of its repair program and then hide the malicious compliance inside those giant Pelican cases, sabotaging right to repair legislation is a lot harder.

Not that they didn't try. When New York State passed the first general electronics right-to-repair bill in the country, someone convinced New York Governor Kathy Hochul to neuter it with last-minute modifications:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/12/weakened-right-to-repair-bill-is-signed-into-law-by-new-yorks-governor/

But that kind of trick only works once. When California's right to repair bill was introduced, it was clear that it was gonna pass. Rather than get run over by that train, Apple got on board, supporting the legislation, which passed unanimously:

https://www.ifixit.com/News/79902/apples-u-turn-tech-giant-finally-backs-repair-in-california

But Apple got the last laugh. Because while California's bill contains many useful clauses for the independent repair shops that keep your gadgets out of a landfill, it's a state law, and DMCA 1201 is federal. A state law can't simply legalize the conduct federal law prohibits. California's right to repair bill is a banger, but it has a weak spot: parts-pairing, the scourge of repair techs:

https://www.ifixit.com/News/69320/how-parts-pairing-kills-independent-repair

Every generation of Apple devices does more parts-pairing than the previous one, and the current models are so infested with paired parts as to be effectively unrepairable, except by Apple. It's so bad that iFixit has dropped its repairability score for the iPhone 14 from a 7 ("recommend") to a 4 (do not recommend):

https://www.ifixit.com/News/82493/we-are-retroactively-dropping-the-iphones-repairability-score-en

Parts-pairing is bullshit, and Apple are scum for using it, but they're hardly unique. Parts-pairing is at the core of the fuckery of inkjet printer companies, who use it to fence out third-party ink, so they can charge $9,600/gallon for ink that pennies to make:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/11/ink-stained-wretches-battle-soul-digital-freedom-taking-place-inside-your-printer

Parts-pairing is also rampant in powered wheelchairs, a heavily monopolized sector whose predatory conduct is jaw-droppingly depraved:

https://uspirgedfund.org/reports/usp/stranded

But if turning phones into e-waste to eke out another billion-dollar stock buyback is indefensible, stranding people with disabilities for months at a time while they await repairs is so obviously wicked that the conscience recoils. That's why it was so great when Colorado passed the nation's first wheelchair right to repair bill last year:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/06/when-drm-comes-your-wheelchair

California actually just passed two right to repair bills; the other one was SB-271, which mirrors Colorado's HB22-1031:

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB271

This is big! It's momentum! It's a start!

But it can't be the end. When Bill Clinton signed DMCA 1201 into law 25 years ago, he loaded a gun and put it on the nation's mantlepiece and now it's Act III and we're all getting sprayed with bullets. Everything from ovens to insulin pumps, thermostats to lightbulbs, has used DMCA 1201 to limit repair, modification and improvement.

Congress needs to rid us of this scourge, to let us bring back all the benefits of interoperability. I explain how this all came to be – and what we should do about it – in my new Verso Books title, The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation.

https://www.versobooks.com/products/3035-the-internet-con

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/22/vin-locking/#thought-differently

Image: Mitch Barrie (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Daytona_Skeleton_AR-15_completed_rifle_%2817551907724%29.jpg

CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

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kambanji (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/kambanji/4135216486/

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

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[kosher-martian]

Jewish and Israeli Tumblr, I just can't deal with the USA anymore. We're on our tenth consecutive forever-year of stochastic politics. I feel like 2020 was 20 years ago at this point.

I'm tired.

I'll put all the justifications below the cut, but let me get right to my question: Olim & Natural-Born Israeli citizens: What can I expect from Aliyah? Is there a place for me? I want out of the USA.

I currently work as in IT asset management and procurement. Basically I just keep track of my employer's IT-related inventory (think paper, toner, laptops, and tablets), spec and purchase new devices as part of our IT lifecycle, prepare old assets for disposal through our e-waste vendor, and manage/deploy our new inventory when it comes in.

I know Israel has a booming tech sector, but I'm worried I won't make the cut. I'm not an impressive candidate. I have experience in IT but I'm not credentialed or anything. My academic background (Bachelor's) is in business.

Before my current job, I worked in QA software testing (APIs mostly), healthcare technology, and helpdesk (Tier 2). It's gotten me pretty far in the "firm handshake" economy of small town Texas, but I'm not sure it will get me far in the "real" IT world.

Does anyone have any advice for a prospective oleh who's coming from low-paying IT / IT-adjacent work in a low cost of living mid-sized Texan city? What are some good cities / towns to look at besides Jerusalem and Tel Aviv? Are there jobs for someone like me outside of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv?

I guess what I'm asking is whether Aliyah is a good economic decision for someone who doesn't already have money? Any olim here that could give me insights?

The ugly truth is this: The US is sliding into authoritarianism really quickly and I'm on the losing side. Sure there are supposed to be laws in place that will slow this down or mostly stop it, but the law only works if there's someone willing to enforce it and well... Can you name one person who has show the moral fortitude and is still in a position to do something?

To put it in more utilitarian terms: I'd rather be someplace where I'm unlikely to be scooped up and interrogated for being politically and ideologically incompatible with MAGA or whatever. They're already detaining Native Americans and Black Americans and trying to deport them. Bad things are coming, and I'd rather get out now while I still can.

It's not flattering for me to say, it reflects poorly on me, but it's honest: I'm no hero. I'm a coward and I'm not afraid to say it.

[imminentinertia]

111 years of queer cinema - 2021: Neptune Frost

Country: Rwanda/USA/France/Canada/UK Directors: Saul Williams and Anisia Uzeyman Letterboxd Where to watch: big streaming services, depending on region, but also here (big thank you to @celluloidrainbow)

Synopsis: In the hilltops of Burundi, a group of escaped coltan miners form an anti-colonialist computer hacker collective. From their camp in an otherworldly e-waste dump, they attempt a takeover of the authoritarian regime exploiting the region’s natural resources – and its people. When an intersex runaway and an escaped coltan miner find each other through cosmic forces, their connection sparks glitches within the greater divine circuitry.

Where to even start.

Maybe with how this film crams so much in, so unbelievably much, that when I watched this with a friend yesterday, after the credits finished we looked at each other and simultaneously said "that was a lot".

It's too much, in a way, because it's intense to the point of being overwhelming, but also, all I want to do today is watch it again.

It's an African afrofuturistic musical about resistance, oppression, technology, gender, hope, betrayal, creativity, love, geopolitics, the connection between natural resources and the tech we use, I could go on because Neptune Frost is a cornucopia of ideas. Not all get to form fully before the credits roll, but this is a film to set your mind aswirl. I could probably spend an entire academic career digging into it.

Neptune (Cheryl Isheja) and Matalusa (Kaya Free)

An interesting aspect is how the main character, starts out as a man but transitions or rather expands to become the intersex technopath Neptune. One thing an international audience might miss is that several African cultures have traditions for acknowledging gender fluidity or nonconformity as fact, and acknowledging gender roles as not necessarily strictly binary. Neptune has an enounter where their gender is perceived as repulsive, but the antagonist in that situation has (possibly) become a representative of the oppressive Authority the collective rebels against.

For a taste of gender nonconformity and sexuality in African cultures I recommend this short article: The “Deviant” African Genders That Colonialism Condemned. It's also touched upon in this interview with the directors.

They also talk about the costume design in that interview, and it's absolutely stunning. Costume designer Cedric Mizero manages to make the costumes pieces of art that are built on through the narrative - note the changes in Neptune's costumes, from bland white shirt and onwards, and how they remove a symbol of oppression from the costume near the end. The hair and makeup follows along - or is followed by - the costume design.

Memory (Eliane Umuhire) surrounded by former miners

And of course Neptune Frost is a musical, so don't miss out on the soundtrack, by Saul Williams, Kaya Free (who plays Matalusa) and others.

111 years of queer cinema masterlist

Divider made by sister-lucifer

[anotherdayforchaosfay]

This week, word got out that the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, was looking to hire “world-class talent to work long hours identifying/eliminating waste, fraud and abuse.”  It turns out that people had a lot of ideas about who should apply for those jobs. Elon Musk and his team of 19-24 year old tech minions have been bulldozing through federal agencies, hacking into sensitive data, shutting down USAID, threatening federal workers with termination, and a host of other illegal and questionable activities. Protests against Musk and DOGE erupted in cities nationwide. Now, the hiring site join.doge.gov has become a focal point for the outrage as people submit mock applications.  Hitler, Mussolini and Franco all “submitted” applications. One comment quipped “There’s a lot of out-of-work fascists since WWII.” Under qualifications, their applications mentioned things like “good at getting rid of bureaucratic red tape” and “leader in downsizing populations.” Cruella De Vil (using the email hatespuppys@disneyvillainsunited.com) let Musk know that she has experience in breaking up Black/white relationships, views DOG(E)s as part of her brand, and has conducted round-ups before. Ebenezer Scrooge, though ineligible for being a British citizen, nonetheless lauded his world-famous “penny-pinching” and “ruthless cost-saving measures” and “willingness to work on holidays.” The Grinch wrote, “I stole Christmas. What more do you need?” At one point, the website threw up blocks to prevent online attacks. It’s back now (in case you were wondering).

This flood of spam comments and fake responses to the DOGE hiring site is one of many similar campaigns aiming to overwhelm hotlines and emails.  A Missouri government tip site for submitting complaints about gender-affirming care was taken down after people overwhelmed it with rambling anecdotes and the “Bee Movie” script. Similar protest emails have been sent to the Office of Personnel Management, or OPM, which is trying to get reports of noncompliance with their anti-trans efforts. Sending messages to defendingwomen@opm.gov, people are attempting to use a flood of complaints to prevent snitching from targeting federal workers upholding trans inclusion. After the Trump administration warned federal employees of “adverse consequences” for not reporting colleagues resisting orders to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, citizens began submitting false reports to the special email account: DEIAtruth@opm.gov. Here’s one example: “A man named Donald Trump is doing affirmative action for billionaires and oligarchs against the mandate to stop hiring minority groups.” Another campaign has been emailing the DOGE Caucus and suggesting that they cut the military budget or SpaceX contracts instead. (DOGE itself has no publicly available emails, but people can contact this pro-DOGE group at: doge@mail.house.gov) The tactic of spamming websites, emails and hotlines tries to render them inoperable, or at least inconvenient, to those trying to use them to report or repress resistance. These kind of tactics have been used numerous times, often to great success. In 2021, Reddit users supported striking Kellogg’s workers by crashing the scab hiring website. In 2022, a teen coded a program to help other teens spam a tip line for reporting critical race theory being taught in schools. In 2024, Utah and Indiana’s snitch lines on bathroom accessibility was overwhelmed with hoax reports. Humor and rebellious defiance play an important role in these bleak times. The fake applications aren’t just about jamming up the system. They’re returning a sense of agency to people, affirming their humanity and unleashing a bit of much-needed laughter. 

Click the link at the top to read the rest.

[afrotumble]

[e-wastemart]

E-Waste Management and Recycling: A Sustainable Solution

In today's fast-paced digital age, the use of electronic devices has become an integral part of our lives. While these devices bring convenience and innovation, they also contribute to a growing problem – electronic waste, or e-waste. E-waste poses significant environmental and health risks if not managed properly. This is where e-waste management and recycling come into play, offering a sustainable solution to this ever-increasing issue.

E-Waste Management

Effective e-waste management includes responsible collection, transportation, and disposal. It's vital to avoid landfills and focus on refurbishment and reuse to reduce electronic waste.

E-Waste Recycling

E-waste recycling extracts valuable materials from discarded devices, reducing the need for new production and preventing hazardous waste from polluting the environment.

E-Waste Mart: Your Partner in E-Waste Management and Recycling

For effective e-waste management and recycling services, E-Waste Mart is your trusted partner. E-Waste Mart is a leading name in the industry, committed to reducing the environmental impact of electronic waste. We offer comprehensive solutions for the collection, transportation, recycling, and safe disposal of e-waste.

With state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated team of experts, E-Waste Mart ensures that your electronic waste is managed in an environmentally responsible manner. By choosing their services, you not only fulfill your corporate social responsibility but also contribute to a greener and healthier planet. Visit E-Waste Mart for more information.

Choose sustainability with E-Waste Mart for a cleaner, greener future.

[awbsblog]

Profitable Business Ideas for 2025

As we step into 2025, the business landscape is evolving rapidly. With advancing technology, changing consumer needs, and increasing digital adoption, new opportunities are emerging. Whether you want to start a full-time venture or a side hustle, choosing the right business is key to success. Here are some of the most promising business ideas for 2025.

1. Artificial Intelligence-Based Businesses

AI is revolutionizing industries, and businesses that integrate AI solutions will thrive. Some ideas include:

AI-Driven Virtual Assistants for Businesses

AI-Powered Personalized Shopping Experiences

AI Tools for Content Generation and Automation

2. Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Ventures

With rising environmental concerns, sustainable businesses are in high demand. You can start:

Zero-Waste Packaging Solutions

Renewable Energy Consulting & Solar Panel Installation

Eco-Friendly Fashion and Accessories

3. E-Commerce & Online Selling

The online marketplace continues to expand. If you want to start an e-commerce business, consider:

Customized Print-on-Demand Products

Niche Subscription Boxes (organic food, pet treats, etc.)

Selling Digital Products like E-books & Templates

4. Health & Wellness Businesses

The health sector is booming as people become more health-conscious. Profitable options include:

Virtual Fitness Training & Home Workout Plans

Organic & Herbal Supplement Business

Meditation & Mental Health Coaching

5. Digital Marketing & Branding Services

Businesses are investing heavily in their online presence. You can offer:

SEO & Content Marketing Solutions

Social Media Management & Growth Strategies

PPC Advertising & Influencer Marketing Services

6. Freelancing & Remote Work Opportunities

The freelance industry is thriving. If you have a skill, you can monetize it through:

Professional Blogging & Copywriting Services

Graphic Design & Website Development

Virtual Assistant & Administrative Support

7. Online Education & Coaching

E-learning is growing exponentially, and you can take advantage by offering:

Creating & Selling Digital Courses

Career Guidance & Resume Writing Services

Language & Soft Skills Training

8. Tech Startups & Software Development

Tech solutions are in high demand, making software development a lucrative field. Ideas include:

SaaS (Software as a Service) Solutions for Businesses

Mobile Apps for Personal Productivity & Business Management

Web3 & Blockchain-Based Platforms

9. Food & Beverage Industry Innovations

Food-related businesses continue to evolve with consumer preferences. Some trending ideas are:

Cloud Kitchen & Food Delivery Business

Organic & Plant-Based Snack Manufacturing

Specialty Coffee, Tea, or Juice Bars

10. Pet Care & Accessories Business

The pet industry is booming, providing great business opportunities. Consider:

Selling Organic & Handmade Pet Products

Professional Pet Grooming Services

Personalized Pet Clothing & Accessories

Conclusion

The year 2025 offers numerous business opportunities across various sectors. To succeed, choose a business that aligns with your skills, interests, and market demand. By staying innovative and customer-focused, you can build a profitable and sustainable business.

[digitaldetoxworld]

Top 10 Emerging Tech Trends to Watch in 2025

 Technology is evolving at an unprecedented tempo, shaping industries, economies, and day by day lifestyles. As we method 2025, several contemporary technology are set to redefine how we engage with the sector. From synthetic intelligence to quantum computing, here are the important thing emerging tech developments to look at in 2025.

Top 10 Emerging Tech Trends In 2025

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Evolution

AI remains a dominant force in technological advancement. By 2025, we will see AI turning into greater sophisticated and deeply incorporated into corporations and personal programs. Key tendencies include:

Generative AI: AI fashions like ChatGPT and DALL·E will strengthen similarly, generating more human-like textual content, images, and even films.

AI-Powered Automation: Companies will more and more depend upon AI-pushed automation for customer support, content material advent, and even software development.

Explainable AI (XAI): Transparency in AI decision-making becomes a priority, ensuring AI is greater trustworthy and comprehensible.

AI in Healthcare: From diagnosing sicknesses to robot surgeries, AI will revolutionize healthcare, reducing errors and improving affected person results.

2. Quantum Computing Breakthroughs

Quantum computing is transitioning from theoretical studies to real-global packages. In 2025, we will expect:

More powerful quantum processors: Companies like Google, IBM, and startups like IonQ are making full-size strides in quantum hardware.

Quantum AI: Combining quantum computing with AI will enhance machine studying fashions, making them exponentially quicker.

Commercial Quantum Applications: Industries like logistics, prescribed drugs, and cryptography will begin leveraging quantum computing for fixing complex troubles that traditional computer systems can not manage successfully.

3. The Rise of Web3 and Decentralization

The evolution of the net continues with Web3, emphasizing decentralization, blockchain, and user possession. Key factors consist of:

Decentralized Finance (DeFi): More economic services will shift to decentralized platforms, putting off intermediaries.

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) Beyond Art: NFTs will find utility in actual estate, gaming, and highbrow belongings.

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs): These blockchain-powered organizations will revolutionize governance systems, making choice-making more obvious and democratic.

Metaverse Integration: Web3 will further integrate with the metaverse, allowing secure and decentralized digital environments.

4. Extended Reality (XR) and the Metaverse

Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) will retain to improve, making the metaverse extra immersive. Key tendencies consist of:

Lighter, More Affordable AR/VR Devices: Companies like Apple, Meta, and Microsoft are working on more accessible and cushty wearable generation.

Enterprise Use Cases: Businesses will use AR/VR for far flung paintings, education, and collaboration, lowering the want for physical office spaces.

Metaverse Economy Growth: Digital belongings, digital real estate, and immersive studies will gain traction, driven via blockchain technology.

AI-Generated Virtual Worlds: AI will play a role in developing dynamic, interactive, and ever-evolving virtual landscapes.

5. Sustainable and Green Technology

With growing concerns over weather alternate, generation will play a vital function in sustainability. Some key innovations include:

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): New techniques will emerge to seize and keep carbon emissions efficaciously.

Smart Grids and Renewable Energy Integration: AI-powered clever grids will optimize power distribution and consumption.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Advancements: Battery generation upgrades will cause longer-lasting, faster-charging EVs.

Biodegradable Electronics: The upward thrust of green digital additives will assist lessen e-waste.

6. Biotechnology and Personalized Medicine

Healthcare is present process a metamorphosis with biotech improvements. By 2025, we expect:

Gene Editing and CRISPR Advances: Breakthroughs in gene modifying will enable treatments for genetic disorders.

Personalized Medicine: AI and big statistics will tailor remedies based on man or woman genetic profiles.

Lab-Grown Organs and Tissues: Scientists will make in addition progress in 3D-published organs and tissue engineering.

Wearable Health Monitors: More superior wearables will music fitness metrics in actual-time, presenting early warnings for illnesses.

7. Edge Computing and 5G Expansion

The developing call for for real-time statistics processing will push aspect computing to the vanguard. In 2025, we will see:

Faster 5G Networks: Global 5G insurance will increase, enabling excessive-velocity, low-latency verbal exchange.

Edge AI Processing: AI algorithms will system information in the direction of the source, reducing the want for centralized cloud computing.

Industrial IoT (IIoT) Growth: Factories, deliver chains, and logistics will advantage from real-time facts analytics and automation.

Eight. Cybersecurity and Privacy Enhancements

With the upward thrust of AI, quantum computing, and Web3, cybersecurity will become even more essential. Expect:

AI-Driven Cybersecurity: AI will come across and prevent cyber threats extra effectively than traditional methods.

Zero Trust Security Models: Organizations will undertake stricter get right of entry to controls, assuming no entity is inherently sincere.

Quantum-Resistant Cryptography: As quantum computer systems turn out to be greater effective, encryption techniques will evolve to counter potential threats.

Biometric Authentication: More structures will rely on facial reputation, retina scans, and behavioral biometrics.

9. Robotics and Automation

Automation will hold to disrupt numerous industries. By 2025, key trends encompass:

Humanoid Robots: Companies like Tesla and Boston Dynamics are growing robots for commercial and family use.

AI-Powered Supply Chains: Robotics will streamline logistics and warehouse operations.

Autonomous Vehicles: Self-using automobiles, trucks, and drones will become greater not unusual in transportation and shipping offerings.

10. Space Exploration and Commercialization

Space era is advancing swiftly, with governments and private groups pushing the boundaries. Trends in 2025 include:

Lunar and Mars Missions: NASA, SpaceX, and other groups will development of their missions to establish lunar bases.

Space Tourism: Companies like Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic will make industrial area travel more reachable.

Asteroid Mining:��Early-level research and experiments in asteroid mining will start, aiming to extract rare materials from area.