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Submission + - Tesla lays off 'more than 10%' of its global workforce (electrek.co)

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes: “We don’t know which specific teams will be most or least affected by Tesla’s layoffs, but two well-known Tesla executives are now missing the “Tesla-affiliated” badge on twitter – Drew Baglino and Rohan Patel.”

Submission + - Trillions of tons of carbon locked in soil left out of environmental models (theconversation.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Trillions of tonnes of carbon locked in soil has been left out of environmental models – and it’s on the move

We all know about the carbon in Earth’s atmosphere, and probably about the carbon contained in plants and the bodies of animals. But a substantial fraction of the carbon in the planet’s land-based ecosystems is held in something so obvious we might overlook it: soil.

Even if we do think about carbon in soil, we are usually thinking of carbon in organic matter in the soil, such as plant litter, bacteria or animal waste. However, the inorganic, mineral component of soil also contains carbon.

In a new study just published in Science, we show there is much more soil inorganic carbon than anybody realised – and that it may be a surprisingly big player in Earth’s carbon cycle.

Submission + - California Burger King franchisee to expedite self-serve kiosks rollout (nypost.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes:

A businessman who owns 140 Burger King franchises in California will slash workers’ hours and expedite the rollout of self-service kiosks to cut down on labor costs in response to the state’s new $20 minimum wage.

Harshraj Ghai, who owns 180 fast-food restaurants throughout the Golden State, including Burger King, Taco Bell and Popeyes, told Business Insider last week: “We can’t move fast enough on this [rollout].”

“We have kiosks in probably about 25% of our restaurants today,” he said. “However, the other 75% are going to have kiosks in the next probably 30 to 60 days.”

“We are installing kiosks in every single restaurant,” Ghai said.

Several fast food chains have hiked menu prices since the new law increasing pay for fast-food workers went into effect April 1.

Ghai, who raised menu prices between 8% and 10% in the last year, said he plans to cut down on worker hours, eliminate overtime, pause plans to expand his restaurant empire and add more digital kiosks.

Skynet and the board of the Tyrell Corporation smile at the "unexpectedly" incredible opportunities in automation that Gavin Newsom is intent on providing.

Submission + - SPAM: 15 federal agencies were aware of Wuhan coronavirus research in 2018

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: “At least 15 federal agencies knew from the beginning of the pandemic that EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan Institute of Virology were seeking federal funding in 2018 to create a virus genetically very similar if not identical to COVID-19,” Paul said on Tuesday. “Disturbingly, not one of these 15 agencies spoke up to warn us that the Wuhan Institute of Virology had been pitching this research.”
Link to Original Source

Submission + - Lunchables shouldn't be on school menus due to lead, sodium: Consumer Reports (usatoday.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Lunchables, the ready-to-eat plastic trays of lunch meats and cheeses, have some surprise ingredients: plasticizers, carcinogens, and lead.

Product-testing watchdog Consumer Reports is calling for the meal kits to be removed from the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which started distributing them directly to students across the country at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. The decision to implement the colorful, shiny, highly processed lunch items raised the eyebrows of many health experts.

Kraft Heinz announced its plan to put Lunchables into schools last year and agreed to alter the contents of the two of its meal kits to meet NSLP guidelines, adding more protein and grains, and reducing sugar and sodium for “improved nutrition.” Consumer Reports tested only store-bought versions of the products, alongside an array of comparable meal kits.

Of the 12 Lunchables tested by the product watchdog, all but one contained harmful phthalates, which are chemicals found in a range of products from vinyl flooring to shampoos, and are used to make plastic products more durable. While they are often called “plasticizers” in manufacturing, they are known in the medical community as “endocrine disruptors,” have long-term detrimental effects on reproductive health, and have been linked to diabetes and certain cancers. The Extra Cheesy Pizza kit was the only Lunchables option that did not contain phthalates.

Consumer Reports found “relatively high levels of cadmium and lead” in several of the Lunchables, with five of them reaching the threshold of 50 percent of what the state of California allows. Cadmium is classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization, and there is no safe amount of lead for a child to consume.

Submission + - Textbook Prices Have Increased by 1401% Over Last 50 Years (myelearningworld.com) 1

Submitted by LookMan
LookMan writes: Over the last 50 years, the cost of college textbooks has soared by a jaw-dropping 1401%, transforming what was once a manageable expense into a significant financial burden for students across the United States.

This staggering increase, which has seen textbook prices grow at nearly 3 times the rate of inflation, is more than just a statistic—it’s a barrier to education and a source of stress for millions of students trying to pay the already exorbitant costs of higher education.

Submission + - Congress gives itself a carve-out in the warrantless spying on Americans (twitter.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Congress gives itself a carve out in the reauthorization of FISA 702 warrantless spying on Americans.

The bill requires the FBI to notify and seek consent from Congress before violating the privacy of Congressmen.

This will persuade many members of Congress to vote yes.

Submission + - Oregon shutting down small farms to protect the environment

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Small Farms in Oregon Suffer as New CAFO Definitions Threaten Livelihoods
In Oregon, the landscape of small-scale farming is undergoing a seismic shift due to recent regulatory changes affecting water rights and farm operations. These changes are casting a shadow over the future of family farms and local agriculture, invoking a series of legal challenges and widespread concern among the farming community.

At the core of the upheaval are two contentious issues: the expanded definition of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and stringent water usage restrictions. These regulations have placed an undue burden on small farmers, many of whom are now facing the threat of closure due to what they view as overreaching government intervention.

Submission + - SPAM: BRAZIL TO CUT STARLINK IN FUED WITH ELON MUSK

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Brazil's government has stated that it will suspend all Starlink contracts in their ongoing battle with Elon.

This would result in many schools that use Starlink for internet access to lose coverage.

@elonmusk stated:
"Starlink will provide free Internet for schools in Brazil if the government won't honor their contract."

It appears the government is willing to sacrifice their student's education because Elon is fighting for free speech.

He(Brazil) demanded that suspend accounts of people who raised corruption concerns while insisting that pretend the suspension was for violating our terms of service!

We obey the laws of countries even if we disagree with them, but this required violating the laws of Brazil.

Mario Nawfal
Giving in to corruption will lose the trust of users, as we’ve seen with Meta and YouTube.

This is just short term pain for the long term trust of the public

X EMPLOYEES IN BRAZIL TOLD THEY WILL BE ARRESTED, MUSK SAYS

After refusing to reply with Brazil’s draconian censorship demands, Elon floated the possibility of even having to EXTRACT employees to keep them safe.

This is a WAR in support of free speech.
Link to Original Source

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