9 min

Interesting..

https://youtu.be/8q4my9Zi5d8

The Scott Shambaugh Situation Clarifies How Dumb We Are Acting

https://ardentperf.com/2026/02/13/the-scott-shambaugh-situation-clarifies-how-dumb-we-are-acting/

#HackerNews

Since the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued its Endangerment Finding in 2009, the scientific evidence connecting greenhouse gas emissions to health impacts from climate change has only grown stronger.

Over the past two decades, I’ve contributed to this body of research myself: quantifying the risks posed by rising CO₂ levels to people, infrastructure and the natural systems we depend on, and authoring multiple U.S. National Climate Assessments.

These authoritative and exhaustive reports helped build the scientific foundation that underpins the Endangerment Finding, and their conclusions weren’t based on ideology. They were rooted in rigorous, peer‑reviewed evidence; evidence that has only become clearer with time.

Research today shows that climate change is increasing the risk of allergies, dementia, fertility, heart disease, mortality and so much more. Maintaining science‑based policies isn’t just prudent—it’s the reliable foundation we need to build a safer, healthier and more resilient future.

Read more of my statement here: https://www.nature.org/en-us/newsroom/epa-repeal-endangerment-finding/

One of the most common objections I hear to climate action is: “But what about China?”

The person making this argument usually goes on to claim that China is doing nothing, while everyone else is making sacrifices. But that’s not what the data show.

Here’s the reality:

* As the U.S. doubles down on fossil fuels and blocks new wind and solar projects, its emissions are ticking up.

* In contrast, China’s emissions appear to have peaked — and may now be starting to decline.

* Last year, China installed a full half of all the world's new wind and solar energy.

* Over the past two years, China installed more new solar power each year than the U.S. has installed in total across its entire history.

* China's clean exports alone are cutting CO2 outside its borders by 1% year on year.

Of course no country can fix climate change on its own. But just as it's a global problem, progress in one place helps everyone.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chinas-co2-emissions-have-now-been-flat-or-falling-for-21-months/

Nightshade: Make images unsuitable for model training

https://nightshade.cs.uchicago.edu/whatis.html

#HackerNews #Nightshade #ImageManipulation #AIethics #ModelTraining #PrivacyProtection

Democracy shouldn’t end at the login screen.

Mastodon is the only major social network that answers to you. As a nonprofit, we’re building a digital commons where transparency, trust, and your participation shape the future.

Help us keep the Fediverse independent and thriving: Donate #SupportMastodon

https://joinmastodon.org/sponsors#donate

8M Users' AI Conversations Sold for Profit by "Privacy" Extensions

https://www.koi.ai/blog/urban-vpn-browser-extension-ai-conversations-data-collection

#HackerNews #AIConversations #PrivacyExtensions #DataCollection #UserPrivacy #DataEthics

Semi-periodic reminder that the DM feature here is utterly broken and should not be regarded as "private" in any meaningful sense. And its semantics seem designed to violate the principle of least surprise.

Example: ANYONE mentioned in a message, not just tagged at the start, is a recipient. So if you send someone a DM that says "That @mattblaze guy is an ignorant moron", I get a copy.

I was reminded of this behavior just now.