All posts tagged: Real

America is panicking about e-bikes while ignoring the real problem

America is panicking about e-bikes while ignoring the real problem

Published by skeptic

If you spend enough time reading local news headlines these days, you’d be forgiven for thinking electric bicycles are one of the greatest threats facing American streets. Teenagers on fat-tire e-bikes, viral videos of wheelies, stories about injuries complete with ER doctor interviews… the same themes are playing on repeat. And yes, these are real concerns worth discussing. Walk around just about any town in the US, and you’ll eventually see some issues yourself. Some riders behave irresponsibly. Some companies sell vehicles that blur the line between e-bikes and electric motorcycles. Some inexperienced riders are suddenly traveling at speeds they aren’t prepared to handle. But somewhere along the way, the conversation seems to have lost all sense of proportion. Advertisement – scroll for more content I recently read a CNN article discussing the rising danger of e-bikes and micromobility vehicles. Included in the piece was a chart showing annual deaths involving e-bikes and e-scooters in the US hovering around 135 fatalities per year in the last few years. Any death is tragic, even more so …

De la Fuente says Spain come before club loyalty after first World Cup squad without Real Madrid players

De la Fuente says Spain come before club loyalty after first World Cup squad without Real Madrid players

Published by Sam Flores

MADRID, May 26 : Luis de la Fuente stressed that Spain’s badge outranks any club crest on Tuesday after naming a World Cup squad with a distinctly Barcelona hue and, for the first time, no Real Madrid player in sight. The European champions head into next month’s tournament among the favourites, with De la Fuente’s 26-man squad built around eight Barcelona players and none from the Spanish capital’s biggest club, bringing the fierce El Clasico rivalry into the national team’s debate. Defenders Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal were among the Real Madrid names to miss out on a team chasing Spain’s second World Cup title after their 2010 triumph in South Africa. De la Fuente dismissed the idea that the decision could cost him support among Real Madrid fans. “For me, the greatest team there is — the very greatest — is the Spanish national team,” De la Fuente said during a breakfast with media representatives organised by Spanish public broadcaster RTVE and news agency EFE. “I don’t look at where players come from or …

Everyone is navigating AI security in real time — even Google

Everyone is navigating AI security in real time — even Google

Published by skeptic

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Francis de Souza, COO of Google Cloud, backstage at an event in Los Angeles. Amid the din around us, de Souza, who speaks in the calm, measured manner of a university professor, offered useful advice for companies navigating the AI security moment we’re all living through, noting that “there’ll be a transition period, and then I think we get to this better place.” He wasn’t speaking about Google at that moment, but it’s clear that even Google is still figuring things out. De Souza’s core message was one security professionals have been trying to get executives to internalize for years, now made urgent by AI: security can’t be an afterthought. “As companies embark on this AI journey, they need to take a platform approach,” he said. “Security is not something you can bolt on later, and it’s not something you can leave up to employees to do on their own.” He warned specifically about “shadow AI” — employees reaching for consumer tools without organizational oversight — …

The boat-billed heron looks fake but is very real

The boat-billed heron looks fake but is very real

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. When you think of a heron, chances are you imagine an elegant, long-legged bird posing majestically on the edge of a body of water. If so, it’s time to set the record straight—not all herons are swan-necked ballerinas. In fact, the boat-billed heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) looks like someone stuck the head of a large bird onto the body of a small one, and you can forget about a graceful neck.  Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village in Rhode Island is home to a boat-billed heron. Image: Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village. As for its bill, the large and rather flat appendage explains the bird’s name, and is extremely sensitive. “These unique birds get their name from its broad bill that resembles the hull of a boat, perfect for snatching up fish, crustaceans, insects, and amphibians,” the Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village in Rhode Island writes in a social media post, with pictures of a …

The Real Lesson of Elon Musk’s Outrage at Christopher Nolan

The Real Lesson of Elon Musk’s Outrage at Christopher Nolan

Published by Sam Flores

A beautiful movie star is cast in a beloved story. The character is fictional—she isn’t even fully human. Nonetheless, activists and purists insist that the actor is the wrong race. I’m speaking of Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in the Shell, the 2017 film adaptation of a popular Japanese manga series. Critics accused the movie’s creators of “whitewashing” the heroine, a cyborg whose physical form is entirely prosthetic and whose race and gender are, in fact, mutable. She’s implanted with the consciousness of a Japanese woman, but her memories have been suppressed and edited. The story is an examination of how unstable identity is, and how untethered it can be from the body. Yet for detractors, the politics of representation—the simple fact that Johansson isn’t Asian—overrode the power of the film’s philosophical inquiry. Audiences are willing to suspend all manner of disbelief in service of a good story—except, apparently, when it comes to race. Hence the controversy surrounding this year’s most anticipated movie, Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey. The director cast the Kenyan Mexican actor …

The Real Cost of First-Generation Creator Cameras

The Real Cost of First-Generation Creator Cameras

Published by skeptic

The Insta360 Luna Ultra has generated mixed reactions among professionals in the creator camera industry. According to Tech Court, its modular design and ability to record in 8K resolution offer notable advancements in flexibility and image quality. However, concerns stem from its status as a first-generation product, particularly regarding potential workflow disruptions and the lack of a fully developed ecosystem. For professionals working under tight deadlines, these factors can significantly impact decision-making. Explore the risks tied to adopting first-generation devices and the specific challenges of integrating new technology into established workflows. Gain insight into how established ecosystems, such as DJI’s, continue to address professional demands and understand the trade-offs between reliability and innovation in high-pressure environments. Why DJI Remains a Trusted Choice TL;DR Key Takeaways : The creator camera industry is shifting focus from hardware specifications to prioritizing workflow reliability, ecosystem integration and user experience. DJI is a trusted leader in the market, offering proven reliability, seamless ecosystem integration and strong customer support, making it a preferred choice for professionals. The Insta360 Luna Ultra introduces …

ChatGPT’s decline is real — I tested it against Claude on 3 routine tasks and lost every time

ChatGPT’s decline is real — I tested it against Claude on 3 routine tasks and lost every time

Published by skeptic

I’d be lying if I said I was a Claude user from the beginning. For the longest time, ChatGPT was my go-to AI tool for everything, whether it was automating tasks, brainstorming ideas, or simply handling work I didn’t want to spend hours doing myself. So much so that I have also used ChatGPT on CarPlay, and I absolutely love it. But after using the paid versions of both Claude and ChatGPT extensively, I’ve slowly come to one conclusion: ChatGPT’s decline feels very real. And no, I’m not saying that for the sake of it — I tested both tools across my everyday workflow, and more often than not, Claude came out ahead. ChatGPT still has the bigger name and more features, but it no longer feels as consistent or as reliable as it once did. The responses often feel repetitive, less thoughtful, and sometimes oddly disconnected from the actual context. Meanwhile, Claude simply feels more natural, focused, and better at understanding nuance. Before moving on to the tasks, I think it’s worth knowing that …

The PSNI for Real is perfect for Blue Lights fans

The PSNI for Real is perfect for Blue Lights fans

Published by Daniella Wilson

BBC viewers have been binge-watching Peelers: The PSNI for Real, the six-part crime series that has been compared to hit drama Blue Lights. Presented by Northern Irish broadcaster Stephen Nolan, the documentary brings Blue Lights into the real world as the presenter joins officers from the police force in Northern Ireland. © BBC/ Third Street StudiosStephen Nolan presents Peelers: The PSNI For Real Witnessing the stark realities of 24/7 policing on the streets of Belfast, the series aims to raise awareness of the daily challenges, which many viewers saw fictionalised through the characters of Grace, Annie and Tommy in Blue Lights. Since landing on the streamer on 27 April, BBC viewers have been bingeing the episodes in one go. Keep reading to find out what they’ve said about the series. WATCH: Have you watch Blue Lights? What have viewers said about Peelers: The PSNI for Real? Viewers have praised the series as an excellent depiction of the realities of policing, with one viewer penning on X: “Brilliant show, loved it. Binge-watched the whole series. Hope there’s more.” …

Mighty Real | Clair Wills

Mighty Real | Clair Wills

Published by Jenni Sidey

The new exhibition devoted to the work of the British artist Tracey Emin, currently at Tate Modern in London, is her biggest yet, with over ninety works on view, and the first since her recovery from major surgery for bladder cancer in 2020. In a series of winning interviews, she has talked openly about the impact of being given six months to live, her life-changing surgery (she now has a stoma and uses a urostomy bag), her recovery, and her entry into what she gladly calls her “second chance,” her “second life.” When she was made a dame commander of the British Empire in 2024 she had just received the four-year all-clear from her oncology team, and she said the news made her feel “like being born again.” Visitors to the exhibition will be able to see, she laughs, just how much she is “thoroughly enjoying the second part.” And why not? Once renowned for being drunk during a TV interview and walking off set, disparaged for her “narcissism,” and vilified by the conservative press …

Astrologers Say These 5 Iconic Couples Would Probably Never Make It In Real Life

Astrologers Say These 5 Iconic Couples Would Probably Never Make It In Real Life

Published by Jenni Sidey

There are some infamous TV and movie couples that stole our hearts the first time we saw them on our screens. Their undeniable chemistry felt like something that was next to impossible not to root for.  But according to astrologers, some of these iconic pairings would probably not stand the test of time in the real world, despite how their relationships played out in their fictional world. A deep dive by the tarot reading platform, Tarotoo, analyzed the astrological signs of the greatest TV and film couples to determine true compatibility, and the results were quite surprising. Astrologers say these 5 iconic couples would probably never make it in real life: 1. Bella and Edward Astrologers discovered that Bella and Edward from “Twilight” only have a 60% love compatibility. Since Bella is a Virgo, she is known for a more stable, grounded personality. Edward, on the other hand, is a Gemini but much different than the stereotypical Gemini. He’s described as someone whose interests change quite quickly, and he can sometimes get bored being in …