Category: News and Views

Samsung brings 27 artworks from MoMA to The Frame television | Digital Trends

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Samsung today announced that it’s making more than two dozen well-known pieces of art from the Museum of Modern Art available in the Samsung Art Store, and by extension to its Frame televisions.

The works currently collected by MoMA in New York city total 27 in all, including pairings by Frida Kahlo, Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keefe, Vincent Van Gogh, Piet Mondrian, Claude Monet, and more. Somewhat ironically — though perhaps less so if you’ve seen the paintings in person — is that by putting them on a large-screen television, the art will end up literally being larger than life. And you won’t have to fight the crowds for a closer look.

The art included in the Samsung/MoMA collab includes the likes of Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, Mondrian’s Trafalgar Square, and Monet’s Water Lilies.

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Boeing withdraws 30% pay rise offer to striking workers | BBC

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Boeing says it has withdrawn its pay rise offer to striking workers after negotiations with union representatives reached a stalemate.

The aviation giant accused the union of not giving its proposals serious consideration.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union (IAM) said Boeing was “hell-bent on standing on the non-negotiated offer” which it says was rejected by its members.

Last month, Boeing announced what it called its “best and final” offer to workers, which proposed a 30% rise over four years – lower than the 40% being demanded by the union.

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Google threatened with break-up by US | BBC

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The US government says it is considering whether to ask a judge to break up search engine giant Google, in a move that could reshape how technology giants do business.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) says the measures may include “structural requirements” to prevent Google from maintaining its internet search “monopoly”.

In response, Google warned that the proposed changes could have unintended consequences for US businesses and consumers.

The DoJ’s announcement comes after a landmark court ruling in August that found Google had maintained its dominance of online search through illegal practices.

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The White House joins Reddit and shares hurricane information | TechCrunch

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On Tuesday, a White House official announced that the Biden-Harris administration has launched a White House account on Reddit, where it will release information about the work the federal government is doing. The decision was also driven by a need to meet “more people where they are,” noted White House Deputy Platforms Director Megan Coyne in a post on X.

The account, u/whitehouse, is now sharing critical information about the administration’s response to Hurricane Helene, including the over $37 million in assistance already approved for over 28,000 households. The account also noted there are more than 1,000 FEMA officials on the ground and over 1,200 Urban Search and Rescue personnel in the field who have now rescued or supported over 3,200 survivors.

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Tesla Robotaxi reveal: What to expect | TechCrunch

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Tesla is gearing up to reveal its Robotaxi this Thursday, and everyone wants to know what it will look like, whether Tesla will unveil a commercialization strategy, and what outrageous timelines Elon Musk might announce to bump Tesla’s stock.

The “We, Robot” event will take place at 7 p.m. PT at Warner Bros. Discovery’s movie studio in Burbank, California, and we’ve got details on how to watch it here.

Musk had originally planned to reveal the Robotaxi – which he has also referred to as a Cybercab – on August 8. That’s a deadline Musk set for himself and Tesla a few hours after a Reuters report found that the automaker shelved its plan to build a lower-cost EV and would instead focus its resources on a robotaxi.

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Now Texas is suing TikTok over children’s safety concerns, too | Mashable

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TikTok’s legal troubles in the United States continue.

Reuters reported that the state of Texas sued TikTok on Thursday. According to state Attorney General Ken Paxton, TikTok has allegedly violated Texas state law and jeopardized children’s safety with the popular video-sharing app’s policies.

Paxton accused TikTok of not providing proper privacy settings for accounts belonging to children, as well as targeting advertising at children. He wants civil penalties of as much as $10,000 per violation of Texas’s Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act.

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McDonald’s is finally selling the Chicken Big Mac in the US | CNN Business

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When McDonald’s rolled out the Chicken Big Mac in the United Kingdom, it sold out within 10 days. Now, it’s likely hoping for similar success in the United States.

Beginning October 10, the highly anticipated sandwich will be sold for a limited time at McDonald’s US locations. The Chicken Big Mac is similar to its beefy sibling; however, it replaces the two burgers with two tempura chicken patties. It also includes the signature Big Mac sauce, pickles, shredded lettuce and a slice of American cheese.

McDonald’s has been vocal about adding more chicken to its menu, which is generally cheaper than beef. CEO Chris Kempczinski said in its most recent earnings call that it’s focused on adding “growth drivers like chicken” in an attempt to reverse slumping sales. Chicken is now on par with beef sales at its restaurants, he added.

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Striking port workers will return to work Friday as negotiators reach an agreement on wages | CNN Business

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Striking members of the International Longshoremen’s Association will be back to work at the ports on Friday, the union announced Thursday evening, as the union and the management group representing shipping lines, terminal operators and port authorities have reached a tentative deal on wages.

The agreement on wages amounts to a $4-per-hour raise for each year of the six-year contract, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told CNN. That amounts to a first year raise of just over 10% of the current contract’s top pay of $39 an hour. With the five subsequent pay hikes it would raise wages by 62% over the life of the contract

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Mount Everest is taller than it should be — and a weird river may be to blame | Live Science

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A “weird” river in the Himalayas may have pushed the peak of Mount Everest up by 164 feet (50 meters), scientists say.

According to a new study, a river roughly 46 miles (75 kilometers) from Everest was “captured” by another around 89,000 years ago. The erosion from this event carved away a huge gorge, leading to a loss of landmass that made the mountain experience a major growth spurt.

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New Orleans is using the Super Bowl to make the entire city more accessible | Fast Company

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Few areas of the country are as steeped in history, architecture, culture, and outright revelry as New Orleans. It’s a tourist draw year-round. The compact French Quarter, boasting 500 eateries and 100 attractions, gained plaudits from a recent study naming the district the country’s most walkable.

That, of course, isn’t true for everyone—especially Americans with disabilities, mobility or otherwise. With the city set to host the Super Bowl on February 9, its eleventh, local advocates and leaders hope they can use the big game as a catalyst for change, and improve the city so that everyone can enjoy it.

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