eldritch being

Google Chrome is quietly downloading a roughly 4 GB AI model to many users’ computers without clear upfront consent. The file, called weights.bin, is part of Google’s Gemini Nano on-device language model and lands in the browser’s user data folder under OptGuideOnDeviceModel. It powers built-in AI tools such as “Help me write,” smarter tab suggestions, on-device scam detection, and page summarization. The download triggers automatically for devices meeting minimum hardware requirements, and Chrome often replaces the files if deleted. While the model processes data locally, installation happens in the background with minimal notification. The scale is noteworthy. Hundreds of millions or billions of installations add up to thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions globally from data transfer, even though each is a one-time event. To prevent or remove it, go to chrome://flags, disable the entries for the optimization guide on-device model and Prompt API, restart the browser, and manually delete the folder.

“NYPD officers are at the station should you need their assistance.”

I fear the meme that reads something like "the best fic you've ever read has been written by a 14 y/o during her school breaks" has done irreparable damage to the fanfic community regarding ageism

New York's new age verification law could ban anyone under the age of 18 from using messaging apps, or using chatting features in video games. The proposed law, called the Stop Online Predators Act, would require platforms to check user ages. For anyone under 18, private messages from people they do not know would be turned off by default. Kids could still chat privately with friends they have already added and Parents could choose to allow more open chatting if they want. The bill aims to stop unknown adults from easily contacting children while keeping normal friendships possible. It has passed one Senate committee and moved to another. It has support from the governor but is not yet a law.

Rotisserie Chickens will soon be able to be purchased with SNAP funds. Thoughts?

Privatizing water puts everyone at risk. Think Walkerton.

Christian nationalist pastor Joel Webbon says that since people will never give up democracy and the right to vote, they must be taken away by force: "Virtuous, ambitious, masculine men have to climb the ladder of power and forcefully take away from the people that which is their detriment."

So there’s this super rich neighborhood in Seattle. Laurelhurst. They are situated next to a children’s hospital. They decided that the helicopter sound is too loud for them. The helicopters that life flight critically injured children to the hospital. So if a child needs to be taken by helicopter, the pilot has to land a mile away from the hospital. An ambulance will be there to take the child the remaining distance. This is to ensure that the super rich people don’t have to hear helicopters.

listen, i'll give you gauche (but not really) but silhouette? SILHOUETTE??? common word!!

I loathe government bailouts, but letting Spirit Airlines close is a tremendous blunder by the Trump administration. It’s going to be even harder for lower-income people to get flights without Spirit as an option. A lot of Americans are scrambling today with another unnecessary crisis.