Other Stuff

"Big, if true": Lebanon, Hezbollah accept US ceasefire proposal in Israel conflict

Lebanese official says Hezbollah agrees to US ceasefire proposal with 'comments' | The Times of Israel

Offered without comment: UPS to shut down Denver facility, lay off 400 workers | Business | denvergazette.com

With final vote tally now in, CO Springs did NOT approve a ban on recreational marijuana. while they did pass a measure that allows currently licensed medical marijuana facilities to also get recreational licenses. Initially it looked as if both measures passed and it was likely that the proposed ban, as a modification of the city charter, would control. But when all votes were counted, that modification failed even though the mayor supported it. BUT the city council has passed zoning restrictions that will make it almost impossible for dispensaries can actually open, such as not being permitted within a mile of a school or daycare...and most locations in the city probably are within a mile of one of those things. Colorado Springs voters legalize recreational marijuana - Axios Denver

https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/El_Paso/122621/web.345435/#/detail/64

I haven’t read all the details yet but this is a move in the right direction: Denver tweaks its ADU standards to allow for easier construction - Axios Denver

Read this when you have time to sit and think for a while: AI Can Save Humanity—Or End It - The Atlantic

One of the things I wonder about from that article: They suggest training AI to understand fundamental right and wrong based on how humans actually interact, but what if an AI trains on watching human interaction in Yemen or Syria or Venezuela or even the wrong neighborhood in Chicago?

The rapid increase in the power of AI is truly amazing: A Powerful AI Breakthrough Is About to Transform the World - WSJ

AI Just Created A Glowing Protein Molecule Similar To One Found In Jellyfish

EvolutionaryScale (the company that made the protein noted above)

Breaking the law, breaking the law: Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules against counting undated ballots

Follow-up from a story we covered yesterday about Catherine Herridge: A Legal Showdown Over Press Freedom | The Free Press

I know some listeners will disagree but I'm happy about this. That said, it wouldn't be shocked if the judge is overturned even though I think she's right: Judge strikes down Wyoming abortion laws, including an explicit ban on pills to end pregnancy | CNN Politics

I wondered where they would go: Hamas officials booted by Qatar last week, now hosted in Turkey, diplomat says | The Times of Israel

Have you ever thought that you might not want to live for absolutely as long as you can? Why I Hope to Die at 75

I think the article is sort of interesting but definitely not as interesting as the writer probably thinks. I also think he misses a key part of the understanding of life expectancy, which is that generally your total life expectancy (i.e. the age at which statistically you're most likely to expire, though to be clear it's a group average and not about any one person) increases. For example, the remaining life expectancy of a 40-yr-old man is around 36.5 years (to about 76 years old) but if that man actually reaches 76, on average he would expect to live another 10 years. Also note that life expectancy for the nation is dragged down by the unfortunate fact that some groups (Native Americans and blacks, especially young black men due to crime, and, to a lesser degree, Hispanics) have lower life expectancy than other groups (whites and Asians). Actuarial Life Table

A terribly sad story. Parents, please talk to your kids frequently and make sure they're OK. Bullying is much worse than in the past because of the ability (and willingness) of kids to use social media and other forms of electronic communication to hurt each other. Teenager known for helping the homeless dead at 14 | News | denvergazette.com

Pete Hegseth appears to be a guy who’s TV version of character is different from his real character. Matt Gaetz doesn’t even pretend not to be a slimeball. Similar to what I said about Hegseth, I don’t know whether accusations about Gaetz are true but what we know for sure combined with what’s been accused should make him withdraw, or be withdrawn, from nomination for a cabinet post.

Two women testified that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, lawyer says - The Washington Post

This is NOT OK: Lindt disputes US lawsuit claims, stands by 'excellence' labelling | National | dailygazette.com

Interesting business story, not least because the new CEO of Red Lobster is only 35 years old:

KOA Sports with Dave Logan & Ryan Edwards