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Articles by Peter Abrahams
Down the Rabbit Hole Book Review
age 12+ Teen puts herself in danger to solve crime. Parents need to know that Ingrid is a plucky, brave Sherlock Holmes fan who decides to solve a crime on her own. Parents and readers may be freaked out by some of her choices -- she is impulsive and dishonest, repeatedly putting herself in danger. She lies to her parents, the police chief, and friends; she sneaks out in the middle of the night and cuts class during the day -- and even copies homework.
Democrats seeking governorship strut their stuff for state’s unions
Given California’s daunting — even existential — array of social, economic and fiscal crises, it’s remarkable that anyone would volunteer to become its governor. However, Gavin Newsom will vacate the office 19 months hence, with most of those crises still in place, and at least seven Democratic politicians yearn to succeed him. Former state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Rep.
Five Great Murder Mysteries Set in College Towns ‹ CrimeReads
Write what you know—it’s a piece of advice you hear a lot. I’m not sure how useful it is. My first novel opened with a mysterious man buying a shovel so he could help a friend dig a grave in the woods. My latest begins with an eleven-year-old girl sneaking out her bedroom window for a walk under the stars and stumbling across the body of a serial killer’s victim. I’ve never found myself in either of those situations.
Airtel prepaid plans :Airtel brings back Disney+Hotstar subscription for these two prepaid plans
Airtel keeps revisiting its mobile plans and revising the benefits they offer. Sometimes, the company adds some more benefits, while at times it removes some. In November, the company removed Disney+ Hotstar subscriptions from Rs 399 and Rs 839 prepaid plans. However, TelecomTalk has now reported that the telecom service provider is bringing the benefit back.
Tesla Full Self-Driving blamed for Thanksgiving pileup in California tunnel
A Tesla driver is blaming Full Self-Driving software for having caused an eight-car pileup in the Yerba Buena Tunnel in California last month, according to a police report obtained by CNN Business. According to the December 7th report obtained by CNN Business, California Highway Patrol (CHP) reviewed tunnel footage and found that a Tesla made an unsafe lane change before abruptly slowing down from 55 mph to 20 mph - causing vehicles behind it to crash into one another.
Hillicon Valley - FCC proposes $300 million fine for robocalls - Yours Headline
The Federal Communications Commission is recommending a $300 million fine following the biggest robocall operation the agency has ever investigated. Meanwhile, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried will be released from jail after securing a $250 million bail as he awaits trial. This is Hillicon Valley, detailing all you need to know about tech and cyber news from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Send tips to The Hill's Rebecca Klar and Ines Kagubare. Someone forward you this newsletter?
Court allows Ana de Armas fan lawsuit over Yesterday to proceed
A trailer for Danny Boyle's film Yesterday might count as false advertising for including a character - played by Ana de Armas - who was cut from the film. As reported by Variety yesterday, a California court is allowing parts of a lawsuit against Universal City Studios to proceed over Universal's objections. The ruling finds trailers are commercial speech advertising the content of a film and not, as Universal argued, artistic expression that receives full First Amendment protections.
Realme starts rolling out Android 13 Open Beta program for X7 Max 5G
Realme has also joined the list of brands that are rolling out the Android 13 update for their smartphones. Earlier, the Chinese smartphone maker rolled out the Realme UI 3.0 Android 13-based update for the Realme Narzo 50 users. Realme has now started rolling out the Android 13 Open beta program for the X7 Max 5G users. Before installing the update, users need to ensure whether they have the RMX3031_11.C.15, and RMX3031_11.C.16 version pre-installed on their devices.
TikTok parent company employees inappropriately gained access to American users' data: report
Employees with the Chinese parent company of video-sharing platform TikTok inappropriately gained access to the user data of American citizens, according to internal emails reviewed by The New York Times. ByteDance explained in the emails that an internal investigation found the employees gained access to the data of two U.S. journalists and people associated with them over the summer.
Here's what's driving the frigid storm that's messing up holiday plans across the US
Frigid temperatures are expected to sting two-thirds of the continental US this week as a powerful storm system races eastward. The timing couldn't be worse, hitting right before the holidays, when many Americans are planning to travel. Those journeys - and evenjust being outside in some of the hardest-hit regions - may become treacherous as brutal cold blankets the country.
Netflix password sharing is ending soon, what you should know
The long-coming end to the practice of password sharing is nearing, at least for Netflix, as the streaming giant plans to crack down on password sharing starting in 2023. The Washington Journal reports that Netflix plans to stop users from sharing passwords next year, hoping to turn these "sharing is caring" users into new subscribers.
Group urges feds to investigate Snapchat over fentanyl sales
WASHINGTON (AP) - As the U.S. deals with its deadliest overdose crisis to date, a national crime-prevention group is calling on the Justice Department to clamp down on social media's role in the spread of fentanyl, the drug largely driving a troubling spike in overdose deaths among teenagers. The National Crime Prevention Council sent a letter Wednesday to Attorney General Merrick Garland, calling for an investigation.
How to take control of macOS notifications
Are you annoyed by how quickly the macOS notification banners that appear in the upper-right corner of the screen disappear? Has it ever annoyed someone you know? Is that person so frustrated with macOS notifications and multitasking that they write an 826-word attack against the preferred platform of many of their Verge colleagues? Well, maybe I can help you make it a bit less annoying.
NHTSA initiates two more Tesla crash investigations
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has initiated two more special crash investigations into incidents that involved Tesla electric vehicles, and where the company's advanced driver assistance systems are thought to have been a factor in the crash. Tesla offers a standard driver assistance package called Autopilot in all its new cars today.
Vivo S16, S16 Pro with 50MP selfie camera and S16e with Exynos chipset launched
Vivo has expanded its S-series of smartphones with the launch of Vivo S16, S16 Pro and S16e smartphones in China. The Vivo S16 and S16 Pro comes with an FHD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphones sport a 50MP selfie camera and 4,600 mAh battery. On the other hand, the Vivo S16e is powered by an Exynos chipset and features a 16MP selfie shooter.
Senator Wyden asks Tesla, GM, Ford about Chinese supply chains
Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked major automakers, including , and , to provide details about their Chinese supply chains after a study found links between some car companies and Chinese entities in a region where U.S. officials say forced labor exists. Wyden sent letters to eight automakers, asking how they map their supply chains to determine if any part is linked to the region where the Uyghur minority group has allegedly been abused.
5G could pose a huge cybersecurity risk: Ruchir Shukla, MD, SafeHouse Tech
Ruchir Shukla is Managing Director at SafeHouse Tech, an Indian-Israeli cyber security company. Over the past 5 years, he has played a pivotal role in accelerating the company's growth and building sustainable sales & operation channels for SafeHouse in India, spreading the company's reach to be actively selling in over 700 Indian cities, and recording product sales worth over 100 crore in less than 2 years. Ruchir holds a Bachelor's & Master's Degree from IIT Kharagpur.
See inside your Steam Deck with JSAUX's $30 transparent backplate
JSAUX might sound like just another alphabet soup electronics brand, but it's quickly developed a reputation as the foremost accessory vendor for the Steam Deck - and today, it's announced what (I'm fairly sure!) is the very first transparent shell for the system. The $30 JSAUX PC0106 Transparent Back Plate for Steam Deck isn't a full shell, as it just covers (slash exposes) the rear half of the PC gaming portable. But that's not all you get for your 30 bucks.
Bankman-Fried out on $250 million bail, agrees to home detention
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried can be released on a $250 million bail and placed on home detention as he awaits trial in a sprawling fraud case, a New York judge ruled on Thursday. At the request of prosecutors, Manhattan U.S. District Court Judge Gabriel Gorenstein agreed to the bond price and said Bankman-Fried can reside at his parent's home in Palo Alto, Calif., ahead of the trial, according to The Associated Press. Bankman-Fried, 30, is expected to be freed on Thursday.
TikTok's parent company reportedly accessed US journalists' data
An internal investigation at ByteDance found that several employees accessed TikTok data for two US journalists and a "small number" of other people connected to them, according to internal emails obtained by The New York Times. That data reportedly included the reporters' IP addresses, which were used to see if they had been nearby ByteDance employees in an attempt to figure out who was leaking documents and information to the press.
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried to be released on $250 million bail, will live with his parents
FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried is escorted out of the Magistrate's Court on December 21, 2022 in Nassau, Bahamas. Joe Raedle | Getty Images FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried will be released on $250 million bond while awaiting trial for fraud and other criminal charges, a New York federal judge ruled on Thursday.
Tesla's adding non-Superchargers to its navigation in Europe and Israel
Non-Tesla fast charging stations that meet certain criteria over a 60-day period, like an excellent charge success rate, could be whitelisted as what the company calls a "Qualified Third-Party Charger." Once designated by Tesla, the station would thereby be bestowed as such into Tesla's built-in navigation system. The program is first set to roll out in Europe and Israel, regions where many Teslas and Superchargers share the same CCS2 charging ports that other electric car manufacturers use.
FCC proposes largest robocaller fine in history
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday proposed a record-breaking nearly $300 million fine for an alleged robocall scheme that involved billions of calls about auto warranties. The agency said its proposed $299.997 million fine follows the largest robocall operation the FCC has ever investigated, alleging Roy Cox, Jr., and Michael Aaron Jones made more than 5 billion robocalls designed to sell vehicle service contracts deceptively marketed as car warranties.
Honor X9a to launch on January 4: Expected specifications, features, and more
Honor has confirmed the launch of Honor X9a, which is launching in Malaysia on January 4. The Honor X9a will be the company's third smartphone in the Honor X9 lineup, joining the Honor X9 and Honor X9 5G. . The company has revealed the design and some of the key specifications for the upcoming handset. The Honor X9a will be officially unveiled on January 4 at 7 pm local time in Malaysia (4:30 pm IST), as indicated on the company's landing page.
This Covid 19 related information circulating on WhatsApp is fake: Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health has highlighted that a message related to Covid 19 XBB variant on WhatsApp is fake and misleading. The Ministry of Health has posted on Twitter via its official handle clarifying this and has also provided relevant information about the new XBB variant. Here's what the WhatsApp message about Covid 19 XBB variant reads: "Everyone is advised to wear a mask because the new variant of the COVID-Omicron XBB coronavirus is different, deadly and not easy to detect correctly.
Need a last-minute gift? Hasbro made me into a Star Wars action figure
Remember when Hasbro announced it'd let you put your 3D-printed face on a fully licensed Star Wars, Marvel, Ghostbusters, G.I. Joe, or Power Rangers action figure for $60 plus tax? Well, my Hasbro Selfie Series figure just arrived this week - and while it's not a perfect resemblance, I'm still kind of blown away. This might be the perfect last-minute gift for a fan, for reasons I'll soon explain. But first, let me show you Mini Mandalorian Sean so you can judge for yourself.
Twitter Files: Here's what FBI has to say on disclosures
Twitter has been releasing a trove of "internal documents", called Twitter Files, which highlight the social media company's decision making and US Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) involvement in the content moderation on the platform. In one of the sets of files, it was 'revealed' that the FBI had asked Twitter to censor the content revolving around US President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, during the 2020 election campaign.
ViewSonic X2000B-4K and X2000L-4K projectors launched in India
ViewSonic has introduced two new Ultra Short Throw Smart Laser Projectors, the X2000B-4K and X2000L-4K, that use 2nd generation laser phosphor technology to provide 20,000 hours of lamp-free operation. These projectors also offer stunning 4K HDR images and feature theater-grade Harman Kardon speakers for enhanced audio quality. The X2000B-4K and X2000L-4K projectors have a sleek design making them perfect for the modern home setup.
University of Oklahoma bans TikTok following executive order
NORMAN, Okla. (NewsNation) - The University of Oklahoma banned the use of the social media app TikTok for students and staff. According to an email sent by David Horton, the university's chief information officer, the university said it would be barring access to the app following Gov. Kevin Stitt's executive order banning TikTok on state devices.
Apple apparently pulls the new iOS 16.2 Home app architecture upgrade
Apple has apparently removed the option to upgrade to the new HomeKit architecture on devices running iOS 16.2. The change follows multiple reports of issues and problems with the Home app after the upgrade was installed.
Varanium Cloud to launch Edge Data Centre on December 27
Varanium Cloud announced the launch of its proprietary designed Edge Data Centre in Goa at Panjim. The company will unveil the data centre on December 27, 2022. The company will launch the centre under its brand Hydra. With this Edge Data Centre the company aims to make the process of communication and data sharing between devices seamless. Its location near the requesting device minimises the time required to deliver information.
Tesla behind eight-vehicle crash was in 'full self-driving' mode, says driver
The driver of a 2021 Tesla Model S told California authorities the vehicle was in "full self-driving mode" when the technology malfunctioned, causing an eight-vehicle crash on the San Francisco Bay bridge last month. The crash on Thanksgiving Day resulted in two juveniles being transported to hospital and led to lengthy delays on the bridge. The incident was made public in a police report on Wednesday. It is the latest in a series of accidents blamed on Tesla technology.
OnePlus Nord Keyboard design, price tipped online: What to expect
OnePlus is set to expand its flagship smartphone series in India with the upcoming OnePlus 11 handset. The device will be launched in the country on February 7 along with the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 earbuds. The Chinese smartphone maker will also introduce its first-ever keyboard at the same event for India and other markets. Oneplus is developing this new keyboard with Keychron and this upcoming accessory will also be a part of the "OnePlus Featuring" lineup.
Google Maps 'Top Scenic Spots' for 2022 include the Golden Gate Bridge and Yosemite
If there's one suspension bridge the nation reveres, it's that glorious span serving a world-class metropolis that once had a tilting problem and is the fetching color of a fish belly - yes, the beloved Manhattan Bridge linking lower Manhattan to Brooklyn. At least that's according Google's 2022 "Year in Search" for the United States, [...]
Google adds support for more languages for its Meet Live Captions feature
Google updated its video-calling platform - Google Meet - with the Live Captions feature in January. This handy feature makes Google Meet video calls more inclusive and collaborative by removing language proficiency barriers. This feature is particularly useful for meetings or training sessions between international teams. Google Meet's Live Captions feature intends to improve meeting [...]
Meta removed 23 million pieces of harmful content on Facebook, Instagram in November
Meta has announced that it took action against a total of 23 million pieces of harmful content created by Indians across its social media apps Facebook and Instagram in November. As per the company's India Monthly Report, it removed about 19.52 million pieces of content on Facebook and over 3.39 million pieces of content on Instagram from November 1 to November 30.
Apple Watch's latest models won't be dependent on iPhone's GPS
Apple launched the latest Apple Watch models along with its latest iPhone 14 lineup a few months ago. Apple Watch got its separate GPS support with the Series 2 which was released six years ago. Yet, the Apple Watch models since then have been dependent upon iPhone's GPS whenever possible. However, this is set to change with the latest round of Apple Watch models.
Realme UI 4 early access now available for Realme 9i and Realme 9 Pro smartphones
Realme announced its latest custom user interface - Realme UI 4 - based on Android 13 operating system earlier this month. The company first started testing it in beta for Realme 10 Pro series smartphones and slowly expanded it to a couple of older phones.
PLI Scheme in telecom and networking products: State-wise complete list of beneficiaries
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has notified the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme in February 2021 to promote telecom and networking products, effective from April 1, 2021. The applications were invited from April 4, 2021 to July 3, 2021. Some 31 eligible applications were approved on October 14 2021. For including design-led manufacturing, the Scheme Guidelines were amended on June 20 this year. These amendments have been effective since April 1.
Two Bankman-Fried associates plead guilty to fraud, FTX founder heads to US
New York/Nassau: FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried left the Bahamas on Wednesday on a U.S.-bound flight to face fraud charges as federal prosecutors announced that two of his former associates had pleaded guilty to similar charges and were now cooperating with the government.
Quora introduces 'Poe,' an AI that will answer all your questions
Quora, the social question-and-answer portal, has introduced Poe, an AI chatbot that will let people get instant answers to questions while having a back-and-forth conversation with AI. 'Poe,' which is short for 'Platform for Open Exploration,' - is an invite-only app that will initially be available on iOS. There is not much known about Poe, but it is "designed to be a place where people can easily interact with a number of different AI agents," a Quora spokesperson told TechCrunch.
Redmi K50i smartphone receives a price cut in India: New price, offers and more
Xiaomi is expected to launch the Redmi K60 series of smartphones soon. Now ahead of the launch the company has slashed the price of its mid-range gaming smartphone - Redmi K50i in India. Launched in July this year, Xiaomi has slashed the price of both the variants of the Redmi K50i smartphone. The new price of the smartphone is reflecting on the official online store of the company.
Two men arrested for allegedly hacking JFK taxi dispatch system
Two US citizens have been arrested and accused of conspiring with Russian nationals to hack the taxi dispatch system at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), charging cab drivers a $10 fee to access the front of the queue between September 2019 and September 2021.
Explained: Cyber attackers using search engine ads and how users can protect themselves
Cyber attacks of various kinds have seen a consistent rise in both volume and reach over the past few years. Security agencies in several countries are trying to crack down on these hackers by identifying their modus operandi. Recently, the FBI has warned users against cyber attackers using search engine advertisements to promote websites that distribute ransomware or can steal login user credentials from financial institutions and crypto exchanges.
Netflix Password Sharing May Stop In 2023. Check Details Here
The password sharing feature of Netflix is likely to stop in early 2023. Previously, there were rumours about the end of password sharing, but the changes are set to officially go into effect next year New Delhi: The password sharing feature of Netflix is likely to stop in early 2023. Reports have suggested that Netflix will put an end to the password sharing feature.
Seoul: North Korean hackers stole $1.2B in virtual assets
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korean hackers have stolen an estimated 1.5 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in cryptocurrency and other virtual assets in the past five years, more than half of it this year alone, South Korea's spy agency said Thursday.
Avatar: The Way of Water crashes movie theatre projectors in Japan, here's why
James Cameron's Avatar returned for a second outing with the sequel "The Way of Water," and just like the first one, it has breathtaking visuals. Some people in Japan missed out on the epic, as a number of theatre projectors crashed in the country. Bloomberg reports that several theatres in Japan faced breakdowns during the run, while one theatre was forced to tone down the refresh rate to 24fps down 48fps in order to play it smoothly.
OnePlus 11 receives TENAA certification, key specifications revealed
Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer OnePlus is gearing up to expand its lineup of flagship smartphones. The company is set to launch its next number-series smartphone - the OnePlus 11 on February 7 in India. The upcoming OnePlus smartphone has already surfaced on the 3C certification website and on benchmarking websites like AnTuTu and Geekbench. As of now, there are no details revealed for the price of the OnePlus 11.
Two associates of Sam Bankman-Fried plead guilty to fraud charges in FTX fall
A federal prosecutor says two associates of Sam Bankman-Fried have pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX. Carolyn Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, a trading firm started by Bankman-Fried, and Gary Wang, who co-founded FTX along with Bankman-Fried, pleaded guilty to charges "related to their roles in the fraud that contributed to FTX's collapse", US attorney Damian Williams said Wednesday night.
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 likely design teased ahead of launch: Details inside
OnePlus 11 5G has been a part of the rumour mill for sometime now. The company announced the launch date of its upcoming OnePlus 11 5G smartphone and also offered a glimpse of it during its ninth-anniversary celebration in China. The Chinese smartphone maker has now revealed the design of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 that will be launched alongside the OnePlus 11 5G smartphone. OnePlus Buds Pro 2: Expected design OnePlus took to Weibo where it showcased the design of the Buds Pro 2.
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