Waymo suspends service amid widespread blackout-related disruption
Company temporarily pauses robotaxis in San Francisco after cars stalled out and blocked intersections, causing traffic jams.
 When part of San Francisco had a power outage, and traffic lights shut off, Waymo driverless taxis (which are not "autonomous") were commanded simply to stop at intersections. That was better than driving normally without traffic lights, but it blocked intersections and they stayed blocked.
the Guardian
Court staff cover up Banksy image of judge beating a protester
Artist’s latest work at Royal Courts of Justice in London is thought to refer to pro-Palestine demonstrations
 *Court staff cover up Banksy image of judge beating a protester.* Banksy painted in on the side of a court building.
The Intercept
White House Refuses to Rule Out Summary Executions of People on Its Secret Domestic Terrorist List
The Trump administration ignored questions about whether it would order the killings of those on its NSPM-7 list — even while answering our other...
 *White House Refuses to Rule Out Summary Executions of People on Its Secret Domestic Terrorist List.*
Talks - Richard Stallman
 On Friday, January 23rd, RMS will give a talk, "Free/Libre Software And Our Freedom: Our shield against many digital injustices." at Scheller College of Business. Seats are unreserved. Please bring cash to get FSF merchandise.
the Guardian
I used to report from the West Bank. Twenty years after my last visit, I was shocked by how much worse it is today
The long read: Among the many people I met, there was a pervasive feeling of hopelessness and a sense that resistance is slowly becoming a memory
 *I used to report from the West Bank. Twenty years after my last visit, I was shocked by how much worse it is today.* Israel has made hundreds more checkpoints to impede Palestinians' movement, the number of "settlers" has gone from 400,000 to 700,000, and their attacks to expel Palestinians are more violent.
the Guardian
Hunger’s whip: why connecting US food stamps to work is outdated and ineffective
In many parts of the country, there are new work requirements to get food aid. But starving people doesn’t motivate them – despite centuries of...
 *In many parts of the country, there are new work requirements to get food aid. But starving people doesn’t motivate them - despite centuries of this rhetoric.* In other words, poor people who can work will work, if work is doable.
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Carolina Forward
Vouchers fuel private school tuition hikes - Carolina Forward
Summary:
 "Private school voucher" systems, where a US state pays a fixed amount towards the fees of a private school, generally do not enable poor people's children to attend a private school. They typically charge substantially more than the voucher amount. The real effect of the voucher system is to subsidize the private schools attended by children of fairly wealthy parents. These schools typically inculcate an
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the Guardian
Trump threatens removal of World Cup games from Boston, Olympics from LA
Blaming Boston street takeovers and LA wildfires, the US president said both global sporting events could be moved for supposed safety reasons
the Guardian
Welcome to the 2026 World Cup shakedown! The price of a ticket: the integrity of the game | Marina Hyde
In World Cup parlance, Qatar was Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s qualifier. Now it’s the big time for Trump’s dictator-curious protege, say...
2023: November - February Political Notes
the Guardian
How American sports franchises are selling their cities short
Hometown pride and promises of economic growth are often leveraged to garner billions for new stadium megaprojects, taking public funds away from o...
 The bully threatens to move highly profitable global sporting events out of US cities that
the Guardian
Lib Dems call for inquiry into hostile foreign state interference to include US
Party says US government’s explicit support for far-right nationalist parties in Europe amounts to outside interference
 A UK political party calls for investigation of political interference by hostile foreign states to include interference by the US. It needs to include the US if its results are to be meaningful.
the Guardian
‘Soil is more important than oil’: inside the perennial grain revolution
Scientists in Kansas believe Kernza could cut emissions, restore degraded soils and reshape the future of agriculture
 Progress in breeding perennial grains has already resulted in a commercially grown wheat-relative. Breeders hope to produce one with the same yield as ordinary wheat, but more efficient to grow.