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In the fall of 2020, gig workers in Venezuela posted a series of images to online forums where they gathered to talk shop. The photos were mundane, if sometimes intimate, household scenes captured from low angles—including some you really wouldn’t want shared on the Internet. In one particularly revealing shot, a young woman in a lavender T-shirt sits on the toilet, her shorts pulled down to mid-thigh. The images were not taken by a person, but by development versions of iRobot’s Roomba J7 series robot vacuum. They were then sent to Scale AI, a startup that contracts workers around the...

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If you think back to when you were young (or even just back to a few years ago), it's obvious that many things in life that were once for the masses have become a whole lot more expensive. Well, redditor u/Lattethecoffeaddict asked, "What was ruined by rich people?" People had a lot of thoughts because the comments came pouring in, and here's some of what they had to say. 1. "Thrift shopping. I used to thrift a lot, but it's been ruined. I used to be able to go thrifting and come back with three new work shirts and a...

"My Election Case provided the world with evidence that proves our elections are run outside of the law. This Judge did not rule in our favor. However, for the sake of restoring faith and honesty in our elections, I will appeal his ruling," Lake tweeted SaturdayOn Saturday, Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake lost her post-midterm election lawsuit against Democrat Governor-elect Katie Hobbs, which alleged Arizona voters were disenfranchised after actions by Hobbs and Maricopa County election officials. According to local news, in dismissing Lake's case Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson paved the way for Katie Hobbs to be Arizona's next...

The Christmas Solemnity has distinct readings for four separate masses: Vigil, Midnight, Dawn, and Day. They stay the same from year to year, so below are my annual comments, only lightly revised. Merry Christmas! Christmas Vigil Mass1. Reading 1: Isaiah 62:1-5: For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch. Nations shall behold your vindication, and all the kings your glory; you shall be called by a new name pronounced by the mouth of the LORD. You shall...

Rumor: Musk will remain as Twitter CEO after late Mail-In Ballots were counted showing he won the Twitter poll. Thousands of Liberal Heads explode upon hearing Musk will remain Chief Twit for Life.

With tongue fully inserted in cheek, the staff of the conservative Washington Free Beacon on Saturday handed out its “Man of the Year” awards. One of the winners: Ghost...

Another round of Elon Musk’s Twitter files were released on Saturday. The latest Twitter files were released by journalist Matt Taibbi on Christmas Eve. 1.THREAD: The Twitter Files TWITTER AND “OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES” — Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 24, 2022 After weeks of “Twitter Files” reports detailing close coordination between the FBI and Twitter in moderating social media content, the Bureau issued a statement Wednesday. 2. It didn’t refute allegations. Instead, it decried “conspiracy theorists” publishing “misinformation,” whose “sole aim” is to “discredit the agency.” 3. They must think us unambitious, if our “sole aim” is to discredit the FBI....

Recently, a thread headline appeared here in BOLD CHARACTERS—absolutely unprecedented in my experience. I would like the option of similarly enhancing part of the titles of my daily Bible-art threads. After inquiring of that poster, I am informed—cryptically—that the secret lies in UNICODE HIGH-ORDER CHARACTERS. Knowing nothing about computer coding, I searched the internet on this subject and very quickly was completely out of my depth.

Former President Donald Trump holds a double-digit lead in a hypothetical 2024 Republican primary, a Big Village survey released this week found.The survey asked Republicans who they would prefer in 2024, allowing them to choose between Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former Vice President Mike Pence, and others. Over half, 51 percent, chose Trump, followed by DeSantis, who garnered 27 percent support — a 24-point difference. Ten percent chose Pence, and 13 percent chose someone else:2024 National Republican Primary:Trump 51% (+24)DeSantis 27%Pence 10%Cruz 4%Haley 4%Cheney 3%Sununu 1%Youngkin 1%.@wearebigvillage, 357 Adults, 12/16-18https://t.co/20OehzcT7o— Political Polls (@Politics_Polls) December 21, 2022When asked the same...

In what is considered a historic move, the Jan. 6 select House committee this week voted to send a criminal referral to the U.S. Department of Justice concerning former President Donald Trump and the role the committee believed he played in sparking the Capitol incursion on Jan. 6, 2021.According to CNBC, in a unanimous vote Monday, the committee determined that it believes ample evidence exists for an investigation and potential criminal action against the former president for “obstructing an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the government, making knowingly and willfully materially false statements to the federal government, and inciting or...

The Department of Defense is halting all actions relating to its COVID-19 vaccine mandate after President Joe Biden signed a bill, the Fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which will bring an end to the mandate, the department said on Dec. 23.“The NDAA requires that, not later than 30 days after enactment, the Secretary of Defense rescind the mandate that members of the Armed Forces be vaccinated against COVID-19. As a result, the Department will rescind the mandate and is currently in the process of developing further guidance. During this process, we are pausing all actions related to the COVID-19...

A bipartisan City Council coalition wants the White House to declare a federal emergency because of the asylum-seeker crisis — a move they said should free up funding for the five boroughs to house, feed and educate migrants. In a letter to President Biden and other top DC pols, six Republican and two moderate Democrats in the “Common Sense Caucus” said such “bold steps” are needed immediately to refill city coffers being drained to provide essential services to migrants, with no end in sight. They said an emergency declaration could cut through red tape and help get Adams $1 billion...

Widespread riots erupted in Paris after a woman and two men were shot dead yesterday at a Kurdish cultural center and a nearby cafe in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. Footage of the riots shows people setting fires in the middle of the street and smashing...

Virginia’s Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) deprived students of National Merit awards apparently in the name of “equal outcomes for every student, without exception,” a strategy adopted recently by the Fairfax County public-school district. One local parent, Shawna Yashar, unearthed the school’s policy of withholding such awards after she learned that her son was recognized as a “commended student” for being among the nation’s top 3 percent of students. Yashar’s son could not include the National Merit distinction on his college applications because TJ senior administrators didn’t distribute the letters of commendation from the National Merit...

At a certain point, all decisions and election chances in politics come down to basic math. No matter how some consultants, pollsters or campaign managers may attempt to complicate the process to justify their fees or salaries paid by a candidate or company, it still comes down to this: Does the math finish on the “plus side” for him or her to run, and does it finish on the plus side for the candidate to win? My mother used to say, “If you can read, you can cook.” In the arena of political elections, if you can do basic addition...

Merry Christmas all!! Hope you all enjoy it to the fullest!! I started this thread for the appreciation for what music has done for society. As in, it is most joyous to witness first hand the passing of the tourch to the next generation. I honestly got a little misty watching some of these! There are not many things out there today that can form a bond with kids and parents, and especially grand parents. This thread, if it takes off, may help with some of you old farts today break that silence!! lol... as things chill later today, take...

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a member of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, mocked conspiracy theories about who was responsible for the attack on the Capitol. “This is not an Agatha Christie novel, we know exactly whodunnit,” he told MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle in an interview on Friday. Raskin referred to unfounded right-wing conspiracy theories that antifa was responsible for the attack, saying the proponents of such theories should “bring the evidence forward” if they have any, but the bipartisan committee found no evidence of antifa being involved.

Many Americans are facing brutal cold this Christmas Eve. Freezing temperatures are plunging into Florida and Texas. Single-digit lows in the Plains and Great Lakes, and blizzard conditions are wrecking travel plans, while the same “bomb cyclone” is driving coastal flooding in the Northeast. Is climate change playing a role here? Weird weather and wild extremes have been the calling cards of a changing climate, and it’s almost reflexive to question how much influence the warming world has in this last angry burst of 2022. Recent advances in the science of weather attribution can offer quick insight — and believe...

The Taliban have banned women from universities in Afghanistan, sparking international condemnation and despair among young people in the country. The higher education minister announced the regression on Tuesday, saying it would take immediate effect. The ban further restricts women's education - girls have already been excluded from secondary schools since the Taliban returned last year. Some women staged protests in the capital Kabul on Wednesday. "Today we come out on the streets of Kabul to raise our voices against the closure of the girls' universities," protesters from the Afghanistan Women's Unity and Solidarity group said. The small demonstrations were...