We Are Witnessing the Self-Immolation of a Superpower | WIRED

This article discusses how Donald Trump's actions in Greenland, Minneapolis, and Venezuela have undermined the standing of the United States on the world stage, destroying the Western rules-based order that has preserved peace and security for 80 years.

Alien fan builds a better Raspberry Pi cyberdeck — The MU/TH/UR of all homages to a classic movie series | Tom's Hardware

This article from Tom's Hardware showcases an Alien-inspired Raspberry Pi cyberdeck built by Jeff Merrick. The deck features a 3D printed case based on the Typeframe PS-85, a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W for computing power, and a Waveshare 7.9-inch touchscreen. It is powered by an Adafruit PowerBoost 1000C and includes a custom keyboard based on Simon Deering's original iconography from the Alien franchise.

Fast and Sturdy: Raspberry Pi Expands Into USB Flash Drives | PCMag

Raspberry Pi has expanded its product line to include USB 3.0 flash drives, starting at $30. The drives offer premium performance and durability, with the 128GB version sustaining a 75MB per second data transfer speed and the 256GB model reaching 150 MB/s. The drives also feature a sleek all-aluminium enclosure and support S.M.A.R.T. health reporting.

Raspberry Pi News | Latest News - NewsNow

Where I check for RPi news. What sources do others check?

Project MINI RACK | Miniature rack builds, for portable or compact Homelabs.

Project MINI RACK is a comprehensive guide for building miniature rack systems suitable for compact homelabs, RF battlestations, and portable network racks. The site, maintained by Jeff Geerling, focuses on gear available in the US, though it aims to broaden its scope over time. It includes a table of contents detailing various components such as hardware, PDUs, UPSes, patch panels, network gear, and other accessories. The guide also features a community section for discussions and a showcase of various mini rack builds by enthusiasts.

Exclusive: Dick Durbin Blasts Kristi Noem on Proof of Citizenship Threat—'Must Immediately Cease' - Newsweek

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin wrote to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressing outrage over the targeting and racial profiling of U.S. citizens by her agents. He called for the cessation of 'citizen checks' and highlighted the absurdity and unconstitutionality of requiring U.S. citizens to carry identification to avoid arbitrary arrest and detention.

Ups & Downs From Star Trek: Starfleet Academy 1.2 - Beta Test (Spoilers)

WTH Just Happened?! Star Trek: Starfleet Academy 1. 2 - Beta Test (Spoiler Review)

Ups & Downs From Star Trek: Starfleet Academy 1.1 - Kids These Days (Spoilers)

WTH Just Happened?! Star Trek: Starfleet Academy 1.1 - Kids These Days (Spoiler Review)

US citizen says ICE agents refused to look at his ID during arrest | FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul

21-year-old says he's blind in left eye after federal agent shot him with less-lethal round at California protest - CBS News

This CBS News report covers the story of Kaden Rummler, a 21-year-old who claims he is now blind in his left eye after being shot by a federal agent with a less-lethal round during a protest in Santa Ana, California. Rummler was protesting the shooting death of Renee Good in Minnesota. The incident occurred during a chaotic protest, and Rummler was charged with disorderly conduct. His attorney argues the use of force was unacceptable, while a former NYPD detective offers a perspective from law enforcement.

Minneapolis woman calmly resists ICE demand for ID, birth country | FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul

Nimco Omar filmed a woman being questioned by border patrol agents in Minnesota who demanded to know her place of birth and requested to see her ID. The agents surrounded the woman and repeatedly asked for her birthplace, but she refused to show identification. This incident comes amid increased federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announcing the deployment of hundreds more federal law enforcement officials to the state.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy release time (by time zone), preview, and more

for those keeping score/ time

Woman describes "desperate crying" at facility after she was detained while following ICE agents in Minnesota - CBS News

This news article reports on the detention of Patty O'Keefe and a friend by ICE agents in Minneapolis, who were following the agents. They were pepper-sprayed, their car windows smashed, and taken to a federal building in St. Paul. O'Keefe described taunting and derogatory remarks from the agents. Despite her experience, she intends to continue protesting.

Minnesota protesters, agents repeatedly square off while prosecutors quit after Renee Good's death

Federal officers in Minneapolis used tear gas and eye irritants against activists amid ongoing protests against immigration enforcement. The situation escalated after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an immigration agent, leading to resignations in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and a lawsuit from Minnesota and two mayors seeking to suspend the immigration operation.

Coding Music for Cold Machines (Narrated)

Trump's effort to get records on gender care falls flat in Colorado

The Trump Administration's attempt to obtain records from Children’s Hospital Colorado regarding gender-affirming care faced a significant legal obstacle. A federal magistrate judge recommended quashing the Justice Department's subpoena, stating that the government failed to demonstrate the relevance of the requested records to their authority. The subpoena was criticized for targeting the hospital for providing care deemed 'barbaric' by the administration, rather than for any investigation of unlawful acts. The judge noted that the government's broad request for patient data related to gender-affirming care was not limited in scope and was pretextual, lacking any suspicion of wrongdoing. The hospital and Denver Health have paused gender-affirming care for minors pending the final ruling.

How Vince Gilligan designed 'Pluribus' to destroy every sci-fi trope

Vince Gilligan's new series, Pluribus, is a unique take on the sci-fi genre, subverting every trope to create a world where humanity has merged into a hive mind. The show's design, from the meticulously constructed sets to the stripped-down costumes and soundscape, reflects a society that has optimized itself into terrifying efficiency and silence. Gilligan's vision is to explore the tension between the pain of individuality and the comfort of surrender, presenting a world that feels nice, quiet, seductive, yet profoundly inhuman.

Cambridge reactor shows 99% gas recycling can deliver hydrogen fuel

Cambridge University researchers have developed a reactor that can recycle 99% of gases to produce carbon nanotubes and hydrogen fuel. The multi-pass methane pyrolysis system, operating at 2372°F (1300°C), converts diluted methane gas into carbon nanotubes and hydrogen, improving carbon nanotube production by over eightfold and generating large amounts of clean hydrogen fuel. This approach eliminates the need for additional hydrogen input and significantly reduces waste, achieving an 8.7-fold improvement in carbon yield and a 446-fold improvement in molar process efficiency.

Earth’s Magnetic Field Was Supposed to Be Our Shield. Scientists Say It’s Also a Leak.

This article explores how Earth's magnetic field, thought to be a shield, actually leaks particles into space, which then accumulate on the lunar surface. Researchers found that more particles escape modern Earth, whose magnetic field is strong, contrary to previous beliefs. These findings could impact future studies on Mars and the evolution of its habitability. The study suggests that Earth's magnetic field lines may guide particles from the atmosphere into space, where they are carried by the solar wind to the Moon.

Research first to show humans have remote touch “seventh sense” like sandpipers

A new study reveals that humans can detect buried objects in sand before making physical contact, demonstrating a form of 'remote touch' previously known only in certain animals. This ability works through minute mechanical displacements in sand that 'reflect' off hidden objects, which the human hand can pick up on while moving through the material. Humans achieved about 70% precision within the detectable range, outperforming a robot that sensed objects slightly farther away but produced many false positives.

Trump’s Vanity Fleet

This article discusses President Trump's announcement of a new class of naval vessels named after himself, the Trump-class ships. It critiques the decision as being more about branding than strategy, highlighting the lack of understanding of naval vessels by the president and the potential reversal of a 30-year-old policy by putting nuclear weapons back on U.S. Navy surface vessels.

Scientists Build Device That Generates Electricity From Earth’s Rotation

Scientists from Princeton University and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have developed a device that generates electricity using Earth's rotation and magnetic field. The device, made of manganese zinc ferrite, produces a small but consistent voltage as it interacts with Earth's geomagnetic field. This discovery challenges the conventional understanding of electromagnetic interactions and could lead to new methods of generating power without traditional fuels or sunlight.

Aptera's 2025 Year in Review: A Milestone Year for Solar Mobility | Aptera

Aptera's 2025 Year in Review highlights a transformative year marked by significant milestones in solar mobility. The year began with a strong presence at CES, where the company showcased its ultra-efficient solar electric vehicle. Aptera completed its first solar road trip, demonstrating real-world solar driving capabilities. The company also initiated track testing and unveiled Artemis, its latest development vehicle. Aptera went public on Nasdaq under the ticker SEV and transitioned to a Public Benefit Corporation. The year concluded with the launch of the validation assembly line, setting the stage for potential production in 2026.

Christmas Music

When Kevin shared his Spotify Christmas playlist on Diggnation 23 I thought of SomaFM.

I lost the game...