Tag: external

Pew discovers BlueSky’s news influencers aren’t making any impact.
Why the Left Is Shifting From Musk to Bluesky

After the 2024 U.S. presidential election, a whole bunch of left‑leaning X users—some proudly calling themselves “news influencers”—decided it was time to trade Elon Musk’s platform for Microsoft’s new, trendier playground: Bluesky.

What the Numbers Actually Say
- A Pew Research Center study looked at 500 top news influencers (each with over 100,000 followers).
- Bluesky usage among them jumped from 21% (before the election) to about 43% by March 2025.
- Nearly half of those accounts were created after the election, with a noticeable spike in the final weeks of November.
Why the Switch?

Shortly after the election, many felt X felt like a relic—too noisy, too messy. Bluesky promised a cleaner feed, the ability to curate content by algorithmic “micro‑blueprints” (think tailored news streams), and a vibe more aligned with their “woke” values.

Some Behind-the-Scenes Thoughts

Recruiting for the “blue team” seemed less restrictive. Instead of investing time on X’s ever‑changing rules, these influencers could now flaunt a combined platform that feels “future‑forward” and is fertile ground for creative storytelling.

What Does This Mean For You?

If you’re one of those big‑time influencers or just a loyal follower, you might notice:
- A shift toward more sentiment‑focused, community‑driven content.
- Fewer ad nuisances, if you’re keen on the “lightweight” experience.
- A hint that “meme‑culture” is still alive, but it’s being moved to a less chaotic arena.
Bottom line: The political party that feels comfortable on “the platform that says ‘it’s all about innovation’ is now moving to the one that emphasizes community & control.

Bluishky’s New “Progressive Playground” & X’s Enduring Fame

Even though Bluishky is buzzing as the go‑to spot for forward‑thinkers, X still owns the online chatter dome.

What the Numbers Show
- When the 2024 election rolled out, half of the news influencers we checked (51%) signed up for Bluishky afterward.
- Out of that half, 42% opened their Bluishky accounts during the final three weeks of November.
- Fast forward to early 2025: 82% of those same influencers still keep an X profile, almost identical to the 85% we saw back in summer 2024.
Cross‑Platform Presence
- Only 6% of the group got into Bluishky but left X hanging.
- Meanwhile, 37% are juggling both accounts like a pro.
- The largest slice—46%—hove on X but have never touched Bluishky.
Bottom Line

So while Bluishky is trendy among the politically minded, X still reigns supreme as the main hub for news junkies. It’s a classic case of “new kid on the block versus old heavyweight.” Whole story, still siren‑like buzz from both worlds—just like a podcast with a dramatic opening and a meme‑ready twist at the end. Happy scrolling!

The X Takeaway: Pew’s Latest Numbers

According to recent Pew research, the political buzz around X hasn’t shaken its foothold for public figures on either side of the spectrum. While the headlines may stir up the left‑wing fervor, the data tells a more tided‑down tale.

Who’s on X and Who’s Not?
- Left‑leaning Influencers: 75% have an X account.
- Right‑leaning Influencers: 87% are X‑active.
- Non‑aligned Influencers: 83% are on the platform.
So, whether you’re a dog‑eared lefty or a big‑bravado right‑hander, X’s stay on the political news stage is more resilient than the headlines suggest.

Why the Right Doesn‘t Flutter

At first glance, a higher right‑leaning percentage might look like an over‑arching signal. But after all, those 87% could simply be the “you guys who love the great outdoors and big blocks of ice” crowd, each a powerhouse influencer flipping memes into the abyss.

Left‑wing Rage Analysts

The fact that three-quarters of left‑leaning outlets still maintain an X presence has spurred a faux‑heroic gloat among certain “rage‑fuelled” commentators.

“A perfect storm of digital.

Bottom Line

In the grand arena of political commentary, X remains a common ground. The most noteworthy piece is that 83% across the board hold digital profiles – a telling marker that the platform still plays a significant part in how news spreads, no matter which side you’re on.

Why the Left Keeps Switching Platforms Like It’s a Bad Tinder Date

In a surprising twist, Pew Research found that most social‑media power‑players are still chattin’ on X, not over to Bluesky. The platform feels more like the trusty old “once upon a time….” than a cutting‑edge launchpad.

Step One: The Great X Betrayal

Picture this: a battalion of PR big‑shots, armed with slogans and Twitter‑flanked press releases, launch a full‑scale push to unleash a mass exodus from X. “Let’s make X disappear!” they hissed, hoping the platform would crumble like a bad popcorn batch.
- They claim X is a “technical relic.”
- They plaster the phrase “big corp, small conscience” everywhere.
- They even forgot that most influencers are still hanging out here.
Step Two: The Realization That Bluesky Feels Like a Dry Cactus

After a few months of smoke and mirrors, the left gets a reality check: Bluesky’s user base is, well… let’s just say it’s about as lively as a museum after midnight.

In a classic “oops, we’re back!” move, these folks hop back onto X, gathering the demethylated followers they’d abandoned only to find the platform still watering the social‑garden.

A Touch of Humor and Humanity

It’s like watching a sitcom where the characters keep trying to escape a cramped apartment only to realise the bigger building next door is still a great place to live. Maybe next week they’ll try a different platform—maybe something that’s not a social science experiment turned into a sandbox. Until then, the left’s platform-hopping saga continues, and X remains their spot of choice. Keep up the drama, folks!
2025-09-20
Business Insider Cuts 21% of Staff After Fully Embracing AI
Life in the Corporate Media Jungle

Once the bedrock of global influence, the corporate media industrial complex—think corporate PR suites, government feeds, big‑chartered NGOs, and the billionaires themselves—has been run down more than a battered old car after a decade of relentless crunching.

Trust is on the Rocks

The day‑to‑day trust people put in legacy media has plummeted to historic lows, and the audience is splintering faster than a pop‑song beat because of personal preferences and endless platforms.

Long‑Term Contraction or Short‑Term Survival?

Even with the nemeses in the market already merging and snatching corners, the journalism world is stuck in a downward spiral, with no “bottom” in sight. Yet the quiet revolution is growing fast: independent outlets, the fly‑by‑wire X platform, and podcasters are raking in more eyeballs, all because audiences crave journalism that’s real, unfiltered, and truthful.

The Latest Riddle: Business Insider’s Lay‑Offs

Axios just broke the news of another high‑profile cut. Business Insider’s studio is losing about 21 % of its crew across all departments, according to a memo from CEO Barbara Peng.
- All‑hands: 21 % of staff “get the axe” in every line of work.
- Goal: Build a leaner, sharper, AI‑driven newsroom that can keep up with the pace of a world that’s increasingly “robot‑controlled.”
- Reality Check: Even as the paper tries to future‑proof itself, human‑authored content is facing the biggest existential crisis in its history.
What’s the Bottom Line?

Between the cash‑driven T‑shirts of corporate giants and the new‑school voices carving out space, the media landscape is a classic “one side up, one side down” sort of deal. The only constant? The more we want authenticity, the less of the old guard can keep us glued. It’s a story that’s still unfolding, and it’s going to be a lot more entertaining than the tidy ending most of us picture.

Business Insider’s Bold Pivot: Cutting Cash, Doubling on AI

The “All‑In” AI Play

“We’re going all‑in on AI,” says Sara Fischer at the recent All‑Hands. 70 % of staff are already rock‑solid with Enterprise ChatGPT; our target? 100 %.— Fischer, May 29, 2025New AI tools are on the horizon: an on‑site search engine, a self‑paying “AI‑paywall,” and automated ops to make every click and edit a breeze.

Restructuring Highlights
Sharpened Editorial Focus
Shift to business, tech, and innovation beats that stick with readers.
Slashing under‑performing slots—bye‑bye filler.
Traffic‑Sensitive Cuts
70 % of revenue the old‑school way: web traffic.
Down‑size the Commerce division, making BI less fragile to traffic dips.
AI‑First Culture
Push ChatGPT behind the scenes; every writer gets an AI assistant.
Launch new AI‑driven products—think smarter newsroom tech and a paywall that writes itself.

How the Shake‑Up Hits the Workforce

Immediate layoffs: HR drops the blow straight to inboxes.
The UK team follows its own protocol.
New venture: BI Live—live journalism events to replace some of the retail‑style commerce projects.

CEO Barbara Peng: “We’re laying off 21 % of staff.”— Staff memo, May 29, 2025

Who Owns Business Insider?

Axel Springer SE: bought a stake in 2015 for $343 million; took full control in 2018.
Other assets: Politico, Bild, Die Welt, etc.
The timing of the overhaul? Well‑let’s just say the media math is a little “doge”y.”

Watcher.Guru: “The DOGE team is canceling Politico’s USAID payments now.”– Feb 5, 2025

Quick Scoop on Twitter Rants

Elon Musk: “Business Insider is not a real publication.”
“Let’s move on to the next question.”
Autism Capital: “Remember BI’s article on Dave Portnoy?”
—
Bottom line:* Business Insider is shedding the old shop‑front, leaning hard into AI, and re‑imagining how it earns and keeps readers. The next chapter? More real‑time, AI‑powered stories—and maybe a few sarcastic tweets to keep the vibe alive.

2025-09-20

New rules on tips: what do they mean for employers?

The main provisions of the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 and the Code of Practice on Fair and Transparent Distribution of Tips come into force on 1 October 2024.

There have been concerns that some employers make deductions from tips, for example, for “administrative fees,” or retain a proportion of tips. Under the Act, employers must ensure that workers receive “tips, gratuities and service charges” (“tips”) in full and that tips are allocated fairly and transparently.
According to Unite, the trade union for hospitality workers, the Act will impact over four million workers who receive tips. Briefly:

All tips paid on or after 1 October 2024, over which the employer exercises control or significant influence, must be allocated fairly to workers, including eligible agency workers
Payment in full (less deductions required by law such as tax and NIC) must be made no later than the end of the month following the month in which the tip was paid
Employers need to have a written tipping policy and keep records
An independent tronc operator can allocate tips. A tronc scheme is a special pay arrangement that allows businesses to use for example, an external accountancy firm or payroll business to fairly distribute staff tips, gratuities, and service charges.
Workers cannot contract out of their rights and can bring Employment Tribunal claims for breach of the Act
The Act applies in England, Wales and Scotland

The Act only applies to “qualifying tips” which are:

All employer-received tips and
Certain worker-received tips

Employer-received tips are paid by the customer, either received by the employer or an associated person. This includes tips made by credit or debit card and paid into the employer’s bank account before being distributed to workers or where the tip is received through a mobile app.
Worker-received tips, such as cash tips, are paid by the customer but not subsequently received by the employer or associated person. The Act only covers such tips if they are subject to employer control or if the employer has significant influence over the distribution of tips, such as when the employer directs that all tips are shared amongst workers or shared at the end of the shift.
The Act applies to workers and eligible agency workers. Consequently, tips must be distributed fairly to eligible agency workers, too, although this can be done by their agent (where the agent has received the tips from the employer).
How can employers ensure tips are allocated fairly and transparently?
The Code of Practice provides “overarching principles” regarding fairness. Employers must consider these when designing and implementing their tipping policies.
Interestingly, the Code states that a fair allocation and distribution of tips does not necessarily mean paying all workers the same proportion. However, employers should use fair and reasonable factors to determine their tipping practices, and the Code gives examples:

Type of role/work, for example, distribution between front-of-house and backroom workers
Basic pay (and how workers are engaged)
Hours worked when tips are received
Individual and/or team performance
Seniority/level of responsibility
Length of service
Customer intention

Employers must avoid unlawful discrimination when selecting and applying the factors.

Independent tronc arrangements, where an external accountancy firm or payroll business manages the distribution of tips, are common in the hospitality sector. The principles of fairness and transparency still apply. If the independent tronc is acting unfairly or improperly, the employer must take action, such as instructing the independent tronc to change its operation, replacing the independent tronc, or terminating the arrangement.
Regarding transparency, employers must provide a written policy to all workers and eligible agency workers about how they deal with tips. It can be provided either in electronic form or as a physical copy. They do not need a written policy where worker-received tips are not qualifying tips. Even so, certain information must still be provided including that the employer is not required to have a written policy and the reasons why. Records must be kept for three years of all qualifying tips received and the amount allocated to each worker.
Workers can complain to the Employment Tribunal where the written policy and record-keeping obligations are not met and/or the employer has not fairly allocated and paid tips. The time limits for bringing the claim are three months and 12 months, respectively. In both cases, the Employment Tribunal can declare that the complaint is well-founded, order the employer to comply, and order compensation of up to £5000. Note that an eligible agency worker can bring the claim against the agent in addition to or instead of the employer.

Advice for employers

Before 1 October 2024, employers should review their tip allocation systems, record keeping, and written policy, especially the factors relevant to “fairness” in the Code. I recommend consulting with staff about the policy. Although there is no obligation to do this, if staff are in agreement with the policy, it will help the employer establish fairness.
The Code is not legally binding, but Employment Tribunals will consider it in disputes about tipping practices. Therefore, employers should familiarise themselves with the Code.
Finally, Unite recently launched its Fair Pay and Fair Tips campaign. This will focus on ensuring that hospitality workers understand their rights. Unite will “name and shame rogue employers who try to ignore or distort the new legislation”.

2025-09-20

Volvo SUV’s Lidar Laser Devours Smartphone Cameras, a Deadly Infrared Threat

Heads Up: Volvo’s Lidar Could Turn Your Phone Into a Burnt‑Out Rubbish

What the Heck is Lidar?

Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) is a fancy gadget that fires invisible infrared laser pulses to build a 3‑D map of a vehicle’s surroundings. Think of it like a super‑sensitive future‑sight that helps cars see what’s in front of them without bumping into things.

The Red‑Flag Moment

Reddit—yes, the place where everyone else thinks you’re funny—gives us a cautionary tale. A user named Jeguetelli posted a video on the r/Volvo subreddit that shows a smartphone camera’s sensor not just taking a bad picture, but getting fired up literally.

Why the Volvo EX90 Is So Special

Fully electric, 7‑seat luxury SUV.
Volvo’s flagship entry into the electric‑car game.
Front‑mounted high‑power lidar that emits those rare invisible beams.

The Shocking Result

In the clip, Jeguetelli films the front lidar while holding his phone up like a tourist giving a “shot” of the car. The outcome? The phone’s image sensor goes into a fiery blaze—literally!

Picture This: A Quick Remembrance

“Never film the new EX90 because you’ll break your cell camera. Lidar lasers burn your camera.” The Reddit poster’s warning was part science, part cautionary tale. And for the record, it’s best to don’t try that again.

What to Keep in Mind

High‑power lidar emits invisible infrared; the eyes can’t see it, but your phone can.
Camera sensors are like delicate chemistry labs—excessive heat or laser exposure can cook them out.
If you’re filming a car with lidar, keep a safe distance or better yet, stay off the phone camera.

Bottom Line

Next time you’re about to snap a photo of the sleek Volvo EX90, think twice. Your phone isn’t built to handle the fan‑fast laser beams. Let the future‑sight stay in the car—maybe take a picture from outside instead.

When Lidar Meets Your Phone: A Comedy of Errors

Picture This

Volvo’s new EX90 comes with a shiny laser-based lidar that aims to guide the car around invisible obstacles. But, as The Drive notes, that tech carries a small scar‑wave—literally—of danger for anyone who looks straight at it with their phone camera.

Why Saying Nothing’s Wrong is Still Wrong

Volvo drops a warning on its website: “Never point a camera directly at the lidar. It’s an infrared laser that could cause serious camera damage.”
The warning isn’t a gripe about Volvo’s design. It’s a general heads‑up for everyone using lidar‑enabled cars.
Yet the confusion remains: some say it could mess up your backup camera if a lidar car tail‑gates you.

Reddit Disaster

A Reddit user posted, “Would this damage your car’s backup camera if a Lidar-equipped car tailgates you?” and another replied, “Thank God for Apple Care!” The comments show how people are reacting—half serious, half in disbelief.

Industry Feud: LiDAR vs. Camera

Tesla presides over the debate with a camera-only policy, claiming advanced AI can handle the full driving experience.
Elon Musk famously dismisses LiDAR as a “crutch.” He argues it holds back continuous progress toward full autonomy.
Opponents argue LiDAR offers vital redundancy, especially for high‑risk applications like robotaxis.

What’s At Stake?

Because LiDAR emits infrared beams, pointing your phone camera at it could permanently damage the sensor. That’s why the tech community urges public service warnings: avoid snapping selfies or recording vlogs while staring directly at any lidar-equipped vehicle.

Conclusion & a Dash of Humor

In the race to driverless freedom, one thing remains clear: shoot your camera away from the laser like you’d keep your cat away from a vacuum cleaner. Stay playful, stay safe, and maybe keep your focus on the open road rather than the headlines.

2025-09-19

Mapping Global Trade With New High-Frequency Data

The global economy is showing resilience despite a sharp rise in U.S. tariffs and growing uncertainty over the future of the international trading system. To provide the most up-to-date snapshot, a Goldman team led by Patrick Creuset introduced clients to a new high-frequency dataset on global trade on Thursday. The global dataset highlights continued economic momentum outside the U.S., even as U.S. trade barriers weigh on imports.

Creuset explained that the new dataset is built on IMF Portwatch and UN Global Platform data, sourcing satellite data of 90,000 commercial vessels and generating more than 25,000 datapoints each week. With about a one-week lag, it provides a near-real-time view of global container flows.

Global trade growth has slowed to 3% year-over-year in the third quarter, down from 4% year-to-date, but remains resilient outside the U.S., where volumes declined in August. Much of China’s strength is situated in its manufacturing industry, with exports up 5% compared to a 4% increase globally. Flows are increasingly directed toward emerging markets in Latin America and Africa, while Europe is importing more from China and exporting less back. A stronger euro against the yuan supports this.

Charts 1 through 8 provide a near-real-time snapshot of the global economy.

Global freight markets in the second half of 2025:

Ocean: We see Q3 growth tracking 3% so far, with a positive skew to Asia-Europe and North-South trades. U.S. exposures will likely underperform, and we would expect U.S. trade to continue to soften into year-end given frontloading/inventory trends. Planned USTR service fees targeting Chinese-built fleets (Oct) could add a further layer of import costs and complexity. Container rates are likely to keep sliding into year-end given slowing demand, rising supply plus adverse seasonal factors.
Air: Has been slightly more resilient than we had anticipated going into the quarter, +3%yoy QTD (Aug) with broadly stable rates (we took our DSV Air numbers up marginally last week), possibly reflecting greater capacity discipline vs. Ocean coupled with robust Tech shipment demand. We still expect the market to soften into Q4 given well-stocked inventories, ocean overcapacity, and the end of the U.S.’ global de minimis exemptions as of 29 Aug.
Road (Europe): Sequentially firmer, with German truck traffic +0.4%yoy QTD (Aug) after uninterrupted declines since early-22. As German infrastructure and defense-focused stimulus gets underway, Q3 25 could mark a positive cyclical inflection point.

This suggests that the popular Democratic narrative – repeated like a broken record on MSM such as CNN and MSNBC – that Trump’s tariffs would wreck the global economy has, so far, been proven wrong. The data show no signs of impending doom or collapse, marking yet another major setback for the left’s ability to hold a narrative for more than a day.

The note, titled “Mapping Global Trade Close(r) to Real Time,” contains more than 80 charts. We’ve covered only about 10% of the charts in this note. The remaining ones can be viewed by ZeroHedge Pro subscribers here.

Loading recommendations…

2025-09-15

The Top 10 Best Vitamins for Eye Health

1. Vitamin A

Vitamin A is fundamental for your eyes. It helps keep the cornea (the external piece of your eye) clear so you can see well. It’s likewise a piece of an exceptional protein called rhodopsin that helps you see in the dark.