Bookmarks for 2026-01-02T02:38:47.293Z

• George Clooney And Trump Spar Online Over Actor’s French Citizenship Added: Jan 1, 2026

• Trump slams Clooneys for acquiring French citizenship – POLITICO Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Trump slams Clooneys for acquiring French citizenship

  Site: POLITICO

  George Clooney “got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies,” U.S. president says.

  

• Donald Trump swipes at George Clooney after he gets French citizenship Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Trump swipes at George Clooney after he gets French citizenship

  Site: The Hill

  President Trump took a swipe at actor George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, after their family was granted French citizenship. “Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two…

  President Trump took a swipe at actor George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, after their family was granted French citizenship. “Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden,” Trump wrote Wednesday on his Truth Social platform.  Trump referenced how George Clooney had called on then-President Biden to forgo a second White House bid in 2024 following his disastrous debate against Trump. Clooney, a longtime Democratic donor, later supported former Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump in the election. The president in his post Wednesday mockingly called Harris “another stellar candidate” and misspelled her name, adding that she was “now fighting it out with the worst governor in the Country, including Tim Waltz, Gavin Newscum, for who is going to lead the Democrats to their future defeat.”  He also criticized Clooney’s acting career, disputing the idea that he was a “movie star” and instead describing him as “just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics.”  Clooney and his family received French citizenship in late December. The actor has spoken about raising his family at a farmhouse in France that the Clooneys purchased in 2021. In an interview with Esquire magazine in October, Clooney said he had worries about raising his children in Los Angeles.  “I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood. I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life,” the actor said at the time. “France — they kind of don’t give a s‑‑‑ about fame. I don’t want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi. I don’t want them being compared to somebody else’s famous kids.” Clooney was born in Kentucky, and French law allows dual citizens to keep their U.S. citizenship. Amal Clooney was born in Lebanon and raised in the U.K.  In defending their decision to grant the Clooney family citizenship, France’s Foreign Ministry cited French law that allows foreign nationals to be naturalized if they contribute positively to the country economically or influentially on the international stage, according to The Associated Press. 

  

• Trump blames aspirin for hand bruises in WSJ interview on health, aging Added: Jan 1, 2026

  "Superstitious" Trump says higher aspirin dosage behind hand bruises

  Site: Axios

  He's defied doctors' calls to lower the dosage because he wants "nice, thin blood pouring through my heart," Trump told the WSJ.

  

• 2026 Space Outlook: New Missions Look to the Moon, Mars, and Beyond as Humanity Seeks Permanent Space Habitation - The Debrief Added: Jan 1, 2026

  2026 Space Outlook: New Missions Look to the Moon, Mars, and Beyond as Humanity Seeks Permanent Space Habitation

  Site: The Debrief

  2026 is shaping up to be a stellar year for space exploration with plans for Moon and Mars missions, planetary defense initiatives, and more.

  

• This Robot Went 1,300 Meters Under the Ocean, and Found Something That Shouldn’t Exist Added: Jan 1, 2026

  This Robot Went 1,300 Meters Under the Ocean, and Found Something That Shouldn’t Exist

  Site: The Daily Galaxy - Great Discoveries Channel

  Scientists sent a robot into the deep. What it discovered wasn’t supposed to be real!

  

• China Seeks Power, Not Only Trade - WSJ Added: Jan 1, 2026

• Scott Jennings sparks CNN feud over Dems pandering to Somali community | Fox News Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Scott Jennings sparks CNN feud over Dems pandering to Somali community | Fox News

  

• Trump Truth Social goes nuclear - Washington Times Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Trump Truth Social goes nuclear

  Site: The Washington Times

  Turns out President Trump is not just an oil-and-gas man. The family business he founded has embraced a new technology to replicate the sun’s energy right here on Earth.

  

• Scientists Just Found the Face of a 500-Million-Year-Old Creature, And It’s Smiling Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Scientists Just Found the Face of a 500-Million-Year-Old Creature, And It’s Smiling

  Site: The Daily Galaxy - Great Discoveries Channel

  After decades of confusion and false starts, scientists have at last uncovered the face of Hallucigenia, one of the most bizarre creatures ever discovered in

  

• Trump WSJ interview on health: 5 takeaways Added: Jan 1, 2026

  5 takeaways from Trump's defiant WSJ interview on his health

  Site: Axios

  Trump told the WSJ he had a CT scan during a recent medical exam and not an MRI scan, as he previously claimed.

  

• A truly independent search engine shouldn’t exist in 2026 — but it does, and it’s great Added: Jan 1, 2026

  A truly independent search engine shouldn’t exist in 2026 — but it does, and it’s great

  Site: MUO

  Well, it's great at some things.

  

• David King, chemist: ‘There are scientists studying how to cool the planet; nobody should stop these experiments from happening’ | Climate | EL PAÍS English Added: Jan 1, 2026

  David King, chemist: ‘There are scientists studying how to cool the planet; nobody should stop these experiments from happening’

  Site: EL PAÍS English

  The British researcher is calling for global regulations to test extreme measures against climate change, such as marine cloud brightening over the Arctic

  What happens if a country unilaterally decides to implement a large-scale experiment to cool a part of the planet? And what if this potentially generates unintended consequences beyond its borders? Sir David King, 86, is an eminent British chemist and climate expert. And the South African-born scientist isn’t so concerned about researching the extreme measures that, he believes, could be the solutions to global warming. Rather, he’s worried about their implementation before countries agree on how they should be used. Ten years ago, as the UK’s climate negotiator, King was one of the driving forces behind the inclusion of the 1.5-degree Celsius target in the Paris Agreement… a safety limit that’s now beginning to be exceeded. He’s currently president of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group. A few days ago, he participated in a conference on climate change in Madrid, organized by the University of Vigo and Comillas Pontifical University, in conjunction with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Question. Why do you argue that we need a new approach to combating global warming? Answer. There are many reasons, but I’ll give you three. Firstly, in the last 10 years, Greenland has been losing 30 million tons of ice every hour. If all of Greenland melts, sea levels will be [24 feet] higher across the planet, [because] there’s a lot of ice there. Now, is this irreversible? Maybe yes, maybe no. It’s not clear to us why it would stop melting. In any case, the future of humanity doesn’t look very good if sea levels rise by [24 feet]... and this is just [because of the situation in] Greenland. If we look at the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, that alone could contribute another [20-foot] sea level rise. If you add all of this up, [the rising oceans] will change the map of the world. The second factor is that temperatures have already risen well above 1.5 degrees Celsius. In January of this year, the global temperature was 1.75 degrees above pre-industrial levels. It may decrease, so we can’t focus on a single figure… but the 1.5-degree target is already being exceeded. Thirdly, I only have to mention [the 2025 European and Mediterranean wildfires] for you to see the enormous risk that we’re already facing. Q. What needs to be done to rebalance the planet’s climate? A. Let’s suppose we could achieve net-zero emissions tomorrow. Of course, that’s impossible… but if we could, would the ice stop melting in Greenland? No. Greenland is already melting irreversibly. We need more action now. And there are four essential Rs for the future of humanity: reduce, remove, repair and resilience. The first thing we must do — and let me stress this — is reduce emissions, quickly and decisively. Today, we’re emitting more than 40 billion tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere every year. And [this amount] keeps increasing. If we don’t reduce emissions, frankly, we’re cooked. But we also need to remove greenhouse gases that are already in the atmosphere; we must devise new ways to capture and remove gases like CO₂ and methane. The third R is “repair.” Can we stop the ice from melting, [the ice that’s] formed over the Arctic Sea in the winter? There are several research groups around the world studying this. And the fourth R is for “resilience.” Every city in the world needs to develop resilience. Every region of the world needs to adapt to what’s going to happen. Every mayor should be concerned about this. Q. Why would it be beneficial to prevent the ice on the Arctic Ocean from melting in summer? A. In the winter, ice forms over the Arctic Ocean, but in the summer, within three days, that thin layer of ice is gone; the blue sea soaks up the sun. Q. But some of these actions intended to “fix” the planet’s climate are extreme measures that have never been tried before… A. The word “extreme” already carries a negative connotation. But yes, to stop climate change, we need extreme measures. It’s true that they haven’t been tried — and this also worries me — but we need a governance framework to manage all of these technologies. Take India, for example: hundreds of thousands of Indians can die in a single summer from heat stress. The current number is already high, but [official] figures aren’t published. Deaths could exceed one million [per year] due to the [heatwave]. Is the Indian government going to prevent its scientists from trying to solve this problem? What worries me is that a country or a private company might do it alone. There are scientists studying how to cool the planet; no one should stop these experiments. But this research shouldn’t be put into action until we have adequate global governance procedures. Q. What do these techniques to cool the planet look like? A. The technique I’m most familiar with is marine cloud brightening. A dark cloud — like those that bring rain or snow — absorbs the sun’s heat. However, a white cloud reflects sunlight back into space. The idea is to cover the Arctic Circle region with white clouds for three months of the year, using seawater. Tiny droplets of seawater can be created, which then rise with the heat and lose their water, leaving salt crystals suspended at about [6,500] feet, thus turning the clouds white. This is what we’re trying to do. If something goes wrong and the clouds drift to places where people don’t want them, we can stop producing them. But the idea isn’t cheap. It would require 2,000 ships across the entire North Pole region… and this would cost many billions of dollars. Q. Don’t you think it’s dangerous to apply climate engineering without knowing all its effects? A. What’s happening now is very dangerous. Look at Hurricane Melissa: when it hit Jamaica, it was traveling at [120 miles] per hour. Where did we ever see such a fierce hurricane? Q. And these extreme measures — whose effectiveness is also uncertain — aren’t they a distraction from reducing fossil fuel consumption? A. The priority must be to stop using fossil fuels. Today, investment in renewable energy systems worldwide is in the order of hundreds of billions of dollars. The money I’m talking about [when it comes to these mitigating techniques] is in the hundreds of millions… a small price to pay to create a potentially manageable future for humanity. And I say “potentially” because you’re right, we don’t know if it will work. But we’re trying. Q. Do you really think it’s possible for countries to reach an agreement regarding how to manage techniques that artificially alter the climate? A. It’s very important that they do. But at this point in time, we can’t expect every country in the world to agree. I would say the same about all climate action. Neither Russia nor the United States is going to take serious action on climate change, but the rest of the world has to act on the four Rs. If we manage to reach an agreement between China, India, Brazil (which is hosting the COP30), the European Union and the United Kingdom, then we can hope that the U.S. and Russia will join later. I refuse to believe that the U.S. and Russia’s refusal is the end of the game; it can’t be. I have young grandchildren. And the priority must be to stop using fossil fuels. Otherwise, we’re finished. Q. Bill Gates has said that climate change isn’t going to wipe out humanity. He has called for a different approach that doesn’t focus so much on reducing emissions. What do you think? A. You’re quoting someone who isn’t a scientist. I’m a scientist. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition

  

• Life in the Central Valley of California (1949) - YouTube Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Life in the Central Valley of California (1949)

  Site: YouTube

  Shows the agriculture, trade and infrastructure of California's Central Valley, all made possible by irrigation.

  

• Science Magazine on X: "The ability of humans to think rationally and weigh the evidence when making a choice is well known. However, tests of this ability in other species are lacking. In a recent Science study, researchers report that chimpanzees can also update their beliefs on the basis of the https://t.co/qhyhjlvCGW" / X Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Site: X (formerly Twitter)

  

• Quote of the day by Alan Turing: 'It’s the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine' - The Economic Times Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Quote of the day by Alan Turing: 'It’s the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine' - The Economic Times

  Alan Turings quote of the day highlights how people who are often underestimated or overlooked can go on to achieve extraordinary things. The article explains the meaning of the quote and connects it to Turings own life, from being discouraged in traditional education systems to making world-changing contributions in codebreaking, computer science, and artificial intelligence.

  Alan Turing’s life and work continue to shape the modern world, even decades after his death. From laying the foundations of computer science to playing a decisive role in the Allied victory during World War II, Turing’s contributions were far ahead of their time. Yet, as several historical accounts show, his brilliance was not fully recognised while he was alive. Today’s quote of the day reflects both his personal experience and a broader truth about innovation, recognition, and human potential.“Sometimes it’s the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine.”This quote highlights how society often underestimates individuals who do not fit expected moulds. People who appear quiet, unconventional, or different are frequently overlooked, while attention is given to those who seem more confident or visible. Turing’s words point out that true breakthroughs often come from those working outside the spotlight, driven by curiosity rather than approval. The line reminds readers that lack of recognition does not equal lack of ability.The quote also underlines the gap between imagination and achievement. When people are judged by surface-level traits, their deeper potential remains unseen. Turing suggests that history-changing ideas often come from minds that are free from conventional thinking. Such individuals are able to imagine solutions others cannot, precisely because they are not bound by popular expectations or rigid systems.An Idea Rooted in Turing’s Own LifeAlan Turing was not a well-known figure during his lifetime. According to the BBC, as a student, he struggled in traditional school environments that failed to support his unconventional thinking. He often studied advanced scientific ideas on his own, running far ahead of the syllabus. This early discouragement closely reflects the message of the quote, as Turing’s abilities were not immediately recognised by those around him.126213400 His later work during World War II further reinforces this idea. At Bletchley Park, Turing played a central role in breaking the Nazi Enigma code, developing machines that could decipher encrypted military messages. This work significantly shortened the war, yet it remained secret for years. Turing, like many others involved, received little public credit at the time, despite achieving what many had thought impossible.A Legacy That Outgrew His LifetimeTuring’s influence extended far beyond wartime cryptography. His 1936 work on computation laid the foundation of modern computer science. Later, his ideas on machine intelligence and the “imitation game,” now known as the Turing Test, reshaped how scientists and philosophers think about artificial intelligence. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy describes his work as central to both computer science and modern philosophical discussions on the mind.126245834 Despite these achievements, Turing faced severe persecution for being gay, which was criminalised in Britain at the time. He was convicted and subjected to chemical castration, a punishment that deeply affected his health and career. He died in 1954 at the age of 41. Decades later, he received a royal pardon, and his legacy is now publicly honoured, including his portrait on the UK £50 note, as noted by the BBC.126303050 Alan Turing’s quote remains deeply relevant today. It serves as a reminder that progress often begins quietly, driven by people who are not immediately celebrated or understood. His life shows how transformative impact can come from unexpected places—and why it is worth looking beyond assumptions when judging potential.Beyond his contributions to computing and codebreaking, Turing also explored entirely new scientific territory, including the study of biological patterns in nature. In 1951, he developed a mathematical theory to explain patterns such as spots on animals and stripes on flowers, using chemical interactions to model how these forms emerge. This work, now considered a classic in developmental biology, demonstrated Turing’s ability to connect abstract mathematics with real-world phenomena, further highlighting the breadth of his intellect and the lasting impact of his ideas.

  

• Quote of the Day by Aristotle: 'Wise men speak when they have something to say, fools speak because...' - How this quote affects our daily life - The Economic Times Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Quote of the Day by Aristotle: 'Wise men speak when they have something to say, fools speak because...' - How this quote affects our daily life - The Economic Times

  Aristotle, a pivotal ancient Greek philosopher, emphasized observation and practical experience, laying groundwork for the scientific method. His enduring contributions span logic, ethics, and metaphysics, with his quote 'Wise men speak when they have something to say, fools speak because they have to say something' highlighting the value of thoughtful communication and self-control in daily life.

  Quote of the Day by Aristotle: Aristotle was one of the greatest philosophers in history and a central figure of ancient Greek thought. Born in 384 BC in Stagira, Greece, he studied under Plato at the Academy in Athens for nearly 20 years. Unlike Plato, who focused on ideal forms, Aristotle emphasized observation and practical experience as the foundation of knowledge. His approach laid the groundwork for the scientific method.Aristotle made lasting contributions across many fields, including philosophy, biology, ethics, politics, logic, and metaphysics. He was the first to systematically study logic, developing syllogisms that are still taught today. In ethics, his work Nicomachean Ethics introduced the idea of virtue as a balance between extremes (excess and deficiency), known as the 'Golden Mean'. He believed the goal of human life was eudaimonia - happiness or flourishing - achieved through reason and moral virtue.Aristotle later became the tutor of Alexander the Great and founded his own school, the Lyceum - known for its empirical approach, research, and vast library. His ideas shaped Western philosophy, science, and education for centuries and continue to influence modern thought today.Today's Quote of the Day - Wise men speak when they have something to say, fools speak because they have to say something, is widely attributed to Aristotle.126262407MEANING OF THE QUOTEThis quote means that intelligent people think carefully before they speak. Wise men do not talk just to fill silence or get attention. They speak only when their words have value, truth, or purpose. They understand that silence can be better than saying something meaningless or harmful. On the other hand, fools feel a need to talk all the time. They speak without thinking, often saying things that are unnecessary, incorrect, or hurtful. HOW THIS QUOTE AFFECTS OUR DAILY LIFEThis quote has a very important role in our daily life as it reminds us to think before we speak. In conversations at work, school, or home, wise people listen carefully and speak only when their words add value. They avoid gossip, arguments, or unnecessary comments. Fools, however, talk just to be heard, often interrupting others or saying things without thinking. This can lead to misunderstandings, hurt feelings, or problems. Practicing this quote helps us become better listeners, communicate clearly, and earn respect from others. Choosing silence at the right time can be more powerful than speaking without purpose. This quote teaches the importance of self-control and thoughtful communication. It reminds us that words carry power, and speaking without reason can lead to mistakes. Listening, thinking, and choosing the right moment to speak shows wisdom and maturity.

  

• Why CIOs must lead AI experimentation, not just govern it | VentureBeat Added: Jan 1, 2026

• quote of the day january 1: Quote of the Day by William Wordsworth: 'Wisdom is oftentimes nearer…'— Top quotes by one of the founders of English Romanticism - The Economic Times Added: Jan 1, 2026

  quote of the day january 1: Quote of the Day by William Wordsworth: 'Wisdom is oftentimes nearer…'— Top quotes by one of the founders of English Romanticism - The Economic Times

  Quote of the Day: A quote by William Wordsworth reminds us that wisdom is found in humility, not ambition. Wordsworth, born in England's Lake District, found inspiration in nature and ordinary people. His life and work championed empathy and quiet observation. This timeless message encourages a focus on inner reflection and simple experiences over constant striving for greatness.

  Quote of the Day: A meaningful Quote of the Day has the power to slow us down, asking us to look inward rather than upward, and to reconsider what we often mistake for progress. Some quotes endure not because they flatter ambition, but because they quietly challenge it. One such reflection comes from William Wordsworth, a poet who believed that truth, wisdom, and beauty are most often found not in grandeur or dominance, but in humility, patience, and attention to ordinary life. His words emerged from a lifetime of walking landscapes, observing people at the margins, and listening closely to the movements of the human heart. The quote is taken from BrainyQuote.126252635 The importance of a Quote of the Day lies in its ability to interrupt routine thinking. In a world that prizes speed, achievement, and constant ascent, reflective quotes remind us that insight often comes from stillness rather than motion. They offer guidance without instruction, allowing readers to apply meaning to their own experiences. Wordsworth’s thought speaks directly to this need, offering a philosophy that remains quietly radical even today.Quote of the Day Today January 1The Quote of the Day today by William Wordsworth is, “Wisdom is oftentimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar.”The quote critiques cultures founded on rivalry and incessant ambition. It posits that understanding may arise not solely from accomplishment, but from contemplation, moderation, and modesty. Wordsworth's expressions prompt a reevaluation of the essence of wisdom, applicable to leadership, creativity, and personal development.126231811 A Childhood Shaped by Loss and LandscapeWilliam Wordsworth was born on April 7, 1770, in Cockermouth, Cumberland, England, and grew up in the Lake District, a landscape that would shape his imagination for life. He was the second of five children born to John Wordsworth, a lawyer and estate manager, and Ann Cookson Wordsworth. His childhood was marked by early loss—his mother died when he was seven, and his father when he was thirteen. These experiences of separation and instability left a lasting imprint on his emotional world and later poetry, as per information sourced from Britannica.After his parents’ deaths, Wordsworth was sent to Hawkshead Grammar School, where his formal education in classics and mathematics was matched by something far more influential: long, unsupervised days roaming the countryside. Nature became both companion and teacher, capable of inspiring fear, wonder, and confidence in equal measure. This early intimacy with the natural world would later become central to his poetic philosophy.126209079 Cambridge, Revolution, and a Restless MindIn 1787, Wordsworth entered St. John’s College, Cambridge, though he found university life uninspiring and competitive. Rather than excelling academically, he drifted through his studies, sensing that his real education lay elsewhere. During this period, he undertook a walking tour of revolutionary France, where he became deeply sympathetic to republican ideals following the fall of the Bastille. His enthusiasm for the French Revolution, and later disillusionment with its violence, profoundly shaped his political and moral outlook, as per information sourced from Britannica.The early 1790s were among the darkest years of Wordsworth’s life. Living in London, often poor and uncertain of his future, he developed a strong empathy for society’s neglected figures—beggars, abandoned mothers, vagrants, and victims of war. This sympathy would later surface in poems that treated ordinary people with unprecedented seriousness and dignity.126271788 Dorothy, Coleridge, and the Birth of RomanticismA turning point came in 1795, when a small legacy allowed him to reunite with his sister Dorothy. Their partnership became one of the most significant creative collaborations in literary history. Together they settled near Bristol, where Wordsworth met Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Their friendship led to the publication of Lyrical Ballads in 1798, a work that helped launch the English Romantic movement. The collection rejected elevated diction and aristocratic subjects, instead embracing common speech, rural life, and emotional authenticity.Wordsworth’s career unfolded steadily rather than spectacularly. He continued to write, revise, and reflect throughout his long life, producing works such as The Prelude, an ambitious autobiographical poem tracing the growth of his mind. In later years, he settled at Rydal Mount in the Lake District, served as Britain’s poet laureate from 1843 until his death, and gradually gained public recognition after decades of harsh criticism. He died on April 23, 1850, leaving behind a body of work that reshaped English poetry, as per information sourced from Britannica.126001850 Quote of the Day MeaningThe meaning of Wordsworth’s Quote of the Day rests in its quiet inversion of common assumptions. To “soar” suggests ambition, elevation, intellectual pride, and the pursuit of greatness. To “stoop,” by contrast, implies humility, attentiveness, and a willingness to lower oneself—to listen, to observe, and to accept limitation. Wordsworth suggests that wisdom is more accessible in the latter posture than the former.For Wordsworth, wisdom was not abstract knowledge or intellectual dominance. It was an emotional and moral understanding of life, cultivated through close engagement with nature, memory, and human suffering. By “stooping,” one learns to value simple experiences, overlooked people, and uncelebrated moments. This aligns with his belief that poetry should arise from “incidents and situations from common life,” rendered in language ordinary people actually use.The quote also reflects Wordsworth’s skepticism toward arrogance and unchecked ambition. His life taught him that revolutions, ideologies, and grand designs often fail when they ignore human complexity. True understanding, he believed, grows slowly—through patience, compassion, and self-examination. Wisdom, in this sense, is not something we conquer, but something we receive when we are willing to bend.In a modern context, the quote challenges cultures built on competition and constant upward striving. It suggests that insight may come not from achievement alone, but from reflection, restraint, and humility. Whether applied to leadership, creativity, or personal growth, Wordsworth’s words invite a reconsideration of what it truly means to be wise.126045340 Iconic Quotes by William WordsworthBeyond the Quote of the Day, Wordsworth’s writings are filled with reflections that continue to resonate across centuries. Among his most enduring lines are:“Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility.”“Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.”“The child is father of the man.”“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” For I have learned to look on nature, not as in the hour of thoughtless youth, but hearing oftentimes the still, sad music of humanity. “Bliss it was in that dawn to be aliveBut to be young was very heaven.”“Come grow old with me. The best is yet to be.” The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. “With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things.”Together, these lines reveal a poet deeply concerned with inner life, moral awareness, and the dignity of ordinary existence. As a Quote of the Day, Wordsworth’s observation about stooping and soaring remains a gentle corrective to excess pride and restless ambition. It reminds readers that wisdom is not always found at the summit, but often along the quieter paths we are tempted to overlook.

  

• Daylight saving time: Will clocks stop changing in 2026? Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Daylight saving time: Will clocks stop changing in 2026?

  Site: The Hill

  State and federal lawmakers alike tried to lock the clocks in 2025, but with little success. Will 2026 be any different?

  (NEXSTAR) – There was bipartisan legislation, committee hearings, efforts from multiple states, and even presidential support, but the U.S. still observed the beginning and end of daylight saving time in 2025. After all that legislative activity, it's difficult not to wonder if 2026 will be the year the U.S. decides to lock the clocks. At present, there are four bills that have been introduced in Congress related to daylight saving time: House and Senate versions of the Sunshine Protection Act, which calls for permanent daylight saving time, and two House bills that would give states the option to observe year-round daylight saving time (they can already opt into year-round standard time, as Arizona and Hawaii have). The Senate tried to fast-track its version of the Sunshine Protection Act in October, only for the effort to be thwarted. While issuing his objection to the bill, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) noted the complicated history of permanent daylight saving time in the U.S., the possible darkness of winter mornings in some states, and the health benefits of permanent standard time. "I don’t like the biannual clock change any more than the rest of you do," he said while delivering remarks on the Senate floor, adding later on that "not every human problem has a legislative solution." "Sometimes we have to live with an uneasy compromise between competing priorities and interests. That’s doubly true when considering how the movement of the stars and the planets affects the lives of 350 million souls spread across our vast continental nation." There are states in which year-round daylight saving time could be more enjoyable than others, though health experts believe we should lock our clocks to another permanent time. Several states have passed legislation calling on Congress to end the practice outright. In more than a dozen, there stands legislation that would lock the clocks, should Congress approve it. In 2025, Maine and Texas passed bills that would make daylight saving time permanent, pending federal approval or action. They joined 17 other states – Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon (Malheur County would be excluded), South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming – that have already passed similar bills. In some cases, the state's legislation depends on other nearby states making the same decision. Efforts to lock the clocks, either on year-round daylight saving time or standard time, were not as fruitful in other states this year. In at least three states, however, lawmakers have already prefiled daylight saving time-related legislation for the upcoming session. A bill in New Hampshire would make standard time permanent if Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island were to do so. A bill in Virginia and two bills in Missouri (one each in the House and Senate) would make daylight saving time permanent. Three other bills prefiled in Missouri would exempt the state from observing daylight saving time. It's too soon to say whether Congress will pass any of the bills that have been introduced, or whether any state-level laws will be enacted. Any legislation among the states that calls for permanent daylight saving time would likely be put on hold, as has already happened for the 19 states hoping to lock their clocks in that direction. Without any quick action, daylight saving time will start again on Sunday, March 8 – the earliest possible date that we can "spring forward."

  

• Errol Schmidt on X: "@slow_developer Another expert justifying why their profession is future proof while staring at the headlights coming toward them" / X Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Site: X (formerly Twitter)

  

• Dan McAteer on X: "@slow_developer He prob just needs a quick lesson on how to use it from one of the mathematicians who's had some success with it." / X Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Site: X (formerly Twitter)

  

• House of Guinness - YouTube Music Added: Jan 1, 2026

  House of Guinness - YouTube Music

  Site: YouTube Music

  Provided to YouTube by IIP-DDS House of Guinness · Ilan Eshkeri House of Guinness (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series) ℗ Netflix Music, LLC Released on: ...

  

• Sabine Hossenfelder on X: "Scientists Who Use AI Become Stunningly More Productive In a new paper that just appeared, the authors found that researchers who use large language models (LLMs) become stunningly more productive. An analysis of more than 2 million papers revealed that those who adopt AI https://t.co/TF1LVmc0uU" / X Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Site: X (formerly Twitter)

  

• Die Kunst der Fuge (‘The Art of Fugue’) Contrapunctus 6 - YouTube Music Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Die Kunst der Fuge (‘The Art of Fugue’) Contrapunctus 6 - YouTube Music

  Site: YouTube Music

  Provided to YouTube by Naxos Digital Services Die Kunst der Fuge (‘The Art of Fugue’) Contrapunctus 6 · Robert Costin · Johann Sebastian Bach J.S. BACH: Co...

  

• Jeff’s 2026 Outlook – A Year of Surprise - Brownstone Research Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Jeff’s 2026 Outlook – A Year of Surprise - Brownstone Research

  Site: Brownstone Research

  We’re in for one incredible ride in 2026.

  

• Aerodynamic Bach - YouTube Music Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Aerodynamic Bach - YouTube Music

  Site: YouTube Music

  Provided to YouTube by Kontor New Media GmbH Aerodynamic Bach · Queenz of Piano Piano Cosmos ℗ Edel Kultur, a label of Edel Music & Entertainment GmbH Re...

  

• Children - YouTube Music Added: Jan 1, 2026

  Children - YouTube Music

  Site: YouTube Music

  Provided to YouTube by Kontor New Media GmbH Children · Queenz of Piano Piano Cosmos ℗ Edel Kultur, a label of Edel Music & Entertainment GmbH Released o...

  

• Elon Musk on X: "Double-standard" / X Added: Jan 2, 2026

  Site: X (formerly Twitter)

  

• Phil Metzger on X: "Can confirm. I haven’t used AI to publish more papers, yet, but it has enabled me to tackle complicated problems that require expertise beyond my current comfort zone. For example, I needed to quantify the probability of a mechanism jamming by lunar dust. The LLM suggested" / X Added: Jan 2, 2026

  Site: X (formerly Twitter)

  

• Amazing pineapple leaf powder that fights crime and pollution: new research Added: Jan 2, 2026

  Amazing pineapple leaf powder that fights crime and pollution: new research

  Site: The Conversation

  In South Africa, discarded pineapple leaves can now be turned into a low-cost, eco-friendly solution for both cleaning polluted water and forensics.

  

• 'Locked and loaded': Trump and Iranian officials exchange threats over protests | The Times of Israel Added: Jan 2, 2026

  'Locked and loaded': Trump and Iranian officials exchange threats over protests | The Times of Israel

  

• San Jose falling behind on key climate target - San José Spotlight Added: Jan 2, 2026

  San Jose falling behind on key climate target - San José Spotlight

  Site: San José Spotlight

  Halfway through the decade and the clock continues to tick down on San Jose’s ambitious climate target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2030. The road to success is looking steeper than ever.

  

• New laws affecting Silicon Valley in 2026 - San José Spotlight Added: Jan 2, 2026

  New laws affecting Silicon Valley in 2026 - San José Spotlight

  Site: San José Spotlight

  California lawmakers approved dozens of new laws in 2025 addressing housing development, wildfire prevention, labor protections and more. Several of the measures, authored by Silicon Valley legislators, will take effect in 2026 and shape daily life across Santa Clara County and the state.

  

• Co-host offers latest update on Victor Davis Hanson’s ‘major surgery' | Fox News Added: Jan 2, 2026

  Co-host offers latest update on Victor Davis Hanson’s ‘major surgery' | Fox News

  

• Mamdani revokes IHRA antisemitism definition on day 1, amid broad rejection of Adams orders | The Times of Israel Added: Jan 2, 2026

  Mamdani revokes IHRA antisemitism definition on day 1, amid broad rejection of Adams orders | The Times of Israel

  

• Cops Forced to Explain Why AI Generated Police Report Claimed Officer Transformed Into Frog Added: Jan 2, 2026

  Cops Forced to Explain Why AI Generated Police Report Claimed Officer Transformed Into Frog

  Site: Futurism

  AI-powered software Draft One automatically generates police reports from body camera footage. It thought an officer turned into a frog.

  

• AI Is Mangling Police Radio Chatter, Posting It Online as Ridiculous Misinformation Added: Jan 2, 2026

  AI Is Mangling Police Radio Chatter, Posting It Online as Ridiculous Misinformation

  Site: Futurism

  Police in Oregon are warning that AI apps like CrimeRadar are generating misinformation based on hallucinated police radio chatter.

  

• 5 ChatGPT Prompts To Write Content With Soul Added: Jan 2, 2026

• Is this you? (Welcome to my channel) - YouTube Added: Jan 2, 2026

  Is this you? (Welcome to my channel)

  Site: YouTube

  Intense. Obsessed. Extreme. Different. Nerdy. Weird. Sound like you? Me too.Sign up here to get new videos to your inbox: https://jodiecook.com/0:00 – This c...

  

• Deportations, Dogs, and Designers - Megyn Kelly Answers Viewer and Listener Questions - YouTube Added: Jan 2, 2026

  Deportations, Dogs, and Designers - Megyn Kelly Answers Viewer and Listener Questions

  Site: YouTube

  Megyn Kelly spends the episode answering viewer and listener questions about the challenges the Trump administration has faced in meeting its deportation goa...

  

• The REAL Reason the Trump Administration is Finding it So Hard to Deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia - YouTube Added: Jan 2, 2026

  The REAL Reason the Trump Administration is Finding it So Hard to Deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia

  Site: YouTube

  Megyn Kelly answers viewer and listener questions about the challenges the Trump administration has faced in meeting its deportation goals, the real story wi...

  

• Trump promised restoration. He delivered a reckoning. Added: Jan 2, 2026

  The American empire has entered its final act

  Site: The Hill

  Donald Trump promised to restore America, but his presidency revealed the country’s deep-rooted issues of debt, declining soft power, and social fragmentation, which cannot be reversed by rhe…

  President Trump promised restoration — twice. The first time, he vowed to “drain the swamp,” revive American industry, tame debt, rebuild trust, and restore pride. The second time, he returned with a sharper edge and a louder voice, insisting that only he could finish the job he claimed had been sabotaged the first time around. What MAGA voters received instead wasn’t renewal, but a grim revelation. The failure was never just Trump. He was the messenger. The problem is that America no longer has the political, economic or cultural capacity to deliver restoration at all.  Trump’s first term was sold as a corrective. A wrecking ball swung at elite incompetence. Yet by the end, the swamp was deeper, the debt was larger, and the institutions Trump railed against weren’t dismantled but further exposed as ineffective and untrustworthy. Manufacturing never returned at scale. Infrastructure week became a punchline. Trade wars amounted to economic self-harm, raising costs and squeezing the very American workers Trump was elected to protect. The federal debt kept climbing, with little to show for it beyond tax cuts that failed to deliver the promised economic revival.  Still, many believed a second term would be different, informed by experience and tempered by past mistakes. They were wrong. If anything, it has been worse. Not because Trump changed, but because the country has weakened further — and no amount of bravado can reverse structural decline.  America is approaching its 250th birthday. That is no small achievement. Empires rarely last that long. It has been a remarkable run. But longevity doesn’t guarantee vitality. What once powered American dominance — productive labor, demographic confidence, institutional trust, and cultural gravity — is steadily eroding.  Start with debt. The U.S. now spends more paying for its past than investing in its future. Deficits are no longer cyclical responses to crisis but permanent features of governance. Each administration borrows against the future, knowing the bill will come due long after the speeches fade. Trump didn’t reverse this pattern. He accelerated it.  Then, there is soft power. In the 1990s, America barely had to assert itself. It set the terms by default. Its universities drew in the world’s brightest students, who stayed, built companies, and extended American influence without a single treaty. Hollywood dominated global culture, exporting not just films but attitudes, language and aspiration. American media framed global debates. The dollar was trusted. American leadership, while imperfect, felt assured.  That world is gone. Elite universities are now met with suspicion rather than admiration. Hollywood lectures more than it entertains and no longer commands global attention. Alliances wobble as partners hedge, diversify, and quietly prepare for a future less dependent on Washington. Institutions built to amplify American authority now expose its inconsistency and short attention span. Trump didn't create this erosion. But he has done little, if anything, to arrest it.  At home, the social foundations are cracking. Fewer young Americans are working. Not transitioning between jobs — simply not employed at all. Many move between credentials and gig work, lacking direction and long-term footing. Marriage rates are collapsing. Birth rates are falling below replacement. These trends are linked. When stable work is harder to find, forming relationships becomes harder, commitment harder still, and raising a family nearly impossible. With AI accelerating job insecurity rather than easing it, the trajectory only points in one direction.  Supporters will object that these trends are global. They are right. Europe is aging. East Asia is shrinking. Birth rates are falling almost everywhere. But comparison is not consolation. The fact that others are declining too does nothing to change America’s course.   Trump promised to fight decline with force of will. That was always the fantasy. Decline rooted in demographics and cultural fragmentation can’t be reversed by rhetoric alone. It requires long-term discipline — precisely what American politics no longer rewards.  MAGA voters wanted a reckoning. What they got was exposure. Exposure of how little leverage the presidency now holds. Exposure of how weak Congress has become. Exposure of how addicted the economy is to cheap credit and imported labor. Trump raged against the machine, but governed inside it, constrained by the same incentives and pressures that have limited every modern presidency.  The harder truth is that even a more effective Trump would have been unable to meet promises of that scale. You can’t restore a mid-century industrial base in a post-industrial economy with a single leader. You can’t rebuild trust through permanent outrage. You can’t borrow your way back to greatness.  America is not falling tomorrow. It is settling into managed decline. Each generation inherits a narrower set of possibilities. Boomers dreamed big. Gen X sought security. Millennials adjusted to constraint. Gen Z dreams of not becoming homeless.  As the country approaches its quarter-millennium mark, the temptation is nostalgia. Flags. Fireworks. Familiar speeches about destiny. But history is not sentimental. Civilizations peak, plateau, and pass the baton. America may not be finished, but it no longer defines the age.  Trump didn’t save America. He didn’t destroy it either. He revealed it. And what he revealed is a nation exhausted, indebted, aging, and divided — still powerful, still wealthy, but no longer confident in its future.  John Mac Ghlionn is a writer and researcher who explores culture, society and the impact of technology on daily life.

  

• How Many Einstein-Level Scientists Had Ever Lived? | by Avi Loeb | Jan, 2026 | Medium Added: Jan 2, 2026

  How Many Einstein-Level Scientists Had Ever Lived?

  Site: Medium

  Today there are over 8 billion people alive but a century ago there were only 2 billion people alive. Given a probability distribution of…

  

• In 1927, Bohr And Einstein Had A Debate About Complementarity. A New Experiment Just Proved One Of Them Wrong – Again. | IFLScience Added: Jan 2, 2026

  Nearly 100 Years After Debating Bohr On Quantum Mechanics, New Experiment Proves Einstein Wrong – Again

  Site: IFLScience

  A new version of a thought experiment finds the same challenging answer about the nature of reality.

  Quantum mechanics is weird. When you think you have reached the bottom of its weirdness, you always discover a new subbasement with even weirder stuff. The number one hater of this weirdness was none other than Albert Einstein; he believed that reality had to be deterministic. His famous quip, “God does not play dice with the universe,” is about that very idea. He got it wrong, though, and that’s just been proven once again. In 1927, the fifth Solvay Conference was a revolutionary moment for modern physics. Among the many topics discussed, there was the principle of complementarity, which underpins both Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and the wave-particle duality. Complementarity states that in quantum mechanics, certain pairs of complementary properties exist and cannot be measured simultaneously. Danish physicist Niels Bohr regarded this as a cornerstone of quantum mechanics, while Einstein thought it was wrong. For this reason, the German scientist suggested a Gedankenexperiment (thought experiment) to establish if this was indeed correct. Together, the two reimagined the double slit experiment, with a movable slit tuned to the momentum of the particle. A new experiment brings this to light in the most fascinating way. The double slit experiment proved first that light is made of waves, and then proved that electrons are also waves. With Einstein proving that photons are particles of light, this experiment has cemented the reality of particle-wave duality. In the Einstein-Bohr interferometer, before getting to the double-slit, the particle would pass through a single slit – that’s the one that is momentum-sensitive. The first slit would push the particle in a certain direction, related to the particle's momentum. Einstein argued that then the double slit part would still work – producing the diffraction fringes – and thus violating complementarity by showing both particle and wave behavior. Bohr argued that due to the uncertainty principle, the diffraction fringes would end up washed out. Jian-Wei Pan of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and his collaborators have created a new version of this interferometer in real life. They used optical tweezers to trap a rubidium atom mid-air, just like a tractor beam made of light. The atom was entangled with the momentum of a photon before sending the photon through the double slit. Unsurprisingly, the setup behaves as Bohr had postulated – sorry, Albert! Complementarity, and even this interferometer, have been tested before, but the new setup using optical tweezers has intriguing new applications. The system is tunable, so the team was able to make the fringes more or less blurry in line with the theory. It can also be used in more complex quantum mechanical problems, such as entanglement and the loss of it (decoherence), which are open subjects, especially when it comes to quantum computing. The study is published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

  

• Trump threatens military force if Iran kills protesters Added: Jan 2, 2026

  Trump threatens military force if Iran kills protesters

  Site: Axios

  His comments could be used by Tehran to claim the protests are fueled by Iran's external enemies.

  

• In 2026, AI will move from hype to pragmatism | TechCrunch Added: Jan 2, 2026

  In 2026, AI will move from hype to pragmatism | TechCrunch

  Site: TechCrunch

  In 2026, here's what you can expect from the AI industry: new architectures, smaller models, world models, reliable agents, physical AI, and products designed for real-world use.

  

• Tech That Will Change Your Life in 2026 - WSJ Added: Jan 2, 2026

• AI 2026 trends: bubbles, agents, demand for ROI Added: Jan 2, 2026

  AI in 2026: 'Show me the money"

  Site: Axios

  OpenAI, AT&T, Box, Square and other leaders predict trends.

  

• Agentic AI Takes Over 11 Shocking 2026 Predictions Added: Jan 2, 2026