online casino no deposit free bonus
Opinion: The remote work capital of the US is in denial about its effectsSuchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. “We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir’s loved ones during this difficult time,” said a statement from OpenAI. Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said “appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.” The city's chief medical examiner's office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide. His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a “happy, smart and brave young man” who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends. Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT. “Suchir’s contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn’t have succeeded without him,” said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what made him such an exceptional engineer and scientist was his attention to detail and ability to notice subtle bugs or logical errors. “He had a knack for finding simple solutions and writing elegant code that worked,” Schulman wrote. “He’d think through the details of things carefully and rigorously.” Balaji later shifted to organizing the huge datasets of online writings and other media used to train GPT-4, the fourth generation of OpenAI's flagship large language model and a basis for the company's famous chatbot. It was that work that eventually caused Balaji to question the technology he helped build, especially after newspapers, novelists and others began suing OpenAI and other AI companies for copyright infringement. He first raised his concerns with The New York Times, which reported them in an October profile of Balaji . He later told The Associated Press he would “try to testify” in the strongest copyright infringement cases and considered a lawsuit brought by The New York Times last year to be the “most serious.” Times lawyers named him in a Nov. 18 court filing as someone who might have “unique and relevant documents” supporting allegations of OpenAI's willful copyright infringement. His records were also sought by lawyers in a separate case brought by book authors including the comedian Sarah Silverman, according to a court filing. “It doesn’t feel right to be training on people’s data and then competing with them in the marketplace,” Balaji told the AP in late October. “I don’t think you should be able to do that. I don’t think you are able to do that legally.” He told the AP that he gradually grew more disillusioned with OpenAI, especially after the internal turmoil that led its board of directors to fire and then rehire CEO Sam Altman last year. Balaji said he was broadly concerned about how its commercial products were rolling out, including their propensity for spouting false information known as hallucinations. But of the “bag of issues” he was concerned about, he said he was focusing on copyright as the one it was “actually possible to do something about.” He acknowledged that it was an unpopular opinion within the AI research community, which is accustomed to pulling data from the internet, but said “they will have to change and it’s a matter of time.” He had not been deposed and it’s unclear to what extent his revelations will be admitted as evidence in any legal cases after his death. He also published a personal blog post with his opinions about the topic. Schulman, who resigned from OpenAI in August, said he and Balaji coincidentally left on the same day and celebrated with fellow colleagues that night with dinner and drinks at a San Francisco bar. Another of Balaji’s mentors, co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, had left OpenAI several months earlier , which Balaji saw as another impetus to leave. Schulman said Balaji had told him earlier this year of his plans to leave OpenAI and that Balaji didn't think that better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence “was right around the corner, like the rest of the company seemed to believe.” The younger engineer expressed interest in getting a doctorate and exploring “some more off-the-beaten path ideas about how to build intelligence,” Schulman said. Balaji's family said a memorial is being planned for later this month at the India Community Center in Milpitas, California, not far from his hometown of Cupertino. —————- EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. —————-- The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement allowing OpenAI access to part of the AP’s text archives.
1. A trifold touchscreen LED mirror because you're used to the magnificent lighting in your bathroom at home, and the dorm lighting simply won't do. This mirror has two magnifying glass plates, making it easy to notice when your winged eyeliner isn't winged enough. You'll emerge with your usual *flawless lewk.* See why one college student on TikTok says this is an essential! Promising review: "I use this in my college dorm and it is perfect! It always has the best lighting, and all my friends ask to use it ." — Emma Price: $23.99+ (available in five colors) 2. A portable lockbox complete with a chain that you can secure to your bike, backpack, or bench at the football games. You can fit your car keys, cellphone, cash, GoPro camera, or even your medicine inside for safekeeping at college events or soccer practice. Promising review: "This item was purchased for my son for college so he could keep his small items like keys, money, and smartphone safe in his dorm room. The case seems very secure and is the perfect size to fit at least all these items and maybe a few more. It comes with a secure strap and easy lock. My son loves it, and mom feels better about his valuables being safely stored!" — HHart Price: $22.54+ (available in two colors) 3. A door-hanging ironing board you can hang on your dorm room door and can double as a place to fold your clothes, too. Promising reviews: "Compact, versatile, utilitarian, well built, and will stand the test of time. Love it, 5 stars. Loved everything about it, especially its compactness and that it's always ready for use without having to lift the old ironing board from the garage." — Johnny "Living in a one-bedroom apartment with limited space, this is a must-have. No tools are required, and don't need screws or anything. Latches for door width are a bit big, so it does kind of move around a bit, making small bumping noises, but this door I have is on the smaller side. Regardless, that could easily be corrected on my end by placing some foam or cloth in the extra space. This was definitely worth the buy. Now I can iron my slacks before work to make the best impression." — Rhi A. Price: $36.04 4. A pack of USB bed lifts to take your dorm bed to new heights while maximizing the limited space you have. Now that you're off the ground and on a pedestal, you'll have extra space to store things underneath, and an extra spot to plug in your laptop, lamp, and chargers. Look at you being efficient. Promising review: "I used the 5-inch risers on a twin-size and full-size bed. Both were comfortable and very stable. No issues with the risers moving at all. If needed, I have the option of stacking the 3-inch on the 5-inch for more height. So versatile and easy to use." — Deb Price: $16.99 for a set of four 5. A pair of ultra-plush and fluffy slippers — just because you're not at home doesn't mean you're not still royalty. You just aced chem, and you deserve to literally walk on a cloud with each step you take. Cue your theme song: "I'm walking on sunshine... and don't it feel good!" And, according to 17,000+ 5-star reviews, it indeed does. Promising review: "I love these slippers. They are soft and comfy and have rubber bottoms, so if you need to run outside to let the dog pee or grab a food delivery, they are good — and because they are 'open-toe' and fit for a bit of a wider foot, it gives breathing room where your feet don't get too hot in the summer months (with working from home, I find if I wear close-toed slippers, my feet get muggy and gross) — so these shoes are literally the shoes I wear every day when I am at home. I have them in gray, but thinking of getting them in another color because I love them so much!" — Jill Price: $9.99+ (available in sizes 4.5–10.5 and in 15 colors and prints) 6. A unique LED clock in case your brain is mush after surviving finals week and you just can't do math anymore. This clock will tell you exactly what time it is but with words. This prestige clock has almost 6,000 5-star reviews. Promising review: "It's a beautiful, creative piece that really complements my desk. It's super easy to set up — wonderfully simple, really. It's smaller than I expected, but I think it actually works better as a desk piece this way. As a wall mount, it may be a little small to work effectively (it could be hard to read from far away and wouldn't take up much space as decor on a blank wall). The design is genius, though. It's such a fun, innovative clock and work of art." — Addison Morris Price: $28.99 (available in two colors and two sizes) 7. A Bluetooth karaoke microphone so you can let the celebration begin with a resident hall karaoke night. Let's finalize your setlist — are we leaning toward old-school classics or new bops? More than 49,000 reviewers gave this karaoke microphone a 5-star rating! Promising review: "I've been eyeballing a Bluetooth karaoke mic for a while and finally found the one I wanted. Too many pretty colors to choose from. Space Gray resonated the most so I bought that. I tried it for the first time. It works well. I prefer using YouTube for karaoke when I choose my songs. The speaker on the mic is not very loud. So, for parties I hook up to an aux cable so I can connect it to my JBL Bluetooth speaker . Much louder! So that's how you can turn up the volume. Use an aux cable . Great value for the price, though. It was a hit at my party!" — Jen Price: $19.99 (available in 14 colors) 8. A pack of Paper Mate felt tip pens reviewers highly recommend not just for note taking but for coloring, too. Give your mind a break and get your doodle on. These pens have received more than 48,000 5-star reviews . Promising review: "Intended for a Gratitude Journal, and they work great! They have a similar glide to thin Sharpies but without bleeding through pages. I like to journal with what people call 'Bible pens' because I don't like it when ink bleeds through paper. This is equivalent to Bible highlighters. My penmanship is tiny, and I really love the colors and tip of these pens." — iCKEST "LOVE THESE PENS!!! I bought two sets of the 12-count packs, one for myself and one for my boyfriend's 15-year-old daughter. We do a lot of coloring in our home, and these are PERFECT for us!" — Glee Price: $19.99 for a pack of 24 9. A Keurig coffee maker reviewers say would be perfect for a college student's dorm. Not only can you have a fresh cup of coffee at your fingertips, but it'll also cut down on what could amount to costly trips to the nearest coffee shop. Even student-store coffees add up. Promising review: "The Keurig itself is fantastic! The device is very easy to set up, doesn't take up much space, and is extremely intuitive to use. Honestly, you don't even need the power button to use this Keurig. It's just throw in a pod, press the 'K', and wait approximately a minute and a half, and you're good to go. I've used about 10 pods now, and just recently did my first cycle of clean water through the system and it looked and tasted just fine! I'm very impressed with how fantastic this Keurig is, even though it's considered the 'entry-level' or 'beginner' Keurig. This would be perfect for someone in a college dorm or someone who just doesn't need all the bells and whistles other K-Pod brewers have. " — Tim McArthur Price: $58+ (originally $99.99, available in six colors) Even better, you can buy these reusable K-cups and fill them with the coffee of your choice. 10. Or, a compact cold brew maker you can slide into your mini fridge to prepare your coffee the night before so you can grab it, pour it in your tumbler, and go in the morning. 42,000+ reviewers gave this cold brew maker a 5-star rating! Promising review: "I’m new to the cold brew world, but this made my life a lot easier. It makes enough coffee for me to have a 6-oz. coffee every day for about a week. Don’t forget you don’t need that much cold coffee to begin with since it’s a pretty strong flavor, so this pitcher will last you a long time in the fridge. Stayed tasty for two weeks in my fridge." — A. Hizam Price: $19.94+ (available in two sizes and two colors) 11. A milk frother so you can make an Insta-worthy cup of coffee that'll put your local barista to shame. You may never buy a cup of coffee again. Who am I kidding? You definitely will, but on days when you don't have time to make it to the campus cafe before class, you can get really close. A whopping 53k+ reviewers gave this milk frother a 5-star rating! Promising review: "OMG, this milk frother makes my homemade latte taste like it was made by a barista. It was perfect. So perfect that I bought a second one for my brother who loves coffee to use. I've already recommended it to some coworkers. It has changed my coffee-drinking life . This comes highly recommended." — Michelle Pirestani Price: $19.99 (available in 42 colors) 12. A pair of horizontal glasses to help you watch TV, play games, and more without having to contort to an uncomfortable position. Plus, they prevent neck and eye strain! Now, you can fulfill your dreams of moving as little as possible all winter break. These glasses are great for everyone, but especially for people who are bedridden. That's why more than 2,000 reviewers gave these specs a 5-star review! Promising review: "I didn't know what I was missing until I used this. My life is now complete. If you enjoy comfort and lazy marathon-watching but don't care how ridiculous you look wearing these, then you have found Nirvana. My glasses fit in these just fine. Takes a minute to get used to, and then it becomes your reason to live. Expect people to laugh at you, but forgive them for they know not what they are missing." — Michael Boyd Price: $12.58 13. A plush, double-sided shaggy faux-fur duvet set because, after a long day, you deserve to sink into your own personal cloud. With faux fur on one side and velvet on the other, you'll be able to flip back and forth between two dreamy comfort options. This bedding set has more than 6,000 5-star reviews! Promising review: "If my house caught on fire, this is the first thing I’d grab. But seriously, this is one of my favorite things in my whole house. I feel like it tied my entire room together. I get so many compliments on it, and it is seriously so cozy and well-made. My only complaint would be how hard thing thing makes it to get out of bed in the mornings. It’s incredibly soft and isn’t the type of 'fur' that will mat and get gross-looking over time. I rely heavily on reviews when I buy things, so I’m here to tell you — if you’re on the fence about buying this ... do it!! Also, the pillowcases are amazing also. Super soft, and the pompom fringe is adorable." — Sk Price: $51.99+ (available in sizes twin–king and 29 colors) 14. A weighted sleep mask designed to work similarly to a weighted blanket by providing a slight pressure that'll mold to the shape of your face to promote good sleep. Your eyes have read countless chapters of textbooks; it's time to rest now. This weighted sleeping mask has more than 1,600 5-star ratings! Promising review: " If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would. This is so soothing — perfect weight, blacks out any/all light, and puts me right to sleep. I don’t know how I ever slept without it." — Mindy MacDonald "It’s like a hug for your head. Completely blocks out light. It can be used wrapped around your head and tightened. But because I am a side sleeper, I just lay it across my head using the seams to place two of the sections across my eyes while the rest lays over my head. I cannot stress HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS! If I could give it 6 stars, I would. " — Just Me Price: $34 (available in six colors) 15. A gel nail polish kit to help you maintain your gel manicure even when your campus is tucked away on a hill where there's no nail shop nearby. *Cue TikTok sound* Nobody's gonna know — how would they know? This gel kit is cherished by the 8k+ reviewers who gave it a 5-star rating! Promising review: "This is my first UV-cure gel polish kit and I don’t know why I didn’t buy this sooner! As soon as I received it, I immediately tried five of the six included colors, and they are gorgeous!! I did have to do two coats of the lightest pink for coverage and cured each coat for 60 seconds per the included instructions. I’m so pleased with everything else included. Goodbye, smudged, regular-polish, lasts-one-day manicures forever!" — AZ mama Price: $28.99+ (available in 10 color sets) 16. A cottagecore color-shifting mushroom light to add a whimsical touch to your space and a little added comfort when you're missing home. More than 8,000 reviewers gave this adorable night light a 5-star rating. Promising review: "I LOVE this night-light. It's in my bathroom and is a lovely addition. It turns off the second the lights go on which is nice that I don't have to worry about accidentally leaving it on. Super cute and the little itty-bitty lighting element does a good job lighting, just enough so I don't have to turn the main lights on in the middle of the night." — 1Thand Price: $5.99 17. A pair of 2nd Gen AirPods Pro with active noise-cancellation, spatial audio, three silicone tips for a customized fit, and over 24 hours of listening time with the included case. These give you a *ton* of bang for your buck. Promising review: "I bought these going into it 'I’m going to hate them.' But these have surpassed every expectation I had. These sound crystal clear when listening to music, social media, and on calls . The quality alone is so nice! And the features, immerse (you can listen around you), adaptive (it’ll block out white noise and annoying sounds), and noise cancellation (you can’t hear just about anything around you,) it’s so wild. These things aren’t even that tight in my ears, but it’s like you put noise cancellation on, and it shuts off the outside world. I have this as a mechanic, and it’s just white noise everywhere. With these in, it’s so comfortable walking around the shop, having earplugs in essentially. Also, the battery life is great. I charged it fully when I got them, and it’s lasted me a week on the case. I have my headphones in for around 6 hours at work, listening to social media. I probably take them out to charge them walking around the shop or going on break, and I’ve never seen the buds go below 80% after hours of listing, tbh, which is kinda wild. For the price, it’s worth every dollar and more. And to connect to your phone, it’s as easy as just opening the case and done." — Ethan Scott Price: $189.99 18. A set of internet-famous Mellanni sheets made of a super-soft and moisture-wicking microfiber fabric that over 250,000 5-star reviewers (wow!) love for being cozy and sleeping surprisingly cool — at an unbeatable price! Those dorm beds aren't looking too shabby now. Promising reviews: "I can't say enough good things about these sheets. I was waking up at night HOT all the time and thinking it was a physical thing for me personally. I was reading online and stumbled on these and thought, 'Hmmm...wonder if my uber-expensive sheets are actually making me hot at night??' I ordered these, and I'm sleeping like a baby now. No more night sweats. Ordering some for my son as well. Game changer! High quality and exceptional price." — J. Marshall "Was gifted a twin set years ago and bought these when I changed beds because they were so great! I used the other set all through college, and they still look so nice. I've never had an issue with any stains or oily marks. Very easy to care for. Very soft, not heavy, but can get a little stuffy with a duvet in summer. I use these year round." — seabritt Price: $29.71+ (available in sizes twin–California king, plus sheet sets with deep pockets for taller mattresses and 40 colors and patterns) 19. A 32-inch Insignia Fire TV for in-room entertainment that you can share with your roomie. Grab some popcorn and gather around for a marathon-watching session of Never Have I Ever. Some apps on the TV may require a paid subscription, like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, but there are still tons of apps with free content, too. Promising review: "The TV is so great for a dorm room because of its size. The quality of the TV is so good, the sound and graphics are so well developed. Also, you have Alexa, and I use this all the time. I love this TV so much." — Eliza Price: $89.99 20. Or, an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K if you already have a TV and now need the power to stream. For those days when you're not in the mood to socialize in the quad and would much rather hibernate in your dorm, you can catch up on your favorite shows, movies, and music at the push of a button. Promising review: "After our Apple TV gave out on us, we were on the search for another, but OH MY, how expensive they are! We decided to try the Fire Stick, and I honestly think it is better than our Apple TV. Setting it up was a breeze, and there’s no tangled mess of wires behind the TV anymore! It is so easy to figure out how it works, and they provide so many different channels and streaming options! The remote looks like the Apple TV remote but with some great added features. B ut the biggest thing that gives this product a 5-star rating is the price. It is worth every penny! If you’re trying to find your next smart TV investment, this is it! " — Hailey Wells Price: $49.99 21. A 24-pack of pastel BIC mechanical pencils ideal for heavy writers, note-takers, or anyone planning on taking statistics next semester. They write dark for crisp and clean notes but erase easily! Promising review: "The pencils write smoothly, and you get a good amount for the value of money. They are easy to use and come with enough lead in them. The grip on the pencils allows me to write for a while without any issues. And the eraser overall erases all the mistakes like they were never there in the first place." — Symone Price: $8 for a pack of 24 22. A slim rolling laundry basket to help make ~laundry day~ a little easier. It's so thin it can easily slide into little gaps of (rare) available space in your dorm room. Promising review: "We needed something small for space saving but also wheels for ease of moving it to the laundry facility in the dorm. This works for both. She can't go weeks without doing laundry; it isn't that big. However, she doesn't have room for a lot of laundry in her dorm room, either (the smallest dorm room I have ever seen). This is perfect for what she needs. " — Angels4angels Price: $15.98+ (available in three sizes and six colors) 23. A highly-rated pair of high-waisted leggings because they have pockets (!!!), they're super soft, they're not see-through, and you'll want to wear them ALL the time. They're great for gym sessions, going on coffee runs with your roommates, and movie nights in your dorm. Promising review: "I LOVE these yoga pants. They feel like they let my skin breathe, unlike some of the others I own....in case you’re wondering, they aren’t see-through. I did pay attention to another review about washing instructions, which I thought might be a deal breaker, but I gave them a shot. I have had no issues when washing on gentle and air drying. Now that I’ve given them a few wash-and-wear test runs, I need to order more. One pair is not enough. " — V. H. Price: $19.99+ (available in sizes XS–3XL and 20 colors) 24. A LONDONTOWN Illuminating Nail Concealer ready to create the illusion of a ~just left the salon~ mani without having to leave campus. Brush on a coat or two before heading out to your event, and no one will be the wiser. Promising review: "As much as I would love to have nice, manicured nails, I don’t spend money on manicures. Gels are damaging, and regular manicures last a couple of days before peeling. I get regular pedicures because they last, but my hands have looked pretty unkempt for much of my adult life until now. I was definitely skeptical that this polish could be any different from one of the countless neutral Essie shades out there that I’ve tried since the '90s — Ballet Slippers, Light as Linen, etc. — but I decided to give the milky shade a try, and I’m so glad I did!!! My nails look incredible. I’m not even sure how to describe why but they look very natural and clean. It’s been a week of wearing two coats, and there isn’t one bubble or lift forming on the edges. One coat actually looks great, also. I am sold on this stuff. Hopefully, it will never be discontinued. So so happy." — Jann Price: $14+ (available in five colors) 25. An eight-piece bath towel set designed with a convenient loop at the corner that you can easily hang on your hall's bathroom hook. Promising review: "These are the softest towels in the house. They have a loop for hanging if that's the way you want to hang them. I didn't find them to have an excess of lint after washing. Of course, they had a fair amount, but that's always expected when washing towels for the first time. The color (yellow) is a beautiful soft yellow, not a bright neon yellow." — quiltmaker Price: $39.95 (available in 12 colors) 26. A tea mug complete with an infuser and lid that has everything you need to keep you warm and cozy during the winter semester. It'll come in handy on sick days, too, when you're missing the comfort of home. Promising review: "I already love this mug! It’s comfortable to hold. I love the size! This is big enough to give me the amount of tea I want. Plus if I want to add creamer or milk, it all fits in this mug! I also love the size of the strainer. And having it with the mug and the lid just makes having a cup of tea even easier. It feels sturdy and good in the hand. The handle is large enough to fit all four of my fingers through, which is sometimes hard to find. Yup, love this mug! Now, I will be looking into getting a few more for when friends come over!" — Quin Price: $17.59+ (available in six colors) 27. And a cool mist humidifier to add moisture to the air and help revive your sore throat or stuffy nose during cold and flu season. Reviewers note that it helped them get better sleep, too. Promising review: "It's very quiet. The vapor lasted me overnight! I’m in love with it! I’m using it for my dorm and it helps me sleep a lot better. I would recommend it!! :)" — Jennifer Luong Price: $59.97 (available in three colors) 28. A pair of high-fidelity earplugs , as seen on Shark Tank, that reviewers say has far surpassed the music festival test. You can protect your ears and still jam to your favorite band without sacrificing sound quality. Or, you can take your much-needed nap and tune out the noise of the campus celebrating the end of another semester. It also comes with a compact carrying case and different tip sizes so you can get the perfect fit for your ear. #WIN Promising review: "This is the third pair of Vibes that I've ordered for myself, for my partner, and for my mother-in-law, who has tinnitus. They are excellent quality and I've had my first pair for almost two years of constant use. I attend a lot of very loud concerts and music festivals and really didn't start caring for my hearing until I bought these (terrible, I know). I had previously only used those foam ear plugs, which damper the sound and make you sacrifice a lot of the nuances of music when wearing them. The Vibes are comfortable enough to wear for an entire day of music, and you can still hear everything perfectly. It's like having a volume control knob for real life! I wish that I could afford to buy 1,000 pairs and just hand them out at concerts to everyone. My MIL, who has tinnitus, has been able to enjoy live musicals and concerts that would have previously caused her a lot of pain and exacerbated her hearing issues. I really hope this company stays around for the rest of my life because it will always be my first choice for earplugs. (Kid, take care of your hearing, please!)" — Matthew Price: $28.95 Read our full review on Vibes earplugs here . 29. A pack of rosé eye gels (that are best when served cold) to combat environmental stressors that can take a toll on your skin (like winter finals 🥴). The eye gels are formulated with resveratrol (from grapes), strawberry extract, and hyaluronic acid to give the skin under your eye a punch of hydration. Promising review: "These have become my absolute favorite part of my early morning not-getting-good-sleep routine. They are so cooling and refreshing, even if they haven’t been in the fridge. These are a staple in my travel bag!" — Babes Morman Price: $12.50 for five pairs 30. An eyebrow sculpting gel and wax combo that's *vegan and cruelty-free* to force your brows into submission so no one has to question your expressions throughout the day. Promising reviews: "Okay, so when I first got it, I was like, oh, they didn’t send me the other half (the brow brush), so I just used the product with the brush inside. Then I realized you’re supposed to pull the cap, and the other brush is under there. But as for the product, ooooooooooh boy, she is amazing! It is an amazing price, an amazing product. We love a deal!!! They looked great after 5 hours and included a nap. They stayed snatched." — Amazon Customer "I love this product more than any expensive on-brand one I’ve tried, such as the Refy brand! I get so many compliments about my brows when I use this product!✨🤩🤩" — Gillian Melton Price: $9.98 31. A galaxy light projector if you want a dorm that's so cool it's practically *out of this world.* Don't be surprised when everyone wants to come hang out in your room. Promising reviews: "Bought this for my college-age daughter to use in her dorm. She loves it! Enough white noise to drown out dorm noises, and she and her friends think the lights are cool when they have movie night or whatever." — c elkins "Loved the different modes, the option to have movement or make it still, and the variations are great. Speaker capability is a plus. Turned my son’s college apartment bedroom into the tranquil place he wanted . Perfect vibe. Great price point." — Delana6655 Price: $33.99 (available in two colors) 32. A hypoallergenic, waterproof mattress protector because you don't know your dorm mattress's past. Better safe than sorry! Allergy sufferers will find this protector especially useful as it protects against dust mites and other allergens. Promising review: "I have this on my dorm mattress at college. It works really well at keeping the allergens in the mattress and out of my nose. I have allergies to dust and mold, so I was quite worried about sleeping on a grungy dorm bed. This has worked quite well, and I would highly recommend it." — Vicki L H. Price: $35.99+ (available in six sizes). 33. A *leak-proof* Simple Modern tumbler that is *thee* insulated tumbler you've probably seen begin to infiltrate the campus after going viral on TikTok. Reviewers say it's not only a top-tier tumbler option, but it's also half the price of some of the more popular brands. Promising review: "Obsessed with this one! Had the Classic 28-ounce tumbler that lasted for over two years and decided it was time to let go and get a bigger one. For the longest I struggled to decide between Simple Modern and Stanley, so glad I stayed with this brand! Not only is it cheaper, I love solid matte black anything and everything, so this is just perfect! Keeps my water cold for hours and fits in my car cup holder. " — Allyza Rafols Price: $22.49 (available in 42 colors). 34. A cozy loungewear sweats set with a half-zip pullover and comfy joggers to give you an easy but stylish everyday 'fit. Second to getting an A on your final essay, there are few things better than throwing on a comfy set and chillin' in the success of your semester. Promising review: "This is a high-quality material with a perfect oversized fit. It’s nice and thick, and the fabric is super soft inside and outside. Super cozy for cold weather." — Catherine Duncan Price: $38.99 (available in women's sizes XS–XL and in 18 colors). What you say to yourself when your treats arrive in the mail: Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.AbbVie Healthcare under government lens for 'violations'
TORONTO — Mark Scheifele scored a hat trick and an assist while Kyle Connor collected two goals and an assist to spark the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets to a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday. The Jets enter the Christmas break with back-to-back wins, while the Maple Leafs dropped their second in a row at Scotiabank Arena without wounded captain Auston Matthews, out with an upper-body injury. Connor scored late in the first period on the power play and early in the second to give the Jets a two-goal lead. Gabriel Vilardi picked up his second assist of the night with a brilliant pass to Scheifele in front at 3:27 of the third, giving the Jets a 3-1 advantage. Scheifele banged in a loose puck for his 20th midway through the third period and added an empty-netter for his hat trick. John Tavares scored twice for the Maple Leafs. Winnipeg out-shot the Leafs 27-25, with Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck making 23 saves before a crowd of 18,923 fans. Joseph Woll stopped 22 shots in the Toronto net. Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey also notched two assists to reach 30 for the season. The win avenged the Maple Leafs' 6-4 victory in Winnipeg on Oct. 28, which ended the Jets' eight-game win streak to start the season. Maple Leafs forward William Nylander extended his point streak to seven games with assists on the Tavares goals. Takeaways Toronto: Defender Chris Tanev missed his first game this year with a lower-body ailment after skating in the pre-game warmup. Winnipeg: As impressive as the Jets (25-10-1) have played before the break, they are only one point ahead of the 36-game pace of 23-9-4 set a year ago. Key moment After Jets defenceman Neal Pionk had his shot blocked, the puck bounded to Marner for a breakaway. Pionk hustled back to lift Marner's stick to foil his shot attempt early in the second period to preserve Winnipeg's 2-0 lead. Key stat The Maple Leafs have gone 7-4-0 with Matthews on the sidelines this season and 42-23-2 in his career. Up next Toronto returns to action after the holiday break on Friday, visiting the Detroit Red Wings. On Saturday, the Jets play host to the Ottawa Senators. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2024. Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian PressGifts, Novelty, and Souvenirs Market to grow by USD 18.62 Billion (2024-2028), driven by tech advancements and premiumization, Report on AI-driven market evolution - TechnavioSolar geoengineering could save 400,000 lives a year
One of the country's largest health insurers reversed a change in policy Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from "significant widespread misinformation" about the policy. "To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services," the statement said. "The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines." Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have used "physician work time values," which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, economics committee chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists, said it's unclear how CMS derives those values. In mid-November, the American Society for Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to "reverse the proposal immediately," saying in a news release that the policy would have taken effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It's not clear how many states in total would have been affected, as notices also were posted in Virginia and Colorado . People across the country registered their concerns and complaints on social media, and encouraged people in affected states to call their legislators. Some people noted that the policy could prevent patients from getting overcharged. Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the "nuanced, unpredictable human element" of surgery and was a clear "money grab." "It's incomprehensible how a health insurance company could so blatantly continue to prioritize their profits over safe patient care," he said. "If Anthem is, in fact, rescinding the policy, we're delighted that they came to their senses." Prior to Anthem's announcement Thursday, Connecticut comptroller Sean Scanlon said the "concerning" policy wouldn't affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office had also successfully intervened. The insurance giant's policy change came one day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare , another major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York City.When many countries are at war PM Modi binding world in thread of peace harmony YogiGlenview trustees have passed a 2025 budget that includes a 3.5% levy hike that is not expected to increase property taxes for local homeowners, per village officials. The Village Board voted unanimously Dec. 3 to adopt a budget of $97 million with a $200,000 surplus for the coming year. The board also voted to increase the levy by $527,000, all of which, officials said, can be attributed to new development of property. “The 2025 budget continues the village’s ongoing commitment to challenging the status quo, evaluating opportunities for alternative service delivery models and holding the line on cost increases,” co-Finance Directors Iwona Posniak and Katie Iraci said in a written report to the board. “Current property taxpayers will see no increase in the village portion of their property tax bill.” Among the “highlights” they shared in the budget are a $1 million increase in revenue from state sales tax, which reflects a projection that sales will increase by 4%, according to David Just, a spokesperson for the village. That, per the budget, is expected to generate $24.2 million in 2025. On the expense side, the budget accounts for an increase in contractual expenses, including increases of $985,000 in business retention, $270,000 in equipment maintenance, $235,000 in landscape services and $207,000 in information technology services, Posniak and Iraci said. “These increases were partially offset by decreases in other professional services ($243,000), snow and ice maintenance ($198,000), and building and plan review services ($197,000),” they said. Village President Michael Jenny praised staff and the board for the months-long preparation of the budget. “It’s an important role in village government to make sure the public budget, balance sheet and income statement are properly maintained and cared for,” Jenny said. “We have to carefully match expenses with revenue in an inflationary environment, while properly funding our first responders (and) our actuarial pension requirements, and keeping our village services and infrastructure maintained.” Other projected revenue increases include $234,000 from the home rule sales tax, expected to increase 2% to $11.7 million. Although building permit revenue is expected to be 60% lower than projected for 2024, 2025 revenue is expected to rebound by 43% above the 2024 projections, Posniak and Iraci said. “In addition to the core projects associated with residential and commercial remodeling, the 2025 budget includes the adjusted project timelines for large one-time projects or redevelopments that are now anticipated to be constructed in 2025,” they said. Among those are several large one-time projects or redevelopments, such as new buildings in the Dermody Logistics Campus. Among expenses that are projected to increase, Posniak and Iraci said, are: $624,000 in personnel costs, due primarily to merit and contractual increases, as well as new and restructured positions $525,000 in “other charges,” including increases in police and fire pension costs Those increases are partially offset by a $106,000 decrease in risk management fixed charges and a $94,000 decline in general liability insurance costs, they said. One resident, William Seitz, addressed the board during the public hearing before the vote on the budget. Seitz said the village’s permanent fund and capital improvement fund should be included in the annual budget. “Maybe staff can do a better job of reporting it,” he said. The capital improvement budget totaled $39.5 million, Posniak and Iraci said.
Markets - Dec. 7Massachusetts Democrat Seth Moulton bashes local media for trying to ‘inflame’ LGBTQ remarks
Embattled Trump nominees Hegseth, Gabbard visit Senate seeking support
Tweet Facebook Mail Heartbroken business owners have explained why they believe so many small Australian companies went bust this year. Business collapses climbed in 2024 and the hospitality, construction and retail industries were among the worst hit as inflation drove costs up. Plenty of small and large business owners made the gut-wrenching decision to shut doors or were forced to liquidate as they drowned in bills, including Sydney woman Belinda Jane Keehn. READ MORE: What the RBA is really looking at when it sets interest rates Belinda Jane Keehn ran her own business, BJ's PJs, but couldn't afford to keep it going in 2024. (Supplied) She told 9news.com.au she folded her clothing business, BJ's PJs, this year after struggling to cope with the aftermath of COVID-19. "When I launched my business just six years ago, the world was very different," Keehn said. "Unfortunately, this year, after years of navigating the challenges of small business ownership, including the aftermath of COVID-19 and skyrocketing living costs, I made the difficult decision to close my doors. "The rising production costs, financial stress, and declining consumer spending have made it unsustainable to continue." Keehn said the cost of production meant she was barely making any profit from her brand. She also blames the big brand competition which made it virtually impossible to match prices. READ MORE: Other countries have tried to ban children from using social media. So does it ever work? She said the rising cost of production meant she couldn't turn a profit. (Supplied) "I am far from alone in these challenging times," she added. "Many small businesses are either closing or are on the brink of doing so, and it's heartbreaking to witness." Keehn said the cost of fabric, manufacturing and postage resulted in her business effectively being made "non-profitable". "Winding down has been an emotional and difficult challenge," she said. "I Have built up my clientele in my other small business, Keehn As Gardening and Light Home Maintenance, which took a back seat to BJ's PJs over the last few years but will focus more on that to supplement the loss of income." The best and worst states and territories to try and run a business in View Gallery Sydney man Mick Owar ran his own construction business for five years. He told 9news.om.au business boomed after he started it in 2018, but things went south post-COVID. "The cost of materials just exploded and there was a point after COVID where the labour force just woke up and didn't want to work anymore," he said. "Finding people that just had an ounce of reliability became almost impossible." Owar described the taxes forced on businesses in Australia as a "joke". This contributed to Owar shutting down the construction side of his company after realising he was barely able to cut himself a salary. Experts have blamed the huge spike in business failures in rising costs, tax debts and low consumer spending. (Dion Georgopoulos/SMH) According to UNSW research, rising material costs, tax debts and high interest rates have contributed to the surge of businesses going bust this year. Low consumer spending has also been a major factor. "The more discretionary categories of spending tend to get cut back on, and for businesses in that sector, a large and sudden drop in demand can make it economically impossible to continue," Professor Richard Holden from the UNSW School of Economics said. In October, a report from CreditorWatch found businesses in Australia were collapsing at a rate not seen since the pandemic. It blamed the rapid rate of business owners shutting doors on the cost of living crisis and mounting tax debts. CreditorWatch noted all sectors have seen a major spike in failures since the ATO ramped up collections in October 2023.
{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-12-05T21:41:12+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-12-05T21:41:12+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-12-05T21:41:11+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22378/opinions/editorial/volunteerism-is-the-cornerstone-of-our-development-lets-show-up-for-our-nation", "headline": "Volunteerism is the cornerstone of our development, lets show up for our nation", "description": "The International Day of Volunteers which was celebrated on December 5, provides an opportune moment to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22378/opinions/editorial/volunteerism-is-the-cornerstone-of-our-development-lets-show-up-for-our-nation" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/05/65706.jpeg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/05/65706.jpeg" }, "articleBody": "The International Day of Volunteers which was celebrated on December 5, provides an opportune moment to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of volunteers, especially in Rwanda's journey of healing and reconstruction. In the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the nation faced a myriad of challenges, from rebuilding infrastructure to restoring social cohesion. It was during this period that volunteerism emerged as a powerful force, driving the country's transformation. ALSO READ Our youth volunteers are defying the narrative; we must support them In the immediate aftermath of the genocide, public servants, driven by a sense of duty and patriotism, worked tirelessly without pay for years. As things got better, they would get food rations for salary. Needless to say, their selfless dedication was instrumental in stabilising the country and laying the foundation for future development. The Gacaca courts, a unique system of community justice, relied heavily on the efforts of tens of thousands of ordinary citizens who volunteered their time to administer justice. These volunteer judges, without formal legal training, played a crucial role in reconciling the nation. ALSO READ Development work is not done in isolation, Kagame tells youth volunteers Fast-forward, the Covid-19 pandemic further highlighted the importance of volunteerism. Community Health Workers, who are volunteers, work tirelessly to educate the public on different public health concerns and are now able to administer basic treatment in their respective communities. Youth volunteers also stepped up to support their communities, distributing food, sanitizing public spaces, and raising awareness about preventive measures. Volunteerism is not just about giving back; it is also about personal growth and community empowerment. By volunteering, individuals can develop new skills, gain valuable experience, and build strong relationships. It is a powerful tool for social change and can help to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable society. ALSO READ 100,000 volunteers set for Rwanda general elections As we move forward, it is imperative that we continue to embrace the spirit of volunteerism. By volunteering our time and talents, we can make a significant difference in the lives of others and contribute to the ongoing development of our nation. Let us all strive to be active citizens and make volunteerism a cornerstone of our lives.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "The New Times" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }
Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.