VW Closes German Plant for First Time Ever. Plant Will Pivot to AI Research
https://gizmodo.com/vw-closes-german-plant-for-first-time-ever-plant-will-pivot-to-ai-research-2000700232?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into Tech @tech-Gizmodo

VW Closes German Plant for First Time Ever. Plant Will Pivot to AI Research

The auto industry continues its push into an AI-driven future

^{Ece Yildirim (Gizmodo)}

The search quality of #DuckDuckGo has been going downhill for a while now, thanks to #AI. Finally resubscribed to #Kagi.

OH MY WORD, the search result quality is incredible.

Better than #Google, better than anything else out there, hands down!

Kagi, take my money!

Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff, criticizes Bondi’s handling of Epstein files in Vanity Fair interview
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/susie-wiles-trumps-chief-of-staff-criticizes-bondis-handling-of-epstein-files-in-vanity-fair-interview?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into Headlines @headlines-PBSNewsHour

Susie Wiles, Trump's chief of staff, criticizes Bondi's handling of Epstein files in Vanity Fair interview

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is criticizing Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and broadly defending Donald Trump's second presidency in a series of interviews published Tuesday.

^{PBS News}

Ukrainian update: Trump does not speak for Ukrainian people, and he is in fact, a conniving thief and murderous war criminal.

As the news of Ukraine is dominated by Russian spokesmen Witkoff and Kushner, it is refreshing to have a perspective not steeped in greed, cruelty, and deceit.

Giorgio reports from the trenches of democracy, on the ground in Ukraine.

He shares the friend link to bypass the paywall, and give truth a fighting chance of being discovered by those who care to seek.

Please support Ukraine, journalism, and truth, by sharing the friend link:
medium.com/@giorgioprovinciali…

#ukraine #journalism #russia #russiaisATerroristState #trump #deceit #lies #corruption #warcrimes #genocide #USA #complicit

It just keeps getting worse - Firefox to "evolve into a modern AI browser" gamingonlinux.com/2025/12/it-j…

#AI #Mozilla #Firefox

It just keeps getting worse - Firefox to "evolve into a modern AI browser "

Just like Google plan with Chrome, Mozilla aren't sitting still on expanding Firefox into something resembling a web browser but with more AI.

^{Liam Dawe (GamingOnLinux)}

I get that people concerned about crime, the economy and affordability don't generally prioritise environmental issues, because the former are more immediate and have very concrete, pressing consequences in their everyday lives.

But I wish people were more aware that the economy, social structures, health and even education all exist on top of a liveable, stable environment.

And if we destroy the natural world, none of the others will be possible. 🌎💚

Dermatose, Mercosur, prix… : on achève bien les vaches

La prise en considération des multiples fonctions du travail paysan doit conduire à agir pour le sortir des entraves de son insertion dans le marché capitaliste mondialisé. Elle oblige à entendre le désarroi, la détresse et les appels au secours. On ne peut accepter sans frémir de compter un suicide de paysan chaque jour qui passe. › blogs.mediapart.fr/patrick-le-…

Dermatose, Mercosur, prix… : on achève bien les vaches

^{Patrick Le Hyaric (Mediapart)}

since apparently mozilla killed pocket last month, i would like to promote my self-hosted replacement, Reticule. i'm sitting on some update ideas that i don't have time to work on right now, but it is totally functional and i use it all the time.

git.cyberia.club/reese/reticul…

Aldermen turn to bag tax, ads on bridge houses to try to balance budget
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/16/aldermen-bag-tax-ads-on-bridge-houses-balance-budget/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into National politics @national-politics-chicagotribune

Had two very long and very rewarding zoom calls this arvo.

It's quite powerful the difference it makes to chat with a video feed instead of over the phone. My brain struggles without the visual cues.

🤔Interesting! 2 days ago I complained CTV News was using an article that
downplaying the risk to Canadians crossing the border, -->today they do a 180 degree turn around and publish this👇

'My advice actually would be don’t go’: Expert warns Canadians about U.S. travel risks'

#Canada #Canpoli
ctvnews.ca/canada/article/my-a…

‘My advice actually would be don’t go’: Expert warns Canadians about U.S. travel risks

A growing number of Canadians, including several young children, have been arrested or detained by U.S. immigration authorities over the past two years, according to newly released government data obtained through a U.S. federal court case.

^{Tammy Ibrahimpoor (CTVNews)}

gahhhhh an old friend of ours published a novel but the ebook is only available with DRM that we don't currently have a way to use

so we ordered hardback, just, it's unfortunate because we get flashbacks when we pick up physical books, every since a thing about twenty years ago. unsure if we'll be able to read it.

Council members who oppose Mayor Johnson's proposed budget put their alternative revenue cards on the table
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2025/12/16/mayor-brandon-johnson-proposed-budget-opposition-aldermen-alternate-revenue-plan?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into Chicago Sun-Times @chicago-sun-times-ChicagoSunTimes

Council members who oppose Mayor Johnson's proposed budget put their alternative revenue cards on the table

On the day after their one and only negotiating session with Mayor Brandon Johnson ended badly, conservative and moderate alderpersons took the wraps off their alternative revenue package, minus the corporate head tax that Johnson has championed.

^{Fran Spielman (Chicago Sun-Times)}