Although it hasn't been seen in the wild yet
A new ransomware strain dubbed HybridPetya was able to exploit a patched vulnerability to bypass Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) Secure Boot on unrevoked Windows systems, making it the fourth publicly known bootkit capable of punching through the feature and hijacking a PC before the operating system loads.…
US colleges face a prolonged enrollment decline beginning this fall as high school graduating classes shrink for the first time since the Great Recession. The incoming freshman class marks the start of a 13% drop in high school graduates through 2041, falling from 3.9 million to 3.4 million students. The decline stems from reduced birth rates during the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent years.
Regional four-year institutions in the Northeast and Midwest states face potential applicant pool contractions of 15% or more. Small liberal arts colleges, comprising 40% of the higher education market, are particularly vulnerable. 40% of private colleges posted financial losses in 2023. Top-ranked schools in the US News top 50 are expected to experience minimal impact due to sustained national demand for limited seats.
Regional four-year institutions in the Northeast and Midwest states face potential applicant pool contractions of 15% or more. Small liberal arts colleges, comprising 40% of the higher education market, are particularly vulnerable. 40% of private colleges posted financial losses in 2023. Top-ranked schools in the US News top 50 are expected to experience minimal impact due to sustained national demand for limited seats.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Smart glasses development has expanded beyond Meta, Google and Apple to include dozens of manufacturers across three distinct categories, UploadVR reports. HTC launched its Vive Eagle glasses in Taiwan this month at $550, while Solos' AirGo V2 arrives in Q4 2025 for $300.
The market segments into displayless models featuring cameras and AI assistants, heads-up display glasses providing contextual information overlays and true AR glasses capable of spatial object positioning. Chinese manufacturers dominate the sub-$100 segment. Snap plans consumer AR glasses for 2026. Amazon is reportedly developing two HUD models targeting delivery drivers and consumers for mid-2026 release.
The market segments into displayless models featuring cameras and AI assistants, heads-up display glasses providing contextual information overlays and true AR glasses capable of spatial object positioning. Chinese manufacturers dominate the sub-$100 segment. Snap plans consumer AR glasses for 2026. Amazon is reportedly developing two HUD models targeting delivery drivers and consumers for mid-2026 release.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
US retail coffee prices surged 21% year-over-year in August, the largest annual increase since October 1997, according to Thursday's Consumer Price Index. The monthly 4% jump marks the steepest rise in 14 years. Trump administration tariffs on major coffee exporters -- 50% on Brazil, 20% on Vietnam, and 10% on Colombia -- are driving costs higher as 99% of US coffee consumption relies on imports.
J.M. Smucker plans its third price increase this winter for Folgers and Cafe Bustelo brands after raising prices in May and August. New Orleans chain French Truck Coffee has implemented a 4% tariff surcharge. Starbucks expects peak cost impacts in 2026 due to its advance purchasing practices. KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk predicts prices will exceed historical records as Brazilian tariff effects reach retail shelves.
J.M. Smucker plans its third price increase this winter for Folgers and Cafe Bustelo brands after raising prices in May and August. New Orleans chain French Truck Coffee has implemented a 4% tariff surcharge. Starbucks expects peak cost impacts in 2026 due to its advance purchasing practices. KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk predicts prices will exceed historical records as Brazilian tariff effects reach retail shelves.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Ian & Marg has added a photo to the pool:
PHASMIDS
It was on one of these green bushy ledges that 3 living phasmids were found. Before 1918, the Lord Howe Island Phasmid was abundant on Lord Howe Island, its presence detectable by heaps of excrement at the base of trees in forests. It disappeared rapidly from the island after the introduction of Black Rats (Rattus rattus) in 1918. Rats probably ate the eggs and young nymphs rather than the adults. By 1935, the species was considered rare, if not extinct. Subsequent surveys on the island for the Phasmid have not located any indication of its presence, and the species is considered to be extinct on Lord Howe Island. But, in the 1960s, three dead Lord Howe Island Phasmids were found on Balls Pyramid, a volcanic spire 23 km south-east of Lord Howe Island. Despite many attempts, no live individuals were found at Balls Pyramid until a survey team of scientists found three live individuals and two eggs in February 2001. This re-discovery, has resulted in breeding program at Melbourne Zoo to save it from extinction.
GUANO ICING
The white guano dripping down the rock faces is indicative of the remarkable and diverse population of seabirds that roost on Balls Pyramid. The Kermadec Petrel and Lord Howe Island Providence Petrel breed here on this volcanic sea stack. It is a breeding ground for many other species as well including Grey Ternlets, Common Noddies, Black-winged Petrels, Flesh-footed Shearwaters, and Red-tailed Tropicbirds.
VOLCANIC STRUCTURES
Balls Pyramid is the eroded remnant of the core vent of a large shield volcano. Dykes criss-cross lava flows and beds of clays derived from the weathered basalt flows.
Steeds meer digitale diensten laten hun gebruikers direct instappen zonder dat er eerst een paspoort of uitgebreide verificatie nodig is. Het gaat niet om mensen die iets te verbergen hebben, maar om gemak en snelheid. Minder gegevens delen betekent bovendien minder risico’s bij een datalek.
Van zorg tot entertainment
In sectoren als de gezondheidszorg groeit de vraag naar platforms waar je advies kunt krijgen zonder je volledige identiteit prijs te geven. Ook in het onderwijs zoeken studenten en docenten naar laagdrempelige e-learningdiensten waar een e-mailadres voldoende is.
In de wereld van online entertainment zet de trend zich nog sterker door. Gebruikers willen toegang zonder identiteitscontrole, en het is dan ook geen verrassing dat beste no Cruks casino’s volgens 99Bitcoins steeds populairder worden. Vaak is een e-mailadres en wachtwoord al genoeg om direct te beginnen, zonder lange aanmeldprocedures.
Breder maatschappelijk effect
Als drempels verdwijnen, ontstaat er ruimte om kennis te delen, een netwerk op te bouwen of gewoon mee te doen zonder barrières. Voor veel mensen voelt dat bevrijdend. Anonieme platforms kunnen bovendien plekken worden waar je eerlijk kunt zijn zonder oordeel – zolang de balans tussen vrijheid en toezicht bewaakt blijft.
Gemak versus veiligheid
De groei van platforms zonder ID-barrières laat zien hoe sterk privacy en gebruiksgemak tegenwoordig meetellen. Tegelijk blijft de vraag hoe ver we daarin kunnen gaan zonder veiligheid en vertrouwen uit het oog te verliezen.
Thomas Hawk posted a photo:
