Welcome back for a recap of news at Flickr the past month. We have an exciting update from the Flickr Foundation as well as an intro to our newest Photographer of the Month and Monthly Photo Challenge festivities. Also stay tuned to the end for what is headed your way soon as the year gets closer to wrapping up!

Introducing Data Lifeboat by Flickr Foundation

For over two decades, Flickr has provided a vibrant home for photographers worldwide. What sets Flickr apart is the magic that happens when photographers share their work and spark connection and community building. The visual culture shared on Flickr over the last 21+ years is unique. The Flickr Foundation was established as an independent non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the world’s shared visual culture for the next 100 years.

With this mission in mind, Flickr Foundation announced the Beta Release of Data Lifeboat, a new archiving tool designed to assist in safeguarding Flickr photos. To learn about this important tool and to give it a try yourself, check out the Flickr blog and then visit Flickr Foundation’s official Data Lifeboat page to get started archiving the images and history most important to you. 

Meet October Photographer of the Month – Robin Maurice Barr

Last month, we put a call out for nominations from the Flickr Social community for photographers who specialized in abstract photography for our Photographer of the Month award. We’d like to share our winner! Robin Maurice Barr’s work was a standout with an architectural spin on all things abstract. Based in West Yorkshire, England, also known as No Great Hurry on Flickr, Robin’s abstract pieces allowed us to reflect on the geometric shapes, materials and angles of structures from different points of view. Take a look through Robin’s Flickr site for an architectural tour through the eyes of an artist. Congrats Robin!

Check out Robin’s Photographer of the Month gallery

Flickr Photo Challenge – Finding Community

Our Flickr Photo Challenge group is buzzing with community vibes and there’s still time to join us. Every month hundreds of new members join our monthly photo challenge and share their takes on that month’s challenge theme. Besides the perk of connecting with awesome photographers there’s also a shot at winning a year of Flickr Pro and a Flickr print so head over to the Flickr challenge group and don’t miss the fun. This month’s theme is Community and we want to see those shots of the people and places important to you!

If you’d like to find some inspiration before joining a challenge yourself, don’t miss last month’s gorgeous Black and White themed winner and highlights gallery. Visit our October Challenge Highlights gallery!

Coming soon!

A couple quick reminders before we head out. MyFlickrYear 2025 is on its way. If you aren’t familiar with this fun yearly recap, learn more about MyFlickrYear and start uploading some new photos to your Flickr account today.

And last but certainly not least, keep an eye out for Your Best Shot 2025. It’s our most popular contest of the year for a reason and you won’t want to miss a second of it. Stay tuned to the Flickr blog for details, heading your way soon We’re looking forward to seeing your best shots from 2025!!

That’s all for this month’s recap. Keep an eye on the Flickr blog for updates and more Flickr news as it’s announced. See you next month!

Not a Flickr member yet? Sign up today to join our community of photographers and find your inspiration.

And companies are getting caught in the crossfire

interview  Warfare has become a joint cyber-kinetic endeavor, with nations using cyber operations to scope out targets before launching missiles. And private companies, including shipping, transportation, and electronics manufacturers, are getting caught in the crossfire, according to Amazon.…

Skim the atmosphere and air-breathing VLEO sats can theoretically maintain orbit

DARPA is on the verge of reaching a new low - an orbital one - as the Defense Department's research arm moves its Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) Otter satellite program into the production phase. …

Iowa City Made Its Buses Free. Traffic Cleared, and So Did the Air. “The transit system is one of the greatest tools communities have to combat climate change and reduce emission. You can make a pretty immediate impact.”

💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →

De abortusfolders die Kies Leven verspreidde onder dertienduizend huisartsen zijn in strijd met de regels van de Reclame Code Commissie.

Cameratoezicht bij gesprekken met verdachten die in een zwaar regime zitten is voor een groep van bijna vijftig strafrechtadvocaten reden om in verzet te komen. Het illustreert de grote ergernis onder strafrechtadvocaten die het beu zijn om vereenzelvigd te worden met hun clientèle.

Het OM verdenkt de bedrijfstop van Damen Shipyards van veel meer strafbare feiten, zoals omkoping, dan tot nu toe bekend was. Maandag is de eerste zitting in de mega-strafzaak tegen de scheepsbouwer.

DEN HAAG (ANP) - GroenLinks-PvdA heeft dinsdag aangifte gedaan tegen twee PVV'ers om AI-afbeeldingen die zij maakten van Frans Timmermans. Dat bevestigen de partij en het Openbaar Ministerie (OM) woensdag na berichtgeving van RTL Nieuws. De partij liet eerder al weten van plan te zijn de aangifte te doen.

Het gaat om Tweede Kamerlid Maikel Boon en voormalig Kamerlid Patrick Crijns. De twee zouden de beelden van de voormalige GroenLinks-PvdA-leider hebben gemaakt en verspreid via Facebook. Volgens Timmermans ging het om lasterlijke beelden. In de reacties onder de plaatjes stonden doodsbedreigingen. PVV-leider Geert Wilders bood Timmermans zijn excuses aan.

Een woordvoerder van het OM laat weten dat de aangifte bestudeerd wordt. Dit gebeurt samen met een politieteam dat speciaal is ingericht voor bedreigingen rond politici. Ze kan niet zeggen wanneer er ontwikkelingen worden verwacht naar aanleiding van de aangifte.

An anonymous reader shares a report: Federal health officials have linked two massive US measles outbreaks, confirming that the country is about two months away from losing its measles elimination status, according to a report by The New York Times. The Times obtained a recording of a call during which officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed to state health departments that the ongoing measles outbreak at the border of Arizona and Utah is a continuation of the explosive outbreak in West Texas that began in mid- to late-January. That is, the two massive outbreaks are being caused by the same subtype of measles virus.

This is a significant link that hasn't previously been reported despite persistent questions from journalists and concerns from health experts, particularly in light of Canada losing its elimination status last week. The loss of an elimination status means that measles will once again be considered endemic to the US, an embarrassing public health backslide for a vaccine-preventable disease.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Boston Dynamics' Spot robot is now deployed by more than 60 bomb squads and SWAT teams across the US and Canada. The 75-pound four-legged machine starts at around $100,000 and has been used in armed standoffs, hostage rescues and hazardous materials incidents since its commercial debut five years ago. The Massachusetts State Police operates two Spot units purchased in 2020 and 2022. Each cost about $250,000 including add-ons funded through state grants. Last year one of the robots helped corner a suspect who had taken his mother hostage at knifepoint in Hyannis. Houston operates three units and Las Vegas has one.

ICE recently spent around $78,000 on a similar robot from Canadian manufacturer Icor Technology that can also deploy smoke bombs. Civil liberties groups have raised concerns about normalizing militarized policing. The NYPD suspended its limited Spot program in 2021 after public backlash over cost and surveillance concerns before later reinstating it and purchasing two units. The Electronic Frontier Foundation says there should be state and federal laws providing guidance on appropriate use of such technology. About 2,000 Spot units now operate globally.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.