Martin Ruskov @mapto@qoto.org

Many across the Americas woke up to the news about Venezuela with déjà vu for the US arrest of Panama’s president in 1989.

An expert on U.S.-Latin American relations explains what’s different this time: https://theconversation.com/a-predawn-op-in-latin-america-the-us-has-been-here-before-but-the-seizure-of-venezuelas-maduro-is-still-unprecedented-272664

"Two of Florida’s most iconic coral species are now functionally extinct. The 2023–2024 marine heat wave wiped out 97.8% to 100% of staghorn and elkhorn corals across nearly 400 surveyed reefs, according to marine scientists.
https://theconversation.com/2-iconic-coral-species-are-now-functionally-extinct-off-florida-study-finds-we-witnessed-the-reefs-bleaching-and-devastation-267958"

Given the Trump administration’s recent statements and policy pronouncements, European leaders no longer have any excuse for failing to map out their own long-term security strategy. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/12/30/world/decision-time-for-europe-on-ukraine/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #volodymyrzelenskyy #russia #ukraine #russiaukrainewar #vladimirputin #europe #eu #nato #us #donaldtrump

The Future of Software Development Is Software Developers

Link: https://codemanship.wordpress.com/2025/11/25/the-future-of-software-development-is-software-developers/
Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46424233

‘Ghost resorts’: as hundreds of ski slopes lie abandoned, will nature reclaim the Alps? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/27/alps-france-skiing-snow-warming-resorts-closing-ceuze-landscape

‘When you plant something, it dies’: Brazil’s first arid zone is a stark warning for the whole country https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/dec/28/brazil-first-arid-zone-stark-warning-for-country

Amazon Is Shifting Into a 'Hypertropical' State Unseen For Millions of Years
https://www.sciencealert.com/amazon-is-shifting-into-a-hypertropical-state-unseen-for-millions-of-years?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into ScienceAlert @sciencealert-ScienceAlert

If the strike happened, Trump will have made war in Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean in 2025, despite claiming to be a “peacemaker.” https://theintercept.com/2025/12/29/trump-venezuela-attack-catsimatidis/

#YouTube #AI #slop

'More than 20% of the videos that YouTube’s algorithm shows to new users are “AI slop” – low-quality AI-generated content designed to farm views, research has found.'

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/27/more-than-20-of-videos-shown-to-new-youtube-users-are-ai-slop-study-finds

RFM, a hedge fund focused on Japanese equities, has attracted more than $800 million from investors as global interest in the country’s stock market has increased. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/30/companies/japan-focused-hedge-fund/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #rfm #stocks #investments

MTV died. All the cool, unique artists like off “120 minutes” are now fighting the blandest algorithms imaginable.

We wanted a place to watch weird stuff you can’t see on mainstream channels. So….

Fedi MTV goes live in ONE HOUR.

https://tv.theindiebeat.fm/

#FediMTV #TIBtv #music #nowPlaying #FediTips

Work offsites actually work. Research shows retreats help people form new connections and get more collaboration opportunities afterward. https://theconversation.com/resolve-to-network-at-your-employers-next-offsite-research-shows-these-retreats-actually-help-forge-new-connections-270762

NYC’s New Socialist Mayor Has a Radical Proposal: Have Government Do Its Job https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/12/nycs-new-socialist-mayor-has-a-radical-proposal-have-government-do-its-job/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon via @MotherJones

RE: https://fosstodon.org/@jimsalter/115775536001605741

I said it about Salesforce and I'll say it about Microsoft: LLMs are exposing how you can have a successful software company that has absolutely no technical expertise in the upper tiers.

One person who understands how LLMs work would have been enough. One person.

These charts will give you a sense at how dramatic the increase in the price of gold has been, especially since Trump took office. L: gold prices last 10 years R: gold prices YTD

My jacket has been leaking feathers because of a bike crash, so I brought it into Patagonia for repair. They said it would take 14 weeks and offered me a new jacket. I turned it down because the jacket was otherwise still perfectly good so I fixed the hole with a patch.

How to reduce gift-giving stress with your kids – a child psychologist’s tips for making magic and avoiding tears https://theconversation.com/how-to-reduce-gift-giving-stress-with-your-kids-a-child-psychologists-tips-for-making-magic-and-avoiding-tears-272201