Year: 2025

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Longtime feud between Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau chronicled on latest episode of ‘The Grudge’

May 9, 2025 RJ Ochoa 0

Once upon a time the greatest feud going in sports took place in the world of golf.
Brooks Koepka was winning major championships left and right all while Bryson DeChambeau was trying to carve out a seat for himself at the proverbial table.
Currently Koepka and DeChambeau appear all good and harmonious with one another, they have been teammates in various fashions since the dawn of their initial discourse, but at one point in time they legitimately appeared to not like each other to a serious degree.
Recently the folks at VICE TV unveiled a new series in “The Grudge” that specifically focuses on intense rivalries, debates and the like within the world of sports. They recently aired an episode about the situation (to put it mildly) that encircled Koepka and DeChambeau for forever with discussion and input from Tisha Alyn (pro golfer and content creator), Max Adler (from Golf Digest), Steve Smith Jr. (former NFL wideout who had his own share of feuds) and Rachel Bonnetta (who you know from all over).

The game ends, but some grudges never do.VICE TV’s new series THE GRUDGE breaks down the most intense sports rivalries—the history, the egos, and the high-stakes drama behind legendary showdowns. Each episode unpacks the grudges that fueled unforgettable moments in sports.… pic.twitter.com/b0Gaq9Lj9y— VICE TV (@VICETV) March 6, 2025

Former NFL linebacker and Bussin’ With The Boys co-host Will Compton narrates the show and adds his usual twist, but as someone who followed every second of what took place between Brooks and Bryson in real time I found the episode about their roundabout with one another to be fascinating.
Viewers can check out the episode on demand at VICETV.com with a valid cable subscription. You can also use the VICE TV channel finder to see how you can find it in your area.
This feud sort of took over the world of golf at its peak to the point that fans of each player were trying to disrupt the opposing one at different tournaments. It culminated in a match between the two and ever since then they have seemed to be more than cordial as members of the LIV Tour. Consider that when DeChambeau won his second U.S. Open title last summer that Koepka congratulated him on joining the club of people who have won the tournament twice.
The episode of The Grudge does a great job of chronicling this whole saga.
Here’s to whatever is next in the grand story of it all. […]

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Supercon 2024: An Immersive Motion Rehabilitation Device

May 9, 2025 Lewin Day 0

When you’ve had some kind of injury, rehabilitation can be challenging. You often need to be careful about how you’re using the affected parts of your body, as well as pursue careful exercises for repair and restoration of function. It can be tedious and tiring work, for patients and treating practitioners alike.
Juan Diego Zambrano, Abdelrahman Farag, and Ivan Hernandez have been working on new technology to aid those going through this challenging process. Their talk at the 2024 Hackaday Supercon covers an innovative motion monitoring device intended to aid rehabilitation goals in a medical context.

Motion Project
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As outlined in the talk, the team took a measured and reasoned approach to developing their device. The project started by defining the problem at hand, before proposing a potential solution. From there, it was a case of selecting the right hardware to do the job, and developing it alongside the necessary software to make it all work.
The Arduino Nano BLE33 had most of the necessary functionality for this project, out of the box.
The problem in question regarded helping children through rehabilitative therapies. Structured activities are used to help develop abilities in areas like motor skills, coordination, and balance. These can be particularly challenging for children with physical or developmental difficulties, and can be repetitive at the best of times, leading to a lack of engagement. “We wanted to solve that… we wanted to make it more interactive and more useful for the therapies and for the doctors,” Ivan explains, with an eye to increasing motivation for the individual undergoing rehabilitation.
Other challenges also exist in this arena. Traditional rehabilitation methods offer no real-time feedback to the individual on how they’re performing. There is also a need for manual monitoring and record keeping of the individual’s performance, which can be tedious and often relies on subjective assessments.
The device was demonstrated mounted on a patient’s chest, while being used in a game designed for balance work.
Having explored the literature on game-based therapy techniques, the team figured a wearable device with sensors could aid in solving some of these issues. Thus they created their immersive motion rehabilitation device.
At the heart of the build is an Arduino Nano BLE33, so named for its Bluetooth Low Energy wireless communications hardware. Onboard is an nRF52840 microcontroller, which offers both good performance and low power consumption. The real benefit of this platform, though, is that it includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and magnetometer on board and ready to go. The IMU in question is the BMI270, which combines a high-precision 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope into a single package. If you want to track motion in three dimensions, this is a great way to do it.
For user feedback, some additional hardware was needed. The team added a vibration motor, RGB LED, and buzzer for this reason. Controlling the device is simple, with the buttons on board. In order to make the device easy to use for therapists, it’s paired with a Windows application, programmed in C#. It’s used for monitoring and analysis of the wearer’s performance during regular rehabilitation activities.
The user’s motions are recorded while playing a simple game, providing useful clinical data.
The talk explains how this simple, off-the-shelf hardware was used to aid the rehabilitation experience. By gamifying things, users are prompted to better engage with the therapy process by completing tasks monitored by the device’s sensors. Fun graphics and simple gameplay ideas are used to make a boring exercise into something more palatable to children going through rehabilitation.
The team go on to explain the benefits on the clinical side of things, regarding how data collection and real time monitoring can aid in delivery. The project also involved the creation of a system for generating reports and accessing patient data to support this work, as well as a fun connection assistant called Sharky.
Overall, the talk serves as a useful insight as to how commonly-available hardware can be transformed into useful clinical tools. Indeed, it’s not so different from the gamification we see all the time in the exercise space, where smartwatches and apps are used to increase motivation and provide data for analysis. Ultimately, with a project like this, if you can motivate a patient to pursue their rehabilitation goals while collecting data at the same time, that’s useful in more ways than one. […]

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NIH Insider on Anthony Fauci: ‘I admired Fauci in his earlier career, but I can’t say that anymore’ Calls for End of Dangerous Virus Studies

May 9, 2025 Margaret Flavin 0

A guest essay at Disinformation Chronicle, written by an anonymous infectious disease researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reveals that the agency was a tightly controlled fifedom where Anthony Fauci behaved “like a medieval Italian Signoria, where his every word was law, his every whim obeyed.”
Although the author initially admired Fauci for his strong leadership, that view soured after watching how Fauci handled the origins of COVID-19 and research funding.
Several incidents caused me to change my view beginning in March 2020 when a group of renowned virologists published a paper in Nature Medicine that falsely concluded a lab accident could not have started the COVID pandemic.
The author notes a fear of speaking out publicly against the paper, which was widely accepted by the media. Dissenters feared a career-ending backlash in the toxic NIH environment Fauci allowed to flourish.

At the time, people were being called “conspiracy theorists” for even asking if the virus could have had a lab origin. There was a real fear of saying what you thought—shame, humiliation—and I was worried about getting fired. I believed the entire virology and the NIH-funded scientific communities would have banded together to discredit me if I said anything, and my career would have been over. Dr. Fauci was the most powerful man in the scientific community at that time and his word was undisputed.
The author was further dismayed when Fauci denied funding gain-of-function research in Wuhan during 2021 congressional hearings, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
A year later, I watched in disbelief as Dr. Fauci testified before Congress where he strongly denied allegations about dangerous virus research he was funding at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. I realized that the Fauci-led NIAID had participated in a classic Washington ploy: satisfy your critics by pretending to regulate activity that can harm the public, while actually letting your friends do whatever they want. In this case, I’m talking about gain-of-function virus studies, research that should end tomorrow to protect us from future man-made pandemic disasters.

The author also raised concerns about large grants awarded to potentially to maintain loyalty and deflect lab-leak scrutiny.
Instead of pausing to investigate whether a lab leak had occurred, Fauci awarded Daszak a new multi-million-dollar CREID grant dedicated to hunting for novel viruses in bats—not just in Chinese caves, but across Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. From 2020 to the present, Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance received $4,474,707 for his CREID grant plus another $3,353,628 for similar virus hunting grants.
At the same time, NIAID also awarded the authors of the Proximal Origin paper—Scripp’s Andersen and Tulane’s Garry—large CREID grants which have cost American taxpayers $11,322,650. By handing out awards to political allies, Don Fauci maintained a web of allegiances.

The author concludes by calling for an end to gain-of-function research and redirecting funds to safer methods, like computational modeling, to prioritize public safety.
Read the full essay at Disinformation Chronicle here.
It is no wonder Joe Biden gave Fauci a preemptive pardon. […]

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China’s premiere chipmaker SMIC faces chip yield woes as equipment maintenance and validation efforts stall

May 9, 2025 ashilov@gmail.com Anton Shilov 0

Following multiple rounds of restrictions imposed on semiconductor production equipment sales to China, the country’s foundry champion, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), is finally feeling the effects. This week, the company reported output disruptions caused by equipment maintenance and new equipment validation, which will reduce its revenues for the second quarter by up to 6%, according to DigiTimes.SMIC ran into two yield and output-related issues recently. An unexpected incident during scheduled annual maintenance disrupted production lines and compromised process accuracy, leading to a drop in yield rates. On top of that, the validation of newly installed equipment uncovered performance issues that needed correction, causing additional yield fluctuations. These issues lasted for more than a month during the first quarter and are expected to affect output in the second quarter. SMIC co-CEO Haijun Zhao explicitly said average selling prices (ASPs) were stable, confirming that the revenue shortfall was not pricing-related — it was from lower sellable output due to yield loss.All chipmakers perform annual maintenance. However, the U.S. government prohibits American makers of wafer fabricating equipment (WFE) from servicing their advanced tools in China. While SMIC engineers can perform some scheduled maintenance, they are not formally qualified, so unfortunate incidents may occur.The same applies to newly installed equipment. Normally, tools are assembled at toolmakers like ASML, thoroughly tested, disassembled, and then reassembled on site. However, expedited deliveries of tools bypass assembly and tests at toolmakers, which may lead to issues that need a fix.Under normal circumstances, operational issues like yield degradation or equipment problems typically impact profitability (e.g., gross margin), since they raise costs per good unit produced rather than directly cutting revenue. However, in SMIC’s case, the operational issues lowered yields and disrupted production output. This likely meant fewer wafers or chips were completed and available for shipment in Q2, so revenue dropped due to reduced volume, even though pricing remained stable. So, while the root cause is operational, the effect cascades into profitability (via higher cost per unit) and revenue (via fewer units delivered).Apparently, the installation issues were so severe that SMIC had to divert between $30 million and $75 million from its R&D budget to debug the new tools. SMIC usually devotes 8% to 10% of its revenue to R&D, which in the case of the company’s Q1 earnings means between $180 million and $225 million. However, since resources were temporarily shifted to setting up and fine-tuning new tools, the company’s R&D expenses in the first quarter totaled $150 million. As for capital expenditures, SMIC expects to allocate $7.5 billion to building new production capacity this year.SMIC generated $2.247 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2025, up 1.8% quarter-over-quarter from $2.207 billion. Sales from wafers made up 95.2% of the total and climbed nearly 5% QoQ, driven by an 18% increase in 200-mm wafer sales and a 2% uptick in 300-mm wafer sales. Factory utilization reached 89.6%, a 4.1% increase from the prior quarter. Usage levels at 300-mm sites remained strong, while 200-mm sites matched the utilization seen at the larger facilities. These gains helped counterbalance the effects of softer unit pricing and higher depreciation expenses on margins.Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.The co-CEO noted that SMIC evaluated tariff risks through internal reviews and close coordination with domestic and overseas partners. The estimated revenue impact was minor: under 1%. He stressed that ongoing dialogue with partners has helped the company stay ready for any trade-related disruptions.Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. […]

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The Right To Life: One On One with Angela Stanton King | Episode 15

May 9, 2025 Lara Logan 0

(00:00) Impact of Abortion in Black Community (05:42) Uniting for Life (15:35) Surviving Trauma, Fighting for Justice (27:03) From Homeless to Advocate (32:17) Fighting for Equal Treatment in America (42:38) Debunking Abortion Myths in Black Community (51:17) Unveiling Bias in Abortion Reporting (01:01:57) Uniting Black Community Through Politics (01:11:05) Racial Injustice and Political Deception (01:19:13) Awakening to Pro-Life Beliefs (01:28:20) Historical Patterns of Medical Injustice (01:39:45) Exposing the Dark Side of Abortion (01:51:25) Celebrating Motherhood and Empowering Communities (01:56:26) Grateful Angela Stanton King shares her journey from a past marred by abuse and incarceration to providing for the needs of pregnant women and babies through her work with Auntie Angie’s House. Her story intersects with the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., offering insights into the profound impact of community support and the relentless pursuit of justice. Paid Sponsorship: CHOQ – Premium Natural Supplements Get 17.76% off your Male or Female Vitality STAQ by using code LARA. https://choq.com/#laraDISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, and statements expressed by individuals on Going Rogue with Lara Logan are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or positions of Going Rogue with Lara Logan, its hosts, producers, owners, or affiliates. Going Rogue with Lara Logan does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information shared by individuals. Listeners are encouraged to independently verify any claims or statements made during the podcast. Going Rogue with Lara Logan, its hosts, producers, owners and affiliates are not responsible for any errors, omissions, or consequences arising from the use of information presented in this podcast, including but not limited to claims of libel, slander, or defamation. By listening to this podcast, you agree that any reliance on the content is at your own risk.Fair Use Notice: This video contains some copyrighted material whose use has not been authorized by the copyright owners. We believe that this not-for-profit, educational, and/or criticism or commentary use on the Web constitutes a fair use of the copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Fair Use notwithstanding we will immediately comply with any copyright owner who wants their material removed or modified, wants us to link to their web site, or wants us to add their photo. […]

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Liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor Takes Veiled Shot at Trump After Roberts Public Rebuke

May 9, 2025 Cristina Laila 0

United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor speaking to attendees at the John P. Frank Memorial Lecture at Gammage Auditorium at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona/ Gage Skidmore
Without mentioning his name, liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor took a veiled shot at President Trump on Thursday evening.
During remarks at an event for the American Bar Association in DC, Sotomayor told lawyers in attendance to stand up and fight against unprecedented attacks.
“Our job is to stand up for people who can’t do it themselves. And our job is to be the champion of lost causes,” Sotomayor said referring to Trump’s executive actions against Deep State law firms.
“But right now, we can’t lose the battles we are facing. And we need trained and passionate and committed lawyers to fight this fight,” Sotomayor said according to AP.

Sotomayor’s comments come after Chief Justice Roberts on Wednesday evening rebuked President Trump AGAIN in a rare public appearance.
This is the second time Roberts has publicly lashed out at President Trump in recent months.
In March Justice Roberts defended the rogue judiciary and slammed Trump’s call for impeaching judges.

Speaking at a fireside chat to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the US District Court for the Western District of New York, Justice Roberts lashed out at Trump for his calls to impeach radical judges.
“Well, I’ve already spoken to that and, you know, impeachment is not how you register disagreement with decisions,” Roberts said in front of hundreds of judges and lawyers.
“That’s what we’re there for,” Roberts said.
“The judiciary is a co-equal branch of government, separate from the others, with the authority to interpret the Constitution as law and strike down, obviously, acts of Congress or acts of the president,” he said. […]

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Noctua NH-D15 G2 gains offset mounting bars for Arrow Lake CPUs to optimize cooling performance

May 9, 2025 editors@tomshardware.com Aaron Klotz 0

Noctua has created a new mounting modification for its flagship NH-D15 G2 CPU cooler tailored specifically for Core Ultra 200S series CPUs. Its new NM-IB8 mounting bars provide up to a three-degree temperature improvement by shifting the center of the NH-D15 G2’s contact plate north-east of the CPU package.The NM-IB8 mounting bars only replace the NH-D15 G2’s existing units; the rest of the mounting equipment (that comes with the cooler) including the washers and screws are reused. Noctua claims the adjusted mounting spot provides a 3-degree Celsius drop in temperature with the HBC version of the NH-D15 G2 and a 1-degree Celsius drop with the standard version.(Image credit: Noctua)The NM-IB8’s new mounting location (and the chip’s hotspot area) is allegedly 3.7mm north and 2mm east of the center of the LGA1851 socket. This location is directly above Arrow Lake’s compute tile, which houses the P-cores and E-cores. Noctua claims this area is the hottest side of the package when running multi-core workloads, which makes sense. By contrast, the original mounting solution puts the contact point of the cooler directly in the middle of the CPU package, which resides directly over the right bottom edge of the compute tile, and nearer to the SoC tile and I/O tile.All three versions of Noctua’s NH-D15 G2 are compatible with the NM-IB8 mounting solution: the standard, HBC, and LBC versions. Other Noctua models are not compatible.The NM-IB8 is Noctua’s first offset mounting kit optimized for Intel processors. Previous generations of Intel CPUs (including LGA 1700 chips) took advantage of a monolithic die design, which always had a hotspot area very close to the center of the CPU package. As a result, they did not need any sort of mounting offset to improve cooling performance.Noctua first started shipping offset mounts for AMD AM4 and AM5-based processors. These offset mounts also prioritize shifting a Noctua cooler’s central portion toward the CPU’s hottest part, namely the chiplet containing the CPU cores. However, on AMD Ryzen-based chips, the cores are located in a different location compared to Arrow Lake chips.The NH-D15 G2 is the successor to the legendary NH-D15 that debuted all the way back in 2014. One of the most prominent upgrades with the G2 variant is the addition of two alternate variants of the cooler, tailored-made for specific CPUs. The HBC variant (High Base Convexity) has a modified contact plate optimized for LGA 1700 chips that bend heavily in their socket. LBC (Low Base Convexity) is aimed at relatively flat CPUs such as LGA 2011 or AM4 processors.Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.These alternate versions are primarily geared towards enthusiasts or overclockers who want to extract as much performance from the NH-D15 G2 as possible. There is still a vanilla version of the cooler that works with all types of chips and is tuned for balanced performance across a variety of chips.Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. […]