In BriefPosted:5:44 PM PST January 13, 2025Image Credits:abin Botsford/The Washington Post / Getty ImagesChina is reportedly open to Elon Musk acquiring TikTok USChinese government officials have reportedly discussed a scenario where ByteDance sells TikToks United States arm to Elon Musk, should the Supreme Court uphold the law banning the app on January 19th. Bloomberg reports that China would strongly prefer for TikTok to stay under ByteDances ownership, but says government officials have considered a sale to Musk as part of a broader plan to work with incoming president Donald Trumps administration. In that scenario, Musks X would acquire TikTok US, effectively absorbing the vertical video platforms 170 million American users and billions in potential ad revenue.A TikTok spokesperson called the report pure fiction in a statement to Variety.The report states it is unclear how much ByteDance and TikTok know about Chinas discussions of a Musk sale, potentially highlighting Chinas alleged influence over the platform which brought about this law in the first place.Topics

Built before the American Revolution, this large Georgian residence is one of the oldest extant houses in the charming town of Cornwall, Connecticut. Located on Popple Swamp Road just outside the central village, the Pierce Homestead dates to circa 1750 (the sign dates the house to 1768, but information from the town history mentions a house there earlier) and is a stellar example of a simple, two-story Georgian house with five-bay facade and 12-over-12 sash windows. This property was purchased by Joshua Pierce in 1748 and included over 300-acres of farmland, the farmhouse was likely built within a matter of years. The house was likely expanded and modernized by his son, Seth Pierce, who inherited the property in the 1790s. The farm remained in the Pierce Family for generations and was lovingly restored in the 20th century. It is a great example of a well-preserved 18th century farmhouse in Litchfield County, Connecticut.

Though many apply, only a few have the skills and patience to make it as a watcher an MI5 training manual published for the first time by the National Archives reveals.Despite the rise in electronic surveillance, watchers still play a crucial role in following and observing suspects to gather what might prove to be important snippets of intelligence.But only a select few have the skills and patience to successfully observe and follow suspects, a war time MI5 training manual published for the first time reveals.A successful watcher is a rarity according to the anonymous author of MI5s guide to Observation.Hundreds of men have been interviewed as prospective trainees but very few have been accepted, for the reason that when tried out they are found to lack one essential qualification, viz patience, the presumably male trainer writes.Non-descript and unlike a policemanThe ideal watcher should not be too short or too tall and they should look as unlike a policeman as possible. They should be non-descript, have good eyesight and good hearing to allow them to overhear conversations when the opportunity arises.Dress style is important. A watcher must wear old clothes, such as a cap or a muffler in the slum quarters and be better dressed in the West End.A false moustache or beard is easily detected, especially under the high lights of a restaurant, pub or in a tube train, the trainer warns.An accurate report of a suspects movements is essential for testing the accuracy of a suspects statements.And getting spotted by the suspect is a fatal mistake that could result in serious harm to an investigation.Identifying a suspect at a known address can be a difficult job, requiring time and a process of elimination if no recent photograph or description is available.Watchers are told to keep a distance of 25 to 30 yards behind the suspect and to walk on the opposite side of the pavement. Ideally a second watcher should also follow on the same side of the street as the suspect.Be prepared for the suspect to board a moving vehicle such as a bus, tram, or train, or haling a cruising taxi, or any such device to shake off a tail, the manual advises.Watchers are urged to have plenty of spare change with them to buy a ticket in case the suspect jumps on to the underground. On escalators, MI5s advice is to gradually move closer towards the subject as the escalator reaches its destination.When he is suspicious a suspect will often board a train just before the doors close, making himself the last one on the train, or he may alight at the last moment: so do not give him any rope on such occasions, watchers are told.If a suspect enters a restaurant or a caf, it is essential to memorise a description of the people he meets. Be ready for a quick exit, with plenty of loose change to pay the bill without being delayed by the cash desk.Finding the home address, street name, and house number, of a suspect is difficult during conditions of war-time blackout.Watchers are advised to observe whether the person being followed uses a key, knocks, rings the bell, or enters by a communal hallway as that can provide clues whether he is a visitor or a resident. It may be necessary to return early the next day to verify observations.Car chases - offer cabbies a good tipFor watchers that find themselves following a suspect in a cab, a good tip for the cabby is a prerequisite. The MI5 instructor suggests watchers enthuse a little extra activity into the driver in order that he may avoid the suspects detecting the following cab in mirrors or from the rear window.If a suspect buys a train ticket, watchers are told to move in to overhear the destination, so they can buy their own ticket and continue the chase.Post offices are particularly useful sources of intelligence, the guide notes. If the suspect goes to a writing desk it is often possible to get a brief glance at the name or address of a letter or telegram. A watcher can also learn a lot by standing close to the suspect at the counter.To avoid getting spotted themselves, watchers are encouraged to leave home, walk around the block, return now, and start off again in another direction heading away from the most direct route to his assignment.He will know is own neighbourhood intimately and use such knowledge to alternate his means of conveyance by bus, tram or train, but always gradually making towards his objective and ascertaining at the same time if he has a tail.The security service, MI5, still relies on highly trained watchers, these days rebranded as mobile surveillance officers, to follow suspects and to gather intelligence.These days, watchers are just as likely to be women as men, and represent a diversity of ethnicities.But the wartime manual may be right on one thing: the ideal watcher is born, not made. As the manual notes, unless he has a natural flair for the work he will never rise above a mediocre standard.Other documents released by the National Archives today, include:MI5s investigation files into Holywood actor Dirk Bogarde, following information that Russian Intelligence had approached a young actor while visiting Moscow. MI5 found no grounds for suspicion.Files dealing with claims that Russian intelligence agent Constantin Volkov in 1945 had made to the British embassy that Russian spies were working in the UK government. Russian intelligence was tipped off and Volkov disappeared. MI6 double agent Kim Philby was suspected of tipping off the Russians.A telegram from Washington stating that MI6 counter-intelligence officer, John Cairncross, later identified as the fifth man in the Cambridge spy ring, had admitted spying for Russia.An account of an interview between an MI5 interrogator and MI5 officer Antony Blunt, in which Blunt confesses to spying for the Soviet Union. Blunt, the fourth man in the Cambridge spy ring passed on secrets including German communications decrypted by Bletchley Park to Russia. He was responsible for recruiting Cairncross.Kim Philbys typewritten confession, largely considered unreliable which he, handed over to an MI5 officer in Beirut admitting that he spied for Russia between 1934 and 1946. Philby admitted tipping off Donald Mclean another member of the Cambridge spy ring that his cover was about to be blown, resulting in his defection to Russia with Guy Burgess.MI5 and the National Archives will feature an exhibition on the work of MI5 at the National Archives in Kew in the Spring. The exhibition, the first in MI5s 115 year history, features original case files, photographs, and papers, and espionage equipment, alongside videos of former MI5 directors general.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 03: UFC president Dana White is seen on stage during the UFC 272 press ... [+] conference on March 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLCUFC President Dana White said he wanted Holly Holm to retire. Holm doesnt want to retire, so the promotion has granted her release, per The Uncrowneds Ariel Helwani.Holm, 43, still had two fights left on her UFC contract, but per Helwani, she asked to become a free agent so she could pursue other opportunities.Holms agent, Lenny Fresquez, says his client is open to a return to boxing or fighting in other MMA organizations.LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 21: Holly Holm prepares to fight Ketlen Vieira of Brazil in a bantamweight ... [+] bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 21, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLCDuring Holms legendary career in the UFC, she tallied an 8-7 record with one no contest. Holm won the UFC womens bantamweight championship in November 2015 when she scored a head-kick KO win over Ronda Rousey in one of the biggest upsets in MMA history.MORE FOR YOUMELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 15: (R-L) Holly Holm kicks Ronda Rousey in their UFC women's ... [+] bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 193 event at Etihad Stadium on November 15, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesHolm lost the title to Miesha Tate in her first defense, but over the course of her career, she fought a whos who of womens MMA. Here is a list of the top fighters and former champions Holm faced and her record against them:Raquel Pennington: 2-0Ronda Rousey: 1-0Miesha Tate: 0-1Marion Reneau: 1-0Valentina Shevchenko: 0-1Bethe Correia: 1-0Irene Aldana: 1-0Germaine de Randamie: 0-1Ketlen Vieira: 0-1Cris Cyborg: 0-1Amanda Nunes: 0-1Kayla Harrison: 0-1Besides Julianna Pea, Holm has fought every woman who ever wore the UFC womens bantamweight crown. Shes also fought all three of the former UFC womens featherweight champions.Quite honestly, many will say she was robbed in her unanimous decision loss to de Randamie in 2017. Had that decision gone Holms way, she would hold double-champion distinction.The accomplishment Holm has that we may never see again is her status as the only person to be a legitimate world champion in both boxing and MMA.Based on that and a few of her legendary wins, Holm should be a lock for the UFC Hall of Fame.Holms UFC career didnt end on a strong note. She was easily defeated by Harrison via second-round submission at UFC 300 in April and has been inactive since the defeat.At 43, Holm doesnt have a ton of fighting ahead of her. She is an accomplished boxer, but the game has changed since she boxed full-time. Its tough to imagine her stepping into the ring and defeating fighters like Amanda Serrano, Mikaela Mayer, or even Claressa Shields, but theres a chance she could make a solid paycheck against those women.ALBUQUERQUE, NM - JUNE 10: IBA & WBAN Junior welterweight champion Holly Holm (l) (29-1-3) battles ... [+] Victoria Cisneros (5-11-2) at Route 66 Casino's Legends Theater on June 10, 2011 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Photo by Steve Snowden/Getty Images)Getty ImagesHolm trained with Shields when the latter was preparing for MMA, so theyre familiar with one another.Holm could potentially sign with the Professional Fighters League to compete as a featherweight, or she could look at the Global Fight League, where they are embracing older fighters on their roster.Its tough to say which route makes more sense, but it depends on Holms goals. If she is looking to maximize the time she has left in combat sports while collecting the biggest paydays, moving to boxing might be the best option.However, if she aspires to capture more championship gold, the GFL could be an attractive option for Holm.No matter what, its been a strong run for the former champion.

What just happened? A federal judge has given the Department of Justice the green light to sell off thousands of Bitcoins tied to the government's shutdown of the Silk Road online black market. A Nevada-based venture capital firm, Battle Born Investments, attempted to block the sale as it sought to learn the identity of "Individual X." According to the government, Individual X hacked the Silk Road and stole the Bitcoins in question. The 69,370 Bitcoins have a street value of more than $6.3 billion. A single Bitcoin trades for $91,832 as of this writing.The timing of the decision is worth noting. Donald Trump, who said at a Bitcoin conference last year that the government would hold on to 100 percent of the Bitcoins in its possession if he were to be elected, is set to take office on January 20. It is unclear if Trump will attempt to block the liquidation.A sudden sell-off of nearly 70,000 Bitcoins would have an adverse impact on the market, so it's unlikely the government would take that route. Instead, they'd probably break the coins up into smaller batches as they've done in the past.It's also worth noting that the court's decision doesn't mandate a sale but rather, simply paves the way for a potential sale.It's unclear exactly how many Bitcoins the US government has seized over the years that are tied to the Silk Road. In mid-2014, the government auctioned off nearly 30,000 coins all of which were purchased by investor Tim Draper. Another auction in December of the same year saw the government offload 50,000 more Bitcoins. Another 50,000 Bitcoins were auctioned off in March 2015. // Related StoriesBitcoin has been on the upswing ever since early November, and hit a new all-time high of $106K in mid-December. The market has cooled a bit since then but with Trump's second term kicking off next week, the volatile cryptocurrency could very well be gearing up for yet another wild run.Image credit: Diana Light

There were high hopes for the maiden launch of Blue Origins New Glenn rocket on Sunday, but sadly, it wasnt to be.The late-night NG-1 mission was supposed to be a giant leap for Blue Origin rocket technology, but the 98-meter-tall vehicle failed to get off the ground as planned.Recommended VideosBlue Origins live stream kicked off at midnight ET, 60 minutes before the three-hour launch window opened for the New Glenns departure from Cape Canaveral in Florida.Please enable Javascript to view this contentWelcoming viewers to the stream, presenters Ariane Cornell and Denisse Aranda beamed enthusiastically as they shared their excitement for the debut flight of Blue Origins first orbital rocket.This is happening, Ariane said. Except that it wasnt.At around 12:30 a.m., with 27 minutes to go until the first launch opportunity, the stream dropped in on a bunch of kids and their parents waiting to watch the launch from a park close to Cape Canaveral. The children smiled and cheered, perhaps in anticipation of the imminent liftoff, though definitely because they were up way past their bedtimes. We also visited Blue Origin employees at multiple sites across the U.S., cheering excitedly ahead of launch. The one that didnt quite happen.Early on, things seemed to be going smoothly enough for the spaceflight company founded by Jeff Bezos. But then, just 17 minutes from liftoff, the countdown clock on the screen suddenly disappeared before quickly reappearing with an extra 20 minutes added. If you blinked, you wouldve missed it.They just need a couple more minutes that is A OK with all of us, Ariane said in a reassuring voice that gave no indication of what was coming.It was fine, anyway, as the delay gave the live stream more time to play all of the prepared video inserts explaining everything about the New Glenn rocket and its Blue Ring Pathfinder payload.But disappointingly, 11 minutes later, the countdown clock jumped again, adding another 14 minutes to take it back to 33 minutes. Folks watching the stream at home may have started to wonder if the problem was with the clock itself, not with the rocket. At this rate, unless the engineers could work out why the darn clock kept adding minutes, we could be stuck here for weeks.But then things began to look up as the clock ticked all the way down to 9 minutes before launch before suddenly resetting to 29 minutes. There was mention of a checklist that the Blue Origin engineers had to get through.Popular YouTuber Tim Dodd of Everyday Astronaut, who was running his own live stream commentating on the commentators, took a deep breath. Oh no, another delay. You know, its not ideal for my sleep schedule, its really not, Tim said.Back at the park, the kids werent smiling anymore. Approaching 2 a.m. ET, it really was way past their bedtime now. Even some of the parents had a its way past my bedtime, too, look on their faces. Heck, even Bezos was probably stifling a yawn or two. One little girl, who fortunately was still awake, was asked what she was most looking forward to about the launch. Going home once this is all over, she probably wanted to say, but staying on-message like a true Blue Origin believer, she responded: For the rocket to go up into space. She didnt know it then, but it was asking a lot.Promisingly, the clock continued to tick down, all the way to 14 minutes. And then reset to 35 minutes. This time around, Ariane, perhaps not wanting to believe it, didnt even acknowledge the delay. Exhausted folks at home may have started to wonder if their mind was playing tricks on them.Tim emitted a chuckle of despair but tried to stay clear-headed about the situation. I expect this, I expect delays, I am not shocked by this, he said in a tone of voice that made you wonder if he really believed what he was saying.By 2:15 a.m., the official Blue Origin live stream appeared to have run out of video inserts, leaving viewers to stare at footage of a rocket still very much on terra firma.The New Glenn on the launchpad. Hey, I aint going nowhere! Blue OriginAt 11 minutes until liftoff, the countdown clock jumped yet again, resetting to 38 minutes. Noooo, noooo, nooooo! Tim said, noting that Blue Origins launch window was rapidly closing.Theyre working through their checklist, Ariane said again, leaving viewers to wonder if the oft-mentioned checklist, if laid out on a single piece of paper, might reach all the way to the moon.The countdown clock made it to 12 minutes, and then, in its oddest switch yet, flipped to zero seconds. Its lifting off, its lifting off, Tim said, adding, Its not lifting off that is not a good sign.The Blue Origin live stream camera stayed firmly fixed on the New Glenn rocket, which itself appeared to be firmly fixed to the ground. Ariane and Denisse stayed silent. Perhaps theyd fallen asleep. Folks watching the live stream continued to stare at the rocket. The silence was deafening. Had everyone gone home and forgotten to tell them?At around 3 a.m., and possibly having just enjoyed a brief power nap, Ariane returned to the stream to announce that the launch had been scrubbed. The reason? Not a faulty countdown clock, but a vehicle subsystem issue.Tim summed it up before heading to bed. I kind of expected that, to be honest. Better to be safe than sorry.Hes right. Its not unusual for maiden launches like this to face such issues. Blue Origin has to get it right, and its just bad luck for the folks who stayed up late in anticipation of enjoying what should eventually be a spectacular launch. Therell be another chance soon, and hopefully the New Glenn will finally get to fire up its rocket engines and head skyward.Fancy trying for another launch? SpaceXs Starship megarocket is supposed to lift off on its seventh test flight on Wednesday. But do keep an eye on that countdown clock.Editors Recommendations

Screven gave his notice Jan. 8 and intends to depart in February, the cloud software company said Monday. Screven has worked at Oracle for 38 years.

Blue goes for two After quick turnaround, New Glenn to make another launch attempt early Tuesday Weather conditions are not particularly favorable early on Tuesday. Eric Berger Jan 13, 2025 8:50 pm | 2 Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket on the launch pad for testing earlier this year. Credit: Blue Origin Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket on the launch pad for testing earlier this year. Credit: Blue Origin Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreBlue Origin announced on Monday evening that it plans to make a second attempt to launch the New Glenn rocket at 1 am ET (06:00 UTC) on Tuesday.In the company's short update, it confirmed earlier reporting by Ars that the first attempt on Monday morning was scrubbed due to ice buildup on a vent line. "This mornings scrub was due to ice forming in a purge line on an auxiliary power unit that powers some of our hydraulic systems," the company said.Blue Origin has apparently managed to address both the rocket's technical problems, while also replenishing liquid oxygen, methane, and other commodities needed to fuel the large booster within a 24-hour period.With that said, conditions for a launch early on Tuesday morning are not propitious. According to forecasters at the 45th Space Wing, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, there is a 70 percent chance unfavorable launch conditions. Concerns include cumulus clouds, thick clouds, and liftoff winds.Although the company has a three-hour launch window once again, from 1 am to 4 am ET, it is possible that Blue Origin could seek an extension of that window to allow more time to find favorable weather or address new technical issues that crop up during the countdown.If New Glenn is unable to launch on Tuesday morning, the company would likely need to stand down for 48 hours, until Thursday morning. That's because a Falcon 9 rocket carrying two private lunar landers, one built by Firefly and the other ispace, is due to launch during a similar early morning window on Wednesday.Blue Origin again plans to provide a webcast carrying live coverage of New Glenn's launch attempt on the company's website.Eric BergerSenior Space EditorEric BergerSenior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 2 Comments

The tattooed hand of a 1200-year-old mummy from PeruMichael Pittman and Thomas G KayeThe intricate details of tattoos inked more than 1200 years ago have been made visible by scanning South American mummies with lasers.The mummies, belonging to a pre-Hispanic people known as the Chancay, were found in 1981 at the Cerro Colorado cemetery in the Huaura valley of Peru. AdvertisementWhile it was clear to the naked eye that many of the 100 mummies were tattooed, the ink had bled beyond the boundaries of the original designs and also faded, making it impossible to see what the original markings would have looked like.In a new study, Michael Pittman at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and his colleagues ran lasers over the specimens in a dark room and took long-exposure photographs. The lasers caused the skin to glow brightly, producing a stark contrast with the non-fluorescent tattoo ink.This technique, which causes no damage to the mummies, has never been used on tattoos before. Importantly, it shows not just where ink is on the surface but also in the deeper layers of the skin, says Pittman. Keep up with advances in archaeology and evolution with our subscriber-only, monthly newsletter.Sign up to newsletterThis helped us to see past the bleed accumulated over the lifetime of the tattoos owner to reveal the finer original design of the tattoos, he says.The researchers believe the tattoos are so fine that they must have been made using a needle and ink technique with a cactus needle or sharpened animal bone, rather than a cut and fill method.Tattoos seem to have been important to the Chancay, says Pittman, as they are found on a large proportion of known mummified human remains.A tattooed forearm of a Chancay mummyMichael Pittman and Thomas G KayeMany of the designs, geometric patterns featuring triangles and diamonds, are shared in their other artistic media too such as pottery and textiles, and some pottery human figures even show geometric tattoo designs, he says.Some of the tattoos seem to have required special effort due to their intricate designs, while others are small and simple. So, to some extent, ancient Chancay tattoos show a lot of parallels to the variation in design and significance we can observe among tattoos today, says PittmanPittman says many traditional tattoos made by other ancient people could also be viewed in detail using the laser-stimulated fluorescent technique. We therefore plan to apply the method to other ancient tattoos from cultures around the world to try and make other interesting discoveries, he says.Journal reference:PNAS DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2421517122 Topics:archaeology

Eric Sim retired from his 20-year banking career in 2017 after achieving financial freedom.But the former investment bank managing director says he's not a fan of the FIRE lifestyle.Sim became a professional speaker and executive coach after he left banking in 2017.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Eric Sim, 54, a former banker who became a published author, professional speaker, and career coach. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider previously published an essay about Sim's banking career.When I started my career in banking, I didn't give much thought to retiring early.I figured I would retire at age 65 and engage in typical retirement activities like going on cruises and hanging out with old friends.But things changed after I became a managing director at UBS. After working for a few years there, where I managed to earn multiple annual bonuses, I realized that I was actually financially free.That got me thinking: If I didn't need to work for someone else, what would I do?I knew that I couldn't just quit my job without a plan. I needed to find a meaningful project to which I could devote my energies.After much thought and reflection, I decided to leave banking to run my own training institute for young professionals. I started the Institute of Life in 2015 with the mission of helping young people achieve success at work and in life.FIRE isn't as great as you think it is Since leaving banking, Sim has become a professional speaker and executive coach. In 2021, he coauthored a book on career guidance called "Small Actions." Eric Sim Even though I have achieved financial freedom, I'm not a fan of the Financial Independence Retire Early, or FIRE, movement.To achieve FIRE, you must save a lot of your income during your working years. But the truth is, people often don't have a clear idea of what retiring will look like for them or if they'll enjoy it especially if they're in the weeds and working toward it.Of course, when you first retire, you can do whatever you want. You can travel overseas, hit the spa, or play golf.After working for 10 to 20 years, being free from the grind for the first three months feels good. But you'll get bored very quickly.When you are working, you don't have to plan for what you want to do. Your day job will give you more than enough things to do.But if you are financially independent, without a regular schedule to adhere to, you need to find projects to occupy your time. If you don't do that, then your days are wasted.A good retirement isn't just about having money in the bankTo have a good retirement, you will need three types of capital. Besides financial capital, you need human and social capital if you want to make the most of your time.Human capital refers to the knowledge you possess. You can build this up through your career or through your side hustles and hobbies. By developing your interests and skills, you will know what activities you want to do when you go into retirement mode.Social capital refers to the goodwill you accumulate with others. The small help that you offer to others can come back in a big way when you retire.Ultimately, you need to know what you want to do after leaving your day job. If there is something that you always wanted to do, and is meaningful, I would say go for it.But if you have nothing to look forward to and don't have a mission yet, just stay in your day job. You can still pursue your own interests on the side without quitting your job.