Tootfinder

⚠️ AI can generate a feeling of intimacy that exceeds human connections
I discovered 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 for myself in my ill-fated research project of 2021!
https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-ai-generate-intimacy-exceeds-human.html

AI can generate a feeling of intimacy that exceeds human connections
People can develop emotional closeness to artificial intelligence (AI)—under certain conditions, even more so than to other people. This is shown by a new study conducted by a research team led by Prof. Dr. Markus Heinrichs and Dr. Tobias Kleinert from the Department of Psychology at the University of Freiburg and Prof. Dr. Bastian Schiller from Heidelberg University's Institute of Psychology. Participants felt a sense of closeness especially when they did not know that they were communicatin…

"Tree planting can combat urban heat, but some neighborhoods are falling behind"
#Trees #Environment
https://

Tree planting can combat urban heat, but some neighborhoods are falling behind
Sydney communities may be missing out on crucial tree planting projects intended to combat urban heat, leaving western and eastern parts of Greater Sydney with less protection from extreme heat, a University of Sydney-led study has revealed. In a surprising finding, the researchers found that while Greater Sydney's total tree canopy increased by 4.2% from 1.514 billion square meters to 1.578 billion square meters between 2016 and 2022, this growth was not evenly distributed.

But it also looks like Hungary has hope. Any cracks in that kind of concentration of power are good news. Big news.
Difficult days and difficult years ahead, yes — but days with promise, days following on what’s shaping up to be an incredible victory.
Rebecca Solnit says “Hope is not happiness or confidence or inner peace; it’s a commitment to search for possibilities.” So: here’s hoping!
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Human Traces VI ⛩️
人类踪迹 VI ⛩️
📷 Pentax MX
🎞️ Harman Red 125 （FF）
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Trevor Noah Sues Donald Trump Over Alleged Threatening Messages
Following Explosive Truth Social Rant
A high-profile legal and political controversy has erupted
after comedian and television host Trevor Noah filed a lawsuit
against Donald Trump,
alleging that the president sent “damaging, intimidating, and dangerous” private direct messages
following a public dispute tied to comments made during the Grammy Awards

Trevor Noah Files $100m Lawsuit Against Donald Trump for damages, Alleging the President Issued Dangerous and Intimidating Private Messages After Explosive Truth Social Rant where The President Denied Epstein Island Allegation Following Grammy Awards Backlash
Trevor Noah Sues Donald Trump Over Alleged Threatening Messages Following Explosive Truth Social Rant A high-profile legal and political controversy has erupted after comedian and television host Trevor Noah filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, alleging that the president sent “damaging, intimidating, and dangerous” private direct messages following a public dispute tied to comments […]

Raiders’ Kirk Cousins Makes Feelings Clear on Fernando Mendoza https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/las-vegas-raiders/kirk-cousins-feelings-clear-fernando-mendoza/

Writing: the art of staring at a sentence until it behaves.
People think authors glide into inspiration. I trip over it, apologise, and pretend it was intentional.
#writersofmastodon #authors

Metacurity is pleased to offer our free and premium subscribers a weekly round-up of the best infosec-related long reads we couldn't fit into our daily news crush.
Sign up for a free subscription today to check out this week's selection, which delves into the following topics
-- Indian women are crushed by hours of abusive content,
--German-language Telegram channels spread Russian disinformation,
--China has a covert spy-cam porn industry,
--Fears over …

Best infosec-related long reads for the week of 1/31/26
Indian women are crushed by hours of abusive content, German-language Telegram channels spread Russian disinformation, China has a covert spy-cam porn industry, Fears over TikTok's policy changes are really fears of the tech industry, Canada is moving away from US intelligence in space

RE: https://thepit.social/@peter/116376219055579156
I know a lot of people, in software and otherwise, who are feeling things along these lines.
Hold on, whatever tools you’re using, just hold on to your sense of purpose and meaning. There are a lot of forces at work in this world that want to rob you of that. Your feeling of losing that is not recognition of some new fact of our reality; it is you experiencing a psychological weapon.

The race for the next mayor of Los Angeles has become even more intense as
Council Member Nithya Raman officially launched her campaign on Saturday.
Her announcement came just hours before the city’s filing deadline.
Nithya Raman said Los Angeles needs a leader who will take full responsibility for the challenges the city faces.
Raman represents District 4, which stretches from parts of the San Fernando Valley to neighborhoods like Los Feliz, the Hollywood Hills, and…

Who Is Nithya Raman? Meet The Latest Candidate In Los Angeles Mayor’s Race
Nithya Raman has officially joined the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race just before the filing deadline. She brings experience in homelessness, housing, and community planning.