'White media' put Juwan Howard — now-former Michigan basketball coach — on 'hot seat,' reporter declares at news conference



A reporter told Juwan Howard during a Wednesday night news conference — when Howard was still head basketball coach for the University of Michigan — that "white media" put him on the "hot seat" amid a disappointing season.

The Wolverines had just lost that night to Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament, and Howard indeed was fired Friday in the wake of an 8-24 record, which ESPN called "one of its worst seasons in 60 years."

But it sure seemed like Charles Hallman — a staff writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder — had other things on his mind at the news conference.

Hallman — whose X bio indicates he's a "longtime Black journalist who works hard at what I do" — opened with the following to Howard: "Coach ... first of all, we’re praying for you that your health will improve." Howard had heart surgery in September.

"Thank you, brother," Howard replied. "I appreciate that, man."

With that, Hallman continued with what sounded much more like a racially charged statement than a question.

"There’s three black coaches in this conference, and throughout the season each one of you has been put on a hot seat by the white media. I’m hoping that you survive this because we know black coaches sometimes don’t," Hallman said. "But can you speak on just the fact that the three of you are doing the job that you’ve been hired to do, representing as coaches? There was black kids in the stands today that got to see you coach and will see the other two black coaches during this tournament. Can you just speak on that?"

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Howard didn't seem to directly address Hallman's racially charged words but others sure did:

  • "What a sad world we live in," another commenter said. "Pathetic."
  • "This crap is getting really old," another user stated. "It’s a tiresome act."
  • "Poor Juwan can't catch a break, this racist country is really holding him down," another commenter quipped.
  • "'White media...'. Buddy you went 8-24. The excuses people use today for poor performance is embarrassing," another user observed.
  • "His black boss hired him and fired him," another commenter noted. "This [is] really nothing to fuss about."

But at least one X user backed Hallman's words: "Don’t have to like the question but it was asked. Coach Howard has had a bad season... historically bad at that. I do appreciate the media being called exactly what they are. They’re not the Black media, so they’re definitely the white media."

Anything else?

ESPN, citing sources, said UM still owes Howard $3 million.

More from the sports network:

Howard was suspended for five games in February 2022 for hitting Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft in the face after a game. During the postgame handshake line after Wisconsin's 77-63 win, Howard and Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard exchanged words before being surrounded by players and coaches. In the ensuing scrum, Krabbenhoft exchanged words with Howard and then Howard reached out and struck Krabbenhoft's face.
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AI cameras can now predict and stop crimes before they happen

We’re now living in “Minority Report.” Japan’s National Police is set to embark on a terrifying experiment involving using advanced AI-powered security cameras to preempt major crimes. These AI-enhanced cameras will specialize in machine-learning pattern recognition across three distinct categories: behavior detection for spotting suspicious conduct, object detection for identifying weapons, and intrusion detection to safeguard restricted areas.

This initiative is expected to roll out within this fiscal year—ending March 2024—after the shocking assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the subsequent attempted attack on current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Such high-profile crimes, often committed by so-called ‘lone offenders’—individuals disassociated from society—have prompted Japan’s police to explore crime-prevention strategies.

Proponents assert that the AI’s' behavior detection’ algorithm can learn by observing patterns indicative of suspicious activities, such as repetitive, anxious glances. Previous attempted AI-aided security have homed in on behaviors like restlessness and fidgeting, which may indicate unease or guilt. This is a worrying leap forward in what is possible for modern security agencies.

The Chinese model goes global

From ubiquitous police cameras on street corners to online monitoring and censorship, the Chinese population is constantly under surveillance. Now, a new generation of technology is delving into the vast pool of data gathered from daily activities, aiming to predict crimes and protests before they occur. However, these predictive systems aren’t just targeting those with a criminal record; they are also used to identify vulnerable groups, including ethnic minorities and individuals with a history of mental illness.

This cutting-edge technology relies on algorithms that sift through data, seeking patterns and deviations that could indicate potential threats. While these algorithms are anathema to many in the West, they’re being heralded as triumphs in China.

Reports detail instances where the technology flagged suspicious behavior, leading to investigations and uncovering fraud and pyramid schemes. However, these technologies extend far beyond surveillance. They are a powerful weapon for a society seeking to maintain near-total social control over the populace.

China’s focus on maintaining social stability is unwavering, and any perceived threat to it is aggressively silenced. Under the regime of President Xi Jinping, the security state has become more centralized, deploying technology to quell unrest, enforce strict COVID-19 lockdowns, and curb dissent. Unfortunately, China appears to be the model for leaders like Justin Trudeau and others.

Policing the homeland

Described as a groundbreaking innovation by TIME Magazine in 2011, predictive policing has been quietly rolled out across the US. Numerous police departments in the country are experimenting with predictive software, envisioning a future where law enforcement could foresee and thwart crimes before they unfold. Developers tout this technology as a means to eliminate human bias, enhance the precision of policing, and optimize resource allocation.

This approach gained momentum with substantial federal grants directed towards smart policing solutions. The LAPD, led by Police Chief William Bratton, spearheaded one of the initial trials in 2009 with $3 million in federal funding. The goal was to predict crime-prone areas and deploy officers preemptively to deter criminal activities. The involvement of respected figures like Bratton lent credibility to the technology, leading to its adoption by other departments nationwide. By 2014, a survey revealed that 38% of 200 surveyed departments were using predictive policing, and 70% were planning to implement it in the coming years.

Using data to find high-crime areas and deploy more resources is a reasonable use of data. However, with the rapid advancements of AI technology and the universal tracking of our devices, how long before the regime turns this pre-crime tech loose on the populace? We’re going to have to grapple with these questions because the AI is quickly reaching “Black Mirror” horror levels of surveillance.

While Americans are tightening their belts, the government is a pig feeding at the trough



With inflation rampant, it’s been an incredibly tough couple of years for Americans. Their real disposable personal income is down, their personal savings (as measured by the personal saving rate) is down, and they have record household debt.

With that reality, Americans are having to tighten their belts. Whether it is cutting back on entertainment, making substitutions in how and what they eat, or otherwise, when financial times are tight, many Americans are forced to make tough decisions and trade-offs.

The government is not doing any of that. With a real deficit of $2 trillion for the 2023 fiscal year (after an accounting adjustment), the U.S. Treasury Department recently announced that it would need to borrow $776 billion this quarter and another $816 billion next quarter to keep the government functioning.

For those who aren’t quick with the math, that’s just about a whopping $1.6 trillion in the next six months.

And, of course, the interest rates to finance that debt keep rising, making all of that funding increasingly expensive.

It doesn’t take an economist or financial analyst to know this is unsustainable. The International Monetary Fund has said America’s financial position is unsustainable. The Treasury Department and the Congressional Budget Office have said the same in recent years. The crisis is clear to just about everyone — everyone except for the people in charge.

While Americans are looking for places to cut back, the government continues to feed like a pig at a trough.

In a recent interview, investor Stanley Druckenmiller recounted that this father once told him, “If you’re in a hole, stop digging,” while criticizing reckless government spending policies. Yet the government keeps passing around the picks and shovels.

Of course, Druckenmiller is spot-on — and he is far from the only financial expert sounding alarms. U.S. government deficits hover around 8% of GDP, a crazy level at any time but more so now, given that we are in a period of economic “expansion” (that is, deficits should be shrinking as the economy grows).

The national debt is headed toward $34 trillion, which on a debt-to-GDP basis is more than 120%. The IMF has previously noted that U.S. debt becomes too much for a country to handle at around 70% to 80% of gross domestic product. If the United States didn’t have the world’s reserve currency — a status and privilege that other countries are attacking as you read this — we would likely be in a full-blown currency crisis.

Are the Fed, the Treasury, and Congress all in denial? Are they more incompetent than 10 people that you could pick at random off the street? Are they intentionally trying to destroy the U.S. economy? Or are they hoping they can patch everything together just long enough to reap as many rewards for themselves as possible and blame the next guy when it all falls apart?

It was time to get serious years ago. Now, it’s imperative. Call your representatives. Organize peaceful marches on the Fed, the Treasury, and Congress. Make this a top priority in all of your discussions. Americans have had to make sacrifices, but those in charge are making none. That needs to change immediately.

Google's AI-optimized traffic lights reduce congestion — 30% fewer stops, 10% drop in emissions



Google is using artificial intelligence technology to optimize traffic lights in order to reduce congestion and lower emissions.

In a blog article posted by Google earlier this month, the technology giant announced that its early data points revealed that AI-optimized traffic lights could reduce stops by 30% and emissions by 10%.

Google's Project Green Light partnered with more than a dozen cities to improve traffic flow and reduce stop-and-go emissions. The company stated that pollution at city intersections "can be 29 times higher than on open roads," citing a 2016 paper.

"About half of the emissions at intersections comes from traffic stopping and starting, and we found that by leveraging AI we can reduce these emissions by optimizing traffic lights," Google's article said.

It noted that many traffic lights use outdated configurations because it can be expensive for cities to obtain optimization data. By improving the timing of existing traffic light plans, the company believes it can lower emissions and save fuel.

The AI technology utilizes data from Google Maps driving trends to analyze traffic patterns. It then makes timing recommendations that can be implemented by city engineers "in as little as five minutes." Ultimately, the goal is to coordinate traffic lights across several intersections, creating "waves of green lights."

"Green Light is now live in 70 intersections in 12 cities, 4 continents, from Haifa, Israel to Bangalore, India to Hamburg, Germany – and in these intersections we are able to save fuel and lower emissions for up to 30M car rides monthly," Google stated.

The tech company claims that utilizing its AI-generated recommendation can be a "high-impact way for cities to go Green" without any additional expensive hardware purchases and installations. Google is currently offering the service at no cost to its partner cities. However, there is currently a waiting list to join Green Light. Google noted it aims to add more cities to the program next year.

Google VP of Geo Sustainability Yael Maguire stated, "Early numbers indicate a potential for us to see a 30 percent reduction in stops. We believe green light is unique because it is more scalable and cost effective for cities than alternative options."

"Our AI recommendations work with existing infrastructure and traffic systems," Maguire continued. "City engineers are able to monitor the impact and see results within weeks."

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New York school teachers charged with punching, forcibly touching 12-year-old students



Two school teachers in New York City have been arrested and put on administrative leave after reportedly punching and inappropriately touching 12-year-old students. The incidents allegedly took place on separate occasions.

The NY Daily News reported that Brian Thomas, 33, was arrested after he apparently punched a pre-teen boy inside PS 161 in Manhattanville around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. The boy was subsequently taken to the hospital, but he was not seriously injured. The report did not indicate what led to the altercation.

Thomas was reportedly charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment.

“This alleged behavior is very troubling and completely unacceptable,” Jenna Lyle, a Department of Education spokeswoman, said. “This employee has been reassigned away from the school and students pending the outcome of the arrest and if convicted, we will pursue termination.”

Just a short time later in the Bronx, Mohamed Baksh, 70, was arrested on charges of sexual misconduct, forcible touching, and endangering the welfare of a child, per the report. The arrest took place in the 42nd Precinct.

The female student claimed Baksh had groped her breast while trying to give her a hug.

Lyle stated that Baksh's alleged behavior was "concerning and unacceptable."

“Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our students,” she added.

She noted that Baksh had been reassigned away from students, and that the department would move forward with termination if he was convicted of the crime.

This arrests come after another New York teacher was recently caught with graphic images of child sex abuse. As part of an investigation, an FBI agent pretending to be a 13-year-old girl named "Riley" traded messages with Kostas Fekkas, 34, who allegedly said that he preferred underage girls, and that he had sex "with a 10th grader once."

Fekkas taught at a charter school located in Manhattan when he was arrested on September 14. He allegedly kept child sex abuse material on a cellphone app that looked like a calculator called HideU. Investigators discovered explicit photos of a 12-year-old girl on Fekkas' phone.

When messaging "Riley," Fekkas apparently pushed her to send nude photos. When "Riley" sent a photo of her face, Fekkas allegedly responded: "Like I'd make out with you all day lolllll (sic)." He eventually went on to say that he wanted her "to be super comfortable before you show me more of your face and before I get to see your body."

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