North Carolina is gearing up for a spectacular celestial event as a total solar eclipse is set to occur on April 8, 2024. The path of totality will run through several cities in the state including Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Burlington. One of the prime viewing locations for this rare event will be Tapoco, where the eclipse magnitude is expected to reach a staggering 88.5%. On the other hand, Bald Head Island will see the lowest magnitude at 75.5%. The eclipse is predicted to reach its peak in Tapoco at 3:07 p.m. and in Corolla at 3:20 p.m. Total solar…
Author: Robert Gill
Popular social media platform Reddit is making headlines as it prepares to go public with an initial public offering (IPO) that values the company at $6.4 billion. This IPO is set to raise $748 million by selling 22 million shares, making it the largest IPO by a social media company in years. The valuation of Reddit has dropped from its 2021 valuation of $10 billion during a private funding round. However, with approximately 267 million weekly average users, Reddit has solidified its position as one of the largest social networks. Despite facing net losses each year since its debut in…
A groundbreaking development in the field of speech-to-video mapping has been revealed by a research team, as reported in a recent research paper published by the group. The team has introduced a two-stage pipeline that utilizes stochastic diffusion models to accurately map speech to video. The first stage of the pipeline involves a network that generates intermediate body motion controls based on the audio waveform. This network is able to capture subtle nuances in gaze, facial expressions, and pose, creating a realistic representation of the speaker’s movements. In the second stage, a temporal image-to-image translation model takes the predicted body…
Blizzard’s latest patch for World of Warcraft introduces new battle royale mode, Plunderstorm Blizzard has surprised World of Warcraft players with the release of patch 10.2.6, which includes a new limited-time battle royale game mode called Plunderstorm. This pirate-themed mode offers a unique gameplay experience that differs from the regular WoW gameplay. Plunderstorm introduces new mechanics such as a maximum of six abilities per player, no auto-attacks or classes, and no gear or inventory management. The mode will run for six weeks and is accessible to all WoW subscribers, whether they play the modern version of the game or WoW…
Former Mississippi sheriff’s deputy Hunter Elward was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the torture of two Black men in January 2023. Elward pleaded guilty to federal charges including discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice. The victims, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, detailed how the officers illegally entered their home, handcuffed, kicked, waterboarded, tased, and attempted to sexually assault them before shooting Jenkins. Elward apologized to the victims during his sentencing hearing, but additional sentencing for other officers…
A recent surge in violence in Haiti’s capital has left upscale neighborhoods in turmoil, with at least a dozen people dead in surrounding areas. Gangs attacked neighborhoods in Laboule and Thomassin, looting homes and forcing residents to flee, begging for police intervention. The streets of Pétionville were recently lined with the bodies of at least 12 men, as crowds gathered around the victims. This violence comes despite Prime Minister Ariel Henry announcing his resignation in response to gang demands for a transitional presidential council. Haiti’s power company reported that four substations were destroyed, leaving large portions of Port-au-Prince without electricity.…
Republican states Missouri and Louisiana have taken legal action against the Biden administration, alleging coordination with Big Tech to censor certain messages, sparking a heated debate in the Supreme Court. Justices are considering whether the government’s actions amount to coercion or permissible persuasion. During the proceedings, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson emphasized the government’s duty to protect citizens while also raising concerns about pressuring platforms to censor information. The case involves 67 federal agencies allegedly coercing platforms to censor posts related to COVID-19 restrictions and the 2020 presidential election results. Both the U.S. District Court and Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals…
A recent study has brought to light alarming statistics on the number of children living in poverty in the United States. The data reveals that one in five children in the country is currently living in poverty, with minority and immigrant children being disproportionately affected. Experts are warning that the ongoing pandemic has only worsened the situation, leading to even more children experiencing economic hardship. Children living in poverty face a number of negative outcomes, including food insecurity, lack of access to healthcare, and limited educational opportunities. Advocates are calling for increased support and policies to address child poverty and…
On April 8, a rare celestial event will captivate the skies of the United States as a total solar eclipse sweeps across more than a dozen states from Texas to Maine. This natural phenomenon is expected to draw in an impressive audience of up to four million people, potentially making it one of the most viewed events of its kind in history. The upcoming eclipse, falling on a Monday, has sparked a surge in travel plans as many enthusiasts are seizing the opportunity to turn it into a long weekend getaway. With the next solar eclipse not happening for another…
A swarm of bees caused quite a buzz at the BNP Paribas Open quarterfinal match between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, disrupting play for nearly two hours. The unexpected visitors made their presence known as they buzzed around Alcaraz, prompting him to swat at them and leading to the match being suspended. Despite the delay, Alcaraz managed to maintain his focus and went on to secure a convincing 6-3, 6-1 victory over Zverev in less time than the interruption lasted. As the players left the court, dozens of bees attached themselves to an overhead spider camera, creating quite the spectacle…