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Today β€” 13 January 2025Main stream

Our New FOIA Forum! 1/23, 1PM EST

13 January 2025 at 10:43
Our New FOIA Forum! 1/23, 1PM EST

It’s that time again! We’re planning our latest FOIA Forum, a live, hour-long or more interactive session where Joseph and Jason will teach you how to pry records from government agencies through public records requests. We’re planning this for Thursday, 23rd January at 1 PM Eastern. Add it to your calendar! 

So, what’s the FOIA Forum? We'll share our screen and show you specifically how we file FOIA requests. We take questions from the chat and incorporate those into our FOIAs in real-time. We’ll also check on some requests we filed last time. This time we're particularly focusing on how to use FOIA in the new Trump administration. We'll talk all about local, state, and federal agencies; tricks for getting the records you want; requesting things you might not have thought of; and how to apply when the federal government tries to withhold those records.

If this will be your first FOIA Forum, don’t worry, we will do a quick primer on how to file requests (although if you do want to watch our previous FOIA Forums, the video archive is here). We really love talking directly to our community about something we are obsessed with (getting documents from governments) and showing other people how to do it too.

Paid subscribers can already find the link to join the livestream below. We'll also send out a reminder a day or so before. Not a subscriber yet? Sign up now here in time to join.

We've got a bunch of FOIAs that we need to file and are keen to hear from you all on what you want to see more of. Most of all, we want to teach you how to make your own too. Please consider coming along!

Our New FOIA Forum! 1/23, 1PM EST

Philadelphia mayor announces new plan to keep 76ers arena in South Philadelphia, pursue WNBA team

13 January 2025 at 10:55
The Philadelphia 76ers will partner with Comcast Spectacor to build a new arena in South Philadelphia and abandon a deal to move downtown

Β© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Bitcoin is β€˜a Ponzi scheme’ that β€˜has no intrinsic value,’ JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says

13 January 2025 at 11:05

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has reignited his criticism of Bitcoin, calling it β€œa Ponzi scheme” that β€œhas no intrinsic value.” In an interview with 60 Minutes, Dimon reiterated his skepticism, saying, β€œBitcoin has no intrinsic value. It’s used heavily […]

The post Bitcoin is β€˜a Ponzi scheme’ that β€˜has no intrinsic value,’ JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says first appeared on Tech Startups.

Scoop: Schumer's private plotting for explosive Hegseth confirmation hearing

13 January 2025 at 10:36

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Democrats on the Armed Services Committee will huddle Monday amid a standoff over Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Only one top Senate Democrat has read Hegseth's FBI background check since it was given to Congress last week. His confirmation hearing begins on Tuesday morning.


  • Paperwork delays meant the background checks and other materials for top Trump nominees were given to lawmakers late. Democrats have pushed for the reports to be available to all members before the hearings.
  • Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the panel's top Democrat, met with Hegseth last week. Reed said the meeting did not relieve his concerns about Hegseth's nomination.
  • Hegseth's hearing is the party's first shot to carry out the demands handed down by Schumer β€” skewer Trump's nominees and the MAGA brand.

Zoom in: The background report on Hegseth is particularly important given allegations of sexual assault and financial mismanagement of a nonprofit group.

  • Republican senators at the time said the allegations were concerning and wanted more details about the complaints.
  • Hegseth has denied wrongdoing.

The big picture: Schumer has been intimately involved in his caucus' prep for the confirmation hearing showdowns. For him, and for Democrats, the stakes are high.

  • "Republicans spent four years attacking the Democratic brand and we need to use the hearings to begin returning the favor," Schumer told top Democrats in a private meeting in early January.
  • The background check issues will likely rear their head in the hearings. Schumer has criticized Republicans for "rushing" the nomination hearings of nominees like Hegseth.

Details you might have missed in the 'Fourth Wing' book series

13 January 2025 at 10:50
A side-by-side of the covers of "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" by Rebecca Yarros.
"The Empyrean" series has two books to date.

Rebecca Yarros/Entangled Publishing

  • The third installment of "The Empyrean" series by Rebecca Yarros will hit bookshelves on January 21.
  • "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" are full of little details that play a huge role in the story.
  • This article contains spoilers for "The Empyrean" series.

After over a year of waiting, "Fourth Wing" fans are just weeks away from the release of the third book in Rebecca Yarros' "Empyrean" series.

The first two installments in the series, "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame," immediately became New York Times bestsellers, and fans have been anxiously awaiting the release of "Onyx Storm," which Red Tower Books will publish on January 21.

"The Empyrean" series, which follows Violet Sorrengail's journey to become a dragon rider at Basgiath War College, is packed with action and romance. So much happens in both "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" that it's easy to miss small details that have huge significance for the story.

Read on to see what you may have missed in Violet's story so far. You can also check out Business Insider's recaps of "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" while you prepare for the release of "Onyx Storm."

This article contains heavy spoilers for "The Empyrean" series.

The prologue is ominous

A headshot of Rebecca Yarros.
Rebecca Yarros wrote the "Empyrean" series.

Rebecca Yarros/Red Tower Books

"Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" both open with the same short prologue, which states that the books recount real events in the world of Navarre.

"The following text has been faithfully transcribed from Navarrian into the modern language by Jesinia Neilwart, Curator of the Scribe Quadrant at Basgiath War College," the prologues read. "All events are true, and names have been preserved to honor the courage of those fallen. May their souls be commended to Malek."

Some readers may have skipped the prologue, thinking it was superfluous to the text, but the short paragraph offers important clues about the series.

First, Jesinia is an important character in the series. She is Violet's longtime friend and a fellow student at Basgiath from the Scribe Quadrant who helps her translate the texts that contain instructions for raising the wards that protect Navarre. Her close relationship with Violet likely colors the text, and her position as Curator of the Scribe Quadrant confirms that Jesinia survives at least long enough to get promoted to curator and translate the text, as does Basgiath.

But some fans fear the dedication indicates beloved characters β€” like Violet and her partner, Xaden Riorson β€” could die before the end of the series, as it's written in part to "honor the courage of the fallen."

Both installments contain clues about Violet's and Xaden's second signets

Signets are the unique powers riders manifest after they bond with a dragon in the "Empyrean" universe. The signet comes from the dragon's power, and Xaden's dragon Sgaeyl tells Violet in "Fourth Wing" that they "reflect who you are at the core of your being."

It's standard for riders to have one signet, such as Violet's brother Brennan's ability to mend or her mother's power over storms. In "Fourth Wing," Xaden shows Violet he can create and control shadows, while Violet manifests the ability to wield lightning.

But Yarros introduces the concept of riders having two signet powers in the second book β€” and reveals that Xaden has a second signet he has been hiding.

In "Iron Flame," fellow riders Visia and Sloane ask Violet if she will develop a second signet since she is bonded to two dragons. Sloane tells Violet that riders manifest a second signet "when a dragon bonds a rider in the direct familial line as its previous." It's common knowledge that Xaden is related to Sgaeyl's previous rider, though he only tells Violet her former rider was his grandfather. Violet immediately realizes Xaden has a second signet after Sloane's comment because of his confession.

When she confronts Xaden, he tells Violet that he is a type of inntinnsic, or mind reader, who can read people's intentions. Inntinnsics are not allowed to live because of the danger they pose to others, and Xaden has only stayed alive because he kept his power a secret.

Yarros left clues about Xaden's ability throughout "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame." For instance, in one of Violet's first encounters with Xaden, he keeps her hidden in shadows so other children of rebels don't notice she is there. He protects her because he knows she doesn't want to betray them, as he later tells her in "Iron Flame." Violet also often feels a "prickling" sensation in her head when interacting with Xaden in "Fourth Wing," which Yarros told Variety's Jennifer Maas was a hint that Xaden was using his signet on her.

In the same Variety interview, Yarros also confirmed Violet has a second signet because of her two dragons and that it had already manifested in "Iron Flame." She hinted that "Onyx Storm" will explore Violet's additional power.

There are several theories about Violet's second signet, ranging from distance wielding (more on that in a minute) to resurrecting or speaking to the dead.

There were hints that Brennan was alive throughout 'Fourth Wing'

Violet believed her brother Brennan was dead throughout "Fourth Wing," but he was revealed to be alive and fighting for the rebels in Aretia at the end of the book.

Yarros left subtle clues in "Fourth Wing" that he was alive, though.

For instance, when Violet and Xaden meet, she tells him, "Your father killed my older brother. Seems like we're even," and he responds, "Hardly." At first glance, the comment seems like an offhanded remark of frustration, but it's actually a subtle indication they are not even because Brennan is alive.

"Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros.
"Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros.

Red Tower Publishing

The most glaring clue that Brennan was alive came from an interaction between Violet and her friend Liam at the Reunification Ball, when she told him Brennan would hate the celebration.

"Yeah, sounds like…" Liam responds before stopping himself, nearly revealing he knows a very alive Brennan.

But Violet never picked up on the subtext, only discovering Brennan was alive after he mended her at the end of "Fourth Wing."

'Fourth Wing' also contained clues that Jack Barlowe turned venin

In "The Empyrean" series, venin are humans that steal power from the land, sacrificing their souls in the process. They also create wyvern, evil versions of dragons, and Navarre's wards protect its citizens from both creatures.

Violet's nemesis, Jack Barlowe, revealed that he had turned venin in "Iron Flame," but Yarros first hinted at his transformation in "Fourth Wing."

Most notably, Jack used his venin power on Violet when he challenged her during their training at Basgiath, pushing his stolen power into her by holding her face and causing her immense pain.

"Agony fills every cell in my body as violent, vibrating energy rips through me with an intensity that makes it feel like he's cleaving ligament from bone, muscle from tendon," Violet describes the pain. The "violent, vibrating energy" is the power he stole from the land.

She goes on to say that it feels like Jack is "forcing his own power into" her body and notes that he has a "red rim around his eyes" as he attacks her. The venin are known to have red circles around their eyes, so looking back, it was obvious that Jack had turned.

Violet's mother was searching for a cure to turning venin

"Iron Flame" by Rebecca Yarros.
"Iron Flame" by Rebecca Yarros.

Red Tower Publishing

At the top of the final chapter of "Iron Flame," there is a note from Colonel Nolon Colbersy, a mender, to Lilith Sorrengail, Violet's mother, regarding the venin.

"We have tried every method we know of, as you requested. There is no cure. There is only control," it said.

The note indicates Lilith was looking for a cure to turning venin, but Navarre's officials couldn't create one before she died at the end of "Iron Flame."

The note does not indicate when or why Lilith was looking for the cure, though fans have a few theories. Some think Lilith herself could have been venin, while others think her husband may have turned, not died, as Violet believes. Violet was also a general in Navarre's army, so her search could have just been part of her professional duties.

Tairn's previous rider may not be dead

When Violet first hears of Tairn in "Fourth Wing," she is informed that his previous rider, Naolin, died trying to use "resurrection" to save Brennan. Naolin was a siphon, which allowed him to take power from dragons and other riders, and he tried to use those powers to save Brennan, according to a Basgiath professor.

The Navarre government thinks Naolin's attempt was unsuccessful, but he was able to save Brennan β€” though Violet's brother never says Naolin died. In "Iron Flame," Brennan says that "it cost Naolin everything" to save him. That cost could be death, but it could also be turning venin and losing his humanity.

Tairn also never tells Violet exactly what happens to Naolin. He comes up when Tairn warns her against using too much of her power in "Fourth Wing" during their battle with the venin.

"I will not watch another rider die because they do not know their own limitations," Tairn tells Violet, to which she responds, "I'm not Naolin." Tairn's comment could have referred to any number of riders, but Violet thinks he means Naolin.

Violet also offers Tairn condolences about Naolin in "Iron Flame," saying, "I'm sorry your rider died saving my brother."

Instead of confirming the nature of Naolin's supposed death, Tairn says, "We will no longer speak of the one who came before," again making what happened to Naolin unclear.

Some fans think Naolin is the venin Sage who has appeared in Violet and Xaden's dreams, using his defunct connection with Tairn to break into their minds.

There are multiple descriptions of dragons with bad breath

Throughout "Iron Flame," Yarros describes several winged creatures as having issues with their oral hygiene.

Violet says Baide, Jack's dragon, has "dank" breath; she wonders if Dain Aetos' dragon Cath has something "decaying" in her mouth because of how her breath smells; and she thinks Major Varrish's dragon Solas' breath is "fetid."

The wyvern are also described as having rotten teeth in "Iron Flame."

In both installments of "The Empyrean" series, Tairn, Andarna, and other dragons are described as having breath that smells of sulfur β€” which is also not a pleasant scent β€” when they breathe fire or smoke. However, Yarros is specific with her language in those instances, making her deviation to more vague words like "decaying" notable.

Perhaps the descriptions mean nothing, but TikToker Lucies Library thinks the dragons with putrid breath are connected to venin somehow.

There could be a connection between Andarna and distance wielding

At the end of "Iron Flame," Andarna confesses to Violet that she is not a black dragon like Tairn.

Instead, she is a seventh type of dragon unknown to modern humans, and she tells Violet she waited 650 years to hatch so she could bond with her specifically.

Just a few chapters before Andarna's revelation, Violet asks Xaden if he is a distance wielder when she confronts him about his second signet, thinking to herself, "I've only read about two riders in all of history who could cross hundreds of miles in a single step."

"There hasn't been a distance wielder in centuries," Xaden responds before they move on to discuss his actual second signet.

The mention of distance wielding and how long it's been since one appeared feels intentional, particularly when Yarros reveals mere chapters later that Andarna had been waiting hundreds of years for Violet.

There may be a connection between the lack of distance wielders and Andarna's decision to wait to hatch; distance wielding could even be Violet's second signet. Only the third "Empyrean" book will tell.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: 60 Parsecs!, Bright Reappear, Evoland 2, more

By: 9to5Toys
13 January 2025 at 10:41

Your Monday afternoon collection of the best Android game and app deals of the day is now ready to go. Today’s highlight Android-centric hardware deals include Chipolo’s waterproof ONE Google Find My item tracker and Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold at $300 off alongside offers on the 256GB Meta Quest 3S and Samsung’s mid-range M7 Smart Monitor. But for now we are focused on the apps, including titles like 60 Parsecs!, 60 Seconds! Reatomized, Bright Reappear, Evoland 2, and more. Scope them all out down below. 

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MagSafe Monday: ESR’s MagSafe power bank delivers Qi2 charging with a built-in LED panel and kickstand

By: Bradley C
13 January 2025 at 11:00

MagSafe battery packs have changed portable charging for iPhone users. Unlike old-school wired power banks that require a cable to charge your phone, MagSafe batteries snap directly to the back of your iPhone, providing a very easy charging experience. They’re convenient, compact, and perfect for those who want to avoid carrying extra cables. The ESR Qi2 MagSlim Kickstand power bank builds on these benefits, adding some nice features like a kickstand and LED display, making it a great option for charging away from a wall adaptor.

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