Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Today — 9 January 2025Main stream

Musk blasts Soros in series of posts after Biden gives him nation's top civilian award: 'Hatred of humanity'

9 January 2025 at 14:54

Tesla and Space X CEO Elon Musk has issued blistering criticism of liberal megadonor George Soros in recent days after President Biden awarded the Hungarian-born progressive with the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

"A travesty that Biden is giving Soros the Medal of Freedom," Musk posted on X last week in response to news that the nation’s highest civilian honor would be presented to Soros, whose massive financial empire has been used all across the country to fund campaigns of progressive politicians, legislation, ballot measures and initiatives.

In another post, Musk wrote that Soros was a "genius" when it came to arbitrage, finance or politics, but "I just wish he loved, rather than hated, humanity."

"George Soros’s hatred of humanity includes Israel btw," Musk posted on X referencing a news story with the headline, "Israeli ambassador to UN slams George Soros for funding Hamas-supporting NGOs: Report."

ELON MUSK APPLAUDS ZUCKERBERG'S MOVE ENDING FACT-CHECKING ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Musk also posted a meme of Biden handing the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Emperor Palpatine from the "Star Wars" film franchise and joked, "George Soros looking quite good here. Must be the lighting."

In another post, Musk posted a screenshot from Soros’ website accusing him of spending "billions to create the fake asylum-seeker nightmare that is destroying America and Europe."

ELON MUSK DEMANDS UK ACT ON GROOMING GANG SCANDAL AMID GROWING CALLS FOR PROBE: 'NATIONAL INQUIRY NOW!'

On Thursday, Musk responded on X to a comment from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni where she said that Musk is "not a danger to Democracy" but rather "George Soros is."

"And Soros is being defeated," Musk responded.

Soros, a mega-Democrat donor, runs a web of non-profits that bankroll various candidates around the world who align with his progressive agenda, including his Open Society Foundations. Soros has given over $32 billion to Open Society Foundations since 1984, according to its website. 

"President Biden’s decision to award George Soros the Medal of Freedom is a slap in the face to the citizens and crime victims suffering under the policies and politicians he has promoted," Zack Smith, Heritage Foundation legal fellow and co-author of "Rogue Prosecutors: How Radical Soros Lawyers Are Destroying America's Communities," recently told Fox News Digital.

"Soros has been a major donor to far-left politicians and has promoted policies that undermine the rule of law in our country. Given Biden’s embrace of these policies and the funding Soros has provided, this looks like nothing more than an effort to reward and keep happy one of the Left’s major donors (and his family). It cheapens what should be a prestigious award and gives everyday Americans yet another reason to be disgusted by the current Administration’s actions."

Soros has long been blamed by many experts and analysts for rising crime in major cities after his support of liberal district attorneys has pushed for a "reimagining" of policing or policies like ending cash bail or lowering sentencing requirements.  

A dozen of the 25 Soros-linked district attorneys on the ballot in November were defeated or recalled, signaling a backlash against progressive policies that critics say are to blame for a surge in crime across the country in recent years.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Open Society Foundations for comment but did not receive a response.

Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

Harris' ‘ice princess’ demeanor, Bush's belly-tap were key expressions at Jimmy Carter's funeral: expert

9 January 2025 at 14:51

During the 2024 campaign cycle, Americans witnessed what appeared to be no love lost between President-elect Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama.

However, at former President Jimmy Carter's funeral the two recent presidents appeared to be enjoying each other’s company and largely ignored other dignitaries arriving around them, including Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden.

Susan Constantine, a communication and body language expert, said Harris came off "as cool as could be."

"'Ice Princess' all the way around. When she was walking she was very robotic. I call that ‘rigidity’ when we see that kind of soldier-like stance."

HARRIS, EMHOFF APPEAR TO IGNORE TRUMP, OBAMA, AS OUTGOING VEEP GRIMACES AT PRESIDENTIAL BANTER

Harris deliberately averted eye contact with Trump, in a sign of disdain. The tension of her facial expression, with pursed lips tightened toward the center showed there was "no love lost" between the two 2024 contenders.

"She intentionally walked past him and a stride of arrogance and confidence that did not look well on her," Constantine said. "[It] tells me that she walked in there with a chip on her shoulder."

Another attendee who appeared to be more muted than normal was former First Lady Laura Bush.

Constantine said Mrs. Bush has always been known for her outgoing personality, but noted she did not greet the Trumps or Obama to her left.

"I think that she's just always been such a beautiful, eloquent woman that always has a genuine smile and appears to be very cordial. So I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt," Constantine said, adding she saw Bush look over her right shoulder only briefly to make eye contact – potentially with Al Gore or the Quayles.

However, Constantine said there was one interaction that very much stood out: Trump’s jovial conversation and gesticulations with Barack Obama.

TRUMP CHATS UP OBAMA WHILE CLINTONS, HARRIS IGNORE PRESIDENT-ELECT AT CARTER WAKE

"They add rapport. There was no doubt about it."

"President Obama would lean his head towards him listening to what Trump had to say. Trump was always in that forward stance. He was always ready, engaging. And he and President Obama and Trump felt very much like this with one another that may have made the rest of [the presidential attendees] feel a bit uncomfortable."

However, there was a moment where Trump appeared to be talking about something Obama appeared to wish was held til after the somber event. 

Trump appeared to give a "thumb shrug" to Obama, as if to ask "what do you think about this?"

Obama’s furrowed brow and "neutral expression" showed he was listening intently but that the men were having an "intense conversation," said Constantine.

The New York Post reported a lip-reader suggested the two were discussing "international agreements" which would therefore require such sensitivity.

When asked about Gore appearing to make a point to be first to stand and greet Trump, as well as others, Constantine said that would denote the Tennessean showing respect and being a "perfect gentleman."

Trump passed the Quayles without either member of the second family under President George H.W. Bush standing up, but Gore quickly rose to shake hands.

The longtime Democrat was likely putting politics aside when greeting the Republican president-elect, she said.

George W. Bush’s "belly tap" of Obama made the rounds on X after the ceremony.

"When you tap somebody on the stomach, that's where all your emotions are. And when you touch someone in that, it’s a personal zone. You’ve got to feel pretty comfortable to be able to do that. You have to feel very comfortable with that relationship in order to do that," she said of Bush, who notably has indeed had a civil relationship with the man who repeatedly criticized him in 2008.

Bush also notably reached back to playfully swat Vice President Dan Quayle with his bulletin as he took his seat.

That could be a sign Bush was uncomfortable, or just a less intimate or playful greeting.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Clintons and Bidens notably arrived without actively greeting the rest of the assembled dignitaries. Hillary Clinton had an "incredulous" facial expression that she has shown before, Constantine said.

"If you could hone-in on Hillary, you'll see the dimples on both sides of her mouth make that incredulous expression that she’s got.

Overall, Constantine said, when people go to funerals, they act differently and usually say hello to everyone no matter past differences – and that sentiment could play into the interactions seen Thursday.

Meanwhile, the forensic lip reader – expert witness Jeremy Freeman – told the New York Post that Trump appeared to tell Obama the two should find a "quiet place" soon to discuss "a matter of importance."

 "I’ve pulled out of that. It’s the conditions. Can you imagine that?" Trump said at one point, according to Freeman.

Freeman also indicated it appeared Trump asked Obama to call him after the funeral mass to discuss the issue or issues further.

The moment sparked a different tone between the two men, as Trump previously made light of allegations Obama is a Muslim, referring to him by his full name that includes the middle-name Hussein.

Obama has also taken shots at Trump over the years, including during the 2024 campaign when he appeared to reference Trump’s private parts with a joke about crowd sizes while gesturing with his hands a few inches apart.

He also compared Trump’s stump speeches to the rambling, hourslong diatribes by the late Cuban Communist leader Fidel Castro:

"You have the two-hour speeches, the word salad. It’s like Fidel Castro over and over again," Obama told a crowd in Allegheny County, Pa. in October.

Satellite images of the California wildfires

9 January 2025 at 14:52

Satellite images from January 6th to 8th show just how quickly the California wildfires spread and the sheer scale of the devastation.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Apple Card owners affected by Los Angeles wildfires can postpone payments

9 January 2025 at 14:53

After Tim Cook announced that Apple is donating to help those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, the company has just confirmed that Apple Card users living in the impacted regions will also get some relief. These people can temporarily postpone their Apple Card payments without interest.

more…

X's Grok AI assistant is now a standalone app

Grok, the AI assistant that's for some reason baked into X, is now available as a standalone app. Like the version that exists as a tab on the social media platform, the Grok app can be used to generate images, summarize text and answer questions, with a conversational tone xAI, the AI assistant's creator, calls "humorous and engaging."

The app was first tested with a limited set of users in December 2024, right around the same time X debuted a free tier of Grok that's available to anyone. Prior to that, you needed to pay at least $8 a month for X Premium to have the privilege of using the AI.

Three screenshots of the Grok app showing the main screen, image generation, and the sign-in screen.
Ian Campbell for Engadget

The limitations of that free access — 10 requests every two hours, three image analysis request per day — may also apply to the Grok app. You can use the app without signing in, or sign-in with an Apple account, X account, Google account, or a plain old email. It's not clear whether an X Premium subscription gets you added benefits in the Grok app in the same way it does X.

Grok has struggled with similar issues around accuracy and bizarre image generation choices as other AI assistants like Gemini and ChatGPT. The chatbot mainly stands out from its competitors because xAI pitched it as being able to answer "spicy questions" other AI assistants avoid, and a version of the Grok AI model is open source. You'll have to see for yourself how "spicy" the Grok app ultimately is, but at least you don't have to go to X to use it now.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/xs-grok-ai-assistant-is-now-a-standalone-app-225151579.html?src=rss

©

© Reuters / Reuters

FILE PHOTO: xAI logo is seen near computer motherboard in this illustration taken January 8, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

These Newly Identified Cells Could Change the Face of Plastic Surgery

9 January 2025 at 14:53
Cartilage cells that contain fat explain why some skeletal tissues are less rigid than others, and could one day be grown in labs to produce better materials for performing reconstructive surgeries and rhinoplasties.

US selling 69K seized bitcoins could mess with Trump plans for crypto reserve

At the end of 2024, a US court authorized the Department of Justice to sell 69,370 bitcoins from "the largest cryptocurrency seizure in history."

At bitcoin's current price, just under $92,000, these bitcoins are worth nearly $6.4 billion, and crypto outlets are reporting that DOJ officials have said they're planning to proceed with selling off the assets consistent with the court's order. The DOJ had reportedly argued that bitcoin's price volatility was a pressing reason to push for permission for the sale.

Ars has reached out to the DOJ for comment and will update the story with any new information regarding next steps.

Read full article

Comments

© NurPhoto / Contributor | NurPhoto

Stephen 'tWitch' Boss' Family Guide: Wife Allison Holker, 3 Kids and More

9 January 2025 at 08:59

Stephen “tWitch” Boss is survived by his wife, children and more extended relatives after his December 2022 death at age 40.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us,” Boss’ wife, Allison Holker, said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times at the time. “Stephen lit up every room he stepped into. He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him. He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans.”

The So You Think You Can Dance alums began dating after competing on the dance competition in 2010. They shared three children together: Weslie, Maddox and Zaia. (Boss adopted Weslie, Holker’s daughter from a previous relationship.)

Keep scrolling to learn more about Boss’ family:

© Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

© Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Though tWitch and Holker initially met in 2006, sparks didn’t fly until seeing each other again in 2010 on the So You Think You Can Dance: All-Stars competition. The pair tied the knot three years later and welcomed son Maddox in 2016 and daughter Zaia in 2019. The Stomp the Yard: Homecoming actor also adopted Holker’s daughter, Weslie, from a previous relationship.
Three days before his death, tWitch and Holker — who, in addition to her own career as a professional dancer, appeared as a cheerleader in the first two High School Musical films — celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary. “Happy anniversary my love @allisonholker #9years ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️,” the choreographer wrote via Instagram at the time, alongside a black-and-white photo of the two dancing at their wedding.
The following day, the couple uploaded a joint video of them rocking around the Christmas tree. “HOLIDAY SUNDAY FUNDAY DANCE !!!” the twosome captioned the sweet clip. Holker confirmed her husband’s death one day after his passing, paying tribute to him in her statement at the time.
Holker wrote her This Far memoir, which was released in 2025, that charted the couple’s relationship. She also claimed that Boss had struggled with addiction ahead of his passing, which sparked criticism from his other relatives and friends. Holker insisted that she only wrote the book to “help other people” and share the pair’s respective stories.

© Courtesy of Allison Holker/Instagram

tWitch adopted Weslie, Holker’s daughter from a previous relationship. Based on the teen's Instagram account, which is run by her parents, she plays high school soccer and has done some modeling. ​While mourning tWitch, Jodie Sweetin told Entertainment Tonight that her daughter Zoie is friends with Weslie as they go to the same school.

© Courtesy of Stephen Boss/Instagram

The dancers welcomed their only son, Maddox, into the world in 2016. Their little boy — who began first grade in August 2022 — was frequently featured on his dad’s Instagram, including a sweet video where he was doing “the running man” dance move while tWitch picked him up.
“Okay this was a good idea until it wasn’t. Hindsight is 20/20…….and a lot less painful in this case,” the former Ellen DeGeneres Show DJ joked at the time. “Can’t front though, Maddox form is amazing. 🤣🤣.”

© Courtesy of Allison Holker/Instagram

Holker and tWitch’s youngest child, Zaia, was born in November 2016. The couple celebrated their little girl’s 3rd birthday in November 2022. “This is 3!! Can’t believe how quickly this time has passed!So proud of our baby Z,” tWitch wrote at the time, alongside a clip of photos of their little one throughout the years. “We love you Zaia and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! 🎁🎈🎊🎉🎂.”

© Courtesy of Stephen Boss/Instagram

Along with his other family members, tWitch often shared sweet photos and videos with his mom via social media. In October 2022, the ABC alum celebrated his mother’s birthday with a heartfelt post and a carousel of family photos.
“Mom thank you for life and thank you for love,” he wrote at the time. “Love you to the moon and back and back again.”
Earlier that month, Alexander danced with her son and daughter-in-law on the app. “Ayyyye you know it’s a good day when mom is out here grooving with us!!” tWitch captioned the video.
Days after her son's passing, Alexander took to her Instagram Story to thank everyone for their well-wishes and pay tribute to tWitch. "Stephen Laurel, your mother loves you to eternity and beyond," she penned.

© Courtesy of d8rknight/Instagram

In the wake of his brother’s death, Deondre shared multiple posts paying tribute to tWitch.
In September, he gave the Step Up: Revolution star a sweet shout-out. “This dude @sir_twitch_alot is the definition of a true brother,” Deondre captioned the image of him and tWitch smiling at the camera. “We can be completely honest with each other and allow for a difference of opinion. We build each other up by taking action. It’s amazing to have such a role model. Love you much you lame ass 😂.”

© Courtesy of supreme_cam/Instagram

Stephen’s younger brother honored his late sibling with an Instagram video of the SYTYCD alum busting a move. “The King of this s—t. Effortless,” Cameron wrote days after his brother’s passing. “LONG LIVE STEPHEN TWITCH BOSS.”
tWitch, for his part, paid tribute to his “kid brother” on his 24th birthday in 2017 by sharing a photo of the two as kids via Twitter.
“Even though he is my kid brother, he isn't really a kid anymore especially that today is his 24th birthday,” tWitch wrote at the time. “I still remember this day in 93. Ganny came to pick me up from school and simply said ‘He's here’. From bottle feeds, power ranger games, tony hawk, dynasty warriors, living room dance sessions, fights, and deep talks, cheers to 24 and much love to 24 more!! Love you Brother!”

© Courtesy of Stephen Boss/Instagram

Both tWitch and his grandfather shared their love for one another in the days leading up to and after the DJ’s death.
“Shouting the BIGGEST HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY GRANDFATHER (DADA)! I love you! IG fam help me wish him happy birthday @mreb38 ❤️❤️❤️ #OGBoss,” tWitch wrote via Instagram several days before his passing, sharing a recent photo of him and his grandpa, as well as a throwback image from his childhood.
Eddy, for his part, paid tribute to his late grandson in a Wednesday, December 14 interview with the Daily Mail. “All I can say is he was a beautiful person that contributed so much to this world and to everyone he met in a positive way,” Eddy told the outlet. “We miss him dearly and we're hurting tremendously.' The supportive grandfather also revealed tWitch’s final text to him. “His last words to me were a simple text that says ‘I love you Dad-Dad.’”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. 
❌
❌