Tech & Science Silicon Valley Trump Network A crappy cup of airplane tea and the rise of Donald Trump led to the launch in May of an outfit with the wacky name of All Turtles, which might usher in a new way to think about tech startups around the world. The All Turtles story began with Phil Libin, who used to be CEO of the app company Evernote and lately has worked as a partner at the venture capital firm General Catalyst in Silicon Valley. Last fall, Libin boarded a JetBlue flight from Boston to San Francisco. As the plane leveled off, he ordered tea. Libin plopped the tea bag in the hot water, then got distracted for about 10 minutes. By then, the tea was over-steeped, and he had the classic problem of what to do with a soaked tea bag while trapped in an airplane seat. "I got thinking that tea is kind of a crappy experience," Libin tells Newsweek , using the type of language that usually leads people like him to think: How can I disrupt tea? So Libin's … [Read more...] about The New American Dream? Bringing Silicon Valley to a Town (and Entrepreneur) Near You
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Capital landowners lawfully clear native bush without resource consent
A Wellington landowner has been able to legally clear hectares of native bush on their property without needing resource consent from the council. A neighbour of the Newlands property, north of the capital, says the work amounts to "wanton destruction" of native flora and fauna, including regenerating bush. But the Wellington City Council says the work is legal and a permitted activity, and consent for such work may only be needed when a new Significant Natural Areas (SNA) policy is adopted as part of the next District Plan. The owners of the address in question, 470 Hutt Rd, have not responded to requests for comment. READ MORE: Coronavirus: Council closes facilities but popular market draws hundreds Newly-released documents cast new light on Shelly Bay Land confiscation claims as councils grapple with biodiversity challenge Tony Birtwhistle first noticed the clearance of bush on the property, adjacent to his on Dungarvan Rd, about five weeks ago. He said a large … [Read more...] about Capital landowners lawfully clear native bush without resource consent
New species of orchid native to Singapore discovered in Bukit Timah Reserve
SINGAPORE: A new species of orchid native and endemic to Singapore was discovered last year by researchers from the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The species, Nervilia singaporensis, was found in July 2019 at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, said the National Parks Board (NParks) in a news release on Friday (Jun 19). The genus Nervilia was, until recently, thought to be locally extinct in Singapore, with the last sighting in 1889. With this discovery, Singapore now has five species of endemic plants, with four existing only in the nature reserves. The Nervilia singaporensis has a unique flower shape that is oblong with a truncate tip and flowers that never open. This means it must self-pollinate in order to reproduce. This species, which grows up to 9cm tall, is "considered highly endangered at national and global levels" because it only produces a low quantity of seeds, making it difficult to propagate, said NParks. READ: NParks to give packets of vegetable seeds to … [Read more...] about New species of orchid native to Singapore discovered in Bukit Timah Reserve
On this day: Died June 21, 1969: Maureen Connolly, American tennis player
REUTERS: American Maureen Connolly's career lasted only four years in the early 1950s but it was enough time for "Little Mo" to make a big impression in the tennis world. Feared and revered for her aggressive style, the 5ft 4in San Diego native's firepower saw her nicknamed in reference to the U.S. Navy battleship USS Missouri - which was dubbed "Big Mo." Connolly exploded onto the scene in 1951 by winning the U.S. Championships at 16 years, 11 months and 19 days - at the time the youngest winner of the tournament. She repeated her success over the next two years. A hard-hitting baseliner who hated losing, Connolly added the Wimbledon title to her trophy collection in 1952 and would cement her place in history as one of the game's greats the following year. After splitting with her coach Eleanor Tennant to work with Australian Davis Cup captain Harry Hopman, she became the first woman to win all four majors in a single year - a feat only Margaret Court (1970) and Steffi Graf … [Read more...] about On this day: Died June 21, 1969: Maureen Connolly, American tennis player
AI promises to make life easier. But it could also change what it means to be human
advertisement advertisement advertisement The history of humans’ use of technology has always been a history of coevolution. Philosophers from Rousseau to Heidegger to Carl Schmitt have argued that technology is never a neutral tool for achieving human ends. Technological innovations—from the most rudimentary to the most sophisticated— reshape people as they use these innovations to control their environment. Artificial intelligence is a new and powerful tool, and it, too, is altering humanity. advertisement advertisement Writing and, later, the printing press made it possible to carefully record history and easily disseminate knowledge, but it eliminated centuries-old traditions of oral storytelling . Ubiquitous digital and phone cameras have changed how people experience and perceive events . Widely available GPS systems have meant that drivers rarely get lost, but a reliance on them has also atrophied their native … [Read more...] about AI promises to make life easier. But it could also change what it means to be human