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How Would You Describe Digital Culture in Japan Today?

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 17:01:51 GMT

If the question was addressing the state of digital culture in the western world, I would regretfully concede that it is in a downward spiral.An amalgamation of corporate greed, politics, special interests, and a severe lack of empathy has led the digital space in the west to grotesquely morph into a money pit that thrives off of drama, controversy, and suffering. There is a reason, after all, that bad news trends more effectively than good news.It’s a tough pill to swallow, but the truth is often inconvenient. Fortunately, much like a pendulum in motion, it must inevitably return full swing. I believe, with absolute certainty, that the Internet is on its way to a more ethically-conscious revolution. Regrettably, it will get worse, before it gets better.In Japan, however, the digital space still remains intact. Saved by the grace of their unique cultural and societal traits, Japan’s potential to prioritize ethically-conscious behaviors – both at the corporate and consumer levels – i...

Diversity in Fashion: Bye-Bye Human Models, Hello Avatars?

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 17:01:51 GMT

Many of us have asked for more diversity in fashion— especially in the fashion industry. After all, not all of us are tall and slender with stunning bone structures and striking facial features. Though we can’t deny that people like them are gorgeous, the ones who don’t possess the same features as them sometimes don’t think that they can be just as equally attractive. Or that they’re given proper representation and consideration by the fashion industry. Enter present-day technology — it can now generate avatars that look like actual people, without actually hiring diverse models.Will Avatars Solve the Lack of Diversity in Fashion?People want to see others who look like them in the media. However, it’s commonly known that the fashion and film industry typically seeks people with distinct and unique faces. But recently, denim empire Levi’s announced that they’ll be using AI-generated models for inclusivity — though they’re still in the testing phase of the project. However, acc...

Easter Peeps And Little Fish – Here’s What’s Popping Up

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 17:01:51 GMT

Little Fish, the popular seafood pop-up, will take up a two-night residency at Melody Wine Bar in Virgil Village and offer a limited menu of seafood favorites like a cheezy crab toast on Ginza Nishikawa shokupan. Thursday and Friday, April 6 and 7, the full menu will be available from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., on a first-come, first-served basis for walk-ins only (no reservations).Taiwanese dessert chain Meet Fresh USA will launch a limited-edition Chef Jon Yao’s Special, a milk tea shaved ice with select toppings, potaro balls (sweet potato taro balls), Mini Q (mini taro balls), grass jelly, boba, condensed milk, and milk tea sauce from Saturday, April 15 through Sunday, April 30, at 10 selected locations with 100% net proceeds donated to the Downtown Women’s Center.Crab toast on Ginza Nishikawa shokupan (Courtesy Little Fish)Randy’s Donuts will bring back its Peeps Easter Donuts, available through Sunday, April 9. The colorful creation features a marshmallow Peep nestled on top of a clas...

Tech layoffs raise new alarms about how platforms protect users

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 17:01:51 GMT

By Clare Duffy | CNNIn the wake of the 2016 presidential election, as online platforms began facing greater scrutiny for their impacts on users, elections and society, many tech firms started investing in safeguards.Big Tech companies brought on employees focused on election safety, misinformation and online extremism. Some also formed ethical AI teams and invested in oversight groups. These teams helped guide new safety features and policies. But over the past few months, large tech companies have slashed tens of thousands of jobs, and some of those same teams are seeing staff reductions.Twitter eliminated teams focused on security, public policy and human rights issues when Elon Musk took over last year. More recently, Twitch, a livestreaming platform owned by Amazon, laid off some employees focused on responsible AI and other trust and safety work, according to former employees and public social media posts. Microsoft cut a key team focused on ethical AI product development. And ...

Inside Olivia Wilde’s $107,000 monthly expenses as she asks Jason Sudeikis for child support

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 17:01:51 GMT

In formally asking a judge to order Jason Sudeikis to start paying child support, Olivia Wilde has opened a window into how the rich and famous spend their money and perhaps get in over their heads when it comes to monthly expenses.In legal documents related to Wilde’s bitter and protracted custody fight with ex-fiance Sudeikis, the actor and director said she “has borne the lion’s share of the expenses” for their 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter since she and the “Ted Lasso” star split in November 2020. This has been the case, Wilde said, even though Sudeikis earns “significantly more” than she does and “has greater access to funds,” according to documents first obtained by The Blast.HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 28: Actors Olivia Wilde (L) and Jason Sudeikis attend the 88th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 28, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Image...

Downtown San Jose office tower could convert to apartments or hotel

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 17:01:51 GMT

SAN JOSE — An office tower at a key downtown San Jose site may be converted to other uses, including housing, a fresh sign of economic side effects in the wake of the coronavirus and an uneven return to the workplace.The 10-story highrise, originally built in 1910, is a former Bank of the West building that is owned by DivcoWest, a veteran real estate firm.In recent years, DivcoWest undertook a dramatic transformation of the interior of the tower that revamped the structure as a creative office building that would appeal to tech companies or advanced technology startups that were seeking a cool-looking urban space.DivcoWest now seeks a new mission for the tower, which is located at one of downtown San Jose’s most prominent intersections, First Street and Santa Clara Street.Rooftop section on the upper level of a 10-story tower at 2 West Santa Clara Street in downtown San Jose. (DivcoWest, Newmark)“An existing office building is being studied for conversion to ...

Moments following stabbing of tech executive in SF captured on surveillance video and 911, local news site reports

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 17:01:51 GMT

By Taylor Romine | CNNThe moments following the San Francisco stabbing attack of Cash App founder Bob Lee were captured on surveillance video and in a 911 call to authorities, according to a local Bay Area news portal.The surveillance footage, reviewed by the online news site The San Francisco Standard, was recorded early Tuesday morning in the Rincon Hill neighborhood and shows Lee walking alone on Main Street, “gripping his side with one hand and his cellphone in the other, leaving a trail of blood behind him.”The video, the Standard reports, shows Lee making his way up the street and stopping by a parked Toyota Camry with its hazard lights flashing. He lifts up his shirt in an apparent attempt to ask for help from the driver. The driver of the Toyota pulls the car away and Lee collapses to the ground. Lee manages to get up and walk a bit further before he collapses in front of an apartment building.The Standard also reviewed records of a 911 call Lee made at 2:34 a.m....

Prep roundup: Menlo-Atherton’s George Zaharias strikes out 17, shuts out Capuchino

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 17:01:51 GMT

BaseballGeorge Zaharias, the University of Texas-bound right-hander from Menlo-Atherton, fired a four-hitter and struck out 17 as the Bears took sole possession of first place in the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division by beating Capuchino 5-0 on Wednesday.Zaharias’ younger brother Jimmy, a sophomore third baseman, slugged a three-run homer in the fifth to give M-A some breathing room and conclude the day’s scoring.The Bears improved to 9-3 overall and 4-0 in league play. Capuchino (12-3, 2-1) saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end. But the teams meet again Friday at Capuchino, which is ranked 15th by the Bay Area News Group.The 6-foot-3 Zaharias has been basically untouchable in his last two starts. In a 2-0 win over Half Moon Bay on March 24, Zaharias struck out 16 in six innings before turning the game over to Davis Phillips in what turned out to be a perfect game for the Bears. Zaharias has pitched 13 innings in his last two starts, allowing four hits and one walk t...

Santa Clara County’s mobile mental health service expands into West Valley

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 17:01:51 GMT

West Valley residents now have access to Trusted Response Urgent Support Team, or TRUST, a mobile service that responds to mental health and substance abuse crises with mental health or social workers instead of law enforcement.The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to expand TRUST, which currently operates in East San Jose, Gilroy and North County, into Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, West San Jose and Willow Glen.“Our neighbors, our friends, our family members are in crisis and need help. We must do more to provide an urgent and appropriate response to those experiencing a mental health crisis,”  said Supervisor Joe Simitian, who spearheaded the initiative. “Folks need to feel safe when calling for help.”Residents in crisis or their friends and family can call 988, the new national suicide line, and dispatchers will determine if in-person intervention is needed. They can connect individuals with counseling, mediation or mental health serv...

CHP investigates fatal overnight crash on Bay Bridge

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 17:01:51 GMT

A person died early Thursday in a crash on the Bay Bridge, the California Highway Patrol said.Details on the crash were scarce; the CHP around 7 a.m. said it was still investigating. The crash happened about 2 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 80 at the Treasure Island exit, according to the agency.There was no information releaed on the the person who died.The crash blocked all the lanes on the bridge and brought a Sig Alert for severe traffic that lasted until all the lanes were opened at 3:30 a.m.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Pedestrian fatally hit on Highway 4 on-ramp identified Crashes and Disasters | One-car crash marks 2023’s fourth fatal wreck on Highway 4 Crashes and Disasters | Pedestrian killed in South San Francisco hit and run Crashes and Disasters | Friends ask support for family of 15-year-old East Bay teen who died in dirt bike crash Cr...