What is Bluesky, the fast-growing social platform welcoming fleeing X users?

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nov 17, 2024 09:34 AM 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Disgruntled X users are again flocking to Bluesky, a newer social media platform that grew out of the former Twitter before billionaire Elon Musk took it over in 2022. While it remains small compared to established online spaces such as X, it has emerged as an alternative for those looking for a different mood, lighter and friendlier and less influenced by Musk.

FILE - The app for Bluesky is shown on a mobile phone, left, and on a laptop screen on June 2, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

What is Bluesky?

Championed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Bluesky was an invitation-only space until it opened to the public in February. That invite-only period gave the site time to build out moderation tools and other features. The platform resembles Musk's X, with a "discover" feed and a chronological feed for accounts that users follow. Users can send direct messages and pin posts, as well as find "starter packs" that provide a curated list of people and custom feeds to follow. 

Why is Bluesky growing?

Bluesky said in mid-November that its total users surged to 15 million, up from roughly 13 million at the end of October, as some X users look for an alternative platform to post their thoughts and talk to others online. The post-election uptick in users isn't the first time Bluesky has benefited from people leaving X. The platform gained 2.6 million users in the week after X was banned in Brazil in August — 85% of them from Brazil, the company said. About 500,000 new users signed up in one day in October, when X signaled that blocked accounts would be able to see a user's public posts.

Across the platform, new users — among them journalists, left-leaning politicians and celebrities — have posted memes and shared that they were looking forward to using a space free from advertisements and hate speech. Some said it reminded them of the early days of Twitter more than a decade ago.

Despite Bluesky's growth, X posted after the election that it had "dominated the global conversation on the U.S. election" and had set new records. 

Beyond social networking

Bluesky, though, has bigger ambitions than to supplant X. Beyond the platform itself, it is building a technical foundation — what it calls "a protocol for public conversation" — that could make social networks work across different platforms — also known as interoperability — like email, blogs or phone numbers.

Currently, you can't cross between social platforms to leave a comment on someone's account. Twitter users must stay on Twitter and TikTok users must stay on TikTok if they want to interact with accounts on those services. Big Tech companies have largely built moats around their online properties, which helps serve their advertising-focused business models.

Bluesky is trying to reimagine all of this and working toward interoperability.

World Day of Remembrance: Tool in global efforts to reduce road casualties

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Nov 17, 2024 00:03 AM 

 

Road safety continues to be a major concern of countries around the world.  Initiatives to cut the number of road deaths and injuries are led by the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety which aims to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50 percent by 2030. 

The UN global status report on road safety shows the alarming figures – approximately 1.19 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes. Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged five to 29 years.  More than half of all road traffic deaths are among vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

A traffic accident changes the lives of many people, not only the victim.  If the victim who is a breadwinner dies, the family deals with grief and the loss of a source of income.  If the victim is injured, family members give up time from work to take care of an injured parent or sibling.

For victims who are at the peak of their careers, there is not only loss of income during the time of healing, but also the loss of a productive member of the team at the workplace.  According to the UN report, road traffic crashes cost most countries three percent of their gross domestic product.

Every Nov. 17, the UN marks World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, a time to remember the stories of “that day” – when a traffic collision stopped or changed the course of victims’ lives forever. 

“The day has become an important tool in global efforts to reduce road casualties. It offers an opportunity for drawing attention to the scale of emotional and economic devastation caused by road crashes and for giving recognition to the suffering of road crash victims and the work of support and rescue services,” the UN statement said.

“That Day aims to remember all people killed and seriously injured on the roads; acknowledge the crucial work of the emergency services; draw attention to the generally trivial legal response to culpable road deaths and injuries; and advocate for better support for road traffic victims and victim families.”

One of the objectives that has become a major burden for those involved is the legal process of getting action for a victim – for medical treatment, damage to property, compensation for loss of income or sanction to the erring parties.  This is where government can make a difference. Studying the processes of getting legal action faster to compensate the victims and their families will contribute to getting people back to being productive citizens.

Stricter implementation of traffic ordinances and laws is a major factor in keeping our roads safe.  An example is the implementation of the Anti-Distracted Driving Law which prohibits the use of mobile gadgets while driving.  Today, not only are gadgets used as navigation tools but also for communication.  When a vehicle is moving unusually slow, or is swerving, the driver is most likely on the phone. Studies have shown that distracted driving causes accidents. Drivers using mobile phones are approximately four times more likely to be involved in a crash.  It slows braking reaction time and reaction to traffic signals, a UN report said.

Each road user – the motorist and pedestrian – has a role to play to prevent road injuries or death. The stories of That Day will tell of how a road accident could have been prevented, if only one of the parties was more aware of the situation.

Veni, Vidi, Vici: Pinoy sci-fi shines at 2024 Frankfurt Book Festival

BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

Nov 16, 2024 10:07 PM  AT A GLANCE

• After nearly two decades in the commercial wilderness, Pinoy sci-fi took center stage, proving its viability as a significant literary genre in the Philippines.

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In a monumental moment for Filipino science fiction, author Renato Tranquilino and 8Letters Bookstore and Publishing showcased the genre's global appeal at the Frankfurt Book Festival in Germany on Oct. 16-20.

After nearly two decades in the commercial wilderness, Pinoy science-fiction took center stage, proving its viability as a significant literary genre in the Philippines. Tranquilino successfully closed three translation deals, bringing his works, "Fate of a Distant Future" and the latest sci-fi novel "The Culling in Proxim,", to readers in Arabic, Turkish, and German. Additionally, Tranquilino secured a German translation deal for the Filipino fantasy novel "The Merovingian" and its comic adaptation "The Rise of the Filipino Merovingian."

The festival saw Rex Publishing, the Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippine Embassy in Berlin and Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and the National Book Development Board (NBDB) deliver an impressive lineup of events, highlighted by panels and presentations on the Rex Publishing-sponsored Asia Stage. Esteemed Filipino authors, including Ambeth Ocampo, Sarge Lacuesta, and Eliza Victoria, moderated discussions that drew large audiences. 

Distant future saga scope

Among these, the "Science and Fantasy in Asian Content" panel, featuring Tranquilino as a guest speaker, stood out, ranking as one of the most viewed sessions in the lineup.

The Philippine delegation, consisting of grant awardees, the DFA, the NCCA, and NBDB leadership, presented a strong front. With key figures such as NBDB Chairman Dante Ang II, Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade, Director Anthony John Balisi, Frankfurt's Philippine Consul General  Marie Yvette L. Banzon-Abalos, and  Berlin Embassy's Minister and Consul Mary Luck S. Hicarte in attendance, they demonstrated the country's commitment to advancing its literary presence on the world stage. This effort aligns with Senator Loren Legarda's vision of making the Philippines the guest of honor at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Festival—a significant milestone for Philippine literature, especially science fiction.

With the enthusiastic reception at Frankfurt, the future is bright for Filipino science fiction, hinting at an exciting new era for both the genre and its writers in the global market. For further information, please get in touch with RB Borinaga @paperplayprodnyc@gmail.com

Miss Universe 2024: Chelsea Manalo enters Top 30

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

Nov 17, 2024 09:47 AM 

AT A GLANCE

• A total of 125 candidates are vying for the title of Miss Universe 2024.

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Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo (Miss Universe Philippines)

Miss Philippines Chelsea Manalo has entered the Top 30 semifinalists of the 73rd Miss Universe Competition in Mexico City on Nov. 16 (Nov. 17 Manila time).

A total of 125 candidates are vying for the title of Miss Universe 2024.

Other candidates in the Top 30 are (updating): 

France

India

Serbia

Vietnam 

Puerto Rico

Nigeria

Canada

Cuba

China

Japan 

Egypt

Mexico

Argentina

Thailand

Peru

Macao

Ecuador

Bolivia

Malaysia

The Top 30 candidates will compete in the swimsuit round the pageant.

WE LOVE TO COMPLAIN!

 

Many times, we don't have reasons at all to do so - but, we love to complain. We bring many assertions to bear: first, in the past we have been thriftier and economical, more religious and devout, more patriotic, industrious, more hard-working, keen and obedient. And, second, above everything and all: in the past we had more idealists. Third, nowadays we have (mostly?) material things in mind - what a disgrace. 

I just quoted Vox Populi... .

A "materialist" has indeed become a swear word. I don't mean with "material" the accumulated data out of which a writer creates a work of literary, historical, or scientific value. A materialist is being easily described as someone with an attitude, who ignores spiritual values, compared with an idealist, who has the tendency to seek the highest spiritual perfection.

Idealism means the doctrine that appearance is purely the perception, the idea of subjects, and that the world is to be regarded as consisting of mind. The coquetry of higher philosophy makes it difficult to bear the ups and downs in our daily life.

Sure, we all know that "our last earthly dress has no pockets  any more". Striving for earthly and terrestrial possession, property and estate might be the hit-man of idealism. That's how we have been taught. "Wine, women and song", having the unpleasant feeling of fullness, egoism and bragging as well as showing-off - are these the materialist's real attitudes?

Is the idealist, many times not being able to stand on earth with both feet, the only one who occupies himself with religion and virtuousness - so to speak, with celestial and heavenly things? Is that really so? Can we make such a distinction? 

Sure, it's easy to do so: it's manageable and comfortable. But well, why is the enjoyment of having a tasty meal BAD, and listening to a recital composed by Johann Sebastian Bach BETTER? Why should art be better than roasted pork and a bottle of wine? Value judgments and moral concepts... .

Owning a house and lot and care are - of course - earthly properties, as well as bank saving accounts, profitable insurances, and invest advantageously in stocks. Is a terrible underpaid nurse or a book author an idealist, because he or she doesn't work for the filthy lure but for higher values? Has Jesus been an idealist, because He re-nunciated and died without terrestrial possession? Has Jesus been a materialist, because He fed thousands of people on the breadline? Are we idealists, if we bequeath nothing to our families and might die without a single centavo, because earthly things are bad?

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn or X - Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com