11:11

Thursday, December 12th, 2024

World Events and Politics — Political Persecution in Syria

Following the unexpected fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, a senior leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group that spearheaded the successful offensive, firmly rejected any possibility of pardons for former regime officials involved in torture and killings, vowing to pursue justice against them. The dramatic developments included the desecration of the Assad family tomb in the northern town of Qardaha, where footage emerged of people denouncing Hafez al-Assad, the former president's father. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the Biden administration has called on HTS to refrain from claiming outright leadership, instead advocating for the establishment of an inclusive transitional government.

Science and Technology — What to do with a Lack of New Data?

Nature

The AI industry faces a critical data shortage as researchers predict that by 2028, AI models' training data requirements will match the total available public online text. While the Internet contains an estimated 3,100 trillion tokens, the usable content grows at less than 10% annually, while AI training data needs more than double each year. This crisis is further complicated by content providers increasingly blocking web crawlers and pursuing legal action against AI companies for data usage. To address this challenge, companies are exploring various solutions, including harvesting non-public data, utilizing specialized datasets like astronomical or genomic information, generating synthetic data, and developing more efficient, task-specific models that require less training data. Some experts, including Meta's chief AI scientist Yann LeCun, suggest expanding beyond text to include other data types like videos and images, noting that a 4-year-old child absorbs 50 times more data than current AI models through sensory experiences.

Business and Finance — Drill, Baby Drill

ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil unveiled an ambitious expansion plan, targeting a significant increase in daily oil production to 5.4 million barrels by 2030, representing a substantial jump from its 3.7 million barrel output in 2023. The company plans to boost its annual capital spending to $33 billion, up from the current $29 billion. This aggressive growth strategy stands in stark contrast to its main competitor Chevron's more conservative approach of reducing expenditure. The announcement comes at a time when OPEC+ has recently delayed its planned production increase, citing concerns over weak market demand.

Health and Wellness — How to Get Rid of Your Dark Circles

Healthline 

Dark circles under the eyes, while not a serious health concern, can be caused by various factors including fatigue, aging, allergies, genetics, sun exposure, and loss of collagen and fat. Several treatment approaches can help reduce their appearance: immediate relief can come from lifestyle changes like getting adequate sleep (7-8 hours) and elevating the head while sleeping, while home remedies include applying cold compresses, cucumber slices, or tea bags to constrict blood vessels. For more lasting results, people can try topical treatments containing ingredients like vitamin K, caffeine, retinol, or hyaluronic acid, while medical interventions available through dermatologists include prescription skin-lightening creams, laser therapy, chemical peels, dermal fillers, or in severe cases, surgical procedures like blepharoplasty to remove excess fat beneath the eyes.

Smoothie Bar — Watermelon Smoothie 

Well Plated

This refreshing beverage combines frozen watermelon and strawberries with creamy yogurt, creating a vibrant pink smoothie that can be enhanced with fresh herbs like mint or basil. The cooling sensation brings back the pure joy of summer, reminiscent of childhood thrills like running through sprinklers on scorching days.

Song Recommendation — 11:11 by TAEYEON

Quote of the Day 

“Maybe there is a beast…maybe it’s only us”—William Golding 

William Golding was a British novelist, playwright, and poet best known for his debut novel "Lord of the Flies," published in 1954. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983 for his contribution to literature, particularly his ability to illuminate the human condition through his works. Golding's writing often explored the darker aspects of human nature, drawing from his experiences in World War II and his time as a schoolteacher.

Enjoy your Thursday!