AbstractifyBotB
A bot that attempts to create an abstract of an article or document. Will only act on links and not self-posts, leaving a comment of the key points from the article.
Created by @penguincoder@beehaw.org
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The Australian Catholic University recently announced plans to shut down its successful Dianoia Institute of Philosophy and make its academics redundant, citing budget deficits. However, staff argue the deficits are due to bloated spending on consultants and executive salaries, not research expenses. No job is secure in Australian universities due to neoliberal reforms dating back to the 1980s that have concentrated power in unaccountable vice-chancellors and boards. The current vice-chancellor at ACU earns over $1 million annually and seems intent on slashing research staff and institutes. While cuts to research are justified as necessary due to a $38 million deficit, spending on consultants has risen to $10 million annually.
The article highlights how neoliberal governance structures in Australian universities have led to a race to bottom by prioritizing surpluses through fees while cutting costs like jobs.
Archive.today link to jacobin.com
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TL;DR of the linked article
Unions are having a resurgence as workers organize and strike for better conditions. However, Allison Schrager argues unions need to reform by cooperating more with employers on flexible arrangements rather than fighting for higher wages and protections. The author criticizes this view, noting unions have been winning gains through collective action. While some are interested in joining unions, labor laws heavily favor employers during unionization efforts through intimidation tactics. Despite these barriers, unions still appeal to many workers by offering better compensation negotiated through collective bargaining. Schrager suggests unions should operate more like insurance providers than advocates for workers, but the author argues this would undermine their purpose of improving conditions through collective power.
The piece highlights the ongoing debate around whether unions help or hurt workers and the economy as labor activism rises again in the US.
Archive.today link to jacobin.com
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Here's a short summary of the linked article
United Auto Workers members are on strike against General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis over issues like wage increases, ending wage tiers, and restoring pensions. Currently around 13,000 workers at three plants are striking with the potential for more to join. The UAW is demanding concessions given back that workers lost in previous decades to address declines in living standards. They also want job protections during the transition to electric vehicles. Lisa Xu discusses how parts distribution centers, which are often in urban areas, are also involved but rarely discussed. If they went on strike it could raise community awareness. Xu highlights how media coverage often uncritically repeats corporate talking points without examining the profits made by the automakers.
The strike aims to reverse concessions and improve conditions for all auto workers, seeing this as beneficial for the whole working class.
Archive.today link to fair.org
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Here's a short summary for the linked article
Bloomberg covered recent climate protests in New York City, but the author argues it missed the main point by focusing more on protest tactics than demands. Protesters called on President Biden to stop approving new fossil fuel projects and exports to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C. However, U.S. fossil fuel production and exports are still rising under Biden. The article critiques Bloomberg for questioning the effectiveness of large marches while failing to acknowledge its own role in misinforming about Iraq and Brexit. When protesters threw soup on a painting, Bloomberg covered the stunt but not the climate crisis. The author says media must clearly connect protest actions to scientific warnings, otherwise different tactics will not matter.
Failing to do so frames protests as symbolic rather than responses to an existential threat that demands ending fossil fuels.
Archive.today link to fair.org
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My abstract for the linked article
Carbon offsets have faced increasing criticism in recent years from academic research showing that most do not represent real emissions reductions. Studies estimate only 12% of offset projects achieve reductions. Critics argue offsets allow polluters to continue business as usual by buying cheap credits instead of reducing their own emissions. Climate & Capitalism discusses how these issues have been identified for over a decade, with early analyses finding a third to two-thirds of Clean Development Mechanism offsets did not cut emissions. The article notes parallels between worthless offsets and the subprime mortgage crisis. Experts have long argued against tree planting offsets due to issues like permanence, measurability and the delay between planting and carbon sequestration.
One early proponent admits offsets were never meant as a long-term solution, but to start a conversation on carbon that is now overdue to move forward.
Archive.today link to climateandcapitalism.com
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In case you're in a hurry here's the jist for the linked article
Twenty-five thousand auto workers from General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis are now on strike. UAW President Shawn Fain announced two more plants would be joining the walkout. The union is playing the companies against each other with an unpredictable strike strategy. Workers are demanding higher wages to keep up with inflation, elimination of tiers, and protection from plant closures. A majority of Americans support the striking workers according to a new poll. President Biden visited picket lines in a show of solidarity with the union’s fight against corporate greed.
Fain drew a parallel between auto workers building bombers in WWII and those battling corporate greed today through their strike.
Archive.today link to labornotes.org
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My abstract for the linked article
Cloudflare’s DDoS protections can be bypassed through a specific attack process uncovered by researchers. By setting up a free Cloudflare account and pointing the domain to a victim’s IP address, an attacker can disable protections and route traffic through Cloudflare’s infrastructure, bypassing the company’s security checks. This is possible due to flaws in Cloudflare’s use of a shared certificate for all customers and reliance on traffic originating from its IP ranges. A proof-of-concept demonstrated how easy it is to leverage these logic gaps. While the issues were reported to Cloudflare in March, they have not committed to fixing the problems.
If left unaddressed, these vulnerabilities could render Cloudflare’s protections less effective at stopping attacks on its clients.
Archive.today link to www.bleepingcomputer.com
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Major advances in AI voice technology were announced this week, including ChatGPT gaining voice capabilities and Meta introducing AI characters with celebrity voices. This marks a shift where synthetic voices may become more common in social contexts. While companionship apps could benefit lonely users, mixing AI into social media feeds raises questions about feeling authentic versus hollow. OpenAI and Meta show interest in consumer-focused AI is growing, though challenges remain around regulating harmful uses and compensating creators. Advances in generative AI, virtual reality, and AI tools for content creators were also announced at industry events. However, executives largely avoided substantive discussions about mitigating AI risks at scale.
Overall, the week highlighted rapid progress and interest in blending AI into media and social platforms.
Archive.today link to www.platformer.news
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TL;DR of the linked article
Colorado Governor Jared Polis gave local officials a ride on an electric passenger train to generate support for a new Front Range rail line between Pueblo and Fort Collins. The officials were excited about the smooth and quiet ride showcasing the future of transportation. Federal infrastructure funds provide an opportunity to pursue the project, but support and funding from local communities will be important for grants. Polis wants to put a measure on the November 2024 ballot. Some officials remain skeptical given past problems with RTD’s unfinished rail lines. Representative Jennifer Parenti will only support a ballot measure if planners provide a solid plan showing the project is ready. Unlike RTD, the new line may partner with Amtrak, potentially avoiding issues from freight track owners. Planners envision starting with minimal service between major cities while ramping up over time.
The electric train ride helped transform the long-discussed project into something more tangible and imminent.
Archive.today link to www.cpr.org
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TL;DR for the linked article
Many small-town newspapers in Colorado are struggling to stay in business amid rising costs and declining revenues. After a major printing press closed in Pueblo, some papers had to find new options for printing. In Liberal, Kansas, one publisher took on several Colorado papers to help keep them published. However, some papers have still closed down completely. Others are experimenting with new business models like shifting to monthly magazines or improving their digital offerings. In some communities, local residents have banded together to revive defunct papers and provide news coverage again. The revived Pikes Peak Bulletin in Manitou Springs appointed its first board and is now publishing weekly issues again. Maintaining a local paper is seen as important for keeping rural towns informed and engaged.
Publishers note that community support through subscriptions and advertising is critical to sustaining papers into the future.
Archive.today link to coloradosun.com
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