LND topic: ali page 380

ali

PS5 Pro: Worth the Upgrade or Just a Fancy New Console?

September 12, 2024

Imagine having a PS5 that can render gameplay at mind-boggling 45% faster clip, with stunning ray-tracing capabilities and AI-enhanced upscaling. That's what the PS5 Pro promises to deliver, but is it worth the hefty price tag of $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,199.95? First, let's consider the new hardwa

crime

ShotSpotter: A Life-Saving Technology with a Price Tag

September 12, 2024

Imagine a technology that can save lives by providing rapid aid to victims of gun violence. ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system, seems to be just that. However, it doesn't solve crime – it's not a magic bullet. A study by the University of Chicago Crime Lab found that areas with ShotSpotter t

opinion

The Silent Censor: How Free Speech is Being Chipped Away by Tech, Media, and Politics

September 12, 2024

Imagine living in a world where the ability to express your thoughts and opinions is slowly being eroded away. It's not a reality from a dystopian novel, but our current reality. The erosion of free speech is happening, and it's not a single, dramatic event, but rather a thousand tiny cuts. From th

finance

California's Proposition 4: A Borrowing Binge or Wise Investment?

September 12, 2024

California's Proposition 4 is set to borrow $10 billion to fund a plethora of environmental projects. But is this measure more about politics than sound policy? After this year's budget debacle, the state should be focusing on cutting debt, not increasing it. The measure's 100+ programs lack a sens

politics

The Godfather of the Trumpist Right's Gender Politics: Unpacking Mansfield's Neopatriarchy Movement

September 12, 2024

Imagine a world where men and women are equal, but not the same. Harvey Mansfield, a renowned Harvard political theorist, wants to create. In his book, he argued that traditional gender norms are not just outdated, but dangerous. He believes men and women have different strengths and weaknesses, and

finance

Tackling Social Security's Future: Can Closing Tax Loopholes Fund the Program Until 2100?

September 12, 2024

Imagine if Social Security's sacred guarantee wasn't on the chopping block, but rather, it was fully funded for decades to come. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) claims that cracking down on mega-rich tax dodgers could keep the New Deal program whole until the end of this century. Wyden estimates that the ul

education

A Constitutional Crackdown: SC's ESTF Ruled Unconstitutional

September 12, 2024

The Supreme Court of South Carolina has dealt a major blow to the Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) program, ruling it unconstitutional for using public money to fund private school education. The ESTF, signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster in May 2023, allowed qualifying parents to appl

health

The COVID-19 Surge: Has the Peak Passed?

September 11, 2024

Is the summer COVID-19 surge finally dipping? Or is it just a temporary reprieve? The data is mixed, but there are some early signs that the surge may have peaked. However, not all metrics are moving in the rosy direction. For instance, positivity rates are still relatively high, and COVID-19 deaths

health

Healthcare in Hoosier Country: A Step in the Right Direction?

September 11, 2024

Think about it: Indiana consistently ranks among the worst in the nation in terms of overall health. But what if we told you there's hope on the horizon? The Lake County Health Department has received a whopping $4.87 million in state funding to improve the health of Hoosiers, and we take a closer l

politics

The Cannabis Conundrum: Is the Industry Leaner Left or Right?

September 11, 2024

It's time to rethink the assumption that the cannabis industry is a liberal bastion. Ten years ago, it would've been easy to assume so – the Democratic Party had been driving progress on cannabis legalization. But fast-forward to today, and the picture is murkier. Why are business owners and executi