Apologies for the day-late delivery, but guess what? We've been brewing some exciting new stuff for you and hope to bring them live in the coming weeks.
Welcome back to Coffee Guff weekly newsletter #05, as always, each edition has a few political unpacking, fast tech for people in a hurry, and a consolation prize. Grab your favorite brew, and let's soak all the wit and wisdom in 10 min tops.
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TLDR
Current Affairs
Tragedy Strikes: Nepalese Students Caught in Israel-Hamas Conflict
Digital Rights Drama: OSR Digital's Owner in Legal Hot Water Over ‘Prasad 2’
Government's Murderous Pardon Leaves Justice in the Dust
Tech Trends
Predictive Policing Fail
AI and Coding: The Future Looks, Well, Code-tastic!
LinkedIn Takes AI Hiring to the Next Level
Consolation Prize
Anmol KC: From Silver Screen Star to Soap Opera Sensation
Current Affairs
Tragedy Strikes: Nepalese Students Caught in Israel-Hamas Conflict
In the midst of the Israel-Hamas conflict, 10 Nepalese students met a tragic fate in an attack by Hamas on Kivuz Alumin, in the Seidot Negev conflict zone in southern Israel. All the victims were students who had gone there for an "Earn and Learn Program" to gain practical experience. They were pursuing their studies in the Faculty of Agriculture at Sudurpaschim University and were close to the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip.
The situation in the region is extremely tense. Israel has declared war and authorized significant military actions in response to Hamas's attack. The toll on both sides has surpassed 1,100 casualties, with many more wounded. Israeli forces are still engaged in battles with Hamas militants who are holed up in various locations.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad claim to have taken over 130 people captive from Israel, including soldiers and civilians, with the aim of trading them for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. This development adds another layer of complexity to an already dire situation.
As the conflict continues to escalate, our hearts go out to the victims and their families. It's a sobering reminder of the human cost of such conflicts.
Digital Rights Drama: OSR Digital's Owner in Legal Hot Water Over ‘Prasad 2’
Alright, folks, here's the scoop from Kathmandu District Court. Omprakash Agarwal, the big shot behind OSR Digital, got himself a 4-day detention vacation after being nabbed following a complaint from the 'Prasad 2' film producers. And why, you ask? Well, it seems our man Agarwal is in hot water for allegedly pocketing a cool Rs 15 million by showcasing the film without asking the producers' permission, both in Nepal and on foreign shores.
So, what's the beef here? A while back, there was this digital rights deal signed between Subhash Thapa Productions and OSR Digital Entertainment The Nation. The contract said Agarwal would have all the tech rights for 'Prasad 2' except for the cinema and charity gigs. For this digital bonanza, he'd be cutting a check of 32 lakh 50 thousand rupees, give or take some VAT. And Agarwal was playing by the contract's rules, paying Subhash Thapa Productions as agreed.
But then, there's always a twist in the plot, right? Keshav Pandey came into the picture as a producer and then promptly pulled a disappearing act before the cameras rolled. Subhash Thapa, not one to sit idle, brought in Sudarshan Basnet as the new producer. Trouble brewed as they went digging through old accounts. And when Agarwal, who'd been keeping up his end of the bargain, dropped the 'Prasad-2' teaser on YouTube, the new producer cried foul, got Agarwal arrested, and we're here now.
Agarwal's standing his ground, saying he's in the right since he signed a deal with Subhash Thapa Productions and paid up as agreed. He argues that the new partner should've honored the contract and that he got dragged into this mess when the partners started bickering. Meanwhile, Subhash Thapa, the man who inked the deal with OSR, has vanished into thin air. 🍿
Government's Murderous Pardon Leaves Justice in the Dust
Well, folks, here's a real knee-slapper for you! The Nepali government has decided to play Santa Claus early this year by granting a pardon to a convicted murderer. Yes, you heard that right! Yogaraj Dhakal, aka 'Rigal,' was given a get-out-of-jail-free card by President Ram Chandra Paudel, and people are scratching their heads, wondering if they stumbled into a bizarre episode of a crime thriller.
Chetan Manandhar, an unfortunate soul who crossed paths with Dhakal in Nepalgunj back in 2015, paid the ultimate price for this villain's actions. Dhakal was tried, found guilty, and handed a life sentence by the Banke district court for this heinous murder. But hold onto your hats, because the government decided that life in prison was a tad too harsh for dear old Dhakal.
Enter Bharati Manandhar, Chetan's widow, who isn't exactly thrilled with the government's decision. In fact, she's so unimpressed that she took her grievances all the way to the Supreme Court, filing a writ against this head-scratching pardon. She even staged a good old-fashioned hunger strike in Kathmandu to make her point.
But wait, there's more! In a dramatic turn of events, Bharati dramatically collapsed at the Supreme Court premises, probably due to the sheer absurdity of it all.
President Paudel, in a feat of verbal gymnastics, defended the move, citing some constitutional provision that basically says, "If the government wants it, I can't say no." Well, Mr. President, you've certainly outdone yourself with this one.
Meanwhile, Bharati is left wondering, "Where's the justice?" She's got a point there! With murderers getting a free pass, who's next on Dhakal's hit list? It's a real-life circus, folks, and the victims are the ones left without a safety net. Welcome to the land where logic takes a holiday, and justice is just a punchline. 🤦♂️🃏 #NepalNonsense #PardonPuzzlement
Tech Trends
Predictive Policing Fail: More Misfires Than Minority Report
Buckle up for a tale of predictive policing software that's more comically off-mark than your friend trying to hit the high notes at karaoke night.
So, these tech-savvy cops thought they could predict crimes like they're reading tea leaves, using an algorithm that's supposed to be like a psychic predicting the future, but with computers instead of crystal balls. 🤷♂️
They even named this software Geolitica, and it sounds fancier than it is. But guess what? Geolitica's crime-predicting skills were so bad that it makes your uncle's lame jokes seem like pure comedy gold! 🙄
In a joint investigation by The Markup and Wired, they found that Geolitica's predictions were about as accurate as a blindfolded dart thrower trying to hit a bullseye on a moving target. Out of over 23,000 predictions, less than 100 actually matched up with real crimes. Yep, you read that right—less than half a percent! 😂
Geolitica was so laughably bad that even the head of Plainfield's police department admitted they hardly used it. It turns out, they spent a ton of money on this software that could've been better used on community programs. Talk about a facepalm moment! 🤦♀️
But wait, there's more: Geolitica is closing shop (no surprise there!), and its employees are being scooped up by another law enforcement software company. So, the legacy of this hilariously ineffective crime predictor lives on!
In the end, it's safe to say that Geolitica's crystal ball was more like a snow globe—pretty to look at but utterly useless for seeing the future.
AI and Coding: The Future Looks, Well, Code-tastic!
Hold onto your hats, tech-savvy folks! AI is invading the world of coding, and it's bringing some serious game-changing mojo to the table. GitHub, the ultimate coder's hangout, is leading the charge with its nifty Copilot AI programming sidekick. Imagine having a coding buddy who suggests autocomplete-style code snippets and even helps with writing documentation. Sounds like a dream, right?
Now, before you tech gurus get too excited, let's break this down. Copilot isn't just here to make coding more fun (although it does). It's here to make you a coding superhero. Developers using Copilot are happier, and they write code a whopping 55% faster. No more wracking your brains for syntax or typing out boring code; Copilot's got your back. You can focus on the juicy parts of your project, and let Copilot handle the mundane stuff. Wow, indeed!
But that's not all, folks. Copilot is also becoming the secret weapon in the world of coding education. Professors and educators are teaming up with this AI sidekick to teach the next generation of coders. At first, some were skeptical, thinking it was like cheating. But as time went on, they realized Copilot was more like a tutor, helping students learn the ropes faster. Even Professor David Malan at Harvard, who initially turned Copilot off for his students, did a 180 and started using it to teach them how to code.
So, what's the future of coding with AI? Well, it's like having a library of pre-written code at your fingertips. You don't have to reinvent the wheel every time you start a new project. AI does the heavy lifting, and you can focus on solving real problems and getting creative. It's raising the bar for developers and allowing them to tackle more advanced challenges. Remember when you had to add spaces at the beginning of every line in Fortran? Yeah, AI is helping us skip past those beginner struggles.
But here's the big question: how do we fund open-source programs and support the people behind them? GitHub is on it, exploring ways to financially back open-source software developers. They're connecting eager learners with mentorship opportunities and even considering venture capital funding for open-source projects.
So, buckle up, fellow code warriors! The future of coding with AI is looking bright, and we're in for one heck of a ride!
LinkedIn Takes AI Hiring to the Next Level
Hey there, busy bees! LinkedIn is ramping up its AI game to help recruiters find the perfect job candidates faster than you can say "hire me." 🐝
Now, recruiters can simply chat with AI in plain old human language, telling it what kind of candidate they're after. The AI then combines its super-smarts with profile insights to cast a wide net. Think of it like having a chat with your personal recruiting assistant.
But that's not all, folks! LinkedIn is adding more AI-powered goodies to the mix. They've got an AI-powered ad campaign creator and an automated coach for LinkedIn's educational stuff. Fancy, right?
Erran Berger, LinkedIn's VP of product engineering, says these tools are all about letting recruiters be more human. They free up precious time by handling the nitty-gritty stuff, so recruiters can focus on the personal side of hiring.
LinkedIn's been dabbling in AI for a while now, helping recruiters craft messages and even giving users a hand with their profiles. Now, they're taking things up a notch.
So, if you're a recruiter, AI is your new BFF. And for job seekers, this means you might just find your dream job faster than ever. 🚀 #LinkedInAI #RecruitmentRevolution #AIAssistant
Consolation Prize
Anmol KC: From Silver Screen Star to Soap Opera Sensation
Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your popcorn because the Nepali film industry just got a blockbuster of its own! Our favorite heartthrob, Anmol KC, known for his dashing looks and acting chops, has found himself in a real-life drama fit for the big screen.
Picture this: Anmol KC, the leading man of 'Rawayan,' suddenly decides the script isn't up to his superstar standards. Cue the dramatic twist! Producer Supriya Katuwal cries foul, alleging that Anmol's script-shifting antics have put the film and a whopping NPR 10.5 million investment on shaky ground.
But wait, it gets juicier! Anmol had signed on the dotted line and cashed a cool NPR 1 million check as an advance payment. All systems were a go, contracts signed, and cameras set to roll. Yet, in a plot twist worthy of an Oscar, Anmol decided to back out, leaving everyone in a state of shock.
Producer Katuwal is having none of it. She's pulling the curtain back on this real-life reel and is taking the star to court for "criminal treachery." Talk about a plot twist, right?
Anmol, not one to miss the spotlight, took to Facebook to declare his script-satisfaction standards. "No rush for me," he says, vowing to ensure the project's success. Oh, the suspense!
And just when you thought this movie-worthy tale couldn't get any more dramatic, Anmol KC's plot twist reaches a climax! As the news of a potential arrest warrant spreads like wildfire, Anmol suddenly develops a severe case of "chest pain" and makes a dramatic hospital entrance.
So, grab your popcorn, folks! This show is far from over. Stay tuned for the next episode of "As the Star Turns"!
Last but not the least
Did todays newsletter hit the mark, or did it miss the latte art? |