onthedarkside

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Twitter is losing its most active users, internal documents show October 27, 2022 [prior to Musk completing his acquisition] ... Twitter is struggling to keep its most active users - who are vital to the business - engaged, underscoring a challenge faced by the Tesla (TSLA.O) chief executive as he approaches a deadline to close his $44 billion deal to buy the company. These "heavy tweeters" account for less than 10% of monthly overall users but generate 90% of all tweets and half of global revenue. Heavy tweeters have been in "absolute decline" since the pandemic began, a Twitter researcher wrote in an internal document titled “Where did the Tweeters Go?” (more) https://www.reuters.com/technology/exclusive-where-did-tweeters-go-twitter-is-losing-its-most-active-users-internal-2022-10-25/

Celebrities Say They’re Quitting Twitter as Elon Musk Takes Over: “I’m Out of Here” Some celebrities claim they've left the social media platform due to Musk, while others urge progressives to stay and fight Celebrities are beginning to quit Twitter — or claim they are, at least — now that Elon Musk has taken over the popular social media platform. “Not hanging around for whatever Elon has planned. Bye,” tweeted Grey’s Anatomy creator and producer mogul Shonda Rhimes to her 1.9 million followers on Saturday. “I’m out of here,” declared This Is Us executive producer Ken Olin to his 300,000 followers on Friday after previously pledging, “The day @elonmusk takes ownership of Twitter, I’m out.” “No judgement,” he added. (more) https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/elon-musk-twitter-celebrities-quit-1235250888/

Twitter Users Flock to Other Platforms as the Elon Era Begins Discord, Mastodon, and other services are bustling as Twitter fans make backup plans for their online social lives ... "Rather than rushing to the exits and deleting their accounts, many with reservations about Musk’s takeover are making plans similar to LaBelle’s. They’re giving out information for followers to find them on Discord or Mastodon, a decentralized microblogging platform that most closely resembles Twitter. Mastodon is already benefiting from speculation about Twitter’s new owner. Some 18,000 people signed up for Mastodon accounts between October 20 and 27, says Eugen Rochko, the platform’s CEO. As of October 28, it had 381,113 active users." (more) https://www.wired.com/story/twitter-users-flock-to-other-platforms-as-the-elon-musk-era-begins/

Elon Musk Is Said to Have Ordered Job Cuts Across Twitter The billionaire planned to begin layoffs as soon as Saturday, people with knowledge of the matter said "SAN FRANCISCO — Elon Musk planned to begin laying off workers at Twitter as soon as Saturday, four people with knowledge of the matter said, with some managers being asked to draw up lists of employees to cut. ... Ross Gerber, the chief executive of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, said he was told by Jared Birchall, the head of Mr. Musk’s family office, that layoffs were coming at Twitter. “I was told to expect somewhere around 50 percent of people will be laid off,” he said. (more) https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/29/technology/twitter-layoffs-musk-jobs.html

Hate speech, online extremism fed Pelosi attack, terror experts believe "WASHINGTON, Oct 29 (Reuters) - The frequent targeting of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi by online extremists and political opponents likely contributed to the violent attack on her husband Paul, terrorism and extremism experts said. ... An internet user with the same name as the man arrested at the scene, David Depape, expressed support for former President Donald Trump and embraced the cult-like conspiracy theory QAnon in online posts that referenced "satanic paedophilia." ... But terrorism and extremism experts believe it could be an example of the growing threat of so-called stochastic terrorism, in which sometimes unstable individuals are inspired to violence by hate speech and scenarios they see online and hear echoed by public figures. (more) https://www.reuters.com/world/us/hate-speech-online-extremism-fed-pelosi-attack-terror-experts-believe-2022-10-29/

The numbers here are continuing to evolve: "At least 153 people were killed and dozens more hurt in an apparent crowd surge at packed Halloween festivities in the South Korean capital of Seoul, local officials say. Among the 153 dead were 20 foreign nationals, according to the ministry. ... The victims include people from Iran, Norway, China and Uzbekistan The crush took place in the nightlife district of Itaewon. What caused the crush is not clear..." https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/seoul-south-korea-halloween-deaths/index.html Washington Post later updating to at least 153 dead and about 82 injured. At least 20 foreign nationals from 10 different countries were killed in the crush, including two Americans. "South Korea declared a period of national mourning until Nov. 5, with flags flying at half-staff on federal buildings. A memorial site for victims will be erected in Seoul." https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/10/30/seoul-halloween-stampede-itaewon-south-korea/

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"Itaewon developed as a district of bars, nightclubs and shops catering to American soldiers based nearby in the decades after the Korean War. Now, it is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Seoul, known for its nightlife, young patrons, foreign tourists and stylish restaurants." "The stampede began at a narrow alleyway, right outside exit 2 of Itaewon station, outside a row of bars that included, among others, Oasis Bar & Cafe, Gathering and Ravo." https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/10/29/world/korea-halloween-stampede-itaewon

SEOUL — At least 59 people died and at least 150 more were injured after an apparent crowd crush during Halloween celebrations in the Itaewon area of Seoul Saturday night, according to fire department officials. Witnesses reported a chaotic scene of partygoers cramped into narrow streets near the Itaewon station, some trying to leave the area after a night of celebrations. Some people couldn’t even move their limbs because of the elbow-to-elbow crowd. (more) https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/10/29/itaewon-seoul-halloween-stampede/

Saifullah Paracha, a 75-year-old man from Pakistan who was held in the U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, without charge for 18 years, has returned home, the Department of Defense announced on Saturday. In 2003, Paracha a former businessman and TV producer, was arrested by U.S. authorities on suspicion of affiliation with al-Qaida. Last year, Guantánamo's Periodic Review Board determined that Paracha was no longer a significant threat to the U.S. ... Paracha is at least the fourth person who has been released from Guantánamo this year. It is part of President Biden's efforts to reduce the population of detainees at Guantánamo and ultimately close the facility. (more) https://www.npr.org/2022/10/29/1132605483/oldest-prisoner-guantanamo-released-pakistan

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia announced Saturday that it will move to suspend its implementation of a U.N.-brokered grain deal that has seen more than 9 million tons of grain exported from Ukraine during the war and has brought down soaring global food prices. The Russian Defense Ministry cited an alleged Ukrainian drone attack against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet ships moored off the coast of occupied Crimea, which Russia says took place early Saturday, as the reason for the move. Ukraine has denied the attack, saying that the Russians mishandled their own weapons. (more) https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-government-and-politics-3b563bd6f79f815c7e9f33505dd25334

SAN FRANCISCO – In the wake of Mr Elon Musk buying Twitter, a tide of slurs and racist memes swelled on the platform, sparking concern that the site is entering an era of hateful speech. ... The flood of speech underlines the difficulty Mr Musk faces in fulfilling his promise to restore people’s ability to speak freely while managing the palatability of the platform for advertisers, to whom he pledged in a letter on Thursday that Twitter would not spiral into a “free-for-all hellscape” under his leadership. ... Overnight and into Friday, racist slurs, anti-Semitic speech and offensive memes surged on the platform, with users egging each other on in far-right message boards such as The Donald, on messaging apps like Telegram and Internet forums such as 4chan. (more) https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/elon-musks-twitter-roils-with-hate-speech-as-trolls-test-new-limits

FDA says two studies showing omicron boosters weren’t much better than old Covid shots were too small to come to any conclusions The Food and Drug Administration said two studies this week showing that the new omicron boosters weren’t that much better than the old shots were too small to come to any real conclusions. ... Dr. Peter Marks, head of the FDA’s vaccine division, said the studies are small and subject to limitations. Data from larger well-controlled studies are expected in the near future, he said. Pfizer and Moderna are conducting clinical trials on the new boosters and are expected to provide data later this year." (more) https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/28/fda-says-two-studies-showing-omicron-boosters-werent-much-better-than-old-shots-were-too-small-to-come-to-any-conclusions.html

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Biden cites Jan. 6 riot chant as he condemns 'despicable' attack on Paul Pelosi The president, speaking in Pennsylvania, called on Americans to “clearly and unambiguously" stand up against political violence. President Joe Biden on Friday called out the “despicable” attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, directly tying the attacker’s words to rioters’ chants during the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol. ... “This is despicable. There’s no place in America. There’s too much violence — political violence — too much hatred, too much vitriol,” Biden said. “And what makes us think one party can talk about stolen elections, Covid being a hoax, [that it’s] all a bunch of lies, and it not affect people who may not be so well balanced? What makes us think that it’s not going to alter the political climate? Enough is enough is enough.” (more) https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/28/biden-attack-pelosis-husband-jan-6-riot-00064097

Trump spent the day complaining on social media while lawmakers of both parties condemned the assault on Pelosi's husband As top politicians on both sides of the aisle came forward to condemn the violent assault on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former President Donald Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to post about an array of topics. Over the course of the day, he complained about his legal issues, attacked a judge, and endorsed Brazil's authoritarian president — without a word about Pelosi or her husband who has been hospitalized. Trump's silence was in stark contrast to other leading Republicans who denounced the assault, which reports suggest may have been politically motivated. (more) https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-silent-on-assault-against-pelosi-husband-gripes-about-legal-woes-2022-10

Accused Pelosi attacker David DePape spread QAnon, other far-right, bigoted conspiracies ... DePape’s screeds included posts about QAnon, an unfounded theory that former President Trump is at war with a cabal of Satan-worshipping elites who run a child sex ring and control the world. ... DePape’s daughter, Inti Gonzalez, told The Times that her father wrote the blog. She said that she and her mother were reeling from the news that DePape had been arrested in connection with the attack on Paul Pelosi. “I’m a little shocked,” she said, “but not really that shocked, in all honesty.” (more) https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-28/pelosi-attack-suspect-david-depape-shared-conspiracy-theories

Frustrated lawmakers want protection for their families as threats increase ... Calls for violence against lawmakers online and elsewhere have referenced both elected officials and their families, according to sources familiar with the threat environment who told CNN that law enforcement agencies have been grappling with how to address those threats in the wake of the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. In the months following the January 6 insurrection, Capitol Police and other law enforcement agencies worked to increase protection for members of Congress while they are in Washington, DC, and traveling back to their home districts. However, the security detail for lawmakers, including Pelosi, does not protect their family members, including spouses, when the members of Congress are not with them, according to multiple sources." (more) https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/28/politics/threats-to-us-lawmakers-increasing-pelosi/index.html

‘Where’s Nancy?’ How the chilling attack on Pelosi’s husband echoed Jan. 6 insurrection on Capitol Hill San Francisco police arrest Berkeley man with history of online extremism “Where’s Nancy? Where’s Nancy?” The chilling question that the violent home invader reportedly demanded of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband before attacking him with a hammer early Friday is the same one that echoed through the halls of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 when insurrectionists stormed the building. The 2:30 a.m. break-in and bludgeoning at the Pelosis’ Pacific Heights home Friday sent 82-year-old Paul Pelosi into surgery to repair a fractured skull and “serious injuries to his right arm and hands” and, just over a week before the crucial midterm elections, forced Democrats and Republicans alike to ask a distressing question again: How have we come to this? (more) https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/10/28/wheres-nancy-how-the-chilling-attack-on-pelosis-husband-echoed-jan-6-insurrection-on-capitol-hill/

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Several off-topic posts have been removed. The recent discussion here is veering away from the topic of the thread -- China's COVID control policies. This thread is not a debate on the merits of the current Chinese political system or the U.S. government... Please try to keep future posting on-topic.

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