By Wes Davis, a weekend editor who covers the latest in tech and entertainment. He has written news, reviews, and more as a tech journalist since 2020.
Early this morning, I received an email from “The Internet Archive Team,” replying to a message I’d sent on October 9th. Except its author doesn’t seem to have been the digital archivists’ support team — it was apparently written by the hackers who breached the site earlier this month and who evidently maintain some level of access to its systems.
I’m not alone. Users on the Internet Archive subreddit are reporting getting the replies, as well. Here is the message I received:
It’s dispiriting to see that even after being made aware of the breach 2 weeks ago, IA has still not done the due diligence of rotating many of the API keys that were exposed in their gitlab secrets.
As demonstrated by this message, this includes a Zendesk token with perms to access 800K+ support tickets sent to info@archive.org since 2018.
Whether you were trying to ask a general question, or requesting the removal of your site from the Wayback Machine—your data is now in the hands of some random guy. If not me, it’d be someone else.
Here’s hoping that they’ll get their shit together now.
The Verge left a voicemail at the Archive’s contact number asking for more information.
The Internet Archive has been slowly coming back online after the attacks and has resumed some services, including its website archive called the Wayback Machine. But its vast inventory of data, which is comprised of countless books, software, images, videos, audio, and even the digital archives of the island nation of Aruba, remains inaccessible.
The Archive team is currently “working around the clock across time zones” to bring more of the site’s services back, Internet Archive founder Brewster Kahle wrote in a blog post on October 17th. The site expects to resume more of its offerings in the “coming days,” but in read-only mode at first, “as full restoration will take more time,” according to the post.
As for why the site has been under assault, that’s still unclear. Kahle said he doesn’t know, either, in a Washington Post story yesterday. “Why kick the cat?” he added.
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Indian economy to grow at around 6.5% in FY25, government says  Reuters India
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Wright: Glass ‘more than half full’ on education this year  News From The States
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Starting on Jan. 1, 2025, all Tennessee servers and bartenders will be required to complete alcohol awareness training as part of their licensing process.
The goal of the new law is to help protect patrons from sexual assault, trafficking and harassment by equipping bar staff with the knowledge and confidence to intervene when necessary, according to Aaron Rummage a director at the Tennessee Alcohol Beverage Commission. 
“This was really addressing a couple of cases where some individuals were drugged and then taken advantage of. I think there was even a rape involved,” he said. 
The law will also require more frequent training, with serving licenses expiring every 2 years instead of every 5 years. The increased frequency of training is designed to keep staff up-to-date on safety protocols and provide them with more tools to handle potential threats.
“It’s really placing more tools in the server’s toolbox,” said Rummage. “In order to have a little more courage to maybe step forward if they see something that’s wrong.”
Some East Tennessee businesses are already taking steps to ensure safety. Brian Dickert, the assistant general manager of Yeehaw Brewery, said it is part of the “Safe Bar” initiative and offers similar training to help staff recognize and respond to safety concerns.
“We just make sure that none of our patrons feel uncomfortable in any way,” he said. 
For patrons who feel unsafe, the brewery provides a “safe word” posted in bathrooms that can be used to discreetly alert staff.
“If they feel uncomfortable in any way, they can come to either security or one of our bartenders and say that they need some assistance,” said Dickert.
This law is just one of many going into effect in the new year.
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What happened to SB 83, Ohio’s higher ed overhaul? Anti-strike, DEI ban could be back  The Cincinnati Enquirer
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Welcome bonus: 1,000 GC and 0.1 SC. Exclusive in-house games. Wide variety of casino gaming categories. T&Cs apply, 18+
Since launching, Lucky Bird has swiftly captured the attention of many US players, and I’m one of them. When I signed up, I received 4,000 GC and 0.9 SC from the Lucky Bird casino bonus for new players.
Without question, the offer doesn’t compare with other popular social gaming sites. However, Lucky Bird has several other bonuses where you can easily rake up more Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Cash. Guess what? There’s also an exciting VIP club. I’ll tell you all about the offers in this review, so continue reading.
Lucky Bird does things a bit differently from most other sweepstakes casinos. Usually, when I sign up, I get my welcome offer right away. On the Lucky Bird site, it’s a 7-day login bonus package with perks to claim each day.
First of all, I got 0.3 SC when I verified my email. Then, here’s the rundown of the rewards from the 7-day login bonus:
So, the standard bonus from the 7-day offer is 4,000 GC and 0.6 SC. Add that to the 0.3 SC from the email verification, and the total climbs to 4,000 GC and 0.6 SC. I didn’t need any Lucky Bird Casino bonus code 2024 when claiming the offer.
An exciting aspect of the Lucky Bird bonus is The Treasure Chests. These are like secret rewards; you can find GCs and SCs when you open them. So, besides the standard offer, I also got more coins from The Treasure Chests to increase my balance.
I’ve yet to come across a sweepstakes casino with a faster sign-up procedure than Lucky Bird. When I visited the site, I got my account in less than 10 seconds. It sounds surreal, but it’s a fact, and your experience will be the same.
Lucky Bird automatically gave me a username on the registration page. I only had to click Sign Up, and my account was up and running. However, I couldn’t claim the Lucky Bird no deposit bonus until I verified my email. Rest assured that once you add your email to your profile, the 7-day package becomes active.
Here’s a step-by-step procedure to follow:
That’s all involved. As is evident, you don’t need a Lucky Bird casino bonus code. The only code you’ll enter is the one sent to your email for verification.
After claiming the welcome offer at Lucky Bird Casino, I’m sure you’ll want to use it as best you can. I know what that means since I’ve used the bonus firsthand. In that view, here are the tips I recommend following:
With a total of 0.9 Sweepstakes Cash, you don’t have much to play with. However, 4,000 Gold Coins is much more hefty. It only makes sense that you start playing with the GCs before touching your SCs.
This isn’t just about Lucky Bird. Almost all Sweeps Cash no deposit promos offer lower SC amounts than GCs. So, I always begin with the latter to get conversant with the platform and its games. Also, I look for more promotions to get more Sweepstakes Cash before I use them.
One of my best features about Lucky Bird is the Telegram Robot. You can get it via the Install App page, and it’s a perfect alternative to a traditional app. What does this bot have to do with the bonus? Well, it’s about convenience.
Remember, you need to log in daily to claim the complete 7-day bonus. Loading your browser and typing in the Lucky Bird Casino URL isn’t difficult. However, I find things much easier by just launching my Telegram app.
Furthermore, the Robot sent me notifications from time to time. As such, I was always on alert when the daily bonus was available. Sometimes, the bot even provided updates on special Lucky Bird Casino promo code offers.
I’m talking about instant wins such as Crash, Dice, Limbo, Plinko, and Keno. These are Originals created by Lucky Bird developers. So, you won’t find the same type in other sweepstakes casinos. That’s what makes them unique.
Regarding the bonus offer, I recommend playing these games since they offer quick rounds. Also, they’re Provably Fair titles with high RTPs and maximum multipliers. With these, Lucky Bird instant wins are perfect titles to play and potentially score more coins. Whether you use GC or SC, your chances of increasing your balance are high.
Another quick method to increase your bonus at Lucky Bird is through the faucets. These aren’t like traditional promotions, so you won’t have to provide a Lucky Bird Casino bonus code. Simply complete the CAPTCHA and hit the claim button.
Based on my experience, the faucets come in handy with the first few days at the casino. I didn’t get any Gold Coins from the daily login bonus until the third day, but the faucets gave me a few GCs to use.
Notably, the faucets only work when your GC and SC balance reads 0. In my case, I exhausted the 0.4 Sweepstakes Cash I got on the first day to leverage the faucet bonuses.
Usually, I won’t need to emphasize this because it’s something you should know. However, I noticed many users doing this. Since Lucky Bird doesn’t require many details for registration, some players create more than one account to snag the welcome bonus.
I highly advise against this because the social casino has strict monitoring systems. If it detects you’re running multiple accounts, all will be shut down. You’ll also be restricted from using the platform afterward.
I came across many newbies asking several questions about bonuses at Lucky Bird Casino. If you also have such queries, I’ve highlighted the most popular ones along with answers below:
You don’t need a Lucky Bird casino deposit code or no deposit code. To claim the welcome bonus, you only need to create an account and confirm your email. There’s no requirement to enter a code or make an initial purchase.
Lucky Bird may provide bonus drop codes from time to time. If you’re after such offers, I recommend following the casino on social media. The platform will publish drop codes and instructions on how to claim them once they’re available.
You’ll automatically join the Lucky Bird VIP club when you sign up on the site. However, your daily activities on the casino site will determine your level. The higher you rank, the better the rewards — I’ll explain more about this later.
Lucky Bird has several weekly promotions similar to what you get with the best sweepstakes promo codes. However, they’re mainly time-sensitive. So, you’ll have to check the promotions page for active weekly bonuses. The standard weekly promos are only for VIPs.
No, you can’t get cash with Lucky Bird bonuses. The platform is a social casino and not conventional, so there’s no actual money involved. While you’ll get Sweepstakes Cash from promotions, these are only Sweepstakes Coins like in other social casinos. They have no worth and can only be redeemed for prizes.
Lucky Bird has some extra bonuses you can leverage after the welcome package. I didn’t find promo codes for free spins, rakeback, or purchase discounts. Nevertheless, the options present are still highly rewarding.
Most are time-sensitive, so you’ll have to check the promotions page for what’s currently available. The standard promotions I enjoyed included the Daily & Hour Race, Treasure Chest, and the outstanding VIP program. Check them out below:

Signing up with Lucky Bird Casino gave me a welcome bonus of 4,000 GC, 0.9 SC, and Treasure Chests. I got the complete offer after seven days since it’s a login bonus. Notably, I didn’t enter any Lucky Bird casino promo code to become eligible.
To claim the Lucky Bird Casino bonus, I had to log in for seven straight days after registration. Each day, I either received SC, GC, or Treasure Chests. Also, the casino prompted me to verify my email, after which I got 0.3 SC.
The Lucky Bird claiming procedure differs from other platforms that roll out the welcome bonus once you create an account. Nevertheless, it wasn’t stressful for me. On the contrary, I loved the engagement.
With the bonus, I mostly played Dice and Crash games. These instant wins offer quick results, allowing me to rack up more GC and SC. However, I still played slots during my Lucky Bird Casino review, including Legend of Zeus and Stone Age.
Redeeming my Sweepstakes Cash for real prizes was one of the best parts of using the Lucky Bird bonus for me. Why? Well, the platform supports digital coins. As such, I was able to redeem my SC for BTC, ETH, and other cryptocurrencies.
The playthrough is only 1x, while the minimum eligible SC varies depending on the coin. My first redemption was via BTC, and the minimum was only 30 SC. With only 0.9 SC from the welcome bonus, it did take me a couple of weeks to get more coins and complete the playthrough.
When I was eventually set to redeem, I submitted a request and got the prize within 24 hours. It was that fast, which is also because it’s crypto.
While claiming the Lucky Bird welcome bonus, everything was pretty smooth. I can only say, don’t skip a day in getting the bonus. Since it’s a login reward, you can’t get back any GC, SC, or Treasure Chest you miss.
If you ask me, you can’t afford to miss any since all needs to add up to get something substantial. This is why I recommend installing the Lucky Bird Telegram robot. With it, you only need a few seconds on your smartphone to get the day’s bonus.
My experience with the welcome offer at Lucky Bird Casino was smooth sailing. I appreciate that I didn’t need to search for a Lucky Bird Casino bonus code. Besides the fact that the SC bonus amount can improve, every other aspect is on point. You can go for it and get 4,000 GC, 0.9 SC, and Treasure Chests. If your Treasure Chests reveal impressive rewards, you can get more GC and SC in hundreds.
As a crypto social casino, Lucky Bird promises a unique experience for players. I believe the operator keeps its word, considering its diverse bonus offers. To me, the choice of a 7-day package is innovative.
In terms of amount, the number of coins in the Lucky Bird casino bonus isn’t a lot. Nevertheless, unique rewards like the Treasure Chests make things quite interesting. Plus, the daily & hour races and the VIP club mean there are many other perks to anticipate. So, I can point to Lucky Bird as a reliable sweepstakes casino for quality promotions.
The Lucky Bird sign-up bonus is a 7-day package with 0.6 SC, 4,000 GC, and Treasure Chests. There’s also an additional 0.3 SC for verifying your email address.
Yes, Lucky Bird Casino has a no deposit bonus. The total from the welcome package is 4,000 GC and 0.9 SC plus Treasure Chests, and it’s completely free. You won’t need any initial payment to get the bonus.
Lucky Bird Casino doesn’t feature any exclusive bonus code at the moment. Also, you don’t need one to get bonuses on the site. Simply register an account, and you can claim any promotion on offer.
Lucky Bird Casino sometimes provides free spins bonuses. So, check the promotions page to know if such a bonus is available. That said, you can still play all slots with your free Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Cash.

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December 27, 2024e-Paper
The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.
Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers
First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.
Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there
The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.
Science For All The weekly newsletter from science writers takes the jargon out of science and puts the fun in!
Karnataka Today Your daily dose of news highlights from Karnataka
Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.
December 27, 2024e-Paper
Updated – December 27, 2024 08:10 am IST – Bengaluru
Barbara Poplawska | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Barbara Poplawska, a 29-year-old conductor from the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI), recently visited Bengaluru, bringing her passion for Western classical music to the city that has embraced diverse musical traditions. The group presented A Classical Christmas featuring many typical season’s delights including Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite, Strauss’s iconic The Blue Danube, besides the traditional Christmas carols.
In an interview with The Hindu, Poplawska shared her unique journey from Kazakhstan to Poland and eventually to India, where she joined the SOI at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) as an assistant conductor before taking centrestage.  
“In places like Europe, the audience is not very responsive and needs more time. But in India, right from the first piece, you start feeling a connection.” | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Poplawska speaks fondly of the enthusiastic reception she has experienced from Indian audiences, noting their warmth and responsiveness compared to their European counterparts. She also highlighted the importance of nurturing young audiences’ connection to music.  
Despite challenges like acoustics and limited freedom to experiment, she praised the resilience and adaptability of orchestras, citing their survival through wars and pandemics. Looking to the future, Poplawska remains optimistic about the growth of Western classical music in India and across the world. She believes in the transformative magic of orchestras and the importance of preserving their rich legacy while embracing new artistic expressions. 
How did your journey with classical music and conducting start in India?  
It was an accident. I was in Poland with a master’s degree in music and a couple of projects, but I did not have a permanent job. One of the chiefs of NCPA is from Kazakhstan, and I was born there. Somehow I found him and got in touch with him. NCPA invited me here a couple of years ago, and I started off as an assistant conductor. It was more of a practice work when I joined, and as I started building connections within SOI, I started working as a conductor.   
How receptive are Indian audience to orchestras, Bengaluru in particular? 
Ever since my first concert here, I have experienced that in India, and cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai, the audience is very open. In places like Europe, the audience is not very responsive and needs more time. But in India, right from the first piece, you start feeling a connection and support from the audience, which is very helpful and gives us a lot of energy.  
You had a special session for children during your recent visit to Bengaluru. How receptive are Indian towards Western Classical music? 
I guess children across the world react the same way and at the end of the day they are all children. For them, it is always interesting. Most children get the opportunity to watch live orchestras very rarely, and when they do, they get a chance to look at the instruments live, hear how they sound, and learn to differentiate between each instrument. I really appreciate orchestras that perform for children, as it is very important for children to build a connection with music from a very young age.  
Do people in general across the world have patience for classical forms since they involve cultivating a taste with patience? 
The one thing I truly realised after a few years of being in the music industry is that music be it Western classical, popular, Indian classical or any form, is an expression of musicians. These expressions have to touch our hearts, and you will connect with them no matter what the genre is. But some may like it, and some may not. I am always surprised when I conduct modern classical because there are some people from the classical world who are still not open to it. Every music is an expression, and audiences have to be open to it.  
Are Indian auditoria suited for Western orchestra in terms of acoustics? 
To be honest, I realised that most of us, the younger generation of musicians, try not to categorise auditoria and we try to make the best of our music. When we give the right emotions, it will not really matter how good or bad the place of performance is. We take it as a challenge, to convey our work to the audience through whatever limitations or facilities we have. 
As someone who is expected to perform Western Classical music on a regular basis, do you have the freedom to create new music or experiment in your field?
When I was in Poland there always was a set of rules for orchestras, which made sure there was some percentage of classical and a little bit of modern music. In an orchestra, it really depends on how open the manager is to making changes. But of course, we play Western classical music not only because we are obligated to, but also because of the rich history and legacy that has been left behind. We love to keep the legacy going and leave it etched in peoples’ memories.   
Classical music faces unique challenges in contemporary times. How do you see the future of orchestras, especially in India? 
Orchestra or Western classical music has survived multiple wars, the pandemic and a lot more, it will continue to survive and thrive in the coming days too. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when it seemed like it was the end of everything, musicians across the world came together to find ways to perform. I believe that when a group of people come together to perform it will always survive no matter what. This is one of the reasons why I decided to become a conductor because I believe that the process of working with a group of different people, opinions, and artistes, is really magical. Contemporising art is a form of growth, but classical musical will continue to survive.
Published – December 27, 2024 08:00 am IST
music / classical music / Western Classical / music industry / Music Personalities
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MOLINE, Ill. — Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, and local colleges are stepping up to prepare students for this powerful technology.
At Black Hawk College’s Quad-Cities campus, Librarian Atticus Garrison compares AI tools to calculators in math class, emphasizing their role in enhancing learning while teaching responsible use. 
“When I go into classes, one of the things I’ll teach is how to use AI for a certain class,” Garrison said.
Western Illinois University (WIU) is taking things a step further with its new AI minor launching in fall of 2025. The program, led by Dennis DeVolder, WIU’s director of the School of Computer Science, includes courses on generative AI, machine learning and programming. Devolder believes students equipped with AI knowledge will stand out in their careers. 
“Students who are prepared and trained in how to use this technology will have a leg up,” he said. “I can’t imagine any career path that wouldn’t benefit at least to some degree from having this background,” DeVolder said.
VictoryXR, a training platform focused on AI, partners with over 50 schools worldwide to teach students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence. CEO Steve Grubbs stresses how rapidly AI is advancing and its potential to revolutionize industries. 
“It’s everywhere now, but it’s only a fraction of what it will be in two years,” Grubbs said. “We all have to be prepared and be changing now to get ready for that moment.”
Educators at both WIU and Black Hawk College agree that AI literacy is critical as it becomes an integral part of daily life and careers. Applications for WIU’s Fall 2025 semester are now open.
For more information, or to apply at WIU visit here.
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Star Stable codes help you redeem essential resources including free Star Rider memberships, Star Coins, cosmetics, and even seasonal items. These will help channel your inner Jockey as you start as a newbie and transform into a full-fledged veteran horse rider.
Throughout your journey, you’ll encounter several different quests to participate in as you explore this magical world. That’s where the different codes come into play, as they all enhance gameplay, from unlocking free items that can change your appearance and even modifying certain stats.
There are currently 29 available codes you can redeem in Star Stable, which we’ve confirmed ourselves by redeeming them with our own account to be working as of December 24, 2024:
Now that you know everything that’s currently available, before redeeming the above codes, make sure to remember the following points:
Redeeming codes is pretty simple, as it can be done right from the website itself – so you don’t even need to log into your game to get them:
If you don’t want to take the browser route, you can also redeem them directly from the game client as well, right before hopping into the server.
Sometimes when entering a code, you’ll get a “That code’s a no-go. Double-check?’ message appear. This means that you’ve either spelled it wrong or it’s no longer active, so we’d suggest copying and pasting codes from our active list to help avoid this. Codes aren’t case-sensitive, though, so you don’t need to worry about matching the case of those listed on our page.
As you can see from the tables above, most of the codes in Star Stable tend to reward you with various items like Star Coins, treats, Star Rider memberships, and even cosmetics.
Star Coins are the game’s premium currency, meaning that having more of them on hand means you can buy more cosmetics you want for your horses!
Treats are essential to keep your horse happy, so having more of those is always welcome, and you can even use codes to redeem some adorable little pets – like the one shown in the screenshot below:
Some codes offer free Star Rider membership for seven to 11 days, unlocking awesome content like new quests, clothes, horses, and the entire map of Jorvik. You can also create and own a Riding Club.
The items you buy during it, such as clothes, horses, and tack, will be permanently yours as long as your membership is active. However, once your membership expires, you’ll only be able to access the Moorland area.
If you’re on the fence about grabbing this membership, using these rewards when they’re available can be a great way to give you a sneak peek of what’s included and how you’ll use it.
Make sure to check back regularly, as the developers occasionally add new codes, and they can go a very long way in helping you take care of your stallions and become one of the best riders Star Stable has ever seen.
If you’re looking for more free redeemable items, make sure to check out our pages for the latest Infinity Nikki codes, Pokemon Go codes, Disney Dreamlight Valley codes, and Zenless Zero codes if you’re looking for mobile games on the go.
Ava is Dexerto’s Evergreen Manager, based in England. With a BA (Hons) in Media and Communications, and a passion for RPGs, The Sims, Pokemon, and Dead by Daylight, she primarily covers tips, guides, and reviews. You can contact Ava at: avathompsonpowell@dexerto.com.
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Manmohan Singh death latest updates: National flag to fly at half mast during mourning  Hindustan Times
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