A new development in Tempe‚ Arizona‚ seems to have taken quite seriously the "you will own nothing and be happy" concept seemingly embraced by the World Economic Forum. It offers renters various urban lifestyle amenities within a walkable or bikeable distance so that they have no use for most personal assets — including a car.Culdesac is a 17-acre‚ "Mediterranean-style" rental complex located just a few miles east of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport‚ offering apartments with up to three bedrooms‚ as well as studios‚ for a starting lease price of $1‚300 per month. However‚ there are no parking lots or garages‚ so residents either walk or bike almost anywhere they need to go.They needn't go far. The Culdesac neighborhood is complete with grocery stores‚ retail shops‚ restaurants‚ a gym‚ a yoga studio‚ and a med spa‚ as well as outdoor gathering spaces to encourage community interaction. For longer travels‚ each resident has a free light-rail pass to use at will as well as discounted Lyft rates. The first 200 residents were even given a free ebike. The thought of living in an area without unsightly parking lots and almost no auto-related traffic likely sounds appealing‚ especially to many young people interested in the easy access and fun nightlife of urban living without the hefty price tag. "We look back nostalgically at college‚ because it’s the only time most people have lived in a walkable neighborhood‚" claimed Culdesac co-founder Ryan Johnson. "People are happier and healthier‚ and even wealthier when they’re living in a walkable neighborhood."However‚ Culdesac and car-free developments like it have significant drawbacks. For one thing‚ all Culdesac residents seem to rent‚ not own‚ their living space. Its website makes no mention of condo living or lease-to-buy opportunities.Car-less living can also restrict people's freedom to travel at times and to destinations of their own choosing. They must move about according to light-rail schedules and the practical limitations of ebike and rideshare options.NBC News notes that the environment might also become a problem for some as well. In the greater-Phoenix area‚ summer temperatures regularly soar above 100 degrees‚ and the arid climate means there is almost no cloud or tree cover for respite from the baking sunshine.For the time being‚ though‚ Culdesac has had some success. Its first residents moved in about six months ago‚ and its owners hope to have 1‚000 residents by next year.Vanessa Fox‚ a 32-year-old Culdesac resident‚ currently seems happy with her living arrangements. "For some‚ cars equal freedom‚ but for me‚ it’s a restriction‚" she said. "Freedom is being able to just simply walk out and access places."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Information technology and software maker Cisco announced its plan to cut about 4‚250 employees in favor of a focus on artificial intelligence.The layoffs account for about 5% of the company's global employment of approximately 85‚000 workers and will cost $800 million in pretax charges to pay severance and benefits for the outgoing employees.CEO Chuck Robbins told investors the company continues to align investments with future growth opportunities‚ while its innovation "sits at the center of an increasingly connected ecosystem and will play a critical role as our customers adopt AI and secure their organizations."Robbins made the remarks despite fewer than one in five of the companies surveyed by Cisco saying they were ready to integrate AI.Statements were provided during a second-quarter earnings report that revealed the company's $12.8 billion in revenue was 6% less than the previous year.However‚ Cisco still has $800 million in operating cash flow and has returned $2.8 billion to shareholders. As noted by the New York Post‚ the company also cut its annual revenue expectations by around $3 billion‚ expecting somewhere between $51.5 and $52.5 billion.About a week prior to the report‚ Cisco announced a partnership with chip maker Nvidia to offer "simplified cloud-based and on-prem AI infrastructure" to its customers. This would help support "advanced AI workloads‚" Robbins explained.Cisco hopes to push its customer base into relying more on artificial intelligence‚ even producing a "Cisco AI Readiness Index‚" a survey on over 8‚000 private and business sector IT leaders.The survey revealed that 84% of the companies thought AI would have at least a "significant impact" on their business in the future. However‚ just 14% said they are fully ready to integrate AI into their businesses.That figure was followed by Cisco's command prompt that "businesses need to be AI-ready."According to the same survey‚ the top fields currently employing AI services are IT infrastructure companies (84%) and cybersecurity companies (83%).Cisco has estimated that generative artificial intelligence — AI that generates content in response to a prompt — could add up to $4.4 trillion to global GDP each year. Presumably‚ that comes at the cost of disconnecting from human employees‚ as Cisco appeared to be revealing as its strategy.In 2023‚ Cisco threw its hat in the ring to help GenAI personalize a student's learning experience. Cisco said it would provide input to TeachAI‚ a new AI resource for educators‚ formed by the World Economic Forum.Teach AI's first listed "value" stated that it focused on centering "student and educator needs‚ with a focus on equity."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Likely based on the attention given to its control of proxy voting‚ BlackRock has unveiled what it calls “a new proxy voting opportunity in iShares Core S&;P 500 ETF (IVV).” The multinational investment giant notes that this particular product is its largest and among the most widely held exchange-traded fund. While giving individual investors a say in the votes related to their holdings is a good thing‚ this new scheme on closer inspection appears to be a way for BlackRock to push climate and social-related policies while making it seem like clients voted for them. Very sneaky. Following U.N. guidance seems like a horrible way to vote on issues related to a publicly traded company. If you receive one of these notices from your financial institution or otherwise‚ make sure to review it closely and to choose wisely so that you get some say‚ even if not the ideal one. Digging into the options‚ you don’t actually get to vote on each proposal. Rather‚ you get the illusion of choice by picking from various policy options. BlackRock portrays this opportunity as “you can now have a greater say in how your votes are cast.” The first option is simply to let BlackRock vote on your behalf. Of the six additional options‚ “the ISS Socially Responsible Investment Policy (SRI)” is aligned with “social responsibility.” The company notes‚ “The active ownership and investment philosophies of leading globally recognized initiatives‚ such as the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)‚ the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) and the United Nations Global Compact are incorporated.” Following U.N. guidance seems like a horrible way to vote on issues related to a publicly traded company. Another option‚ the “ISS Catholic Faith-Based Policy‚” strangely proclaims the policy is “broadly consistent with the objectives of socially responsible shareholders as well as the teachings of Catholicism and Christianity.” This seems intended to catch the eye of someone who wants to vote with their values and may skip the fine print about the social and environmental impact part of the policy. Of the six additional policy choices (outside just going with BlackRock)‚ five of the six mention social‚ environmental‚ or climate considerations. Not surprisingly‚ I am considering the one that doesn’t mention any of the above and that focuses on prioritizing fiduciary responsibility (as any responsible board should). But I have not made a final determination. While this new proxy voting scheme doesn’t really seem to resolve the issues that created the need to begin with‚ it is a first step. If you receive a notice from BlackRock or a similar option from another asset manager‚ be sure to read the detailed supporting material carefully and make the best choice you can. Then continue to use your voice. Tell BlackRock you want more of a say than just a handful of choices to ensure your money isn’t put into initiatives that work against your ability to earn a good return on your investments.

The Justice Department debunked a key talking point that President Joe Biden's defenders have used to attack special counsel Robert Hur's damning report.Biden‚ his campaign‚ and the White House have strongly objected to Hur's descriptions about the president's memory in his report. Specifically‚ Hur concluded that Biden is an "elderly man with a poor memory‚" citing Biden's inability to remember when his son Beau died and when he served as vice president. Those descriptions‚ the president's defenders claim‚ are not only unfair and gratuitous‚ but they violate Justice Department standards.However‚ in the eyes of the Justice Department‚ that's not true. In fact‚ Biden's lawyers raised that exact complaint just last week. Letters‚ obtained by the New York Times‚ show that Biden's attorneys claimed that Hur's descriptions of the president "openly‚ obviously and blatantly violate department policy and practice."But a top DOJ official wholly rejected that argument. The Times reported: The next day‚ as the department was preparing to make the report public‚ Bradley Weinsheimer — the department’s senior career official‚ or nonpolitical appointee‚ who deals with ethics complaints or appeals of department decisions — wrote back rejecting their criticism. He insisted that the comments in the report “fall well within the department’s standards for public release.”Weinsheimer‚ moreover‚ explained why Hur needed to include details about Biden's memory: because it is central to Hur's decision not to pursue criminal charges."The identified language is neither gratuitous nor unduly prejudicial because it is not offered to criticize or demean the president; rather‚ it is offered to explain Special Counsel Hur's conclusions about the president's state of mind in possessing and retaining classified information‚" he told Biden's lawyers."The report addresses whether the president‚ as a private citizen‚ mishandled classified information in violation of criminal laws‚" Weinsheimer also explained. "This sits near the apex of the public interest. The report and its release‚ including the identified language‚ are consistent with department policies and practice."The fight over Hur's report — and the transcript and audio from Hur's interview with Biden — is intensifying.The White House‚ according to NBC News‚ is already strategizing how to spin the transcripts to push back against the narrative‚ which most Americans believe‚ that Biden is too old for the presidency and his mental acuity is declining. But the White House has not committed to releasing the transcripts in full.Perhaps that is because the transcripts will confirm Hur's conclusion. Biden‚ moreover‚ has already misrepresented the interview.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Joe Biden has the power to secure the border‚ but for some reason‚ he won’t do it. Even the immigration bill‚ which is hailed as the strictest ever‚ is masking its true implications in convoluted legal jargon. “It has multiple loopholes‚” Mark Levin explains‚ “including the fact that they have to come through the port of entry. So‚ now they’ll be rubber-stamping them through the port of entry‚ just like that.” While it used to be that immigrants would have to wait six months‚ they no longer have to wait at all under this bill. The bill also ensures that immigrants immediately get a green card‚ which gives them legal protection. After four years of having that green card‚ they become citizens. “At some point‚ you have 10 million people here illegally. They get on the track for green cards‚ refugee status‚ because some bureaucrats said so‚” Levin says. “'It’s the toughest we’ve ever seen‚'” he mocks‚ adding‚ “No it’s not. It enshrines what’s been taking place. It’s a disaster.” The bill itself is over 300 pages and does almost nothing to actually secure the border. “You don’t need 300 pages of laws to secure the border‚” Levin says. “I have a six-word law‚ you ready for this? Biden shall enforce existing immigration laws. Six‚ that’s it. It’s not even one page.” Want more from Mark Levin?To enjoy more of "the Great One" — Mark Levin as you've never seen him before — subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

A top U.N. official prompted outrage this week with the suggestion that Hamas is not a terrorist organization — once again bolstering critics' suspicions that the U.N. has a soft spot or‚ at the very least‚ a blind spot for terrorists. Martin Griffiths‚ a British diplomat who formerly served as the U.N. special envoy for Yemen and now serves both as U.N. under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and as emergency relief coordinator‚ appeared Wednesday on Sky News to discuss humanitarian concerns in Gaza and Israel's war on terrorism. After telling Sky News' Yalda Hakim that the situation in Gaza amounts to the worst humanitarian crisis he has observed in his 50-year career — apparently worse than the genocide of up to 3 million people by the Red Khmers in Cambodia or the civil war in Syria that claimed roughly 600‚000 lives — the bureaucrat suggested an Israeli ground operation in Rafah‚ where Israeli captives were recently liberated‚ would be ruinous. Hakim asked Griffiths‚ "In terms of Israel's plan to eliminate Hamas and have them never be part of any future negotiation when it comes to Gaza‚ do you think that's realistic?" "I think it's very difficult‚" answered the U.N. official. "As you've said‚ I've worked with many‚ many different terrorist and insurgent groups. Hamas is not a terrorist group for us‚ as you know. It's a political movement." — (@) While the collective to which Griffiths belongs may not regard Hamas as a terrorist group‚ much of the civilized world does. Hamas is an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya‚ meaning "Islamic Resistance Movement." According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence‚ the bloodthirsty Islamist group "is committed to armed resistance against Israel and the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state in Israel's place." Hamas' revised and slightly toned-down 2017 charter indicates it seeks Israel's annihilation and intends to make Jerusalem the capital of an alternate Islamic state. "Not one stone of Jerusalem can be surrendered or relinquished‚" says the terrorist charter. "The measures undertaken by the occupiers in Jerusalem‚ such as Judaisation‚ settlement building‚ and establishing facts on the ground are fundamentally null and void." The charter adds‚ "Resistance and jihad for the liberation of Palestine will remain a legitimate right‚ a duty and an honour for all the sons and daughters of our people and our Ummah. ... Resisting the occupation with all means and methods is a legitimate right guaranteed by divine laws and by international norms and laws. At the heart of these lies armed resistance‚ which is regarded as the strategic choice." Hamas is responsible for countless attacks on civilians and Israeli soldiers as well as to terror plots around the world‚ including in Germany and Denmark. In October 2023‚ Hamas terrorists butchered thousands of Israeli citizens along with dozens of American citizens. The group also took hundreds of hostages. The United States‚ the U.N.'s largest donor‚ has recognized Hamas as a terrorist organization three times. Matthew Levitt‚ a specialist on Hamas at the Washington Institute of Near East Policy‚ told Voice of America the first designation "predates the current terrorism lists and came in the process of the peace process under the Clinton administration in 1995." The U.S. formally recognized Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization on Oct. 8‚ 1997‚ roughly 10 years after the group was established. When the Bush administration created a special global terrorism list after the 9/11 attacks on the homeland‚ the U.S. designated the Hamas a terror group once more. "The simple‚ most basic definition is targeting civilians for the purpose of effecting social or political change‚" said Levitt. "Personally‚ I simplify it a little bit more: It's about the tactic. Terrorism is a tactic and if you engage in this tactic of targeting civilians for the purpose of effecting social and political change then that act is an act of terrorism." The United Kingdom‚ Israel‚ Australia‚ Argentina‚ Canada‚ and Japan are among the other relatively civilized nations that have designated Hamas a terrorist group. Despite an attempt in 2014 by a top court to annul the bloc's decision‚ the European Union has nevertheless maintained that Hamas‚ including Hamas-Izz al-Din al-Qassem‚ is a terrorist organization. Griffiths‚ who does not regard Hamas to be a terrorist organization‚ told Hakim‚ "I think it's very difficult to dislodge these groups without a negotiated solution‚ which includes their aspirations. I cannot think of an example offhand of a place where a victory through warfare has succeeded against a well-entrenched group." Despite having trouble imagining a Gaza free of influence of Hamas terrorists‚ Griffiths indicated he could appreciate why it might be difficult for Israelis not to pursue the terrorist group's eradication. "I've seen the horrors of what happened to Israelis [on Oct. 7.] I have met hostage families. I have total understanding‚ I believe‚ of the trauma that that's caused‚" said Griffith. "But I would add that if you want to have safety and security with people who are going to inevitably continue to be your neighbor in some form or another‚ you're going to have to create a relationship based on some shared values." The watchdog group StopAntisemitism responded to Griffiths' suggestion that Hamas is not a terrorism group‚ writing‚ "We have no words." Following this and other critics of his comments‚ Griffiths wrote on X‚ "Just to clarify: Hamas is not on the list of groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United Nations Security Council. This doesn't make their acts of terror on 7 October any less horrific and reprehensible‚ as I've been saying all along." The official X account for the State of Israel responded to the suppose clarification‚ "Just to clarify: @UNReliefChief you're a Hamas apologist and your statements are an insult to every single victim of October 7th. Pathetic." Just to clarify: @UNReliefChief you\u2019re a Hamas apologist and your statements are an insult to every single victim of\nOctober 7th. \n\nPathetic. — (@) Israel War Room responded‚ "Can you clarify *why* Hamas isn't on the UN's list of designated terror organizations? because we can't think of one good reason." The German Foreign Office rushed to reiterate that the EU "has listed Hamas as a terrorist organization and so have many others." Karoline Edtstadler‚ an Austrian federal minister for the EU‚ also noted‚ "The EU has listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation for more than 20 years. We always saw Hamas for what it was. No excuses for those who turned a blind eye before 7 October." The U.N. not only fails to recognize Hamas as terrorists; it apparently works hand-in-glove with the group. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency was recently exposed for its alleged infiltration by Hamas. The New York Times reported that Israeli military officials have provided U.S. officials with a dossier indicating roughly 10% of the UNRWA's employees are members of Hamas. UN chief: Gaza the 'worst humanitarian crisis' he's seen | Israel-Hamas youtu.be Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Dead By Daylight has consistently added new killers and survivors over the eight years the co-op horror game's been available. Most recently‚ creator BHVR bulked up its catalog - which already included DLC based on Resident Evil and Silent Hill - with characters from Alan Wake‚ Chucky‚ and Alien. (We can't forget the addition of Nicolas Cage last summer either.) Now‚ thanks to a teaser shared today‚ it looks like we're about to get yet another new DBD drop themed around a monster stalking the woods and the campers it terrorizes. Continue reading New Dead By Daylight killer and survivor teased by BHVR MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list‚ Best horror games‚ DBD codes

Researchers have long believed that Alexander the Great's relatives were buried at the "Great Tumulus" in modern-day Greece‚ but the new study suggests that they got the orders of the tombs slightly mixed up. The post New Study Claims To Identify The Tombs Of Alexander The Great’s Father‚ Half-Brother‚ And Son appeared first on All That's Interesting.

A city advisory task force recommended in 2022 that San Francisco pay $5 million in reparations to each longtime black resident.

One person was killed and 22 were injured in the shooting‚ which was prompted by a dispute among a group of young people.