Tag Archives: email

EPA offers email option to bypass clean air regulations

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The Biden administration has urged coal and oil-fired power plants to cut back on toxic chemical emissions, including mercury.

Today, the Trump administration is offering a special opportunity for businesses. By sending an email, you could receive permission from President Trump to bypass new restrictions and other major clean air regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced this week that a vague section of the Clean Air Act allows the president to temporarily exempt industrial facilities from new regulations if the necessary technology is unavailable and if it is for national security reasons.

In notifications to businesses, the agency provided templates for seeking approval, including what to include in the subject line of an email. “The president will make a decision on merit,” stated a notice issued by the EPA on Monday.

Joseph Goffman, former executive director of the Harvard Law School Environment and Energy Law Program, expressed concern that President Trump is establishing a process that lacks scrutiny.

Goffman noted that government agencies typically set more specific standards for exemptions from regulations. He argued that Congress intended to include conditions in the Clean Air Act that would ensure some level of pollution control.

He stated, “It’s strongly indicated that decisions will be made on an ad hoc basis at best, as the provision doesn’t currently exist. This contradicts Congress’ intent, disregards the public health needs of affected communities, and goes against the EPA’s historical practices.”

EPA spokesperson Molly Vaseliou disagreed with this perspective, asserting that there is no explicit requirement for such conditions in the law. “This type of legal analysis seems in line with the responsibilities given,” she stated in an email addressing the interpretation of the law.

Under the latest policy, businesses can apply for up to two years of exemptions from various new restrictions on the emission of toxic substances like mercury and arsenic. This includes ethylene oxide, a carcinogen used in sterilizing medical devices.

Former New York Congressman Zeldin also mentioned that coal-fired power plants could seek exemptions from new regulations requiring them to address the health risks associated with coal ash, a toxic byproduct of electricity production through burning.

The EPA plans to eventually revise many of these same regulations, a complex process that will take time. While this process unfolds, companies are able to avoid complying with certain rules.

Critics like Pugh find it difficult to justify these exemptions, especially since the Biden administration had already identified feasible alternatives for the new rules. They also question the notion that contamination is in the national interest.

As of Thursday, it remained unclear whether companies had begun applying for exemptions, if any were granted, or if they would be made public. The deadline for applying for exemptions is by the end of the month, according to the EPA.

Alexa Lopez, spokesperson for the National Association of Manufacturers, expressed gratitude for the EPA’s consideration of exemptions for affected manufacturers. “NAM is prepared to collaborate with the administration to find a sustainable solution that protects the environment and supports manufacturers in global competition,” Lopez stated.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Mastering Technology: How to regain control with these 5 strategies, from email to AI

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Enhancing AI’s Efficiency

Innovations in AI have come a long way since I first used ChatGPT to generate emails two years ago. Take Google’s experimental “AI research assistant,” notebook LM, for example. This tool goes beyond text prompts by allowing users to upload various types of content like videos, links, and PDFs. It organizes your original sources and notes, provides content overviews, answers questions, and even creates podcast-like summaries. As AI tools evolve, we can anticipate more advanced features integrated into everyday software. However, it’s crucial to remember to fact-check and verify the information generated by AI.

Escape Algorithmic Constraints

If you find yourself trapped in a repetitive cycle of music or TV recommendations, it’s time for a change. Platforms like Netflix offer options to reset your viewing history, allowing you to start fresh with new recommendations. Similarly, diversifying your listening habits on Spotify can broaden the range of choices offered to you. Utilize features like Private Session mode or Exclude from Preference Profile to customize your content recommendations based on your preferences.

Identifying AI-Generated Videos

As text-to-video tools become more prevalent, the rise of AI-manipulated videos, known as “deepfakes,” is inevitable. Keep an eye out for watermarks indicating AI generation and be cautious of anomalies like incorrect anatomy or physics in videos. Contextual clues are key in spotting AI-generated content, so stay alert for any content that seems too outlandish or suspicious.

Verify, Watch, and Backup

Incidents of “snatch theft” are on the rise, with thieves targeting mobile phones for resale overseas. While prevention is challenging, ensure to backup important data on your device to mitigate potential losses. Enable automatic syncing to cloud services or manually backup media files through device settings to safeguard your data. In the event of theft, having backup copies ensures that vital information is not lost.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Improving Sleep by Deleting Email App: Overcoming Feeling Overwhelmed

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Being a freelance writer means that my daily routine can vary greatly. Some days, I have too much work to handle, while on other days, I have too little to do.

Regardless of the type of job you have, one thing remains constant – email. I receive around 100 emails every day, ranging from trivial updates to important messages from my editor.

Every morning, the first thing I do after turning off my alarm is check my email. And before putting my phone away at night, I make sure to clear out any unread messages. I check my phone constantly throughout the day, always afraid of missing something crucial.

Approximately a year ago, I noticed that checking my email had become more of a distraction. I found myself constantly replying to messages during bathroom breaks and feeling anxious if I hit a mental block while working. I began receiving push notifications on my phone twice as often as checking on my computer.

To make matters worse, I started checking and responding to emails even during meals and walks, turning my downtime into work time.

The red dot on my email app had become a symbol of my professionalism. The more unread emails I had, the less competent I felt. Responding quickly to emails was crucial to maintain my reputation and continue receiving work assignments.

However, prioritizing speed over quality was taking a toll on me. I was overextending myself, not leaving any room for thoughtful work. I realized that I needed a change.

After a particularly busy emailing week, I decided to delete the email app from my phone.

Initially, I felt uneasy without notifications on my phone and checked my email frequently on my laptop. But soon, I noticed a positive difference. Being away from my computer allowed me to focus on things other than work, improving my sleep quality and reducing nighttime stress.

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While my work days remain unpredictable, I’ve learned the importance of setting boundaries for myself even in the absence of a structured routine. Taking uninterrupted breaks helps me focus better when I return to work. Delaying responses to emails by a few hours instead of immediately has not affected the sender and allows me to grasp the message better.

As a freelancer in a fast-paced industry, I no longer feel overwhelmed. Creating space for myself has been beneficial, allowing me to prioritize rest and relaxation. Now, I can spend my time on activities other than constantly checking emails on my phone.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Is spam email effective for receiving responses?

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DDo spam emails actually work? We're not talking about suspicious phishing emails, we're talking about annoying ads and sales pitches. Perhaps the answer is yes, otherwise spammers wouldn't care, but I find it hard to believe.
Ali Farhan, Manchester

Please send new questions to
nq@theguardian.com
.

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wait a minute. I'm going to email 300 million people and ask them. el comentario

It's more effective than doing nothing. This is the secret behind all marketing. one, another name

There are many different types of spam. More targeted types (e.g., an email from a company you've previously shopped with telling you they have a sale) can tell people what they might be interested in and potentially lead to a sale. That's why it works so well. Anything that's completely fake or untargeted won't be very effective.

But the reason companies use this kind of email is because it's so cheap. Send thousands of emails for just a few pounds. It only takes a few people to respond to make it worthwhile. For many of them, if 1 out of 1,000 people who receive an email buys something, they can make a profit from it. Meanwhile, everyone's inboxes suffer.
Snowy John

I work in sales and send out so-called spam emails. (This is in the business-to-business sales space.) There's a trick behind this. I don't reach out unless I have a reason and think there's something I can do to help. This is done by looking at the role the company is in, the types of technology, and evaluating its growth. Emails are personalized. Mixed in with my phone calls, I also embed videos of me reviewing websites in my emails.

It definitely works. Will everyone react? Absolutely not. Some people show interest, but it takes time to strike up a conversation. But that's part of sending an email. To get people in and out. If you choose not to contact us anymore, please do not contact us again.
Konobu 2020

I really don't understand people who don't care about spam or sell things on the street. I ignore everyone and look it up myself if I need to buy something. I may be missing out on countless deals, but I'll take a chance. Babylonian SheDevil03

My inbox is mostly unusable due to emails from companies I love and have previously purchased from. I receive at least two emails a month from companies that sell belts. How many quality belts can I buy? I might buy another one in five years, but I won't buy it from that annoying spammer. mega road

Last week's N&Q was about beans, this week it's about Spam. Will it be mushrooms next Sunday? Fried onion rings? Please wait and see… eddie miscellaneous post

I especially despise people who have an “unsubscribe” button that doesn't actually work. They immediately rank at the top of my banned list. Oz Josh

Avoiding spam is a great way to waste time. bricklayer options

Source: www.theguardian.com

Facebook disables previously used PGP-encrypted email, a feature once favored by a niche group of tech enthusiasts

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In 2015, as part of a wave to encrypt everything on the internet encouraged by the Edward Snowden revelations, Facebook announced: Allows users to receive encrypted emails from your company..

Even back then, this was a feature for paranoid users. When you turn on this feature, all emails sent by Facebook to users who opt in (primarily like notifications and private messages) will be sent using a decades-old technology called Pretty Good Privacy (PGP). Encrypted.

After eight years, Facebook has discontinued the feature due to low usage, the company said. This feature was retired on Tuesday.

Message Facebook showed users ahead of deprecation of PGP-encrypted email.

Facebook declined to reveal exactly how many users are still using the encrypted email feature. It’s not hard to believe that no one was actually using it. I love encryption, but deprecating this feature makes a lot of sense.

First, you can turn off email notifications completely. The reason is simply that email notifications appear in the Facebook app or browser. Why would he want to get two notifications that a friend tagged you in a photo from a party where you were drunk without asking for permission?

For example, I was using the email encryption feature at the time, but since then I also turned off email notifications, so that feature was useless.

Also, who will be using PGP in the year of the Lord 2023? Even the inventor of PGP, the esteemed cryptologist Phil Zimmerman, has said that he does not use PGP Back in 2015.

“Ironically, I haven’t lost.” Zimmerman told me in an email at the time:.

Zimmerman said the main reason he didn’t use PGP since Symantec acquired PGP in 2010 to incorporate PGP technology into its products was because he couldn’t run the necessary encryption software on his MacBook. He said it was true. Zimmerman also said that “there was no version of his PGP that worked on iOS devices.” (It’s worth noting that you can encrypt email and files on your Mac. GPG Toolsafter its acquisition by Symantec, served as the de facto replacement for PGP (if you want to inflict that kind of pain on yourself).

I’m still using PGP very sometimes.If you want to annoy me, you can use my PGP public key Send an encrypted message. It will be much easier to read and respond if you send it on Signal or WhatsApp instead.

Rest in Peace, Facebook Email Encryption. I never really get lonely.

Source: techcrunch.com