Monthly Archives: November 2025

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La Jolla High boys beach volleyball: Blocks at the net and running commentary

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A Persistent Mental Image: Zepher Smith Soars Above the Net

LA JOLLA — A persistent mental image of 6-foot-3 Zepher Smith leaping at the net and seemingly disappearing into the stratosphere above sticks with volleyball fans. The La Jolla High School senior has, time and again, gone forward in beach volleyball matches to block his opponent’s hit at crucial moments.

The most critical of these moments came during the Vikings’ finals appearance on October 23 against the dominant Torrey Pines team, the eventual winner of the tournament. Smith and his partner, fellow senior Chase Ostrom, split their first two games against Cullen Gibson and Cruz Acers—a name so perfect, it almost sounds made up.

In the third and deciding game, the Viking pair went on a decisive run, taking the set 15-6. It was the only match the La Jolla side won that day.

“He can touch 11 feet from a standing position,” says La Jolla High School associate head coach Dave Jones, a long-time participant in the local volleyball scene, referring to the leaping Zepher, who always plays wearing a cap.

Smith is lanky and wiry. One action photo from La Jolla’s 5-0 win over Classical Academy in the semifinals captures his heavily developed shoulder muscles straining as he dives into the sand to dig a ball. Boys’ volleyball, still considered a club sport waiting for official sanction, continues to grow in the area.

Team Dynamics and Atmosphere at “The Pit”

Another notable feature of this fall’s march to the Division II finals has been junior Nate Dickinson’s running commentary of teammates’ moves. As he warms up alongside the courts at “The Pit,” La Jolla’s home away from home located in South Mission Beach opposite the Giant Dipper roller coaster in Belmont Park, Dickinson’s energetic observations add flavor to matches.

“Zepher with a block,” the diminutive Dickinson, who stands 5’5” and partners with Mercan Findikoglu on the Vikings’ fives pair, announces to no one in particular, drawing either chuckles or resigned tolerance from his teammates.

“Adam with a set from another world,” Nate intones about senior Grushkevich, a four-year indoor volleyball veteran who partners with classmate Sonny Wiczynski this season.

“We’ve been playing together since the third or fourth grade,” says Sonny. “He kept playing, and I took some time away, then we played together again. We went to the same elementary school, then Muirlands Middle School.”

This highlights the sheer veteran experience of the Vikings’ lineup—how long they have each been playing, and how that experience has paid off in their successful run this year. They’ve faced teams that are only in their second year of existence, like Madison, or squads slowly gaining their track record on the sand, such as La Jolla Country Day.

Looking Ahead: A Search for a Home Court

Among La Jolla’s present challenges is trying to find a home court closer to campus for both the boys’ and girls’ beach volleyball teams. Currently, players must make the long trek down to South Mission Beach for matches and practice.

“The option to talk with Muirlands’ administration seems more possible at this point,” said boys’ assistant coach Cantrell Schlecht on October 21.

Earlier in the season, Schlecht had mentioned that nearby Bishop’s School has purchased a church property near Kate Sessions Elementary School. La Jolla might consider discussing shared space with them or with Muirlands Middle School about playing on campus, especially since baseball already utilizes the diamond at Muirlands.

As the Vikings continue to grow and develop their beach volleyball program, securing a closer home court would be a significant step forward in supporting both the boys’ and girls’ teams.

https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2025/11/03/la-jolla-boys-beach-volleyball-running-commentary/

disaster, economy, environment, politics, technology

SHOCK VIDEO: Rome Medieval Tower Partially Collapses During Renovation Works – Rescuers Frantically Trying to Save Worker Who Remains Trapped Under the Rubble

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Shock and drama unfolded today as a worker remained trapped under the partially collapsed Torre dei Conti in the heart of Rome. The medieval tower, located near the world-famous Colosseum ruins, suffered structural collapse during ongoing renovation work.

One worker was critically injured, while another became trapped beneath the rubble, prompting a dramatic and complex rescue operation.

The Torre dei Conti, built in the 13th century by Pope Innocent III as a residence for his family, has a long and troubled history. It was previously damaged in a 1349 earthquake and endured subsequent collapses in the 17th century.

Firefighters have been working non-stop to rescue the trapped worker, who has now been beneath the rubble for several hours. According to the Associated Press, rescuers faced significant difficulties as the unstable structure continued to shift. Efforts to reach the worker through a first-floor window were repeatedly forced to retreat due to falling debris and a cloud of smoke.

Attempts to access the worker via two ladders were also aborted, leading the team to deploy a drone to assess the situation safely. As dusk approached, firefighters used a crane and giant suction tubes to remove rubble from the tower’s second-floor window in hopes of reaching the trapped individual.

Earlier in the rescue operation, three workers were successfully rescued unharmed, while one remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Rome’s top law enforcement official, Prefect Lamberto Giannini, provided an update on the situation: “There are signs of life from the trapped worker. Firefighters managed to provide some protective cover during an earlier rescue attempt.” He described the operation as “very complex,” noting that additional equipment was being brought in.

Giannini emphasized the difficulty and risks involved: “It will be a very long operation. We must try to save this person while mitigating the enormous risks to the people who are trying to save him.”

The rescue mission continues, with hope that the trapped operator under the rubble of the Torre dei Conti will be safely recovered.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/11/shock-video-rome-medieval-tower-partially-collapses-during/

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Ripple Acquires Crypto Wallet and Custody Firm Palisade

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Ripple Expands Custody Capabilities with Acquisition of Palisade

Blockchain-based financial technology company Ripple announced on Monday its acquisition of digital wallet provider and custody firm Palisade, marking another significant addition to its recent series of mega-purchases. This strategic move is set to enhance Ripple’s custody capacity, enabling the firm to better serve crypto-native companies, fintech firms, and other corporations.

“Secure digital asset custody unlocks the crypto economy and is the foundation that every blockchain-powered business stands on — that’s why it’s central to Ripple’s product strategy,” said Ripple President Monica Long. She emphasized that corporates are poised to drive the next massive wave of crypto adoption. “Just as we’ve seen major banks go from observing to actively building in crypto, corporates are now entering the market, and they need trusted, licensed partners with out-of-the-box capabilities.”

Palisade’s wallet-as-a-service (WaaS) offering — which includes multi-party computation (MPC) and multi-blockchain support — will be integrated directly into Ripple Custody and Ripple Payments, two of Ripple’s key business solutions. According to Long, “The combination of Ripple’s bank-grade vault and Palisade’s fast, lightweight wallet makes Ripple Custody the end-to-end provider for every institutional need, from long-term storage to real-time global payments and treasury management.”

This latest acquisition follows several key deals for Ripple earlier this year. In April, Ripple acquired prime broker Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, broadening its services to institutional clients and providing access to dozens of cryptocurrencies in the U.S. In August, Ripple purchased Canadian stablecoin platform Rail for $200 million. Just two weeks ago, the company acquired treasury management firm GTreasury for $1 billion, further expanding its financial technology offerings.

Besides its acquisition spree, Ripple also recently concluded a four-year legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), ending all appeals in August. This legal resolution coincided with XRP, Ripple’s native crypto asset, reaching a new all-time high earlier this year, climbing above $3.40 for the first time since 2018 to $3.65. Although it has since corrected by approximately 38% to around $2.30, XRP remains the fourth largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization at $140.5 billion.

With Palisade now part of its portfolio, Ripple continues to solidify its position as a leading fintech provider in the rapidly evolving crypto economy.
https://decrypt.co/347216/ripple-acquires-crypto-wallet-custody-palisade

economy, environment, health, politics, technology

Neglected kitten ignored during rain storm by owners, neighbor rescues her from the cold and considers adopting her furrever: ‘My heart breaks at the thought of that sweet little baby outside in the cold and the rain 24/7’

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Cats are incredibly adaptive animals. They truly seem to have nine lives, and their nimble athleticism helps them handle almost any situation they find themselves in.

That being said, there are obvious signs when an animal is being neglected. Sometimes, when you see a parent mistreating their child, you might wonder, “Why did they even have kids?” But what can be even more confusing is witnessing someone treat their pet poorly.

Owning a cat comes with a basic level of responsibility. If an owner isn’t prepared to handle the tasks involved—such as keeping the cat indoors for its safety—then they shouldn’t get a pet at all.

Take the story below as a public service announcement against animal neglect. The protagonist is a woman who has neighbors that own several cats. They adopted a few cats, but all of them live entirely outdoors. This already raises the question: why did they adopt these cats in the first place?

After seeing one of their new kittens left outside in the rain, she decided to take the kitten in and care for it herself.
https://cheezburger.com/43054085/neglected-kitten-ignored-during-rain-storm-by-owners-neighbor-rescues-her-from-the-cold-and

economy, entertainment, technology

Rosé’s Historic Radio Record Has Been Tied — Will She Be Beaten?

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Since mid-August, “Golden,” the worldwide behemoth that emerged from Netflix’s hugely successful animated musical *KPop Demon Hunters*, has ranked as one of the biggest songs in America. The tune has enjoyed several runs at No. 1 on the Hot 100, and even when it hasn’t appeared in the top spot, “Golden” rarely strays far from the summit.

This was especially true until Taylor Swift invaded the chart with all 12 songs featured on her blockbuster *The Life of a Showgirl*. Now, as the tunes from Swift’s latest album begin to dwindle in popularity, “Golden” is in the midst of something of a comeback. The track is making a play to return to the Hot 100’s summit, while also holding at its all-time peak on the Radio Songs ranking in what has turned out to be a historic space.

### “Golden” Holds at Its All-Time Radio Chart High

This week, “Golden” is steady at No. 4 on the Radio Songs list. Billboard’s Radio Songs chart ranks the individual tracks that reach the largest total audience throughout America, regardless of how many stations are playing the tune or what format it’s being promoted to.

“Golden,” which is credited to the fictional girl group Huntr/x as well as artists Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, reached No. 4 recently and made history when it pushed to that spot.

### “Golden” Ties Record for Highest-Rising K-Pop Hit Ever

“Golden” is now tied as the highest-rising hit by any K-pop act in the history of the Radio Songs chart. The *KPop Demon Hunters* smash shares this distinction with “Apt.” by Blackpink star Rosé and Bruno Mars. That track also stalled at No. 4 and, for a short time, claimed this record on its own—but now it shares the spotlight with “Golden.”

### 2025 Has Been Huge for K-Pop on American Radio

It’s telling that the two highest-peaking hits of all time by K-pop artists on one of Billboard’s most competitive song charts both reached their historic slots in 2025. K-pop has been growing in popularity in America for well over a decade, and each year, seeing South Korean artists, groups, songs, and albums rise higher and last longer on the charts becomes increasingly common.

Even radio — which for many years was hesitant to embrace the K-pop craze — seems to have fundamentally changed. Now, there’s room not only on niche formats, but also in mainstream Top 40 pop and other similar fields, for K-pop stars to thrive.

### Will “Golden” Outlast “Apt.” on the Radio Songs Chart?

There is a big difference between “Golden” and “Apt.” in their lives on the Radio Songs chart so far. “Apt.” fell away after 41 weeks on the ranking, which remains far and away the longest stretch ever enjoyed by any track credited to an artist typically associated with K-pop.

“Golden” reached the same heights as “Apt.” in just its tenth week on the roster. Of course, “Golden” will continue to appear inside the Top 10 for at least a few more weeks, and it might even climb higher, potentially surpassing Rosé and Bruno Mars.

When the decline eventually comes, whether it takes weeks or months, “Golden” might match or even beat the 41-week record set by “Apt.”

### “Ordinary” Leads American Radio as “Golden” Gains Momentum

The current edition of the Radio Songs tally is led by “Ordinary” from relative newcomer Alex Warren. This week marks the track’s nineteenth consecutive week at No. 1, making it the third-longest-running ruler among all songs in the tally’s history.

Between “Ordinary” and “Golden” are Justin Bieber’s “Daisies” and Leon Thomas’s breakout hit “Mutt,” which are steady at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively.

All three tracks are major hits in the U.S., but “Golden” has a lot of momentum behind it and could gain again in the coming weeks, perhaps even making a play to become the first K-pop No. 1 on the Radio Songs chart.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/roses-historic-radio-record-has-been-tied-will-she-be-beaten/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=roses-historic-radio-record-has-been-tied-will-she-be-beaten

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Simu Liu Calls ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ A “Love Letter To The Entire Genre Of Superhero Movies”

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Simu Liu is set to reprise his role as Shang-Chi in the upcoming Marvel film *Avengers: Doomsday*, teasing fans ahead of its 2026 release. In a recent interview, Liu shared his excitement about reuniting with a vast array of actors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and offered insights into what viewers can expect from the film, directed by Joe Russo and Anthony Russo.

“I mean, there are just so many actors in it, and getting to work with those people as peers is really incredible because I grew up watching so many of them,” Liu told ScreenRant. Among the star-studded cast, Liu will share credits with Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Vanessa Kirby (Susan Storm), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), and Florence Pugh (Yelena), among many others.

Describing the film, Liu said, “It feels, in a lot of ways, like a love letter to the entire genre of superhero movies. And I think there’s something really fun about that.” He added that *Avengers: Doomsday* is “for all the misfits and the weirdos and the underdogs that grew up reading comic books and feeling like there was hope for them somehow—that it didn’t matter if they didn’t fit in. I think there’s just always a special place in my heart for that entire genre.”

*Avengers: Doomsday* is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026. The film is being directed by the Russo brothers, Joe and Anthony, with a script penned by Michael Waldron and Stephen McFeely.

Joining Liu and the previously mentioned stars, the film also features Lewis Pullman (Sentry), Danny Ramirez (Joaquín Torres / Falcon), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier / Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), James Marsden (Cyclops), and Channing Tatum (Gambit).

With such an extraordinary ensemble and a heartfelt narrative, *Avengers: Doomsday* promises to be a memorable addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans can look forward to an exciting and emotional journey when the film hits theaters later this year.
https://deadline.com/2025/11/simu-liu-avengers-doomsday-love-letter-superhero-movies-1236605870/

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ArXiv Blocks AI-Generated Survey Papers After ‘Flood’ of Trashy Submissions

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**ArXiv Limits AI-Generated Review Papers in Computer Science Category Amid Surge in Submissions**

ArXiv, the free research repository founded at Cornell University and widely used by scientists and technologists around the world, has announced a significant policy change for its Computer Science category. Starting immediately, the platform will no longer accept review articles or position papers unless they have already undergone peer review and been accepted at a recognized journal or conference.

The policy shift, announced on October 31, comes in response to a dramatic increase in AI-generated survey papers, which moderators describe as “little more than annotated bibliographies.” Whereas historically ArXiv received a small number of high-quality review articles—typically authored by senior researchers—the repository now faces hundreds of these submissions every month.

An official statement on ArXiv explained the situation: “In the past few years, ArXiv has been flooded with papers. Generative AI/large language models have added to this flood by making papers—especially papers not introducing new research results—fast and easy to write.”

Thomas G. Dietterich, an ArXiv moderator and former president of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, elaborated on X (formerly Twitter): “We were driven to this decision by a big increase in LLM-assisted survey papers. We don’t have the moderator resources to examine these submissions and identify the good surveys from the bad ones.”

The rise of AI-assisted research writing is supported by recent studies. Research published in *Nature Human Behaviour* found that nearly a quarter of all computer science paper abstracts showed signs of large language model modification as of September 2024. Similarly, a study in *Science Advances* reported a sharp increase in AI use in research papers published in 2024 following the launch of ChatGPT.

ArXiv relies on volunteer moderators who filter submissions based on scholarly value and topical relevance but do not perform peer reviews. While review articles and position papers were never officially accepted content types, moderators previously allowed exceptions for work from established researchers or scientific societies. However, this discretionary system has become unsustainable given the volume of AI-generated content.

The research community’s reaction to the new policy has been mixed. Some, like AI safety researcher Stephen Casper, worry it may unfairly impact early-career researchers and those working on ethics and governance—groups that frequently produce review and position papers. “Review/position papers are disproportionately written by young people, people without access to lots of compute, and people who are not at institutions that have lots of publishing experience,” Casper noted in his critique.

Others have sharply criticized ArXiv’s decision as misguided or shortsighted, while some support stricter measures, including the use of AI detection tools to identify generated content. However, AI detection tools remain unreliable and prone to high false-positive rates, risking wrongful rejection of legitimate research. Adding to the complexity, a recent study found that researchers failed to detect one-third of ChatGPT-generated medical abstracts as machine-written. Furthermore, the American Association for Cancer Research reported that fewer than 25% of authors disclosed AI use in their papers, despite mandatory disclosure policies.

Under the new ArXiv policy, authors wishing to submit review or position papers to the Computer Science category must provide documentation of successful peer review, including journal references and DOIs. Reviews from workshops will not satisfy this standard.

Importantly, ArXiv clarified that this policy change currently applies only to the Computer Science section, though similar measures may extend to other categories if they experience comparable surges in AI-generated submissions.

—

*This update reflects ArXiv’s efforts to maintain the quality and integrity of its repository amid rapidly evolving challenges posed by AI-assisted research writing.*
https://decrypt.co/347196/arxiv-blocks-ai-generated-survey-papers-flood-trashy-submissions

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Gerry Turner defends Mel Owens over his controversial ‘Golden Bachelor’ age limit

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**Bachelors Stick Up for Each Other: Gerry Turner Weighs In on Mel Owens’ Controversial Comments**

Gerry Turner, the first “Golden Bachelor,” recently shared his thoughts on his Season 2 successor Mel Owens’ controversial remarks.

“Well, I don’t really know what to think about it,” Turner told The Post exclusively. “I feel like he’s done a great job of reestablishing what his true opinion is. I think perhaps that his comments could have been taken a bit out of context.”

Owens, 66, faced backlash before his season premiered after he said he wouldn’t date women over 60. “If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them. This is not ‘The Silver Bachelor,’ this is ‘The Golden Bachelor,’” the Season 2 star stated in June.

A former Los Angeles Rams player from 1981 to 1989, Owens added that the women had “to be fit, because I’m staying in shape and work out and stuff. And I told them [to] try and stay away from artificial hips and the wigs.”

His comments quickly sparked criticism online. One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “He doesn’t seem like the type for ‘in sickness and in health.’” Another added, “Awful. I won’t watch with a jerk in the lead.” A third user commented, “Sounds like a real winner. Shocking ABC doesn’t care that they’re going to make women fight over a shallow sexist jerk.”

In response, Owens told Fox News Digital, “I apologized when I met the women on the first night,” and emphasized, “there’s no age to love.” He explained that his earlier remarks were “unfair, and I apologized and went forward and asked them to let me earn it back and, hopefully, I did on the season.”

Turner, who starred in Season 1 of “The Golden Bachelor,” told The Post, “Maybe he was judged a bit too harshly about what he had to say. I think his actions on the show are a far more important indicator of who he is as a person.”

However, Turner admitted he hadn’t watched more than “the first episode” of Season 2 due to recent travel. “I have the other episodes recorded, but I haven’t been home to watch them. It is on my to-do list this week with Lana and I, to catch up on that show,” he said, referring to his current fiancée, Lana Sutton.

Turner met Sutton after splitting from his Season 1 choice, Theresa Nist, 72. After marrying during the show, Turner and Nist divorced just three months later.

Reflecting on his own experience, Turner expressed sympathy for Owens dealing with public criticism.

“There were times when it was very difficult. Not only some of the comments directed at me, but also those comments out there that I knew my daughters and granddaughters saw,” he said.

“The general public sometimes can be very cruel in their comments and only know a small portion of the story and give the most negative aspects of the story the most life,” the Indiana-based reality TV star added. “But that’s just kind of the way things are. I think anyone who has some public appearance or public stature has to kind of expect that, to a certain extent.”
https://nypost.com/2025/11/03/entertainment/gerry-turner-defends-mel-owens-over-his-controversial-golden-bachelor-age-limit/

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Trade Group Representing Studio Ghibli, Other Japanese Companies Tells OpenAI to Stop Using Their Content to Train Sora 2 Video Generator

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Japanese content trade group CODA, whose members include the award-winning animation house Studio Ghibli, has issued a letter to OpenAI demanding that the AI company stop using their content to train Sora 2.

CODA, the Content Overseas Distribution Association, also criticized OpenAI’s opt-out system. A representative expressed strong disapproval, stating, “If you really want to make creepy stuff you can go ahead and do it. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all.” He further added, “I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.”

Founded in 2002, CODA’s members produce content that spans a wide range of media, including anime, movies, TV, music, video games, and publishing. Notable companies within the group include Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.-owned Aniplex Inc., NTT DoCoMo Studio & Live, Kadokawa, Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co., Square Enix, Studio Ghibli, Tokyo Broadcasting Systems Television, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo, Toei Co., Toho Co., TMS Entertainment, Nippon Television Network, Japan Broadcasting Corp., Bandai and Bandai Namco Filmworks, Fuji Television Network, Universal Music, and Yomiuri Telecasting Corp.

The letter from CODA to OpenAI, dated October 28, was first reported by the tech news site The Verge.

*Pictured above: Studio Ghibli’s “My Neighbor Totoro”*
https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/studio-ghibli-openai-sora2-japanese-trade-group-coda-letter-1236568751/