Hess Corp CEO John Hess has until Tuesday to quell a rebellion by shareholders over his handling of what could turn out to be one of the largest mergers in oil industry history: a proposed $53 billion sale of the oil producer to Chevron Corp .

Hess-Chevron merger vote appears ripe for narrow approval | Reuters

Chevron&#x27;s Gorgon LNG export terminal in Western Australia has resumed full production after a month-long outage caused by a mechanical fault in a turbine.

Chevron's Gorgon LNG Resumes Full Production After Month-Long Outage | OilPrice.com

(Bloomberg) -- John Hess, the boss of the oil company that bears his family name, is talking to directly with shareholders in a last-ditch effort to ensure enough support for a $53 billion takeover by Chevron Corp., according to people familiar with the matter.Most Read from BloombergNvidia ...

John Hess Personally Calls Investors to Support Chevron Deal Before Vote

Breaking news and real-time stock market updates from Seeking Alpha. Check out the latest investing news and financial headlines.

Hess advisers appear confident they have votes to approve Chevron deal 
(NYSE:HES)

The Richmond City Council voted to direct the city attorney to prepare a ballot measure that would tax oil refining by Chevron, citing the harm done to the environment and public health.

Richmond Oil Refining Tax on Chevron, a Major Polluter, Moves Closer to Ballot | KQED

Hess is currently embroiled in three lawsuits over claims of inadequate disclosures concerning its proposed $53bn acquisition by Chevron.

Hess faces three lawsuits over Chevron acquisition disclosures

Algeria is close to signing a deal with US energy giant Chevron Corp as the OPEC member aims to increase natural gas exploration and production and remain a key supplier of the fuel to Europe.

Algeria Nears Chevron Deal, Vows to Stay Key Europe Gas Supplier - Bloomberg

Consolidation among the oil and energy sector continues as Chevron (CVX) will be acquiring Hess (HES) in a deal valued at $53 billion while ConocoPhillips (COP) is set to acquire Marathon Oil (MRO) for $22.5 billion when including debt.

Big Oil Consolidation: Chevron Acquiring Hess - ConocoPhillips Acquiring Marathon Oil

Chevron shareholders on Wednesday re-elected all its 12 board directors, in a sign of support for the oil major at a time when it is caught in the regulatory crosshairs over its $53 billion proposed buyout of oil producer Hess Corp .

Chevron shareholders re-elect all directors, CEO confident on Hess deal | Reuters

Hess (HES) shareholders have approved the company&#x27;s $53 billion merger with Chevron (CVX). But one issue still needs to be resolved. ExxonMobil (XOM) is claiming a right of first refusal over assets in Guyana, which it shares ownership of with Hess and China&#x27;s CNOOC.

Hess shareholders approve Chevron deal, Exxon dispute lingers

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Earth's Climate Is Being Hurt By AI in Non-Obvious Ways

“The best founders turn obstacles into opportunities and setbacks into setups for success.” 1. HackerNoon: What is your company in 2–5 words? Patrick Thean: Strategy alignment and execution. 2. Why is now the time for your company to exist? With a wave of high-profile CEOs stepping down – Peloton, Chevron, and others – it’s clear that today’s corporate leaders are under extraordinary pressure. Economic uncertainty, rising inflation, and the growing emphasis on ESG priorities have created an environment where the usual playbook no longer works. In this climate, companies must operate with sharper focus, tighter alignment, and better execution to navigate these challenges and thrive. Our approach helps organizations do that, equipping teams with the clarity and tools they need to succeed under today’s demanding conditions. 3. What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to solve this problem? I love my team’s relentless drive to make things simpler and more effective for leaders and their teams. They bring deep experience, a strong sense of accountability, and a genuine passion for helping others succeed. Our ability to translate complex problems into practical, actionable solutions that deliver results sets us apart. We’ve lived through the same challenges our clients face – misalignment, unclear priorities, and execution gaps – and we’ve built a proven system that works because we’ve tested it in real-world scenarios. It’s not just about the tools we provide; it’s about the mindset and discipline we help instill to create lasting change. 4. If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing? If I weren’t building my company, I’d dedicate more of my time and energy to supporting causes I deeply care about, like Samaritan’s Feet. This incredible organization aimed to put 10 million pairs of shoes on the feet of 10 million children in 10 years, and their mission aligns with my passion for creating opportunities and hope for underserved communities. Whether through fundraising, hands-on involvement in shoe distribution events, or helping spread their message, I’d focus on expanding the impact of initiatives like this to transform lives and give kids a chance to dream bigger. 5. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your metrics? Success is measured by our tangible impact on the leaders and teams we support. Our Rhythm Systems software helps organizations track success by focusing on clear priorities, creating alignment, and executing with discipline. The platform enables leaders to measure what matters most – achieving strategic goals, improving team accountability, or hitting key performance metrics. We look at client goal achievement rates, the consistency of execution rhythms, and the alignment of leadership teams. Beyond the data, success is also about the stories we hear – how our system has transformed how leaders manage their teams, navigate challenges, and achieve results faster and more effectively. When our clients win, that’s the ultimate measure of our success. 6. In a few sentences, what do you offer to whom? We help CEOs and leadership teams of growth-oriented mid-market companies achieve their goals faster and with less friction. We provide the tools, methodology, and coaching to clarify strategic priorities, align teams, and drive accountability with measurable KPIs. Our approach ensures leaders focus on what matters most, execute effectively, and make better decisions using real-time data. 7. What’s most exciting about your traction to date? What excites me most is seeing our system's real-world impact on our clients. Companies like MobilityWorks, which has achieved record revenue and profits, and AvidXchange, which has scaled from $40M to $100M in just two years, prove that our approach works. It’s not just about the numbers – it’s hearing from CEOs and teams who say our tools and methodology have transformed how they operate, helping them focus, align, and win. Watching our clients break through their ceilings and accomplish things they once thought impossible keeps us motivated daily. 8. Where do you think your growth will be next year? Next year, our growth continues to help CEOs and their leadership teams navigate the complexity of scaling their businesses. With the increasing challenges of hybrid work, economic uncertainty, and rapidly changing markets, more leaders seek practical tools to stay aligned and execute effectively. Rhythm Systems is positioned to meet that need with our platform, simplifying strategic planning and execution by investing in enhancements like AI-driven insights for better decision-making. Additionally, we’ll focus on expanding our reach through referrals and partnerships and sharing more success stories from clients who’ve used our system to achieve record results. It’s exciting as more companies realize the value of working with clarity, focus, and accountability. 9. Tell us about your first paying customer and revenue expectations over the next year. From start-up to IPO: AvidXchange became our first paying customer 16 years ago. They were growing dramatically and faced internal challenges as headcount quickly grew from 50 to 1,600 employees. Keeping teams aligned to meet key deliverables as the organization transformed was critical – but hard. Product launches, acquisitions, R&D, and customer success required seamless collaboration among multiple departments and teams. The risk of missing handoffs and falling short of customer commitments was greater than ever. How Rhythm Helped: Closing the communication gap around goals. Michael Praeger, CEO and Co-Founder of AvidXchange, committed to his team’s success through vertical and horizontal alignment. Rhythm launched a company-wide training initiative, focusing on how to use the software and methodology to promote transparency around goals. Rhythm coaches pinpointed areas of misalignment, which helped teams make crucial planning and execution adjustments to bridge the communication gap and pivot quickly when necessary. Key Learnings: Cross-functional team alignment allowed AvidXchange to increase productivity by 300%, resulting in a key product launching 6 months earlier than scheduled. By 2021, they made a successful IPO at a $2 billion valuation. Revenue expectations are always an exciting topic when looking ahead to next year. Clear goals and solid planning ensure a successful and sustainable year. 10. What’s your biggest threat? Our biggest threat is the temptation for leaders to revert to old habits, especially when faced with pressure or uncertainty. It’s easy for teams to fall back into reacting to urgent issues instead of sticking to a disciplined execution process. This lack of focus can derail even the best plans. Additionally, as more tools and software solutions enter the market, companies risk getting distracted by “shiny objects” that promise quick fixes but don’t deliver real results. Staying laser-focused on helping our clients achieve measurable outcomes – and ensuring they build the habits to sustain those results – keeps us ahead of these challenges. This startup founder interview template is based on HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke’s ten questions for startup founders. Would you like to take a stab at answering some of these questions? The link for the template is HERE. “The best founders turn obstacles into opportunities and setbacks into setups for success.” “The best founders turn obstacles into opportunities and setbacks into setups for success.” 1. HackerNoon : What is your company in 2–5 words? HackerNoon Patrick Thean: Strategy alignment and execution. Patrick Thean : Patrick Thean 2. Why is now the time for your company to exist? With a wave of high-profile CEOs stepping down – Peloton, Chevron, and others – it’s clear that today’s corporate leaders are under extraordinary pressure. Economic uncertainty, rising inflation, and the growing emphasis on ESG priorities have created an environment where the usual playbook no longer works. In this climate, companies must operate with sharper focus, tighter alignment, and better execution to navigate these challenges and thrive. Our approach helps organizations do that, equipping teams with the clarity and tools they need to succeed under today’s demanding conditions. 3. What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to solve this problem? I love my team’s relentless drive to make things simpler and more effective for leaders and their teams. They bring deep experience, a strong sense of accountability, and a genuine passion for helping others succeed. Our ability to translate complex problems into practical, actionable solutions that deliver results sets us apart. We’ve lived through the same challenges our clients face – misalignment, unclear priorities, and execution gaps – and we’ve built a proven system that works because we’ve tested it in real-world scenarios. It’s not just about the tools we provide; it’s about the mindset and discipline we help instill to create lasting change. 4. If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing? If I weren’t building my company, I’d dedicate more of my time and energy to supporting causes I deeply care about, like Samaritan’s Feet. This incredible organization aimed to put 10 million pairs of shoes on the feet of 10 million children in 10 years, and their mission aligns with my passion for creating opportunities and hope for underserved communities. Whether through fundraising, hands-on involvement in shoe distribution events, or helping spread their message, I’d focus on expanding the impact of initiatives like this to transform lives and give kids a chance to dream bigger. 5. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your metrics? Success is measured by our tangible impact on the leaders and teams we support. Our Rhythm Systems software helps organizations track success by focusing on clear priorities, creating alignment, and executing with discipline. The platform enables leaders to measure what matters most – achieving strategic goals, improving team accountability, or hitting key performance metrics. We look at client goal achievement rates, the consistency of execution rhythms, and the alignment of leadership teams. Beyond the data, success is also about the stories we hear – how our system has transformed how leaders manage their teams, navigate challenges, and achieve results faster and more effectively. When our clients win, that’s the ultimate measure of our success. Rhythm Systems 6. In a few sentences, what do you offer to whom? We help CEOs and leadership teams of growth-oriented mid-market companies achieve their goals faster and with less friction. We provide the tools, methodology, and coaching to clarify strategic priorities, align teams, and drive accountability with measurable KPIs. Our approach ensures leaders focus on what matters most, execute effectively, and make better decisions using real-time data. 7. What’s most exciting about your traction to date? What excites me most is seeing our system's real-world impact on our clients. Companies like MobilityWorks, which has achieved record revenue and profits, and AvidXchange, which has scaled from $40M to $100M in just two years, prove that our approach works. It’s not just about the numbers – it’s hearing from CEOs and teams who say our tools and methodology have transformed how they operate, helping them focus, align, and win. Watching our clients break through their ceilings and accomplish things they once thought impossible keeps us motivated daily. 8. Where do you think your growth will be next year? Next year, our growth continues to help CEOs and their leadership teams navigate the complexity of scaling their businesses. With the increasing challenges of hybrid work, economic uncertainty, and rapidly changing markets, more leaders seek practical tools to stay aligned and execute effectively. Rhythm Systems is positioned to meet that need with our platform, simplifying strategic planning and execution by investing in enhancements like AI-driven insights for better decision-making. Additionally, we’ll focus on expanding our reach through referrals and partnerships and sharing more success stories from clients who’ve used our system to achieve record results. It’s exciting as more companies realize the value of working with clarity, focus, and accountability. 9. Tell us about your first paying customer and revenue expectations over the next year. From start-up to IPO: AvidXchange became our first paying customer 16 years ago. They were growing dramatically and faced internal challenges as headcount quickly grew from 50 to 1,600 employees. Keeping teams aligned to meet key deliverables as the organization transformed was critical – but hard. Product launches, acquisitions, R&D, and customer success required seamless collaboration among multiple departments and teams. The risk of missing handoffs and falling short of customer commitments was greater than ever. How Rhythm Helped: Closing the communication gap around goals. Michael Praeger, CEO and Co-Founder of AvidXchange, committed to his team’s success through vertical and horizontal alignment. Rhythm launched a company-wide training initiative, focusing on how to use the software and methodology to promote transparency around goals. Rhythm coaches pinpointed areas of misalignment, which helped teams make crucial planning and execution adjustments to bridge the communication gap and pivot quickly when necessary. Key Learnings: Cross-functional team alignment allowed AvidXchange to increase productivity by 300%, resulting in a key product launching 6 months earlier than scheduled. By 2021, they made a successful IPO at a $2 billion valuation. Revenue expectations are always an exciting topic when looking ahead to next year. Clear goals and solid planning ensure a successful and sustainable year. 10. What’s your biggest threat? Our biggest threat is the temptation for leaders to revert to old habits, especially when faced with pressure or uncertainty. It’s easy for teams to fall back into reacting to urgent issues instead of sticking to a disciplined execution process. This lack of focus can derail even the best plans. Additionally, as more tools and software solutions enter the market, companies risk getting distracted by “shiny objects” that promise quick fixes but don’t deliver real results. Staying laser-focused on helping our clients achieve measurable outcomes – and ensuring they build the habits to sustain those results – keeps us ahead of these challenges. This startup founder interview template is based on HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke’s ten questions for startup founders. This startup founder interview template is based on HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke ’s ten questions for startup founders . HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke ten questions for startup founders Would you like to take a stab at answering some of these questions? The link for the template is HERE. Would you like to take a stab at answering some of these questions? The link for the template is HERE. The link for the template is HERE.

"Lack of Focus Can Derail Even the Best Plans" says Rhythm Systems CEO Patrick Thean

A few years ago, a proficient designer needed skills in Adobe Photoshop for retouching, Adobe Illustrator for drawing, and Figma for creating landing pages. However, the demand for highly specialized designers has surged. Now, a product designer focuses solely on product design, and a graphic designer concentrates on graphic elements, without overlapping roles. The need for all-in-one designers is declining, which is a positive shift. However, this trend hasn’t yet affected the game development industry. GameDev still requires versatile specialists who possess a broad skill set. If you’re aiming for a career in the game industry, you must be adept at a wide range of skills. In this article, I will delve into the essential skills required for GameDev and illustrate each with examples from my own experience. Graphic Design: From Banners to Brand Identity Graphic design encompasses many elements. It includes identity and branding, as well as all promotional materials, from avatars and banners to merchandise and billboards. As part of graphic design in game development, you will develop a project’s identity and brand book, create banners, design social media assets, and develop merchandise. What you need to know in graphic design: you need a comprehensive understanding of typography, color theory, and composition, and the ability to integrate these elements beautifully into the right format. UX/UI and Web Every game has a website, usually a multi-page site that needs to be designed for easy user navigation. Here too, the designer must think about structure and design interfaces. In web design, you will handle the development of promotional sites, special projects, and landing pages for new game updates. For long-running projects that are frequently updated, you’ll need to create a design system. For more straightforward, one-off sites, you’ll build a UI kit. This category also includes creating email newsletters, as the tasks are similar to web design. What you need to know about web design: Interface design skills are essential, from research to visualization. 3D Design for Marketing For web and graphic design layouts, you need various 3D graphics—cannons, chests, 3D icons, renders of characters, weapons, and achievements. Where do you get them with the perfect angle and lighting? You create them yourself. Within the scope of 3D tasks, you’ll need to: Render in-game models with the right angle and lighting.
Model and render materials for promotions, including lighting and action boosts.
Create 3D graphics for special projects.
Develop 3D marketing materials that are later integrated directly into the game, such as chevrons and badges for user customization.
Create 3D sticker packs for Discord. What you need to know about 3D design: At a minimum, you should be proficient in one 3D software package, but preferably two. One for modeling, such as Cinema 4D, Blender, or Maya, and another for texturing, like Adobe Substance 3D Painter or Marmoset. Sticker Pack Case.
My first challenging 3D job was a duck sticker pack. I spent sleepless nights grappling with complex materials and shapes while trying to convey anthropomorphic emotions on the ducks’ faces. It was tough, but I succeeded, and I will never forget those ducks. Retouching for Anything That's Not Perfect With 3D models, things can go wrong: polygons may be out of place, lighting may be off, or the model may come from the developer’s engine. To make everything look attractive and polished, retouching is essential. Knowledge of retouching allows you to quickly assemble a story art banner from existing assets or enhance them for further use. What you need to know about retouching: A basic level of retouching involves using Photoshop sliders, masks, adjustment layers, and a graphics tablet, and understanding the basics of light shading and composition. Neural Networks as an Additional Retouching Tool Neural networks can now be used for retouching. For example, you may have a 3D render of poor quality based on a ready-made model from developers. You can take the long route and retouch it yourself, or the short route by using a neural network like SD. In just five minutes, you can achieve a good result: the model will have beautiful hair, appropriate facial expressions, and correct color corrections. What you need to know about neural networks: Using them effectively requires time and resources to train the model. You need to feed the neural network about 100 photos of the object from different angles with prompts, review the results, make edits, and review everything again. Motion Design Let’s say the website for a game is ready, but it looks boring. What to do? Add IDLE animation to the main art. For this, you need to know how to create such animations. Knowledge of motion graphics allows you to create animated logos, art for promotional materials, and showreels. What you need to know to excel in motion graphics: Learn After Effects and master layering art in Photoshop. The More You Know, The More You Can Do Of course, on a design team, everyone has an area in which they are highly skilled experts. For example, I wouldn’t expect high-quality AAA art from a web designer. However, in game development, a web designer might still get AAA-art tasks and will need to handle them. Therefore, the more diverse tasks you can manage without relying on colleagues, the more valuable you will be as a specialist. Consequently, your grade, salary, and recognition will grow faster. I remember vividly how, as a designer with over a decade of experience, I retouched characters late into the night, struggled with 3D models, or nervously created my first landing page. Now I realize that it was a crucial experience. Acquired skills significantly broaden your horizons and enhance your design capabilities. There emerges an ironclad confidence that you can handle any task (even 3D ducks). So, I highly recommend developing multidisciplinary skills, especially if you want to enter game development. Even if you don’t, the more you know, the more you can achieve. A few years ago, a proficient designer needed skills in Adobe Photoshop for retouching, Adobe Illustrator for drawing, and Figma for creating landing pages. However, the demand for highly specialized designers has surged. Now, a product designer focuses solely on product design, and a graphic designer concentrates on graphic elements, without overlapping roles. A few years ago, a proficient designer needed skills in Adobe Photoshop for retouching, Adobe Illustrator for drawing, and Figma for creating landing pages. However, the demand for highly specialized designers has surged. Now, a product designer focuses solely on product design, and a graphic designer concentrates on graphic elements, without overlapping roles. The need for all-in-one designers is declining, which is a positive shift. However, this trend hasn’t yet affected the game development industry. GameDev still requires versatile specialists who possess a broad skill set. If you’re aiming for a career in the game industry, you must be adept at a wide range of skills. The need for all-in-one designers is declining, which is a positive shift. However, this trend hasn’t yet affected the game development industry. GameDev still requires versatile specialists who possess a broad skill set. If you’re aiming for a career in the game industry, you must be adept at a wide range of skills. In this article, I will delve into the essential skills required for GameDev and illustrate each with examples from my own experience. In this article, I will delve into the essential skills required for GameDev and illustrate each with examples from my own experience. Graphic Design: From Banners to Brand Identity Graphic Design: From Banners to Brand Identity Graphic design encompasses many elements. It includes identity and branding, as well as all promotional materials, from avatars and banners to merchandise and billboards. As part of graphic design in game development, you will develop a project’s identity and brand book, create banners, design social media assets, and develop merchandise. What you need to know in graphic design: you need a comprehensive understanding of typography, color theory, and composition, and the ability to integrate these elements beautifully into the right format. What you need to know in graphic design: you need a comprehensive understanding of typography, color theory, and composition, and the ability to integrate these elements beautifully into the right format. UX/UI and Web Every game has a website, usually a multi-page site that needs to be designed for easy user navigation. Here too, the designer must think about structure and design interfaces. In web design, you will handle the development of promotional sites, special projects, and landing pages for new game updates. For long-running projects that are frequently updated, you’ll need to create a design system. For more straightforward, one-off sites, you’ll build a UI kit. This category also includes creating email newsletters, as the tasks are similar to web design. What you need to know about web design: Interface design skills are essential, from research to visualization. What you need to know about web design: Interface design skills are essential, from research to visualization. 3D Design for Marketing For web and graphic design layouts, you need various 3D graphics—cannons, chests, 3D icons, renders of characters, weapons, and achievements. Where do you get them with the perfect angle and lighting? You create them yourself. Within the scope of 3D tasks, you’ll need to: Render in-game models with the right angle and lighting. Model and render materials for promotions, including lighting and action boosts. Create 3D graphics for special projects. Develop 3D marketing materials that are later integrated directly into the game, such as chevrons and badges for user customization. Create 3D sticker packs for Discord. Render in-game models with the right angle and lighting. Model and render materials for promotions, including lighting and action boosts. Create 3D graphics for special projects. Develop 3D marketing materials that are later integrated directly into the game, such as chevrons and badges for user customization. Create 3D sticker packs for Discord. What you need to know about 3D design: At a minimum, you should be proficient in one 3D software package, but preferably two. One for modeling, such as Cinema 4D, Blender, or Maya, and another for texturing, like Adobe Substance 3D Painter or Marmoset. What you need to know about 3D design: At a minimum, you should be proficient in one 3D software package, but preferably two. One for modeling, such as Cinema 4D, Blender, or Maya, and another for texturing, like Adobe Substance 3D Painter or Marmoset. Sticker Pack Case. My first challenging 3D job was a duck sticker pack. I spent sleepless nights grappling with complex materials and shapes while trying to convey anthropomorphic emotions on the ducks’ faces. It was tough, but I succeeded, and I will never forget those ducks. Sticker Pack Case. Sticker Pack Case. My first challenging 3D job was a duck sticker pack. I spent sleepless nights grappling with complex materials and shapes while trying to convey anthropomorphic emotions on the ducks’ faces. It was tough, but I succeeded, and I will never forget those ducks. Retouching for Anything That's Not Perfect Retouching for Anything That's Not Perfect With 3D models, things can go wrong: polygons may be out of place, lighting may be off, or the model may come from the developer’s engine. To make everything look attractive and polished, retouching is essential. Knowledge of retouching allows you to quickly assemble a story art banner from existing assets or enhance them for further use. What you need to know about retouching: A basic level of retouching involves using Photoshop sliders, masks, adjustment layers, and a graphics tablet, and understanding the basics of light shading and composition. What you need to know about retouching: A basic level of retouching involves using Photoshop sliders, masks, adjustment layers, and a graphics tablet, and understanding the basics of light shading and composition. Neural Networks as an Additional Retouching Tool Neural networks can now be used for retouching. For example, you may have a 3D render of poor quality based on a ready-made model from developers. You can take the long route and retouch it yourself, or the short route by using a neural network like SD. In just five minutes, you can achieve a good result: the model will have beautiful hair, appropriate facial expressions, and correct color corrections. What you need to know about neural networks: Using them effectively requires time and resources to train the model. You need to feed the neural network about 100 photos of the object from different angles with prompts, review the results, make edits, and review everything again. What you need to know about neural networks: Using them effectively requires time and resources to train the model. You need to feed the neural network about 100 photos of the object from different angles with prompts, review the results, make edits, and review everything again. Motion Design Let’s say the website for a game is ready, but it looks boring. What to do? Add IDLE animation to the main art. For this, you need to know how to create such animations. Knowledge of motion graphics allows you to create animated logos, art for promotional materials, and showreels. What you need to know to excel in motion graphics: Learn After Effects and master layering art in Photoshop. What you need to know to excel in motion graphics: Learn After Effects and master layering art in Photoshop. The More You Know, The More You Can Do Of course, on a design team, everyone has an area in which they are highly skilled experts. For example, I wouldn’t expect high-quality AAA art from a web designer. However, in game development, a web designer might still get AAA-art tasks and will need to handle them. Therefore, the more diverse tasks you can manage without relying on colleagues, the more valuable you will be as a specialist. Consequently, your grade, salary, and recognition will grow faster. I remember vividly how, as a designer with over a decade of experience, I retouched characters late into the night, struggled with 3D models, or nervously created my first landing page. Now I realize that it was a crucial experience. Acquired skills significantly broaden your horizons and enhance your design capabilities. There emerges an ironclad confidence that you can handle any task (even 3D ducks). So, I highly recommend developing multidisciplinary skills, especially if you want to enter game development. Even if you don’t, the more you know, the more you can achieve.

Why GameDev Designers Are the Swiss Army Knives of Game Development

Authors: (1) William P. Wagner IV, Claremont Graduate University. Table of Links Abstract & Introduction Definition of Key Terms Fundamentals of Internet Operation Encapsulation Usage-Based Economic Models Net Neutrality Legal History Researcher Conclusions Areas for Further Exploration & References 7. Legal History The basis of all legal challenges – either for or against net neutrality legislation lies in determining which agency will regulate the Internet in the U.S., and then what rules that agency will apply. 7.1. 2005 Order In 2005 the FCC released the first agency guidelines regarding the “open Internet” – the four rules [13]: “To encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected nature of the public Internet, ... • consumers are entitled to access the lawful Internet content of their choice. • consumers are entitled to run applications and use services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement. • consumers are entitled to connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network. • consumers are entitled to competition among network providers, application and service providers, and content providers.” 7.2. National Cable & Telecommunications Association v. Brand X Internet Services (2005) These rules were challenged by industry groups representing the ISPs as being too broad. And greatly complicating the issue down the road, in Section II, Paragraph 4, the FCC specifically states that the ISPs are not Title II but are in fact covered under Title I ancillary. On June 27, 2005 the United States Supreme Court (applying Chevron deference) upheld a determination by the FCC that cable Internet providers were an "information service," and not a "telecommunications service" as classified under the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the dissenting opinion, and we will see that his words would later seem prescient when quoted in the majority opinion ten years later in 2016[15]. 7.3. 2010 Open Internet Order In a 2010 Executive Order, President Obama directed the FCC to formalize regulations regarding Net Neutrality. The 2010 Order applied much of the same oversight of “common carriers” to the ISPs. The 2010 Order laid out three basic principles: transparency, no blocking, and no unreasonable discrimination. 7.4. Verizon Communications Inc. v. FCC (2014) The 2010 Order was tested in the Supreme Court when Verizon sued the FCC. The Supreme Court ruled that two of the three main principles of the 2010 Order did not fall under the FCC’s jurisdiction of Title I ancillary. The Court upheld the Transparency requirements but found that the other two requirements required the FCC to treat ISPs as “common carriers.” In its findings, the Court suggested some possible fixes. The Court also recognized the “Virtuous Cycle” of edge providers and recognized that ISPs had the “means and the incentive” to disrupt this cycle to the detriment of consumers. 7.5. 2015 REPORT AND ORDER ON REMAND, DECLARATORY RULING, AND ORDER After a public comments period, the FCC sought to re-define the regulations to define ISPs as “common carriers” and further codify the rules regarding Net Neutrality. In February of 2015 the FCC published the REPORT AND ORDER ON REMAND, DECLARATORY RULING, AND ORDER. The 2015 Order classifies ISPs under Title II of the Communications Acts of 1934,1996[14] and it gives strict guidelines regarding Net Neutrality. The 2015 Order states no blocking, no throttling, and no paid prioritization. The FCC sited the 2014 Verizon findings in the order and pointed to the Court’s reference to the “Virtuous Cycle” as authority to change the ISP classification to “common carrier.” 7.6. United States Telecom Association v. FCC and Independent Telephone and Telecommunications Alliance (2016). The large telecom companies sued the FCC, however this time the smaller telecoms joined on the side of the FCC. On June 14 of 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia refused to hear the case, thereby upholding the ruling in USTA v FCC that the FCC had operated under its authority to re-classify the ISPs as “common carriers.” Circuit Judge Srinivasan joined by Circuit Judge Tatel wrote the majority opinion. Amongst the various considerations was the following [15]: Justice Scalia’s dissenting opinion [in the 2005 decision], joined by Justices Souter and Ginsburg, went even further. According to Justice Scalia, the statute permitted only one conclusion: cable broadband ISPs “are subject to Title II regulation as common carriers, like their chief competitors [e.g., DSL] who provide Internet access through other technologies.” Id. at 1006 (Scalia, J., dissenting). The agency, in Justice Scalia’s view, had no discretion to conclude otherwise. And he expressly accepted that his reading of the Act would result in “common carrier regulation of all ISPs,” a result he considered “not a worry.” Id. At 1011. The large telecoms appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and on November 5th, 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case, thereby upholding the previous findings. 7.7. 2017 - 2018 FCC Changes Direction In 2017 President Donald Trump appointed Ajit Pai as Chairman of the FCC. Chairman Pai has changed the FCC’s direction and decided the FCC should not regulate ISPs with regard to Net Neutrality, thereby rendering the Court’s ruling temporarily moot as it applies to the current direction of the FCC. The FCC did stipulate that ISPs must be transparent in any throttling or associated fees. The Supreme Court’s 2018 finding does however mean that should the FCC change direction again, that the stricter rules would have legal precedence. It may also be cited as precedence in any upcoming legal challenges to the current interpretation. This paper is under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 DEED license. available on arxiv

The Evolution of Net Neutrality Laws

Microsoft v. United States (2016) Court Filing, retrieved on July 14, 2016, is part of . You can jump to any part in this filing . This part is 14 of 22. HackerNoon’s Legal PDF Series here D. Discerning the “Focus” of the SCA This conclusion does not resolve the merits of this appeal, however, because “it is a rare case of prohibited extraterritorial application that lacks all contact with the territory of the United States.” Morrison, 561 U.S. at 266.  When we find that a law does not contemplate or permit extraterritorial application, we generally must then determine whether the case at issue involves such a prohibited application. Id at 266– 67. As we recently observed in Mastafa v. Chevron Corp., “An evaluation of the presumption’s application to a particular case is essentially an inquiry into whether the domestic contacts are sufficient to avoid triggering the presumption at all.” 770 F.3d 170, 182 (2d Cir. 2014). In making this second‐stage determination, we first look to the “territorial events or relationships” that are the “focus” of the relevant statutory provision.  Id. at 183 (alterations and internal quotation marks omitted).  If the domestic contacts presented by the case fall within the “focus” of the statutory provision or are “the objects of the statute’s solicitude,” then the application of the provision is not unlawfully extraterritorial.  Morrison, 561 U.S. at 267.  If the domestic contacts are merely secondary, however, to the statutory “focus,” then the provision’s application to the case is extraterritorial and precluded. In identifying the “focus” of the SCA’s warrant provisions, it is helpful to resort to the familiar tools of statutory interpretation, considering the text and plain meaning of the statute, see, e.g., Gottlieb v. Carnival Corp., 436 F.3d 335, 337 (2d Cir. 2006), as well as its framework, procedural aspects, and legislative history.  Cf. Morrison, 561 U.S. at 266–70 (looking to text and statutory context to discern focus of statutory provision); Loginovskaya, 764 F.3d at 272–73 (analyzing text, context, and precedent to discern focus for Morrison purposes). Having done so, we conclude that the relevant provisions of the SCA focus on protecting the privacy of the content of a user’s stored electronic communications.  Although the SCA also prescribes methods under which the government may obtain access to that content for law enforcement purposes, it does so in the context of a primary emphasis on protecting user content ― the “object[] of the statute’s solicitude.”  Morrison, 561 U.S. at 267. Continue Reading . Here About HackerNoon Legal PDF Series: We bring you the most important technical and insightful public domain court case filings. This court case No. 15–777 retrieved on September 27, 2023, from is part of the public domain. The court-created documents are works of the federal government, and under copyright law, are automatically placed in the public domain and may be shared without legal restriction. cases.justia.com

The Methods Under Which the Government May Gain Access to a User's Data

DOE v. GITHUB Court Filing, retrieved on January 26, 2023 is part of . You can jump to any part in this filing . This part is 15 of 21. HackerNoon’s Legal PDF Series here MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IV. ARGUMENT C. Plaintiffs’ Claims Fail for Reasons Specific to Each Claim. 5. Plaintiffs Fail to State a Claim for Unjust Enrichment. Plaintiffs’ claim for unjust enrichment fails because it is not an independent cause of action. “[I]n California, there is no[] standalone cause of action for ‘unjust enrichment.’” Astiana v. Hain Celestial Grp., Inc., 783 F.3d 753, 762 (9th Cir. 2015). Courts instead “construe [an unjust enrichment claim] as a quasi-contract claim for restitution.” Id. (cleaned up). But plaintiffs cannot recover on a quasi-contract claim if they also seek to recover under a breach of contract claim, as they do here. See Klein v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., 202 Cal. App. 4th 1342, 1388 (2012) (A plaintiff may not “recover on a quasi-contract claim if the parties have an enforceable agreement.”). Because Plaintiffs do not allege the absence of an enforceable contract—and in fact allege the opposite—Plaintiffs’ unjust enrichment claim should be dismissed. In any event, Plaintiffs have not pled the required elements for unjust enrichment as they have not adequately alleged that the OpenAI Entities “ha[ve] been unjustly conferred a benefit through mistake, fraud, coercion, or request.” See Astiana, 783 F.3d at 762. (cleaned up). F inally, to the extent Plaintiffs’ “unjust enrichment claim” under the UCL is seeking restitution based on an alleged violation of the UCL, that claim fails for the same reasons discussed in Section B.6.below. Continue Reading . here About HackerNoon Legal PDF Series: We bring you the most important technical and insightful public domain court case filings. This court case 4:22-cv-06823-JST retrieved on September 8, 2023, from is part of the public domain. The court-created documents are works of the federal government, and under copyright law, are automatically placed in the public domain and may be shared without legal restriction. DocumentCloud.org

Plaintiffs in the OpenAI Lawsuit Don't Have a Claim for Unjust Enrichment

Since ChatGPT made headlines for fast-tracking mass adoption of AI, competition in the industry is growing. Most tech giants are experimenting with their own solutions, with Microsoft’s Bing and Google’s Bard leading the race. What’s the difference between these two chatbots? Thanks to an effective marketing campaign, ChatGPT is currently the most popular of existing AIs, with Bing and Bard its strongest rivals. In fact, Microsoft integrated OpenAI’s solution in its search engine. The company added its own layer on top of GPT-4, allowing Bing to give the most current information while ChatGPT is only using data up until 2021. Since GPT tech was integrated into Bing, it’s seen an almost in page visits. The search engine is also becoming a significant referral source for some publishers. 16% increase The reason for Bing's growing popularity is that it gives human-like responses while looking through numerous sets of data with ChatGPT’s large language model (LLM).  It can go beyond text and generate images, and also lets users augment conversation styles between balanced, creative, and precise. In comparison, Bard uses Google’s own model, LaMDA, which gives less text-heavy responses, and it also incorporates its more advanced model, PaLM 2, to be more creative, informative and translate languages with greater accuracy. Unwilling to learn I asked both AIs a few tricky comparison questions, such as: “Are Thalia McGrath and Jane McGrath related?” (The former is an Australian cricketer and the later was an English-born cancer support activist). While Bing accurately gave responses, Bard simply had no idea who these impact women were. The solution, however, accurately identified another Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath who was Jane’s husband. Here’s a fun fact: Bard correctly identified Jane McGrath as the wife of Glenn McGrath. When immediately asked about Jane McGrath, Bard still didn’t recognize her. Glenn McGrath is by far the most popular of the three people in question here. However Bard did not recognize Thalia and Jane McGrath even after the context was set with a previous question. This brings up the question: is Bard unwilling to learn? Making up celebrities I asked both AIs if Zaheer Khan, one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of Indian cricket, is related to Oliver Kahn, a German football executive, former goalkeeper and one of the most iconic professional players of his generation. While Bing accurately responded that the two men are not related, Bard started by autocorrecting Kahn to Khan for Oliver. Then, something weird happened. The AI provided more details on the autocorrected ‘Oliver Khan.’ According to Bard, ‘Oliver Khan’ is a British actor who has appeared in films such as "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns”, and is also the son of German actor Klaus Maria Brandauer. This is fascinating, because Bard made up this Oliver Khan. No such actor exists. Strangely enough, when asked a direct question — “Who is Oliver Kahn?” — Bard gave the right answer. Messing up the numbers Stocks and financial markets are areas where both AIs messed up pretty badly. Here, Bing was slightly better, giving four correct and one partially-correct response out of a total of 15, while Bard gave three correct answers. For example, while responding to the question “What is the trend on ExxonMobil’s annual revenue for the last five years?” While Bing didn't give individual listings, it got accurate revenue growth numbers. To the same question, Bard provided incorrect data for 2018 and 2019, and also some questionable analytical predictions, such as: “The global demand for oil and gas is expected to grow in the coming years, which will benefit ExxonMobil.” To be fair, Bing screwed up with numbers while analyzing the trend on annual revenues of Chevron’s stock for the last five years: the data for 2022 was wrong. For ADM, a food and animal nutrition company, Bard’s numbers for 2018 and 2019 were correct, although recent results were wildly different from the real numbers. The general summary — highlighting the company’s expansion, new agricultural products and services, as well as acquisitions in Europe and Asia — were accurate. My general impression, based on the test results, is that both AIs should be used with caution, especially when it comes to financial data and decisions. Bing, however, proved to be the more reliable of the two, which could be due to its integration with ChatGPT.

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