#Chicago Project on Security and Threats

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

More than 18 months after the rioting at the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, an estimated 13 million U.S. adults, or 5% of the adult population, agree that force would be justified to restore former President Donald Trump to the White House and an estimated 15 million Americans believe force would be justified to prevent Trump from being prosecuted, should he be indicted for mishandling classified documents, according to a new study from the University of Chicago.

"We have not just a political threat to our democracy, we have a violent threat to our democracy," Dr. Robert Pape, the director of the University of Chicago's Chicago Project on Security and Threats (CPOST) told "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan on Sept. 18. "Today, there are millions of individuals who don't just think the election was stolen in 2020; they support violence to restore Donald Trump to the White House."

The 13 million estimated in the early September survey represents a reduction since June 2021, when an estimated 23 million Americans had insurrectionist sentiment. CPOST researchers extrapolated data from over 3,000 nationally representative survey participants who responded to surveys in June and September of 2021, and April and September of 2022, to reach their conclusions in the study.

Pape and his research team found that the willingness to use violence to put Trump back in the White House was largely driven by unfounded and racist fears about a "Great Replacement" of White people by immigrants and about QAnon, a set of conspiracy theories involving sex trafficking by Democrats and liberal elites and corruption. According to the study, 61% of those who favored insurrection were fueled by fears of a Great Replacement, and 48% of those surveyed believed in QAnon.

The "Great Replacement" conspiracy is built around the belief that the Democratic Party is replacing the voting electorate with a more diverse voter base to undermine or replace political power held by White people.

"[Great Replacement] is a conspiracy theory, but it's not just on fringe social media like Parler or Gab, 4chan or 8chan" Pape said. "This is every day on Fox News, it's on Newsmax, it's on One America, it's on talk radio."

It was a motivating factor behind the "Unite the Right" Charlottesville rally, and in recent mass shootings in Pittsburgh, Penn., Christchurch, New Zealand; El Paso, Texas, and most recently, Buffalo, N.Y.

"If you marry those together, you have a dangerous cocktail. You have the fear of this Great Replacement happening by a Democratic Party, and then you have the fear of corruption and immorality, and that's that dangerous combination that's leading to violent support against our democracy," Pape said.

The CPOST study also found that Jan. 6 defendants were more likely to come from urban than rural areas of the country, and that insurrectionists mostly descended upon the Capitol from counties that have diversified the most quickly in the last ten years.

Pape's research suggests that "naming and shaming" those who participated in the Capitol attack on Jan. 6 2021 has caused a decline in the number of Americans who would use force to reinstall former President Trump, likely due to this summer's hearings by the House Select Committee investigating the Capitol attack, as well as the continued prosecutions of Jan. 6 defendants and President Biden's speeches focused on that day.

Pape also spoke of Trump's association with QAnon, noting that the former President recently played a QAnon theme song at one of his rallies, and he reposted a video filled with references to the conspiracy. A central tenant of QAnon belief is that Trump is one of few politicians capable of bringing down a cabal of sex trafficking politicians and political elite.

"The former President is willing to court not just supporters of his, but those who support violence for his goals, number one of which is being restored to the White House," Pape said. "He is deliberately stoking not just the fires of anger getting him political support, but the fires that are leading to that violent 13 [million]."

Voicing his concerns about the upcoming midterm elections, Pape said, "If it's just a political threat, well, then we can have elections. Once it's not just denying an election, but using violence as the response to an election denial, now we're in a new game."

#us politics #news #donald trump #cbs news #2020 election #capitol protests #capitol riot #capitol riot investigation #house select committee #insurrectionists #university of chicago #Chicago Project on Security and Threats #Face the Nation #great replacement #qanon #fuck white supremacy #fuck white supremacists #racists #racism #polls #polling #Dr. Robert Pape

[morganbritton132]

You probably get this all the time, and I don't know why I only thought about this now, but I'm suddenly fascinated by the idea of a government employee who knows about the Upside Down that has been tasked with keeping an eye on Eddie's TikTok page and just constantly being so frustrated

I never get this but I have thought about it at length!!! Lol.

I just picture one overworked and underpaid agent being tasked with the whole *hand waving* Hawkins Situation.

There used to a time when the Hawkins Project was a coveted position given to the best agents with the highest clearance, but now… Now all the gates to the other world have been closed. There’s been no activity in three decades. Brenner’s dead. The Russians defuncted their projects. The girl – Eleven or Jane, or whatever – hasn’t blown anything up since the nineties.

The Hawkins job is a babysitting job with CIA-level clearance, and it’s just… it was supposed to be a cakewalk but. There’s just… there are so many of them.

And for a while, they were spread all over the country.

One of them is a US Senator now and she called the head of the FBI ‘a bitch’ and ‘a coward’ on a hot mic last week, and maybe.

Maybe for the sake of national security and their own sanity, maybe this agent pulled a few strings and dotted a few more I’s than they’re authorized to just to get Lucas Sinclair, Maxine Mayfield-Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Nancy Wheeler, and Robin Buckley back in Chicago.

Maybe they did that. There’s no paper trail, but maybe they did.

It’s easier to keep track of a ‘party’ of people if most of them are in the same state.

This Party – as they fondly call themselves – barely qualified as a threat anymore. They are barely a concern at this point. Only a few of them are considered dangerous enough to require anything more than the occasional check-in. Those people being Jane Hopper, James ‘Jim’ Hopper, Nancy Wheeler, Murray Bauman, and – much to this agent’s annoyance – Edward Munson.

Eddie wouldn’t be a cause for concern if he wasn’t so goddamn loud. He is in no way a threat to national security but the CIA doesn’t love when people allude to a defuncted Cold War project that resulted in an inter-dimensional serial killer murdering a bunch of small town high school students.

This agent does not believe that Eddie Munson knows what an NDA is or that he signed one.

It is one thing to write songs about demon bats and hell spilling into small town Americana or to make your album cover resemble the charred remains of Henry Creel’s disfigured body (‘yeah’ the agent thinks, ‘you’re not that slick, Munson’) but it is something else to announce to your millions of TikTok followers that you got rabies in a hell dimension.

This agent does not have enough pull to persuade Congress to outright ban TikTok and actually thinks that a TikTok ban would be an overreach of government control, but damn if it would not have made their life easier. Though they fear that Munson would just go to YouTube and the idea of longer content makes them shiver.

And by the way, this agent expected better from Steven Harrington!

This agent liked Steve! He was one of their favorites!!

Steve didn’t make waves. He lived a quiet life, paid his taxes, and barely had a social media presence. He was an absolute dream to be monitoring until Eddie downloaded that cursed clock app.

Steve was never viewed on the same threat level as Jane Hopper or Murray Bauman, but he was a closely monitored subject due to his long-term injuries and his time spent in the alternate dimension and the Russian bunker under Starcourt Mall. Despite close monitoring, there is no note in his file of any digression until Eddie started shoving Tiktok in his face.

This agent sits in their office at the CIA’s Chicago location.

In the basement, at the end of a long dusty corridor, beneath a buzzing fluorescent light, they get a notification on their computer. It’s from Tiktok, and this agent breathes in slowly. They rub at the forming headache between their brows and names it Eddie Munson.

They click the notification, waits a second for the shitty wifi to bring them to the app, and watches as Steve Harrington says, “Technically we’re time travelers.”

And they sigh.

#Two things I love: (1) Steve being the only one that truly thinks they’re being spied on and #(2) some guy in a middle management-like job having to keep track of all the dumb shit they do #this agent is the reason Eddie gets stopped by the TSA every time he flies. It’s revenge #eddie munson tiktok saga #steve harrington #eddie munson

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Rachel Leingang at The Guardian:

To hear Donald Trump tell it, America’s cities are in dire shape and in need of a federal intervention. “We’re going to rebuild our cities into beacons of hope, safety and beauty – better than they have ever been before,” he said during a recent speech to the National Rifle Association in what has become a common refrain on the campaign trail. “We will take over the horribly run capital of our nation, Washington DC.” Trump has for years railed against cities, particularly those run by Democratic officials, as hotbeds for crime and moral decay. He called Atlanta a “record setting Murder and Violent Crime War Zone” last year, a similar claim he makes frequently about various cities.

His allies have an idea of how to capitalize on that agenda and make cities in Trump’s image, detailed in the conservative Project 2025: unleash new police forces on cities like Washington DC, withhold federal disaster and emergency grants unless they follow immigration policies like detaining undocumented immigrants and share sensitive data with the federal government for immigration enforcement purposes.

Project 2025’s Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, an extensive document breaking down each part of the federal government and recommending changes to be made to advance rightwing policy, was created by the Heritage Foundation, with dozens of conservative organizations and prominent names contributing chapters based on their backgrounds. This part of the project is another Republican attempt at a crackdown on so-called “sanctuary” cities, places around the country that don’t cooperate with the federal government on enforcing harsh immigration policies.

[...]

The threat of withholding federal funds

Republicans, cheered on by Trump, have worked to make immigration a key issue in cities across the country by busing migrants from the US-Mexico border inland, to places run by Democrats like New York, DC and Chicago, overwhelming the social safety net in these cities. The idea of using federal funds granted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) to force immigration changes are included in a chapter about the Department of Homeland Security, written by Ken Cuccinelli, Trump’s former deputy secretary of homeland security.

The chapter’s initial recommendation is to dismantle DHS entirely, create a border-focused agency comprised of other immigration-related organizations and farm out the rest of its components to existing agencies (or privatize them, in the case of the Transportation Security Administration). It’s not directly clear whether the aim is to use all Fema funds – including those that help cities and states in the immediate aftermath of an emergency like a tornado or flood – or large grant programs for things like emergency preparedness. One line in the chapter says “post-disaster or nonhumanitarian funding” could be exempt from the immigration policy requirements. The chapter also suggests that cities and states should take on more of the burden of financially responding to disasters.

[...]

One of the conditions Project 2025 suggests is requiring states or localities to share information with the federal government for law and immigration enforcement, and specifies that this would include both department of motor vehicle and voter registration databases. This is of particular interest in many cities because 19 states and Washington DC allow undocumented people to get drivers licenses, the Niskanen Center, a thinktank that delved into the project’s immigration aims, points out. These licenses help with public safety by decreasing the potential for hit-and-runs and increasing work hours, among other benefits, the center writes. If a city or state is forced to choose between issuing licenses and then sharing this information for use by immigration authorities, or accessing emergency funds for their whole population in a crisis, it’ll be tough for them to deny Fema money, said Cecilia Esterline, an immigration research analyst at the Niskanen Center.

Donald Trump’s war on urban cities is part of the wretched far-right Project 2025 plan, including crackdowns on sanctuary cities.

See Also:

The Guardian: What is Project 2025 and what does it have to do with a second Trump term?

#Project 2025 #Donald Trump #Immigration #Sanctuary Cities #Mandate For Leadership: The Conservative Promise #FEMA #TSA #Disaster Relief Funding #Undocumented Immigrants

[mariacallous]

The need for good intelligence has never been more visible. The failure of the Israeli security services to anticipate the brutal surprise attack carried out by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 reveals what happens when intelligence goes wrong.

In contrast, in late February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s planned three-day “special military operation” to invade Ukraine and topple the government was pushed onto the back foot by the U.S. and U.K. intelligence communities. While Putin’s rapid seizure of Crimea by a flood of “little green men”  in 2014 was a fait accompli, by the time of the 2022 invasion, anticipatory moves including the public declassification of sensitive intelligence ensured that both the intelligence community and Ukraine remained a step ahead of Putin’s plans.

Yet, despite the clear and enduring need for good intelligence to support effective statecraft, national security, and military operations, U.S. intelligence agencies and practitioners are undermined by a crisis of legitimacy. Recent research investigating public attitudes toward the U.S. intelligence community offers some sobering trends.

A May 2023 poll conducted by the Harvard University Center for American Political Studies and Harris Poll found that an eye-watering 70 percent of Americans surveyed were either “very” or “somewhat” concerned about “interference by the FBI and intelligence agencies in a future presidential election.”

A separate study, conducted in 2021 and 2022 by the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas at Austin and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, found that only 56 percent of Americans thought that the intelligence community “plays a vital role in warning against foreign threats and contributes to our national security.” That number is down 10 points from a previous high—if it can even be called that—of 66 percent in 2019, and the downward trend does not give us cause for optimism. Reframed, that statistic means that in 2022, an alarming (in our view) 44 percent of Americans did not believe that the intelligence community keeps them safe from foreign threats or contributes to U.S. national security.

Worse, despite abundant examples of authoritarian aggression and worldwide terror attacks, nearly 1 in 5 Americans seem to be confused about where the real threats to their liberty are actually emanating from. According to the UT Austin study, a growing number of Americans thought that the intelligence community represented a threat to civil liberties: 17 percent in 2022, up from 12 percent in 2021. A nontrivial percentage of Americans feel that the intelligence community is an insidious threat instead of a valuable protector in a dangerous world—a perspective that jeopardizes the security and prosperity of the United States and its allies.

The most obvious recent example of the repercussions of the corrosion of trust in the intelligence community is the recent drama over reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). First introduced in the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, Section 702 is an important legal authority for the U.S. intelligence community to conduct targeted surveillance of foreign persons located outside the United States, with the compelled assistance of electronic communication service providers. According to a report published by Office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI), 702 is “extremely valuable” and “provides intelligence on activities of terrorist organizations, weapons proliferators, spies, malicious cyber actors, and other foreign adversaries.”

Section 702 was scheduled to “sunset” at the end of 2023 if not reauthorized. Yet Congress failed to reauthorize 702 by the end of 2023, electing to punt the decision—as is so often the case—to this spring, when it was finally reauthorized (with some important reforms) in late April 2024, but it was only extended for two years instead of the customary five. An unusual alliance of the far right and the far left squeezed centrists and the Biden administration, which was strongly pushing for a renewal that would protect the civil liberties of U.S. citizens and not needlessly hobble the intelligence community in protecting the United States itself.

But the frantic down-to-the-wire negotiations about reauthorizing some recognizable form of 702 obscured a deeper problem at the heart of the contemporary Americans’ relationship with intelligence that has been brewing over the last decade: The fundamental legitimacy of a strong intelligence community—and the integrity of its practitioners—has been questioned by U.S. lawmakers on the far left and the far right, perhaps reflecting a misguided but increasing consensus of tens of millions of Americans.

This trend is now a crisis.

Section 702’s troubled journey faced queries from the privacy-oriented left, where those with overblown concerns about potential abuse by the intelligence community viewed reauthorizing 702 is tantamount to “turning cable installers into spies,” in the words of one opinion contributor published in The Hill. The intelligence community’s revised authorities (some adjustments were required given the 15 years of communications technology development since the amendment was first passed) were called “terrifying” and predictably—the most hackneyed description for intelligence tools—“Orwellian.” On the power-skeptical right, Section 702 is perceived as but another powerful surveillance tool of the so-called deep state.

In response to legitimate concerns about past mistakes, the intelligence community has adopted procedural reforms and enhanced training that it says would account for the overwhelming majority of the (self-reported) mistakes in querying 702 collection. According to a report from the Justice Department’s National Security Division, the FBI achieved a 98 percent compliance rate in 2023 after receiving better training. Further, the Justice Department and the DNI have gone to unprecedented lengths to publicly show—through declassified success stories—the real dangers that allowing 702 to lapse would bring to the United States and its allies.

Never before has an intelligence community begged, cajoled, and pleaded with lawmakers to enable it to do its job. After all, a hobbled intelligence community would still be held responsible should a war warning be missed, or should a terrorist attack occur.

For instance, Gen. Eric Vidaud, the French military intelligence chief, was promptly fired over intelligence failings related to Putin’s (re)invasion of Ukraine despite the Elysée’s criticisms of the warnings made by the United States and United Kingdom as “alarmist.” And Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, director of Israeli military intelligence, recently resigned over the Oct. 7 attacks despite the fault probably lying across Israel’s political landscape as well. Intelligence professionals pay more than their share of the bill when their crystal ball stays cloudy.

The hullabaloo over 702 is not the only recent instance painting the actions of the U.S. national security apparatus as questionable state activity conducted by dishonest bureaucrats, and some recent history helps put the recent events into a broader downward trend in trust.

In 2013, National Security Agency (NSA) mass-leaker Edward Snowden, a junior network IT specialist with a Walter Mitty complex, sparked a needed but distorted global conversation about the legitimacy of intelligence collection when he stole more than 1.5 million NSA documents and fled to China and ultimately Russia. The mischaracterization of NSA programs conveyed by Snowden and his allies (painting them as more intrusive and less subject to legal scrutiny than they were) led to popular misunderstandings about the intelligence community’s methods and oversight.

It was not only junior leakers whose unfounded criticism helped to corrode public faith in intelligence; it has also been a bipartisan political effort. In 2009, then-U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed that the CIA had lied to her after she wished to distance herself from the agency’s “enhanced interrogation techniques”—which critics call torture. But Pelosi’s comments earned a “false” rating from Politifact’s “truth-o-meter.” Then-CIA Director Leon Panetta countered that “CIA officers briefed truthfully.”

Some suspicion of a powerful intelligence community stems from genuine failings of the past, especially the CIA’s activities in the early and middle stages of the Cold War, which included some distasteful assassination plots, the illegal collection of intelligence domestically (such as surveillance of Americans on political grounds, including illegally opening their mail), and the LSD experimentation on unwitting Americans as part of its infamous MKULTRA program.

Most of these excesses—characterized as the CIA’s “Family Jewels”—were reported to Congress, which held explosive hearings in 1975 to publicize these activities, bringing the intelligence agencies into the public realm like never before. Images of Sen. Frank Church holding aloft a poison dart gun, designed by the CIA to incapacitate and induce a heart attack in foreign leaders, became front page news. These serious failings in accountability were the dawn of rigorous intelligence oversight.

Public trust in government was already sinking when, in 1971, the Pentagon Papers revealed that politicians had lied about US activities in the deeply unpopular Vietnam war. The Watergate scandal the following year added fuel to fire. Although the CIA was not directly involved in Watergate, the involvement of former agency employees led to a wider belief that the agency was tainted. And in the late 1970s, CIA morale sank to an all-time low when then-President Jimmy Carter began the process of sharply reducing its staff, attributing the decision to its “shocking” activities.

In response to congressional findings and mountains of bad press, subsequent directors of the CIA considered the criticisms and made numerous changes to how the intelligence community operates. While the intelligence community (and its leaders) made good-faith efforts to operate strictly within its legal boundaries, be more responsive to congressional oversight, and embrace some level of transparency, the public image of the CIA and the broader intelligence community didn’t change. After the Cold War ended, the preeminent vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, called twice for the disbanding of the CIA. Such political pummeling of the role of intelligence and the integrity of its practitioners was bound to leave a mark.

The politics of distrust are back to the bad old days. By 2016, distrust of the intelligence community had returned with a vengeance: then-presidential candidate Donald Trump claimed that NSA was circumventing domestic legal constructs to spy on his campaign through its close partnership with the Government Communications headquarters (GCHQ), the British signals intelligence agency. (The NSA said those claims were false and GCHQ called them “utterly ridiculous”.) As president-elect, Trump also compared U.S. intelligence to “living in Nazi Germany.” Once Trump entered the Oval Office, the FBI was a frequent target for his invective thanks to the investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 election.

While the intelligence community is a long way away from the excesses of the 1970s, it is not perfect. Intelligence is an art, not a science. It is not prediction so much as narrowing the cone of uncertainty for decision-makers to act in a complex world. Even when acting strictly within the law and under the scrutiny of Congress and multiple inspectors general, the intelligence community has been wrong on several important occasions. It failed to stop the 9/11 attacks, got the assessment that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction spectacularly wrong, and was made to look impotent by Osama bin Laden for nearly a decade before the U.S. Navy SEALs caught up with him on a CIA mission in Pakistan in May 2011.

Errors still happen because intelligence is hard, and the occasional failure to warn, to stop every attack, or to prevent every incorrect search query is inevitable. Today, mistakes are self-reported to Congress; they are no longer hidden away as they sometimes were in the past. Yet the intelligence community has done a poor job telling its own story and self-censors due to widespread over-classification—a problem that the DNI has acknowledged, if not yet remedied. It has only belatedly begun to embrace the transparency required for a modern intelligence apparatus in a democratic state, and there is much work yet to be done.

It is the job of the intelligence agencies to keep a calm and measured eye on dark developments. In a world in which the panoply of threats is increasing, the role of the intelligence community and its responsibilities within democratic states has never been greater. If the community cannot be trusted by its political masters in the White House and Congress, much less the American people, then it will not be given the ability to “play to the edge,” and the risk is that the United States and its allies will be blind to the threats facing them. Given the adversaries, the consequences could be severe.

U.S. intelligence has had a rebirth of confidence since 9/11 and the incorrect judgments of the Iraqi weapons program. It was intelligence and special operations that hunted and killed bin Laden, U.S. law enforcement that has kept the U.S. homeland safe from another massive terror attack, and the intelligence community correctly predicted the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

That increased sense of purpose and morale is moot if the U.S. people, Congress, or the president (sitting or future) do not trust them. This crisis of legitimacy is a trend that may soon hamper the intelligence community, and the results could be unthinkable. Getting the balance between civil liberties and security right isn’t an easy task, but the intelligence community must have the tools, trust, and oversight required to simultaneously keep faith with the American people while serving as their first line of defense.

[herrmannhalsteadproduction]

Game Night 3: It’s Bex Ball, Bébés (Chapter Two)

Summary: This is Part Twenty of my series A Herrmann/Halstead Production. It is an AU where Christopher Herrmann's mom had an affair with Pat Halstead resulting in a baby. The series follows this OC character (Rebecca "Bex" Herrmann) as she grows up and gets to know her brothers and the various Chicago teams. It is very much an AU, just to underscore that. It doesn't follow the same timeline and characters will follow different paths.

Click here for the Series Rundown where you can find the links to read all of the previous installments (which I highly recommend you do so that this one makes sense.)

Rating: Teen and Up

Warnings: Swearing and threats of violence

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Statesville – Minimum Security Unit

Thursday night

***

Ty

Ty lay back on his bunk, staring at the water-stained ceiling as he thought through his plan one more time. He’d been given a chance. He wasn’t going to blow it.

“Anderson,” a grizzled old guard, Mitchell, called out to Ty. “Heard you got lucky, asshole.”

Ty sat up to stare at the man—he’d learned pretty quickly it wasn’t smart to leave yourself in a vulnerable position around anyone in this place. Learned quickly and learned hard.

“Early release,” Mitchell continued, lip curled up in a sneer. “Place gets too crowded and their solution is to put pricks like you back out on the street.”

“Like you said,” Ty shrugged. “Lucky me.”

 If you could call it that. He’d still have an ankle monitor and a parole officer breathing down his neck. And once his trial happened, he’d probably be thrown right back inside.

“Eh, we’ll be seeing you again soon enough,” Mitchell said, echoing Ty’s thoughts. “I know your type. Bastards like you just can’t help yourselves.”

Ty bit back the snarl of words that fought to break free. He’d never end up on the winning side of that confrontation. And it wasn’t worth messing up his release.

Not when he was so close.

He stayed silent, watching Mitchell whistle as he walked away. Once he was out of sight, Ty lay back down on his bunk and returned to reviewing his plan.

Step one, get released in the morning and take the bus back to Chicago.

Step two, do his preliminary check in with his P.O. and make nice.

Step three, ditch the ankle monitor and track down Emery.

Step four, kill the bitch.

She’d ruined his life. He wasn’t going to pass up the chance to make it fucking worth it.

Ty smiled grimly to himself.

Step one…

Click here to read the next installment: That Herrmann/Halstead DNA

Click here to read Game Night 3: It’s Bex Ball, Bébés on ao3:

And here is the tag list (let me know if you wish to be added or removed):

@sorry-i-spaced, @iunnowatuwant, @thegirlwhowishedeveryonelived, @ivyalmighty, @thewannabewriter, @lexhalstead3, @multifandomgrl08, @foxes-and-cats, @sensitivemallysix, @thebewingedjewelcat, @emme-looou,

#A Herrmann/Halstead Production #one chicago #chicago fire #chicago pd #chicago med #oc character #rebecca 'bex' herrmann #a herrmann/halstead production #alternate universe #not canon #not beta read

[musicandgallery]

A moment of historic danger:

It is still 90 seconds to midnight

2024 Doomsday Clock Statement

"Founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and University of Chicago scientists who helped develop the first atomic weapons in the Manhattan Project, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists created the Doomsday Clock two years later, using the imagery of apocalypse (midnight) and the contemporary idiom of nuclear explosion (countdown to zero) to convey threats to humanity and the planet. The Doomsday Clock is set every year by the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board in consultation with its Board of Sponsors, which includes nine Nobel laureates. The Clock has become a universally recognized indicator of the world’s vulnerability to global catastrophe caused by man-made technologies."

Pink Floyd - GoodBye Blue Sky - Video - [ Full HD ]

#ww3 #music #Youtube

[tieflingkisser]

Israel’s Gaza bombardment ‘one of most intense civilian punishment campaigns in history'

Robert Pape, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, says with about 1% of the population killed in Gaza since the war began, the Israeli campaign is “in the top 25% of all bombing campaigns in history in terms of civilian damage”. Robert Pape, a professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and is the director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats, joins Al Jazeera live from Chicago.

#free palestine #palestine #israel #news #Youtube

[naturalrights-retard]

Scott is joined by Robert A. Pape to discuss the dangerously flawed assumptions behind Israel’s strategy in Gaza and with the Palestinians more broadly. Scott and Pape talk about how these same mistakes have been made numerous times in recent decades by the United States and Russia, always with the same bad results. They also touch on the difficulties the Israeli government would encounter if it attempted to take full control of the West Bank.

Discussed on the show:

“Israel’s Failed Bombing Campaign in Gaza” (Foreign Affairs)

“It’s All About Provoking Your Reaction” (Antiwar.com)

The Perils of Dominance by Gareth Porter

“I didn’t suggest we kill Palestinians” (Jerusalem Post)

Robert A. Pape is Professor of Political Science and Director of the University of Chicago Project on Security and Threats and the author of Bombing to Win: Air Power and Coercion in War. Follow him on Twitter @ProfessorPape

[alphaman99]

Tommy Two shoes

A growing number of Democrat voters support the use of violence or force to attain political ends, according to research from the University of Chicago’s Project on Security and Threats Research Center. Democrat voters were found to be most willing to use violence for political purposes. One-in-five – 18.6 percent – agreed the force is justifiable to “protect the voting rights of Black Americans and other minorities,” and a further 12.3 percent are willing to resort to violence to “restore the federal right to abortion.” The survey also found another 17.3 percent were willing to use force to “ensure members of Congress and other government officials do the right thing,” with another one-in-eight – 11.6 percent – Democrats seeing violence as justifiable to “prevent Donald Trump from becoming President” for a second time. “The public is more radicalized than it was in April and it’s really quite significant… [w]e’ve been tracking this quite a while, and this is a really big bump,” argued the leading researcher Robert Pape.

The National Pulse

[mclambsharp]

Minecraft 'loophole' Library Of Banned Journalism

Minecraft 'loophole' library of banned journalism By Tom Gerken BBC News, Washington DC

13 March 2020

It began as an online forum project and has since grown to become the most popular video game ever. However, now Minecraft is being played in ways that its creators could never have imagined.

The iconic game based on the placement of Lego-like blocks and more than 145 million people playing every month has been transformed into a center for free speech.

To host journalistic articles that were censored online, a virtual library was meticulously designed.

The work of Jamal Khashoggi, the journalist killed by Saudi agents in 2018, can be read among the plethora of books available in the library.

Minecraft declined to make a comment.

Reporters Without Borders, a non-profit organization that seeks to safeguard the freedom of information around the world The project was created by the non-profit organization. Blockworks, the design studio responsible for the Minecraft library, built it. Minecraft servers

Christian Mihr, the executive director of Reporters Without Borders Germany, said that Minecraft was a worthy project because he doesn't believe that it poses a threat to governments that control their media.

"We have chosen Minecraft because of its reach," he said. "It is accessible in every country. The game is not censored like some other games which are under suspicion of being political.

"There are large communities in every country included, which is the reason why it was suggested that it's a loophole for the censorship."

The authors were chosen to represent countries where press was censored, so that people from these communities would be able to access their work.

He did clarify, however, that permissions had to be sought before republishing in a library.

"We have not uploaded any content into the library without the consent of the authors involved in the event that they're still alive.

"In the case of Jamal Khashoggi we spoke with family members - with respect for those who were killed, and the security of their families."

Nick Feamster, Neubauer Professor of Computer Science, at the University of Chicago, stated to the BBC that the library could beat the censors but was concerned about the reaction of governments.

He said that it was an interesting concept however there were still issues. Governments will know about this - the articles are going all over the internet. It's not foolproof against a determined enemy.

He said that the strength of the library stemmed from its use of entanglement - mixing up the censored material with the game of video in the eyes of censors.

He said, "By entangling the two things you force them all to share content." "You cannot censor this one without the other."

Helmi Noman who is a Research Associate at the Berkman Klein Centre for Internet & Society He said that he thought the library would only have only a small number of patrons.

He added that "censored content is constantly changing and diverse" and that users prefer to use strategies that don't preselect or separate content from specific spaces online.

"Any strategy that doesn't result in a seamless and secure browsing experience of the entire web as well as social media, direct messaging apps will likely be ineffective."

The server, which hosts 100 users at a time was frequently unavailable due to the sheer number of players who tried to connect at once. It has been visited by 3,889 people from 75 countries, and has been downloaded more than 7,000 times.

After two hours of trying, BBC finally visited the virtual library and asked its users what they thought of it.

SoulfulGenie said they thought "it needs more books and a new section on North Korea" and another user called it "ingenious in many ways", adding that, as the library may be downloaded and downloaded by other users, "it is easy to duplicate and, therefore, hard to destroy".

While other players were focused on the appearance of the library The library's appearance was the focus, with ReduxPL commenting that it "looks amazing indeed".

Blockworks took 250 hours to design the library which was developed by 24 people from 16 countries.

James Delaney, Managing Director of the design company, told the BBC that the company's goal was to create a classical design which was "on the edge of fantasy".

"It seems plausible as a building," he said, "but is pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

"We picked a design that is that's in the neoclassical style. It's akin to the British Museum and public libraries in New York."

He claimed that Minecraft was improvisational in its fundamentals, which means that creators were not restricted to following a pre-determined design.

"With many people working on the same project," he said, "people are able to see each other's work and must respond in real-time. It's a reactive method of working that can alter the look.

"The style is meant to symbolize power and authority. We wanted to turn that around.

"It's not a symbol of the power of the government or the regime. It's a symbol of freedom of speech."

How gaming became the new television

23 June 2019

Sega joins gamers parodying viral tweet

12 April 2019

Man buys a website under the nose of a gaming company

25 October 2019

#My Blog #Minecraft Online #Minecraft Servers #Minecraft

[eebootcamp]

Embracing Clean Energy: A Pathway to Revitalize America's Economy and Workforce

U.S. policymakers and leading automakers are increasingly recognizing the critical importance of investing in EVs, alongside solar and wind energy and battery manufacturing. These advancements represent the cornerstones of the future economy. However, this progress is not without its detractors. The fossil fuel industry, along with certain political figures and media outlets, continue to resist these changes. Their opposition often manifests in disinformation campaigns aimed at fostering fear and uncertainty about the economic and social transformations that come with clean energy. Networks such as FOX News and One America News Network frequently disseminate misleading narratives, portraying carbon reduction policies as threats to consumer freedom and invoking a misplaced nostalgia for a bygone era where environmental considerations were minimal.

Green Jobs: A Beacon of Hope for American Workers

Contrary to the naysayers' dire predictions, the shift to clean energy presents an unprecedented opportunity to rejuvenate America's economy and enhance its global competitiveness. Ignoring this shift would not only jeopardize our climate but also stifle economic growth and limit job creation. Fortunately, the current administration is making significant strides in fostering a green economy. Landmark legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, the bipartisan infrastructure law, and the CHIPS and Science Act are laying the groundwork for a sustainable economic future.

Illinois serves as a prime example of the green revolution taking root across the nation. The state is witnessing a surge in green job creation, driven by substantial investments in the EV sector. A $2 billion EV battery facility in Manteno is poised to generate 2,600 new, high-paying jobs. In Joliet, Lion Electric's new plant is set to manufacture approximately 20,000 electric school buses and trucks annually, employing hundreds and marking a historic milestone as the first new vehicle assembly plant in the Chicago area since 1965. Meanwhile, Rivian, an innovative EV manufacturer, is expanding its operations in Bloomington and Normal, currently employing around 8,000 individuals. Additionally, the recent reopening of the Stellantis plant in Belvidere, which had been idled in February 2023, will bring back at least 1,300 jobs to the community as it pivots to EV production. These developments are further supported by state initiatives like Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Reimagining Energy and Vehicles incentive package, which is designed to accelerate the growth of the green economy in Illinois.

A Nationwide Green Energy Surge

The green jobs boom is not confined to Illinois. Across the Midwest, the Department of Commerce recently reached a preliminary agreement with Polar to expand and modernize semiconductor manufacturing in Bloomington, Minnesota. This development is critical as semiconductors play a pivotal role in numerous clean energy technologies. Meanwhile, the Southeastern United States is experiencing a battery manufacturing renaissance, earning the region the nickname “Battery Belt.” This surge in battery production is essential for supporting the growing demand for EVs and other renewable energy storage solutions.

The South is also witnessing a revitalization of its manufacturing sector through domestic solar energy initiatives. In Georgia, the Qcells solar panel plants in Dalton and Cartersville are projected to employ nearly 4,000 people in the near future, showcasing how renewable energy can drive economic growth and job creation.

A Call to Action for a Sustainable Future

The question remains: Can we afford to overlook the myriad economic and environmental benefits of transitioning to clean energy?

The answer is clear. Embracing clean energy is not merely an environmental imperative; it is a strategic economic decision that promises to create millions of high-quality jobs and secure America’s position as a global leader in innovation and sustainability. The path forward involves supporting policies and initiatives that foster the growth of renewable energy industries, investing in green technologies, and advocating for a sustainable future.

If you want to learn more about clean energy and its technologies, check out the course Clean Technology Fundamentals: Distributed Generation. Discover the essentials of distributed generation, from basics to simple designs, in this comprehensive video course. Designed for Cleantech professionals and newcomers to the renewable energy industry, this course equips you with core knowledge to jumpstart your career. Gain a competitive edge in electrical engineering and the utility and energy industry. Start your fulfilling journey today and mark a significant point in your phenomenal career!

What steps can you take to support the transition to a green economy and contribute to the creation of green jobs in your community? Share your thoughts and actions in the comments below, and let’s work together to build a sustainable and prosperous future for all.

#renewable power #climate action #clean energy #energy sustainability #renewableenergy #climate change

[studio45creation]

Why Your Business Needs a Top Python Developer in Chicago

Introduction

In today's competitive business landscape, leveraging the right technology is crucial for success. Python, a versatile and powerful programming language, has become a staple in various industries. Whether in finance, healthcare, or tech, having a top Python developer in your team can significantly impact your business's growth and efficiency. This article delves into why your business needs a top Python developer in Chicago, highlighting the benefits, key considerations, and answering common questions.

The Importance of Python in Modern Business

Python is renowned for its simplicity, readability, and vast array of libraries and frameworks. It supports multiple programming paradigms, making it a preferred choice for web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, and more.

Key Advantages of Python

Versatility: Python's wide range of applications includes web development, data science, machine learning, and automation.

Efficiency: Python's syntax and dynamic typing streamline coding processes, reducing development time.

Community Support: Python boasts a robust community that continually contributes to its libraries and frameworks, ensuring it remains cutting-edge.

Integration: Python easily integrates with other languages and technologies, making it a flexible choice for various projects.

Why Hire a Top Python Developer in Chicago?

Access to Top Talent

Chicago is home to a thriving tech scene with numerous universities and tech hubs. Hiring a Python developer in this city means tapping into a pool of highly skilled professionals who are well-versed in the latest technologies and trends.

Cost-Effective Solutions

Compared to other tech hubs like San Francisco or New York, Chicago offers competitive rates for top-tier talent. This balance of quality and affordability makes it an ideal location for businesses looking to maximize their ROI.

Strategic Location

Chicago's central location in the United States makes it a strategic choice for businesses. It provides easy access to other major cities, facilitating seamless collaboration and business expansion.

Benefits of Having a Top Python Developer on Your Team

Innovation and Scalability

A top Python developer brings innovative solutions to the table, enabling your business to scale efficiently. They can develop scalable applications that grow with your business, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Enhanced Data Analysis

With Python's robust libraries like Pandas and NumPy, a skilled developer can turn raw data into actionable insights. This capability is invaluable for businesses looking to make data-driven decisions.

Improved Automation

Python excels at automating repetitive tasks, freeing up your team's time for more strategic work. This increased efficiency can lead to significant cost savings and improved productivity.

Strong Security

Security is a top priority for any business. A proficient Python developer can implement robust security measures to protect your applications and data from potential threats.

Key Considerations When Hiring a Python Developer

Experience and Expertise

Look for developers with a proven track record in Python development. Their portfolio should showcase a variety of projects, demonstrating their ability to handle different challenges.

Cultural Fit

The right developer should align with your company's culture and values. This alignment ensures smoother collaboration and a more cohesive team dynamic.

Communication Skills

Effective communication is crucial for the success of any project. Ensure your developer can clearly articulate ideas and collaborate with other team members.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the average salary of a Python developer in Chicago?

The average salary of a Python developer in Chicago ranges from $90,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience and expertise.

How can I assess the skills of a Python developer?

Assessing a Python developer's skills can be done through technical interviews, coding tests, and reviewing their portfolio of past projects.

What are the key industries in Chicago that require Python developers?

Key industries in Chicago that frequently hire Python developers include finance, healthcare, tech startups, and e-commerce.

How long does it take to hire a top Python developer in Chicago?

The hiring process can vary but typically takes between 4 to 8 weeks, including job postings, interviews, and negotiations.

What are some essential Python libraries a developer should know?

Essential Python libraries include Pandas, NumPy, TensorFlow, Django, Flask, and Scikit-Learn.

Conclusion

Hiring a top Python developer in Chicago, Studio45 Creations can provide your business with the technical expertise and innovative solutions needed to stay competitive in today's market. From enhancing data analysis capabilities to improving automation and security, the benefits are substantial. By carefully considering the experience, cultural fit, and communication skills of potential hires, you can find the perfect developer to help drive your business forward.

#web development #best web design company #best web development company #professional web design company

[rohitpalan]

Threat Intelligence Market Soars: Projected to Exceed US$ 55 Billion by 2033, Finds Latest FMI Analysis

According to the most recent FMI market estimate, the threat intelligence industry is expected to be valued US$ 11.6 billion by 2023. The market is anticipated to reach US$ 55 billion by 2033, growing at a 16.9% CAGR.

As cyberattacks and criminal behaviour increase in frequency and sophistication over the next few years, threat information will probably become more and more in-demand. The BFSI industry, which manages important financial data and has a substantial customer base, is expected to increase the market. Cyber risks can take many different forms, such as malware for ATMs and mobile banking, tax evasion, organisational infiltration, and data theft.

Favorable government regulations that secure IT systems and practices to safeguard crucial consumer data also benefit the sector. In order to defend against cyberattacks, a number of commercial and public banking institutions around the world emphasize the use of cutting-edge technologies. Additionally, technological developments have increased customer expectations and legal requirements are forcing baking establishments to change their business practices.

Ignite Your Growth: Unveil the Future Opportunities in the Threat Intelligence Market – Get Your Report Today: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-11691

Key Takeaways from the Threat Intelligence Industry: 

The United States threat intelligence market is predicted to maintain its dominant position over the forecast period by holding the majority of the market share. By 2033, the market is predicted to gain US$ 9.9 Bn, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.6%.

Japan is expected to emerge as the fastest-growing country, growing at an impressive CAGR of 23.6% in the coming years. Significant adoption of Japanese companies’ threat intelligence solutions by Fortune 500 clients in segments like financial services, retail, and high-tech manufacturing.

Under the component category, the solution segment is projected to be the highly-preferred option for adoption by end users. Between 2023-2033, the market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 13.4%.

The cloud-based threat intelligence is gaining prominence in the market. The integration of threat intelligence with the cloud empowers businesses to identify and stop the attack in advance. This segment is forecast to exhibit a CAGR of 16.1% over the forecast period.

Recent News Pertaining to the Performance and Developments of Threat Intelligence Key Players

In February 2022, IBM unveiled the acquisition of Neudesic, which is a US-based cloud services consulting agency. With this acquisition, the company intends to expand its portfolio of multi-cloud services, along with refining its AI and hybrid cloud strategy solutions.

In March 2022, Fortinet declared a partnership with five other new service providers. These service providers include Microland, Etihad Atheeb Telecom Company “GO,” Spectrotel, Radius Telecoms Inc., and TIME dotcom. The motive of this partnership is to deliver a simpler network architecture having advanced security, to achieve operational efficiency anywhere.

In March 2021, RBN Insurance Services, a Chicago-based insurance brokerage, announced that it is partnering with RealCISO, which is a security services marketplace. With this partnership, RBN clients will get the chance to conduct risk assessments and find products and services that meet their requirements.

Ask An Analyst: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-the-analyst/rep-gb-11691

Threat Intelligence Industry Survey by Category

By Component:

Solution

Threat Intelligence Platforms

Security Information and Event Management

Log Management

Security and Vulnerability Management

Identity and Access Management

Risk and Compliance Management

Incident Forensics

User and Entity Behavior Analytics

Services

Advanced Threat Management Managed Service

Professional Managed Services

Professional Training and Support Services

Security Intelligence Feeds Managed Service

By Deployment Mode:

Cloud-Based

On-Premises

By Industry:

BFSI

Government and Defense

IT and Telecom

Healthcare

Retail

Manufacturing

Education

Others

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia Pacific

MEA

#Threat Intelligence Market

[lboogie1906]

Operation PUSH was founded by Rev. Jesse Jackson in 1971 to improve the economic status of African Americans in Chicago. PUSH (People United to Save Humanity, later changed to People United to Serve Humanity).

Intended to be a “civil economics” organization, PUSH’s goals were to increase job security for African-Americans, organize those not making a livable income, and support Black-owned businesses. PUSH relied on negotiations and threats of boycott to bring about policy change in several major corporations with large markets in the Black community. Coca-Cola, Seven-Up, and Burger King were among the corporations that signed voluntary agreements to hire more Blacks, increase business with minorities, donate money to HBCUs and organizations, and increase advertising in Black publications.

Jackson led weekly Saturday morning rallies at the Hyde Park Headquarters of PUSH. The rallies were an important source of Jackson’s influence and were strategically scheduled for Saturday, so he would not compete with other ministers. National broadcasting of Jackson’s powerful preaching extended his influence across the country.

Jackson initiated a companion project called PUSH-EXCEL, which aimed to improve the academic standards of inner-city academies and improve Black and minority student performance.

Operation PUSH’s influence has varied since 1980. Jackson’s pursuit of the presidency in the 1980s directed his attention away from PUSH. Jackson directed his efforts back to PUSH in the mid-1990s though when he oversaw the merger of PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition, a political organization he founded a decade earlier. The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition initiated a return to PUSH’s traditional economic focus with “The Wall Street Project,” a proposal that promotes minority hiring and inner-city investment among top financial firms and Fortune 500 companies. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[mumtafixx]

Securing Communication in the Quantum Age

In a time when cyber hacking is ubiquitous, businesses, governments and militaries are constantly looking for ways to stay ahead of new threats. The latest solution may lie in quantum technology and its ability to secure communication. Researchers are making huge strides in the creation of a quantum internet, unhackable communications networks that will revolutionize fields like finance and national security.

A quantum internet' will be capable of transmitting massive volumes of data across immense distances, at speeds that exceed light. This will be possible thanks to the revolutionary concept of quantum cryptography, which uses the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics to protect against attacks. Quantum cryptography utilizes the inherent properties of quantum entanglement, the phenomenon whereby pairs of photons are linked together even when they are separated by large distances. These entangled photons can then be used as a key to protect a message, ensuring the privacy and integrity of data.

Researchers are making great progress in the development of quantum encryption, with recent advances including a test call between two sites in different countries using a quantum network and the first video conference over such a network. A quantum internet is also a crucial element in quantum computing, which promises to provide computers with unprecedented processing power. A quantum internet' would enable dispersed quantum computers to communicate with one another, enabling them to perform complex computations as if they were a single machine.

The ultimate goal of a Best VPN Services of 2024 quantum internet' is to create a global quantum communications network that enables individuals and organizations to access and use quantum computers. This will allow them to take advantage of their unique abilities in areas such as physics, chemistry, engineering and biology.

One important aspect of a quantum internet is quantum communications, which will be enabled by distributing entanglement efficiently and widely. To achieve this, it is necessary to minimize the loss of photons, so single-photon transmission systems are preferred. This can be done by transmitting the photons via optical fibers or through free space. Telecommunications companies have spent decades perfecting low-loss optical fiber technology, so this is the obvious choice for a quantum internet.

Scientists are already experimenting with quantum networks, and in June of 2022, the Department of Energy (DoE) completed the installation of one of the longest quantum networks in the world. The Chicago network stretches 35 miles between the UChicago campus and the Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, and includes six nodes and 124 miles of optical fiber carrying quantum-encoded information.

DE-CIX R&D has started to explore the potential of quantum technology and its applications for secure data exchange solutions, in particular Quantum Key technology website Distribution (QKD). We look forward to the day when we can develop highly secure communication solutions based on this cutting-edge technology. We are actively participating in an EU government-funded project examining the potential of QKD and building a Quantum Internet Exchange (QIX) for India. This is a major step towards the implementation of a global quantum internet and offers unprecedented levels of security against cyberattacks, allowing us to keep our customers' data safe in this era of increasingly sophisticated threats.

[moskafixx]

Smart Cities: Technology's Role in Urban Development

When you walk around a modern city, you're likely to find sensors that collect electronic data from buildings, infrastructure, people and traffic. These technologies are part of the Smart Cities movement that has emerged from various disciplines including urban planning, information technology, and public policy and management. The goal of Smart City initiatives is to use these advanced technologies to reduce costs, improve sustainability and raise citizens' quality of life.

While a few cities have yet to become fully Smart, others have made significant headway in integrating the technology and improving services. These projects often focus on urban infrastructure such as transport, energy, waste management, water distribution and safety and security.

These projects use a range of IoT technologies that collect and analyze real-time data. Cloud-based IoT applications then provide municipalities, businesses and citizens with actionable insights that help them improve the quality of life in their cities.

Smart transportation systems are common examples of this approach. For example, the city of Chicago uses mobile applications to allow residents to technology viewer website make online payments and view updated bus and train schedules in real time. The system also allows drivers to locate available parking spots and avoid prolonged circling of crowded city blocks. Smart cities can also use IoT to streamline factors such as energy distribution and trash collection, reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

One area that has seen a lot of progress is disaster prevention. A smart city can monitor its infrastructure and send alerts when it detects adverse structural changes such as tilting or cracks. This can save lives and limit damage. In addition, it can help reduce the impact of natural disasters by alerting emergency responders to areas where there are large numbers of displaced people.

A number of other applications are possible. For example, a smart garbage bin can transmit an alert when it is full, so that drivers do not have to drive around parks and open spaces collecting rubbish. Instead, empty or quarter-full bins are skipped and the city saves on fuel costs.

However, there is concern that these technological developments are being driven by external forces rather than a desire to improve the quality of life for citizens. Some of the more aggressive proponents of smart city technologies are tech companies with a vested interest in the market, and these interests can shape what is included in any initiative.

Other concerns relate to the privacy of smart city data. It is important that the technology provides a level of transparency to ensure that citizens are aware of how their information is used, and that it is protected from potential threats such as hacking or identity theft.

As smart city technology technology news becomes more prevalent, it will be fascinating to see how it evolves. The most successful initiatives will be those that are developed in close partnership with the people whose lives they aim to improve. This is the best way to ensure that smart cities truly deliver on their promise of making life better for urban dwellers.