A Cheese Called Quest | In 2019, eight wheels of "Muttenglück" Emmental cheese, made by World Cheese Championship winner Antony Wyss, were subjected separately to different musical stimuli — Mozart, A Tribe Called Quest, Yello, Led Zeppelin, techno and three "sinusoidal sounds" — round-the-clock for eight months. The experiment was part of a collaboration between students of the University of Arts Bern and veterinarian Beat Wampfler, who came up with the idea. The project was called "Cheese in Surround Sound — a culinary art experiment." And the results were exactly as you'd expect: | "A blind tasting test eight months later found that the wheel exposed to hip-hop had the most unique taste profile." |
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| Now, can I kick it? | Today's cheddlines you need2know: | | Yes, you can! | —Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor | P.S. The EU says Apple can make a portless phone, which would be nice, on our 'gram. | | Quote of the Day | | ❝ | | | The entire ecosystem is designed to automate, de-skill and ultimately replace caregivers. | | | | — Michelle Mahon |
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| | Should You Check Your 401(k) Today? | 👎 | (nope) | | Real nurses push back on AI nurses | | Has anyone else been watching "The Pitt" with Noah Wyle, on HBO? I feel like everyone should be forced to watch the show, "Clockwork Orange"–style, before they proffer an opinion on healthcare! | Speaking of which, the fusion of AI with healthcare is not just a distant dream but a burgeoning reality. One of the most remarkable manifestations is the advent of AI nurses, such as "Ana" (pictured above). | Conceived by the innovative minds at Hippocratic AI, Ana encapsulates a new wave of AI healthcare assistants designed to perform tasks that have traditionally fallen within the remit of human nurses and medical assistants. From negotiating multiple languages to offering round-the-clock support, the capabilities of these AI nurses seem to be redefining the landscape of "patient care." | Yet, as hospitals increasingly integrate sophisticated AI programs to monitor patient vitals, identify emergencies, and map out care plans, a significant pushback looms on the horizon. Human nurses, represented by unions such as National Nurses United, caution against the unchecked adoption of these AI systems. Their concerns? The potential for AI to sideline nurses' expertise, generate false alarms, and, most worryingly, dilute the quality of patient care. | "Hospitals have been waiting for the moment when they have something that appears to have enough legitimacy to replace nurses," said Michelle Mahon of National Nurses United. "The entire ecosystem is designed to automate, de-skill and ultimately replace caregivers." |
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| On one hand, proponents highlight how AI can alleviate the pressures of burnout and understaffing, enhancing efficiency within the healthcare system. The likes of Health Secretary and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz advocate for AI's role in liberating healthcare professionals from menial tasks, thus refocusing their efforts on more critical responsibilities. Back in January, Kennedy said AI nurses "as good as any doctor" could help treat sick people in rural areas. Since then a measles outbreak has killed two people in rural Texas. | On the other hand, the apprehensions brought forth by unions underline the indispensable value of the human touch in nursing. The fear that AI could automate care to the extent of de-skilling and eventually replacing human caregivers paints a dystopian picture for the profession. The case of Adam Hart, a nurse who had to challenge an AI-generated directive to prevent potential harm to a patient, serves as a poignant illustration of where AI can falter: | Adam Hart was working in the emergency room at Dignity Health in Henderson, Nevada, when the hospital's computer system flagged a newly arrived patient for sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to infection. Under the hospital's protocol, he was supposed to immediately administer a large dose of IV fluids. But after further examination, Hart determined that he was treating a dialysis patient, or someone with kidney failure. Such patients have to be carefully managed to avoid overloading their kidneys with fluid. Hart raised his concern with the supervising nurse but was told to just follow the standard protocol. Only after a nearby physician intervened did the patient instead begin to receive a slow infusion of IV fluids. "You need to keep your thinking cap on — that's why you're being paid as a nurse," Hart said. "Turning over our thought processes to these devices is reckless and dangerous." |
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| Which side are you on? | | | Small Business Administration cuts 2,700 jobs | | The Small Business Administration announced a 43% reduction of its workforce on Friday, as part of the Trump administration's sustained efforts to streamline federal bureaucracy. It's set to save more than $435 million annually by the next fiscal year, according to the agency. | With a current strength of roughly 6,500 employees, the SBA carries less than half-a-percent of the entire federal workforce. The sharp cuts aim for efficiency without harming "core services to the public," such as loan guarantee and disaster assistance programs, along with field and veteran operations. | Former Senator Kelly Loeffler, confirmed as the SBA's administrator in February, shared a video expressing the necessity to "rightsize the agency." She pointed to the expansion in size and scope post-pandemic. Then she promised stringent evaluation of every program and expenditure. | Texas stands as the state with the highest number of SBA employees, but these cuts will likely be felt across the country, in all district offices. In an unexpected twist, the SBA is also slated to inherit responsibilities from the Department of Education, primarily the management of federal student loan programs, following an executive order from the administration to shutter it last Thursday. | The SBA has a long history of supporting small enterprises, having been formed in 1953 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Its mandate has been to assist, support, and protect small business interests, providing crucial help on issues from natural disasters to international trade. A 2024 report from the SBA drew attention to its support for Black-owned, Latino-owned, and women-owned businesses: | Since 2020, the most dramatic trend in the SBA's capital programs has been the outsized growth in loans to Black-, Latino-, and women-owned businesses. In FY 2024, across its signature 7(a) and 504 loan programs, the SBA backed: 5,200 loans for $1.5 billion to Black-owned businesses, a tripling of loan count relative to FY20. 9,600 loans for $3.3 billion to Latino-owned businesses, reflecting a loan count 2.5 times greater than in FY20. 15,500 loans for $5.6 billion to majority women-owned businesses, representing doubling in women-owned business participation relative to FY20. | | | | "New Report Reveals Historic Surge in Small Business Financing Under Biden-Harris Administration" —October 2024 |
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| That's a lot of support for various small businesses over the years, huh? | | | From @cheddar |  | cheddar761K followers | |
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| | | What we know about the Heathrow airport fire | | On a typical day, London's Heathrow Airport is a bustling hub of activity, with flights taking off and landing to connect passengers from around the globe. Not on Friday, though. On Friday, it was a 💩-show. | The airport closed altogether, causing the cancellation of hundreds of flights, affecting around 200,000 travelers. Late on Thursday evening, a fire erupted at an electrical substation 2 miles from Heathrow, causing a significant power outage at Europe's busiest airport. It was not a small fire. Like, somebody didn't just leave their fish and chips cooking for too long. |  | mostamazingofficial78K followers | |
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| The fire, which required the response of 10 fire engines and 70 firefighters, was contained by the following day. But it took until Friday evening to restore power to the local community, and Heathrow began the complex task of resuming operations, starting with relocating aircraft to their proper positions for service to resume fully. | The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with no immediate suggestion of foul play. However, considering the significance of the impact on critical national infrastructure, London's Metropolitan Police Service's counterterrorism detectives have taken the lead in the probe. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband emphasized the urgency of understanding why the incident occurred to prevent future occurrences, labeling the event as "catastrophic." | Long-haul flights already en route from North America and Asia had to be diverted or turned around, landing at alternative airports across the United Kingdom and Europe. The disruption extended beyond passenger inconvenience, with approximately 4,000 tons of cargo also stranded. | | | | Buy your DoorDash now, pay later — coming soon | | DoorDash has announced a new partnership with the buy-now-pay-later service Klarna. The BNPL model has traditionally been reserved for larger purchases like electronics or furniture. Now you can use it to cover basic needs like food. | DoorDash, in its latest update, offers customers the choice to pay immediately, pay in four installments, or defer payments to align with their paycheck schedules. Anand Subbarayan, head of money products at DoorDash, emphasizes that these flexible payment options are crucial to meeting customer needs as DoorDash expands its services to include groceries, beauty products, electronics, and more. | BNPL services like Klarna, Affirm, and Afterpay have become popular as they allow consumers to stagger payments for purchases without having to pay straight away. DoorDash's main competitor, Grubhub, also employs Klarna for similar payment solutions. | The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently categorized BNPL apps along with credit cards, aiming to afford consumers better protections like dispute investigations and refund coverages. While BNPL plans typically don't charge interest, which is a considerable draw, they are not without pitfalls. | Experts caution that these services can encourage spending behaviors that many might not afford if required to pay upfront. Such benefits can be harmful to those who struggle with financial self-control and may lead to a spiral of debt as consumers chase after the next payment cycle. | As Klarna prepares for an initial public offering and an entry into the New York Stock Exchange, and with its recent announcement of Walmart adopting its BNPL service, the influence of BNPL is poised to grow. Yet, as we advance towards more convenient payment methods, the need for consumer education and robust financial safeguards becomes increasingly critical. | | | European Union to delay implementing tariffs | | The European Union has decided to postpone the imposition of its first set of retaliatory tariffs on goods imported from the United States until the middle of April, to allow for further negotiations. | The paused tariffs include a notable 50 percent levy on American whiskey. The move is aimed at defusing the escalating trade conflict orchestrated by President Donald Trump's imposition of steel and aluminum tariffs. | Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy and French Prime Minister François Bayrou have voiced concerns over the spiraling consequences of retaliatory trade measures, emphasizing the need to avoid actions that could harm common interests. Presumably they voiced these concerns while looking at the prosciutto and champagne mountains growing within their countries on fears about the supply chain. | Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, characterized the use of tariffs as "blackmail," last week, warning of significant economic repercussions. She said the answer was for E.U. and global trading partners to deepen their trading relationships and become less dependent on the U.S. Bonne chance, Mme. Lagarde, as you pursue that strategy. | | | | Want more Cheddar? Watch us! | Search "Cheddar" on Samsung, YouTube TV, and most other streaming platforms. | N2K is the tip of of the cheeseberg for financial news, interviews, and more. | |
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