Good morning and happy Friday!

I hope you are starting this Friday with a cup of your favorite morning beverage because it’s about time to get into some quick news for the day.

One note before we hop to it:

Tucker Carlson, former Fox News host, now has his own media network that has established a large presence on X. Yesterday he released a 2-hour interview with Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, which was recorded face-to-face in the Kremlin in Moscow.

I don’t care if you love Tucker Carlson or hate him, if you think Putin is the devil incarnate or support him, or what side of any political aisle you fall on. This interview is important if you want to have information on the conflict in Ukraine and/or simply want to better understand the world leaders that shape the globe. It’s posted below, if you have some free time this weekend I encourage you to give it a listen.

-Wally

Today’s Stories

Speedrun

• FCC cracks down on AI Calls

• On This Day

• 5 DJ mixes for you to groove into the weekend with

• Headline Palooza

• Decent Destination

• Ensure you thrive in the realm of digital work with this 1 skill

Artificial Intelligence

FCC Throws Down the Gauntlet on AI Robocallers

Heads up, folks! The FCC is stepping up its game a bit, but this time they're targeting anyone using AI to mimic real voices on the phone without consent from the person on the other end of the line. Imagine your grandma getting a call from what sounds like her favorite celebrity or even the President, only for it to be a scam. Well, the FCC's latest move is making those AI voice tricks illegal, nefarious or not.

This isn't really introducing new rules out of thin air. It's more like the FCC dusting off the old Telephone Consumer Protection Act and giving it a 21st-century upgrade. The big debate was whether these AI-generated voice calls fit the bill of what's already illegal. And after some bureaucratic discussion, the verdict is in: using AI to clone voices for robocalls is a big no-no.

The timing couldn't be better, especially with all the news about a fake President Biden robocalling folks in New Hampshire. That stunt pulled by some shady characters got the FCC and attorneys general all riled up, ready to lay down the law and make an example out of them.

Even if you're using AI to sound like someone's long-lost buddy or a trusted doc reminding them of an appointment, it's all about consent. No consent? It's against the rules. The FCC's clear message is that if it's an AI on the line, consumers have the right to know and decide if they want to listen or not.

With the legal landscape evolving as fast as technology, this kind of clarity is crucial. It's a win for consumers, overall, and a warning for scammers. The FCC is watching, and they're trying to stay ahead of AI.

On This Day

1943: Allies Defeat Japanese at Guadalcanal

The Battle of Guadalcanal was a pivotal clash in the Pacific Theater of WWII, tipped in favor of the Allies. Over six grueling months, land, sea, and air forces duked it out on this remote island, turning the tide against the Axis powers. Victory at Guadalcanal sent a clear message: the Allies were in it to win it, ready to push back across the Pacific.

Decent Music

A Mix of Mixes

Weekly list of DJ Mixes (this week available on Apple Music) as compiled by MacEwen Patterson

I pick DJ sets at random and jot down the ones that move me. Maybe they’ll move you too.

Week of 2/9/24

1. Boiler Room: Overmono in Manchester, Nov 21 ‘23 (Live) - my boy Josh pointed me to this UK brother duo and their sets take me back, propel me into the future, and momentarily tame my soul.

2. Laurent Garnier NYE 2024 (DJ Mix) - an influence for decades, I was thrilled by what he assembled for an overall exceptional series.

3. FISHER & Chris Lake: Under Construction in LA (DJ Mix) Oct ‘23 - so, these guys were new to me but I’m loving their sound. Not all the cuts hit me but 95% did and in a three-hour set, that’s solid.

4. TxC NYE 2024 (DJ Mix) - yo, this is the future! These ladies, Tarryn and Clair, lace together lucious rhythms and groovy grinds that don’t appear in many western mixes or clubs. I can’t get enough of the variety and mind-bending sensuousness.

5. Kaskade Redux at EDC LV ‘22: Kinetic Field Stadium - this is part of Insomniac’s offerings on Apple Music out of a wide array of performances from their live events. Kaskade has played to some of the largest crowds in the world and this mix is electrifying.

Got a mix you think I should hear? Let me know. If I like what I see, I’ll peep it. No promises. [email protected]

MacEwen Patterson DJ’d clubs around the western hemisphere throughout the ‘90’s and early ‘00’s. He is launching a weekly mixshow on Decent Media in the coming months. Watch this space for updates.

Headline Palooza

Decent Destinations

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, is your ticket to the great outdoors, where nature's majesty is on full display. Crystal-clear lakes reflecting mountain peaks, wildlife roaming free, and trails that lead you through some of the most breathtaking scenery North America has to offer. Whether you're shredding powder on the slopes of Lake Louise or soaking in the natural hot springs, it's an experience that redefines the connection with nature.

Career

Adaptability: The MVP Skill in Today's Job Market

The job market's playing by new rules, and it's not about where you went to school or the fancy degree hanging on your wall. Big hitters like Google and Apple have already tossed the degree requirement, opting for skills over diplomas. And now, LinkedIn's dropping some truth bombs that could shake up the career game for everyone.

The hottest ticket in town? Adaptability. In a world where AI and virtual realities are flipping the script daily, being able to pivot is worth its weight in gold.

This is a wake-up call, especially for the post-grad crowd. The landscape's shifting and clinging to the old "degree equals job" formula might leave you on the sidelines. The future is about flexing with the changes, learning on the fly, and showing you can thrive in the unpredictable whirlwind tech's whipping up.

So, if you're banking on your college creds to open every door, it might be time to rethink the game plan. The real play is in staying agile, embracing new challenges, and proving you can navigate the tech terrain, degree or no degree.