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NYC’s lunatic lawsuit against social media could drive millions of tax dollars away

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NYC's lunatic lawsuit against social media could drive millions of tax dollars away

In the realm of dangerously misplaced urban priorities, nothing compares with the lawsuit the Adams administration filed last week against five social-media sites — Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok — claiming they cost the city $100 million to treat mental-health issues supposedly caused by young people’s “addictions” to their content.

The city blames the platforms for such youth-afflicting maladies as depression and suicidal “ideation.”

But if there’s a death wish in all this, it is the city’s.

All the sites but Snapchat are owned by companies with vast Manhattan real-estate holdings that pay enormous property taxes and other real-estate-related taxes that keep the metropolis’ services — everything from the NYPD to obscure art-review panels — afloat.

Mayor Adams’ campaign to punish the companies for their alleged evil influence on kids is chutzpah run amok. 

It’s an effort to change the subject from the real bad influences the city inflicts on our youths — such as schools that don’t teach and rotten public housing that breeds an underclass of high-school-age carjackers and murderers.

Not, of course, that the “social” site owners don’t have plenty to answer for.

Every political lie they post, every destructive “dating tip,” every sickening image that borders on child porn is reason to rein them in.

But a New York City suit to shake them down for cash won’t do it. 

Only legislation or regulation out of Washington can bring them to heel.

But the tech giants might well reconsider their commitment to the Big Apple over lawsuits that, however ineffectual and misguided, will cost them fortunes to defend.

If you think companies don’t care when City Hall deliberately targets them, recall that Philip Morris USA moved from Park Avenue to Richmond, Va., soon after the Michael Bloomberg administration enacted tough citywide anti-smoking regulations.

Both the company and the city naturally denied the law had anything to do with the decision to leave.

And of course the sky is green, too.

Manhattan’s office buildings prop up the city’s entire economy.

The real-estate-related taxes they pay are the golden goose to the city treasury, for which they generate more dough than Wall Street.

Today’s office market is vexed enough by vacancies at a record-high 20% and depressed sale prices.

The last thing we can afford is to risk chasing out companies that feed the municipal piggy bank and provide tens of thousands of high-paying jobs.

Google, YouTube’s parent, owns 111 Eighth Avenue — a leviathan that occupies the entire block bounded by Eighth and Ninth avenues and by West 15th and 16th streets.

Google’s parent, Alphabet, paid the city $54,175,200 in property taxes alone on the building in 2023, according to city assessment and tax data.

Google held a series of opening celebration events this week at the St. John’s Terminal building at 550 Washington Street, which it bought for $2.1 billion two years ago, where it will house thousands of employees.

Gov. Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine attended a Wednesday ribbon-cutting.

But reps for City Hall were conspicuously absent.

Could you blame them for not showing their faces after the city demanded Alphabet pay unspecified monetary damages and “equitable relief” for prevention education and mental-health treatment?

Ironically, the Commercial Observer reported, the St. John’s building is “meant to reflect the company’s commitment to New York City, with Big Apple-themed touches like a hollow ‘Google’ sculpture in the main hall where the letters are filled” with “red ‘I Love NY’ mugs, little Statues of Liberty and mini yellow taxis.”

Thanks, Eric Adams!

Consider, as well, Facebook and Instagram parent Meta.

The company has around 2 million square feet in Manhattan.

It leases more than 750,000 square feet in the Farley Building, where the rent it pays helps make possible landlord Vornado’s billion-dollar upgrades to Moynihan Train Hall and Penn Station. 

Meta also anchors 50 Hudson Yards, where its lease for more than 1 million square feet makes it the tower’s largest user.

And although China-owned TikTok faces entirely appropriate scrutiny and political pressure over its questionable content, it’s worth recalling it helped stabilize “ghost town” Times Square when it took more than 200,000 square feet at 151 West 42nd Street in the dark days of 2020.

Of course, TikTok can go elsewhere if it chooses.

So can Meta and Alphabet. 

Should it happen, the city can blame itself for blaming them for a youth crisis that’s entirely of its own making.

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Why Malia Obama Received Major Criticism Over A Secret Facebook Page Dissing Trump

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Why Malia Obama Received Major Criticism Over A Secret Facebook Page Dissing Trump

Given the divisive nature of both the Obama and Trump administrations, it’s unsurprising that reactions to Malia Obama’s alleged secret Facebook account would be emotional. Many online users were quick to jump to former President Donald Trump’s defense, with one user writing: “Dear Malia: Do you really think that anyone cares whether you and/or your family likes your father’s successor? We’re all trying to forget you and your family.”

Others pointed out the double standard held by those who condemn Trump for hateful rhetoric but praise people like Malia who speak out against her father’s successor in what they believe to be hateful rhetoric. Some users seemed bent on criticizing Malia simply because they don’t like her or her father, proving that the eldest Obama daughter couldn’t win for losing regarding the public’s perception of her or her online presence. 

The secret Facebook situation is not all that dissimilar to critics who went after Malia for her professional name at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. In this instance, people ironically accused Malia of using her family’s name to get into the competitive festival while also condemning her for opting not to use her surname, going by Malia Ann instead.

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Best Practices for Data Center Decommissioning and IT Asset Disposition

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Best Practices for Data Center Decommissioning and IT Asset Disposition

Data center decommissioning is a complicated process that requires careful planning and experienced professionals.

If you’re considering shutting down or moving your data center, here are some best practices to keep in mind:

Decommissioning a Data Center is More than Just Taking Down Physical Equipment

Decommissioning_a_Data_Center_is_More_than_Just_Taking_Down_Physical_Equipment.jpg

Decommissioning a data center is more than just taking down physical equipment. It involves properly disposing of data center assets, including servers and other IT assets that can contain sensitive information. The process also requires a team with the right skills and experience to ensure that all data has been properly wiped from storage media before they’re disposed of.

Data Centers Can be Decommissioned in Phases, Which Allows For More Flexibility

When you begin your data center decommissioning process, it’s important to understand that it’s not an event. Instead, it’s a process that takes place over time and in phases. This flexibility allows you to adapt as circumstances change and make adjustments based on your unique situation. For example:

  • You may start by shutting down parts of the facility (or all) while keeping others running until they are no longer needed or cost-effective to keep running.

  • When you’re ready for full shutdown, there could be some equipment still in use at other locations within the company (such as remote offices). These can be moved back into storage until needed again.

Data Center Decommissioning is Subject to Compliance Guidelines

Data center decommissioning is subject to compliance guidelines. Compliance guidelines may change, but they are always in place to ensure that your organization is following industry standards and best practices.

  • Local, state and federal regulations: You should check local ordinances regarding the disposal of any hazardous materials that were used in your data center (such as lead-based paint), as well as any other applicable laws related to environmental impact or safety issues. If you’re unsure about how these might affect your plans for a decommissioned facility, consult an attorney who specializes in this area of law before proceeding with any activities related to IT asset disposition or building demolition.

  • Industry standards: There are many industry associations dedicated specifically toward helping businesses stay compliant with legal requirements when moving forward with projects such as data center decommissioning.

  • Internal policies & procedures: Make sure everyone on staff understands how important it is not just from a regulatory standpoint but also from an ethical one; nobody wants their name associated with anything inappropriate!

Companies Should Consider Safety and Security During the Decommissioning Process

Data center decommissioning is a complex process that involves several steps. Companies need to consider the risks associated with each step of the process, and they should have a plan in place to mitigate these risks. The first step of data center decommissioning is identifying all assets and determining which ones will be reused or repurposed. At this point, you should also determine how long it will take for each asset to be repurposed or recycled so that you can estimate how much money it will cost for this part of your project (this can be done through an estimate based on previous experience).

The second step involves removing any hazardous materials from electronic equipment before it’s sent off site for recycling; this includes chemicals used in manufacturing processes like lead-free solder paste adhesives used on circuit boards made from tin-based alloys containing up 80% pure tin ingots stamped out into flat sheets called “pucks”. Once these chemicals have been removed from whatever device needs them taken off their surfaces then those devices can safely go through any other necessary processes such as grinding away excess plastic housing material using high pressure water jets until only its bare frame remains intact without any cracks where moisture might collect inside later causing corrosion damage over time due too much moisture exposure.

With Proper Planning and an Effective Team, You’ll Help Protect Your Company’s Future

Data center decommissioning is a complex process that should be handled by a team of experts with extensive experience in the field. With proper planning, you can ensure a smooth transition from your current data center environment to the next one.

The first step toward a successful data center decommissioning project is to create a plan for removing hardware and software assets from the building, as well as documenting how these assets were originally installed in the facility. This will allow you or another team member who may inherit some of these assets later on down the line to easily find out where they need to go when it’s time for them to be moved again (or disposed).

Use Professional Data Center Decommissioning Companies

In order to ensure that you get the most out of your data center decommissioning project, it’s important to use a professional data center decommissioning company. A professional data center decommissioning company has experience with IT asset disposition and can help you avoid mistakes in the process. They also have the tools and expertise needed to efficiently perform all aspects of your project, from pre-planning through finalizing documentation.

Proper Planning Will Help Minimize the Risks of Data Center Decommissioning

Proper_Planning_Will_Help_Minimize_the_Risks_of_Data_Center_Decommissioning.jpg

Proper planning is the key to success when it comes to the data center decommissioning process. It’s important that you don’t wait until the last minute and rush through this process, as it can lead to mistakes and wasted time. Proper planning will help minimize any risks associated with shutting down or moving a data center, keeping your company safe from harm and ensuring that all necessary steps are taken before shutdown takes place.

To Sum Up

The key to a successful ITAD program is planning ahead. The best way to avoid unexpected costs and delays is to plan your ITAD project carefully before you start. The best practices described in this article will help you understand what it takes to decommission an entire data center or other large facility, as well as how to dispose of their assets in an environmentally responsible manner.

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Massive Volatility Reported – Google Search Ranking Algorithm Update

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Google Logo Exploding Cracking

I am seeing some massive volatility being reported today after seeing a spike in chatter within the SEO community on Friday. I have not seen the third-party Google tracking tools show this much volatility in a long time. I will say the tracking tools are way more heated than the chatter I am seeing, so something might be off here.

Again, I saw some initial chatter from within the SEO forums and on this site starting on Friday. I decided not to cover it on Friday because the chatter was not at the levels that would warrant me posting something. Plus, while some of the tools started to show a lift in volatility, most of the tools did not yet.

To be clear, Google has not confirmed any update is officially going on.

Well, that changed today, and the tools are all superheated today.

Google Tracking Tools:

Let’s start with what the tools are showing:

Semrush:

Semrush

SimilarWeb:

Similarweb

Mozcast:

Mozcast

SERPmetrics:

Serpmetrics

Advanced Web Rankings:

Advancedwebranking

Accuranker:

Accuranker

Wincher:

Wincher

Mangools:

Mangools

SERPstat:

Serpstat

Cognitive SEO:

Cognitiveseo

Algoroo:

Algoroo

So most of these tools are incredibly heated, signaling that they are showing massive changes in the search result positions in the past couple of days.

SEO Chatter

Here is some of the chatter from various comments on this site and on WebmasterWorld since Friday:

Speaking of, is anyone seeing some major shuffling going on in the SERPs today? It’s a Friday so of course Google is playing around again.

Something is going on.

Pages are still randomly dropping out of the index for 8-36h at a time. Extremely annoying.

Speaking of, is anyone seeing some major shuffling going on in the SERPs today? It’s a Friday so of course Google is playing around again

In SerpRobot I’m seeing a steady increase in positions in February, for UK desktop and mobile, reaching almost the ranks from the end of Sep 2023. Ahrefs shows a slight increase in overall keywords and ranks.

In the real world, nothing seems to happen.

yep, traffic has nearly come to a stop. But exactly the same situation happened to us last Friday as well.

USA traffic continues to be whacked…starting -70% today.

In my case, US traffic is almost zero (15 % from 80%) and the rest is kind of the same I guess. Traffic has dropped from 4K a day to barely scrapping 1K now. But a lot is just bots since payment-wise, the real traffic seems to be about 400-500. And … that’s how a 90% reduction looks like.

Something is happening now. Google algo is going crazy again. Is anyone else noticing?

Since every Saturday at 12 noon the Google traffic completely disappears until Sunday, everything looks normal to me.

This update looks like a weird one and no, Google has not confirmed any update is going on.

What are you all noticing?

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

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