Mark Zuckerberg Uses Birth Of Child To Announce He's Donating $45 Billion To Charity

Facebook founder and billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have welcomed their first child – a baby girl called Max – into the world in a touching Facebook post.

They’ve also used their child’s arrival into the world by announcing they want to make it a better place by donating $45 billion of their fortune to good causes.

The initial post read something like this…

And then their open letter to their daughter which they shared with the world was in fact much longer. Take a deep breath and have a tissue ready, lads…

Dear Max,

Your mother and I don't yet have the words to describe the hope you give us for the future. Your new life is full of promise, and we hope you will be happy and healthy so you can explore it fully. You've already given us a reason to reflect on the world we hope you live in.

Like all parents, we want you to grow up in a world better than ours today.

While headlines often focus on what's wrong, in many ways the world is getting better. Health is improving. Poverty is shrinking. Knowledge is growing. People are connecting. Technological progress in every field means your life should be dramatically better than ours today.

We will do our part to make this happen, not only because we love you, but also because we have a moral responsibility to all children in the next generation.

We believe all lives have equal value, and that includes the many more people who will live in future generations than live today. Our society has an obligation to invest now to improve the lives of all those coming into this world, not just those already here.

But right now, we don't always collectively direct our resources at the biggest opportunities and problems your generation will face.

Consider disease. Today we spend about 50 times more as a society treating people who are sick than we invest in research so you won't get sick in the first place.

Medicine has only been a real science for less than 100 years, and we've already seen complete cures for some diseases and good progress for others. As technology accelerates, we have a real shot at preventing, curing or managing all or most of the rest in the next 100 years.

Today, most people die from five things -- heart disease, cancer, stroke, neurodegenerative and infectious diseases -- and we can make faster progress on these and other problems.

Once we recognize that your generation and your children's generation may not have to suffer from disease, we collectively have a responsibility to tilt our investments a bit more towards the future to make this reality. Your mother and I want to do our part.

Curing disease will take time. Over short periods of five or ten years, it may not seem like we're making much of a difference. But over the long term, seeds planted now will grow, and one day, you or your children will see what we can only imagine: a world without suffering from disease.

There are so many opportunities just like this. If society focuses more of its energy on these great challenges, we will leave your generation a much better world.

• • •

Our hopes for your generation focus on two ideas: advancing human potential and promoting equality.

Advancing human potential is about pushing the boundaries on how great a human life can be.

Can you learn and experience 100 times more than we do today?

Can our generation cure disease so you live much longer and healthier lives?

Can we connect the world so you have access to every idea, person and opportunity?

Can we harness more clean energy so you can invent things we can't conceive of today while protecting the environment?

Can we cultivate entrepreneurship so you can build any business and solve any challenge to grow peace and prosperity?

Promoting equality is about making sure everyone has access to these opportunities -- regardless of the nation, families or circumstances they are born into.

Our society must do this not only for justice or charity, but for the greatness of human progress.

Today we are robbed of the potential so many have to offer. The only way to achieve our full potential is to channel the talents, ideas and contributions of every person in the world.

Can our generation eliminate poverty and hunger?

Can we provide everyone with basic healthcare?

Can we build inclusive and welcoming communities?

Can we nurture peaceful and understanding relationships between people of all nations?

Can we truly empower everyone -- women, children, underrepresented minorities, immigrants and the unconnected?

If our generation makes the right investments, the answer to each of these questions can be yes -- and hopefully within your lifetime.

• • •

This mission -- advancing human potential and promoting equality -- will require a new approach for all working towards these goals.

We must make long term investments over 25, 50 or even 100 years. The greatest challenges require very long time horizons and cannot be solved by short term thinking.

We must engage directly with the people we serve. We can't empower people if we don't understand the needs and desires of their communities.

We must build technology to make change. Many institutions invest money in these challenges, but most progress comes from productivity gains through innovation.

We must participate in policy and advocacy to shape debates. Many institutions are unwilling to do this, but progress must be supported by movements to be sustainable.

We must back the strongest and most independent leaders in each field. Partnering with experts is more effective for the mission than trying to lead efforts ourselves.

We must take risks today to learn lessons for tomorrow. We're early in our learning and many things we try won't work, but we'll listen and learn and keep improving.

Our experience with personalized learning, internet access, and community education and health has shaped our philosophy.

Our generation grew up in classrooms where we all learned the same things at the same pace regardless of our interests or needs.

Your generation will set goals for what you want to become -- like an engineer, health worker, writer or community leader. You'll have technology that understands how you learn best and where you need to focus. You'll advance quickly in subjects that interest you most, and get as much help as you need in your most challenging areas. You'll explore topics that aren't even offered in schools today. Your teachers will also have better tools and data to help you achieve your goals.

Even better, students around the world will be able to use personalized learning tools over the internet, even if they don't live near good schools. Of course it will take more than technology to give everyone a fair start in life, but personalized learning can be one scalable way to give all children a better education and more equal opportunity.

We're starting to build this technology now, and the results are already promising. Not only do students perform better on tests, but they gain the skills and confidence to learn anything they want. And this journey is just beginning. The technology and teaching will rapidly improve every year you're in school.

Your mother and I have both taught students and we've seen what it takes to make this work. It will take working with the strongest leaders in education to help schools around the world adopt personalized learning. It will take engaging with communities, which is why we're starting in our San Francisco Bay Area community. It will take building new technology and trying new ideas. And it will take making mistakes and learning many lessons before achieving these goals.

But once we understand the world we can create for your generation, we have a responsibility as a society to focus our investments on the future to make this reality.

Together, we can do this. And when we do, personalized learning will not only help students in good schools, it will help provide more equal opportunity to anyone with an internet connection.

• • •

Many of the greatest opportunities for your generation will come from giving everyone access to the internet.

People often think of the internet as just for entertainment or communication. But for the majority of people in the world, the internet can be a lifeline.

It provides education if you don't live near a good school. It provides health information on how to avoid diseases or raise healthy children if you don't live near a doctor. It provides financial services if you don't live near a bank. It provides access to jobs and opportunities if you don't live in a good economy.

The internet is so important that for every 10 people who gain internet access, about one person is lifted out of poverty and about one new job is created.

Yet still more than half of the world's population -- more than 4 billion people -- don't have access to the internet.

If our generation connects them, we can lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. We can also help hundreds of millions of children get an education and save millions of lives by helping people avoid disease.

This is another long term effort that can be advanced by technology and partnership. It will take inventing new technology to make the internet more affordable and bring access to unconnected areas. It will take partnering with governments, non-profits and companies. It will take engaging with communities to understand what they need. Good people will have different views on the best path forward, and we will try many efforts before we succeed.

But together we can succeed and create a more equal world.

• • •

Technology can't solve problems by itself. Building a better world starts with building strong and healthy communities.

Children have the best opportunities when they can learn. And they learn best when they're healthy.

Health starts early -- with loving family, good nutrition and a safe, stable environment.

Children who face traumatic experiences early in life often develop less healthy minds and bodies. Studies show physical changes in brain development leading to lower cognitive ability.

Your mother is a doctor and educator, and she has seen this firsthand.

If you have an unhealthy childhood, it's difficult to reach your full potential.

If you have to wonder whether you'll have food or rent, or worry about abuse or crime, then it's difficult to reach your full potential.

If you fear you'll go to prison rather than college because of the color of your skin, or that your family will be deported because of your legal status, or that you may be a victim of violence because of your religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, then it's difficult to reach your full potential.

We need institutions that understand these issues are all connected. That's the philosophy of the new type of school your mother is building.

By partnering with schools, health centers, parent groups and local governments, and by ensuring all children are well fed and cared for starting young, we can start to treat these inequities as connected. Only then can we collectively start to give everyone an equal opportunity.

It will take many years to fully develop this model. But it's another example of how advancing human potential and promoting equality are tightly linked. If we want either, we must first build inclusive and healthy communities.

• • •

For your generation to live in a better world, there is so much more our generation can do.

Today your mother and I are committing to spend our lives doing our small part to help solve these challenges. I will continue to serve as Facebook's CEO for many, many years to come, but these issues are too important to wait until you or we are older to begin this work. By starting at a young age, we hope to see compounding benefits throughout our lives.

As you begin the next generation of the Chan Zuckerberg family, we also begin the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to join people across the world to advance human potential and promote equality for all children in the next generation. Our initial areas of focus will be personalized learning, curing disease, connecting people and building strong communities.

We will give 99% of our Facebook shares -- currently about $45 billion -- during our lives to advance this mission. We know this is a small contribution compared to all the resources and talents of those already working on these issues. But we want to do what we can, working alongside many others.

We'll share more details in the coming months once we settle into our new family rhythm and return from our maternity and paternity leaves. We understand you'll have many questions about why and how we're doing this.

As we become parents and enter this next chapter of our lives, we want to share our deep appreciation for everyone who makes this possible.

We can do this work only because we have a strong global community behind us. Building Facebook has created resources to improve the world for the next generation. Every member of the Facebook community is playing a part in this work.

We can make progress towards these opportunities only by standing on the shoulders of experts -- our mentors, partners and many incredible people whose contributions built these fields.

And we can only focus on serving this community and this mission because we are surrounded by loving family, supportive friends and amazing colleagues. We hope you will have such deep and inspiring relationships in your life too.

Max, we love you and feel a great responsibility to leave the world a better place for you and all children. We wish you a life filled with the same love, hope and joy you give us. We can't wait to see what you bring to this world.

Love,

Mom and Dad

Lovely.

source

How To Remove Your Embarrassing Images/Videos Easily From Social Media Websites

Learn How To Remove Completely Your Embarrassing Images/Videos Easily From Social Media Websites

With the advent of social media and high-speed internet, getting a huge social exposure has become a piece of cake. People who are thousand miles and poles apart can also see and browse through your personal pictures. Hence, taking measures towards online safety has become the need of the hour. There are many people online with the lack of self-esteem who can go to any extent to carry out revenge. All you can do is to keep your guards on and shield yourself by taking certain precautions. As you already know, prevention is better than cure.


Tips To Remove Unwanted Pictures From Facebook:

You’ll find six different options as it pertains to removing photos from Facebook.

1.) As soon as the picture is opened, click “Options” and then either “report photo” or “Remove Tag.”
2.) You can ask the friend who published the picture to get rid of it.
3.) Another alternative is to send an email to info@support.facebook.com, requesting that the picture be removed.
4.) You may also file a complaint utilizing the Facebook Intellectual Property Infringement Form
5.) Or post a blog in the Help group to get advice from various users and the Facebook team.
6.) If all else fails, you should lodge a complaint using the Facebook Terms Violation Reporting Form

Tips To Remove Unwanted Pictures From Instagram:
To clean out photos from Instagram, utilize one of the following options:
1.) To de-tag, select “Hide from my profile”
2.) Click on “more options’ and choose ‘Remove me from photo’.
3.) Report that photo as inappropriate.
4.) For further instructions on safety and privacy, we would advise you to click here.
Tips To Remove Unwanted Pictures from Twitter:
To remove photos from Twitter… click here, select the appropriate option, then send the report.
Below is a jolly good graphical version of the above instructions:
1. I knew you were in trouble!

Social media is a basic part of every human being's life these days, so basically every move you make is in the eyes of every other person in your contact.
2.'You and me' could write a bad romance

According to a survey, most pictures of victim teenagers were posted by their friends, cyberbullies and the revengeful exes.

3. Come, let's have the last laugh

You can always choose to make a wise decision by befriending technology.

4. Remove from google

4. Mission accomplished

Mistakes are committed by everybody but once you learn from them, you can easily move on with your life.

5. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

These steps would definitely help you so why not stand a little taller? Remember, better safe than sorry.

source

Security services given new rights to spy on your phones and computers

Security services given new rights to spy on your phones and computers: 'Dizzying' range of electronic surveillance equipment set to be made available to MI5, MI6 and GCHQ under new laws

• Proposals give powers to take control of devices through software flaw
• Allows them to us computers and phones to listen in to things around 
• Agencies say they need new powers to fight cyber-crime and terrorism
• Civil liberties campaigners are expected to oppose the new bill 

Security agencies could be given a 'dizzying' range of powers with laws aiming to give them the right to take control of phones and computers for surveillance. 

MI5, MI6 and GCHQ would be granted a range of electronic surveillance capabilities under the Government's Investigatory Powers Bill, allowing them to legally hack phones, tablets and laptops.

Privacy campaigners have warned against increasing surveillance powers, but the Government and senior intelligence services say they are more important than ever because of electronic crime and the threat from Islamist extremists.

MI5, MI6 and GCHQ would be granted a range of electronic surveillance capabilities under the Government's Investigatory Powers Bill, allowing them to legally hack phones, tablets and laptops

The new laws would give security agencies the power to hack devices, with permission from the Home Secretary, rather than simply intercepting them, which is becoming increasingly difficult.

Online criminals and terrorist can encrypt their communications, which means that when they are intercepted, they may be impossible to interpret.

However, hacking a device allows the hacker to access everything in it, usually via a security flaw in the software.

The difference is that is would allow the hacker to take control of the device, using parts of it such as the speaker or microphone, and accessing data from the source before it is encrypted.

Peter Sommer, a digital evidence expert, told The Times: 'Increasingly, (intelligence agents) can't read communications sent over the internet because of encryption, so their ability to get information from interception is diminishing.

'The best way around this is to get inside someone's computer.'

It comes after US whistleblower Edward Snowden claimed British spies had the ability to turn people's mobile phones off and on and switch on the microphone to listen to what is happening around them. 

In February, the Government admitted for the first time that it was using the Intelligence Services Act 1994 to hack people's computers and use them for surveillance

But critics argued the act did not give them the legal right to do access phones and computers, making the intrusion unlawful.

In June, David Anderson QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, recommended the government introduce a bill that allows them to legally access people's devices for security.

He said that the technique 'presents a dizzying array of possibilities' to security agencies. 

The Times reported the hacking powers outlined in the new Bill, which could be presented next month, were not included in the Communications Data Bill, which was dubbed the 'snoopers' charter' and blocked by the Liberal Democrats in coalition.

The bill was heavily opposed by civil liberties campaigners who raised concerns over spies being allowed to take control of electronic devices, but the new legislation seeks to enshrine that ability as a right in law. 

The Home Secretary this week confirmed a form of the Wilson Doctrine, which prevents the interception of politicians' communications except for national security reasons, will also be included in the Bill after a court ruled it had no legal basis.

Any new laws will need to be in place by December 2016 when temporary surveillance powers passed by the coalition government expire, Theresa May told MPs in June.

 shared source

From sadness to wow, Facebook launches reaction buttons beyond like

 

Like it or not, Facebook Inc's trademark "like" button is set to get more expressive.

Users will soon be able to do more than "like" posts. They will be able to love them and express sympathy, anger or sadness with animated emoticons.

The social network said on Thursday it is launching a pilot test of "Reactions," with users able select from seven emotions, including like and "wow."

"Dislike," however, is not one of the options.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post Thursday that users have been requesting ways other than like to respond to posts, such as when someone posts about the death of a loved one or a tragic news story.

"Not every moment is a good moment, and sometimes you just want a way to express empathy," wrote Zuckerberg, who said last month the company was working on expanding the like button. "A like might not be the best way to express yourself."

In a video accompanying a Facebook post by Chief Product Officer Chris Cox, the six new buttons appear as animated emoticons and pop up when the "like" button is long-pressed.

The company said it would pilot the new features in Ireland and Spain on iOS, Android and desktops. The feedback from the pilot test will be used to improve the feature. The company hopes "to roll it out to everyone soon," Cox wrote in the post, which was "liked" by more than 7,500 people within two hours.

"As you can see, it's not a 'dislike' button, though we hope it addresses the spirit of this request more broadly," Cox wrote in his post.

Zuckerberg's comments last month, which many users took to mean the social network was working on a "dislike" button, spearheaded a debate over whether it would cause cyberbullying and negativity on the site.

But users mostly welcomed Cox's announcement, saying on social media it was a smart idea.

Facebook user Marc Marasco posted on Cox's Facebook page: "Elegant solution."

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NASA To Put Humans On Mars Within 15 Years

The US space agency aims to establish a 3D-printed human colony on the red planet by 2030.

How a 3D-printed habitat on Mars might look

NASA has revealed it is aiming to set up a human colony on Mars by 2030.

The space agency's report NASA's Journey To Mars claims the red planet is the "next tangible frontier for expanding human presence" and states it believes such a mission is achievable.
"Our human and robotic explorers will expand knowledge and discover the potential for life beyond Earth," it says.
"Our goal is not bound by a single destination. We seek the capacity for people to work, learn, operate, and sustainably live safely beyond Earth for extended periods of time.

A colony would need to sustain human life on the planet for years

"We will achieve this goal with a growing number of international and commercial partners, realising economic benefits and strengthening America's leadership on Earth and in space."
If such a mission got off the ground it would be conducted in three phases.

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   Gallery: NASA Images Of 'The Martian' Sites
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   Gallery: NASA Images Of 'The Martian' Sites

:: Earth Reliant
NASA scientists on board the International Space Station would first conduct feasibility studies into the ability of humans to sustain long-distance, deep space travel.
Life-support systems and human-health and behavioural research would be undertaken as well as extravehicular operations and material flammability tests.
:: Proving Ground

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   Gallery: Flowing Water On Mars: NASA
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   Gallery: Flowing Water On Mars: NASA

Testing of a deep-space habitation facility would begin, including analysing concepts to reduce supply needs through recycling to enable astronauts to become Earth independent.
An asteroid redirection mission in 2020 would aim to collect a boulder from a near-earth asteroid and ferry it to the proving ground for investigation.
:: Earth Independent
Astronauts would live and work for years in a human-life supporting colony for years.

Video: What Has NASA Discovered On Mars?

The facility would require only routine maintenance and harvest Martian resources to create fuel water, oxygen and building materials.
The report reveals that one of the most important challenges of a human mission to Mars is keeping the crew safe for up to 1,100 days when they cannot return to Earth in an emergency.
Sustaining long periods of microgravity also increases the risks of bone loss, fatigue, a loss of clear vision, and general illness for the crew.
The report says NASA will "leverage the Proving Ground with science missions and capability demonstrations to close the remaining gaps and ensure we have the ability to get to Mars, land safely, live and work productively, and return."

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Man Buys Google.com Domain Name For $12

The former employee says he was surprised when the world famous domain name was made available for him to buy.

Google accidentally allowed its domain name to be sold

A man has successfully bought Google.com - the domain name for the world's most popular website - for just $12.

Sanmay Ved was using Google's new domain sale service when he tried typing in the well-known address.
He was shocked when it was shown as available to buy, so he clicked the 'add to cart' button.
He said: "I was hoping I would get an error at sometime saying transaction did not go through, but I was able to complete the purchase, and my credit card was actually charged."
After the purchase was completed, he received two emails confirming the bargain.
Ownership was officially transferred to him, but minutes later he received an email from Google saying they had cancelled the order.
Mr Ved - a former Google employee - says he has contacted the firm's security team to alert them to the breach.
The incident has echoes of an embarrassing lapse by Microsoft in 2003, when it forgot to renew its Hotmail.co.uk domain name.
It was returned to the open market when ownership expired, and bought by a member of the public.
Thankfully for Microsoft, they had good intentions and immediately contacted the firm and arranged to hand it over.
Google recently rebranded itself as Alphabet, bringing all of its subsidiaries - including the Google search engine - under one umbrella organisation.
Yet Alphabet.com is owned by car manufacturer BMW, an apparent oversight by the tech giant.

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