Alaska Man Monday - a Sad Thing, a Bad Thing and a Happy Thing

Monday Morning Minute

Image: The Verge The estate of now-defunct crypto exchange FTX has filed a lawsuit against Binance and its former CEO Changpeng Zhao in a bid to recover $1.76 billion. FTX alleges these funds were fraudulently transferred to Binance, Zhao, and other Binance executives in July 2021 as part of a shares repurchase deal with FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried. According to the filing, the transaction saw Binance sell back the 20 percent stake it held in FTX’s international unit and 18.4 percent in its US-based entity, which Bankman-Fried paid for using a mix of FTX and Binance-branded cryptocurrencies. The FTX estate alleges the share repurchase deal was conducted unlawfully because — following massive fraud by Bankman-Fried and other executives — FTX and its... Continue reading…

Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Our budget-friendly gift guide has it all, from buzzy earbuds and drift-free gamepads to the coolest lightsaber knockoff there is. Continue reading…

We're still ten months away from the iPhone 17 announcement. Still, several rumors exist about this upcoming lineup. Unlike past years, it seems Apple will ditch the Plus model in favor of an ultrathin but underpowered iPhone 17 Air/Slim. While new leaks and reports are starting to give us an idea about how this device will look, it seems there's a limit to how thin it can actually be. And, spoiler, it won't be that thin. According to news aggregator yeux1122, Samsung's failure to make an ultrathin S25 model will impact this iPhone 17 Air. The website explains that Samsung tried to increase battery capacity through thinner substrates, but attempts have been unsuccessful. With that, it won't be able to make this device as thin as it wanted. The same is worth it with Apple. The company can't revamp the internal boards, and this new battery is too expensive. The publication says that these components were expected to be thinner, but now the battery will be around 6mm thicker. Since Apple's thinnest-ever iPhone was the iPhone 6, at 6.9mm, it seems the company won't be able to go lower than that with the iPhone 17 Air. However, if Apple can make it as thin as an iPhone 6, it will still be quite impressive. Everything we know about the iPhone 17 Air so far Since Apple introduced the iPhone 12 mini, it has struggled to find a market for the unique variations of its regular iPhone models. The company has seen low sales of the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone 15 Plus. While we need to know how the iPhone 16 Plus will sell, Cupertino might be planning a different approach for the iPhone 17. Rumors so far have hinted at a premium version of the non-Pro iPhone 17. While all models are expected to maintain the same price point, this iPhone 17 Slim would cost around $1,299—the most expensive iPhone to date. Despite its thin form factor, it would have the A19 chip, 8 GB of RAM, and two main cameras. How Apple will maintain a good battery life with a thin form factor is still unknown. Interestingly, the iPhone 17 Pro models would have 12GB of RAM, the A19 Pro chip with TSMC’s new N3P manufacturing process, and three 48MP main cameras. If that’s the case, how could Apple charge more for an iPhone that’s actually worse than its Pro lineup? Apparently, it’s because the company is planning a new form factor with an ultrathin design. Don't Miss: I’m an iPhone 16 Plus owner, and I get why we need the iPhone 17 Air The post New report claims iPhone 17 Air won’t be ultra-thin after all appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $179 AirPods Pro 2, space heaters from $36, $100 off Bose QuietComfort Ultra, more Exclusive deal: Buture VAC01 cordless vacuum has a massive 67% discount Today’s deals: $90 Lenovo Chromebook, $360 Apple Watch Series 10, $100 off Ninja blenders, more Today’s deals: $699 M2 MacBook Air, $30 Philips OneBlade 360, $199 Bose TV soundbar, $399 Dyson V11, more

In case you missed it, Apple released iOS 18.1 late last month. The update introduced a new security feature that will make it tougher for law enforcement agencies to use forensic tools to access pertinent data. Originally discovered by 404media, the latest iOS update now reboots an iPhone if it hasn't been unlocked in four days. While this might seem innocuous, Apple's new reboot process prompts the iPhone to fall back into a Before First Unlock (BFU) state. This state is akin to when an iPhone has been powered on but not yet unlocked via a passcode. In turn, functionality is limited, and much of the phone’s data remains encrypted.  Additionally, features like the Control Center, camera, Face ID, and more are inaccessible. The end result is that forensic investigators have a much tougher time accessing device data. 404media writes that the added security layer was confirmed by security expert Christopher Vance: In a law enforcement and forensic expert only group chat, Christopher Vance, a forensic specialist at Magnet Forensics, said “We have identified code within iOS 18 and higher that is an inactivity timer. This timer will cause devices in an AFU state to reboot to a BFU state after a set period of time which we have also identified." AFU vs BFU To provide additional context, and to better understand the ramifications of the latest iOS update, it’s important to provide a quick overview of what the Before First Unlock state is relative to the After First Unlock (AFU) state. When a user opens up their iPhone, and the device is put to sleep, it remains in an AFU state. This state allows various types of data and select system functions to remain active and accessible. When a phone enters a BFU state, the iPhone essentially locks down to a more significant degree. The DigForCE Lab at Dakota State University adds some pertinent context: A phone that is in the AFU state is that of any phone that has been unlocked at least once since the device has been reset or completely powered off. This is the case for the majority of powered-on phones currently being utilized. A phone that is in the AFU state stays in the state until the device loses power or is rebooted. While a device is in the AFU state, more information can be extracted from the phone, as the filesystem is no longer fully encrypted. When a device is in the AFU lock state, an AFU extraction may be created. Compared to a BFU extraction, an AFU extraction contains a vast majority of all user-generated data, which can be seen as about 95% of a Full Filesystem extraction (these extractions will be discussed in the next section). This means an AFU extraction will contain user-generated chats, images, videos, web-browsing data, and much more. Compared to a Full Filesystem extraction, an AFU extraction does not contain Apple Mail, Apple Health, or significant location information. The amount of information you can receive from a device in the AFU lock state can be substantial, so it is important to keep an AFU device powered on. If the device is powered off, the lock state will switch to BFU which could lead to the loss of a lot of potential information. All told, the new security update sounds like a nice safety feature for iPhone users. Law enforcement authorities, meanwhile, likely won't be happy as the update means that authorities will have a tighter window to access data before the phone goes into a BFU state. Don't Miss: Today’s deals: $369 Apple Watch Series 10, $449 Google Pixel 8, $200 off Narwal Freo Z Ultra, more The post iPhones quietly got a new security feature that’s frustrating the FBI and investigators appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $100 off iPad mini 7, $60 off Nintendo Switch OLED, $90 Ninja Air Fryer Pro XL, more Best Apple Watch deals for November 2024 Today’s deals: $90 Lenovo Chromebook, $360 Apple Watch Series 10, $100 off Ninja blenders, more Best Apple deals for November 2024

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has no plans to resign despite calls from some Democrats to do so before Republicans take control of the U.S. Senate in January.

Four contenders have emerged in the past 48 hours to be Attorney General under President-elect Donald Trump.

There is no new "stage of talks" with the United States at the moment for arms sales, Taiwan's government said Monday, as the island considers how best to respond to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's previous demands that Taipei pay for protection.

Buckeye Mini Pies are inspired by the favorite peanut butter and chocolate candy. These mini pies are made with smooth peanut butter filling nestled in a flaky pie crust and topped with a layer of melted chocolate! A CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER DESSERT RECIPE If you’re a fan of the classic peanut butter and chocolate combo, you’re going to love these Buckeye Mini Pies! They were inspired by my love for the traditional Buckeye treats. These bite-sized pies take that classic candy to a whole new level and are perfect for parties, dessert tables, or whenever you just have a craving for a sweet snack at home. I really enjoy taking these to get togethers because they are an easy handheld treat that are so easy to serve! FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:  What baking mat did you use and is it required? I used this Baking Mat (paid link), while it makes it easier to make this recipe, using a baking mat is not required at all. Don’t feel like you have to get one just to make these mini pies. What muffin pan did you use? I used this Muffin Pan (paid link), but you can use any muffin pan that you have available. What else can I top these Buckeye Mini Pies with? You can substitute the sprinkles with chopped nuts and whipped cream for a different flavor and crunchy texture. Do I need both pie crusts? So, this recipe uses one pie crust from the box of two. You roll it out and cut about 17 circles, then take what’s left and roll it out again so you can cut about 7 additional circles out. But, if you really want to, you could just roll out both crusts in the box and cut out the circles. The filling part of the recipe is enough filling to make 24 mini pies. You can adjust that part to make more or less filling if needed. How can I store leftover Buckeye Mini Pies? Store any leftover treats in the fridge for 2 to 3 days in an airtight container. INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE) store-bought pie crusts– they typically come in a box of two. Additionally, you could make your own pie crust if you have a homemade pie crust recipe that you enjoy. creamy peanut butter– if you’re looking to change the texture a bit with these treats, try crunchy peanut butter instead of smooth. powdered sugar heavy cream– divided use semi-sweet chocolate chips salt sprinkles– optional HOW TO MAKE BUCKEYE MINI PIES Preheat the oven to 425F degrees. Gently unroll the pie crust and place it on a working surface. For this step, I like to use my OXO baking mat (paid link) as it has measurements to roll the dough (but is not absolutely necessary for this). Roll the dough into a 12-inch circle. Using a circular cookie cutter or biscuit cutter of 2 ½ inches, cut 24 circles. Once you have cut as many as you can in the 12-inch circle, take all the extra dough and roll it again. Continue until you have 24 circles. You won’t have much dough left. Place the dough circles into an ungreased nonstick mini muffin pan (if your muffin pan isn’t nonstick, you will want to spray it with nonstick spray).  Gently press the dough down so it forms a cup in each cavity. With a fork, poke the bottom of the cup 3 to 4 times. This step is important. If you skip this step the dough will bubble up and not be much of a “cup” Bake in the preheated oven on the middle rack for 8 to 10 minutes or until the shells are nice and golden. Take the pan out of the oven and cool the pan for 5 minutes. Transfer the shells onto a cooling rack. Cool completely. In a small bowl, mix the creamy peanut butter, powdered sugar, and 3 Tablespoons of heavy cream. Mix until all ingredients are combined. Place the mixture into a piping bag (if you don’t have a piping bag, use a zip lock bag to push all the mixture to a corner and cut the point). Fill the shells about halfway up. Set aside. In a medium microwavable size bowl, add the chocolate chips and 3 tablespoons of heavy cream.  Microwave for 30 to 45 seconds, mixing every 10 seconds. Once it is all melted place it in a piping bag (or ziploc bag with the tip cut off). Pipe the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter. Sprinkle the funfetti over the mini pies. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or until ready to serve. Serve and enjoy! CRAVING MORE RECIPES?  Crock Pot Candy Grandma’s Peanut Butter Bars Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Fudge Reese’s Mini Cheesecakes Peanut Butter Chocolate Hot Cocoa Bombs Reese’s Peanut Butter Poke Cake Mini Cherry Cheesecake Pies Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies Fried Apple Pie Air Fryer Blueberry Hand Pies Christmas Tree Hand Pies Print Buckeye Mini Pies A flaky crust with a smooth peanut butter layer topped with a chocolate layer and some fun sprinkles. Course DessertCuisine American Prep Time 20 minutes minutesCook Time 9 minutes minutesChill Time 2 hours hoursTotal Time 2 hours hours 29 minutes minutes Servings 24 Calories 107kcal Author Brandie @ The Country Cook Ingredients1 store-bought pie crust (they usually come in a box of two)4 Tablespoons creamy peanut butter½ cup powdered sugar6 Tablespoons heavy cream divided use (just over ⅓ cup)¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips2 Tablespoons sprinkles (optional) InstructionsPreheat the oven to 425F degrees.Gently unroll 1 store-bought pie crust and place it onto a nonstick surface (or add some flour to a large cutting board and place it on that. Roll the dough into a 12-inch circle (this doesn't need to be exact, just do your best). Using a circular cookie cutter or biscuit cutter of 2 ½ inches, cut 24 circles. Once you have cut as many as you can in the 12-inch circle, take all the extra dough and roll it again. Continue until you have 24 circles. You won’t have much dough left. Note: If you don't want to roll it all out again, just use the second pie crust if you'd like. Place the dough circles into an ungreased nonstick mini muffin pan (if your muffin pan isn’t nonstick, you will want to spray it with nonstick spray). Note: I used a 24 mini muffin pan. If yours is only 12 or 18, you can make these in two batches. Gently press the dough down so it forms a cup in each cavity. With a fork, poke the bottom of the cup 3 to 4 times. This step is important. If you skip this step the dough will bubble up and not be much of a “cup”Bake in the preheated oven on the middle rack for 8 to 10 minutes or until the shells are nice and golden.Take the pan out of the oven and cool the pan for 5 minutes. Transfer the shells onto a cooling rack. Cool completely.In a small bowl, mix 4 Tablespoons creamy peanut butter, ½ cup powdered sugar and 3 Tablespoons of heavy cream. Mix until all ingredients are combined. Place the mixture into a piping bag (if you don’t have a piping bag, use a zip loc bag to push all the mixture to a corner and cut the point). Fill the shells about halfway up. Set aside. In a medium microwavable size bowl, add ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 3 Tablespoons of heavy cream. Microwave for 30 to 45 seconds, mixing every 10 seconds. Once it is all melted place it in a piping bag (or ziploc bag with the tip cut off). Pipe the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter.Top the mini pies with sprinkles, if using. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or until ready to serve. Notes Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions. NutritionCalories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Sodium: 42mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g