Author: sparta

When the U.S. military initiated an unarmed nuclear missile launch in November 2025, it prompted questions about the President of the United States’ location during a nuclear conflict. The response lies in a repurposed Boeing 747 referred to as the National Airborne Operations Center, a mobile command and control hub fitted with sophisticated communication technology and a structure fortified against nuclear shockwaves. Much like the nation’s nuclear defense framework, America’s command and control functions rely on technology significantly older than one might expect. Initially provided to the U.S. Air Force in January 1980, the E-4B, dubbed Nightwatch and popularly labeled the ‘Nuke-Proof’ Doomsday plane, is capable of resisting electromagnetic pulses while maintaining advanced satellite and electronics capabilities.

Even though it will be 45 years old in 2025, the Air Force isn’t scheduled to replace its four Nightwatch aircraft until 2036, implying that the U.S.’s ‘Doomsday’ planes will approach their 60th anniversary when they are finally decommissioned. The rationale behind this is humorously straightforward: the E-4B requires larger four-engine aircraft due to its communication network’s size. Regrettably, manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus have mostly ceased production of such large planes, prompting the Air Force to acquire its ‘doomsday planes’ on the secondary market. Presently, the nation operates four E-4Bs, ensuring that one is always prepared for rapid deployment. However, the dependence on larger, older aircraft has consistently led to numerous maintenance and operational challenges, prompting the United States to commence its successor program in 2024.

A maturing technological wonder

Several attributes allow the aircraft to perform these high-level tasks. This four-engine, long-range, high-altitude plane can accommodate up to 111 individuals and operates like a flying Pentagon, featuring a main deck segmented into six areas, including command, conference, communications, briefing, operations, office, and rest zones. The airplane has an extraordinarily intricate communications system that utilizes all major types of electromagnetic communication. Allegedly, the aircraft contains multiple communication programs, such as the advanced Milstar satellite system, a jam-resistant, multi-satellite network that enables the plane to transmit launch commands to the U.S.’s arsenal of missile silos, submarines, and bombers with specially designed electronics and transmitters. The Nightwatch even has a low-frequency antenna capable of trailing approximately 5 miles behind the aircraft. Another significant advantage is its capacity for prolonged flight. The aircraft can fly for twelve hours before requiring refueling in the air, ensuring that U.S. leaders can remain securely airborne during a nuclear crisis.

However, these features come at a substantial cost, as the Air Force must utilize secondhand jets to support a larger communications architecture. This necessity arises from the requirement for larger, four-engine planes to underpin the expansive communications network. Fueled by four GE CF6-50E2 turbofan engines, the four Nightwatch jets represent some of the oldest 747-200s currently operating. No American commercial airlines currently deploy this model. Although the U.S. has previously operated secondhand jets — for instance, Boeing 707s were repurposed for the E-8 Joint Stars fleet in the 1990s — the longevity of the E-4B has resulted in numerous challenges over the years, leading to increased expenses and prolonged maintenance and reliability concerns.

Aging yet (un)dependable

Given that the U.S. must rely on an older, larger model, the upkeep of the E-4B has consistently posed challenges, particularly as wear and tear become more apparent. The Nightwatch has started to exhibit significant reliability complications, maintaining a mission availability rate close to 55%. Even though the aircraft undergo regular inspections, repairs can prove exceedingly challenging, as the model’s lack of general popularity complicates its maintenance logistics. In the 50 years since its introduction, many of the aircraft’s specialized components have either become outdated or ceased development, as suppliers have started to withdraw various parts. According to Air Force General Charles Q Brown during a Senate Appropriations Committee session in May 2024, these expenses have driven the Air Force to explore alternatives, remarking, “At some point, it gets more costly to maintain than to transition into a new capability.”

In April 2024, the Air Force revealed plans to find a replacement for the E-4B, entering a $13 billion agreement with the Sierra Nevada Corporation to develop its Survivable Airborne Operations Center. According to Reuters, Sierra Nevada Corporation has already procured five 747-8s from Korean Air at a cost of $674 million. Reportedly, Sierra Nevada Corporation anticipates delivering the fleet by 2036, meaning the Nightwatch will reach 56 years of age before its retirement. While several technological innovations

High school can be tough enough, let alone having to attend classes you dislike in the afterlife. However, if you’ve been searching for an excellent new series to binge, and you’re in the mood for a combination of teen drama and supernatural elements, you should definitely watch “School Spirits” on Paramount+.

Fans of Netflix’s “Cobra Kai” will recognize the star talent, Peyton List, who plays Maddie Nears, a teenager who finds herself waking up as a ghost. Interestingly, she has no memory of her actual demise, unlike her fellow students at Split River High School who have already moved on. Taking initiative, Maddie starts to investigate her enigmatic death with the help of some other ghosts — along with a few living friends who are still around.

Created by Megan Trinrud and Nate Trinrud, “Spirits” made its debut on Paramount+ on March 9, 2023, and was given the green light for a second season, which became available on January 30, 2025. A third season is scheduled to launch on January 28, 2026. Additional cast members also include Kristian Ventura, Milo Manheim, and Spencer McPherson, among others.

The series showcases Peyton’s acting skills, as she navigates her supernatural circumstances. Blending drama and thriller aspects with a sprinkle of humor, “School Spirits” is a show that seamlessly combines various genres, managing to make each one fit well — for the most part.

Ghosts, drama, and high school antics

On Rotten Tomatoes, “School Spirits” received a 91% score on the Tomatometer, along with a 92% audience rating. Metacritic gave the series a score of 69 out of 100 based on eight critic reviews.

In a favorable review for Variety, critic Daniel D’Addario stated, “Without shying away from the tragedy of Maddie’s narrative, ‘School Spirits’ remarkably manages to be quite lively and enjoyable—clear evidence that there are fresh tales to tell about the institution that no one would ever want to be trapped in for their entire afterlife.”

Some reviews were a bit more critical. Writing for The Hollywood Reporter, Daniel Fienberg described the show as “mediocre.” He also asserted that “Spirits” does not bring anything new to the genre.

For those seeking additional episodic treasures, be sure to check out our list of the five top-rated TV shows you need to watch immediately. After all, we are in a new golden era of television, so it is wise to make the most of all the streaming subscriptions you are paying for.

The firm C Seed, in partnership with Porsche Design — indeed, the very same Porsche known for crafting vehicles like the latest Taycan — has developed a lavish television priced at an astonishing $400,000. Considering the Taycan’s starting price of $103,900, this television exceeds the cost of a luxury vehicle. It’s safe to say that the average consumer is unlikely to be in the market for this TV, and probably not even the typical Porsche owner.

The C Seed N1 is distinctive as it has been engineered to unfold. A clip circulating on Reddit displays the television rising from the ground and elegantly unfolding from a case. The technology is genuinely impressive, and it’s entertaining to observe the process. However, most individuals prefer their televisions set up permanently in a designated area for watching shows and gaming. The standard consumer isn’t on the lookout for a TV that caters to both indoor and outdoor use and can unfold when necessary.

C Seed has been operational since 2013, focusing on high-end television technology. It has even received the Best of the Best award in product design from Red Dot, an organization that specifically honors excellence in business design, for a prior version of the N1. This Porsche-designed television certainly distinguishes itself as a remarkable product, though it’s not likely to be commonly utilized by the average individual.

Target Audience for This TV

Porsche Design is renowned for crafting exquisite products, such as the Honor Magic 6 phone. Upon viewing the product page for the $400,000 television, that same aesthetic of elegance and luxury is prominently featured. The lead image showcases a woman donning an enormous gown, standing by her pool while observing the TV unfold. Clearly, this is a scenario we all encounter daily.

The product page features phrases like “unfolding open-air sculpture,” “a choreographed transformation,” and “architectural freedom in the open air.” It asserts that this television is ideal for terraces, beside pools, and at exclusive resorts. Notably, it does not mention living rooms as a target space. Additionally, it boasts a high-quality picture regardless of whether it’s day or night, which is crucial for a screen designed for outdoor use.

From all this, it’s evident that the typical consumer is not the focus for C Seed or Porsche Design. It likely appeals more to affluent clients who enjoy hosting outdoor gatherings and desire a television that can be concealed and showcased as per the event’s requirements. When the TV is revealed for guests to enjoy, C Seed claims it is “engineered to inspire, offering a moment of anticipation that enhances the entire outdoor experience.”

Is This Porsche TV Worth the Price?

While it is amusing to see it fold and unfold, this price is simply beyond what an average person would be willing to spend just for a television. Ultimately, you watch programming on it in the same manner as you would on budget TVs, which can still deliver high customer satisfaction. Although its outdoor capabilities are appealing, the average individual would easily settle for a screen and projector for an enjoyable backyard movie evening.

The cost is indeed substantial. For that amount, you receive a television that measures up to 165 inches diagonally and can weigh nearly 2,000 pounds. It’s not something you’ll be able to rearrange by yourself. The television specifications promise exceptional sound, excellent imagery, and resistance to weather. Certainly, if you are in search of TVs that excel in those aspects, you would be leaning toward pricier options.

Is this C SEED Porsche television worth $400,000? Not for the majority. Those who consider the expense justifiable will likely be individuals for whom $400,000 is pocket change. It serves as a fascinating conversation starter over drinks by the pool during sunset.

fans regard as one of the finest TV series of the last quarter-century), leading to his on-screen demise in various forms. Nevertheless, Pantoliano still harbors some resentment towards the Wachowskis for offing Cypher.

During an October 2025 “Matrix” reunion panel at New York Comic Con (as reported by Entertainment Weekly), Pantoliano disclosed that the writer-director pair “deceived” him (intentionally) while filming the 1999 action sci-fi masterpiece. He stated, “They deceived me! They f****** deceived! I asked, ‘Hey, you can’t kill me, right? You’re not going to kill me?’ And Lilly responded, ‘Hey, Lana, he doesn’t want us to off him.’ And I overheard Lana off camera, aware that I could listen in, as she said, ‘Well, just mislead him and we’ll off him regardless.'”

After the panel’s moderator humorously tried to comfort him by suggesting that Cypher’s fate might not be “final,” the actor shot back, “Don’t even get me going, okay? They resurrected f****** Agent Smith. It’s ‘The Matrix’!” Still, Pantoliano maintains hope for his character’s potential comeback in another sequel (despite there being three sequels already).

If you are concerned that sophisticated AI-driven facial recognition technologies will enable third parties to easily pinpoint your identity through publicly available photos, you can make use of a free application called [Fawkes](https://sandlab.cs.uchicago.edu/fawkes/) to obscure your appearance. This free download was developed by researchers at the University of Chicago’s Sand Labs, with its initial version launched in August 2020. Fawkes remains accessible several years later, compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.

The app was developed at a time when services such as Clearview AI posed a significant privacy threat. The facial recognition platform amassed over three billion images of individuals by extracting data from the internet and social media. As highlighted by Sand Labs, Clearview created facial recognition algorithms for millions of individuals without acquiring consent. Fawkes empowers users to blend into their surroundings by complicating the ability of facial recognition applications to match Fawkes-camouflaged images to those stored in their databases.

Fawkes debuted years prior to the advent of generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, which are equipped with advanced image creation and analysis functions. The software received its last update in May 2022, just a few months ahead of ChatGPT’s surge in popularity that initiated the ongoing AI boom. By early 2026, AI image generation models are capable of producing lifelike visuals. Tools like [Google’s Nano Banana Pro](https://www.bgr.com/2032501/nano-banana-pro-viral-infographics/) can modify actual images of individuals and generate AI visuals based on uploaded photographs. [Chatbot applications such as Copilot and Gemini](https://www.bgr.com/2065020/google-gemini-vs-copilot-which-chatbot-best/) can also interpret image content. Some AI solutions are able to analyze video and real-time feeds. In this context, it might be perceived that Fawkes has become even more beneficial since its initial launch. However, it remains uncertain if the app retains its effectiveness against contemporary [AI systems that could potentially track you without visual recognition](https://www.bgr.com/tech/scary-new-ai-can-track-you-in-surveillance-videos-without-even-seeing-your-face/).

### How Fawkes operates

The video embedded above illustrates Fawkes in operation on a Windows 11 device, starting from the moment you download the application to its usage. On that note, ensure you obtain the correct app from the [Sand Labs website](https://sandlab.cs.uchicago.edu/fawkes/#code). Make sure to choose the appropriate version for your system, whether it’s Windows or macOS. The same source also provides installers for Windows, Mac, and Linux binaries, which include support for additional features.

The Windows application shown in the demonstration possesses a straightforward interface that allows you to choose a photo or selection of images you wish to obscure. Following this, you’ll initiate the protection process by clicking a button. The underlying mechanics are relatively uncomplicated. Fawkes introduces nearly invisible pixels to a photo to “poison” it, as the researchers described in their 2020 release. “Fawkes takes your personal images and implements subtle, pixel-level alterations that are undetectable to the human eye, in a method we refer to as image cloaking,” they conveyed. The aforementioned video demonstration illustrates that while these modifications are nearly unnoticeable, they can be discerned when contrasting the cloaked image with the original. The subsequent video, created by the Fawkes development team, elaborates further on the procedure of how the app cloaks images.

Once Fawkes generates the cloaked images, you can utilize them online. You can set them as profile pictures on social media platforms and share them with friends. In essence, you can handle these photos the same way you would typical images taken with your smartphone for online sharing. Nevertheless, when a facial recognition system attempts to identify you by comparing the cloaked images to any relevant images it might have been trained with, it will fail to recognize you.

### The drawbacks of using Fawkes for privacy protection

Upon the release of Fawkes by Emily Wenger and Shawn Shan, they noted that the app had been “extensively” tested, demonstrating “effectiveness in various settings and […] 100% efficacy against leading facial recognition systems (Microsoft Azure Face API, Amazon Rekognition, and Face++).” However, in early 2021, the researchers revealed instances of adversarial training targeting Fawkes in Microsoft Azure, which they swiftly remedied.

By April 2021, the application had been downloaded over 500,000 times, indicating a strong public interest in privacy preservation. A total of more than 840,000 downloads were recorded by early May 2022. The researchers have not updated this statistic since that time. Nonetheless, the app remains available for download as of early 2026.

Currently, there are two concerns regarding the use of Fawkes. Firstly, it is uncertain whether other AI companies have developed methods to bypass its cloaking techniques.

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