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9 Jul 2025

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AGI may be impossible to define, and that’s a multibillion-dollar problem
Several definitions make measuring "human-level" AI an exercise in moving goalposts.

Tasman heavy rain forecast: hope for the best but prepare for the worst, deputy mayor says
The region is still recovering from widespread flooding, but further heavy rain has been forecast for the afternoon.

Teen seeks new logo after ‘shocking’ KFC demand
A 17-year-old entrepreneur has launched an appeal after running up against the fried chicken giant.

Khandallah murder-accused Julia DeLuney disposed of black bin bag in passing rubbish truck
CCTV footage shows Julia DeLuney changed her clothes on the night of her mother's death, before fetching someone to help.

Reddit helped out a Steam Deck user with an extra thumb
You’d think that being born with an extra thumb on one hand might be a boon to playing video games. But when pretty much every controller is designed for people with10 fingers, it can present a problem if your body is a little off the standard template. Such was the case for one Steam Deck owner who asked Reddit for help. And Reddit delivered. User Alpha-Quartz praised their Steam Deck, but found that the long reach to the left thumbstick (pretty far compared to a standard controller, since the D-pad is on the edge of the case) hard to reach due to their smaller double-thumb. They told the Steam Deck subreddit that using the device was a “nightmare” compared to more conventional Xbox and PlayStation controllers. Their plight resonated with the sub, as the post is sitting at just shy of 10K upvotes and hundreds of comments. Steam Deck users are also often fans of modding, so it’s no surprise that there were multiple attempts to help out Alpha-Quartz. GamesRadar spotted the first of many, “SpecificGreen9140,” who posted a basic 3D-printed cover for the thumbstick that extends the surface out to the left, making it easier to hit with a shortened thumb. “Woogies” refined the design, and “D_Bagggg” made…an extra thumb. For people who only have one thumb but want to use the double-thumb aid. Har har. 3D printer folks really will take any excuse to break out the CAD software. Speaking to Games Radar, Alpha-Quartz says that they’re “simply overwhelmed with the amount of support and positivity,” even though they’re still trying out different solutions for a more secure fit on the Steam Deck. They say that “100 different people” are trying out different 3D-printed designs and mailing them off to help.

House building costs rise at strongest rate in nearly two years, Cotality index shows
But a property economist says it might not signal a return of price pressures.

Anker’s uber-thin 6-in-1 charging station drops to best price on Prime Day
Amazon just slashed the price of one of our favorite Anker power strips to $38. That’s the lowest we’ve seen the 6-in-1 Nano power strip, which makes this Prime Day deal that much sweeter. The Anker Nano 6-in-1 charging station can replace your bulky power strip on your desk, offering you enough ports and outlets to charge everything you need. There are two outlets on the top of the device and four ports — two USB-A and two USB-C — on the very side. The charging station has a sleek and compact design, going for a square flat look rather than the chunky long strips we’re familiar with. Given its size, this thing is also travel-friendly, and simply perfect for all your hotel stays. The extension cord measures 5 feet so you have plenty of leeway, while the plug is perfectly flat so it can fit behind furniture just fine. So stop wasting time and upgrade your power strip to this Anker Nano 6-in-1 model that’s now a mere $38 for Prime Day. While you’re here, you might as well check out the best Prime Day tech deals we found and the really hot discounts our team has dug up in our Prime Day live blog. Charge 6 devices at once with this $38 Anker power stripBuy now at Amazon