ABC 7 Bay Area reports that last night in Piedmont, CA, a Cybertruck “jumped the curb, struck a cement wall, and then wedged in between the wall and a tree,” according to officials who said speed was a factor. Like a fatal Cybertruck wreck in August, it then caught fire.

One person was pulled from the vehicle by another driver, and they are recovering from burn wounds.

Earlier this year, I wrote about the difficult work of repairing subsea cables and their increasing geopolitical importance.

Today, The Wall Street Journal reports investigators believe a Chinese freighter deliberately dragged its anchor for 100 miles along the Baltic seabed last week, severing two cables: one between Sweden and Lithuania and another linking Finland and Germany. They are looking into whether it is linked to Russia, which has denied involvement.

The repair ship Cable Vigilance has already begun work on the Germany-Finland cable, according to Finnish broadcaster YLE. 

The FBI is investigating, Reuters reports. Hackers allegedly targeted US nonprofits and activists who have spoken out against ExxonMobil. Lawyers for ExxonMobil wielded hacked documents to fight lawsuits filed against the company, according to Reuters.

T-Mobile has confirmed last week’s report that it actually stopped a cyberattack in progress before sensitive customer data was exposed — something the company doesn’t have the best track record for.

T-Mobile didn’t identify the attackers, but the breach resembles the recent Salt Typhoon attacks — which sounds increasingly nefarious as more details arrive.

That’s what the Federal Trade Commission found in a review of product sites for 184 connected devices. Nearly 89 percent failed to disclose how long they’d keep getting software updates. The FTC says that for products with written warranties, this could potentially violate the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, which governs what warranties need to disclose to prospective buyers.

My new favorite fan-binding project: Second Head, a collage of fanfic sentences that employ a vivid yet frequently repeated turn of phrase.

There’s an impulse, I think, to in-group even when performing a creative act. A feeling that there are certain ways one Should go about the act, by virtue of seeing it performed that way ... we make what we see and we make what we think we should make. At least, at first.

Consider my emerald orbs transfixed.

Pixeldarts features a screen that can detect where its electronic suction cup darts stick for automatic scoring, but it also allows other games to be played, including one with paint splashes that’s reminiscent of Splatoon. It can be preordered through Kickstarter for $220, while full pricing is expected to be closer to $399, with shipping expected in June 2025.

Sony launched a site outlining the history of PlayStation, and it includes a fun tidbit: the PS2 has officially sold 160 million units. That strengthens its position as the best-selling console of all time. Nintendo is nipping at its heels with the Switch, though its momentum is slowing for obvious reasons.

Motorola is opening up its AI beta program to the public. Starting today, anyone with a 2024 Motorola Razr, Razr Plus, or the Edge 50 Ultra can opt into the open beta and test out three new features: recording transcripts and summaries, a Pixel Screenshots-esque recall feature, and summaries of recent notifications. Maybe my “flip phone as an AI wearable” concept has legs after all.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers have a fresh dose of Sega games to check out today, headlined by the sequel ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron and the technically impressive platformer VectorMan. The additions come just a day after the Game Boy title Donkey Kong Land 2 hit the service as well.