Northern flicker take off

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bird in flight, northern flicker

A northern flicker (orange shaft) taking off. Shot in Prescott, AZ

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Consumer reports tricks Telsa to operate with no driver

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self driving car, tesla

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Consumer Reports said Thursday it was able to easily trick a Tesla into driving in the car’s Autopilot mode with no one at the wheel.

Its test came just days after a Tesla crashed in Texas, killing the two men in the car. Authorities say neither of the men were in the driver’s seat at the time of the crash.

Tesla’s TSLA, 1.93% Autopilot partially automated system can keep a car centered in its lane, keep a distance from cars in front of it, and can even change lanes on its own with a driver’s consent. But Tesla has said the driver must be ready to intervene at all times.

Consumer Reports said that during several trips on its closed tracks with an empty driver’s seat, its Tesla Model Y automatically steered along painted lane lines without acknowledging that nobody was at the controls. The Tesla that crashed outside of Houston over the weekend was a Model S, but also had an Autopilot function.

“In our evaluation, the system not only failed to make sure the driver was paying attention, but it also couldn’t tell if there was a driver there at all,” said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ senior director of auto testing, who conducted the experiment. “Tesla is falling behind other automakers like GM and Ford that, on models with advanced driver assist systems, use technology to make sure the driver is looking at the road.”

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/consumer-reports-able-to-trick-tesla-to-drive-with-no-one-at-wheel-01619123567?mod=home-page

Yavapai County admin building closed by “threats”

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Yavapai County

Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Chairman Craig Brown announced Monday, April 19, that the Yavapai County administration building, 1015 Fair St. in Prescott, would close for the next five to 10 business days under a threat, according to a news release.

https://www.dcourier.com/news/2021/apr/19/yavapai-county-administration-building-prescott-cl/

I worked in that building for most of the years I worked for Yavapai County. I wonder what the threat is?

UPDATE: A former employee made the threats. https://www.dcourier.com/news/2021/apr/19/yavapai-county-administration-building-shut-down-w/

Great horned owl young

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great horned owl on nest, prescott az

Great horned owl youngsters in their nest. Willow Lake, Prescott Az

More bird nesting activity

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nesting birds, northern flicker

More Prescott Az bird nesting activity. A pair of northern flickers (red shaft) are nesting in a cavity in a cottonwood tree. They are a type of woodpecker, insect eaters. I really like seeing one peeking out from the nesting cavity.