understanding 2 - The Latremie Post

Meta Introduces Agents Rule of Two for Enhanced AI Security

**Understanding the Agents Rule of Two**

Meta AI has announced a new security framework known as the **‘Agents Rule of Two’** to address the growing security challenges faced by AI agents. This initiative aims to minimize risks associated with AI, particularly focusing on vulnerabilities like prompt injection, according to Meta AI’s official blog post.

### The Challenge of Prompt Injection

Prompt injection is a significant security concern in Large Language Models (LLMs). It occurs when malicious strings or data cause AI agents to disregard developer instructions or perform unauthorized actions. For example, an AI-powered email assistant could be compromised to leak sensitive information or send phishing emails if an attacker exploits this vulnerability.

### Framework Inspired by Existing Policies

The **‘Agents Rule of Two’** framework draws inspiration from security policies used in Chromium and concepts such as Simon Willison’s “lethal trifecta.” It is designed to help developers navigate the trade-offs involved in deploying powerful AI agents while ensuring a balance between functionality and security.

### Key Principles of the Agents Rule of Two

To mitigate the risks of prompt injection, the framework dictates that AI agents should **not** satisfy more than two of the following properties within a session:

– **[A]** Processing untrustworthy inputs
– **[B]** Accessing sensitive systems or private data
– **[C]** Changing state or communicating externally

If an AI agent requires all three properties, it should operate under supervision, such as with human-in-the-loop approval. This oversight helps prevent autonomous actions that could lead to security breaches.

### Implications for AI Development

Meta’s adoption of the Agents Rule of Two reflects its commitment to advancing AI technology while safeguarding user data and system integrity. By implementing this framework, developers can build more secure AI applications, enhance user trust, and better mitigate potential security threats.

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By understanding and applying the Agents Rule of Two, the AI community can work towards safer and more reliable AI agent deployments in the future.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/meta-introduces-agents-rule-of-two-for-enhanced-ai-security/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meta-introduces-agents-rule-of-two-for-enhanced-ai-security

King Trump! At Long Last, a Crown!

We here at The American Spectator have justly lampooned the No Kings crowd. They’re easy to poke fun at, given that their very name and message is, well, obviously incorrect.

Donald Trump has been called numerous things by the Left, most of which are at least subjective and debatable. For instance, one could argue in circles about how to best define the “democracy” that Trump is somehow unilaterally destroying. But a king? That’s pure nonsense from the get-go.
(RELATED: The Ridiculous No Kings Protest)

Donald Trump is, of course, not a monarch. Even if Donald Trump wanted to be king, he couldn’t. Gosh, Trump can’t even abolish the loathsome Department of Education. That’s because in our constitutional system of separation of powers and checks and balances, the legislative branch stops him.
(RELATED: Linda McMahon Body-Slams Woke Classrooms)

And yet, speaking of education, that hasn’t stopped the dimwits at the American Federation of Teachers from pushing the No Kings movement. The AFT’s website, the morning of the recent nationwide No Kings rallies, was filled with silly, incendiary language on “Why fascists fear teachers” and “No crowns, no thrones, no kings.”

Gadzooks, you would think that teachers would know that Trump not only isn’t a king but has neither a crown nor throne! The AFT ought to be educating kids in a proper understanding of what words like “monarch” and “fascist” actually mean.
(RELATED: The Spectacle Ep. 289: No Kings, Just Clowns: The Boomer Rebellion Against Reality)

Apparently, the ignorance that pervades American public education starts at the top. To his immense credit, Donald Trump has seized upon the spectacle to have a little fun. He has trolled the No Kings crowd, posting manipulated photos of himself wearing a crown, which no doubt had them howling even louder: “See! See! We said he wants to be king! There you go!”
(RELATED: The ‘No Kings’ Phonies)

But alas, amid our lampooning of the No Kings howlers, it looks like they’re having the last laugh. Well, not the last laugh, because they don’t laugh — they’re too angry. I should say, the No Kings howlers are having the last word. They’ve been suddenly vindicated.

That is because Donald Trump, ladies and gentlemen, has in fact received a crown. Yes, it is true. If you didn’t catch the news, Donald J. Trump received a crown during his current swing through Asia.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday made Trump the first American president to receive South Korea’s highest honor, the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, replete with a replica of the golden Cheonmachong crown.

No doubt, Trump can’t spell, let alone pronounce, “Mugunghwa” or “Cheonmachong.” But what does that matter? Mugunghwa or cowabunga, Trump at long last got his crown!

Before I extend my congratulations to His Highness, let me add a few words of explication about South Korea, a country that I’ve lectured on for decades and alternately admire and find a little crazy. Not to rain on King Trump’s special parade.

South Korea is quite the political soap opera. The country’s leadership has been mired in scandal for decades, and especially throughout the last year. The current leader who crowned Trump, Lee Jae Myung, who is a member of the Democratic Party of Korea — yes, a Democrat — took power last June after the impeachment, expulsion, and arrest of the previous leader, Yoon Suk Yeol, a right-leaning populist and nationalist who was being dubbed the “South Korean Donald Trump.”
(RELATED: KPop Demon Hunters and South Korea’s Out of Control Lawfare)

The American Left characterizes Jan. 6, 2021, as an attempted coup by Donald Trump, an insurrection that left the nation’s capital teetering on the brink of near-martial law. But in fact, South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol was the real McCoy.

Last January (as noted ironically in a January 6 piece for The American Spectator by Doug Bandow), Yoon declared martial law and deployed troops to the legislature, the National Assembly. These were real troops, not a bunch of yahoos banging on the side of a building with sticks. This very unpopular action by Yoon triggered his impeachment and indictment.
(RELATED: South Korea’s President Commits Self-Immolation)

Yoon’s authoritarian tactics harkened back to South Korea’s days under military rule, with leaders like Park Chung-hee, who ruled the country from 1961 to 1979 before being assassinated. There had been several assassination attempts against Park. His wife was killed in one of them.

Their daughter was elected president decades later, but alas, she — Park Geun-hye — was driven out of office in 2017 and likewise put under arrest, given a 24-year prison sentence.

Even South Korea’s new president has faced drama and serious danger. An assassination attempt was made against him as well (in January 2024). And I assure you, this is a mere short list of South Korean high-ranking officials targeted over the past 50-plus years (including Nobel Peace Prize winner and heroic dissident Kim Dae-Jung).

South Korea is a wild place. No, it isn’t as crazy as the lunatic asylum run by the House of Kim up north — a communist-totalitarian monarchy — but at times it seems like an Asian Wild West.

So, South Korea knows an authoritarian when it sees one! This will make sense to the No Kings folks. They will tell you — actually, they will scream from the streets — that Donald Trump is an authoritarian.

South Korea’s leaders apparently know a king when they see one. Thus, they took the step of awarding Trump the crown that our homegrown No Kings movement had seen coming along.

The irony was not lost on the political scientists at the New York Times. America’s newspaper of record confirmed in a headline, “Trump Has Likened Himself to a King. South Korea gave Him a Crown.”

Indeed, New York Times. Spot on. Brilliant analysis.

And so, there you go! The likes of the American Federation of Teachers have shown themselves not to be the dunces we thought they were, but rather astute political prognosticators. I guess they, too, know a monarch when they see one. Impressive, AFT. Who would’ve thunk it?

The No Kings movement has proved astutely prophetic. Here’s hoping that Trump will start wearing his crown soon. I suggest The Donald don the crown for his next State of the Union address. I think the liberals would love that.

Pop Music Isn’t as Popular
Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day!
https://spectator.org/king-trump-at-long-last-a-crown/

Warriors’ Steve Kerr fires back at Michael Jordan’s old-school load management take

As the Golden State Warriors fell to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night, 120-110, the loss came without the Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup. While some might argue that the Warriors have dominated teams featuring players like Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry, the conversation around load management remains very much alive.

Recently, basketball legend Michael Jordan stated in an NBC interview that load management is unnecessary. However, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr offered a differing perspective. Acknowledging Jordan’s position, Kerr explained the unique challenges his team faces with veteran players such as Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Al Horford.

“For us, four of our top guys are 35-39,” Kerr said, according to The Athletic. “We now have performance teams. When I played with the Bulls, we had one trainer and one weight coach. And now we have reams of data (from) our performance team, which is comprised of 10 people or so.”

He continued, “They’re advising me when our guys are more vulnerable to injury. I believe in this stuff. I believe in the science, and I believe in having players healthy for the playoffs. And if you can try to get there, and it means resting guys along the way, then I’m all for doing so because that’s what counts come playoff time.”

Kerr emphasized that while there isn’t exact data to predict every injury, there are identifiable patterns. “I do think that there are patterns that we can see, that the experts can see, that can help us navigate through the season.”

### Steve Kerr on the Demands of the 82-Game Schedule

Despite the loss to the Bucks, the Warriors have had a dominant start to the season. When asked about how defense is played in today’s NBA, Kerr highlighted how teams manage the grueling 82-game schedule, especially with constant travel.

“This will be our sixth game in 10 games in four cities. Next 10, I think eight of them are on the road. When all is said and done, of our first 15 games, I think they’ll come in 26 days in 10 different cities,” Kerr explained.

“To ask our players to sprint, either full-court pressure, either dealing with it or applying it, racing out to the 3-point line, covering 3-point shooters, and then playing at this tempo is dramatically different from what it was 20 years ago.”

### Looking Ahead

The Golden State Warriors currently hold a 4-2 record as they prepare to take on the Indiana Pacers this Saturday. With load management strategies in place and a demanding schedule ahead, Kerr and his team aim to stay healthy and competitive throughout the season, with an eye firmly set on the playoffs.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-steve-kerr-fires-back-michael-jordans-old-school-load-management-take

Who is Tholindis in Genshin Impact?

If you have been playing through the recent Genshin Impact Archon Quest series, *Song of the Welkin Moon*, you’ve probably encountered a woman named Tholindis in Rerir’s memories. She was his beloved and a dedicated researcher who studied the Moons of Teyvat and their powers, specifically the Crimson Moon.

In Act IV, **”An Elegy for Faded Moonlight”**, players get to see fragments of her past and learn what kind of person she was before Khaenri’ah’s downfall 500 years ago. Through these moments, we gain a clearer understanding of how her story influenced Rerir’s fate and the choices he made from the past through to the present in *Genshin Impact*.

—

### Who is Tholindis in *Genshin Impact*?

Tholindis was the lover of Rerir, one of the infamous Five Sinners of Khaenri’ah. She was also a descendant of the Crimson Moon Dynasty — Khaenri’ah’s original ruling dynasty before the rise of the Eclipse Dynasty.

She studied at the Universitas Magistrorum within the Moon Marrow Laboratory, which functioned much like the national university of Khaenri’ah during that era. Throughout her life, Tholindis maintained a distant relationship with her family, choosing instead to leave them behind and follow her own path. This is revealed in a fragment of her memories that inexplicably coexist within Rerir’s memories.

Through a conversation with a boy named Orlog, it’s revealed that Tholindis was not a direct descendant but rather from a more distant branch of the Crimson Moon lineage. Unlike direct descendants, she did not possess the distinctive X-shaped eyes.

Under King Irmin’s rule in the new Eclipse Dynasty, Crimson Moon descendants were persecuted as threats. To protect herself, Tholindis concealed her bloodline and confided only in her university mentor about her heritage. Later, she met Rerir, and the two eventually fell in love, though she never revealed the truth about her lineage to him.

—

### Tholindis’s Research and Legacy

Tholindis dedicated her life to studying *Moon Marrow* — a fragment-like substance related to the remains of the Crimson Moon after its collapse. Her research aimed to discover an alternate energy source for Khaenri’ah, hoping to replace the unstable powers the kingdom had long depended on.

However, her progress was hindered when King Irmin started redirecting all resources and personnel toward researching Abyssal energy. Despite these challenges, Tholindis continued to work alone, performing experiments to better understand the nature of the Moons.

Eventually, she discovered that Moon Marrow acted as a spatial gateway to another world. Unfortunately, she could not decipher the process or pinpoint this other location due to limited resources.

Over time, Tholindis grew wary of King Irmin’s increasing instability and obsession with Abyssal powers. Fearing the corruption of the nation and its inevitable downfall, she made a final effort to protect her bloodline. She entrusted another descendant named Frithr with the Moon Marrow, ensuring the Crimson Moon lineage would persist into the future.

In the present day of *Genshin Impact*, that legacy continues through Arlecchino, the last known descendant of the Crimson Moon bloodline. In Act III, the Traveler and Columbina obtained the Iridescent Moon’s Marrow with Arlecchino’s assistance, and Columbina later entrusted it to Arlecchino for safekeeping.

—

### Tholindis and Rerir’s Relationship

Though loving, Tholindis and Rerir’s relationship was marked by secrecy. Tholindis never disclosed her Crimson Moon heritage to Rerir, and he, in turn, kept his work under King Irmin a secret from her. Nonetheless, their bond was genuine — so much so that Rerir proposed marriage to her.

Tholindis hadn’t given an answer yet but was sure about their future together. Even when she learned the truth about Rerir’s role in executing the King’s orders—which led to the deaths of many from her bloodline—she tried to understand his circumstances while fearing for her own safety.

Quietly, she aided survivors by helping them escape, all the while keeping an eye out for Rerir.

—

### Their Final Meeting

When the Universitas Magistrorum was invaded by Abyssal monsters, Rerir came to rescue Tholindis. He found her standing before a portal she had created through her research.

Tholindis looked back and confessed she knew about his secret and anticipated his eventual rescue attempt. Rerir urged her to leave immediately, promising to explain everything later. But Tholindis refused, saying she had found a solution to free him from his burdens, allowing him to live the normal life he longed for.

She then stepped through the portal, leaving Rerir behind.

This shattered Rerir, pushing him down the path of the Sinners as he was overtaken by Abyssal powers, becoming the Rächer of Solnari. Instantly, he used his newfound powers to open another portal in pursuit of her.

To this day, Rerir has not found her or learned what became of her over the centuries. Driven by his failure, he now hunts down the Moons and their powers in revenge and redemption.

—

### Conclusion

Tholindis in *Genshin Impact* is one of the most memorable lore figures yet. Her story reveals an untold side of Khaenri’ah’s history before its fall, expanding our knowledge of the Moons and their mysterious powers.

Since her tale remains unfinished and shrouded in mystery, players can look forward to learning more about her in future updates.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/who-tholindis-genshin-impact

Galaxy AI keeps growing: two new languages bring it closer to everyone

Samsung Expands Galaxy AI Language Support with Filipino and Gujarati

Samsung continues to enhance its generative AI suite, Galaxy AI, by expanding its language support to better serve users worldwide. The South Korean tech giant recently announced that Galaxy AI now supports a total of 22 languages, adding Filipino and Gujarati to its growing list.

According to Samsung, Filipino is spoken daily by around 87 million people, while Gujarati is used by approximately 62.5 million individuals. With this update, Galaxy AI now covers languages spoken by nearly 74% of the global population — roughly 5.9 billion people across the globe.

Comprehensive AI Features Available in 22 Languages

These new language additions enable more users to access Galaxy AI’s versatile features on their supported Galaxy devices. This includes Live Translate, Interpreter, Chat Assist, Note Assist, Browsing Assist, and Transcript Assist. Samsung emphasizes that these features are designed with deep linguistic understanding and regional insights to ensure Galaxy AI naturally adapts to the way people communicate.

Collaborative Development for Localized Language Models

To develop the Filipino and Gujarati language capabilities, Samsung Research centers in Indonesia and India played a key role. These centers continue to advance localized language models to support Galaxy AI’s ongoing global rollout.

Growing Adoption of Galaxy AI

Samsung notes that over 70% of Galaxy S25 users regularly engage with both Galaxy AI and Google Gemini features. The company highlights that AI has become an integral part of daily life, with nearly 47% of consumers relying on AI technologies regularly.

Since its debut with the Galaxy S24 series last year, Galaxy AI has experienced rapid growth. Samsung reports that Galaxy AI is now available on over 200 million devices, with plans to reach more than 400 million devices by the end of 2025.

How to Access the New Language Packs

The Filipino and Gujarati language packs are now available for download directly within the Settings app on supported Galaxy phones, making it easy for users to start utilizing these new language features.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Galaxy AI

Samsung’s continuous expansion of Galaxy AI’s language capabilities reflects the company’s commitment to making AI accessible and useful for a diverse global audience. Whether or not you frequently use AI translation features, the addition of new languages is a positive step toward a more connected and inclusive AI experience.

Stay updated with the latest Samsung news to follow further advancements in Galaxy AI and other innovations.

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https://www.phonearena.com/news/galaxy-ai-keeps-growing-two-new-languages-bring-it-closer-to-everyone_id175319

Dylan Harper Gets Pressed by Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle for One Specific Off-Court Reason

The San Antonio Spurs already have an impressive track record with the last two NBA Rookie of the Year winners on their roster. Now, with rookie Dylan Harper joining the team, it wouldn’t be surprising if they made it three in a row. However, while the Rutgers product has shown remarkable talent, he hasn’t necessarily been the tidiest—at least according to teammates Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.

In a now-viral interview posted on the Spurs’ social media pages, both Wembanyama and Castle agreed that Harper had the messiest locker room. Wembanyama said, “It’s gotta be Dylan. He’s only been here for a few months, but it’s full of boxes and stuff.” Castle chimed in, “One of the youngins. We’ll say Dylan, then.”

Harper, however, playfully redirected the blame to fellow rookie Carter Bryant, replying, “Messiest locker? Carter.”

Despite the locker room banter, it’s clear that the veterans will continue to keep Harper on his toes and encourage him to keep his space organized. Then again, that won’t matter much as long as he continues to perform and impress on the court as he has so far.

### Dylan Harper Is Ahead of Schedule for the Spurs

Harper has only appeared in four games so far, but his impact off the bench has already become well-known. He is averaging 14.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and one steal per game while playing about 26 minutes a night and shooting nearly 48 percent from the field.

In a recent interview with Matt Guzman of Sports Illustrated, Harper credited his teammates and the coaching staff for helping shape his game.

“We’ve done a good job just watching film,” Harper said. “They’re sitting me down, telling me what I need to correct… it’s just basketball at this point.”

Harper possesses all the natural traits to become one of the best players in the league. Beyond his ability to attack the basket aggressively, his basketball IQ and defensive recognition have been even more impressive.

“I’m just taking what the defense gives me,” Harper explained. “Having that IQ, knowing not to rush anything, letting the game come to me.”

As the son of a former NBA champion, Harper has been surrounded by the game his entire life, and it clearly shows in how well he reads the court—much better than the average rookie.

The Spurs have started the season a perfect 4-0 and have looked like strong contenders, even with De’Aaron Fox sidelined. With Harper playing at this level, it might be tough for the Spurs to keep him off the court once Fox returns to the lineup.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-dylan-harper-gets-pressed-victor-wembanyama-stephon-castle-one-specific-off-court-reason

Cats Chillin’ in Nature That an Email Will Never Find

“I hope this email found you well,” are perhaps the seven most dreaded words you can read at 9 a.m. on a Monday morning. No one likes to be bombarded by tasks, work, or tedious emails.

For cats, however, none of these worries exist. They don’t pay rent, hold a job, or have any responsibilities. In essence, they are freeloaders—but that’s a story for another time.

When you’re overstimulated and stressed out, take a moment to live vicariously through these adorable kitties simply relaxing in nature. They breathe fresh air and aren’t expected to do anything with their day.

Watching a cat in nature feels like witnessing the universe briefly balance itself. Whether it’s a tabby blending perfectly with fallen leaves or a black cat silhouetted against the golden haze of dusk, there’s an unspoken harmony between the animal and its surroundings.

They move slowly, deliberately sniffing, observing, and stretching. There’s no anxiety about unread messages or the compulsion to refresh a screen. Just presence. Pure, elegant, feline presence.
https://cheezburger.com/42967557/cats-chillin-in-nature-that-an-email-will-never-find

Joe Torre Documentary Directed by John Turturro in Production

Joe Torre, the longstanding Major League Baseball player, manager, and executive, takes center stage in a new documentary directed by John Turturro and produced by Motto Pictures. The film, titled *Joe Torre*, chronicles the remarkable career of this iconic figure, who managed the New York Yankees to four World Series championships—and achieved much more along the way.

Torre remains the only person in MLB history to have recorded 2,000 hits as a player and 2,000 wins as a manager, a testament to his extraordinary dual success in the sport.

“Joe Torre’s lifelong journey to the World Series is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, through a changing landscape and turbulent times. There’s something deeply human about Joe Torre’s quiet strength,” said Turturro in a statement. “In a time when men in sports hid their emotions behind toughness, Joe defied convention. His strength comes from compassion, his victories from understanding people.”

Currently in production, the documentary explores Torre’s life story—from a nervous child with an abusive father to a professional baseball player who won the league’s Most Valuable Player award (MVP) in 1971, and later to a manager who was fired three times before taking on his role with the Yankees.

Torre played in 4,272 games as a player and experienced a career as a manager before finally leading the Yankees to a World Series victory against the Atlanta Braves.

“It’s hard to imagine that a nervous Brooklyn kid who had low self-esteem could go on a journey like mine across more than 60 years,” Torre reflected in a statement. “I once didn’t think I was going anywhere. But baseball gave me a place to hide and ultimately the opportunity to find things in myself that I never knew were there. I am grateful that John Turturro, who witnessed the hometown dream I’ve been fortunate enough to live, is joining me to look back and tell the story in a personal way.”

Stay tuned for more updates on this compelling documentary that celebrates the life and legacy of one of baseball’s most respected figures.
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/joe-torre-documentary-directed-john-turturro-1236563435/

Scherzer doesn’t argue with Schneider, leaves World Series Game 3 with lead that bullpen wastes

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Max Scherzer didn’t argue this time.

John Schneider pointed to Toronto’s bullpen before crossing the foul line on the way to the mound, and the 41-year-old pitcher nodded in agreement as his manager arrived. Scherzer left World Series Game 3 with a 4-2 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers after 4 1/3 innings Monday night, becoming the oldest Series starting pitcher since 45-year-old Jamie Moyer in 2008.

Still, Scherzer appeared disappointed with himself for allowing Kiké Hernández’s leadoff single in the fifth inning. After the Dodgers tied the score against reliever Mason Fluharty, Scherzer was shouting, seemingly at himself, in Toronto’s dugout.

He could get another chance to face the Dodgers, as Scherzer is lined up to start a potential Game 7 on Saturday.

A three-time Cy Young Award winner, “Mad Max” had lived up to his nickname earlier this postseason. He famously told Schneider in profane terms to leave him in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against Seattle on Oct. 16, when the manager visited the mound with two outs and a runner on in the fifth inning.

On Monday, Scherzer struck out Randy Arozarena and recorded two outs in the sixth inning, earning his first postseason win since the 2019 World Series opener for Washington against Houston.

“I’m going to try to avoid any mound visits with Max tomorrow,” Schneider said with a smile on Sunday.

Scherzer was back at Dodger Stadium, where the eight-time All-Star spent the 2021 season with Los Angeles. He disappointed Dodgers fans then when he was scratched from NLCS Game 6 against Atlanta due to arm fatigue, and Los Angeles was eliminated.

Becoming the first pitcher to take the mound for four different teams in the World Series, Scherzer was amped up. He averaged 94.8 mph with 37 four-seam fastballs — his highest since Sept. 19, 2022, when he pitched six perfect innings for the New York Mets to beat Milwaukee for his 200th win.

Hernández, who was in a 1-for-16 slump, singled to start the fifth on a 1-2 fastball at the top of the strike zone. Scherzer retired Andy Pages on a flyout, bringing up Shohei Ohtani, who had doubled leading off the game and hit a solo home run in the third on a full-count fastball.

Schneider signaled to his bullpen before even reaching the foul line, and as he approached the mound, Scherzer nodded in understanding.

Ohtani hit an opposite-field double off Fluharty and scored on Freddie Freeman’s two-out single, tying the score 4-4.

Overall, Scherzer allowed three runs and five hits with three strikeouts and a walk. He also gave up a solo homer to Teoscar Hernández on a hanging slider to start the second inning.

___

AP MLB
https://mymotherlode.com/sports/baseball-general-news/10112743/scherzer-doesnt-argue-with-schneider-leaves-world-series-game-3-with-lead-that-bullpen-wastes.html

These Maine students are sinking to the bottom

Maine, once a national competitor in student achievement, now sits at or below the national average for standardized test performance. While scores nationwide have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic, Maine student performance has been sliding for more than a decade.

A Maine Monitor analysis of 20 years of student test scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) revealed that some students are sinking to the bottom faster than others. Low-income students and children with disabilities saw peak test scores on the NAEP starting around 2007. After that, these students began experiencing significant declines.

Between 2007 and 2024, the portion of all Maine students reaching at least a partial, basic level of understanding in reading and math fell by more than 14 percent. However, the declines were much steeper for certain groups. The percentage of students with disabilities reaching this bare-minimum performance level or higher dropped by more than 32 percent in some subjects—and in some cases, more than 40 percent. Low-income students meeting the same level fell by more than 23 percent during the same period.

Overall, the percentage of Maine test takers performing at or above the basic level is lower than the national average. It is important to note that NAEP results are presented only as percentages, not total numbers, and the exact losses in performance vary depending on the subject and grade level.

To ensure accuracy, The Maine Monitor consulted two education researchers who confirmed that children with disabilities and those from low-income households are sliding significantly. Students with disabilities often have individualized plans that provide accommodations for learning and may include conditions such as autism and dyslexia. Economically disadvantaged students are defined as those from low-income households, homeless children, or those who qualify for programs such as free and reduced-price lunch.

Other groups have been struggling as well. Black students and English language learners have seen significant losses in test scores, although data collection for both groups has been inconsistent over the years due to their relatively small populations in Maine.

NAEP categorizes student performance into four levels:

– **Below Basic:** Students cannot demonstrate even fundamental knowledge in reading or math.
– **Basic:** Students show partial, but not complete, understanding of grade-level skills. For example, fourth graders meeting the basic level in reading can make simple inferences from text, and eighth graders can answer specific questions about the text.
– **Proficient:** Considered the goal for all student performance by the National Assessment Governing Board, this level indicates a solid understanding of challenging math and reading skills.
– **Advanced:** Students have mastered math and reading skills beyond the proficient level.

Maine saw its percentage of students performing at the proficient level begin to decline between 2013 and 2017 across grade levels and subjects. Meanwhile, the proportion of students performing at the advanced level has remained fairly consistent over time, typically between 2 and 10 percent across grade levels and subjects.

Unfortunately, the percentage of students performing below the basic level has been growing since 2007. For instance, about 59 percent of fourth graders with disabilities tested below basic in reading in 2007; by 2024, that number had risen to roughly 78 percent. Similarly, 41 percent of low-income fourth graders tested below basic in 2007, increasing to 59 percent by 2024.

These trends highlight growing challenges in educational equity and achievement in Maine, especially among vulnerable student populations. Addressing these issues will be critical to improving outcomes for all students in the state.
https://www.centralmaine.com/2025/10/27/these-maine-students-are-sinking-to-the-bottom/