Latest news with #RealEngineering
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
LA business owner plays ‘Baby Shark' on repeat to deter homeless encampments
In downtown Los Angeles, a business owner resorted to an unconventional method to prevent homeless people from camping near his property: playing the children's song 'Baby Shark' continuously through a loudspeaker aimed at the encampment. Tracy, who lives in a nearby encampment at the corner of West 11th and Main streets, described the experience to NBC4 Los Angeles, saying, 'They played 'Baby Shark' all night long. They're doing everything they can to make us move or drive us crazy. But it's doing the latter. It's driving people crazy.' She added that the persistent noise had kept her and others awake throughout the night. 'This is ridiculous. We can't get any sleep. We can't get housing. We can't eat. And now they're trying to drive us crazy with children's music,' Tracy said. Also read: 'No jobs in USA for international students': Founder says honeymoon period is over Shalom Styles, owner of Styles Barber Lounge located nearby, defended the decision, emphasising that business owners are simply trying to survive in challenging circumstances. 'It's not always about being kind, because when people are taking away from business, and all the stores are going out of business, we're still here surviving, trying to put up for our family,' Styles told the outlet. The situation unfolds against the backdrop of California Governor Gavin Newsom's ambitious plan to tackle the state's homeless crisis. Last week, Newsom unveiled details of a multi-billion-dollar initiative designed to prompt cities and counties into immediate action. On Monday, Newsom introduced a model ordinance urging local governments to 'immediately address dangerous and unhealthy encampments and connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter and services.' 'There's nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets,' the governor said in a news release. The proposed ordinance is supported in part by $3.3 billion in new funding from Proposition 1, with Newsom's office stressing the urgency for local authorities to respond swiftly. In addition to financial support, Newsom is encouraging municipalities to exercise their legal authority—affirmed by the US Supreme Court—to manage homeless encampments effectively. 'The Governor is calling on every local government to adopt and implement local policies without delay,' his office stated. Newsom's administration has actively held communities accountable when state laws addressing homelessness are ignored. For example, in 2024, the state sued the City of Norwalk over its unlawful ban on homeless shelters. While national homelessness increased by nearly 7% last year, California's rise was a comparatively modest 0.45%, lower than that of 44 other states. 'Governor Newsom is the first governor to actively address this issue in our state, and he is reversing a crisis that was decades in the making,' Newsom's office said. Also read: 'Real Engineering' YouTuber says 'won't praise India again' after incorrect map controversy
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Wrong Map Controversy: Why Indians are furious with YouTube channel Real Engineer's Isro video
A recent video by the popular YouTube channel Real Engineering , titled "The Unlikely Rise of the Indian Space Program", has sparked major backlash in India. While the video lauded Isro's achievements, it featured a distorted map of India, excluding territories which are integral parts of the nation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The omission triggered accusations that the channel was promoting a 'Western narrative' and disrespecting India's territorial integrity. How the backlash started Though the video was intended as a tribute to India's remarkable progress in space exploration – and received praise for its production quality – it quickly drew criticism for its geopolitical representation. Indian viewers flooded the comments section, accusing Real Engineering of insensitivity and political bias. For many, the issue wasn't the content itself, but the deeper disrespect perceived in the inaccurate depiction of India's borders. Real engineering's response In response to the backlash, Real Engineering issued a strongly worded statement expressing disappointment over the reaction from Indian viewers. The creator noted that the video had taken two months to produce and cost tens of thousands of dollars, only to be criticised over what he described as a 'non-issue.' He clarified that the map shown was the internationally recognised version of India and argued that it was not the responsibility of a YouTuber to navigate geopolitical disputes. His post ended with the sign-off: 'I will not make the mistake of praising India again. Mission accomplished, guys.' Comments that made it worse The situation escalated after Real Engineering responded to a viewer's comment, which read: 'I don't have a problem with the name, I have a problem with the wrong map. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now If we do not highlight the issue, then how will it get solved?' To this, Real Engineering replied: 'Someone who has family members died over stupid border disputes, none of it matters. Borders are a construct. The only thing that matters is that people are safe. Focus on that.' This comment was widely condemned as dismissive and insensitive. Many Indians saw it as trivialising the real sacrifices made by soldiers and civilians in border conflicts. The tone was perceived as not just uninformed, but as showing disregard for India's historical struggles and sovereignty. Why the map matters in India In India, depictions of its national borders are not just cartographic details—they're emotionally and politically charged. The country's official stance is clear: PoK and Aksai Chin are inalienable parts of India. Any deviation is seen not as a minor mistake, but a serious affront to national sovereignty. Over the years, even global corporations and media outlets have faced repercussions for similar misrepresentations. For many Indians, the issue is personal. A lesson in context and respect When it comes to matters of territorial integrity, individuals and organisations must tread carefully. It's easy to overlook the significance of national boundaries when operating from thousands of kilometres away, guided only by so-called 'internationally recognised borders.' But for citizens of countries like India, every inch of land is tied to generations of history, culture, and sacrifice. Put yourself in the shoes of an Indian: the bond with the land is not just about maps or geopolitical consensus—it's about identity, pride, and an unshakable commitment to unity. Praising a nation's accomplishments while disregarding its core values is like complimenting someone while stepping on their shoes—it invalidates the sentiment. In Real Engineering's case, there may have been no deliberate malice. But the controversy underscores an important lesson: when speaking about another country, especially on global platforms, cultural and geopolitical sensitivity is essential. Technical accuracy is important—but context, awareness, and respect matter just as much. Ignoring that isn't just tone-deaf. It's bad storytelling.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Real Engineering' YouTuber says ‘won't praise India again' after incorrect map controversy
The hugely popular YouTube channel 'Real Engineering' has come under fire from a section of the internet for displaying an incomplete map of India in a recent video praising the country's space programme. Real Engineering is a YouTube channel run by Texas-based Irish YouTuber Brian McManus. With 4.8 million subscribers and over 250 videos published till date, the channel has a huge following worldwide. The channel is dedicated to exploring the intricacies of engineering and technology and delves into topics ranging from aerospace innovations and renewable energy solutions to military technologies and more. On May 17, Real Engineering published a YouTube video titled 'The Unlikely Rise of the Indian Space Program.' It was a video praising India's space programme and ISRO, and as such should have delighted Indians. However, a few seconds into the video, Real Engineering displayed an incorrect map of India. The incorrect map led to massive backlash from Indians, following which Brian McManus shared a curt message saying he would not make the mistake of praising Indians again. The comments section of the YouTube video was immediately flooded with Indians enraged by the map. 'Please use the correct map of for now,' read one comment. 'Sir, with due respect, you missed Siachen Glacier in the Indian map at 0:25 and beyond. Siachen Glacier is controlled by India. Please use the correct map of India. The areas called PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) and Aksai Chin (currently with China) are integral parts of Republic of India,' another person wrote. This is just an example of the hundreds of such critical comments that flooded the video. Many of the comments turned abusive. The man behind Real Engineering, Brian McManus, shared a message in the comments section that has now been edited or taken down. However, screenshots of his message are still being circulated on social media. In the comment, McManus addressed the controversy generated by this video and said he used an internationally-recognized map of India. 'I'm incredibly disappointed with the comments from Indians on my recent video. That video took us 2 months to make, and cost us 10s of thousands of dollars. All because I wanted to praise a country's perseverance and scientific achievement. 'The map used is the internationally recognized map of India. It is not the responsibility of a YouTuber to enforce your border disputes. I will not make the mistake of praising India again. Mission accomplished guys,' read the comment from Real Engineering.
