Nowadays, I enjoy myself contributing to the Articles lacking sources in Turkish– finding sources for them. Sometimes, I switch to the English articles and continue there. In the meantime, Wikipedia turns 25, and we will have a small celebration in İstanbul next Saturday. I have asked Google Gemini to curate recent articles and reports that discuss … Read more
Iran has significantly degraded Starlink’s effectiveness inside Iran for now, but it has not “killed” or permanently broken the system as a whole. Starlink still works globally and remains intermittently usable in parts of Iran despite heavy interference.[aljazeera] What Iran actually did Iranian authorities deployed powerful ground-based jammers (reportedly including Russian-made systems) that interfere with … Read more
IFCN rejects the attempt to portray fact-checking as a security threat and warns of rising global repression The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) at the Poynter Institute strongly opposes the Trump administration’s recent decision to deny U.S. visas to European public officials and civil society leaders. This action, which includes the blacklisting of individuals for their … Read more
I don’t think there is a fall but let’s see: Key Insights by Merlin AI The Evolution of Ecommerce and Retail Direct-to-Consumer Growth Ecommerce was initially heralded as the future, allowing brands to sell directly to customers without traditional retail overhead. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands like Skims and Allbirds flourished, attracting billions in venture capital. The … Read more
I guess there is no doubt about the state of human rights in Iran. However, I am increasingly irritated with the fact that relatively reliable international media outlets, which we frequently cite as good examples of journalism, have explicitly become instruments of war-making. I hope Iranian citizens will have better days to witness. In the … Read more
As of 11 January 2026, curated by ChatGPT Agent. I hope this helps. The table below summarizes the services that offer completely free or discounted plans for people who register with a verified student/faculty email address (usually .edu) or pass SheerID-like verifications. Each service is accompanied by a list of benefits, eligibility requirements and important … Read more
The Impact of Fake Reviews on Consumer Behavior Widespread Influence: Approximately 93% of customers have made purchasing decisions based on online reviews, highlighting their significant role in consumer behavior. Revenue Correlation: A one-star increase in Yelp ratings can lead to a revenue boost of 5% to 9% for restaurants, illustrating how crucial positive reviews … Read more
Key Insights by Merlin AI Tails OS: Privacy and Surveillance Concerns – Tails OS is designed for maximum privacy, erasing all digital traces after each session, making it appealing to journalists and whistleblowers. – Several governments banned Tails due to its ability to make user activity untraceable, posing a challenge to surveillance efforts. – … Read more
As I prepare for the next semester, I listed all the publications and projects our current students have. In the end, you can also see the Google Scholar accounts of our graduates. This is my third year as the program director, and I believe we will rotate this position, but I will continue to teach … Read more
This post is not a definitive account of ISIS activity in Türkiye in 2025, but an open-source synthesis of publicly reported operations, arrests, and one lethal confrontation. It reflects what is visible through media and official statements as of 31 December 2025, and should be read as provisional. We have witnessed a law enforcement mobilization … Read more
This recap was compiled by combining my Field Diary posts, calendar traces, and Diigo media links, using only AI tools (ChatGPT Deep Research and Claude.ai) to organize and summarize. Erkan Saka – Personal Recap of 2025 Q1 2025 (Jan–Mar) January: Wrapped up a month-long research program in Munich. Erkan participated in sessions … Read more
Historical Context of Linux Linux originated from the UNIX operating system, created in 1969 at Bell Labs, which aimed to improve productivity through time-sharing. Linus Torvalds developed Linux in 1991 while seeking an affordable UNIX-like system, leading to a collaborative open-source project. The combination of Linux’s kernel and the GNU project’s software created the … Read more
After three weeks, I can finally rest on a Saturday, which still includes the embarrassingly dirty car getting washed, which in turn contributes more to Google Maps by trying a different mall. The highlight of the week was a training session at the Anadolu Agency ,which is reported here in English. The week included … Read more
Reflections from the “International Relations in the Age of AI” panel held at the Point Hotel Taksim in Istanbul, organized by EUROPolitika Journal on December 20, 2025. I have formatted my notes using Perplexity. AI Grooming: How Authoritarian Powers Weaponize Data to Control the Future of Knowledge In the age of artificial intelligence, we face … Read more
CORPORATE NEGLIGENCE AND LEGAL ACTIONS A 12-year-old filed a lawsuit against Roblox, alleging assault in games labeled as safe spaces, highlighting a significant breach of trust. Multiple lawsuits across Texas, Kentucky, and Louisiana accuse Roblox of creating addictive gameplay that targets children, leading to harmful mental and financial consequences. State attorneys general are coordinating … Read more