Microsoft avoids a political nightmare

Blue Origin shows off lunar lander | High-tech crosswalks | Philanthropy rankings ADVERTISEMENT [GeekWire]( SPONSOR MESSAGE: Become a GeekWire member: [Support independent journalism and join today!]( TODAY'S TOP STORIES Student’s path to startup founder: Two years ago, Janie Bube (above) was hit by a cyclist while walking on the University of Washington campus. The incident rattled the landscape architecture student enough to wonder why she wasn’t seen and how she could solve the problem. Bube is now CEO of Sensol Systems, which aims to make high-tech crosswalks that illuminate pedestrians from beneath and hopefully curb dangerous collisions. [Read more.]( U.S., China and Microsoft: A report that the Biden administration has “shelved indefinitely” the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations to a group including Oracle and Walmart further illustrates the extraordinary nature of the Trump administration’s move to force the sale by its parent company, China’s ByteDance, and confirms that Microsoft avoided a political nightmare when its bid for the hit social video app fell through last year. [Read more](. - "There is no God-given right for U.S. tech companies to take for granted that there cannot be other tech powers,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella [tells Bloomberg TV](. “All of us in the West Coast of the United States need to be more grounded, because sometimes I think we celebrate our own advances far too much.” - Previously: [Microsoft says its Political Action Committee won’t donate in 2022 cycle to politicians who sought to overturn election]( Washington State Auditor data breach: Security expert and GeekWire contributing writer Christopher Budd says the state’s response to the breach impacting at least 1.47 million residents “is stunningly callous in its inadequacy.” [Read his analysis](. Philanthropy rankings: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was the top American philanthropist in 2020, giving away $10.1 billion to non-profit efforts associated with climate change and education. MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Bezos, ranked second. [Read more](. Blue Origin shows off lander: The Seattle-area space company [has built a full-scale version of its cargo lunar lander]( in preparation for sending something similar to the moon's surface by as early as 2023. Warner Bros. patent ignites video game controversy: The media giant is taking heat after securing a patent for a signature mechanic of two hit video games, including one developed in the Seattle region. Chet Faliszek, an ex-Valve writer and current co-founder of the Seattle indie studio Stray Bombay, called the patent “an aberration, not the new way forward.” [Read more](. Nominate a Junior Geek of the Month: Do you know an exceptional junior geek? Help GeekWire recognize exceptionally geeky members of the Pacific Northwest community ages 12 – 20. [Learn more and submit a nomination.]( Thanks for reading, and see all our latest headlines below. — GeekWire editor Todd Bishop, editor@geekwire.com, managing editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com, and reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com. SPONSOR MESSAGE [Calling all startup geeks!]( Check out this sample of[GeekWire Startups]( our weekly newsletter that includes all the latest headlines from the tech startup scene in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. To subscribe, visit [geekwire.com/newsletters]( and update your email newsletter preferences. LATEST HEADLINES [Biden’s latest move confirms Microsoft avoided political nightmare when it lost TikTok deal]( [Charge! 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