Friday, February 21, 2020

21 February - Blogs I'm Following - 3 of 5

10 pm MST

Merge: Did Human Language Evolve Due To A Mutation?

News Staff at Science 2.0 blogs - 11 hours ago
Merge is a controversial belief by some that human language faculty arose in humans through a single gene mutation, rather the evolving gradually. This human burst of genetic exceptionalism is embraced by some linguists, such as Noam Chomsky, but the science community has doubts. The basis for Merge is that humans are genetically equipped with a unique cognitive capacity that specifically allows us to implement computations over hierarchically structured symbolic representations. read more

Proportion of patients diagnosed w/ colorectal cancer under age 50 rose from 10% in 2004 to 12.2% in 2015

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 11 hours ago
Another type of cancer increasing in incidents among young people: Katie Kindelan (February 21, 2020). Mom diagnosed with stage 4 cancer after pregnancy shares message for women: 'You know your body best' Good Morning America https://www.yahoo.com/gma/mom-diagnosed-stage-4-cancer-pregnancy-shares-message-090935800--abc-news-wellness.html ....in the U.S., the proportion of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer under the age of 50 rose from 10% in 2004 to 12.2% in 2015, according to the National Cancer Data Base. And even more critically, 71% of young people (those under age 50)... more »

For-Profit Firm Seeking to Run .Org Names Makes Concessions to Calm Nonprofit Community

AP News at Snopes.com - 11 hours ago
Ethos Capital has offered to cap price hikes and create an advisory board with veto powers to ease concerns about controlling the .org suffix.

Inflated Charges by Doctors is a Primary Reason for the High Cost of the US Medical System Compared to Other Countries; MDs Fleece Medicaid, Medicare & Private Insurance; Regulation (Cost/Fee Caps) & Monitoring for Fraud is the Only Solution

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 11 hours ago
The inflated charges by medical doctors are a primary reason that the US medical system is so costly, and appears … Continue reading →

Licorice Root tincture effective against Coronaviruses?

Robert at Ice Age Now - 11 hours ago
“Licorice has also been shown to stop the reproduction of HIV in lab studies.” – Caroline Snyder ____________ Licorice Root tincture effective against Coronaviruses? Caroline Snyder Right now, I am making my own Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza Glabra) tincture, as Licorice has been found to be one of the most effective agents against Coronaviruses. The commercial ... Read more Licorice Root tincture effective against Coronaviruses? The post Licorice Root tincture effective against Coronaviruses? appeared first on Ice Age Now.

Coronavirus – 120 new deaths, 1,494 new cases

Robert at Ice Age Now - 11 hours ago
21 Feb 2020 – Total reported coronavirus cases: 77,253 Total reported deaths: 2,250 Total reported recovered: 18,909 Source: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ The post Coronavirus – 120 new deaths, 1,494 new cases appeared first on Ice Age Now.

BWorld 413, Poverty and Duterte BBB

Bienvenido Oplas Jr at Government and Taxes - 11 hours ago
* My column in BusinessWorld last Thursday, February 20. On Feb. 5, I attended the lecture by Dr. Dennis S. Mapa, National Statistician and head of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and Professor at the UP School of Statistics (UPSS). His talk was “Poverty in the Philippines: Evidence from the 2018 Official Poverty Statistics,” sponsored by the Department of Economics of the Ateneo de Manila University. I was invited by Dr. Majah Ravago who used to teach at UP School of Economics (UPSE) and recently migrated to Ateneo. The 2018 poverty data is significant because the Famil... more »

Gut-Wrenching Video Shows Impact of Bullying on Nine-Year-Old with Dwarfism. The World is Reacting

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 11 hours ago
An Australian mother took to Facebook earlier this week to make an emotional plea against bullying as her 9-year-old son, Quaden, begged to die after years of abuse over his dwarfism. Immediately, Quaden’s country and the rest of the world reacted, sending love to a child whose pain was visibly present and deeply felt. What […] The post Gut-Wrenching Video Shows Impact of Bullying on Nine-Year-Old with Dwarfism. The World is Reacting appeared first on Health Nut News.

Modi govt keen on trade pact with Australia as RCEP takes backseat

bilaterals.org - 11 hours ago
21-Feb-2020 New Delhi wants to resume negotiations on the long-pending Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with Australia, talks for which stalled in 2015.

Arbitration case law update: Supreme Court lifts stay on enforcement of ICSID award: the Micula saga continues

bilaterals.org - 11 hours ago
21-Feb-2020 This is far from the end of the Micula story. Enforcement proceedings continue in the United States, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Sweden, and there are questions before the CJEU.

Exclusive: Chinese consortium Ecuagoldmining opens dispute with Ecuador over halted mine

bilaterals.org - 11 hours ago
21-Feb-2020 Chinese mining consortium Ecuagoldmining has initiated a dispute with Ecuador's government over a gold mining project that has been halted by objections from community activists.

Minera china inicia el camino para un arbitraje internacional contra Ecuador

bilaterals.org - 11 hours ago
21-Feb-2020 El consorcio chino Ecuagoldmining notificó a Ecuador la existencia de una “disputa internacional” según un tratado de protección de inversiones suscrito con China, por falta de garantías para operar el proyecto Río Blanco.

Pacer Plus set to come on stream later this year - Cooks Deputy PM

bilaterals.org - 11 hours ago
21-Feb-2020 The trade deal known as Pacer Plus will have immediate benefits for the Cook Islands when it comes into force later this year, says the Cooks' deputy prime minister.

US statement at the EU trade policy review

bilaterals.org - 11 hours ago
21-Feb-2020 The US is troubled by the EU's non-tariff barriers that impede the use of modern agricultural tools and technologies such as biotechnology, veterinary drugs and pathogen reduction treatments.

Projected electricity demand in March - Oct 2020

Bienvenido Oplas Jr at Government and Taxes - 11 hours ago
The projected weather phenomena starting March to October 2020 is shown below. The estimated temperature anomaly (deviation from the average) are as follows: March-July 2018: -0.6 to +0.5 C (cold to hot) March-July 2019: +0.8 to +0.5 C (generally hot) March-July 2020: +0.8 to -0.5 C. (hot to cold) https://i1.wp.com/www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/monitoring/nino3_4.png https://i1.wp.com/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/CFSv2/imagesInd1/nino34Sea.gif Implications for electricity demand forecasting in the Luzon grid these coming hot months -- we expect cooler weather, rainy months thi... more »

U.S. Defense Agency That Secures Trump’s Communications Suffered Data Breach

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
A building at Fort Meade, Maryland, where the Defense Information Systems Agency is headquartered, on Sept. 19, 2007.Jason Reed / Reuters file *Reuters:* *U.S. agency that handles Trump's secure communication suffered data breach* WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. defence agency that handles secure communications for President Donald Trump said Social Security numbers and other personal data in its network may have been compromised, according to letters seen by Reuters on Thursday that were sent to people possibly affected. The letters, dated Feb. 11, 2020, say that between May and... more »

Jon McNaughton’s Latest Artwork: “You are Fake News”…

sundance at The Last Refuge - 11 hours ago
Artist Jon McNaughton presents his latest artwork centered around the current state of U.S. politics and President Donald J Trump. [Visit Website Here] . Chopper pressers are the best pressers…

Randomness

LL at Virtual Mirage - 11 hours ago
*COVID-19* The Chinese are anxious to get the nation back to work, making landfill for the First World including the USA. Since the incubation period of the virus has been stated at "between 14 and 24 days", the standard quarantine of 14 days may not be enough. The cruise ship petri dish experiment showed how quickly the virus will spread through a concentrated population group. Questions remain about the origin of the virus - engineered weapon or naturally occurring? Questions remain about the long term problems of mutation. We don't even know for certain whether it is airborne or... more »

‘Bee-Washing’ Hurts Bees and Misleads Consumers

David Mikkelson at Snopes.com - 11 hours ago
Bee-washing is a form of greenwashing, a description conceived by environmentalists to define a marketing spin that persuades the public to think that a product is environmentally friendly.

Did Biden Say Poor Kids Are ‘Just as Talented as White Kids’?

David Mikkelson at Snopes.com - 11 hours ago
An example of what candidates should avoid, especially if their record on race has already come under intense scrutiny.

Mexico Scientist Accused as Russian Spy Held Without Bail

AP News at Snopes.com - 11 hours ago
A Mexican scientist accused of spying for Russia in Miami will be detained without bail for now, a federal judge decided.

Is This Photo of Trump, Bloomberg, Clinton, and Giuliani Real?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 11 hours ago
Some viewers had trouble picturing these politicians golfing together.

How US Law Harms the Fight Against Disinformation

Jill Goldenziel at Balkinization - 11 hours ago
*This post was co-authored by Jill Goldenziel and Manal Cheema. The post reflects the personal views of the authors and not of any arm of the U.S. government.* As candidates gear up for the 2020 election, disinformation campaigns are gearing up faster. Even before the 2016 election and the 2018 midterms, the United States has been grappling with its response to foreign disinformation campaigns that threaten to undermine the U.S. electoral process. They are perpetrated not only by foreign bots and trolls from states like Russia and Iran, but also U.S. persons. Disinformation campaign... more »

The two parties and their campaigns—so different

Norma at Collecting My Thoughts - 11 hours ago
“Democrats still love to see themselves as representing the little guy against the big corporations. But in this century, their presidential nominees have outraised and outspent their Republican opponents, and they’ve been running ahead of Republicans in the highest income groups. Yet as Democratic pols and pundits search for someone to stop Bernie Sanders, whom do they alight on? Not Joe Biden or Elizabeth Warren, whose support has been visibly waning. Probably not on Pete Buttigieg, who’s struggling to win any perceptible support from blacks, or Amy Klobuchar, whose support seems ... more »

Met Office Did Not See Wet February Coming

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 11 hours ago
By Paul Homewood We’ve been inundated this month by Storms Ciara and Dennis, but did our glorious Met Office see it coming? They will quite rightly claim that their seven day forecasts have been broadly accurate, something that just about every weather forecaster in the world could boast. But once a month, they […]

Turning Texas Bluer-- For Real

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 12 hours ago
*Sane people don't think of the Green New Deal as "Fools Gold"* As you may recall, Mike Siegel fought a tireless grassroots battle in the gerrymandered 10th Texas congressional district, which goes from northern Austin through the city's northern suburbs, across Bastrop, Lee, Fayette, Colorado, Washington, Austin and Waller counties all the way into the exurbs (Tomball, Bridgeland and Cypress) northwest of Houston. The DCCC braintrust declared the district unwinnable and ignored the race entirely, even going so far as to urge local organizations to not contribute to Mike and help th... more »

Premier Stephen McNeil dismisses Wet’suwet’en supporters as “people who have a … bee in their bonnet about something”

Tim Bousquet at Halifax Examiner - 12 hours ago
News 1. Mitsubishi’s Fish We’ve published an in-depth investigation by Linda Pannozzo, who looks at the failure to implement a new regulatory regime for fish farms in Nova Scotia as recommended by the 2014 Doelle-Lahey report. That failure is particularly important now that Cermaq Canada is looking to expand operations into provincial waters. Pannozzo unpacks many […]

Inequitable Opportunity to Learn: Student Access to Certified and Experienced Teachers

Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig at Cloaking Inequity - 12 hours ago
I gave a keynote for the Tucson Urban League yesterday and one of the topics of discussion was the persisting inequality in teacher quality for low income and students of color. On cue, The Learning Policy Institute (LPI) has released Inequitable Opportunity to Learn: Student Access to Certified and Experienced Teachers authored by Jessica Cardichon, Linda Darling-Hammond, Man Yang, Caitlin

WATCH: Cops Choke Innocent Teen Unconscious, Smash His Head in With a Flashlight

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 12 hours ago
[image: unconscious]Horrifying video was just released showing police beat an innocent unconscious teen with a flashlight, seriously injuring him.

WATCH: Man Accurately Predicts on FB Live He’s About to Be Pulled Over for Driving While Black

Jack Burns at The Free Thought Project - 12 hours ago
[image: profiled]Two black males and a baby were pulled over by a police officer allegedly because they were racially profiled. All the while, the cop wanted to speak with the passenger, not the motorist and began asking about his love life.

Stone Judge Suggests Russian Collusion Hoax Is True

R. Cort Kirkwood at rss - 12 hours ago
[image: stone-judge-suggests-russian-collusion-hoax-is-true] Just before she sentenced longtime GOP operative Roger Stone to 40 months in prison for obstruction, witness tampering, and lying to Congress, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson unbosomed herself of a jeremiad to remind everyone that Stone and President Trump threaten the very foundation of the Republic.

Dennis Prager Discusses "No Safe Spaces”

TNA Video at rss - 12 hours ago
[image: dennis-prager-discusses-no-safe-spaces] VIDEO - Duke Pesta talks with Dennis Prager, founder of PragerU and host of The Dennis Prager Show, about the movie “No Safe Spaces.” The movie is uncovers the restriction of free speech on college campuses. Duke and Dennis discuss the current Leftist takeover of campuses and how difficult it is for conservative voices to be heard.

Trump Apparently Not a Fan of ‘Parasite’ Movie

AP News at Snopes.com - 12 hours ago
President Donald Trump is apparently not a fan of “Parasite," his biggest complaint being that the movie was made in South Korea.

This Day In Iraqi History - Feb 21

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 12 hours ago
1922 UK Sec of War Evans told Foreign Office it should back King Faisal because that would allow UK to exit Iraq and escape expenses of running country (Musings On Iraq book review *Supremacy And Oil, Iraq, Turkey, and the Anglo-American World Order, 1918-1930*) 1984 Iranian Op Al Fajr 6 began Aimed at taking Ali al-Gharbi 15 miles into Iraq 1984 Iraq warned that it could use chemical weapons against next Iranian offensive 1986 Iraq counterattack to retake Fao began on 3 fronts Iraq used poison gas but bad weather dissipated effects (Musings On Iraq article on the origins of Iraq’... more »

A farmer replies to Michael Bloomberg

Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man - 12 hours ago
Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg was rather scathing about farmers and farming a few years ago. This video clip surfaced recently as he ramped up his presidential campaign. A sheep farmer from northern Texas has replied. Dear Mr Bloomberg, I am not an anybody ... a middle of the country farm girl with no college education ... but your comments about farming not taking as much “gray matter” as what you do made me want to address this serious misconception you and many in our society seem to have. Farming is not simply planting a seed or feeding an animal and... more »

Spy intrigue in Miami, Mission Impossible foiled?

Uriel at 'Nox & Friends - 12 hours ago
What does a geeky looking Mexican national living in Singapore have to do with a “confidential source,” an alert residential guard, the FBI, and Russia? Apparently a lot more than one would think according to the FBI. Sometimes you just never know where the next spy novel might pop up. This came across the media three days ago but received little or no coverage even though it was about Russia, Russia, Russia … spying in the US. –##– Russia Recruited Mexican National to Locate ‘Confidential Human Source’ in America: DOJ Law and Order Jerry Lambe February 18, 2020 Federal authorities ... more »

UKC News: Turkey in Idlib, Assange, Stone, MH17, UK Regime Change Journos

21wire at 21st Century Wire - 12 hours ago
*UKC News* | Co-hosts Patrick Henningsen and Mike Robinson with the end of week news run-down.

Italian man dies from coronavirus as number of confirmed cases jump in Italy

Just In - 12 hours ago
An elderly Italian man dies after being infected with coronavirus, becoming the first Italian victim of the disease.

SDGs Corporate Tracker to Monitor Progress of UN’s Development Agenda

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands, Feb 21 (IPS) - Peter Paul van de Wijs is Chief External Affairs Officer, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)This year marks just ten years ahead of the deadline for completing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. These universally supported targets were always ambitious in their scope – yet what is clearer now than ever before is that quicker progress is crucial in the decade to come. Read the full story, “SDGs Corporate Tracker to Monitor Progress of UN’s Development Agenda”, on globalissues.org →

Women Bear the Burden of India's Water Crisis

Feb 21 (IPS) - Across cities and villages in India, an impending water crisis is at our doorsteps. India will face a water shortfall of almost 50 percent by 2030, if our water use continues its current pattern. Last year, Chennai and Bangalore showed us what water scarcity looks like; the statistics are no longer just numbers on paper, they have become our reality. Read the full story, “Women Bear the Burden of India's Water Crisis”, on globalissues.org →

UN Accused of “Hypocrisy” Launching Equal Pay Day While Condoning Wage Discrimination

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 21 (IPS) - The United Nations, which has long preached the irrefutable concept of income equality to the outside world, is now accused of condoning wage discrimination in its own backyard. Read the full story, “UN Accused of “Hypocrisy” Launching Equal Pay Day While Condoning Wage Discrimination”, on globalissues.org →

Nepal’s Baby Export

KATHMANDU, Feb 21 (IPS) - A major discrepancy between Nepal government and foreign records of the number of Nepali children adopted in North America and Europe has exposed a trafficking ring that involves various child welfare agencies in Kathmandu. Read the full story, “Nepal’s Baby Export”, on globalissues.org →

Hundreds Of County Jails Detained Immigrants For ICE

Emanuel Martinez at PopularResistance.Org - 12 hours ago
On a typical day in 2017, for instance, Theo Lacy Facility in Orange, California, operated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, held about 500 individuals for ICE and received US$118 per person per day, bringing in a total of $59,000 a day. More so than federally operated facilities, county jails, along with facilities operated by for-profit companies, have come to hold for ICE the lion’s share of immigrant detainees facing removal proceedings.

Poof! Bloomberg Disintegrates

adam at LaRouchePAC Feed - 13 hours ago
After spending well over $300 million on ads for his delayed launch in the Democrat presidential campaign, Mike Bloomberg went up in smoke on Wednesday night in Nevada, as he appeared on his first TV debate. He bought 2 billion (with a “b”) ads on Facebook and Google alone over the past weeks — about 30,000 ads per minute. This contrived portrait of Mussolini Mike, with a few nice phrases, lifted his poll numbers from 4% to 19% virtually overnight, putting him neck and neck with Bernie — until the nation saw him in “inaction” on the stage that night. The bigger problem, is that th... more »

Bloomberg, Pompeo, Stone and What It All Means Behind the Scenes

Alicia at LaRouchePAC Feed - 13 hours ago
Bloomberg, Pompeo, Stone and What It All Means Behind the Scenes Video of Bloomberg, Pompeo, Stone and What It All Means Behind the Scenes Bloomberg goes up in flames during the Nevada debates, what is he really the front man for? LPAC's latest piece on Pompeo hits the streets. Stone gets his sentence. What do all these things represent below the surface? Every weekday morning Harley will brief you on what you need to know to start your day. On Tuesdays, we broadcast his briefing live on the LaRouchePAC Facebook page at 12:00 pm eastern, where he fields questions about current eve... more »

The Culinary Union of Nevada takes a pass on endorsing – here's why that may be a winning political strategy

Ruben J. Garcia, Professor of Law, Co-Director of UNLV Workplace Law Program, University of Nevada, Las Vegas at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 13 hours ago
An ugly spat involving some supporters of Bernie Sanders harkens back to old tropes about the labor movement. But the Culinary is showing itself to be a model for unions in the 'right-to-work' era.

They're all fabulous and wonderful! How to figure out what's real in an inflated letter of recommendation

Stephen J Ceci, Professor of Human Development, Cornell University at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 13 hours ago
Letters of recommendation have grown supersized and one-sided in their praise. In one study, only 1-2% of letters fell below the good-to-excellent range. How can a reviewer find out who's really good?

Why do people believe con artists?

Barry M. Mitnick, Professor of Business Administration and of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 13 hours ago
People everywhere have always had a sweet tooth for the unreal, enthralled by what should be taken as too good to be true. Why do people ignore the obvious and believe the bizarre?

Bloomberg is useful for showing how insane Bernie Sanders is

trinko at Conversations about the obvious - 13 hours ago
When Mike Bloomberg is the voice of sanity in the room you know there's something wrong. After all this guy wants to control how much soda you drink, tell mothers how they have to feed their babies, and keep people from vaping so he's not opposed to treating Americans like serfs. Yet despite that he says that Bernie's socialist ideals are a disaster. In the Las Vegas debate Bloomberg raised at least 3 points about Bernie that are damning. 1) Bloomberg pointed out that Bernie wants to essentially throw out capitalism and that Bernie is therefore a communist. We knew that Bernie w... more »

I shall be gone for the next few days...

Adrienne at Adrienne's Corner - 13 hours ago
*tropical vacation? Disneyland? Luxury cruise?* Yeah - nice thoughts, but no. Rather than deal with the Windows 7 snafu, we decided to just have our guru build us a couple of new desktops. Later today the aforementioned guru is picking up our current PC's and will transfer everything at his shop. So.......I will be computer-less until early next week. Will I survive? It will be ugly, but I'm looking forward to the forced time out. Trump rally tonight in Las Vegas. *LIVE FEED *While Trump was still speaking in Colorado, peeps were already lining up in Las Vegas. *Amazon Toda... more »

You gotta laugh....before you cry

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 13 hours ago
Obama calls on Jimmy again Jimmy Dore is a self-described 'jag-off comedian who does a show from his garage' in Los Angeles He does politics on the side...... more »

Common Core Is Dead. Long LIve Common Core.

Peter Greene at CURMUDGUCATION - 13 hours ago
The Common Core State Standards are dead. Done. Finished. Authorities have told us so. Betsy DeVos delivered a brief eulogy at the American Enterprise Institute back in January. “And at the U.S. Department of Education, Common Core is dead,” she declared. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis just announced that the work of “rooting out all vestiges of Common Core” done, and new standards would now replace the old, unloved ones. So is that it? Can we get out our forks and prepare to stick them in the Common Core? Or have the reports of their death been greatly exaggerated? Sad to say... more »

OH: Whose Gold Makes That Parachute?

Peter Greene at CURMUDGUCATION - 13 hours ago
It turns out there's one more problem with the kind of autocratic corporate-style takeover that Ohio implemented under HB 70. You may recall that Lorain, Ohio, is one of three districts to be placed under the control of an all-powerful CEO. It was not pretty. An Ohio-style school CEO has all the powers of a school board and a superintendent, less the ability to levy taxes but plus the power to arbitrarily rewrite contracts. The job requires such a super-human level of expertise that it's unlikely that anyone could really do it well-- but Lorain was saddled with David Hardy, Jr., a g... more »

Roger Stone Sentence Cut in Half After Trump-Barr Intervention; Stone Left Courthouse Looking like a Cross Between a Mobster and the Vodou Spirit of Death

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 13 hours ago
Roger Stone was given 3 years and 4 months in prison, which is less than half of the recommended sentencing, … Continue reading →

Reports: Trump Ousted Acting Intel Chief After Russian Election Meddling Warning

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 13 hours ago
From VOA News: “Reports: Trump Ousted Acting Intel Chief After Russian Election Meddling Warning By Jeff Seldin Updated February 20, … Continue reading →

"How It Really Is"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 13 hours ago

"Covid-19 Update AM 2/21/20"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 13 hours ago
*"Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Double Overnight In South Korea* * To 204; China Reveals Alarming Prison Outbreak, 500+ Already Infected"* by Tyler Durden "Update (0725ET): Lebanon has confirmed its first case of COVID-9. The tiny Levantine state, which has swollen with refugees from nearby Syria in recent years, is in the middle of an economic crisis, and its government is presently weighing whether to default on an upcoming loan payment, which could lead to deeply unpopular austerity measures, as Al Jazeera reports. Earlier, Israel’s Health Ministry confirmed that an Israeli citizen co... more »

What does Amazon know about you?

Norma at Collecting My Thoughts - 13 hours ago
BBC News article includes extensive history, narrative, graphics, photos and insight into how and why Amazon collects massive amounts of data Amazon on users through multiple channels of e-commerce and devices – by Leo Kelion – “You might call me an Amazon super-user. I’ve been a customer since 1999, and rely on it for everything from grass seed to birthday gifts. There are Echo speakers dotted throughout my home, Ring cameras inside and out, a Fire TV set-top box in the living room and an ageing Kindle e-reader by my bedside. I submitted a data subject access request, asking Ama... more »

Trump job approval higher than Obama’s

Norma at Collecting My Thoughts - 13 hours ago
at same time in presidency. According to Gallup, President Trump’s February 2020 job approval is at 49%. That’s 4 percentage points higher than when he took office. President Obama’s job approval was 45% in February 2012, toward the beginning his fourth year in office. https://sharylattkisson.com/2020/02/trump-job-approval-beats-out-obamas-at-same-time-in-presidency/?

If You Want People To Read Your Science, Get Them To Read You - By Making Your Stories Personal

Hank Campbell at Science 2.0 blogs - 13 hours ago
A new paper says scientists can make their work more appealing to the public by making it more personal. I learned of it through a paid university PIO but few scientists will see the irony in that. I certainly agree with the point. I have been part of two communities, science and the military, that in defiance of public perception are filled with hilarious people who have great stories. But when the recorder comes on, it's often like talking to someone in marketing who hasn't been cleared for media by their boss. They clam up or give canned answers. read more

COVID-19 News

LL at Virtual Mirage - 14 hours ago
A lot depends on how you classify "evidence" and how you weight it. New research is coming closer to the explanation of how a weaponized COVID-19 works. (link) A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Antiviral Research (Vol. 16, April 2020) is entitled, “The spike glycoprotein of the new coronavirus 2019-nCoV contains a furin-like cleavage site absent in CoV of the same clade.” The CoVid-19 coronavirus contains unique features which allow for more effective human-to-human transmission. Is it a weaponized form of coronavirus or is it just the flu? It depends on who you t... more »

How To Roast the Planet with Good Intentions: The Climate Equity Act

Yves Smith at naked capitalism - 14 hours ago
A new bill illustrates how not to tackle climate change.

Is There Anything You Can Do to Prevent Deaths on the Road?

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 14 hours ago
Story at-a-glance Nearly 18,000 automotive accidents occur every day in the U.S., on average. This frequency multiplied by the low severity still amounted to nearly 37,000 automotive fatalities in 2018 Of all drivers killed in U.S. automotive accidents in 2017, 18% occurred on a freeway, which is actually lower than expected. In fact, there are […] The post Is There Anything You Can Do to Prevent Deaths on the Road? appeared first on Health Nut News.

A World No Longer Shaped By Atlantic Powers

M. K. BHADRAKUMAR at OrientalReview.org - 14 hours ago
The annual Munich Security Conference last week (February 14-16) turned out to be an iconic event, drawing comparison with the one held in the same Bavarian city on February 10, 2007 where in a prophetic speech Russian President Vladimir Putin had criticised the world order characterised by the United States’ […]

Eating Too Much Rice Was Almost A Worst Mistake For Japan Than Pearl Harbor

James Simpson at The National Interest - 14 hours ago
*James Simpson* *Security, Asia* Some very strange history you might have missed. *Key point: *The army dealt with its beriberi problem very differently than the navy did. In August 1882 in Incheon Bay near Seoul, four Japanese warships were locked in a tense stand-off with two Chinese warships that had brought troops to quell a revolt on the Korean peninsula. On paper, the Japanese flotilla outnumbered the Chinese, but the hulls of the Japanese ships hid a deadly secret. Less than half of their crews could man their stations. The Korean peninsula erupted into conflict on July... more »

A New Study Says If You Want to Prevent a War Send Tanks

David Axe at The National Interest - 14 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, * If the United States wants to deter war and grow its influence, it’s best for it to base armored vehicles near a potential war zone. Permanently. Heavy ground forces are best at deterring war and boosting a country’s overall influence in the aftermath of a crisis. But the heavy forces, which include armored vehicles such as tanks plus artillery and air-defense systems, merely should be near a conflict zone, not in it. That’s the conclusion of a February 2020 study by RAND, a California think tank with close ties to the U.S. military. The RAND report und... more »

North Korea and the U.S. 2020 Primary Candidates for President: What Are the Policy Options?

Robert E. Kelly at The National Interest - 14 hours ago
*Robert E. Kelly* *Security, * One expert argues that Trump and his democratic challengers have only three options. The primary season in the United States is heating up. Just a few days ago, the Democrats held a raucous debate in Nevada. Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City, is emerging as a moderate alternative to former Vice President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, self-declared socialist Bernie Sanders is widening an unexpected lead. On the Republican side, sitting U.S. President Donald Trump is all but unchallenged in the Republican primary. The Democratic debates ... more »

Donald Trump Made the Right Choice of Picking Richard Grenell for DNI

Christian Whiton at The National Interest - 14 hours ago
*Christian Whiton* *Security, * There’s a lot to like about the appointment of Grenell. The cries of Trump's opponents are one of them. President Donald Trump announced that he will make Richard Grenell the acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), which is supposed to coordinate intelligence across America’s vast, $50 billion-per-year intelligence bureaucracy. The position was created in the years after the 9/11 attacks on the United States, which demonstrated a fundamental lapse in collating intelligence. Grenell is currently the U.S. ambassador to Germany, and will cont... more »

Forget Coronavirus: U.S. Cities Could Be a Real Killer (Thanks to Obesity)

John Rennie Short at The National Interest - 14 hours ago
*John Rennie Short* *Health, Americas* Here's how to be healthy at a lower cost. New disease outbreaks, like the novel coronavirus that recently emerged in China’s Hubei province, generate headlines and attention. Meanwhile, however, Americans face a slower but much more pervasive health crisis: obesity. Nearly 40% of Americans are considered obese. Rates of obesity for children have increased in recent decades, putting more people at increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. One in 5 deaths of those aged 40 to 85 are now attributed to obesity, and one recent ... more »

China's J-20 Stealth Fighter Has One Big Advantage Over America's F-22 And F-35

Mark Episkopos at The National Interest - 14 hours ago
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * Range. *Key point: *The American F-22 and F-35 fighters are now equipped with the latest AIM 120-D missiles, but a massive range deficit remains nonetheless. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force made waves at the 2018 Zhuhai Airshow with the latest showing of their flagship fifth-generation stealth fighter, the J-20. As is common with airshow coverage, large swaths of the ensuing commentary focused on the J-20’s handling and maneuverability as it performed a series of rolls and a climb. But this elides what is perhaps the most significant ... more »

Donald Trump and Barack Obama Actually Have Something in Common

Ronald R. Krebs, Robert Ralston at The National Interest - 14 hours ago
*Ronald R. Krebs, Robert Ralston* *Politics, Americas* [image: Reuters] Barack Obama was, as president, eloquent. His language was sophisticated. He spoke in measured tones and advanced dialogue that was informed and reasoned. Donald Trump is inarticulate and brusque. So what do they have in common? A love of words--but the usage and phrases are very different. Barack Obama was, as president, eloquent. His language was sophisticated. He spoke in measured tones and advanced informed, reasoned dialogue. Donald Trump is inarticulate and brusque. His language is simplistic. He dish... more »

Cop Gets 7 Years After Arresting People for Heroin, Stealing It from Dept, Selling It

Jack Burns at The Free Thought Project - 14 hours ago
[image: heroin]A Haywood County detective was arrested, charged, and convicted of breaking and entering the evidence room and using/selling heroin or opiates.

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Prosecutions of International Terrorist Supporters Continue: Winter 2019 Update

ebroches at Lawfare - 14 hours ago
U.S. Department of Justice (Source: Wikimedia) A recent U.N. report warned about both the continued threat posed by Islamic State fighters and the challenges related to the effective prosecution of returned fighters and those who are financing terrorism. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice continues to prosecute individuals involved in terrorism in a number of ways. These new proceedings included charges against an individual who is already incarcerated and a successful push to denaturalize a man convicted of terror charges in advance of his release late this year. More broa... more »

Two of Four Seasons Gone, Because Climate Change

Ron Clutz at Science Matters - 14 hours ago
From the NewsThump, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons reduced to Two in light of climate change. Excerpts in italics with my bolds. Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons concerti will now consist of just two seasons, because that’s all there are these days. The conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra Simon Williams commented, “The current generation doesn’t really understand […]

Firm Wants to Recover the Titanic’s Iconic Telegraph Machine

AP News at Snopes.com - 14 hours ago
The salvage firm that has plucked silverware, china and gold coins from the wreckage of the Titanic now wants to recover the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Machine that transmitted the doomed ship's increasingly frantic distress calls.

How to Deal With Laziness and Procrastination in School – sponsored

Contributing Reporter at The Rio Times - 14 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Procrastination and laziness are fierce enemies of productivity. Postponing the responsibilities and homework means that when the deadline comes, you will be in a stressful situation trying to do everything in a rush. As a result, procrastination can lead to poor quality of your writing and lack of focus in […] The post How to Deal With Laziness and Procrastination in School – sponsored appeared first on The Rio Times.

First Nations Blockades

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 14 hours ago
First Nations blockades are roiling the country. The present situation can be traced back to a decision the Supreme Court made in 1997. Tom Walkom writes: The 1997 Delgamuukw case, dealt directly with a claim by Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs for jurisdiction over a big chunk of unceded land in northern British Columbia. While not ruling on the specifics of the case (the court said a new trial — which has never been held — would be necessary to do that) the justices indicated that the Wet’suwet’en nation did indeed hold Aboriginal title over a undefined portion of this land. How... more »

The Assange Hearing: A Reticent Request

barovsky at The New Dark Age - 14 hours ago
Julian Assange will stand next week in the armoured dock, accused of the “crime” of publishing. It is worth recalling that Wikileaks has a 100% record of accuracy. Nothing it has published has ever been shown to be inauthentic. Julian stands accused of the crime of telling the truth – more than that, of telling freely to the ordinary people of the world about the crimes which the powerful seek to conceal.

Statewatch News Online, 17 February 2020 (02/20): No saving lives at sea

barovsky at The New Dark Age - 14 hours ago
The European External Action Service (EEAS) has called on EU governments to limit the saving of lives at sea by Operation Sophia. A note sent to the member states' permanent representatives in Brussels says the mission should prioritise the enforcement of a UN arms embargo on Libya, rather than monitoring migrant smuggling activities, and suggests that ships could be placed "at least 100km off the Libyan coast, where chances to conduct rescue operations are lower."

As Usual, Western Media Grossly Distort Syria’s Conflict

barovsky at The New Dark Age - 14 hours ago
Western news media are once again distorting the conflict in Syria with lopsided coverage this week, claiming to focus their concern on a humanitarian crisis in the northwest of the country.

American Women Seek More Than $66M in Damages from US Soccer

AP News at Snopes.com - 14 hours ago
Players on the U.S. women's national team are seeking more than $66 million in damages as part of their gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Senior Pentagon Official: US Must Be Ready For A Military Clash With China

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 15 hours ago
Soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) get ready for the military parade to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the army at Zhurihe military training base in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, July 30, 2017. China Daily via REUTERS *SCMP:* *US must be ready for military clash with China, Pentagon official Chad Sbragia says* * US needs to develop weapons, boost ties with allies and improve military efficiency to be ready against ‘formidable’ China, Chad Sbragia says * ‘This is a long-term process. We have to be agile, smart,’ says deputy assistant... more »

The Donald Trump I Know: Abbas’ UN Speech and the Breakdown of Palestinian Politics

Ramzy Baroud at MintPress News - 15 hours ago
The real danger of Trump's ‘Deal of the Century’ is not the actual stipulations of the sinister plan, but the fact that Mahmoud Abbas will find a way to co-exist with them, writes Ramzy Baroud. The post The Donald Trump I Know: Abbas’ UN Speech and the Breakdown of Palestinian Politics appeared first on MintPress News.

John Pilger: Julian Assange Must be Freed, Not Betrayed

John Pilger at MintPress News - 15 hours ago
John Pilger on the betrayal of Julian Assange by Australia, that country's service to UK and American empire, and the fate of the free press. The post John Pilger: Julian Assange Must be Freed, Not Betrayed appeared first on MintPress News.

What’s on board the C-17 Globemaster III flying from Turkey to Poland?

Belit Onay at The Duran - 15 hours ago
Air Mobility Command’s C-17A Globemaster III arrived at Incerlik AB, Turkey from Sicily, Italy on February, 20 as part of US-led exercise Defender Europe 2020, Air Mobility Command officials said. At present the exercise is about to gain momentum. First Defender-Europe 20 equipment has already arrived in Germany where it stands ready to spread out […] More The post What’s on board the C-17 Globemaster III flying from Turkey to Poland? appeared first on The Duran.

Assange alleges Trump offered him ‘quid pro quo’

InfoBrics at The Duran - 15 hours ago
Just as Trump’s impeachment trial has ended, another ‘quid pro quo’ story involving Trump emerges... More The post Assange alleges Trump offered him ‘quid pro quo’ appeared first on The Duran.

HERE'S MORE EVIDENCE THAT TRUMP WILL DEBATE IN THE FALL

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 15 hours ago
I wrote a post in December titled "No, Trump Won't Skip the Debates," and I stand by every word of it. Trump *will* debate his Democratic opponent this fall -- I'm certain of it. This *New York Times* story about Trump's rally last night in Colorado includes several indications of his intent to debate. “I don’t know if anybody watched last night’s debate,” Mr. Trump said shortly after he took the stage. “It got very big ratings, and you know what? Mini Mike didn’t do very well last night. I was going to send him a note saying, ‘It’s not easy doing what I do, is it?’” *It’s not easy ... more »

"Economic Market Snapshot AM 2/21/20"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 15 hours ago
*2/21/20, Updated frequently as available.* ◆ • "The Collapse Of This Historic Correlation Suggests A Major Crisis Is Imminent" • "US Exposed To Immediate Impact From "Supply-Chain Shock", Deutsche Says" ◆ Gregory Mannarino, AM 2/21/20 *“**WARNING: Listen To What Gold, Silver, * *AND The Debt Market Are Saying**"* - https://www.traderschoice.net/ ◆ *MarketWatch Market Summary, Live Updates* - https://www.marketwatch.com/tools/marketsummary *CNN Market Data:* - http://money.cnn.com/data/markets/ *CNN Fear And Greed Index:* - http://money.cnn.com/data/fear-and-greed/ ◆ *Buffett Indicator... more »

"I Promise You This..."

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 15 hours ago
"One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am- a reluctant enthusiast... a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate ... more »

"Gilbert, Edmund Scientific, and the Post-War Flowering of American Techno-Industrial Virtuosity"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 15 hours ago
*"Gilbert, Edmund Scientific, * *and the Post-War Flowering of American Techno-Industrial Virtuosity"* A Pre-Enstupidation View by Fred Reed "It was 1953 in the white newly prosperous suburbs of Arlington, Virginia, just outside the Yankee Capital. I was eight, having been born, like so many of my small compatriots, nine months and fifteen minutes after our fathers got home from the war. These men, my father anyway, had spent years in the Pacific, being torpedoed at and watching Hellcat fighters screaming off wooden decks, and seeing ships sink. What they wanted now was lawn mowers,... more »

The Jig Is Up: Dr. Richard Moskowitz on Vaccine Mandates

Age of Autism at AGE OF AUTISM - 15 hours ago
Note: I have had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Moskowitz. He personifies the dignified doctor of "yore" when patients came first. He is the author of Vaccines: A Reappraisal from Skyhorse Publishing. I invite you to share this article he... more »

The real Joe Biden exposed

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 15 hours ago
Certainly a must watch. Biden is a corrupt corporate hack and does not deserve any consideration for president. This excellent video lays it all out. Biden will likely blame Russia for creating this video........ Bruce

Erdogan and Putin Will Speak Today Regarding Idlib (Via Phone)

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 15 hours ago
* Earlier Today:*Russia/Turkey To Talk in Ankara Next Week- Russia did NOT Strike Turkish TroopsThe latest: * Going further there are now reports that Erdogan and Putin will talk, today, via phone at 15:00 GMT* *Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he will speak by phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Feb. 21 evening and, based on those talks, will determine Turkey's stance on the military conflict in northwest Syria's Idlib region.* *Speaking to reporters, Erdoğan said the French and German leaders had proposed to hold a four-way summit with Russia but that Pu... more »

Untitled

Jenna Orkin at From the Wilderness' Peak Oil Blog - 15 hours ago
From Jenna Orkin Secession in the Pacific Northwest? Some Oregon residents petition to join Idaho 9 killed in suspected far-right attack in GermanyWhat is the 'boogaloo?' How online calls for a violent uprising are hitting the mainstreamFossil Fuels May Emit 40% More Methane than Previously Thought Face facts, Bernie Sanders is electable USA Today(!) Mexican accused of being Russian agent after photographing U.S. informant’s car in Miami Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article240390941.html#storylink=cpy Chinese CDC study finds Covid-19 virus to be more contagio... more »

Report: U.S. Tanks Are More Effective In Detering Aggressive States Than The U.S. Air Force

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 15 hours ago
*Dan Grazier, National Interest:* *A Century of Airpower Propaganda Was Just 'Blown Up' by an Air Force Think Tank* A recent study reviewed 21 American crisis deployments since World War II and analyzed the type of forces sent and eventual outcome with the goal of figuring out which forces worked best to convince an aggressor state to back away from the table before escalating the situation to a full-blown clash. The results are quite interesting. If one overall concept drives national security decisions in Washington, it is that technology in the form of highly complex, and thus ... more »

Today is George Washington’s Birthday

Norma at Collecting My Thoughts - 15 hours ago
*Did God give us George Washington? David Carlin thinks so. https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2020/02/21/happy-birthday-george-washington/?* *Washington saved his country five times.* 1. When as general-in-chief he won the War of Independence. He may not have been a military genius; he was no Alexander or Caesar or Napoleon, not even a General Grant. But he was a Rock of Gibraltar. He won the war by refusing to lose it. He held things together until the French arrived to tip the balance. 2. At the end of that eight-year war, he resigned his commission – i... more »

I think I know where this is going. . . a photo contest

Norma at Collecting My Thoughts - 15 hours ago
“As engines of economic growth, markets extend the frontiers of human well-being; as sites of innovation, they expand the boundaries of human imagination; as a non-coercive means of coordinating behavior, they diminish the threat of tyranny. However, markets can also concentrate economic power in a way that limits individual opportunity, stifles innovation, and distorts public discourse. The need to respond to market incentives can distort relationships, dissolve communities, and harm the natural environment. The extension of markets into education, health care, and criminal justi... more »

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