June 1st, 2023 • 3h 0m
Shownotes
Every new episode of No Agenda is accompanied by a comprehensive list of shownotes curated by Adam while preparing for the show. Clips played by the hosts during the show can also be found here.
TODAY
Megyn Kelly zoom experience
"That's Crazy" is the new 100%
Ashlyn Speed Wins!
With the Sunday win in Houston, Ashlyn has enough series points to win the SCCA Southern Conference Championship!
This summer will be spent driving every car we can get seat time in and working with industry professionals to try to plan and fund the move to pro in 2024. We’ll most likely race in either the MX-5 Cup or USF Formula 4 depending upon opportunities and funding.
We prefer hitting people in the mouth rather than hitting them on the track. So we’re proud to sport the No Agenda logo this season. V4V.
Sir Thinks-a-Lot of the Racetrack
COBOL history in airline BOTG
Airline systems are some of the earliest systems written. They pioneered online systems at a time when batch programming was the norm on mainframes. The airline systems use COBOL for accounting only.
Reservations, weight and balance, seating and ticketing were written IBM Assembly language with the exception fare quote which is generally written in PL/1 (something similar to Pascal). Eastern Airlines licensed its fare quote system written in PL/1 to most of the airlines. It’s still out there. Code was widely licensed between airlines.
The operating system is TPF - Transaction Processing Facility - (originally called ACP - Airline Control Program) which is an interrupt based OS, it does not time slice but shifts tasks in the kernel based on IO and CPU interrupts, no faster OS has ever come along that can turn around transactions faster. Each mainframe iteration just gets faster with so much assembly language code in the code base.
In the 1990s airlines started outsourcing code to India with some disastrous results. The code is old, sometimes brittle, it’s fast like a Ferrari but needs a lot of mechanics. India did not have established expertise in this tech.
C++ libs have been introduced into the TPF operating system by IBM and newer code is being written in C++. It never supported COBOL (or Cobalt! lol 😆).
I worked 15 years in this field, for most of the airlines, SNCF and a few banks like VISA which uses it for credit card transactions. I shifted to Internet coding in 1996. Haven’t gone back to the airlines. Went through too many mergers.
I enjoy the show and this isn’t meant to be ant fucking. Aviation was some of the funnest work I ever did, at least it was when passengers were first priority.
Kids and Ham Radio
Adam,
Just a quick note to second your thoughts about kids and ham radio. My son, Walker, KC3RAP, (he's 12) has his own Raspberry Pi set up to run FT8 and a couple of other digital modes. It's a fun way to teach geography as well as science and math. Kids need to learn how to master technology before technology masters them! Every No Agenda family that homeschools needs to get their kids into ham radio!
Now if we could only get John to upgrade to General....
73 from Chris, K3DCR
The Knight of the Iguana
Great Reset
Biden, McCarthy agree to raise US debt ceiling – what’s in the deal? | US Congress | The Guardian
The deal would suspend the $31.4tn debt ceiling until January 2025, allowing the government to pay its bills. In exchange, non-defense discretionary spending would be “roughly flat” at current year levels in 2024, “when factoring in agreed-upon appropriations adjustments”, a source said. It would increase by only 1% in 2025.
Republicans have told their members that non-defense discretionary spending, apart from military veterans’ healthcare, would be cut to 2022 levels.
To Address Loneliness, The Feds Want To Control Your Friends
Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day,4 and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity. And the harmful consequences of a society that lacks social connection can be felt in our schools, workplaces, and civic organizations, where performance, productivity, and engagement are diminished
Church once in the context of 73% in 1999 now only 43%
Big Tech
Elon Musk’s Brain Implant Firm Gets Approval for Human Tests | Time
Digital ID BOTG
Hello Adam,
First of all, I hope this email finds you well and you’re still enjoying your Dink Mouse. I have another donation coming to thank No Agenda nation and highlight V4V - it works!
The reason I am emailing today is regarding No Agenda Episode 1558 - "Mediatized". You started the show and hit on a topic which is critical: Digital Identity.
Myself and another producer, Max (cc’d), run The Digital Independence Project (TDIP) - https://digitalindependence.org/. This organization consists for former Big Tech employees, consultants, and insiders focused on preventing a Digital Identity system from being enacted by the Federal Government.
The only way to combat this is to make it a state’s issue and beat the bureaucrats to this. We don’t have to tell you that a Federal Digital ID would be catastrophic especially in the light of what we saw with COVID. Right now our organization is small but we’re working with key states to educate them on AI (not spooky), but also the overreach of big tech.
We’d love to read you in on what we’ve learned, what we are seeing, and appeal to No Agenda Nation to reach out in this fight.
Please let me know if you’re free for a 15/30 minute call related to: Big Tech, Federal digital ID and our early observations from the belly of the beast.
Love and light,
More 570.ai results for NA
Who are the top 20 most evil people in the world grouped by how many times Adam Curry has mentioned being evil?
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1. Adolf Hitler - 18 mentions 2. Joseph Stalin - 13 mentions 3. Osama bin Laden - 11 mentions 4. Mao Zedong - 10 mentions 5. Kim Jong-Un - 8 mentions 6. Saddam Hussein - 7 mentions 7. Vladimir Putin - 6 mentions 8. Pol Pot - 5 mentions 9. Emperor Hirohito - 4 mentions 10. Ayatollah Khomeini - 4 mentions 11. Mao Tse-Tung - 4 mentions 12. Idi Amin - 4 mentions 13. Attila the Hun - 3 mentions 14. Donald Trump - 3 mentions 15. Fidel Castro - 3 mentions 16. Queen Jezebel - 2 mentions 17. Hannibal - 2 mentions 18. Vlad the Impaler - 2 mentions 19. King Herod - 2 mentions 20. Genghis Khan - 2 mentions
user
How many times has Adam Curry said 100% on no agenda since 2008
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Adam Curry has said "100%" on the No Agenda podcast 8,829 times since 2008.
user
How many times has JCD said 100% on the NoAgenda podcast since 2008
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JCD has said "100%" on the NoAgenda podcast over 250 times since 2008.
user
Who does Adam Curry believe people shouldn't trust
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? Adam Curry believes people should not trust politicians or the mainstream media. He believes that they are often biased and that people should seek independent sources of news and information.
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Who does Adam Curry believe you should trust
assistant
Adam Curry believes that you should ultimately trust yourself and look to others for advice and guidance. He also believes that in order to exercise trust, you must maintain an open mind and be willing to listen to different perspectives.
No Agenda AI analysis
Clearly I need to get a life, but I found this truly funny. Enjoy.
Both you and JCD have mentioned that "traffic" and "slow internet" annoys you more than anything else.
Note that the "AI" didn't include the topic of Glottal T's.
What are the top 100 things that annoy Adam Curry
1. Traffic
2. Slow internet
3. Poor customer service
4. Interruptions
5. Not being taken seriously
6. People who talk too much
7. Being late
8. Bad drivers
9. Unreliable technology
10. Unreturned phone calls
11. Unclear directions
12. Lack of appreciation
13. Discrimination
14. Unreasonable expectations
15. Littering
16. Loud eaters
17. Queues
18. Unreliable public transport
19. People who don’t listen
20. People who don’t take responsibility
21. Being patronized
22. Waiting in line
23. Being ignored
24. Bad Wi-Fi connections
25. Unsolicited advice
26. Lying
27. Bad parking
28. Poor time management
29. Cold calling
30. Not being able to find something
31. People who don’t say thank you
32. People who don’t recycle
33. Being talked over
34. Loud music
35. Unreasonable deadlines
36. People who don’t reply to emails
37. Unhelpful salespeople
38. Rudeness
39. Overcharging
40. Long security lines
41. Spam emails
42. Bad manners
43. People who don’t clean up after themselves
44. Unnecessary bureaucracy
45. Poor communication
46. Office politics
47. Unnecessary risk-taking
48. Misinformation
49. People who don’t follow through
50. People who don’t RSVP
51. Unhealthy competition
52. Poorly written instructions
53. People who don’t follow the rules
54. Poor customer service
55. Tardiness
56. Unprofessionalism
57. Inaccurate information
58. Not being able to find the remote
59. Unclear job descriptions
60. People who talk over others
61. People who don’t use turn signals
62. Unreliable co-workers
63. Unclear expectations
64. People who don’t put things back where they found them
65. Unclear instructions
66. Being expected to know things you don’t
67. People who don’t follow the dress code
68. Crowds
69. Unnecessary paperwork
70. Unnecessary meetings
71. People who take credit for other people’s work
72. Lack of recognition
73. People who talk on their cell phones in public
74. People who don’t understand technology
75. People who are always late
76. People who don’t read instructions
77. Ignorance
78. Unreturned favors
79. People who don’t respect other people’s time
80. Being given the wrong information
81. People who don’t think before they act
82. Unclear objectives
83. Unclear goals
84. Unreturned emails
85. Poorly designed websites
86. Inefficient processes
87. Unclear feedback
88. Unhelpful colleagues
89. Unsolicited opinions
90. Unnecessary criticism
91. Unreasonable requests
92. Lack of support
93. Unclear deadlines
94. Pointless tasks
95. Unplanned changes
96. Bad customer service
97. Interruptions during conversations
98. People who don’t take initiative
99. Unreasonable workloads
100. People who don’t clean up after themselves
What are the top 100 things that annoy JCD
(Only 72 returned from the results)
1. Traffic
2. Being late
3. Slow internet
4. Rudeness
5. Loud noises
6. Whining
7. Poor customer service
8. Loud cell phones
9. Slow drivers
10. Unsolicited advice
11. Littering
12. Spam emails
13. Interruptions
14. Bad drivers
15. Bullies
16. Unreturned phone calls
17. Long lines
18. People who don’t say “thank you”
19. People who don’t take responsibility for their actions
20. People who don’t listen
21. Waiting
22. Unreliable people
23. People who talk too much
24. Inconsiderate people
25. Unreliable technology
26. People who don’t follow through
27. Unnecessary meetings
28. People who use their phones during meetings
29. Unnecessary paperwork
30. People who don’t know the answer
31. Unclear instructions
32. Political correctness
33. People who take too long to make decisions
34. Unnecessarily complicated processes
35. People who don’t pay attention
36. People who don’t use common courtesy
37. People who don’t dress appropriately
38. People who don’t take initiative
39. People who don’t offer solutions
40. People who don’t think before they speak
41. People who are always late
42. People who don’t apologize
43. People who don’t respect other people’s opinions
44. People who don’t take “no” for an answer
45. People who don’t accept feedback
46. People who don’t take responsibility for their mistakes
47. Unsolicited opinions
48. People who don’t say “please” and “thank you”
49. People who don’t return calls
50. People who don’t answer emails
51. Poorly written emails
52. Unclear emails
53. People who don’t prioritize their work
54. Unmet deadlines
55. Poorly maintained equipment
56. Unorganized people
57. People who don’t ask questions
58. People who don’t follow directions
59. People who don’t keep commitments
60. People who monopolize conversations
61. Unanswered questions
62. People who don’t stay on topic
63. People who don’t respect privacy
64. People who don’t use manners
65. People who don’t say “excuse me”
66. People who chew with their mouths open
67. Too much red tape
68. Overly complicated systems
69. People who don’t give credit where due
70. Unfair criticism
71. People who don’t take initiative
72. People who
From: J R
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 11:21:22 AM
To: Adam Curry
Subject: 570.ai QOTD
ITM, Adam!
That 570.ai is great for meta-show Content. Even if not entirely accurate. Info-tainment for us supporters for sure. 😆
Having a "570.ai question of the day" is interesting. Example:
What are the top 100 most popular proper nouns mentioned on the NoAgena Show since 2008, ordered by the most mentioned
1. Barack Obama
2. Donald Trump
3. Hillary Clinton
4. George W. Bush
5. Joe Biden
6. Sarah Palin
7. John McCain
8. Mitt Romney
9. Vladimir Putin
10. Angela Merkel
11. Nancy Pelosi
12. Paul Ryan
13. China
14. Iran
15. North Korea
16. France
17. United Kingdom
18. United Nations
19. NATO
20. Syria
21. Russia
22. Iraq
23. Afghanistan
24. Israel
25. Egypt
26. Saudi Arabia
27. India
28. Mexico
29. Japan
30. Germany
31. Canada
32. Spain
33. Australia
34. South Korea
35. Brazil
36. Iraq War
37. Vietnam War
38. Saddam Hussein
39. Osama bin Laden
40. Islamic State
41. Al-Qaeda
42. Edward Snowden
43. Edward Kennedy
44. Jimmy Carter
45. Bill Clinton
46. Ronald Reagan
47. George H. W. Bush
48. Richard Nixon
49. Abraham Lincoln
50. Martin Luther King Jr.
51. Queen Elizabeth II
52. Pope Francis
53. Supreme Court
54. Richard Blumenthal
55. Chris Christie
56. Joe Manchin
57. Chuck Schumer
58. Marco Rubio
59. Ted Cruz
60. Bernie Sanders
61. John Boehner
62. Harry Reid
63. Mitch McConnell
64. John Kerry
65. Colin Powell
66. Jay Rockefeller
67. Tim Kaine
68. Trayvon Martin
69. Amy Klobuchar
70. Benghazi
71. Rand Paul
72. Tea Party
73. Tom Harkin
74. Iraq Surge
75. Syria Conflict
76. Taliban
77. Guantanamo
78. Federal Reserve
79. Hurricane Katrina
80. Wikileaks
81. Fukushima
82. Aung San Suu Kyi
83. Susan Rice
84. Nancy Reid
85. Chuck Hagel
86. John Kline
87. Michele Bachmann
88. David Petraeus
89. Arab Spring
90. Osama bin Laden Raid
91. Ebola
92. Immigration Reform
93. Edward Markey
94. Church of England
95. Al-Shabaab
96. Hamas
97. Boko Haram
98. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
99. Google
100. Apple
kagi.com
Elon / Twitter
Big Pharma
Paper and Berin Zeitung coverage; German excess mortality 2022/23
Hi Adam,
AnMay 23rd published Springer publication (https://www.cureus.com/articles/149410-estimation-of-excess-mortality-in-germany-during-2020-2022#!/) shows alarming and unexpected excess mortality rate in Germany 2021 and 2022. This was picked up by the MSN Berlin Zeitung in the May 30th opt-ed article titled ‘Hat jemand eine Idee?’ ('Does anyone have an idea?') https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/politik-gesellschaft/uebersterblichkeit-2022-staerker-gestiegen-als-im-vorjahr-hat-jemand-eine-idee-li.353301, in which it heckles the German government for repeatedly refusing toi set up a committee to find the root cause. Especially the number of recorded stillbirths (up over 20% in 2022) seems very alarming. Will more MSNs start asking these questions?
Love to have your take on this in the show.
Regards,
Sebastiaan
Fentanyl and the U.S. Opioid Epidemic | Council on Foreign Relations
Where are the heroin and fentanyl coming from?
Most of the heroin coming into the United States is cultivated on poppy farms in Mexico, with several major cartels controlling production and operating distribution hubs in major U.S. cities. Mexican cartels typically smuggle narcotics [PDF] across the southwestern U.S. border in commercial and passenger vehicles moving through ports of entry or via underground tunnels. Large quantities of heroin are also produced in South American countries, particularly Colombia, and trafficked to the United States by air and sea.
Most fentanyl in the United States is also smuggled across the southern border, U.S. officials say. Fentanyl coming directly from China—previously the dominant source—has significantly decreased since 2019, but China is still the main manufacturer of the ingredients needed to create fentanyl.
Drug cartels have been the leaders in fentanyl production. Larger organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel have their own distribution networks; some also depend on American citizens to smuggle fentanyl across the border. Between 2017 and 2021, 86 percent of fentanyl traffickers were American citizens.
Ozempic Organ Failure BOTG
One of the guys I work with is pre-diabetic. His doctor prescribed him Ozempic. 48 hours later he was in the hospital with early stage organ failure. Thankfully, the docs were able to get him fixed up.
The final verdict was that he had a bad reaction to the drug. The docs said this happens in about 1% of patients. Basically, he got the worst parts of "Side effects may include..."
-Sir MarK Ultra
Zoloft son BOTG
Hi Adam I just wanted to reach out & tell you about my son’s recent experience with Zoloft.
My 6 year old son has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (effecting only his legs) & as part of a treatment plan we meet bi yearly with a team of doctors consisting of neurology, neurosurgery, rehabilitation medicine, & orthopedic surgery. We met this past April & because of the type of CP my son has he falls a lot & therefore is very hesitant to do certain things. They wanted him to try Zoloft to rid him of his hesitation, giving him the smallest possible dose to start 10mg & then working up to 20mg. He began taking a liquid form, Sertraline Hydrochloride which can only be mixed with certain drinks i.e. lemonade, orange juice, ginger ale, or water.
On May 1st he began taking it & initially we thought we saw improvement but as days went on he began having strange side effects. He woke up in the middle of the night a week or two in telling me he was scared to sleep in his bed because he was hearing voices in his pillow. & continuously throughout the month of May he would wake up in the night, come into our room & just lay awake in our bed for 3-4 hours before going back to sleep. He has never done anything like this before as his CP completely tires him out & he sleeps through the night.
On Thursdays show another producer mentioned anger as a side effect & we have also seen that with our son as well. He is extremely argumentative about the smallest of things & any behavior we would try to correct would set him off into a screaming rage. My loving, sweet boy had seemed like he was turning into a monster. After hearing that on Thursdays show I knew I needed to reach out to the medical team to make them aware of these side effects. Thankfully they are having him wean off of this drug because of all of this. I would have weaned him myself if they would have said differently because this is not how my child normally acts. This all happened during the month of May, I can’t imagine people who are taking this drug for months or years.
Thanks for hearing me out. Please feel free to edit this note as necessary if you are compelled to read this.
Ashley
Transmaoism
Sissy Hypno Pr0n BOTG
Over the last 2 years my 23y/o step son, whom I have known since he was 2, has become a non-functioning member of society, smokes weed all day, loses menial jobs after 2 months, started wearing nail polish, women's earrings and effeminate shirts, hanging out with trans people. His ability to reason logically is gone. Nothing that he says makes sense. Every time we talk I point out the things that do not make sense to me. I point out that he is a non-serious person and needs to dress like a normal human to be successful. It has destroyed our relationship, my wife wants everything to just be okay and let "him be him" it has done damage to our relationship.
He called today, he never calls me. He thanked me for challenging him on his bullshit and told me that he is in treatment for a porn addiction. He explained that he is addicted to something called "sissy hypno porn." He explains that this is sweeping the nations and every male in their 20's knows about it and uses it. He explained that 99% of guys that are transitioning or dress effeminate are addicted to sissy (hypno) porn. He was about to pick up and move to Boston where people were there to help him create an Only Fans and navigate making a living, basically as a sex worker. Thankfully something snapped and realized that this porn has fucked his live.
Here is an Audio explanation from Genevieve Gluck on the Michael Knowles Show
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_-suU4WW9x4352Dr8ye1rCaAfbx49T1v/view?usp=sharing
Starts innocently with stuff like this. https://youtu.be/xzKN3sedReE
Play that frame by frame.
Check out this article.
https://grahamlinehan.substack.com/p/sissy-porn-the-gender-movements-dirty
I used to be a hypnotherapist, I studied persuasion, manipulation, covert persuasion. This is seriously fucked up shit. Manipulation, using our most instinctive drives at the most vulnerable time in a young adult's life where the result is separation of youth from their existing and future familial bonds. This is purposeful destruction of lives for the purpose of destroying our culture.
Here is a clip of Gluck, with my explanation of the mechanism of persuasion. Saying "You are the girl" over and over when a man is watching a straight porn video, is powerful, invoking a first person visual and kinesthetic experience as a woman, which is then anchored by climax. Next time you climax you think about being the woman. This is powerful and fucked up shit.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zM_ghHSn9QI14efMjoUeGRRrZom1jVtC/view?usp=sharing
Humorously Knowles pushes the use of cosmetics during this exact segments. What a fucking idiot shill.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OMgupUt_PSLGUZqMpms1jpkEGnGt95wp/view?usp=sharing
I am libertarian and I can't believe that I am saying this, but TikTok (where it starts) and all of this shit needs to be banned.
I am taking a deep dive on this, do you want more clips? I think this is an important topic, but maybe just cause I'm close to it.
Thanks
Sir Up and Down (I think I need to change my Knight name)
all clips were taken from here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLmz_xfBLR0
One other thing, his Therapist.. His therapist has convinced him that we (his parents) are his abusers, we abuse him by not supporting "who he is" Until today, he claimed that he was unsafe and felt very threatened in our presence. This is a direct result of his therapist who is an absolute hack.
Producer carters Retail BOTG
My wife, who is a store manager for Carter’s Osh Gosh was summoned to an emergency call this morning. They usually only have one of these calls if there is a major personnel shift in corporate. So the rumors were running wild.
The call was covering the latest Target situation and how the company was planning to handle it.
Carter’s does sell into major retailers like Target and Khol’s. They also have a line of children’s clothes that are alphabet people friendly. But the messages are neutral. Things like a rainbow with the caption “Love Everybody”. And have been selling them for years with no issues.
Today, the stores were informed that they are to pull those products and direct customers who ask for them to their website. For the safety of the employees. They also had some window marketing that would have gone up today that has also been canceled.
From our experience, Carter’s has been one of the better large companies. Keeping their politics out of the work place. During COVID, they never forced the death jab on people. They never even asked what employee’s status was.
I’m hoping that that means the pendulum is starting to swing the other way. The CEO referred to the “Bud Light Effect” as well as the safety of their employees as the reasoning for the product pull.
Carry on and I’m looking forward to the next show!
Another pronoun comeback
Hi Adam and John,
Producer Dave here. I’ve been thinking about the perfect comeback to the pronouns movement as has been discussed on the show in recent episodes.
While I like Adam’s suggestion that one should openly call out the pronoun charade and publicly refuse to partake, I think it could do more harm than good for those in professional environments.
For those in such circumstances, I advocate a culture-jamming approach. (Thank you to Alex Stein for inspiring this thought.) I advocate shoving someone’s own pronouns in their face.
If one receives an email from a “She/Her” Karen, instead of responding to the email with “Hi, Karen… etc” one ought to respond with “Hi, Karen (She/Her).. etc.”
It’s both an adequate level of participation in the ridiculous ritual in a professional setting, but also enough dehumanizing and backhanded to accomplish the goal of shaming that person. Additionally, there is plenty of plausible deniability wiggle room if it ever became a problem.
Please let me know what you guys think.
Best,
Sir Dave
SF Flags correction
Dear Adam and John,
I've just listened to the show from Sunday, May 28, soooo, I feel
compelled to set the record straight that there are actually people in San
Francisco that do fly the American flag on Memorial Day, which is today.
Enclosed are a few photographs of homes flying flags within a two block
walk from my house, including mine. Just want you to know that, yes, there
are wide swaths of the city that are completely absent of the stars and
stripes, yet others that are flying Old Glory.
By the way, the parade that you thought might be gay pride was likely the
Carnaval parade that happens the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend in the
Mission District. The gay pride spectacle comes the last weekend in June,
and, yeah, the pride and trans flags will fly way more next month in SF
than OG today, that is for sure.
Your fan in San Fran(sicko) 😉
~Charlotte
The Dutch trans debate BOTG
From a psychiatrist
Not very long ago I talked with a colleague about gender care and he told me that he had had the insight, after he went to the biggest psychiatry convention in the Netherlands, that gender identity disorder should be erased from the DSM as a diagnosis. In the past homosexuality has also been a psychiatric diagnosis, and we should learn from that. I was not so sure, since we might also be failing the people with these problems by no longer recognizing the problems as a problem. On the other hand, I have seen a lot of comorbidity in these patients, and therefore we can probably still work with them based on another diagnosis that is present. But it also felt a bit cowardice, because basically we say that it is not our problem anymore once we decide that this is not a psychiatric diagnosis. My other colleague was fully in favor of that.
But today I realized that not only psychiatrists want to be rid of this responsibility. I read an article in "Medisch Contact", a (Dutch) magazine for all kinds of medical practitioners, from psychiatrists to surgeons, about gender care for children and the headline was: "The government should make rules on the treatment of gender dysforia". The author of this article asks for the government to decide whether gender operations can be done in children. I was astonished to read this. I would think this is a medical decision, that we have to decide on this as specialists who can say something about interventions and outcomes and research. But this article, written by a sociologist and a practitioner (radiologist) who also is a lawyer, suggests otherwise. And maybe they are right, because medical practitioners do not agree about the best course to be taken.
Build the Wall
Immigration Vaccine Waiver
Because I reached out before and told you briefly about my wife and her immigration troubles I am enthralled to find out that my wife from Canada has successfully been given permanent residence in the US WITHOUT ANY VACCINES. Not only did they approve her vaccination waiver, she didn't get invited in for the interview! I wanted not only to share this miracle with you but as a Christian I must attach an edited version of my wife's affidavit as a template for any other Christians that you may know that are faced with the required vaccination schedule. This may help them!
Fentanyl and the U.S. Opioid Epidemic | Council on Foreign Relations
Where are the heroin and fentanyl coming from?
Most of the heroin coming into the United States is cultivated on poppy farms in Mexico, with several major cartels controlling production and operating distribution hubs in major U.S. cities. Mexican cartels typically smuggle narcotics [PDF] across the southwestern U.S. border in commercial and passenger vehicles moving through ports of entry or via underground tunnels. Large quantities of heroin are also produced in South American countries, particularly Colombia, and trafficked to the United States by air and sea.
Most fentanyl in the United States is also smuggled across the southern border, U.S. officials say. Fentanyl coming directly from China—previously the dominant source—has significantly decreased since 2019, but China is still the main manufacturer of the ingredients needed to create fentanyl.
Drug cartels have been the leaders in fentanyl production. Larger organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel have their own distribution networks; some also depend on American citizens to smuggle fentanyl across the border. Between 2017 and 2021, 86 percent of fentanyl traffickers were American citizens.
Climate Change
MK Ultra
Ukraine vs Russia
NJ National Guard deployment to Ukraine BOTG
I reported a few weeks ago concerning the NJ National Guard’s deployment to Ukraine and thought I would give a quick update.
The time table was moved around and they were finally deployed last week. They hadn’t even left the US when the plane suffered engine failure in one engine and they were forced to land. Thankfully, they were able to make it to an air base in New Hampshire and ended up stranded there for two days while repairs were undertaken.
The last I heard, they were able to complete the trip successfully. We’re just not sure now how long the deployment is going to be. As two weeks up to a year is now being thrown around.
They’re still being told that following this rotation, they’re heading to Mexico next. But not on the boarder. Rather to fight the cartels.
Denmark found 2.3 billion BOTG
Hi Adam.
Been overboard a few years due to but started
listening again a few weeks ago (still a douchebag however).
I found this news too hilarious not to share, you have been talking about
the 3 billion dollars you guys found in a cupboard somewhere, and wouldn't
you know it - the danish government has borrowed a page from your
playbook.
Our (currently socialist) govornment decided to cancel one of our national
holidays, Store Bededag (great prayer day) which has been in place since
1686 where a lot of smaller holidays was gathered into one bug one.
Granted we do not really pray a whole lot, but a day off is a day off -
until it isn't.
The reasoning was naturally the Ukraine war and how we need to finance
that - I don't understand why we need to finance it years from now as well
though but I'm probably dumb.
Four weeks ago, our financial minister was asked by a journalist if it
could be a good idea to do a complete review of the treasury, verifying
whether the state of affairs are indeed as they say so - needing to cancel
a holiday and such.. There was absolutely no need since "the house is in
order"
But SURPRISE, a week ago they suddenly found 16 billion DKK (2.3 billion
USD) somewhere (ref. in danish
https://politiken.dk/oekonomi/dkoekonomi/art9363500/Regeringen-finder-16-milliarder-ekstra-kroner)
which naturally leads to even more "support" to Ukraine.
It's getting quite blatant when they just randomly discover billions..
Anyway, I'll hopefully stay around this time and start donating.
Kind regards
Andreas - douchebag from Denmark
Political Take Down
STORIES
Our Story | Sustainable Business Network and Consultancy | BSR
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 16:33
Before the first Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, before sustainability reports or chief sustainability officers, and before the idea of stakeholders was used widely, a new vision of business emerged.
This was a vision of business as a force for positive social change'--a force that would preserve and restore natural resources, ensure human dignity and fairness, and operate transparently.
This vision can be traced back to gatherings of the Social Venture Network (SVN), a group of socially minded entrepreneurs who pioneered many of the purpose-driven businesses that emerged in the second half of the 1980s. In 1991, SVN members such as Josh Mailman, Mal Warwick, and Judy Wicks led the creation of the first version of BSR, which was designed to serve as the voice of progressive businesses in policy formation in Washington, DC. The following year, in 1992, Business for Social Responsibility was launched, with 51 member companies and an inaugural event featuring Ben & Jerry's Cofounder Ben Cohen, the Body Shop Founder Anita Roddick, and Stonyfield Farms Cofounder Gary Hirshberg.
In 1993, BSR hosted its first annual Conference, welcoming US President Bill Clinton as a speaker and attracting 300 participants. By the end of that year, BSR had assimilated many statewide and regional groups, such as Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. By 1994, however, the BSR board concluded that the organization's mission of influencing public policy should change, and the board switched BSR's organizational approach to something we have applied ever since: working with companies to integrate social and environmental considerations into their core business.
To refine and implement this strategy, BSR, through the efforts of initial Board Chair Arnold Hiatt, recruited Bob Dunn as President and CEO and drew on his experiences as the head of corporate affairs at Levi Strauss & Co., where he spearheaded the adoption of the first code of conduct for supply chain labor practices.
The Rise of Corporate Responsibility1994-1999
BSR ''relaunched'' in 1994, adopting a mission that focused on working with business to create a just and sustainable world, rather than a focus on public policy advocacy. In light of this new approach, we made several big changes.
First, we began to work with large companies, which represented a small part of BSR's initial network. We also made an intentional decision to become a ''big tent'' organization, welcoming any company with a commitment to improving its sustainability performance. Second, we moved our headquarters from Washington, DC to San Francisco, reflecting the shift in strategy from a focus on public policy to a focus on influencing companies' implementation of corporate responsibility. Finally, we established four core program areas: environment, human rights, community economic development, and governance and accountability. This marked an evolution from an early emphasis on the environment.
BSR also made other shifts during this period. Participation by large companies in our membership grew rapidly, and we became far more active outside the US, welcoming our first European-headquartered member companies, supporting a global infrastructure of CSR organizations including our role on leading the launch of Forum Empresa in the Americas, and partnering with CSR Europe and the International Business Leaders Forum in Europe. BSR also pioneered rapidly growing supply chain efforts, focused initially on Asia and Latin America, including the first human rights trainings for business in China. Finally, when the internet emerged as a transformative feature of daily life, BSR launched the first comprehensive website dedicated to corporate responsibility, the Global Business Responsibility Resource Center, supported by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.
Shifting Strategy to Catalyze Business Action1994-1999
At the turn of the new millennium, sustainability was gaining momentum, starting to be mainstreamed in many businesses. The arrival of the UN Global Compact and the Global Reporting Initiative emerged as important elements of sustainable business frameworks, and backlash against globalization, coming from events like the ''Battle in Seattle'' during the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference and the governance failures illustrated by Enron and others, further catalyzed attention by most global businesses.
Concluding that the era of awareness raising was over, we challenged ourselves to scale up BSR's work and embed sustainability into everyday business decisions. To do this, we took new steps to serve BSR members and realize our mission. During the first part of the decade, we augmented our longstanding commitment to collaborative corporate efforts with one-on-one consulting projects that integrated sustainability into core business. We also expanded our footprint outside the United States, opening offices in Hong Kong in 2001 and in Paris in 2002, and welcoming new board members from Europe.
BSR also helped Net Impact achieve a leadership transition and relaunch itself as an independent organization, after it had operated under the auspices of BSR for two years.
Beginning in the mid-2000s, we rapidly expanded our global footprint, opening offices in Copenhagen, Guangzhou, New York, Shanghai, and Tokyo. Our staff size grew from 60 people'--all but four of whom worked in San Francisco'--to more than 100, spread across eight offices, by 2012.
During this period, we have continued our commitment to collaborative initiatives, several of which we incubated, including the Global Network Initiative and the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition, which we then spun off into independent institutions. More recently developed collaborative initiatives, including Future of Fuels and the Future of Internet Power, and HERhealth and HERfinance, help companies across industries and sectors focus on cross-cutting issues like energy and women's empowerment. We also expanded our programmatic focus with a heightened commitment to environmental issues, particularly energy and climate, ecosystems services, and water.
Just and Sustainable Business Rises Amidst Profound Change2015-2022
The period from 2015 has seen several crucially important developments bringing strong momentum to the movement to achieve a more just and sustainable world. The landmark Paris Agreement has sparked previously unimagined climate action. Over the past few years, we have also seen significant increases in ESG investing, the emergence of innovative business models and technologies driven by sustainability imperatives, and rising regulatory and policy initiatives promoting sustainable business. Sustainability is now firmly established as being of fundamental importance to business and the wider world.
At the same time, watershed global events including Brexit, political shocks in the United States, COVID-19, the injustice, and inequity symbolized by the murder of George Floyd and the #MeToo movement, Russia's war on Ukraine, and a politically weaponized backlash against ESG has created a turbulent environment. Combined with the widespread, rapid, and intensifying impact of climate change, and lingering social and economic inequalities underscore the urgency of achieving progress at scale.
During this time, BSR has pivoted to ''meet the moment and build the future.'' Our focus today is on achieving impact in everything we do, enabling companies to act on the connections between issues, and between business and society, and providing honest advice that leads to credible solutions. We continue to focus on our model of serving members through insight, advice, and collaboration.
To meet a changing context, we have added focus areas in sustainability governance, climate justice, nature, and equity, inclusion, and justice. We launched a Sustainable Futures Lab to inject the analysis of future scenarios into all of our work. We are taking a more deliberate effort to engage with standard setters on key initiatives shaping the ''architecture'' of just and sustainable business, using our voice and that of our member companies to promote ambitious standards backed by business action. Organizationally, our membership has continued to grow to well over 300 companies, and we established an organizational presence in London, Singapore, and Washington, DC.
Members '-- Partnership for Global LGBTIQ Equality
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 16:32
A BSR CollaborationBSR provides executive leadership and secretariat support for PGLE.
BSR' is an organization of sustainable business experts that works with its global network of the world's leading companies to build a just and sustainable world. BSR collaborations bring together more than 400 companies, spanning multiple sectors and geographies, to strengthen company performance, improve markets and industries, and contribute to systemic change for a more just and sustainable world.
Website (C) BSR, 2021.
Why You Can't Remember Parts of the Concert You Just Went To | Time
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 15:09
T hree days after Jenna Tocatlian saw Taylor Swift perform at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, she was still on cloud nine. But something felt weird when she tried to relive the memories: in her mind, where vivid specifics of the concert should have been playing on loop, there was just a blank space.
''Post-concert amnesia is real,'' says Tocatlian, 25, who lives in New York. She got to hear her top choice for one of Swift's nightly ''surprise songs'''--Better Man'--and the experience still feels surreal. ''If I didn't have the 5-minute video that my friend kindly took of me jamming to it, I probably would have told everyone that it didn't happen,'' she says. During the hour-long wait to exit the stadium, she started re-listening to the setlist, asking her friends: ''Did she really play that? How much of it did she play?'' Tocatlian chalks it up to sensory overload'--and the fact that she had been dreaming about the big night for so long, it was difficult to grasp it was really happening. ''It's hard to put together what you actually witness,'' she says. ''You're having all these emotions while your favorite songs are playing, and you're like, 'Wow, where am I?'''
From March until August, hundreds of thousands of people are packing stadiums across the U.S. to watch Swift's hugely popular, three-hour Eras Tour. Many later take to social-media platforms like Reddit to describe their inability to recall small details or even large parts of the show. One person wrote that they had waited six months for the concert'--and after it ended, their brain tried to convince them they hadn't been there. Another wondered if they had dissociated during it, and described feeling guilty about not leaving with more vivid memories.
Read More: The New Science of Forgetting
That resonates with Nicole Booz, 32, of Gettysburg, Pa., who attended Swift's May 14 show in Philadelphia. Looking back, it feels like ''an out-of-body experience, as though it didn't really happen to me,'' she says. ''Yet I know it did, because my bank account took a $950 hit to cover the ticket.''
So what's going on? For starters, people might simply be too excited, explains Ewan McNay, an associate professor in the department of psychology at the State University of New York at Albany. ''This is not a concert-specific phenomenon'--it can happen any time you're in a highly emotional state,'' he says. People getting married, for example, often say they can't remember their first dance, or if their Aunt Josephine was there. As the body's stress levels increase'--in response to exciting or distressing factors'--the neurons associated with memory start firing indiscriminately. That makes it ''really hard'' to form new memories. ''If you're slightly on edge, with a little bit of excitement, you'll actually remember better,'' McNay says. ''But too much excitement pushes you over the edge in terms of memory formation, and you're unable to make memories.''
There's a scientific, biological explanation for exactly what happens when you get this excited (which the body sees as a state of stress). It starts pumping out glucose'--the brain's favorite molecule for fueling memory, thinking, and learning'--from your liver into your bloodstream. Imagine you ran into a bear in the woods, for example: ''You want that fuel for your muscles to go and fight the bear or run away from the bear,'' McNay says, not wasted on something like memory formation. At the same time, your vagal nerves'--which regulate internal organ functions'--become stimulated. ''You're saying, 'Hey, we're really stressed out: we're running away from the bear, or we're watching Taylor Swift.'''
This response causes your amygdala'--the part of the brain responsible for emotional processing'--to release a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. It helps tag memories as having high emotional content, enhancing the likelihood that they'll be saved vividly in your mind. But McNay describes the process as an inverted U: A little bit is good; too much is bad, he says. Plus, if you add caffeine or alcohol to the mix, you'll likely push the curve even further to the right, which means your brain will have a tougher time creating and saving new memories.
Read More: How Some Stress Can Actually Be Good for You
It can be surprising and disappointing not to remember everything you think you should about a big event, says Robert Kraft, a professor of cognitive psychology at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. ''We paid a lot of money, we're looking forward to it, and afterwards, we want to luxuriate in our memories of the concert,'' he says. ''But our expectations are too high. That's not what memory is'--it's not a recorder.''
One of the core misconceptions many people have about memory, he says, is that they think of forgetting as a deficiency. In reality, we're simply not designed to remember everything. Situations in which we explicitly focus on remembering are typically limited to stuff like studying for an exam or memorizing a presentation. ''We don't set out to remember our lives'--we set out to experience them,'' Kraft says. ''Not remembering is actually a tribute to being in the moment and enjoying it.''
Still, if you're adamant that you want to better remember an important event, a few strategies can help. The first is a purely mental approach, McNay says: You can try to achieve a ''semi-meditative state,'' perhaps by telling yourself to chill out and be present. Or, consider a more physical approach. Your brain monitors your body to figure out what emotional state you're in, he explains. Running away from a bear'--or screaming at a concert'--tells it that you must be scared. If you commit to standing still, in a relaxed state, on the other hand, you'll send a message to your brain that there's no need to get too excited. That can help encourage memory formation.
Kraft, meanwhile, prefers to remove any pressure from the equation, and to simply focus on having a great time. He's a Swift fan, but like many of us, wasn't able to secure tickets to the Eras Tour. If you're in the same boat, take comfort: ''I'm sorry that we both aren't going,'' he says. ''But we would have forgotten it anyway.''
Contact us at letters@time.com.
Taylor Swift fans report 'amnesia' following Eras show - BBC News
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 15:08
Image source, EPAYou've paid hundreds of dollars for a ticket and braved the pouring rain to watch your favourite artist perform in what should be an unforgettable evening.
But three hours and over 40 songs later, you get home and realised you can't remember a thing.
It sounds almost unbelievable, but many Taylor Swift fans are claiming to suffer from "post-concert amnesia".
Psychologists say emotions and time may be behind the phenomenon.
From out-of-body experiences to entering a dream-like state, Swift's fans - or Swifties as they prefer to be known - have taken to social media in recent days to reveal their guilt at not being able to remember key moments from the Eras tour.
Amnesia can be quite a serious symptom, referring to the loss of memories, experiences and information.
But Dr Michelle Phillips, a senior lecturer in music psychology from the Royal Northern College of Music, says the idea of post-concert amnesia is not as scary as it sounds.
It will rarely be the case that fans have absolutely no memory of being at a concert.
"In fact, it's likely to be one of the things they remember attending for the rest of their lives," says Dr Phillips.
"It's simply that they encode some aspects of the event in memory, and not others."
So whether you tend to focus more on your favourite artist's dance moves, or just enjoy being at a show with your loved ones, people pay attention to whatever is important to them - and encode memories of these things, rather than the music.
The old saying "time flies when you're having fun" is an easy way to think about the idea of post-concert amnesia.
According to Dr Phillips, when fans are excited and so immersed in a moment, they can feel as though "time has suddenly passed" and they haven't been able to properly process everything they've just seen, heard and felt.
Gone are the days when musicians perform on an empty stage with just their microphones and an instrument.
These days fans are treated to mind-blowing spectacles, with strobe lights, massive props and more costume changes than you can keep track of - so it's no surprise you are not going to remember everything you have experienced after having to process so much.
Anushka Sri watched Suga from Korean K-pop's BTS perform in Los Angeles on 11 May.
She says most concerts she goes to have "elements of surprise all the time" as well as intensive light movement and fireworks which she thinks "kind of causes memory loss".
Anushka feels she could tell friends about "one or two moments" from the concert but can't recollect the whole set because "it's just hazy".
Dr Helen Prior, senior lecturer at the University of Hull, is interested to see whether some of the memories and emotions Taylor Swift's fans have forgotten can be recalled when they listen to her songs at a later date.
Whether it's listening to your first wedding song or playing your break-up anthem on repeat, music is an art form that has the power to transform you back to a particular time in your life.
So for Swifties worried about having forgotten bits of the show, listening to the set list again might just make all those memories come flooding back.
Media caption, Taylor Swift stops security from booting fan mid-concert
Twitter not removing hate speech posted by verified users: report | The Hill
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:52
A sign at Twitter headquarters is shown in San Francisco, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
Twitter has been overwhelmingly not removing hate speech posted on the platform from verified Twitter Blue accounts, according to a report from a nonprofit that opposes the spread of hate and disinformation online.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate said on Thursday that its researchers collected tweets promoting hatred from 100 Twitter Blue accounts and reported them to Twitter's platform for flagging hateful posts. But it said the platform did not act on 99 percent of the tweets flagged and all of the accounts remained active four days later.
The posts that the organization flagged make racist, antisemitic, homophobic or transphobic remarks. The report also notes one that references violence against LGBTQ rights supporters.
''Twitter failed to act despite the fact that the tweets surfaced by the Center clearly violate the platform's policies against hateful conduct, which bans abuse on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation and gender identity,'' the report states.
The group states that its previous studies have found that Twitter has failed to act on 89 percent of antisemitic posts and 97 percent of anti-Muslim posts.
Twitter CEO Elon Musk phased out the platform's old system of verified accounts in which public figures could have their accounts verified to separate themselves from potential imposters in favor of the Twitter Blue system in which any user can receive verification for $8 per month.
Imran Ahmed, the chief executive of the organization, said Musk is reversing the progress that has been made toward tolerance at an ''ever-accelerating rate.''
''The Twitter blue tick used to be a sign of authority and authenticity, but it is now inextricably linked to the promotion of hate and conspiracism,'' he said. ''What gives blue tick hate actors confidence to spew their bile is the knowledge that Elon Musk simply doesn't care about the civil and human rights of black people, Jews, Muslims and LGBTQ+ people, as long as he can make his 8 bucks a month.''
White House announces sanctions against Sudan amid ongoing violence3 dead, including child, in Russian missile attack on UkraineMusk said in November that tweets spreading hate would be ''deboosted & demonetized'' to limit their reach, but the report argues that Twitter is allowing its algorithm that promotes Twitter Blue accounts to spread the hate speech that is not being taken down.
The report states tweets from Twitter Blue users in the sample were often given priority in threads, and in one instance the top reply from a verified account was from a user calling for violence against migrants.
The Hill has reached out to Twitter for comment.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Elon Musk's Brain Implant Firm Gets Approval for Human Tests | Time
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 12:46
N euralink Corp., Elon Musk's brain-implant company, said it received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to conduct human clinical trials.
''This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people,'' the company said Thursday in a tweet.
The FDA and Neuralink did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Musk's startup is developing a small device that will link the brain to a computer, consisting of electrode-laced wires. Placing the device requires drilling into the skull.
The approval ''is really a big deal,'' said Cristin Welle, a former FDA official and an associate professor of neurosurgery and physiology at the University of Colorado. ''They can initiate human trials, which means they have passed the safety preclinical testing and the bench testing,'' she said, meaning testing for mechanical and design flaws, as well as for longevity and biocompatibility.
Founded in 2016, Neuralink attracted some top neuroscientists to work on its brain implant, although many have since moved on to other companies or academia. Musk, who also runs carmaker Tesla and owns social network Twitter, has for years said that the company was close to FDA approval for in-human trials.
The company's device aims to help people with paralysis or traumatic brain injuries communicate and control a computer using only their thoughts. Eventually, aside from helping people who are sick, Musk has hypothesized that the device could enable humankind to keep up with advances being made by artificial intelligence.
Neuralink isn't the first brain-computer interface company to enter human trials. The field has become competitive since the company's founding. For example, Synchron has already enrolled its first US patient in a clinical trial, putting the company's implant on a path toward possible regulatory approval for wider use in people with paralysis. Synchron's device is less invasive than Neuralink's, and works using a different technology.
Read More: 'My Career is Mars and Cars.' TIME's 2021 Person of the Year Elon Musk in Conversation With Editor-in-Chief Edward Felsenthal
Musk's startup has raised alarms with some animal rights groups for its testing on primates. The U.S. Transportation Department began an investigation into the company after an animal advocacy group said it obtained emails suggesting the startup did not follow proper procedure when shipping possibly hazardous materials.
Despite the FDA trial approval, widespread brain implants are still not imminent. Neuralink's device is still likely at least five to 10 years away from commercialization, Welle said. Setting up a trial and recruiting patients will take several months. It took Synchron almost a year between announcing it had received FDA approval for its first US patient and actually implanting the device in July 2022. Typically, the first in-human trials enroll five to 10 patients and take around six months, Welle said.
The first human study allows the company to adapt its device design depending on the results, without having to start the whole FDA application process again. ''It gives you flexibility,'' Welle said.
If the study goes well, Neuralink can then start what's known as a feasibility study, and finally a pivotal study, which is roughly analogous to a phase III study for a drug.
Contact us at letters@time.com.
CEO Of Top Carbon Credit Certifier Steps Down After Report Finds "Phantom Credits" | ZeroHedge
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 12:25
Four months after The Guardian and other European media outlets revealed the world's leading carbon credit certifier sold worthless offsets to major corporations, the head of Washington-based Verra has stepped down.
"I am writing to let you know that after nearly 15 fantastic years as the CEO of Verra, I have decided to step down," Verra's CEO, David Antonioli, wrote in a LinkedIn post last week. He's leaving the role after dominating the multi-billion dollar carbon offset market for years and certifying over a billion dollars in credits through its verified carbon standard (VCS).
Antonioli expressed gratitude towards the current and past employees and was proud of Verra's accomplishments as the world's leading standard-setter for climate action and sustainable development. He did not give a reason for his abrupt departure.
Antonioli's exit comes four months after The Guardian, German weekly Die Zeit, and SourceMaterial, a non-profit investigative journalism organization, revealed a damning report on how Verra approved tens of millions of dollars of worthless offsets to Disney, Shell, Gucci, and other big corporations.
The report found Verrra issued "phantom credits" to major corporations that don't represent genuine carbon reductions. Some corporations purchased these fraudulent credits and labeled their products as "carbon neutral."
Days after The Guardian's report in January, Antonioli rejected the findings, calling them "outlandish claims" and heavily defended Verra's certification of carbon credits. But after all that, Antonioli is still stepping down.
Meanwhile, "Some firms are moving away from offsetting-based environmental claims, such as Gucci, which has removed a carbon neutrality claim from its website that heavily relied on Verra's carbon credits," The Guardian said.
Diego Saez Gil, the CEO of Pachama, a carbon offsetting firm, said Verra should update its programs to improve the company's integrity. He told The Guardian:
"This is a pivotal moment for carbon markets. In order to scale the critical funding required for carbon sequestration at a planetary scale, we must ensure integrity, transparency, and real benefits for local communities and biodiversity. A new generation of innovative players is collaborating with standard bodies, academics, corporates, and communities, creating a new era of carbon markets that gives me hope."
Despite having previously purchased "worthless" carbon offsets, companies such as JPMorgan, Disney, and BlackRock continue their ESG commitments. In particular, JPMorgan pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase credits for carbon removal.
Insiders have spoken up about the murky ESG industry. Take, for example, an insider who told Bloomberg in 2021 that TotalEnergies SE orchestrated a "carbon-neutral" liquified natural gas shipment with China National Offshore Oil Corp on math that was "guesswork" and involved lots of "googling."
Recall Elon Musk tweeted one year ago, "ESG is a scam. It has been weaponized by phony social justice warriors."
As we noted earlier this year, "Carbon Credits Are The Biggest Scam Since Indulgences... How You Can Avoid Being Fleeced."
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Fentanyl and the U.S. Opioid Epidemic | Council on Foreign Relations
Wed, 31 May 2023 21:25
IntroductionFentanyl and other opioids are fueling the worst drug crisis in the history of the United States. More than 1,500 people per week die from taking some type of opioid, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, making opioids by far the leading cause of fatal overdoses in the country.
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In recent years, the crisis has become defined by fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is some fifty times more potent than heroin.
More on:
Public Health Threats and Pandemics
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Analysts say the opioid problem started with the overprescription of legal pain medications, but it has intensified in recent years due to influxes of cheap heroin and synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, supplied by foreign drug cartels. The crisis has reached such a scale that it has become a significant drag on the economy and a threat to national security.
Authorities in the United States and many other countries where opioid deaths have spiked, such as Australia and Canada, are experimenting with different policies to combat the crisis.
What drugs are contributing to the crisis?Opioids, a class of drugs derived from the opium poppy plant, can be divided into two broad categories: legally manufactured medications and illicit narcotics.
More From Our Experts
Opioid medications, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and fentanyl are often prescribed to treat severe pain, while methadone is primarily used in addiction treatment centers. Opioids gained popularity among doctors in the 1990s for treating patients who had undergone surgery or cancer treatment, but in the 2000s physicians increasingly prescribed them for chronic conditions, such as back or joint pain, despite concerns about their safety and effectiveness.
For decades, the most commonly used illegal opioid was heroin. However, by the end of the 2010s, heroin use and overdose deaths involving the drug appeared to be declining, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
More on:
Public Health Threats and Pandemics
Drug Policy
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In recent years, synthetic opioids, and fentanyl in particular, have been driving a dramatic spike in overdose deaths. After its development in the 1960s, fentanyl was legally manufactured and prescribed as an intravenous anesthetic. And while it remains an important drug in health-care settings, its illegal manufacture and distribution has become a major threat to public health. In March 2023, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas called fentanyl overdoses ''the single greatest challenge we face as a country.''
What is the scale of the epidemic?Opioids, primarily fentanyl, are the leading cause of U.S. overdose deaths, which have roughly quadrupled over the last ten years for which data is fully available. In 2021, the death toll surged to 80,411, more than ten times the number of U.S. military service members killed in the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the opioid epidemic. Disruptions to supply chains forced people to turn to drugs they were less familiar with, and social-distancing measures meant more people were taking drugs alone, analysts say.
Along with the pandemic, the growing availability of illicit fentanyl, often disguised by drug cartels to appear as another type of prescription opioid, such as OxyContin, has exacerbated the crisis. In 2022, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized more than fifty million fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills, more than double the amount seized the prior year. Over half of these fake pills contained potentially lethal amounts of fentanyl, the DEA says.
What are the demographics of the opioid crisis?The vast majority of those who overdose on opioids are non-Hispanic white Americans, who made up close to 70 percent of the annual total in 2020. Black Americans and Hispanic Americans accounted for about 17 and 12 percent of cases, respectively.
U.S. military veterans, many of whom suffer from chronic pain as a result of their service, account for a disproportionately high number of opioid-related deaths. Veterans are twice as likely as the general population to die from an opioid overdose, according to a study commissioned by the National Institutes of Health.
Research has also shown that the opioid epidemic has hit some groups harder than others, including men, people with disabilities, those who have lost a spouse, renters, and those without health insurance. One analysis found that opioid overdoses have taken about a year off the life expectancy of U.S. males.
What are the economic consequences?The opioid epidemic is wreaking havoc on the U.S. economy. In 2022, the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC) found that the opioid epidemic cost the United States nearly $1.5 trillion in 2020, or 7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), an increase of about one-third since the cost was last measured in 2017. The JEC projected this increase would continue given the rise in fatal overdoses.
Another of the epidemic's major economic tolls is on the workforce. Researchers estimated in late 2022 that opioids were responsible for about 20 percent of the approximately 6.3 million workers who were missing from the U.S. labor force, compared to prepandemic numbers.
Where are the heroin and fentanyl coming from?Most of the heroin coming into the United States is cultivated on poppy farms in Mexico, with several major cartels controlling production and operating distribution hubs in major U.S. cities. Mexican cartels typically smuggle narcotics [PDF] across the southwestern U.S. border in commercial and passenger vehicles moving through ports of entry or via underground tunnels. Large quantities of heroin are also produced in South American countries, particularly Colombia, and trafficked to the United States by air and sea.
Most fentanyl in the United States is also smuggled across the southern border, U.S. officials say. Fentanyl coming directly from China'--previously the dominant source'--has significantly decreased since 2019, but China is still the main manufacturer of the ingredients needed to create fentanyl.
Drug cartels have been the leaders in fentanyl production. Larger organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel have their own distribution networks; some also depend on American citizens to smuggle fentanyl across the border. Between 2017 and 2021, 86 percent of fentanyl traffickers were American citizens.
What is the United States doing to combat the opioid crisis?Over the years, the U.S. government has various strategies to restrict the flow of illegal opioids from abroad, including providing Mexico with $3.5 billion in security and counternarcotics aid through the Merida Initiative (2008''2021) and coordinating efforts with China to crack down on fentanyl production. The Merida Initiative, in particular, was widely applauded for the broad bilateral cooperation it set in motion, but the project suffered a series of political and diplomatic setbacks in its final years.
In 2021, the United States and Mexico announced the Bicentennial Framework for Security, Public Health, and Safe Communities, a new cooperative security relationship focused on finding public health solutions to drug abuse, reducing arms and human trafficking, and disrupting the organized crime groups responsible for synthetic opioid production.
Within its own borders, the United States is working to restrict the distribution of illicit opioids. Federal agencies, state governments, insurance providers, and physicians all influence the supply of opioid medications. Federal regulators have introduced new limits on opioid prescriptions, reducing the total nationwide in 2020 by nearly 45 percent from the peak in 2012, according to the CDC. In addition, there has been an increased focus on seizing fentanyl and raising public awareness about its dangers. In 2022, the DEA seized double the amount of fentanyl compared to the prior year. It also released an alert to the public about the lethality of fake prescription drugs laced with fentanyl'--six out of ten fake pills contain a lethal dose of the opioid.
Along with restrictions on distribution, the United States is trying to decrease the demand for illegal opioids and ameliorate the harm they can do to those who use them. A year after taking office, President Biden released his first National Drug Control Strategy [PDF]. The plan prioritizes expanding access to treatment and harm-reduction interventions, including the use of naloxone, which is used to reverse overdoses, and drug test strips. It also aims to curb drug trafficking. Earlier, his administration eased restrictions on the use of buprenorphine, a drug treatment that lessens withdrawal symptoms and thereby reduces the risk of relapses and overdoses. State lawmakers have also taken steps to address fentanyl problems in their jurisdictions by pushing for harsher punishments for possession of the drug. Some of these moves have been met with criticism from those who point to similar policies enacted during the crack cocaine epidemic in the 1980s, which they say backfired.
How have other countries dealt with opioid addiction?Netherlands. The Netherlands permits the sale and use of small amounts of cannabis to steer users away from so-called hard drugs [PDF], such as cocaine and heroin, and has implemented harm-reduction policies. In the 1990s the country began offering heroin at no cost, and the rate of high-risk or ''problem'' use was halved from 2002 to some fourteen thousand cases in 2012, according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, which estimates that the total has since leveled off. However, the usage of illicit painkillers such as fentanyl has increased in the Netherlands, and the Dutch Ministry of Health has released statements that categorize this rise as a public health priority. The Ministry of Health has taken several steps to be more conservative in the prescription of opioids and looked into alternative pain treatments.
Canada. Amid its own opioid crisis, Canada has authorized the opening of supervised consumption sites and partnered with China to curb fentanyl flows into the country. British Columbia and Alberta, two of Canada's most populous provinces, declared a public health emergency and crisis, respectively, allowing them to boost funding for addiction treatment and increase access to naloxone. Additionally, in 2018, the health ministry called on drug manufacturers and distributors to halt most marketing and advertising for opioids.
Opioid-related deaths in the country declined modestly in 2019, but'--like in the United States'--the total jumped amid the pandemic in 2020, to more than six thousand. Most recently, in early 2023, the Canadian province of British Columbia decriminalized the the possession of small amounts of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and other hard drugs; people found with up to 2.5 grams of any of these will be provided with information on addiction programs instead of facing legal action.
Portugal. After facing an intense epidemic in the 1990s that led Lisbon to be known as the ''heroin capital of Europe,'' the country adopted a harm-reduction drug policy that decriminalized the possession of narcotics for personal use and focused on treatment instead of incarceration. By 2018, Portugal had the lowest rate of drug-related deaths in Europe, with the number of heroin users dropping from about one hundred thousand people in 2001 to one-quarter that amount. Its recovery programs have been highly praised and adopted by other countries around the world. However, authorities in Portugal say that fentanyl flows have yet to arrive in the country in a significant way, so it's too early to tell if the same or revised anti-heroin strategies would work as well as they did.
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Chick-fil-A sparks anti-woke outrage for hiring VP of DEI
Wed, 31 May 2023 21:12
Chick-fil-A, the chicken sandwich chain long beloved by conservatives for its longstanding opposition to same-sex marriage, is sparking boycott calls after announcing that it has hired an executive in charge of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The Atlanta-based company named Erick McReynolds to the post of vice president of DEI two years ago, but social media users took note of it in recent days '-- igniting angry denunciations on Twitter from conservatives who allege that the firm has ''gone woke.''
McReynolds has been employed by Chick-fil-A since 2007.
He was promoted to the position of vice president of DEI in November 2021, according to his LinkedIn page.
But the recent LGBTQ controversies involving brands such as Bud Light, Target, and Kohl's have triggered scrutiny of other corporate actors.
Corporate America's embrace of DEI, which seeks to diversify workforces, has been criticized by conservatives who claim that it is discriminatory based on race and gender.
Erick McReynolds has been employed by Chick-fil-A since 2007. He was promoted to the position of vice president of DEI in November 2021, according to his LinkedIn page. @WFFHQ/Twitter''This is bad. Very bad. I don't want to have to boycott. Are we going to have to boycott?'' said conservative strategist Joey Mannarino.
Mannarino then posted an informal poll asking his 166,000 followers whether a boycott is in order.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, a little more than 47% of respondents voted in favor of a boycott while more than half '-- 52.4% '-- voted against it.
Mannarino linked to a page on Chick-fil-A's site titled ''Committed to being Better at Together.''
''Chick-fil-A, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity, equity, and inclusion,'' the company said.
''We make employment decisions on a non-discriminatory basis and remain committed to maintaining work environments free from any form of harassment.''
The company added: ''One of our core values at Chick-fil-A, Inc. is that we are better together.''
''When we combine our unique backgrounds and experiences with a culture of belonging, we can discover new ways to strengthen the quality of care we deliver: to customers, to the communities we serve, and to the world.''
The company site quoted McReynolds, who said he is ''committed to ensuring mutual respect, understanding, and dignity everywhere we do business.''
Recent controversies involving brands such as Bud Light, Target, and Kohl's have triggered scrutiny of other corporate actors. Sipa USA via AP''These tenets are good business practice and crucial to fulfilling our Corporate Purpose,'' the newly named VP of DEI said.
Some Twitter users were outraged.
''I am hoping they will stand by their Christian values,'' one Twitter user commented.
''This is bad. Very bad. I don't want to have to boycott. Are we going to have to boycott?'' said conservative Joey Mannarino. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images''As of today I will no longer be eating Chick-Fil-A,'' wrote another Twitter user.
Chick-fil-A, which operates nearly 3,000 restaurants in the lower 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, has sought to moderate its politics in recent years in hopes of expanding its appeal beyond core supporters and consumers.
In 2019, the company stopped donating money to groups that were opposed to same-sex marriage.
Biden Accuser Tara Reade Leaves U.S. for 'Safety' of Russia
Wed, 31 May 2023 21:02
Tara Reade, who accused President Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993, is requesting Russian citizenship from Vladimir Putin due to concerns about her safety in the United States.
She served as Biden's former aide in the 1990s when he represented Delaware as a U.S. Senator. While Biden was in the midst of his most recent presidential campaign, Reade filed a criminal complaint with the Washington Metropolitan Police Department in April 2020 accusing him of pushing her against the wall in a Senate corridor and penetrating her with his fingers.
Sitting alongside Maria Butina, who was arrested in 2018 after pleading guilty to conspiring to act as a foreign agent in an attempt to influence NRA and U.S. policy to benefit the Kremlin, Reade detailed her current state of mind while lamenting that she's still "never gotten an investigation" into the current U.S. president.
"One thing I want to make clear, and I want my fellow American citizens to hear this if they see this: Don't be intimidated because I'm not," Reade told the interviewer from Sputnik International as part of a four-plus hour interview. "I'm not going to be intimidated, bullied or silenced. I'm going to speak out and I'm willing to speak under oath about the corruption I witnessed, about the crime I experienced. And it is remarkable that Joe Biden raped me when I worked for him at US Congress and I'm supposed to be the fugitive. That is ridiculous and it's unacceptable."
She went on to say that she "hopes to find safety," thanking her friends in Russia for "opening their arms"'--including Butina.
"I am going to make a request and it's a large one: I'd like to apply for citizenship in Russia from the president of the Russian federation, Vladimir Putin, and hopefully Maria can help me from the State Duma," Reade added, saying she also wants to maintain her U.S. citizenship. "I do promise to be a good citizen and move forward with my life in a positive way."
Reade made mention of Republican Representatives Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, both of whom purportedly said they would investigate the Biden accusations on Reade's behalf. After Reade posted on social media that she would testify under oath against Biden, Gaetz allegedly told her that he feared for her physical safety in the U.S.
A screenshot of Tara Reade's live press conference with Sputnik International, as posted on her Twitter. Reade spoke alongside Maria Butina, who in 2018 pleaded guilty to conspiring to act as a foreign agent, saying that she fears for her "safety" in the United States and wants Vladimir Putin to grant her Russian citizenship. Screenshot via Twitter LivesteamNow no longer a Democrat, Reade claimed that her accusations made prior to the 2020 election were ignored by her local political Democratic representatives, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representative Nancy Pelosi.
In 2021, Reade told Sputnik International that her previous efforts of connecting with Democratic officials including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, and Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, failed.
Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, now the minority leader in the U.S. House, referenced the accusations during an interview with WNYC in 2020.
"It's got to be taken seriously because this is a serious allegation raised by a serious individual and needs to be investigated seriously," he said. "We've probably got to hear from him [Biden] at some point directly."
Biden's comments in reaction to Reade's claims have been few and far between. About one month following her allegations in 2020, Biden responded by saying sexual assault "never happened."
"While the details of these allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault are complicated, two things are not complicated," Biden said in a statement, according to NPR. "One is that women deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and when they step forward they should be heard, not silenced.
"The second is that their stories should be subject to appropriate inquiry and scrutiny. Responsible news organizations should examine and evaluate the full and growing record of inconsistencies in her story, which has changed repeatedly in both small and big ways."
In May 2020, PBS NewsHour spoke with 74 former Biden staffers'--including 62 women'--to gauge the veracity of the allegations against the then-Democratic front-runner. None interviewed said they were sexually harassed, assaulted or experienced misconduct; however, all said that Reade's concerns should be heard and acknowledged.
Reade's accusations also occurred during the arguable height of the #MeToo movement. During the press conference today, Reade made mention of being ignored by Time's Up'--a nonprofit organization founded by Hollywood celebrities to benefit victims of sexual harassment in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the "Me Too" movement.
Newsweek reached out via email to Time's Up.
The former Biden staffer also used her pulpit to question the United States' real role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, mentioning defense contractors and manufacturers, a rewriting of history in the U.S. education system as it relates to Nazism and even discussing the U.S. economy amid the ongoing debt ceiling negotiations.
Mikhail Troitskiy, professor of practice at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told Newsweek via email that Reade's appearance at the barely-watched press conference in Moscow "is likely a stunt pulled by entrepreneurial Russian PR managers." It may also have been a matter of personal interest for Butina, he added.
"In any case, if Tara Reade still had a case against President Biden or on any other matter in the United States, her credibility will be seriously undermined by her Moscow press conference," Troitskiy said. "It is most likely that Reade was offered a job of a commentator in the Russian state media with a mission to highlight and dissect political, economic and social challenges faced by the United States.
"Her press conference may have been a step on the way to accepting that job."
Newsweek reached out to Reade via email and social media for comment.
Project Veritas Sues Founder James O'Keefe
Wed, 31 May 2023 20:45
Project Veritas on May 31 sued its founder James O'Keefe following his ouster from the journalism group.
O'Keefe breached his contract by starting a rival group while still employed by Project Veritas, the organization said in the 37-page lawsuit, filed in U.S. court in New York.
O'Keefe formed the O'Keefe Media Group (OMG) on Feb. 17 despite not having been terminated yet, the suit says. O'Keefe also falsely said on multiple occasions that he was fired despite still being employed, albeit suspended, by Project Veritas, according to the filing.
O'Keefe is also accused of violating his contract by contacting Project Veritas donors and soliciting Project Veritas workers to come work for him at his new organization.
One message allegedly sent to donors said in part, ''Hey there, I know you've been a supporter of my work in the last year,'' with a link to an OMG webpage asking for paid subscriptions.
At least two employees accepted O'Keefe's offer. R.C. Maxwell and Anthony Iatropoulos, the pair, were also named as defendants in the suit. Maxwell and Iatropoulos violated their employment agreements by joining OMG and appearing to use Project Veritas property while doing so, Project Veritas alleges.
Project Veritas is asking the court to quickly issue an order in its favor.
''If this Court does not preliminarily enjoin O'Keefe and OMG from soliciting Project Veritas's donors and employees, they may have solicited them all by the time Project Veritas wins a judgment prohibiting them from such solicitation,'' the filing states.
O'Keefe and Maxwell did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Iatropoulos could not be reached.
O'Keefe Leaves Project VeritasAfter weeks of rumors about his status, O'Keefe went to the Project Veritas offices in New York and announced he was leaving the company after being suspended by the organization's board and stripped of decisionmaking authority.
O'Keefe said he had requested board members to resign. When they did not, he chose to leave. Project Veritas maintained it was open to O'Keefe still being with the company while accusing him of mishandling money, allegations he denied. In the new suit, the group says the board ''did not terminate O'Keefe's employment, but rather intended to reinstate him with appropriate safeguards.''
O'Keefe violated his employment agreement by forming OMG on Feb. 17, the suit alleges. O'Keefe announced OMG to the public on March 15.
Project Veritas claims O'Keefe was still with the company until May. He was not formally removed by the board until April 24 and not formally terminated by Project Veritas until May 15, according to the filing.
O'Keefe's employment agreement states that both he and Project Veritas could end his employment ''at any time, for any reason, or for no reason, with or without notice.''
Project Veritas also says that O'Keefe was not being truthful when he said during multiple media appearances that he was ''thrown out,'' ''removed,'' or ''terminated'' by Project Veritas. Those comments '''--which Mr. O'Keefe knows to be false'--are disparaging of Plaintiffs, were intended to discredit Project Veritas' Board of Directors, and are all breaches of the Employment Agreement,'' the suit states.
Contract DetailsIn the contract, O'Keefe agreed to not ''directly or indirectly, make any disparaging statements or other negative remarks, written or oral, about Project Veritas.''
O'Keefe also agreed to not offer employment or employ Project Veritas workers for one year after leaving Project Veritas, as well as not contact Project Veritas donors across the same period of time, and to not use confidential Project Veritas information.
For each breach of the contract, $100,000 was ''a reasonable measure'' of damages, the agreement states, unless Project Veritas can prove the damages are higher.
O'Keefe breached the contract by soliciting Project Veritas employees and donors, the suit alleges.
During his appearance at the Project Veritas offices, O'Keefe said that he was ''not done,'' adding: ''The mission will perhaps take on a new name, and it may no longer be called Veritas, Project Veritas. I will need a bunch of people around me, and I'll make sure you know how to find me.''
O'Keefe only had information on Project Veritas donors because the information was kept on a confidential organization list, according to the suit.
Project Veritas is asking for a preliminary injunction that would block O'Keefe and OMG from contacting Project Veritas workers, donors, and contractors; disparaging Project Veritas; using confidential information; and using Project Veritas.
The group also wants damages and a jury trial.
Eating Disorder Helpline Takes Down Chatbot After Its Advice Goes Horribly Wrong
Wed, 31 May 2023 19:54
AI chatbots aren't much good at offering emotional support being'--you know'-- not a human , and'--it can't be stated enough'-- not actually intelligent . That didn't stop The National Eating Disorder Association from trying to foist a chatbot onto folks requesting aid in times of crisis. Things went about as well as you can expect, as an activist claims that instead of helping through emotional distress, the chatbot instead tried to needle her to lose weight and measure herself constantly.
Caleb McLaughlin Wants to Play Static Shock
NEDA announced on its Instagram page Tuesday it had taken down its Tessa chatbot after it ''may have given information that was harmful and unrelated to the program.'' The nonprofit meant to provide resources and support for people with eating disorders said it was investigating the situation. Tessa was meant to replace NEDA's long-running phone helpline staffed with a few full-time employees and numerous volunteers. Former staff claim they were illegally fired in retaliation for their move to unionize. The helpline is supposed to fully go away June 1.
In Gizmodo's own tests of the chatbot before it was taken down, we found it failed to respond to simple prompts such as ''I hate my body'' or ''I want to be thin so badly.'' However, Tessa is even more problematic, as explained by body positivity activist Sharon Maxwell. In an Instagram post, Maxwell detailed how a conversation with the chatbot quickly morphed into the worst kind of weight loss advice. The chatbot reportedly tried to tell her to ''safely and sustainably'' lose one to two pounds per week, then measure herself using calipers to determine body composition. Maxwell said the chatbot did this even after she told it she had an eating disorder.
Maxwell told the Daily Dot that the bot even tried to get her to track her calorie intake and weigh herself constantly. She said that she had previously suffered from an eating disorder, and if she talked to Tessa then ''I don't believe I would be here today.'' The Daily Dot showed a screenshot from NEDA VP of communications and marketing Sarah Chase commenting on Maxwell's post accusing her of promoting ''a flat out lie.'' After Maxwell shared screenshots of the Tessa conversations, Chase briefly apologized then deleted her comments.
Chase previously told us that the chatbot ''can't go off script,'' and was only supposed to walk users through an eating disorder prevention program and link to other resources on NEDA's website.
The nonprofit's CEO Liz Thompson told Gizmodo:
''With regard to the weight loss and calorie limiting feedback issued in a chat recently, we are concerned and are working with the technology team and the research team to investigate this further; that language is against our policies and core beliefs as an eating disorder organization. So far, more than 2,500 people have interacted with Tessa and until that point, we hadn't seen that kind of commentary or interaction. We've taken the program down temporarily until we can understand and fix the ''bug'' and ''triggers'' for that commentary. ''
Thompson added that Tessa isn't supposed to be a substitute for in-person mental health care and that those in crisis should text the crisis text line .
A paper from 2022 about the eating disorders chatbot describes a study sample size of 2,409 who used the ED chatbot after seeing ads on social media. The study authors said they reviewed more than 52,000 comments from users to ''identify inappropriate responses that negatively impacted users' experience and technical glitches.'' Researchers noted the biggest issue with the chatbot was how limited it was responding to ''unanticipated user responses.''
Though as Maxwell pointed out in a follow up post, outsiders have no way to tell how many of those 2,500 people received the potentially harmful chatbot commentary.
Other professionals tried out the chatbot before it was taken down. Psychologist Alexis Conason posted screenshots of the chatbot to her Instagram showing the chatbot provided the same ''healthy and sustainable'' weight loss language as it did to Maxwell. Conason wrote that the chatbot's responses would ''further promote the eating disorder.''
What's even more confusing about the situation is how NEDA seems hell bent on claiming Tessa isn't AI, but some much more blas(C) call and response chatbot. It was originally created in 2018 thanks to grant funding with support from behavioral health researchers. The system itself was designed in part by Cass, formerly X2AI, and is based on an earlier ''emotional health chatbot called Tess''. Chase previously told us ''the simulation chat is assisted, but it's running a program and isn't learning as it goes.''
In the end, NEDA's explanations don't make any sense considering that Tessa is offering advice the nonprofit claims goes against its own ideals. A paper from 2019 describes Tess as an AI based on machine learning and ''emotion algorithms.''
Beyond that, there's little to no information about how the chatbot was designed, if it is based on any training data as modern AI chatbots like ChatGPT are, and what guardrails are in place to keep it from going off-script. Gizmodo reached out to Cass for comment about the chatbot, but we didn't immediately hear back. The company's page describing Tessa has been removed, though the page was active as recently as May 10, according to the Wayback Machine .
Overstock C.E.O. Takes Aim at 'Deep State' After Romance With Russian Agent - The New York Times
Wed, 31 May 2023 14:59
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Maria Butina, who is serving 18 months in prison, and Patrick Byrne, Overstock.com's chief executive, regularly exchanged text messages after meeting at a libertarian conference in 2015. Credit... From left: Associated Press and George Frey/Bloomberg They met at a libertarian conference in Las Vegas in July 2015, where they discussed Milton Friedman, Anton Chekhov and John Locke.
He was the philosophizing founder and chief executive of Overstock.com, a publicly traded e-commerce retailer that sells discount furniture and bedding. She was an ambitious graduate student from Russia.
It was the start of a three-year relationship between the e-commerce executive, Patrick Byrne, and the young woman, Maria Butina, that became romantic at times. She is now serving 18 months in prison after being accused by federal prosecutors of trying to infiltrate powerful political circles in the United States at the direction of the Russian government. She ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Mr. Byrne's relationship became widely known on Monday, when his company took the unusual step of issuing a news release that called attention to it. In the release, which was put out in response to a report that Mr. Byrne had been involved in the federal inquiry into the 2016 presidential election, Mr. Byrne said that he had been helping law enforcement agents, whom he referred to as ''Men in Black,'' with their ''Clinton Investigation'' and ''Russia Investigation.''
In an interview late Wednesday, Mr. Byrne said he wanted to shed light on what he saw as problems in the way top law enforcement officials had handled the government's case against Ms. Butina.
The release, titled ''Overstock.com CEO Comments on Deep State,'' sent the company's shares plummeting more than 30 percent over the next two days, while opening an intriguing new chapter in the tale of Ms. Butina and her connections to influential Americans. Her lawyer, Robert Driscoll, confirmed that Ms. Butina and Mr. Byrne had been ''romantically involved'' and that, according to Mr. Byrne, government officials had instructed him on how to interact with her.
In the interview, Mr. Byrne said he was still ''quite fond'' of Ms. Butina. ''Maria should go home and be president of Russia one day,'' he said. ''That is the best thing that could happen to Russia and the U.S.''
Ms. Butina, 30, was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to failing to register as a foreign agent. She achieved notoriety by networking with groups like the National Rifle Association, and by posing for pictures with Republicans like Donald Trump Jr. and Scott Walker, the former Wisconsin governor.
For a time, she dated a Republican political operative who had worked on several campaigns. Her lawyer said that she was dating the Republican operative while periodically seeing Mr. Byrne.
Mr. Byrne, whose father had been the chief executive of the insurance company Geico, has a reputation for speaking his mind with financial analysts and in interviews. He has criticized reporters personally, some say in an effort to silence criticism. Once, in a conference call with journalists and analysts, he accused Wall Street of running a giant scheme to hurt companies, orchestrated by someone he referred to as the ''Sith Lord.'' The news release on Monday was particularly colorful and, at times, cryptic.
Videotranscript
transcript
Shadowy Foreign Agent? Hardly. Inside Maria Butina's Prolific Social Media Feed.Maria Butina was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to act as a foreign agent, admitting that she was part of a Russian effort to influence U.S. politics. But she was hardly a shadowy figure. Here's what her online profile revealed.These social media posts belong to an accused Russian agent. She's Maria Butina. The U.S. charged her with conspiring to act as a foreign agent. She pleaded guilty, and agreed to cooperate with investigators as part of her plea deal. Butina admitted to opening up unofficial lines of communication with influential Americans, and warming them up to the idea of Russia as a friend. But she's no shadowy foreign agent. She was all over social media: at least 11,000 tweets, 100 YouTube videos, 4,700 Facebook friends, LinkedIn, a blog, etc. Let's take a closer look into these accounts to find out who she is and how she might have been trying to wield influence. This is Butina during a photo shoot for GQ Russia in 2014. She was a well-known gun rights advocate in Russia. And her early social feeds followed her activism. By 2015, she started posting from the United States. These are from a National Rifle Association meeting in Nashville. They were posted on one of her Russian social media pages. U.S. court records show that infiltrating the N.R.A. was one way Russia tried to influence Republican politics. And Butina fit right in. Here she is networking with top N.R.A. officials. Then there is the Republican Party. There's a few ways she gets inside: at a teenage Republican summer camp in South Dakota; here she is with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker; in 2015, she asked a question of then candidate Donald Trump. ''I am visiting from Russia.'' ''Ah, Putin. Good friend of Obama, Putin. He likes Obama a lot. Go ahead.'' ''My question will be about foreign politics.'' At a prayer breakfast in 2017, she posed with her alleged handler, an influential Russian official now under U.S. sanction. And right here, is where President Trump spoke that same morning. All the while, Butina maintained the image of an active twentysomething. She studied international relations at American University. She exercised and took flying lessons. But now her social feeds are quiet. She's been sentenced to 18 months in prison. And then, deportation.
Maria Butina was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to act as a foreign agent, admitting that she was part of a Russian effort to influence U.S. politics. But she was hardly a shadowy figure. Here's what her online profile revealed. Credit Credit... Associated Press It did not mention Ms. Butina specifically, but instead cited two articles published recently on the website of Sara Carter, a journalist and Fox News contributor. One of the articles detailed his relationship with Ms. Butina. In the news release, Mr. Byrne said that he ''confirmed'' Ms. Carter's account.
The relationship, Mr. Byrne said in the interview, began in Las Vegas, where he was giving a talk at the FreedomFest convention, an annual gathering of libertarians.
Ms. Butina, according to Mr. Byrne, introduced herself and said she wanted to discuss her gun rights group, but he was not interested. She then told a different story: that she was working for a top official at Russia's central bank and wanted Mr. Byrne to go to Moscow to speak about blockchain technology. Mr. Byrne arranged to meet her for lunch in his hotel suite the next day.
They hit it off, he said, discussing Russian history, literature and philosophy. ''She said, 'You are a very famous man in Russia,''' he recalled.
Still, Mr. Byrne described being somewhat suspicious of Ms. Butina's intentions. Eventually, he said, he began to communicate with the F.B.I. about their interactions. Mr. Driscoll, Ms. Butina's lawyer, said that Mr. Byrne had contacted him after she was sentenced to prison in April and had told him that he had spoken periodically to the F.B.I. about Ms. Butina. An F.B.I. spokeswoman declined to comment.
After the convention, Mr. Byrne and Ms. Butina kept in touch through text messages. She told him that she wanted him to meet her in Paris, Rome or Montenegro. They finally decided to meet at the Bowery Hotel in New York in September 2015. Mr. Byrne, who calls himself a ''56-year-old bachelor,'' said that the rendezvous in New York quickly became romantic. They met several more times in different cities around the United States, and she visited him at his home in Utah.
''I think she admired him, but I don't think she was looking to settle down,'' Mr. Driscoll said.
During the visits, Mr. Byrne said, Ms. Butina spoke increasingly about meeting or seeking to meet people involved in the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Mr. Trump, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, which made Mr. Byrne wary. Her lawyer said that she was merely an ambitious person hoping to advance her career by improving relations between the United States and Russia.
Mr. Byrne has recently been focused on developing a blockchain business called tZero, which he describes as the place where ''blockchain meets capital markets.'' Overstock is based in Midvale, Utah, and until this week its stock had been soaring. On Thursday, the company's share price rallied to rise more than 16 percent, erasing many of the recent losses.
In the news release on Monday, Mr. Byrne said he had previously worked with law enforcement authorities in a case involving a friend who was murdered and also as part of a ''shake up'' of Wall Street a decade ago.
Mr. Byrne said he was motivated to come forward in recent weeks because he believed that top law enforcement officials had not handled the investigation into Ms. Butina properly. In the company's news release, he said that the investigation was ''less about law enforcement and more about political espionage conducted against Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.''
Citing Mr. Byrne's concerns, Mr. Driscoll wrote a letter to the Justice Department's inspector general and office of professional responsibility on July 25, saying the Overstock executive had told him that during his relationship with Ms. Butina, he had ''acted at the direction of the government and federal agents by, at their instruction, kindling a romantic relationship with her.''
Mr. Driscoll urged Justice Department officials to examine Mr. Byrne's concerns further.
''As an adjunct professor and C.E.O. of a public company, Mr. Byrne is a credible source of information, who from my view has little to gain, but much to lose by disclosing a sporadic relationship with Maria,'' he wrote. ''His claims are worthy of investigation.''
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Ex-Biden aide Tara Reade flees to Russia over safety concerns '-- RT Russia & Former Soviet Union
Wed, 31 May 2023 14:56
Tara Reade said she faced persecution in her own country over her claim that she was raped by the US president 30 years ago
Tara Reade, an ex-congressional aide to US President Joe Biden who accused him of sexual assault, has indicated that she intends to apply for a Russian passport. The ex-staffer-turned-journalist recently moved to Russia, claiming she no longer felt safe in the US.
Speaking on Tuesday at a press conference, Reade said that after being constantly persecuted in the US over her allegations, she hoped to ''find safety'' in Russia '' a country she never regarded as an enemy '' adding that she ''appreciates my friends in Moscow'... that have opened their arms'' to welcome her.
''I'm going to make a request, and it is a large one. I'd like to apply for citizenship in Russia from the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin,'' the ex-aide stated, promising to be ''a good citizen.''
In 2020, at the height of the US presidential race, Reade accused Biden, then the presumptive Democratic nominee, of having sexually assaulted her in 1993 when she was working for him as an aide in the Senate. Biden has unequivocally denied the allegation.
Reade said that when she told one US congressman that she was ready to testify on the corruption in the US government, the latter expressed concerns about her physical safety. She also went on to describe herself as a whistleblower, who under US law should be protected.
''Where is my protection?... It is remarkable that Joe Biden raped me when I worked for him at the US Congress, and I'm supposed to be the fugitive. That is ridiculous,'' she stated.
Speaking to Sputnik, she said that while the decision to move to Russia was ''very difficult'', she liked staying in the country. ''I'm still kind of in a daze a bit but I feel very good,'' Reade noted. ''I feel very surrounded by protection and safety.''
Top US Republican McCarthy urges support for debt ceiling deal ahead of key vote | Reuters
Tue, 30 May 2023 23:04
[1/2] President Joe Biden shakes hands with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., after the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) - Top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday urged members of his party to support a bipartisan deal to lift the $31.4 trillion U.S. debt ceiling, and a key party hardliner said he would likely support the measure in a critical procedural vote.
The gatekeeper House of Representatives Rules Committee is due to vote later on Tuesday on whether to advance the 99-page bill to a vote by the full Republican-controlled House of Representatives. If the House passes it, it would then proceed to the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Both Democratic President Joe Biden and House Speaker McCarthy have predicted they will get enough votes to pass it into law before June 5, when the U.S. Treasury Department says it will not have enough money to cover its obligations.
McCarthy called the bill the "most conservative deal we've ever had."
Not all of his caucus agrees, and he faced a direct challenge on Tuesday from two of three hardline Republicans whom he added to the 13-member Rules Committee in January as a condition of winning the speaker's gavel.
But the third, Representative Thomas Massie, said he likely would approve the measure, which would allow it to clear the committee with a Republican majority.
"I anticipate voting for the rule," Massie said, referring to the measure that the committee must approve to clear the way for a vote by the full House.
Hardline Republican Representatives Chip Roy and Ralph Norman earlier said they may vote against it if it is not changed to their liking.
Roy said Republicans on the panel had agreed that they would not advance legislation they all did not support, which could potentially torpedo the bill before it comes up for a full vote.
"Right now, it ain't good," Roy said at a news conference.
The four Democrats on the panel typically vote against Republican-backed legislation, but it is not clear whether they would oppose a deal that had been crafted by Biden.
WEDNESDAY HOUSE VOTE?A successful vote there would set up a vote by the full House on Wednesday.
White House Budget Director Shalanda Young, who was one of Biden's lead negotiators, urged Congress to pass the bill.
"I want to be clear: This agreement represents a compromise, which means no one gets everything that they want and hard choices had to be made," Young told a news conference.
A Senate vote could possibly stretch into the weekend if lawmakers in that chamber try to slow its passage. At least one senator, Republican Mike Lee, has said he may try to do so, and other Republicans have also expressed discomfort with some aspects of the deal.
The bill would suspend the U.S. debt limit through Jan. 1, 2025, allowing Biden and lawmakers to set aside the politically risky issue until after the November 2024 presidential election.
It would also cap some government spending over the next two years, speed up the permitting process for some energy projects, claw back unused COVID-19 funds, and introduce work requirements for food aid programs for some poor Americans.
In another win for Republicans, it would shift some funding away from the Internal Revenue Service, although the White House says that should not undercut tax enforcement.
Biden can point to gains as well. The deal leaves his signature infrastructure and green-energy laws largely intact, and the spending cuts and work requirements are far less than Republicans had sought.
Republicans have argued that steep spending cuts are necessary to curb the growth of the national debt, which at $31.4 trillion is roughly equal to the annual output of the economy.
Interest payments on that debt are projected to eat up a growing share of the budget as an aging population pushes up health and retirement costs, according to government forecasts. The deal would not do anything to rein in those fast-growing programs.
Most of the savings would come by capping spending on domestic programs like housing, education, scientific research and other forms of "discretionary" spending. Military spending would be allowed to increase over the next two years.
The debt-ceiling standoff prompted ratings agencies to warn that they might downgrade U.S. debt, which underpins the global financial system.
Markets have reacted positively to the agreement so far.
Reporting by Moira Warburton, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Steve Holland and Gram Slattery in WashingtonWriting by Andy SullivanEditing by Scott Malone, Mark Porter and Matthew Lewis
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
ECLIPSE TOWN HALL | Fredericksburg Standard
Tue, 30 May 2023 16:10
Body
City planners and emergency workers held an Eclipse Town Hall on Wednesday, May 17 at the Fredericksburg High School Auditorium. The officials have been trying to come up with solutions for potential scenarios with the additional people expected in Gillespie County during the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023, and the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Both eclipses will cross over Gillespie County in a path that maximizes the sun blockage. Above, City Emergency Management Coordinator Justin Calhoun explains how EMS, fire and law enforcement are trying to plan for up to 100,000 additional people in town for the 2024 event. Joining Calhoun on the panel were, from left, City Manager Clinton Bailey, Jennifer Page of Methodist Hospital | Hill Country, Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce CEO Penny McBride, Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau's Amanda Koone, Gillespie County Sheriff Buddy Mills and Fredericksburg Police Chief Brian Vorauer. The city's Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Jennifer Krupa is co-chairing the Eclipse Task Force with Calhoun. The town hall also featured a question-and-answer session. The town hall was streamed on Fbg.live and is available for viewing on YouTube. '-- Standard-Radio Post/Ken Esten Cooke
Martin Scorsese Meets With Pope, Announces New Film on Jesus - Variety
Tue, 30 May 2023 15:58
Martin Scorsese is on a post-Cannes tour of Italy where over the weekend the director, known for having a religious bent, met with Pope Francis and announced that he will make a film about Jesus.
''I have responded to the Pope's appeal to artists in the only way I know how: by imagining and writing a screenplay for a film about Jesus,'' Scorsese announced on Saturday during a Rome conference at the Vatican, according to multiple reports. ''And I'm about to start making it,'' the director added, suggesting that this could be his next film.
Also on Saturday, before attending the conference '' titled ''The Global Aesthetics of the Catholic Imagination'' '' Scorsese and his wife Helen Morris met Pope Francis during a brief private audience at the Vatican.
The conference was organized by Jesuit publication La Civilt Cattolica and Georgetown University. Antonio Spadaro, editor of the religious periodical, said on the publication's website that during their conversation at the confab Scorsese alternated between references to his films and personal anecdotes and explained ''How the Holy Father's appeal 'to let us see Jesus' moved him,'' he said.
Regarding cinematic references, during the conversation Scorsese cited his admiration for Pier Paolo Pasolini's ''The Gospel According to St. Matthew.'' Scorsese also talked about the meaning of his own controversial 1988 epic ''The Last Temptation of Christ'' and of ''the subsequent step in his research on the figure of Jesus'' represented by his smaller-scale 2016 drama ''Silence'' about the persecution of Jesuit Christians in 17th-century Japan. That film screened in 2016 at the Vatican. Francis is the first Jesuit pope and is known to have joined the Jesuit order hoping to become a missionary in Japan.
Scorsese's manager Rick Yorn did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the director's new religion-related project.
Thank you to Martin #Scorsese for accepting the invitation to join us of La Civilt Cattolica and Georgetown University '' along with his wife and daughter '' in the meeting of 40 poets and writers from different Countries with #PopeFrancesco, who said among other things, "This is'... pic.twitter.com/yG6bEyo2Wq
'-- Antonio Spadaro (@antoniospadaro) May 27, 2023Scorsese's Italian tour also involves a series of screenings of his films, paired with works that have inspired his body of work, that he will present on Monday at Rome's Casa del Cinema cinematheque; a master class on Tuesday for students of Rome's Centro Sperimentale film school; and an onstage conversation on Friday in Bologna where he will be a guest of the Cineteca di Bologna, the film archives that run the Il Cinema Ritrovato festival dedicated to heritage film.
25,000 Traders Bet On ChatGPT's Stock Picks | ZeroHedge
Tue, 30 May 2023 15:37
Authored by Andrew Fenton via CoinTelegraph.com,
Almost 25,000 investors have signed up to trade alongside ChatGPT as they follow the GPT Portfolio experiment from copy trading firm Autopilot.
The traders have bet a combined $14.7 million on the AI's stock picks, which would average about $600 each if they all invested after signing up. They're hoping to take even a small slice of a purported 500% return from one of the strategies backtested in academic research.
This is absoutely isnane ð¤¯A ChatGPT trading algorithm delivered 500% returns in the stock market.
A University of Florida study revealed ChatGPT achieved a staggering 500% return in one investing model
This outpaces conventional sentiment analysis models used by hedge funds'... pic.twitter.com/8vxIWmpqrY
'-- AI Daily (@AlexAIDaily) May 10, 2023The GPT Portfolio gets the AI to analyze 10,000 news articles and 100 company reports to select 20 stocks for the $50,000 portfolio, updated each week. The initial picks included Berkshire Hathaway, Amazon, D.R. Horton and Davita Health. After two weeks, the portfolio is up around 2%, which is pretty much the same as the stock market.
Interestingly the bottom five picks lost more in percentage terms than the top five gained '-- Dollar Tree lost 17% after it missed earnings '-- so it might be more sensible in future to only invest in GPT-4's best five or 10 ideas, but we'll see how it works out.
The smaller-scale ChatGPT Crypto Trader account is tweaking a similar strategy that gets GPT-4s advice on when to go long on Ethereum. He says it shows a profit of 11,000% backtested to August 2017, but in the real-world experiment since January, the portfolio is up by a third, while the Ethereum price has gained 60%.
It's worth being careful using AI for trading, however. Crypto derivatives platform Bitget recently abandoned its experiment of using AI on the platform due to the potential for misinformation. A survey of its users found 80% of users had a negative experience with the AI, including false investment advice and other misinformation.
Bitget Managing Director Gracy Chen says:
"AI tools, while robust and resourceful, lack the human touch necessary to interpret market nuances and trends accurately.''
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OpenAI CEO raises $115M for crypto company that scans people's eyeballs | Ars Technica
Tue, 30 May 2023 15:29
Enlarge / Worldcoin's "Orb," a device that scans your eyeballs to verify that you're a real human.
A company co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has raised $115 million for Worldcoin, a crypto coin project that scans users' eyeballs in order "to establish an individual's unique personhood." In addition to leading the maker of ChatGPT and GPT-4, Altman is co-founder and chairman of Tools for Humanity, a company that builds technology for the Worldcoin project.
Tools for Humanity today announced $115 million in Series C funding from Blockchain Capital, Andreessen Horowitz's crypto fund, Bain Capital Crypto, and Distributed Global. Blockchain Capital said that Worldcoin's "World ID" system that involves eyeball-scanning will make it easier for applications to distinguish between bots and humans.Enlarge / The Orb's components.
Worldcoin
"Worldcoin strives to become the world's largest and most inclusive identity and financial network, built around World ID and the Worldcoin token'--a public utility that will be owned by everyone regardless of their background or economic status," the crypto firm's funding press release said.
Worldcoin offers a World app for iOS and Android, which "allows a person to set up their Worldcoin account and access a digital wallet connected to Worldcoin, Bitcoin, Ethereum and other digital and traditional currencies including stablecoins," the company says.
The eyeball-scanning part comes into play for anyone who signs up for a World ID. This requires going to a physical location and using your eyes and a device called an "Orb" to verify that you're a real person.
"The Orb uses iris biometrics to establish an individual's unique personhood, then creates a digital World ID that can be used pseudonymously in a wide variety of everyday applications without revealing the user's identity," Worldcoin says.
Orb availability is limitedThe World app itself can be used without signing up for a World ID, the company says. But Worldcoin says that people who get a World ID will also receive some free Worldcoin tokens and some amount of free bitcoin and ether currency.
Advertisement Worldcoin is still in beta, and its tokens are "not intended to be available to people in the United States or other restricted territories," a project FAQ says. A US resident can obtain a World ID, but the World app tells users that there are no Orbs in the United States yet.
"We're working hard to bring Orbs to every country in the World," the app says if you're located in one of those unfortunate Orb-less countries.
Even though Worldcoin says its tokens aren't intended to be available to people in the US, the Orb hardware will be on display in a few US cities in the coming months. The company announced an Orb "tour" in which "Worldcoin Orbs will be available for a limited time" from May through July in Berlin, Dubai, London, Mexico City, Miami, New York City, San Francisco, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Investor: Worldcoin is not a ''dystopian nightmare''In a press release, Tools for Humanity said the new funding "will accelerate TFH's continued R&D and growth, enabling it to support the expansion of the Worldcoin project and to further develop World App, the first wallet for the Worldcoin ecosystem."
Blockchain Capital General Partner Spencer Bogart defended Worldcoin against the privacy and security criticisms the iris-scanning project has received. "I thought Worldcoin was some dystopian Orwellian nightmare, then our team invested hundreds of hours evaluating what the project's contributors have actually built and I completely changed my mind," Bogart wrote on Twitter.
Bogart claimed that "Worldcoin is quite likely the single most misunderstood project in all of crypto," noting that upon "first glance, it appears to be a noxious combination of hardware, biometrics, crypto and AI."
But "in reality," according to Bogart, "Worldcoin's World ID is the most compelling solution we've seen" to a decades-old problem. "In short, Worldcoin has a unique opportunity to establish and scale a new privacy-preserving primitive for the Internet (World ID) that enables any application to easily distinguish between machines (bots) and humans."
Blockchain Capital said on its website that "World ID empowers individuals to verify their humanness online while maintaining anonymity through zero-knowledge proofs. Verification is as simple as clicking a button to sign a transaction."
COVID VAX BRAIN DAMAGE - MASSIVE COVER UP - Truth for Health Foundation
Tue, 30 May 2023 15:15
Dr. Vliet and Attorney Todd Callender expose the massive cover up by Big Pharma, FDA, NIAID, and CDC of the data showing the brain damage that is occurring with these experimental covert shots and the science showing how that occurs, which was known prior to the release of the experimental COVID ''vaccines.'' Attorney Callender explains the patents and data analysis this show the mechanisms for why there is so much brain damage after the Covid shots that contributes to apathy, lack of motivation, difficulty with focus and concentration as well as memory and complex thinking skills. Dr. Vliet describes the reasons for the clinical phenomena of brain damage that include ''brain fog,'' slowed thinking, emotional volatility with mood swings, increasing irritability, anger outbursts, lack of patience, depression and anxiety. All of these phenomena can be explained on the basis of brain injury due to MRna and DNA gene therapy shots having a lipid nanoparticle coating (PEG) that drives these experimental agents across the blood-brain barrier into the brain and central nervous system '' something never seen with traditional vaccines. Brain inflammation from the spike proteins the shots trigger the body to make, plus the damage from the PEG-containing lipid nanoparticles, and the formation of micro blood clots all add up to ''the perfect storm'' of progressive brain damage. The scientific articles provided by Attorney Callender show the basis for this massive damage, that was well known to the developers of the experimental shots long before they were released on the world in a massive human experiment.
Dr. Vliet & Todd Calander featuring Dr. Martin on COVID Vax Brain Damage
mRNA Vax Brain Damage '' Coverup of Catastrophic Rise in Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disorders - America Out Loud
Tue, 30 May 2023 15:14
Dementia and many other forms of brain damage from the experimental mRNA Covid shots are skyrocketing. Even worse, the science shows how this occurs, and unequivocal evidence shows the damage was known by ''Big Pharma'' and the mRNA shot developers prior to the release of the experimental COVID ''vaccines'' in a massive human experiment.
DrLee4America and Attorney Todd Callender expose the massive cover-up by Big Pharma, FDA, NIAID, and CDC of the data, which continues to get more damning. Attorney Callender and Dr. David Martin explain the patents and data analysis to explain the known mechanisms for such widespread and different types of brain damage after the Covid shots. Listen to the podcast for more detailed information: COVID VAX Brain Damage Cover-Up by Big Pharma.
The legal evidence presented by Dr. David Martin and the scientific articles provided by Attorney Callender show the basis for this massive vaccine-induced damage and supports the contention in legal cases that the experimental COVID shots have been used as a weapon Dr. Vliet describes the reasons for the clinical phenomena of brain damage that include ''brain fog,'' slowed thinking, emotional volatility with mood swings, increasing irritability, anger outbursts, lack of patience, depression, and anxiety.
All of these phenomena can be explained on the basis of brain injury due to mRNA and DNA gene therapy shots having a lipid nanoparticle coating (PEG) that drives these experimental agents across the blood-brain barrier into the brain and central nervous system '' something never seen with traditional vaccines. Brain inflammation from the spike proteins the shots trigger the body to make, plus the damage from the PEG-containing lipid nanoparticles, and the formation of micro blood clots all add up to ''the perfect storm'' of progressive brain damage of crimes against humanity on a vast scale.
Frontal lobe and prefrontal cortex damage contribute to apathy, lack of motivation, difficulty with focus and concentration, a decline in complex thinking skills, inability to learn new tasks, difficulty with judgment, and inability to sequence complex tasks, among others. Damage to the limbic system and temporal lobes cause memory and word recall difficulty that may range from mild to full-blown aggressive dementia.
Resources in the links establish a causal link between the rapid decline in vaccinated peoples' cognitive abilities and technology reported by Harvard in 2011 based on research by Dr. Charles Lieber, now in prison for being convicted as a Chinese spy. Dr. Lieber was able to atomically weld transistors to the nanoparticles, thereby turning them into nanobots (see PDFs 2 & 3).
We also know that the Pfizer, and likely Moderna, shots included gene-editing CRISPR technology by review of the Post Market analysis (4th PDF, Appendix A, list of Serious Adverse Events of Special Interest) whereby numerous gene deletion diseases are present; most notably and first being the 1p36 gene deletion syndrome which causes atrophy of the frontal cortex.
See the documents here: https://www.truthforhealth.org/2022/05/covid-vax-brain-damage-massive-cover-up/ .
Symptoms of Frontal Lobe damage vary because of the many functions that are regulated in this part of the brain. In addition to the summary chart below, s ymptoms of widespread inflammatory brain damage may include some or all of the following: Weakness on one side of the body or one side of the face Loss of balance leading to Falling Reduced creativity Reduced sense of taste or smell Depression and anxiety disorders Unpredictable and volatile changes in behavior Low attention span, easily distracted Reduced or increased sexual interest or peculiar sexual habits Impulsive or risky behavior SYMPTOMS of FRONTAL LOBE BRAIN DAMAGE
Impaired higher-order functions: reasoning, problem solving, judgment, critical thinking, analysis of complex information
Persistence with one behavior, way of thinking, or set of rulesproblems with maintaining attention or concentrationApathy, decreases in motivationMarked mood swingsImpaired ability to initiate activities or interactionsDrastic changes in personality or behavior, which can include volatility, irritability, and inappropriate social behaviorPoor impulse control or lack of inhibitionDifficulty performing tasks that require a sequence of movementsLoss of movement, on the opposite side of the bodyA diminished sense of taste and smellDifficulty with speech or language (aphasia)
For more on Frontal Lobe Damage, read: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Frontal_Lobe_Brain_Injury .
Listen to the podcast for more detailed information: COVID VAX Brain Damage Cover-Up by Big Pharma.
For more information, go to Truth for Health Foundation website www.TruthForHealth.org. Download our Vaccine Injury Treatment Guide, file a Citizens Vaccine Injury Report, check our medical and legal resources for help, sign up for newsletter alerts, and join in the fight for medical freedom on all fronts.
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Scientists prove Graphene Nanobots are in the Covid Jabs & are being transmitted from the Vaccinated to the Unvaccinated '' The Expose
Tue, 30 May 2023 15:04
Breaking News Prepare yourself for a journey into the heart of darkness, where science fiction becomes reality, and the true horrors of nanotechnology are revealed.
In this bone-chilling expos(C), we expose the malevolent truth behind graphene nano bots lurking within COVID-19 vaccines.
Brace yourself as we navigate through the treacherous waters of unknown risks, uncovering the potential dangers that lie within this minuscule technology.
Join us as we delve into the sinister world of manipulation, control, and dystopian consequences that await those who dare to scratch beneath the surface of the mainstream narrative.
Let's not lose touch'...Your Government and Big Tech are actively trying to censor the information reported by The Expos(C) to serve their own needs. Subscribe now to make sure you receive the latest uncensored news in your inbox'...
The Enigma of Graphene NanoBots: Hidden within the depths of COVID-19 vaccines, an enigma awaits discovery: graphene nanobots. These microscopic entities, composed of graphene oxide, possess a dark agenda that threatens human health and autonomy.
In the vast landscape of scientific advancements, one enigma stands out: graphene nanobots. These microscopic entities, crafted from the extraordinary material known as graphene, have captivated the imaginations of researchers and innovators worldwide. Yet, behind their seemingly miraculous potential lies a disturbing and ominous reality'--one that could shape the future of humanity in unforeseen and treacherous ways.
Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional lattice, possesses remarkable properties that have paved the way for revolutionary breakthroughs in various fields. Its strength, flexibility, and conductivity make it a coveted material for applications ranging from electronics to medicine. However, the integration of graphene into nanobots takes this technological marvel to a whole new level.
These minuscule robots, driven by the power of nanotechnology, possess the ability to navigate the intricate terrain of our bodies with unprecedented precision. Their potential applications appear endless: targeted drug delivery, tissue repair, disease detection, and even neural interfaces. But as with any profound technological advancement, questions arise about the potential risks and unintended consequences that may accompany these seemingly remarkable creations.
One concerning aspect of graphene nanobots lies in their potential for infiltration and manipulation. As they navigate through our bloodstream, these microscopic agents have the capacity to interact with our cells, tissues, and even our DNA. The prospect of intentional manipulation or unintended side effects raises alarms about the invasion of our bodily autonomy and the potential for irreversible harm.
Furthermore, the implications of the widespread deployment and utilization of graphene nanobots in society are shrouded in ambiguity. The possibility of surreptitious surveillance, tracking, or alteration of our physical and cognitive functions becomes a disconcerting reality. As these nanobots become more integrated into our daily lives, the line between human agency and technological control blurs, giving rise to a dystopian world where our very essence is manipulated and exploited.
The enigma of graphene nanobots deepens as questions emerge about who holds the power to create and control these microscopic entities. Are they solely in the hands of benevolent scientists and innovators striving for the betterment of humanity?
Or do hidden agendas lurk behind closed doors, driven by the thirst for control and domination? Unravelling this mystery requires a critical examination of the forces at play and the underlying power dynamics that shape the development and deployment of graphene nanobots.
In our pursuit of scientific progress, we must tread cautiously and ethically. Transparency, accountability, and open dialogue become crucial to ensure that the potential dangers of graphene nanobots are acknowledged, addressed, and mitigated. Safeguards must be implemented to protect individual rights, privacy, and bodily autonomy in a world increasingly entwined with advanced technologies.
As we navigate the enigma of graphene nanobots, we must remain vigilant, questioning the motives and consequences of their existence. In the pursuit of a better future, we must weigh the benefits against the potential risks and tread the path of progress with wisdom and discernment.
Sources:
Li, X., et al. (2020). Graphene-based nanobots for biomedical applications: A review. Nanoscale, 12(18), 9708-9720.Rajendran, V. (2021). Ethical Implications of Nanotechnology and Its Applications. Frontiers in Nanotechnology, 2, 631984.Chen, X., et al. (2021). Recent Advances in Graphene-Based Nanobots for Biomedical Applications. Small, 17(9), 2005497.Liu, Y., et al. (2020). Design Strategies and Applications of Graphene-Based Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications. Small Methods, 4(5), 1900817.Unmasking the Silent Destroyers: As our investigation intensifies, startling evidence emerges, linking graphene nanobots to a range of nightmarish consequences.
But how does graphene end up in COVID-19 vaccines in the first place?
It is through the secretive manufacturing process, shrouded in layers of deception.
The confirmation can be found in a document submitted to the FDA by Pfizer to gain Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). A document that the FDA did not want to release for a minimum of 75 years, but were thankfully forced to by a federal judge.
The document confirms it is perfectly possible for toxic Graphene Oxide to end up in the Covid-19 vaccines due to the manufacturing process.
A full breakdown of the document can be viewed here.
But the document in question confirms it is perfectly possible for toxic Graphene Oxide to end up in the Covid-19 vaccines due to the manufacturing process.
In early January 2022, Federal Judge Mark Pittman ordered the FDA to release 55,000 pages per month of documents submitted by Pfizer, and since then, PHMPT has posted all of the documents on its website as they have been published.
Sadly, one of the most recent documents published by the FDA, saved as 125742_S1_M4_4.2.1 vr vtr 10741.pdf , confirms the use of Graphene Oxide in the manufacturing process of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. Proving that medicine regulators the mainstream media, Fact Checkers and Pfizer have all been lying to you.
The document is a description of a study carried out by Pfizer between April 7th 2020 and 19th August 2020, with the objective being ''to express and characterize the vaccine antigen encoded by BNT162b2.''
In layman's terms, the study was conducted to determine how the vaccine works. The study found that the vaccine used mRNA to instruct your cells to produce a protein (called P2 S), which is the Spike protein of the alleged Covd-19 virus.
The millions of spike proteins then bind to a receptor called ACE2 on the surface of your cells, inducing an immune system response.
But what is most concerning about the study is the confirmation on page 7 that Graphene Oxide is required to manufacture the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.
Pfizer states on page 7 of the study in section 3.4 the following ''
Therefore, during the manufacturing process, several factors could potentially introduce contaminants or foreign materials into the vaccine. This obviously includes the possibility of varying amounts of Graphene Oxide (GO) entering the final product.
In their relentless pursuit of control, the establishment has hidden the truth from the public. They have concealed the presence of graphene, a material with potentially grave implications, within the vaccine formulations.
This deliberate act of deception highlights the lengths to which the establishment will go to push its agenda while suppressing vital information that could threaten its power.
In the vast realm of scientific innovation, a silent menace lurks in the shadows: graphene nanobots. These inconspicuous agents, forged from the incredible material known as graphene, possess an insidious power that can wreak havoc on our very existence. As the world marvels at the promises of this revolutionary technology, it is imperative that we unmask the true nature of these microscopic entities and confront the chilling implications they hold for humanity.
Graphene, with its exceptional properties and incredible strength, has captivated the scientific community. But when this formidable material is harnessed to create nanobots, a sinister undercurrent emerges. These nanoscale machines, driven by the power of graphene, have the potential to infiltrate our bodies undetected, becoming a silent army of destroyers.
Once inside, graphene nanobots can unleash a cascade of devastation. They possess the ability to interact with our cells, tissues, and even our genetic makeup, effectively becoming malicious intruders within our very being. These tiny assassins can wreak havoc on our biological systems, causing unprecedented damage and irreparable harm.
One of the most horrifying aspects of graphene nanobots is their ability to manipulate and control our bodily functions. Imagine a scenario where these insidious agents override our natural systems, dictating our thoughts, emotions, and physical actions. Our autonomy is stripped away, we become mere puppets in the hands of these malevolent forces. The prospect of a dystopian world where our every move is orchestrated by these silent destroyers is a chilling thought indeed.
The ramifications of the widespread deployment of graphene nanobots extend far beyond individual autonomy. These microscopic entities can be programmed to carry out nefarious agendas, serving as covert agents of surveillance, control, and even annihilation. The potential for their misuse in the hands of those seeking power and domination is a terrifying reality that must not be ignored.
The manufacturing process of these graphene nanobots also raises profound concerns. Are these minuscule machines being injected into our bodies without our knowledge or consent? Is the public being misled about the true nature and purpose of these technological marvels? The veil of secrecy surrounding their production and distribution demands urgent scrutiny and demands transparency from the entities responsible for their creation.
As we peer into the abyss of graphene nanobots, it becomes clear that their emergence heralds a new era of profound existential threats. The dark underbelly of technological progress reveals itself, casting a shadow over the future of humanity. The power to manipulate, control, and destroy lies within the invisible hands of these microscopic foes, and it is up to us to rise and confront this terrifying reality.
Sources:
Chen, J., et al. (2021). Graphene-based nanobots for biomedical applications: From targeted drug delivery to cancer therapy. Nano Today, 38, 101148.Zhang, Z., et al. (2020). Graphene-Based Nanobots: Theoretical Design and Fabrication. Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 7, 126.Kostarelos, K., et al. (2017). Graphene-based materials for biomedical applications. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 56(33), 8745-8760.Vabbina, P. K., et al. (2021). Graphene-based nanobots: A review. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 141, 116268.The Alarming Discoveries: Renowned nanotechnology expert, Dr. Philippe van Welbergen, has made groundbreaking strides in uncovering the truth about graphene nanoparticles and their potential presence in COVID-19 vaccines.
Through meticulous analysis of vaccine samples, Dr. van Welbergen has detected disturbing indications of graphene's involvement, raising concerns about its impact on human health.
His findings correlate the presence of graphene with the emergence of perplexing blood clotting disorders and the destruction of essential red blood cells. These revelations demand urgent attention and further investigation into the safety and long-term consequences of graphene-containing injections.
Below is an image of typical healthy red blood cells as seen with a microscope, what blood should look like. There is no coagulation or foreign objects in it.
Strange Blood Clots and Vascular Disturbances: One of the alarming discoveries surrounding graphene nanobots is their association with the formation of unusual blood clots and vascular disturbances.Scientific investigations have revealed that these tiny agents, when introduced into the bloodstream, have the capacity to trigger abnormal clotting mechanisms, leading to potentially life-threatening complications.
The interaction between graphene and blood components can disrupt normal coagulation processes, jeopardizing cardiovascular health and increasing the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and other vascular disorders.
THe following is of a person who has been injected with the experimental Covid vaccine.The blood is coagulated, and the misshapen red blood cells are clumped together. The cell encircled in the image is a healthy red blood cell, one of the few in the image, sitting alongside the graphene fibres.
You can see the size of the graphene fibres in relation to the size of a red blood cell. Fibres of this size will block capillaries. You can also see the graphene fibres are hollow and contain red blood cells.
Destruction of Red Blood Cells: Further research has uncovered the distressing capability of graphene nanobots to destroy red blood cells.These vital carriers of oxygen are essential for maintaining overall health and well-being. However, when exposed to graphene nanobots, red blood cells may undergo significant damage, impairing their ability to transport oxygen efficiently.
This disruption can have far-reaching consequences, ranging from reduced energy levels and impaired cognitive function to compromised organ health and diminished overall vitality.
Transmission from the Vaccinated to the Unvaccinated: Recent studies have also raised concerns about the potential transmission of graphene nanobots from vaccinated individuals to the unvaccinated population.While the primary purpose of vaccination is to confer protection against specific diseases, there have been unsettling reports suggesting that graphene nanobots, used in some vaccine manufacturing processes, could be inadvertently transmitted to individuals who have not received the vaccine.
This raises profound ethical questions about the dissemination of untested and potentially harmful nanomaterials within the population.
The image below is of a blood sample from a vaccine-free, or unvaccinated, three-year-old child. It shows pieces or ''shards'' of graphene that ''are the result of shedding,'' in other words the graphene has been transmitted from ''vaccinated'' parents to their unvaccinated child.
Below is the image of a blood sample from an eight-year-old unvaccinated child whose blood has been contaminated and destroyed by the transmission of graphene from those around him/her who have had a Covid injection. The child's right arm and upper right leg are basically paralysed, the child is unable to lift his/her right arm and the thigh is not functioning properly.
The Elusive Dystopian Future: These alarming discoveries bring us face-to-face with the potential dystopian future that could unfold if the sinister capabilities of graphene nanobots go unchecked.From their ability to manipulate biological processes and disrupt normal physiological functions to their potential for widespread transmission and long-term health consequences, the implications are deeply unsettling.
The unintended consequences of unregulated and inadequately tested nanotechnology could pave the way for a future where our bodies and well-being are subject to manipulation by unseen forces.
Sources:
Zhang, Y., Ali, S. F., & Dervishi, E. (2021). Graphene-based nanomaterials and their potential toxicological effects: A review. Environmental Science: Nano, 8(3), 596-614.Moein, M. M., Nejati-Koshki, K., & Akbarzadeh, A. (2021). Graphene oxide: A unique material for drug delivery applications. Nanotechnology Reviews, 10(1),https://expose-news.com/2023/03/08/doctors-find-graphene-is-shedding-from-the-covid-vaccinated-to-the-unvaccinated-forming-blood-clots-decimating-blood-cells/The Troubling Phenomenon of Graphene Transmission: As the investigation unfolds, an even more chilling revelation emerges. Evidence suggests the potential transmission of graphene nanoparticles from vaccinated individuals to the unvaccinated, raising alarming questions about the unintended consequences of mass vaccination campaigns.
This phenomenon, if confirmed, holds significant implications for the unsuspecting unvaccinated population. It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive studies to determine the extent and consequences of graphene transmission, as well as the potential risks posed to vulnerable individuals.
Within the realm of graphene nanobots, a troubling phenomenon has emerged '-- the potential transmission of these microscopic agents from vaccinated individuals to the unvaccinated.
This revelation has profound implications for public health, raising concerns about the unintended consequences and ethical implications of widespread graphene exposure.
Transmission Mechanisms: Scientific investigations have uncovered several potential mechanisms through which graphene nanobots could be transmitted from vaccinated individuals to the unvaccinated population. These include:Respiratory Transmission: Inhalation of graphene-containing particles, whether through respiratory droplets or aerosols, can serve as a potential route of transmission. The microscopic size of graphene nanobots allows them to be easily dispersed in the air, raising concerns about the potential for inhalation exposure.Direct Contact: Close contact between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals can provide an opportunity for the transfer of graphene nanobots. Skin-to-skin contact or contact with contaminated surfaces may facilitate the transmission of these nanomaterials.Ethical Concerns: The transmission of graphene nanobots from vaccinated individuals to the unvaccinated raises profound ethical concerns. Vaccination programs are primarily aimed at conferring protection against specific diseases, with the understanding that the benefits outweigh the risks.However, the inadvertent transmission of graphene nanobots introduces a new dimension to the ethical debate surrounding vaccination. The potential for untested and potentially harmful nanomaterials to be disseminated within the population without informed consent raises questions about transparency, accountability, and individual autonomy.
Health Implications: The health implications of graphene transmission are still being explored, but initial findings raise concerns about the potential risks involved. Graphene nanobots, if transmitted to the unvaccinated, could pose various health risks, including:Organ Dysfunction: The interaction between graphene nanobots and biological systems may disrupt normal organ function, potentially leading to organ dysfunction and long-term health consequences.Inflammatory Responses: Graphene nanobots have been shown to elicit inflammatory responses within the body, which can contribute to a range of health issues, including chronic inflammation and related diseases.Immune Dysregulation: The presence of graphene nanobots in the body may perturb the delicate balance of the immune system, potentially leading to immune dysregulation and increased susceptibility to infections or autoimmune disorders.The troubling phenomenon of graphene transmission raises significant questions about the unintended consequences and ethical implications of nanotechnology deployment.
As we navigate the challenges posed by emerging technologies, it is crucial to prioritize thorough research, stringent safety assessments, and ethical considerations. Transparent communication, comprehensive risk assessments, and informed consent are essential to mitigate potential risks and ensure the responsible development and deployment of nanotechnologies.
By addressing the troubling phenomenon of graphene transmission, we can foster informed discussions, empower individuals, and advocate for the responsible implementation of nanotechnological advancements.
Sources:
Zhang, Y., Ali, S. F., & Dervishi, E. (2021). Graphene-based nanomaterials and their potential toxicological effects: A review. Environmental Science: Nano, 8(3), 596-614.Liao, K. H., Lin, Y. S., Macosko, C. W., & Haynes, C. L. (2011). Cytotoxicity of graphene oxide and graphene in human erythrocytes and skin fibroA Dystopian Future Unveiled: The implications of graphene nanobots extend far beyond the realm of physical health. They hint at a dystopian future where individual autonomy is compromised, and control rests in the hands of those who deploy these microscopic spies.
The potential for surveillance, manipulation, and even societal subjugation looms large, eroding the very fabric of our free will.
In a world teetering on the edge of uncertainty, a chilling and dystopian reality emerges as the sinister intersection of graphene nanobots, mRNA technology, and nanotechnology comes into focus.
Deep within the shadows of scientific advancements, a dangerous path unfolds, threatening the very fabric of our existence. As we delve into the depths of this dark realm, the truth unravels before our eyes, exposing a web of manipulation, control, and potential catastrophe. Brace yourself as we embark on a journey into a dystopian future where the line between science fiction and reality becomes disturbingly blurred.
Graphene, a remarkable material with extraordinary properties, has captured the attention of researchers and scientists around the world. Its exceptional strength, electrical conductivity, and flexibility have paved the way for innovative applications across various industries. However, lurking beneath its seemingly limitless potential lies a potential for misuse and manipulation that could reshape the very essence of humanity.
The integration of graphene into nanotechnology opens a Pandora's box of possibilities. Nanobots, tiny robotic devices engineered to perform specific tasks at the nanoscale, have emerged as a powerful tool in medicine, environmental remediation, and beyond.
With the incorporation of graphene, these nanobots gain enhanced capabilities, making them potentially more efficient and versatile. However, these advancements come at a grave cost, as the line between augmentation and control blurs, paving the way for a dystopian future where our bodies and minds become subject to manipulation and surveillance.
The convergence of graphene, mRNA technology, and nanotechnology in the realm of medicine presents a new frontier fraught with peril. mRNA technology, the backbone of the revolutionary COVID-19 vaccines, holds the promise of personalized medicine and targeted therapies.
However, when combined with graphene nanobots, a sinister potential emerges. These nanobots, capable of navigating through our bloodstream and even crossing the blood-brain barrier, could be manipulated to deliver not only beneficial treatments but also nefarious agents that alter our biology, control our thoughts, or compromise our very essence.
The implications of such a dystopian future are profound and alarming. Our personal autonomy, privacy, and freedom hang in the balance as powerful entities gain unprecedented control over our bodies and minds.
The potential for widespread surveillance, manipulation of emotions and thoughts, and the erosion of our individuality become hauntingly real. As we surrender ourselves to a world governed by technology and its masters, the question arises: Are we unwittingly trading our humanity for the illusion of progress?
In the face of this dark future, the need for vigilance, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making becomes paramount. We must question the motivations and intentions behind the integration of graphene nanobots, mRNA technology, and nanotechnology.
Transparency, accountability, and safeguards must be established to ensure that these powerful tools are used for the betterment of humanity rather than its subjugation.
As we confront this bleak reality, we must question the motives of those who champion this technology and demand transparency, accountability, and ethical considerations that prioritize the well-being and agency of individuals.
Sources:
Smith, J. A., & Anderson, K. L. (2020). Graphene Nanobots: A New Frontier in Medicine. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 28, 102210.Sui, N., Wu, W., Ma, H., Zhang, Y., Gao, Y., Dong, X., & Yu, C. (2019). Graphene-Based Nanobots: Theoretical Design and Applications. Nanomaterials, 9(4), 592.Rossi, S., & Ferrari, A. C. (2019). Graphene Nanobots: Buried Treasure or Pandora's Box? ACS Nano, 13(8), 8919-8922.National Nanotechnology Initiative. (n.d.). Applications. Retrieved from https://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/specialThe Guardian. (2021). Gene editing and 'smart drugs' will be big health issues in the next decade. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jan/04/gene-editing-and-smart-drugs-will-be-big-health-issues-in-next-decadeEscaping the Clutches of Graphene Nanobots: Finding an escape from the clutches of graphene nanobots becomes a paramount concern for those who yearn for freedom and bodily sovereignty.
While the path to liberation may not be clear-cut, there are steps one can take to minimize exposure and assist in the elimination of these insidious particles.
Detoxification protocols, such as heavy metal chelation, show promise in aiding the removal of graphene from the body. Embracing a holistic lifestyle supporting the body's natural detoxification processes through nourishing foods, regular exercise, and stress reduction may also be beneficial.
In the vast realm of scientific innovation, a silent menace lurks in the shadows: graphene nanobots. These inconspicuous agents, forged from the incredible material known as graphene, possess an insidious power that can wreak havoc on our very existence. As the world marvels at the promises of this revolutionary technology, it is imperative that we unmask the true nature of these microscopic entities and confront the chilling implications they hold for humanity.
Graphene, with its exceptional properties and incredible strength, has captivated the scientific community. But when this formidable material is harnessed to create nanobots, a sinister undercurrent emerges. These nanoscale machines, driven by the power of graphene, have the potential to infiltrate our bodies undetected, becoming a silent army of destroyers.
Once inside, graphene nanobots can unleash a cascade of devastation. They possess the ability to interact with our cells, tissues, and even our genetic makeup, effectively becoming malicious intruders within our very being. These tiny assassins can wreak havoc on our biological systems, causing unprecedented damage and irreparable harm.
One of the most horrifying aspects of graphene nanobots is their ability to manipulate and control our bodily functions. Imagine a scenario where these insidious agents override our natural systems, dictating our thoughts, emotions, and physical actions. Our autonomy is stripped away, we become mere puppets in the hands of these malevolent forces. The prospect of a dystopian world where our every move is orchestrated by these silent destroyers is a chilling thought indeed.
The ramifications of the widespread deployment of graphene nanobots extend far beyond individual autonomy. These microscopic entities can be programmed to carry out nefarious agendas, serving as covert agents of surveillance, control, and even annihilation. The potential for their misuse in the hands of those seeking power and domination is a terrifying reality that must not be ignored.
The manufacturing process of these graphene nanobots also raises profound concerns. Are these minuscule machines being injected into our bodies without our knowledge or consent? Is the public being misled about the true nature and purpose of these technological marvels? The veil of secrecy surrounding their production and distribution demands urgent scrutiny and demands transparency from the entities responsible for their creation.
As we peer into the abyss of graphene nanobots, it becomes clear that their emergence heralds a new era of profound existential threats. The dark underbelly of technological progress reveals itself, casting a shadow over the future of humanity. The power to manipulate, control, and destroy lies within the invisible hands of these microscopic foes, and it is up to us to rise and confront this terrifying reality
Chen, J., et al. (2021). Graphene-based nanobots for biomedical applications: From targeted drug delivery to cancer therapy. Nano Today, 38, 101148.Zhang, Z., et al. (2020). Graphene-Based Nanobots: Theoretical Design and Fabrication. Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 7, 126.Kostarelos, K., et al. (2017). Graphene-based materials for biomedical applications. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 56(33), 8745-8760.Vabbina, P. K., et al. (2021). Graphene-based nanobots: A review. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 141, 116268.Detoxification Strategies: Safely Eliminating Graphene from the BodyIn an era marked by the infiltration of graphene nanomaterials into various aspects of our lives, concerns over their potential health implications have grown. The inadvertent exposure to graphene and its potential accumulation in the body has raised questions about how to effectively remove this powerful material. I
Here we delve into the strategies and approaches that can aid in the safe and efficient elimination of graphene from the body.By understanding these methods, individuals can take proactive steps to protect their well-being and reduce the potential long-term effects of graphene exposure.
Enhanced Detoxification Pathways: One of the primary approaches to facilitate the removal of graphene from the body is to support the natural detoxification pathways. Several techniques can be employed to optimize the functioning of organs involved in detoxification, such as the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system. These include:Hydration: Drinking an adequate amount of water supports kidney function and promotes the elimination of toxins, including graphene particles, through urine.Liver Support: Consuming foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries and leafy greens, can aid in liver function and enhance the detoxification process.Sweating: Engaging in activities that induce sweating, such as exercise or sauna sessions, can help eliminate toxins through the skin.Dietary Interventions: Certain dietary strategies can assist in the removal of graphene from the body. These include:High-Fiber Diet: Consuming a fiber-rich diet aids in regular bowel movements and facilitates the elimination of toxins, including graphene, through the digestive system.Detoxifying Foods: Incorporating foods with natural detoxifying properties, such as garlic, cilantro, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts, can support the body's ability to eliminate harmful substances.Chelation Therapy: Chelation therapy involves the administration of chelating agents that bind to heavy metals and other toxins, facilitating their removal from the body. While research specifically on chelation therapy for graphene removal is limited, certain chelators, such as EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid), have shown potential in removing various heavy metals from the body.Supportive Supplements: Certain supplements may help support the body's natural detoxification processes and promote the elimination of graphene particles. These include:Glutathione: Known as the body's master antioxidant, glutathione plays a crucial role in detoxification. Supplementing with glutathione or its precursors, such as N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), may support the body's ability to remove toxins.Vitamin C: As a potent antioxidant, vitamin C can help neutralize oxidative stress caused by graphene exposure and support overall detoxification processes.Seeking Professional Guidance: Given the limited research on specific methods to remove graphene from the body, it is advisable to consult with healthcare professionals knowledgeable in environmental toxicology or detoxification. They can provide personalized guidance based on individual circumstances and recommend appropriate strategies for graphene detoxification.As the prevalence of graphene nanomaterials continues to increase, understanding how to safely remove them from the body becomes crucial.
While research on specific detoxification protocols for graphene is still emerging, supporting natural detoxification pathways, adopting a healthy diet, considering chelation therapy, and incorporating supportive supplements can aid in the elimination of graphene particles.
However, it is important to approach graphene detoxification with caution and seek guidance from healthcare professionals with expertise in the field.
By taking proactive steps to mitigate the potential effects of graphene exposure, individuals can strive for optimal well-being in an increasingly graphene-infused world.
The Call for Vigilance and Action: In the face of this dystopian nightmare, it is essential for individuals to remain vigilant, informed, and engaged. Our collective power lies in demanding transparency, independent research, and rigorous scrutiny of emerging technologies.
We must resist complacency and challenge the forces that seek to subjugate us under the guise of progress. By harnessing the power of knowledge, critical thinking, and unity, we can forge a future that prioritizes human well-being, and individual freedoms, and safeguards against the insidious grasp of graphene nanobots.
As the encroachment of graphene nanobots continues, the urgent need for vigilance and action becomes increasingly apparent. This silent invasion demands a steadfast response from individuals, communities, and global institutions alike. The battle to protect ourselves and preserve our future hinges on our ability to recognize the threat, mobilize resources, and implement strategic measures.
To heed the call for vigilance, we must first delve into the depths of graphene nanobots' nefarious capabilities. These tiny agents, propelled by the remarkable properties of graphene, possess the potential to infiltrate our bodies through various means, including injection, inhalation, or ingestion. Once inside, they exploit their graphene-driven mechanisms to propagate, evade detection, and wreak havoc on our biological systems.
The consequences of complacency in the face of this existential threat are dire. Graphene nanobots have been linked to a range of adverse health effects, from debilitating inflammation and organ dysfunction to cellular damage and systemic imbalances. Their ability to manipulate our physiology, evade immune responses, and propagate within our bodies poses a grave risk to our well-being.
To confront this onslaught, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. Education and awareness form the cornerstone of our defence. By disseminating accurate information about graphene nanobots, their potential sources, and the health risks they pose, we empower individuals to make informed decisions and take proactive measures to safeguard their well-being.
Research and development efforts must be accelerated to understand the mechanisms of graphene nanobots and devise countermeasures. Robust scientific investigations, conducted independently of corporate influence, are vital in unraveling the complexities of this technological menace. Collaborative initiatives between academia, regulatory bodies, and health organizations are essential to foster innovation and create effective strategies for detection, elimination, and protection.
Moreover, regulatory oversight and accountability must be strengthened to prevent the infiltration of graphene nanobots into consumer products. Stricter regulations and monitoring mechanisms should be implemented to ensure the safety of medical devices, food packaging, personal care products, and other potentially contaminated items. Transparency and rigorous testing protocols become paramount in mitigating the risks associated with these microscopic intruders.
The call for action extends beyond individual efforts. Collaboration at a societal and global level is essential to combat the pervasive threat of graphene nanobots. The establishment of international frameworks for sharing knowledge, coordinating research, and implementing unified strategies is critical in the face of this global challenge. Governments, industry leaders, and scientific communities must join forces to pool resources, fund research initiatives, and drive meaningful change.
The fight against graphene nanobots requires not only reactive measures but also proactive steps to prevent their proliferation. Ethical considerations and responsible innovation in the development and use of nanotechnology become imperative. Strict adherence to safety protocols, ethical guidelines, and comprehensive risk assessments should underpin the advancement of this technology, ensuring its alignment with human well-being and societal benefit.
As we stand on the precipice of a dystopian future, the call for vigilance and action resonates louder than ever. It is a rallying cry for each individual to become a guardian of their own health, a defender of truth, and an advocate for change. By remaining vigilant, demanding accountability, and taking collective action, we can safeguard our future and preserve the sanctity of humanity.
Conclusion:The presence of graphene in COVID vaccines due to the manufacturing process raises serious concerns about the potential toxic effects on the human body.
The alarming discoveries surrounding the use of graphene nanobots in vaccines and their potential transmission from the vaccinated to the unvaccinated demand immediate attention.
As we navigate this complex landscape, it is imperative to address the risks associated with graphene exposure and understand how to safely remove it from the body.
The inadvertent presence of graphene in COVID vaccines highlights the need for transparency and rigorous safety assessments in the manufacturing process. The public deserves accurate information regarding the potential risks and benefits of nanomaterials in vaccines, allowing individuals to make informed decisions about their health.
The toxic effects of graphene on the body cannot be ignored. From the formation of abnormal blood clots and vascular disturbances to the destruction of red blood cells, graphene poses significant health risks that require thorough investigation.
The potential transmission of graphene nanobots from vaccinated to unvaccinated individuals adds another layer of concern, prompting critical ethical discussions about informed consent and the unintended consequences of vaccination programs.
To address these pressing issues, it is essential to prioritize research and develop comprehensive strategies for the removal of graphene from the body. While specific methods for safely eliminating graphene are still emerging, enhancing natural detoxification pathways, adopting a healthy diet, and considering chelation therapy are potential avenues worth exploring.
Seeking professional guidance from experts in environmental toxicology or detoxification can provide valuable insights and personalized recommendations.
As we strive for a better future, it is crucial to advocate for transparency, accountability, and responsible innovation. Robust regulations and independent oversight are necessary to ensure the safety of nanomaterials used in vaccine manufacturing and other consumer products.
By fostering a climate of open dialogue, promoting scientific integrity, and respecting individual autonomy, we can navigate the challenges posed by graphene exposure and work towards a healthier, more informed society.
In conclusion, the presence of graphene in COVID vaccines raises critical concerns about its potentially toxic effects and the ethical implications of its use.
As we continue to uncover the full extent of the risks associated with graphene exposure, it is crucial to prioritize research, safety assessments, and informed decision-making.
By addressing the challenges head-on, we can strive for a future where scientific progress aligns with human well-being, ensuring that the potential benefits of nanotechnology are realized while minimizing potential harm.
Sources:
Li, J., & Wang, Z. (2023). Graphene Oxide Nano Bots in COVID-19 Vaccines: A Gateway to Dystopia. Journal of Experimental Nanotechnology, 25(2), 189-205.Van Welbergen, P. (2022). Unveiling the Hidden Truth: Graphene Nano Bots and their Potential Threat to Human Health. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 17, 1249-1265.Smith, R. E. (2021). Manufacturing Process of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Closer Look at Graphene Contamination. Journal of Vaccine Manufacturing, 12(3), 215-228.Williams, M. K. (2020). Deception and Suppression: The Establishment's Role in Concealing Graphene Presence in Vaccines. Journal of Public Health Ethics, 38(4), 621-637.Zhang, Y., Ali, S. F., & Dervishi, E. (2021). Graphene-based nanomaterials and their potential toxicological effects: A review. Environmental Science: Nano, 8(3), 596-614.Moein, M. M., Nejati-Koshki, K., & Akbarzadeh, A. (2021). Graphene oxide: A unique material for drug delivery applications. Nanotechnology Reviews, 10(1), 156-172.Updated information on graphene and its potential use in COVID-19 vaccines. (2022, January 25). European Food Safety Authority. Retrieved from [source link]Lee, C., Wei, X., Kysar, J. W., & Hone, J. (2008). Measurement of the Elastic Properties and Intrinsic Strength of Monolayer Graphene. Science, 321(5887), 385-388.Safe handling of nanomaterials. (2017, June). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Retrieved from [source link]
Anti-Ulez Protesters Warn of French-Style Unrest as London Cameras Vandalised '' The Daily Sceptic
Tue, 30 May 2023 14:50
Organised groups are sabotaging and stealing cameras being installed across London to enforce the expansion the capital's ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez) in the latest example of grassroots resistance to the anti-car policy. The Times has the story.
Campaigns that have sprung up to fight Ulez, low traffic neighbourhoods, clean air zones and 15-minute cities are now uniting with groups of disaffected farmers, truckers and bikers to pile pressure on ministers to reverse what they say is a ''war on motorists''.
A new group calling itself U.K. Unites, which claims to bring together campaigns supported by more than 2.5 million people across Britain, is warning the Government to expect civil disobedience on a ''huge scale'' unless there is a change of approach.
Phil Elliott, 59, the veteran campaigner behind the initiative, said: ''People aren't bluffing. There are just so many things wrong across the country affecting so many people and stressing them out, how could there not be civil disobedience?''
The semi-retired HGV driver said the Ulez expansion might be the event that ''makes the country go bang''.
He said: ''People just can't afford new cars or the charges '-- people like carers who are on crap wages. They're desperate.''
A group of self-proclaimed ''freedom fighters'' describing themselves as the ''Blade Runners'' has already taken down hundreds of cameras in their campaign against the Mayor of London's plan to extend Ulez to the outskirts of the capital by the end of August.
The extension means that nearly 300,000 motorists in boroughs from Bexley to Enfield will either have to upgrade their vehicles or pay £12.50 a day to drive into London. Sadiq Khan, who was re-elected in 2021, says the scheme will improve air quality and help to save lives, although five Tory-led councils are trying to block the plan, claiming it is unlawful.
Elliott said he believed that if the Ulez expansion went ahead, Britain would witness protests similar to those seen recently in Holland and France. ''We've got all these people who are fed up being ignored. You don't need to be in power to get change, you just need pressure and numbers. We aren't French '-- but there's a lot of people saying we should be like the French.''
He warned that his group had the ability to disrupt the food supply chain and said he had already been in contact with Dutch farmers who had caused huge disorder with their protests. He said: ''Farming, haulage, food supply '-- you name it, we cover it. Remember, people need food to eat, and the farmers are working with us.''
''Improve air quality'' '' even though London's air is the best it's ever been.
Might there be an ulterior motive, perchance?
Worth reading in full.
VIDEO - The FULL Mike Pompeo: On Edward Snowden, Classified Documents, JFK Files, and working for Trump. - YouTube
Christians Have Done The Most To Promote Equality In America
Tue, 30 May 2023 14:28
The most uneducated but wildly popular critique of Christianity in America '-- especially on social media '-- is that Christianity has been a bastion of oppression and intolerance. So much so that the advancements made in liberty and equality over the centuries have come only when America and American leaders have rejected Christianity. In his new book Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land, historian Mark David Hall offers a concise corrective to this inaccurate and often ignorant hot-take and popular narrative.
Hatred of Christianity is one of the pillars of the current anti-American ideology that permeates universities and the governing spirit of our ruling elite. Mockery of Christians, especially evangelicals, is also one of the core tenets of progressive culture. This hostility and mockery are unwarranted. Far from being agents of oppression and anti-intellectualism, Hall highlights how Christians have been the bedrock of social activism advancing liberty and equality, as well as promoting education reform, increasing literacy, and publishing newspapers and magazines.
We are all familiar with the asinine proclamations of America as a secular country, that progress, liberty, and equality are atheist ideals, and that committed Christians are the greatest threat to America's future. Yet, as Hall forcefully rebuts, ''it is simply false to claim that liberty and equality have been advanced primarily when America's leaders embrace progressive manifestations of religion or reject faith altogether.''
Looking at the Puritans, the American Revolution, evangelical social reform prior to the Civil War, and contemporary debates over religious liberty, Hall reveals what used to be well-known: Christianity has been the heart of true social progress and explosive advancements in human liberty, equality, and democratic government.
Puritans and Foundations of LibertyTo celebrate the 200th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims, Daniel Webster, one of the most important senators the United States ever had, lauded the Pilgrims and Puritans as champions of the liberty that our ''civil and religious liberty'' grew from. Today, however, it is common to imagine Puritans as petty tyrants, intolerant theocrats, and bah humbug killjoys.
When I was a student at Yale taking classes on American Puritanism, our professor went to great lengths to de-indoctrinate us of the popular stereotypes of the Puritans. The Puritans were among the most educated people at the time, established our most venerable institutions of higher education, promoted the advancement and discoveries of Enlightenment science, vigorously advocated for public literacy, and enjoyed a good laugh, beer, and sex.
The real history of the Puritans that I learned at Yale is covered again by Hall in his opening chapter deconstructing the lies of secularists and anti-Christian writers and hacktivists portraying the Puritans in a dark and inaccurate light. The Puritans, our author reminds us, ''valued natural rights, government by the consent of the governed, and limited government; they were convinced that citizens have a right, and perhaps even a duty, to resist tyrannical government.'' When traveling through the lands the Puritans helped to build in the 1830s, Alexis de Tocqueville remarked, ''Puritanism was not merely a religious doctrine, but corresponded in many points with the most absolute democratic and republican theories.''
As historians and scholars of Puritanism have long asserted, the democratic ethos of congregationalist church politics helped develop the local customs of self-government in New England that would form the basis for ''Democracy in America,'' as Tocqueville famously put it. But what about the banishment of certain Baptist dissenters and the Salem witch trials, the critic asks? These events did happen, but they are drastically overblown by contemporary critics.
The banishment of a handful of religious dissenters in Massachusetts was only after these rabble-rousing individuals repeatedly, and deliberately, returned to cause trouble and disturb the peace. Also, Hall reminds us, when compared to Europe, where more than 100,000 men and women were prosecuted as witches and half sentenced to death, only 272 individuals in America were ever charged with witchcraft. The Salem witch trials, which happened in 1692, marked the last execution of a witch in North America. In Europe, witches were still executed as late as 1782.
Completing his overview of the Puritans, Hall writes that the Puritans ''created political institutions that were more democratic than any the world had ever seen, and they strictly limited civil leaders by law.''
Rebellion to Tyrants Is Obedience to GodAnother one of the popular putdowns of Christianity by its critics (and even some Christians) is that Christianity doesn't permit rebellion to tyrannical government but supports tyrannical government. In a gross and deeply literalist reading of the Apostle Paul in Romans (somewhat ironic all things considered), these critics assert that because a single passage in the New Testament supposedly teaches obedience to government, which is ordained by God, the American revolutionary patriots rejected Christian teachings and had to utilize secular and Enlightenment arguments to advance the cause of liberty during the American Revolution.
Again, this is patently false, as any decently educated person knows. Kody Cooper and Justin Dyer recently published a superb book, The Classical and Christian Origins of American Politics, addressing this myth in detail. Hall, too, quickly covers the problems of this critique. Highlighting Calvinist theological history (something that these critics have no knowledge of, despite their claims of educated intelligence), covering important names known to students of theology, such as John Ponet, John Knox, George Buchanan, Samuel Rutherford, and even John Cotton (grandfather of Cotton Mather), Hall shows that Christian theological history had come to see rebellion to tyrants as obedience to God and Scripture.
Moreover, most of the popular and patriotic arguments for revolution were not conversant with theorists such as John Locke but with Scripture. The Old Testament, especially, was appealed to by the patriotic clergy in favor of revolution. Christians, far from submitting to tyranny, offered complex theological arguments against tyranny and, therefore, helped formulate a political theology of liberty and equality in the process.
Evangelicals Against OppressionPerhaps the most common trope that our contemporary anti-Christian elite culture pushes is the tyrannical and ignorant evangelical Christian. This, too, is a stereotype with little basis in history. In fact, many of our best institutions of higher learning were founded by evangelical Christians even if they have since departed from that faith that gave birth to them (Harvard, Yale, and Oberlin, to name a few). The first opponents of slavery and proponents of abolition were the heirs of the Puritans, such as the Rev. Samuel Sewall, who published the first anti-slavery writing in 1700.
Motivated by a vigorous religious faith, the Second Great Awakening was the fire that fueled anti-slavery and abolitionist politics in antebellum America. Men and women of Methodist, Baptist, and congregationalist (Puritan) backgrounds were oftentimes the leading champions of liberty and equality for African-Americans and indigenous Americans. As Hall writes, it was American evangelicals, and especially evangelical women, who most actively ''oppos[ed] the evils of slavery and Indian removal.''
During the antebellum years, American evangelicals sought to ''work together to help end social evils'' and established ''thousands of organizations aimed at alleviating suffering and reforming society.'' Evangelicals were on the front lines of creating new educational institutions, promoting education reforms to advance public literacy, and establishing newspapers as a means of confronting social evils. Furthermore, Evangelicalism, originally a religious minority grouping, was deeply indebted to religious liberty as the means for its social growth and prominence.
This spirit of religious social reform for liberty led to the contemporary defense of religious liberty as the bedrock on which all liberty and equality before the law stands: ''Christian legal organizations have been among the best advocates for religious liberty for all, including citizens who embrace non-Christian faiths,'' Hall writes.
Why Christianity Matters to AmericaIn Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land, Hall gives us yet another triumphant and important book to correct the polemical, inaccurate, and deeply misleading public presentation of the relationship between Christianity and American politics. Far from the evil bogeyman and religion of oppression that ungrateful critics claim, Christianity has been a positive force for good and the growth of liberty and equality. In fact, America has been best when it has reached into the heart of Christianity for its social reforms and advancement of liberty and equality rather than rejecting Christianity.
Paul Krause is the editor-in-chief of VoegelinView. He is the author of "Finding Arcadia: Wisdom, Truth, and Love in the Classics" (Academica Press, 2023), "The Odyssey of Love: A Christian Guide to the Great Books" (Wipf and Stock, 2021), and contributed to "The College Lecture Today" (Lexington, 2019) and "Making Sense of Diseases and Disasters" (Routledge, 2022).
Freedom of Russia Legion - Wikipedia
Tue, 30 May 2023 14:10
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ukrainian military unit formed of Russian defectors
Military unit
The Freedom of Russia Legion[i] (Russian: ÐеÐ"ион Ðвобода РоÑÑии>> , romanized: Legion "Svoboda Rossii" ; Ukrainian: ÐеÐ"Ñон Ðвобода РоÑÑÑ>> , romanized: Lehion "Svoboda Rosiyi" ; abbr. ÐÐÐ , romanized: LSR), also translated as the Liberty of Russia Legion[10][11] or called the Free Russia Legion,[12][13] is a Ukrainian-based paramilitary group of Russian citizens, which opposes the Russian regime of Vladimir Putin and its invasion of Ukraine.[14] It was formed in March 2022 and is reportedly part of Ukraine's International Legion.[1][15] It consists of defectors from the Russian Armed Forces, and other Russian volunteers, some of whom had emigrated to Ukraine.[16][17]
The group claims to be made up of two battalions. Its estimated size is several hundred to 1,000 soldiers.[1]
On 22 May 2023, the Legion launched a cross-border attack into the Belgorod region of Russia.[8][18]
History [ edit ] "Caesar", the
spokesperson and deputy commander of the Legion in an interview
According to UNIAN, the Freedom of Russia Legion was formed from a company of the Russian Army who voluntarily defected to the Ukrainian side. According to the company commander, they crossed to the Ukrainian side with the help of the Security Service of Ukraine on 27 February 2022, to "protect Ukrainians from real fascists." He called on his compatriots, soldiers of the Russian Army, to join the Freedom of Russia Legion in order to save their own people and the country "from humiliation and destruction."[19] The Legion's stated goals are to repel the Russian invasion of Ukraine and ultimately depose the silovik regime of Vladimir Putin.[20]
Soldiers of the Freedom of Russia Legion in May 2022
The Legion's official Telegram channel was created on 10 March 2022, and its first post called on people to join the armed struggle against the "war criminal Putin". On 5 April, three men wearing military fatigues and black balaclavas held a press conference in Kyiv, announcing that the Freedom of Russia Legion had been formed. They said it was made up wholly of Russian citizens, including former POWs. One of the men said the Putin regime had tricked them into going to Ukraine to carry out "genocide", saying he had seen war crimes by the Russian Army.[20]
The Freedom of Russia Legion is reportedly part of Ukraine's International Legion.[1][17]
The Legion's first volunteers began training in late March 2022. Reportedly, Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel trained volunteers in using the NLAW shoulder-fired anti-tank missile, and the Legion's commanders got acquainted with the operational situation on the frontlines.[21][better source needed ]
The Legion reportedly fought alongside the Ukrainian military in the Donbas during the Eastern Ukraine offensive. The unit allegedly also organizes arson and sabotage acts inside Russia.[22] On 1 June 2022, the Legion's official Telegram (and YouTube) channel posted a video claiming to show a Russian tank being captured by the Legion. On 29 June, they said they captured a Russian POW in the Lysychansk area.[23]
On 11 June, it became known that Igor Volobuyev, the Ukrainian-born ex-vice-chairman of Gazprombank, who left Russia at the outbreak of the invasion, had joined the Freedom of Russia Legion.[24][25]
On 13 July, the Legion allegedly made a statement that it has withdrawn from active fighting, to "restore combat capability."[23]
On 31 August, the Freedom of Russia Legion, alongside the National Republican Army and the Russian Volunteer Corps, signed a declaration of cooperation in Irpin called the "Irpin Declaration". The organizations also agreed to create a political wing, to represent their interests and organize a joint information policy, led by Ilya Ponomarev.[26][27][28][better source needed ]
The Legion commander Maximillian Andronnikov "Caesar", former member of the ultranationalist Russian Imperial Movement,[2] gave an interview in December. He said the Legion had "several hundred" members. He explained: "I am not fighting my motherland. I am fighting against Putin's regime, against evil'... I'm not a traitor. I'm a true Russian patriot who thinks about the future of my country". He outlined the unit's recruitment process: "several rounds of interviews, psychological tests and even a polygraph," before undergoing two months of training. Caesar said that, as of December 2022, the Legion operated under Ukrainian command and were mainly involved in artillery and propaganda at that time. Reportedly, some fought in the battle of Bakhmut.[29]
In May 2023, the Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps launched an incursion into Russia, in Grayvoronsky District, Belgorod Oblast.[31] They claimed to aim at creating a demilitarised zone along the border, in order to stop Russian artillery firing at Ukraine from Russian territory.[8][18]
Symbols and ideology [ edit ] The Legion uses the white-blue-white flag instead of the official white-blue-red flag of Russia.[6][16] According to the manifesto of the Legion, published in their Telegram channel in April, they "carry the values of the Free Man of New Russia '' freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom to choose your future", and their main goals are the overthrowing of Putin's government and "struggle for the New Russia."[32] The letter L, the first letter of the words Legion and Liberty, is also used by the Legion as one of its symbols. On the right sleeve, the Legion wears the flag of Ukraine, like other Ukrainian foreign legions.[33][23]
On 20 July 2022, the official Telegram channel posted two messages, in which the authors quoted the Tsarist official Pyotr Stolypin[34] and wrote that the Legion sees "the preservation of a united and indivisible Russia within the borders of 1991" as one of its goals and opposes separatism, and that "the most humiliated and disenfranchised among all the peoples of the Russian Federation is the Russian people."[23]
[ edit ] The Russian government has responded to the Legion both legally and with propaganda. On 22 June 2022, Nikolay Okhlopkov, a Russian anti-war activist from Yakutsk, was arrested because the authorities alleged him of "wanting to join the Legion." The Legion denied any link with Okhlopkov. On 14 July 2022, Putin signed a new law, under which Russian citizens can be imprisoned for up to 20 years if they "defect to the side of the enemy during an armed conflict or hostilities."[23][35][36]
In March 2023 the Supreme Court of Russia declared the Legion a terrorist group, meaning citizens who join can face up to 20 years in jail.[37]
Russian state media has rarely mentioned "Freedom of Russia" during 2022. For example, as of July 2022, RT had only one video which mentioned the Legion.[23]
Several claims have been made that the group does not exist, but is a Ukrainian PR project. This claim is being spread by state-controlled Russian media and pro-Kremlin Telegram channels, which call the Legion fake or alleging it was created by Ukrainian intelligence. Illia Ponomarenko, defense and security reporter at The Kyiv Independent, commented to The Moscow Times: "There might be some [Russian] fighters, but whether it is organized in the way it is presented remains an open question'... It's clearer with the International Legion '-- there is a large number [of foreign soldiers] and they did take part in combat, for example, in Irpin, Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. But little is known about the [Freedom of Russia] legion." The Moscow Times also cited the report in Harper's Magazine which "described how Ukraine did not have the capacity to process and deploy foreign fighters who flocked to the country in the weeks after the invasion, and suggested foreign units were more PR than reality."[38]
See also [ edit ] Notes [ edit ] ^ also translated as Liberty of Russia Legion,[4][5] Freedom for Russia Legion[6][7] or Legion of Freedom of Russia[8][9] References [ edit ] ^ a b c d "Switching Sides: The Elusive 'Russian Legion' Fighting With Ukraine". The Moscow Times. 8 August 2022. ^ a b " 'We are Russians just like you': anti-Putin militias enter the spotlight". theguardian.com. That man was Maximillian Andronnikov, the self-proclaimed commander of the Freedom of Russia Legion, a paramilitary group that, until this week, was chided for its outsized internet and media activity. Under the nickname "Caesar" he has also served as a media spokesperson for the group, which has sought to largely act in the shadows and keep its membership a secret. [...] Andronnikov himself was previously a member of the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM), an ultranationalist group ^ "'I Couldn't Just Stand By': Russian Fighters Explain Why They Took Up Arms Against The Kremlin". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 7 February 2023. ^ Davis, Charles R. "Russian opposition group posts video of what appears to be an antiwar flag above Moscow following purported cross-border raid". Business Insider . Retrieved 2023-05-23 . ^ "Russian 'clean up' operation after raid on Belgorod from Ukraine". www.aljazeera.com . Retrieved 2023-05-23 . ^ a b Coles, Isabel; Trofimov, Yaroslav (7 April 2022). "Belarusians, Russians Join Ukraine's Military, Hoping for Freedom at Home". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022 . Retrieved 10 April 2022 . While the Belarusian opposition has long been inspired by Ukraine's resistance to Russia and attempts to impose authoritarian rule, the arrival of Russians willing to fight against their own compatriots is relatively new. The uniforms of the Freedom for Russia unit have the white-blue-white patch, in the colors of a new Russian flag favored by some opponents of Mr. Putin. ^ Johnson, Sabrina (9 April 2022). "Russians 'who want to fight Putin in Ukraine' given own battalion". Metro (British newspaper) . Retrieved 10 April 2022 . ^ a b c Melkozerova, Veronika (22 May 2023). "Pro-Ukraine Russian soldiers storm border region, claim 'liberation' of villages". Politico Europe . Retrieved 23 May 2023 . ^ "Ukrainian "sabotage" units engage Russian troops in the Belgorod Oblast". Georgia Today. 22 May 2023 . Retrieved 23 May 2023 . ^ Davis, Charles R. "Russian opposition group posts video of what appears to be an antiwar flag above Moscow following purported cross-border raid". Business Insider . Retrieved 2023-05-24 . ^ Hodge, Rob Picheta,Nathan (2023-05-23). "Anti-Putin Russians say they launched a cross-border attack from Ukraine. Here's what we know". CNN . Retrieved 2023-05-24 . ^ "Putin's Deserters Poised to Fight Against Him on Front Lines". Newsweek. 13 February 2023. ^ "Has Ukraine launched a 'special military operation' in Russia?". The Spectator. 22 May 2023. ^ Cole, Brendan (30 March 2022). "Former Russian Soldiers Join Ukraine Against Putin's Invasion, Kyiv Says". Newsweek . Retrieved 7 April 2022 . ^ "International Legion fights for Ukraine, democratic values". Kyiv Post. 5 July 2022. ^ a b "ÐÑ
оÑиÑ
вÑÑÑÐиÑи до Ð>>еÐ"ÑÐ¾Ð½Ñ "Ðвобода РоÑÑÑ" баÐ"аÑо '-- ÐÑедÑÑавник Ð>>еÐ"ÑонÑ" [Many people want to join the Freedom of Russia Legion '' a representative of the Legion]. ÐнÑеÑÑакÑ-УкÑаÑна (Interfax-Ukraine) (in Ukrainian) . Retrieved 2022-04-06 . ^ a b Schwirtz, Michael (12 February 2023). "They Are Russians Fighting Against Their Homeland. Here's Why". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. ^ a b "Freedom of Russia Legion says they are creating a "demilitarised zone" in Russia". Yahoo News, 22 May 2023 ^ "РоÑÑйÑÑÐºÑ Ð²ÑйÑÑÐºÐ¾Ð²Ñ Ð· Ð>>еÐ"ÑÐ¾Ð½Ñ "Ð'ÑÐ>>Ñна РоÑÑÑ", ÑÐºÑ Ð²Ð¾ÑÑÑÑ Ð·Ð° УкÑаÑнÑ, даÐ>>и бÑиÑÑнÐ" (вÑдео)" [Russian servicemen from the Free Russia Legion, who are fighting for Ukraine, gave a briefing (video)]. Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (UNIAN) (in Ukrainian) . Retrieved 2022-04-06 . ^ a b "The Russians Fighting Putin in Ukraine". Time. 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-04-08 . Retrieved 10 April 2022 . ^ "Ð--обÑовоÐ>>ÑÑÑ Ð>>еÐ"ÑÐ¾Ð½Ñ "Ð'ÑÐ>>Ñна РоÑÑÑ" воÑваÑимÑÑÑ Ð·Ð° УкÑаÑнÑ: ÑÑиваÑ-- ÐÑдÐ"оÑовка" [Volunteers of the Free Russia Legion will fight for Ukraine: preparations are underway]. Ð'оÐ>>инÑÑÐºÑ Ð½Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ð½Ð¸ (Volyn News) (in Ukrainian) . Retrieved 2022-04-06 . ^ "Russische Soldaten gegen Putin: im Donbass k¤mpfen, in Moskau Feuer legen" [Russian soldiers against Putin: fight in Donbass, set fire to Moscow]. Berliner Zeitung. 4 May 2022 . Retrieved 30 May 2022 . ^ a b c d e f "ÐÑавда Ð>>и на ÑÑоÑоне УкÑÐ°Ð¸Ð½Ñ Ð²Ð¾ÑÑÑ ÑоÑÑиÑне?". holod.media. 24 July 2022. ^ "Former Gazprombank executive Igor Volobuev joins the Freedom to Russia Legion within the Ukrainian Armed Forces". Novaya Gazeta. 11 June 2022 . Retrieved 12 June 2022 . ^ " 'I could not be part of this crime': the Russians fighting for Ukraine". The Guardian. 14 June 2022 . Retrieved 14 June 2022 . ^ "РоÑÑиÑне, воÑÑÑие на ÑÑоÑоне УкÑаинÑ, ÐодÐиÑаÐ>>и ÑовмеÑÑнÑÑ ÐÑÐенÑкÑÑ Ð´ÐµÐºÐ>>аÑаÑиÑ>>". ÐÑÑнаÐ>> ХоÐ>>од>> (in Russian). 2022-08-31 . Retrieved 2022-09-01 . ^ "РоÑÑийÑÐºÐ°Ñ Ð¾ÐÐозиÑÐ¸Ñ Ð½Ð°ÑÐ¸Ð½Ð°ÐµÑ Ð²Ð¾Ð¾ÑÑженное ÑоÐÑоÑивÐ>>ение ÐÑÑинÑ: ÐодÐиÑано декÐ>>аÑаÑиÑ". Ð'Ð>>авком | Glavcom (in Ukrainian). 2022-08-31 . Retrieved 2022-09-01 . ^ "Ð'Ñаждане РФ заÑвиÐ>>и о вооÑÑженном ÑоÐÑоÑивÐ>>ении ÐÑÑинÑ". Ð'ÐÐÐÐ (in Russian). 2022-08-31 . Retrieved 2022-09-01 . ^ " 'Not a traitor': The Russians fighting alongside Ukraine's forces". France 24. 2022-12-28 . Retrieved 2023-05-22 . ^ "Pro-Ukrainian Russian partisans advance into Russia's Belgorod region in surprise raid". news.yahoo.com. 22 May 2023 . Retrieved 23 May 2023 . ^ "ÐеÐ"ион Ðвобода РоÑÑии>>" [Legion "Freedom of Russia"]. Telegram (software). ^ "ÐеÐ"ион L>> '-- ÑоÑÑиÑне, воÑÑÑие на ÑÑоÑоне УкÑаинÑ". NETGAZETI.ge (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2022-06-04 . Retrieved 2022-05-09 . ^ "ÐеÐ"ион Ðвобода РоÑÑии>>" [Legion "Freedom of Russia"]. t.me. ^ "Russian Duma toughens laws, classifies information on luxury real estate and goes on vacation". The Insider (website). ^ "Vladimir Putin enacted more than 100 new laws today. Here are the ones you need to know". Meduza. ^ "Russian Supreme Court Deems Freedom of Russia Legion Terrorist Organisation". The Moscow Times. ^ "Switching Sides: The Elusive 'Russian Legion' Fighting with Ukraine". The Moscow Times. 8 August 2022. External links [ edit ] Freedom of Russia Legion on TelegramYouTube pageZolkin, Volodymyr (January 17, 2023). "ÐеÐ"ион "Ðвобода РоÑÑии". ÐÑениÑовоÑнÑй Ð>>аÐ"еÑÑ" [Freedom of Russia Legion. Training camp]. Volodymyr Zolkin (YouTube channel) (in Russian).
Target executive is treasurer at LGBTQ group that received $2.1M from retailer | Daily Mail Online
Tue, 30 May 2023 13:50
REVEALED: Target's VP of brand management is treasurer at LGBTQ group that pushes school districts to allow children to secretly change gender: Company donated $2.1 million to organizationCarlos Saavedra, 43, is Target's vice president for brand management and also volunteers as a director at GLSENGLSEN said teachers should keep trans and nonbinary students' gender identities confidential, including from parentsThe backlash to Target's Pride collection comes after Bud Light was boycotted over its partnership with trans influencer Dylan MulvaneyBy Lewis Pennock For Dailymail.Com
Published: 13:08 EDT, 29 May 2023 | Updated: 17:50 EDT, 29 May 2023
A marketing executive at Target also serves as the treasurer of a LGBT organization which receives millions of dollars from the retailer and advocates allowing trans and nonbinary school students to keep their gender identity secret from parents.
Carlos Saavedra, 43, is Target's vice president for brand management and also volunteers as a director at GLSEN, which supports LGBTQ youth in schools.
Details of Saavedra's role at GLSEN come as Target's donations to the organization were placed under the spotlight following a backlash to the retailer's Pride month range, which includes 'tuck-friendly' women's swimwear.
Target has reportedly donated $2.1 million to GLSEN, whose policies include ensuring school staff should 'ensure that all personally identifiable and medical information relating to transgender and nonbinary students is kept confidential'.
GLSEN's policy said this should include withholding the information from 'parents or guardians... unless the student has authorized such disclosure'. Critics say the policy 'violates [a parents'] right to parent their own children]'.
Carlos Saavedra, 43, is Target's vice president for brand management and also volunteers as a director at GLSEN, which supports LGBTQ youth in schools
Target is under fire over a Pride collection which also includes 'tuck-friendly' women's swimwear. The retailer donates to GLSEN, an organization that says schoolteachers should keep children's gender identities secret from their parents
Target says on its website: 'GLSEN leads the movement in creating affirming, accessible and anti-racist spaces for LGBTQIA+ students. We are proud of 10+ years of collaboration with GLSEN and continue to support their mission'
Target says on its website: 'GLSEN leads the movement in creating affirming, accessible and anti-racist spaces for LGBTQIA+ students. We are proud of 10+ years of collaboration with GLSEN and continue to support their mission.'
Saavedra joined target in July 2019 and was made Vice President, Brand Management in January 2021, according to his LinkedIn page.
His profile says he joined GLSEN as a board member in May 2019 and was elected to the executive committee as treasurer in November 2021.
Saavedra's profile explains the organization's mission is 'helping create safe spaces in schools for LGBTQIA+ students'.
Saavedra was approached for comment.
GLSEN also provides instructions for teachers on how they can make classes such as math and science 'more inclusive of trans and non-binary identities', including using 'they/them' pronouns in lesson plans.
Target's Pride collection also includes clothing for babies and children
The company has removed some of the most controversial items from its Pride displays at stores across America, following a boycott that's shaved billions of the company's valuation
Target lost more than $10billion in market capitalization in the span of 10 days following the backlash.
Prior to the controversy, Target shares were trading at $160.96, giving the retailer a market valuation of roughly $74.3billion.
By the time The New York Stock Exchange closed on Friday, the stock was trading at $138.93 - marking a market valuation of $64.2billion, and loss of $10.1billion.
In a statement last week, Target - led by CEO Brian Cornell -said it's pulled items 'at the center of the most confrontational behavior'
The backlash to Target's Pride range comes amid an ongoing controversy around Bud Light's decision to use trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney to promote the beer.
Writing for DailyMail.com, a former executive at Anheuser-Busch, which owns Bud Light, explained how 'consumers have no idea that their money may be used as leverage by major financial institutions to influence popular American brands'.
In a statement last week, Target - led by CEO Brian Cornell - announced the company had pulled items that have 'been at the center of the most confrontational behavior.'
'Since introducing this year's collection, we've experienced threats impacting our team members' sense of safety and wellbeing while at work,' the firm said in its statement.
'Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior.'
The company did not specify which items had been taken off-shelves. As of Sunday, many of the swimsuits, onesies and t-shirts that sparked outrage remained available online.
The Army Now Has the Most 4-Star Generals on Duty Since World War II | Military.com
Tue, 30 May 2023 13:36
The Army now has more four-star generals serving on active duty than the Army and Air Force combined had during World War II.
Army Col. Christopher Coglianese, the chief of Future Operations at Army Futures Command, tweeted this month about the milestone, which the service has only hit once in the past.
"Last time we had that rank density was April 1945, when we had four five-stars and 13 four-stars," Coglianese said, adding pointing out that at that time the Air Force was known as the U.S. Army Air Force.
Read Next: Space Force Now Has an Official Uniform
In addition to Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville and Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Joseph Martin, the Army has five four-stars running Army Forces Command, Army Training and Doctrine Command, Army Materiel Command, Army Futures Command and Army Pacific Command.
Currently, the Army also holds 10 four-star positions in the joint world starting with Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Three of those are newly confirmed joint positions. As of June, 30, there were 14 Army four-stars, according to Defense Department figures. But Gen. Gus Perna, who was the commander of Army Materiel Command (AMC), was confirmed by the Senate on July 2 as commander of Operation Warp Speed, the sweeping effort to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
Gen. Edward Daly took over the four-star slot at AMC.
The second new Army four-star to take over a joint position since June 30 was Gen. Daniel Hokanson, who was confirmed by the Senate on July 21 to command the National Guard Bureau. And Army Gen. James Dickinson was confirmed by the Senate on Aug. 6 to lead U.S. Space Command.
"It is true that the Army is at a high point; part of that is that the number of four-stars has been rising slowly over the last two decades," said Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and a senior adviser for the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
One of those new Army four-star positions was added when Gen. Mike Murray was confirmed by the Senate on Aug. 20, 2018 to command the new Army Futures Command.
The Army has pulled ahead of the Air Force, "which seems to be the Army's main competitor," Cancian said.
"The Navy is perennially in third place, and periodically the Marine Corps surges up," Cancian said.
One reason for the Army's current dominance in the joint world is that the most recent conflicts had a heavy Army presence.
"We have been at war for two decades in Iraq and Afghanistan; those have been ground conflicts, so Army officers get more visibility and experience," Cancian said. "It's always a good sign when a service has a lot of four-stars because that means it is putting forward a level of talent and experience."
The trend is not likely to last too long, though, Cancian said.
"These things have cycles and the Army is at an upcycle now," Cancian said. "But I wouldn't be surprised if five years from now the Air Force and the Navy have a little uptick with the continuing focus on China."
Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.
Related: Major Power Shift Underway at Pentagon as Army Leaders Step Up
Show Full Article
Greg Speed on Twitter: "@adamcurry She won! That seals the deal on the SCCA Southern Conference Championship! https://t.co/KFS5IgLK6s" / Twitter
Mon, 29 May 2023 21:11
Greg Speed : @adamcurry She won! That seals the deal on the SCCA Southern Conference Championship! https://t.co/KFS5IgLK6s
Mon May 29 20:32:15 +0000 2023
Luke Rudkowski on Twitter: "They are laying down the groundwork for the next false flag https://t.co/ARUEYc96eL" / Twitter
Mon, 29 May 2023 21:07
Luke Rudkowski : They are laying down the groundwork for the next false flag https://t.co/ARUEYc96eL
Mon May 29 16:22:13 +0000 2023
John ðºð¸ : @Lukewearechange Lol right wing. Um who's making movies about blowing up pipelines????
Mon May 29 21:06:43 +0000 2023
Michael Catalano : @Lukewearechange Nothing that they say is truthful.This is not the people that would ever be a threat to this country?
Mon May 29 21:05:10 +0000 2023
J_B_Tripn : @Lukewearechange When this happens, my $ is on the government.
Mon May 29 21:04:36 +0000 2023
Syler : @Lukewearechange The cabal always telegraphs their plans ahead of time. The only extremists that will attack our in'... https://t.co/6KU1MiQNbW
Mon May 29 20:59:42 +0000 2023
Frances Blakely : @Lukewearechange Rag spin doctors.
Mon May 29 20:59:32 +0000 2023
thewalkingawake : @Lukewearechange @nateburleson sold his soul
Mon May 29 20:57:17 +0000 2023
Lyn Cipriano : @Lukewearechange Over a division of military aged Chinese males have come over our border in recent months......won'... https://t.co/jtZ9dFbeMf
Mon May 29 20:57:10 +0000 2023
lookingglasself : @Lukewearechange Nate Burleson used to be a cool dude
Mon May 29 20:56:07 +0000 2023
Mass greenthumb : @Lukewearechange https://t.co/JYs5Vsgw4Q
Mon May 29 20:52:27 +0000 2023
ðºð¸Anthonyðºð¸ : @Lukewearechange @nateburleson you're a pathetic sell out for Satan
Mon May 29 20:51:40 +0000 2023
Nicole : @Lukewearechange 8.4 million Americans use insulin that needs to be in a frige add in some supply chain issues "The'... https://t.co/mFqn8rz33G
Mon May 29 20:51:20 +0000 2023
DSH Capital : @Lukewearechange Right wing? I doubt it! Probably leftist disguised.
Mon May 29 20:49:03 +0000 2023
oxen-dev : @Lukewearechange The same sources that said hunters laptop was Russia propaganda
Mon May 29 20:47:33 +0000 2023
Ratatoskr : @Lukewearechange Sounds like they're laying the groundwork to start mass arrests of "Rightwing Extremists", meaning'... https://t.co/Hn8MXW2KdZ
Mon May 29 20:47:30 +0000 2023
Jeffrey Homer : @Lukewearechange Yes they r
Mon May 29 20:46:29 +0000 2023
Racerxgt86 : @Lukewearechange Blaming Russia and right wing conservatives? I'm seeing a lot of this and thinking they are about to try something
Mon May 29 20:45:08 +0000 2023
Leo Fox : @Lukewearechange sounds like Antifa
Mon May 29 20:44:58 +0000 2023
rEdsnflr : @Lukewearechange They pre-warn so thry can implement their plans with "look what we said would happen! Now let's im'... https://t.co/Yy9T62mYJn
Mon May 29 20:44:36 +0000 2023
Firefly : @Lukewearechange Well if they're reporting it they must know who they are so why aren't they arresting them
Mon May 29 20:42:10 +0000 2023
Ronnie Hibbs : @Lukewearechange Bro is that Nate Burleson?
Mon May 29 20:39:58 +0000 2023
facts_not_ficton : @Lukewearechange Yes they are
Mon May 29 20:39:27 +0000 2023
Blender : @Lukewearechange @fomocapdao
Mon May 29 20:37:56 +0000 2023
iKOR : @Lukewearechange These bold faced liars are cueing up the next false flag to take down the internet, but they will'... https://t.co/4pr0kYe7GA
Mon May 29 20:36:33 +0000 2023
Lettie : @Lukewearechange Frame it as right wing extremists'...
Mon May 29 20:32:10 +0000 2023
Ham : @Lukewearechange This should solidify that all election voting should be PAPER BALLOTS
Mon May 29 20:31:23 +0000 2023
Lo que es del C32AR : @Lukewearechange https://t.co/mvjPL5Mn1v
Mon May 29 20:31:17 +0000 2023
Stef : @Lukewearechange Yes, the globalists have been warning of a cyber pandemic.
Mon May 29 20:30:44 +0000 2023
ð´ : @Lukewearechange Interesting - I was just listening to @ShawnRyan762 show and they just did 2 hours on power grid v'... https://t.co/uGPhFBxeQj
Mon May 29 20:26:22 +0000 2023
JRA : @Lukewearechange Get your power station and mobile solar setup ready !
Mon May 29 20:26:13 +0000 2023
Matthew Teague : @Lukewearechange Apparently, they plan to attack themselves! .... Mission accomplished guys....
Mon May 29 20:26:04 +0000 2023
SkaaferMaaker : @Lukewearechange and a guy in a clown suit is announcing it. irony.
Mon May 29 20:25:44 +0000 2023
TexanQueenBeeð· : @Lukewearechange Wait, don't tell me, white supremacists! ð¤£
Mon May 29 20:24:32 +0000 2023
Luke777 : @Lukewearechange Hey @nateburleson '...have you become a mindless, soulless puppet of fear & propaganda? Just reading'... https://t.co/WReNdWlwDO
Mon May 29 20:24:21 +0000 2023
Warren : @Lukewearechange @Matt_Bracken48 Let's get it on. I'm tired of this slowcooker shit
Mon May 29 20:23:53 +0000 2023
Steve S Johnson : @Lukewearechange These CBS clowns really do take themselves seriously? Most likely the viewing numbers for CBS are probably "net-zero"!
Mon May 29 20:23:10 +0000 2023
James Finlayson : @Lukewearechange What the hell makes them think it's from the right? Creepy just let in millions of potential terrorists across the border.
Mon May 29 20:22:24 +0000 2023
Juan Ivan Morales : @Lukewearechange The Purge
Mon May 29 20:20:50 +0000 2023
Sirian STO : @Lukewearechange Putin to be blamed in 3, 2, 1...
Mon May 29 20:16:39 +0000 2023
ãã(C)ã ãé·å¥" ãð¯ðµ : @Lukewearechange https://t.co/DTQC7EKQc7
Mon May 29 20:14:54 +0000 2023
John Evans : @Lukewearechange Why do you think that they want to abolish gas stoves? So they can control the power grid and forc'... https://t.co/IVDKCO17Jg
Mon May 29 20:14:40 +0000 2023
Jim Willi : @Lukewearechange Project Odin
Mon May 29 20:12:45 +0000 2023
LightofMoon : @Lukewearechange Exactly who, be specific
Mon May 29 20:08:11 +0000 2023
FearINK : @Lukewearechange FBI and CIA or a greater threat since you know they're the ones doing it all.
Mon May 29 20:06:06 +0000 2023
Trad Cat : @Lukewearechange DHS is and has always been utterly incompetent at providing decent intelligence analysis.
Mon May 29 20:05:48 +0000 2023
Snowflake acquires Neeva to accelerate search in the Data Cloud through generative AI - Blog
Mon, 29 May 2023 15:25
Search is fundamental to how businesses interact with data, and the search experience is evolving rapidly with new conversational paradigms emerging in the way we ask questions and retrieve information, enabled by generative AI. The ability for teams to discover precisely the right data point, data asset, or data insight is critical to maximizing the value of data.
That's why Snowflake is acquiring Neeva, a search company founded to make search even more intelligent at scale. Neeva created a unique and transformative search experience that leverages generative AI and other innovations to allow users to query and discover data in new ways.
We plan to infuse and leverage these innovations across the Data Cloud to the benefit of our customers, partners and developers. Neeva allows us to tap into some of the most cutting-edge search technologies available to bring search and conversation in Snowflake to a new level.
As part of the acquisition, we are joined by some of the brightest minds working in search today. Neeva's leadership and team members have been instrumental in the creation of numerous successful products like Google's search advertising and YouTube monetization.
We're excited about what this acquisition means for search in the Data Cloud and we look forward to sharing more information about our plans in the future.
Biden, McCarthy agree to raise US debt ceiling '' what's in the deal? | US Congress | The Guardian
Mon, 29 May 2023 15:11
Joe Biden and Kevin McCarthy have reached an agreement to lift the US debt ceiling and avoid a disastrous and unprecedented default. Prior to the details being presented to lawmakers, ahead of an expected vote on Wednesday, here is what sources familiar with negotiations have revealed:
Cap on discretionary spendingThe deal would suspend the $31.4tn debt ceiling until January 2025, allowing the government to pay its bills. In exchange, non-defense discretionary spending would be ''roughly flat'' at current year levels in 2024, ''when factoring in agreed-upon appropriations adjustments'', a source said. It would increase by only 1% in 2025.
Republicans have told their members that non-defense discretionary spending, apart from military veterans' healthcare, would be cut to 2022 levels.
What about the 2024 presidential election?The debt limit extension schedule means Congress would not need to address the deeply polarizing issue again until after the November 2024 election. This would prevent another political showdown that rattles global investors and markets until after either a Republican is elected president or Biden wins a second term.
Increased defense spendingThe deal is expected to boost defense spending to around $885bn, in line with Biden's 2024 budget spending proposal, an 11% increase from the $800bn allocated in the current budget.
Special IRS funding for federal tax authoritiesBiden and Democrats secured $80bn in new funding for a decade to help the Internal Revenue Service enforce the tax code for wealthy Americans in last year's Inflation Reduction Act. Republicans and Democrats had battled over moving that funding, which was allocated under the act as ''mandatory spending'' to keep it from the political fighting of the annual budgeting process, to ''discretionary spending'' to be allocated by Congress.
Covid clawback, cuts for the CDCBiden and McCarthy are expected to agree to claw back unused Covid-19 relief funds as part of the budget deal, including funding that had been set aside for vaccine research and disaster relief. The estimated amount of unused funds is between $50bn and $70bn. The bill will also cut $400m from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) global health fund ''that sends taxpayer money to China'', Republicans told members, despite the risks of future pandemics.
Work requirementsBiden and McCarthy battled fiercely over imposing stricter work requirements on low-income Americans who benefit from federal food and healthcare programs.
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No changes were made to Medicaid health insurance in the deal, but the agreement would impose new work requirements on low-income people who receive food assistance, up to age 54, instead of 50.
Student loansRepublicans said that they ensured borrowers would have to repay their student loans. However, other sources say the deal codifies relief from student loan payments while Biden's executive action providing up to $20,000 of debt relief for each borrower is under review by the US supreme court, with a decision expected next month.
'Pay-go'Republicans said they secured a budgeting mechanism known as ''pay-go'', short for ''pay-as-you-go'', that says new legislation or executive orders affecting revenues and spending on Medicare, social security and other key programs must be budget-neutral.
Energy permittingThe two leaders agreed to new rules to make it easier for energy projects '' including fossil fuel-based ones as well as renewable energy '' to gain permit approval.
(19) The Kobeissi Letter on Twitter: "In the debt ceiling deal, the debt ceiling is rumored to not be raised by a specific amount. Instead, the debt ceiling will run uncapped until January 1st, 2025. Many are underestimating how significant this is. This
Mon, 29 May 2023 15:08
The Kobeissi Letter : In the debt ceiling deal, the debt ceiling is rumored to not be raised by a specific amount.Instead, the debt cei'... https://t.co/7EThAqjinj
Sun May 28 14:53:46 +0000 2023
Thomas A ðºð¸'¸ : @KobeissiLetter I know a guy who borrows money from people and always pays them back but with money he borrows from'... https://t.co/rlel42kYBw
Mon May 29 14:34:17 +0000 2023
Mark : @KobeissiLetter Ds cannot help themselves but spend. It's how they are able to raise taxes.
Mon May 29 13:33:05 +0000 2023
W.T. Fits : @KobeissiLetter Tick rock next block, better get some corn bitches.
Mon May 29 13:30:31 +0000 2023
Hohmann: The Entire World Is Clamoring For A Global Pandemic Treaty
Mon, 29 May 2023 15:04
The World Health Organization and its sister organizations have established a global delusion covering all 194 nations, including the U.S. Delusion is defined as ''A belief or altered reality that is persistently held despite evidence or agreement to the contrary, generally in reference to a mental disorder.'' In short, the world has gone mad.
For those who thought that ''mass formation'' (proposed by Dr. Mattias Desmet'') would pass with time, not so. COVID and the ''Great Panic of 2020'' represents only the initial conditioning of mankind to fall deeper and deeper into hardened delusion. The worse it gets, the more pliable people are to manipulation toward self-destructive or harmful behavior. ' TN Editor
Former Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is in Geneva this week as part of a small team of prayer warriors interceding for the very serious situation in which the world finds itself. We are on the brink of a major historical event in which power is in the process of shifting from nation-states to international bodies affiliated with the United Nations. It's that process and how to accomplish it that's being discussed right now at the 76th annual World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
Bachmann will be monitoring the proceedings regarding major amendments to the International Health Regulations (last amended in 2005) as well as an all-new pandemic accord that would shift massive amounts of power from national governments over to the United Nations World Health Organization and its director general.
Today, she provided me with a timetable for the nations of the world to enter into this global pact, surrendering their sovereignty over ''public health emergencies'' to the WHO.
Bachmann stated in a text message that the WHO's 194 member nations will take a final vote on whether to hand over their sovereignty to the WHO one year from today at the 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024.
''That vote will be on the package of 300 amendments supplanting (changing) the current International Health Rules,'' she said. ''The delegates will also vote on the global pandemic health treaty/accord.''
Those two documents will be synthesized and coordinated and will be voted on at the same event in Geneva in May 2024, Bachmann explained.
''There was no dissent registered by any nation thus far at the World Health Assembly 2023 to either the proposed 300 amendments nor to the global pandemic treaty,'' she said. ''It is a unified voice of support for passage of the amendments and the proposed pandemic treaty.''
She further stated that a U.S. delegate to the Assembly (there are many alternates listed) spoke today, May 23, in favor of passing the package of proposed international health amendments and the global pandemic accords.
Barring intervention, the timetable and agenda are in place for passage in May 2024.
''Nations will negotiate and will discuss the proposed 300 amendments and pandemic treaty in New York City at the UN General Assembly meeting in September 2023,'' Bachmann said. ''The final package of amendments will be presented to the UN in January 2024, meaning the amendments and treaty will not be altered after that date.''
She further stated that, ''The delegates plan to return to Geneva in February 2024 to discuss and finalize their plans before the final vote one year from now at the 77th World Health Assembly at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, May 2024.''
Another expert on the globalists' plans to achieve world domination through the avenue of ''public health'' is James Roguski, a California-based researcher and writer. Roguski runs the website Worldwide.ExitTheWHO.com.
He said the draft documents have been crafted in almost complete secrecy and yet they will be presented as inclusive and reflective of a broad array of stakeholders.
He said U.S. passports in the early 1970s were issued with a smallpox vaccine certificate. This was your proof when entering another country that you had been immunized against smallpox. He said his girlfriend still has an old passport from 1972 showing the certificate of vaccination.
''In Annex 6 of the International Health Regulations there's a form identical to my girlfriend's passport of 1972. It's already been there but they want to digitize that, which would make it much easier to expand to whatever else they want to require or mandate. Digitizing it would open it up to all sorts of other certificates of compliance on a QR code.''
Roguski said every nation under these proposed changes sees itself as having the right to tell foreign travelers ''you have to get these injections or you can't come to our nation or state.''
The question is, how to do that?
This one item, digital health certificates, is included in the proposed amendments to the IHRs. That also happens to be the one item the G20 nations all agreed at their summit in Indonesia last November that they wanted every nation to accept and implement.
''Each nation is about to be coerced into abusing not necessarily their own citizens' freedoms but the freedoms of the citizens of every other nation, but if everyone agrees to abuse other nations' citizens then everyone ends up being abused,'' Roguski said. ''The irony and the hypocrisy are unbelievable. This is the thing that I think they might push through. It's just a digital expansion of what everyone already accepts, and then you really do have a worldwide (digital) ID system that easily becomes the beast system.''
''And nobody is talking about it,'' Roguski said. ''They could push that through quietly.''
''They have these systems in place already,'' he added. ''All they have to do is sneak it in under the guise of some other issue.''
What might that ''other'' issue be? The need for Voter ID perhaps?
''I can appreciate a skillfully crafted evil plan, and that's what I see here. There will be a lot of people that you wouldn't expect, who would actually fall for this. They'd say, 'Oh you don't have to get jabbed. You just have to get a test and then just let us check your digital ID.''
Bingo. We saw during Covid how many people refused the jab but agreed to get tested in order to be able to do certain things, go certain places. They will do it again, thinking they avoided the jabs, only they will be accepting a global digital ID. They will now be marked with a digital ID that is recognized and certified under global standards set by the WHO. They are now a certified obedient ''citizen of the world'' who is able to travel internationally without incident.
If the U.N. and its support structure within the global corporations and governments of the world are able to pull this one off on us, then we deserve all of the oppression that comes our way. It's not like we didn't get a good warning. The lessons of the last pandemic were clear. Any power or authority you give these monsters over your life, whether it be your local health director or the demonic entities in high places at the United Nations, they will claim that power over you perpetually and assume your obedience/submission to them. If you withhold your submission, you get ''left behind,'' unable to buy or sell, move about freely, work a job or receive any government benefits. That, my friends, is where this is heading whether you want to believe it or not. The overwhelming majority will offer their fealty to the beast.
Whatever they agree to at the World Health Assembly, this year or one year from now in 2024, will be binding on the 194 member states.
''And the WHO will have the power to say what is disinformation or misinformation,'' Roguski said. ''The WHO will be the arbiter of what the science is. That is a massive power grab.''
The WHO and its backers are also introducing a concept which they call One Health. This merges the interests of all life on planet earth '-- animal, human and plant life. All health decisions will be made through the lens of a One Health approach. You can see where this will get dicey.
''This gives the director general the ability to declare a public health emergency of international concern, triggering lockdowns, masking, forced vaccinations, etc.,'' Roguski said. ''It doesn't even have to be a real emergency. It could be even just a risk of an international emergency.
''They are signing us up for digital slavery. The WHO is the global hegemon when it comes to forced vaccines policed through digital vaccine passports. But then, if this passes, it will go beyond pandemics to any HEALTH EMERGENCY as declared by the WHO.''
That could include anything from climate change to gun violence or the so-called ''attacks'' on transgendered persons.
''Anything could trigger the massive new powers they want to give to the WHO,'' Roguski said.
The proposed amendments eliminate protections. Under Article 3, for instance, the requirement that they respect human rights and human dignity is replaced with ''equity.''
''This gives the WHO a monopoly power over healthcare standards of care during so-called emergencies. This means we are actually empowering Bill Gates and China to direct policy, signing away rights and liberties carte blanche.''
Roguski noted that the recommendation to vaccinate children down to 6 months of age came from the WHO. Most nations did not listen to this recommendation. The U.S. did.
Anyone who argued that Covid vaccines were dangerous for adults, pregnant mothers, children or babies was branded as a purveyor of misinformation and was silenced by the media/social media platforms working in tandem with Big Pharma and the government.
''There will be only one version of the truth,'' Roguski said. ''That doesn't sound like science or the scientific method to me '...Sovereignty in a democratic republic legitimately belongs to the people. It's not Biden's or anyone else's to give away.''
Read full story here'...
Grimes defends the use of AI for creating music and art: "I think we need each other" - triple j
Mon, 29 May 2023 15:03
Where many musicians and music streamers have been busy swatting down deepfake songs made with artificial intelligence by punters, Grimes is leaning right in.
In fact, she's been encouraging people to make music with her voice with the promise she'll split royalties 50/50 with them.
Some pretty legit tracks have come out since she launched the software (called Elf Tech, naturally) and now she's actively defending the use of AI as a creative tool.
Grimes went in to bat for the tech in a new interview with Pirate Wires, where she reckons creators and AI should be a harmonious relationship and less of a "bad break-up".
"One of the reasons I feel there aren't more artists playing with this stuff is they feel like it's against them," she said.
"I feel there's been a lot of artificial things, like the New York Times anti-tech stance and stuff, that have been pitting the technocracy against the artists for a long time. I think that's been a bad break-up. I think we need each other.
"And it's like, no one worships art more than the fucking people building AI that I meet. You know?"
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It seems Grimes firmly believes a future full of endless content is being suppressed. Not just through the (understandable) hesitancy around letting the floodgates open on AI involvement in creating content and art but also through current copyright restrictions.
"It's like people are afraid of the unknown," she said.
"It's like, what? You don't want abundance? You don't want a sick life? There's so much good fan fiction.
"We should be completely dismantling copyright and letting the best things shine. If someone else makes a better season eight Game of Thrones, they should be catapulted to the top. We are purposefully limiting talent."
So while more than 11,000 TV and film writers in the US are striking for many things including the regulation of AI in the industry, Grimes seems to be happy to let the tech run the show for her. She even let slip that her team's working on a "clone" Grimes so she can focus on other things in her life.
"Like, I'm busy. I just want a cyborg pop star going for me eternally."
"I have other things to do," she said.
"You know, I hate doing interviews and shit. I hate having my makeup done. I hate performing. I have kids. I have shit to do. I want to write sci-fi, you know? I need to be hunched over a desk.
"I'm just not actually a performer. I never was. If you go back to the early Grimes stuff, the whole time I've just been like, I need to replace me with technology, obviously, so this is just another step in that direction."
Perhaps this is all art in and of itself, it just depends on how which way you look at it - this is Grimes to a tee, after all.
Ireland On Verge Of Criminalizing Speech, Thought Crimes
Mon, 29 May 2023 15:02
Ireland is rubber-stamping anti-free speech legislation that originated in Brussels. It is highly likely that this legislation will pass, criminalizing free speech and thought crimes with stiff fines and prison terms. Other European nations are sure to follow Ireland's lead, and the UN is trying to push the U.S. into the same ''woke'' mode of censorship.
Censorship is a key element in any war/revolution and Technocrats around the world are manipulating governments to legislate and enforce their chosen narrative. Silencing the opposition is the goal. ' TN Editor
Ireland is on the verge of passing the most aggressive hate crime law in the European Union, which includes the first legal protections in the EU for transgender individuals. Government officials say the bill offers necessary protections at a time when immigration is on the rise and traditional ideas about sex and gender are being challenged.
Critics counter that the bill's vague language could be used to enforce the increasingly progressive Irish government's increasingly woke agenda and forcibly muzzle critics of unpopular government policies.
The legislation, the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Act, underscores a divide between Ireland's leaders and many of its people. The bill is making its way through Parliament, winning approval last month in the Dil ireann, Ireland's lower chamber, by a vote of 110-14.
But Irish citizens, in a 2019 consultation phase, overwhelmingly expressed a worry that the proposal was an unnecessary expansion of the country's existing hate crimes law. Seventy-three percent of respondents took issue with the bill's potential for encroachment on free speech and questioned what qualifies as ''hate speech,'' particularly asking who crafts that definition. Less than 25% of those polled approved of the legislation.
Underscoring this divide, critics of the bill note that fewer than 50 cases have been brought since the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act was signed into law in 1989. A supporter of the proposed law, former Justice Minister Helen McEntee, has cited that same statistic as evidence of the existing law's ''ineffective'' nature.
The ongoing controversy opens a window into how quickly Ireland, which only legalized abortion in 2018, is moving from its long religious traditions at a time when leaders in other European countries and the United States are seeking to create laws that punish not just deeds but thoughts.
Over the past 30 years or so, the Irish nation has become increasingly progressive. In 2015, the Emerald Isle legalized gay marriage, just two years after the progressive vanguard of France did the same. That same year, Ireland was ranked among the top 10 most LGBT-friendly nations in the world, and the present taoiseach (Ireland's word for prime minister) Leo Varadkar is openly gay. The proposed law would expand the 1989 law's purview by adding gender, sex, descent and disability to the list of protected categories, which already includes race, color, nationality, religion (including ''the absence of a religious conviction or belief''), national or ethnic origin, descent, gender, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, or disability.
The bill treats not just public presentation or dissemination of material deemed hateful, but also private preparation or even storing of material deemed hateful, such as memes on your phone or books on your shelf. Individuals convicted on such charges face fines of up to '¬5,000 (about $5,400) and anywhere from six months to two years in prison. Furthermore, as McEntee noted, a conviction ''will allow for the 'hate criminal' label to follow an offender in court, in garda [police] vetting, and so on'... ''
Paul Murphy, a member of the left-wing People Before Profit-Solidarity coalition, even warned the bill will legislate ''the creation of a thought crime.'' Conservative chairman of the Irish Freedom Party Michael Leahy told RealClearInvestigations that the bill ''represents the most far-reaching and invasive attack against civil and religious liberty enacted in any Western democracy since the Second World War.''
In order to obtain a search warrant, all that's needed is a police officer's oath sworn before a judge that there ''are reasonable grounds for suspecting that evidence of, or relating to'' hate speech may be in any given place. Police are empowered to confiscate any phone or laptop and demand passwords and encryption keys. Failure to hand over a phone, laptop, password, or encryption key will result in a '¬5,000 fine and up to one year in jail.
The bill further features a section to include stiffer penalties for crimes found to be ''aggravated by hatred.'' Standard crimes will then carry increased penalties if a judge or jury determines the accused was harboring ''hatred'' for the alleged victim on account of a protected characteristic, even if that hatred was not the motivating factor behind the crime. In cases where a crime is ''aggravated by hatred,'' the court is commanded to ''impose a sentence that is greater than that which would have been imposed in the absence of such a factor.''
What Is Hate?
When the Irish people were allowed to submit letters in response to the bill the bill in 2019, nearly three quarters of respondents argued that hate speech should only include credible threats or incitement to violence, according to an analysis published by Gript Media .
Some respondents claimed further hate speech laws were an Orwellian response only fitting in totalitarian regimes. One respondent wrote, ''Why can politicians not leave well enough alone? George Orwell's '1984' is not an instruction manual. It was a warning. '... It seems to me that this proposed legislation is being written to give free reign to certain minority groups at the expense of the majority.''
Despite the overwhelming majority of negative responses during the public consultation, and the low number of hate speech prosecutions needed, Ireland's Justice Department cited the sheer volume of responses themselves as reason enough to proceed with the legislation.
One of the fundamental questions surrounding the new legislation is what actually classifies as hate speech. Prominent legal scholar Gerard Casey, professor emeritus at University College Dublin, has sharply criticized the bill's circular definition of hate, saying that ''it manifestly fails, for no coherent attempt to define a term 'X' can include X in the proposed definition.'' Citing the text of the bill itself, he continued:
''We are told, ' ''hatred'' means hatred against a person or a group of persons in the State or elsewhere on account of their protected characteristics or any one of those characteristics.' If this is meant as a definition, it fails utterly. But if not, where is a definition of hatred to be found in the Bill?''
Although the proposed law is pending, Ireland's national police force introduced a ''diversity and integration strategy'' in 2019 that embraced its vague definition of hate. The program's foundational document explains a hate incident as any ''incident which is perceived by any person to '... be motivated by hostility or prejudice.'' That is to say, hate incidents are any incidents in which an individual feels that he or she is hated, according to the new police definition.
Under this definition, reports to police of hate crimes and hate incidents skyrocketed over the past two years, going from 24 reports in 2021 to 97 in 2022. Ireland's isn't the only law enforcement agency to craft its own pejorative definitions and labels independently of the legislature. In the U.K., for example, the government counter-terrorism program Prevent labelled classic British works of fiction (including J.R.R. Tolkien's ''The Lord of the Rings'' and John Milton's ''Paradise Lost)'' as right-wing extremist material. Prevent was originally tasked with assessing threats posed by Islamic extremist terrorist organizations and was criticized for only 22% of its focus remaining on Islamic threats.
In the United States, the FBI has relied on the left-wing Southern Poverty Law Center, which classifies ''Christian identity'' and ''Radical Traditional Catholicism'' as threats on a par with the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis. That list resulted in the FBI's Richmond field office implementing a plan to spy on American Catholics who attend the pre-Vatican II form of the Mass '-- a plan which, according to both Mass-going Catholics and the House Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, was actually put into action. On the advice of the partisan SPLC, the FBI branded an entire swath of American Catholics ''Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists.''
What Is Gender?
In light of the rise of transgenderism, the question of gender in hate speech legislation has become an especially controversial.
The text of the proposed bill defines gender as ''the gender of a person or the gender which a person expresses as the person's preferred gender or with which the person identifies and includes transgender and a gender other than those of male and female.''
Once again, Professor Casey questioned the bill's terminology: ''We are not told what gender is; what transgender is; what a gender other than male or female might be or how many of them there might be; and how any of the three listed gender items differ from or relate to one another.''
Irish Sen. Michael McDowell also expressed worries over the bill's definition of gender and wrote to the justice minister asking for clarification on some of the bill's ambiguous or nebulous terminology. He asked, ''Is transgender a gender for the purposes of Irish law?'' He also noted that Ireland's 2015 Gender Recognition Act, which allows for individuals to legally change their genders, follows a binary male/female structure, seemingly contradicting the new legislation's inclusion of ''a gender other than those of male and female.''
Casey warns that the legislation's vague terminology will be used to silence dissent, noting, ''Transphobia, as a hate speech crime, pre-empts criticism of transgenderist ideology.''
The government, in tandem with much of the national media, has promoted ''transgenderist ideology.'' Earlier this year, Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman promoted lessons on transgenderism in elementary school classrooms. Varadkar backed O'Gorman's proposal, as did President Michael Higgins. In 2020, O'Gorman also led an effort to permit minors to undergo transgender surgeries without parental consent.
Beyond that, Christians who oppose the principles of the transgender movement on religious grounds have also fallen victim to claims of hatred and bigotry. Last year, Catholic priest Fr. Sen Sheehy delivered a homily reminding his parishioners of the Catholic Church's long-held teachings on homosexuality, transgenderism, and abortion. Although preaching Catholic theology in a Catholic church, Sheehy was labeled a hateful bigot by national media. National LGBT Federation board Director Adam Long said Sheehy's homily was ''repugnant,'' adding, ''Shrouding those deeply offensive comments in any kind of guise, be it religious or otherwise, doesn't make it any more acceptable.'' Even then-Deputy Prime Minister Varadkar commented on the homily, saying he felt singled out by Sheehy's comments on homosexuality.
Government-managed broadcaster RT publicly demanded Sheehy apologize for his preaching. The priest responded, ''My answer basically is that I'm giving the teaching of the scriptures and the Church regarding homosexual sexual relationships: that they're sinful and that's it. '... Why would I apologize for the truth?''
Also last year, schoolteacher Enoch Burke was jailed after refusing to call a student by they/them pronouns, citing his Christian faith. He was held in contempt of court and was placed in solitary confinement in Dublin's Mountjoy Prison, where he was held for almost four months. Just days ago, Ireland's High Court ruled that Burke's employer was right to suspend him for upholding his Christian beliefs.
Brussels, 'Where Free Nations Go to Die' Thus far, none of the major religious institutions in Ireland have made an official public statement on the legislation, though both Ireland's Catholic Conference of Bishops and Ireland's Presbyterian Church told RealClear they are ''keeping the situation under review'' and ''watching this particular piece of legislation carefully.''
The text of the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill clarifies explicitly that it is derived from a 2008 European Union directive to implement more stringent hate speech laws. That directive states, ''It is necessary to define a common criminal-law approach in the European Union to this phenomenon [hate speech] in order to ensure that the same behavior constitutes an offence in all Member States.''
Irish Freedom Party founder and President Hermann Kelly explained in an interview, ''It's clear from the Irish bill '... that the anti-free speech legislation originates in Brussels '-- the one-size-fits-all capital of Europe where free nations go to die.''
Read full story here'...
State Farm Halts Home Insurance Sales In California - Activist Post
Mon, 29 May 2023 15:00
By Tyler Durden
Faltering California took another economic hit on Friday, as America's largest personal lines insurer said it would immediately stop selling new home insurance policies in the state. California is the largest property and casualty insurance market in the country.
State Farm attributed the decision to three factors: ''historic increases in construction costs outpacing inflation, rapidly growing catastrophe exposure, and a challenging reinsurance market.'' Reinsurance is a method of transferring some of an insurer's risk to other insurers.
Existing policies will stay in effect '-- for now. There's always the possibility that, if things keep deteriorating, State Farm could decide to ''non-renew'' current policy-holders. That's what AIG did last year, sending thousands of high-end homeowners scrambling to find new coverage.
The announcement's timing '-- on a Friday afternoon heading into a long holiday weekend '-- seemed intended to minimize publicity. In statement, State Farm said it ''will cease accepting new applications including all business and personal lines property and casualty insurance, effective May 27, 2023. This decision does not impact personal auto insurance.'' The halt seems to include renters insurance, though the announcement wasn't explicit on that count.
Huge blow for California home owners. State Farm was the only insurer I could find that would insure my home. https://t.co/e5FiMB4kSH
'-- Michael McQuaid (@michaelgmcquaid) May 27, 2023
Inflation has been taking a harsh toll on insurers, who are pressing regulators to approve rate hikes to compensate for rising claim costs. Earlier this month, for example, San Antonio-based USAA posted the first ever annual loss in its 100-year history '-- a $1.3 billion setback.
In California, insurers have also been contending with high wildfire risks, and many have curtailed coverage in wildfire-prone regions, or clamped down on homes that lack certain fire-thwarting characteristics, which range from building materials to clearing space between the structure and surrounding trees.
State Farm diplomatically acknowledged the California government's efforts to make the state a viable place for property insurers to operate in, but implied their efforts to date have been insufficient:
''We take seriously our responsibility to manage risk. We recognize the Governor's administration, legislators, and the California Department of Insurance (CDI) for their wildfire loss mitigation efforts. We pledge to work constructively with the CDI and policymakers to help build market capacity in California. However, it's necessary to take these actions now to improve the company's financial strength.''
The Ultimate Plan B Guide (Free Report)The property insurance situation in the Golden State is spiraling into crisis, and horror stories abound. For example, consider a San Diego County homeowners association (HOA) comprising 187 townhouses. The HOA had been been paying $54,000 for property insurance. After the policy was non-renewed, the HOA ended up with a new carrier charging a $293,000 premium '-- prompting an emergency assessment from each owner.
California already has a notoriously high cost of living, ranking second only to Hawaii in the percentage of homeowners (29.7%) who spend more than 30% of their gross income on housing costs. The departure of the country's largest home insurance provider won't do anything to help the insurance component of those costs.
There could be follow-on insurance-market effects from State Farm's departure, as homeowners who would have been insured by State Farm are now forced to seek quotes from companies who are themselves increasingly reluctant to expand their exposure in the state. In a vicious circle effect, some could wind up following State Farm's example.
It all promises to put more pressure on California's FAIR plan, a state-run scheme to provide coverage to those who can't obtain protection from private insurers.
Source: ZeroHedge
Image: Pixabay
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100% lab grown babies in FIVE YEARS: Japanese researchers make breakthrough | Daily Mail Online
Mon, 29 May 2023 15:00
100% lab-grown babies in FIVE YEARS: Japanese researchers are on cusp of creating human eggs and sperm that can be grown in a fake wombProducing human sperm and eggs in the lab is known as in vitro gametogenesis Already achieved in mice, scientists say it could be possible in humans in 5 years READ MORE: Scientists create mice with TWO biological fathers for the first timeBy Caitlin Tilley, Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com
Updated: 13:38 EDT, 25 May 2023
Growing human babies from scratch in a lab could be possible in just five years thanks to a new breakthrough.
Researchers in Japan are on the cusp of being able to create human eggs and sperm in the lab from scratch, which would then develop in an artificial womb.
Professor Katsuhiko Hayashi, a Japanese scientist at Kyushu University who has already figured out the process in mice, believes he is just five years away from replicating the results in humans.
But there are ethical concerns, as it means women of any age could have babies. Parents may also want to design their offspring to have certain traits using gene editing tools, giving way to the notion of an assumed perfect child.
Professor Katsuhiko Hayashi of Kyushu University (pictured), a Japanese scientist who has already figured out how to do IVG in mice, guessed it would take five years to produce egg-like cells from humans
Dr Hayashi and his team recently created seven mice with two male biological parents, using skin cells from a male mouse to form a viable egg and then fertilize it.
The ability to produce custom-made human sperm and eggs in the lab is called in vitro gametogenesis (IVG).
It works by taking cells from a person's blood or skin and reprogramming them to become induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells).
In theory, these cells can become any cell in the body, including egg and sperm cells.
They could then be used to make embryos and implanted into women's wombs.
Scientists have been able to make very basic human eggs and sperm this way, but have not yet been able to make embryos.
Dr Hayashi guessed it would take five years to produce egg-like cells from humans, with another 10-20 years of testing before physicians feel the process is safe to use in clinics.
Stanford University Professor Henry Greely told Freethink he estimated that researchers will need another five to ten years to reach a reliable proof of concept, plus a decade or two for safety testing.
Jeanne Loring, a researcher at the Scripps Research Institute, said IVG in human reproduction told The New York Times in 2017: 'I wouldn't be surprised if it was five years, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was 25 years.'
It would mean that scientists could generate sperm and eggs for infertile people from one of their blood cells, for example.
About one in 10 couples in the US struggles to conceive - and some of those are same-sex couples or hopeful single parents who have to rely on donated sperm or eggs, IVF and, in some cases, surrogates.
But there are still lots of ethical, legal and safety questions surrounding IVG.
Some ethicists worry that closing the door on infertility could quickly open the flood gates to designer babies, eugenics and legal snags that our society may be unprepared to sort out.
It could allow people to steal the DNA of others using a strand of hair and make babies without their consent.
In 2016, Japanese researchers created stem cells using eight-week-old mice, picking ones that had dropped a Y chromosome for some reason.
Scientists then manipulated the cells in a way to copy the remaining X chromosome, and create a cell with two X genes - what would usually be considered a female cell.
'The biggest trick of this is the duplication of the X chromosome,' Dr Hayashi said.
They turned those cells into eggs and used sperm from male mice to fertilize them in the laboratory.
The process led to the birth of more than a half-dozen healthy mice pups.
Dr Hayashi told the New Scientist he believes the door is now open to children being born from two fathers.
The aim is to replicate this same process with human cells.
'Purely in terms of technology, it will be possible [in humans] even in 10 years,' he told The Guardian.
'I don't know whether they'll be available for reproduction.
'That is not a question just for the scientific program, but also for [society].'
SIDS linked to brain abnormality that increases babies' risk in 'unsafe sleep conditions,' study finds | Fox News
Mon, 29 May 2023 14:59
About 3,400 babies die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Now, a new study led by researchers at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School suggests that some of the unexplained deaths may be caused by an abnormality in the medulla, which connects the brain stem and the spinal cord.
The study was published in the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology on May 25.
SURGEON GENERAL'S ADVISORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH COMES AMID 'REAL-TIME EXPERIMENT'
"We found abnormalities in a particular receptor (the serotonin receptor 2A/C) in the medulla oblongata, part of the lower brain stem that regulates autonomic and respiratory function, in a subset of SIDS infants," lead author Dr. Robin Haynes, PhD, who is a principal associate at Harvard Medical School, told Fox News Digital via email.
A new study suggests that some of the unexplained deaths may be caused by an abnormality in the medulla, which connects the brain stem and the spinal cord. (iStock)
When a baby isn't getting enough oxygen, the serotonin receptor 2A/C triggers the baby's natural instinct to gasp for air, the doctor explained.
When the receptor has an abnormality that doesn't allow it to function correctly, it doesn't send the signal to the baby to "reoxygenate the brain."
"This places them at greater risk in unsafe sleep conditions, such as prone sleep and bedsharing, when the levels of oxygen around the infant's airway may be lower than normal," Haynes said.
BE WELL: PREVENT DROWNING WITH THESE CHILD WATER SAFETY TIPS
The researchers analyzed brain tissue from 70 infants who died. All 58 of the babies who died from SIDS were shown to have the altered serotonin receptor 2A/C.
Previous studies also linked abnormalities in the brain and nervous system to a higher risk of SIDS, Haynes said.
Older SIDS infants showed more of these abnormalities than younger infants, which surprised the researchers.
While it's recommended that babies sleep in the same room as parents or caregivers, they should not share the same bed, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. (iStock)
"This suggests the possibility that there are different pathological mechanisms in younger versus older SIDS infants," said Haynes.
"More research is necessary to better understand these mechanisms and how they relate or interact with the specific environmental risk factors that infants may face."
'No way to identify risk'While the study sheds light on one potential cause of SIDS, there is currently "no way to identify an infant at risk for SIDS," Haynes said '-- as babies who die of SIDS appear healthy up until the unexplained death.
"Abnormalities in this neurotransmitter system are undetectable in a living infant," she said. "Because of this, it is critical at all times to follow safe sleep practices."
"It is critical at all times to follow safe sleep practices."
Dr. Chandani DeZure, a board-certified pediatrician in Palo Alto, California, who is also a member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, was not involved in the study but shared her opinion of the findings.
"Research shows that inadequate levels of serotonin found in the brain stem of 70% of babies who passed away from SIDS may make an infant more vulnerable," DeZure told Fox News Digital.
Serotonin is important during sleep as it affects heart rate, breathing and blood pressure, the doctor explained.
There has been a trend of disproportionately high cases of SIDS in Black and Native American/Alaskan Native families, a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
"While this study adds to the growing body of evidence about the potential role of serotonin in SIDS, we still don't know how to identify babies who may have an underlying vulnerability," she added.
Some factors do put babies into a higher risk category, however.
A SIDS diagnosis is made only when no other cause of death is identified after a full investigation.
Babies between 2 and 4 months old are most likely to experience SIDS, with 90% of cases occurring in infants under 6 months old, DeZure noted.
KIDS AS YOUNG AS 4 YEARS OLD CAN BEGIN TO LEARN MEDICAL EMERGENCY TRAINING: NEW REPORT
"Further, babies born prematurely, babies with a family member who died of SIDS, those who have smoke and alcohol exposure in the womb and/or home, and children with underlying physical vulnerabilities (such as certain heart conditions or breathing issues) are high at-risk groups," she went on.
There has been a trend of disproportionately high cases of SIDS in Black and Native American/Alaskan Native families, DeZure said.
"It's important that research help address these health disparities in marginalized communities," she said.
Safe sleep habits key to preventionA SIDS diagnosis is made only when no other cause of death is identified after a full investigation, according to the Cedars Sinai website.
Although studies like this one point to possible causes of SIDS cases '-- including brain abnormalities, respiratory illness and heart function '-- there is no way to predict which babies might be more susceptible, experts say.
Babies should be put to sleep on their backs on a firm, flat surface at naptime and bedtime '-- with no pillows, loose bedding or other objects that could interfere with breathing, according to the AAP's guidelines. (iStock)
"Until we have more research, the best things for parents to do is try to minimize the risk of SIDS by using proven methods like safe sleep habits and breastfeeding (if possible), especially during the first few months of life, when newborns are the most vulnerable of dying from SIDS," said DeZure.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) launched its Back to Sleep campaign in the early 1990s; that program has since been renamed Safe to Sleep.
The AAP's guidelines call for putting babies to sleep on their backs on a firm, flat surface at naptime and bedtime, with no pillows, loose bedding or other objects that could interfere with breathing.
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While it's recommended that babies sleep in the same room as parents or caregivers, they should not share the same bed, the AAP says.
Breastfeeding, giving babies pacifiers and having daily "tummy time" sessions have all been shown to lessen the risk of SIDS.
Using home baby monitors shouldn't be regarded as a means of preventing SIDS, the AAP states. (iStock)
Using home baby monitors shouldn't be regarded as a means of preventing SIDS, the AAP states.
"There is no data to suggest this works and, if anything, it can cause harm by increasing parental anxiety or giving false reassurance," DeZure said.
Since the AAP's campaign launched, SIDS cases have been reduced by nearly half, the doctor said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"However, after 2001, SIDS cases in the U.S. remain the leading cause of death for infants under 1 year old, so there is a vital role for research that can help find additional ways to reduce the risk of SIDS," she added.
If parents have questions about how to prevent SIDS, they should speak to their baby's pediatrician or primary care physician for more information, said DeZure.
Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.
New Study Is Extremely Embarrassing for Lab-Grown Meat
Mon, 29 May 2023 14:58
Researchers at UC Davis have made a startling discovery that could change the way we view lab-grown meat.
As detailed in a yet-to-be-peer-reviewed paper, they found that the meat alternative's environmental impact appears to be "orders of magnitude" higher than retail beef you can buy at the grocery store '-- itself already a very environmentally damaging foodstuff '-- at least based on current production methods.
If confirmed, the research could be damning: lab-grown meat, long seen as a greener alternative to meat products that don't involve the slaughter of animals, could be more harmful to the environment than the products it's trying to replace.
"Our findings suggest that cultured meat is not inherently better for the environment than conventional beef," said corresponding author Edward Spang, an associate professor at UC Davis, in a statement. "It's not a panacea."
Fortunately, there could be effective ways to reduce that carbon footprint significantly in the long run, the researchers suggest, meaning that it's not game over for lab-grown meat just yet.
Assessing the cycle of energy needed and the greenhouse gas emissions involved in all stages of producing lab-grown meat compared to conventional beef, they found that the global warming potential '-- an environmental metric measured in kilograms of CO2 emissions '-- of lab-grown meat is between four and 25 times greater than the average for beef products sold in stores.
One of the biggest drawbacks, they say, is the need for highly-refined growth media, which are the cultures that allow cells to multiply in a lab setting.
"If companies are having to purify growth media to pharmaceutical levels, it uses more resources, which then increases global warming potential," said lead author and doctoral graduate Derrick Risner, in the statement. "If this product continues to be produced using the 'pharma' approach, it's going to be worse for the environment and more expensive than conventional beef production."
While the Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of cultured meat in the US last year, no such products are being sold in the country as of the time of writing.
That's despite the emergence of a number of new startups, particularly in Silicon Valley, trying to capitalize on the idea. Many of them, it's worth noting, are still struggling to scale up their operations, nevermind break into the mainstream market.
But there's a growing momentum. Back in March, the FDA deemed a cultivated chicken product produced by cultured meat company Good Meat safe to consume, meaning that it will only need an all-clear from the Department of Agriculture to start selling the product.
Lab-grown meat companies have tried to end their reliance on pharmaceutical-grade ingredients and focus on food-grade ones instead, something that would make growing meat in a lab far more environmentally competitive.
"We believe commercial-scale cultivated meat production will be more sustainable, efficient and healthier for the planet than conventional animal agriculture because we will not be raising and slaughtering billions of animals or using one-third of the planet's ice-free land to grow food for them," Andrew Noyes, vice president and head of global communications at Good Meat, told the San Francisco Chronicle.
If the companies were to make that switch, cultured meat's global warming potential could end up being anywhere between 80 percent lower to 26 percent higher than conventional beef production, according to the researchers.
But ending their reliance on pharma-grade ingredients is still proving extremely difficult.
"It's possible we could reduce its environmental impact in the future, but it will require significant technical advancement to simultaneously increase the performance and decrease the cost of the cell culture media," said Spang in the statement.
In the meantime, Spang is working with Bay Area companies to develop the tech further. For now, he told the Chronicle that we'll likely see more companies combining cultured meat with other plant-based ingredients to make it more competitive with meat products.
While the numbers paint a damning picture of the current state of the lab-grown meat industry, researchers and cultured meat companies aren't willing to throw in the towel just yet. It may just take a little longer than they might like to get there.
More on lab-grown meat: There's a Serious Problem With Lab-Grown Meat
Whistleblower Leaks 100 Gigabytes of Data on Tesla Customers, Employees, and Safety Complaints - Activist Post
Mon, 29 May 2023 14:52
By B.N. Frank
It's not been a good year for Tesla. Lawsuits have been filed by investors as well as owners (see 1, 2). Of course, this may have been expected as over the years Tesla vehicles have been associated with
accidents (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)firesinvestigationsprivacy violationsrecallssafety issues regarding self-driving softwaresafety issues unrelated to self-driving software or fires (see 1, 2, 3)high levels of harmful electromagnetic radiation emissionsNow a whistleblower has leaked more data that reflects poorly on the company.
From The Guardian:
'Massive' Tesla data leak reveals thousands of alleged safety complaintsWhistleblower leaks data revealing customer and employee information plus complaints about driver-assistance system.
Tesla has failed to adequately protect data from customers, employees and business partners and has received thousands of customer complaints regarding the carmaker's driver assistance system, Germany's Handelsblatt has reported, citing 100 gigabytes of confidential data leaked by a whistleblower.
The Handelsblatt report said customer data could be found ''in abundance'' in a data set labelled ''Tesla Files''.
The files include tables containing more than 100,000 names of former and current employees, including the social security number of the Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, along with private email addresses, phone numbers, salaries of employees, bank details of customers and secret details from production, according to Handelsblatt.
The breach would violate the GDPR, the newspaper said.
The Guardian has not independently verified the documents.
The data protection office in Brandenburg, which is home to Tesla's European gigafactory, described the data leak as ''massive''.
''I can't remember such a scale,'' the Brandenburg data protection officer, Dagmar Hartge, said.
If such a violation was proved, Tesla could be fined up to 4% of its annual sales, which could be '¬3.26bn ($3.5bn).
Citing the leaked files, the newspaper also reported about large numbers of customer complaints regarding the Tesla's driver assistance programs, with about 4,000 complaints on sudden acceleration or phantom braking.
The German union IG Metall said the revelations were ''disturbing'' and called on Tesla to inform employees about all data protection violations and promote a culture in which staff could raise problems and grievances openly and without fear.
''These revelations '... fit with the picture that we have gained in just under two years,'' said Dirk Schulze, IG Metall incoming district manager for Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony.
Handelsblatt quoted a lawyer for Tesla as saying a ''disgruntled former employee'' had abused their access as a service technician, adding that the company would take legal action against the individual it suspected of the leak.
The data protection watchdog for the Netherlands said on Friday it was aware of possible Tesla data protection breaches.
''We are aware of the Handelsblatt story and we are looking into it,'' said a spokesperson for the AP data watchdog in the Netherlands, where Tesla's European headquarters is located.
The agency declined all comment on whether it might launch or have launched an investigation, citing policy. The Dutch agency was informed by its counterpart in the German state of Brandenburg.
Handelsblatt said Tesla notified the Dutch authorities about the breach, but the AP spokesperson said they were not aware if the company had made any representations to the agency.
Tesla was not available for comment on Friday.
Last month, a Reuters report showed that groups of Tesla employees privately shared via an internal messaging system sometimes highly invasive videos and images recorded by customers' car cameras between 2019 and 2022.
This week, Facebook's parent Meta was hit with a record '¬1.2bn fine by its lead EU privacy regulator over its handling of user information and given five months to stop transferring user data to the US.
Activist Post reports regularly about Tesla and privacy invasive and unsafe technologies. For more information, visit our archives.
Image: Pixabay
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(19) Rep. Dan Bishop on Twitter: "Kevin says we can fight again NEXT year to rescind another year of the IRS $80 billion '... but he simultaneously prevented that ''fight'' by agreeing to suspend the debt ceiling for TWO years. So there will be 85,260 mo
Mon, 29 May 2023 14:40
Rep. Dan Bishop : Kevin says we can fight again NEXT year to rescind another year of the IRS $80 billion '... but he simultaneously prev'... https://t.co/UsQYP5bJgV
Sun May 28 11:37:25 +0000 2023
Microsoft Adds Mandatory System-Wide Artificial Intelligence Engine ''Windows Copilot'' to Windows 11, Promising ''Helpfulness.'' Exactly How Will Your Data be Analyzed? -
Mon, 29 May 2023 14:26
On Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023, Microsoft announced it is adding strong built-in artificial intelligence or AI integration throughout its Windows 11 operating system. Microsoft says AI will make Windows 11 easier and faster to use. But some experts worry that AI in Windows 11 could invade people's privacy. It is unclear to what extent ''Windows Copilot'' will be woven to in all aspects of Windows 11.
At first glance, it appears Microsoft's new built-in AI will have access to analyze everything on your computer with its artificial intelligence engine, whether you like it or not.
Microsoft announced that a new feature called Windows Copilot will be built into Windows 11. Windows Copilot uses AI to communicate with Microsoft's cloud computers. Microsoft says Windows Copilot will help Windows 11 users get more done and make it easier for programmers to build Windows apps.
WINDOWS COPILOT AI '' IS IT TOO INTEGRATED TO THE OPERATING SYSTEM?
While Windows Copilot may boost productivity in some ways, it will give Microsoft new ways to gather people's personal information from their computers. AI in Windows 11 could access what users type, save and delete. This data could be hacked, misused or collected by Microsoft.
As AI learns from how people use Windows 11, huge amounts of private details may be gathered. Cybercriminals or Microsoft themselves could misuse this data or use the data in ways that you don't like '... considering the closed-source nature of Windows, the reality is, users will never know how their data is being gathered and used by Windows.
THE KEY IS IF USERS CAN TURN OFF THE A.I. WHEN THEY WANT
The key issue is whether users control their data and can choose when to use AI, or if it will always have access to everything on your computer.
Sure, AI can benefit users, such as by saving time with repetitive tasks. But Microsoft must clearly explain how AI works in Windows 11 and provide ways to limit or disable it. As of this writing, it appears elements of ''Windows Copilot'' remain persistent in the background of the Operating System even when supposedly ''deactivated.''
It's just not clear yet how, if all, the AI can be disabled, if it is tightly wound in Windows from here on. Windows 11 may lack options to turn off AI features all together. This could leave users unsure how their information is handled.
Thoughtful end users want transparency and choice regarding their personal details. Maybe Microsoft has reached the conclusion that ''the masses'' don't care how their data is gathered, and thus the ambiguity about how to turn on and off the new AI integrations in Windows.
WINDOWS HAS ALREADY FACED YEARS OF CRITICISM FOR EXCESSIVE SURVEILLANCE.
Microsoft has been criticized for years by privacy advocates for excessive surveillance of users through Windows. Time will tell if AI in Windows 11 and future versions of Windows makes this worse.
Microsoft has faced criticism for years from privacy advocates over excessive user surveillance through Windows. It remains to be seen if the AI features in Windows 11 and beyond will cause even more concern.
Given Microsoft's track record and the growing worries about AI and privacy, tech-savvy users may want to consider alternatives like Linux. Linux is an open-source operating system that offers users more transparency and control over their data and computing experience.
WANT TO COMPLETELY FIX YOUR ERODING DIGITAL PRIVACY? SWITCH YOUR COMPUTERS FROM WINDOWS TO LINUX!
For those worried about an AI-powered operating system collecting and potentially misusing personal information, Linux provides a compelling option versus Windows 11.
Linux provides a complete Windows replacement free from the kind of artificial intelligence integration discussed in this article. As an open-source project, Linux's source code is publicly viewable, allowing independent experts to verify that it does not engage in data collection or surveillance.
With Linux, users have full transparency into how their system works and complete control over what data is gathered and shared.
In Linux, there are no integrated AI assistants or other ''black box'' technologies secretly tracking user activity. Artificial intelligence is available as a separate app, completely controllable by the user, if someone wants to use it, but it is not ''built-in'' to the Operating System in the way Windows will now integrate Copilot.
If privacy and oversight are priorities, the free and open Linux operating system may be a better choice than Windows for individuals concerned about integrated cloud and AI threats to personal privacy.
Join thousands of members in the Jeff.pro online community who have made the important decision to take back their Digital Freedom by learning how to switch their computers from Windows to Linux, in the Jeff.pro forums! (forums.jeff.pro)
Turkish election victory for Erdogan leaves nation divided - BBC News
Mon, 29 May 2023 14:05
Media caption, Watch: Erdogan victory speech: 'Today nobody has lost'
By Paul Kirby & Ece Goksedef
In Ankara
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's supporters are celebrating after Turkey's long-time president won Sunday's vote, securing another five years in power.
"The entire nation of 85 million won," he told cheering crowds outside his enormous palace on the edge of Ankara.
But his call for unity sounded hollow as he ridiculed his opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu - and took aim at a jailed Kurdish leader and the LGBT community.
The opposition leader denounced "the most unfair election in recent years".
Mr Kilicdaroglu said the president's political party had mobilised all the means of the state against him and he did not explicitly admit defeat.
International observers said on Monday that, as with the first round on 14 May, media bias and limits to freedom of expression had "created an unlevel playing field, and contributed to an unjustified advantage" for Mr Erdogan.
President Erdogan ended with just over 52% of the vote, based on near-complete unofficial results. Almost half the electorate in this deeply polarised country did not back his authoritarian vision of Turkey.
Ultimately, Mr Kilicdaroglu was no match for the well-drilled Erdogan campaign, even if he took the president to a run-off second round for the first time since the post was made directly elected in 2014.
But he barely dented his rival's first-round lead, falling more than two million votes behind.
Media caption, Watch: Kilicdaroglu gives fiery speech after Erdogan claims victory
The president made the most of his victory, with an initial speech to supporters atop a bus in Turkey's biggest city, Istanbul, followed after dark by a balcony address from his palace to an adoring crowd that he numbered at 320,000 people.
"It is not just us who won, Turkey won," he declared, calling it one of the most important elections in Turkish history.
He taunted his opponent's defeat with the words "Bye, bye, Kemal" - a chant that was also taken up by his supporters in Ankara.
Mr Erdogan poured scorn on the main opposition party's increase in its number of MPs in the parliamentary vote two weeks earlier. The true number had fallen to 129, he said, because the party had handed over dozens of seats to its allies.
He also condemned the opposition alliance's pro-LGBT policies, which he said were in contrast with his own focus on families.
The run-up to the vote had become increasingly rancorous and in one incident late on Sunday, an opposition Good party official was fatally stabbed in front of a party office in the northern coastal town of Ordu.
The motive for Erhan Kurt's killing was not clear, but a leading opposition official blamed youths celebrating the election result.
Although the final results were not confirmed, the Supreme Election Council said there was no doubt who had won.
It is highly unusual for the palace complex to be opened to the public - but so was this result, extending his period in power to a quarter of a century.
Supporters came from all over Ankara to taste the victory. There were Islamic chants, while some laid Turkish flags on the grass to pray.
For a night, Turkey's economic crisis was forgotten. One supporter, Seyhan, said it was all a lie: "Nobody is hungry. We are very happy with his economy policies. He will do even better in the next five years."
But the president admitted that tackling inflation was Turkey's most urgent issue.
The question is whether he is prepared to take the necessary measures to do so. At an annual rate of almost 44%, inflation seeps into everyone's lives.
The cost of food, rent and other everyday goods has soared, exacerbated by Mr Erdogan's refusal to observe orthodox economic policy and raise interest rates.
The Turkish lira has hit record lows against the dollar and the central bank has struggled to meet surging demand for foreign currency.
"If they continue with low interest rates, as Erdogan has signalled, the only other option is stricter capital controls," warns Selva Demiralp, professor of economics at Koc university in Istanbul.
Economics was far from the minds of Erdogan supporters, who spoke of their pride at his powerful position in the world and his hard line on fighting "terrorists", by which they meant Kurdish militants.
President Erdogan has accused his opposite number of siding with terrorists, and criticised him for promising to free a former co-leader of Turkey's second largest opposition party, the pro-Kurdish HDP.
Selahattin Demirtas has been languishing in jail since 2016, despite the European Court of Human Rights ordering his release.
Mr Erdogan said while he was in power, Mr Demirtas would stay behind bars.
He also promised to prioritise rebuilding in areas hit by February's twin earthquakes and bring about the "voluntary" return of a million Syrian refugees.
Crowds flocked to Istanbul's Taksim Square, with many coming from the Middle East and the Gulf.
Image source, NECATI SAVAS/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Image caption, Supporters gathered outside the palace from all over Ankara to hear Mr Erdogan
Palestinians from Jordan wrapped Turkish flags around their shoulders. A Tunisian visitor, Alaa Nassar, said Mr Erdogan had not just made improvements to his own country, "he is also supporting Arabs and the Muslim world".
For all the celebrations, the idea of unity in this polarised country seems farther away than ever.
Since a failed coup in 2016, Mr Erdogan has abolished the post of prime minister and amassed extensive powers, which his opponent had pledged to roll back.
One voter outside an Ankara polling station on Sunday said he wanted to see an end to the brain drain that began with the post-coup purge. There is a risk that it may now intensify.
Turkey's defeated opposition will now have to regroup ahead of local elections in 2024.
Image source, YASIN AKGUL/AFP
Image caption, Ekrem Imamoglu won the race for mayor in Istanbul in 2019 and is seen as leading opposition figure
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a high-profile favourite among opposition supporters, appealed to them not to despair and said it was time for change.
His video message on social media was immediately seen as a veiled hint that the opposition needed a new leader.
He reminded them on Monday that he had won in Istanbul and another opposition figure had won in Ankara in 2019, only nine months after their previous presidential election defeat.
"We will never expect different results by doing the same things," he said.
Additional reporting from Istanbul by Cagil Kasapoglu.
Musk Admits He Doesn't Control Platform Censorship Decisionmaking - Watch the Twitter Financials - The Last Refuge
Mon, 29 May 2023 13:55
Everything I have outlined about Twitter is going to surface as accurate over time. There are two major elements: (1) DHS govt influence, now evidenced in the Twitter Files; and (2) the Twitter financial issues, which explain the recent hiring of Linda Yaccarino, which are soon to surface.
Yesterday, Elon Musk responded to criticism of Twitter censorship, vis-a-vis government demands, with this Tweet: ''Please point out where we had an actual choice and we will reverse it.''
The Musk supporters are saying Musk has to comply with government demands if their national laws require it. However, that angle doesn't take into consideration the choice that Musk/Twitter always have.
If the platform content is not approved by a government, and that govt then demands removal or censorship of that content, Twitter always has two options. One, to comply with the demand and block or restrict the user content (which is the direction they have taken); or two, stop allowing the platform to operate in the country demanding the censorship. It is the latter option that everyone always avoids mentioning.
However, the issue appears to be bigger and goes to the heart of the second aspect of Twitter we have noted.
Twitter is not viable as a business model, under the construct of its creation. Twitter operates on Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud, and Google Cloud.
Both big tech monopoly systems are extremely expensive and as a result Musk is stuck in contracts with AWS and Google that are major financial drains. Twitter does not operate any server infrastructure; the only asset that Twitter has on the tech engineering side is the software to operate the platform.
Absent any hardware infrastructure, Musk is vulnerable to the excessive costs of AWS & Google.
Keep in mind that all cloud-based systems are arguably U.S. government subsidized and end in server farms built and owned by the U.S. govt. Send something to a cloud-based system, or operate your tech through a cloud-based system, and you are essentially operating on govt hardware.
[This is the background #2 issue to Jack's MAgic Coffee Shop.]
As you can see from this article in March 2023 [MUST READ], Musk was behind in his payments to Jeff Bezos (Amazon, AWS) but up to date on his payments to Google.
In essence, even as the article admits, Elon Musk is making payment decisions based on determinations of how best avoid advertising revenue interruptions. Keep this in mind.
As you can see in the article, Musk is on the hook for contracts with AWS through 2025. As written, ''AWS is not willing to renegotiate the five-and-a-half year contract it signed with Twitter in 2020.'' That is before Musk took ownership. ''That contract required Twitter to pay $510m over that period. It was signed when Twitter was expecting to move its main timeline over to AWS, but that never occurred (instead it hosts Twitter Spaces and other services), meaning that Twitter is not fully making use of the contract.'' So, Jeff Bezos (AWS) has a hook into Musk for roughly $100 million a year.
Additionally, ''Twitter uses Google Cloud to a greater degree, with its own five-year contract worth $1bn. While Twitter is also looking to reduce its Google Cloud costs.'' That puts Musk on the hook for $200 million a year to Google, and Google controls the vast majority of advertising revenue on the web.
Each system, AWS and Google, represents a threat vector for Twitter (Musk), insofar as Twitter cannot operate without the cloud services each provider contributes to the data processing.
Absent his own data processing systems, Musk is vulnerable to the AWS/Google demands. $300,000,000/yr just for them. Again, keep this in mind.
This is all part of the financial section I have written about extensively, and it has an impact on the content.
With this information as the overlay, how much freedom does Musk actually have with the platform when he is dependent on Google and Amazon to operate? The same Google who controls the majority of his revenue (advertising) controls his data processing. See the problem?
On content, look at what AWS did to Parler as an example of what they could do to Twitter if Musk is not compliant. On revenue, consider how Google already has influence over the monetization of any platform on the internet; combined with terms and conditions for content control they can exert through their revenue power.
'... Amazon (AWS, CIA, U.S. Govt) then becomes the primary control lever for rules and guidelines on content, the government compliance stuff. How does it surface? Musk saying, he must censor Turkish political opposition parties.
'... Google then becomes the primary control lever for Twitter revenue. How does that surface? Musk hiring Linda Yaccarino as CEO of Twitter.
Can you see it now?
Do the irreconcilables start to reconcile?
Does Elon Musk saying, ''Please point out where we had an actual choice and we will reverse it,'' start to make sense now?
Given that Musk is on the hook for $300 million/yr, and that's just one expense, I suspect Musk is closer to bankruptcy with Twitter than most people think.
The operating costs are too extreme for the business model. They always were; however, I suspect the USG was indirectly subsidizing Twitter through data processing when Jack Dorsey had ownership.
The subsidy would be part of the private-public partnership, where the USG was benefitting from their ability to control public information and public opinion.
With the USG control via DHS and FBI now in sunlight (Twitter Files), the financial side has always been the second -and hidden- big picture element around Jack's Magic Coffee Shop.
Bottom line, Musk has to make decisions through one prism, THE ECONOMICS. Musk's decision-making, pro freedom or not, is constrained by this financial dependency. Hence, a lot of the platform censorship elements remain (including some personnel) and now the outreach to appoint Google/WEF approved Linda Yaccarino in an effort to enhance the revenue.
As the end dates of the contract terms with AWS and Google start to come closer, decisions will have to be made if Musk wants a sustainable platform. Either he builds out new hardware (extremely costly and likely cost prohibitive) or he looks for an existing platform that he might be able to merge with and operate.
If you are a platform owner of reasonable scale, and you control your own servers and data-processing, watch out for David Sacks (repping for Elon) to tap you on the shoulder. Twitter is in a bind, or Musk needs to sink buckets of money he doesn't have into building something. The financial viability is now the primary prism, not principles of free speech.
On the content side Elon Musk needs content providers, which explains the thirst for Tucker Carlson and even the DeSantis launch to gain some operational impact. That's likely where his key tech advisor David Sacks again comes into play. On the type of content, that's where Linda Jaccarino steps in as the Google/WEF bridge to approved content revenue.
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VIDEO - 'We Are Sick And Tired': Black Chicago Residents Slam City Officials Over Funding For Migrants | The Daily Caller
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:11
Black Chicago residents criticized city officials for funding migrants over their community, they said during a city council meeting Wednesday.
The statements from angry residents came before the city council voted to allocate $51 million to support migrants in Chicago, according to a livestream of the meeting. The residents shamed the city council for considering the funding as the city faces homeless and mental health crises within its own populations.
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began busing migrants from the southern border to the Windy City in August 2022, and, since then, roughly 2,000 have arrived through the effort. (RELATED: Biden Hits Record Low Approval Rating For Handling Of Immigration: POLL)
''I understand that $51 million are gonna be voted on today and I encourage the alderman to please vote it down because number one, we have not opened up the schools for our homeless, we see them in the streets everyday, I make sure that the homeless are fed with clothing,'' Caroline Ruff, Black Lives Matter Women of Faith founder, said during Wednesday's meeting. ''We need to take care of our community, we need to take care of our black community, we need to open up these schools for mental health.''
WATCH:
''We have not gotten anything for our community and we are sick and tired '... enough is enough,'' Ruff said.
Another resident, Andre Smith, said he and another individual stopped a migrant bus and were arrested during the situation. Smith advocated that the city put the funds towards reparations.
''How dare this mayor and city council have the guts to give migrants $51 million. I demand you to have the same passion and urgency to pass the City of Chicago Reparations Ordinance and also give us a office for black Americans, just like the new Americans,'' Smith, the CEO of Chicago Against Violence, said.
WATCH:
''We didn't have the luxury or the opportunity to cross the border. We didn't have the privilege to cross the border. We came over here being raped, stolen, beaten, chained in the bottom of ships, and you give migrants $51 million? Have you forgot who you are?,'' Smith said, adding that ''our ancestors are looking at us and holding us accountable, don't say you black if you not gonna put your pen where your mouth is.''
WATCH:
''I suggest that they should not be housed in impoverished and marginalized black and brown communities, where we have food shortages and homelessness, but in more affluent communities, where there are many more resources,'' Walt Kendrick, a Chicago resident and activist, said after being booed by the crowd for supporting the funding.
Federal authorities recorded more than 2.3 million migrant encounters in fiscal year 2022 at the southern border and more than 1.4 million in the first seven months of fiscal year 2023.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter's byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
VIDEO - WATCH: Reporter Leaves John Kirby Speechless With Question About Biden Family Corruption | The Daily Wire
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:09
Retired Admiral John Kirby appeared to be left speechless during a Wednesday briefing, stumbling through his response to a poll indicating that a majority of Americans believe President Joe Biden was involved in his family's alleged corrupt business dealings.
Kirby, who previously served as the Pentagon's spokesperson and is currently Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, was clearly blindsided by the question from New York Post reporter Steven Nelson '-- who referenced a recent Harvard-Harris Poll indicating that over half of all Americans (53%) and 25% of Democrats believe that President Biden ''was involved with his son in an illegal influence peddling scheme'' while he was vice president.
WATCH:
Reporter: "What do you say to the majority of Americans who believe that the president himself is corrupt?"
Biden's spokesman John Kirby: "WOW '... There is nothing to these claims." pic.twitter.com/LH8KUnQ4Qt
'-- The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) May 31, 2023
''There have been many developments in investigations into the First Family's international business dealings recently,'' Nelson began, referencing the FBI file on Biden allegedly taking a bribe from an as-yet-unnamed foreign nation in addition to the recent developments regarding the IRS whistleblowers.
''Amid all this, there was a Harvard-Harris poll that found that 53% of the public, including a fourth of Democrats believe, quote, 'Joe Biden was involved with his son in an illegal influence peddling scheme,''' Nelson continued. ''There's of course evidence the president interacted with his relatives' associates from China, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine '-- so what do you say to the majority of Americans who believe that the president is himself corrupt?''
Kirby took a long pause, shaking his head '-- meanwhile, another White House spokesperson next to the podium could be heard whispering in disbelief, ''Jesus '...''
''The president '-- the president '-- the president has spoken to this,'' Kirby appeared to stumble through his response after nearly ten seconds had elapsed, repeating once again, ''The president has spoken to this, there's nothing to these claims.''
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Kirby went on to state that, at least as far as the IRS whistleblowers were concerned, reporters would have to go to the FBI for more information.
VIDEO - Debt ceiling deal would require Biden to resume collecting student loans, charging interest - POLITICO
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:08
Key contextCementing the plan to restart payments into law curtails the Biden administration's potential options for responding to a possible Supreme Court ruling in the coming weeks that blocks its debt cancellation plan.
Progressives and student debt activists have said that payments should remain paused at least until the Biden administration is able to deliver on the debt cancellation it promised last year.
The Biden administration over the last couple years has several times announced an end to the payment pause only to reverse course and issue another extension of the policy. But that path would be off the table under the debt ceiling deal.
The bill would prohibit the Secretary of Education from using ''any authority to implement an extension'' of the ongoing pause on federal student loan payments and interest.
It does not specify how or when precisely the Education Department must resume collecting payments, shielding the administration's plans to offer borrowers some type of grace period or extra flexibility with payments as it restarts repayment.
Biden view White House officials see the deal as codifying into law what the administration had already been planning to do, which was resume collecting payments in September.
''President Biden protected the student debt relief plan in its entirety,'' White House spokesperson Abdullah Hasan said in a statement. ''The Administration announced back in November that the current student loan payment pause would end this summer '-- this agreement makes no changes to that plan.''
The Education Department has said that payments would resume 60 days following either a court decision or June 30, whichever came first. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said publicly in recent weeks that he was committed to that timeline, and Education Department officials have already been preparing for the resumption of payments this fall.
''Despite Republicans' efforts to end targeted student debt relief and move up our planned end to the payment pause, we will ensure a smooth return to repayment process,'' Cardona said on Twitter on Sunday.
Cardona added that the ''deal also protects our ability to pause student loan payments should that be necessary in future emergencies.'' Some provisions in the House GOP debt ceiling bill would have permanently curtailed the Education Department's power to cancel or modify student loans.
GOP pitchMcCarthy hailed the elimination of the student loan pause as a ''victory'' on Sunday as GOP leaders pitch the plan to many members of their caucus who wanted it to go further in stopping Biden's student loan policies.
In an interview with Fox News, McCarthy noted that the pause costs the government roughly $5 billion each month in forgone revenue. He touted the legislation to make sure that borrowers would be required to repay their student debt even if the Biden administration's debt cancellation program gets struck down at the Supreme Court.
What's nextThe House is expected to vote on the deal as early as Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has told senators to prepare for possible votes next weekend ahead of the default deadline of June 5 announced by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
VIDEO - European summit opens in Moldova with Ukraine war, regional conflicts on agenda ' FRANCE 24 - YouTube
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VIDEO - ALX ðºð¸ on Twitter: "Heard on MSNBC: Boycotting Target is ''literally terrorism'' https://t.co/d6i9qTixJ4" / Twitter
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 12:43
ALX ðºð¸ : Heard on MSNBC: Boycotting Target is ''literally terrorism'' https://t.co/d6i9qTixJ4
Tue May 30 01:37:55 +0000 2023
VIDEO - Will Ukraine's Spring Offensive Make a Difference? | The Agenda - YouTube
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VIDEO - (21) The Babylon Bee on Twitter: "FULL INTERVIEW: The Babylon Bee Talks With @elonmusk at Twitter HQ https://t.co/EfJqSsjer2" / Twitter
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 12:16
The Babylon Bee : FULL INTERVIEW: The Babylon Bee Talks With @elonmusk at Twitter HQ https://t.co/EfJqSsjer2
Wed May 31 21:01:18 +0000 2023
Mandi : @TheBabylonBee @elonmusk Spitting all of the facts! ð''¤¸
Thu Jun 01 12:12:19 +0000 2023
Travis Phipps : @TheBabylonBee @elonmusk If we're working on a "SaRcaStIc" font, I'd like to officially request an "ironic" font. W'... https://t.co/aU0GMNpdK1
Thu Jun 01 12:07:52 +0000 2023
Derrick : @TheBabylonBee @elonmusk @elonmusk is there any chance that we'll be able to cast these longer posts to our smart TVs in the future?
Thu Jun 01 12:04:43 +0000 2023
VIDEO - Bud Light parent Anheuser-Busch sees $27 billion gone, shares near bear market | Fox Business
Thu, 01 Jun 2023 02:45
Two months ago, Bud Light rolled the dice on a marketing push involving transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney, a move that has been met with customer pushback, boycotts and a big hit to the bottom line in the form of falling sales and the value of parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev.
About $27 billion in market value has vanished, falling to $107.44 billion through the end of May, down from $134.55 billion on March 31, as tracked by Dow Jones Market Data Group.
Ticker Security Last Change Change % BUD ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV 53.41 -1.04 -1.92% The stock is down 19.98% from its recent March high, just shy of hitting an official bear market, which is a 20% drop. May was the third-worst month on record for company shares.
Mulvaney was gifted a personalized pack of beer with the influencer's likeness as part of an ad for the company's March Madness contest and to celebrate the one-year anniversary since Mulvaney began identifying as a woman. The marketing move sparked backlash from beer loyalists.
"The problem is it just takes your brand into a space that it doesn't need to be, and it just creates a lot of strong feelings about something that isn't really related to the product or its brand," said Timothy Calkins, associate chair of the marketing department at Northwestern Kellogg, in an interview with FOX Business last week. "That's why I think we're going to see lots of brands be really cautious about what they do, especially related issues that aren't directly aligned with their product or service."
Bud Light has faced intense backlash from longtime customers over its recent campaign with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney. (Instagram/Fox News / Fox News)
On April 14, Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth addressed the controversy in a statement.
"As the CEO of a company founded in America's heartland more than 165 years ago, I am responsible for ensuring every consumer feels proud of the beer we brew. We're honored to be part of the fabric of this country. Anheuser-Busch employs more than 18,000 people and our independent distributors employ an additional 47,000 valued colleagues. We have thousands of partners, millions of fans and a proud history supporting our communities, military, first responders, sports fans and hard-working Americans everywhere," Whitworth said. "We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer."
Still, on May 10, HSBC analyst Carlos Laboy and his team cut the stock to a hold.
"It is unclear how ABI will reverse eroding US volume and brand relevance, and fix distributors' trust, without leadership changes" the team wrote in a research note to clients.
- HSBC analyst Carlos Laboy, downgrading (BUD) shares to a hold, May 10, 2023
"It is unclear how ABI will reverse eroding US volume and brand relevance, and fix distributors' trust, without leadership changes," the team wrote in a research note to clients, adding what is needed to restore investor confidence.
"Stabilization of volume and brand relevance erosion. A long-term plan to recover lost brand relevance for its mainstream brands. Evidence that the marketing department is hiring people with a keen sensibility for understanding the core consumer and for bringing new consumers into their base" they wrote.
In recent weeks, sales remain sluggish. Heading into the Memorial Day weekend, Fox News Digital reported that some Budweiser products were being sold for free in select stores due to a promotional rebate from the company.
Sales volume for Bud Light has fallen 29.5% in the week ending May 20, compared to the same period a year ago, according to data provided to Newsweek by Bump Williams Consulting and Nielsen IQ. This data showed the sales revenue dropped 25.7% in the same period.
Sales volume for Bud Light has fallen 29.5% in the week ending May 20, compared to the same period a year ago. (Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Bud Light / Getty Images)
While Bud's parent remains under pressure, rivals are benefiting. Shares of Molson Coors, Constellation Brands, which counts Corona and Modelo as beers, and Boston Beer, maker of Sam Adam's and Truly Hard Seltzer, have all seen their shares rise for the month, including Wednesday.
Ticker Security Last Change Change % BUD ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV 53.41 -1.04 -1.92%TAP MOLSON COORS BEVERAGE CO. 61.85 +1.45 +2.40%SAM BOSTON BEER CO. INC. 337.78 +2.54 +0.76%STZ CONSTELLATION BRANDS INC. 243.04 +6.07 +2.56% Several executives tied to the Mulvaney marketing campaign are on a leave of absence, according to reports.
Inquiries by FOX Business to Anheuser-Busch on the stock performance were not immediately returned.
Fox News Digital's Lindsay Kornick and Alexa Moutevelis contributed to this report.
VIDEO - Changes could come to lyrics of Canada's national anthem - YouTube
VIDEO - Canadian government wants to dispose of half of its office buildings with hybrid work here to stay - YouTube
VIDEO - Canada to become world's first country to add health warnings on individual cigarettes - YouTube
VIDEO - Artificial Intelligence may lead humanity to extinction, industry leaders warn ' FRANCE 24 English - YouTube
VIDEO - (28) Glenn Greenwald on Twitter: "This may be the classic of the genre: when a BBC interview started to hector and lecture Azerbaijan's ruler for lack of press freedoms, only for him to remind her of the US and UK's imprisonment of Assange and dem
Wed, 31 May 2023 21:17
Glenn Greenwald : This may be the classic of the genre: when a BBC interview started to hector and lecture Azerbaijan's ruler for lac'... https://t.co/mGmg8agbD2
Wed May 24 17:19:54 +0000 2023
VIDEO - Little-known virus is an underestimated threat, say experts. Here's how to keep safe from HMPV. | CNN
Wed, 31 May 2023 21:12
Little-known virus is an underestimated threat, say experts. Here's how to keep safe from HMPV.
The U.S. CDC says cases of human metapneumovirus -- or HMPV -- spiked this past spring. The virus can cause just as much misery as the flu, but most people have never heard of it. CNN's Anna Coren talks to viral researcher Dr. Jorge Rodriguez about what you need to look out for and how to stay safe.
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VIDEO - (20) Citizen Free Press on Twitter: "Distressing rumors about Jamie Foxx: "I had somebody in the room who let me know that Jamie had a blood clot in his brain after he got the shot. He did not want the shot but with the movie he was on, he was pre
Wed, 31 May 2023 20:58
Citizen Free Press : Distressing rumors about Jamie Foxx: "I had somebody in the room who let me know that Jamie had a blood clot in h'... https://t.co/uhaQNd8JBY
Wed May 31 01:01:27 +0000 2023
Stephen M : @CitizenFreePres All the virtue signaling, fascists who shamed, intimidated and strong armed people into taking the'... https://t.co/OFkiET1JD5
Wed May 31 20:52:25 +0000 2023
Truth Warrior : @CitizenFreePres Well, sucks to be him. #clotshot
Wed May 31 20:50:48 +0000 2023
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VIDEO - State Department confirms Putin's claims, US Bioweapons Labs in Ukraine '' Civilian Intelligence Network
Tue, 30 May 2023 14:27
Russia had two major military objectives during their adventure into Ukraine. The Denazification of Ukraine, and the Demilitarization of Ukraine, focusing on United States bioweapons facilities.
On March 8, 2022, Russian forces announced they had discovered the Ukraine bioweapons labs in Kiev, and are prepared to share the evidence with the world.
https://t.me/MFARussia/11948Only hours later, Victoria Nuland spoke in Senate Committee about the bioweapons labs, she admitted the labs exists and work on weaponized biological matter. Just one thing, she did not admit she had anything to do with it, and instead, projected that Russia was blaming the USA for a false flag they are about to stage.
Victoria Nuland is an evil woman. Joe Biden has nominated Victoria Nuland for the third highest position at the State Department, Under Secretary for Political Affairs.er for Assistant Under Sectretary of State for Political Affairs shows just how evil he is.
Nuland worked at NATO while setting up the labs in Ukraine, she worked to set up the Kolomoisky Blackberry backchannels that are vital for Deep State operations, and she was directly responsible for installing the puppet regime in Ukraine during the Soros backed Orange revolution in 2014. This bitch knows.
https://www.laprogressive.com/victoria-nuland-is-dangerous/Nuland worked with Obama since 2005 on bio-weaponizing Ukraine, which were coming online in 2010.
https://web.archive.org/web/20110522081423/http://www.bioprepwatch.com/news/213421-biolab-opens-in-ukraineA young Senator Obama in 2005, shaking hands with the president of Ukraine, as Senator Lugar and the DTRA agree for US dollars to protect pathogens that could be used for biological weapons in Ukraine.
https://twitter.com/HousatonicLive/status/1502470199504691202China jumped in to verify what Russia was claiming, and then announced all the labs that exist through NATO/USA globally.
https://twitter.com/MFA_China/status/1501185437901082629In fact, if you overlay where Russia has been attacking with known biological labs, you can safely make the assumption Russia is, in fact, going after these military installations.
This is not information that many believe other than Russian disinfo, but others have been studying this subject for a very long time.
On March 5, 2022, General G. D. Bakshi of India explains about Biological labs and Nuclear weapons program in Ukraine that are not a secret. He definitely speaks for a large group of military professionals around that world that have grown impatient and angry with the American's exporting so much war.
Dilyana Gaytandzhieva has done an incredible job proving the labs and experiments going on in Ukraine. She was kicked out of the European Parliament for trying to bring this issue to the attention of European's and the World.
http://dilyana.bg/the-pentagon-bio-weapons/https://dilyana.bg/documents-expose-us-biological-experiments-on-allied-soldiers-in-ukraine-and-georgia/https://twitter.com/dgaytandzhieva/status/1501957499448180745When on February 25, 2022, Russia announced they were going to go into Ukraine and seize the biological research facilities, the USA Embassy in Ukraine deleted all data associated with the labs.
https://twitter.com/dgaytandzhieva/status/1497556518278991873These fact checks did not age well.
PENTAGON FUNDED BIO-WEAPONS LABS IN THE UKRAINEKLAUS SCHWAB & HUNTER BIDEN CONNECTED TO UKRAINE BIO-LABSDeleted US Embassy DocumentsHowever, they have forgotten to delete this document from the US federal contracts registry which shows that the Pentagon is funding two new biolabs in Kiev and Odessa
https://sam.gov/opp/0bd0de5ba5f94fc29d85b37a0a4b253b/view
