Non-IT News Thread
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Genetically Modified Mosquitoes To Be Released In Florida Keys
Some 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes will be released in the Florida Keys between 2021 and 2022 in an attempt to stop the spread of diseases like zika.
CNN reported that the genetically modified bugs, called OX5034, have been “altered to produce female offspring that die in the larval stage, well before hatching and growing large enough to bite and spread disease.” Since it’s the female of the species that bite, they are the ones that carry diseases. Males, the outlet reported, eat nectar. The bugs were modified by Oxitec, a U.S.-owned company based in Great Britain, and will also be released in Harris County, Texas, starting next year. As CNN reported, the Environmental Protection Agency “granted Oxitec’s request after years of investigating the impact of the genetically altered mosquito on human and environmental health.” -
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/23/tech/algorithms-bias-inequality-intl-gbr/index.html
Here's my take on it... if you are a university that uses this crap to determine who you admit, you're a crap university to start with.
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/23/tech/algorithms-bias-inequality-intl-gbr/index.html
Here's my take on it... if you are a university that uses this crap to determine who you admit, you're a crap university to start with.
Yeah that student had it right, its a political problem. I just wonder to what extent systems like that are used everywhere?
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@jmoore said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/23/tech/algorithms-bias-inequality-intl-gbr/index.html
Here's my take on it... if you are a university that uses this crap to determine who you admit, you're a crap university to start with.
Yeah that student had it right, its a political problem. I just wonder to what extent systems like that are used everywhere?
Texas certainly does, I talk about it all the time. I've even discussed that it's extreme enough that we don't feel that legally we are allowed to know if a candidate has a degree from a Texas school as the process of getting into Texas state schools is so racist that we have to discount the degree completely, on a legal basis.
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@scottalanmiller since we both live in Texas, can you help me understand your position on the racism part of admission? I honestly dont know about it. I was 50th in my class of 98, so I never bothered applying. Went the community college route. No one that i know has applied to a state university. I attended UNT but do not recall the admission requirements. If this is true I will petition my local representatives to cease and desist. Racist systems truly have to be stopped. I want to be part of the solution.
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@popester Scott may have a different opinion but from what I have seen most schools have some sort of algorithm. Professors that I know tell me it usually favors black or female. I don't know why that is though, if its true. However I will say one of my nephews from Michigan wanted to go to UT Austin and was 4th in his senior class with a 4.0 and he was denied. He did everything right and applied a year in advance. He couldn't get in so joined the marines and just got through boot camp. I'm proud of him either way. I would have liked if he was close to me at school though so I could help look out for him. oh well.
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@jmoore Devil Dogs, Semper Fi!!!
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@popester Heck yeah I'm proud of him!
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@jmoore said in Non-IT News Thread:
@popester Heck yeah I'm proud of him!
Gives world experience you will never get at a University. Priceless. I can only hope my boys choose the service. My Dad served, I was too stupid to see the value. So I am a civy. Wish I had a time machine.
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@popester said in Non-IT News Thread:
@jmoore said in Non-IT News Thread:
@popester Heck yeah I'm proud of him!
Gives world experience you will never get at a University. Priceless. I can only hope my boys choose the service. My Dad served, I was too stupid to see the value. So I am a civy. Wish I had a time machine.
I did not serve either and wish I had. I was actually planning on it in high school but when I told my mom she was very torn up about it. So i never did.
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Jacob Blake: Father says man shot in Wisconsin is 'paralysed'
The black man shot many times in the back by Wisconsin police officers is paralysed from the waist down, his father has said.
Jacob Blake, 29, was shot several times as he went to a car and opened its door in the city of Kenosha on Sunday. The shooting sparked two nights of protests in the city, with buildings and cars set alight. His father has now told a US newspaper that his son is paralysed - although doctors do not know if it is permanent. Jacob Blake Snr told the Chicago Sun Times his son had "eight holes" in his body. "What justified all those shots?" his father asked. "What justified doing that in front of my grandsons? What are we doing?" Video footage of Mr Blake's shooting, taken from across the street and shared on social media, shows the father-of-three leaning into the car and an officer grabbing his shirt, with seven shots heard. -
Jacob Blake: Two shot dead in third night of Wisconsin unrest
Two people have been killed and one injured during a third night of unrest in the US city of Kenosha, sparked by the police shooting of a black man.
Jacob Blake, 29, was shot and injured by police as he leaned into his car on Sunday, with his children screaming. Tuesday night's incident was believed to have involved protesters against Mr Blake's shooting and armed men guarding a petrol station. The protests have at times have turned violent, causing damage to property. Mr Blake is in hospital. His lawyers say it will take "a miracle" for him to walk again. In their statement, Kenosha Police said officials responded to "reports of shots being fired and multiple gunshot victims" in the city at about 23:45 on Tuesday (04:45 Wednesday GMT). "The shooting resulted in two fatalities and a third gunshot victim was transported to a hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries," the statement said. -
EU trade commissioner Phil Hogan resigns over 'Covid breach'
EU trade commissioner Phil Hogan has resigned after the Irish government accused him of breaching Covid-19 guidelines.
Mr Hogan attended a golf dinner with more than 80 people in County Galway on 19 August. He was also criticised for not complying with quarantine rules when he arrived in Ireland from Brussels. Mr Hogan said he did not break any law but he "should have been more rigorous" in adherence to the Covid guidelines. In a resignation statement, the outgoing commissioner said he regretted his trip to Ireland had "caused such concern, unease and upset". "I reiterate my heartfelt apology to the Irish people for the mistakes I made during my visit," he added. -
Hurricane Laura causes severe damage and floods as it batters Louisiana
Hurricane Laura has struck the US state of Louisiana, causing flash floods, severe damage to buildings and power cuts to more than half a million homes.
It is one of the strongest to ever hit the US Gulf Coast, striking at category four with winds up to 150mph (240km/h). Laura's storm surge has not reached the levels feared but is still considered life-threatening, and could spread 40 miles (65km) inland. Half a million residents had been told to leave parts of Texas and Louisiana. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said early on Thursday: "We've had daylight now for a couple of hours. It appears there is more structural damage from the wind and a little less flood damage than we anticipated." -
France Covid-19: Paris compulsory face-mask rule comes into force
Wearing a face mask in public has become mandatory across Paris and several surrounding areas, amid a surge in Covid-19 cases in France.
The move came after the country recorded 6,111 new infections - its highest number since early May. The number of "red zones" where the virus is in active circulation has risen from two to 21. Announcing new local curbs on Thursday, PM Jean Castex said he wanted to avoid another general lockdown. He said the coronavirus was "gaining ground" across France, and that if the government did not act fast infection growth could become "exponential". Despite a sharp rise in cases in recent weeks, daily death tolls have remained low. Overall, more than 30,500 people have died and almost 300,000 have been infected in France. A number of European countries are seeing a surge in new cases, and Germany is also planning tighter rules. -
Chadwick Boseman: Black Panther star dies of cancer aged 43
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53955912 -
@black3dynamite said in Non-IT News Thread:
Chadwick Boseman: Black Panther star dies of cancer aged 43
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53955912Damn that's so young! My condolences to his family.
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
Cloudflare issue as well
https://www.cloudflarestatus.com/incidents/hptvkprkvp23 -
CenturyLink as well
