Non-IT News Thread
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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49504526
Terrible news for the UK, but awesome news for the US as the UK is now very likely on a course of being at the US' mercy on all trade discussions in the near future. I'd expect a week of terrible financial outlooks to be propped up a little by this one. The US is the only major winner in the expected EU - UK fallout.
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Amazon fires: Brazil bans land clearance blazes for 60 days
Brazil has banned setting fires to clear land for 60 days in response to a massive increase in the number of fires in the Amazon rainforest.
The decree was signed by President Jair Bolsonaro, who has faced intense criticism at home and abroad for failing to protect the rainforest. A leading Brazilian environmentalist warned on Wednesday that the "worst of the fire is yet to come". South American countries will meet next week to discuss the crisis. It remains unclear what impact the ban will have, as environmentalists say the overwhelming majority of forest clearance in the Brazilian Amazon is already illegal and enforcement is lax. The Amazon - a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming - has seen more than 80,000 fires break out so far this year - a 77% rise on the same period in 2018. Environmentalists say the increase is due in part to policies enacted by Mr Bolsonaro's administration. -
Hurricane Dorian is getting stronger and could hit the US as a Category 3
Hurricane Dorian has a lot of warm water and time ahead of it, and it's expected to use both to grow into a major cyclone with a good chance of slamming Florida's Atlantic Coast by Labor Day.
Dorian, having swept across the British and US Virgin Islands and whipped Puerto Rico with rain Wednesday, was moving northwest in the Atlantic Thursday morning with sustained winds of up to 85 mph. By Friday it should strengthen to a powerful Category 3 storm, smack the northern Bahamas on Sunday and likely crash somewhere along the Florida or Georgia coasts on Monday with sustained winds around 125 mph. Because it's four days out, the range of potential landfall spots is vast -- from the Florida Keys to southeast Georgia. "It has a lot of time in very warm water (to strengthen)," CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said. "Not much shear, not much dry air, and a lot of time to gain strength." -
Anti-groping stamp lets victims mark assailants
An anti-groping device aimed at tackling sexual harassment on public transport has been launched in Japan.
It allows victims to mark their assailants with an invisible ink stamp in the shape of a hand. People can then use the device's black light to identify those who have been marked. The firm involved says it wants to help tackle the crime. But one sex abuse charity is concerned that the tech could place an added burden on victims. Japanese firm Shachihata says it developed the stamp to help deter groping on trains in the country. The company first announced it was developing the stamp in May after a video showing a pair of Japanese schoolgirls chasing down a suspected groper on a station platform went viral. -
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Anti-groping stamp lets victims mark assailants
An anti-groping device aimed at tackling sexual harassment on public transport has been launched in Japan.
It allows victims to mark their assailants with an invisible ink stamp in the shape of a hand. People can then use the device's black light to identify those who have been marked. The firm involved says it wants to help tackle the crime. But one sex abuse charity is concerned that the tech could place an added burden on victims. Japanese firm Shachihata says it developed the stamp to help deter groping on trains in the country. The company first announced it was developing the stamp in May after a video showing a pair of Japanese schoolgirls chasing down a suspected groper on a station platform went viral.In the US, stamping someone would be assault. Just because you are assaulted, doesn't give you the right to assault them back.
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@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
In the US, stamping someone would be assault. Just because you are assaulted, doesn't give you the right to assault them back.
You are absolutely allowed to physically attack someone who is actively attacking you. In Texas or Florida, you can often use lethal force as long as the attack is currently underway if they don't back down.
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@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Anti-groping stamp lets victims mark assailants
An anti-groping device aimed at tackling sexual harassment on public transport has been launched in Japan.
It allows victims to mark their assailants with an invisible ink stamp in the shape of a hand. People can then use the device's black light to identify those who have been marked. The firm involved says it wants to help tackle the crime. But one sex abuse charity is concerned that the tech could place an added burden on victims. Japanese firm Shachihata says it developed the stamp to help deter groping on trains in the country. The company first announced it was developing the stamp in May after a video showing a pair of Japanese schoolgirls chasing down a suspected groper on a station platform went viral.In the US, stamping someone would be assault. Just because you are assaulted, doesn't give you the right to assault them back.
That's a personal decision; no law could legislate that out of existence. If I fear for my safety, all bets are off -- even if I land in the jail cell next to the person {fill in the illegal action here} me.
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
In the US, stamping someone would be assault. Just because you are assaulted, doesn't give you the right to assault them back.
You are absolutely allowed to physically attack someone who is actively attacking you. In Texas or Florida, you can often use lethal force as long as the attack is currently underway if they don't back down.
yes of course - but is someone gropes you - the chances that you are going to allow them to continue to grope them while you reach into your purse/pocket to pull out this pen to 'stab' them is exceedingly unlikely... instead, you're going to be getting them off you first.... now, if they continue to attempt to grope you - all bets are off.
I suppose when you find yourself in those situations, you could pre-arm yourself with said pen... and mark your assailant while removing their hand.
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@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
In the US, stamping someone would be assault. Just because you are assaulted, doesn't give you the right to assault them back.
You are absolutely allowed to physically attack someone who is actively attacking you. In Texas or Florida, you can often use lethal force as long as the attack is currently underway if they don't back down.
yes of course - but is someone gropes you - the chances that you are going to allow them to continue to grope them while you reach into your purse/pocket to pull out this pen to 'stab' them is exceedingly unlikely... instead, you're going to be getting them off you first.... now, if they continue to attempt to grope you - all bets are off.
I suppose when you find yourself in those situations, you could pre-arm yourself with said pen... and mark your assailant while removing their hand.
Sorry, but not how it works in Japan. The pressure to not be the nail that sticks out is huge. This type of groping has been a huge problem for years. It is only recently getting serious attention.
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Here's where Dorian is now — and where it's going next
**Dorian is currently spinning in the Atlantic Ocean with winds up to 110 mph. **
So far, the storm has swept across the British and US Virgin Islands and whipped Puerto Rico with rain. It's expected to get even stronger over the next few days — with winds reaching up to about 130 mph — though it will likely slow down before it hits. If Dorian continues on its current forecast, it will smack Grand Bahama island on Sunday before it makes landfall in Florida on Monday. Remember: We're still a few days out, so the storm could land anywhere from the Florida Keys to southeast Georgia. CNN meteorologist Judson Jones predicted on Thursday that it could be between the Space Coast and West Palm Beach. -
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Here's where Dorian is now — and where it's going next
**Dorian is currently spinning in the Atlantic Ocean with winds up to 110 mph. **
So far, the storm has swept across the British and US Virgin Islands and whipped Puerto Rico with rain. It's expected to get even stronger over the next few days — with winds reaching up to about 130 mph — though it will likely slow down before it hits. If Dorian continues on its current forecast, it will smack Grand Bahama island on Sunday before it makes landfall in Florida on Monday. Remember: We're still a few days out, so the storm could land anywhere from the Florida Keys to southeast Georgia. CNN meteorologist Judson Jones predicted on Thursday that it could be between the Space Coast and West Palm Beach.So... the default answer is still if you live on the east coast, evacuate northwest?
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@dafyre said in Non-IT News Thread:
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Here's where Dorian is now — and where it's going next
**Dorian is currently spinning in the Atlantic Ocean with winds up to 110 mph. **
So far, the storm has swept across the British and US Virgin Islands and whipped Puerto Rico with rain. It's expected to get even stronger over the next few days — with winds reaching up to about 130 mph — though it will likely slow down before it hits. If Dorian continues on its current forecast, it will smack Grand Bahama island on Sunday before it makes landfall in Florida on Monday. Remember: We're still a few days out, so the storm could land anywhere from the Florida Keys to southeast Georgia. CNN meteorologist Judson Jones predicted on Thursday that it could be between the Space Coast and West Palm Beach.So... the default answer is still if you live on the east coast, evacuate northwest?
Not a big enough storm to worry people on the east coast.
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@dafyre said in Non-IT News Thread:
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Here's where Dorian is now — and where it's going next
**Dorian is currently spinning in the Atlantic Ocean with winds up to 110 mph. **
So far, the storm has swept across the British and US Virgin Islands and whipped Puerto Rico with rain. It's expected to get even stronger over the next few days — with winds reaching up to about 130 mph — though it will likely slow down before it hits. If Dorian continues on its current forecast, it will smack Grand Bahama island on Sunday before it makes landfall in Florida on Monday. Remember: We're still a few days out, so the storm could land anywhere from the Florida Keys to southeast Georgia. CNN meteorologist Judson Jones predicted on Thursday that it could be between the Space Coast and West Palm Beach.So... the default answer is still if you live on the east coast, evacuate northwest?
Not a big enough storm to worry people on the east coast.
lol. I should have been more specific: The East coast of FLA and GA.
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Costco forced to shut first China store early due to crowds
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49492326 -
The proposal is part of a larger initiative to establish a new agency called the Health Advanced Research Projects Agency or HARPA, which would sit inside the Health and Human Services Department.
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HARPA would develop “breakthrough technologies with high specificity and sensitivity for early diagnosis of neuropsychiatric violence,” says a copy of the proposal. “A multi-modality solution, along with real-time data analytics, is needed to achieve such an accurate diagnosis.”The document goes on to list a number of widely used technologies it suggests could be employed to help collect data, including Apple Watches, Fitbits, Amazon Echo and Google Home. The document also mentions “powerful tools” collected by health-care provides like fMRIs, tractography and image analysis.
Also: https://gizmodo.com/the-plan-to-use-fitbit-data-to-stop-mass-shootings-is-o-1837710691?IR=T
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/messaging-app-telegram-moves-to-protect-identity-of-hong-kong-protesters-530431
Messaging app Telegram moves to protect identity of Hong Kong protesters
Will allow users to cloak their telephone numbers. -
@nadnerB said in Non-IT News Thread:
The proposal is part of a larger initiative to establish a new agency called the Health Advanced Research Projects Agency or HARPA, which would sit inside the Health and Human Services Department.
...
HARPA would develop “breakthrough technologies with high specificity and sensitivity for early diagnosis of neuropsychiatric violence,” says a copy of the proposal. “A multi-modality solution, along with real-time data analytics, is needed to achieve such an accurate diagnosis.”The document goes on to list a number of widely used technologies it suggests could be employed to help collect data, including Apple Watches, Fitbits, Amazon Echo and Google Home. The document also mentions “powerful tools” collected by health-care provides like fMRIs, tractography and image analysis.
Also: https://gizmodo.com/the-plan-to-use-fitbit-data-to-stop-mass-shootings-is-o-1837710691?IR=T
smart devices are modalities now?
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Cancer 'biggest middle-age killer in rich nations'
Cancer now causes more deaths among the middle-aged in higher-income countries than cardiovascular disease, a study suggests.
Globally, heart problems and stroke is the leading cause of death at this age. But the researchers say people in rich nations are 2.5 times more likely to die of cancer than cardiovascular disease in their middle years. In poorer nations, the reverse is true - with cardiovascular disease three times more likely to claim the lives. The study, published in the Lancet, is drawn from a global research programme following the lives of thousands of people from across 21 countries. People from the UK are not involved. -
Teenage boy goes blind after existing on Pringles, white bread and French fries
Eating a diet of French fries, Pringles and white bread was enough to make one teenage boy lose his sight, according to a case study published in a medical journal.
Scientists from the University of Bristol examined the case of a young patient whose extremely picky eating led to blindness, and have warned of the dangers of a poor diet. The unidentified patient told doctors he had only eaten fries from the fish and chip shop, Pringles potato chips, white bread, slices of processed ham and sausage since elementary school, and he avoided foods with certain textures. He first visited a doctor at age 14, complaining of tiredness, according to a case report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on Monday. He wasn't taking any medication, had a normal BMI and height, and showed no visible signs of malnutrition. Doctors discovered low vitamin B12 levels and anemia, treating the patient with vitamin B12 injections and offering dietary advice. One year later there were signs of hearing loss and vision symptoms, but doctors did not find the cause. -
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Cancer 'biggest middle-age killer in rich nations'
Cancer now causes more deaths among the middle-aged in higher-income countries than cardiovascular disease, a study suggests.
Globally, heart problems and stroke is the leading cause of death at this age. But the researchers say people in rich nations are 2.5 times more likely to die of cancer than cardiovascular disease in their middle years. In poorer nations, the reverse is true - with cardiovascular disease three times more likely to claim the lives. The study, published in the Lancet, is drawn from a global research programme following the lives of thousands of people from across 21 countries. People from the UK are not involved.Ya I seen that news yesterday but couldn't find any info about which kinds of cancer were most abundant in their research. Anyone see that?
