Big and concerning news! The Russo-Ukrainian War is already a World War III by any other name. Will this move escalate the situation?
Saturday, September 30, 2023
House passes bill to keep government open for 45 days, headed to Senate. What a failure!!!
What a disappointment for the Founding Fathers and Mothers!
Again our elected representative lack the spine to do what is right. A government shutdown was urgently called for! A few days ago, I blogged here about it.
The situation is very dire:
- We have a senile, demented, and corrupt 46th President.
- The growth of federal government spending and debt over the past several years has been unsustainable and contributed to the ongoing price and wage inflation. It needs urgent correction!
- We have an invasion of massive illegal immigration at the southern border. Secretary Mayorkas is still not impeached!
On His 111th Birthday, Milton Friedman Would Be Happy. Really!
It totally disagree. The lazy author of this article focused exclusively on positive developments regarding improved school choice for parents. This is sort of a reductio ad absurdum of the work and activism of Milton Friedman!
Milton Friedman would surely not be happy with e.g.:
- The extreme and long lasting government lockdowns, mask mandates etc. that were imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic
- With the mania and cult of LGBTQ or DEI and so on
- The reckless and irresponsible growth of federal government spending and debt in recent years contributing to the current price and wage inflation
- The daily superstitious obsession with Global Warming hoax and Climate Change religion.
- Tendencies towards Big Government in the U.S. and Europe.
- The reintroduction of socialist central planning in Western democracies (most prominently in Germany after unification)
"I think that Milton Friedman would be happy.
I can’t know for certain, as the Nobel Prize-winning economist passed away in 2006 at the age of 94, but he spent much of his career advocating more education choice for families. ..."
English for trippers: Schism, a prism into prison
Prisons are microcosms of human life. Strange and amplified things happen in prisons. There is a schism between the life inside and outside of prison.
Female Israeli prison guards had 'intimate relations' with jailed terrorist. One guard claims she was forced by inmate
Prisons are very special places! An intense microcosm of human life. A nice Me Too event!
"Female soldiers serving in the Israel Prison Service are suspected by authorities of having had intimate relations with a prisoner, Israeli media reported on Friday. ...
One soldier was arrested and an investigation has been opened into the suspected incident. A gag order has been placed on some of the details of the case. ...
The soldier who was arrested is suspected of conducting an intimate relationship with a terrorist during her service as a warden. Additional female prison guards are suspected of conducting intimate relationships with the terrorist inmate too. ...
the attorney representing the prison guard, said that his client is a victim rather than a willing and consensual participant, and stated ...
"This is a 'relationship' that was forced upon her by threats, as the prisoner left her no choice and actually forced her to be in contact with him," he said."Tiny sea creatures reveal the ancient origins of neurons
Amazing stuff!
"A study in the journal Cell sheds new light on the evolution of neurons, focusing on the placozoans, a millimeter-sized marine animal. Researchers ... find evidence that specialized secretory cells found in these unique and ancient creatures may have given rise to neurons in more complex animals. ...
These animals, thought to have first appeared on Earth around 800 million years ago, are one of the five main lineages of animals alongside Ctenophora (comb jellies), Porifera (sponges), Cnidaria (corals, sea anemones and jellyfish) and Bilateria (all other animals).
The sea creatures coordinate their behavior thanks to peptidergic cells, special types of cells that release small peptides which can direct the animal's movement or feeding. ..."
From the highlights and abstract:
"Highlights
• Comparative single-cell genomics reveals cell type diversity in the phylum Placozoa
• Fourteen placozoan peptidergic cell types expressing neuronal genes
• Post-translationally modified neuropeptides define elaborate cell signaling network
• Peptidergic progenitors with neurogenesis-like differentiation from epithelial cells
Summary
The assembly of the neuronal and other major cell type programs occurred early in animal evolution. We can reconstruct this process by studying non-bilaterians like placozoans. These small disc-shaped animals not only have nine morphologically described cell types and no neurons but also show coordinated behaviors triggered by peptide-secreting cells. We investigated possible neuronal affinities of these peptidergic cells using phylogenetics, chromatin profiling, and comparative single-cell genomics in four placozoans. We found conserved cell type expression programs across placozoans, including populations of transdifferentiating and cycling cells, suggestive of active cell type homeostasis. We also uncovered fourteen peptidergic cell types expressing neuronal-associated components like the pre-synaptic scaffold that derive from progenitor cells with neurogenesis signatures. In contrast, earlier-branching animals like sponges and ctenophores lacked this conserved expression. Our findings indicate that key neuronal developmental and effector gene modules evolved before the advent of cnidarian/bilaterian neurons in the context of paracrine cell signaling."
Tiny sea creatures reveal the ancient origins of neurons (primary news source) A study in the journal Cell sheds new light on the evolution of neurons, focusing on the placozoans, a millimetre-sized marine animal. Researchers ... find evidence that specialised secretory cells found in these unique and ancient creatures may have given rise to neurons in more complex animals.
Graphical abstract:
Do women and men compete equally on a level playing field? An empirical investigation into the 2021 Olympic shooting competitions
This does not apply to sports like swimming or field & track or boxing and others!
Sure women could also very well compete with men playing e.g. chess or video games.
From the abstract:
"Due to physical differences between the genders, it is hard to study whether women also vary from men in their competitive drive in sports. The Olympic committee instituted major rule changes in the sport of shooting in the Tokyo Olympic Games (2021), leveling the playing field. We explored performance in a myriad of competitions including newly established mixed-gender doubles events in this unique sport of very limited physical input. Men performed better than women in events which required “dynamic” qualities (following moving targets) but when the competitions were held most constant (rifle shooting with stationary targets indoors) and regardless of distance or posture, women performed equally to men exhibiting seemingly similar competitive drive. The last finding should propel the Olympic committee to fully integrate rifle events. In the broader sense, we find that when the playing field is even, the genders, at least among highly trained selective competitors compete equally."
Fleeting form of nitrogen stretches nuclear theory to its limits
Amazing stuff!
"Just how long does a cluster of protons and neutrons have to stick together to count as an atomic nucleus? That’s the question raised by the observation of nitrogen-9, a fleeting nucleus that possesses seven protons and two neutrons, a ratio so lopsided that it fates the tiny knot of matter to fall apart almost instantly, in less than one-billionth of a nanosecond. Yet it still counts as a nucleus, physicists say, and explaining its existence and properties should help expand the horizons of nuclear theory and may even have deeper implications for quantum mechanics, the theory that governs the atomic world. ...
Such nuclei are pushing the boundaries of theory, he says. “This is totally new physics that needs to be addressed.” ...
No single theory can predict the existence, structure, and behavior of all atomic nuclei. In fact, nuclei are so complex that only the lightest ones can be described by models that take as their building blocks individual protons and neutrons and how they interact through the strong nuclear force. Even then, these models run into problems when describing light nuclei in which the protons dramatically outnumber the neutrons, or vice versa. ...
Nitrogen-9, the first nucleus known to spit out five protons, just barely qualifies as a nucleus ..."
Such nuclei are pushing the boundaries of theory, he says. “This is totally new physics that needs to be addressed.” ...
No single theory can predict the existence, structure, and behavior of all atomic nuclei. In fact, nuclei are so complex that only the lightest ones can be described by models that take as their building blocks individual protons and neutrons and how they interact through the strong nuclear force. Even then, these models run into problems when describing light nuclei in which the protons dramatically outnumber the neutrons, or vice versa. ...
Nitrogen-9, the first nucleus known to spit out five protons, just barely qualifies as a nucleus ..."
From the abstract:
"The boundaries of the Chart of Nuclides contain exotic isotopes that possess extreme proton-to-neutron asymmetries. Here we report on strong evidence of
9N, one of the most exotic proton-rich isotopes where more than one half of its constitute nucleons are unbound. With seven protons and two neutrons, this extremely proton-rich system would represent the first-known example of a ground-state five-proton emitter. The invariant-mass spectrum of its decay products can be fit with two peaks whose energies are consistent with the theoretical predictions of an open-quantum-system approach, however we cannot rule out the possibility that only a single resonance-like peak is present in the spectrum."
Strong evidence for 9 N and the limits of existence of atomic nuclei (no public access and/or not published yet)
Desalination system could produce freshwater that is cheaper than tap water
Good news! Desalination is salvation! It does not have to be solar powered as in this case.
"Engineers at MIT and in China are aiming to turn seawater into drinking water with a completely passive device that is inspired by the ocean, and powered by the sun. ...
The configuration of the device allows water to circulate in swirling eddies, in a manner similar to the much larger “thermohaline” circulation of the ocean. This circulation, combined with the sun’s heat, drives water to evaporate, leaving salt behind. The resulting water vapor can then be condensed and collected as pure, drinkable water. In the meantime, the leftover salt continues to circulate through and out of the device, rather than accumulating and clogging the system. ...
The researchers estimate that if the system is scaled up to the size of a small suitcase, it could produce about 4 to 6 liters of drinking water per hour and last several years before requiring replacement parts. At this scale and performance, the system could produce drinking water at a rate and price that is cheaper than tap water. ..."
From the highlights and abstract:
"Highlights
• Thermohaline convection is initiated in confined-saline-layer evaporation
• Record-high efficiencies are achieved in the salinity range of 0–20 wt %
• 180-h continuous distillation of 20 wt % concentrated seawater is realized
Summary
Recent advances in multistage solar distillation are promising for the sustainable supply of freshwater. However, significant performance degradation due to salt accumulation has posed a challenge for both long-term reliability of solar desalination and efficient treatment of hypersaline discharge. Here, inspired by a natural phenomenon, thermohaline convection, we demonstrate a solar-powered multistage membrane distillation with extreme salt-resisting performance. Using a confined saline layer as an evaporator, we initiate strong thermohaline convection to mitigate salt accumulation and enhance heat transfer. With a ten-stage device, we achieve record-high solar-to-water efficiencies of 322%–121% in the salinity range of 0–20 wt % under one-sun illumination. More importantly, we demonstrate an extreme resistance to salt accumulation with 180-h continuous desalination of 20 wt % concentrated seawater. With high freshwater production and extreme salt endurance, our device significantly reduces the water production cost, paving a pathway toward the practical adoption of passive solar desalination for sustainable water economy."
Extreme salt-resisting multistage solar distillation with thermohaline convection (no public access)
Graphical abstract:
Suspected Brazilian murderer arrested on Martha's Vineyard
Open borders for everyone!
"A Brazilian suspected of murder in his home country was arrested by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operatives in Martha’s Vineyard.
Members of ICE Boston’s Enforcement and Removal Operations arrested Hiago Ornela-Da Silva, 31, of Brazil, Thursday in Edgartown. ...
Ornela-Da Silva has been wanted since February of last year as a homicide suspect out of a criminal court in Barra de Sao Francisco, in the southeastern Brazilian state of Espirito Santo, according to ICE information. ..."
"Weibchen sind genauso sexuell interessiert, aggressiv und dominant wie Männchen sagt Zoologin Lucy Cooke
Daran habe ich wenig Zweifel!
Männer passt auf im Kampf der Geschlechter! 😊 Gleichberechtigung und Frauenquoten sind nur der Anfang.
Elon Musk Visits southern Border at Eagle Pass, Texas. Musk for President 2024
At least it is difficult to bribe a billionaire unlike that phony man from Scranton, PA.
The chief business of the American people is business. High time to let non lifetime career politicians take over.
Trump is too old for a second term! He would be about 82 when he leaves office.
Friday, September 29, 2023
NearLink launches, 6X faster than Bluetooth, with 1/30th the latency
Good news!
"Huawei has launched a breakthrough short-range wireless connection tech, aiming to combine the advantages of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Faster, more efficient and with a vastly reduced delay, it's also got more than 300 companies and institutions on board. ..."
Critical immune cells replaced by suboptimal versions in older adulthood
Good news! Towards a fountain of youth! Are older adults becoming like newborns again in some respects of their immune system?
"... Now, in a study ... researchers have examined the difference in killer T cells in newborns, school-aged children, adults, and adults 60 years and over, to understand how age affects our immunity to influenza viruses. ...
The researchers found that the number of total killer T cells was lowest in newborns, increased in children, and peaked in adulthood. Whereas influenza-virus-specific killer T cells were lowest in newborns and children, peaked in adults and decreased in older adults. ...
They performed gene expression analysis on cells categorized by age and found that influenza-specific killer T cells in newborns and children were genetically similar to those seen in older adults. But markers associated with maintaining immune control, anti-inflammatory cytokines and controlling T cell differentiation were highly expressed in adult influenza-specific T cells, less pronounced in children and older adults, and absent in newborns. ..."
From the abstract:
"CD8+ T cells provide robust antiviral immunity, but how epitope-specific T cells evolve across the human lifespan is unclear. Here we defined CD8+ T cell immunity directed at the prominent influenza epitope HLA-A*02:01-M158–66 (A2/M158) across four age groups at phenotypic, transcriptomic, clonal and functional levels. We identify a linear differentiation trajectory from newborns to children then adults, followed by divergence and a clonal reset in older adults. Gene profiles in older adults closely resemble those of newborns and children, despite being clonally distinct. Only child-derived and adult-derived A2/M158+CD8+ T cells had the potential to differentiate into highly cytotoxic epitope-specific CD8+ T cells, which was linked to highly functional public T cell receptor (TCR)αβ signatures. Suboptimal TCRαβ signatures in older adults led to less proliferation, polyfunctionality, avidity and recognition of peptide mutants, although displayed no signs of exhaustion. These data suggest that priming T cells at different stages of life might greatly affect CD8+ T cell responses toward viral infections."
Newborn and child-like molecular signatures in older adults stem from TCR shifts across human lifespan (open access)
Fig. 1: Age-related changes in A2/M158+CD8+ T cell frequencies and phenotypes.
Mobile transposons pathway and epigentic changes in roundworms provides a potential way to slow aging
Good news! Towards the fountain of youth! Potentially, a breakthrough found in the famous C. elegans nematode!
"... Their research showed that controlling the activity of TEs can indeed extend lifespan, indicating these mobile DNA elements play a crucial role in the aging process. ..."
"Researchers from Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Hungary, had, in 2015 and 2017, published studies theorizing about how a specific process, called the Piwi-piRNA pathway, contributed to aging by helping to control TEs [transposable elements]. Now, in their latest study, they provide experimental proof of how the pathway works. ...
The Piwi-piRNA pathway – whose full name is P element-induced wimpy testis in Drosophila-Piwi-interacting RNA pathway – is a specific RNA silencing mechanism that protects genomes from the adverse mutagenic activity of TEs. While the pathway acts in non-aging cells, it doesn’t act in aging somatic cells, which, due to their accumulating cellular damage, undergo a functional decline called senescence and eventually die. ...
The Piwi-piRNA pathway – whose full name is P element-induced wimpy testis in Drosophila-Piwi-interacting RNA pathway – is a specific RNA silencing mechanism that protects genomes from the adverse mutagenic activity of TEs. While the pathway acts in non-aging cells, it doesn’t act in aging somatic cells, which, due to their accumulating cellular damage, undergo a functional decline called senescence and eventually die. ...
They downregulated active TE families and found that the downregulation of two specific families, Tc1 and Tc3, the most mobile TEs in the roundworm, slowed the aging process at different temperatures. At 68 °F (20 °C), lifespan was extended by around 10%. Simultaneously downregulating both caused the life-extending effects to add up to nearly the sum of lifespan expansion observed in the single treatments. Downregulation of other TE families – Tc2, Tc4, and Tc5 – produced no detectable impact on lifespan. ...
Additionally, the researchers found epigenetic changes in the DNA of these worms as they aged, specifically in the TEs. Epigenetic changes, unlike genetic changes, are reversible and don’t change the DNA sequence but can change how the body reads that sequence. DNA methylation is one of the most important epigenetic modifications and plays a key role in a number of genetic processes. Here, the researchers observed that DNA N6-adenine methylation progressively increased TE jumping as the worm aged. They determined that it may be possible to use this epigenetic modification as an accurate determinant of biological age. ..."
From the abstract:
"Mobility of transposable elements (TEs) frequently leads to insertional mutations in functional DNA regions. In the potentially immortal germline, TEs are effectively suppressed by the Piwi-piRNA pathway. However, in the genomes of ageing somatic cells lacking the effects of the pathway, TEs become increasingly mobile during the adult lifespan, and their activity is associated with genomic instability. Whether the progressively increasing mobilization of TEs is a cause or a consequence of ageing remains a fundamental problem in biology. Here we show that in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the downregulation of active TE families extends lifespan. Ectopic activation of Piwi proteins in the soma also promotes longevity. Furthermore, DNA N6-adenine methylation at TE stretches gradually rises with age, and this epigenetic modification elevates their transcription as the animal ages. These results indicate that TEs represent a novel genetic determinant of ageing, and that N6-adenine methylation plays a pivotal role in ageing control."
Groundbreaking Research Reveals Potential Methods To Stop Aging (primary news source) Researchers ... have made an exciting breakthrough in understanding how we age. They focused on "transposable elements" (TEs), which are parts of DNA that can move around in our genetic code. When these TEs move too much, they destabilize the genetic code and that can be the reason of aging.
Inside the worms, the reinforced piwi-piRNA pathway lights up green, which enabled them to live longer by 30%.
Growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Country: 2022 Figures
Mormons in the Pacific Ocean!
"... Tonga is home to the highest percentage of Latter-day Saints, with 64% of the South Pacific nation belonging to the church. Samoa ranks second ..."
Percent Latter-day Saint by Country: 2022 Figures
See below for a list of countries/territories ranked by the percentage of Church-reported membership in the general population.
The New Jews of Show Low, Arizona: How a pastor parted with Jesus and led his congregation to Judaism
Recommendable! Conversions of faith! Religion is inscrutable.
"... About 225,00 American adults identify as Messianic Jews
And about 840,000 U.S. adults identify as Jewish but have no Jewish parents or upbringing and practice Christianity. ..."
Arizona husband suspects wife of poisoning him; so he sets up hidden cameras and is shocked by what he sees
Another Me Too event! Female on male domestic violence.
The darker side of gender equality! Historically, men are brutal, women use stealth!
"An Arizona man was shocked to find out that his wife was allegedly putting bleach into his daily coffee after he set up secret cameras to observe her behavior. ...
The two were going through a divorce but were still living together with their child, according to court documents. ...
The husband told police that he suspected she was trying to kill him in order to collect his death benefits. ..."
Saudis will reach a peace deal with Israel, even without Palestine
Good news! Blessed are the peacemakers! For decades, the terrorist PLO was a disaster for the Arabs!
"Saudi Arabia will not hold up a peace deal even if Israel does not offer major concessions to Palestinians in their bid for statehood, three regional sources familiar with the talks said. ..."
Nordrhein-Westfalen - Grüner Justizminister entmachtet Cum-Ex-Staatsanwältin
Neue Schlagzeilen aus der Bananenrepublik D.! Und die CDU von NRW schaut zu.
"... Denn die Kölner Staatsanwältin ermittelt erfolgreich und hartnäckig im Cum-Ex-Skandal um Steuerbetrug in Milliardenhöhe, in den der Bundeskanzler während seiner Zeit als Erster Bürgermeister von Hamburg womöglich verwickelt war. ..."
Kölner Oberstaatsanwältin Anne Brorhilker
Are There Ukrainian Nazi War Criminals in Canada? Unlikely!
Very recommendable! I watched only about the first 10 minutes. I was quite right in my recent post in which I speculated that the scandal of a Nazi invited to the Canadian parliament was largely hot air. What a fabricated scandal!
Brazilian wandering spider venom aids erectile dysfunction treatment
Some men would try anything! 😊 You have to thank a lot of female researchers for this new treatment according to this video.
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Lucid Group opens Saudi Arabia's first-ever auto production plant
So the Saudis can sell more oil to the rest of the world! Very clever! Tip of my hat!
An overview of the newly opened Lucid Group electric vehicle production facility in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia.
Artificial blue light from smartphones, tablets linked to early puberty (in 18 male Sprague Dawley rats)
It is not linked to LGBTQ and gender dysphoria? Incredible! (Caution: Satire)
Were not previously e.g. all kinds of substances contained in and consumed with daily processed food implicated in the onset of early puberty? This subject has been around for decades.
Sometimes journalists get carried away interpreting or presenting scientific research. A case of junk journalism.
From the abstract:
"Purpose: Our study aimed to examine the effects of blue light exposure on prepubertal male rats’ puberty and testis tissue.
Methods: Eighteen 21-day-old male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups consisting of six rats in each group: Control Group (CG), Blue Light-6 hours (BL-6), and Blue Light-12 hours (BL-12). CG rats were maintained with 12/12-hour light-dark cycles. The rats of BL-6 and BL-12 were exposed to blue light (450-470nm/irradiance level 0.03uW/cm2) for 6 hours and 12 hours, respectively. Rats were exposed to blue light until the first signs of puberty. The ELISA method was used to analyze the serum levels of FSH, LH, testosterone, DHEA-S, leptin, ghrelin, melatonin, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde. Testes were dissected for histomorphological examination.
Results: The medians of the pubertal entry days of the CG, BL-6, and BL-12 were 38th, 30th, and 28th days, respectively. (p:0.001) The FSH, LH, and testosterone concentrations of all groups were similar. The FSH concentration increased as the LH concentration increased (r: 0.82 p: 0.001). The serum LH concentration increased as serum testosterone, and DHEAS decreased, respectively (r: -0.561, p: 0.01) (r:-0.55 p:0.01). Testicular lengths and weights of the BL groups were smaller compared to CG (p: 0.03),(p: 0.04). GPx was higher for BL-6 and BL-12 than the CG (p:0.021, p:0.024). Testis tissue was compatible with the pubertal period in all groups. As the blue light exposure time increased, spermatogenesis was suppressed, and capillary dilatation and edema in the testis tissue increased.
Conclusion: Our study is the first to show the effects of blue light exposure on male rats’ puberty process. And we showed that exposure to blue light and the duration of exposure lead to precocious puberty in male rats. The blue light exposure suppressed spermatogenesis, marked vasodilatation in the interstitial area of the testis, and disrupted the integrity of the basement membrane. These findings intensified with increasing exposure time."
Figure 1 Experimental setup of room.
Rhodium: A metal 10 times more valuable than gold you might already own
Are you hedging in times of price and wage inflation! How much is in your portfolio? Have you even heard of this metal before?
Is someone cornering the market or speculating? Another Soros? 😊
Too bad U.S. Senator Menendez and his dominant wife had only gold bars stashed at their home! 😊 Rhodium would have been much less conspicuous to law enforcement.
The FTC Attacks Amazon
Recommendable! I just blogged here about this subject.
What do President Franklin Roosevelt and the 46th President have in common?
Both have been members of the Dimocratic Party.
Both and their wives failed to acknowledge and take responsibility for their failing health when it was time!
Welcome to gerontocracy!
Vector Institute partners with World Economic Forum on
Bad news! Jeff Clune is a well respected ML & AI researcher! The WEF is very controversial!
"... Today [9/24/2023], the Vector Institute announced a new partnership with the World Economic Forum. Through the collaboration, Vector's President and CEO Tony Gaffney will join the World Economic Forum's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Alliance while Vector Faculty Member; Canada CIFAR AI Chair; Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia; and DeepMind Senior Research Advisor Jeff Clune joins the World Economic Forum's Safe Systems and Technologies counsel. The World Economic Forum will also gain access to Vector Institute research insights and thought leadership through a content partnership which will amplify Canada’s world-leading AI research across the globe. ..."
These 5 asteroids pose the greatest risk to Earth
If a larger asteroid hits earth that would be a real climate crisis as opposed to the Global Warming hoax and Climate Change religion!
Just a quick reminder: Tunguska event of 1908 in Siberia. Just imagine this had happened in a large, densely populated urban areas.
CDU Merz über (abglehnte) Asylbewerber in Deutschland: "Die lassen sich die Zähne machen"
Was ist dran an der Behauptung von Merz? Wieviele sind es wirklich? Wer bezahlt für die Behandlung?
Die Berichterstattung darüber scheint auch willfährig und fälschlicher Weise Asyl und Migration zu vermischen.
Ich halte gewöhnlich nicht viel von diesem Überbleibsel der SED Kanzlerin Merkel und praktisch lebenslangen Berufspolitiker. Hier hat er aber möglicherweise und berechtigterweise einen wunden Punkt angesprochen.
"... Dann sagte der CDU-Chef Sätze, deretwegen er nun heftig kritisiert wird: "Die werden doch wahnsinnig, die Leute, wenn die sehen, dass 300 000 Asylbewerber abgelehnt sind, nicht ausreisen, die vollen Leistungen bekommen, die volle Heilfürsorge bekommen. Die sitzen beim Arzt und lassen sich die Zähne neu machen, und die deutschen Bürger nebendran kriegen keine Termine." ..."
15 largest industrial robotics markets in 2022
The invasion of the robots into our (work) lives!
Since we need more nurses for our aging populations this makes sense! 😊 (Caution: Satire)
Look at China, the leader with 290,000 installations of industrial robots last year. Japan at second place, only 50,000. If you can trust communist statistics.
Arizona State University President Michael Crow Calls For Globalist Revolution Over Climate Change In New Book
Don't let a fabricated crisis go to waste! Hysteria and alarmism drive human fears and this university president! A call for Big Government!
Nature & the environment has become the ersatz god for some in our society!
Novus ordo seclorum for the Stone Ages: Do humans have to submit to or become subservient to nature (a.k.a. e.g. ecosystem, environment)? Who gets to define what nature is? A modern form of slavery? This struggle has been going on for decades! Or some of the elites versus plebeians, a familiar story since at least the Romans.
Clarification: This book published by MIT Press is a collection of essays and Professor Crow wrote only one of them. Strange enough you don't even get to see the table of content.
Exploiting the Global Warming hoax and Climate Change religion for drastic and dangerous reforms of democracy!
"... In the book published last week, “Democracy in a Hotter Time: Climate Change and Democratic Transformation,” Crow declared that the principles of the Founding are no longer sufficient. ...
Although the philosophical underpinnings of our democratic experiment were pragmatically balanced by the founders, the pivotal formulations of the U.S. Constitution failed to protect nature,” ...
a new form of governance must serve the environment alongside mankind. ...
The ASU president also lamented that the current system of representative democracy has allowed for “scientific[ally] or technological[ly] illitera[te]” elected officials who oppose progressive climate initiatives. ...
Although the philosophical underpinnings of our democratic experiment were pragmatically balanced by the founders, the pivotal formulations of the U.S. Constitution failed to protect nature,” ...
a new form of governance must serve the environment alongside mankind. ...
The ASU president also lamented that the current system of representative democracy has allowed for “scientific[ally] or technological[ly] illitera[te]” elected officials who oppose progressive climate initiatives. ...
“It is, after all, the deficiencies of the democratic process that have allowed the election of unscrupulous politicians who deny climate change or obstruct efforts to combat environmental degradation,” stated Crow. “Scientific or technological illiteracy among policy-makers and elected officials is matched by a growing affluent class that valorizes individualism over civic engagement and is insulated from complex sociotechnical issues.”
Crow also criticized individualism and Enlightenment philosophies as a threat to natural resources, indicating the need for limitations on personal freedoms in a climate change revolution. ..."
From the publisher's book description:
"The first major book to deal with the dual crises of democracy and climate change as one interrelated threat to the human future and to identify a path forward.
Democracy in a Hotter Time calls for reforming democratic institutions as a prerequisite for avoiding climate chaos and adapting governance to how Earth works as a physical system. To survive in the “long emergency” ahead, we must reform and strengthen democratic institutions, making them assets rather than liabilities. Edited by David W. Orr, this vital collection of essays proposes a new political order that will not only help humanity survive but also enable us to thrive in the transition to a post–fossil fuel world. ...
the human future in practical ways that will improve the effectiveness of democratic institutions and lay the foundation for a more durable and just democracy."
the human future in practical ways that will improve the effectiveness of democratic institutions and lay the foundation for a more durable and just democracy."
A better book title would be Democracy In A Timer Of More Hot Air!
The face of an elitist, arrogant authoritarian! Professor Michael Crow
Arizona has 6 of the 50 best cities for golfers in the U.S. Really!
What is wrong with this headline? So every state can have at least one city! What genius came up with this marketing strategy?
This summer was very hot: From July to September the high temperatures were above 40C every day.
Ab Oktober kontrolliert Microsoft automatisiert alles, was Sie mit ihrem Windows-Computer anstellen
Das klingt nicht gut! Kenne die Details nicht. Wird der Staat zum Denunziant (neudeutsch Hinweisgeber)?
"... Microsoft verspricht, nur verhältnismäßige Strafen bei schweren und wiederholten Verstößen zu verhängen. Aber in dem Regelwerk steht nichts, was eine halbwegs glaubwürdige Garantie bieten würde, dass nicht genau dasselbe passiert, wie bei den sozialen Medienplattformen Facebook, Instagram, Twitter und Co. Dass diese nämlich unter dem Druck der Regierungen viel zu viel zensieren, blocken und regelmäßig über ihre diesbezüglichen Bemühungen berichten. Oft wird wegen kleinster oder nicht nachvollziehbarer Vergehen auf völlig intransparente Weise zensiert, blockiert und gekündigt, bevorzugt gegen Kritiker der Regierung und internationaler Organisationen wie der WHO und Abweichler von deren Narrativ. ...
Die Plattformen haben sogar spezielle Seiten für die Regierungen eingerichtet, über die diese ihre Zensurbegehren privilegiert übermitteln könnten. Offenkundig wurde und wird dem oft nachgekommen. Das ist auch bei Microsoft unter diesem Service-Vertrag ohne weiteres möglich und vielleicht sogar zu erwarten. ...
Es reicht, Microsoft darauf hinzuweisen, dass einer der Gummiparagraphen des „Servicevertrags“ angeblich verletzt worden sei. Diese Möglichkeit ist auf der Netzseite zur Durchsetzung der Regeln sogar ausdrücklich angesprochen (übersetzt):
„Wir nutzen Berichte von Nutzern, Behörden und vertrauenswürdigen Hinweisgebern, die uns auf mögliche Richtlinienverstöße aufmerksam machen.“ ..."World’s first ice cream made from plastic created by a designer and artist
London-based designer and artist, Eleonora Ortolani, has created what she says is the world’s first ice cream made from plastic.
Are you ready to try? Dare you?
Three states near deal on Colorado River water after decades of drought and overuse
Would not desalination be a solution? Oh, yes! The dependency on this one river is ridiculous!
Olivia Newton-John - Physical (Official Music Video)
Enjoy! Unusual and funny! What a politically incorrect video. Not sure you could make such a video anymore.
A Relationship Born of a Revolution: Napoleon and Josephine
Recommendable! Short and sweet! Quite a lady! When men fall in love with older women ... Savoir vivre!
Best Singapore eats: Lontong at this hidden gem of a hawker stall in Stirling Road
Looks delicious! Could be my kind of food place!
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Kenya Wants to Take on Haiti's Gangs with US Help with Palki Sharma
Recommendable! Quite unusual. Among other things, Kenyan forces are learning French now.
Major breakthrough: Behtel and Westinghouse selected to design Poland's first nuclear power plant
Good news! Hopefully, this nuclear power plant will be built right on the German-Polish border! 😊
Most Corrupt: President Barrack Obama
Very recommendable! Yes, Obama was a terrible president! I blogged here about his tainted legacy. Recently, his personal chef drowned in the waters by Martha's Vineyard. Many of his dubious members of his administration are now part of the administration of the senile, demented and corrupt 46th President.
Pair Programming with a Large Language Model
This could be an interesting course offered by Andrew Ng and Google!
I usually don't advertise any products or services on my blog, but this combination seems to make a lot of sense to me as a software developer myself. I am tempted to sign up.
Caveat emptor: I have never taken this course nor do I know any details about it.
Image of the day
As Jimmy Lai continues to fight for freedom from behind bars, now passing 1000 days in prison, please join us in keeping him in your prayers, as well as the millions of Hong Kongers who suffer under the CCP's brutal crackdown. Learn more at freejimmylai.com.
Pompeo: Two-state solution blocks Saudi-Israel peace deal
Recommendable!
Flowers Are Spreading in Antarctica each Summer from 2009-18
Good news! Do these plants reduce CO2 in the atmosphere? A nice example of junk journalism!
"On land, scientists have found flowering plants, moss, and algae spreading like never before [??? Utter nonsense!] ...
Moments like these make it clearer than ever that Antarctica is not immune [???] to the climate crisis, as some scientists once thought. ...
At the moment, Antarctica and its associated islands are covered by permanent snow and ice, with only a percent or so of suitable land for flowering plants like the Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica) and the Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis). ...
In the past few decades, however, warmer springs and summers have seen such plants take off, with growth rates increasing by 20 percent or more from 2009 to 2018. ...
If vegetation continues to spread into these zones, researchers worry it will lead to "irreversible biodiversity loss" in Antarctica. [??? What!] ...
"Unfortunately, the milder climates will also lower the barrier of invasion for foreign plant and animal species." [what bizarre remarks from a scientist] ..."
"The majority of the Antarctic continent is covered by permanent ice and snow leaving less than 1% available for colonisation by plants. Most of this ice and snow-free land is found along the Antarctic Peninsula, its associated islands and in coastal regions around the edge of the rest of the Antarctic continent. Even in the most inhospitable ice-free habitats, such as inland mountains and nunataks, life can still be found.
There are no trees or shrubs, and only two species of flowering plants are found: Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica) and Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis). These occur on the South Orkney Islands, the South Shetland Islands and along the western Antarctic Peninsula. ..."
British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
Tussock grass ( Parodiochloa flabellata , dark green) and Antarctic hair grass ( Deschampsia antarctica , light green) lawn
Greater burnet ( Acaena magellanica) flowers
The Largest Ever Recorded Heatwave (since 1996) - Characteristics and Attribution of the Antarctic Heatwave of March 2022. Really!
Nice example of junk science! This is not based on hard data, but on junk computer model forecasting! This about East Antarctica only, not Antarctica!
How much actual historical temperature data is there available for the Antarctica (from ice cores?)? The temperature data in this study start at 1996. What a joke!!!
That any respectable journal would publish such junk is incredible!
From the abstract:
"An unprecedented heatwave [???] impacted East Antarctica in March 2022, peaking at 39°C above climatology, the largest temperature anomaly ever recorded globally. We investigate the causes of the heatwave, the impact of climate change, and a climate model's ability in simulating such an event. The heatwave, which was skillfully forecast, resulted from a highly anomalous large-scale circulation pattern that advected an Australian airmass to East Antarctica in 4 days and produced record atmospheric heat fluxes. Southern Ocean sea surface temperatures anomalies had a minimal impact on the heatwave's amplitude. Simulations from a climate model fail to simulate such a large temperature anomaly mostly due to biases in its large-scale circulation variability, showcasing a pathway for future model improvement in simulating extreme heatwaves. The heatwave was made 2°C warmer by climate change, and end of 21st century heatwaves may be an additional 5–6°C warmer, raising the prospect of near-melting temperatures over the interior of East Antarctica."
Figure 1 (a) Dome C daily temperatures over 1996–2021 (gray), 2022 (blue), and the climatology (black), (b) as in (a), but hourly temperature for mid-March (the x
Japan's Mitsubishi Motors to end production in China
More bad news for China!
Meat taxes and other livestock emissions regulations could be feasible, acceptable and effective, argue climate researchers
The climate change fanatics coming after your pets and your meat eating!
High ‘steaks’: Building support for reducing agricultural emissions (embargoed until 10/2/2023)
Survey: 18 million Americans say they have long COVID. Really!
A very dubious survey by the CDC! Looks like a case of hysteria! Caveat: I did not have time to really dig into this subject.
Who helps to disseminates such dubious news: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Global Health NOW
It is not quite clear when the survey was actually conducted. The survey results are presented at percentages not as total numbers. Thus, the 18 million is dubious too (e.g. the hyperlink to the data source in the article below is broken). So somebody extrapolated sample percentages into absolute population numbers.
On a daily basis, we have been inundated for a long time with a barrage of news of long Covid-19 effects etc. How much is real and truly related to Covid-19? So how much are respondents influenced by that?
"Today [9/26/2023], the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics released the 2022 National Health Interview Survey results, which show that roughly 18 million Americans said they have ever had long COVID, and 8.8 million said they currently have the condition. ...
In the current survey, 27,651 respondents were asked, "Did you have any symptoms lasting 3 months or longer that you did not have prior to having COVID-19?" [a very dubious and suggestive question] The current long-COVID definition was based on the presence of symptoms at the time of interview. ..."
"Key findings
Data from the National Health Interview Survey
- In 2022, 6.9% of adults ever had Long COVID and 3.4% had Long COVID at the time of interview (currently have Long COVID); women were more likely than men to ever have or currently have Long COVID.
- Adults ages 35–49 were the age group most likely to ever have (8.9%) or currently have (4.7%) Long COVID.
- The percentage of adults who ever had or currently had Long COVID varied by race and Hispanic origin.
- Adults with family incomes at 400% or more of the federal poverty level were less likely than those with family incomes at 200%–399% to ever have or currently have Long COVID.
- The percentage of adults who ever had Long COVID was lower in large central metropolitan areas compared with medium and small metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Current Long COVID was lowest in large central metropolitan areas."
Alcohol Taxes Are a Public Health Win-Win. Really!
Stupidity and obsession of do gooders leads often to junk journalism!
What about the lessons from the Prohibition era from 1920-33 even enshrined in the U.S. Constitution as an amendment?
One of the authors is a "research professor of public health" and "leading expert on taxation of unhealthy products"
Why do mostly responsible drinkers (the majority, I suppose) have to pay more? Why encourage unhealthy black market booze and self-made alcohol etc.?
"... Increasing alcohol taxes and codifying common-sense measures—like limiting marketing and the hours people can buy alcohol—can reduce heavy consumption and ease long-term health care costs associated with alcohol-related diseases. ..."
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