Random Political Thoughts

[rbkwp]

creep,you foolish folk vicvtorians/australia
letting it destroy your libves


10 things you need to know this morning in Australia


Inbox

10 things you need to know this morning in Australia
This is Business Insider Australia’s morning newsletter for Wednesday, August 4

The RBA has kept interest rates on hold, but looks ready to expand its stimulus effort as Sydney’s lockdown bites
The Reserve Bank is bracing to step back up to the plate as Sydney’s lockdown threatens Australia’s economic recovery.

NSW’s vaccination booking websites weren’t working as well as they could. This software engineer built a new one in 48 hours.
A software engineer from Sydney has developed a site that aggregates information from multiple NSW government websites to help people more easily book to get vaccinated.

South-west Sydney vaccination rates are the lowest in the city, new data shows, as community groups call for a rethink of COVID-19 outreach
South-west Sydney has the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates of any Sydney region and one of the lowest rates across all of metropolitan Australia, new Health Department data shows, as the city struggles with a devastating outbreak and harsh lockdown restrictions.

Afterpay’s sale to Square might be the life raft investors need as major competitors come ‘breathing down its neck’
The pressure on Afterpay and its rivals had been mounting for months as they braced for the entry of four different behemoths into the BNPL space.

Qantas will stand down 2,500 staff in response to Sydney’s extended lockdown and outbreaks in other states
Qantas has said it will stand down 2,500 workers across its mainline and Jetstar brands for two months as it grapples with Greater Sydney’s extended lockdown and outbreaks in other states.

Labor is calling on the federal government to give fully vaccinated Australians $300, in an effort to boost uptake
The federal government should hand $300 to every Australian citizen and resident who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to drive vaccine take-up, the Labor Party says.

 

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Leaked Audio Shows Pressure to Overrule Scientists in “Hair-on-Fire” Cases

MOST READ

Leaked Audio Shows Pressure to Overrule Scientists in “Hair-on-Fire” Cases
Sharon Lerner
When industry wants a chemical safety assessment done yesterday, EPA managers classify it as “hair on fire.”

READ MORE →

Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Includes $25 Billion in Potential New Subsidies for Fossil Fuels
Alleen Brown
Instead of reducing the role of fossil fuels in the economy, critics say, the bill subsidizes industry “greenwashing.”

READ MORE →



Protecting freedom of the press has never been more important. Thank you for being a member of The Intercept. Will you make an additional contribution to support our journalism?
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Top Stories

The Problem Isn’t Just Cuomo, It’s the System That Made Him
Natasha Lennard
Patriarchal violence in New York politics and beyond will not come to an end with the removal of a small number of predatory perpetrators, however powerful.

READ MORE →

Austin Police Decline to Investigate Complaints in Protest of Reform Attorneys
Akela Lacy
The cops claim their hands are tied — while pushing a ballot measure to mandate hundreds of new police jobs.

READ MORE →

Despite Promises for Global Climate Justice, Biden Falls Short in Helping Reduce Poorer Countries’ Emissions
Rachel M. Cohen
Activists were hoping that Biden would back-pay the U.S.’s outstanding climate finance commitment and make new, more ambitious pledges.

READ MORE →

Wall Street Investors Press Corporate Landlords on Eviction Plan
Lee Fang
In multiple investor calls, financial analysts have pressured corporate owners to move quickly to get tenants out of homes.

READ MORE →

 

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Mass Resignations at Scientific Journal Over Ethically Fraught China Genetics Papers
Mara Hvistendahl
“This situation is creating a shameful embarrassment that reflects poorly on all medical genetics journals and on the entire medical genetics community,” a critic of the studies wrote.

READ MORE →

Rand Paul and Libertarian PACs Align Behind Ohio’s Absent Candidate
Sara Sirota
Ron Hood may not have campaigned enough to win an 11-person primary, but an influx of spending could tip the race away from Trump favorite Mike Carey.

READ MORE →



Podcasts

Murderville: The Case for a New Trial
Murderville, GA
A long-awaited hearing reveals bombshell evidence buried in the files of Devonia Inman’s former attorney.

LISTEN →

EPA Whistleblowers Say Managers Bullied Them to Approve Dangerous Chemicals
Intercepted
Corporations are pressuring the EPA to approve dozens of chemicals despite internal warnings of their danger.

LISTEN →

 

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plyimpics end noo hooo

 

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Nancy Pelosi’s Surprise Flip on Student Debt Cancellation Came After Urging From Billionaire Power Couple

MOST READ

Nancy Pelosi’s Surprise Flip on Student Debt Cancellation Came After Urging From Billionaire Power Couple
Ken Klippenstein, Ryan Grim
The House speaker’s change of heart came after Steven and Mary Swig circulated a memo against cancellation via executive order.

READ MORE →

Secret Donors to Nonprofit Pushing Trump’s “Big Lie” Election Conspiracy Revealed
Murtaza Hussain
Tax documents reveal the would-be anonymous donors to a nonprofit linked to a major funder of efforts to nullify the 2020 election.

READ MORE →



Protecting freedom of the press has never been more important. Thank you for being a member of The Intercept. Will you make an additional contribution to support our journalism?
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Top Stories

The Murder of the U.S. Middle Class Began 40 Years Ago This Week
Jon Schwarz
Reagan’s firing of striking air traffic controllers was the first huge offensive in corporate America’s war on everyone else.

READ MORE →

 

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Major Tea Party Group Was Backed by Salsa Billionaire and Other Wealthy Donors, Hacked Documents Reveal
Micah Lee
Tea Party Patriots’ web database contained only a small fraction of the “3 million patriots” it heralds on its site.

READ MORE →

Infrastructure Bill Could Enable Government to Track Drivers’ Travel Data
Sara Sirota
The government would keep track of drivers’ travel in a test program to charge per-mile fees to raise revenue for the Highway Trust Fund.

READ MORE →

Minnesota Law Enforcement Agency Blocks Release of Public Records About Surveilling Pipeline Opponents
Will Parrish
The state’s fusion center, which coordinates police intelligence-sharing, enacted the policy after critical stories in the news media.

READ MORE →

Advocates Challenge Mysterious Justice Department Statement That Undercuts Forensic Science Reform
Jordan Smith
Democracy Forward and the Union of Concerned Scientists say the Trump-era statement is biased, inaccurate, and runs afoul of federal law.

READ MORE →

In Senate Bid Launch, Conor Lamb Appears to Misremember His Own Record
Akela Lacy
The Pennsylvania representative cast himself as an advocate for Democrats and an anathema to Trump. His voting record says otherwise.

READ MORE →

Senate Infrastructure Bill Would Invest $500 Million in “Smart City” Surveillance Technology
Sara Sirota
Privacy advocates caution against giving the government another tool to monitor its citizens.

READ MORE →

Pentagon Wrongly Admitted Killing 21 Civilians in Iraq and Syria
Joe Dyke
Allied nations almost certainly killed them. So why did the Defense Department tell Congress that the U.S. was responsible?

READ MORE →



Podcasts

Cori Bush on the Shame and Power of Poverty
Deconstructed
The U.S. representative’s protest on the steps of the Capitol helped put pressure on the administration to reinstate the eviction moratorium.

LISTEN →

 

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UnitedHealthcare Guided Yale’s Groundbreaking Surprise Billing Study

MOST READ

UnitedHealthcare Guided Yale’s Groundbreaking Surprise Billing Study
Rose Adams
The findings sparked a media sensation and led to a change in federal law. The insurance giant’s role was surprisingly common.

READ MORE →

DEA and ICE Award Mexican Police Commander Whose Unit Is Accused of Grisly Massacre
Ryan Devereaux
The commander was honored at a U.S. consulate for his “exceptional,” “outstanding,” and “continuous contributions” to law enforcement agencies.

READ MORE →



Protecting freedom of the press has never been more important. Thank you for being a member of The Intercept. Will you make an additional contribution to support our journalism?
CONTRIBUTE →

Top Stories

Business Consultants Offer to Buy Ghostwritten Op-Eds Pressuring Arizona Senators
Lee Fang
Emails show a murky push to shape public opinion on binding arbitration reform — by paying up to $2,000 for a signature.

READ MORE →

 

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Atlanta Poised to Approve Massive Police Training Facility Despite Public Opposition
Aja Arnold
The city has given little room for public input ahead of a vote to approve the $90 million center that activists have dubbed “Cop City.”

READ MORE →

Bolsonaro Allies in Brazilian Congress Push Sweeping Electoral Changes to Keep Hold on Power
Andrew Fishman
From gutting election finance rules to decriminalizing corruption, the Brazilian right wants to pass the new laws in time for the 2022 elections.

READ MORE →

Steven Holden Is the Latest New York Democrat to Try Flipping a Coveted House Seat. Is He Up to the Task?
Rachel M. Cohen
Democrats think they have a chance to unseat Rep. John Katko, but some are concerned about Holden’s organizing abilities.

READ MORE →

 

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How the Soviet Collapse Thrust Kazakhstan Into Nonproliferation Diplomacy by James Clad
The world has become very blasé about Kazakhstan’s place in the post–Cold War roll of honor. Both western and non-western national security establishments often assume its nonproliferation accomplishment only happened in an increasingly distant past. Read it here.

How the F-35 Stealth Fighter Could Attack Any Army by Kris Osborn
Upon initial examination, some might regard a stealthy, 5th-generation F-35 as ill-equipped or at least not suited for close air support. However, a closer look does seem to uncover a handful of advantages. Read it here.

The Fairy Tale of Finite Resources by Rainer Zitelmann
At first glance, it is an argument that seems to make sense—and it would be crazy to oppose: because the earth’s raw material resources are finite, infinite growth is impossible. This leads many to conclude that, somehow, growth must be limited. What is there to this argument? Read it here.

 

[rbkwp]

sick of edurope in poarticular
esp the poms/uk
crying pooor us

fires in germany
hebdo france,still raises its .... years later

crying re the extrens weather

who the fuck helped caused ur yuou hypoctires

 

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'Star Trek: Lower Decks' returns for sensational season 2 on Paramount+

Hyperspacial hijinks, cosmic crises and insane interstellar adventure, "Star Trek: Lower Decks" is back on Paramount+.
Full Story: Space (8/12)

 

[rbkwp]

sick

of hearing of taliban shit
kill each other fgor all i care

brittney spiers sjit,just as bad/maddening



an epidemic,of the unvaccinated/perhaps better/more thrilling,fuck it

 

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at Undark Magazine — View this email in your browser

As a taxonomic group, fungi are both ubiquitous and diverse, including molds, yeast, mushrooms, and a variety of other organisms. They are also largely neglected in global conservation efforts. Only 450 types have been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature for inclusion on its Red List of Threatened Species. Groups like mammals, birds, and amphibians have been completely or almost completely assessed, while fungi account for less than a percent of all assessments to date. Policymakers and biodiversity institutions agree that fungi are fundamental to rich and sustainable ecosystems, but few have taken direct steps to explicitly include these organisms in their policy frameworks.

In response, a small team of fungal experts and legal scholars have banded together to try and tilt public and legal discourse in favor of fungal conservation, reports Jonathan Moens for Undark this week. The team aims to add another “F” — funga — to upcoming high-impact reports, declarations, conventions, and treaties that would otherwise focus on “flora and fauna.”

Also this week: Gauging a woman's sexual desire is tricky business, writes Teresa Carr. Some doctors are glad to have drugs to help boost women’s libido. But many experts say that the few such drugs on the market show little evidence of actually working, and that the industry falls short in trying to measure normal sexual desire.

And: Many non-English editions of Wikipedia — particularly those with small, homogenous editing communities — need to be monitored to safeguard the quality and accuracy of their articles, argues Yumiko Sato. But the Wikimedia Foundation, Sato asserts, has provided little support on that front, and not for lack of funds. Links to these stories and more below.

....

Flora, Fauna, and … Funga? The Case for a Third ‘F.’

BY Jonathan Moens

In the 1960s, fungi were given their own kingdom after decades of being classified as plants. But this recognition has been slow to seep into policy. The vast majority of environmental laws still default to the outdated phrase "flora and fauna." Now, there's a growing movement to save the mushrooms. Read on »
....
Debate Erupts (Again) Over Women’s Libido Drugs

BY Teresa Carr

In explaining the rationale for approving female-libido drugs, the FDA often cites an unmet need. Yet researchers are fiercely divided over the question of just how many women suffer from a lack of libido and how best to help them. One complication: There is no research standard for "normal sexual desire." Read on »
....
Wikipedia Has a Language Problem. Here’s How To Fix It.

BY Yumiko Sato

Opinion | Wikipedia’s crowdsourced approach to quality control has a fundamental weakness: It works only if the crowd is large, diverse, and independent enough to reliably weed out misinformation. That’s left less-trafficked, non-English versions of the encyclopedia especially vulnerable to manipulation and abuse. Read on »
....
Learning to Adapt in the Climate Change Era

BY Max Norman

In "Believers: Making a Life at the End of the World," Lisa Wells explores the lives of “relatively ordinary people" who have chosen to live off the grid to reconnect and restore nature. Wells argues that alongside a crisis of engineering and politics, climate change has also ushered in a crisis of narrative. Read on »
....
Megafires: Where Climate Change and Wildfire Exclusion Collide

BY Susan J. Prichard, Keala Hagmann, & Paul Hessburg, The Conversation

Opinion | Residents of the West are no strangers to wildfire, but recent years have seen some of the most extreme fire activity on record. The cause? Climate change and a century of fighting nearly every fire. But the severity of future wildfires can still be mitigated by managing forests to foster resilience. Read on »
....
Cause for Terror — and Some Hope — in New Climate Report

BY Michael Schulson

In our weekly news roundup: new IPCC report on impacts of global warming, nasal spray vaccines in development, and more. Read on »

....

 

[rbkwp]

chinas turn

re afghanistan

bet
theyd do a better job than failed
ie fucked up the place
russia
usa

gaurantee
most,wont try and defy china

look
at the middle east

garantee
they would have sorted something out,if they wanted to
as it is
russia did huh

 

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One of Mesobot’s top goals is to track creatures in the ocean's "twilight" zone and examine the roles they play in the broader ecosystem. Photo via Ken Kostel/WHOI


The ocean’s mesopelagic zone, also known as the midwater, is a pretty fascinating place. This several-thousand foot stretch of the water column co-hosts the world’s largest daily animal migration event, and plays a key role in sequestering carbon from the atmosphere down to the deeper parts of the ocean. But there’s a lot we still don’t know about it and the many creatures that dwell there.

Enter Mesobot, a state-of-the-art aquatic explorer designed to help answer some of the most pressing questions researchers have about this particular marine ecosystem — also referred to as the “twilight zone” — and improve our existing knowledge. One of Mesobot’s top long-term goals? Non-invasively tracking local animals, like a fish or a jelly, for a day or longer to examine their behavior and the role they play in the broader ecosystem.

Human activity — specifically, our continued burning of fossil fuels and deforestation of natural areas — is driving an ongoing rise in the global temperature, according to the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. That temperature has already risen about 1 degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, and is projected to keep rising unless the international community makes a significant effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions — fast.

In order to prevent the climate-change fueled extreme weather events — like droughts, heavy storms and wildfires — that we’re already grappling with today from getting worse and more frequent, experts say world leaders need to do everything they can to keep any additional warming to an absolute minimum. Otherwise, we’ll continue to see catastrophes like intense droughts and heavy rainfalls afflict vulnerable communities across the globe.

Have a burning science question — pandemic related or otherwise — or a favorite science story from this week? Email us at sciencedesk@newshour.org

We don’t know exactly how many people are dying from heat in the United States. Heat-related deaths are not always reported as such, and experts say many are undercounted or misclassified. After a summer of extreme heat waves in many regions, getting an accurate count of these deaths is important to understanding their true toll. The Oregon medical examiner recently released a report that attributed 96 deaths to the state’s heat wave in late June, an event that likely led to hundreds of deaths across the region. Those numbers will likely grow as investigations continue.

The U.S. is now tallying more than 100,000 new COVID-19 infections per day in a surge fueled by the more contagious delta variant, numbers that the country hasn’t endured since early February. Hospitals are also running out of beds in areas with low vaccination rates. Missouri is among one of the hardest-hit states, with only 42 percent of its eligible population fully vaccinated, while the state has recorded more than 20,000 new cases during the last seven days.

Even as cases surge, tensions are still brewing over school mask mandates intended to protect children and adolescents, especially those under the age of 12 who aren’t eligible for vaccination. Experts agree that masks are the best tool on hand to protect unvaccinated people -- including kids -- against the coronavirus. But, lately, this Mississippi community has been the site of clashes between parents over the school district’s temporary indoor mask mandate.

People who are immunocompromised didn’t gain enough immunity from their first COVID-19 vaccine shots and need a booster for full protection, Dr. Anthony Fauci told the PBS NewsHour. Fauci explained that the people who fall into this category make up less than 3 percent of the adult population in the U.S.

There’s no clinical evidence to suggest that other groups will need a booster in the near future, given that existing vaccines still offer strong protection against severe disease and death. Although breakthrough infections are a relatively rare possibility, the vast majority are mild, indicating that the vaccines are doing their job.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging pregnant people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Pregnant people run a higher risk of both severe illness and pregnancy complications, but only around 23 percent of this group has received at least one dose, according to the Associated Press. The new guidance is informed by a CDC analysis that found no increased risk of miscarriage in pregnant people who received at least one dose of an mRNA vaccine within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.

HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, protects people’s private health information from being shared by certain health care entities without patient consent. But the 1996 law is far more narrowly defined than most may realize. Here’s what several health law experts say about the relevance of HIPAA and other rules when navigating interactions with others.

What we’re reading, watching and listening to this week:

Can California reduce dairy methane emissions equitably? (Inside Climate News)

• “State officials say dairy digesters can reduce greenhouse gas and toxic air emissions from large dairies. Here’s why community activists don’t believe them.”
  

Swarm technology: Researchers experiment with drones to battle crop pests. (Mongabay)

• “In some places in North America, the sound of buzzing above fields and forests may no longer foretell trouble, but rather, an innovative solution to a centuries-old problem.”
  

A mammoth tusk reveals a woolly (and unprecedented) tale. (Wired)

• “Scientists used something called isotopic mapping to get a first look at how the creatures lived more than 17,000 years ago.”
  

The best-case climate scenario is going to be extremely hard. (Grist)

• “A planet at 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming is still infinitely better than the alternative.”
  

Perseverance Mars rover fumbled 1st sampling attempt because of 'unique' powdery rock, NASA finds. (Space.com)

• “But the morning after the collection, the volume measurement and post-measurement images came in and mission team members back on Earth determined that the sample tube was actually empty.”
  

Animals count and use zero. How far does their number sense go? (Quanta Magazine)

• “Crows recently demonstrated an understanding of the concept of zero. It’s only the latest evidence of animals’ talents for numerical abstraction — which may still differ from our own grasp of numbers.”
  

Until next time,


Bella Isaacs-Thomas
Megan McGrew

 

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​

Taliban enter Kabul – What happens next?The militant group has said it would not use force after it laid siege to the capital on Sunday. A political agreement between the Taliban and Afghan politicians is being discussed, but it comes at a price.

western world too fucken pig headed/ignorsanf,thsat its been relatively peaceful,so far

unlike ther multitude usa countyry takeovers
deasths galore/re usa/uk

 

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The Fall of Kabul


boring
tuff shit

MOST READ

The Fall of Kabul
Nick Turse
Joe Biden claimed “zero” parallels between U.S. withdrawals from Afghanistan and Vietnam. As the Taliban take Kabul, he’s proved wrong.

READ MORE →

As the Taliban Seize Cities, Desperate Afghans Are Trapped in an American-Made Fiasco
Andrew Quilty
Since 2001, urban Afghans have enjoyed a return of ordinary freedoms. Now they have the most to lose.

READ MORE →



Protecting freedom of the press has never been more important. Be the next person to support The Intercept’s independent journalism by becoming a member today.
BECOME A MEMBER →

Top Stories

Laura Ingraham Confronts the Core Problem for Capitalists
Jon Schwarz
And workers should thank her for that.

READ MORE →

The Most High-Profile Al Qaeda Plot Foiled After 9/11 Was an FBI Scam
Alice Speri
A new Frontline documentary details the case of the “Liberty City Seven,” a group of men the FBI coached into pledging allegiance to Al Qaeda.

READ MORE →

Israeli Ambassador to U.S. Seemingly Acknowledges That Israel Has Nuclear Weapons
Jon Schwarz

 

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MOST READ

The Fall of Kabul
Nick Turse
Joe Biden claimed “zero” parallels between U.S. withdrawals from Afghanistan and Vietnam. As the Taliban take Kabul, he’s proved wrong.

READ MORE →

As the Taliban Seize Cities, Desperate Afghans Are Trapped in an American-Made Fiasco
Andrew Quilty
Since 2001, urban Afghans have enjoyed a return of ordinary freedoms. Now they have the most to lose.

READ MORE →



Protecting freedom of the press has never been more important. Be the next person to support The Intercept’s independent journalism by becoming a member today.
BECOME A MEMBER →

Top Stories

Laura Ingraham Confronts the Core Problem for Capitalists
Jon Schwarz
And workers should thank her for that.

READ MORE →

The Most High-Profile Al Qaeda Plot Foiled After 9/11 Was an FBI Scam
Alice Speri
A new Frontline documentary details the case of the “Liberty City Seven,” a group of men the FBI coached into pledging allegiance to Al Qaeda.

READ MORE →

Israeli Ambassador to U.S. Seemingly Acknowledges That Israel Has Nuclear Weapons
Jon Schwarz
Gilad Erdan, also the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, quietly liked a tweet referring to “Israel’s nuclear deterrent.”

READ MORE →

Joe Manchin Wins a Watered-Down Voting Rights Bill
Sara Sirota, Ryan Grim
Despite Manchin’s continued demands for voter ID rules and against mail-in voting, the GOP remains ready to fight back.

READ MORE →

“Obligation to Remember”: Author Spencer Ackerman on the Casualties of the War on Terror
Ryan Devereaux
In his new book, Ackerman makes the case that the Trump years were the logical conclusion of a multidecade borderless war without end.

READ MORE →

What Happened to Andrew Yang?
Akela Lacy
He was panned and hailed as Tusk Strategies’ empty suit — but Yang’s downfall concurred with his surprising independence.

READ MORE →

As Purdue Pharma Sought Controversial Bankruptcy Settlement, It Spent Over $1.2 Million on Lobbying
Matthew Cunningham-Cook
The proposed settlement allows the Sackler family to walk away with over $6 billion.

READ MORE →



Podcasts

The Era of Climate Denial Is Over
Deconstructed
A new report from the IPCC clarifies the immense stakes in the climate crisis.

LISTEN →

 

[rbkwp]

admit
ok with bidens readoning
think,even if he waited several years,the gutles afghanis would do the same thing,give in

casnt forerver,look after there interests

no reason to sacrifice innocent american lives,any longer

similarly
i do not expect australia/usa/uk,tyo protect us from whomever
my younger generations masy/will likely have different views
fair enough

 

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Cops Keep Suing This Gun Giant Because Their Service Weapons Randomly Fire

How to Actually Get a Trump Voter Vaccinated

Facebook Is Helping Militias Spread Vaccine Disinformation and Calling Them ‘Experts’

‘We’re Tired of Getting Treated Like Trash’: Nabisco Workers Are Striking for Normal Hours











Video

The US Has Spent $500 Million Trying to Secure This African Border



VICE News goes to Kenya-Tanzania to explore burgeoning routes for criminal smuggling—of drugs, wildlife, and people—on the Indian Ocean.



perhaps why you7r country has fucked policys
too much money for any govt to handle