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March 29, 2024
My AI Fail of The Day
Was feeling lazy, so turned to AI for quick answer to how many 17x20” rectangles could be cut from a 4x8’ plywood piece (making shelves).
First asked Perplexity, which has the virtue of showing its references. I was told that: “Based on the search results, the number of 17x20 inch rectangles that can be cut from a 4x8 foot sheet of plywood is approximately 20”
This seemed a bit high, as the area of a plywood sheet is 32 sqft, and 20 17x20 inch pieces is about 47 sqft. Alternative universe I guess.
So tried ChatGPT which confidentially (after explaining how to convert feet to inches) stated that “you can cut 8 rectangles of size 17x20 inches from a 4x8 foot sheet of plywood.”
This is sorta true (as would have been a reply of 1 or 2 or 6).
The correct answer, which I got off my butt and figured out, is 10.
This is using a cut plan of
long edge: 3@20 and 2@17
short edge: 2@17 and 2@20
However, in fairness to ChatGPT, I reframed my question to what I *actually* meant which was “what is the maximum number of 17x20 inch rectangles that can be cut from a sheet of 4x8 foot plywood”
After explaining that “To maximize the number of 17x20 inch rectangles that can be cut from a sheet of 4x8 foot plywood, we need to arrange the rectangles efficiently without wasting much material. This often involves tiling the rectangles in a grid pattern.”
GPT then again gave the previous incorrect answer “therefore, the maximum number of 17x20 inch rectangles that can be cut from a sheet of 4x8 foot plywood while fully utilizing the material is 8”
Also, to be fair, if simply ask the Box Store person to cut the sheet (no way at home for me to cut the plywood), likely would end up with 8. Will take my cutplan and end up with 10—Which I *hope* is correct so don't look to be an idiot.
In any event, doubt that will be going home with TWENTY 
September 5, 2023
A German court has refused to extradite to the UK a man accused of drug trafficking because of concerns about prison conditions in Britain.
The decision has been described as a “severe rebuke” and “an embarrassment for the UK” by a member of the Law Society. [snip]
The court said guarantees from the UK of compliance with minimum standards in accordance with the European convention on human rights were required. In addition, the court asked the British authorities to specify which prisons the Albanian man was going to be detained in and what his conditions of detention would be in those prisons.
A police station in Manchester replied to the court’s first request on the final day of the deadline for a response, saying 20,000 extra prison places were being built to deal with the problem of overcrowding. The second request for reassurance about UK prison conditions received no response from the UK. [snip]
The Albanian man is not wanted for offences committed in Germany and the court determined that as it did not receive the assurances it asked for from the UK authorities, the man would not be extradited. He is currently free again. [snip]
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/05/germany-refuses-extradite-albanian-man-uk-jail-conditions
Other than pointing out that the UK Government is considering withdrawing from the above mentioned European Convention of Human Rights (of which it remains a signatory, even though after BREXIT the UK is no longer a member of the EU) there is really nothing I can add.
The reason for posting the article to give yet more evidence that the worldview of conservatives is not compatible with anything approaching a just society.
Choir. Preaching to. I know. Just had to let someone who might care read about this.
Germany refuses to extradite man to UK over concerns about British jail conditions
The headline, which I had to read twice and make sure I was not reading The Onion, really says it all.
The Brits have had over 12 years of Conservative rule, and this is only one of the many horrors created. Somehow, like the GOP, people keep voting them in office--even without the overt voter repression rampant in our country.
WHY, Why, why...
Here's some points from the article:
A German court has refused to extradite to the UK a man accused of drug trafficking because of concerns about prison conditions in Britain.
The decision has been described as a “severe rebuke” and “an embarrassment for the UK” by a member of the Law Society. [snip]
The court said guarantees from the UK of compliance with minimum standards in accordance with the European convention on human rights were required. In addition, the court asked the British authorities to specify which prisons the Albanian man was going to be detained in and what his conditions of detention would be in those prisons.
A police station in Manchester replied to the court’s first request on the final day of the deadline for a response, saying 20,000 extra prison places were being built to deal with the problem of overcrowding. The second request for reassurance about UK prison conditions received no response from the UK. [snip]
The Albanian man is not wanted for offences committed in Germany and the court determined that as it did not receive the assurances it asked for from the UK authorities, the man would not be extradited. He is currently free again. [snip]
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/05/germany-refuses-extradite-albanian-man-uk-jail-conditions
Other than pointing out that the UK Government is considering withdrawing from the above mentioned European Convention of Human Rights (of which it remains a signatory, even though after BREXIT the UK is no longer a member of the EU) there is really nothing I can add.
The reason for posting the article to give yet more evidence that the worldview of conservatives is not compatible with anything approaching a just society.
Choir. Preaching to. I know. Just had to let someone who might care read about this.
August 29, 2023
Police won’t fine Elon Musk for illegally livestreaming while driving...
As no officer witnessed it happening in person at the time of occurrence ... no ticket is forthcoming....
PA police say 'there are practical reasons why the department doesn’t ticket without personally observing a driver — they need to be able to tell a judge what they saw, verify the driver’s identity and driver’s license, and collect a license plate or VIN number for the vehicle to support the citation.
“The officer needs to be prepared to testify in court about what they personally observed (namely, that they saw the phone in the driver’s hand)...'”
https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/28/23850011/elon-musk-driving-phone-california-law-palo-alto
So, even if there is actual video of a crime being committed, unless a Palo Alto cop witnesses the event as it is occurring, then there will be no charges??
I made the right choice by being born White, but f***up by not being born rich.
Palo Alto: Best Place to Rob Bank or do Other Crimeing--For as long as no Cop *sees* you, you're OK
(I apologize if this was already posted, did search LBN and here 10 screens back for this Too Good To Miss Report)
Police won’t fine Elon Musk for illegally livestreaming while driving...
As no officer witnessed it happening in person at the time of occurrence ... no ticket is forthcoming....
PA police say 'there are practical reasons why the department doesn’t ticket without personally observing a driver — they need to be able to tell a judge what they saw, verify the driver’s identity and driver’s license, and collect a license plate or VIN number for the vehicle to support the citation.
“The officer needs to be prepared to testify in court about what they personally observed (namely, that they saw the phone in the driver’s hand)...'”
https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/28/23850011/elon-musk-driving-phone-california-law-palo-alto
So, even if there is actual video of a crime being committed, unless a Palo Alto cop witnesses the event as it is occurring, then there will be no charges??
I made the right choice by being born White, but f***up by not being born rich.
May 27, 2023
It is comforting to know that such abuses will be addressed by our elected Congressional representatives. Especially those who, such as Florida Senator Rick Scott, have real expertise to bring to the table.
You may recall that this fine Gentleman was CEO of the Columbia/HCA, hospital corporation which federal prosecutors discovered was committing massive Medicare and Medicaid fraud through unlawful billing practices. Somehow, he personally escaped being held in any way responsible.
Does this remind anyone of Enron?
Formerly it was considered unethical for doctors to advertise. It might be well to think twice before going to see a physician whom you see on billboards.
What do you risk when you go to see some random doctor whose advert you've seen?
In this case, according to ProPublica, quite literally life, limb and bankruptcy. To move vascular procedures out of expensive hospitals, the government turbocharged payments to doctors’ offices. Instead of saving money, it started a boom that is making doctors rich and putting patients in danger.
In the suburbs of Maryland, Dr. Jeffery Dormu’s presence is hard to miss. He’s a regular on the local TV station, which has featured him and his practice five times over the past five years. And he smiles down from an electronic billboard outside a three-story vascular center he calls The Watcher. “It has a biblical reference, which is to watch over the community,” he said at its 2018 opening. In response to the country’s “tragedy of cardiovascular disease,” the center trademarked the phrase “vascular devastation,” a slogan frequently invoked in its marketing, along with a claim to have “saved over 34,000 lives and limbs.” [[SNIP]]
But a ProPublica analysis of CMS data suggests that if the agency had reviewed its own figures, it would have discovered that Dormu was part of a small pool of physicians performing a disproportionate number of treatments. From 2017 to 2021, the analysis shows, the top 5% of doctors conducting atherectomies — about 90 physicians overall — accounted for more than a third of all procedures and government payments, totaling nearly a billion dollars.
Near the top of the list sits Dormu, logging more atherectomies — and making more money from them — than almost every other doctor in America. [[SNIP]]
Instead of saving money, the government started a boom.
Atherectomies increased by 60% from 2011 to 2014; Medicare’s overall costs for peripheral vascular treatments climbed by nearly half a billion dollars, or 18%....
https://www.propublica.org/article/maryland-dormu-minimally-invasive-vascular-medicare-medicaid
In the suburbs of Maryland, Dr. Jeffery Dormu’s presence is hard to miss. He’s a regular on the local TV station, which has featured him and his practice five times over the past five years. And he smiles down from an electronic billboard outside a three-story vascular center he calls The Watcher. “It has a biblical reference, which is to watch over the community,” he said at its 2018 opening. In response to the country’s “tragedy of cardiovascular disease,” the center trademarked the phrase “vascular devastation,” a slogan frequently invoked in its marketing, along with a claim to have “saved over 34,000 lives and limbs.” [[SNIP]]
But a ProPublica analysis of CMS data suggests that if the agency had reviewed its own figures, it would have discovered that Dormu was part of a small pool of physicians performing a disproportionate number of treatments. From 2017 to 2021, the analysis shows, the top 5% of doctors conducting atherectomies — about 90 physicians overall — accounted for more than a third of all procedures and government payments, totaling nearly a billion dollars.
Near the top of the list sits Dormu, logging more atherectomies — and making more money from them — than almost every other doctor in America. [[SNIP]]
Instead of saving money, the government started a boom.
Atherectomies increased by 60% from 2011 to 2014; Medicare’s overall costs for peripheral vascular treatments climbed by nearly half a billion dollars, or 18%....
https://www.propublica.org/article/maryland-dormu-minimally-invasive-vascular-medicare-medicaid
It is comforting to know that such abuses will be addressed by our elected Congressional representatives. Especially those who, such as Florida Senator Rick Scott, have real expertise to bring to the table.
You may recall that this fine Gentleman was CEO of the Columbia/HCA, hospital corporation which federal prosecutors discovered was committing massive Medicare and Medicaid fraud through unlawful billing practices. Somehow, he personally escaped being held in any way responsible.
Does this remind anyone of Enron?
Formerly it was considered unethical for doctors to advertise. It might be well to think twice before going to see a physician whom you see on billboards.
February 13, 2023
A United Airlines Boeing 777-200 came within around 800 feet of impacting the Pacific Ocean off the north coast of Maui shortly after takeoff on December 18. The occurrence, not previously reported, adds to a series of extremely serious safety incidents and major operational disruptions within the U.S. aviation system in recent weeks.
Flight 1722 from Maui to San Francisco left Kahului Airport at 2:49 PM Hawaiian time in stormy weather and initially appeared to climb normally. Granular data analyzed with Flightradar24 showed the aircraft reached roughly 2,200 feet before beginning a steep dive that, according to the tracking telemetry, reached a descent rate of nearly 8,600 feet per minute.
The aircraft quickly recovered, but not before descending below 775 feet. Two people familiar with the incident said the climb produced forces of nearly 2.7 times the force of gravity on the aircraft and its occupants as that steep descent transitioned to an 8,600 foot per minute climb. The entire incident appears to have stretched no more than 45 seconds and in between radio calls with air traffic controllers in Maui, according to LiveATC recordings reviewed by The Air Current.
The aircraft subsequently climbed to 33,000 feet and landed in California 27 minutes early after the 4-hour and 15-minute Pacific crossing. The Boeing widebody configured with 364 seats was quickly turned around at SFO and departed to Chicago on its next flight about two and a half hours later.
https://theaircurrent.com/aviation-safety/united-maui-dive-ua1722-close-call/
United Airlines 777 Nearly Crashes Departing Hawaii (Dec 18 2022, just being reported now )
I am surprised this has not been posted, as is all over MSN--but with all simply repeating the same thing.
This is the radar altitude track of the near disaster
The brief facts as gleaned from an aviation site {see below}is that a few minutes after takeoff UAL 1722 lost control at 2,200 feet, and began an up to 8,600 foot-per-minute uncontrolled descent over a 45 second period which was arrested only 775 feet above the ocean.
This descent was apparently totally missed by Air Traffic Control as instead of ATC saying something like "United 1722 Heavy, Say Altitude!!" no comment at all was made and 1722 was routinely cleared on its way.
Upon arrival in San Francisco, the pilots apparently filed an "Aviation Safety Reprotting System" report--which allows for a 'get of of jail free' card if a report is made to ATC or the FAA about an incident. The plane had a routine turnover in SF and then continued on to Chicago.
When this news broke, UAL would only say that “United then closely coordinated with the FAA and ALPA {Airline Pilots Association} on an investigation that ultimately resulted in the pilots receiving additional training. Safety remains our highest priority."
Very strangely, there was apparently NOTHING posted on social media about this harrowing experience by anyone. The article speculates this may have been because the same day people were seriously injured on a Hawaiian Airlines flight near Maui.
There is SO MUCH of CONCERN here. Aviation seems to be suffering the same widespread rot as is experienced by many professions.
A United Airlines Boeing 777-200 came within around 800 feet of impacting the Pacific Ocean off the north coast of Maui shortly after takeoff on December 18. The occurrence, not previously reported, adds to a series of extremely serious safety incidents and major operational disruptions within the U.S. aviation system in recent weeks.
Flight 1722 from Maui to San Francisco left Kahului Airport at 2:49 PM Hawaiian time in stormy weather and initially appeared to climb normally. Granular data analyzed with Flightradar24 showed the aircraft reached roughly 2,200 feet before beginning a steep dive that, according to the tracking telemetry, reached a descent rate of nearly 8,600 feet per minute.
The aircraft quickly recovered, but not before descending below 775 feet. Two people familiar with the incident said the climb produced forces of nearly 2.7 times the force of gravity on the aircraft and its occupants as that steep descent transitioned to an 8,600 foot per minute climb. The entire incident appears to have stretched no more than 45 seconds and in between radio calls with air traffic controllers in Maui, according to LiveATC recordings reviewed by The Air Current.
The aircraft subsequently climbed to 33,000 feet and landed in California 27 minutes early after the 4-hour and 15-minute Pacific crossing. The Boeing widebody configured with 364 seats was quickly turned around at SFO and departed to Chicago on its next flight about two and a half hours later.
https://theaircurrent.com/aviation-safety/united-maui-dive-ua1722-close-call/
January 27, 2023
chatGPT was much more definite!
What was truly interesting, is that it can be asked to "regenerate response" to a question. What follows is The Answer to query "what does the Russian military Z symbol mean" with 12 "regenerations"
A bit tedious to read (as was to record) but I think it gives a very good picture of the degree of trust which can be placed in this software. Amusing how some quite definite answers contradict previous equally definite answers.
To be fair (with typical Lefty waffling) the symbol may well have historically had some, all (or none!) of what the engine presented as simple fact. My thought is that it is a pre-existing clear and easily drawn symbol which, as with the swastika, was seized by a repressive government to mark US versus THEM and is simply a symbol of fear and oppression.
chatZ: It Distorts, U Decide--a Baker's Dozen
As have many, I've puzzled over Zar Vlad's use of the non-Cyrillic "Z" for his invasion forces
This morning I realized that, as we've entered the Age of AI, all one really must do to find out is to ask the principal oracle: chatGPT!
Before doing so, did briefly check a couple of outmoded human written articles on this.
NPR had long discussion, which decided that "...origins of the symbol remain a mystery"
The Guardian went a bit deeper but also came to no conclusion
The Russian defense ministry itself has not commented on any of the theories, and instead posted on its Instagram channel that Z meant Za pobedu (“for victory”) and V stood for “power of truth”... [snip]
More ominously, Z has been used as an intimidation tactic against those who oppose the war. Members of the opposition art collective Pussy Riot, as well as the anti-war NGO Memorial, have said the Z symbol was painted on the door of their flat.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/07/why-has-the-letter-z-become-the-symbol-of-war-for-russia
chatGPT was much more definite!
What was truly interesting, is that it can be asked to "regenerate response" to a question. What follows is The Answer to query "what does the Russian military Z symbol mean" with 12 "regenerations"
A bit tedious to read (as was to record) but I think it gives a very good picture of the degree of trust which can be placed in this software. Amusing how some quite definite answers contradict previous equally definite answers.
To be fair (with typical Lefty waffling) the symbol may well have historically had some, all (or none!) of what the engine presented as simple fact. My thought is that it is a pre-existing clear and easily drawn symbol which, as with the swastika, was seized by a repressive government to mark US versus THEM and is simply a symbol of fear and oppression.
The "Z" symbol is the designation for the Russian military's "Zvezda" (meaning "star" in English) brand of personal protective equipment (PPE) and individual gear. It is used to identify equipment that meets the Russian Ministry of Defense's standards for quality and durability. The symbol is often found on items such as helmets, body armor, and gas masks.
-------
The "Z" symbol is used by the Russian military to indicate the location of a command post or headquarters. It is often painted on the roofs of buildings or vehicles to easily identify them as a command center.
-------
The "Z" symbol is the symbol of the Russian Airborne Troops, also known as VDV. It is a stylized letter "Z" which stands for "Vozdushno-Desantnye Vojska" in Russian, which translates to "Airborne Forces." The symbol is often seen on the uniform insignia and equipment of Russian Airborne Troops.
-------
The "Z" symbol is a symbol used by the Russian military to mark equipment that has been inspected and deemed ready for use. It is typically painted in white or yellow on a red background and is often found on vehicles, weapons, and other equipment. The symbol is derived from the Russian word "Застреляно", which translates to "shot down" or "fired upon," indicating that the equipment has been test-fired and is ready for combat.
-------
The "Z" symbol is used by the Russian military as a marking for equipment that has been deemed ready for use in combat. It is typically painted on the equipment in yellow or orange, and is used as a quick visual indicator for troops in the field to identify which equipment is available for use.
-------
The "Z" symbol is the symbol for the Russian military's reconnaissance units. It is typically used to identify vehicles, equipment, and personnel that are specifically assigned to reconnaissance tasks. The symbol is usually a white letter "Z" on a red background. It is also used as a badge for reconnaissance troops.
-------
The Russian military Z symbol represents the "Zapovednik" (Заповедникwhich translates to "Nature Reserve" or "Protected Area" in English. It is a symbol that is used to mark nature reserves, wildlife preserves, and other protected areas in Russia. The symbol is a stylized letter "Z" with a circle around it, and is typically painted on signs, fences, and other structures within the protected area to indicate that it is off-limits to the public.
-------
The Russian military "Z" symbol stands for "Zapovednik," which translates to "Nature Reserve" or "Protected Area" in English. It is used to mark areas that are off-limits to military training and other activities due to the presence of sensitive natural or cultural resources.
-------
The "Z" symbol is used by the Russian military to indicate the direction of movement or attack. It is a letter of the Cyrillic alphabet that looks like the English letter "Z" and is used to mark the direction of movement or attack on a map or plan. It is also used in military communications to indicate a specific location or direction.
-------
The "Z" symbol is a symbol used by the Russian military to indicate the direction of friendly forces. It is typically painted on vehicles, equipment, and buildings to help troops orient themselves on the battlefield. The symbol is also used on maps and other forms of battlefield documentation. The symbol is similar to NATO's "blue force" symbol.
-------
The "Z" symbol is the symbol of the Russian military's airborne units, known as Vozdushno-Desantnye Voyska (VDV). It is typically used on the uniform insignia and equipment of paratroopers and other personnel in the VDV. The symbol is a stylized letter "Z" which stands for the Russian word "Desant" (Airborne) and it represents the branch's ability to deploy rapidly via parachute.
-------
The "Z" symbol is the symbol of the Russian military's airborne forces. It is also known as the "Vozdushno-Desantnye Voyska" or "VDV" in Russian. The symbol features a red star with a blue background, and the letter "Z" in white, which stands for "Airborne" in Russian. The symbol represents the elite and specialized nature of the VDV, which are trained to conduct air assaults and other airborne operations.
-------
The "Z" symbol is used by the Russian military to represent the word "Запас" (zapas), which means "reserve" or "spare." It is often used to designate reserve units or equipment.
December 21, 2022
Nature is one of the two (the other being Science) most respected general scientific journals. I'm not asserting that studies published in either are inerrant, but that only rarely are they either industry or woo driven.
Nature is also one of the leaders in OpenAccess (free to read) publications. The above paper is both OpenAccess and worth a thoughtful read as Allura Red (interesting name?) is very common in candy, soda, breakfast cereals and indeed may—my speculation—specifically be used to catch the attention of children who find the color alluring.
This study was not designed to address possible links to other conditions—such as ADHD—found to Allura Red in other studies. That is a story for another day
For those who are curious, here is a link to a page which asserts to be a listing of all candy with AR (as of 2017)
Happy Solstice
Common Red Food Dye linked to Bowel Problems (Nature)
Environmental factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)...Genetic susceptibility, dysregulated immune response toward perturbed gut microbiota and environmental factors have been shown to contribute to the etiopathogenesis of IBD...
...evidence that diet plays a pivotal role in the development of IBD...Western diet is characterized by high intakes of food additives, fats, red meats, and sugar, and low intake of fibers...Food additives, such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and synthetic colorants are widely used to improve the texture, preservation, and aesthetics of processed food. Several studies have reported that high levels of these additives... alter the gut microbiome, increase intestinal permeability, decrease mucus barrier thickness, and promote colitis.
...synthetic colorants in dietary products has significantly increased over the past 50 years. These compounds are metabolized to generate free aromatic amines in the gut lumen, some of which are potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic. Among many azo dyes, Allura Red...is the most widely used colorant in many countries...AR is a non-genotoxic sulfonated mono-azo red dye that is metabolized by intestinal bacteria...[and] exerts pro-inflammatory properties by promoting oxidative stress through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in the rat liver and kidney...Despite being highly prevalent in our diet, it is poorly understood how AR influences intestinal inflammation...
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-35309-y
...evidence that diet plays a pivotal role in the development of IBD...Western diet is characterized by high intakes of food additives, fats, red meats, and sugar, and low intake of fibers...Food additives, such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and synthetic colorants are widely used to improve the texture, preservation, and aesthetics of processed food. Several studies have reported that high levels of these additives... alter the gut microbiome, increase intestinal permeability, decrease mucus barrier thickness, and promote colitis.
...synthetic colorants in dietary products has significantly increased over the past 50 years. These compounds are metabolized to generate free aromatic amines in the gut lumen, some of which are potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic. Among many azo dyes, Allura Red...is the most widely used colorant in many countries...AR is a non-genotoxic sulfonated mono-azo red dye that is metabolized by intestinal bacteria...[and] exerts pro-inflammatory properties by promoting oxidative stress through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in the rat liver and kidney...Despite being highly prevalent in our diet, it is poorly understood how AR influences intestinal inflammation...
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-35309-y
Nature is one of the two (the other being Science) most respected general scientific journals. I'm not asserting that studies published in either are inerrant, but that only rarely are they either industry or woo driven.
Nature is also one of the leaders in OpenAccess (free to read) publications. The above paper is both OpenAccess and worth a thoughtful read as Allura Red (interesting name?) is very common in candy, soda, breakfast cereals and indeed may—my speculation—specifically be used to catch the attention of children who find the color alluring.
This study was not designed to address possible links to other conditions—such as ADHD—found to Allura Red in other studies. That is a story for another day
For those who are curious, here is a link to a page which asserts to be a listing of all candy with AR (as of 2017)
Happy Solstice
December 20, 2022
The link works in FF as well as in two Chrome based browsers: Brave and Edge
Just some random oddity of Chrome (108.0.5359.125 (Official Build) (64-bit)) on my Windoz-10 sys?
Or some dark Google plot now that ‘Don’t Be Evil’ is history?
In any event, have just started reading the report. It reads, as (in completely different context) Gordon Lightfoot's song says "Just like a paperback novel; The kind the drugstores sell"
Normally at this point I'd link to this very evocative song; but the only link I could find out of Googleverse was Apple—another little empire.
So, here's a link to the Lyrics/Chords at
https://www.lightfoot.ca/ifyoucld.htm
Download (if Google allows) and read the report.
Google Chrome Blocking link to J6 Committee Report: Or is it just me?
NPR has a link to the 100 page introduction to the coming full J6 report at
https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=23466430-introductory-material-to-the-final-report-of-the-select-comm
When clicking on the link on that page to download the PDF
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23466430/introductory-material-to-the-final-report-of-the-select-committee.pdf
In Chrome get the message
s3.documentcloud.org is blocked
This page has been blocked by Chrome
ERR_BLOCKED_BY_CLIENT
This page has been blocked by Chrome
ERR_BLOCKED_BY_CLIENT
The link works in FF as well as in two Chrome based browsers: Brave and Edge
Just some random oddity of Chrome (108.0.5359.125 (Official Build) (64-bit)) on my Windoz-10 sys?
Or some dark Google plot now that ‘Don’t Be Evil’ is history?
In any event, have just started reading the report. It reads, as (in completely different context) Gordon Lightfoot's song says "Just like a paperback novel; The kind the drugstores sell"
Normally at this point I'd link to this very evocative song; but the only link I could find out of Googleverse was Apple—another little empire.
So, here's a link to the Lyrics/Chords at
https://www.lightfoot.ca/ifyoucld.htm
Download (if Google allows) and read the report.
December 16, 2022
This is a very important (and LONG) article discussing not just Hyundai and Kia, but also the apparent extensive use of child labor in chicken processing plants.
Making America Great Again: One shattered dream at a time.
Merry Christmas! to all the Good Little Girls and Boys working in Alabama Car Plant
At least four major suppliers of Hyundai Motor Co and sister Kia Corp have employed child labor at Alabama factories in recent years, a Reuters investigation found, and state and federal agencies are probing whether kids have worked at as many as a half dozen additional manufacturers throughout the automakers’ supply chain in the southern U.S. state. {..snip..}
On Aug. 22 a team of Labor Department and Alabama state inspectors arrived unannounced at one of Ajin’s plants, according to people familiar with the operation. As the team arrived, workers rushed out the back and left the premises before they could be questioned, one of the inspectors told a meeting of Alabama’s anti-human trafficking task force last month, according to two people who attended. The inspection hasn’t previously been reported. {..snip..}
Among the issues state and federal investigators are now probing is whether children who worked among Hyundai suppliers may have gotten there through human trafficking networks, three people familiar with the investigations said. “Minor is part of a child labor trafficking case,” read notes reviewed by Reuters from one of the brothers’ ORR case files.
In the notes, authorities wrote the children described “exploitation from debt bondage (repaying smuggling debts).” They added that an unnamed “third party labor service company” made the youths believe it could have them removed from the United States.
“Some children expressed fear of deportation based on comments made by company officials to them,” the notes said.
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-immigration-hyundai/
On Aug. 22 a team of Labor Department and Alabama state inspectors arrived unannounced at one of Ajin’s plants, according to people familiar with the operation. As the team arrived, workers rushed out the back and left the premises before they could be questioned, one of the inspectors told a meeting of Alabama’s anti-human trafficking task force last month, according to two people who attended. The inspection hasn’t previously been reported. {..snip..}
Among the issues state and federal investigators are now probing is whether children who worked among Hyundai suppliers may have gotten there through human trafficking networks, three people familiar with the investigations said. “Minor is part of a child labor trafficking case,” read notes reviewed by Reuters from one of the brothers’ ORR case files.
In the notes, authorities wrote the children described “exploitation from debt bondage (repaying smuggling debts).” They added that an unnamed “third party labor service company” made the youths believe it could have them removed from the United States.
“Some children expressed fear of deportation based on comments made by company officials to them,” the notes said.
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-immigration-hyundai/
This is a very important (and LONG) article discussing not just Hyundai and Kia, but also the apparent extensive use of child labor in chicken processing plants.
Making America Great Again: One shattered dream at a time.
December 15, 2022
Gosh. Is it possible that aspartame (NutraSweet™) might be worse for you than the sugar it was developed to replace?
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Food for thought: Artificial Sweetener Aspartame shows multigenerational anxiety in mice
Exposure of mice to aspartame, an artificial sweetener found in nearly 5,000 diet foods and drinks, at doses equivalent to below 15% of the FDA recommended maximum daily intake for humans, produces anxiety-like behavior. The anxiety is alleviated by diazepam, a drug used in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. The aspartame exposure produces changes in the expression of genes regulating excitation-inhibition balance in the amygdala, a brain region that regulates anxiety and fear. The anxiety, its response to diazepam and the changes in amygdala gene expression are not limited to the aspartame-exposed individuals but also appear in up to two generations descending from the aspartame-exposed males.
Ref: Transgenerational transmission of aspartame-induced anxiety and changes in glutamate-GABA signaling and gene expression in the amygdala.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022; 119 (49) DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213120119
Ref: Transgenerational transmission of aspartame-induced anxiety and changes in glutamate-GABA signaling and gene expression in the amygdala.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022; 119 (49) DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213120119
Gosh. Is it possible that aspartame (NutraSweet™) might be worse for you than the sugar it was developed to replace?
There's no question that low-calorie sweeteners provide a sugary flavor without the calories of sugar. But the latest evidence suggests that might not lead to a positive effect on health or weight...
...research review published in BMJ found that the evidence that sweeteners aid oral health, blood sugar levels, or other health problems is extremely limited. While the Food and Drug Administration considers low-calorie sweeteners safe for consumption, some scientists say we don't have the data to exclude potential harms. Another recent study published in the journal Stroke found that women 50 and older who drank 24 or more ounces (two cans) of diet soda a day were 23 percent more likely to have a stroke than those who drank less than 12 ounces a week. Previous research has linked low-calorie sweeteners to possible heart problems, type 2 diabetes, and potentially harmful changes in the gut microbiome.
https://www.consumerreports.org/sugar-sweeteners/the-truth-about-sugar-vs-artificial-sweeteners/
...research review published in BMJ found that the evidence that sweeteners aid oral health, blood sugar levels, or other health problems is extremely limited. While the Food and Drug Administration considers low-calorie sweeteners safe for consumption, some scientists say we don't have the data to exclude potential harms. Another recent study published in the journal Stroke found that women 50 and older who drank 24 or more ounces (two cans) of diet soda a day were 23 percent more likely to have a stroke than those who drank less than 12 ounces a week. Previous research has linked low-calorie sweeteners to possible heart problems, type 2 diabetes, and potentially harmful changes in the gut microbiome.
https://www.consumerreports.org/sugar-sweeteners/the-truth-about-sugar-vs-artificial-sweeteners/
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