I guess it's the humane substitute. What's worse than eating the cells of something that was once alive, breathing, feeling thinking? That should gross us out more....and yet...for some reason this feels much more disgusting.
I guess it's the humane substitute. What's worse than eating the cells of something that was once alive, breathing, feeling thinking? That should gross us out more....and yet...for some reason this feels much more disgusting.
Aianawa (29th July 2020), Aragorn (22nd July 2020), Dreamtimer (22nd July 2020), Elen (22nd July 2020), Emil El Zapato (22nd July 2020), Gio (22nd July 2020)
That's the point Ms Octopus ...
Originally posted by giovonni
Aianawa (29th July 2020), Aragorn (22nd July 2020), Dreamtimer (22nd July 2020), Elen (22nd July 2020), Emil El Zapato (22nd July 2020), modwiz (22nd July 2020)
Lost in the Petifile Forest ...
Aianawa (29th July 2020), Aragorn (22nd July 2020), Dreamtimer (22nd July 2020), Elen (22nd July 2020), Emil El Zapato (22nd July 2020), modwiz (22nd July 2020)
His latest ...
GEE, ANTHONY FAUCI! - A Randy Rainbow Song Parody
Jul 22, 2020
3:55 minutes
Aianawa (29th July 2020), Aragorn (22nd July 2020), Dreamtimer (23rd July 2020), Elen (23rd July 2020), Emil El Zapato (22nd July 2020), modwiz (23rd July 2020), Wind (23rd July 2020)
It's a bonus RR morning!
Aianawa (29th July 2020), Aragorn (23rd July 2020), Elen (24th July 2020), Emil El Zapato (27th July 2020), Gio (24th July 2020)
This one's for Vern ...
Twitter Just Banned QAnon
Accounts. QAnon Supporters Are
Thrilled
“QAnon is not an individual. It’s a global decentralized movement and
it’s found a voice in the halls of power”
By EJ Dickson
July 22, 2020
Supporters of President Donald Trump hold up their phones with messages referring to the QAnon conspiracy theory at a campaign rally at Las Vegas Convention Center on February 21, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On Tuesday night, Twitter announced that it would be removing 7,000 QAnon accounts on the grounds that they had “engaged in violations of our multi-account policy, coordinating abuse around individual victims, or are attempting to evade a previous suspension.” The platform also announced that it would be preventing URLs associated with QAnon from being shared on the platform as well as banning content associated with QAnon from appearing in its Trending section.
Due to its comparatively relaxed content guidelines, Twitter has long served as one of the primary hubs of the QAnon movement, which is centered on the belief that left-wing public figures are involved in a Deep State conspiracy. Many experts following the movement applauded Twitter’s decision to crack down. “Twitter has changed and they do seem to be taking more of a leadership position in terms of moderating content and better enforcing terms of use policies and I applaud them for it,” says Kathleen Stansberry, assistant professor of media analytics at Elon University.
Others, however, were more skeptical about the efficacy of the move, suggesting the movement has perhaps grown too big to adequately tamp down. “QAnon is not an individual. It’s a global decentralized movement and it’s found a voice in the halls of power,” says Marc-Andre Argentino, a Ph.D. candidate and public scholar at Concordia University studying extremism, religion, and technology. He also cited the emergence of QAnon-supporting congressional candidates. Curbing such a wide-ranging and rapidly growing movement in the long-term, he warns, may prove to be “immensely difficult.”
To those closely following the movement, which has exploded in popularity in recent years, the impetus behind Twitter’s actions seemed to be the increasing visibility of the movement in the mainstream media. In particular, Chrissy Teigen, who has long been the subject of QAnon conspiracy theories, made news when she announced she would be setting her account to private to stave off harassment. “She was perhaps the biggest voice in the problem of QAnon-targeted harassment and shortly afterward they decided to take this action,” says Travis View, cohost of the QAnon Anonymous podcast. (A Twitter spokesperson told Rolling Stone that the update was not in response to the harassment of Teigen, and that it had been tracking coordinated QAnon-related harassment efforts for some time.)
QAnon was also instrumental in promoting the Wayfair child trafficking conspiracy theory, which went viral on Twitter last week. But, generally speaking, QAnon has been gathering steam since the very start of lockdown in mid-March, and activity on Twitter has gone up nearly 85%, according to Argentino. “Conspiracy theories are a way for people to try to provide answers for a problem of evil and project their insecurities onto this larger evil force,” he explains. “The pandemic has caused economic, political and health-related insecurities. That, combined with the fact that people have more time to be online, has created a very fertile environment for conspiracy theories.”
A growing number of congressional candidates have also embraced the movement, prompting widespread concern about its mainstreaming. President Trump has also retweeted or quote-tweeted QAnon content an estimated 180 times, although he has not explicitly promoted the movement.
In response to Twitter’s most recent action against QAnon, many far-right or QAnon-adjacent figures have come out against the platform, claiming it’s hampering free speech; numerous figures also pointed out that “Antifa,” a common straw man for the right, has not been subject to such censure. This argument may be effective at galvanizing the right, but it doesn’t hold much water, says Stansberry: “Twitter is a private company and if you don’t adhere to their terms of use you shouldn’t be able to use it, just like you can’t go into a store and start screaming profanities and expect not be told to leave,” she says.
But Twitter’s actions against QAnon have also had the unintended effect of reinforcing conspiracy theorists’ belief that they are being targeted or silenced by a giant tech conglomerate. “This makes them feel emboldened,” View says. “It sort of confirms their ideological presuppositions that they are speaking such frightening important truths that threaten the establishment that a powerful entity like Twitter has to crack down on them. They believe they are engaging in an information war and they’re not ready to leave the battlefield.”
And indeed, many QAnon supporters have attempted to operate on Twitter unnoticed in unintentionally comical ways, such as using the number “17” (a reference to Q, the 17th letter of the alphabet) or making reference to “CueAnon” instead of QAnon.
Others are already preparing to abandon the platform for smaller yet more permissive ones, such as Parler (which trended on Tuesday night), Telegram, or Voat. TikTok has also emerged in recent months as a potential new host for QAnon, particularly among younger supporters, for whom referencing the movement is “like a social media cheat code,” View says. “It’s an easy way to get a ton of attention very quickly.”
Ostensibly, this is how de-platforming is supposed to work: If individuals or groups promoting toxic ideas are no longer permitted on a large mainstream platform, then they’ll be forced to migrate to smaller and more insular ones, where they’ll be unable to amass a new audience or recruit new members. But there also may be a terrifying side effect to the de-platforming of QAnon specifically, says Argentino: increased radicalization. On platforms like Telegram, for instance, there has been some recent overlap between QAnon groups and other, even more extremist far-right sects. “Some individuals who are recently disenfranchised may be more likely to find [more extremist ideas] attractive,” he says.
It’s in part for this reason (as well as the fact that other platforms, like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, have yet to institute similar policies) that Argentino feels that Twitter’s recent de-platforming efforts may not be as effective as one would hope. “There’s such a diverse and active community, that censorship may not be the way to deal with them,” he says. “It’s good short-term PR for Twitter…but in the long run, you still have a large pool of individuals committed to this who will be put on alternative platforms without community guidelines or counterforces to un-pill these individuals.”
At the end of the day, conspiracy theories and their resulting communities are “like a hydra,” says Stansberry. “You cut off one head, more heads grow. And you can make it stronger.”
Source/reference links
rollingstone.com
Aianawa (29th July 2020), Aragorn (24th July 2020), Dreamtimer (24th July 2020), Elen (24th July 2020), Emil El Zapato (27th July 2020), modwiz (24th July 2020), Wind (24th July 2020)
EXCLUSIVE: Mary Trump's insider interview on
'most dangerous' President | 60 Minutes Australia
The President of the United States is often referred to as the most powerful man in the world. But Donald Trump’s niece, Mary Trump says the current POTUS is really the most dangerous man in the world. She is so troubled by Trump’s abuse of his position that she says it’s her patriotic duty to take him down. And to do that she has written a brutal tell-all memoir. As Liam Bartlett discovers in an Australian television exclusive interview, the book is the ultimate insider’s account of a truly dysfunctional family. But it has added substance because Doctor Mary Trump is also a clinical psychologist. Her analysis of how her Uncle Don became Uncle Sam is not just a page-turner, it’s a horror story.
Jul 26, 2020
27:23 minutes
Presenting an alternative to the alternative community.
Aianawa (29th July 2020), Aragorn (27th July 2020), Dreamtimer (28th July 2020), Elen (28th July 2020), Emil El Zapato (27th July 2020), Wind (28th July 2020)
I like your new signature Gio...
“El revolucionario: te meteré la bota en el culo"
Getting to the clutch of this paralyzing dilemma ...
Police unions have spent decades amassing influence. They have often used it to combat what Patrick Lynch, the head of New York City’s P.B.A., calls “pro-criminal advocates.”
How Police Unions Fight
Reform
Activists insist that police departments must change. For half a century, New York City’s P.B.A. has successfully resisted such demands.
By William Finnegan
July 27, 2020
Listen/read here
Presenting an alternative to the alternative community.
Aianawa (29th July 2020), Aragorn (28th July 2020), Dreamtimer (28th July 2020), Elen (28th July 2020), Emil El Zapato (28th July 2020), modwiz (29th July 2020)
"We'll see" ...
Americans Without Water
CBS Sunday Morning
Jul 26, 2020
The simple act of hand-washing became the first line of defense against the spread of the coronavirus. But millions of Americans have had to live through this pandemic with no safe running water, or even plumbing, in their homes. Correspondent Lee Cowan examines the lives of 21st century Americans with no easy access to water.
9:49 minutes
Presenting an alternative to the alternative community.
Aianawa (29th July 2020), Aragorn (30th July 2020), Dreamtimer (29th July 2020), Elen (30th July 2020), Emil El Zapato (29th July 2020), modwiz (29th July 2020)
Am horrified, shocked even. By the time Q destroys itself, it will be massive imo, then it won't, Job completed.
Aragorn (30th July 2020), Emil El Zapato (29th July 2020), Gio (29th July 2020), modwiz (29th July 2020)
Fuck ...
Scientists identify six different
‘types’ of COVID-19 in new study
By Tamar Lapin
July 29, 2020
"British scientists have determined that there are six different “types” of COVID-19 distinguished by specific clusters of symptoms — which could help in the treatment of the deadly contagion.
The study, conducted by King’s College London, analyzed data from about 1,600 UK and US coronavirus patients who regularly logged their symptoms into a tracking app in March and April.
The findings revealed that six distinct groupings of symptoms emerge by the fifth day of the virus’ progression, which the researchers say could help doctors better treat individual patients by allowing them to predict what level of hospital care they need.
“Our study illustrates the importance of monitoring symptoms over time to make our predictions about individual risk and outcomes more sophisticated and accurate,” said lead researcher Dr. Carole Sudre from King’s College London.
“This approach is helping us to understand the unfolding story of this disease in each patient so they can get the best care.”
All of the people who logged their symptoms experienced loss of smell and headaches, but then had a varying combination of lesser-known side-effects as the illness set in — including confusion, abdominal pain and shortness of breath."
"The six clusters were broken down by order of severity as follows:
- Flu-like with no fever: Headache, loss of smell, muscle pains, cough, sore throat, chest pain, no fever.
- Flu-like with fever: Headache, loss of smell, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, fever, loss of appetite.
- Gastrointestinal: Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, diarrhea, sore throat, chest pain, no cough.
- Severe level one, fatigue: Headache, loss of smell, cough, fever, hoarseness, chest pain, fatigue.
- Severe level two, confusion: Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain.
- Severe level three, abdominal and respiratory: Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain, shortness of breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain."
"The first three clusters were more common in younger and healthier patients, while the last three more “severe” symptoms were more likely in older patients or those with preexisting conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease and obesity.
Only 1.5% of people with cluster 1, 4.4% of people with cluster 2, and 3.3% of people with cluster 3 required breathing support, such as extra oxygen or ventilators, the researchers found.
But the likelihood of needing breathing support rose in the latter three clusters, with 8.6%, 9.9% and 19.8% respectively.
Nearly half of the patients in cluster 6 ended up in the hospital, compared with just 16% of those in cluster 1. Most COVID-19 patients who need breathing come to the hospital around the 13th day after their first symptoms, the scientists said.
But being able to identify which cluster a patient falls in by the fifth day of symptoms would give doctors an early warning about whether the person will need intensive care.
“These findings have important implications for care and monitoring of people who are most vulnerable to severe COVID-19,” said Dr. Claire Steves from King’s College London.
“If you can predict who these people are at day five, you have time to give them support and early interventions such as monitoring blood oxygen and sugar levels, and ensuring they are properly hydrated — simple care that could be given at home, preventing hospitalizations and saving lives.”
The first group made up the largest share of participants, with 462 patients, while there were 315 patients in the second group, 216 in the third, 280 in the fourth, 213 in the fifth and 167 in the sixth.
The study has not been peer-reviewed."
Source: nypost.com
Presenting an alternative to the alternative community.
Aianawa (30th July 2020), Aragorn (30th July 2020), Dreamtimer (30th July 2020), Elen (30th July 2020), Emil El Zapato (29th July 2020), modwiz (30th July 2020)
It appears the once giant U.S. business is finally back
on the road to re-purposing its vast resources ...
Eastman Kodak CEO James Continenza on shift to drug production
Jul 29, 2020Eastman Kodak CEO James Continenza on shift to drug productionEastman Kodak made waves on Tuesday with news it is shifting into production of pharmaceutical ingredients with a $765 million government loan under the Defense Production Act. James Continenza, CEO and executive chairman of Eastman Kodak, joins "Squawk Box" to discuss the deal.
4"45 minutes
Presenting an alternative to the alternative community.
Aianawa (30th July 2020), Aragorn (30th July 2020), Dreamtimer (30th July 2020), Elen (30th July 2020), Emil El Zapato (30th July 2020)
Some insightful/broad perspective views ...
USA vs China: A new Cold War? | To the point
DW News
(a German public international broadcaster)
Consulate closures. Trade war. Military manoeuvres. Tensions continue to rise between the superpowers USA and China. Is it the beginning of a new Cold War? Our guests: Qian Sun (freelance journalist), Daniel Hamilton (Johns Hopkins University) and Mareike Ohlberg (sinologist)
Jul 30, 2020
26:08 minutes
Presenting an alternative to the alternative community.
Aragorn (31st July 2020), Dreamtimer (31st July 2020), Elen (31st July 2020), Emil El Zapato (2nd August 2020)
I forgot sinologist was a word.
Aragorn (31st July 2020), Elen (1st August 2020), Emil El Zapato (2nd August 2020), Gio (31st July 2020)
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