Non-IT News Thread
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Washington state now has another bug to worry about after 'murder hornets.' Gypsy moths
Add another giant bug to the list of things Washington state is working to handle right now.
Earlier this week, scientists said they had spotted Asian giant hornets in the state -- and it's still unknown how they got there. Now there's another threat: a non-native gypsy moth. Such a threat, in fact, that Gov. Jay Inslee issued an emergency proclamation because of the creatures, saying there was an "imminent danger of an infestation" of the plant pests in parts of Snohomish County. -
@pmoncho I don't think the amount of solar wind that hits us will be affected. This is just talking about where the poles are. The molten material flow is made up of mostly iron and other heavy metals. The magnetosphere extends all around around Earth and outwards a lot. this is what keeps the solar winds from damaging us and the planet more.
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Coronavirus: Italy death toll tops 30,000, highest in EU
Italy has become the first country in the European Union to register more than 30,000 coronavirus-related deaths.
It reported 243 new fatalities on Friday - down from 274 the day before - taking the total to 30,201. The daily number of confirmed new cases fell slightly to 1,327, bringing the total number of infections to 217,185. Restrictions have begun to ease around the county, but one doctor described the city of Milan as a time "bomb," according to local media. Italy has the third highest number of officially recorded coronavirus deaths in the world, after the United States and the UK. -
Little Richard has just passed away at 82.
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India's carbon emissions fall for first time in four decades
India's CO2 emissions have fallen for the first time in four decades - and not just as a result of the country's coronavirus lockdown.
Falling electricity use and competition from renewables had weakened the demand for fossil fuels even before the coronavirus hit, according to analysis by the environmental website, Carbon Brief. However, it was the sudden nationwide lockdown in March that finally tipped the country's 37-year emissions growth trend into reverse. The study finds that Indian carbon dioxide emissions fell 15% in March, and are likely to have fallen by 30% in April. Virtually all of the drop-off in power demand has been borne by coal-fired generators, which explains why the emissions reductions have been so dramatic. -
Coronavirus: England housing market is released from lockdown
The government has set out plans to re-start England's housing market, which has been in deep freeze since the coronavirus lockdown.
Effective immediately, estate agents can open, viewings can be carried out, and removal firms and conveyancers can re-start operations. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the changes must be carried out under social distancing and safety rules. It is estimated that there are 450,000 buyers and renters with plans on hold. Mr Jenrick said: "Our clear plan will enable people to move home safely, covering each aspect of the sales and letting process, from viewings to removals. "This critical industry can now safely move forward, and those waiting patiently to move can now do so." -
We will have summer tourist season, promises EU
A gradual lifting of borders has been proposed by the EU's executive in an attempt to kick-start a tourist industry hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
"Our message is we will have a tourist season this summer," said economic affairs commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, "even if it's with security measures and limitations." Borders closed across the EU, including the border-free Schengen zone. But states are starting to reopen them. Austria and Germany have become the latest EU countries to agree to remove travel restrictions. From Friday there will be random checks at border crossings and then on 15 June free movement should resume. "We want to make people's everyday lives easier and take another step towards more normality," said Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. -
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Richard Burr: US Senate intelligence chief quits amid virus trading scandal
The Republican chairman of the US Senate intelligence committee will resign from the post amid an insider trading investigation.
Richard Burr of North Carolina would step down on 15 May, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. It has emerged on Thursday that Mr Burr's phone has been seized by the FBI as part of the probe. The senator is alleged to have used inside information to avoid market losses from coronavirus. He and his wife sold as much as $1.7m (£1.4m) of equities in February, just before markets plunged on fears of an economic crisis. -
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Richard Burr: US Senate intelligence chief quits amid virus trading scandal
The Republican chairman of the US Senate intelligence committee will resign from the post amid an insider trading investigation.
Richard Burr of North Carolina would step down on 15 May, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. It has emerged on Thursday that Mr Burr's phone has been seized by the FBI as part of the probe. The senator is alleged to have used inside information to avoid market losses from coronavirus. He and his wife sold as much as $1.7m (£1.4m) of equities in February, just before markets plunged on fears of an economic crisis.Misleading. Headline :astonished_face:
He is only stepping down as the head of the intelligence committee. He is still a senator. THough he has previously stated he will not be seeking reelection in 2022 -
@JaredBusch said in Non-IT News Thread:
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Richard Burr: US Senate intelligence chief quits amid virus trading scandal
The Republican chairman of the US Senate intelligence committee will resign from the post amid an insider trading investigation.
Richard Burr of North Carolina would step down on 15 May, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. It has emerged on Thursday that Mr Burr's phone has been seized by the FBI as part of the probe. The senator is alleged to have used inside information to avoid market losses from coronavirus. He and his wife sold as much as $1.7m (£1.4m) of equities in February, just before markets plunged on fears of an economic crisis.Misleading. Headline :astonished_face:
He is only stepping down as the head of the intelligence committee. He is still a senator. THough he has previously stated he will not be seeking reelection in 2022Its pretty bad when both sides want you gone.
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@popester said in Non-IT News Thread:
@JaredBusch said in Non-IT News Thread:
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Richard Burr: US Senate intelligence chief quits amid virus trading scandal
The Republican chairman of the US Senate intelligence committee will resign from the post amid an insider trading investigation.
Richard Burr of North Carolina would step down on 15 May, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. It has emerged on Thursday that Mr Burr's phone has been seized by the FBI as part of the probe. The senator is alleged to have used inside information to avoid market losses from coronavirus. He and his wife sold as much as $1.7m (£1.4m) of equities in February, just before markets plunged on fears of an economic crisis.Misleading. Headline :astonished_face:
He is only stepping down as the head of the intelligence committee. He is still a senator. THough he has previously stated he will not be seeking reelection in 2022Its pretty bad when both sides want you gone.
Or pretty good.
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@black3dynamite They have GOT to stop breaking down doors for warrants..... I dont care who you are, someone kicks your door in, the last thing on your mind is "They must be here about the warrant". I dont understand the logic behind kicking in a door and expecting a warm welcome and a hug.
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@popester said in Non-IT News Thread:
@black3dynamite They have GOT to stop breaking down doors for warrants..... I dont care who you are, someone kicks your door in, the last thing on your mind is "They must be here about the warrant". I dont understand the logic behind kicking in a door and expecting a warm welcome and a hug.
Imagine a child was near the door when something like that happens.
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@black3dynamite it is totally unnecessary, IMHO. Use technology and make it a waiting game. Use investigative tactics and figure out where they will be vulnerable in public. Violent action, begets violent response. It's a warrant people!!!
Rant off.
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@black3dynamite said in Non-IT News Thread:
@popester said in Non-IT News Thread:
@black3dynamite They have GOT to stop breaking down doors for warrants..... I dont care who you are, someone kicks your door in, the last thing on your mind is "They must be here about the warrant". I dont understand the logic behind kicking in a door and expecting a warm welcome and a hug.
Imagine a child was near the door when something like that happens.
I swear that's what they want to happen. The whole thing is intentional to create a worst case scenario and do terrible things to innocent people. I truly believe no knock warrants should be a capital crime.
Serving a no knock means you have taken the time to plan for something terrible to happen. It's premeditated and its against random innocent people. The moment you issue or act on a no knock, you've decided that you are okay with innocent people dying. The entire process is no different to any active shooter situation. No knock warrants are just school shooters who got badges first.
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White House 'Operation Warp Speed' to look for Covid jab
US President Donald Trump has vowed to deliver a coronavirus jab by year's end as he launched a White House vaccine initiative, dubbed "Operation Warp Speed".
The effort will begin with studies on 14 promising vaccine candidates for accelerated research and approval. Progress is moving at "record speed", but the US must be prepared to reopen "vaccine or no vaccine," Mr Trump said. Experts have cast doubt on the White House timelines for a jab. Announcing 'Warp Speed' at a White House Rose Garden news conference on Friday, Mr Trump named an Army general and a former healthcare executive to lead the operation, a partnership between the government and private sector to find and distribute a vaccine.
