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Legendary Producer Nile Rodgers Used to be a Black Panther – Inside Edition

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

Decades before this legendary producer founded the 70s disco group CHIC, produced Diana Ross and Madonna or jammedwith Daft Punk and Pharell, Nile Rodgers was a 16-year-old member of the Black Panther Party.

I just sort of... how would I say? I elevated, or I developed into a Panther, Rodgers told Inside Edition Digital. When I joined the Black Panther Party at 16-and-a-half years old, it was after having an entire youth of not only just activism when it was political, but also I was a Boy Scout and a Cub Scout and I was just raised to help people. My parents socialized me to care about other people. We're just a natural extension of... it was almost like a rite of passage. It was like you grew up into being a Panther.

The native New Yorker grew up on the Lower East Side.

Even though my parents, they had a tough time because they were beatniks, heroin addicts, blah, blah, blah, but they were intellectual and really smart. They knew that education was my way and my ticket out. Not only just education, but just basic humanity. My mom used to put me on her knee and talk to me about the golden rule. This is serious, it's so funny that she would always tell me, "Treat others the way that you'd like them to treat you." Over and over, he said.

I had been, I would say part of what we would call the movement for some time.

And then the main thing that we were motivated by, I would say in my circle of friends, was obviously racial equality was pretty high on the ticket. But also, we were anti the Vietnam War.

As we became a teen, especially people of color and poor people, were instantly just shipped off to Vietnam. So I was in a number of organizations that were antiwar organizations that were pro women's movement, which is basically the start of the women's movement that we know today, and the start of the gay riots at Stonewall and all that stuff. All of these movements were just converging, and that's really why we called it the movement. Everything was happening.

Founded in 1966, in Oakland, California, the Black Panther Party was a socio-political movement focused on uplifting the Black community.

Legally openly carrying weapons, they would conduct police watching patrols Black neighborhoods in efforts to curb police brutality. Some perceived this as militant, which helped the Panthers gain that reputation.

So that's why when the Black Panther Party formed in Oakland, California, they could walk into the courthouse with guns, the same thing that white people were able to do. As soon as black people did it, all of a sudden they made gun laws, they made open carry illegal, Rodgers recalled.

You see black people doing it, all of a sudden it's militant, hoodlum, blah, blah, blah. The exact same shot, just change the color of the person and it has a different meaning. The meaning is exactly the same. People were just protesting it, asking for their rights that are written in our documents that founded this country.

The Black Panther Partys Ten-Point Program outlined their goalsincluding an immediate end to police brutality and murder of Black people. They also wanted land, education, decent housing, clothing, justice and peace for African-Americans. Membership peaked in 1968, with more than 2000 Black Panthers across the U.S.

By the time the 1970s rolled around, the FBIs Cointelpro deemed the Black Panthers a communist organization and called them an enemy of the United States. Law enforcement killed members and leaders of the party. By 1982, the Black Panthers disbanded.

Real Panther life is painting a person's house, taking their laundry, getting groceries, feeding kids. That's real Panther life. That would be pretty boring to show on television, but boy, it sure was exciting to show people walking into the Oakland Alameda Courthouse, Rodgers said.

Rodgers continues to carry on his giving spirit through his We Are Family Foundation.

Started in 2002, in response to the September 11th, 2001 attacks. The foundations goal has been to amplify and support diverse young leaders who are attacking systemic racism through basic needs like food, water and housing.

Under WAFFs umbrella, Rodgers started the Youth to the Front Program. It supports and funds Black and Indigenous People of Color under 30 who are youth activists, and are at the helm of youth organizations and projects committed to fighting systemic racism, inequality and injustice.

That Rodgers still manages to maintain his upbeat attitude is nothing short of amazing. Especially when it comes to what he says are close calls.

I am only sitting here just because of the number of encounters I have had, the police didn't choose to shoot. That's it. They just chose not to shoot, Rodgers stated.

It was only a few months ago when Rodgers was on his way to Vermont to produce a well-known band. He wasnt familiar with the route, started seeing street signs in French and realized hed wound up near the Canadian border.

A trip to get gas would turn dangerous.

I turn off, I go to just a little convenience store. And as soon as I walk in, the woman... there's a sole white woman at this store. She pushes the panic button, unbeknownst to me. I walk in, I don't even have any contact with her. I go right in because my car is outside filling up automatically. I go directly to the refrigerated bin to decide whether I wanted diet Mountain Dew which I knew had the most caffeine, or diet Dr. Pepper or whatever, Rodgers recalled.

Then, Rodgers said officers showed up and started screaming.

There's a cacophonous sound. I don't know even know what they're saying. So my head turns, and I look over there at them. I look to the right where they are. And then I just right away... of course, they can't possibly be talking to me. I haven't committed a crime, he said.

So I looked to the left to see who they were possibly talking to. Now, if you had just seen the camera, right? And they shot me, they would have said, Oh, he was looking for a way to run out of the store. But in flight, all it was that this could cacophonous thing that was happening at the door, I tried to see who they were talking to. Because certainly, it couldn't have been me. One, I have a car that you could spot a mile away. My friends laugh and call it the bumblebee mobile. It's a yellow Range Rover, there's only 100 in the world.

I looked at them and they could see I was puzzled. And I think that maybe my sense of puzzlement startled them, because they're probably accustomed to dealing... I don't know what the... I can't read their minds at all, but all I know is that at some point, the situation calmed down.

I said to the state troopers, During your training, is there any type of training that's a sort of a logic kind of course? When you come to a crime scene, is your brain processed to look around and how we say look at your surroundings? Didn't you notice that the car was a $100,000 car? Didn't you notice that it was being filled up? When you get to a crime scene, don't you start to go, okay, I got this fact, that's a fact. That's a fact. That's a fact. That's a fact? Anyway, they were so embarrassed by the time I finished my little diatribe, they actually gave me a police escort all the way to the place where I was going to Vermont, to the border, and said, Okay, now it's just two miles down. And then they gave me some kind of get out of jail free card, like Please don't stop this guy, or if you stop him, Officer so and so said this.

Rodgers even recalled a harrowing story of the time he got stopped by police as a teenager while on his way to Woodstock 1969.

16-years-old, hitchhiking was a normal thing. A cop pulled a gun out on us, lined us up in a ditch. There was a drainage ditch off the side of the road, and the cop told us that he was going to go up two miles, swing around and come back. If he saw us, he was going to put a bullet in each of our heads. We would just drop in the ditch, and he says, And nobody would even care. We knew that he was telling the truth. We ran into town and called our friend's father, the only person we knew with a car, who was a tenured professor at Columbia University. I think he may have been the first black tenured professor. We called his dad. It was terrifying to us. We had experienced that all of our lives, but not... it was so blatant, because now we're outside of New York City.

With all he has been though, Rodgers believes true, effective, meaningful change is still attainable, and can be reached through the younger generations.

I think it's a long road to hoe but I honestly feel very inspired. I think that this is a movement of love and compassion. I heard someone say, maybe it was the governor of New York, say that, Love will always win. Well, I'm an old school hippie, I believe that all day long. That's who I am.

Moving day – with unity and love | Opinions – The Capital Journal

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

Ephesians 4:2-3: With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Have you ever moved? Well then, always remember the first commandment of moving is that junk expands to all space provided. The second commandment is likewise; wifes stuff is more important than husbands stuff particularly craft items.

A friend indicated his willingness to help in the moving process. His exact email words were, I love dust, heavy boxes, lifting stuff thats been nailed to the floor for centuries, arguing with spouse, and trying to make it all fit into that uncompromisingly undersized moving truck. So, Ill be there in spirit. Gotta run, time for my afternoon nap.

Admittedly, the arguing with spouse part is most fun. My wife has now packed 9,347 huge boxes of craft stuff; mostly boxes of broken, dry-rotted thread, rusted bobbins, and pieces of faded material passed down by great-great granny, but believe me, its all essential.

On the other hand, I have a tiny, minuscule box taken from my humble bedside table, mostly containing nostalgic items of great value such as Richard Nixon campaign buttons, fingernail clippers, and a few spent ammo shell casings, yet she had the audacity to suggest I was taking up too much room in the truck.

With kindness, I mildly suggested she might consider discarding some of the unusable paraphernalia in exchange for an ounce or two of my pitiful belongings. I was met with the red-flaming eyes of Zuul from Ghostbusters, and the golden rule of moving you just dont want me to have anything, do you?

If I had my way Id roast all of this junk on the front lawn while dancing around the flames singing Johnny Cashs Ring of Fire, but for now Ill head to Menards and spend my retirement money on more boxes. And, being the dutiful husband that I am, Ill come home, soothe the ruffled feathers of a wife who felt guilted into tossing out a toothbrush that the dog-chewed up.

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Moving day - with unity and love | Opinions - The Capital Journal

What every business owner and employee needs to know before returning to the workplace – BakeryAndSnacks.com

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

As the phased return to normality is likely to be rolled out over a few months, employers are going to have different needs and requirements in how to restart operations.

The timescale by which they can do so, will depend on the industry they are in. Similarly, employees will have their own considerations and mixed feelings about returning to work with childcare, transportation and health concerns, front of mind.

In some cases, employers and employees may wish to remain working at home for productivity and to enable social distancing for an extended period.

Each employers management of this will need to take into account its operational needs, together with the law and government guidance on how employees can return to work safely.

The Government has recently advised people to go back to work only if they cannot work from home. This may change again with updated announcements.

Employers should realistically undertake a Covid-19 specific risk assessment in respect of their employees returning to work.

Employers do have a legal health and safety obligation, so they must ensure they are operating effective social distancing measures within the workplace. If they have not, employees have a right not to attend their workplace if there is a reasonable belief that doing so would pose a serious and imminent threat. If an employee decides to not go back to work for this reason, they can put in a grievance at work to protect their employment rights and help to stop an unfair dismissal.

The business needs versus safety will be governed by the risk assessment, but staff must be treated fair and non-discriminatory and we strongly advise that staff are consulted and discussions take place as to their needs to avoid claims and also to motivate staff.

Some workplaces will offer flexibility and on-going home working to their employees, so the first port of call should be a discussion between staff and their line manager to try and come to an arrangement.

Employees who have been employed for more than 26 weeks may request flexible working arrangements with their employers. This is a statutory right and the employer must deal with the request in a reasonable timeframe. There may be greater need for flexible working so that you can cover childcare or home schooling, and since the government has suggested varying start/finish times in the phased return to work, it is a practical and sensible solution for both employee and employer.

Requests must be given due consideration and an employer cannot discriminate when giving a decision, but ordinarily it is not duty bound to agree to this. However, these are not normal circumstances, so how the Tribunals may view these cases as they come through will be enlightening. More information is available on the governments website.

While it may have appeared the current remote working conditions are a temporary fix to help businesses continue operations during the outbreak and that they will eventually get back to standard working practice, it is likely some employees will want to continue working remotely. It is also likely employers will wish for staff to remain doing so to help with the staggered return to work plan or for it to reduce office space requirements.

Consultations can take place about how remote working could continue, for how long and for whom, but employers need to be careful to offer this to staff in a non-discriminatory way that is perceived as fair to all staff. Employers also need to ensure they have updated work at home and have GDPR and health assessment policies in place.

The scheme requires employees to be furloughed for a minimum of three weeks. If an employer wants to extend the period, they will need staff consent to vary the agreement.

From August, the furlough scheme will allow employers to bring back employees on a part-time basis to aid in the transition to normal working life. This may allow skill levels to be kept high and also help with child arrangements, but will still require a consent.

Usually staff policies or handbooks are outside the employment contract. These can be amended without consent and simply communicated, so staff should be informed, as they will be obliged to follow these procedures.

Motivating staff during furlough, as well as those continuing to work, should be a key consideration for any employer that wants its team to pull together post pandemic.

With a huge number of employees being furloughed across the UK more than the Government anticipated businesses will need to be aware that reintroducing those members of staff who were furloughed may feel out of touch.

Time for them to settle in is advised, perhaps a return to work interview and review of any training requirements. Training while on furlough or having regular touch in calls may help them feel less isolated and assists bring them back into the working environment.

The employees who have continued to work during this time may also need additional support as they have helped hold up the business during a stressful time. Considerations for additional annual leave or me days may be necessary to maintain a motivated and health workforce.

The golden rule of the current job retention scheme until August is that an employee may not provide services to, nor generate income, for the employer. They may, however, undertake training, such as online training courses to keep up their skills. You must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage for the period you are training.

The training undertaken while on furlough should be reasonable, especially if your employer is contributing to the cost. A development of skills that will assist personal growth or to lean new aspects of the business would likely be the best options.

If you are worried about training, speak to your employer. You should also check your employment contract to see how this deals with any matters of training. Your employer may be responsible for re-training if your employment contract covers this, or you are a member of a professional body who is required to complete certain hours of training.

When returning to work, your employer should ideally conduct a return to work interview. During this interview, re-training and other training issues should be brought up.

It is unlikely that an employment contract would be drafted in a blanket way in which to force employees to take any such test and it offers up concerns about confidentiality. This may be different for keyworkers or those directly exposed to patients.

If an employer creates a new work place policy that insists on this, firstly, it will be impractical due to reliability of tests, availability and how employees obtain such tests, but it will also open up concerns of confidentiality and discrimination actions.

This is a very new legal space so there is not much concrete advice yet. However, an employer has a legal health and safety obligation to provide a reasonably safe place of work.

Employers should set up policies that incorporating testing. For instance, if an employee shows symptoms, a company may require them to leave the office immediately and not return until they have been tested. If the test is positive, the employer would then have to take measures to protect the rest of the workforce. This may include sending home all people who have had contact with the positive employee.

Not all businesses are the same, so it is important that all employers take substantial efforts to remain up to date with government and public health advice when deciding the best policies for them and take advice to ensure its regulated in a confidential and non-discriminatory way.

An employer is only responsible if they cause your condition. This means that the employee must prove, with medical evidence, that it was highly likely you contracted the virus while at work, more so than any other place you have been, for example, public transport and shops.

The employee would need to consider if their employer has put in reasonable health and safety measure like social distancing. This is why a plan and policy is key for an employer to protect itself and be able to show it has taken as much effort as possible to protect its staff.

While not impossible, it would be difficult to show the virus was contracted while at work due to the huge amount of people contracting the illness. If the employee could show this, then they would need to consider bringing a personal injury claim against their employer.

Law enforcement has been seen to be very strict on people intentionally passing on the virus through overt acts of coughing. People have a duty to protect themselves as well and not to be reckless and this extends to their workplace.

If staff are showing symptoms, it would be best to notify the employer and self-isolate before returning to the workplace. If you knowingly and willingly return to the office with such symptoms, your employer can bring disciplinary proceedings and may suspend you from work or even dismiss you if you have knowingly breached its policies on health and safety.

Likewise, an employer also has a duty of care towards its staff and other employees. If staff are showing symptoms, they must take action to protect others in the workplace. This includes sending the person home and likely, all those who have been in contact with them. If they are not appearing to action a plan or policy or take action, an employer could be held vicariously liable.

There can be both criminal and civil liability in terms of passing on infectious disease.

If an employee does not adhere to the business policies introduced or government instructions, the employer may be able to dismiss them for a serious breach of health and safety and breach of contract. Clear policies must be introduced, maintained and communicated.

Employers have both a common law and statutory duty to ensure, so far as reasonably practical the health and safety within a workplace. To breach this duty is both a criminal and civil offence.

Employers will need to be aware of legislation relating to PPE in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPE Regulation 1992 should now be on the forefront of all employers minds.

The moot point here will be what is reasonably practical. Employers should all undertake COVID specific risk assessments and ensure they have policies in place and relevant training provided.

Specific PPE requirements and guidance has been published by the government. Not all industries are required to provide PPE. However, it is common that social distancing, as a minimum, is adhered to wherever possible.

It will be on the employer to provide new and innovative ways to adapt their workplace in line with current advice. The HSE may perform spot checks on employers to ensure they are adhering to the guidance. A failure to adequality do so could lead to civil and criminal charges.

Staggering work times and return to work

As the UK Government will want to significantly curb the number of people on public transport at one time, they will likely suggest that employees who have to attend the workplace do so with staggered work times or days.

Staff could do two days on and three days off, and office share with other staff to enable social distancing as well as vary their work operating times. This can be done, but the employees need to be consulted and treated fairly as plans are put into action.

It is hoped this degree of flexibility will have a positive impact upon productivity. Some people work better in the morning and others later in the afternoon and evening.

By staggering the work times of employees, business owners may see an increase in the volume of work produced, a happier work force and potentially personnel to cover longer period of the day to reach clients and customers.

Social distancing in the office

Social distancing is here to stay for a while and employers need to consider how employees get to work and operate safely.

Employers will need to carry out a risk assessment, update its policies and convey these to employees in a clear manner; we would also strongly suggest they are given contact details and a forum to have the opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have with a member of management.

Clean office spaces

We can also expect an increase in the level of cleaning in the offices to ensure that any potential sickness is reduced for staff and visitors. Businesses will be under scrutiny when they start bringing employees back to work and this will be focused on how they manage the health and wellbeing of their staff.

The key for everyone is careful planning and assessment, consulting and communicating with each other so concerns are voiced and addressed, and clear policies are communicated that are practical and agreed.

The basics include a remote working policy; a risk assessment and return to work policy for staff and access to services by clients and visitors; data protection and health & safety audit of procedures and policies and clear communications with staff.

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What every business owner and employee needs to know before returning to the workplace - BakeryAndSnacks.com

How to carve out clever storage solutions from the space you already have | Produced by Seattle Times Marketing – Seattle Times

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

As we continue to stayhome, work remotely and prepare for more online school in the fall, getting our space organized has become more important than ever.

Even after culling and decluttering, you likely still have extra stuff you need to store and finding permanent, convenient places for those things to live is the way to maintain organization without adding to your already-heavy workload. Here are some local organizing experts ideas, big and small, for finding more storage space within the space you already have.

Many people are having to carve out work and school spaces from their already-full homes. One solution is to convert a spare bedroom or den into a multipurpose room by adding a wall bed and file storage.

Sales of wall beds are up 25% this summer from last year, says Garrett Woodruff, owner of Northwest Closets & Wallbeds, family-owned company in Auburn.

We dont create more space, we just make use of the space you have, he says.

A typical Murphy bed and home-office setup costs about $3,000$5,000, from design through installation, Woodruff says.

You can also find DIY Murphy bed kits online if youre handy.

Look for the hidden, underused spaces in your home. Kammie Lisenby, the Seattle-based CEO of Organizing Experts and author of Impact Organizing Method, says these spaces may be stuffed with forgotten clutter or underused furniture pieces.

The best hidden space in your home is really the closed-door room, whether thats your garage or pantry space, she says. For some people, they have an entire guest room thats been developed into a storage room.

Lisenby argues that you dont need a bed hogging space in your guest room; instead, downsize to a plush air mattress that you can stow in a closet. Then that closed-door room can be turned into a homework or workout space, or whatever it is that you need.

If you think in terms of square footage in your house, its really expensive not to have a room function as you want it, she says.

But say you dont have the luxury of a spare room, and your dining table is buried under laptops and papers.

I think dining room tables across America all probably look the same right about now, Lisenby says. Heres what she suggests: Put a bookcase or a storage ottoman near the dining table. Get clear plastic bins that fit on the shelves or inside the ottoman. Nightly (or on weekends), sweep the items into the bins and bring them back out as needed. For bonus points, use a label maker (Lisenby likes the Brother P-touch) to keep the bins organized and looking neat. And dont forget to keep a recycling bin nearby; purging is half the battle.

In a working parents dream world, the kids would do their Zoom meetings and schoolwork in their bedrooms, by themselves. But this is not a dream world.

Theyre going to want to be where you are, says Linda Deppa, owner of Uncluttered Professional Organizing and Photo Organizing Services in Lynnwood. Thats where theyre going to feel safe. They want to be close to Mom and Dad.

Deppa, a mother of two, suggests getting a portable filing box with a handle for each child. It keeps all of their supplies together in one spot. Let the kids decorate the outside, and put hanging folders inside for each subject. This way, youre not digging through piles of papers, and youre also training kids to put their supplies away. Some boxes have a compartment on top to store pencils, or you can get a zippered pouch to hang in front.

Its basically a portable desk or a portable storage system, Deppa says. Its worked out beautifully for a lot of parents.

Other options that can keep kids supplies corralled and transportable: a caddy, a cart on wheels (such as the ubiquitous Ikea Raskog cart) or a small file cabinet with casters.

Christmas trees. Camping gear. Clothes youre saving for the next kid. For the stuff you want to keep but dont use often, get overhead racks that hang down from the rafters of your garage.

All those kinds of things you dont use very often, they need to go into the non-important real estate, Deppa says.

Set up vertical shelving along the walls of your garage. Deppas favorite go-tos are the powder-coated SafeRacks shelving system ($150) and the Trinity wire-shelving rack on wheels ($119), both of which are available at Costco. Youre investing not a lot, and you get a lot of bang for your buck, she says.

Annie Traurig, a professional organizer in Seattle and founder of Live Simply, recommends the Flow Wall system for garages. After you install the wall panel, you can attach different components cabinets, shelves, bins, hooks that can be moved and rearranged.

I think so, so often, vertical space goes underutilized, Traurig says. Especially in smaller spaces, its integral that you use every square inch that you have.

The golden rule of home organizing is purge, purge, purge. And even after finding more space, you shouldnt stop editing down your possessions. After all, you dont have to organize what you dont own.

I used to live there, in that [Goodwill] drive through, Lisenby says. She hasnt been in four months, though, because of the pandemic. Goodwill drop-offs are opening up again, but donation lines are long.

Until youre ready to queue up, designate a spot in your house to collect the things that no longer serve you. Lisenby recommends getting a clear plastic, stackable tote. Having a defined, will-be-leaving-the-home-someday spot is good, she says.

JiaYing Grygiel is the mother of two boys, and a freelance writer and photographer. She blogs at photoj.net.

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How to carve out clever storage solutions from the space you already have | Produced by Seattle Times Marketing - Seattle Times

A simple but profound call to action | Hillsboro Star-Journal | July 16, 2020 – Hillsboro Star-Journal

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

A simple but profound call to action

At some point in any protracted discussion there comes a time when opinions no longer are going to change. Everyone has entrenched beliefs, and all the evidence in the world wont alter their opinions.

Its becoming painfully obvious weve reached that point with COVID-19. Those so embroiled in the politics of denial and misplaced concerns about personal liberty no longer can see evidence like the rapidly soaring number of cases in Marion County since government refused to act to protect its citizens.

Polite folks have reached the point where we agree to disagree. Others are at that stage in arguments where foot-stamping, raised voices, hurled epithets, and willingness to accept as gospel the shakiest of evidence that bolsters their position.

Local government, unfortunately, has chosen to appease these people some of whom actually sit, at least for now, on various governing bodies. Like believers in a flat earth, theyre not going to have their opinions changed by this or any other editorial. So at this point, we now switch into a mode of preaching to the choir.

Since government largely has abdicated its responsibility, its now up to us, as individual citizens, to take matters into our own hands.

What can be done?

1. Boycott businesses, churches, schools, and other activities that do not require all visitors and staff to wear face coverings anytime they come within six feet of each other.

2. Do not participate in, become a spectator for, or let your tax dollars be used to support any sport or entertainment event not absolutely necessary to maintaining a functioning society and economy.

3. Encourage schools and colleges to begin planning now to conduct the entirety of their fall semesters and possibly their spring semesters via remote instruction and to cancel all educationally unnecessary extracurricular activities, including sports.

4. Get an advance ballot for upcoming elections and plan to vote for candidates who have based their decisions in this crisis on the best scientific knowledge available, not on the political posturing of radical fringes that deny science or the wishful thinking of plutocrats who care only about making money.

5. Stay at home whenever possible. Shop locally. Converse with out-of-town friends and relatives by phone or computer. Avoid all unnecessary trips outside your home.

6. Continue trying to educate self-absorbed refuseniks who insist this is all fake news, a plot to limit their freedom, or something made up by some Chinese cell phone company or an opponent of President Donald Trump.

7. If you cant make others see the truth, shun them and prevent them from interacting with the community that they seem hell-bent on destroying because its their personal right to do so.

8. Oppose any attempt to extend sick pay or other benefits to people whose dangerous behavior results in their own illness or, worse yet, the illness of innocents who are trying to limit spread of COVID-19.

As a society, we have spent trillions and watched countless businesses and jobs go away not to prevent COVID-19 but merely to keep it from spiking all at once. Too quickly resuming normal activities will make this very serious, multi-generational investment totally meaningless.

In Marion County, we have an aging and not especially well-trained or affluent population. Few of our businesses are entrepreneurial or deep-pocketed enough to weather a storm of this magnitude. The federal government will bankrupt society if it tries to bail everyone out. Our community quite literally is at high risk of devastation if not outright annihilation.

Now truly is the time to come to the aid of our community by collectively stepping up and filling the leadership vacuum exhibited by too many of our elected and appointed officials.

How many wake-up calls do we need before we recognize the Golden Rule: Our masks protect you. Your masks protect us.

ERIC MEYER

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A simple but profound call to action | Hillsboro Star-Journal | July 16, 2020 - Hillsboro Star-Journal

Tech: AAAS announces new Science Partner Journal, Cyborg and Bionic Systems – Tdnews

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is pleased to announce the launch of new Science Partner Journal, Cyborg and Bionic Systems, published in affiliation with the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT).

Cyborg and Bionic Systems mission is to promote the knowledge interchange and hybrid system codesign between living beings and robotic systems. Living beings inspire improvements or novel robotics systems which, in turn, enables knowledge enhancement and extension of capabilities for living creatures. The scope will cover a wide range of fields related to cybernetic organisms (cyborg) and bionic systems (CBS), mainly including robotics, biomedical engineering and neuro-engineering. The journal will publish original Research Articles, Review Articles, Perspectives and Editorials.

Professor Toshio Fukuda from the Beijing Institute of Technology will serve as the Editor-in-Chief of Cyborg and Bionic Systems. He is also the 2020 IEEE president and a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Cyborg and Bionic Systems is currently open for submissions and will publish under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). Two additional Science Partner Journal titles from BIT are also launching this year. Energy Material Advances is currently open for submissions and Space: Science & Technology will launch later this year.

Cyborg and Bionic Systems represents the convergence of some of the most exciting and dynamic trends in science and engineering, said Professor Toshio Fukuda, Editor-in-Chief of Cyborg and Bionic Systems. We are seeing explosive growth of findings and insights in this area, and the journal provides a much-needed forum for presenting and disseminating these works to understand and mimic life, and to improve the quality of human life through hybrid biological and robotic systems. I believe the journal will elevate the visibility and accessibility of this interdisciplinary field of research, to the great benefit of all.

Academician Dr. Jun Zhang, president of Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), said: Research of cyborg and bionic systems touches on medical and family service, aid to the elderly and disabled and many other domains, continued Dr. Zhang. The booming development of the intelligent robotic industry and growth of research on hybrid systems bring tremendous opportunities for the establishment of the journal Cyborg and Bionic System, he continued. Im deeply convinced that with the support from AAAS and BIT, this journal will surely provide an excellent interdisciplinary academic communication platform that guides the forefront of international science and technologies for relevant scholars worldwide.

The Science Partner Journal program is happy to welcome three new journals with another top tier partner, Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), said Bill Moran, Publisher of the Science family of journals at AAAS. Cyborg and Bionic Systems offers a unique research area that will help broaden and advance our understanding of cybernetic organisms and bionic systems. Under the leadership of Toshio Fukuda and with BITs guidance and collaboration, we are confident the journal will excel.

New titles participating in the Science Partner Journal program will launch on a regular basis and participation in the program is kept to English-language publications. AAAS is actively seeking new partners across scientific disciplines. Organizations participating in the Science Partner Journal program will be editorially independent and responsible for the content published in each journal. Partner organizations are responsible for establishing editorial boards committed to best practices in peer review and author service. For more information about the Science Partner Journal program, please visit the Science Partner Journal homepage at: spj.sciencemag.org. For questions regarding the program and inquiries about the application process for becoming a partner organization, contact [emailprotected]

###

About the American Association for the Advancement of Science

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the worlds largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science, as well as Science Translational Medicine; Science Signaling; a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances; Science Immunology; and Science Robotics. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes more than 260 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world. The nonprofit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to advance science and serve society through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement and more.

About Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT)

Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) has been one of the key universities in China since the founding of New China. BIT now has 18 professional schools and more than 3,400 staff, including 26 academicians, 47 Chang Jiang Scholars Program professors, 40 winners of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 33 leader talents of the Supporting Program of Global Experts, 4 state level teachers, 6 state level teaching groups, 5 innovative teams of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and 10 innovative teams of the Chang Jiang Scholars Program. BIT has 2 national collaborative innovation centers, 9 state level cooperative innovation centers, state level laboratories and 6 state level research centers. BIT aims to develop students as leaders with ambition, wisdom, innovation and sense of duty. Currently, BIT has established inter-university collaboration with more than 346 renowned universities in 73 countries and regions on six continents and student exchange program with more than 70 partner universities. BIT was among the first to be selected in Chinas efforts to build world-class universities, most notably the 211 and 985 projects. BIT has a joint lab for international cooperation on bionic robots and systems, and is a platform for global academic interaction under the national project 111. BIT is building an international university and has created a global network for exchange and cooperation. BIT has always formulated its strategies in light of national strategic needs and global developments in science and technology and education, and in accordance with its own strengths and missions. BIT has developed a clear edge in technologies relating to intelligent and bionic robotics, space adaptive optics, green energy, modern communications and industrial process control. See http://english.bit.edu.cn/.

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Tech: AAAS announces new Science Partner Journal, Cyborg and Bionic Systems - Tdnews

Elon Musk plans BRAIN IMPLANTS that will merge humans with AI creating cyborgs – Express.co.uk

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

The US billionaire and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX had announced a venture to merge the human brain with artificial intelligence some years ago.

He also established a company called Neuralink which he said would be responsible for developing a way to achieve this.

But analysts have described the company as secretive due to its lack of updates since then.

In the latest update, Mr Musk said on Twitter yesterday a Neuralink mission statement would be issued on August 28, along with the statement If you cant beat em, join em, for which he provided no clarification.

Neuralink has in the past revealed some bits of information, including photos of animals with bits of technology sticking out of their heads.

Animal rights charities such as PETA have blasted similar procedures in the past.

READ: Mars crater key to human colonisation in space captured in never-before-seen video

According to the Wall Street Journal, Neuralink will develop what Mr Musk has called neural lace technology, which will allegedly involve implanting tiny electrodes into the human brain capable of transferring data to the mind.

In 2019, further claims emerged that a big advancement was made by the company in the form of threads.

According to reports, these threads would be a type of brain implant made out of a flexible material less likely to damage brain tissue than current technology.

In the same year, Mr Musk held a presentation answering some of the questions observers had about the mysterious plans.

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In it, Mr Musk claimed the technology would not start taking over peoples brains.

But he added it would allow the mind to be merged with computers, and said humans would be left behind.

There is also an un-peer reviewed scientific paper credited to Mr Musk on Neuralinks technology.

The paper states brain implants would help restore senses and movement in people who have been affected by neurological disorders.

It reads: We have built arrays of small and flexible electrode threads, with as many as 3,072 electrodes per array distributed across 96 threads.

We have also built a neurosurgical robot capable of inserting six threads (192 electrodes) per minute.

Each thread can be individually inserted into the brain with micron precision for avoidance of surface vasculature and targeting specific brain regions.

Humans have had brain implants in the past. Accord to The Verge, one man, Matthew Nagle, received an implant in 2006 which allowed him to control a computer mouse cursor with the power of thought alone.

Read this article:

Elon Musk plans BRAIN IMPLANTS that will merge humans with AI creating cyborgs - Express.co.uk

3D Printed Medical Prosthetics Market Share Analysis and Research Report by 2025 – News by aeresearch

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

A Research study on 3D Printed Medical Prosthetics Market analyzes and offers ideas of exhaustive research on ancient and recent 3D Printed Medical Prosthetics market size. Along with the estimated future possibilities of the market and emerging trends in the 3D Printed Medical Prosthetics market.

As far as the competitive scale is concerned, the report also enlists the information regarding the 3D Printed Medical Prosthetics market growth tactics undertaken by the industry players, such as expansion strategies and mergers and acquisitions. This report discusses the key drivers influencing 3D Printed Medical Prosthetics market growth, opportunities, the challenges and the risks faced by key players and the market.

Request Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.aeresearch.net/request-sample/246700

Enumerating a highly exhaustive outline of 3D Printed Medical Prosthetics Market size, this report is also inclusive of the total valuation that the 3D Printed Medical Prosthetics industry presently holds, a brief segmentation of this market and 3D Printed Medical Prosthetics market growth opportunities of this industry in addition to its geographical expanse.

Report Scope:

3D Printed Medical Prosthetics market competition by top Manufacturers:

3D Printed Medical Prosthetics Market Outlook by Applications:

Hospitals, Rehabilitation Centers and Prosthetic Clinics

3D Printed Medical Prosthetics Market Statistics by Types:

Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Acrylics and Polyurethane

3D Printed Medical Prosthetics Market Analysis is given in this report which has the key highlights on this industry worldwide:

3D Printed Medical Prosthetics Marketing Analysis and Strategies Carry Out as below:

Some of the Highlights about Table of Content of 3D Printed Medical Prosthetics Market

1 3D Printed Medical Prosthetics Market overview

2 Executive Summary

3 Market Drivers, Challenges and Trends

4 Marketing, Distributors and Customer

5 Key Players Analysis

Request Customization on This Report @ https://www.aeresearch.net/request-for-customization/246700

Link Tank: Why Drive-in Theaters Wont Be the Future of Movies – Den of Geek

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

Dollhouse creator Joss Whedon has come under fire again recently. It started with Ray Fisher, who played Cyborg in the 2017 Justice League film, making comments about how unprofessional Whedon was on set. While Alan Tudyk came to his frequent collaborators defense, other stories have been leaking out about the nerd icon exhibiting some aggressive behavior, the latest being James Marsters, who played Spike on Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and its spinoff series, Angel.

Will the Snyder Cut of Justice League be any better than Joss Whedon’s original? – The Guardian

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

It took almost two decades for people outside Europe to be treated to a four-hour edit of Sergio Leones final masterpiece, Once Upon a Time in America, by which time Leone had long since departed this mortal coil. Blade Runner managed 25 years before the 2007 Final Cut restored Ridley Scotts dystopia to its full glory.

Few would argue that either movie deserved a second, or even third look in the edit bay. Leones sprawling tale of Depression-era New York mobsters was gutted for the North American market and the action became chronological, against the directors wishes. Few Blade Runner fans would suggest that the original theatrical cut has any value other than as a warning against injudicious studio interference.

And then theres Justice League in 2017, which is also at great expense being restored to its original form for the launch of forthcoming streaming platform HBO Max. But it doesnt appear, at first glance, to fit into the same category as some of its illustrious forebears.

It is reportedly costing at least $30m to make, largely because there is not an existing version overseen by its original director, Zack Snyder, who left the project in May 2017 before it was completed following the death of his daughter. A lot of work must be done from scratch. (Fans have long rallied on social media using the hashtag #ReleasetheSnyderCut.)

Joss Whedon oversaw the completion of the film, which apparently departed hugely from the original plan. Despite lightening the tone with wisecracking superhero banter along the lines of Whedons work on Marvels Avengers movies, critics and audiences were unimpressed with the result. DC had hoped to deliver an ensemble movie that would allow characters such as Ray Fishers Cyborg, the Flash and Aquaman, as well as Ben Afflecks version of Batman, to then spin off into their own standalone movies. In the end, Affleck departed the role his interest reportedly sapped by the troubled shoot and nothing has been heard of since about a Cyborg movie. (Though Aquaman did arrive in 2018, and a Flash flick has again been recently touted.)

Now it appears that critics were not the only ones disappointed with Whedons work. Fisher has been quietly flagging his disapproval during Hollywoods Covid-19 hiatus, and last week shifted into what appears to be full-on attack mode. Joss Whedons on-set treatment of the cast and crew of Justice League was gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable, he tweeted.

While its not entirely clear what Fisher is referring to, the Twittersphere has been rife with rumours. The film-maker and podcaster Kevin Smith has alleged that Whedon trash-talked Snyders work on Justice League after taking over on set.

There have been suggestions that Snyder had planned to centre his version on Cyborg. In the theatrical release of Justice League, the part-human, part-machine superhero is very much a supporting character. This might explain some of Fishers antipathy towards the Whedon cut. However, its hard to know if this is the full story behind the young actors fury.

This week, Fisher said he was unable to offer specific details about Whedons alleged on-set behaviour, for fear he could be sued into oblivion due to a nondisclosure agreement.

Over on Twitter, it appears to be open season on Whedon. Of course, none of this means that Snyders forthcoming cut of Justice League is somehow destined to be a masterpiece, as some fans believe. It might be darker, it might feature more screen time for Fisher and restore characters such as Darkseid and the Martian Manhunter to the screen, but whether it will turn out to be any better than the Whedon cut is hardly a given.

We should probably remember that, at the time of his departure from the film, Snyder had only recently delivered one of the most risible superhero movies of all time in the cluttered, contrived and knuckle-headed form of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). There is an extended, alternate cut of that movie, too, released for home media formats a few months after the original film hit cinemas, and it is just as ill-conceived and poorly realised as the original theatrical cut only longer.

More here:

Will the Snyder Cut of Justice League be any better than Joss Whedon's original? - The Guardian

If your blood is boiling, dip into Burn It Down! it is magnificently cathartic – iNews

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

This lovingly assembled compendium, rich in exclamation marks and emphatic capitals, covers 170 years of feminist and protofeminist thinking, from Sojourner Truths I Am as Strong as Any Man speech (1851) and Donna Haraways A Cyborg Manifesto (1985) to Sara Roebucks devastating A Letter to the Man Who Tried to Rape Me (2016) and essays about Black Lives Matter. It is a readable primer of strong liberated thought.

There are texts famous and infamous (Valerie Solanass Scum Manifesto), statements of intent (E Janes Nope: A Manifesto) and even some not-exactly manifestos, such as Ani DiFrancos poem Grand Canyon (Why cant all decent men and women/ Call themselves feminists?/ Out of respect/ For those who fought for this).

Editor Breanne Fahs has reproduced each document faithfully typos, idiosyncrasies et al conveying the heat in which the manifestos were put together. These are not carefully worded philosophical treatises or god forbid placatory corporate mission statements. They are calls to protest, and for urgent change. They pulsate with righteous fury, end-of-the-tether angst and high emotion. If your blood is boiling, dip in. It is magnificently cathartic.

It is also endlessly quotable. If you yearn to start a social media account doling out furious, righteous aphorisms rather than emetic motivational quotes, this book is for you: Every miscarriage is a work accident, Your lack of enlightenment is not our problem, Psychiatric mystification is a powerful influence in the maintenance of peoples oppression.

Fahs groups her documents by loose category: Queer/Trans, Anticapitalist/Anarchist, Indigenous/Women of Colour and so on. Each is ordered as a kind of call and response rather than a chronology. It can be an effective way of showing what little ground has been made. Ni Una Menoss Call to Womens International Strike (2017) is hardly evolved from Silvia Federicis Wages against Housework (1974).

It also offers something like balance: the extremes of one position countered by the extremes of another. It is perhaps worth re-stating this: these manifestos are not in accord, so no reader will be in agreement with all they read in this volume. Yet all these contrary positions can co-exist within feminism strong, heartfelt and eloquently expressed without erasing one another, or the book exploding, or the crust of the earth being rent asunder and us all being sucked down to the fiery depths. In the era of cancel culture and the accompanying pressure to consensus, this feels revelatory. Almost a manifesto in itself.

Burn It Down! is a reminder of the power and importance of taking a position, asserting your rights and expressing them forcefully and that we can take strength from these positions, appreciate them, disagree, and argue the nuances with equal force and passion.

Burn It Down! Feminist Manifestos for the Revolution, edited by Breanne Fahs, is published by Verso (20)

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If your blood is boiling, dip into Burn It Down! it is magnificently cathartic - iNews

Canobie Lake Park Reopens Thursday: How Will It Work? – NBC10 Boston

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

Canobie Lake Park, one of New Hampshire's best known destinations, reopens on Thursday, July 16 at 10:30 a.m. for the first time this season after the coronavirus shutdowns. It was originally slated to open on May 2.

The 65-acre park, located in Salem, offers over 85 attractions and has been ranked as one of the top amusement parks in the country by Money Magazine. It has been in operation for over a century, first opening as a trolley park back in 1902.

Here's what you need to know about Thursday's reopening:

In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area.

Well, for one thing, you need to make a reservation in advance, as there is a 25% capacity limit. Park hours are limited to 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day. Dates for August reservations are not yet available, and information about the fall will be released in August.

The park is asking patrons to watch its safety video first:

After watching the video, you can make a reservation for the date of your choice. Once you've done that, you're clear to buy tickets. No same day passes will be sold on site, so make sure to buy them ahead of time.

Attractions that are now open include the Alpine Swings, Antique Cars, The Autobahn, The Boats, The Boston Tea Party, The Canobie 500, The Canobie Express, The Canobie Corkscrew, Castaway Island, DaVinci's Dream, The Fire Engines, Flower Power, Giant Sky Wheel, Helicopters, Ice Jet, The Jeeps, Jump Around, Junior Sportscars, Kiddie Canoes, Kiddie Carousel, Log Flume, Mini Dinos, Pirate Ship, Pony Carts, Sea/Land Rescue, Skater, Sky Fighter, Sky Ride, Tanks, Twist and Shout, Untamed, Venetian Carousel, Wipeout and Yankee Cannonball.

Attractions opening at a later date include the Jungle Bounce, Star Blaster, Zero Gravity, Boston Harbor Patrol, Dragon Coaster, Over the Rainbow, Caterpillar, Mine of Lost Souls, Psychodrome, Turkish Twist, Blue Heron, Carousel, Crazy Cups, Roosters, Wave Blaster, Xtreme Frisbee, The Dodgems and Mini Skooters.

Castaway Island, Canobie's water park, is open but will have a lower than normal capacity. That could mean extended wait times or entry might not be possible at all in some cases.

All live entertainment, costumed character meet and greets and the Canobie Club cashless payment bracelet program are not currently available. There will also be no fireworks displays for the start of the season.

All guests over the age of 3 will be required to wear face coverings during their visit. The only permitted exceptions are while on rides, while consuming food and beverages and when in a marked "Mask Free Rest Area" where social distancing will be enforced.

Anyone who doesn't want to or is unable to wear a face covering is asked to postpone their visit until a time when the face covering restrictions are no longer required.

Temperature checks and COVID-19 health screening questions will be administered prior to entry.

The park has also set up hand sanitizing stations throughout the facility, including at all attractions. Social distancing will be enforced throughout the park, including in queue lines, at food stands, etc. Social distancing will also be enforced at all attractions, which may mean not all attractions will be full.

Click here for more details on Canobie Lake Park's reopening.

Continued here:

Canobie Lake Park Reopens Thursday: How Will It Work? - NBC10 Boston

Hands-on with CaliCase: The waterproof phone pouch [Video] – 9to5Google

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

Below we go hands-on with the excellent and lightweight CaliCase case designed to keep your smartphone safe from water. 9to5Google readers can grab a CaliCase case now for 20% OFF with our code 9TO5GOOGLEfor a limited time.

Check out our hands-on video with the CaliCase waterproof case:

Do you have a smartphone with an IP water and dust resistance rating? Well, how about adding a bit more protection or alternatively giving your non-waterproof smartphone proper splash protection?

If you have any intention of going in or near water soon, then you should take a look at picking up a CaliCase a handy waterproof pouch designed to fully protect your phone when near, or in the water. You can even keep other belongings safe from the elements without needing a bathing suit with pockets.

While an IP68 rating is great for freshwater, it doesnt cover you fully in saltwater. CaliCase properly seals in your device meaning you can even take your smartphone photography underwater. Because each pouch is made from thick, durable and importantly clear PVC plastic, the dual layered-structure gives you confidence that even non-waterproof smartphones are safe from water damage.

The magnetic seal and latch also ensure that your valuables are securely sealed inside, safe from the weather and water. The rotating latches are easy enough for anyone to clip but the protection is second-to-none.

The windows at the rear also ensure that you can take your photos and videos underwater for a completely new perspective. Using a CaliCase with your smartphone also happens to be a piece of cake thanks to the front-facing window, which allows you to use your phone without getting the display wet.

Water protection isnt all thats offered, as the soft cushioned design means that youve got even better overall drop protection. Plus in a post-COVID world your smartphone is safer from contact with germs and bacteria.

Even if youre not heading to the beach or by a pool, the handy strap means heading out for a rainy run is no issue as your phone stays safe and dry. Clip on to a carabiner and have peace of mind no matter the weather conditions.

Each and every single CaliCase is IPX8 water and dust rated. This means that when your phone is placed inside, it can withstand up to 100 feet of water pressure more than enough for modest diving and snorkelling trips.

Worried about your phone sinking? Dont be, as the CaliCase includes a lightweight foam enclosure that allows the case to float so that you can worry less about your smartphone sinking. The colorful design also means that even in the murkiest waters youll be able to spot your prized possession.

The CaliCase is available in 15 different stylish colours so you can match your smartphone design, and for a limited time our subscribers can grab 20% OFF a CaliCase if they use code 9to5Google a checkout:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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Hands-on with CaliCase: The waterproof phone pouch [Video] - 9to5Google

Betting on Gas Is Definitely Immoraland Probably Unwise – The New Yorker

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

The President rejected many of the suggestions. What happens now?

Now all support organizations, such as our collective The Citizens Vests (Gilets Citoyens in French), which are organizing to communicate what can be better in peoples long-term daily lives if some of these proposals are adopted. The President said some proposals would be included in one project, of several laws, by the end of the summer, and others can be submitted to the population through a referendum by 2021. He also said that the modification to the Constitution would be submitted through a referendum by 2021. But we dont know if he will respect his commitment, so we need public debate and interest around this to make it happen. The citizens assembly has created an association to keep an eye over their work.

Green parties seem to have done well in many French citieswhats the political mood there now about things like transit?

It is difficult for the President to avoidthe questionof the climate emergency, and some think that people voted for the Greens thanks to the citizens assembly, and because of the social dysfunctions pointed out during the Yellow Vest movement. You can observe now that the government talks a little bit more about climate change than before, but people say this is just strategic, because it notices the actual interest of the population in that question.

If you want a short (and charmingly powerful) video that explains why fossil-fuel divestment is so important, you cant do better than this colorful offering from the young people at the Bay Area Earth Guardians Crew and Youth vs. Apocalypse.

As feedback loops go, this ones pretty simple: heat and drought lead to fire, and when you burn a forest you pour a lot of carbon into the atmosphere. According to the Times, the Siberian wildfires that occurred after temperatures topped a hundred degrees Fahrenheit north of the Arctic Circle apparently released more polluting gases into the Earths atmosphere than in any other month in 18 years of data collection.

Every little bit helps: last week, researchers announced that spreading rock dust on farm fields could pull fairly large amounts of carbon from the air, even as the practice builds healthier soil. When silicate or carbonate minerals in the dust dissolve in rain water, carbon dioxide is drawn from the atmosphere into the solution to form bicarbonate ions, the Washington Post explains. The bicarbonate ions are eventually washed by runoff into the ocean, where they form carbonate minerals, storing their carbon indefinitely. One drawback is the quantity of energy required to crush the rock, which could amount to a third of what it manages to save.

A global team of young people based in Japan has designed a new app to make it easy for people to contribute small sums to forest preservation.

Very useful new thoughts from the Center for Sustainable Economy about how to make sure that fossil-fuel companies cover the risks of oil spills and other accidents, instead of leaving the costs of these disasters for taxpayers.

The first reports from a robotic sub exploring the bottom of Antarcticas vast Thwaites Glacier are not encouraging. An international team of researchers found that warm water from the deep ocean is welling up from three directions and mixing underneath the ice. Thats bad news, since the collapse of that single glacier would raise the global sea level half a metre.

Joye Braun, an indefatigable activist from the Indigenous Environmental Network, reminds pipeline opponents not to slack off in the wake of last weeks Supreme Court rulings. Not only are other pipeline projects likely to continue apace (a fact that Steve Horn points out as well), but, as Braun wrote to me in an e-mail, the construction of man camps along the Keystone-pipeline route seems to still be under way. Such encampments, built for workers on the pipeline, create a particular threat in spreading the coronavirus, and have frequently been linked to sexual violence. Braun writes, On the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation women have formed a Nazhoo (whistle blower but not like DC whistle bloweractual blowing of whistles) society, and they are using social media to spread that idea to other reservations. Meanwhile, a delegation of indigenous womenmeets this weekwith Deutsche Bank, to ask it to stop supplying cash to the companies behind Keystone and other such projects.

Theres really just one number on the scoreboard that truly counts, and it shows how badly were losing. Scientists reported last week that new analyses show were approaching CO2 levels that havent been seen for fifteen million yearsmeaning that our atmosphere is becoming novel for hominids.

The Douglas fir is the state tree of Oregon (and the centerpiece of the best state license plate in America), but its in big trouble as temperatures heat up. The author Tim Palmer suggests that the conifer would be the proper rallying symbol for residents of the Beaver State who want to take on climate change.

Im always looking for little signs that the energy revolution is reaching into key corners of our economy, so it was heartening to read about climate smart solar tractors. They can, the inventors say, be charged by renewable energy and still provide all the power of a comparable diesel tractor. (Of course, thats also a good way to describe a draft horse.)

Data for Progress reports that extensive polling shows climate change should be a winning issue for Democrats in the fall; meanwhile, the group Climate Leaders for Biden managed to raise four million dollars in a single twenty-minute virtual fund-raiser, cordinated by the longtime environmental leader Tom Steyer, Bidens former primary rival. Its apparently Bidens biggest single-event haul of the campaign.

Ive been listening a lot to a new double album, Dialectic Soul, from a jazz combo led by the Cape Town-born drummer Asher Gamedze. Heres a cut. The record is about the unfinished and always unfolding practices and traditions of resistance, and how the motion of these things is imperative to imagining, articulating and building new worlds within worlds.

Betting on Gas Is Definitely Immoraland Probably Unwise - The New Yorker

New AirPods rival from OnePlus features 30 hours of battery life – Laptop Mag

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

OnePlus has made a name for itself in the Android smartphone space with flagship-level specs at more affordable prices, but the company has changed things up a bit with its latest announcement. While our colleagues over at Tom's Guide can give you a look at the new OnePlus Nord budget smartphone, we were more interested in the company's first set of truly wireless earbuds.

The OnePlus Buds have one standout feature: up to 30 hours of battery life with the included charging case, which is 6 hours longer than the Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro and the earbuds themselves offer a similar advantage with 7 hours on a charge versus 5 hours for the AirPods and 4.5 hours for the AirPods Pro.

OnePlus has only released a single official shot of the OnePlus Buds so far, but in a recent interview with popular tech YouTuber MKBHD, we get an extended look at what would certainly seem to be the OnePlus Buds in a blue colorway that matches the upcoming OnePlus Nord smartphone.

Overall, the appearance is quite similar to the AirPods with a half-in-ear design that , according to OnePlus, should "sit security in most people's ears." What we don't know from the company's official postings or the interview is whether the earbuds include tips to help deliver both an improved seal and secure fit like the AirPods Pro or if they go without, like the standard AirPods.

OnePlus did reveal the weight of the OnePlus Buds, which is 4.6 grams per earbud and 36 grams for the charging case. This is 0.6 grams heavier than the AirPods, but 4 grams lighter than the AirPods case.

Naturally, the Bluetooth headphones will work with any smartphone, tablet, or laptop, but like Apple, the company has some special integrations for OnePlus users. The one example they offered so far is that OnePlus Buds will enter an ultra-low latency mode when used in conjunction with a OnePlus smartphone that is in gaming mode.

Unfortunately, we don't have pricing oravailability details just yet, but we expect to have both following the OnePlus Nord launch event on July 21.

While the tight integration with OnePlus smartphones might not be a selling point for the wider market, if the company can deliver solid sound quality paired with long battery life at a lower price than the AirPods, it could have a real hit on its hands.

Today's best Apple AirPods deals

Apple AirPods with Wired...

AirPods with Charging Case...

Apple Airpods with Wireless...

2019 Apple AirPods with...

New AirPods rival from OnePlus features 30 hours of battery life - Laptop Mag

Tale of 2 Kerala scams solar scandal that singed UDF govt and gold that has LDF in a spot – ThePrint

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

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Kochi: In August 2013, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) laid siege to the Kerala Secretariat, demanding the resignation of then Congress Chief Minister Oommen Chandy over the solar scam.

Chandy had been under the scanner as three staff members in his office allegedly had links to the main accused in the scam, Saritha Nair and her husband Biju Radhakrishnan, who allegedly duped investors to park money in a solar company by flaunting their proximity to the chief ministers office (CMO).

The unrelenting opposition led by Pinarayi Vijayan, then the state secretary of the CPI(M), protested at the secretariat for nearly 30 hours, finally calling off the siege after Chandy promised a judicial probe in the case.

The scam eventually scorched the Chandy government, in part because the LDF managed to keep the controversy alive right until assembly elections in 2016, with Nair even making sexual harassment allegations against Chandy.

Now, some seven years on, the boot is on the other foot, with the only saving grace for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan being that his office hasnt been wholly sucked into the scandal that is roiling Keralas political landscape these days.

The communist government in Kerala, basking in the plaudits it has received for its handling of the Covid-19 crisis, is now in a spot over the gold scam.

The scam hit headlines on 5 July when customs officials at the Thiruvananthapuram airport intercepted diplomatic cargo, meant for the UAE consulate office, and found 30 kg of gold worth Rs 13.5 crore that was allegedly being smuggled.

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The consignment was classified as diplomatic baggage but investigating agencies quickly discovered that it was part of a smuggling racket.

The controversy then inched closer to the Chief Ministers Office as prime accused Swapna Suresh allegedly had links with M. Sivasankar, the IAS officer who was the CMs principal secretary and well as the state IT secretary. The chief minister holds the IT portfolio as well.

Sivasankar has since been relieved of both posts.

For keen watchers of the states politics, there are similarities in both cases.

For a state still to shed all vestiges of patriarchy, the principal focus in the gold scam has been on the woman accused just like in the solar case. The echoes also extend to the links to the CMO in both cases. And while the solar scam singed the UDF government, the gold scam threatens to derail the current Communist dispensation.

But while the solar scam is a cheating case, the gold scam has metamorphosed into a probe into alleged terror funding.

Also read:Why Kerala is planning to allow its famed plantations to grow exotic fruits

The solar scam that originally broke in 2013 involved alleged fraud by a company, Team Solar Energy, in the sale of solar panels. Saritha and her husband Biju Radhakrishnan were the main promoters of the firm.

The scam was run by duping investors into parking money with the solar company either for installing solar panels or in cases of larger investments, with the promise of being made partners. It became apparent that Saritha had flaunted her proximity with three staff members of the then CM Oommen Chandys office to clinch deals.

The size of the scam was put at Rs 10 crore, and the LDF managed to keep alive the controversy for the next two years orchestrating the famous Secretariat siege.

Biju Radhakrishnan, Saritha Nair and three accomplices state government employee A. Firoz, actress Shalini Menon and Tenny Joppan, one of CMs personal aides were arrested.

A trial court in Coimbatore sentenced Saritha Nair and Biju Radhakrishnan to three years imprisonment on 31 October, 2019. Other accused have since faded into obscurity.

Former CM Oommen Chandy has always maintained his innocence. It took him a while to come to terms with the political price he had to pay on account of wild accusations, hitherto unproven.

In 2018, the Kerala High Court expunged all remarks and findings by the Justice G. Sivarajan Commission that probed the multi-crore solar panel scam based on a letter reportedly written by Nair alleging sexual harassment against the former chief minister. It, however, refused to quash the commissions report altogether as sought by Chandy.

The gold scam has all the similar makings.

First and foremost is the link to the CMO.

Key accused Swapna Suresh reportedly worked on a space project under the IT department of the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited (KSITIL), and it was alleged that protocol was not followed in her appointment.

She allegedly landed the job at the behest of Sivasankar, the IAS officer removed as the CMs principal secretary and as the IT secretary.

Media reports now claim that she was also in touch with Kerala Higher Education Minister K.T. Jaleel in June and had ties with Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan. The minister insists that the calls were strictly professional.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has since taken over the probe, has submitted before the NIA court that 30 kg gold smuggled in through diplomatic channels was not for jewellery makers but for those engaged in anti-national activities.

While producing Swapna Suresh and co-accused Sandeep Nair before the NIA court, the probe team also submitted that they had used forged documents of the UAE Consulate, including seal and emblem, to facilitate movement of the contraband consignment through diplomatic channels. Swapna and Sandeep have been remanded in NIA custody for a week.

Meanwhile, in the original gold smuggling probe conducted by the customs department, with help from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, the additional chief judicial magistrate court (economic offences wing) has remanded in judicial custody K.T. Rameez, a repeat offender and alleged gun-runner from Malappuram until 27 July.

He is suspected to be the supplier of smuggled gold once it gets through customs clearance, and also the financier. The diplomatic route has so far proved good for smuggling well over 100 kg gold in less than a year, it is suspected.

Rameez has used his connections in high places to walk free after being apprehended in the past for smuggling gold, illegal hunting of animals and bringing in dismantled parts of 13 guns from abroad. The list of suspects in the diplomatic channel gold smuggling case include, apart from Swapna and Sandeep, former PRO of UAE Consulate Sarith Kumar, Fareed Faisal in the UAE and Rameez. Now, three other associates of Rameez have been arrested by customs officers who say this racket has so far smuggled gold worth Rs 40 crore.

Until now, the banana peel moment for the LDF government was when CM Pinarayi Vijayan decided to go hammer and tongs to uphold the Supreme Court verdict of 28 September 2018, allowing women aged between 10 and 50 years to enter the Sabarimala shrine.

The frenzy that unfolded during the pilgrim season that followed made it clear it was more about politics and less about ensuring religious freedom, notwithstanding the public posturing. The lukewarm interest shown by the Kerala government to keep enforcing the apex court order during the 2020 season, just before the pandemic broke, reiterates this point.

The gold scam, however, could put Vijayan in a far bigger pickle.

For one, the probe is now with the NIA, which is under the central government.

There is a belief in the state that Home Minister Amit Shah may be planning to turn the NIA probe into an electoral surge for the state BJP.

The reason: Allowing the probe to progress beyond a point could dent the prospects of the LDF in the assembly elections slated for April-May 2021.

This, however, would not entirely serve the interests of the BJP and its aim of Congress-mukt Bharat as the net gains would accrue to the Congress-led UDF.

It is the assumption of political observers now that the NIA probe would be allowed to go all the way if Congress leaders too turn up in the list of those who facilitated the gold smuggling racket in other words, a terror funding angle in the gold smuggling racket that can showcase the involvement of leaders from both the LDF and the UDF.

This alone could tip the electoral fortunes in favour of the BJP in a state where its local leaders have struggled to complete the last mile and turn a second finish into a winning seat.

But thats easier said than done.

The opposition has not made a concerted effort to take advantage of the alleged involvement of the CMO in the scam.

Their efforts are no patch on the CPM-led fronts strategy that involved systematically leveraging the solar scam for political gains.

The LDF was more organised in its attack. There were quite a few exclusive exposes handed over to newspapers and TV channels, and there were not too many dull days in short, it was well orchestrated.

Against this, the attack mounted by the present Opposition is limited to press conferences, which obviously does not have quite the same popular appeal as the explosive leaks of yore.

That could change if M. Sivasankar, until early this month the chief ministers principal secretary and the state IT secretary, gets named as an accused. Things have gone from bad to worse as Sivasankar was questioned for nine long hours Tuesday night by customs officers who then confiscated his mobile phone. He may be called for further questioning, even by the NIA.

It could also change if the call records of Swapna begin revealing more names of those who were in her loop, like it did in the Saritha saga.

That could be one way of keeping this scam alive politically, but then there is no guarantee that names would be limited to those belonging to the ruling party alone. Of course, there are whispers regarding the likelihood of bureaucrats and top police officers figuring in her list.

For now, Pinarayi Vijayan is putting up a brave face, saying he welcomes any probe into the possible involvement of his office, and that all guilty should be punished.

But the latest scam has all the makings of another potboiler, complete with the deadly cocktail of gold, terror, international connections, subverting officers in high places and the shadow of doubt over elected leaders.

Also read:How Keralas tough Covid rules have made 17% of its population invisible, hurting economy

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Tale of 2 Kerala scams solar scandal that singed UDF govt and gold that has LDF in a spot - ThePrint

Differentiation key as virtual sports steps into pandemic spotlight – SBC Americas

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

Day two of the SBC Digital Summit North America saw panellists look at the new world order of sports betting in a post-COVID landscape, and how alternative markets on virtual sports and esports have cemented themselves as key offerings for US sportsbooks.

The Time to Shine? The New Sporting Outlook panel, sponsored by Sporting Solutions, tackled the challenges for the betting industry over the last few months due to the cancellation of live sports, looking at what has taken bettors fancy and the pitfalls that have surrounded unusual sports.

The panel brought together Paris Smith, CEO of Pinnacle; Bryan Bennett, COO of Betfred USA Sports; Edward Moed, CEO of HPL Digital Sports; Simon Trim, CEO of Sporting Solutions; and was moderated by Dustin Gouker, Head of Content, US at Catena Media.

While the pandemic has undoubtedly been a challenging period, Smith explained that the last few months have given Pinnacle the opportunity to refine its offering and strengthen its commitment to integrity.

She said: For Pinnacle, weve placed more of a focus on esports. It was certainly a good time to have rest-of-world business. The interesting part about seeing a growth of interest in table tennis was that it was so labor intensive, which made it possible to offer a market on that.

We did take the time to really refine our modelling for esports and product offering. Obviously virtual sports and casino have also seen considerable growth, and became more of a forefront for Pinnacle than it has done previously.

With esports, hopefully the way that people view the sport will change. I think that its going to gain a lot more openings in places like Las Vegas, maybe New Jersey. The one thing that I have found interesting from the US perspective is that they were prohibiting some of the table tennis sports [due to integrity concerns].

On the esports side, from all of the different leagues that we had and having so many more eyes on it, it actually improved the integrity side of things for us it improved our ability to manage that better and put in new models and systems in place to help strengthen our integrity. Moving forward, that will be hugely helpful for us.

But as more sportsbooks consider offering markets on esports and virtual sports, legislation has often made it difficult to offer this to punters according to Bennett, with many state regulators considering virtual sports a machine sport.

He added: I really had high hopes for esports. Youre right, in the US it really hasnt taken off yet, and I think that there are a number of reasons for that. Our UK division does a fair bit of business on esports and virtual racing. From the US state-by-state regulatory perspective, most state regulators consider esports to be machine gaming.

Allowing a sportsbook to offer virtual sports or virtual racing is not something included in the regulations right now and wasnt something they were willing to introduce quickly either. It was a prime opportunity for virtual sports in the US if ever there was one, it just wasnt possible from a regulatory standpoint and so were left waiting for that to happen.

Echoing Bennetts idea that regulatory differences have hindered the growth of virtual sports, Gouker said: To some extent, New Jersey already classifies virtual sports as a casino product rather than a sportsbook product. I think everyone would agree that virtuals would have done really well over here in the US if they had been adapted and gone live here a little earlier but hopefully were going to have real sports back here soon.

Trim took somewhat of a different approach to offering esports markets however, warning operators that the target demographic differs somewhat from the traditional sports bettor. According to him, offering markets on esports can also be much more difficult to generate a profit.

He explained: With esports in particular, what we find is that you dont get a lot of recreational clients in the same way that you do for soccer or American sports. What you do get are sharper clients which know the fastest streams, and theyre essentially trying to pick you off. So if you do supply a market on this, you need the very best traders, prices.

It is good for turnover. But in the same way that turnover is vanity and profit is sanity, for sportsbooks esports is much harder to make money on than other sports out there.

The hiatus has offered fresh insights into the bettor experience in US sportsbooks, shining a fresh light on building trust and engagement with customers, said Moed. The key to this is to avoid the sea of sameness and innovate when it comes to marketing strategies.

He said: I would say that the number one thing that sports bettors are telling us is that the experience has to change. This crosses over from sportsbooks to fantasy, where there is a 90% crossover. Theyre feeling more of a sea of sameness in a lot of sportsbooks. And the way that they look at it is that pre-COVID was the first wave of going to see sportsbooks, experience it, visiting different sportsbooks, but to build our trust and our engagement, that experience must become much better.

This can happen in a few ways. We do a lot in the marketing and brand communications area. It really is about brand awareness to grab their attention and build trust. Coming out of the gates as sports make a return in the US, theres undoubtedly going to be so much marketing. But most players do the same thing, with look-alike campaigns on social media. So do something different, whether its podcasts or how you work with affiliate partners, what concept you provide.

SBC Digital Summit North America is running this week July 14-16. To register or obtain more information visit the events events official website.

Differentiation key as virtual sports steps into pandemic spotlight - SBC Americas

Chinese Spacecraft Poised for First Mars Mission – Scientific American

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

With a five-meter-wide, 57-meter-tall rocket waiting to blast off from Chinas southern island of Hainan, the nation is quietly making final preparations for its first independent trip to Mars. When the launch window opens in mid-July, Chinese scientists will strive to send a probe to a planet that confused their ancestors with its constantly changing brightness and position in the sky.

The spacecraft, called Tianwen-1, or the Quest for Heavenly Truth, will carry 13 scientific instruments to examine the Red Planet from orbit and on its surface. Tianwen-1 will examine how water ice is distributed on Mars, as well as the planets physical evolution and its habitability over time. The missionconsisting of an orbiter, lander, and roveris the most ambitious thing one could do on a first attempt, says John Logsdon, a space policy expert at George Washington University.

The odds of a flawless mission are daunting: Of humanitys dozens of attempts to orbit or land on Mars to date, only about half have succeeded. After some high-profile setbacks, NASA has deployed five landers, four rovers and multiple orbiters that have brought the world to life for scientists and the public alike. But Chinas spacefaring experience beyond Earth orbit has been limited to several robotic moon missions and an orbiter that piggybacked on a failed Russian mission to the Martian moon Phobos in 2011.

Two major risks confront the five-metric-ton Tianwen-1, Logsdon says. First, Chinas most powerful heavy-lift rocket, Long March 5, has only launched three timesincluding a major failure in 2017, when the rocket started to malfunction shortly after takeoff. It took more than two years for scientists to fix Long March 5s core-stage-engine problem and score a successful flight in late 2019. Its track record makes observers nervous, however.

Second, Tianwen-1s lander must navigate the challenging Martian atmosphere, which is thick enough to overheat the probe but too thin to decelerate it sufficiently. The spacecrafts entry, descent and landing technology uses a heat shield, a parachute and a retro-engine to slow its descent, an arrangement resembling that of earlier U.S. missions. Yet when the vessel is just 100 meters above the surface, it will pause, take snapshots of the area and quickly calculate the best landing spot. Then it will shift horizontally to center above that spot and carefully touch down with the landers four legs.

In November 2019 China tested this part of the landing procedure, which the nation had previously used successfully in its moon landings, in the province of Hebei. Foreign officials were invited to watch the test on-site. It was the last major public event for Tianwen-1, however. Since then, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) has kept a low profile, and mission scientists have declined or ignored nearly all interview requests.

Should Tianwen-1 land successfully, its research could illuminate new aspects of Mars. For instance, both the orbiter and the rover are equipped with a ground-penetrating radar to chart geologic layers under the surface. The radar on the orbiter can see as deep as a few thousand meters, whereas the instrument on the rover has a shallower view but sharp centimeter-level resolution. Chinas main goal [with these radars] is to explore the water-ice layer under the planets surface, says Wlodek Kofman of the Institute for Planetary Sciences and Astrophysics of Grenoble in France.

Tianwen-1s ability to measure Marss magnetic field excites Jim Bell of Arizona State University, principal investigator of the main camera on NASAs Perseverance rover. One prevailing hypothesis is that the Red Planet used to have a global magnetic field like Earth's, he says. When its smaller molten iron core cooled down, however, Mars gradually lost this shield, exposing the world to solar wind and radiation, thinning its atmosphere and dooming any water that might have flowed on its surface. Since 2014 NASAs Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission has found ample evidence to support this scenario, but scientists crave a fuller picture. Tianwen-1 will be very useful in providing more evidence from a different orbit and from the ground, Bell says. He hopes the Chinese team will share data with the international community piecing together the environmental evolution of Mars.

Tianwen-1 will aim to land in the southern part of Utopia Planitia, a largely flat area between 25 and 30 degrees north of the Martian equator. Geologists have long suspected that this region is covered with ancient mudflows, pointing to stores of bygone water. Its an interesting place to investigate potential past subsurface habitability, says Alfred McEwen, a planetary geologist at the University of Arizona.

The rovers chance of finding water beneath Mars might be limited by its latitude, McEwen notes. Because it draws its power from solar panels, it must stay near the equator. Today water ice below the planets surface, most researchers believe, remains mainly at higher and cooler latitudes.

Tianwen-1s reliance on the sun compelled its team to design hardy instruments, says Rong Shu of the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Since our rover does not have radioisotope power, all the instruments need to endure temperatures as low as 90 degrees Celsius while at rest, and they operate in the temperature range of 40 to 30 degrees C, he adds.

The rover's payload includes the Martian Surface Component Detector (MarSCoDe), whose design was led by Shu. Similar to ChemCam on NASAs Curiosity rover, MarSCoDe can fire short laser pulses to vaporize the surfaces of rocks from a few meters away. The instrument will sniff the ionized gas produced by these mini blasts and determine the type and quantity of chemical elements in the rocks.

Tianwen-1 is expected to reach Mars in February 2021. It will spend about two months in a parking orbit, waiting for the best timing and surface conditions to land. Chinas expanding radio telescope network of tracking and receiving stations will sustain communications between Earth and the probe.

Already, Chinese scientists are preparing for more missions in the Tianwen series, including ventures to return rock samples from Mars and an asteroid, to perform a flyby of Jupiter and to explore the margins of the suns vast heliosphere. But if Tianwen-1 reaches Mars as planned, Logsdon says, it will put China in the space exploration business in a big way.

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Chinese Spacecraft Poised for First Mars Mission - Scientific American

The United Arab Emirates is launching its first mission to Mars – New Scientist News

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

By Leah Crane

MBRSC

The United Arab Emirates is headed to Mars. The Emirates Mars Mission, which consists of an orbiter called Hope, is set to launch between 20 and 22 July and begin a seven-month journey to the Red Planet to study its atmosphere and weather. The launch had been set for earlier this week, but was delayed due to bad weather.

Hope will blast off from Tanegashima, Japan, aboard a Japanese rocket, and if all goes well it will arrive at Mars in February 2021. This will make the United Arab Emirates just the fifth spacefaring power to reach the planet, after the US, Soviet Union, European Union and India.

Once Hope is in orbit around Mars, it will measure the atmosphere daily to try to trace how the weather and climate there changes. The geology of Mars has been studied quite extensively. We are only just getting started on the atmosphere, says Sarah Al Amiri, the UAEs minister for advanced sciences and the science lead for the mission.

The spacecraft carries three scientific instruments: a camera to take high-resolution images of Mars surface and look for water ice, an infrared spectrometer to measure dust, ice, and water vapour in the lower atmosphere and an ultraviolet spectrometer to measure the composition of the upper atmosphere.

Rather than simply circling the planet, Hope will follow an elliptical orbit that will bring it relatively close to the surface about 20,000 kilometres up every 55 hours. This will allow it to observe the same locations at different times of day, building up a model of how the weather responds to changes in sunlight.

Observing Mars weather in such detail will hopefully help researchers understand not only the day-to-day conditions on the planet, but also the more extreme weather events like the colossal dust storm that engulfed the whole planet and killed NASAs Opportunity rover in 2018.

It could also help us figure out how Mars has changed since its formation. Planetary scientists think that Mars used to be warm, damp and possibly habitable, but for some reason it lost the bulk of its atmosphere over the course of billions of years, which turned it into the dry, cold, inhospitable world it is today.

We want to find out how it went from a dense, much wetter atmosphere to a dry and very thin atmosphere, says Al Amiri. Hope will measure the gas that is still leaking away from the Martian atmosphere in an effort to understand how that process may have worked and how it is continuing now.

The mission marks the start of a busy summer for Mars. Right now, Mars and Earth are relatively close together, a conjunction that only happens once every two years. Later in July, Chinas space agency plans to launch an orbiter, lander and rover to Mars, and just after that NASA plans to launch its Perseverance rover. If any of these missions arent able to launch while Mars is nearby, they will have to wait until 2022 for another chance.

NASA unveils new rules to protect the moon and Mars from Earth germs – Space.com

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Danzig

NASA has unveiled new policies to protect the moon and Mars (and Earth) from contamination as human spaceflight advances.

The agency released two NASA Interim Directives (NIDs) today (July 9) that detail new requirements for human and robotic missions traveling to and from the moon and Mars. These directives were enacted to protect the planetary bodies from any possible biological contamination that could originate on Earth and ultimately interfere with scientific research (or additionally, in the case of Mars, to also prevent any possible biological material from being brought home to Earth.)

One of the newly announced NIDs addresses the potential issue of forward biological contamination contamination brought from Earth to another planetary object on future moon missions. The second NID deals with Mars and covers both forward and backward contamination (the type brought to Earth from another cosmic body).

These NIDs were created with the interests in three specific space communities in mind, NASA officials said.

Mars sample-return: What the coronavirus (& 'Andromeda Strain') can teach us

"We're trying to balance the interests of the science community, the interest of the human exploration community and the interest of the commercial community," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced today while revealing the NIDs during a "Moon Dialogs" webinar hosted by the nonprofit Secure World Foundation. NASA's Office of Planetary Protection, which is housed within the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, will ensure that these directives are complied with, Bridenstine added.

It is important, the NASA chief explained, that future missions leave behind "a pristine environment so we have the ability to know that what we discover in the future was not something that was left there by us We have to make sure that we are inventorying every kind of biological substance and even nonbiological substance organics for example that could leave something behind on the moon that could be problematic for future research."

"We're gonna go to the moon and we're gonna, in fact, stay at the moon, and certain parts of the moon, from a scientific perspective, need to be protected more than other parts of the moon from forward biological contamination," Bridenstine continued.

"We are enabling our important goal of sustainable exploration of the moon while simultaneously safeguarding future science in the permanently shadowed regions," Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator of NASAs Science Mission Directorate, added in a NASA statement. (Permanently shadowed regions are the floors of craters near the lunar poles that are thought to harbor lots of water ice, a resource that astronaut pioneers will likely tap.)

"These sites have immense scientific value in shaping our understanding of the history of our planet, the moon and the solar system," Zurbuchen said.

The NID that focuses on the moon includes two different categories for different areas of the moon. The "vast majority" of the moon, Bridenstine said, would fall under Category 1, which would require the least planetary protection measures. Missions to sites in Category 2, which Bridenstine described as primarily "the very tips of the North and the South Pole," would have to pass stricter planetary protection measures.

Additionally, and interestingly, the sites on the moon where NASA's Apollo missions landed and equipment still remains, fall under the lunar NID.

Mars, on the other hand, is a little bit more complicated. Not only are both forward and backward contamination considered (just in case any Martian biological material or microorganisms exist that could make their way here to Earth, Bridenstine explained), but additionally, there is still much to be learned about the Red Planet. While the Mars-oriented NID explores the best ways to implement planetary protection with Mars, specific categories such as those identified for the moon are not yet solidified.

That being said, neither of the two NIDs is set in stone. Because the NIDS are interim directives and not policy directives, there's room for modification down the road.

"It's probably going to be modified a lot of times now and into the future," Bridenstine said.

Email Chelsea Gohd at cgohd@space.com or follow her on Twitter @chelsea_gohd. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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NASA unveils new rules to protect the moon and Mars from Earth germs - Space.com

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