Monthly Archives: January 2021

Democrats applaud social media that blacklists, censors and cancels thousands of Americans – Washington Times

Posted: January 15, 2021 at 2:05 pm

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

Two days after the 2020 election, a defiant Kathy Griffin retweeted the notorious picture of her holding a prop that looked like the bloody head of a decapitated Donald Trump. Earlier last year, Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, tweeted out a call to his followers to destroy Israel. Both tweets passed the censorship rules of Twitters 20-something judges in San Francisco.

In contrast, Mr. Trump has been banned for life from Twitter and barred indefinitely from Facebook. Twitter said in a statement it excluded Mr. Trump due to the risk of further incitement of violence.

The president had called for thousands of his followers to assemble at a massive Washington, D.C., rally protesting the results of the election. Splinter groups broke off from the massed protesters. Some stormed into the halls of Congress, Social media platforms canceled Mr. Trump after he urged his followers, albeit peacefully and patriotically, to go protest at the U.S. Capitol, where the mayhem followed.

After the assault and after Democrats won the presidency, kept the House, took the Senate and threatened to pack the U.S. Supreme Court furor broke out against Mr. Trump. The outrage included the banning of Mr. Trump and some of his supporters from social media.

Thousands of scared social media users then retreated to the more conservative site Parler. But in near-unison, Google, Apple and Amazon removed Parler from their platforms.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri had his upcoming book a call to clamp down on Big Tech monopolies abruptly canceled by publisher Simon & Schuster. Mr. Hawleys crime was apparently his quixotic persistence in questioning the authenticity of the 2020 election.

What are the new standards that now get a book or a social media account canceled?

After all, the Vicki Osterweil book In Defense of Looting, a justification for theft and property destruction, came out last summer amid the Antifa and Black Lives Matter unrest. The author was even featured on National Public Radio in a largely sympathetic interview.

Is Madonna banned from social media? Shortly after the 2017 inauguration, she voiced a desire to blow up the White House with the Trump family in it.

Is AK-47-toting rapper Raz Simone banned from social media? He took over a swath of downtown Seattle last June and declared it an autonomous zone. For weeks, his armed guards reigned supreme without worry of police. There were at least four shootings and two deaths in or around Raz Simones kingdom. He was neither prosecuted nor deplatformed from social media. The lyrics of his song Shoot at Everyone are full of allusions to violence, racial slurs and stereotypes. The song is posted on YouTube, and Raz Simone still enjoys a large social media presence.

So, why did Big Tech, the media, the publishing industry, a host of corporations and a growing number of campuses double down on censoring some free speech? Why now blacklist, censor and cancel thousands of people?

True, Mr. Trump gave them an opening when some rogue supporters vandalized the Capitol. But the real reason is that the left has long been eager to curtail the speech of those it opposes. Last week simply offered members of the left the sort of perfect crisis that they determined should never go to waste.

With an unpopular Trump on the way out, and with control over the levers of government, members of the left abruptly settled all their old scores. Their aim was not just to humiliate opponents but to curtail opponents ability to organize against them.

Democrats applauded the censorship. And why not? In a few weeks they will likely seek to end the Senate filibuster. In revolutionary fashion, they may try to admit new states, pack the Supreme Court and end the Electoral College moves designed to emasculate their conservative opposition.

Over a century ago, the oil, railroad, telegraph and power industries created huge monopolies. They set up vertically integrated cartels. And they used their enormous profits to lavish gifts on politicians, control information and destroy competition.

Some people likened these huge trusts to octopuses whose tentacles strangled freedom. In reaction, angry workers and farmers, muckraking journalists and novelists, and crusading populist and progressive politicians passed antitrust laws.

And so they broke up the monopolies.

Today, however, progressive politicians, Wall Street, the media, academia, Hollywood and professional sports are all on the side of the mega-rich tech cartels. Partnering with Big Tech is both politically useful and financially lucrative.

So the values of the 19th-century rail and oil monopolies are back. But now they are married to the 20th-century leftist totalitarianism of George Orwells 1984. And they are further powered by the 21st-century instant reach of the Internet.

This time around there will be no progressive trustbusters or muckrakers. They are in league with, or bought off by, the new electronic octopus.

And its tentacles are strangling the thoughts and speech of an increasingly unfree America.

Victor Davis Hanson, a classicist and historian at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, is the author, most recently, of The Father of Us All: War and History, Ancient and Modern. You can reach him by e-mailing authorvictorhanson.com.

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12 years ago, Satoshi Nakamoto sent Hal Finney 10 bitcoinsthe first transaction – CoinGeek

Posted: at 2:05 pm

Twelve years ago today, Bitcoin creator Dr. Craig Wright (as Satoshi Nakamoto) sent 10 bitcoins to developer and cryptographer Hal Finney. Why is this so important? It was the first ever person-to-person Bitcoin transaction, the first of many millions more.

Like all Bitcoin transactions, its details are public and recorded forever on the blockchain.

It should also remind us that transactions are what Bitcoin is all about. For some, that means money payments between two people. For others, its a way to timestamp and record data on the blockchain. Many of those transacting on the Bitcoin network today arent human at alltheyre sensors and devices transmitting data via automated processes to Bitcoins ledger, timestamping it all for later auditing and retrieval.

Its a symbol of how Bitcoin has changed, yet stayed exactly the same, since those earliest days. A transaction broadcast and processed on Bitcoin SV (BSV) in 2021 follows the same basic protocol rules as Satoshi and Hals first one in 2009. These rules should not change, and should not be able to change, for Bitcoin to endure and remain trusted far into the future.

If youre transacting on a network in 2020 that calls itself Bitcoin but does not follow these original protocol rules; if you sent a Bitcoin transaction and it cost you $10 (or more) in fees to do so then that network is not Bitcoin.

Thanks to the removal of data limits on transaction blocks, and fees that average (today) about 1/100 of a U.S. cent, Bitcoin BSV has the ability to process not only every financial transfer in the world, but also enough data to match the internet itself. It does so following the same rules Satoshi set when he published v0.1 of the protocol software three days before Finney received those 10 bitcoins.

Back to January 2009

Finneys tweet the day before the transaction, where he wrote simply Running bitcoin, is probably the most-quoted tweet in Bitcoin historyand probably worthy of a birthday itself:

Hal Finney showed a keen interest in Bitcoin from the time the Bitcoin white paper was published in 2008, posting that Bitcoin seems to be a very promising idea. According to Dr. Wright, he also provided advice and assistance that helped keep the network running. By Wrights own admission, he was a better computer scientist than coder. Although he wrote the original Bitcoin software release himself, Finney (and later others) helped stopped the network from falling over in its first month, building a robust system destined to define the future of the digital economy.

Hal Finney was already well-known in programming and cryptography circles for developing the PGP encryption system with Phil Zimmerman in the 1990s. He also developed RPOW, or re-usable proof-of-work, and was known to be interested in the concept that was then known as cryptocurrency.

In the last five years of his life, Finney suffered from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), eventually endured near full-body paralysis, and passed away in August 2014. A long-time member of the Extropy Institute, he requested his body be cryopreserved at the Alcor Life Extension Foundation facility in Arizona.

Finney continued to post on the original BitcoinTalk forum until his illness made it too difficult for him to contribute further. He frequently interacted with Satoshi and others from 2010 to 2013. One such exchange went:

Id like to hear some specific criticisms of the code. To me it looks like an impressive job, although Id wish for more comments. Now Ive mostly studied the init, main, script and a bit of net modules. This is some powerful machinery.

Satoshi replied: That means a lot coming from you, Hal. Thanks.

New to Bitcoin? Check out CoinGeeksBitcoin for Beginnerssection, the ultimate resource guide to learn more about Bitcoinas originally envisioned by Satoshi Nakamotoand blockchain.

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6 Marvelous Mushrooms and Their Myriad of Massive Health Benefits – Good News Network

Posted: at 2:04 pm

Mushrooms have been used as food and medicine for thousands of years, and its becoming more common for researchers to announce new therapeutic interventions based on different species.

Even though its common for people to tell you that 80% of mushrooms are poisonous, the ones that arent offer nutrients which are often hard to find in more commonly consumed foods.

For brain health, there are few things better, and many mushrooms are now powdered and sold as nootropic supplements, with claims that they enhance memory and mental performance.

Others have been found to inhibit cancer growth and proliferation, and others are studied for respiratory infections.

Putting aside the traditional use of mushrooms in our societynamely for pizza toppings and hallucinogenic trips, new names for new purposes are finding their way into health food stores and magazines, and here are just a few.

For over 2000 years reishi mushrooms have been recognized by Chinese medical professionals as a valuable remedy, reads a study from the American-Eurasian Journal of Botany. Its Chinese name means spiritual potency, while its also known as the mushroom of immortality, and the medicine of kings.

Studies have shown reishi mushrooms strengthen and improve the competence of the immune system through their content of triterpenes. They can protect the liver, significantly inhibit all four types of allergic reactions, and activate immune cells, particularly ones which kill tumor cells, and invasive bacteria.

While it doesnt demonstrate anti-senescence, lengthen telomeres, or boost NAD+ levels hallmarks of the modern understanding of longevityany one of the things it can ameliorate could just as easily end a life, so in a sense, the mushroom of immortality earns its moniker.

This rare, old-growth mushroom has a multi-thousand-year history of use in Europe, world-renowned mycologist Paul Stamets told Rochelle Baker at Canadas National Observer.

Stamets is referring to a little-known mushroom called agarikon, which he has worked to protect in North America. He notes that ancient Greek physician Dioscorides actually described agarikon in his works, calling it the elixir of long lifeparticularly when used to treat tuberculosis.

Now Stamets believes that agarikon and the old-growth forests in which it thrives should be protected and cultivated for use as a public health remedy for coronaviruses, as well as other respiratory illnesses, due to its role as a potent immune system aid.

As fun to say as it is good for you, chaga has actually been extensively studied for use as a therapeutic intervention. Lacking only accreditation as a nootropic, mood regulator, or for other brain-related effects, there is one very important role which chaga can performas an inhibitor of DNA damage.

MORE: Slimming and Healthful: Benefits of New Green Mediterranean Diet Revealed in Study

A South Korean study found that 40% less DNA damage was observed in human lymphocytes when treated with compounds brought about by the consumption of chaga. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell, and one of the main immune cells.

Another study found that chaga inhibited tumor cell growth in human hepatoma cells (liver cancer), among the references for which were other anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, and hepato-protective studies.

In a study from the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry that is close to receiving 100 citations, the authors note that they are sequestering a large and scattered body of literature to present the nutritional compounds and effects of the lions mane mushroom.

The reported benefits, according to the researchers, include, antibiotic, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, antifatigue, antihypertensive, antihyperlipodemic, antisenescence, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and neuroprotective properties and improvement of anxiety, cognitive function, and depression.

For the authors, they note that it is particularly the anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immuno-stimulating properties, shown in both human and animal cells, that gives this mushroom such a protective role in our biology.

While many people consider this blackish tar-like substance found in the Himalayas to be a fungus, its actually a kind of soil called humus. Its composed significantly of organic compounds, like triterpenes, phenolic lipids, and small tannoids: three things often present in large quantities in mushrooms.

Still, the ancient North Indians and denizens of the mountains there have used it for thousands of years, and its name, Divya Rasayan, means celestial super vitalizer.

RELATED: Dutch Man Invents Coffin That Turns Bodies Into Mushrooms: We are nutrients, not waste

Studies have been done on shilajit which concluded nootropic effects, and others which looked at the properties shilajits content of fulvic acid, a compound which shuttles nutrients like energy, vitamins, and minerals into the cells in much higher quantities than other carriers like blood cells.

Theres little debate about the benefits of cordyceps, which one study noted is used to maintain vivacity and for boosting immunity. That same study noted the only thing misunderstood about cordyceps is whether its nutrients confer protective effects like a nutritional supplement, or whether theyre strong enough to be administered in medicine.

Another study noted its uses could be described as adaptogenic, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, neuroprotective, nootropic, immunomodulatory, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, and even, the study notes, an aphrodisiac.

Yet another study described it as one of the most valuable medicinal mushrooms and nutraceuticals in China. The researchers cited other studies that showed both powerful anti-oxidant capabilities, and, perhaps most valuably, a tempering of the release of TNF-alpha and IL-1b-beta.

These molecules are known as inflammatory cytokines, which, being necessary for wound healing, are one of the major drivers in models of unhealthy aging.

CHECK OUT: Eating Mushrooms a Few Times a Week Could Dramatically Reduce Dementia Risk, Says 6-Year Study

Far from slimy, insect-ridden markers of death and decay, each fungus has huge potential as something bordering between nutritional supplements and outright medicine, and the incorporation of them in your diet can be a great idea.

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Here Are the Top Reads From China’s $5 Billion Online Literature Market – Sixth Tone

Posted: at 2:04 pm

A major consulting firm has released a report on Chinas online literature industry, shedding light on current trends in the booming billion-dollar market.

The report, published Wednesday by Guangzhou-based iiMedia Research Group, said that last year, Chinas online literature industry was worth 37.2 billion yuan ($5.75 billion), and is expected to reach 41.6 billion yuan this year. The report also said that, as writers born after 1995 have joined the fray, the market has become more diversified in terms of genres and writing styles.

In recent years, Chinese online literature has seen growing fan bases among not only domestic readers, but also those abroad, particularly the West. Some foreigners eagerly devour English versions of Chinese martial arts epics published through online platforms such as WuxiaWorld.

Zhang Yi, the CEO and chief analyst at iiMedia, told Sixth Tone that Chinas online literature market grew last year alongside an evolving domestic understanding of intellectual property.

Some leading platforms, such as China Literature, have more mature approaches toward commercialization and applying IP, he said. The IP market in TV, film, stage performances, and other mediums is becoming relatively more mature and open, while online literature platforms have better operations and clearer market strategies.

Included in iiMedias report is a list of the past years top authors. What kinds of stories are they telling, and what does this say about the tastes of Chinas readers? Heres our overview of some of the most interesting and popular series by iiMedias top-ranked authors.

The wuxia romance: You Fei

The online literature writer Priest is among the top five writers of works catering to female readers. Her series You Fei can be classified as a wuxia romance, centering on her protagonist, Zhou Fei, as she grows from a young and inexperienced girl to a knight-errant highly skilled in martial arts. You Fei is widely considered the top IP among online literature: the most coveted series for adaptation to TV or film. Its also unique as a female-oriented martial arts novel, which typically tells stories from a male perspective.

Although Priest finished the series in 2016, You Fei wound up in the spotlight last year when it premiered in December as a TV costume drama, Legend of Fei, starring popular actors Zhao Liying and Wang Yibo. The show attracted new readers to the series, which should bode well for the success of Priests future projects, according to iiMedias report. Previously, her series Zhen Hun, or Guardian, was also adapted into a hit TV drama in 2018.

Xia Lie, vice president of the Chinese Writers Associations Institute of Online Literature, described Priest as a talented writer covering a broad range of genres, from romance and martial arts to science fiction and danmei or stories of romantic relationships between men, usually told by women.

Each of her works makes you feel new and different, and the quality and creativity set her apart from other writers, Xia told Sixth Tone.

The Asian fantasy: The Path Toward Heaven

Topping the rankings of writers catering to male readers was Maoni, author of the series Dadao Chaotian, or The Path Toward Heaven, known for a style dubbed Asian fantasy. In this series, which concluded last August, the writer combined Asian and fantasy elements, telling stories from a made-up world where the characters are bent on achieving immortality.

Maonis work belongs to two popular Chinese fantasy subgenres, xuanhuan and xianxia, which draw from Chinas rich literary, cultural, and spiritual heritage, and tell fictional stories incorporating elements from Chinese mythology and Western fantasy.

The writer is known for transporting readers to vividly described fictional worlds. He has published six works including Qing Yu Nian, or Joy of Life. After being adapted to a TV drama in 2019, it won plaudits and high ratings from critics and casual viewers alike.

According to Xia, Maoni excels at developing characters and leaving readers thinking after theyre done with the latest installment. The characters are three-dimensional. They have personalities, they feel love and hate, they have childhood experiences and experiences that helped them grow and mature, he said. Moreover, after the story ends, youre left with the feeling that some serious philosophical thinking went into it.

The ancient romance: Shan He Sheng Yan

Tianxia Guiyuan, another famous online literature writer, is particularly well-known for her ancient romance novels and independent female protagonists. Since 2008, she has written eight stories of the same genre, including Empress Fuyao and Huang Quan, triggering a literary wave of female-oriented romance stories set in ancient times.

Her novel Shan He Sheng Yan, published last year, is the most popular work listed among pieces catered to female readers, with a total readership of over 17 million.

But some readers think Tianxia Guiyuans latest series is out of step with her previous works. On Q&A site Zhihu, users have complained about a male characters bad romantic relationships with women becoming a recurring frustration for the female protagonist. Some have also taken issue with what they view as superfluous writing and forced online slang thats more awkward than cool.

Nonetheless, many of the writers novels with television adaptations have been well-received by audiences, who feel connected to the plot and drawn to the characters as in the case of Legend of Fuyao, a 2018 production starring high-profile actors Yang Mi and Ruan Jingtian, adapted from Empress Fuyao.

The medical story: Great Doctor Ling Ran

Some online novels on iiMedias list, though not at the top, are important because they tell contemporary stories incorporating real-life elements. The year 2020 was gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic and its lingering uncertainties, setting the stage for stories revolving around health and medicine.

Great Doctor Ling Ran by Zhi Niao Cun, a series still in progress, is about an ambitious medical student who hopes to become an outstanding surgeon and ultimately achieves his dream by going on an epic journey. With an eponymous TV series expected later this year, online anticipation and expectations are already mounting.

According to Xia, the series is like a written video game: Every time the main character successfully completes a surgery, he levels up, gaining experience and new skills.

Despite the story veering toward what Xia called illusory reality, he said the medical information it presents is quite accurate. When writing about hospital departments and human body parts, he said, the content is so well-researched that even a real doctor would be hard-pressed to find fault with it.

Editor: David Paulk.

(Icons: Iconscout/People Visual)

(Header image: A man passes by the online literature booth at the Shanghai Book Fair, Aug. 17, 2019. People Visual)

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Europe Offshore Pipeline Market Forecast to 2027 – COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis by Diameter, Line Type, and Product – Yahoo Finance

Posted: at 2:04 pm

The Europe offshore pipeline market is expected to grow from US$ 4,959. 17 million in 2019 to US$ 6,612. 02 million by 2027; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3. 9 % from 2020 to 2027. Increasing demand for natural gas and crude oil drives the growth of the Europe offshore pipeline market.

New York, Jan. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Europe Offshore Pipeline Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis by Diameter, Line Type, and Product" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06004168/?utm_source=GNW The markets in the UK and Germany are presenting the most considerable growth.

The robust surge in petrochemical demand in Europe resulted in increased consumption.Rise in industrial production and high demand for trucking services boost the need for petrochemicals, thereby fueling the growth of the market across the region.

Moreover, growing air traffic volumes across Europe is another factor increasing oil consumption.Europe is witnessing high demand for natural gas owing to rise in use of natural gas in diverse industrial sectors.

Surge in demand for oil & gas is attributed to increasing industrialization and urbanization. Several oil & gas companies across the region are increasing their offshore exploration & production (E&P) activities to meet the constantly rising energy demand. One of the significant oil & gas pipeline projects across Europe is Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline (Russia), which may get launched by the end of 2020. Rising demand for oil & gas increases E&P activities, which, in turn, supports the growth of the Europe offshore pipeline market.Countries in Europe, especially the UK and Russia, are adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.In Europe, several countries are suffering an economic downturn and decline in business activities across the oil & gas sector due to the drop in oil prices in the first quarter of 2020.

Many of these countries are implementing drastic measures on activities of imports and exports, and shipment of goods by partially closing their borders.The restrictions are hindering the demand for energy in various industry verticals, which restrains the growth of Europe offshore pipeline market.

The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak varies from country to country across Europe as countries are reporting a surge in the number of confirmed cases, and are imposing stringent and more extended lockdown or social isolation.The measures are disrupting businesses industry verticals and the demand for oil commodities.

The lockdown is hindering the offshore pipeline market in Europe owing to the disruption in oil & gas sector across countries. However, several industries across a few countries are reopening and subsequently are driving the demand for energy is expected to resume the construction of oil & gas activities to support the growth. Thus, the market is projected to recover steadily over the coming period and gain traction for offshore pipelines across Europe during the forecast period.Based on product, the refined products segment led the Europe offshore pipeline market in 2019.The refined products segment comprises pipelines used to distribute all oil & gas related refined final products to the customers.

For instance, the distribution of natural gas is mostly done through pipelines.Also, liquid fertilizers are primarily transmitted through long distances pipelines.

Additionally, LNG transported through ships requires short pipelines for connecting the vessel and onshore storage tanks. The surge in industrialization and urbanization across Europe is expected to accelerate the demand for refined products in coming years, which would drive the Europe offshore pipeline market during the forecast period.The overall Europe offshore pipeline market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources.To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the market.

The process also serves the purpose of obtaining an overview and forecast for the Europe offshore pipeline market with respect to all the segments pertaining to the region.Also, multiple primary interviews have been conducted with industry participants and commentators to validate the data, as well as to gain more analytical insights into the topic.

The participants of this process include industry experts such as VPs, business development managers, offshore pipeline market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, along with external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders, specializing in the Europe offshore pipeline market. Bechtel Corporation; Fugro; John Wood Group PLC; Larsen & Toubro Limited; McDermott International, Inc.; Petrofac Limited; Saipem S.p.A; Sapura Energy Berhad; Subsea 7 S.A.; and TechnipFMC plc are a few players operating in the market.Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06004168/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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Panama City Beach city council moves forward with offshore stormwater outfall project – WMBB – mypanhandle.com

Posted: at 2:04 pm

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) The Panama City Beach City Council voted to move forward with the Lullwater and Calypso offshore stormwater outfall project on Thursday night.

The council accepted a $943,400 bid with DDC Engineering, Inc., who has built several offshore outfalls before, namely in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

It will help the Lullwater lake area be able to have a free flowing, clean exit out into the Gulf, said Councilman Geoff McConnell. It will also reduce any of the runoff that we have, any of the pollutants headed out there.

While engineers said on Thursday that the project will bring many benefits to the area, like decreased pollution and beach erosion, its ringing alarm bells for some residents concerned about the short and long-term effects of changing the current outfall situation.

Im a little bit nervous, said Panama City Beach resident, Molly Allen. What will the project bring if they close the outfall? What will the rate of water be going out? Changing the water level will affect peoples property.

However, some council members said the way the outfalls are now needs to change.

Its one of the biggest eyesores Panama City Beach has, said Councilman Paul Casto. I would love to get rid of these.

We get tons of complaints every time that it rains because it looks like its raw sewage headed out, McConnell said. Its really not, its just tannin that is in the lakes and freshwater.

Engineers said they understand the concern, as this would be the first offshore outfall like this in the Gulf region, but they said previous projects have proven success.

I was pleased with some of their answers, Allen said. I would like to hear more.

City leaders are scheduling a town hall where more questions can be addressed by the engineers designing the project, which is to be funded by the CRA and potential grants. Theres no word yet on the exact date for the town hall.

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Offshore winds keep Central Coast cooking, and more may be on the way – Lompoc Record

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Don Foss of Orcutt sits in the sun Thursday at Waller Park in Santa Maria, where the temperature hit 81 degrees. "I took a walk around Monkey Island, and I thought I'd rest a little before I head back," Foss said. "I like to come down to enjoy the sunshine and watch the wildlife."

Clear skies and warm temperatures brought children to Waller Park in Santa Maria with their parents Thursday, when the high reached 81 degrees there and in Lompoc. Santa Ynez hit 82 degrees.

Warm weather Thursday brought a family to Waller Park in Santa Maria for a barbecue and some time out of the house.

Northern Santa Barbara County was cooking Thursday after northeasterly winds that blew in Wednesday evening pushed temperatures into the 80s, although not high enough to officially break any records, according to National Weather Service data.

There are no new records that I know of, but its absolutely gorgeous weather, said John Lindsey, meteorologist for Pacific Gas & Electric Co. at Diablo Canyon Power Plant. You could be in Iowa, where its 18 degrees.

Although thermometers reached as high as 86 and 88 degrees Thursday in downtown Santa Maria, and one Orcutt resident said his read 87, the official high recorded at Santa Maria Public Airport was 81.

The record for Jan. 14 in Santa Maria is 83 degrees, set in 2014 when Santa Maria set new records four days in a row, peaking at 89 degrees on Jan. 16, Lindsey said.

In Lompoc, the high Thursday was also 81, but the record there for Jan. 14 is 84 degrees, set back in 1983. Vandenberg Air Force Base recorded a high of 80 degrees Thursday, and the Santa Ynez Airport temperature peaked at 82 degrees.

National Weather Service data did not list records for the base and Santa Ynez.

The recent northeast offshore winds are producing these warm temperatures, Lindsey said

But the warm weather is drying out the already parched wildland vegetation, and long-range forecasts see no rain in sight through the end of January, normally one of the areas rainy months.

This is the heart of our rain season, Lindsey said. It was very dry in October and November, and we had that one rain storm at the end of December. I cant remember the last time we had a dry January.

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Nations first offshore wind tower plant to be built in Albany – NEWS10 ABC

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ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) The first offshore wind tower manufacturing facility in the U.S. is set to be constructed in the Port of Albany, Governor Cuomo has announced. Speaking on Tuesday, the Governor said the facility will lead to 500 construction jobs and 300 long-term jobs for highly skilled workers.

The facility will produce 150 offshore wind towers annually and forms part of a $29 billion green energy plan the Governor outlined in the third part of his State of the State address.

Green energy is a pressing moral imperative and a prime economic opportunity. New York can and will be the nations leader for renewable energy innovation and production, all while securing jobs of the future for New Yorkers.

Our entire green energy program will create a total 12,400 megawatts of green energy to power 6 million homes, directly create more than 50,000 jobs, and spur $29 billion in private investment all across the state.

Norwegian company Equinor proposed the Port of Albany as the site for its new manufacturing facility in November 2020.

The Governor says manufacturing materials will arrive at the facility by rail, and the finished products will be shipped down the Hudson River.

A number of advocates and officials have welcomed both the news of the manufacturing facility and the wider renewable energy plans outlined in the address.

In a statement, County Executive McCoy said the manufacturing of equipment and infrastructure for the green energy sector had been outsourced to other states and countries for too long.

Its not enough to invest in the production of a carbon-free energy sector. We need to also invest in the manufacturing of the very equipment and infrastructure needed to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels that have been outsourced to other states and countries for too long.

Albany County has made incredible strides towards becoming one of the greenest counties in the State, but now with this project, we will help New York continue to be a leader in the production of renewable energy in the entire country.

I want to thank my team for their advocacy and for working with the Center for Economic Growth and the Port of Albany to help make this a reality. I commend Governor Cuomo and NYSERDA for their vision of a greener, safer and more sustainable future.

A number of figures from the Albany County Legislature also welcomed the news. Chairman Andrew Joyce also pointed out promoting renewable energy, green initiatives and economic development has been a key focus of the legislature, while others were grateful for the hundreds of well-paying jobs headed to the region.

We are thrilled with the news that the Port of Albany has been selected as a wind tower manufacturing site. Promoting renewable energy, green initiatives and economic development has been a key focus for the Albany County Legislature. Weve been advocating for wind turbine manufacturing in Albany County, and were excited to continue the work needed to make this transformational project a reality, said .

Legislator William Reinhardt, Chairman of the Conservation, Sustainability and Green Initiatives Committee said these green manufacturing jobs only scratch the surface of what is possible for sustainable economic development if we fully embrace state and local policies and investment to transition to the climate-sustaining economy that is within our grasp.

Legislator Sean Ward, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, commended the governor before adding the Legislature is grateful for the efforts of the many people at State and County level who worked hard to bring the project to Albany county.

Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, who represents District 109 (Albany), welcomed both the jobs at a time when they are sorely needed and hoped the project would cement the Capital Region as the nations first real hub for offshore wind energy infrastructure.

Offshore wind will rapidly become a centerpiece of New York States energy infrastructure in the years to come, and this will cement the Capital Region as the nations first real hub for offshore wind energy infrastructure.

In addition to helping New York achieve its ambitious energy efficiency and carbon emission goals set forth under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, this project will create 500, good-paying long-term jobs for Capital Region residents at a time when they are sorely needed.

I commend Governor Cuomo and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for his continued leadership on the transcendent threat of climate change, and the Port of Albany for their vision and investment in the clean energy grid of tomorrow.

The Director of the New York Offshore Wind Alliance, Joseph Martens, described the steps the Governor has outlined as a quantum leap forward. Martens also said the Governors commitment to renewable energy goes hand in hand with his commitment to address historic environmental injustices and present new opportunities to underserved and frontline communities.

At a time when bold action is needed to rebuild our states economy and combat the climate crisis, Governor Cuomo took a quantum leap forward today to help meet these historic challenges. His announcement in todays State of the State address that the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will contract for an additional 2,500 megawatts of clean, renewable offshorewindenergy further supports the tireless efforts of a broad-based coalition of political leaders, environmental and labor organizations, developers and communities across the state to cement New York as the epicenter of this new and growing industry to the United States.

The Governors commitment to offshore wind and clean, renewable energy goes hand-in-hand with his commitment to address historic environmental injustices and present new opportunities to underserved and frontline communities. The investment in New York ports, transmission infrastructure, worker training and development of New Yorks supply chain bode well for New Yorks nation-leading transition to a clean energy economy.

The New York Offshore Wind Alliance applauds the Governors bold and visionary announcement and commits to working with his Administration to ensure it is realized.

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Nations first offshore wind tower plant to be built in Albany - NEWS10 ABC

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First offshore LNG articulated tug and barge in US ready for operation: Shell – S&P Global

Posted: at 2:04 pm

Highlights

Vessel to provide ship-to-ship LNG bunker operations

Vessel to service customers along US southeast coast

London Shell and LNG transportation company Q-LNG said the first offshore LNG bunker tug and barge in the US was ready for operations.

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The vessel, the Q-LNG 4000, will provide ship-to-ship transfers for LNG-fueled vessels as well as small-scale ship-to-shore transfers, Shell said.

"We believe LNG can play a vital role in reducing emissions from shipping today, so I am proud that we have developed the world's largest LNG fueling network of ports and bunker vessels on key trading routes," said Grahaeme Henderson, Global Head of Shell Shipping & Maritime.

Shell already has six LNG bunker vessels in operation globally.

The vessel, which will service customers along the southeast coast and support growing cruise-line demand for LNG as a marine fuel, has a fuel capacity of 4,000 cu m.

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First offshore LNG articulated tug and barge in US ready for operation: Shell - S&P Global

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Fishermen say Mills’ offshore wind plan is short-circuiting input process – Mainebiz

Posted: at 2:04 pm

A coalition of fishing communities last week sent a letter to Gov. Janet Mills expressing concern about proposed offshore wind energy development in the Gulf of Maine.

The coalition, called Responsible Offshore Development Alliance and based in Washington, D.C., asked the Mills administration to prioritize an inclusive planning process and research program over the rapid implementation of commercial-scale OSW [offshore wind] facilities.

The Maine Lobstermen's Association, Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, and a number of Maine-based fishermen are members of the alliance.

The Governors Energy Office is leading the development of a research array of up to 12 turbines covering up to 16 square miles somewhere along the southern half of Maines coast. The location and size and number of the turbines havent been determined yet.

In a virtual information meeting last month, GEO Deputy Director Celina Cunningham said the state is seeking input from fishermen to determine locations hat would have minimal conflict with known fishing grounds.

But Responsible Offshore Development Alliance Executive Director Annie Hawkins wrote the group is troubled that the timeline for the states proposed research array allows for neither adequate planning nor engagement with the fishing industry.

She added that the fishing industry is willing to work with the state on the research array to consider outcomes that may minimize impacts to fishing practices and provide much-needed socioeconomic and environmental data. However, this is only possible if we have a reasonable timeline and planning process to complete this work.

Given the significant fishing occurring in the gulf and the relative lack of fine-scale data regarding fishing activity there, the risk of unreasonable interference would greatly increase if a project is rushed and does not include close coordination with fishing experts, she wrote.

The statestimeline includes submitting an application for the research array to the U.S. Department of the Interiors Bureau of Ocean Energy Management this winter or early spring.

The bureau is responsible for leasing sites in federal waters, which begin 3 miles from the coast.

But Hawkins said the timeline is too short to collect the fishing activity data needed to minimize impacts.The problem is exacerbated by the pandemic, she wrote.

Despite the assurance that your office will work with us to ensure that we organize a stakeholder process that is mindful of immediate health and business impacts from COVID-19, we have received no roadmap for how the state intends to develop partnerships with the industry that are cognizant of the significant current limitations on meetings, unusual time demands, and economic demands fishermen currently face as essential workers providing food to the nation, she wrote.

The alliance also called for the research array to be considered as part of a larger planning effort around future offshore wind development, rather than as a stand-alone project.

This approach does not allow the fishing industry to understand how the research array might fit into a larger OSW development or how to minimize the cumulative impacts of multiple such developments, Hawkins wrote.

Over two dozen Swans Island fishermen signed onto a Facebook push to gather names to add to the letter. The letter was also available through the Maine Coast Fishermens Association website, which told fishermen they could sign onto the letter by contacting the association.

In November, the Maine Lobstermens Association wrote to Mills to express its concern about proposed offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine and the potential that it will negatively impact Maines fishing industry

Offshore wind technologies are evolving rapidly and because of that, there are significant deficiencies in our understanding of the environmental impacts as well as the displacement of fishermen that may result from these projects, the associates executive director, Patrice McCarron, wrote.

The MLA believes strongly in the need for a robust stakeholder process. To this end, the MLA and many other Maine-based fishing industry associations are working proactively on the offshore wind issue through the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance.

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Fishermen say Mills' offshore wind plan is short-circuiting input process - Mainebiz

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