Posts - Americans

Large Trees Are Being Cloned So Future Generations Can Enjoy Them

Culture

Many environmentalists are trying to save some of the world’s biggest trees by cloning them.

One such tree is known as Lady Liberty. The 89 foot tall tree stands at the end of a boardwalk located roughly 16 miles north of Orlando. In December the Archangel Tree Archive will visit the tree in order to gather some samples for cloning.

Archangel Tree Archive is a non-profit organization that focuses on storing the genetic material of notable trees, cloning the trees and finding appropriate places to plant the clones. The organization hopes that cloning the trees will allow future generations to enjoy them.

Environmentalists estimate that less than 10% of old forest trees in the United States are still standing today. Trees have been threatened by logging and housing developments for many decades.

Just three years ago, an even larger tree stood nearby Lady Liberty. The tree was called The Senator, and it stood at 165 feet tall. It was burned down three years ago, much to the sadness and outrage of the public.

However, the tragedy inspired people to protect the trees that remained standing, including Lady Liberty.

Archangel Tree Archive has previously worked in California, saving the state’s famous redwood trees. They have also cloned trees from historic locations, such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. The group maintains a list of about 100 noteworthy trees worldwide that have yet to be cloned.

Archangel’s leader Jake Milarch says, “We go for the biggest trees, because those are the ones that have survived.” Milarch believes that genetics play a large role in the success of a tree.

However, some people believe that cloning old trees is a waste of time. Instead, they believe that conservation techniques should focus on protecting the trees that are still standing. Critics also disagree with the prospect of saving individual specimens rather than entire habitats. Some also mention the fact that environments have changed over time, and the young clone of a successful tree might not fare as well in a different environment. Indeed, luck may have a larger factor in the success of a tree than genetics.

That being said, most scientists do see value in studying cloned trees. Even at a fraction of the size of their counterparts, they still contain the exact same genetic material as the trees that they were cloned from. Many scientists are particularly excited about how the cloned trees will fare given the factor of climate change.

Meanwhile, those who appreciate Lady Liberty are just happy that the tree will be cloned. Even if something were to happen to the original tree, they would have a backup that they could still enjoy.

Drone Operators Faces $1.9 Million FAA Fine For Aerial Photography

News

Chicago based drone operator SkyPan International is facing fines of $1.9 million for continued abuse of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules by using drones to take aerial photos over New York and Chicago, two of the USA’s most congested and restricted airspaces.

FAA administrator Michael Huerta says that the size of the fine reflected SkyPan’s repeated violations. “Clearly this was not inadvertent, someone making a mistake,” says Huerta. “What we saw here was a pattern of disregard for FAA rules.” The flights took place between March 21, 2012 and Dec. 15, 2014.

The FAA is alleging SkyPan International, conducted 65 flights in restricted airspace over New York and Chicago, with 43 of the flights over New York, without any clearance from air traffic controllers.The drones which were used to take aerial photographs, were not equipped with transponders, altitude reporting equipment or two way radios.

The FAA further alleges that on all 65 flights over Chicago and New York, the drones lacked effective registration and airworthiness certificates.

Huerta says the FAA wants to send a clear message to drone operators “to make sure everyone understands there are ways to safely operate unmanned aircraft, it is important that you follow those rules and if you don’t follow those rules we will take enforcement action.”

“Flying unmanned aircraft in violation of the Federal Aviation Regulations is illegal and can be dangerous. We have the safest airspace in the world, and everyone who uses it must understand and observe our comprehensive set of rules and regulations.” says Huerta.

SkyPan has 30 days to respond to the FAA charges. A company spokesman says they are still reviewing an FAA email notifying them and would not comment until this had been completed and legal advice had been sought.

Battle Between Newspapers And Google Intensifies In Europe

Finance

Traditional print and online media publishers continue their battle against Internet supergiant Google; this time in Brussels. A group of media companies being led by Germany’s Axel Springer, are pushing for changes to Europe’s copyright framework. The main goal of the group is to receive some sort of compensation when search engines like Google reproduce portions of media companies’ articles.

For publishers, the stakes are high. Print revenues continue to fall and online advertising is under pressure. Moreover, few readers are willing to pay for online news when they can get it for free. A few powerful platforms like Google, Apple and Facebook are increasing their control over the distribution of publishers’ work.

If the publishers get their way with the European Commission, Google will have to pay them when it displays portions of their articles on its search site. This will open up a new source of revenue for the media companies. The flip side is that if the Commission decides to impose these “licensing fees,” Google may do what it already did in Spain- simply shut down Google News in the region – and thus not direct thousands if not millions of views to the publishers’ websites.

While media representatives are optimistic that the Commission will do something, other experts are not as confident. Some Commission officials are not convinced that media companies need stronger protection for their material.

In fact, the other side of the debate points out that publishers are trying to hold onto a business model that is long-outdated and does not reflect society’s current practices. Opponents to stronger copyright protections believe they will impinge upon free speech and an open Internet.

Nathalie Vandystadt, a spokeswoman for the Digital Single Market, believes that the Commission is keeping an open mind as it said it would. “Different solutions related to news aggregators [like Google], both legislative and market-led, are being tested at [the] national level. The Commission is closely looking into them. At this stage we have not yet a final position as to whether legislative intervention at EU level is needed. Commissioner Oettinger is open to different options and is looking into the best solutions to facilitate access to content while ensuring a fair remuneration for authors.”

The war between newspaper publishers and Google taking place in Europe is part of the larger debate regarding control of the digital economy. Publishers bear the cost and risk of producing original content but, unlike performing artists, broadcasters and film producers, publishers are not compensated when their work is reproduced.

Robert Thomson, chief executive of News Corp, which owns The Times, The Sun and the Wall Street Journal, also is vocal about Google’s “chokehold” over publishers. Last year, he wrote a letter to the Commission stating that Google’s “habitual appropriation of content and audiences” was largely responsible for the newspaper industry’s decline.

He further opined that, “Virtually every newspaper in Europe is in the midst of upheaval, and some will surely not exist five years from now, in part because of their own flawed strategy and lack of leadership, but also because of the value of serious content has been commodified by Google. Readers have been socialized into accepting this egregious aggregation as the norm.”

Joe Biden’s Potential Presidential Run Filled With Emotion

News

Whether or not Joe Biden makes a run for President of the United States reportedly has a lot to do with the wishes of his late son.

Beau Biden reportedly tried to make his father promise to run for president before his death earlier this year in late May.

According to Joe Biden, his late son Beau wanted him to run because “the White House should not revert to the Clintons and that the country would be better off with Biden values.”

While some people believe that this represents a cancer-stricken son’s legitimate dying wish to his dad, others are somewhat skeptical, believing that it is a clear attack at presidential candidate and fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Biden’s decision regarding a 2016 presidential run has largely been surrounded by emotion, as some people believe that Joe Biden wouldn’t have the strength to run for president after his son died earlier this year.

However, many believe that Joe Biden is being calculative. He knows that he is drawing more support away from Clinton than candidate Bernie Sanders. He is aware of the challenges of running against a female candidate. And perhaps most pressing, he realizes that time is running out to make a decision, as Biden only has about a week left to make a run even possible.

Others think that a run for president would be exactly the spark that Biden needs after going through immense tragedy earlier this year.

If Biden were indeed to make a run, many speculate that Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren would serve as his running mate. Biden and Warren met for a secretive meeting in late August.

Former advisor of President Barack Obama, David Axelrod has reportedly spoken with Joe Biden about the race. He believes that Biden has a legitimate shot at winning the election, despite the fact that he still hasn’t announced his candidacy.

Axelrod stated, “His bet is that disaffection with Hillary will allow him to peel away some of her donors and operatives.”

Meanwhile reports indicate that potential future first lady Jill Biden would not stop her husband from running.

That being said, many people don’t believe Biden will run simply due to the fact that there hasn’t been a large amount of detailed planning on his part.

For now, Biden is taking as much time as possible in making the difficult decision. People close to Biden admit that if he makes a quick entry in the upcoming week, it will be because the calendar pressed him to say yes.

Still, the emotion is real for Joe Biden. In a recent interview with Stephen Colbert, he stated that he’d feel like he was letting Beau down if he didn’t run.

However, this isn’t a Hollywood movie and the decision to make a legitimate run for president goes beyond a dying son’s wish.

Meanwhile, Biden, who is a devout Roman Catholic, met with Pope Francis during his American visit. The Pope wished Biden the best after the loss of his son.

The two did not discuss the 2016 Presidential Election.

New 3D Printer Is Able To Print Homes In The Span Of A Week

Entertainment News

A company that manufactures 3D printers has taken the emerging industry to a whole new level. Inspired by the dwellings constructed by mud dauber wasps, the Italian company, World’s Advanced Saving Project (WASP), has developed a method to quickly and cheaply print a house using 3D printing technology.

The company has built the largest 3D printer known to exist. The machine, named BigDelta, is a hexagonal device at 20 feet wide and 40 feet tall. It has three arms that control the nozzle that sprays the printing material. The machine is easy and quick to set up and use, which is particularly useful in emergency situations. It can manufacture a 10-foot tall, igloo-shaped house with a 20-foot base in about one week.

The ability for fast and easy construction is exactly what the company wanted, as it hopes to provide housing for the poorest populations around the world. The cost for constructing one of these houses is just a few thousand dollars. The company also hopes to provide dwellings for those whose homes have been destroyed due to war or natural disasters.

The printer combines a mix of hay, rocks, dirt and water (or similar materials) into a clay-like mixture. It then forms the mixture into triangles and stacks them, creating a single-room, dome-like structure. The structure is designed to be low-maintenance and durable.

WASP director Massimo Moretti says that using materials that are easy to find and readily available (that is free or almost free) is the key to building this type of sustainable housing. One of the company’s goals is to build houses from materials found on-site.

WASP has been working on this and similar projects since 2003. In addition to BigDelta, the company has developed the Power Wasp, a smaller 3-D printer that can mill metal and wood and be used in developing countries. Last year, WASP brought a 20-foot version of BigDelta to the Rome Maker Faire. The company recently debuted its latest version in Italy and plans on conducting demonstrations around the world.

Other companies have had limited success in trying to develop a 3D printer to create a dwelling, but BigDelta is the first to print a house on-site in one piece.

While BigDelta is a prototype, WASP hopes a production model will be ready in a few years. Moretti and his colleagues continue to be motivated in light of the United Nations’ recent predictions that by 2030, the world’s population will grow so quickly that there will be a need for 100,000 new dwellings per day.

Obama’s Plan To Remove Troops From Afghanistan Receiving Criticism

Entertainment News

President of the United States Barack Obama plans to remove almost every service member from Afghanistan by the end of 2016, and some military leaders are not happy about that. Under President Obama’s plan, the only troops who would remain in the country would be there for embassy purposes.

Army General John Campbell recently informed a panel of the Senate that he has provided President Obama with alternative options to his current plan of action.

Campbell stated, “Based on conditions on the ground, I do believe that we have to provide our senior leadership options different than the current plan we’re on, absolutely. When the president made that decision, it did not take into account the change over the last two years. So, the courses of actions that I’ve provided to my senior leadership provide options to adjust that.”

Campbell declined to elaborate on his recommendations.

The situation in Afghanistan has changed in many ways since President Obama announced his plan of removing all troops from the country. The Middle East has seen a rise in forces from the Islamic State, and Afghanistan is facing pressure from the military operations of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain has criticized the Obama Administration for staying true to their plan. McCain has warned President Obama that a quick withdrawal of troops could send Afghanistan into chaos.

McCain said, “It is not too late for President Obama to abandon this dangerous course and adopt a plan for U.S. troop presence based on conditions on the ground. But time is of the essence, and continued delays by the White House are hurting our national security interests and those of our partners in Afghanistan and beyond.”

Meanwhile, Democrats in the Senate also want to make sure that goals are met before bringing service members home.

Senator Jack Reed said in a public statement to General Campbell, “I strongly believe that the U.S. force posture in Afghanistan going forward should be shaped and resourced to enable you, general, to achieve your missions’ objectives, based on conditions on the ground.”

President Obama has already agreed to delay the return of troops from Afghanistan. The Obama Administration set the goal of bringing home half of the nearly 10,000 troops in the country by the end of 2015. However, the Administration announced in March that no withdrawals would take place until 2016. Part of the reason for this delay was the fact that leaders in Afghanistan requested “flexibility” in the situation.

Combat operations in Afghanistan officially ended in 2014.

China Adopts New Life Score System For Rating Citizens

Entertainment News

In what would outrage the citizens of the Western world, China has adopted the use of a credit score that is more like a life score. Instead of just analyzing a person’s assets, credit history and income, China’s new universal credit score system also takes into consideration a person’s political views, shopping habits and even what his or her friends think.

China’s new scoring system was introduced earlier this year and currently remains voluntary. However, by 2020, that system will become mandatory for every Chinese citizen.

An individual’s score can range from 350 to 950 and is possible to track with a free Sesame Credit app available from Alibaba. The score is linked to a national ID card.

Presently, all social networks in China are operated by Alibaba or Tencent. Because it is China, the government has access to everyone’s social data. It tracks that data and modifies “credit” scores based on the information. These two companies are also responsible for keeping people’s data current. A person’s financial situation plays an important part in determining his or her score, but so does much more.

If a you post a political opinion that the Chinese government does not particularly appreciate, it will negatively affect your score. If you mention a topic that the government really does not like, your score will go down even further.

If that is not bad enough, your score can decline based upon the statements your friends post online. Since all of your data and list of friends is tracked through social media, their negative political views will affect their own score as well as yours. By using this data to affect scores, it is clear the government wants you to keep your friends in line.

Additionally, the Chinese government will evaluate other life choices when calculating your credit score. If you buy healthy foods and have healthy habits, your score will increase. If you buy unhealthy foods and play lots of video games, your score will be negatively impacted.

Despite the seemingly outrageous system, many Chinese citizens are embracing the program with over 100,000 people voluntarily participating.

Everything You Need To Know About The Biggest Trend In Male Cosmetic Surgery

Health & Wellness

Yesterday we covered the incredible rise of the beard transplant, in which hair from other parts of the body is transferred to the face. We thought this was a curious story and you agreed! We received a number of requests asking if this was for real (yes!) and people wanting to know more about this strange yet logical trend.

Our friends at Medigo, a company specializing in medical tourism, reached out and confirmed that the trend is for real and that they have seen a surge in interest from men (and women) looking to enhance their facial facade.

They kindly provided us (free of charge / obligation) with the following infographic outlining the Who, What, Why, When and Where of facial hair transplants.

Norway To Dip Into Sovereign Wealth Fund As Oil Prices Continue To Fall

Entertainment News

News for the global economy continues to be bleak. Norway, which has the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, could start to make withdrawals from the $830 billion fund as early as next year. The fund, which has been built up over the past 20 years to provide for “future generations” is being affected by the decline in oil prices.

On Wednesday, Norway’s minority government will reveal its budget plans expected to address tax cuts and new spending measures.

Prime Minister Erna Solberg is doing everything possible to avoid a recession as the value of the country’s key commodity continues to slump. The downward spiral of oil prices is affecting Norway’s $500 billion economy – which is heavily reliant on the natural resource. With tax revenue from the extraction of petroleum down 42% from last year, next year’s budget spending will likely be greater than its income.

Kyrre Aamdal, senior economist at DNB ASA in Oslo observed that, “We have reached a point where we will from now on see that the oil-corrected balance will be above the cash flow – that’s based on oil prices increasing slowly in the future.” He noted that tapping into the country’s sovereign wealth fund marks a point that was not expected for “several more years.”

Norway’s government stated in the spring that its non-oil budget shortage would be a record $21.6 billion. With oil output decreasing and prices continuing to fall, the country’s petroleum income dropped almost 30% lower than projections. The projections assumed a $69 per barrel price. Unfortunately for Norway, oil has averaged only $56 per barrel this year. As of 8:20 a.m. Tuesday morning, London time, oil was traded at $49.13 per barrel.

Taxes collected on petroleum extraction were also down significantly from the same period last year.

To compound matters, tapping into the wealth fund to cover budget necessities comes at a time when the fund’s managers warn that it faces diminished investment returns due to record-low interest rates.

Despite the bad news, Norway’s government officials contend that only the fund’s investment returns will actually be used for the budget needs – and not the principal of the fund itself. Knut Anton Mork, senior economist at Svenska Handelsbanken AB in Oslo stated that, “no one will ever need to break the piggy bank.”

The fund’s managers also point out that the fund will not have to sell assets – but rather use the cash it earns from dividends and bond interest.

In addition to using some of the fund’s interest and dividends to assist with the country’s budget, Norway plans to release a proposal that will include tax reforms and other cost-saving measures. DNB’s Aamdal pointed out that, “There is room for more active fiscal policy to stimulate in downturns.”

Study Finds Boardrooms Are Boys Clubs And Men Like It That Way

Finance

A recent study has shown that women find it more important than men to have diversity in corporate boardrooms. The study was conducted by PriceWaterhouseCooper.

According to the results, 63% of women serving on corporate boards believe that having female members serving on the board is “very important”. Meanwhile, only 35% of men felt the same way.

However, the results were less favorable toward racial diversity than they were towards gender diversity. Only 46% of women and 27% of men stated that it was “very important” to have ethnic minorities serving on company boards.

Female board members were also more likely than men to express the benefits of diversity. Twice as many women than men agreed with the statement that diversity makes company boards more effective, while pushing companies to improve their performance.

Men and women also disagreed in terms of perceived opportunities for improving board member diversity. While 46% of female board members said that there are a large number of female or minority candidates for board positions to choose from, only 18% of males agreed with the same statement.

Meanwhile, new board members were also more supportive of diversity than their veteran counterparts. Board members who had been serving in their current position for less than one year “very much” agreed with the idea that diversity is crucial to company success 62% of the time. This was only true for 39% of board members who had been serving on their company’s board for 10 or more years.

Another note is that 40% of board members believe that someone on their board should be fired, and they cited “diminished performance from aging” as the most common reason.

According to advocacy group Catalyst, women currently represent roughly 20% of all board seats of the 500 companies listed in the stock index of Standard & Poor.

More than 700 board members participated in the survey.

Wind And Solar Energy Thriving As Non-Renewable Energy Declines

Culture

Wind power is now the cheapest source of electricity. This marks the first time that the environmentally friendly power generation technique has achieved this title.

Energy experts particularly like wind power due to the ability of wind turbines to function on their own without additional sources of power. Traditional coal and gas plants require fuel in order to function. That fuel costs money, meaning that energy companies cannot produce electricity without opening their wallets.

With wind power, the cost of generating electricity is free. Once the wind project is built, it sustains itself.

The result is that coal and natural gas power plants are being used less. Meanwhile, more wind projects are being developed.

Renewable sources of energy like wind and solar power only represent a small fraction of generated electricity. In 2014, they only represented 5% of all electricity produced in the United States.

However, wind and solar plants are now large enough in number that they have an influence over when energy companies run coal and natural gas plants. Since wind and solar energy are free, energy companies will choose renewable sources of energy whenever it is possible. It’s only when not enough wind is blowing or the sun isn’t shining, that the companies will revert to traditional non-renewable energy sources which costs them money.

With wind and solar plants growing at an exponential rate, they have more influence in the energy industry than ever before.

Energy analyst Luke Mills says, “Renewables are really becoming cost-competitive, and they’re competing more directly with fossil fuels. We’re seeing the utilization rate of fossil fuels wear away.”

Additionally, the trend is causing an economic shift, as companies are becoming extremely reluctant to invest money into a coal or natural gas plants. Such plants will be used less frequently as wind and solar energy become the leading sources of energy in America.

Meanwhile, subsidies offered by the United States are making investments in renewable energy more attractive than ever before. The costs involved are continuing to drop, as wind and solar energy is quickly becoming some of the cheapest energy to produce.

With wind turbines and solar facilities having extremely long lifespans, those investments go a very long way. As the prices for establishing renewable energy facilities continue to drop, these alternatives will become more prevalent in the future.

Researcher Designs Low Cost Tool To Prevent Dealerships From Becoming Virus Distributors

Finance

A $20 tool may be the key to one day preventing the spread of malware that could infect the computer systems of thousands of cars. The tool designed by security researcher Craig Smith, tracks down security flaws in testing equipment commonly used to update car software or check vehicle systems.

Author of the ‘Car Hacker’s Handbook’, Smith says that theoretically, a hacker could take a purposely infected vehicle for service to spread malware to the testing equipment which would then spread the malware to other customers’ vehicles, compromising electronically-controlled systems such as braking and steering.

Smith’s detection tool, which mimics how a malware-carrying car could infect a dealership’s testing equipment, consists of On-board Diagnostic ports similar to those that mechanics plug their diagnostic tools into in order to access a vehicle’s computers network.The tool’s software tests the diagnostic tool with random data until it creates glitches that may represent exploitable security holes.

Security experts say there are many examples of how vulnerable modern cars are with all of their electronic systems. They cite one case where researchers simply relying on an Internet connection, managed to firstly hack the 2014 Jeep Cherokee’s entertainment system and then the vehicle’s complete CAN network, controlling everything from braking to steering. (CAN typically connects the car’s central computer to its various electronic subsystems.)

They say there have even been cases where the laser-ranging systems used by experimental self driving cars to detect obstacles have been hacked, which clearly demonstrates how potential security threats will only increase in the future as new cars rely increasingly upon electronic and computer systems.

Smith says by focusing on car dealerships, he hopes to draw attention to “a previously overlooked security concern.”

Urban Agriculture Brightens Cities And Promotes Sustainability

News

The latest trend in real estate combines urban development with agriculture. Real estate developers are joining forces with small-scale growers to appeal to the trendy homebuyer.

Many urban developments are featuring vertical farming projects, in which agriculture is conducted in a way that minimizes space by expanding upwards rather than outwards.

Another popular technique is rooftop farming, where a garden is run on the rooftop of a building.

Meanwhile, food activists like what they are seeing. They view the innovative techniques from luxury developers as a support to their goal of sustainable farming.

Building advisor Henry Gordon-Smith says that he receives as many as ten calls every week from builders and architects who want to learn more about such technologies. Many callers are actively seeking experienced urban growers.

Gordon-Smith says, “The building has to be productive. All of that creates better occupants, and better citizens. Food is the next frontier in this.”

Many people with urban farming businesses want to stress the value of producing agricultural products in an urban area. They say it is good for the environment, and it adds value to any property.

CEO of Green City Growers Jessie Banhazl says, “It’s really important that developers understand the value of this, and that they can provide amenities and lots of value to their property by having a rooftop farm. There’s so many different applications where the tenants would value having food growing on the property.”

There are many different types of establishments that are utilizing these innovative methods of agriculture. In addition to residences, other places such as gyms, lounges, clubs and technology companies are all participating in urban agriculture.

Apartment complexes are particularly popular for the techniques, as they allow residents to maintain their own rooftop garden when space is limited.

Progressive cities such as Seattle, Boston and New York have all been major proponents of urban agriculture, opening the door for others cities to follow suit. Representatives from the cities say that younger residents are huge supporters of the trend, as many millennials consider environmental sustainability to be a major component of their values and ethics.

Urban developers are also particularly fond of the trend for the simple fact that it gives buildings more character. Building residents and city-goers alike say that they like the visual appeal that is offered from urban agriculture.

However, the trend does have some critics. Some people are complaining that urban gardening is only available to those who are able to afford it. Not every resident of an apartment complex can be granted gardening space on the rooftop of the building.

Others are fearful that the novelty of urban farming will wear off, and the produce will go to rot once those tending to the garden get tired of their project.

While some people are calling urban agriculture a mere fad, others believe that this is the way of the future. At the very least, it allows a developed city to produce something usually only found at farms or in nature.

Russian Airstrikes Target ISIS In Syrian City Of Palmyra

Entertainment News

Russian airstrikes continue to bombard Syria, and the most recent strikes have hit ISIS targets around the city of Palmyra. The strikes were Russia’s first in an area of known ISIS-operations. All previous strikes have been in locations not known to house ISIS militants – thus confirming suspicions that Russia is primarily attacking groups fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian state television reported that, “The Russian air force in coordination with the Syrian air force targeted positions held by the Islamic State group in and around the city of Palmyra.” The report also indicated that the airstrikes destroyed “20 armoured vehicles, three ammunition warehouses and three rocket launchers.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that the strikes on Palmyra killed at least 15 ISIS fighters and injured many more. Another four ISIS fighters were killed near the eastern city of Raqqa.

The Lebanese Hezbollah group-run Al Manar television reported that Russian planes also attacked four areas in the Jabal al-Zawiya area in the northwestern province of Idlib. The Lebanese Hezbollah supports al-Assad.

ISIS forces first captured the city of Palmyra in May of this year. This was an advance which brought the fighters closer to the center of government-held territory in the western region of Syria. The capture of Palmyra also put the city’s most precious, ancient, Roman-era ruins and remains under ISIS control.

Over the weekend, ISIS blew up the Arch of Triumph after previously destroying the 2,000-year-old Temple of Bel. ISIS regards such remains and grave markers as idolatrous. Yet, the group will smuggle and sell these antiquities to raise money for their cause. Many experts believe the group destroys the historic sites in order to grab headlines and recruit newcomers.

Syria’s antiquities chief Maamun Abdulkarim warned that ISIS will conduct a “systematic destruction” of the city of Palmyra, stating that, “They want to raze it completely.”

New Type Of Concrete Might Solve Flooding Problems

Entertainment News

An innovative new type of concrete might be able to help prevent flooding. Topmix Permeable is a fast-draining concrete that is able to take in up to 1,000 liters of water per square meter every minute.

The concrete was created by British company Tarmac. The company recently unveiled a video that featured a truck dumping 4,000 liters of water onto the surface of a parking lot constructed from Topmix Permeable. The water disappeared immediately, as though poured into an invisible hole.

Many people believe that the product could be particularly useful for areas prone to flooding and hurricanes. This comes at a time where cities in South Carolina recently experienced torrential rains of 20 inches or more from Hurricane Joaquin, resulting in severe flooding.

The material that is traditionally used to pave roads consists of a mix of largely crushed and finely crushed stones held together with a binding ingredient. Topmix Permeable leaves out finely crushed stones. The resulting material is porous and able to absorb large amounts of water.

The absorbent concrete is installed on top of a base of crushed stone, which rests above the soil. Water travels through the top surface, collects in the base-layer and is slowly released into the soil below.

Tarmac’s commercial director Richard Stares says, “We believe that the capacity is several times more than enough to deal with the heaviest rainfall we’ve ever experienced.”

The price of Topmix Permeable is comparable to that of other alternative concretes. It can be used on roads, parking lots, pathways and driveways.

The best feature of the innovative concrete is its ability to take pressure off of aging water drainage systems. It can also redirect rainwater into natural aquifers in order to reduce the risk of water shortages. The concrete also acts as a filter, preventing contaminants such as motor oil from entering the ground or waterways.

There are some downsides to Topmix Permeable, however. It is not recommended for busy areas because heavy usage will eventually destroy the surface layer. Additionally, highly porous material used to make the concrete is in limited supply. Similar types of concretes also have these issues.

However, Stares insists that his product is more durable than that of other highly absorbent concretes. He gives credit to the binding materials in Topmix Permeable.

“We’ve been able to get this bond so strong. We’ve been able to make this product that has a very high void space,” he says.

The term “void space” refers to the amount of airspace in a paving product. Typical concrete has a void space of about 20%. The void space of Topmix Permeable is 35%.

However, solving flooding issues in the United States will have to wait, as the product is not yet available in the country.

Arizona Public Utility Cancels Solar Fees After Court Cites Improper Donations And Bias

News

Revelations that it allegedly bribed public officials has forced Arizona’s largest utility, Arizona Public Service (APS) to retreat from its intended hike of monthly fees for rooftop solar users. The allegations made in court filed complaints that say two Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) commissioners who regulate utilities in the State benefited from $3.2 million in secret campaign donations to independent groups by APS.

The filings of bias also cite another commissioner for inappropriate public comments about rooftop solar users, and two others of bias based on lobbying activities prior to their election in 2012.

The ACC is an elected body that acts as referee for the State’s power markets, which has been embroiled in a dispute over whether or not to eliminate “net metering” policies that pay rooftop solar users retail prices for the surplus power that their panels export to the grid. APS has claimed that as solar customers rely heavily on the grid but under net metering pay little or nothing to maintain, they should pay more in fees. Solar power advocates argue rooftop solar benefits the grid as it reduces fossil fuel consumption and reliance on distant power plants. They claim as APR owns nuclear and fossil-fueled power plants, any fees it charges for rooftop solar is unfair competition.

In August when ACC commissioners overruled ACC staff who were calling for a deferment on proposed fees, San Francisco-based solar installer Sunrun and two former ACC commissioners filed the court challenges alleging bias.

Allegations of APS illegal campaign contributions have been circulating in the media for a year now. Although APS acknowledges it is “politically active”, it refuses to confirm or deny the allegations.

Newspaper reports say that earlier this year an organization tracking campaign finance contributions found that a foundation led by a former APS CEO and chairman which usually supports Arizona State University had inexplicably given $100,000 to a “shadowy nonprofit” called Save Our Future Now. In 2014, that organization purchased $2.4 million of TV airtime to attack pro-solar ACC candidates.

Chinese Woman Sells Service Of Sending Text Messages To Lonely People

Entertainment News

A Chinese woman is offering to send “goodnight” text messages to lonely people. Her services cost about 16 cents per text message, and they have been advertised on Chinese websites.

While some people are applauding her efforts, others are deeply concerned about the levels of loneliness in China.

The woman is nicknamed Jiumei. She began offering the texting service three years ago after suffering a bout of loneliness herself. Jiumei would work long hours at a rigorous job, and she would feel lonely once she returned home.

Jiumei says, “When I felt so tired at night, I wanted to talk to someone.”

However, Jiumei states that she had lost touch with her old friends, and she did not want to bring distress to her family by mentioning her sadness.

In a moment of inspiration, Jiumei realized that other people were likely to be feeling the same way. She decided then to try and build connections with lonely strangers.

Jiumei started offering her service in February of 2012. She went by the name of the “”woman who sells goodnight”. More than 200 people requested the service for themselves or one of their loved ones.

Jiumei has reportedly sent more than 3,000 messages so far.

Originally, Jiumei simply said “goodnight”, but her messages expanded when regulars began to reply.

Jiumei has even contacted people in other countries such as Saudi Arabia. However, all of her messages are in Chinese.

The service has also gone beyond “goodnight” messages. Some users have requested birthday messages among other occasions. In special circumstances, Jiumei will contact her online friends to all wish a person a happy day.

One young woman who had a birthday that nobody else remembered said that she was touched by all the messages that she received from strangers.

Today, Jiumei is also running a coffee shop in the city of Guangzhou. She says that she is having a difficult time keeping up with the messaging service. She has allowed others to take over her role when she is too busy to do it herself.

Some people have criticized Jiumei for charging for each message, even if it’s only a small amount. But Jiumei claims that she needs to put a small fee on the service, or else she would be bombarded by participants.

Meanwhile, some psychologists are deeply concerned that the service is highly successful. They say that it shows that loneliness is a major issue in humans. People relocate for work and lose their social connections in the process. It can be very challenging to establish new connections.

While a goodnight message might be an affordable solution, there might be a bigger problem here.

FDA Testing Old Drugs To Hurt Consumers And Benefit The Pharmaceutical Industry

Health & Wellness

A plan by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States (FDA) that encourages longstanding medicines to be medically tested is leading to sharp rises in the prices of drugs. Some of these prices are increasing by almost 2000%.

The FDA is trying to get medicines that existed before its founding to be tested and formally approved by the administration. Companies that test the old drugs are given temporary monopolies over these drugs, giving them total control over pricing, while rivals are phased out of the market.

The result has been a major increase in the prices of certain drugs.

One instance can be seen in a traditional gout treatment drug called colchicine. The medicine is so old that it was even used by the ancient Greeks. It once cost only 25 cents per pill. In 2010, the price skyrocketed to 2000% of that amount.

Rights for the drug were sold for $800 million in 2012 by smalltime drug producer URL Pharma to major Asian drug manufacturer Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. The large Asian drug producer has experienced $1.2 billion in new revenue from the drug, which now costs nearly $6 per pill, a steep rise from the long-forgotten price of 25 cents.

Companies claim that FDA approval has made drugs safer. But in most cases, it has just made pharmaceutical companies richer.

Meanwhile, patients and hospitals are feeling the financial burden. Some politicians have started to address the issue, as presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has mentioned the need to prevent drug prices from rapidly rising. After Clinton discussed the topic, pharmaceutical stock prices quickly plummeted.

Many health experts say that the vast majority of these recently-tested drugs were safe to begin with, and they had been safe for generations of continued usage. They claim that there is no reason to test these longstanding drugs, other than for the purpose of making money.

Pharmacy Professor at the University of Utah Joseph Biskupiak says, “The only drugs that got studied are the ones that don’t have a problem.”

The FDA states that some of the drugs had never been tested according to modern safety standards. The administration says that the program has been a success, and it has taken dangerous drugs off the market.

Officials from the FDA acknowledge that their testing might make some drugs more expensive. However, representatives do not care.

FDA spokesperson Christopher Kelly says, “The FDA does not regulate according to economic factors, nor do we have control over drug pricing.”

Clearly the FDA is abusing its powers to benefit the pharmaceutical industry. It’s taking once affordable medications and making patients and hospitals pay dearly for them.

Tesla To Possibly Launch Model Y In Near Future Along With More Affordable Model X

Finance

Tesla Motors Inc. launched the Model X just last week. And, the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, is already hinting at the company’s yet-to-be released products. In response to a Twitter user’s question about whether the new Model 3 will have falcon wings, Musk responded that it is likely that falcon wings will be installed on either the upcoming Model 3 or Model Y. That was the first mention of the Model Y.

The Model X was launched after the company had great success with its Model S. Tesla’s earlier models are priced at a premium while the Model 3 is being launched to the masses. It is expected that the price range for the Model 3 will be between $30,000-$40,000 when it launches in 2017.

Despite the company’s launch of its two premium priced models and its high sales growth, Tesla is experiencing profitability and liquidity issues. It simply has not been able to convert the high sales numbers into large profitability. While the sale of the luxury models has generated high gross margins, the number of units actually being sold is declining.

Tesla’s China sales have slumped due to the devaluation of the yuan as well as the slowdown in the Chinese economy. The American-made Tesla models have become comparatively more expensive than China’s low-priced domestic vehicles.

As a result, the launch of a reasonably priced Tesla will provide real competition for China’s local manufacturers.

In his Tweets, Musk linked the low-priced Model Y with the Model 3, fueling speculation that the Model Y will also be low-priced. However, Musk quickly deleted his posts, indicating that plans for the Model Y may not yet be a done deal.

In addition to the problems in China, Tesla is experiencing production complications as well. The company has just one assembling plant to produce the Model X and Model S. Producing the Model 3 and possibly the Model Y will exacerbate Tesla’s issues. Therefore, the company will have to expand its current assembling plant or build a new facility to fulfill the high demand for the Model 3 and likely the Model Y.

Despite the exciting news announced by Tesla (and maybe accidentally released by Musk himself,) investors are a bit skittish. The company’s stock price fell 0.57% and closed at $246.15 on Monday. Analysts assert that the company’s production issues may be outweighing the positive effect of the possible Model Y.

Citigroup Announces Cut Back On Coal Industry But Keeps Door Open To Other Polluting Fuels

Finance

The U.S coal industry already reeling from lower demand for its products received another bit of bad news today when Citigroup announced it will cut back on coal mining project financing. Financial experts say Citigroup’s credit exposure to coal mining had “declined materially” since 2011.

In a statement released by Citigroup spokeswoman Elizabeth Patella, the bank says, “This new policy reflects our declining exposure and our continued commitment to managing environmental and social risks and opportunities.”

The Bank’s Environmental & Social Policy Framework guidelines which were posted online at the same time Patella released the statement, say the new policy will apply to coal companies that “use mountaintop removal methods as well as coal-focused subsidiaries of diversified mining companies.”

According to the guidelines, “Climate change is a global challenge of tremendous magnitude, and Citi is helping to accelerate the transition from a high-carbon to a low-carbon economy. Going forward, we commit to continue this trend of reducing our global credit exposure to coal mining companies.”

Earlier this year Credit Agricole SA and Bank of America Corp. announced they were stepping back from financing coal the coal industry, a move experts say was driven by lawmakers and activists increasing their calls to reign in use of coal, which is considered the biggest contributor to global warming. Next month 200 countries will meet in Paris to hammer out a global deal to reduce fossil-fuel pollution.

Although the Citigroup news is a blow to the coal industry, it is welcomed by the executive director of the Rainforest Action Network Lindsey Allen. The advocacy group has pressured banks for some time to cut their support of the coal industry.

“With Bank of America, Credit Agricole, and now Citigroup withdrawing support for coal mining, this announcement shows major momentum away from financing coal by the banking sector,” he says.

Experts say Citigroup’s publically announced hit on the coal industry was as much a PR exercise as a statement for its concern of the environment. They say other controversial fuels that also produce greenhouse gases are not so badly affected under the “framework”. According to the guidelines, oil-sands projects have risks that “need to be identified, mitigated and managed,” with the bank developing “a risk-review process” for oil-sands clients. The experts say Citigroup also has similar policies for shale oil and gas, which according to the released guidelines had to be “developed in a safe, transparent and environmentally and socially responsible manner”.

Asthma Sufferers Calling On Hospitals To Ban Scented Products

Health & Wellness

Many groups want hospitals to ban scented products, such as perfumes and colognes, because they might bring unintended harm to individuals with asthma or sensitive skin. Some hospitals have already taken action, but these policies are not yet universal.

An increasing number of workplaces are taking action to discourage people from using scented products. While some people say that adopting a unique scent makes them feel more attractive, other people are citing health issues that are becoming more severe because of the use of these products by others.

Scented products often function much like secondhand cigarette smoke. Strong odors can irritate the upper respiratory systems of others which can trigger inflammation. The problem is particularly bad for people with diseases such as asthma. More than one-third of asthma sufferers say that their condition is intensified by exposure to scented products.

Meanwhile, millions of people have been diagnosed as having “multiple chemical sensitivities” by a medical professional. People with sensitive skin can experience irritation or rashes from being exposed to airborne chemicals that are present in perfumes.

Other individuals claim that being exposed to perfume can lead to headaches, dizziness, wheezing, nausea, fatigue, confusion and anxiety. People with cancer undergoing chemotherapy treatment are known for being particularly sensitive to these products.

Some evidence shows that as many as half of all asthma cases are worsened by artificial fragrances rather than traditional allergens such as dust mites, pollens and pet dander. Doctors are referring to this phenomenon as irritant asthma or toxic asthma.

Many hospitals have established scent-free or scent reduction policies, but not every hospital has gotten onboard. Some doctors even use scented products themselves. This can be extremely troubling when they have to directly interact with a sensitive patient. Making the problem worse is that some doctors reject the notion of “multiple chemical sensitivities” as being a legitimate medical disorder.

However, hospitals and doctors should be the first ones to set an example for others. The concern is real, and hospitals should ban scented products from their establishments. Doing so will create a healthier environment for everyone.

Fantasy Companies Deny Employees Have Inside Knowledge To Win Big

News

DraftKings and FanDuel, two giants of commercial fantasy sports, have issued a joint statement saying their employees do not use insider information to bet and win in their own fantasy contests. The statement came hot on the heel of news that before the start of the third week of the NFL season, Ethan Haskell, a DraftKings employee, prematurely released data which he used to collected $350,000 on a $25 fantasy pick entry from rival FanDuel.

Fantasy sport experts say this may not be the first time insider information has been used by employees to win big. In response, the two companies say they have banned their employees from taking part in contests on other sites and that they have “strong policies” in place to ensure proper handling of company data.

Writing on a message board, Haskell claimed that he accidently released data prematurely on the company’s blog from the lineups of players submitted to the DraftKings site for its Millionaire Maker contest.

Of the incident, Mr. Haskell said, “I’ve fixed the error and we’ll be putting checks in place to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I was the only person with this data and as a DK employee, am not allowed to play on the site. 100% my fault and I apologize for any issues.”

Although Haskell did not say anything about his $350,000 win, his boss, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins claims his employee won the money fairly and squarely. He says when Haskell received the data when it was no longer possible to change his FanDuel lineup to his advantage. Robin’s claim is backed by FanDuel.

Robins went even further to defend Haskell for prematurely publishing data saying the move was unintentional.
“We interviewed everyone involved and they all corroborated what really happened,” says Robins. “Mr. Haskell didn’t do anything ethically wrong. He made a mistake in his job and he’ll certainly hear about it.”
The experts say in a fair fantasy world, team lineups chosen by all contestants are not published until after games have started. They say if anyone had advance knowledge of what players others had selected, they could choose different lineups that didn’t overlap, giving them a greater chance of winning. They cited as an example that a person knowing the majority of other contestants had picked Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback could pick Peyton Manning, because fewer people had run with him and he would be worth more points.

ilers Research partner Adam Krejcik says “Mr. Haskell’s act doesn’t suggest that it is a rampant problem but news that it had happened could not have come at a worse time” for fantasy companies. He says lawmakers in Massachusetts, New Jersey and California are considering initiatives to regulate fantasy sports.

“It wasn’t like this was pure fraud or money being stolen from other people’s accounts,” says Krejcik.

The experts say DraftKings and FanDuel which controls 95% of the fantasy market, are valued at $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion respectively. They say both companies being start-ups, claim they have yet to make profits due largely to massive advertising spending to attract customers. Ad tracker iSpot.tv says in just one week in September, DraftKings spent $20 million on TV advertising.

FanDuel reported 2014 revenues of $57 million and awarding $564 million in cash prizes, while DraftKings reported $30 million in revenues with $300 million being given away in prizes. The experts say the companies generate revenue from keeping a percentage of the money contestants pay.

CYBERCOM Outsources Mission Support To Unleash And Prevent Cyber Attacks Against US

News

As more and more systems get hacked by individuals with bad intentions, the United States government is working overtime to thwart potential security breaches. Now, U.S. Cyber Command (“CYBERCOM”) has issued a proposed $460 million contract to outsource mission support. The support involves a number of tasks including digital munitions-making.

A 114-page draft of the 5-year contract accompanied the request for bids.

The initial work order requests the development of “cyber joint munitions effectiveness” by creating and deploying “cyber weapons” and working with those in the spy community. Additionally, the successful bidder will develop, plan and execute joint “cyber fires.”

CYBERCOM is currently recruiting 6,200 “cyberwarriors” to be stationed around the globe. Their primary duty is to prevent foreign hackers from targeting the United States, help United States troops overseas and to protect the dot-mil network.

Some experts express concerns that unleashing cyberwarriors who work closely with characters in the spy community may have unintended results – such as the release of malicious code throughout the the United States networks.

Dee Andrews and Kamal Jabbour wrote in a 2011 article for Air Force Space Command’s Journal for Space & Missile Professionals that, “Due to the ‘system of systems’ nature” of cyberspace, it is extremely difficult to know exactly how the defensive or offensive moves will have on the United States and its ally assets since we can’t be sure exactly how far out the cyber action might spread. The difficulty in doing a damage estimate before cyber action is taken makes cyber friendly fire difficult to imagine and identify.”

The CYBERCOM proposal outlines numerous requests for training support. As an example, the successful contractor will complete exercises on “USCYBERCOM Fires processes” with the Joint Advanced Cyber Warfare Course and the Air Force Weapons School, among others.

In addition to releasing malware, the hired contractor employees will help prevent and repel attacks on Defense Department mobile phones with access to secure data. Analyzing forensics reports and conducting security assessment of applications are included in the assignments.

Cyber espionage is also part of the plan. This will entail digging deep into the underbelly of cyberspace and gaining “situational awareness of known adversary activities.”

Essentially, CYBERCOM is hiring a contractor to unleash cyber threats and to prevent them from being unleashed against the United States. It is yet another attempt to stay one step ahead of the hackers that seek to harm the nation.

Peeple Founder Ironically Can’t Take Criticism And Scales Back Her App

Finance

Julia Cordray, the CEO of Peeple, an upcoming app that has been heavily criticized, is making major changes to her highly anticipated and much detested app. The news comes four days after Cordray was swamped by public outrage for Peeple, which was going to allow users to rate other people who could not decline to be rated.

According to Cordray, the app will now be voluntary, meaning that people can only be rated if they allow it. Additionally, all reviews will need to be approved by the person that gets rated.

By making these changes, Cordray is hoping that critics will be less outraged by the app.

The original intention was to make Peeple a “Yelp for People”. It would be a ratings platform that would function much like Yelp. People would use Peeple to publically rate other people on a five-point scale and leave reviews about said people.

The app was not going to hold back. People would have been able to freely leave positive or negative statements about their reviewees at their choosing, and there was virtually nothing the person being reviewed could do about it.

There was no option to opt out of Peeple, meaning that anyone who received a review could not request to be removed from the app. This caused people much frustration over privacy concerns. Many people were particularly worried about instances of abuse or stalking taking place.

Naturally, the public was outraged. More than 7,000 people signed a petition to ban Peeple.

Parodies were also commonplace, as phony apps like “Sheeple”, “Meet Peeple” and “People for Peeple” criticized the app for being the “dumbest in the world”.

Cordray, who apparently couldn’t handle the criticism, deleted a massive amount of negative Facebook comments, eventually deleting her Facebook altogether.

Meanwhile, the Peeple website was supposedly hacked by people not happy with the upcoming app.

Cordray even reports receiving death threats against her and her family.

Cordray wants to move forward with the “new Peeple”, which is designed to make the world a more positive place. She states that the revised app will be utilized as a public endorsement program, much like the website for business professionals LinkedIn.

American Group Fighting Chinese Company Alibaba Over Counterfeit Goods

Finance

One group from the United States wants the American government to return Taobao to the list of “Notorious Markets for Counterfeit Goods”. Taobao is part of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.

According to the American Apparel and Footwear Association, counterfeit products remain commonplace on Taobao, even three years after it was removed from the list.

The association is pleading with the United States Trade Representative to put Alibaba back on its list of marketplaces that allegedly commit large amounts of copyright piracy and the counterfeiting of products.

Alibaba has a long history of offering consumers phony goods. Its website Taobao was first added to the counterfeits good list in 2011. The website was taken off the list one year later, as Alibaba cooperated with owners of trademarks to remove knock-off goods from the website.

However, the apparel association is not satisfied with the job Taobao did.

The president of the association Juanita Duggan says, “Our members face enormous difficulty working with Taobao in solving the problem of counterfeits, meanwhile illegal merchandise continues to proliferate. The sheer volume of counterfeits on the site as reported by our members, along with the company’s unwillingness to make serious reforms is behind the group’s decision to call for Taobao’s reinstatement to the list.”

Association members are citing the long and tedious process that Taobao utilizes in responding to requests to remove counterfeit products. Alibaba is claiming that they are more than willing to meet with the association in order to work together to solve the problem, but the association says that representatives from the Chinese e-commerce platform have been refusing for several months.

Earlier this year, Alibaba was sued by French luxury products company Kering SA for allegedly profiting from the sale of counterfeit goods of their products.

The American Apparel and Footwear Association represents brands including: American Eagle, Jockey, Macy’s and Abercrombie and Fitch.

American Companies Are Stashing Money Overseas To Avoid Taxes

Finance

A recently released study showed that many of America’s 500 largest companies are holding over $2.1 trillion in collected profits overseas. The companies are keeping the money in foreign lands in order to avoid taxes that are mandated by the United States government.

Of that $2.1 trillion, just 30 firms hold nearly two-thirds of that amount.

If the companies returned the money to the United States, they would reportedly have to pay an estimated $620 billion in taxes.

According to the study, the companies were paying an average tax rate of 6% overseas. In the United States, they would be required to pay a tax rate of 35%.

The study was conducted by two non-profit organizations: the Citizens for Tax Justice and the United States Public Interest Research Group Education Fund.

Nearly 75% of the companies on the Fortune 500 list, representing the largest American companies in terms of gross revenue, keep money in countries such as Bermuda, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands in order to avoid paying American taxes.

In order to conduct the study, researchers made use of the financial filings of the companies from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Major technology company Apple reportedly holds more than $181 billion overseas. This is larger than any other company in the United States. If Apple were to return this money to America, they would owe approximately $59 billion in United States taxes.

Other companies with a staggering amount of offshore capital include General Electric with $119 billion, Microsoft with $108 billion and Pfizer with $74 billion.

The study read, “At least 358 companies, nearly 72 percent of the Fortune 500, operate subsidiaries in tax haven jurisdictions as of the end of 2014. All told these 358 companies maintain at least 7,622 tax haven subsidiaries.”

As one might expect, the study expressed displeasure with the fact that such a massive amount of American money was not being used in the economy of the United States.

“Congress can and should take strong action to prevent corporations from using offshore tax havens, which in turn would restore basic fairness to the tax system, reduce the deficit and improve the functioning of markets,” the study stated.

Unless the government takes some kind of action, one could reasonably expect that companies will continue this practice in order to save money.

Lexus Builds Impressive Car Entirely Out Of Cardboard

Finance

Automotive company Lexus has constructed a drivable car constructed mostly out of cardboard. The company teamed up with designers and modelers from the companies of LaserCut Works, Scales and Models and packing material company DS Smith to build the automobile.

The car is commonly being referred to as the “Origami Car”. It is a full-size replica of the IS Sport Sedan from Lexus. The car is almost as completely functional as its counterpart.

The bulk of the car consists of 1,700 laser-cut sheets of corrugated cardboard. However, the car does utilize a steel and aluminum frame to give it a foundation. The cardboard that is used is fully recyclable and friendly to the environment.

The interior of the automobile is totally complete. The headlights work, the doors open and close and the wheels roll. The car even has an electric motor, making it totally green. It can be driven just like any other electric vehicle.

However, it is unknown how it would hold up in the rain.

The team constructed the car by using 3D models of the IS Sports Sedan. The project was divided into sections to make the work easier. Each individual section of the car was digitally rendered, and its data was entered into a smart laser cutter. Every piece of cardboard received its own reference number, and in the end, there were 1,700 pieces of cardboard in total. The team then proceeded to assemble the vehicle.

The process took three months to complete.

The builders confess that not everything went perfectly. Getting the seats and the wheels positioned correctly required a large amount of readjusting. The team quickly grew accustomed to the practice of trial and error.

But after their hard work was over, they produced a successful paper car.

The design will be revealed on Oct. 8 at the Grand Designs Live presentation in the United Kingdom. Lexus has no plans to produce the concept cardboard vehicle.

Two Thirds Of EU States Opt Out Of Genetically Modified Foods

Entertainment News

Many EU member countries have opted out part of or all of their territory from the cultivation of genetically modified foods. GM crops, largely grown in America and Asia, are having a difficult time entering the European market characterized by widespread civilian opposition.

Growth of genetically modified crops is authorized as per EU regulations. However, individual member states are allowed to opt out exclusions for their territories. Of the 28 nation member states of the EU, 19 have sought to exclude the crops from their land.

Commission spokesperson Enrico Brivio confirmed on Sunday that he had received 19 opt out requests filed before the expiry of a Saturday deadline. The EU commission had given member states up until Oct. 3 to notify the EU of their requests to be excluded from modified crops grown by companies like Monsanto, Syngenta, Dow and Pioneer.

The 19 countries included: the Wallonia region, Bulgaria, Britain for Scotland, Wales and Ireland, Croatia, France, Denmark, Greece, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Netherlands and Slovenia.

Commenting on the large number of countries against GM crops, Greenpeace EU Food Policy Director Franziska Achterberg said, “A growing number of governments are rejecting the commission’s drive for GM crop approvals. They don’t trust the EU safety assessments and are rightly taking action to protect their agriculture and food.”

Brivio said that the requests would be sent to the companies majoring in genetically modified crop to have a look at them.

Under EU law, though the Commission maintains sole authority for approving the exclusion requests, copies of the requests have to be sent over to the companies against whom they are filed.

Monsanto, the only company already growing its modified commercial MON 810 maize in Europe, is one of the companies against whose products the opt outs seek. The first exclusion to its modified crop was granted to Latvia and Greece in August. Monsanto responded then by saying it would abide by them, even though they were not based on scientific evidence.

The laws allowing company involvement in requests by sovereign states have come under sharp criticism from environmental groups who say the system is inherently weak and open to abuse through court challenges by biotech companies.

Commission spokesperson responded by saying the laws provided “a necessary legal framework to a complex issue.”

The growth of GM foods has continued to elicit widespread opposition. Even in the US where the crops are grown, environmental groups are pushing for their labeling in retail stores. The opt out requests are a stepping stone for EU countries taking a firm stand against manipulation by companies of their natural resources.

Sensor Technology Revolutionizes Rice Farming By Drastically Cutting Maintenance Time

Entertainment News

Rice farmers can now breathe easily as new sensor technology has been developed to monitor their paddies for them, erasing hours of field work. With concepts from the Internet of Things, rice farming is set to transform for millions of farmers worldwide.

A team of Japanese developers from Hackerfarm and Digital Garage teamed up to provide a solution to overworked rice farmers in the Japanese rice growing regions. Through employing a concept drawn from the Internet of Things, the team sought to develop a technological system to monitor rice paddy water levels, one of the toughest parts of rice farming.

Around the world, rice is grown in little segments known as paddies that add up to cover fields and fields of land. These paddies are flooded with water as rice requires plenty of water to grow properly. However, too much water will drown the weeds while too little water will inhibit seedling growth. The water level is monitored constantly, making rice growing one of the most maintenance intensive crops.

Technological developers from Hackerfarm and Digital garage sought to end the nightmare of round-the-clock- maintenance through a device called “Saboten”. The name is Japanese for “cactus”. The device was previously used to monitor water levels in the Himalayas before being deployed to Japanese rice fields.

The sensor uses an ultrasonic acoustic range sensor named MaxSoar, which senses any rapid increase or decrease in the water levels. The sensor detects water level volatility and sends signals through a 500mW power amplifier to alert farmers of the change. Currently, the MaxSonar has a range of 32 feet. With proper antennas, developers estimate that it is possible to have the data sent over six miles.

The developers are also developing the sensors to not only detect water level volatility but also track wild boars. The invasive species are responsible for a large portion of rice plantation destruction. The species can decimate a whole farm in one night. For most farmers, monitoring boar traps is an almost impossible task.

Saboten developers are improving their sensors to allow them to detect boar activity or trappings and notify farmers.

The developers are working on having their device available to farmers by the start of the next planting year.

Technology has revolutionized many processes this century. From driverless technology to the Internet of Things, human labor is decreasing as technology takes away plenty of mechanical work. Rice farmers will benefit greatly from the sensor technology, affording them more time away from labor intensive rice growing.

McGraw Hill To Revise Book Referring To Slave Trade As Worker Immigration

News

A U.S. publisher was forced to make revisions in a book after they referred to African slaves as “workers” and slave trade as “immigration.” The labeling of part of America’s darkest history as simply an exercise in worker immigration has irked many people and organizations who are now calling for more than just an apology.

Last week, a 9th grade student in Pearland High School sent her mom a picture from a geography text book called “patterns of Immigration.” A caption from the book on page 126 made an impact on the 15-year-old boy. It was a caption pointing to the U.S southern states referring to the Africans brought to America between the 1500s and 1800s as “workers.”

Coby sent a picture of the caption to his mother together with a text message saying, “we was real hard workers, wasn’t we.”

Coby’s mom, Ms. Dean-Burren was not as impressed. In a series of Facebook and Twitter updates she stated her objections to what was becoming an erasure of a vital part of U.S history.

The posts were widely shared online, even attracting the movement #blacklivesmatter. The homemade video statement had reached millions of views by the time of publishing, eventually finding its way to the publisher’s desk.

The textbook’s publisher, McGraw Hill Education, responded to the uproar by stating that they would make changes to the book, saying they could “do better.”

“This week, we became aware of a concern regarding a caption reference to slavery on a map in one of our world geography programs.”
“This program addresses slavery in the world in several lessons and meets the learning objectives of the course. However, we conducted a close review of the content and agree that our language in that caption did not adequately convey that Africans were both forced into migration and to labor against their will as slaves.”
The publisher said they would edit the controversial caption in later books, adequately referring to slave trade for what it was. They said the work would be corrected in the book’s digital version before going into print later on.
Ms. Dean-Burren, in a statement said of the caption, “It’s that nuance of language. This is what erasure looks like.”

Slave trade was one of the darkest times for the U.S. By refusing to call it what it was, McGraw Hill was aiding in erasing the history of many Americans today.