Archive for the ‘Media Control’ Category

Judge: ‘One-Party Control Of Media Is A Threat To A Viable Democracy’ – The Federalist

The control of major media by one political party is a dangerous threat to the country, a federal judge warned in a blistering dissent that called for courts to revisit libel laws that generally protect the press from being held liable for their reporting.

It should be borne in mind that the first step taken by any potential authoritarian or dictatorial regime is to gain control of communications, particularly the delivery of news, wrote Judge Laurence Silberman of the D.C. Circuit for the Court of Appeals. It is fair to conclude, therefore, that one-party control of the press and media is a threat to a viable democracy.

Silberman argued that its time for courts to revisit New York Times v. Sullivan, which has shaped press law in favor of media outlets for more than five decades. The New York Times and the Washington Post are virtually Democratic Party broadsheets. And the news section of The Wall Street Journal leans in the same direction, Judge Silberman wrote in his March 19 dissent.

He said that orientation also controls the Associated Press and most large papers in the country, including the Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, and Boston Globe. Nearly all televisionnetwork and cableis a Democratic Party trumpet, Judge Silberman added.

Silicon Valley also has enormous influence over the distribution of news and it similarly filters news delivery in ways favorable to the Democratic Party, wrote Judge Silberman, highlighting the shocking suppression of stories about Joe Biden and his family when he was running for president.

In that case, Twitter and Facebook censored media outlets that reported accurately about the Biden familys dealing with foreign entities. Twitter suspended users, including sitting White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, for merely sharing accurate information, and prevented people from sharing the information privately on its platform. Facebook said it would censor coverage of the Biden family corruption pending a fact-check, an unprecedented privilege given to Biden in the closing days of one of the closest presidential elections in history.

Only a few major media outlets are not controlled by the left, Silberman noted, citing Fox News, where this reporter is a contributor, the New York Post, and The Wall Street Journal. It should be sobering for those concerned about news bias that these institutions are controlled by a single man and his son. Will a lone holdout remain in what is otherwise a frighteningly orthodox media culture? After all, there are serious efforts to muzzle Fox News, he wrote. CNN hosts and other leftist activsts are currently on a campaign to deplatform their rival.

Admittedly, a number of Foxs commentators lean as far to the right as the commentators and reporters of the mainstream outlets lean to the left, Silberman wrote in a footnote, in a dig at reporters inserting their extreme partisan views into news stories.

A New York Supreme Court judge last week ruled against The New York Times effort to get a defamation suit against it dismissed. The Times had said that its reporters were inserting opinion into news stories, and that opinions are not actionable for defamation. The argument didnt hold sway with the judge, who critiqued the blending of news and opinion in purported news stories.

Another footnote critiqued the tepid response of some to big techs behavior censoring conservative speech. Silberman called repression of political speech in large institutions with market power fundamentally un-American.

Some emphasize these companies are private and therefore not subject to the First Amendment. Yeteven if correct it is not an adequate excuse for big techs bias. The First Amendment is more than just a legal provision: It embodies the most important value of American Democracy. Repression of political speech by large institutions with market power therefore isI say this advisedlyfundamentally un-American, Silberman wrote.

He then cited Tim Grosecloses book, Left Turn: How Liberal Media Bias Distorts the American Mind, which empirically argued that media bias even a decade ago gave Democrat candidates an 8-10 point advantage. And now, a decade after this books publication, the press and media do not even pretend to be neutral news services. Silberman noted.

The First Amendment guarantees a free press to foster a vibrant trade in ideas. But a biased press can distort the marketplace. And when the media has proven its willingnessif not eagernessto so distort, it is a profound mistake to stand by unjustified legal rules that serve only to enhance the press power, Silberman concluded.

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Judge: 'One-Party Control Of Media Is A Threat To A Viable Democracy' - The Federalist

Healthy and Sustainable Diets – Key workstreams in the WHO European Region – Factsheet (2021) – WHO/Europe

The food system is in a constant state of evolution, with consumer preferences, production systems and policies shifting over time. Public health systems are also under pressure as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, diabetes and cancer pose threats to long-term health.

At the sametime, food systems contribute substantially to climate change, biodiversity loss and the depletion of natural resources. Changes in food systems will not only have to address the rise in diet-related NCDs but will also need to promote a shift towards environmentally sustainable diets. This will be no easy task, nor can we do it alone.

Human health and planetary health are deeply interconnected. For this reason, the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD Office) is engaging in various projects concerning healthy and sustainable diets. Reflecting the needs and concerns of Member States, these exploratory actions aim to provide evidence-based actions on issues such as dietary shifts, food reformulation, digital food environments and public procurement.

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Healthy and Sustainable Diets - Key workstreams in the WHO European Region - Factsheet (2021) - WHO/Europe

Shrimp tails in cereal? Cinnamon Toast Crunch called out for social media response of contamination claims – masslive.com

Jensen Karp makes his living telling jokes, but photos he posted to social media of his Cinnamon Toast Crunch containing shrimp tails and rat droppings are not part of a bit, he claims.

Ummmm why are there shrimp tails in my cereal? (This is not a bit), Karp tweeted Monday, accompanying a photo of the cereal spilled out onto a table with what Karp claims are two shrimp tails visible next to the cereal bag.

Karp, a comedian, says the company apologized in a direct message exchange on Twitter and offered to replace the cereal box, but denied that there were shrimp tails in the package.

After further investigation with our team that closely examined the image, it appears to be an accumulation of the cinnamon sugar that sometimes can occur when ingredients arent thoroughly blended. We assure you that theres no possibility of cross contamination with shrimp, the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Twitter account,@CTCSquares, responded to Karp.

Continuing to air out his ire with the cereal company publicly, Karp shared several tweets claiming that there were mysterious black flecks in the package. Several social media users responded claiming they were mouse or rat droppings.

Karp shared that he contacted Poison Control, as he had eaten a whole bowl of cereal before spotting the alleged shrimp tails.

The interaction between Karp and Cinnamon Toast Crunch went viral Monday night, with many users weighing in on the shrimp tail claims.

Id cut my mouth off if I were you, actor Seth Rogen tweeted at Karp.

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Shrimp tails in cereal? Cinnamon Toast Crunch called out for social media response of contamination claims - masslive.com

Bugatti Moves to Porsche Control, and Joint Venture with Rimac in the Works – Car and Driver

The move toward widespread electrification is set to transform the very top of the car market as well as its lower reaches. Last year we told you about discussions between Volkswagen Group and Rimac over the future of Bugatti, with VW reportedly offering to cede ownership of its grandest brand in exchange for increased equity in the Croatian hyper-EV maker.

Yet that didnt happen, and last month Porscheultimately owned by Volkswagenspent more than $83 million increasing its existing 15.5 percent stake in Rimac to 24 percent. But now Volkswagens CEO, Herbert Diess, has offered up some more pieces of the puzzle, confirming both that Bugatti is going to become a Porsche subsidiary and that discussions have begun over a joint venture between Rimac and Porsche for a future Bugatti product.

"Porsche is currently preparing a partnership thats going to be under discussion with Rimac, and Porsche will be taking care of that," Diess told watchers of the Volkswagen Groups online media conference earlier this week. "The whole thing isn't yet finalized. What we want to do is transition responsibility of Bugatti to Porsche, and Porsche in all probability will establish a joint venture with Rimac, with a minority share of Porsche."

Any such move would make plenty of sense, as even the most exotic automakers face the approaching end of internal combustion. The Bugatti Chiron remains a mechanical marvel, one we recently confirmed to be the quickest car we've ever tested with a staggering 9.4-second quarter-mile time. But its quad-turbocharged W-16 engine will be almost certain to die with it. Bugatti boss Stefan Winkelmann told C/D last year that he thinks Bugatti should make a straight switch to full electrification rather than create a hybridized architecture.

The architecture of the existing Rimac C_Two (pictured above), or a development on it, would be an obvious way to do that; the all-wheel-drive electric hypercar is claimed to offer 1888 horsepower and a top speed of 258 mph. This is also the platform that underpins the forthcoming Pininfarina Battista, suggesting it could be used as the basis for a similarly rapid (or even quicker) Bugatti model.

Anyone trying to keep up with Volkswagen's internal power politics has been busy in recent months. Control of Bentley has just been passed from Porsche to Audi, and this latest announcement suggests other changes are likely. Winkelmann is also CEO of Lamborghini, currently an Audi subsidiary but one that would also seem to have a more obvious future away from what Diess described as the "volume sector" side of the vast group.

As for future Bugatti models, we can safely predict they will remain both very fast and very expensive, regardless of who controls the brand.

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Bugatti Moves to Porsche Control, and Joint Venture with Rimac in the Works - Car and Driver

DOH News Release: Hawai’i Department of Health urges residents to review their risk for TB as part of annual World Tuberculosis Day on March 24 -…

HONOLULU It is estimated that one fourth of the worlds population may carry tuberculosis (TB) in its latent or inactive form; placing them at risk for TB disease later in life. No one knows for sure how many people in Hawaii have this infection, but the Hawaii Department of Health estimates the number could be as high as 70,000 to 100,000 residents. As part of the globally observed World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, the health department is urging Hawaii residents who are at risk to get tested for TB infection.

Approximately 10 percent of people who are infected with latent TB will go on to develop active TB disease and they could benefit from medication to prevent the development of this infectious and serious illness.

Although many people believe that TB is a disease of the past, it has remained a leading killer among infectious diseases worldwide for more than 135 years, according to Dr. Elizabeth MacNeill, Chief of the Department of Healths Tuberculosis Control Branch.

Hawaii residents are particularly vulnerable because of our close ties to areas of the world where TB is more common. Those who travel frequently and spend time in countries where TB occurs or who have close contact with a person with active TB disease are at the greatest risk of being exposed and infected by TB, MacNeill said. Areas of the world where TB is more common include Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and most of the Pacific Islands. Others who are at higher risk of developing active TB, once theyve been exposed, include those with weakened immune systems, diabetes and renal failure and children under five years of age.

In 2020, Hawaii had a total of only 94 cases of active TB; a significant drop from previous years. However, Hawaii has one of the highest number of cases in the US for our population size.

For anyone who is at risk or who may have been exposed to someone with active TB, the health department recommends asking your doctor about being tested for TB infection. Testing consists of a TB skin test or a newer blood test called Quantiferon Gold In-tube test. Anyone with a history of a positive TB skin test or blood test, should ask their doctor if preventive medication would be helpful. Testing for TB infection is recommended for adults and children at risk and covered under most health insurance plans. New medications are also available that offer a shorter course of treatment with fewer side effects.

What is TB?

TB is a disease that is commonly seen in the lungs and can be spread from person-to-person through the air. When a person with active TB disease in the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings, tiny drops containing M. tuberculosis may be spread into the air. If another person inhales these drops, there is a chance they may become infected with TB. Two forms of TB exist, both of which are treatable and curable:

World Tuberculosis Day

World Tuberculosis Day began in 1882, when Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of the bacteria that causes TB infection. This microbe, most often found in the lungs, can spread to other parts of the body and can be transmitted in the air by a person sick with the disease.

Although TB is infrequent in the US, it is still the leading cause of infectious disease deaths in the world, killing approximately 1.5 million people each year. Nearly one fourth of the world has the inactive form of TB infection and are at risk of developing active TB sometime in the future.

The Hawaii Department of Healths Tuberculosis Control Program is part of the Communicable Disease and Public Health Nursing Division. Its mission is to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis in the state by providing effective prevention, detection, treatment, and educational services. Examinations and treatment are available free of charge. For more information on tuberculosis or the programs services and activities, call (808) 832-5731 or visit health.hawaii.gov/tb.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Elizabeth MacNeill, MD, MPH

Acting Chief, Tuberculosis Control Branch

Phone: (808) 832-5707

E-mail: [emailprotected]

Website: health.hawaii.gov/tb

Janice OkuboCommunications OfficeEmail: [emailprotected]

(808) 586-4445

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DOH News Release: Hawai'i Department of Health urges residents to review their risk for TB as part of annual World Tuberculosis Day on March 24 -...