The unimportant news thread

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Brings to mind the Simpson episode: cable TV goes out in c and (to the accompaniment of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony) residents of Springfield are taking walks in the forest, picking flowers, writing poetry, etc. Life is blissful, until the TV comes back on and everyone is grimly glued to their TV sets again...

And guess what's on the news now?  The Facebook whistleblower is testifying in front of Congress.

PD

p.s.  And regarding your Simpsons comments:  yes, a good reminder to unplug!

[T. D.]

This is really weird. But it does have to do with music.
Paywall likely, but you may be able to get around it by googling.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-10-08/the-handpan-s-creators-want-to-keep-their-invention-pure-it-may-not-survive

They Invented the Must-Have Instrument for the Burning Man Set. Now They Want to Kill It Off
Two reclusive Swiss artists created the handpan, which has been played by everyone from Björk to Dave Matthews. Copycats proliferated, and now they think capitalism has ruined it—and they're fighting back.

By Ellen Huet
October 8, 2021, 10:00 AM EDT

[Pohjolas Daughter]

This is really weird. But it does have to do with music.
Paywall likely, but you may be able to get around it by googling.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-10-08/the-handpan-s-creators-want-to-keep-their-invention-pure-it-may-not-survive

They Invented the Must-Have Instrument for the Burning Man Set. Now They Want to Kill It Off
Two reclusive Swiss artists created the handpan, which has been played by everyone from Björk to Dave Matthews. Copycats proliferated, and now they think capitalism has ruined it—and they're fighting back.

By Ellen Huet
October 8, 2021, 10:00 AM EDT

Only able to find a bit more about it in Wiki, but I did find this site which includes a nice (and short) video about the instrument:  https://silvernailapartments.com/qa/who-invented-handpan.html

Strangely enough, I was shown an ad for what I now know to be a knock off.  This was presented to me when I was watching a youtube video (probably about music) a few days ago.  Neat instrument!  And it sounds like years of research went into it too to achieve certain sounds and scales too.  Are people still buying their (much more expensive) versions or are just going for the cheaper knockoffs.  Think that the one that I saw was plastic on the outside?

PD

[Todd]

International community strikes a ground-breaking tax deal for the digital age


Let's see if we can find a path to loopholes:

The global minimum tax agreement does not seek to eliminate tax competition, but puts multilaterally agreed limitations on it

Um, yep.

[Karl Henning]

Most interesting. They created something for which there arose a demand too great to fill themselves. Although they decry "the evils of capitalism," it is simply and neutrally human, to fulfill a demand with profit to both supplier and client. Not to say that all the sequel is "pure." But it's somewhat like Quixote having built his own windmills.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/yellowstone-bear-incident-woman-sentenced/index.html

A 25-year old woman from Illinois was sentenced to jail for 4 days and received a substantial fine for her selfish stupidity.  She's lucky that she's alive and unhurt from her foolish actions.

PD

[Todd]

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/yellowstone-bear-incident-woman-sentenced/index.html

A 25-year old woman from Illinois was sentenced to jail for 4 days and received a substantial fine for her selfish stupidity.  She's lucky that she's alive and unhurt from her foolish actions.

PD

I always wonder how and why specific people are singled out for prosecution.  Hordes of people violate the rules every day of the week in Yellowstone.  Bison, in particular, entice people to act dumb.  When I visited, one doofus was trampled by a male Bison, but lived.  A week or two before, another doofus was killed the same way.  I personally saw dozens of people getting way too close to animals while on foot.  Of course, sometimes it is hard to stay far enough away from peripatetic critters.  (The attached was taken from the "safety" of my car.)  Wolves and coyotes both wander freely by the geysers and springs, as well. 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I always wonder how and why specific people are singled out for prosecution.  Hordes of people violate the rules every day of the week in Yellowstone.  Bison, in particular, entice people to act dumb.  When I visited, one doofus was trampled by a male Bison, but lived.  A week or two before, another doofus was killed the same way.  I personally saw dozens of people getting way too close to animals while on foot.  Of course, sometimes it is hard to stay far enough away from peripatetic critters.  (The attached was taken from the "safety" of my car.)  Wolves and coyotes both wander freely by the geysers and springs, as well.

From what I read either in that article or elsewhere, everyone else was carefully backing away and went into their cars.  You can watch the video here (which was posted online).  The park service asked for help identifying her.  https://abcnews.go.com/US/illinois-woman-headed-jail-photographing-grizzly-bears-yellowstone/story?id=80475859

Anyway, the rules are clearly posted.  And I'm sure, like you said, I imagine that sometimes it would be hard to avoid getting too close to them.  She certainly did not seem to care.  I would also imagine that rangers are tired of dealing with idiots being too self-absorbed to care for their own good, the animals well-being, and the rangers themselves who would then have to try and rescue them..or notify their next of kin!

I've also recently read a story about a family getting out of their car, their dog jumped out of the car and went into hot water there (about 200 degrees) and the daughter went in to try and save it with the father having to drag her out.  Believe that she received serious burns...here's one telling of the story:

"A 20-year-old woman from Washington is in a coma after jumping into a 200 degree Fahrenheit hot spring at Yellowstone National Park to save her dog. Laiha Slayton jumped into a boiling spring in Yellowstone National Park to save her dog that had run away. According to officials, the woman's father pulled her out of the spring. She suffered significant thermal burns from "her shoulders to feet". Officials also reported the dog died from its injuries."

A very very sad story, but it could have been prevented (Leash?  Left the puppy/dog at home with relatives or with friends or in boarding?).   

PD

[VonStupp]

Anyway, the rules are clearly posted.  And I'm sure, like you said, I imagine that sometimes it would be hard to avoid getting too close to them.  She certainly did not seem to care.  I would also imagine that rangers are tired of dealing with idiots being too self-absorbed to care for their own good, the animals well-being, and the rangers themselves who would then have to try and rescue them..or notify their next of kin!

I've also recently read a story about a family getting out of their car, their dog jumped out of the car and went into hot water there (about 200 degrees) and the daughter went in to try and save it with the father having to drag her out.  Believe that she received serious burns...here's one telling of the story:

"A 20-year-old woman from Washington is in a coma after jumping into a 200 degree Fahrenheit hot spring at Yellowstone National Park to save her dog. Laiha Slayton jumped into a boiling spring in Yellowstone National Park to save her dog that had run away. According to officials, the woman's father pulled her out of the spring. She suffered significant thermal burns from "her shoulders to feet". Officials also reported the dog died from its injuries."

A very very sad story, but it could have been prevented (Leash?  Left the puppy/dog at home with relatives or with friends or in boarding?).   

PD

Sorry to jump in, but this is very sad indeed. The difference in stories of these types, for me, comes down to whether the people involved own up to their poor choices and flagrant disregard, or become litigious in response to their actions. The shift of who holds responsibility seems to be the crux of any modern argument, with few wanting to take the blame. Of course, children and animals are the innocents here.

VS

[Todd]

From what I read either in that article or elsewhere, everyone else was carefully backing away and went into their cars.

Yeah, I get that.  People do that every day.  I personally witnessed adults with their children approaching a herd of bison in Yellowstone.  I'm interested in the criteria used to prosecute.  The criteria used by putative news organizations in selecting which stories to exploit are more transparent. 

[DavidW]

I always wonder how and why specific people are singled out for prosecution.  Hordes of people violate the rules every day of the week in Yellowstone.  Bison, in particular, entice people to act dumb.  When I visited, one doofus was trampled by a male Bison, but lived.  A week or two before, another doofus was killed the same way.  I personally saw dozens of people getting way too close to animals while on foot.  Of course, sometimes it is hard to stay far enough away from peripatetic critters.  (The attached was taken from the "safety" of my car.)  Wolves and coyotes both wander freely by the geysers and springs, as well.

I think it boils down to easy to prosecute.  At my school last year students were never sent home for violating mask or social distancing protocols (even though they happened) but were sent home for violating the REACH survey protocol (a stupid daily questionnaire) because the digital trail was easy to follow, and no RAs wanted to write up students and thus exile them for the more important rules.

I see the same thing here.  It was probably well recorded on video, while more egregious cases in the past were not.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yeah, I get that.  People do that every day.  I personally witnessed adults with their children approaching a herd of bison in Yellowstone.  I'm interested in the criteria used to prosecute.  The criteria used by putative news organizations in selecting which stories to exploit are more transparent.

Maybe it's time to change the rules.  Perhaps only allowing people in with park escorts (as in a tour in the park's vehicles?)  That would change any entrance fees, but perhaps that would be the best for everyone involved:  animals and humans.

Bison, in particular, entice people to act dumb

And, as I think we both know bison don't "entice people to act dumb"; they are animals...wild animals...and how people respond to seeing them isn't up to them.

PD

[Todd]

I see the same thing here.  It was probably well recorded on video, while more egregious cases in the past were not.

Hard to say.  People have been recording everything there on phones and cameras for decades. 

Perhaps only allowing people in with park escorts (as in a tour in the park's vehicles?)

Um, Yellowstone is roughly the size of Cyprus, and the notion of only allowing people in with escorts doesn't even rise to the level of nonstarter.

[Todd]

Performer at Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre killed during set change

[drogulus]

     

     I hear the jobs numbers are disappointing. At least it's not tinnitus.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Hard to say.  People have been recording everything there on phones and cameras for decades. 


Um, Yellowstone is roughly the size of Cyprus, and the notion of only allowing people in with escorts doesn't even rise to the level of nonstarter.

Yes, I know that it's huge.  But how do you deal with people doing stupid things?  Particularly these days:  everybody wants a selfie with (you name it)...or catching things up close?  Possibly one could restrict the areas where one is able to go--maybe unless you were able to pass some sort of pre-authorization course/test?  Or were a scientist of some sort?  But the truth of the matter is that it is a park and supposed to be open to the public...all you can do is inform people of the rules and try and enforce them.  Would be nice if they had some sort of event center where people were required to watch a movie about nature, animals, and rules/protocols before hand, but how do you get the money for things like that?  I expect that they could also use more rangers too.

I suspect that the amount of publicity that has been generated by this might help prevent things again in the future, but then again maybe not.  I don't know, just suggesting the implications of not having people being lead around in a guided tour by park rangers.  Even then, unless people were confined to vehicles, I suspect that there would always be those who decided to not move away/move closer, etc.

It's hard to have it both ways:  freedom vs. complete safety (and then factoring in people who don't want to follow the rules).  It's not a petting zoo--nor even a regular zoo (at which people also do stupid things and sometimes get hurt plus accidents of course too).  If you or anyone else has any suggestions, I'm sure that the park would be delighted to hear them.

Best wishes,

PD

[Todd]

I suspect that the amount of publicity that has been generated by this might help prevent things again in the future, but then again maybe not.

It happens regularly.  Again, my question is about the selection process for prosecution.

It's hard to have it both ways:  freedom vs. complete safety

Not sure how that even applies here.

If you or anyone else has any suggestions, I'm sure that the park would be delighted to hear them.

I seriously doubt it.

[Karl Henning]

A little bit funny ...

A comedian told a crowd he was supporting Michelle Wu for mayor. He didn't realize Annissa Essaibi George was in the audience

By Steve Annear Globe Staff, Updated October 12, 2021, 5:08 p.m.

When Karl Xie recently came up with a new bit about the Boston mayoral race for his comedic routine, he never imagined he'd deliver the joke face-to-face with one of the candidates.

Xie, a data analyst from Allston who moonlights as a comedian, was on stage Saturday at a fundraiser hosted by the Latino Law Enforcement Group of Boston when he told the crowd that he was excited that City Councilor Michelle Wu was running for office in November.

But unbeknownst to Xie, Wu's opponent, City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George, was sitting in the crowd, enjoying an evening that featured several other standup comedians to raise money for the group's annual scholarship fund.

"I didn't know Annissa was going to be there, going into this routine about Michelle Wu," said Xie, 27. "I had no idea."

The surprise moment led to Essaibi George jokingly asking for her money back and then walking to the stage and introducing herself to Xie. The lighthearted exchange was captured on video by one of Xie's friends. Xie posted it to his social media accounts on Monday.

[MusicTurner]

Tour de France 2021:

Apparently it was just announced that the case has been abolished, since the leadership of the race doesn't want a court case to be too exaggerated or too promoted by the media etc, and because they hope that a lesson has already been learned.

I think this is an interesting move, hopefully with a healthy element of 'calm down', and appealing to common sense. Perhaps they're thinking very strategically and don't want future races disturbed by various 'sensational' court cases, political stunts etc. But I guess that riders' individual court cases are still an option somewhat.

In the news today: the woman got a suspended sentence for 4 months. I'd suppose there's some fee involved too in the rule. The case was continued to the courts by the association of the professional cyclists CPA, when the Tour de France leadership abolished the idea.
Seems quite fair and not overblown to me.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/opi-omi-tour-de-france-spectator-who-caused-crash-on-opening-stage-to-appear-in-court
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/fan-who-caused-tour-de-france-crash-goes-trial-2021-10-14/

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Tour de France 2021:

In the news today: the woman got a suspended sentence for 4 months. I'd suppose there's some fee involved too in the rule. The case was continued to the courts by the association of the professional cyclists CPA, when the Tour de France leadership abolished the idea.
Seems quite fair and not overblown to me.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/opi-omi-tour-de-france-spectator-who-caused-crash-on-opening-stage-to-appear-in-court
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/fan-who-caused-tour-de-france-crash-goes-trial-2021-10-14/

I would have thought that they might have also required her to do some sort of community service involving bike safety around where she lives?    Hopefully, if nothing else, the story of what she did and what happened will hopefully deter people from being so careless?  At least some people?

PD