The unimportant news thread

[Pohjolas Daughter]

So very sorry to hear that the *Hawaiian cultural center was burned down.  It's a huge loss. Currently listening to an excellent program on NPR about Hawaii, the cultural background, history,  and the trauma that native Hawaiians are dealing with.

*Besides all of the cultural artifacts that were lost were documents that one of the people who ran the center used to help others retain their families' lands.

So much more information and interviews in this news story.  I'll see if I can find a link to it.  Here is a link to an NPR story about the cultural center.  https://www.npr.org/2023/08/18/1194500944/priceless-connections-to-hawaiis-ancient-past-were-lost-when-cultural-center-bur

Apparently it was on 1A (still getting used to NPR's new formatting).  The program/broadcast on Hawaii was originally done by WAMU.  I checked the podcasts of 1A and don't see it listed there.  I imagine that it will be added soon. It's about an hour long, but well worth the time spent.

https://wamu.org/story/23/09/11/how-hawaii-is-keeping-history-and-culture-in-mind-as-it-rebuilds/

PD

p.s.  And thank you to @Spotted Horses for sharing some info earlier.

[Todd]

From Barron's: Colombia Set New Cocaine Production Record In 2022: UN

In most of the world, the UN would be considered a reliable source of information, though that may not be the case on GMG.  In any event, it looks like it's party time!

[BWV 1080]

Solenopsis invicta invades Europe

[Karl Henning]

Solenopsis invicta invades Europe

Oh, I don't like that.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Oh, I don't like that.

I saw that article too...scary!

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

So very sorry to hear that the *Hawaiian cultural center was burned down.  It's a huge loss. Currently listening to an excellent program on NPR about Hawaii, the cultural background, history,  and the trauma that native Hawaiians are dealing with.

*Besides all of the cultural artifacts that were lost were documents that one of the people who ran the center used to help others retain their families' lands.

So much more information and interviews in this news story.  I'll see if I can find a link to it.  Here is a link to an NPR story about the cultural center.  https://www.npr.org/2023/08/18/1194500944/priceless-connections-to-hawaiis-ancient-past-were-lost-when-cultural-center-bur

Apparently it was on 1A (still getting used to NPR's new formatting).  The program/broadcast on Hawaii was originally done by WAMU.  I checked the podcasts of 1A and don't see it listed there.  I imagine that it will be added soon. It's about an hour long, but well worth the time spent.

https://wamu.org/story/23/09/11/how-hawaii-is-keeping-history-and-culture-in-mind-as-it-rebuilds/

PD

p.s.  And thank you to @Spotted Horses for sharing some info earlier.

The story (radio broadcast) has now been uploaded.  Note:  It's shorter than I had originally thought too; I had come in part way through the broadcast.  It's 38 minutes.

https://www.npr.org/2023/09/11/1198794706/how-hawaii-is-keeping-history-and-culture-in-mind-as-it-rebuilds

PD

[Karl Henning]

Study suggests the existence of black holes in the Hyades star cluster; if confirmed, the objects would be the closest black holes to Earth detected to date at roughly 150 light-years away.

[Karl Henning]

How weird objects end up in packaged food.

[Karl Henning]

Archaeologists reveal cave site near the modern-day city of Valencia, Spain, with more than 100 Paleolithic paintings.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

How weird objects end up in packaged food.

I took a course in college called (if I'm remembering correctly) "Food, Facts and Fads" which was rather gruesome at times.  Found out some of the laws as to what percentages of which things were allowed in foods.   

PD

[Karl Henning]

Coca-Cola debuts new mystery flavor created by AI.

[Karl Henning]

Vaccine-maker Moderna says its mRNA-based flu shot successfully generated an immune response against common influenza strains in clinical trials; vaccine may be available next year.

[Karl Henning]

NFT project "Stoner Cats," backed by celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission, required to pay back NFT buyers.

[Karl Henning]

France bans iPhone 12 sales over radiation levels

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Vaccine-maker Moderna says its mRNA-based flu shot successfully generated an immune response against common influenza strains in clinical trials; vaccine may be available next year.

In a nutshell, how is the mRNA supposed to be better?  I know that they create new flu shots every year (hope to get mine when the new Covid vaccine shot comes out).

PD

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Extreme weather may cost the global fashion industry $65 billion by 2030.


https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/14/business/extreme-weather-global-apparel-exports-climate-intl-hnk/index.html

[Karl Henning]

In a nutshell, how is the mRNA supposed to be better? 

I didn't have a substantive answer, PD, so I pinched this from Wikipedia:

mRNA vaccines offer specific advantages over traditional vaccines. Because mRNA vaccines are not constructed from an active pathogen (or even an inactivated pathogen), they are non-infectious. In contrast, traditional vaccines require the production of pathogens, which, if done at high volumes, could increase the risks of localized outbreaks of the virus at the production facility. Another biological advantage of mRNA vaccines is that since the antigens are produced inside the cell, they stimulate cellular immunity, as well as humoral immunity.

mRNA vaccines have the production advantage that they can be designed swiftly. Moderna designed their mRNA-1273 vaccine for COVID-19 in 2 days. They can also be manufactured faster, more cheaply, and in a more standardized fashion (with fewer error rates in production), which can improve responsiveness to serious outbreaks.

[Todd]

From ICN: Corporate Nature Restoration Results Murky at Best, Greenwashed at Worst.  A new study shows that many businesses are not transparently reporting the results of their nature restoration efforts.

The cited research paper was published in Science, so it may not be trustworthy.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I didn't have a substantive answer, PD, so I pinched this from Wikipedia:

Thanks for the info Karl. 

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

From ICN: Corporate Nature Restoration Results Murky at Best, Greenwashed at Worst.  A new study shows that many businesses are not transparently reporting the results of their nature restoration efforts.

The cited research paper was published in Science, so it may not be trustworthy.

Thank you for that...interesting to read--and concerning!

PD