Non-IT News Thread
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Coronavirus in Europe: epidemic or 'infodemic'?
France must prepare for a coronavirus epidemic, President Emmanuel Macron says, but Italy - the worst-affected country in Europe - says misleading news is creating an "infodemic".
Mr Macron is due to discuss the crisis with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in Naples. In Italy 528 people are infected and 14 have died, officials say, amid global efforts to stop the virus spreading. Germany is also facing an epidemic, Health Minister Jens Spahn has said. Italy registered a 25% surge in coronavirus cases in 24 hours, and the infections remain centred on outbreaks in two northern regions - Lombardy and Veneto. But a few cases have turned up now in southern Italy too. Thirty-seven people have now recovered in Lombardy, civil protection chief Angelo Borrelli said. -
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@nadnerB said in Non-IT News Thread:
Musicians Algorithmically Generate Every Possible Melody, Release Them to Public Domain
Two programmer-musicians wrote every possible MIDI melody in existence to a hard drive, copyrighted the whole thing, and then released it all to the public in an attempt to stop musicians from getting sued.
That's awesome.
Agreed, but 2 .tar files that are 600gb each makes using these unwieldy. Still going to download them though...
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Action Star Steven Seagal Hit With SEC Fine Over Shady Cryptocurrency Deal
The former action star has agreed to pay $314,000 for failing to disclose the money he was promised to promote Bitcoiin2Gen back in 2018.
US regulators are forcing former action star Steven Seagal to pay up for failing to disclose payment related to endorsing a cryptocurrency back in 2018. The martial artist and actor has been in a legal headlock with the Securities and Exchange Commission for failing to disclose a $1 million payment he was promised for endorsing Bitcoiin2Gen. On Thursday, Seagal decided to tap out and settle the charges. Two years ago, Seagal was named the official brand ambassador for the cryptocurrency, which sought to replace Bitcoin. He then used his social media accounts to encourage the public to invest in the company’s initial coin offering, despite claims it sounded like a pyramid scheme. -
Coronavirus: South Korea church leader apologises for virus spread
The head of the religious sect that has been at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea has apologised to the nation for the disease's spread.
Lee Man-hee, the leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, got on his knees and bowed at a news conference. About 60% of the country's more than 4,000 confirmed cases are sect members. On Monday, South Korea - the biggest hotspot outside China - reported 476 new cases, bringing the total number to 4,212. It has recorded 26 deaths. Prosecutors have been asked to investigate Mr Lee on possible charges of gross negligence. "Although it was not intentional, many people have been infected," said the 88-year-old leader. "We put our utmost efforts, but were unable to prevent it all." -
BBC News - Jack Welch: Legendary General Electric boss dies at 84
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51710337 -
Deadly tornadoes kill nineteen in Nashville, Tennessee
At least 19 people have died after two tornadoes ripped through central Tennessee, including the state's biggest city Nashville.
Officials said the tornadoes also caused widespread damage to buildings in the city. Nashville Mayor John Cooper said the city was "devastated", and urged people to "lend a helping hand" to neighbours. Neighbourhoods throughout the city have been plunged into darkness amid infrastructure damage. The death toll may rise given the number of people who remain missing throughout the state, Tennessee Governor William Lee said on Tuesday. -
@mlnews holy cow!
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Coronavirus: White House concedes US lacks enough test kits
The White House has acknowledged the nation does not have enough coronavirus test kits as cases of the disease ticked upwards on both US coasts.
Vice-President Mike Pence said the Trump administration would not be able to meet its objective of delivering one million testing kits this week. Congress meanwhile moved with unusual speed to approve a bumper emergency aid package to combat the outbreak. Globally, authorities have confirmed more than 92,000 cases of the virus. The vast majority - more than 80,000 - are in China, where the virus originated. Worldwide, more than 3,000 people have died. -
Bacon saved after pedometer-eating pig's poo starts farm fire
A peckish pig who swallowed a pedometer ended up sparking a fire in its pen.
Fire crews were called to a farm near Bramham, Leeds, at about 14:00 GMT on Saturday after copper from the pedometer's batteries apparently reacted with the pig's excrement and dry bedding.The pedometers were being used on pigs to prove they were free-range. No pigs or people were hurt in the fire.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had gone to "save the bacon".
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Max Van Sydow passed away
What a great actor -
@wirestyle22 said in Non-IT News Thread:
Max Van Sydow passed away
What a great actorSeventh Seal, such a classic
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He did Wild Strawberries, too, which I really liked.
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@wirestyle22 said in Non-IT News Thread:
Max Van Sydow passed away
What a great actorSeventh Seal, such a classic
A truly great film. He was in a lot of greats actually
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
He did Wild Strawberries, too, which I really liked.
What dreams may come, The diving bell and the butterfly
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Coronavirus: Italy in 'massive shock therapy' pledge to offset virus impact
Italy's government has pledged to further increase spending in a "massive shock therapy" to offset the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
The country is struggling to adapt to the most restrictive measures since World War Two, introduced on Sunday. Up to 16 million people in northern Italy now need permission to travel under quarantine rules. With 366 deaths now confirmed, Italy is the worst-hit country in the world after China. In a separate development, six people died in a prison riot in the city of Modena amid protests at the introduction of new restrictions, local media report. -
Toilet paper caper: Utah police left without toilet paper after coronavirus preppers take it all
‘We love our community and we are here to serve you, but cops need toilet paper too!’
The coronavirus crisis continues to sweep across the nation and some are taking preparation into their own hands, one toilet paper roll at a time. The Kaysville Police Department, in Utah, took to Facebook on Friday, saying all of the toilet paper in its public restrooms was stolen. Police say they suspect the toilet paper was taken by residents that are preparing for the coronavirus. -
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Coronavirus: Troops sent to New York 'containment zone'
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced a one-mile (1.6km) coronavirus "containment zone" around a town north of New York City.
New Rochelle has seen "probably the largest cluster" of US cases, he said. National Guard troops will be used to clean schools in the town and deliver food to any quarantined individuals. The death toll in Italy, one of the countries worst hit by the virus, rose to 631 as the authorities placed the whole country in lockdown. The latest increase in deaths in Italy - 168 - is the biggest the country has recorded in a single day, and the total number of cases went from 9,172 to 10,149. -
Climate change: New rules could spell end of 'throwaway culture
New rules could spell the death of a "throwaway" culture in which products are bought, used briefly, then binned.
The regulations will apply to a range of everyday items such as mobile phones, textiles, electronics, batteries, construction and packaging. They will ensure products are designed and manufactured so they last - and so they're repairable if they go wrong. It should mean that your phone lasts longer and proves easier to fix. That may be especially true if the display or the battery needs changing. It's part of a worldwide movement called the Right to Repair, which has spawned citizens' repair workshops in several UK cities. -
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Climate change: New rules could spell end of 'throwaway culture
New rules could spell the death of a "throwaway" culture in which products are bought, used briefly, then binned.
The regulations will apply to a range of everyday items such as mobile phones, textiles, electronics, batteries, construction and packaging. They will ensure products are designed and manufactured so they last - and so they're repairable if they go wrong. It should mean that your phone lasts longer and proves easier to fix. That may be especially true if the display or the battery needs changing. It's part of a worldwide movement called the Right to Repair, which has spawned citizens' repair workshops in several UK cities.The right to repair has been an a hot button issue for a long time, particularly with things like Tractors that are becoming more advanced, GPS connected automatons that farmers classically could repair themselves.
The issues come in with where manufacturers say you can fix the physical item, but if the software is "broken" you need to pay the manufacturer to fix the issue (install updated software) vs the farmer creating and installing their own software.
