Tag Archives: Clueless

CDC director explains what he hates about electronic cigarettes

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“Of all the threats to Americans’ health — a list that includes bird flu, measles and West Nile virus — few get Dr. Tom Frieden as riled up as electronic cigarettes.  As director of the CDC, Frieden has a ready-made platform for spreading his views about the dangers of vaping.  He said, ‘people have a misconception that the tobacco epidemic is a thing of the past. Tobacco still kills more Americans than any other cause. It still kills more than 1,000 people a day. As a doctor, I can tell you it kills them in really unpleasant ways — gasping for breath with emphysema, with cancer, with heart disease.’  What does that have to do with e-cigarettes?  ‘E-cigarettes are a tobacco product,’ he said.”

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-why-tom-frieden-hates-electronic-cigarettes-cdc-20140429,0,4147326.story

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Why is eBay eager to pay a tax that Apple works to avoid?

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“So are the board and management of eBay Inc. (EBAY) clueless or crazy for electing to trigger a $3 billion non-tax charge for a potential future tax bill should it decide to repatriate $9 billion of its overseas cash, rather than tap the pliant bond market for any immediate domestic spending needs?  The company points out that it has made a number of U.S. acquisitions and suggested more were on the way. More broadly, though, this could represent a tacit admission that any easing of U.S. tax treatment of non-U.S. cash –- a major lobbying point of some tech-industry leaders in recent years –- appears unlikely at a time of heightened anxiety about wealth inequality.”

https://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/why-did-ebay-repatriate-funds–triggering-a–3b-tax-bill—when-apple-didn-t-and-borrowed-in-the-u-s–instead–d-left-funds-overseas-150411266.html

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Japanese cult fugitive given runaround as he tried to surrender [2012]

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“Despite being on the nationwide wanted list since 1995, it took Hirata several attempts before he finally succeeded in turning himself in.  Hirata could not find his way to the reception at the Osaki police station and gave up. To get to the second-floor reception, one has to use an elevator.  He then used a pay phone to call a toll-free number set up by the National Police Agency to solicit tips on former cult members on the nationwide wanted list. He called 10 times, but it was busy each time.  Hirata arrived at MPD headquarters at 11:35 p.m., but was turned away by a riot police officer on guard in front of the building. The officer thought it was a prank when Hirata identified himself.”

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201201040008

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Sen. Blumenthal Wants You To Know Train Safety Is Very Important

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“During a track-side speech on railway safety Friday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) unintentionally demonstrated just how important railway safety is. Watch what happens as soon as the surprised senator says: ‘Safety, as you know, is paramount.’ Yes it is, senator, yes it is.  The video may go viral, but not for the reasons you would hope for.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2608862/Stand-yellow-line-Senator-hit-train-speech-railway-safety.html

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Airport security scrutinized after boy flies to Maui in plane’s wheel well

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“Airport spokeswoman Rosemary Barnes said the SJC’s security program ‘meets and exceeds all federal requirements’ and works closely with the Transportation Security Administration and the San Jose Police Department. But the perimeter fence where the boy trespassed is monitored by the airport.  ‘No security program is 100 percent,’ Barnes said. ‘We’re continuing to review video to determine where in fact he was able to scale the section of fence line, how he as able to proceed onto a ramp and get himself into the wheel well of that aircraft.’  Barnes said the boy, under ‘cover of darkness,’ climbed a perimeter fence sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning.”

 

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_25607171/santa-clara-teen-ok-after-riding-jets-wheel

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Collectivists Posing As “Anarchists” Demand $3 Billion From Google

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“A group of anti-capitalist protesters referring to themselves as ‘anarchists’ demonstrated outside the home of Digg founder and Google Ventures partner Kevin Rose on Sunday, and demanded that Google hand over $3 billion to fund the creation of ‘autonomous, anti-capitalist, and anti-racist communities throughout the Bay Area and Northern California.’  The protest was allegedly organized by a group called The Counterforce, and they call Rose a ‘meta-leech’ who is to blame for the rising cost of living in the Bay Area. Rose has invested heavily in several tech startups, and these startups have moved to the Bay Area to run their businesses.”

http://benswann.com/anarchists-demand-3-billion-from-google/

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Those Who Know The Least About Bitcoin Want to Ban it the Most

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“Ekins sat down Reason TV to discuss the portion of the results from the April Reason-Rupe poll focused on attitudes towards, and knowledge of, the cryptocurrency bitcoin.  Only 19 percent of respondents had ‘a lot’ or ‘some’ knowledge of bitcoin, but that didn’t stop 47 percent of them from saying they wanted to ban it. However, the more someone claimed to know about bitcoin, the less likely he or she was likely to want to prohibit it, with 71 percent of respondents who claimed to know ‘a lot’ about bitcoin saying it should be allowed and, on the other side of the spectrum, only 27 percent of those who claimed to ‘know nothing’ about it wishing to allow it.”

http://reason.com/reasontv/2014/04/04/those-who-know-the-least-about-bitcoin-w

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Canadian Government to Divest ‘MintChip’ Digital Currency Program

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“The Canadian government has announced that it will end its MintChip electronic payment system, and that it will look to sell the business to the private sector.  Announced in 2012, MintChip was not a digital currency akin to bitcoin, but rather a digital payment mechanism meant to function as an electronic cash that could be transferred between users.  MintChip used a silicon chip with a unique ID as a store of value, which was then to be sent to brokers who would trade them to consumers and businesses. Users could embed MintChip devices onto USB sticks, wallets, laptops and tablets, or store their digital cash with a third-party service provider.”

http://www.coindesk.com/canadian-government-end-mintchip-digital-currency-program/

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UK financial official: Monetize state debt when deflation risks persist

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“There is no need for central banks’ balance sheets to shrink.  They could stay permanently larger; and, for some countries, permanently bigger central-bank balance sheets will help reduce public-debt burdens.  Even when permanent monetization occurs — as it almost certainly will in Japan and possibly elsewhere — it may remain forever the policy that dare not speak its name.  Such reticence may serve a useful purpose. But it must not blind central banks and governments to the full range of policy tools available to address today’s severe debt overhangs.”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/03/24/commentary/monetize-state-debt-when-deflation-risks-persist/

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Tweets In Turkey Up 138% Even Though The Country Banned Twitter

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“There might be a ban on Twitter in Turkey, but that’s not stopping people from tweeting.  As we reported earlier, people are getting around the ban by using an alternate DNS service.  They’re also tweeting using text messages and anonymous VPNs.  In fact, according to We Are Social and Brandwatch, tweets in the country are up 138%. The stats below were gathered between 2 a.m. and noon local time in Turkey, and are based on a sample of geolocated tweets.”

http://www.businessinsider.com/turkey-bans-twitter-but-more-people-start-tweeting-2014-3

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