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Supporters of reparations for Black residents urge San Francisco to push forward

The Toronto Star

23-09-20 01:00


Reparations advocates in San Francisco are urging city supervisors to adopt recommendations aimed at shrinking the racial wealth gap and improving the lives of Black residents. The city's Board of Supervisors was expected to vote on accepting the final reparations plan issued by the city's African American Reparations Advisory Committee. The plan includes the granting of a $5 million payment to every eligible adult. The city has set aside $4 million to open an office of reparations but has not acted on major recommendations. Critics argue that the reparations plans are unconstitutional and would financially ruin the city.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/united-states/supporters-of-reparations-for-black-residents-urge-san-francisco-to-push-forward/article_d743f2c3-99fa-5637-b531-d2409b51b03c.html
Hard-Core Sleepers Obsess Over Their Snoozing Stats

WSJ

23-09-20 00:59


Sleep gadgets, apps and technology have given rise to a new game among some, with players competing to achieve the highest sleep scores possible. Wearable tech such as Whoop bands and Oura rings monitor sleep quality and provide users with a score in the morning. The game has even extended to the popular Pokémon franchise, with a new app called Pokémon Sleep. The game monitors users' sleep cycles and tracks sleep scores. High-achieving sleepers may be rewarded with a 'shiny' Pokémon. While the technology has encouraged people to consider their sleep quality and how it can be improved, it can also lead to obsession and anxiety. Scientists have even coined a term for this nocturnal affliction – orthosomnia.

https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/sleeper-performance-people-obsess-over-their-stats-biometrics-6a6feff?mod=health_lead_story
India suspends visa services for Canadians

Financial Times

23-09-21 10:19


India has suspended the issuance of visas to Canadians until further notice, amid a deepening dispute between the two countries over the killing of a Canadian Sikh. The move comes after Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said that Canadian intelligence agencies were pursuing "credible allegations" linking Indian "agents" to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist. In response, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat and issued a warning to its citizens travelling to or within Canada. The dispute has strained relations between the two countries and could impact bilateral trade.

https://www.ft.com/content/9f9a1c55-1079-43a3-973c-11443e660b70
China, Japan and South Korea occupy top spots in scientific activity index

South China Morning Post

23-09-21 10:07


China has surpassed the US in terms of the number of science and technology clusters in the top 100 of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) global innovation index. China has 24 clusters in the top 100, compared to the US’s 21. The top five clusters are all located in East Asia, with Japan in first place, followed by the Tokyo-Yokohama, Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou, Seoul, and Suzhou-Shanghai clusters. The index is based on the number of inventors and researchers in the clusters, as well as the number of articles published and patents filed.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3235344/china-japan-and-south-korea-occupy-top-spots-global-index-scientific-innovation
Governments and individuals debate: Are mandates needed to reach climate change targets?

Associated Press

23-09-21 19:44


New Jersey has outlined its climate change goals, including a proposed ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035 and a push to decarbonize buildings by switching from natural gas to electric heating and appliances. The state aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, a target that has faced criticism, with opponents arguing that such measures constitute a mandate and will push up costs. New Jersey's environmental protection commissioner, Shawn LaTourette, said it was not forcing people to act, but was "transitioning to where the market is already going".

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-new-jersey-mandates-gas-stoves-4fdb9b2b12e754b14f394c173e1b9f60
California sues anti-abortion organizations for unproven treatment to reverse medication abortions

Associated Press

23-09-21 19:36


California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit against anti-abortion group Heartbeat International and reproductive health provider RealOptions Obria over their promotion of unproven “abortion reversal” treatments. The lawsuit argues that the companies used “fraudulent and misleading claims” to advertise the treatments, which have no scientific backing. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent further dissemination of the claims, as well as other remedies and penalties available under state law. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has previously stated that “abortion reversal” procedures are unproven and unethical.

https://apnews.com/article/california-lawsuit-anti-abortion-organizations-5930c914385a49d6677905a6422ecbcc
McDonald’s sued over hot coffee spill. Sound familiar?

Reuters

23-09-21 18:42


McDonald’s is being sued by an 85-year-old woman who claims she was burned by spilling a cup of hot coffee in her lap. The lawsuit echoes the Jackpot Justice case of 1994 in which Stella Liebeck, then 81, sued McDonald’s after suffering burns from a cup of hot coffee. Her case became a punchline for jokes by late night comedians and Toby Keith’s “American Ride” song. Liebeck was awarded $2.9m at the trial, which was subsequently reduced to $480,000.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/column-mcdonalds-sued-over-hot-coffee-spill-sound-familiar-2023-09-21/
Nick Chubb's injury underscores running backs' pleas for bigger contracts and teams' fears

The Toronto Star

23-09-21 18:19


The injury to Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb highlights the reasons why running backs are seeking better contracts and why teams are hesitant to pay them. Running backs argue that they are underpaid in comparison to their peers. The franchise tag for running backs in 2023 was just $10.1 million, significantly lower than that for other positions. Many running backs have voiced their concerns about the pay disparity and the average career length for a running back is just 2.7 years, compared to 3.3 years for other positions. Teams view running backs as interchangeable and are reluctant to invest big money in the position.

https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/nick-chubbs-injury-underscores-running-backs-pleas-for-bigger-contracts-and-teams-fears/article_475e2655-0404-54ee-aa47-cf13dae09c41.html
Nick Chubb’s injury underscores running backs’ pleas for bigger contracts and teams’ fears

Associated Press

23-09-21 18:18


The recent devastating knee injury suffered by Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb highlights the ongoing contract dispute between running backs and NFL teams. Running backs argue that they are underpaid compared to their peers and want bigger contracts with more guaranteed money. However, teams are reluctant to pay running backs due to the position being viewed as interchangeable and the success that late-round picks and undrafted free agents have had. The injury risk for running backs is also high, with many suffering significant injuries that can impact the length of their careers.

https://apnews.com/article/nick-chubb-injury-saquon-barkley-josh-jacobs-running-back-contracts-bc36f55d17366a5a5d9073a0eed25839
Joe Burrow isn’t sure if he’ll play as Bengals host Rams Monday night, hoping to avoid 0-3 hole

Associated Press

23-09-21 23:50


Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is questionable for Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Rams due to a lingering calf strain. If Burrow is unable to play, backup Jake Browning will start. The Bengals have started the season with two losses, and while head coach Zac Taylor is not panicking, the Bengals' offense has struggled. On the Rams' side, rookie receiver Puka Nacua has been impressive but has also sustained an oblique injury. Rams' quarterback Matthew Stafford broke Peyton Manning's record for the most passing yards in a quarterback's first 200 games.

https://apnews.com/article/rams-bengals-preview-abf4b5bd53de6632fd8163019fc27ae0
San Francisco Values? Nancy Pelosi Explains It All for You.

Independent Org

23-09-21 23:25


San Francisco Democrat Nancy Pelosi will run for Congress in 2024. This may signal that 83 is the new 43, 53, or 63, but, according to the two-time House speaker, much more is in play.

�[O]ur City needs us to advance San Francisco values and further our recovery,� Pelosi wrote on social media. Across the country, people might wonder what values the octogenarian has in mind. Some background may be helpful.

In 1960, California Gov. Edmund G. �Pat� Brown awarded concessions for the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley to William Newsom and John Pelosi. In 1963, John�s son Paul married Nancy D�Alesandro, daughter of Thomas D�Alesandro, congressman and Baltimore mayor. In 1969, Paul and Nancy Pelosi moved to San Francisco, where Paul�s brother Ron was a San Francisco supervisor.

Ron Pelosi married William Newsom�s daughter Barbara, so Nancy Pelosi was Gavin Newsom�s �aunt by marriage� until the couple divorced. Call it San Francisco family values.

�I want to thank speaker Nancy Pelosi,� said California Gov. Gavin Newsom in his March 12, 2020, press conference telling 40 million Californians to stay home. �We had a very long conversation today. Talk about meeting the moment. We are so blessed to have her leadership in California.�

In March 2020, Newsom imposed some of the strictest lockdown and masking measures in the nation. On Aug. 31, 2020, then-Speaker Pelosi got a wash and blow-out at a San Francisco salon that Newsom�s state of emergency had shut down as a non-essential business.

�As it turns out, it was a setup,� Pelosi told reporters. �So I take responsibility for falling for a setup.� According to the House Speaker, �[T]he salon owes me an apology for setting me up.� The San Francisco Democrat thus set an example for her one-time nephew Gavin, former mayor of San Francisco.

In November of 2020, Newsom and colleagues partied sans masks at the upscale French Laundry in Napa. Newsom didn�t call it a set-up, but the event did prove instructive.

In San Francisco values, rules that apply to the working class don�t apply to the ruling class. As Leona Helmsley might have put it, the rules are for �little people,� not the governor of California and the speaker of the House. On the other hand, maybe there�s more to it.

On the watch of former San Francisco Department of Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, a protégé of Willie Brown, the streets of San Francisco began piling up with human excrement. As NBC News headlined a 2018 story, �San Francisco Paid Firm $400K for Research Claiming City is Nearly Spotless; Complaints Over Trash, Needles, Feces Soaring.�

That was Nuru�s doing, and the DPW boss kept his job as the excrement piled up to record levels. Special maps alerted visitors to the worst areas, and the Babylon Bee�s �California Fleein�� notes that �all the streets are brown.� See also its �I Wish We All Could Leave California.�

According to San Francisco values, it�s okay to tolerate a corrupt official for allowing a once-great city to become an open-air latrine. In 2020, the FBI busted Nuru on bribery charges, and last year he was sentenced to seven years in federal prison.

For the new span of the Bay Bridge, California opted to use a Chinese company that, at the time, had never built a bridge. So maybe the preference for Chinese steel and labor over American steel and labor is one of those great San Francisco values Nancy Pelosi is running on.

After all, she spoke highly of Harry Bridges�a Communist Party USA member and longtime Soviet agent�in 2001�s Congressional Record, claiming, �Harry Bridges was arguably the most significant labor leader of the twentieth century … beloved by the workers of this nation, and recognized as one of the most important labor leaders in the world.�

America�s �most significant labor leader� was the fervent anti-Communist George Meany. Nancy should have known that.

Pelosi is also running for reelection because �our country needs America to show the world that our flag is still there, with liberty and justice for ALL.� Her former nephew is a big booster.

�Nancy Pelosi is the model of dedicated public service,� said a statement from Newsom after Pelosi stepped down from the House Democratic leadership. �Her career in Congress, and as Speaker, has been a masterclass in powerful, empathetic leadership, guided by her strong moral compass and unmatched political skill.�


https://www.independent.org/news/article.asp?id=14677

49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk will miss game against Giants with shoulder injury

The Toronto Star

23-09-21 23:02


San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk will miss the team's game against the New York Giants due to a shoulder injury. Aiyuk sustained the injury in the previous game but played through it. However, he was designated as inactive for the upcoming game. Aiyuk's absence will give opportunities to Jauan Jennings and rookie Ronnie Bell to step up. The Giants are also missing key players, including star running back Saquon Barkley and left tackle Andrew Thomas. The 49ers made several roster moves before the game, including promoting cornerback Tre Swilling from the practice squad.

https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/49ers-receiver-brandon-aiyuk-will-miss-game-against-giants-with-shoulder-injury/article_1ba9bb4c-91ac-597e-91a6-17b7db6da26a.html
Biden to deliver democracy speech and pay tribute to John McCain in Arizona next week

The Independent

23-09-21 23:00


President Joe Biden will travel to Arizona next week to deliver a democracy-focused address that will also pay tribute to the late John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate who represented the state in the U.S. Senate for more than three decades. The speech will focus on strengthening democracy and honor McCain's legacy. Biden will also spend two days in San Francisco, where he will host a meeting of the president's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. He will also participate in several fundraisers during his trip.

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/john-mccain-ap-joe-biden-arizona-white-house-b2416312.html
Titans running back Derrick Henry calls Nick Chubb's knee injury unfortunate

The Toronto Star

23-09-21 22:13


Running backs in the NFL have been discussing how to improve their market value after a string of injuries to players at the position. The NFL has filed a grievance against the NFL Players Association, alleging that union leaders have advised running backs to "consider feigning or exaggerating injuries" to increase their leverage in contract negotiations. The names of running backs sidelined by serious injuries is lengthy just two weeks into the season, including J.K. Dobbins, Jonathan Taylor, Austin Ekeler, and Saquon Barkley. Derrick Henry, a top running back for the Tennessee Titans, commented on the injuries, saying that while they don't want to see them happen, they come with the game.

https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/titans-running-back-derrick-henry-calls-nick-chubbs-knee-injury-unfortunate/article_ab7fb39e-62bd-50c5-be02-1325d17b3766.html
Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers win 13th straight in the regular season, beat the Giants 30-12

Associated Press

23-09-22 03:33


The San Francisco 49ers won their 13th straight regular season game with a 30-12 victory over the New York Giants. Christian McCaffrey scored a touchdown in his 12th straight game, while Brock Purdy threw two TD passes. The Giants struggled on offense, finishing with just 150 yards, as they were hampered by the absence of star Saquon Barkley and injuries to the offensive line. Daniel Jones went 22 for 32 for 137 yards and an interception.

https://apnews.com/article/nfl-giants-49ers-ade65719a305de2516a28509a9ec6385
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley says he has a high ankle sprain

The Toronto Star

23-09-22 02:07


New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain in the team's win over the Arizona Cardinals. Barkley did not practice this week and has been ruled out for Thursday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers. High ankle sprains typically have a longer recovery period than lower ankle injuries. The Giants' next game is on October 2 against the Seattle Seahawks. Barkley previously had a high ankle sprain in 2019 and missed three games. Giants coach Brian Daboll has not provided further details on Barkley's injury.

https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/new-york-giants-running-back-saquon-barkley-says-he-has-a-high-ankle-sprain/article_318794b2-f647-5f56-8789-d50467174b49.html
His dad wanted him to be a doctor – but now Osamah’s on a different mission

The Sydney Morning Herald

23-09-22 01:45


Osamah Sami, an Iraqi-Australian writer and director, has co-written a new six-part series called "House of Gods" set among the Shi'ite community in western Sydney. The series explores the complexities and conflicts within the community, focusing on the fictional mosque, The Prophet. The show is based on Sami's own experiences growing up in the Shi'ite community in Australia and observing his father, a cleric at the Fawkner mosque. The series delves into the murky politics and moral complexities of religious leaders and the pressures they face to serve both God and man. Sami's father was a progressive cleric who welcomed people from all backgrounds and wrote and performed plays at the mosque. The mosque was later attacked and burnt down by extremists who accused Sami and his family of arson. The parallels between Sami's life and the show are clear, as both explore the tensions and challenges faced by religious leaders and their families.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/his-dad-wanted-him-to-be-a-doctor-but-now-osamah-s-on-a-different-healing-mission-20230803-p5dtpu.html
Joe Burrow's status in doubt as the winless Bengals try to get back on track against the Rams

The Toronto Star

23-09-22 00:32


The Los Angeles Rams (1-1) will face off against the Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) on Monday Night Football. The Bengals are favored to win by 2 1/2 points. The Rams' offense is ranked highly in several categories, while the Bengals' offense is ranked last overall. Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has had a strong start to his rookie season, but will face a tough challenge from the Bengals' physical defense. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's status for the game is uncertain, but his performance will be crucial to the team's success. The key matchup will be between the Bengals' receivers and the Rams' pass defense. The Rams have won their last two games against the Bengals, but have not won in Cincinnati since 1999.

https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/joe-burrows-status-in-doubt-as-the-winless-bengals-try-to-get-back-on-track/article_549ad052-dd06-5201-b1cf-f7e968f8bd9c.html
Joe Burrow’s status in doubt as the winless Bengals try to get back on track against the Rams

Associated Press

23-09-22 00:31


The Los Angeles Rams (1-1) are set to face the Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) on Monday night. The Bengals have been dealing with uncertainty surrounding quarterback Joe Burrow's calf injury. The Rams offense has been strong, ranking second overall and third in passing. The Bengals offense has struggled, ranking last in the league in several categories. The key matchup will be the Bengals receivers against the Rams pass defense. The Rams won the last meeting between the two teams in Super Bowl 56.

https://apnews.com/article/cincinnati-bengals-los-angeles-rams-preview-2ee4bdba33c48c91e0a48ef7166c6893
‘I was told not to plan for old age’: The long-term survivors who beat the HIV odds

The Sydney Morning Herald

23-09-22 06:00


This year marks 40 years since the first Australian died from AIDS. That was in Melbourne in July 1983, two years after scientists in the US announced the first cases of a rare pneumonia, now called pneumocystis jirovecii, and a rarely seen cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, appearing among gay men in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. It’s 40 years, too, since two AIDS sufferers in New York, Richard Berkowitz and Michael Callen, published a booklet on “safer sex”, which recommended the use of condoms to prevent the spread of STDs, a guideline that would save countless lives.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the retrovirus that causes AIDS, was so named in 1986, replacing its former name, HTLV-111. Doctors found the first sign of HIV was usually a fever, swollen glands and a sore throat – the telltale symptoms of a seroconversion illness, which usually occurs within a month of infection, a result of the body reacting to the viral intruder by producing antibodies.

Since then, the acronyms HIV and AIDS have become so well-known that they no longer require spelling out. AIDS has killed more than 40 million people worldwide and 85 million have been infected, making it one of the deadliest epidemics in post-World War II history. By comparison, the far more easily transmitted COVID-19 has resulted in nearly 7 million deaths globally and 770 million confirmed infections.

At first, it was assumed that everyone infected with HIV was doomed to develop full-blown AIDS and die. One of the surprising discoveries in those fearful early years, though, was that a small group of people – estimates varied, but some put it as low as 0.5 to one per cent – would remain healthy for five years or more. This bunch of outliers came to be known as long-term non-progressors. Not surprisingly, they were the subject of intense scrutiny by AIDS researchers scrambling to understand the virus.

Attention focused on white blood cells called CD4 lymphocytes, the frontline defenders of the immune system and the main target of HIV destruction. In the vast majority of cases, people who became infected with HIV suffered a cataclysmic drop in their CD4 count, from a normal level of about 500-1500 cells per millilitre of blood to 200 cells or less. Once the CD4 cell count drops below 200, the risk of developing an AIDS-related illness rises dramatically.

Were these long-term non-progressors blessed with superhero CD4 cells expert at annihilating the viral invaders? Or were they infected with a weaker strain of the virus? It soon became apparent there was no simple answer: some long-term survivors, for example, lived for years with CD4 counts of less than 200. Was this because their immune systems enlisted other white blood cells to make up for the CD4 downfall? Even today, researchers don’t fully understand how the immune systems of some long-term survivors have given them more robust resistance to the virus.


https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-was-told-not-to-plan-for-old-age-the-long-term-survivors-who-beat-the-hiv-odds-20230719-p5dpnx.html