All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Experimental decoy drug tricks coronavirus, then destroys it – Los Angeles Times

An experimental decoy drug that’s designed to lure the coronavirus away from cells is being readied for tests in humans.

Source: Experimental decoy drug tricks coronavirus, then destroys it – Los Angeles Times

Hiltzik: The Democrats give in to GOP quacks on COVID vaccines – Los Angeles Times

The House is expected to vote on the act Thursday, with the Senate to follow. The Democratic capitulation to the GOP’s demand to rescind the vaccine mandate is an inexcusable dereliction of Congress’ duty to care for the health of military service members and the general public.

Source: Hiltzik: The Democrats give in to GOP quacks on COVID vaccines – Los Angeles Times

Ventura sailor returns home nearly 81 years after dying in Pearl Harbor attack – Los Angeles Times

“I can’t speak highly enough of the Department of the Navy for all the efforts that they have gone through,” Ruffinelli said. “I mean, 81 years later, my goodness’ sake. I just I take my hat off to them. I’m in awe of the efforts they put forth.”

Garcia’s remains arrived Tuesday at Los Angeles International Airport in a flag-draped casket. He was accompanied by the Honor Guard, according to Laura Herzog, a veteran’s advocate with the nonprofit organization Honoring Our Fallen.

 

Source: Ventura sailor returns home nearly 81 years after dying in Pearl Harbor attack – Los Angeles Times

Avian Flu Diary: China: NHC Announces Modified COVID Testing & Mitigation Rules (Me: Good breakdown on what Chinese new Covid control policies are and are not…)

Recently, all localities and departments have thoroughly implemented the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council , adhered to the ninth edition of the prevention and control plan, implemented 20 optimization measures, and continued to rectify the problem of overweight at every level, achieving positive results.

Source: Avian Flu Diary: China: NHC Announces Modified COVID Testing & Mitigation Rules

Seven Alabama Residents Sentenced for Felony Violations of the Animal Welfare Act, Ending One of the Largest Cockfighting Operations in the Country | OPA | Department of Justice

The court issued the following sentences for four defendants who pleaded guilty to multiple felonies on Aug. 5:

  • On Dec. 6, George William “Billy” Easterling, 56, was sentenced to 22 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for violating the Animal Welfare Act’s prohibition against animal fighting and for conspiring with others to violate the Act in connection with the cockfighting pit and the Swift Creek Gamefarm fighting-bird breeding operation.
  • On Nov. 30, Brent Colon Easterling, 38, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for violating the Animal Welfare Act’s prohibition against animal fighting and for conspiring with others to violate the Act in connection with the cockfighting pit and the L&L Gamefarm fighting-bird breeding operation.
  • On Nov. 30, William “Tyler” Easterling, 30, was sentenced to 20 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for violating the Animal Welfare Act’s prohibition against animal fighting and for conspiring with others to violate the Act in connection with the cockfighting pit and the Swift Creek Gamefarm fighting-bird breeding operation.
  • On Nov. 30, William Colon “Jim” Easterling, 77, was sentenced to two years of home detention — rather than incarceration which the court determined would be “extremely detrimental” to his declining health — and a fine of $8,000 for violating the Animal Welfare Act’s prohibition against animal fighting ventures and for conspiring with others to violate the Act and to operate an illegal gambling business in connection with the cockfighting pit.

Three other residents of Verbena, Alabama, who are also members of the Easterling family, pleaded guilty on June 3 to conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act or to a substantive violation of the Act. On Oct.13, the following individuals were sentenced:

  • Kassi Brook Easterling, 39, was sentenced to two years of probation, including six months of home detention, for conspiring with others to violate the Animal Welfare Act’s prohibition against animal fighting ventures, including the sale of cockfighting knives, and for her involvement with the L&L Gamefarm fighting-bird breeding operation.
  • Amber Nicole Easterling, 25, was sentenced to one year of probation for her involvement with the cockfighting pit.
  • Thomas Glyn “Junior” Williams, 34, was sentenced to one year of probation for his involvement with the cockfighting pit and the Swift Creek Gamefarm fighting-bird breeding operation.

Source: Seven Alabama Residents Sentenced for Felony Violations of the Animal Welfare Act, Ending One of the Largest Cockfighting Operations in the Country | OPA | Department of Justice

Migrant workers: Qatar still to answer for mass wage theft | openDemocracy

For Babu, the stakes were high. He expected to receive around $5,500 as his end-of-service benefit. Babu was told that he would be paid soon, so he waited. He stayed in Qatar as long as he could. But it didn’t come. “Finally,” Babu said, “when we couldn’t manage money, even for food, a few of us returned, giving up hope.”

Unsettled accounts

Accounts of wage theft have dogged the production of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar almost since its inception. Already in 2014, The Guardian was reporting that hundreds of migrant construction workers from Bangladesh and Nepal had gone without wages for more than a year. They had been tasked with building, of all things, the luxury offices for the tournament’s organisers in Al Bidda Tower – nicknamed ‘the Tower of Football’.

Source: Migrant workers: Qatar still to answer for mass wage theft | openDemocracy

Article: Indian Immigrants in the United States | migrationpolicy.org

Today, Indians represent the second largest U.S. immigrant group, after Mexicans and ahead of Chinese and Filipinos. The 2.7 million Indian immigrants living in the United States as of 2021 made up 6 percent of the total foreign-born population, and their numbers continue to grow.

Source: Article: Indian Immigrants in the United States | migrationpolicy.org