Category Archives: News to use

Useful news for all to advance knowledge of the world and how it works

China launches first module of new space station | China | The Guardian

China has launched the first module of its new space station, a milestone in Beijing’s ambitious plan to place a permanent human presence in space.

The Tianhe or “Heavenly Harmony” unmanned core module, containing living quarters for three crew, was launched from Wenchang in China’s Hainan province on a Long-March 5B rocket on Thursday.

The space station is expected to become fully operational in 2022 after about 10 missions to bring up more parts and assemble them in orbit.

Billions of dollars have been poured into space exploration as China seeks to assert its rising global stature and growing technological might, following in the footsteps of the US and Russia.

Source: China launches first module of new space station | China | The Guardian

Avian Flu Diary: U.S Consulate & Embassies In India: Messaging On COVID Crisis

New cases and deaths from COVID-19 have risen sharply throughout India to record levels over the last month. COVID-19 testing infrastructure is reportedly constrained in many locations. Hospitals are reporting shortages of supplies, oxygen, and beds for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related patients. U.S. citizens are reporting being denied admission to hospitals in some cities due to a lack of space. Some states have enacted curfews and other restrictions that limit movement and the operation of non-essential businesses. Source: Avian Flu Diary: U.S Consulate & Embassies In India: Messaging On COVID Crisis

Biden staffing makes history with diversity, speed of appointments – Axios

Of Biden’s roughly 1,500 agency appointees, which the White House said was double the number of any previous administration at 100 days:

  • 58% are women.
  • 18% identify as Black or African American.
  • 15% identify as Latino or Hispanic.
  • 15% identify as Asian American or Pacific Islander.
  • 3% identify as Middle Eastern or North African.
  • 2% identify as American Indian or Alaska Native.
  • 14% identify as LGBTQ+.
  • 4% are veterans.
  • 3% identify as disabled or having a disability.
  • 15% were the first in their families to go to college.
  • 32% are naturalized citizens or the children of immigrants.

Source: Biden staffing makes history with diversity, speed of appointments – Axios

US Labor Secretary Says Most Gig Workers Should Be Classified as Employees, Prompting Shares of Uber, Lyft, Doordash and Grubhub To Crash – Slashdot

“We are looking at it but in a lot of cases gig workers should be classified as employees… in some cases they are treated respectfully and in some cases they are not and I think it has to be consistent across the board,” Walsh told Reuters in an interview, expressing his view on the topic for the first time. “These companies are making profits and revenue and I’m not (going to) begrudge anyone for that because that’s what we are about in America… but we also want to make sure that success trickles down to the worker,” he said. Source: US Labor Secretary Says Most Gig Workers Should Be Classified as Employees, Prompting Shares of Uber, Lyft, Doordash and Grubhub To Crash – Slashdot

Back To School, Uruguay

Michael Stephen Wills Photography

Since 1877 primary education in Uruguay is universal, compulsory and free. These days students receive free education through university, literacy is the highest in South America at 95%, equally for males and females.

These photographs are from a cruise around South American my wife, Pam, and I enjoyed February / March 2016 on the Oceania ship Regatta. This was the evening of February 26, 2016, a Friday, in the city Montevideo, Uruguay.

This image is the theme of this blog, “back to school”. On Avenue Gral Eugenio Garzon of the Colon neighborhood of Montevideo a mother and four daughters discuss a shop window featuring “back to school” clothing and necessaries. The children range in age from pre-school to teen. This is evidently a serious discussion about preparing for the school year which starts in March for Uruguay.

A government program launched in 2007 expands Information and Communication technologies in primary…

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Thoughtful Thursdays, Stayed on Freedom with the Call of Freedom, and Transportation for “contraband” people?

Excellent write up…

Context, Thought, and Learning: ShiraDest Offers Project Do Better

Libraries and buses are also an intimately connected and crucial part of a community health care network, for many of us.  

So, how do we each help our society to become more fully inclusive for all of us, and to give more money for mass transit as part of Public Health Care?

I believe that attention to shared and connected community institutions and systems, like Public Transportation and Public Health Care, may provide part of an answer.  I started a note about that, a few years ago, on page eleven of my book Stayed on Freedom’s Call:

“… observant Jews?  They were barely accepted themselves in this Southern city,
where the community felt obliged to petition for permission to purchase a house
of worship, despite the existence of St. John ́s and other prominent Christian
houses of worship. What fear and guilt may have gone through the minds…

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Healthy Protein Pancakes

Bombay Ficus

This is my recipe that I use for protein pancakes which I eat on a cheat day or when I want to eat Nutella guilt free after an intense workout. It’s not the healthiest thing and neither is it the tastiest variation of it, but something I do enjoy guilt-free.

Instructions

  1. Gather all the dry ingredients mentioned below. Strain them through a big strainer into a bowl and make sure there are no lumps.
  2. I use Dymatize ISO100 (chocolate flavoured) and its sweeter and tastier than most other whey supplements I’ve consumed. Whey by Quest Protein is also great for cooking.
  3. Depending on the taste/sweetness of your protein supplement and in case you plan to skip adding a banana due to it’s flavour you will probably need to add a little more sugar than in this recipe (a ripe banana adds a lot of sweetness to the pancakes).
  4. Then gather…

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Women and Computers in WWII – Intermission Story (22)

Pacific Paratrooper

Women with the ENIAC computer

Before the invention of electronic computers, “computer” was a job description, not a machine. Both men and women were employed as computers, but women were more prominent in the field. This was a matter of practicality more than equality. Women were hired because there was a large pool of women with training in mathematics, but they could be hired for much less money than men with comparable training. Despite this bias, some women overcame their inferior status and contributed to the invention of the first electronic computers.

In 1942, just after the United States entered World War II, hundreds of women were employed around the country as computers. Their job consisted of using mechanical desk calculators to solve long lists of equations. The results of these calculations were compiled into tables and published for use on the battlefields by gunnery officers. The tables allowed soldiers…

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