freedomdaily--2020-01-08--Florida Judge Blocks Release Of Jeffrey Epstein Grand Jury Files

A Florida judge on Tuesday blocked a request for grand-jury records from Jeffrey Epstein ’ s 2006 indictment , saying there ’ s not a “ scintilla ” of evidence to suggest that corruption led to the financier ’ s sweetheart plea deal in 2008 .
The request came from special prosecutors appointed by Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis tasked with investigating “ irregularities ” surrounding the plea deal Epstein cut with prosecutors in 2008 that led to him serving 13-months in jail for soliciting prosecution .
The prosecutors are also investigating the generous work-release privileges granted to Epstein during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12-hours a day , six days a week , at an office building .
“ It sounds like a fishing expedition to me , ” Judge Krista Marx said of the request for Epstein ’ s grand-jury records .
“ I ’ m not understanding how it will be helpful and to what end.
” Prosecutors said they want to review the records to see whether the grand jurors were informed that police had evidence that minor girls were molested at Epstein ’ s Palm Beach estate , the South Florida SunSentinel reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at here is , was there corruption here ?
” prosecutors said in regards to the grand jury records .
“ These were schoolchildren who were drawn into this behavior by this billionaire and they were victimized by him over a long period of time.
” But Marx rebuffed prosecutors , saying that they would need to submit more than a “ bare-bones ” request for her to release the grand jury records .
“ There has not been a scintilla of evidence to suggest corruption , ” the judge added .
Marx @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on releasing the records .
She pointed to a Florida law that authorizes the release of grand jury records only as a “ last resort ” and when it is clear that the records will contain evidence of wrongdoing .
Marx ’ s refusal to release the records comes after graphic photos of Epstein ’ s dead body and jail cell following his apparent suicide aired on CBS News ’ “ 60 Minutes ” Sunday evening .
The photos were given to the program by Michael Baden , a pathologist hired by Epstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alleged sex trafficker could have been murdered .
“ The forensic evidence released so far , including the autopsy , point much more to murder and strangulation than the suicide … the suicidal hanging , ” Baden said .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-08--GOP Congresswoman Who Squared Off With Schiff Posts Massive Campaign Fundraising Numbers

Topics in this post : Elise Stefanik the 2020 Election Elise Stefanik , a Republican congresswoman targeted by Democrats over her support for President Donald Trump during the House impeachment hearings , posted massive fundraising figures in the final quarter of 2019 , her campaign announced on Wednesday .
Stefanik raised $ 3.2 million in the quarter , which is more than the New Yorker has raised in any two-year election cycle .
She has $ 3.4 million cash on hand , the campaign said .
The 35-year-old Stefanik rose to national prominence during the House Intelligence Committee ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stefanik battled repeatedly during the hearings with California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff , the chairman of the committee .
Her exchanges with Schiff prompted outcry from Democrats , and many anti-Trump Republicans .
George Conway , the husband of White House adviser Kellyanne Conway and a vocal Trump critic , mounted a social media campaign to raise money for Stefanik ’ s opponent , Tedra Cobb .
Stefanik ’ s campaign said that she received contributions from 50,000 donors during the quarter .
“ I am overwhelmed by this historic level of support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country for my reelection in 2020 , ” Stefanik said in a statement .
“ Every day of the week , I choose the North Country and America over the Far-Left Hollywood liberals like Rosie O ’ Donnell and Chelsea Handler who are funding my opponent .
This record-breaking support is indicative of the countless bipartisan results I ’ ve delivered for the hardworking families in my district.
” “ Our campaign looks forward to running against failed candidate Taxin ’ Tedra Cobb , the Toast of Tinseltown.
” Stefanik raised $ 1.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , according to Federal Election Commission records .
Her campaign took in $ 2.8 million in 2017 and 2018 .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-08--Watch Live: President Trump Addresses the Nation after Attacks by Iran

President Donald Trump addresses the nation Wednesday to address the nation after Iran launched missile attacks at two Iraqi airbases @ @ @ @ @ assets .
The president is scheduled to speak at 11:00 a.m. EST .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-08--AI can now read emotions – should it?

AI can now read emotions – should it?

In its annual report , the AI Now Institute , an interdisciplinary research center studying the societal implications of artificial intelligence , called for a ban on technology designed to recognize people ’ s emotions in certain cases .
Specifically , the researchers said affect recognition technology , also called emotion recognition technology , should not be used in decisions that “ impact people ’ s lives and access to opportunities , ” such as hiring decisions or pain assessments , because it is not sufficiently accurate and can lead to biased decisions .
What is this technology , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and why is it raising concerns ?
Researchers have been actively working on computer vision algorithms that can determine the emotions and intent of humans , along with making other inferences , for at least a decade .
Facial expression analysis has been around since at least 2003 .
Computers have been able to understand emotion even longer .
This latest technology relies on the data-centric techniques known as “ machine learning , ” algorithms that process data to “ learn ” how to make decisions , to accomplish even more accurate affect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do new things by building on what has been done before .
Emotion recognition is enticing because , somehow , we as humans can accomplish this relatively well from even an early age , and yet capably replicating that human skill using computer vision is still challenging .
While it ’ s possible to do some pretty remarkable things with images , such as stylize a photo to make it look as if it were drawn by a famous artist and even create photo-realistic faces – not to mention create so-called deepfakes – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human emotions from a real image has always been of interest for researchers .
Emotions are difficult because they tend to depend on context .
For instance , when someone is concentrating on something it might appear that they ’ re simply thinking .
Facial recognition has come a long way using machine learning , but identifying a person ’ s emotional state based purely on looking at a person ’ s face is missing key information .
Emotions are expressed not only through a person ’ s expression but also where they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These contextual cues are difficult to feed into even modern machine learning algorithms .
To address this , there are active efforts to augment artificial intelligence techniques to consider context , not just for emotion recognition but all kinds of applications .
The report released by AI Now sheds light on some ways in which AI is being applied to the workforce in order to evaluate worker productivity and even as early as at the interview stage .
Analyzing footage from interviews , especially for remote job-seekers , is already underway .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their subordinates ’ emotions from interview to evaluation , decision-making regarding other employment matters such as raises , promotions or assignments might end up being influenced by that information .
But there are many other ways that this technology could be used .
These types of systems almost always have fairness , accountability , transparency and ethical ( “ FATE ” ) flaws baked into their pattern-matching .
For example , one study found that facial recognition algorithms rated faces of black people as angrier than white faces , even when they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this problem but it seems clear at this point that the problem can ’ t be solved exclusively at the technological level .
Issues regarding FATE in AI will require a continued and concerted effort on the part of those using the technology to be aware of these issues and to address them .
As the AI Now report highlights : “ Despite the increase in AI ethics content … ethical principles and statements rarely focus on how AI ethics can be implemented and whether they ’ re effective.
” It notes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how , where , and who will put such guidelines into operation .
In reality , it ’ s likely that everyone must be aware of the types of biases and weaknesses these systems present , similar to how we must be aware of our own biases and those of others .
Greater accuracy and ease in persistent monitoring bring along other concerns beyond ethics .
There are also a host of general technology-related privacy concerns , spanning from the proliferation of cameras that serve as police feeds to potentially making sensitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privacy concerns , a natural reaction might be to call for a ban on these techniques .
Certainly , applying AI to job interview results or criminal sentencing procedures seems dangerous if the systems are learning biases or are otherwise unreliable .
There are useful applications however , for instance in helping spot warning signs to prevent youth suicide and detecting drunk drivers .
That ’ s one reason why even concerned researchers , regulators and citizens have generally stopped short of calling for blanket bans on AI-related technologies .
Ultimately , technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look carefully at how information from AI systems is injected into decision-making processes .
These systems can give incorrect results just like any other form of intelligence .
They are also notoriously bad at rating their own confidence , not unlike humans , even in simpler tasks like the ability to recognize objects .
There also remain significant technical challenges in reading emotions , notably considering context to infer emotions .
If people rely on a system that isn ’ t accurate in making decisions , the users of that system are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-known that humans tend to trust these systems more than other authority figures .
In light of this , we as a society need to carefully consider these systems ’ fairness , accountability , transparency and ethics both during design and application , always keeping a human as the final decision-maker .
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Christoffer Heckman receives funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Science Foundation .


freedomdaily--2020-01-08--I’m an OB/GYN who attended thousands of deliveries before wondering why Americans give birth in bed

A few years ago I visited Dar a Luz , the only free-standing birth center in New Mexico .
It looks nothing like the towering urban hospitals I have spent my career working in .
Nestled into a valley at the outskirts of Albuquerque , Dar a Luz is more like an earthy homestead .
At the perimeter , a wood fence surrounds a sun-drenched courtyard with a rock garden and a footpath that expecting mothers pace while in labor .
Inside the birthing rooms are bathed in the same natural light , with open spaces designed to encourage continuous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the rooms rather than the central feature .
Abigail Lanin Eaves , the executive director of the birth center and a certified nurse midwife , explained that , at Dar a Luz , her patients arrive in labor walking – and usually stay that way until after the baby is born .
The beds are for resting afterwards , rarely for labor or the birth itself .
Each year approximately 20,000 Americans choose to give birth out of bed , which usually requires giving birth out of hospitals .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have become 83 % more popular over the last decade .
Yet millions of Americans still choose to give birth bed-bound , on their backs , with their knees up , legs spread , feet in the air .
I attended the deliveries of thousands of babies before I ever wondered why .
As an obstetrician/gynecologist , this position is familiar to me .
It maximizes exposure to the pelvis during office examinations and gynecological procedures .
By extension , it seems to make sense for childbirth as well , particularly from my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being on call on the labor floor can be grueling , a constant race from one bed to the next .
Having the people I care for remain in bed allows me to sit down , optimize my lighting , and limit the strain on my back and my eyes .
But while convenient for me , few unmedicated people would choose to labor this way .
In the absence of anesthesia , it would be too uncomfortable .
Movement is an instinctive way of coping with the discomfort of labor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress and , aided by gravity , descent of the baby in the birth canal .
By contrast , MRI studies suggest that on-the-back positioning may significantly narrow the baby ’ s pathway through the pelvis .
However , in the presence of anesthesia , standing and walking throughout labor is challenging if not impossible .
Turning off the body ’ s pain receptors requires disconnecting our nerve endings from our perceptions , a process that can remove our ability to move , to remember what happened or both .
Anesthesia works by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dilemma places our desire for comfort at odds with our desire for control .
During the mid-19th century , childbirth was not an event many women were eager to actively experience .
Under desperate circumstances , physicians were often called upon to surgically rescue deliveries using brute force – to place metal forceps on the baby ’ s head while still in the birth canal , and to strenuously pull .
Even for the steeliest mothers , holding still would have been impossible .
By contrast , inhaling chloroform , an early anesthetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ dreamlike ” state , limp and silent , awakening hours later , peacefully and with little memory of what had happened .
Chloroform was widely welcomed , even garnering an endorsement from Queen Victoria herself , who called it “ blessed.
” But the crude method of administering it – inhaling vapors from a rag – led to dangerously uneven dosing .
If too little was given , the woman would remain awake and in pain .
Yet if too much was given , they could permanently stop breathing .
As anesthesia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A solution to this problem arrived in the early 20th century .
The same effects of inhaled anesthesia could be achieved with a combination of morphine and scopolamine , intravenous medications that could be carefully measured in a syringe .
This new form of injectable anesthesia was alluringly marketed to pregnant women as “ twilight sleep.
” And by the 1930s it became the default approach to childbirth in the United States .
Then , in 1958 the Ladies Home Journal published a disturbing expose called “ Cruelty in Maternity Wards.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurses provided direct accounts of laboring women being left alone for hours , strapped down to beds , crying “ violently ” and involuntarily writhing against the restraints .
At that time , fathers and other family members were not allowed in the birthing rooms to bear witness .
Under heavy sedation , the memories of the mothers themselves were fuzzy .
The American public was horrified by these descriptions .
Pregnant women wanted their voices back .
They wanted the capacity to consent .
They wanted more control .
By the 1960s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – offered an appealing alternative .
Administered at the level of the spine , epidurals effectively bypass the brain , allowing mothers to stay awake and alert during labor , to relay their symptoms and participate in care decisions .
But they also require a different trade-off .
The medicine spreads out to block all nerves that relay and receive signals to and from the pelvis and thighs .
These nerves mediate sensation but also control all of the key muscles in that region , from the bladder to the quadriceps .
Women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own .
A catheter must be placed to help them .
Otherwise , their bladder will simply distend like a balloon .
They are also unable to effectively move their legs and must remain in bed , usually for many hours .
Epidurals require more intensive monitoring , a multitude of wires that act as tethers .
And by removing pain as a barrier , they bring the potential for more interventions – the same epidurals used for spontaneous vaginal deliveries can be sufficiently dosed for a broad range of procedures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and comfort ) on their own terms Currently , over 70 % of birthing women in the U.S. receive epidurals , favoring some measure of comfort over physical control .
However , the popularity of Dar a Luz and other birthing centers suggests that growing numbers appear to be choosing the opposite trade-off : participation and movement over medical pain relief .
Perhaps , however , the challenge is not born of anesthesia itself but rather a false choice embedded in the way it gets presented , an all-or-nothing dichotomy between “ natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centers , epidurals are not available , and as a result , labor looks remarkably different from the hospital equivalent .
While the mother may not necessarily look comfortable , her movements and her mindset more closely resemble an athlete accomplishing a feat than a patient undergoing an ordeal .
Throughout , midwives are in attendance to provide support , careful monitoring and coaching .
Occasionally , complications develop during labor that make it necessary for these mothers to be transferred to the hospital .
This requires acquiescing to changing circumstances and transferring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the expectation of these mothers is not absolute control any more than it is absolute comfort .
Most recognize that labor is neither completely controllable nor completely comfortable .
They , perhaps like all people giving birth , simply seek to understand these trade-offs and have the opportunity to cede control – or comfort – on their own terms .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-09--CBP Officers Seize More Than $3 Million in Narcotics at Progreso International Bridge

– U.S. Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) officers at the Progreso International Bridge intercepted a load of heroin and methamphetamine .
CBP officers discovered the narcotics , with a combined value of approximately $ 3,040,647 , hidden within a 1997 Ford F-150 pick-up .
“ Our officers did a fantastic job in intercepting these dangerous narcotics , ” said Port Director Walter Weaver , Progreso Port of Entry .
“ I am proud of our officers and their dedication to the CBP mission of keeping our borders secure .
Thanks to them , these drugs are off our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the narcotics from the seizure is approximately $ 411,000 in heroin and $ 2,629,647 in methamphetamine.The seizure took place on Monday , Jan. 6 , at Progreso International Bridge when a 25-year-old male United States citizen applied for entry into the United States driving a 1997 Ford F-150 pick-up .
The vehicle was referred to CBP secondary for further examination after a primary inspection .
With the aid of a non-intrusive imaging system and canine unit , CBP officers discovered multiple packages hidden within the vehicle .
CBP officers removed the packages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of alleged heroin in 7 packages and 131.48 pounds of alleged methamphetamine in 110 packages .
CBP officers seized the narcotics along with the vehicle , arrested the driver and turned him over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations ( HSI ) special agents for further investigation .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-08--‘Fast And Furious’ Gunmen Who Killed US Border Patrol Agent Is Sentenced To Life In Prison

One of the Mexican gunmen who killed a U.S. Border Patrol agent , consequently sparking the Obama administration ’ s “ Fast and Furious ” scandal , was sentenced to life in prison .
U.S. District Judge David C. Bury on Wednesday sentenced Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes to life in federal prison for first-degree murder .
The sentencing follows Osorio-Arellanes ’ involvement in a 2010 border shootout between Mexican gunmen and U.S. officials , resulting in the death of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry .
“ Today brings us one step closer to justice for Agent Brian Terry ’ s murder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was joined by roughly 20 other agents at the hearing , said in a statement .
“ The sentencing brings a painful time closer to an end and serves as a reminder of the grave dangers our agents face in their selfless commitment to the safety of their communities and country.
” Terry ’ s two sisters issued their own emotional statements on Wednesday , describing their immense pain after losing him .
He “ was a man filled with so much dedication to keeping our country safe , ” said sister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lit up any room he walked into with his smile .
“ You would think the time lessens the heartache , but it doesn ’ t. ” Terry — a Marine before joining Customs and Border Protection — was a member of an elite , four-man Border Patrol unit that was patrolling the Arizona desert in December 2010 .
Osorio-Arellanes was part of an armed gang that was looking to rob drug smugglers passing through the U.S-Mexico border .
Terry ’ s unit enoucntered the gang in area north of Nogales .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they fired bean bags .
Osorio-Arellanes and his men , in response , fired AK047-type assault rifles .
Terry , 40 years old at the time , was struck in the back and ultimately succumbed to his injuries .
Osorio-Arellanes fled the scene and evaded justice for many years .
However , he was eventually arrested in 2017 by Mexican authorities in Chihuahua .
He was extradited to the U.S. in 2018 and then convicted in February 2019 .
The Mexican national is the sixth of seven defendants to be convicted for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadly shootout sparked a massive scandal involving the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives ’ ( ATF ) “ Fast and Furious ” operation , which involved the federal government allowing criminals to purchase firearms in Arizona in a bid to track the guns to criminal organizations in Mexico .
It was discovered that the U.S. government lost track of most of the guns that were sold .
Two of the guns from the “ Fast and Furious ” operation were located at the scene of Terry ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onto the Obama administration .
Then-Attorney General Eric Holder was found in contempt by Congress for his refusal to turn over documents about the botched sting operation .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-09--After GOP Congresswoman Posts A Filtered Photo Of Nancy Pelosi, WaPo Accuses Her Of ‘Altering’ It

The national media ’ s obsession with the spread of doctored photos of Democratic politicians reached a fever pitch on Thursday , when The Washington Post published a story accusing GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik of posting an “ altered ” image of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Twitter .
The photo in question was indeed altered , but not in a way that made Pelosi look particularly bad .
Instead , Stefanik — or one of her assistants — posted a filtered photo of Pelosi along with a petition to “ pressure ” her to send articles of impeachment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photos is common in the graphics design business .
Pelosi ’ s own political team has used the technique in social media posts about President Donald Trump .
Media outlets have breathlessly covered the increased use of altered and photoshopped photos and images in the political realm .
In May 2019 , news outlets , including The Post , vigorously covered a viral video of Pelosi that was slowed down to make the Democrat appear drunk .
The Post story compared Stefanik ’ s post to a photoshopped image that Arizona Rep. Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani .
The original image was of Obama shaking hands with India ’ s president , Narendra Modi .
The Post ’ s description of Stefanik ’ s image shows it was far different than what Gosar posted .
“ The tweet shows a close-up , red-tinted photo of Pelosi , with the lines in the House speaker ’ s face exaggerated due to the image ’ s unnaturally high contrast , ” wrote Post reporter Felicia Sonmez .
Pelosi ’ s own social media team has used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posts about President Trump .
Stefanik responded by thanking the Post for “ promoting & advertising ” her campaign donation page .
Stefanik has become a major target of Democrats ever since she squared off against Rep. Adam Schiff during hearings for the Trump impeachment inquiry last year .
Stefanik announced a massive campaign fundraising haul on Wednesday .
She said her campaign raised $ 3.2 million in the final quarter of 2019 , which is more than she raised in all of 2017 and 2018 .
The Post story was widely ridiculed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to a request for comment .


freedomdaily--2020-01-09--Ruh-Roh: Dark Money Bolstered Bernie’s Campaign From Beginning; Maybe Illegally

An outside dark money group has boosted presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders since announcing his campaign in February .
Since Sanders founded Our Revolution , a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) nonprofit group that can accept unlimited contributions without disclosing the identities of its donors , one campaign finance expert believes the group ’ s work to help him achieve his presidential aspirations could be violating the law .
“ Any entity established by a federal officeholder can only raise and spend money under federal contribution limits for any activities in connection with a federal election , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert with the watchdog group Common Cause , told the Associated Press .
“ Our Revolution was undoubtedly established by Sen. Sanders , is subject to these laws — and is seemingly in violation of them.
” Campaign finance laws state that groups “ directly or indirectly established ” by federal officeholders such as Sanders can ’ t “ solicit , receive , direct , transfer , or spend funds ” for federal electoral activity that exceeds the limitations of the law , which in Our Revolution ’ s case would be $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , has sent dozens of emails in recent weeks to its supporters touting the work it ’ s doing to get Sanders elected .
The group ’ s chairman , Larry Cohen , detailed in an email Monday how he had spent a week in Iowa mobilizing 5,000 volunteers to caucus for Sanders .
“ Donate now to help us organize Obama/Trump voters and ensure that we nominate Bernie Sanders instead of a corporate Democrat who could easily lose to Trump in 2020 !
” Cohen wrote .
Our Revolution national political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November : “ [ I ] f we do our job , we will have the opportunity to vote for Bernie Sanders to become the next President of the United States … help Our Revolution elect Bernie Sanders and fight big money in politics up and down the ballot !
” Our Revolution ’ s efforts to support Sanders ’ s candidacy began long before he officially launched his presidential campaign in February .
The dark money group characterized itself last January as a “ grassroots army to help Bernie win the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an email to supporters amid its push to get Sanders to enter the race , according to Vermont news outlet Seven Days .
In February , after Sanders announced his candidacy , Our Revolution solicited contributions from its supporters to help it assist Sanders ’ s campaign by “ deploying training materials to volunteers across the country.
” Our Revolution spokeswoman Diane May said the group would do “ the organizing work that it takes to elect Bernie president ” as the campaign began staffing up , according to Seven Days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders shares with the group , starting with its founding following his failed 2016 Democratic primary campaign .
“ After the 2016 election , Senator Bernie Sanders founded Our Revolution to build a powerful grassroots movement to challenge corporate control of our government , ” Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese wrote in a fundraising message to supporters in December seeking donations to “ continue to do the deep organizing necessary to elect President Bernie Sanders.
” Sanders ’ s wife , Jane Sanders , is also linked to Our Revolution .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group when it was initially founded in July 2016 , according to incorporation records obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Jane Sanders stepped down from her role as Our Revolution ’ s chairwoman in August that year amid internal turmoil over the group ’ s structure as a dark money entity , ABC News reported .
In 2018 , Our Revolution sublet some of its Washington , D.C. , office space to Sanders ’ s 2018 Senate campaign , according to financial statements obtained by the DCNF .
Our Revolution did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information on the sublease agreement it had with Sanders ’ s Senate campaign in 2018 .
Sanders has directly interacted with Our Revolution during his 2020 campaign .
He joined a conference call in September hosted by the dark money group to celebrate its third anniversary and thanked the group for “ doing some of the most important work that can be done in our country , ” the AP reported .
Sanders also lists on his campaign website endorsements he has received from three board members of Our Revolution — Justin Bamberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but doesn ’ t disclose their affiliation with the dark money group .
The Sanders campaign did not immediately return a request for comment asking why it did not disclose Bamberg , Zogby and Cohen ’ s affiliation with Our Revolution on its endorsement page .
Our Revolution received $ 9.5 million in contributions since its founding in 2016 through 2018 , but unlike Super PACs , which Sanders often decries , the group is not required to disclose the identity of its donors .
Our Revolution reported in its 2018 tax filing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and $ 195,000 , but didn ’ t list the name of the individual or group behind those donations .
Our Revolution does disclose on its website the names of donors who have given $ 250 or more in a single year , but it doesn ’ t disclose the exact amount each individual has given .
Both Sanders and Our Revolution issued statements to the AP denying any wrongdoing .
“ Sen .
Bernie Sanders and his presidential campaign , in accordance with Senate ethics rules , does not direct or coordinate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman Mike Casca said .
Our Revolution spokesman Paco Fabian differentiated his group ’ s activities from that of Super PACs , which often dump significant sums of money into television ads .
“ We invest our money … in things like organizing and phone banks and canvassing voters on issues that matter , ” Fabian told the AP .
“ We aren ’ t running ads or doing glossy mailers .
”


freedomdaily--2020-01-09--Breaking: Pentagon Officials Believe Ukrainian Airliner Shot Down by Iran

Iran may have accidentally shot down Ukraine flight PS762 , according to reports from Fox News and CBS News that source Pentagon officials .
U.S. intelligence picked up signals of a radar being turned on , sources told CBS News .
U.S. satellites also detected two surface-to-air missile launches , which happened shortly before the plane exploded , CBS News was told .
A source who was in the briefing said it appears missile components were found near the crash site .
The stories use anonymous sourcing but align with comments President Trump made during a press conference on environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspicions , ” Trump said when asked about the crash .
“ Somebody could have made a mistake on the other side.
” Iran originally claimed that the plane experienced a mechanical malfunction , specifically a fire in one of the engines – something the 737 is equipped to handle and that pilots are trained to deal with .
The terrorist nation then retracted their allegation , is refusing to turn over the black boxes , asserts the memory on the boxes is now damaged and is saying little else on the tragedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oleksiy Danilov told Ukrainian reporters , A strike by a missile , possibly a Tor missile system , is among the main [ theories ] .
” This is a developing story and will be updated .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-09--Maryland Legislator Wants to Steer Low-Income Housing to Affluent Suburban Neighborhoods

A Maryland legislator wants to identify affluent suburban neighborhoods and target them for low-income , high-density housing .
House Del .
Vaughn Stewart , a Democrat , wrote Jan. 3 that he will introduce “ Homes for All ” legislation that would “ legalize the construction of modest homes in neighborhoods close to affluent schools , reliable transit , and good jobs.
” “ For too long , local governments have weaponized zoning codes to block people of color and the working class from high-opportunity neighborhoods , pushing them to the crumbling margins of cities and towns .
We must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclusionary policies , ” he wrote .
The bill follows other efforts throughout the country to bring high-density housing to quiet neighborhoods of single-family homes , with advocates describing suburban neighborhoods with low crime rates and top-ranked schools as racially segregated .
The text of the legislation is not yet available and Stewart did not respond to a request for comment , but CityLab said the bill would bring more people into neighborhoods identified by a private tool called the “ Opportunity Atlas , ” which says it identifies neighborhoods where kids who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adults .
The assumption appears to be that the neighborhood made the people wealthy , though in a previous article on the tool , CityLab staff writer Tanvi Misra said it could actually be factors specific to the people who happen to live there , such as “ that the kids who grow up there are very likely to have a father figure.
” Misra was writing about Springwells Village , a predominantly Spanish-speaking neighborhood in Detroit .
CityLab said Stewart ’ s Modest Home Choices Act would legalize duplexes , triplexes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are currently single-family zoned .
Opportunity Atlas said it determines “ which neighborhoods in America offer children the best chance to rise out of poverty ” by “ using anonymous data following 20 million Americans from childhood to their mid-30s.
” That would mean the beneficial effects ascribed to the neighborhood actually refer to the neighborhood as it stood years ago .
Richard Vedder , an economist with the Independent Institute , said the logic was “ bizarre ” and ignorant of “ human nature.
” “ The ‘ redlining ’ argument had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no validity today , ” he said , adding that the move could exacerbate inequality by steering more people to areas that were already doing well , while leading to disinvestment in other areas .
Changing the character of “ opportunity zones ” could also lead to the residents who raise high-earning children leaving , he said .
The social engineering proposal is similar to efforts to bring back 1970s-era busing to schools based on the assumption that if kids in a particular school score highly on tests , then if low-performing students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect will be contagious .
Data in Maryland and Virginia do not support that theory , and a report commissioned by the public school system in Montgomery County , which Stewart represents , found that “ African American and Hispanic [ free or reduced-price meals ] students who live in poverty but attend more affluent schools do not perform significantly better than their peers in schools with higher concentrations of poverty.
” In Maryland , an alliance of social justice activists and the real estate development industry back the school and “ upzoning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can make deals where they collect money from the lower income classes , ” Vedder said .
“ It ’ s the rich and poor versus the middle class.
” Del .
Ibraheem Samirah pushed the idea in Virginia this month that suburbs are racially segregated and should become more like cities .
The Democratic Virginia lawmaker introduced a bill to allow duplexes in every single-family neighborhood and said suburbs are “ mostly white and wealthy ” and needed to “ share the burden .
”


freedomdaily--2020-01-09--Pentagon: Defensive Measures Prevented Casualties in Iranian Attack

Although Iranian missiles damaged equipment and infrastructure at U.S. and ally-occupied military installations in Iraq yesterday , training and defensive readiness paid off in no lives being lost , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said .
“ There ’ s sirens that go off on these bases .
… There ’ s bunkers and jersey barriers , and there ’ s places to go hide and all that , ” said Army Gen. Mark A. Milley told reporters at the Pentagon today .
Milley and Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper briefed reporters after spending most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers .
“ We have various levels of protective gear , and we have various scatter plans that do certain things , ” the chairman said .
“ They are all tactics , techniques and procedures — normal defensive procedures that any military unit would do that would come under rocket attack , indirect fire , mortars , large-scale missiles , etc .
So in this particular case , Al Asad is a big base — they put 11 large rockets [ with ] 1,000- , 2,000-pound warheads in them — but we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no casualties to U.S. personnel , coalition personnel , contractors or Iraqis.
” Esper said good discussions took place on Capitol Hill .
“ We covered a number of issues in both the House and Senate , everything ranging from authorities and imminence , all the way though force posture , next steps , etc.
, ” he said .
“ So a very good discussion , a very robust discussion , and you know I thought it was a good chance for all of us to kind of share our views and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary said Iran launched 16 ballistic missiles into Iraq .
He said he believes the missiles were short-range ballistic missiles and that the missiles landed in at least two spots .
Both landing spots were Iraqi military bases that played host to American and coalition forces , including service members from the United Kingdom , Denmark and Canada .
At least 11 of the 16 missiles struck at Al Asad Air Base , about 175 miles from Iraq ’ s border with Iran , and about 115 miles from Baghdad .
At least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ installation near Irbil , Iraq , some 200 miles north of Baghdad and about 60 miles from the border with Iran .
The secretary said the current battle damage assessment includes loss of such things as tents , taxiways , parking lots and damage to a helicopter , but “ nothing I would describe as major , at least as I know it at this point in time.
” While no lives were lost , Milley said , he believes the Iranians intended to cause deaths .
“ The points of impact were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I believe , based on what I saw and what I know , is that they were intended to cause structural damage , destroy vehicles and equipment and aircraft , and to kill personnel , ” Milley said .
“ That ’ s my own personal assessment.
” Esper and Milley both said professional intelligence analysts are working on a final assessment .
The secretary said he remains cautious about drawing any conclusion that if the Iranians intended to kill Americans and did not accomplish that during the attack , they may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
“ I think we have just got to assess the situation .
Let ’ s see what they are saying publicly , see what they are saying privately , look at our intelligence , all those things , ” he said .
“ We are not going to do anything imprudent .
… These are serious times , and we take things one step at a time .
”


freedomdaily--2020-01-09--Alleged Anti-Semitic Arsonist Released With No Bail In New York

James Polite , who was charged with hate crimes and arson after he allegedly set fire to seven Jewish sites and vandalized a synagogue , was released from jail without bail Tuesday , according to court records .
Polite allegedly wrote “ Die Jew Rats ” and “ Hitler ” at the Union Temple of Brooklyn in November 2018 .
Security footage allegedly showed him setting setting fires at “ seven shuls and yeshivas in Williamsburg.
” The incidents led to the cancellation of a Democratic event at the synagogue , with a candidate saying it highlighted the need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a self-identified queer black man who was taken in by a Jewish couple after his mother left him in “ unsanitary ” conditions .
At a Barack Obama rally , he met then-New York city council speaker Christine Quinn , who hired him as an intern working on anti-hate crime issues and also called him the “ adopted child of the Quinn administration , ” according to a 2017 New York Times profile that said he “ could defy the statistics.
” Polite went on to immerse himself in African American studies at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared a paper hosted on Brandeis ’ website from the Journal of Black Studies about “ witchcraft , race and resistance in colonial New England , ” highlighting how “ Whites accused blacks of the crime of witchcraft in New England.
” After his arrest , the New York Times reported that “ mental illness and addiction ” contributed to the alleged crime spree , citing that he had “ struggled with marijuana use while at Brandeis.
” On Jan. 1 , New York instituted “ bail reform ” legislation requiring suspects in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause physical injury to be released without bail .
That has caused several hate crime suspects to be released amidst a rash of anti-Semitism in New York .
A day before the alleged hate crimes , Polite posted a picture of a burning American flag on Facebook .
The account was reviewed by the DCNF , which was the first to report on the suspect ’ s background .
On Facebook , he tagged the couple that took him in , Joshua Waletzky and Jenny Levison , writing “ She is competing with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she can hire , it ’ s starting to look like white people take home six figures for their lifetime of sacrifices to POC .
Yes , they know what you ’ re gon na say .
As soon as they find a bubble safe token they ’ ll be sure to objectify him and brandish like that overpriced culturally appropriated drink.
” “ The blood leaves it ’ s holder red handed as she clinches on to her paid subscription to I ’ ve done my part for these POC .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ macs which blood is dried by the heat of turbines cooling down minerals with blood .
That goes unnoticed in corner office at the Race Pimp industrial complex , ” he wrote .
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For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact [ email protected ]


freedomdaily--2020-01-09--Replay: OAN Three Part Investigative Report on Ukraine, Corruption and Biden Family

One America News Investigates – interviews several witnesses who destroy Adam Schiff ’ s baseless impeachment case against President Trump .
Rudy Giuliani featured in this report debunks the impeachment hoax and exposes Biden family corruption in Ukraine .
As of this post , the current status of the Trump impeachment is – stalled .
The US Congress ’ s most powerful Democrat is losing support among Senate allies as she holds up President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has delayed sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate in a tussle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feinstein called on Pelosi , her fellow California Democrat , and ex-neighbor , to “ send it over.
” The Senate ’ s Republican leader vowed there would be “ no haggling.
” Mitch McConnell said he can muster the majority of 51 votes needed among his fellow Republicans in the Senate to codify the proceedings without Democratic support .
Shortly the media focus will return to the Trump impeachment trial in the Senate .
It is important to replay the recent OAN investigative report to refresh people ’ s minds on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prior to presenting this report , here is some introductory audio commentary ( 2.75m ) on this report : Here we present the replay of the three-part EXCLUSIVE report by OAN .
This may take a little time to get through all the videos in one sitting .
So to be able to come back to this as you have time .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-09--Tweets about cannabis’ health benefits are full of mistruths

There has been a lot of talk in the U.S. about legalizing recreational cannabis , and about cannabis ’ potential to help with health issues .
Scientists working in medicine may have a lot to discover about cannabis ’ ability to improve health .
However , the medical community does know that short-term health consequences of cannabis use include impaired short-term memory , impaired attention , impaired coordination and sleep problems .
I study ways to inform public health and policy using data from social media .
As part of my research , I monitor Twitter conversation topics pertaining to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social bots – automated accounts that use AI to steer discussions and promote specific ideas or products on social media – post on the platform .
In our recent study , published in the American Journal of Public Health , my colleagues and I wanted to describe topics of conversations pertaining to cannabis use .
We also wanted to determine whether social bots were taking part in this conversation .
While proponents of legalizing cannabis say that the drug is safer than alcohol , repeated cannabis use is associated with the potential for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and increased risk of schizophrenia , among individuals with a specific genetic makeup .
Heavy cannabis use during adolescence may lead to lower cognitive functioning in adulthood .
Right now , cannabis is only approved for medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in a small number of instances .
These include easing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting , providing appetite stimulation in conditions like AIDS or HIV that cause weight loss , and managing two forms of pediatric epilepsy .
Where social media comes in In our study , my collaborators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week between May and December 2018 .
Then , we sorted tweets posted by social bots versus those from nonbot accounts using a research tool called Botometer .
Botometer analyzes tons of characteristics of a Twitter account and gives each account a score based on how likely it is to be a bot .
We coded the tweets into 12 categories , including mentions of first-time use , health and legalization .
Other categories included underage use , processed products such as edibles and using cannabis along with alcohol , painkillers and psychedelics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with posts from social bots , we found that some topics received more promotion from bots than others .
For example , posts indicating that cannabis could help with health concerns represented a larger proportion of posts by social bots compared with nonbots .
Posts from social bots suggested that cannabis could help with cancer , foot pain and Crohn ’ s disease , among other conditions .
These findings are cause for concern .
Health-related information – including information about the health benefits and risks of nicotine , cannabis , and electronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter .
The majority of U.S. adults look up , or discuss , a health-related concern over the internet .
Previous research has demonstrated that health-related information posted online , including posts to social media platforms , can influence attitudes and behaviors .
Our study is not the first to demonstrate that social bots post health-related tweets full of mistruths .
In 2018 , researchers reported that bots disseminated anti-vaccine messages on Twitter .
Before that , researchers found that bots touted the benefits of electronic cigarette use in smoking cessation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it is important for the public to understand the difference between a demonstrated , scientifically backed piece of health information and claims that are simply made up .
Our study only looked at Twitter , and results may not reflect what ’ s happening on Facebook or other social media platforms .
The posts in our study were collected from an eight-month period and may not extend to other periods .
Findings may not generalize to all Twitter users or to the U.S. population .
Nonetheless , findings like ours underscore the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correct misconceptions about the health benefits of cannabis use .
Policies may also need to be implemented to identify and tag false health claims on social media platforms .
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Jon-Patrick Allem receives funding from The Regents of the University of California , Research Grants Program Office , Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Program .


freedomdaily--2020-01-09--Monkeys smashing nuts with stones hint at how human tool use evolved

Human beings used to be defined as “ the tool-maker ” species .
But the uniqueness of this description was challenged in the 1960s when Dr. Jane Goodall discovered that chimpanzees will pick and modify grass stems to use to collect termites .
Her observations called into question homo sapiens ‘ very place in the world .
Since then scientists ’ knowledge of animal tool use has expanded exponentially .
We now know that monkeys , crows , parrots , pigs and many other animals can use tools , and research on animal tool use changed our understanding of how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tooling – defined as the process of using an object to achieve a mechanical outcome on a target – can also provide clues to the mysteries of human evolution .
Our human ancestors ’ shift to making and using tools is linked to evolutionary changes in hand anatomy , a transition to walking on two rather than four feet and increased brain size .
But using found stones as pounding tools doesn ’ t require any of these advanced evolutionary traits ; it likely came about before humans began to manufacture tools .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ monkeys , researchers like my colleagues and I can infer how early human ancestors practiced the same skills before modern hands , posture and brains evolved .
Understanding wild animals ’ memory , thinking and problem-solving abilities is no easy task .
In experimental research where animals are asked to perform a behavior or solve a problem , there should be no distractions – like a predator popping up .
But wild animals come and go as they please , over large spaces , and researchers can not control what is happening around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide a unique opportunity to test wild animals ’ cognition .
Fazenda Boa Vista in Piauí , Brazil is one of those sites .
Here , wild bearded capuchin monkeys ( Sapajus libidinosus ) naturally use stones and anvils to crack open nuts .
Along with fruit , insects , fungi , and tubers , the Fazenda Boa Vista capuchin monkeys opportunistically crack open nuts as an additional food source .
Although these monkeys only spend about 2 % of their time using tools to access foods , the nuts they eat are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available year-round .
The challenge is that these nuts have tough shells that can ’ t be cracked open without a tool .
This population of monkeys has figured out how to crack nuts by placing them on a wood or stone anvil and then smashing them with rocks that weigh around 25-50 % of their body weight .
These bearded capuchin monkeys were the first South American primates that scientists ever observed using tools – only spotted in 2003 .
Since this discovery , researchers have been studying the decision-making and strategies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because using stones to pound open food looks remarkably like what anthropologists imagine one of the earliest forms of human tool use looked like , researchers study these monkeys as a way to understand our own evolutionary past .
What happens with a new tool ?
My colleagues and I carried out an experimental field study that focused on understanding how these monkeys prepare to use their tools .
Just as a person might move her hands around a box to decide how best to lift it , monkeys at this site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First , we placed unfamiliar stones and palm nuts around naturally-occurring wood or stone anvils .
Since the monkeys frequently use stones to crack open these tough nuts on the anvils , it was only a matter of time before they tried out the experimental stones .
We filmed slow-motion videos of 12 monkeys cracking nuts to understand how monkeys adjust to using an unfamiliar tool .
The idea , stemming from perception-action theory , is that monkeys may obtain helpful information about the tool , like how heavy it is , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by manipulating it before they use it .
Like testing a hammer with a few light taps before you use it , this information may then help the monkeys to strike the nut forcefully and accurately .
Back in the U.S. , we spent months carefully watching the slow-motion videos and recording the monkeys ’ quick behaviors while using tools .
The videos showed that for nut-cracking , monkeys grasp the sides of a stone , lift it to shoulder height , quickly move its hands to the top of the stone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Given that the stones can weigh about half as much as an adult female monkey , this is an impressive feat .
But it ’ s not always done perfectly .
If the monkey ’ s grip isn ’ t right , she might lose control of the stone , and if the stone comes down at an angle the nut is likely to fly off the anvil .
When this happens , the monkeys lose precious time and energy trying to achieve their goal .
What we found , though , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imperfect outcomes by spinning , flipping and doing partial lifts with the stones to test different grips and find the one that ’ s most likely to be successful .
The preparatory lifts didn ’ t necessarily help the monkeys crack open more nuts , but they might be linked to “ tuning ” muscular coordination as the monkeys prepare themselves for a heavy lift .
Essentially , the preparatory lifts may help the monkeys get a sense of what they ’ ll need their muscles to do when it comes time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in earnest .
This same sort of haptic perception – the process of coming to understand an object by moving it around – plays a key role your own ability to use tools with dexterity .
In human beings ’ evolutionary past , increasingly refined haptic perception may have contributed to advancing tool use .
Studying how animals think about and use tool offers scientists like me an exciting glimpse into what human evolutionary history may have looked like , while also helping us to better understand animals in their own right .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
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Kristen S. Morrow does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-01-10--Buttigieg Suggests US Bears Some Blame For Iran Blowing Up Airplane

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg suggested on Thursday that the United States bears some of the blame for the Iranian military shooting down a commercial airliner while it was at the same time firing ballistic missiles at an Iraqi military base that houses American troops .
“ Innocent civilians are now dead because they were caught in the middle of an unnecessary and unwanted military tit for tat , ” Buttigieg tweeted .
“ My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of all 176 souls lost aboard this flight.
” U.S. officials reportedly believe that Iranian missiles downed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing all 176 passengers and crew on board .
Officials reportedly believe that Iran accidentally fired at the plane , a Boeing 737 .
The Iranian military fired more than a dozen missiles at an Iraqi base as retaliation for President Trump ordering an airstrike on Jan. 2 that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad .
Trump ’ s critics blamed him for escalating tensions with Iran , though the president said he ordered the strike because of Soleimani ’ s role in supporting an attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement on Friday that Soleimani was planning an “ imminent ” attack on U.S. interests in the Middle East .
The State Department has said that Soleimani and his Quds Force is responsible for the deaths of 603 American service members in Iraq since 2003 .
Despite Buttigieg ’ s claim of a “ military tit for tat , ” U.S. forces have not responded with force to the missile attack .
The Buttigieg campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-10--Climate Experts Suggest Trump Was Right When He Blamed California’s Wildfires On Land Management

Climate experts are apparently backing President Donald Trump ’ s repeated arguments that California ’ s wildfires were a result of poor land management rather than climate change-driven , E & E reported Thursday .
Roughly 75 % of damage stemming from California ’ s wildfires was a result of “ the way we manage lands and develop our landscape , ” Scott Stephens , a professor of fire science at the University of California , Berkeley , said Wednesday at a conference in Washington .
Wildfires used to burn through 4.5 million acres a year in the 18th century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s countryside , Stephens noted .
“ Fire was almost as important as rain to ecosystems , ” he added .
Stephens was not the only researcher at the National Council for Science and the Environment to made that point .
“ Wildfire is not really wildfire — it ’ s not pointy green trees , ” Jennifer Montgomery , director of the California Forest Management Task Force , added .
Montgomery continued : “ You get these so-called wildfires at intersection of development.
” “ There is no reason for these massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California except that forest management is so poor , ” the president tweeted in September 2018 when fires were scorching their way across the Golden State .
The cost associated with firefighting is increasing dramatically , hitting a record $ 1.1 billion in 2017 .
The president signed “ fire funding fix ” legislation in 2018 to give federal agencies $ 2.25 billion to fight fires starting in 2020 .
That amount would increase to nearly $ 3 billion by 2027 .
Montgomery and Stephens ’ comments also come in stark contrast to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power utility .
California ’ s “ prolonged , record drought ; unprecedented tree mortality ; heat waves ; ” and offshore “ Diablo ” winds created “ a significant and an unforeseen increase in wildfires , ” PG & E CEO Bill Johnson told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in December .
PG & E shut off electricity in November 2019 to nearly 1 million customers to prevent the spread of wildfires .
The blackouts were intended to forestall wildfires .
One of the utility ’ s snapped wires was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the Kincade Fire began .
California wildfires killed 103 people between 2017 and 2019 , and burned 4 million acres while causing millions of citizens to lose power as electric companies turned off electricity to prevent potential arching from sparking fires .
State officials frequently argued that California ’ s wildfires were the result of excessive carbon emissions inside Earth ’ s atmosphere .
Former Gov .
Jerry Brown , a Democrat , for instance , said in 2018 that “ those who deny ” global warming were “ definitely contributing ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say Trump and Brown are both wrong .
“ The recent fires are predominantly in grassland and chaparral , ” University of Washington climate scientist Cliff Mass told the Daily Caller News Foundation in 2018 .
And Brown is wrong because the prairie grass would have burned despite climate change , he added .


freedomdaily--2020-01-10--Freeloader: Ocasio-Cortez Refuses To Pay Party Dues, Angering Some Of Her Democratic Colleagues

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is one of the most prolific Democratic fundraisers in the House , but she ’ s refusing to pay any dues to the Democrats ’ House campaign organization .
Ocasio-Cortez has failed to pay a penny of the $ 250,000 she owes in “ dues ” to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ( DCCC ) , according to a Fox News report .
Instead , she ’ s leveraging her own fundraising prowess to bypass the Democratic party apparatus and directly support progressive candidates , some of whom are running against her colleagues in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her bills , ” an unnamed House Democratic aide told Fox News .
“ She ’ s always whining about people paying their fair share and here she is leaving her friends with the bill.
” New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks told the outlet : “ Sometimes the question comes : ‘ Do you want to be in a majority or do you want to be in the minority ?
’ ” “ DCCC dues are about supporting others because you want to be part of the team , ” Meeks said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the majority .
And the goal is , when you are on a team I would think , to respect individuals whose districts are different than yours.
” Meeks also criticized Ocasio-Cortez ’ s close relationship with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders , whose revolution , according to Meeks , “ is to not just to stop the Republicans , it ’ s to blow up the Democratic Party.
” Ocasio-Cortez is the third-most prolific fundraiser among incumbent House Democrats , according to Open Secrets .
She ’ s raised $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind only House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Rep. Adam Schiff , who raised $ 3,717,762 and $ 4,377,168 , respectively .
“ For me personally , I ’ m not paying D-trip dues , ” Ocasio-Cortez said , citing a “ myriad of reasons.
” “ One , I don ’ t agree with the policy around blacklisting groups that help progressive candidates , ” Ocasio-Cortez said in reference to a DCCC policy instituted in 2019 that blacklists third-party vendors that do business with primary challengers .
“ I want to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into their pocket , ” she said .
And Ocasio-Cortez has .
She ’ s raised more than $ 300,000 for progressive candidates in 2019 , some of which are challenging some of her House colleagues , according to Fox News .
For example , Ocasio-Cortez helped raise $ 35,000 for Jessica Cisneros , a progressive candidate vying to defeat Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas .
“ Certainly , these are new times , ” Cuellar told Fox News of Ocasio-Cortez ’ s efforts to put him out of a job , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t agree with.
” Former DCCC chairwoman Rep. Nita Lowey of New York said Ocasio-Cortez ’ s refusal to pay her dues could pose a threat to the party , as it may encourage other members to shun the party fundraising apparatus .
“ If you are a Democrat and you ’ re here , you should be part of the effort , ” Lowey told Fox News .
“ But [ Ocasio-Cortez ] may not feel that way .
Each to their own.
” But the current DCCC chairwoman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DCCC ’ s record off-year fundraising haul in 2019 while downplaying Ocasio-Cortez ’ s refusal to pay her dues .
“ That ’ s always up to individual members so I guess I don ’ t think about it one way or another , ” Bustos said of Ocasio-Cortez .
“ We ’ re raising record amounts of money from our members .
”


freedomdaily--2020-01-10--U.S. is on a ‘cyberwar footing’ as Iran ponders continued retaliation for the killing of a top gener

U.S. is on a ‘cyberwar footing’ as Iran ponders continued retaliation for the killing of a top general

WASHINGTON , DC , Jan 10 — Is war with Iran inevitable ?
“ Indeed , Iran has already initiated retaliation for the U.S. attack that killed Qasem Soleimani , commander of Iran ’ s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [ IRGC ] .
Is the tit-for-tat missile volley the regime fired at U.S. air bases in Iraq earlier this week the beginning or the end , ” says Dan Weber , president of the Association of Mature American Citizens [ AMAC ] .
“ It ’ s the big question that ’ s top of mind as we wait to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Soleimani powerful and popular .
However , the esteem he received came from Iranian insiders , “ die-hard Islamists , who admired his ability to promote and support terrorism throughout the middle east .
But loyal allies in a time of war are hard to muster for a rogue nation such as Iran , ” according to Weber .
As Jim Geraghty , senior political correspondent at the National Review , put it : “ Soleimani had enemies around the world , and his legacy is not merely the 608 American troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between 2003 and 2011 .
Soleimani financed , trained , armed , and commanded various militias and factions in Afghanistan , Pakistan , Lebanon , Syria , Iraq , and Yemen .
Every foe of those groups , as well as dissidents of the regime in Iran , all are rejoicing about his death , either publicly or secretly.
” Geraghty writes that with few , if any , allies and a weak economy Iran may have cause to fear an all-out shooting war with the U.S .
But that doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to seek revenge for Soleimani ’ s death , one way or another .
So , what are the possible alternatives to World War III ?
Some experts , inside and outside the U.S. government , believe that an escalation of the ongoing cyberwar between America and Iran is a likely option .
“ The United States and Iran are two of the most advanced , active , and capable hacking powers in the world at a time when governments regularly use hacking to accomplish important goals and shape geopolitics , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Technology Review .
Meanwhile , One senior cybersecurity official at the Department of Homeland Security , Christopher Krebs , has warned American companies and government agencies to “ pay close attention ” to critical systems that might be targeted by Iranian hackers .
Sergio Caltagirone , a former technical lead at the NSA who now works at the industrial cybersecurity firm Dragos , told the MIT Technology Review that “ when countries pull cyber triggers to conduct cyber effects , a lot of the times it ’ s against civilian targets rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like civilians and innocent people all around the world , including Iranians , Americans , and Saudis will bear the brunt of the impact of these attacks .
That ’ s the saddest part of all this : states are in conflict , but civilians feel the consequences.
” Meanwhile , British military intelligence expert , Philip Ingram , warns that Iran has “ a first-world cyberattack capability.
” In a recent Forbes report , he says that “ Iran has a very sophisticated broad spectrum of capabilities able to target critical national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , manufacturers and more.
” But Iran has a lot to fear from the U.S. in a cyberspace war , according to cybersecurity journalist Kate O ’ Flaherty who wrote the Forbes article .
She noted that last June “ the U.S. launched a successful cyberattack against Iranian air defense sites and command and control ” after the Iranians shot down an unmanned American spy plane over the Persian Gulf .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-10--WATCH: New Video Appears to Show Iranian Missile Hitting Ukraine Flight

A video has surfaced that allegedly shows the moment when an Iranian anti-air missile strikes Ukraine Flight PS762 near Tehran @ @ @ @ @ Daily News and some content syndicated through CDN is available for re-publication without charge under @ @ @ @ @ Visit our syndication page for details and requirements .
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freedomdaily--2020-01-10--3D printing of body parts is coming fast – but regulations are not ready

In the last few years , the use of 3D printing has exploded in medicine .
Engineers and medical professionals now routinely 3D print prosthetic hands and surgical tools .
But 3D printing has only just begun to transform the field .
Today , a quickly emerging set of technologies known as bioprinting is poised to push the boundaries further .
Bioprinting uses 3D printers and techniques to fabricate the three-dimensional structures of biological materials , from cells to biochemicals , through precise layer-by-layer positioning .
The ultimate goal is to replicate functioning tissue and material , such as organs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human beings .
We have been mapping the adoption of 3D printing technologies in the field of health care , and particularly bioprinting , in a collaboration between the law schools of Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom and Saint Louis University in the United States .
While the future looks promising from a technical and scientific perspective , it ’ s far from clear how bioprinting and its products will be regulated .
Such uncertainty can be problematic for manufacturers and patients alike , and could prevent bioprinting from living up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 3D printing .
Generally , 3D printing refers to all technologies that use a process of joining materials , usually layer upon layer , to make objects from data described in a digital 3D model .
Though the technology initially had limited applications , it is now a widely recognized manufacturing system that is used across a broad range of industrial sectors .
Companies are now 3D printing car parts , education tools like frog dissection kits and even 3D-printed houses .
Both the United States Air Force and British Airways are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In medicine , doctors and researchers use 3D printing for several purposes .
It can be used to generate accurate replicas of a patient ’ s body part .
In reconstructive and plastic surgeries , implants can be specifically customized for patients using “ biomodels ” made possible by special software tools .
Human heart valves , for instance , are now being 3D printed through several different processes although none have been transplanted into people yet .
And there have been significant advances in 3D print methods in areas like dentistry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s rapid emergence is built on recent advances in 3D printing techniques to engineer different types of products involving biological components , including human tissue and , more recently , vaccines .
While bioprinting is not entirely a new field because it is derived from general 3D printing principles , it is a novel concept for legal and regulatory purposes .
And that is where the field could get tripped up if regulators can not decide how to approach it .
State of the art in bioprinting Scientists are still far from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incredibly difficult to connect printed structures to the vascular systems that carry life-sustaining blood and lymph throughout our bodies .
But they have been successful in printing nonvascularized tissue like certain types of cartilage .
They have also been able to produce ceramic and metal scaffolds that support bone tissue by using different types of bioprintable materials , such as gels and certain nanomaterials .
A number of promising animal studies , some involving cardiac tissue , blood vessels and skin , suggest that the field is getting closer to its ultimate goal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advancements in bioprinting will increase at a steady pace , even with current technological limitations , potentially improving the lives of many patients .
In 2019 alone , several research teams reported a number of breakthroughs .
Bioengineers at Rice and Washington Universities , for example , used hydrogels to successfully print the first series of complex vascular networks .
Scientists at Tel Aviv University managed to produce the first 3D-printed heart .
It included “ cells , blood vessels , ventricles and chambers ” and used cells and biological materials from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a team from Swansea University developed a bioprinting process to create an artificial bone matrix , using durable , regenerative biomaterial .
Though the future looks promising from a technical and scientific perspective , current regulations around bioprinting pose some hurdles .
From a conceptual point of view , it is hard to determine what bioprinting effectively is .
Consider the case of a 3D-printed heart : Is it best described as an organ or a product ?
Or should regulators look at it more like a medical device ?
Regulators have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To begin with , they need to decide whether bioprinting should be regulated under new or existing frameworks , and if the latter , which ones .
For instance , should they apply regulations for biologics , a class of complex pharmaceuticals that includes treatments for cancer and rheumatoid arthritis , because biologic materials are involved , as is the case with 3D-printed vaccines ?
Or should there be a regulatory framework for medical devices better suited to the task of customizing 3D-printed products like splints for newborns suffering from life-threatening medical conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scholars and commentators have questioned whether bioprinted materials should enjoy patent protection because of the moral issues they raise .
An analogy can be drawn from the famed Dolly the sheep over 20 years ago .
In this case , it was held by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that cloned sheep can not be patented because they were identical copies of naturally occurring sheep .
This is a clear example of the parallels that exist between cloning and bioprinting .
Some people speculate in the future there will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the potential for reviving extinct species or solving the organ transplant shortage .
Dolly the sheep ’ s example illustrates the court ’ s reluctance to traverse this path .
Therefore , if , at some point in the future , bioprinters or indeed cloneprinters can be used to replicate not simply organs but also human beings using cloning technologies , a patent application of this nature could potentially fail , based on the current law .
A study funded by the European Commission , led by Bournemouth University and due for completion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance on the various intellectual property and regulatory issues surrounding such issues , among others .
On the other hand , if European regulators classify the product of bioprinting as a medical device , there will be at least some degree of legal clarity , as a regulatory regime for medical devices has long been in place .
In the United States , the FDA has issued guidance on 3D-printed medical devices , but not on the specifics of bioprinting .
More important , such guidance is not binding and only represents the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point in time .
Those are not the only uncertainties that are racking the field .
Consider the recent progress surrounding 3D-printed organs , particularly the example of a 3D-printed heart .
If a functioning 3D-printed heart becomes available , which body of law should apply beyond the realm of FDA regulations ?
In the United States , should the National Organ Transplant Act , which was written with human organs in mind , apply ?
Or do we need to amend the law , or even create a separate set of rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubt that 3D printing in general , and bioprinting specifically , will advance rapidly in the coming years .
Policymakers should be paying closer attention to the field to ensure that its progress does not outstrip their capacity to safely and effectively regulate it .
If they succeed , it could usher in a new era in medicine that could improve the lives of countless patients .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
You can get our highlights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received research funding from the UK Intellectual Property Office , the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council ( AHRC ) and the European Commission for exploring issues pertaining to the Intellectual Property implications of 3D printing and bioprinting .
Ana Santos Rutschman does not work for , consult , own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .


freedomdaily--2020-01-10--Why we are hard-wired to worry, and what we can do to calm down

A new year brings both hopes and anxieties .
We want things to be better for ourselves and the people we love , but worry that they won ’ t be , and imagine some of the things that might stand in the way .
More broadly , we might worry about who ’ s going to win the election , or even if our world will survive .
As it turns out , humans are wired to worry .
Our brains are continually imagining futures that will meet our needs and things that could stand in the way of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs may be in conflict with each other .
Worry is when that vital planning gets the better of us and occupies our attention to no good effect .
Tension , sleepless nights , preoccupation and distraction around those very people we care for , worry ’ s effects are endless .
There are ways to tame it , however .
As a professor of medicine and population and quantitative health sciences , I ’ ve researched and taught mind-body principles to both physicians and patients .
I ’ ve found that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that most of them draw on just a few straightforward principles .
Understanding those can help in creatively practicing the techniques in your everyday life .
We ’ ve all experienced moments of flow , times when our attention is just effortlessly absorbed in what we are doing .
And studies carried out in real time confirm an increase in happiness when people can focus attention on what they are doing , rather than when their minds are wandering .
It may seem odd then that we leave our minds to wander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite the happiness cost .
The reason can be found in the activity of linked brain regions , such as the default mode network , that become active when our attention is not occupied with a task .
These systems function in the background of consciousness , envisaging futures compatible with our needs and desires and planning how those might be brought about .
Human brains have evolved to do this automatically ; planning for scarcity and other threats is important to ensure survival .
But there ’ s a downside : anxiety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prefer electric shocks to being left alone with their thoughts .
Sound familiar ?
Our background thinking is essential to operating in the world .
It is sometimes the origin of our most creative images .
We suffer from its unease when , unnoticed , it takes over the mental store .
Mindfulness , the practice of observing our mind ’ s activity , affords both real-time insight into this default feature of the mental operating system and a capacity to self-regulate it .
That is confirmed by studies showing increased attention regulation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind wandering that develop after only a couple of weeks of mindfulness training .
Imaging studies , similarly , show that this kind of training reduces default mode activity and enriches neural connections that facilitate attentional and emotional self-regulation .
This default to planning is part of our evolutionary history .
Its value is evident in the effortless persistence and universality with which it occurs .
Mind-body programs like yoga and mindfulness are indicative of the yearning many people have to be in the happier present moment .
How we use our attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and many mind-body programs are based on training our minds to be more skillful in this way .
Mindfulness training , for example , asks students to direct their attention to the sensations of breathing .
And while that may seem easy , the mind resists , tenaciously .
So , despite repeated resolve , a person finds that , within seconds , attention has effortlessly defaulted to planning daydreams .
Just recognizing this feature is progress .
In those moments when you do manage to notice these thoughts with some detachment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becomes clear .
And planning ’ s semi-vigilant ( “ What could go wrong here ?
” ) orientation also becomes clear .
We begin to notice that this hoping , comparing and regretting is often concerned with family and friends , job and money – themes of relationship , status and power that are central to the survival of tribal primates .
All set against the background knowledge of our passing .
Traditional meditation teachings attribute our everyday unease to the bodily tightening that naturally accompanies the possibility of loss , failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s a tension that is often unnoticed in the midst of managing everyday demands , but its background discomfort sends us looking for relief in something more pleasant like a snack , a screen , a drink or a drug .
Mindfulness makes us more aware of these preoccupations and reorients attention to the senses .
These , by their nature , are oriented to the present – hence the almost clichéd “ being in the moment ” idiom .
So , when you notice yourself tense and preoccupied with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the sensations of your breathing , wherever you notice it in your body .
Bodily tension naturally dissipates with the shift in focus , and a feeling of greater calm follows .
Don ’ t expect attention to stay there ; it won ’ t .
Just notice that attention goes back to worries , and gently return it to breathing .
Try it for just a couple of minutes .
It would be nearly impossible to design studies comparing all the techniques that cultivate mindfulness .
But my more than four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and researcher of several popular mind-body programs suggests that most techniques use similar principles to recover the present moment .
Yoga and tai chi , for example , direct attention to the flow of sensations accompanying the sequence of movements .
In contrast , systems such as cognitive therapy , self-compassion , prayer and visualization counter the ambient narrative ’ s unsettling tone with more reassuring thoughts and images .
Just a little practice makes this universal mental tendency , and your ability to shift it , more apparent in the midst of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means that stress-related hormones dissipate , allowing feel-good ones like serotonin and dopamine to be restored in the brain as the happier here and now becomes woven into the fabric of everyday life .
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James Carmody receives funding from the National Institutes of Health


freedomdaily--2020-01-10--Your blood type may influence your vulnerability to norovirus, the winter vomiting virus

In the last few months , schools all over the country have closed because of outbreaks of norovirus .
Also known as stomach flu , norovirus infections cause watery diarrhea , low-grade fever and , most alarming of all , projectile vomiting , which is an extremely effective way of spreading the virus .
Norovirus is very infectious and spreads rapidly through a confined population , such as at a school or on a cruise ship .
Although most sufferers recover in 24 to 48 hours , norovirus is a leading cause of childhood illness and , in developing countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each year .
Interestingly , not everyone is equally vulnerable to the virus , and whether you get sick or not may depend on your blood type .
Norovirus is hard to get rid of I am a microbiologist , and I got interested in norovirus because , while norovirus symptoms are distressing under any circumstances , my encounter with the virus was particularly inconvenient .
During a seven-day rafting trip down the Grand Canyon , the illness passed through the rafters and crew , one by one .
Obviously , the wilderness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cope with this outbreak .
Luckily , everyone , including me , recovered quickly .
It turns out that norovirus outbreaks on Colorado River rafting trips are common .
As debilitating as the illness it causes can be , the norovirus particle is visually beautiful .
It is a type of virus known as “ non-enveloped ” or “ naked , ” which means that it never acquires the membrane coating typical of other viruses , such as the flu virus .
The norovirus surface is a protein coat , called the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ genetic material .
The naked capsid coat is one factor that makes norovirus so difficult to control .
Viruses with membrane coatings are susceptible to alcohol and detergents , but not so norovirus .
Norovirus can survive temperatures from freezing to 145 degrees Fahrenheit ( about the maximum water temperature in a home dishwasher ) , soap and mild solutions of bleach .
Norovirus can persist on human hands for hours and on solid surfaces and food for days and is also resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers .
To make things worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus – as few as 10 viral particles – is needed to cause disease .
Given that an infected person can excrete many billions of viral particles , it ’ s very difficult to prevent the virus from spreading .
When norovirus is ingested , it initially infects the cells that line the small intestine .
Researchers don ’ t know exactly how this infection then causes the symptoms of the disease .
But a fascinating aspect of norovirus is that , after exposure , blood type determines , in a large part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Your blood type – A , B , AB or O – is dictated by genes that determine which kinds of molecules , called oligosaccharides , are found on the surface of your red blood cells .
Oligosaccharides are made from different types of sugars linked together in complex ways .
The same oligosaccharides on red blood cells also appear on the surface of cells that line the small intestine .
Norovirus and a few other viruses use these oligosaccharides to grab onto and infect the intestinal cells .
It ’ s the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether a given strain of virus can attach and invade .
The presence of one oligosaccharide , called the H1-antigen , is required for attachment by many norovirus strains .
People who do not make H1-antigen in their intestinal cells make up 20 % of the European-derived population and are resistant to many strains of norovirus .
More sugars can be attached to the H1-antigen to give the A , B or AB blood types .
People who can ’ t make the A and B modifications have the O blood type .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Norovirus evolves rapidly .
There are 29 different strains currently known to infect humans , and each strain has different variants .
Each one has different abilities to bind to the variously shaped sugar molecules on the intestinal cell surface .
These sugars are determined by blood type .
If a group of people is exposed to a strain of norovirus , who gets sick will depend on each person ’ s blood type .
But , if the same group of people is exposed to a different strain of norovirus , different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In general , those who do not make the H1-antigen and people with B blood type will tend to be resistant , whereas people with A , AB , or O blood types will tend get sick , but the pattern will depend on the specific strain of norovirus .
This difference in susceptibility has an interesting consequence .
When an outbreak occurs , for example , on a cruise ship , roughly a third of the people may escape infection .
Because they do not know the underlying reason for their resistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magical thinking – for example , “ I didn ’ t get sick because I drank a lot of grape juice.
” Of course , these mythical evasive techniques will not work if the next outbreak is a strain to which the individual is susceptible .
A norovirus infection provokes a robust immune response that eliminates the virus in a few days .
However , the response appears to be short-lived .
Most studies have found that immunity guarding against reinfection with the same norovirus strain lasts less than six months .
Also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offers little protection against infection from another .
Thus , you can have repeated bouts with norovirus .
The diversity of norovirus strains and the impermanence of the immune response complicates development of an effective vaccine .
Currently , clinical trials are testing the effects of vaccines made from the capsid proteins of the two most prevalent norovirus strains .
In general , these experimental vaccines produce good immune responses ; the longevity of the immune response is now under study .
The next phase of clinical trials will test if the vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ norovirus infection .
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Patricia L. Foster receives funding from the US Army Research Office .
She is a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists and Concerned Scientists at Indiana University .


freedomdaily--2020-01-10--Rotting feral pig carcasses teach scientists what happens when tons of animals die all at once, as i

Rotting feral pig carcasses teach scientists what happens when tons of animals die all at once, as in Australia’s bushfires

The unprecedented wildfire raging across Australia is not only destroying human lives , but has killed hundreds of millions of animals – perhaps billions before it is all over .
Burning is not the only cause of death in this catastrophe .
Many animals have outrun the flames only to die in fences and roads by the thousands .
Others may live , for now , but , without their homes , food and water , are likely to succumb to the elements soon .
Unfortunately , animal die-offs of massive proportions are becoming more frequent .
Global change – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land use , fire regimes and other things – may largely be to blame for the increased frequency and intensity of mass mortality events across all kinds of animals .
This was the case in 2015 when unseasonably warm and humid weather allowed a normally benign bacteria to wipe out 200,000 saiga antelope in Kazakhstan in just a few weeks .
Similarly , a single lightning strike killed 323 reindeer in 2016 , and another 200 starved last year at once after unseasonable rain left an impenetrable layer of ice covering their food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a row , tens of thousands of starved sea birds have washed up in Alaska .
These are just a few recent examples .
So , what happens when everything dies all at once ?
Our research group studies the ecological consequences of mass mortality events – MMEs for short .
Studying MMEs is difficult because they are unpredictable and can occur anywhere around the world , making it logistically challenging to study the actual events .
Even if we could hop on a plane and travel to a distant mass mortality event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data on what the ecosystem was like before , so drawing conclusions would be nearly impossible .
To overcome this hurdle , we have worked with wildlife biologist Marcus Lashley and David Mason at the University of Florida to take on the dirty task of simulating mass mortality events in large experiments with thousands of pounds of carrion .
In spring 2019 we began our largest experiment to date , deploying nearly 15 tons of carcasses in Oklahoma .
Our first challenge was finding a large – and ethical – source of carcasses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were removing feral pigs , an invasive species that has potential to damage crops , spread disease and negatively affect wildlife .
These wild boar were trapped for conservation purposes .
Rather than having their carcasses go to waste , we were able to put them to good use .
We wanted to see how increasing amounts of carrion affect decomposition in ways that may alter ecosystems or promote the spread of pathogens .
Before the carcasses arrived , we identified plots and sampled the initial soil , microbes , plants , insects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information that wouldn ’ t be available during a real-world mass mortality event .
The real work began after the carcasses arrived .
Pigs have a stinky reputation for a reason , and feral swine – especially several tons of dead ones – are not a pleasant sight or smell .
We carefully placed each carcass , which averaged about 70 pounds , in the predetermined plots .
Some plots received a single pig to represent a “ normal ” death event ; others received 10 carcasses to represent an MME .
Quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and vultures circled above .
We monitored the decomposition during the first few days , which are by far the most gruesome .
Scavengers shredded some carcasses , dragging their remains deep into nearby forests .
Unscavenged carcasses bloated with gas before bursting open and revealing millions of writhing maggots inside .
During this time we documented decomposition rate , monitored insect and scavenger visitors , and collected microbial samples to detect disease-causing bacteria .
Over the next several weeks , the microbes , insects and scavengers did their job , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We will monitor this experiment for several years to identify the long-term ecosystem consequences of mass mortality .
What happens after many die at once Our group ’ s field , lab and theoretical investigations reveal that mass mortality events affect ecosystems in two general ways .
First , the sheer magnitude – hundreds or thousands – of individuals removed from the ecosystem means that their roles in the environment are lost too .
In Australia , as much as half of the koala population in some areas have been killed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and source of ecotourism , koalas are important to the ecosystem as one of the few animals that can consume and recycle nutrients from eucalyptus plants .
The widespread death of koalas means a significant break in the food chain – nothing is left to eat eucalyptus .
Similarly , the mass mortality of small mammals , rabbits and kangaroos means that few prey will remain for predators like dingos , who may struggle to avoid starvation in the now barren landscape .
Fires also kill less charismatic species such as insects and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for pollination , and their loss may represent a challenge for post-fire plant communities .
Without these and other animals present to perform their ecological jobs , Australia ’ s ecosystems will undoubtedly change .
Secondly , the large number of rotting carcasses caused by a mass mortality event will have their own environmental impacts .
While some of the animals in Australia will be consumed by fire and their bodies quickly transformed into ash , those that meet their fate outside of the flames will begin to decompose .
Under normal circumstances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the carcasses , consuming the flesh and recycling the nutrients into the ecosystem .
However , the ongoing mass mortality of kangaroo , koala and other large animals will produce more carcasses than scavengers – eagles , dingoes and a species of reptiles known as goannas – can keep up with .
Instead of disappearing quickly , carcasses will likely become breeding grounds for bacteria and insects .
This is worrisome , because many of these may be pathogens that affect people , wildlife and livestock , and the flies can transport pathogens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous experiments , our simulated MMEs produced enough flies to cover the ground in a river of maggots .
Our work has also revealed that mass mortality events can have long-lasting effects by poisoning soil and restructuring plant communities .
As carcasses decompose , they release gases and spill cocktails of liquefied remains , acidic body fluids and microbes that the soil absorbs .
When this happens en masse , the toxicity can kill plants , including trees .
Our unpublished data repeatedly show that MMEs alter the soil microbiome and soil nutrients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is unknown .
What can help get ecosystems back to normal The effects of MMEs on ecosystems are complex , but one thing has been consistent across our multiple studies : Healthy scavenger populations reduce the effects of mass mortality events .
Scavengers like vultures , coyotes and dingoes are among the most persecuted groups of animals worldwide , yet they provide critical ecosystem services .
When scavengers were present in our experiments , the carcasses were consumed or dragged away quickly , producing fewer maggots and flies , leaching fewer chemicals into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact on the plants and ecosystem .
While Earth ’ s ecosystems may not be able to avoid future mass mortality events , an obvious priority is to maintain the biodiversity we have – including the scavengers that clean up the mess .
In Australia , dingo , eagle , and goanna populations are likely to benefit from the ample carrion provided by these fires .
Unfortunately , inflated scavenger numbers may cause more problems .
When the carrion eventually disappears , these overabundant scavengers may be forced to seek food in populated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on people and domestic animals .
Such indirect consequences of these fires are difficult to anticipate .
What is certain , however , is that the ecosystem that emerges after the smoke clears will be dramatically different .
[ You ’ re smart and curious about the world .
So are The Conversation ’ s authors and editors .
You can get our highlights each weekend . ]
Brandon Barton received funding and assistance from Noble Research Institute to conduct this research .
Abby Jones does not work for , consult , own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company or organization that would benefit from this article , and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment .