Extra, Extra

Ah Ah Ah Ah Stayin’ Alive: Thanks in part of a post-pandemic bounce, U.S. life expectancy rose significantly last year. Fewer deaths via Covid are just one piece of what has been a series of positive life-expectancy related trends this year. And in many cases, researchers aren’t quite sure why things got better. Oh well, let’s just take the win. The Atlantic (Gift Article): A Mysterious Health Wave Is Breaking Out Across the U.S. (Maybe it’s being delivered by the drones?)

+ Crime Wave: “Gisèle Pelicot has paid tribute to sexual violence victims still fighting for recognition in society after her ex-husband and 50 other men were found guilty in the biggest rape trial in French history.”

+ But Her Emails: “Federal officials say they’re worried about sharing documents via email with Donald Trump’s transition team because the incoming officials are eschewing government devices, email addresses and cybersecurity support, raising fears that they could potentially expose sensitive government data.” Trump’s transition is happening over private emails.

+ Cardboard Jungle: Amazon is facing its biggest strike ever just before the holidays. (It’s still a relatively small percentage of the workforce.)

+ Bird Watching: “California officials have declared a state of emergency over the spread of bird flu, which is tearing through dairy cows in that state and causing sporadic illnesses in people in the U.S.” Also, two California house cats die from bird flu as three more appear to be infected. (Oh, so now you’re gonna worry about some random animal flu somehow becoming a human-to-human crisis? What’ll they think of next…)

+ Fani Pact: Fani Willis disqualified from Trump’s Georgia election interference case.

+ Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: “Researchers also found evidence that suggests the capacity of AIs to deceive their human creators increases as they become more powerful.” New Research Shows AI Strategically Lying. (I think this means we’ve achieved the singularity.) Meanwhile, AI learns to distinguish between aromas of US and Scottish whiskies.

+ Pollyanna Montana: “The Montana Supreme Court voted 6 to 1, affirming a lower court ruling that said the state’s fossil fuel friendly policies, along with a lack of action to address climate change, has violated the young people’s constitutional right to a clean environment. “The decision means that state agencies must now consider the greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts of any proposed development project.”

+ And There’s the Rub: “Starting in March, the city government will go through bags of rubbish that fall afoul of regulations – such as those which have not been sorted correctly, or which exceed size limits – and in some cases publicly identify their owners.” Japanese city to name and shame people who break rubbish rules.

Copied to Clipboard