For as long as I can remember, including childhood, I was captivated by the constellation "The Seven Sisters."

The Pleiades, (click here) also known as the Seven Sisters, is the nearest star cluster to Earth situated between 434 and 446 light years away. The cluster is the source of the names of each of the sisters in The Seven Sisters series.

The Pleiades is positioned near the shoulder of Taurus (The Bull), the larger constellation to the right of Orion’s Belt. Each of the stars is over 100 times brighter than our sun, and the human eye, from any country on the globe, can see at least six stars, with a seventh which varies in brightness and is not always visible – the reason for this fluctuation in brightness is still unknown. Some people with exceptional eyesight claim to be able to see up to 20 stars in the cluster without the aid of a telescope.

There are thought to be as many as 1000 stars in the cluster, the core of which spans 8 light years in diameter. The cluster is dominated by ‘hot blue stars’ which have formed within the past 100million years and astronomers believe that the cluster will survive for another 250million years.


The Seven Sisters is a B Type star cluster. It is helium based and blue. It has a short lifetime as suns go. 

Sol, our sun, is a Type G star.

...Compared (click here) to hotter and brighter OBAF type stars, G type stars radiate more light towards the infrared end of the spectrum. For G-type stars, the spectral lines are characterized by the presence of many neutral and ionized metallic lines (iron, calcium II, and sodium) and weak hydrogen lines. Main-sequence G stars have surface temperatures of 5,250 to 5,950 K and around 66 to 150 percent of Sol's luminosity. G-type dwarf stars appear to have between 0.85 to 1.1 Solar-masses, which indicates in theory that these stars may spend from 15 to as few as seven billion years in the main sequence fusing core hydrogen (more from CSIRO Australia)....

The real task of those seeking a new home planet is to find one with the characteristics of Earth. Then find a path to that planet that will not burn human beings to a crisp.

The idea human beings are becoming Martians serves what purpose? The expense in developing a life support system that will last on the Martian environment while attempting to pollute Mars with an Earth climate doesn't have an end game. There is no new permanent home for Earthlings.

Mars shares the same sun as Earth. When the light goes out on Earth, the same happens on Mars. All that adventure to Mars seems silly to me. There is no advancement of the species to survive and bring it's Noah's Arch. There needs to be a real purpose to achieving space travel and not simply 'we done it.'

I don't really pay close attention to the space missions. I think they are basically flawed.

The idea governments should be looking for another place for human beings to migrate is interesting, but, places like Mars is nonsense. By the time humans are able to migrate to deep space, the mission is obsolete. If humans migrate into deep space it should be to a younger galaxy where there is promise of a planet similar to Earth. Why is simply 'making it to Mars' such a great idea?

I was impressed by "SpaceX" and it's recycled space machines. Interesting. Nothing deteriorates in space. 

But, when I was looking through old files I ran across a supposed puzzle about the six-sided ocean found by Cassini.

September 15, 2017
By Brian Resnick

...The probe (click here) finally saw what was at the center of the hexagon: a hurricane very much similar to the Earth’s, but with an eye about 50 times wider than your average storm. It even found a second hurricane-like vortex swirling closer to the edge of the jet stream. Researchers later figured out that Saturn’s distance from the Sun and its atmospheric composition allow jet streams to form in geometric shapes, but the hexagon is still somewhat of a mystery: it’s unclear why the south pole doesn’t have a hexagon either, or what allows the jet stream to last so long....

To begin with there is an organic chemical structure on Earth called a benzene ring; C6H6. Why wouldn't a circulating mass of benzene look like it's innate shape? But, beyond that what NASA needs is a hydrologist specialized in river processes. Everyone knows that when a river of water hits the bank of a river, it turns.

The image to the right shows exactly what happens with water flowing in a river. The primary flow runs into a river bank and it is deflected.

In the case of the hexagon ocean seen by Cassini, the area is lighter in viscosity than the next area at lower latitudes. The flow of the hexagon is easily realized in the color enhanced picture.

The image below shows a gradually rounded edge to the hexagon. Those are inflexions from a denser molecular that surrounds the hexagon ocean. I am sure NASA already knows the chemical composition of the variety of latitudes of composition.






Just as a note to probabilities, C6H6 is a carbon-hydrogen structure. It fits with methane found within the flight of Cassini. The figure above shows a double bonded benzene ring with a resonating second bond. That resonating bond would provide enough molecular energy to translate into movement of a fluid in a void, especially if it was trapped by a more viscous layer of the celestial body.

There are only a limited number of naturally occurring elements in the Milky Way. That may be different with other galaxies, but, with suns similar to Sol, that is not likely. NASA is looking for suns similar to Sol, right? For human life to survive. I don't know if galaxies very different from Sol will provide a strategy for life.

The trite phrase "the 92 naturally-occurring chemical elements" is often seen, but is incorrect. (click here) There are only 88 naturally-occurring chemical elements. The elements 43, 61, 85 and 87 have no stable isotopes, and none of long half-life, so they are not naturally present. Small amounts are made in nuclear reactions induced by cosmic rays and nuclear tests, but these soon disappear. If you protest that these should be included, then so should Np and Pu, which are produced by the absorption of neutrons arising from spontaneous fission of uranium and thorium, and then there would be 94 naturally-occurring elements. If you wait long enough, there will only be 81 naturally-occurring elements, since everything beyond lead has only unstable isotopes, though some are of very long half-life, and have survived since the beginning, fathering their radioactive series. Any way you look at it, there are not just 92 naturally-occurring chemical elements.

Realizing there are a limited number of elements in nature, the idea there can be a large variety of sources of movement spawned by molecular spin is not realistic. As a matter of fact, finding a place for human life can be limited by those factors alone.

Earth is located at a distance from the center of it's universe. That is probably important for Sol's existence and it's habitable zone. Getting too close to the center of the universe will prove far too hostile to any possible habitable zone.

This was fun.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.

Looks like it was a major highway.

What is with the integrity of the bridge?

There is a huge gap in the bridge at the place where the rail car is dangling. 

My assessment:

The train could not take that corner at 81 mph. The fact both engines made it over the bridge intact tells me the engines were braking. The rest of the cars piled up on top of the two engines. This break in the concrete was either a factor in causing the derailment with some structural integrity gone from the rails or was caused from the pile up.

This is just an off the cuff assessment. I have no special information to tell me what might have caused this disaster with so many deaths.

My sincerest sympathies to the families and friends of the victims. If this was some kind of sabotage, it worked. Why would a mayor of a city say that?

Where is the NTSB?

...A local mayor, from Lakewood, appeared to have predicted a fatal accident two weeks ago.

At a meeting on December 5, Mayor Don Anderson said it was just a matter of time before the high speed trains killed someone.

He claimed that grade separations – such as the overpass involved in this crash - should be included in new route plans to keep trains away from roads.

Komo News reports he asked Deprtment of Transport officials to “do better”.

He added: “Come back when there is that accident, and try to justify not putting in those safety enhancements, or you can go back now and advocate for the money to do it, because this project was never needed and endangers our citizens.”

The NTSB needs to interview the mayor and find out what he suspected and why his concerns were not answered before this tragedy?

If any elected official at any level has concerns about any aspect of public travel they need to be heard. Those at the local level are closer to the people than others. They should never be overlooked as some of the most serious skeptics with the most insight to issues regarding safety. They are the representatives of the people and they are trusted.

There still needs to be a thorough investigation, but, from what I can see, I think it was the speed that is the issue of this derailment. No way to know for sure. I don't see where anything was on the tracks.

I find it curious the cars weren't breaking in unison with the two engines if that is what occurred. It appears they weren't breaking at all.

The train was sabotaged?

December 18, 2017

The line was carrying passengers for the first time today

At least 'six people' have been killed (click here) after a high-speed train derailed off a bridge and onto a packed highway in Washington.

Authorities confirmed there have been a 'number of fatalities' after the train crashed in Dupont as it travelled between Seattle and Portland in rush hour, at around 7.45am local time (3.45pm UK time).

US media reports suggest that the majority of travellers - more than 70 of 77 passengers and five crew on board - have been transferred to hospital with "major injuries".

Emergency services battled to rescue several trapped on carriages.

Dramatic pictures from the scene show part of the train hanging from a bridge onto Interstate 5 where it struck vehicles - but no motorists were killed in the crash, it's reported.

Train 501 which crashed is now known to have been travelling the route for the first time when it crashed about 40 miles south of Seattle.

It's since emerged there were warnings that there would a fatal accident involving high-speed trains by the local mayor just a fortnight ago.

It's still unclear what caused the derailment - but there is speculation that the train 'hit something at 81mph'.

For live updates see below:

   At least 70 people were sent to St Joseph Hospital, according to CHI Franciscan Health. 20 were sent to the Madigan Army Medical Center emergency center... [Real-time updates: 
http://kiro.tv/TrainDerailsI5  ]....out of 78 passengers and five crew who were on board the train when it derailed off a bridge....

...“The City of Seattle has offered our assistance and aid to Pierce and Thurston counties, and is ready to work with Amtrak, local, state, and federal officials as they manage the response and deal with the aftermath of this tragic incident.”...

Only in the game of "Monopoly."

Pardons.

Valuable in Washington, DC and Moscow.

Anyone who thought Trump was actually interested in democracy and justice drank the Cool-Aide, along with a few virgins.

What does a Russian Plutocrat look like?

We need a "Perp Walk" in Moscow.

Panama Papers (click here)

He is the Karl Rove and Steve Bannon of Russia. Or, did Rove and "W" do a Putin?

He looked at the path to peace Russia was on, but, he didn't have the clout to be elected President so he reached out to the discarded aspects of Russian society, the Communists, and became their man of the hour. Just that simple.

If the truth be known, Rove and "W"s inside track of harnessing the people with the most hatred is an old Putin strategy that has kept him in politics and President, but, caused the Russian people a great deal of hardship. He may not have "The Apprentice" as a booster rocket, but, corruption in Moscow is thick as pea soup and Putin sits at the top.

While on the subject of Putin, it really is a shame the politics in Russia is so nationalistic. Putin is in hero worship and when he dies he can lay in permanent biofreeze along side Lenin. But, as to the well being of Russia, Putin is failing immensely.

First he estranges The West, his best trading partner, by breaking every treaty under the sun and invading Ukraine. At the time Ukraine threw out Yanukovych, Russia was in a perfect position to engage the democracy the Ukraine people wanted and build a trade organization that would include the post Soviet states while allowing them to build trade relations with The West.

It would have worked. Putin would have been hailed a peacemaker beyond peacemaker and looking at a Nobel Prize. Not only that, but, it would have placed Russia in the position to be an ally with the post-Soviet states to stabilize the Asian continent in relation to the European continent. It is called "The Balance of Power."

It would end the tensions between the Post-Soviet states and Russia preventing outbreaks of violence such as occurred between Poland, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Putin chose islationism rather than alliance, alienating every Post - Soviet State and causing a border war with Ukraine. A BORDER WAR. Like, what? What leader would choose to have a border war with any other country? I guess only Vladimir Putin.

As a result of the broken treaties there are sanctions set up to encoursage Russia to rethink it's strategy. There is no future for Russia in the strategy of isolationism. NONE. A country can only sustain it's isolationism with a border war for so long.

The Russia people are in peril and I tell you what is brilliant, cutting off the internet into Russia. Also brilliant, nationism to bring about a false sense of well being. Russia currently sits in STATIC EQUALIBRIUM within it's own borders because The West doesn't want to kill Russians or spark a potential war with China. Just think about that. If the USA and it's allies positioned themselves for war rather than profits; what would that look like?

Now, Putin comes out of Russian isolationism after his Trump victory in the USA to THANK Trump for sending him information which prevented a domestic Russian terror bombing. Really, Vladimir? Where is the evidence since it should be public information rather than propaganda. So, where are the communications stating Trump prevented the deaths of Russians. I am really curious.

And that brings me to my next point and validates my point of view about Russia and it's "Hero President."

Vladimir Putin actually had to rely on the USA for information in preventing a terrorist attack? Really? What kind of an admission is that? Putin, the King of Swing in Russia, has to rely on the USA to prevent deaths of Russians. No wonder he was so invested in having Trump win the election.

Putin was right; if Hillary Clinton won the presidential election as she could and should have, where would Russia be? It's only strategy would be to enter into a nuclear war, because, it can't protect itself otherwise!

I can't believe Vladimir Putin won't see the reality of Russia in relation to it's future and simply retire from politics with his pretty mistress-wife.

The only defense the Russian government has to protect Russian people is propaganda and it's global distribution.

The communists are the wrong path for Russia.

That is good advise and it is free. No one had to pay Paul Manafort a dime.

Now.

Who really loves Russia and it's people?

This blank area on the UNISYS hemispheric satellite is at least a week old.

December 18, 2017
1130:42z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of the west and north hemisphere of Earth (click here)

Russia has no right to block the scientific information collected about the troposphere for decades. Unless, it is just stupid Trump thinking he has a right to do exactly what he wants to do from the Oval Office.

It isn't as though it is the only satellite out there.

I thought Republicans liked private enterprise. What this appears to be to me is the Trump administration lined with private industry CEOs are using the government to defeat competition of their companies.

The USA government is not supposed to put it's thumb on the scale to defeat one company over the other. The Republicans have put their thumb on the scale for decades when it comes to the petroleum industry, but, some is amiss and there are only one group of morons that quality in being this stupid. Correction, two groups, Trump and his best buddy Putin.

Having a few students of my own, I realize this is a special time of year.

I think it is time to look toward the holidays.

Students will begin their winter break this week. Perhaps everyone should be enjoying a break to prepare for a happy couple of weeks. 

I will write some opinions tomorrow. 

This was a year of revisiting Kyoto. I will review what is left of Appendix A. I am fairly certain it is time to move on to Appendix B. That being the case; after the New Year seems right. Why cloud the holidays with new material. Togetherness and reaffirming our love of family and values is a good union of friends and neighbors.

So, until later.

The CDC has turned to pablum and stupidity.

"vulnerable" - synonyms, pick one - helpless, defenseless, powerless, impotent, weak and susceptible

"entitlement" - synonyms - Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

"diversity" - racist

"transgender" - bigotry

"fetus" - synonym - embryo, unborn baby or child - hatred of science

"evidence-based" - bigoted against practices of law

"science-based" - "C.D.C. bases its recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes.’

...With community standards and wishes is a Russian principle. 

Here's the Russian translation: 

научный - C.D.C. основывает свои рекомендации на науке с учетом стандартов и пожеланий сообщества ».

Matt Lloyd - “H.H.S. will continue to use the best scientific evidence available to improve the health of all Americans. H.H.S. also strongly encourages the use of outcome and evidence data in program evaluations and budget decisions.”

I demand the firing of Matt Lloyd on Monday because he said, "Best Scientific Evidence. Outcome. Evidence data. None of those are allowed. Budget decisions. Hm. What does that sound like in Russia?

бюджетные решения

Horrors, there are leaks from the Trump White House. This is news?

Leaks (if you can call them that) coming from the Trump White House is common knowledge. It happens all the time and continuously since Trump took office.

December 15, 2017
By Natasha Bertrand

The Department of Justice (click here) acknowledged in a statement on Thursday night that copies of private text messages exchanged between two former special-counsel investigators were disclosed to certain members of the media before they were given to Congress, even though those disclosures "were not authorized."

Sarah Isgur Flores, a DOJ spokeswoman, told Politico that the text messages exchanged between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page were given to key members of the House Judiciary Committee the night before Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's public testimony on Wednesday.

The DOJ's Public Affairs division shared the same messages with a group of reporters after they were shared with the lawmakers, Flores said. But some members of the media "had already received copies."

"As we understand now, some members of the media had already received copies of the texts before that — but those disclosures were not authorized by the department," she said....

May 31, 2017
By Brent Budowsky

While President Trump (click here) seems to suggest that a conspiracy of deep-state opponents exists throughout the national security establishment, an astounding tweet revealed who he really believes is the source of leaks that continue to plague him.

On May 28, Trump tweeted, "It is my opinion that many of the leaks coming out of the White House are fabricated lies made up by the #FakeNews media."...

...It is no secret that from the moment Trump was first elected, there has been a virtual civil war among his inside advisors. It is commonly assumed that the internal White House battle involves the "Kushner wing" versus the "Bannon wing." However, there are also leaks from individuals wise to the ways of Washington, who know that if they leak derogatory information about Trump, they will be portrayed by reporters as "moderating influences”....

First delay, can be reasonable considering a new administration.

Second delay is negligence and there needs to be lawsuits filed against the Trump EPA. There is no excuse for this.

December 15, 2017

By Suzy Khimm

Washington — The Trump administration (click here) is moving forward to update regulations to reduce lead in drinking water, but says the effort will take months longer than planned.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Thursday that it would delay its publication of proposed changes to federal regulation of lead and copper in drinking water until August 2018, having previously set out to have them released by January 2018. It similarly pushed back the timeline for finalizing the changes to February 2020, seven months after its previous deadline....

Hi,

Sorry I am a little late (8:40 pm). I was talking to some Russian truck drivers. It would seem President Putin needs to conduct some infrastructure projects. That is why Russia is an economically emerging country. Or, was an economically emerging country. It is why invading Ukraine is viewed as a gross misjudgement due to ineffective politics.

President Putin is convinced men such as Donald Trump can correct the course of Russia. It is why a Russian President would be so desperate in attempting to sabotage an American election for President.

There is always this lack of motive when the Mueller investigation is discussed. The reason Russia would want to sabotage an election rather than a confrontation. Well, here it is.

In my estimation, one of the reasons President Putin withdrew from Syria is because it cannot fight two wars at once.

Russia needs to return to a better state of mind that will provide growth and economic strength so there can be infrastructure projects and the lives of Russians aren't in peril, in order to cross a very cold river.

These guys were so awesome, I just had to connect.

The Emergency Manager ideology isn't democracy. It victimizes the people and treats them like chattel of the state.

December 15, 2017
By Leonard N. Fleming

In 2015,(click here) Rosenthal allegedly helped manipulate lead testing results and falsely reported they were below the federal action level of 15 parts per billion....

I don't get it. Rosenthal is a career employee to the Michigan DEQ. By every standard that is enviable. He had his future set. Why? I don't believe he was evil or racist or any other descriptor that puts him in a category of being diabolical. Why would such a man launch into fraud that he knew would harm people.

None of this makes sense.

...The state acknowledged high lead levels in the city’s children in late September 2015 and switched back in mid-October 2015 to the Detroit area water system, now called the Great Lakes Water Authority.

Lead testing this year has found that Flint’s results have consistently been below the federal action level of 15 parts per billion. But the state has maintained advisories against drinking Flint’s water until all of the city’s lead lines have been replaced.

Three others entered pleas in connection with the scandal:

Former Flint utilities administrator Michael Glasgow pl:eaded guilty in May to a reduced charge of willful neglect of duty, a one-year misdemeanor. Sentencing for Glasgow was set aside as long as he cooperates with the ongoing investigation by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette.

Corinne Miller, who retired as director of the state’s bureau of epidemiology earlier this year, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of neglect of duty in office in exchange for providing information to investigators.

Miller originally was charged with failing to respond properly to an early report that city children were affected by lead contamination in Flint and instructing state health employees to delete emails pertaining to the report. She was sentenced to one year of probation in March.

In late November, former Flint utilities director Daugherty Johnson pleaded no contest to failing to give water documents to a Genesee County Health Department employee investigating a possible connection between Flint water and Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks that eventually killed 12 and sickened 79 others in the Flint area in 2014-15. The deal resulted in two felonies being conditionally dropped in exchange for his cooperation....

This makes sense. Not that it is right, but, a member of Snyder's cabinet acting on his behalf, cutting corners and sacrificing standards for an ideology that the people of Michigan voted down, namely "Emergency Manager," is believable. The indictment of career employees just doesn't fit the picture. Snyder's power brokering to put forward an ideology more important than people's lives is something I would expect out of this investigation.

December 15, 2017
By Ron Fonger

Flint, MI -- A member of Gov. Rick Snyder's cabinet (click here) won't return to court on criminal charges related to the Flint water crisis until 2018 after a potential five-week delay.

Genesee District Court Judge David Goggins announced a short-term schedule for Nick Lyon, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, during the tenth day of Lyon's preliminary examination Friday, Dec. 15.

Lyon is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office.

Prosecutors claim his actions or failure to act caused a Legionnaires' victim's death in December 2015 and say he knew about suspicions that Legionnaires' outbreaks here were related to Flint water but failed to warn the public...

Whistlebowers matter.

December 8, 2017

Syracuse, NY – A jury and judge (click here) ordered Albany-based asbestos abatement and demolition company Champagne Demolition, LLC and its owner, Joseph A. Champagne, to pay $173,793.84 to a former employee who was fired in June 2010 after reporting improper asbestos removal practices at a school worksite in Gloversville, New York.

The judgment supports a U.S. Department of Labor lawsuit that found Champagne Demolition, LLC violated the employee’s whistleblower rights. The company must pay $103,000 in back wages, $20,000 in compensatory, and $50,000 in punitive damages.

On June 10, 2010, the employee informed company management of the improper practices. The employee was fired the next day and subjected to verbal threats and legal action. A complaint was filed with the Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which opened a whistleblower investigation and found merit to the allegations.

“We are pleased with the jury verdict and the judge’s ruling to hold this employer accountable for violating the employee’s rights,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Robert Kulick, in New York. “Every worker has the right to report potential safety and health hazards without fear of harassment, termination, or retaliation.”...

                 

C42H50N6O4S2•C4H4O4

The mental health community has been looking for a medication more modern, providing quality of life to patients. Seroquel has been that medication.

The surge in sales of Seroquel by Astra-Zeneca was somewhat anticipated. It is surprising the company would ignore such drug interactions that would ultimately give the drug a bad name.

Seroquel is used widely across most age groups, so the damage to the addicts of heroine seeking help through methadone substitution reaches from young to old. Astra-Zeneca was completely reckless in concealing such information. The majority of patients benefiting from Seroquel are not drug addicts. None of it makes sense.

This is what happens when hapless CEOs run a drug company. They are interested in market forces and bonuses; not the PURPOSE of the company in the first place.

Bonuses should be outlawed.


C₂₁H₂₇NO

December 15, 2017
By Sam Roe

Few prescription drugs (click here) were as popular as the antipsychotic Seroquel. Psychiatrists trusted it, nursing homes used it and addiction specialists prescribed it. Annual sales exceeded $3 billion.

But in the winter of 2009, one of the top pharmaceutical sales representatives selling it, Allison Zayas, began to have her doubts.

According to Zayas, one of her best clients, a doctor at a New York City outpatient clinic, told her that a patient had died while taking the drug and that the combination of Seroquel and methadone might have played a role.

Allison Zayas carried a conscience with her sales pitch. Besides, Seroquel practically sold itself. The CEO should be indicted on criminal charges. The MDs treating these patients wanted QUALITY OF LIFE, not end of life.

Allison Zayas was a top seller of the antipsychotic Seroquel for the drugmaker AstraZeneca. She filed a whistleblower lawsuit in 2010 against the company because, she said, they didn’t take appropriate action when she reported there was evidence of a fatal drug interaction.

Soon after, Zayas recalled, two other doctors told her as many as 10 patients at New York methadone clinics had died taking Seroquel and methadone together. Zayas said she reported the deaths to her company, drugmaker AstraZeneca, but that it continued to aggressively market the blockbuster drug, even to methadone clinics.

"Their goal was to get in there and sell Seroquel," she told the Tribune in an interview. "It was not, 'Let's draw back. Let's take a look at the information.' It was, 'Get in there and sell.' Everything is sell, sell, sell."

Alarmed at the inaction, Zayas quit AstraZeneca and filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the firm, alleging it concealed the true cardiac risks of Seroquel when taken with certain other medications....

Our leadership, (click here) which includes our Board of Directors and Senior Executive Team, is accountable to our shareholders for the responsible conduct of the business and our long-term success. It also represents the interests of all our stakeholders in ensuring that we deliver for patients by putting science at the heart of everything we do....

March 21, 2013
By Matthew Goodman

It would have to be his predecessor responsible for mismanaging Seroquel.

Member of the Board and CEO since October 2012.

Astra Zeneca (click here) is mission impossible. It’s a giant, old-fashioned pharmaceuticals company whose best drugs are rapidly coming off patent, and whose scientists are struggling to produce new ones. Who would take a hospital pass and become its chief executive?

Step forward Pascal Soriot, a Frenchman who trained as a vet and now calls Australia home. “A number of people looked at me and thought, ‘Are you crazy?’” he admits.

Soriot, 53, was parachuted in last October to succeed David Brennan and has spent his first few months trying to come up with a cure for Astra’s ills....

It is a direct attack on small businesses. It is one of the biggest complaints Wall Street has made about the USA economy. They can't control small businesses.

It is the old worn out Republican Paradigm of "Trickle Down." Once the large companies have control there will blossoms of jobs and new opportunities throughout the land.

Lawsuits filed now will only gain information by the time the court hearings begin.

December 15, 2017
Ally Marotti, Samantha Bomkamp and Corilyn Shropshir

Federal regulators’ (click here) decision to end net neutrality and roll back regulations that some say kept data flowing freely on the internet has left some Chicago business owners concerned for their companies’ futures.

While it’s still unclear exactly what the repeal of the Obama-era rules will mean, proponents of net neutrality fear internet service providers will set up toll lanes on the internet, charging some sites to deliver content faster. That could inhibit growth at tech companies, some in the industry say.

“The bigger companies, my competitors for instance, will have a pile of cash to say, ‘Yeah, no problem, we’ll pay,’” said Stu Grubbs, co-founder of Chicago-based Lightstream. The 14-employee startup builds production software for live streaming. “By the time I do have the money to get past that block, they’ll have ... beaten me out.

“It stifles innovation. It stifles growth to be able to move to new markets,” he said....

It looks like greed won the argument in an administration that admires it.

November 29, 2017

By Todd Shields

....Someone (click here) was trying to game the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s electronic public comment system on net-neutrality rules.

But who? Was it supporters or foes of the open internet rules -- or was it the Russians?

A study has found more than 7.75 million comments were submitted from email domains attributed to FakeMailGenerator.com, and they had nearly identical wording. The FCC says some of the nearly 23 million comments on Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposal to gut Obama-era rules were filed under the same name more than 90 times each.

And then there were the 444,938 from Russian email addresses, which also raised eyebrows, even though it’s unclear if they were from actual Russian citizens or computer bots originating in the U.S. or elsewhere.

The oddities in the FCC’s inbox have attracted scrutiny from New York’s attorney general and from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which has opened a probe.

“In an era where foreign governments have indisputably tried to use the internet and social media to influence our elections, federal and state governments should be working together to ensure that malevolent actors cannot subvert our administrative agencies’ decision-making processes,” New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in an open letter to the FCC....

The average life span of a dog is 10 - 13 years; Golden Retrievers 10 - 12 years. I look forward to good outcomes from this research.

December 14, 2017
By Karin Bulliard

Most dogs get poked and prodded (click here) at the veterinarian's office. Piper, a 4-year-old golden retriever in Chicago, gets far more scrutiny than that.

Her annual checkup this month took three hours. Her flaxen hair was trimmed and bagged, her toenails clipped and kept, her bodily fluids collected. Everything was destined for a biorepository in the Washington suburbs that holds similar samples from more than 3,000 other purebred golden retrievers from across the country. The dogs, though they do not know it, are participating in an ambitious, $32 million research project that researchers hope will yield insights into the causes of cancers and other diseases common to goldens, other breeds and maybe even humans....

...At its core, the study is about cancer - what Page calls "the No. 1 concern among dog owners." The disease is the leading cause of death in dogs over age 2 and something diagnosed in half of dogs older than 10. The prevalence is believed to be slightly higher in golden retrievers, which most often succumb to mast cell tumors, bone cancer, lymphomaor hemangiosarcoma (originating in the lining of blood vessels).

But that is not the only reason the bouncy, amiable breed is the study's focus. Goldens are the third-most popular dogs in the United States, which made it easier for researchers to find 3,000 subjects; they also tend to have besotted owners who pay close attention to their health - an important criteria for a project that demands years of owner commitment....