(2020-04-15). Facebook constructs bot-based universe to test out scenarios for manipulating humans, but don't worry, it's safe. rt.com 
Facebook has debuted a "web-enabled simulation" in which a population of bots it has created based on real users can duke it out – supposedly to help the platform deal with bad actors. But it's not totally isolated from reality. | The social media behemoth's new playpen for malevolent bots and their simulated victims is described in a company paper
(2020-04-15). Elizabeth Warren officially endorses Democrat Joe Biden for 2020 election. rt.com 
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has joined former President Barack Obama and fellow ex-candidate Bernie Sanders in throwing her support behind Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for the 2020 election. | "In this moment of crisis, it's more important than ever that the next president restores Americans' faith in good, effective government," Warren tweeted on Wednesday morning in her endorsement of Biden. | The senator also tweeted out a video of her talking up Biden's commitment to "public service" and "empathy," admitting she does not agree with the former vice president "100 percent of…
(2020-04-15). Digital Coronavirus commuting chaos in Moscow: Metro sees long lines as motorists face 5km tailbacks. rt.com 
The particular type of Western Twitter user who believes Russia's IT savvy can hack elections anywhere —and rule the world remotely— will be astonished that the roll-out of Moscow's new digital pass hasn't been very smooth. | As of Wednesday, every Muscovite using public or private transport is required to have a pass, obtained online; all part of the city's bid to fight the spread of Covid-19 by preventing non-essential journeys. In theory, the system was supposed to reduce crowds. Sadly, on the first day of the scheme, the reality was quite different. | Social media was full of pictures of queues…
(2020-04-15). How to use Social Media to Drive Environmental Change: Why Zero Waste?(livestream). indybay.org Online via Livestream…
(2020-04-15). Australian construction workers denounce union enforcement of unsafe conditions. truepublica.org.uk Hundreds of workers across the country have taken to social media over the past weeks to denounce the construction union for enforcing continued production in the sector, despite the health risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic. The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU) has responded with censorship. Supporters of the union bureaucracy have …
(2020-04-15). Digital Day of Action to #ShutDown850 Bryant St. indybay.org Phone, Email, and Social Media…
(2020-04-15). How to use Social Media to Drive Environmental Change: Why Zero Waste? (livestream). indybay.org Online via Livestream…
(2020-04-15). UCSC Transit Driver Dies from COVID-19. indybay.org In a post on social media, UCSC reports, "It is with a heavy heart that we share that the campus shuttle driver who we had reported had tested positive for COVID-19 died earlier today of complications related to the virus. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends during this difficult time."
(2020-04-15). Humanity isn't a disease — but ecofascism is. truepublica.org.uk 'Humans are the disease, and coronavirus is the cure!' 'Nature is returning to the world now that the people are gone!' 'Earth is healing herself!' Since coronavirus hit Europe, ideas about this destructive pandemic, which has killed thousands, as the 'cure' for environmental damage have been circulating. On stickers, on Instagram graphics and viral Tweets, …
(2020-04-15). Women's Wellness: Pregnancy and COVID-19. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Pregnant women have suppressed immune systems, and that could make them more susceptible to COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says women who are pregnant should be monitored since they are known to be at risk with severe viral illness. "Pregnant women should now be considered within the high-risk category, and should …
(2020-04-15). Kids aren't coronavirus 'guinea pigs': Danish mums rebel as schools reopen. yenisafak.com Denmark eased its coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday by reopening schools and day care centres, but concerns they might become breeding grounds for a second wave of cases convinced thousands of parents to keep their children at home.The rate of new cases is falling, but the government's decision has led to a heated debate over how to balance the needs of the economy and the safety of the population – in this case its youngest citizens."I won't be sending my children off no matter what," said Sandra Andersen, the founder of a Facebook group called 'My kid is not going to be a Guinea Pig' that has more than 40,000 f…
(2020-04-15). Germany criticizes Trump for halting WHO funds. yenisafak.com Germany on Wednesday criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for halting funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the middle of the worst pandemic in decades.Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Twitter that the accusations against the WHO were "not helpful" at a time the world needed closer international cooperation to combat the novel coronavirus."The virus knows no borders. We have to closely work together against #COVID19," he stressed, and called for steps to further strengthen the UN and the WHO.Germany's top diplomat said the WHO has already been suffering from underfunding, and suggested that one o…
(2020-04-15). Turkey 'neutralizes' 4 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq. yenisafak.com Turkish fighter jets "neutralized" four PKK terrorists as part of a counter-terrorism operation in northern Iraq, the country's National Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.The terrorists, who were detected by reconnaissance and surveillance activities, were "neutralized" in an air operation in northern Iraq's Qandil region, the ministry said on Twitter.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in statements to imply terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.PKK terrorists often take shelter in northern Iraq to plan cross-border terrorist attacks in Turkey.The statement added that co…
(2020-04-15). Fortnite Fans Mourn, Scoff New Season Delay on Social Media as Epic Games Expects Early June Release. sputniknews.com One of the world's most popular games with millions of players has delayed the release of its new season to June, sparking disappointment and anger on social media, it was found on Wednesday.
(2020-04-14). Preemptive Therapy vs Antiviral Prophylaxis and CMV in Seronegative Liver Transplant Recipients With Seropositive Donors. jamanetwork.com This randomized trial compares preemptive therapy vs antiviral prophylaxis with valganciclovir in cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seronegative liver transplant recipients with seropositive donors for the prevention of CMV disease.
(2020-04-14). Facebook Picks up Senior FTC Official to Undermine Her Former Employees. cepr.net The Covid-19 pandemic is creating ripe conditions for corporate acquisition sprees by industry giants. But at least one company, already under the microscope, isn't just looking to pick off competitors. Facebook has its eyes on the supposed cops on this beat, the antitrust enforcement officials ready to jump ship. Barbara Blank just joined Facebook …
(2020-04-14). SECURE Act Leaves Millions of Workers as Insecure as Ever. dissidentvoice.org Tweeter-in-chief Donald Trump constantly bashes "do nothing Democrats." In fact, it's Mopey Mitch McConnell who's the do nothing man, refusing to act on nearly 400 bills passed by Pelosi's House. One big Democratic initiative did manage to become law, pushed through as part of a late-2019 budget deal. Titled the SECURE Act, it's the latest …
(2020-04-14). Democratic Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Protect Fauci From Being Fired by Trump. truthout.org After President Donald Trump sent out a tweet this past weekend that included a suggestion to fire one of the most recognizable and trusted names on his coronavirus task force, a Democratic senator hopes to pass legislation to prevent him from doing so without just cause or oversight. | Trump's tweet
(2020-04-14). Hatred going viral in 'dangerous epidemic of misinformation' during COVID-19 pandemic. news.un.org As the world battles the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and people are searching for clear facts and answers to questions, that could help save countless lives, "a dangerous epidemic of misinformation" is also spreading, the United Nations chief warned on Tuesday.
(2020-04-14). A New Vaccine for Chikungunya Virus. jamanetwork.com Arboviruses (arthropod-borne) are a group of viruses that encompass hundreds of members and span multiple viral families making it one of the most genetically diverse, widespread, and dangerous groups of viruses on earth. Arboviruses are transmitted to humans by a variety of geographically widespread arthropod vectors (most commonly, mosquitoes and ticks) so that these viruses can change location with human hosts or arthropod vectors, with potential for rapid spread wherever these vectors are present. Past outbreaks of West Nile virus and recent outbreaks of eastern equine encephalitis virus, Zika virus, and chik…
(2020-04-14). Preventing Cytomegalovirus Infection After Liver Transplant: An Evolving Approach. jamanetwork.com Despite recent advances in the management of patients following liver transplant, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality among this population. Clinicians and transplant centers have adopted varying approaches to managing CMV-seronegative liver transplant recipients with CMV-seropositive donors, a recipient group that is at highest risk for developing CMV-associated complications. Antiviral prophylaxis is typically initiated soon after transplant for a period of several months. Although the most widely used strategy, prophylaxis is limited by the incidence of delaye…
(2020-04-14). Syria coronavirus threat sparks broad UN containment effort. news.un.org The United Nations and its partners are doing their utmost to support a comprehensive, multi-pronged effort to stem the impact of COVID-19 in Syria, where the viral disease has claimed the lives of two people, sickened 23 others and presented epic challenges for ensuring the smooth delivery of life-saving assistance.
(2020-04-13). The Decade of Transformation: Being in Balance with Nature. dissidentvoice.org 
Save Our Planet Save Our Future, Belgium, January 31, 2019 (Photo: EuroNews/Twitter) This is the fourth newsletter in our series on the 2020s as a decade of transformation See Remaking International Relations, Remaking the Economy for the People, and Remaking Healthcare. In addition to COVID-19 and the economic collapse, multiple crises are reaching a peak and …
(2020-04-13). Sanders Endorses Biden to 'Bring Democrats Against Trump'. telesurenglish.net United States (U.S.) Senator and former Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders officially endorsed Monday former Vice President Joe Biden, joining him as a guest on an online appearance. | RELATED: | "We must come together to defeat the most dangerous president in modern history," tweeted Sanders announcing his appearance with Biden and referencing U.S. President Donald Trump. | "Today, I am asking all Americans[mdas…
(2020-04-13). Facebook banned us for 30 days today, for a 2016 CNN spoof. thepeoplescube.com <h5><a href="https://thepeoplescube.com/peoples-blog/" title="People's Blog">People's Blog</a></h5> | <b>Statistics</b> : 6 Replies | | 5073 Views | Last post by Covfefe…
(2020-04-12). Poetry: Rhyming not necessary but some assembly required. dissidentvoice.org 
This sense of viral isolation, dread and global make-over (for good and worse) gets the proverbial juices flowing of our local and national bards. It's not a stretch to say there are many people on our coast and farther east who consider themselves to be "poets." With a liberal dose of simile, any number of …
(2020-04-12). Dr. Marandi: Blocking My Voice on Social Media Networks Shows US Degree of Intolerance. iranian.com Seyed Mohammad Marandi, senior Iranian political analyst and university professor, blasted the American social media networks for silencing influential pro-resistance voices, including his accounts, saying that the move is a clear indication of their deep intolerance of all opposition. Speaking in an exclusive interview with FNA, Dr. Marandi said, "There is a large number of …
(2020-04-10). Celebrating the environmental "benefits" of coronavirus is ecologism at its most grim. bright-green.org 
'I love not man the less, but Nature more' might be the only line of Lord Byron's poetry I know, and even then only because it's George Monbiot's twitter bio. …
(2020-04-09). I'm Queer and I've Been in Solitary. Ellen Isn't Experiencing What I Did. aclu.org On Monday, I ended a 12-hour day returning emails to incarcerated queer folks, providing direct aid for housing to folks living with HIV & AIDS who have been incarcerated and challenging the state of Nebraska to provide humane conditions for incarcerated individuals and decided to mindlessly scroll on Twitter. , , I found the quote from the show Ellen DeGeneres filmed from her multimillion-dollar, multi-room mansion: "One thing that I've learned from being in quarantine is that people — this is like being in jail, is what it is," she said. "It's mostly because I've be…
(2020-04-07). Facebook's Strategy for Taking Down Hate Groups is Spotty and Ineffective. splcenter.org Facebook continues to provide a safe haven for hate groups and extremists despite the company's attempts to "stop the most egregious and dangerous groups from using its tools." Hatewatch staff previously reported several extremist groups and pages currently active on the platform directly to Facebook in 2018.