Finding Humor When 'Shit Is So Terrible': A Conversation With Samantha Irby
Rima Parikh | thenation.com | 2020-04-29
| We talked to the writer and comedian about privacy, blogging, chronic illness, and how to actually enjoy social media.
thenation.com/article/culture/samantha-irby-wow-no-thank-you-book-interview/
Demanding Women: Quarintine Conversations About Gun Violence w/ Sen. Elizabeth Warren
MDAEFG | indybay.org | 2020-04-29
Facebook livestream…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/04/28/18832670.php
NYC mayor blasted for 'anti-Semitism' after threatening to arrest Jews for flouting Covid-19 distancing rules at rabbi's funeral
rt.com | 2020-04-29
A tightly-packed funeral procession of Orthodox Jews attracted the ire of Bill de Blasio, but netizens had something to say about the mayor's own distancing policy and said his outburst had "invited anti-Semitism." | The New York City mayor tweeted his anger at members of Brooklyn's Jewish community who gathered on Tuesday night for the funeral of Rabbi Chaim Mertz. "My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed," he wrote. | Photos of the procession were circulated in the media, with many of the participants visibly defying social distancing rules, w…
rt.com/usa/487184-de-blasio-coronavirus-jews/
Threatening Retaliation for Protected Activity Is No Joke
Matt Bruenig | peoplespolicyproject.org | 2020-04-29
Last week, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) concluded that the Federalist's top manager, Ben Domenech, violated the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) when, on the same day as a 2019 Vox Media union walkout, Domenech tweeted "FYI @fdrlst first one of you tries to unionize I swear I'll send you back to the salt mine." | This is an obviously correct decision that is consistent with both the statute and the NRLB case law. Section 8(a)(1) of the NLRA declares that it is an unfair labor practice to "i…
peoplespolicyproject.org/2020/04/29/threatening-retaliation-for-protected-activity-is-no-joke/
'You misspelled censorship!' YouTube expands 'fact checks' to protect Americans from coronavirus 'misinformation'
rt.com | 2020-04-29
YouTube will now "fact check" US search queries, expanding a feature tried in other countries last year in an effort to eradicate "misinformation" about Covid-19
Minnesotans protest Trump's threats on Iran
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-04-28
St. Paul, MN – Over 30 cars occupied the parking lot of Minnesota Senator Tina Smith, April 26, to call on her to denounce President Trump's attacks and sanctions on Iran. Trump has escalated the threats against Iran by announcing on Twitter, April 22, that he told the Navy "to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." Unlike Minnesota's Representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Smith has remained silent while Trump again threatened Iran with further acts of war. | The safe-distance car protest was the first Twin Cities anti-war action during the coronavirus pandemic. It was o…
www.fightbacknews.org/2020/4/28/minnesotans-protest-trump-s-threats-iran
France: Unions Call for May 1st Demonstration
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-28
French Union organizations convoked members to celebrate Workers Day, despite the current COVID-19 pandemic. The groups stated they would demonstrate through social media to comply with COVID-19 preventive measures. | RELATED: | ILO: Companies Must Increase Protection During Labor Reopening | The General Confederation of Labour (CGT), the United Federation of Trade Unions (FSU), the Union Syndicale Solidaires (USS), the National Union of Students of France (UNEF), the Union Nationa…
telesurenglish.net/news/-france-unions-call-for-may-1st-demonstrations-20200428-0008.html
'Did Biden's lawyer write this?' WaPo receives 'Noble' for 'embarrassing' attempt to obfuscate sexual assault claim in headline
rt.com | 2020-04-28
The Washington Post was lambasted on social media after running a bizarrely tortured headline that took great pains to avoid direct mention of sexual assault allegations dogging Joe Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic nominee. | "Developments in allegations against Biden amplify efforts to question his behavior," read…
rt.com/usa/487075-washington-post-biden-headline/
Ukraine denies Armenian genocide, refers instead to 'tragic events of April'
rt.com | 2020-04-28
Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar has urged government agencies to refrain from using the term 'genocide' when referring to the slaughter of Armenians a century ago, as it would go against Kiev's political interests. | An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1922. Bodnar outlined reasons for refusing to recognize the events as genocide in a letter to government officials, which was subsequently leaked on Facebook by a member of the Verkovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament. | According to Bodnar, these events do not fit the UN definition of genocide, which…
rt.com/news/487169-ukraine-armenian-genocide-turkey/
Matt Hancock asked for apology by son of doctor who died after PPE warning
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-04-28
Matt Hancock has been asked for a public apology by the son of a doctor who died after warning the government about a lack of PPE.On Tuesday morning the health secretary took part in a live radio phone-in with Nick Ferrari on LBC, taking questions from members of the public.The first question came from Intisar Chowdhury, the son of Dr Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, who died earlier this month with Covid-19.Five days before he was admitted to hospital, Dr Chowdhury wrote a Facebook post asking Boris Johnson urgently to provide every NHS worker with personal protective equipment (PPE).Dr Chowdhury died on April 8 with Covi…
thecanary.co/discovery/news-discovery/2020/04/28/matt-hancock-asked-for-apology-by-son-of-doctor-who-died-after-ppe-warning/
Drama erupts after half-naked woman photobombs broadcast of Spanish celebrity journalist
rt.com | 2020-04-28
Spanish journalist Alfonso Merlos is in hot water after a beauty wearing only a top walked into the background of an interview he was broadcasting from home. His jilted girlfriend dubbed the sordid affair "shameful." | Merlos is a journalist, model and celebrity in his native Spain, but now his tangled private life is being torn apart by the Spanish-speaking media. | He was speaking as a guest on journalist Javier Negre's 'State of Alarm' YouTube channel last Friday, when a semi-naked woman casually sauntered into the frame, causing Negre's jaw to drop. | Esto es una auténtica maravilla: Javier Negre hace un S…
rt.com/news/487173-half-naked-woman-bombs-broadcast/
Long-Acting Injectable HIV Therapy Noninferior to Daily Pills
Slomski A. | jamanetwork.com | 2020-04-28
A pair of trials in the New England Journal of Medicine found that long-acting monthly injectable therapy for HIV-1 infection was noninferior to standard daily oral regimens for maintaining viral suppression.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2764996
Rules for you, but not for us: DeBlasio appoints wife 'equity' czar & strolls in park while New York City remains on lockdown
rt.com | 2020-04-27
Ethics or strict lockdown rules did not prevent New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio from traveling from Manhattan to Brooklyn to soak up some sunshine with his wife, or from appointing her 'equity and racial inclusion' overseer. | "New Yorkers are doing a great job with social distancing but we know warmer weather will bring real challenges," the tone-deaf De Blasio tweeted on Monday, announcing that the city council is working "to create more open streets for New Yorkers to enjoy safely." | Even as Hizzoner was twee…
rt.com/usa/487068-deblasio-hypocrisy-new-york-lockdown/
'Does sarcasm ever work?' Trump brushes off 'Noble Prize' blunder, says it was a dig at media's lack of morals
rt.com | 2020-04-27
US President Donald Trump fired back at detractors on Sunday, saying that mixing up the Nobel Prize and the Pulitzer Prize, and making a spelling mistake in a tweet attacking the media, was a deliberate play on words. | "Does anybody get the meaning of what a so-called Noble (not Nobel) Prize is, especially as it pertains to Reporters and Journalists? Noble is defined as, 'having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals,'" Trump tweeted shortly after taking a swipe at the "fake news" media in a series of tweets that threw the platform into full-blown meltdown. | "Does sarcasm ever…
rt.com/usa/486944-trump-sarcasm-nobel-noble/
Coronavirus-related syndrome among children may be emerging, alert suggests
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-04-27
A coronavirus-related syndrome among children may be emerging in the UK, a health alert sent to doctors suggests. | The UK Paediatric Intensive Care Society tweeted an alert from NHS England which says that, in the "last three weeks, there has been an apparent rise in the number of children of all ages presenting with a multi-system inflammatory state requiring intensive care across London and also in other regions of the UK". | It said the effects had been seen in children both with and without coronavirus (Covid-19) but there was evidence that some patients had had coronavirus previously. | Prof Russell Viner,…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2020/04/27/coronavirus-related-syndrome-among-children-may-be-emerging-alert-suggests/
'The hardest working president in history': Trump goes on Twitter rant against 'fake media' with Nobel Prizes for Russia stories
rt.com | 2020-04-26
US President Donald Trump blasted the media over reports about his laid-back work schedule, and suggested taking Nobel Prizes away from journalists who pushed Russia collusion stories, mistaking the award for the Pulitzer. | "The people that know me and know the history of our Country say that I am the hardest working President in history," Trump wrote on Sunday afternoon, kicking off a firestorm of anti-media tweets. | The people that know me and know the history of our Country say that I am the hardest working President in history. I don't know about that, but I am a hard worker and have probably gotten…
rt.com/usa/486940-trump-tweets-noble-prize/
'I never said it was a hoax!' Trump unloads on media in fiery rant, says coronavirus briefings 'not worth the time and effort'
rt.com | 2020-04-26
US President Donald Trump fired off a scathing broadside at the mainstream media, accusing them of peddling the false claim that he called the coronavirus a hoax, and suggesting the Covid-19 briefings are a waste of time. | "What is the purpose of having White House News Conferences when the Lamestream Media asks nothing but hostile questions, & then refuses to report the truth or facts accurately," the president tweeted on Saturday evening. | What is the purpose of having White House News Conferences when the Lamestream Media asks nothing but hostile questions, & then refuses to report the truth or facts accu…
rt.com/usa/486904-trump-hoax-coronaviurus-briefing/
#KIMJONGUNDEAD is a rumor, but political jokes at North Korean leader's expense are already here
rt.com | 2020-04-25
Rumors of North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's declining health have inspired a bevy of mocking and agenda-driven tweets from both the left and right. | The hashtag #KIMJONGUNDEAD began trending on Twitter shortly after Reuters reported that China had dispatched a team of medical experts to the country to advise on his well-being. Although next to nothing is known for sure, social media went into a frenzy with memes and posts that had less to do with North Korea and more to do with US politics. | 'Dilbert' creator and political author Scott Adams used the news to take a shot at former Vice President Joe…
rt.com/usa/486889-kim-jong-un-undead-twitter/
Oath Keepers Chaplain Quits Over Leader's COVID Response
Hatewatch Staff | splcenter.org | 2020-04-23
Chuck Baldwin, who has served as the national chaplain of the antigovernment Oath Keepers since 2013, announced his resignation early Tuesday morning on Facebook.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2020/04/23/oath-keepers-chaplain-quits-over-leaders-covid-response
Is Trump's "Shoot Down And Destroy" Tweet About Boosting Oil Prices Or A Harbinger Of War With Iran?
Whitney Webb | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-04-22
Trump's recent tweet to "shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships" has sparked concern over a new war in the Middle East. However, the more immediate effect of Trump's tweet has been a big boost in oil prices and a rise in the stock market. Was that Trump's …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/foreign-policy/trumps-shoot-destroy-tweet-about-boosting-oil-prices-harbinger-war-with-iran/
Hate Groups and Racist Pundits Spew COVID-19 Misinformation on Social Media Despite Companies' Pledges to Combat It
Hannah Gais | splcenter.org | 2020-04-16
Hate groups and racist pundits have pushed misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic on mainstream social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube throughout the crisis, despite companies pledging to fight fake news about the virus.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2020/04/17/hate-groups-and-racist-pundits-spew-covid-19-misinformation-social-media-despite-companies
[Correspondence] SARS-CoV-2 shedding and infectivity
Barry Atkinson, Eskild Petersen | thelancet.com | 2020-04-15
Fei Zhou and colleagues1 estimated mean duration of viral shedding by assessing the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral RNA in patient samples. Assessing potential infectivity is a labour-intensive process, but the presence of nucleic acid alone cannot be used to define viral shedding or infection potential, as the authors state is possible within their methods.
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30868-0/fulltext?rss=yes
US: VP Pence violates hospital's COVID-19 mask protocol
yenisafak.com | 2020-04-29
US Vice President Mike Pence has unleashed a storm on social media after he was seen on Tuesday violating the mask protocols of a private hospital in Minnesota.Pence, the head of White House Coronavirus Task Force, was the only person who chose not to wear a mask, despite warnings from the Mayo Clinic officials and its policy requiring them.Videos circulating in the local and social media showed the unprotected US vice president meeting with a hospital employee who has recovered from COVID-19, and maskless again when he visited one of its lab where coronavirus tests were conducted.He later joined a roundtable dis…
yenisafak.com/en/world/us-vp-pence-violates-hospitals-covid-19-mask-protocol-3518230
NYC mayor urges zero tolerance against large gatherings
yenisafak.com | 2020-04-29
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that large gatherings amid the fight against coronavirus will not be tolerated, adding "the time for warnings has passed."His remarks came late Tuesday following a major Jewish gathering for a rabbi's funeral in Brooklyn, where a large Jewish population resides."Something absolutely unacceptable happened in Williamsburg tonite: a large funeral gathering in the middle of this pandemic," the mayor said on Twitter. "When I heard, I went there myself to ensure the crowd was dispersed. And what I saw WILL NOT be tolerated so long as we are fighting the Coronavirus."The mayor sai…
yenisafak.com/en/world/nyc-mayor-urges-zero-tolerance-against-large-gatherings-3518239
Flooded With Birthday Cake Requests, Indian Official Plans to Block 'Direct Messages' on Twitter
sputniknews.com | 2020-04-29
New Delhi (Sputnik): On the one hand, police in India are trying to make sure that people obey the lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus, but on the other hand, they are also working to make people feel special in these difficult times by bringing cakes on their birthdays.
sputniknews.com/viral/202004291079132001-flooded-with-birthday-cake-requests-indian-official-plans-to-block-direct-messages-on-twitter/
Zahedi, Shah's Ambassador to US Tells BBC He Is Proud Of Progress Made by Islamic Republic
BBC News | iranian.com | 2020-04-27
twitter.com/AliVaez/status/1254486590308712448…
US blocking Iran media outlet stark infringement of freedom of expression: Foreign Ministry
Press TV | iranian.com | 2020-04-26
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a recent decision by the administration of US President Donald Trump to block the domains of Iranian news outlets is in "stark infringement" of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and freedom of expression. In a Twitter post on Sunday, the Iranian ministry "strongly" condemned the US Treasury Department's …
iranian.com/2020/04/26/us-blocking-iran-media-outlet-stark-infringement-of-freedom-of-expression-foreign-ministry/