Yo,

Always problems with nukes, especially when they go kerboom...


Anyhow, this article will make you go hmmm for sure...Lots of interesting news discussed...



November 5, 2024

What the Air Force Doesnt Want Us to Notice on Election Night
Leah Yananton


Much significance will happen at the end of Election Day, and a countdown will begin at 11:00 p.m. PDT on November 5th. While everyones attention will be on who our next president will be, the U.S. The Air Force will test-launch an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile with a dummy hydrogen bomb on the tip from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The missile will cross the Pacific Ocean and 22 minutes later crash into the Marshall Islands. The U.S. Air Force does this several times a year. The launches are always at night while Americans are sleeping.

This is what nightmares are made of between 1946 and 1958 the U.S. detonated 67 nuclear bombs in the Marshall Islands, and the result is that the Marshallese people have lost their pristine environment and face health problems. Our environment is threatened here as well. Not only did the Indigenous Chumash people lose their sacred land to Vandenberg Air Force Base, but also Americas Heartland presently has around 400 ICBMs stored in underground silos equipped with nuclear warheads that are ready to launch at a hair triggers notice. Named MinuteMen III, after Revolutionary War soldiers who could reload and shoot a gun in less than a minute, ICBMs not only put Americans at risk of accident, but they put all life on earth in danger.

ICBMs are not viable for national defense. They are a relic of a bygone era having been invented by Nazi Germany, and their presence only escalates the risk of nuclear accidents or conflicts.A single launch could lead to a nuclear exchange that would annihilate cities, contaminate the environment, and cause irreversible harm to our planets ecosystem. Once an ICBM is launched, it cannot be recalled. I dont want a nuclear strike or accident to happen. We can change course now, and our first step is to decommission the ICBM program also because it is a staggering financial burden to maintain.

The U.S. plans to spend over $1.2 trillion on nuclear modernization over the next 30 years, which means new, larger nuclear bombs and new, larger ICBMs called Sentinels that will need to be tested. This massive investment in outdated technology diverts critical funds away from humanitarian needs like healthcare, education, and healing climate change issues that directly impact our quality of life, and our childrens future.

I teach 4th and 5th graders Creative Writing. I adore childrens imaginations, but when my students were given the assignment to write about something important to them, they wrote lines that broke my heart. This is a wake-up call for us adults to face the reality we have made for our children.

Such a shame, a perfectly good planet, trashed. Claire, age 9.

What would you think about no nature in the world? No trees, no butterflies, no birds or bunnies at all! Most important of all, no people. There would be no technology, no schools, no history, no entertainment; everything we have worked for would be wasted. What would you think about a beautiful world that basically had nothing? I think I would absolutely hate it., Brynn, age 9.

Other than destruction caused by industrial global warming and by war, which the children are all-too aware of, this child does not know what actually could turn nature and civilization to nothing in a matter of minutes; she doesnt know about nuclear winter or how vulnerable we are to a nuclear accident. Most people dont.

The claim is that nuclear weapons are deterrents, but it is diplomacy that creates alliances and peace. Nuclear weapons only provide the terrifying threat of annihilation, either by command or by accident. Nuclear weapons and ICBMs only make the world less safe and strip us of security.

As the warring ruling class seems to be pushing for nuclear brinkmanship, on this election night let us not be distracted. By decommissioning ICBMs, the U.S. could lead the world in reducing the nuclear threat and encourage other nations to do the same. For the sake of our health, environment, and the safety of future generations, its time to scrap the ICBM program. We owe it to our children to invest in a future that prioritizes peace and sustainability over destruction.

As it is we the people who possess the right of self-determination, we must confront the material reality of our homeland and face what it will take to protect it. Do we have the courage to change our country for the better and ensure our futures? Yes we do, and now is the time to take action.

Only we, the public, can force our representatives to reverse their abdication of the war powers that the Constitution gives exclusively to the Congress, said Daniel Ellsberg, U.S. military analyst, economist, and author of The Doomsday Machine.

May we cancel this nightmare weapons program for once and for all and give our children the security that they deserve.

Tell Congress: Cancel Sentinel Missile ProgramMore Than 700 Scientists Agree: secure.ucsusa.org/a/2024-cancel-sentinel-letter

Learn more about the dangers of ICBMS and get involved. defusenuclearwar.org/eliminate-icbms/

Yo,

More privacy issues that will make you go hmmm...(Especially since Musk is in-bed with Mr.Trumpdt, so expect nothing to happen lol) !





In the news...

*An Investigation Exposes Data Brokers Using Ads to Help Track Almost Any Phone [theverge.com]

An investigation by a data privacy group has revealed a vast tracking network [Locate X] that can follow the movements of a persons phone," says Emma Roth.

The software is capable of showing the whereabouts of mobile phones on a map, allowing anyone with access to track someones precise location across state lines, according to 404Media. The information could then be used to figure out a specific phone owners identity."


*Kroger and Walmart Deny 'Surge Pricing' After Adopting Digital Price Tags [nytimes.com]

"Members of Congress are raising the alarm about new technology at supermarkets: They say Kroger and other major grocery stores are implementing digital price tags that could allow for dynamic pricing, meaning the sticker price on items like eggs and milk could change regularly," reports Sara Ruberg. "They also claim data from facial recognition technology at Kroger could be considered in pricing decisions."


*LinkedIn Fined $335 Million in EU for Tracking Ads Privacy Breaches [techcrunch.com]

"Bad news for LinkedIn in Europe, where the Microsoft-owned social network has been reprimanded and fined 310 million for privacy violations related to its tracking ads business," reports Natasha Lomas.

"Irelands Data Protection Commission (DPC)... found a raft of breaches, including breaches to the lawfulness, fairness and transparency of its data processing in this area."




*Exposed United Nations Database Left Sensitive Information Accessible Online [wired.com]

Security researcher Jeremiah Fowler recently found that "a database containing sensitive, sometimes personal information from the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women was openly accessible" online. "The 115,000-plus files related to UN Women included detailed financial disclosures from organizations around the worldand personal details and testimonials from vulnerable individuals." The UN has since secured the database.

"They're doing great work and helping real people on the ground, but the cybersecurity aspect is still critical," Fowler told WIRED. "I've found lots of data before, including from all sorts of government agencies, but these organizations are helping people who are at risk just for being who they are, where they are."


*Data Privacy Tips for College Students [usnews.com]

"As cybersecurity risks increase across industries, colleges which increasingly depend on apps and software for teaching, learning and operations remain valuable targets for cybercriminals and data exploitation." In 2023 alone, "U.S. schools and colleges reported a record-high 954 data breaches affecting 4.3 million records."

In light of this ongoing concern, "here are five practical ways experts say students can guard their personal information against potential data breaches":
Not clicking suspicious links in emails, texts, or apps to avoid phishing scams.
Using strong passwords and a secure password manager.
Using multi-factor authentication wherever possible.
Checking your settings to limit which apps can track your location and other sensitive data.
Backing up your data with a third-party data storage program, in case you get locked out of your accounts.


*Why Strava Is a Privacy Risk for the President (and You Too) [lifehacker.com]

Popular running and cycling app "Strava has an extensive set of mapping tools, which are powered by the data in its global heatmap. This is basically a map of the world with peoples running and cycling routes highlighted." Why is that a problem? Reporter Beth Skwarecki was able to "find the name and home address of a stranger," using only Strava data and publicly available information. And it's not just an individual issue; according to French newspaper Le Monde, "the app allegedly revealed the locations of world leaders via their bodyguards' Strava accounts."

In this piece, Skwarecki explains how to adjust your Strava settings so you can enjoy some of the app's benefits while preserving your privacy.

Yo,

Well said Shawnee ! And here's something that would stir-the-pot in the US-of-A for sure, though, after seeing over the years the effects of social media on our host, perhaps this new law implementation is more than warranted...Hmmm indeed imo, read on, direct cut & paste from 1440...




Australia's Social Media Ban

Australian Prime Minister ( read President ) Anthony Albanese announced legislation yesterday to ban social media for children under 16. The proposed law, set to be introduced in Parliament in the coming weeks, would require platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X, to bar access to children and teenage users. There are no exceptions for parental consent.



If approved, companies would have 12 months to implement blocking measures or face potential fines. Albanese said the platforms would bear responsibility, with no penalties for users, arguing the ban is necessary due to social media's harmful effects on young people's mental health. Critics contend an all-out ban will not work and argue that social media is a valuable tool for social support.



About 95% of teens use some kind of social media, spending an average of 4.8 hours daily41% of high-use teens rate their mental health as poor or very poor. The US Surgeon General has called for tobacco-style warning labels on social media platforms.

Rastus wrote:

---

Yo,

Well said Shawnee ! And here's something that would stir-the-pot in the US-of-A for sure, though, after seeing over the years the effects of social media on our host, perhaps this new law implementation is more than warranted...Hmmm indeed imo, read on, direct cut & paste from 1440...




Australia's Social Media Ban

Australian Prime Minister ( read President ) Anthony Albanese announced legislation yesterday to ban social media for children under 16. The proposed law, set to be introduced in Parliament in the coming weeks, would require platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X, to bar access to children and teenage users. There are no exceptions for parental consent.



If approved, companies would have 12 months to implement blocking measures or face potential fines. Albanese said the platforms would bear responsibility, with no penalties for users, arguing the ban is necessary due to social media's harmful effects on young people's mental health. Critics contend an all-out ban will not work and argue that social media is a valuable tool for social support.



About 95% of teens use some kind of social media, spending an average of 4.8 hours daily41% of high-use teens rate their mental health as poor or very poor. The US Surgeon General has called for tobacco-style warning labels on social media platforms.

---

 I don't believe many of these kids can be helped. Parents got them devices to keep them busy and out from underfoot, pagers, cellphones, ipods, video games.... Grand theft auto game good for kids? How do they propose blocking them? At their friends day and night, sneak out windows. Millenials the worst gen, gen x, z whatever is better, smarter and proactive all around.

Rastus wrote:

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R1. They're, young, so they'll have a chance. All they have to do is find our hosts "Zoom web crawlers thread" & see the long-term effects. It will scare the shyte out-of-them, like it does me...

R6. Our host sets a poor example to that statement imo. He's gone, hook-line-&-sinker...No safe return...He forgets to write promised review about the latest Corvette in favour of chasing "Tweeters" all around the country that never, ever show up. Virtual-reality dependent. And at his age, too late to change possibly.

---

 

Oh, now we're gonna make pop-shots from across threads? How BenzWorld.org low can you go? 

I'm willing to concede that Melissa Stetten opend my eyes to a very different area of the web/country for me -- outside of my usual forum and big-box social media. I've documented it because things aren't like they were back in the 1980's and 1990's!

You and Shawnee in here giving the youts a hard time about their exposure to modern technology -- growing up faster than ever! I won't even mention the kids (my own to be exact) who had to live thru that shit-show called COVID back in 2020 while they were both in their prime years of high school, with one having to attend a "Drive-Thru" graduation ceremony due to the pandemic! But you know what, they still got on! It sucked, yeah! For EVERYONE, young and old!

I'm not even entertaining your comments about my Corvette thread, considering you wouldn't even seen the sneak peek if it weren't for the very Web Crawlers thread you're complaining about! You say it's fake digital reality -- but if it's so fake, how do you explain the photos? Why are you busting my balls about the C8 Corvette thread? Don't you want to hear about the new ZR1 and the secret Zora Hybrid? Some of this information is just now getting out! My personal test drive and review is alive and well in my head, the thread has been in progress for awhile! It's coming! 

But seriously... Do I go on a lot of vacations? No! Do I go on vacations for WEEKS on end? No! I'd like to think that I go on short adventures! Meeting someone from online, while there -- would just be a bonus! Clearly if I'm going to be far from home I'll try and make my short trip as memorable as possible! If I'm at home I'd do the same, but I'd much rather sleep in my own bed at night if I'm not going to be hosting guests. I write about my adventures so that when I get to be 96 years old, drooling and sh!tting my pants I can look back and say -- "You know, Shawnee and Rastus were right -- getting old is a trap! Fu@k them damn lucky youts living the good life and not even knowing it!"

lol

 

Yo,

This short message in from Dr.Salla that will make you go hmmm for sure !



qt."Aloha all,

I've been nominated to be an advisor to the incoming Trump administration on innovative technology on a public forum created by Robert Kennedy Jr. The public can vote on nominations.

If I was accepted as an advisor to the Trump admin on technology, I would inform them of what I have learned about exotic propulsion systems, secret space programs, advanced healing technologies, extraterrestrial and cryptoterrestrial life, etc., through my exopolitics research, interviews with hundreds of whistleblowers/Insiders/contactees, leaked Majestic documents, etc.

My mention among the top nominations shows the strong public interest in full disclosure concerning ET life, SSPs,( Secret Space Programs ) and ancient civilizations. Voting is still open to the public. Let your voice be heard.

Michael Salla, Ph.D.

Yo,

This update on privacy issues is a little-late, simply because this thread has been busy, & I wanted it to settle for a few days...Anyhow, if the next doesn't make you hmmm, you'll scream instead yo ! ( Direct cut & paste from my mailbox ).



*ICYMI: Google Chrome's uBlock Origin Phaseout Has Begun [theverge.com]

Using Chrome with an ad blocker? Last month, The Verge reported that "Google Chrome has begun to phase out uBlock Origin. The developer of the free ad blocker, Raymond Hill, recently reposted a screenshot that shows Chrome automatically turning off uBlock Origin because it is 'no longer supported.'"

We've got you covered. Try DuckDuckGo instead! Our private browser comes with built-in ad blocking capabilities.


In the news...

*Europe's DMA Forces Meta Towards 'Less Personalized Ads' [techcrunch.com]

Meta is changing how its ad business works in the European Union again, under legal pressure over the "'pay us or consent to ad tracking' choice it currently offers" Facebook and Instagram users in the region.

"The data points Meta claims it will use for the 'less personalized' ad targeting thats incoming for regional users are slated to include 'a persons age, location, gender, and how a person engages with ads.' Whether that will be enough to satisfy EU regulators remains to be seen."



*Watchdog Finds AI Tools Can Be Used Unlawfully to Filter Candidates by Race, Gender [theregister.com]

In a recent audit, the UK's data protection watchdog found that "AI recruitment technologies can filter candidates according to protected characteristics including race, gender, and sexual orientation."

"Following its research, the Information Commissioner's Office has produced a range of recommendations for developers and providers of recruitment tools which use AI," including measures like "processing personal information fairly, explaining the processing clearly, keeping personal information collected to a minimum, and not repurposing or processing personal information unlawfully."


*How Well Do Smart Speakers Protect Privacy While Listening to Everything? [howtogeek.com]

"If smart speakers didn't already exist, they would sound like a pretty strange concept. 'Hello, we're a giant corporation, and we'd like to put microphones into your home that will listen to you 24/7.'"

Smart speakers have to listen for their "wake words" to function, "but there are privacy protections to ensure they don't hear everything you ever say. There are also additional steps you can take to boost privacy levels if you have concerns." Read on for what steps you can take with Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant.


Hmmm...

All 3 mine are over 20 years old. :)