In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> "Hell's Kitchen" and "Stereophonic" haul in 13 nominations apiece for the 2024 Tony Awards (June 16); see complete list of nominations (More)

> UEFA Champions League semifinal kicks off; see full preview and match schedule (More) | The US and Mexico drop out of contention to jointly host 2027 Women's World Cup, will instead focus on 2031 bid (More)

> Taylor Swift claims a record-breaking top 14 positions on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; Swift also charted 32 of the top 100 spots, a record for a female artist (More)


Science & Technology
> Environmental Protection Agency bans consumer use of methylene chloride, a cancer-causing compound typically found in paint stripper (More) | Breast cancer screenings should begin at age 40 for women, down from 50, per recommendation from national advisory panel (More)

> Researchers demonstrate first fetus-to-fetus kidney tissue transplant; carried out using kidney tissue in rats, experiment may lead to treatments for human fetuses with fatal developmental conditions (More)

> Primordial black hole capture may explain the lack of pulsars—highly magnetized neutron stars—at the center of the Milky Way, new study suggests (More) | See 1440's new video explainer on the different types of black holes and how they're created (More, w/video)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close lower (S&P 500 -1.6%, Dow -1.5%, Nasdaq -2.0%) following higher-than-expected US wage data ahead of Federal Reserve's interest rate decision today (More)

> Starbucks shares fall over 11% in after-hours trading after missing revenue and earnings estimates, reports 4% quarterly drop in same-store sales (More) | Amazon tops revenue and earnings expectations as AI boom boosts cloud-computing unit (More) | Eli Lilly shares close up nearly 6% after beating revenue and earnings estimates, raises 2024 revenue forecast by $2B (More)

> WeWork strikes $450M restructuring deal to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy by end of May, rejecting financing bid from founder and former CEO Adam Neumann (More)


Politics & World Affairs
In partnership with International Intrigue

> US Drug Enforcement Administration reportedly set to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug, easing federal restrictions on the substance; will require sign-off from White House Office of Management and Budget (More) | Drug scheduling 101 (More)

> House Democratic leadership announces they will vote to keep House Speaker Mike Johnson (R, LA-4) in his role if Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R, GA-14) forces a vote to oust Johnson (More) | Former President Donald Trump fined $9K for violating gag order nine times in criminal hush money trial in New York (More)

> Indonesia's Mount Ruang volcano erupts again, less than two weeks after its first eruption since 2002; latest eruption forces 12,000 people to evacuate, prompts tsunami warning (More) | See previous write-up (More)

SOURCE:  1440 News

The World Learned From Us

 

You may find what is going on in the USA disturbing...  but I do not.

I am not talking about all the shit that is happening on college campuses per se but how organized it is.

After WWII, the rest of the world had been literally destroyed by all the bombing that took place while the USA, except for Pearl Harbor WAS UNTOUCHED.

Consequently, the USA rebuilt the rest of the world and because of that our government got very egotistical about itself...  that is to say that the US government made the decision that only the USA knows what is best for the rest of the world.

We pushed our BRAND OF DEMOCRACY on the rest of the world whether they wanted it or not.  Most of these countries DID NOT WANT our brand of democracy.  That did not matter to us because we pushed it on them anyway.

Over the years, other countries started sending students to US for college education and gradually we taught them what we had been doing to them.  Some of the countries like those belonging to OPEC used the economics we taught them and raised the price of oil based upon our demand.

Our countries learned our military tactics while others learned our technologies.  These foreign students would return home to their countries and started building products and selling them to us cheaper than we could make them in the USA.

Government leaders HAD NO CLUE as to what was going on.

Between 1970-2000, we would use black operations to influence the elections in other countries...  these operations not only included staging riots and protests but influence local media to print stories that were not true, hoping to influence public opinion.

China and Russia are currently involved in the same practice here in the USA that came to light in the 2016 Presidential election.

The protests that are taking place on college campuses are funded by wealthy people and foreign countries to change the social dynamics in the USA...

We as a WHOLE SOCIETY are stupid in that we think what we are seeing is a bunch of spoiled brat college students.  It goes much deeper than that.  Much of this nonsense is controlled by the progressive wing of the Democratic party.

Since 2016, I have come to realize that whatever the Democrats accused the Republicans of doing, it is really them that are doing it, not the republicans.  What helps sell this concept is the liberal media that supports only the Democratic Party.

Wake up before it is too late.

The Canoe Race

A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (General Motors) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.

On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.

The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.

Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people paddling and 1 person steering, while the American team had 7 people steering and 2 people paddling.

Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion.

They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were paddling

Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent another loss to the Japanese, the paddling team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 2 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.

They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 2 people paddling the boat greater incentive to work harder . It was called the 'Rowing Team Quality First Program, with meetings, dinners and free pens for the paddlers.

There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices, and bonuses. The pension program was trimmed to 'equal the competition' and some of the resultant savings were channeled into morale boosting programs and teamwork posters.

The next year the Japanese won by two miles.

Humiliated, the American management laid off one paddler, halted development of a new canoe , sold all the paddles, and cancelled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses.

The next year, try as he might, the lone designated paddler was unable to even finish the race (having no paddles), so he was laid off for unacceptable performance, all canoe equipment was sold and the next year's racing team was out-sourced to India.

Sadly, the End.

Here's something else to think about:

GM has spent the last thirty years moving all its factories out of the US claiming they can't make money paying American wages.

TOYOTA has spent the last thirty years building more than a dozen plants inside the US.

The last quarter's results:

TOYOTA makes 4 billion in profits while GM rack s up 9 billion in losses.

GM folks are still scratching their heads, and collecting bonuses....

IF THIS WEREN'T SO TRUE IT MIGHT BE FUNNY.

China is Developing Space Weapons

 China is developing anti-satellite weapons as part of a “breathtaking” military expansion, US defense experts have warned Gen Stephen Whiting.

Get info without leaving the page., the head of the US Space Command, said Beijing had “tripled the number of intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance satellites on orbit” in just six years.

“Frankly, the People’s Republic of China is moving at breathtaking speed in space and they are rapidly developing a range of counter-space weapons to hold at risk our space capabilities,” Gen Whiting said.


Counter-space attacks range from disruption of GPS signals or spoofing, to destroying a satellite by detonating a missile in space.

Experts have long warned of Beijing’s misuse of anti-satellite weapons and the need to clean up space from an environmental perspective. Debris still lingers in space from the ballistic missile China fired in 2007 to destroy an orbiting satellite.  READ MORE... 

Waiting for a Friend

 

Senator Kennedy Warns

 

Russian Typhoon-class Submarines

Summary: Tom Clancy's "The Hunt for Red October" features the Soviet Typhoon-class submarine, chosen for its formidable size and capabilities, which outstripped even America's Ohio-class in terms of terror potential. These submarines, built for absolute destruction, were equipped with nuclear and conventional armaments, and featured unique designs like saunas and swimming pools for crew comfort. 

Portrayed as a doomsday weapon in the film, the Typhoon-class represented the pinnacle of Soviet naval engineering, embodying the Cold War era's fears and strategic dynamics. Decommissioned in 2021, they've since been replaced by the more advanced Borei-class submarines.

“British intelligence obtained these pictures two days ago. She’s the Red October. The latest Typhoon-class,” Jack Ryan explained, laying out the grainy black-and-white surveillance images of the latest Soviet undersea behemoth. 

“She’s a big son of a b----!” Admiral Greer huffed, as he reviewed the blurred images splayed across the square oak able in his office on the seventh floor at CIA headquarters in Langley. “Twelve meters longer than the standard Typhoon. Three meters wider.” Ryan continued matter-of-factly.   READ MORE...

Somewhat Political

 

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> French actor Gérard Depardieu to face criminal trial in October in France over alleged sexual assault on a film set in 2021; Depardieu has been accused by more than a dozen women of sexual misconduct (More)

> English Premier League clubs agree in principle to salary cap; plan could become official this summer (More) | Mike Tyson's boxing match with YouTube influencer Jake Paul (July 20) to be classified as a sanctioned, professional fight (More)

> US actress Lily Gladstone, French actress Eva Green, and six others join filmmaker Greta Gerwig for competition jury at 2024 Cannes Film Festival (May 14-25) (More)


Science & Technology
In partnership with NativePath

> OpenAI strikes deal with UK news publisher the Financial Times; deal allows OpenAI to use content to train models, provide Financial Times content in ChatGPT responses (More)

> James Webb Space Telescope captures highest resolution of the Horsehead Nebula to date; interstellar dust cloud sits about 1,400 light-years away in the Orion constellation (More) | Zoom into the Horsehead Nebula (More, w/video)

> Researchers discover mechanism in fetal mice that heals damaged cartilage cells; discovery may lead to new treatments for joint and bone damage in humans (More)

Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +0.3%, Dow +0.4%, Nasdaq +0.4%); Dow set to finish April down nearly 4%, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq down nearly 3% (More)

> Paramount CEO Bob Bakish steps down as Paramount weighs merger with Skydance Media; Bakish will be replaced by trio of executives (More) | Royal Philips shares close up 27% after the Dutch medical devices giant agrees to pay $1.1B to settle US lawsuits over its recalled sleep apnea machines (More)

> Tesla shares close up 15% after China clears way for electric vehicle maker to deploy its advanced self-driving software (More) | US Supreme Court declines to hear Elon Musk's appeal over settlement agreement requiring US Securities and Exchange Commission to vet Musk's social media posts (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> Four officers killed, four others wounded in Charlotte, North Carolina, while serving arrest warrant; suspect found dead (More) | Federal court rules North Carolina and West Virginia's state healthcare plans are discriminatory for excluding certain care for transgender people; cases likely headed to Supreme Court (More)

> Roughly 50 people killed in western Kenya after dam collapses following heavy rain and flooding; more than 100 people have been killed due to flooding in Kenya in the past month (More)

> Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says he will not resign after announcing last week he was considering stepping down amid a corruption probe against his wife, Begoña Gómez (More)

SOURCE:  1440  News

Computer RIP OFF

 

Nowadays, if you are going to function in society at all, you need a smart phone and/or a computer:  laptop, ipad, or desktop...  although desktops are usually business oriented not for personal use at home since most of us are extremely mobile.

If you buy GEEK SQUAD protection at Best Buy, that service is only good for non-hardware related issues, primarily viruses and/or hacking issues.  So, if you want hardware protection, then you must sign another deal with the manufacturer.

And this is where the BIG RIP OFF OCCURS...

First of all, not all virus protection software will safe you from all hacking situations, therefore, you are put into a bind and forced to get GEEK SQUAD protection.  The alternatives are more expensive.

Just a few years ago, when you purchased a laptop, there was seldom a problem with the hardware, so GEEK SQUAD protection was all that you needed.

BUT...  the last three laptops that I have purchased, I have had keyboard issues.  Fortunately, these keyboard issues arrived when the laptops were almost three years old so it was time to replace anyway.  However, my latest laptop, a Dell Vostro, was purchased from DELL ONLINE and in less than a year, the laptop started developing keyboard issues.

Keyboard issues can be solved by attaching an external keyboard, but that sorta defeats the purpose of having a laptop...   the whole point of a laptop is because most of us are mobile and like to have a computer with us wherever we go and don't want to carry around an external keyboard.

So, it seems that not only do you need GEEK SQUAD protection from hackers and viruses, you now need hardware protection because the damn computer was not manufactured that well from the getgo.

Hardware protection for the first year came from Dell, so I am covered but I purchased an extended warranty for a year in order to keep my laptop protected...  mainly because I am not sure what else might CRAP OUT.

After two years, I don't give a shit because it is tim to upgrade anyway.

BUT THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY HAS THE CONSUMER BY THE BALLS AND THEY KNOW IT...  AND IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THEY DON'T CARE...

Bath Time

 

Atoms Morph into Quantum Waves

In the 1920s, the pioneering physicist Erwin Schrödinger formulated an equation that fundamentally transformed our understanding of the universe. Schrödinger's equation describes how particles can behave like waves, a concept that underpins much of quantum mechanics. 

Now, nearly a century later, researchers have made a remarkable advancement that perfectly recreates Schrödinger's predictions in the laboratory: capturing single atoms morphing into quantum waves.

A Historic Moment in Quantum Imaging
The recent breakthrough involves capturing images of individual atoms exhibiting wave-like behavior. This is a historic achievement, as it provides the clearest image ever seen of atoms behaving like quantum waves, just as predicted by Schrödinger's equation. 

This discovery opens up exciting possibilities for studying and understanding the exotic and often mysterious behavior of atoms at the quantum level.  READ MORE...

RFK Jr.

 

TED Talks

 

Clean Fusion Energy

A stellarator may sound like something cooked up in the laboratory of a supervillain, but a breakthrough with this device may help bring us clean fusion energy at an affordable price.

As detailed by Interesting Engineering, a team at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) developed the first stellarator with permanent magnets rather than electromagnets.

In other words, scientists created a device that generates a fusion reaction — the process that powers the sun and other stars — with refrigerator magnets.

"Using permanent magnets is a completely new way to design stellarators," graduate student Tony Qian explained to the online platform. "This technique allows us to test new plasma confinement ideas quickly and build new devices easily."  READ MORE...

Somewhat Political

 

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> The 2024 NFL Draft wrapped over the weekend; see draft grades for all 32 teams (More) | See complete list of all 257 picks (More)

> Harvey Weinstein hospitalized following his 2020 rape conviction being overturned by appeals court last week (More) | Taylor Swift scores her 14th Billboard No. 1 album with "The Tortured Poets Department," tying Jay-Z for most ever for a solo act (More)

> Two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker announces retirement (More) | NBA postseason continues; see latest bracket (More)



Science & Technology
In partnership with Global Air Cylinder Wheels

> Newly unveiled humanoid robot powered by generative AI learns new tasks in less than one day; previous generation from startup Sanctuary took two weeks (More, w/video) | Apple resumes talks with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT into its next mobile operating system (More)

> One in five samples of retail milk analyzed revealed traces of bird flu, likely from current outbreak among dairy cows; officials say products are safe to consume, no recalls issued (More) | See outbreak stats (More

> Researchers find link between Laron syndrome, which causes a rare form of dwarfism, and cardiovascular benefits; findings challenge conventional theory of the condition, point to potential treatments for other diseases (More)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher Friday (S&P 500 +1.0%, Dow +0.4%, Nasdaq +2.0%); gains driven in part by Alphabet and Microsoft earnings, and Alphabet's announcement of first-ever dividend as well as $70B stock buyback (More)

> Paramount board to reportedly fire CEO Bob Bakish; announcement expected as Paramount works toward merger with Skydance Media in coming weeks, including expected appointment of Skydance CEO David Ellison to lead Paramount (More)

> The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation closes Pennsylvania-based Republic First Bank Friday, the first lender to fail this year following Citizens Bank in November 2023; an estimated four to five regional banks close each year in strong economy (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> Hamas delegation to visit Egypt today; Israel's latest proposal reportedly offers cease-fire in exchange for the release of hostages (More) | World Central Kitchen to restart operations in Gaza weeks after Israel's deadly April 1 strike (More)

> Iraq's parliament passes law imposing a 10- to 15-year prison sentence for same-sex relations and one- to three-year sentence for gender-transition surgery (More) | More than 60 countries have laws criminalizing homosexuality (More)

> US health officials document the first known cases of HIV transmission via cosmetic needles; case occurred at an unlicensed medical spa in New Mexico (More)

SOURCE:  1440 News

The Great America

 

The USA has been involved in 12 major wars, has had 46 Presidents, numerous Congresses and Supreme Court justices and has survived a CIVIL WAR.  

After WWII, the USA pretty much rebuilt and refinanced all the major countries in the world.  Until recently, the USA has had the best K-12 education in the world and has more patents and copyrights than any other country in the world.  

Even though, China is rapidly growing its military, the MIGHT of the USA is superior to any other country in the world, including its nuclear power.  The USA has more natural resources than any other country in the world and FINALLY, the USA has MORE FREEDOMS than any other country in the world.

Case in Point:   Is it possible to go to any country in the world, other than the USA and stand in the street with a group of people chanting:

                            DEATH TO AMERICA

Could you do this in Iran?  Russia?  China?   Lebanon?  Syria?  North Korea?  and,  not  be immediately arrested and thrown in jail without a trial?

Obviously, the answer is NO...

Only in American can you do this shit and get away with it and this happens here because of our FREEDOMS.

Do you think we are bothered by 1,000 people chanting DEATH TO AMERICA?  or by 5,000?  or by 10,000?  or by 100,000?

What do you think those people chanting DEATH  TO AMERICA are going to replace America with?  Will they replace it with China?  Russia?  Iran? be Hamas?  Hezbollah?

Many Americans are saying if you hate America so much, why don't you leave and go back to where you came from?

Do you think your chanting on College Campuses is going to change American's Points of View?

You need to understand something...  college students are idealistic, naive, emotionally and mentally inexperienced with the way that society works...  not to mention what it is like to be a combat soldier in war.

By the time the college students are THIRTY, they will look back and wonder why they acted so STUPIDLY.  BUT, it is good that they acted stupidly in the Great America because no other country would have allowed them to do that!!!

Flower

 

The Universe & Dark Matter

Physicists have long theorized that our universe may not be limited to what we can see. By observing gravitational forces on other galaxies, they've hypothesized the existence of "dark matter," which would be invisible to conventional forms of observation.


Pran Nath, the Matthews Distinguished University Professor of physics at Northeastern University, says that "95% of the universe is dark, is invisible to the eye."


"However, we know that the dark universe is there by [its] gravitational pull on stars," he says. Other than its gravity, dark matter has never seemed to have much effect on the visible universe.    READ MORE...