Bologna

 

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> The 152nd British Open kicks off today from Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland; see preview and opening round tee times (More)

> "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed requests her March conviction be tossed after Alec Baldwin's case dismissal (More) | Naomi Pomeroy, James Beard Award-winning chef and "Top Chef Masters" star, dies at 49 in tubing accident (More)

> Angel City FC becomes world's most valuable woman's sports franchise after Willow Bay and her husband, Disney CEO Bob Iger, buy majority stake, valuing the soccer club at $250M (More)


Science & Technology
> The hallucinogen psilocybin temporarily resets entire brain circuits that govern a person's sense of space and time when taken at high enough doses; study sheds light on the mechanism behind "tripping" on the drug (More)

> Engineers unveil smallest, lightest solar-powered drone to date; vehicle is roughly 8 inches in size and can fly indefinitely in the sun (More)

> Crown-of-thorns starfish larvae, a prolific eater of coral reefs, thrive on toxic blue-green algae; discovery suggests increased presence of the bacteria could drive the starfish population, further threatening reefs (More)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 -1.4%, Dow +0.6%, Nasdaq -2.8%); Nasdaq records worst day since December 2022 as tech stocks fall on report of Biden administration considering trade restrictions against China (More)

> Ray Ban-maker EssilorLuxottica to buy streetwear brand Supreme from VF Corporation for $1.5B; deal represents the eyewear maker's first venture into apparel (More)

> United Airlines reports 23% year-over-year rise in Q2 profits, partly due to demand for international travel (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> Department of Homeland Security's inspector general announces an investigation into Secret Service's handling of Saturday assassination attempt (More) | House Oversight Committee subpoenas Secret Service director (More)

> US military to dismantle Gaza pier designed to carry aid to Palestinians via Cyprus after being damaged by weather; future aid will be delivered to Ashdod, Israel, and transported by truck (More) | See latest updates on the war (More)

> Former CIA analyst Sue Mi Terry charged with espionage, accused of spying for South Korea in exchange for $37K and gifts including luxury goods, bags, and meals (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

It's Just Politics

 

For most of us, we see politics as a NECESSARY EVIL...  but for politicians, at least at the beginning, they believe they can change the world.  After one term in Congress, either the House or the Senate, they soon learn that politics is about what the leaders say it is about, raising money for re-election, and doing what is necessary to get the party behind you so that you can get re-elected.

For the average American, we feel like we cannot change this political behavior and that our best chance is HOPE FOR THE BEST.

In part, this is/is not what our Founding Fathers wanted.  Our Founding Fathers were the elite, the educated, the intellectual, and all of them thought they knew what was best for America.

They wanted the public to think that there were involved with controlling government through their VOTE, but in reality, our Founding Fathers, did not trust the general public at all.

This is exactly why they created the ELECTORAL COLLEGE...  don't take my word for it, do research on this and see for yourself.

Its just politics is what most of us feel along with feeling powerless to change the concept of it being just politics.

For example, one way to solve our political problems and concerns is to have term limits for all politicians...  however, it is the elected politicians who have to create and pass a bill that would RUIN THEIR GRAVY TRAIN.

What are the odds that they will limit their own terms of OFFICE?

1000 to 1?

1,000,000 to 1?

The general public has to accept what these wealthy, and privileged ELITES think or perceive what is best for the rest of us.

Personally, I think this is BULLSHIT...

Somewhat Political

 

Einstein Ring Seen by James Webb Telescope

A massive galaxy (blue dot) warps the light emitted by an active black hole (orange dots) in a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. | Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA

A beautiful, "bejeweled" halo of warped light generated by a monster black hole takes center stage in one of the latest James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) images. The luminous loop, which is strikingly similar to an "Einstein ring," is adorned by four bright spots — but not all of them are real.

The star-studded halo in the new image is made up of light from a quasar — a supermassive black hole at the heart of a young galaxy that shoots out powerful energy jets as it gobbles up enormous amounts of matter. This quasar, previously known to scientists, is named RX J1131-1231 and is located around 6 billion light-years from Earth in the constellation Crater, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).

Deep Purple

 

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> "Hillbilly Elegy" tops Amazon's bestseller list one day after its author Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) is tapped as former President Donald Trump's vice presidential candidate (More)

> Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, former NBA player and father of Kobe Bryant, dies at age 69 (More) | Evan Wright, journalist and author known for "Generation Kill," dies at age 59 (More)

> Los Angeles Police Department investigating Richard Simmons' death; the TV fitness icon was found dead at his home Saturday at age 76 (More)


Science & Technology
> Electric vehicle maker Lucid says its new Air Pure sedan is the most efficient ever made; car reportedly achieves 5 miles per kilowatt-hour, the equivalent of 146 miles per gallon of fuel, with a range of 420 miles (More)

> Neuroscientists reveal how propofol, a common anesthetic, knocks out patients; drug prevents the brain from controlling overly excited neurons, forcing it into an unconscious state (More)

> Astronomers discover 21 separate pairs of neutron stars—the ultradense cores of dead stars too small to form black holes—orbiting stars similar to the sun (More, w/video)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +0.6%, Dow +1.9%, Nasdaq +0.2%) with the Dow seeing its best day in a year (More) | Gold price jumps to record high of over $2,460 an ounce on expectations of September interest rate cuts (More)

> Elon Musk to move SpaceX and X headquarters from California to Texas, citing new law; California's first-in-the-country law forbids school districts from requiring staff to notify parents if a child changes their gender identification (More)

> Ozy Media cofounder and CEO Carlos Watson is convicted of fraud for lying to investors about the now-defunct company's finances and touting fake deals with Google and Oprah Winfrey; Watson faces up to 37 years in prison (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> Secret Service officials reveal former President Donald Trump's security detail had been increased in recent weeks due to an Iranian assassination threat; threat believed to be unrelated to Saturday's attempt (More) | Investigators continue to search for motive in Saturday's attack; see latest details (More)

> Israeli airstrikes kill more than 60 people in southern and central Gaza, per Hamas-run Health Ministry, including areas Israel had declared safe zones (More) | See latest updates on the war (More)

> Student protests in Bangladesh erupt into clashes, leaving at least five people dead; university students have been protesting quotas reserving 30% of government jobs for relatives of veterans in the country's 1971 war for independence (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

Right Things or Things Right

 

A few years ago, Steven Covey published a self-help book entitled SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFEDTIVE PEOPLE...

One of his habits was doing right things or doing things right...

Most of the people will tell you that doing right things is what all leaders should be focused on...  and while that makes sense, if you don't do those right things in the right way, then doing right things will be a meaningless task.

Let me give you an example.

The right thing to do is to mow your grass when it needs mowing rather than letting it grow until it tassels.  Everybody would readily agree with that. 

However, if you mow your grass on such a low level that the mower sends out grass clippings that smothers the remaining grass then it is again easy to see that this right thing was not done right.

A supervisor should delegate tasks to their subordinates so that they are not put in a position to do the work themselves.  However, if they do not delegate those tasks appropriately, then more than likely the tasks will need to be redone.  That is to say, you delegate tasks to those employees that have the skills and abilities to do those tasks.

Right Things versus Things Right

 

The problem that many of us face is that we sometimes cannot distinguish between doing right things versus things right.  If that is one of our problems and are willing to admit that flaw, then we no longer needed to be a supervisor until we can differentiate between the two comcepts.

Somewhat Political

 

A Very Ancient Temple and Theater

Field Museum scientist Luis Muro Ynoñán with the carving of a mythological bird creature in La Otra Banda, Cerro Las Animas. Ucupe Cultural Landscape Archaeological Project
CNN —




Archaeologists in Peru have unearthed the remains of what they believe are a 4,000-year-old temple and theater, shining a new light on the origins of complex religions in the region.

The team began studying the new archaeological site of La Otra Banda, Cerro Las Animas, in June. Last year, the local government alerted them to looting that had been taking place near the northern Peruvian town of Zaña, according to a press release from the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois, Wednesday.

They excavated a plot roughly 33 feet long and 33 feet wide, finding signs of ancient walls made of mud and clay at just six feet deep.      READ MORE...

Three Dog Night

 

Can You See?

 

Voters

 

White

 

Hungry???

 

Rights

 

Filibuster

 

To Biden of Not to Biden

 I am not affiliated with any political party and if I were to classify myself, I would say that I am a liberal conservative...

Bill Barr who was the US Attorney General under President Trump, who does not really support Trump for a variety of personal reasons, SAYS that he is voting for Trump because he is the lesser of the two evils...

WOW...  what does that say about our choices for the 2024 Presidential Election?

Whatever it is, it is NOT GOOD.

My thinking is that I agree with Barr.

I agree with him because of the lesser of the two evils is accurate but also for the following reasons as well:

1. Biden has some form of dementia
2. The liberal policies of the Democrats are not working
3. I do not want illegal immigrants in our country
4. I want lower taxes
5. I want a healthy economy
6. I want a strong military
7. We need to do something about our national debt

The racial issues that are going on in this country are somewhat embarrassing but unfortunately, they have been around since the 1960s.  They are rearing their ugly heads again which to me is somewhat cyclical.

Logically and statistically, a race that only represents 12% of the general public cannot seek out a majority against a race that represents 60% of the population.  Consequently, there will always be a White/Caucasian majority no matter how loud the BLACKS BITCH AND PROTEST.

But more importantly is the future success of the United States of America which is now in question because our 50 states are hardly UNITED.

Politics and HATE underscore this division.  If you think that Biden who has dementia and who is obviously being told what to do from someone like Obama, can solve this DISUNITY problem by the policies that he has put into place, then you should vote for him and keep him in office.

If you don't think Biden's policies are hurting the USA, then don't vote for him.  It is that simple.

PUT HATE AND POLITICS ASIDE AND VOTE FOR THAT PERSON WHO YOU THINK WILL MAKE THE USA BETTER THAN IT IS TODAY.

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Argentina edges Colombia 1-0 in extra time to win a record 16th Copa América championship (More) | Twenty-seven arrested amid security breach at main entry gate, which caused a delayed start to the Copa América (More)

> Disney investigating hacking after a trove of internal communications data was leaked by a hacktivist artists' rights group (More)

> The American League takes on the National League in tonight's (8 pm ET, Fox) 94th MLB All-Star game (More) | MLB Draft continues today; see complete draft tracker (More)


Science & Technology
> AT&T reportedly pays $300K ransom to hacker group to delete stolen data following the company's second major breach in three months (More)

> Researchers pinpoint gene capable of slowing the aggressive spread of pancreatic cancer; gene produces the molecule HNF4A, and gets "switched off" in early stages of the disease (More)

> Gulf War Illness explained in new study; mysterious illness, affecting up to one-third of veterans from the 1990-91 Gulf War, likely caused by intestinal exposure to biological and chemical agents (More)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +0.3%, Dow +0.5%, Nasdaq +0.4%), with Dow closing at a record high; Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signals the Fed won't wait until annual inflation hits 2% before cutting interest rates (More)

> Amazon kicks off Prime Day 48-hour sale today; this year's Prime Day expected to set record in US online spending, with an estimated $14B in total sales (More)

> Macy's ends buyout talks to go private for $6.9B with activist investors Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management; Macy's shares close down 12% (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> Gambian lawmakers uphold ban on female genital mutilation, reversing course months after an initial vote; despite the ban, the practice remains widespread in Gambia, with more than 70% of girls and women undergoing the procedure (More) | What is FGM? (More)

> Moscow court convicts US journalist Masha Gessen in absentia for violating Russia's law criminalizing criticism of Russian war in Ukraine (More) | See latest updates on the war (More)

> Rwandan President Paul Kagame expected to extend his 30-year rule after defeating two candidates permitted to run against him in yesterday's election (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

Divided We Fall

As a group of like-minded citizens, Americans living in the United States are divided.

How are we divided?

• Politically
• Racially
• Gender
• Spiritually 

There is an insurmountable divide between LIBERALS and CONSERVATIVES where Liberals include those who are socialists and where Conservatives include those who are ultra-religious.

Those of us who were born in the 1940s and early 1950s are overwhelmingly concerned that this division will finally break us...  and the democratic republic experiment will once and for all be over.

On the one hand, it is a natural progression of an advanced society like the USA to give its citizens an abundance of gifts so that everyone can share in the wealth.  However, those that are wealthy do not see it that way, instead preferring to spend their money on themselves or on legacies so that their names will be remembered for hundreds of years.

EGO - GREED - VANITY will one day bite us in the ass if it has not done so already.

• Why do movie stars need to be paid millions of dollars to be in a movie?
• Why do professional athletes need to be paid millions of dollars to play basketball, baseball, or football.
• Why do billionaires need several homes, several private jets when they ignore all those who contributed money or purchased the products that made them that wealthy?

As the people demand more, the government is forced to raise taxes and all the wealthy stash their money in offshore bank accounts to avoid paying their fair share of taxes - NOBODY WANTS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT...   WHY???

• Wealthy people do not fight wars
• Wealthy people do not pay taxes
• Wealthy people live under different laws
• Wealthy people considered themselves privileged
• Wealthy people look down on the rest of us
• Wealthy people are selfish and self-centered

Wealthy people need the common man to maintain their wealth and one day that will change, and we will see a bunch of wealthy people bitching and moaning because they finally have to share.

UNTIL THEN WE WILL REMAIN DIVIDED

Somewhat Political

 

Sea Turtles in Emerald Isle

All twelve nests in Emerald Isle have been laid by loggerhead sea turtles.



Another sea turtle nest was discovered Monday morning in Emerald Isle -- the twelfth of the season and nearing last year’s total of fifteen.

All twelve nests have been laid by loggerhead sea turtles.

Nesting and hatching season runs from May 1 to November 15.

Sea turtles are protected in North Carolina, and tampering with them or their nests can result in fines up to $50,000 and a year in jail.

Jimi Hendrix

 

Lying

 

A Political Army

 

Fried Foods

 

Speeches

 

Racism

 

Dessert

 

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Spain tops England 2-1 to win record fourth UEFA European Championship (More) | Copa América final delayed over an hour as fans break through entry gates (More) | Cleveland Guardians take Oregon State's Travis Bazzana with top pick in 2024 MLB Draft (More)

> Richard Simmons, iconic TV fitness guru, dies at age 76 (More) | Shannen Doherty, actress best known for "Beverly Hills, 90210," dies at age 53 of breast cancer (More) | Dr. Ruth Westheimer, pioneering sex therapist, dies at age 96 (More)

> Carlos Alcaraz tops Novak Djokovic to win back-to-back Wimbledon titles (More) | ... and Barbora Krejcikova edges Jasmine Paolini to win her second career Grand Slam singles championship (More)


Science & Technology
> OpenAI reportedly working on AI model capable of advanced reasoning; project, codenamed "Strawberry," would navigate the internet on its own and perform deep research (More) | The short history and rapid rise of OpenAI (More, w/video)

> Oldest-known relative of modern spiders identified in nearly 500-million-year-old fossil; the specimen lived in what is now the South Pole, family includes scorpions and horseshoe crabs (More)

> 3D imaging reveals the last meal of a crocodile mummified by ancient Egyptians; researchers believe the animal was deliberately caught by fishermen for a ritual (More) | Ancient Egypt 101 (More, w/video)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher Friday (S&P 500 +0.6%, Dow +0.6%, Nasdaq +0.6%) with gains partially driven by Caterpillar and Home Depot (More)

> Alphabet is reportedly in final talks to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz for $23B; acquisition would mark the largest purchase ever for Google's parent company (More)

> Cost of First-Class postage stamps rise by 5 cents, tied for highest-ever jump as US Postal Service navigates reduced volume and a projected net loss of $6.3B this fiscal year (More)

Politics & World Affairs
> President Joe Biden cancels planned trip to Texas following assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump; live interview with NBC News' Lester Holt reportedly still on track to air tonight at 9 pm ET (More) | See Biden's address following the assassination attempt (More, w/video)

> UN-mediated cease-fire talks underway for Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces to end 15-month war that has left over 19,000 people dead and over 33,000 wounded, per UN figures (More)

> North Korea threatens to resume campaign of sending trash-filled balloons to South Korea as sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un accuses South Korea of continuing to send leaflets into the country (More)

SOURCE:  1440  NEWS