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There is clear evidence that COVID-19 is on the rise in New York City, the U.S., and other places around the world, but the late-summer surge in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths is so far more like an uptick than a wave, and those numbers remain low. There’s also a new highly mutated variant called BA.2.86 on the scene and a newly updated COVID booster shot on the horizon. Below is what to know — and why not to panic — about the state of COVID as we head into the first fall and winter since the official end of the...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said he worries about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), asserting that the Sunshine State’s leader is a “bully.” Newsom traveled to Texas — notably one of the states subject to California’s ban on “state-funded and state-sponsored travel” — over the weekend, speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin where he further expressed his newfound obsession with disliking DeSantis.

Every year, I look for important themes in sustainability that will have lasting impact on society, from glaring evidence of global megatrends to inspiring stories of corporate action. The year 2018 brought extreme change — in weather and environmental ecosystems, in political winds and power, and in the expectations of business. It also brought incredible clarity about the scale of our challenges and opportunities. So let’s start with the big picture before moving to some corporate success stories. The world’s scientists sound a final alarm on climate We have about 12 years left. That’s the clear message from a monumental...

My FreeRepublic born on date is 20 years old today, may FR last another 20 years!

TAIPEI iPhones might one day soon carry "Made in America" labels. (full article available at link, not copied because it requires setting up an account)

Israeli historian Yaacov Lozowick is in favor of continuing the settlement freeze that’s set to expire later this month — as long as the freeze is only in West Bank settlements that are actually up for discussion and that might plausibly be dismantled in a future peace deal with Palestinians. “Not in Modi’in Illit,” he said, referring to an ultra-Orthodox settlement immediately adjacent the Green Line, “which will remain in Israel no matter what, and certainly not in any part of Jerusalem.” Israel annexed all of Jerusalem decades ago. And while very few Jews move to and build in Arab...

In a video hitting the blogosphere today, real ordinary citizens tell their side of the Gulf oil crisis. Project Shining City has created the thirty-two minutes long video. Embedded inside it are shocking revelations about how the Obama administration and BP are ignoring a hurting people. As this film was created around Day 81, BP had not completed the capping of the well. Even though the cap appears to be holding today, the devastation of 87 days of spewing oil will have repercussions for the entire U.S. and for years to come. Highlights of the interviews: One man talks about...

The following are 50 random facts that show just how dramatically America has changed..

WASHINGTON — The prospect that U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal may ask for as many as 45,000 additional American troops in Afghanistan is fueling growing tension within President Barack Obama's administration over the U.S. commitment to the war there. On Monday, McChrystal sent his assessment of the situation in Afghanistan to the Pentagon , the U.S. Central Command, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and NATO . Although the assessment didn't include any request for more troops, senior military officials said they expect McChrystal later in September to seek between 21,000 and 45,000 more troops. There currently are 62,000 American troops...

Freemasons open a lodge at Buckingham Palace... but the Queen isn't amused By SARAH OLIVER - More by this author » Last updated at 23:59pm on 8th March 2008 Comments A Royal Mason: The Duke of Kent is the organisation's Grand Master A branch of the Freemasons secret society is being formed by members of the Royal Household and police who protect the Royal Family. And their decision to call it The Royal Household Lodge has put them on a collision course with Buckingham Palace – as has their plan to co-opt the royal cipher – EIIR – for their...

Hi all, My brother Lucas, (Age 25) had a seizure today while just sitting and talking with my mom and grandmother. He's never had a case of seizures before, his blood sugar was normal, the bloodwork test came out normal, the cat scan showed nothing wrong with his brain. tomorrow he goes in for an EEG. None of this makes sense. He has been under a lot of preasure lately with studying at school and his job. and he has complained about feeling a bit light headed lately and had a couple of fainting spells last week. I'm asking for...

What the US knows about visitors The US has data on all passengers 15 minutes after take-off European and US officials have been holding last-minute negotiations to renew a deal on the transfer of airline passenger data before it runs out on Saturday. There have been warnings of chaos if agreement is not reached. Airlines would face massive fines if they flew to the US without supplying the data - and they could be prosecuted under European data protection laws if they did. It is likely there would be huge queues at US immigration, as officials scrutinised the tickets of...

A man accused of plotting to detonate bombs in Britain acknowledged talking about blowing up the Houses of Parliament, but said the suggestion was meant as a joke. Omar Khyam, 24, who is standing trial along with six others, denies conspiring to cause an explosion. He told jurors at London's Central Criminal Court that, while watching Prime Minister Tony Blair take questions in the House of Commons in "we just made a comment 'Can you imagine if you dropped a bomb right there and then? You would take out all the MPs (members of Parliament)." Khyam confirmed it was he...

Sky Lights: Confused About Your Direction? If you lack a sense of personal trajectory, astronomers can help. By Bob Berman DISCOVER Vol. 27 No. 09 | September 2006 | Space Throughout most of history, humanity hasn't had a clue about where it's going. The idea that we're all being whisked through space aboard a spinning Earth was alien even to brilliant thinkers like Aristotle and Pythagoras. The first to argue that our planet is in motion was Heracleides, who in 350 B.C. maintained that Earth turns on an axis. A century later, Aristarchus of Samos earned a lot of laughs...

JOKES about Jews and the Holocaust have become increasingly common at the Edinburgh Fringe as comedians tackle one of the last taboos. Some think that controversy over Israeli attacks on Lebanon have made Jewish history and beliefs worthy topics for stand-up routines. But one comedian has apologised after his outburst offended Jewish comedians and audience members. Steve Hughes, an Australian stand-up, told The Times that he regretted describing Richard Perle, an advisor to President George Bush, as “that f***ing Jew Richard Perle”. The comment, in his show The Storm, offended audience members including Jamie Glassman, a Jewish comedy writer. Glassman...

Toxic Tides: Another reason to worry about hurricanes Sid Perkins When Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne struck Florida in the summer of 2004, they killed 116 people, left thousands homeless, and caused billions of dollars in damage. Now, scientists suggest that the storms may also have triggered an intense, widespread Gulf of Mexico algae bloom that afflicted the state's western coast throughout 2005. DANGER ZONE. The red-and-yellow patch of Gulf of Mexico water off Tampa Bay shows the origin of last year's huge red tide, which may have been fueled by nutrient-rich groundwater discharges boosted by 2004 hurricanes. Hu,...

As America's soldiers fight overseas, they are maligned back at home. Our wars, critics contend, are being fought on the backs of the poor, the non-white and the unqualified. They're wrong. Many Americans believe that we have a mercenary Army made up of poor, ignorant farm boys, slum dwellers, school rejects and kids who can't find a decent job. They hear this in the media all the time. It is a subtle, constant campaign propagating the myth of the underprivileged soldier. In the New York Times, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) published an opinion piece on Dec. 31, 2002, claiming that...

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday warned his government would blow up its own oil fields if the United States ever were to attack - the latest in a series of heating warnings against Washington. US officials have repeatedly denied any military plans against Chavez, but also have called him a threat to stability in the region. Speaking to other South American leaders, Chavez said his conflict with the US is rooted in Washington's thirst for oil. If the US were to attack, Chavez said Wednesday, "we'll do like the Iraqis. We won't have any other alternative - blow up...

3/31/2006 - KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) -- “Service Before Self,” one of the Air Force’s core values, is on the minds of 135 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets who are working during their alternative spring break in areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The project is part of the Cadet Service Learning program which centers on community involvement. “CSL takes this core value from theoretical concepts of the classroom and a training environment,” said Maj. Eric Ecklund, of the academy’s Center for Character Development. “It allows cadets to put it to the test in real situations, meeting the needs...

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Moody's Investors Service on Friday placed New York Times Co.'s (NYT) A2 senior unsecured long term debt, and P-1 commercial paper ratings on review for possible downgrade. The agency said the review is prompted by Moody's growing concerns about the media company's high financial leverage, deteriorating operating margins and weak free cash flow available for debt reduction, combined with concerns over intensifying cross media competition, including the Internet, and growing event risk in the newspaper sector. A multi-notch ratings transition will be considered in light of the company's financial and operating challenges, Moody's said.