Noteworthy News

[Fake Messiah]

The USDA is changing the way it labels genetically modified foods, moving away from GMOs (“genetically modified organisms”) and GEs (“genetically engineered”) to the totally not-ominous-sounding “bioengineered.” Because, you see, “GMO” sounded too scary. I’m sure no one will be put off by “bioengineered.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/...ood-rules/

[Fake Messiah]

Ted Cruz: Biden could face impeachment if GOP retakes House

"Democrats weaponized impeachment," he claimed. "The more you weaponize it and turn it into a partisan cudgel, you know, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander."

"I think there’ll be enormous pressure on a Republican House to begin impeachment proceedings."

https://www.axios.com/ted-cruz-biden-imp...c783c.html

So Ted just wants to avenge the guy who called his wife ugly and his dad JFK's assassin.

While the rest of the Republicans want to do it because totalitarian regimes get rid of their opponents.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Protests Erupt In Kazakhstan

Clashing with police and the army. Smashing windows and overturning cars. They've burned down the president's house. And this is over a hike in fuel prices. 

I have a new-found respect for Kazakhstanis.

Boru

[brewer]

Ghislaine Maxwell will appeal based on one of the jurors having a sexual abuse history and disclosed it during deliberation.

[The Valkyrie]

Protests Erupt In Kazakhstan

Clashing with police and the army. Smashing windows and overturning cars. They've burned down the president's house. And this is over a hike in fuel prices. 

I have a new-found respect for Kazakhstanis.

Boru

But I do this when the price of chocolate goes up and it's "vandalism", "arson", "you're under arrest!", and, "no. Please put the axe do-"!

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Happy Eugene Goodman Day, America!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Goo...e_officer)

Boru

[GUBU]

It sounds like this article was a criticism of one company and its shoddy clinical trial practices in general, and is not specifically a claim that the Covid trials are invalid.  However, it implies such a thing, and will thereby be used by anti-vaxers as "proof" that the Pfizer vaccine was never properly tested.  After reading the article, the breaches of protocol likely wouldn't have a huge impact on the results of something like COVID.  It isn't like the subconscious signals from a nurse who saw unmasked data is going to stop someone coughing their lungs out from COVID, or stop them from dying of a complication.

Here's the thing about science -- one really good trial can be definitive, but the problem with a single trial is that scientists don't actually have direct access to the protocols and procedures actually done.  They only have access to what is "claimed" to be have been done.  Scientists often take the reputation of the team into account, as well as the data.

Trials are best done by separate independent teams, in separate countries, as has been done for the COVID vaccines.

The FDA is nothing more than a rubber stamp.  They have no ability to police bad science.  Likewise, the FAA is also a rubber stamp, and can't police bad Boeing airplane software.

The science/scientists will work things out. I'm more concerned about Meta's "fact checking" policies and abilities. Based on this instance it sounds like more lip service than sincere effort.

Facebook has never done proper fact checking or moderation. It long ago decided that the big money was in pandering to the most deluded and most far right in society. Part of the reason why I nuked my account back in the day.

[brewer]

Cyber Ninjas, the company that led a partisan review of 2020 ballots in Arizona, is closing down following a scathing report by election officials and the threat of $50,000 a day in fines. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Hannah said he would impose a $50,000 fine against Cyber Ninjas every day until it hands over documents related to the so-called audit after the Arizona Republic newspaper filed a public records request, The Associated Press reported Thursday.

Jack Wilenchik, a lawyer for Cyber Ninjas, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

County election officials released a report Wednesday rebutting almost every claim in the ballot review. It concluded that nearly 80 claims made by Cyber Ninjas were misleading or false.

[Jackalope]

Also, Cyber Ninjas has laid off all of their employees.

Nope, nothing to see here

[Angrboda]