Society's ChildS


Laptop

Facebook to stop exempting politicians from censorship, building on Trump ban - reports


RT
Fri, 04 Jun 2021 01:58 UTC
facebook magnifying glass
© Dreamstime
Facebook is planning to end its policy that shields politicians from content moderation rules, the Verge reported on Thursday.

The reported change comes as Facebook is expected to announce its response to recommendations made by the company's oversight board when it ruled on the firm's suspension of Donald Trump.

As part of its non-binding recommendations, the board said the same rules should apply to all users and that Facebook's existing policies, such as deciding when material is too newsworthy to remove or when to take actions on an influential account, need to be more clearly communicated to users.

The change in the social network's policy is set to be announced as soon as Friday, according to the report. Facebook declined to comment.

Tech platforms have grappled in recent years with how to police world leaders and politicians who violate their guidelines. Facebook and Twitter have long held that politicians should be given greater latitude in their speech on platforms than ordinary users.
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Take 2

Response to Fauci's emails proves everything is fake, narrative management trumps reality, and those in power want it that way

Nebojsa Malic
RT
Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:11 UTC
Psake Zients and Fauci
© Reuters/Tom BrennerPress Secretary Jen Psaki and Covid-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients look on as Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks with reporters at the White House, April 13, 2021.
Watching the media coverage - or lack thereof - of Dr. Anthony Fauci's emails and what they mean for the origin of the coronavirus, one is struck by how relentlessly fake everything is, from public health experts to science.

One of the things the emails suggest is that Fauci colluded with Peter Daszak - head of the EcoHealth Alliance, which channeled US research funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology - to suppress and dismiss any notion that the virus causing Covid-19 may not have evolved naturally.

Thing is, Daszak actually went around giving interviews about his work in China throughout last year, and nobody in the media thought to connect the dots. Simply put, Donald Trump said the virus came from China and might have come from a lab, therefore that had to be wrong and racist, end of story, case closed.

That's just one, most recent and most acute example of Narrative trumping reality at all cost. Millions of deaths, widespread destruction of the economy, tectonic changes in society itself? Small price to pay for "progress" and ensuring the "correct" outcome of the 2020 election, the fortifiers of Our Democracy might say, without anyone batting an eye. "Build back better!" the press parrots instead.
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Snowflake

Well-paid AOC roasted after posting photo of grandma's dilapidated Puerto Rico home and blaming Trump

Morgan Phillips
Fox News
Thu, 03 Jun 2021 23:42 UTC
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
© Fox News
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted a photo of her grandmother's Puerto Rico home in a state of disrepair in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria to demonstrate how the U.S. had blocked relief to the territory, but some questioned why she hadn't offered to help repair the home herself.

"Just over a week ago, my abuela fell ill. I went to Puerto Rico to see her- my 1st time in a year+ bc of COVID. This is her home. Hurricane María relief hasn't arrived. Trump blocked relief $ for PR," the New York Democrat wrote on Twitter. "People are being forced to flee ancestral homes, & developers are taking them."

Conservative commentator Matt Walsh shot back: "Shameful that you live in luxury while allowing your own grandmother to suffer in these squalid conditions."

"You don't even have a concept for the role that 1st-gen, first-born daughters play in their families," Ocasio-Cortez replied. "My abuela is okay. But instead of only caring for mine & letting others suffer, I'm calling attention to the systemic injustices you seem totally fine w/ in having a US colony."

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Car Black

US traffic deaths soar to 38,680 in 2020; highest yearly total since 2007

David Shepardson
Reuters
Thu, 03 Jun 2021 23:24 UTC
Traffic
© REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski/File Photo
U.S. traffic deaths soared after coronavirus lockdowns ended in 2020, hitting the highest yearly total since 2007 as more Americans engaged in unsafe behavior on U.S. roads, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Thursday.

For all of 2020, 38,680 people died on U.S. roads - up 7.2% or nearly 2,600 more than in 2019, even though Americans drove 13% fewer miles, preliminary data showed. The fatality rate hit 1.37 deaths per 100 million miles, the highest figure since 2006.

In the second half of 2020, the number of traffic deaths was up more than 13%.

NHTSA said the main behaviors that drove this increase included impaired driving, speeding and failure to wear seat belts.

Deaths involving motorists not wearing seat belts were up 15%, speeding related deaths jumped by 10% and fatal crashes involving alcohol rose 9%.

Michigan said traffic deaths in the state rose 10% in 2020 to the highest number since 2007, even as crashes fell 22% and injuries fell 22%.
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Megaphone

Peter Hitchens' reactionary conservatism is, at times, hilarious - his fear that we have traded freedom for safety is anything but

Rob Lyons
RT
Wed, 02 Jun 2021 17:33 UTC
hitchens
© YouTube / Unlocked
The journalist traced what he claims is the 'slow death of freedom' in Britain since 1914. While he is at times comically traditional, it is hard to argue with his conclusion that many people have forgotten the value of liberty.

Peter Hitchens is a dyed-in-the-wool conservative. In an interview for Unlocked, Hitchens even describes himself as a 'reactionary'. His theme is the loss of freedom in the UK and while his uber-conservative views mean he has a very different take on freedom from me, he's quite right to be concerned about our society's general loss of concern with the issue of liberty.

In the late Sixties and early Seventies, Hitchens was a member of the International Socialists, forerunner of the Socialist Workers' Party. But his views have changed radically since then, one reason why he fell out with his equally famous journalist brother, Christopher. These days, Peter is a Christian, pro-family, anti-drugs, right-wing newspaper columnist.
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Target

Minnesota prosecutors seek 30-year sentence for Derek Chauvin

Jordan Williams
The Hill
Wed, 02 Jun 2021 22:52 UTC
Derek Chauvin
© UPIDerek Chauvin
Prosecutors in Minnesota are seeking a 30-year prison sentence for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd.

Prosecutors wrote in a court filing on Wednesday that the sentence — twice the upper end of the recommended sentencing range — would "properly account for the profound impact" of Chauvin's actions on Floyd's family and the community.

"Defendant cruelly murdered Mr. Floyd in public view. His actions traumatized Mr. Floyd's family — Mr. Floyd's daughter, his siblings, his cousins, his aunts and uncles, his nephews and nieces. None of them will ever be able to see their beloved 'Perry' again," prosecutors wrote.

In separate filings, an attorney for Chauvin argued that he should get probation, and that his incarceration should be limited to time already served.

Eric Nelson told the court to consider Chauvin's age, lack of criminal history, cooperation in the investigation, and attitude in court. He further said that Chauvin was unaware that he was committing a crime, and said it was best described as an error in his experience as an officer.

Comment: See also: Minnesota cop Chauvin found guilty of 'murdering' George Floyd, faces up to 75 years in prison - Leftists, led by Biden, demand 'moar justice'

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Magnify

Plane from Chad evacuated at Paris airport over bomb threat

Henry Batyaev
Sputnik
Thu, 03 Jun 2021 15:42 UTC
airport
© AP Photo / Christophe Ena
According to the French interior minister, the government has established an interministerial crisis unit to investigate the suspected bomb threat.

An Air France plane travelling from N'Djamena to Paris was evacuated upon landing at Charles de Gaulle Airport due to the suspected presence of an explosive device, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Thursday. Following a search of the plane, a bomb disposal squad found no explosives on board.

Earlier, Darmanin said that the plane had successfully landed at the airport without incident and had been isolated.

Comment: This story comes on the heels of the alleged bomb threat that led to a plane being forced to land in Belarus: Belarus accused of 'hijacking' Ryanair flight after bomb threat forces landing in Belarus, EU claims blogger is arrested

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Quenelle

NPR ripped on social media after they publish a gender identity 'glossary' & tips on proper pronoun usage: 'A complete guide to lunacy'


RT
Thu, 03 Jun 2021 19:32 UTC
gender pronouns
NPR has riled social media after releasing a comprehensive guide to gender-identity terms and pronouns, with many accusing the outlet of being disconnected from how people actually interact with each other.

Compiled with assistance from various LGBTQ organizations, the glossary and FAQ list was created in an effort to help NPR readers navigate the seemingly endlessly expanding lexicon of gender-identity-related language.

"Our goal is to help people communicate accurately and respectfully with one another," the broadcaster wrote, adding: "Proper use of gender identity terms, including pronouns, is a crucial way to signal courtesy and acceptance."

NPR acknowledged, however, that the guide was "not exhaustive" and is "Western and US-centric" - perhaps an indirect admission that it may not even be relevant in many countries.

Comment: Pronouns are another 'laser-pointer' distraction to keep people at each others' throats. Amazing that hyping such a trivial non-issue has been so effective.

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Magic Wand

Elon Musk's girlfriend Grimes argues that embracing AI could lead to communist utopia


RT
Thu, 03 Jun 2021 10:42 UTC
Grimes
© AFP / Robyn BeckCanadian singer-songwriter Grimes (Claire Elise Boucher) attends the world premiere of "Captain Marvel" in Hollywood, California, on March 4, 2019.
Canadian singer Grimes has come under considerable suspicion after billing artificial intelligence as a means to usher in communism, with many pointing to her relationship with billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk as a red flag.

The popular musical artist, whose real name is Claire Boucher, made the provocative remarks in a TikTok video in which she said that communists should be more open to computer-powered automation and decision-making.

According to Grimes, "correctly" implementing AI into all aspects of life would be the "fastest path to communism", creating "abundance" for all.

Comment: This is the same Grimes whose doctor declared that she was suffering from malnutrition because she ate only pasta - no meat or vegetables - for 2 years:

See also: Elon Musk praises Soviet space program & Russian pioneers at Moscow conference, future meeting with Putin in the works

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Newspaper

Belarus requires most citizens traveling to quarantine, citing Covid


RFE/RL
Wed, 02 Jun 2021 09:59 UTC
border
The travel ban comes over the forced diversion of an airliner en route from Greece to Lithuania to Minsk, where an opposition activist was arrested.
The travel ban comes following international outrage over the forced diversion of an airliner en route from Greece to Lithuania to Minsk, where an Belarus has temporarily banned most of its citizens from crossing the border, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, a move the opposition says is a further step to limit freedoms amid a brutal crackdown on dissent by authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

The State Border Committee said that the travel ban applied to all residents except for Belarusian civil servants on official trips, state transport staff, and residents with permanent residence in other countries.

The committee added that air travel for Belarusian citizens and foreigners remained open on condition that they have self-isolated for at least 10 days before departure.


Comment: The original title of this article was ' Belarus Bans Most Citizens From Foreign Travel, Citing COVID-19' which, as you can see, isn't the case at all; Belarusian citizens are actually free to travel so long as they self-isolate. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Europe citizens aren't enjoying the same freedoms, in fact, the restrictions are much more authoritarian with many countries demanding vaccine certificates, or multiple PCR tests and track and trace apps, with particular countries blacklisted due to virus 'variants'..


Comment: After defying the coordinated lockdowns, calling out the Covid hysteria, and motioning for better relations with Russia, the West was looking for an excuse to come down on Lukashenka:

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