Welcome to Sott.net
Tue, 02 Nov 2021
The World for People who Think

Society's Child
Map

Camcorder

Amazon facial recognition technology sale ban won just 2% of shareholder vote


MSNBC
Fri, 24 May 2019 00:00 UTC
  • Some 2.4% of Amazon.com shareholder votes were in favor of a proposal that the company stop selling facial recognition technology to government agencies
  • A second proposal that called for a study of the extent to which Amazon's "Rekognition" service harmed civil rights and privacy garnered
Jeff Bezos
© Joshua Roberts/File Photo
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos pictured in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 1, 2018.
Amazon.com shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that the company stop selling facial recognition technology to government agencies, while a resolution to audit the service drew more support, a regulatory filing on Friday showed.

Some 2.4% of votes were in favor of the ban. A second proposal that called for a study of the extent to which Amazon's "Rekognition" service harmed civil rights and privacy garnered 27.5% support.

Comment:

      Read More...
People

Missouri governor signs pro-life bill banning abortions at 8 weeks


Fox News
Fri, 24 May 2019 00:00 UTC
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Friday signed a bill that bans abortions on or beyond the eighth week of pregnancy without exceptions for cases of rape or incest, making it among the most restrictive abortion policies in the nation.

Under the law that comes into force Aug. 28, doctors who violate the eight-week cutoff could face five to 15 years in prison. Women who terminate their pregnancies cannot be prosecuted. A legal challenge is expected, although it's unclear when that might occur.

The measure includes exceptions for medical emergencies, such as when there is a risk of death or permanent physical injuries to "a major bodily function of the pregnant woman." But the lack of exceptions women who find themselves pregnant after being raped or subject to incest has drawn sharp criticism, including from wealthy GOP donor David Humphreys, a Missouri businessman, who had urged the Republican governor to veto the bill and called it "bad public policy."

Comment: See also:

      Read More...
Propaganda

US-backed terrorists "struggle" after returning from Syria in whitewash Financial Times piece

Ulson Gunnar
New Eastern Outlook
Fri, 24 May 2019 20:18 UTC
jihadi wife return syria kosovo
© Armend Nimani / Agence France-Presse
Kosovo on April 20, 2019 repatriated 110 of its citizens from Syria, mostly mothers with their children having followed their partners who went to join jihadist groups in the war-torn country. Kosovo, whose population of 1.8 million is 90 percent Muslim, is one of the European countries with the proportionally biggest number of jihadi fighters in Iraq and Syria.
Upon reading the Financial Times article, "Isis fighters struggle on return to Balkan states," you might almost forget the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was and still is a hardcore terrorist organization guilty of some of the most heinous terrorism carried out in the 21st century.

The article begins, claiming:
In a village in the Kosovar countryside, Edona Berisha Demolli's family have gathered to celebrate her return from Syria where she and her husband fled to six years ago to fight for Islamic militants Isis.

"I am exhausted," said Ms Demolli, as her relatives served guests slices of celebratory chocolate and vanilla cake and children played in the yard. "I thank God, the Kosovo state, and the US for bringing me home," she said, referring to the pressure Washington put on countries to take their fighters back from camps across the Middle East and the logistical assistance they provided to that end.
The Financial Times would note that some 300 Bosnians joined ISIS and that Kosovo has set up barracks to accommodate returning fighters.

Comment:

      Read More...
Bad Guys

The new Wild West: Avenatti, Wohl and the Krassensteins prove political media is a hucksters' paradise

Matt Taibbi
Rolling Stone
Fri, 24 May 2019 17:48 UTC
stormy avenatti
© The Daily Beast
In the Trump era of cartoon politics, the world's biggest jackasses have an easy highway to fame and fortune

From the depths of scandal, Michael Avenatti gave an interview to Vanity Fair. He cried four times and said: "Some would argue at this point that I flew too close to the sun. As I sit here today, yes, absolutely, I know I did. No question. Icarus."

Michael Avenatti isn't Icarus, or any other Greek mythical figure. He's just a jerk. The quote is the self-promoting sleaze-dog lawyer version of Alex Rodriguez owning two portraits of himself in the form of a centaur.

Already charged for attempting to extort Nike and for embezzling $12 million from a batch of clients, he's been hit with a new indictment. He's accused of blowing the proceeds of porn star Stormy Daniels' book deal on things like his monthly $3,900 Ferrari payment , while stalling her with excuses that the publisher was late or "resisting... due to poor sales of [Daniels's] book."

Comment:

      Read More...
Heart

Hawaii woman missing for 2 weeks found alive in forest, spotted from helicopter


Fox News
Sat, 25 May 2019 11:48 UTC
Amanda Eller
© Javier Cantellops
A post on their Findamanda Facebook group accompanying this picture said: Amanda was found by our own search team captains Chris and Javier!! They were in a helicopter searching out of the general area where we have been in. She spotted them and they spotted her at the same time. She waved them down. She was deep in a creek bed between two waterfalls. She is just as strong as we always said she would be. We knew she could make it this long. Amanda is doing great she is just talked to her father from air evacuation helicopter. More soon!!
A Hawaii woman has been found alive in a forest on Maui island Friday after going missing more than two weeks ago.

Amanda Eller, 35, was found injured in the Makawao Forest Reserve, the Maui News reported Friday. News of her discovery was announced on the Findamanda Facebook page, Hawaii News Now reported.

"Amanda has been found," the statement read. "She got lost and was stuck and slightly injured in the forest - way way out."

Javier Cantellops said he was searching for Eller from a helicopter along with Chris Berquist and Troy Helmers when they spotted her, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

Comment: See also: Search continues for Amanda Eller, woman who went missing during hike on Maui 4 days ago

      Read More...
Hourglass

It's time for Alexander Acosta to explain himself, say Jeffrey Epstein victims

Julie K. Brown
Miami Herald
Fri, 24 May 2019 16:54 UTC
Jeffrey Epstein
© Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein attendingLaunch of RADAR MAGAZINE at Hotel QT on May 18, 2005
Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, already under federal investigation for a secret immunity deal he gave to a suspected sex trafficker of underage girls, may have to face some of those victims - who are now adult women - in a federal courtroom.

In a new court filing, two victims, molested as teenagers a decade ago, are asking a federal judge to hold a hearing for all the women who were sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein, a multimillionaire financier who received a non-prosecution agreement from Acosta when Acosta was a federal prosecutor in Miami in 2007.

The request for a hearing is one of a litany of possible remedies proffered by the victims, who have been waging a decade-long legal battle to put Epstein in prison for his crimes and to hold prosecutors - mainly Acosta - accountable for violating their rights.

The controversial agreement negotiated by Acosta allowed Epstein to escape federal sex trafficking charges, even though evidence showed that Epstein had molested more than three dozen girls at his Palm Beach mansion in the 1990s and early 2000s. The victims were never told about the deal, which Acosta then sealed - thereby making it impossible for anyone, including his victims, to find out what crimes Epstein had committed and whether there were any other victims or accomplices involved.

Comment: See also:

      Read More...
Arrow Down

Pennsylvania high school criticized for blurring out pro-Trump hats in student yearbook

Jossie Carbonare
FOX 43
Thu, 23 May 2019 16:22 UTC
maga hat
A case of censorship at Littlestown High School is sparking controversy after pro-trump hats that two students were wearing are blurred out from the yearbook.

One of the students in the picture says the move violates his First Amendment rights.

"I just think that whoever did this doesn't like Trump," said 16-year-old Jeremy Gebhart.

Gebhart says that's he and his friend decided to show their support for the president during Littlestown High School's spirit week back in October.

The photo landed a spot in the yearbook with some changes.

The hats embroidered with words reading "Trump: Make America Great Again" were photoshopped out.

"We were like they blurred our hats out!"said Gebhart.
      Read More...
Handcuffs

Man who attacked a Sikh store owner is forced to attend Sikh temple parade as part of his punishment

Everton Bailey Jr.
The Oregonian
Fri, 24 May 2019 16:18 UTC
Andrew Ramsey
© Marion County Sheriff's Office
Andrew Ramsey
A Salem man who admitted to attacking a Sikh store owner in January because of his religion was sentenced Friday to 180 days in jail and ordered to attend the local temple's annual parade to learn more about the faith.

Andrew Ramsey, 25, had pleaded guilty Monday in Marion County Circuit Court to second-degree intimidation, a hate crime under Oregon law. He attacked Harwinder Singh Dodd on Jan. 14 at Dodd's Salem convenience store.

Ramsey will be credited for already serving the majority of the sentence and should be out of jail custody before the June parade in Salem.

He also pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal mischief and unauthorized use of a vehicle stemming from separate incidents that occurred while released from jail a week after the attack on Dodd.
      Read More...
Handcuffs

Great-grandmother with CBD oil arrested at Disney World

Michael Hollan
Fox News
Tue, 07 May 2019 15:48 UTC
Disney World
Disney World may be the most magical place on Earth, but it turned into a legal nightmare for a great-grandmother with arthritis.

A 69-year-old woman was arrested at a Disney World checkpoint when an Orange County Deputy found CBD oil in her purse. She then spent 12 hours behind bars before being released on a $2,000 bond.

Hester Jordan Burkhalter, a great-grandmother from North Carolina, began using CBD oil for her arthritis after her doctor recommended it, Fox 35 in Orlando reported. She even had a note from the medical professional in her purse at the time of arrest, but it didn't matter.

Burkhalter told Fox 35 that she had been planning on the trip for two years. "I have really bad arthritis in my legs, in my arms and in my shoulder," she said. "I use (CBD oil) for the pain because it helps." When she was stopped by security outside of the Magic Kingdom, however, she was arrested. "I've never had one speeding ticket in my life."
      Read More...
Attention

Where's MSM outrage over Julian Assange's persecution?


RT
Fri, 24 May 2019 15:06 UTC
assange video conference
© Getty Images / David Ramos
Julian Assange holds a video conference with Catalan students outside the University of Barcelona on September 26, 2017
The news that WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange has been indicted on 17 additional charges under the US Espionage Act and could be sentenced to up to 175 years in prison should concern all journalists, the world over.

Some, to their credit, have spoken out against the relentless persecution of the white-haired Australian truth-teller.

But it's nothing compared to the outrage that could and should be stirred. Most journalists in the west have stayed as silent as Trappist monks with sore throats, or actually taken the side of the authorities acting against Assange.

Just imagine, as I discussed here if Julian was a Russian dissident, being treated in the same way by the Russian authorities. Then we'd be seeing column after column in 'serious newspapers' urging people to join the 'Free Assange' campaign. Celebrities would be falling over themselves to show their support. There'd be calls for yet more sanctions to be imposed on Russia, and to be maintained until the 'political prisoner' was released. But who so far has come out in defense of Assange, save for Pamela Anderson and Roger Waters? Where are the great 'human rights defenders'?

Comment: The MSM has remained silent for years in the face of Assange's persecution. Now they are waking up to the implications of cheering when a voice they despise is silenced.

      Read More...
Amazon Smile
Revolt! T-shirts