Society's ChildS


People 2

Female ex-technology consultant: That Google memo about women in tech wasn't wrong

Megan McArdle
Chicago Tribune
Fri, 11 Aug 2017 11:10 UTC
google
© Getty Images
Have you heard about the Google memo? Have you heard nothing but "Google memo" all week? James Damore, an engineer at Google, wrote a memo suggesting that maybe there weren't so many women at Google because women are less interested in sitting around and staring at code all day. The internet erupted. James Damore is no longer working at Google.

Until the age of 26, I was employed as a technology consultant by a small firm that served the financial industry. I built servers and workstations, mostly for banks, and in a happy foreshadowing of my future writing for Bloomberg View, I installed some of the first PC-based Bloomberg terminals for a Japanese firm's office in New York.

Finance back then was heavily male, as it is now. And technology, the same. At the intersection of the two ... well, I can count on one hand all the women I worked with directly during almost four years of consulting.

It was very male-centric. I heard about client outings, involving strippers, to which I was obviously not invited. And the sexual harassment (entirely from clients, not colleagues), could be spectacular.

Which has nothing to do with why I left. This will make me sound a bit dim, but at the time, it never occurred to me that being a female in this bro ecosystem might impinge my ultimate career prospects. Nor did I miss having women in the room. I liked working with the bros just fine. And the sexual harassment, while annoying, was just that: annoying. I cannot recall that it ever affected my work, nor that I lost any sleep over it.

Comment: See also:

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Георгиевская ленточка

Russian Federation Sitrep 10 August 2017

Patrick Armstrong
Russia Observer
Thu, 10 Aug 2017 17:11 UTC
magnifying glass over map of Russia
Patrick Armstrong provides an overview of circumstances and challenges currently facing Russia.

The Sanctions

The hypocrisy is thick: NordStream 2 (257.a.9) is specifically targeted; damage to NASA (237) is carefully voided. (NASA needs the Russians to get to the ISS and to launch things but European allies can freeze in the dark. Take that, Europeans, it's for your own good! "You can't... ask for a bigger U.S. military commitment... while... oppose nonmilitary coercive measures"). The effect of anti-Russia sanctions since 2014 is that Europe has likely suffered more than Russia and certainly more than the USA; Russia has used the sanctions (and its counter sanctions) to increase domestic production (see below) whereas Europe has just lost markets. Well, we'll find out whether Europe has the feet to stand on that Merkel thinks it has. Russia has many ways to respond and, as Jeffrey Carr has pointed out, Congress has shown it where to hit hardest. Another thing to find out is whether Moscow decides it's had enough - as Medvedev suggests - and that it's time to make its "partner" hurt. (Some responses: no more rocket engines, no overflights, no supply line to Afghanistan, no US NGOs, no Russian investments in USA, no accepting US dollars in trade. But Putin & Co will probably come up with something cleverer than anything I can think of). They will be a drag on Washington's foreign policy for decades: "never recognize" Crimea in Russia (257.a.3)? well, they're going to have to some time. I am collecting negative reactions on my site. They're another step on the downward trajectory of the USA: they will drive a wedge between Europe and the USA; push Russia closer to China; may even lead to a rapprochement between Europe and Russia. But short-sighted outbursts are to be expected in the final days I suppose: Congress' war with Trump displays a contemptuous indifference to its allies' interests. (Mercouris argues that Trump's signing statement hints at a Supreme Court challenge: very plausible given that there is nothing to the Russia collusion story - even the WaPo seems to be backing off - and that Trump will be able to appoint more SC judges.)
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Bad Guys

Target of 'pedophile hunters' takes own life days after confronted in sting operation


RT
Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:32 UTC
Pedophile hunters
© Silent Justice / Facebook
Police are investigating the suicide of a man who was questioned over claims by 'pedophile hunters' that he sent explicit images to decoy underage girls.

The group, 'Silent Justice,' describes itself as exposing suspected pedophiles across Ireland and Britain by posing as underage girls and boys online, and arranging to meet people who make sexual advances towards them.

The 50 year old was confronted by the group at his County Antrim home last weekend after allegedly sending explicit photos of himself to members of the group who were posing as underage girls.

A spokesman for Silent Justice told the Irish News the group suspected that the man in question was in contact with real young children, and decided as a team to "expose" him "sooner rather than later."

The group streamed the doorstep confrontation live on their Facebook page, with the man denying making any contact with anyone purporting to be a 14-year-old girl.

Comment: See also: The BBC wants to make you believe that pedophilia is acceptable

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Propaganda

German journalist who exposed government instruction in media coverage faces backlash


RT
Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:44 UTC
Claudia Zimmermann
© RT
Rejected contributions, boycott calls and a public letter refuting her words were some of the tactics freelance reporter Claudia Zimmermann faced after exposing her employer, German public broadcaster WDR, for sticking to pro-government narrative on migrant crisis.

Speaking to RT Deutsch, Zimmermann said she fell out of grace with the bosses of WRD, which is part of the ARD group of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters, after she revealed the pressure on the employees to refrain from criticism of German Chancellor's Angela Merkel controversial "open door" policy towards refugees.

"We are a public broadcaster, we are paid with tax money and that means we interpret the government's view and not that of the opposition," Zimmermann said in an interview to Dutch radio station L1 Limburg in January 2016, adding that it was expected from WRD to cover Merkel's migrant policy "in a more positive way."

"There are various committees that determine the program policies, which instructed the editors to support the Merkel government policy," she said.
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Arrow Down

Sounds like censorship: YouTube cracks down on vocal Trump supporters Diamond and Silk by demonetizing 95% of their videos

Joshua Caplan
Gateway Pundit
Thu, 10 Aug 2017 19:04 UTC
Youtube Diamond and Silk
.@YouTube @TeamYouTube stopped over 95% percent of our videos from being monetized, stating: “It’s Not Suitable For All Advertisers”……..“Wonder if @TeamYouTube stopped the monetization of our videos because we are loyal supporters of the @POTUS….Hummmm………..”
Pro-Trump personalities Diamond and Silk took to Twitter Thursday, accusing Google-owned YouTube of demonetizing 95 percent of their videos. The pair believes YouTube's decision was driven by their support for President Trump.
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Heart - Black

Elderly Denver man died in parking garage elevator after twice pushing emergency button

Kirk Mitchell
Denver Post
Fri, 11 Aug 2017 07:40 UTC
Man dies
© Denver Police DepartmentIsaak Komisarchik was missing since July 5.
An elderly man who died in a parking-garage elevator had pushed the emergency button twice during an 8-minute span July 6 but got no response despite Denver code requiring elevator operators to monitor emergency notifications around the clock.

Unable to escape the elevator car - possibly because of dementia - 82-year-old Isaak Komisarchik died between the morning of July 6 and Aug. 2, when elevator repair workers finally discovered the body after multiple residents of the apartment complex reported a terrible stench.

When a Denver firefighter responded, the elevator doors were open. Elevator maintenance workers had just found Komisarchik's body inside the car, Denver Fire Department spokesman Capt. Greg Pixley said.

A criminal investigation confirmed the number of times the emergency button was pushed, Pixley said. Now detectives are trying to determine why no one responded.

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People 2

Relatives identify Russian children in Iraq as RT coverage goes viral


RT
Thu, 10 Aug 2017 11:04 UTC
CHild and caretaker
© Family Handout
People claiming to be relatives of the children shown in RT coverage from an Iraqi orphanage have contacted the news outlet after the video went viral.

The heartbreaking RT video from an orphanage in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, was shared on the Instagram page of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov on Wednesday evening. Since then the footage has gathered more than 250,000 views in less than a day.

"These children speak Russian. They don't have parents. They don't remember their names, but recall pain, fear and death... Maybe someone can recognize these children," Kadyrov wrote.

Earlier, RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan raised awareness of the issue, calling for people to email children@rttv.ru if they recognized the children. Her call was then followed by Kadyrov.


Comment: Putting hearts and minds together...perhaps these children have a chance to rejoin their families.

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Handcuffs

Architect of Michelle Obama's disgusting school lunches arrested for defrauding the program

Cristina Laila
Gateway Pundit
Wed, 09 Aug 2017 23:56 UTC
Michelle obama david binkle
David Binkle is a chef and one of the architects behind Michelle Obama's inedible lunches. He was recently arrested for defrauding the school lunch program and is facing up to 13 years in prison if convicted.

L.A. Times reports:
David Binkle was hailed as a pioneer among school nutrition advocates for accomplishing a near-herculean task - using produce and meats provided by local growers to greatly reduce the number of fatty meals served in the nation's second-largest school district.

The initiatives won the district numerous awards, drew praise from then-First Lady Michelle Obama as she led a national push to combat childhood obesity, and earned Binkle appearances on Tedx Talks.

The 55-year-old appeared in court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to 15 felony counts including embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds. He posted $220,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court in October.

"While recognizing that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, the charges against Mr. Binkle are extremely upsetting as they do not reflect the professionalism, ethics and character we expect of all L.A. Unified employees," the school district said in a statement.

According to court documents, Binkle repeatedly misappropriated district funds in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 between 2010 and 2014. Prosecutors also allege that he forged an application to become a vendor with the district and failed to disclose outside financial interests.
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Nuke

'People who say nukes deter war must reconsider,' says Trident whistleblower


RT
Fri, 11 Aug 2017 15:19 UTC
TV screen broadcasting a news report on North Korea's long range rocket launch
© Kim Hong-Ji / Reuters
As threats between the United States and North Korea escalate, those who believe nuclear weapons "deter war" need to reconsider, Trident whistleblower William McNeilly told RT.

US President Donald Trump has warned any nuclear threats by North Korea will be met with "fire and fury" as Pyongyang announced it was "carefully examining" a plan to attack an American military base on the Pacific island of Guam.

Speaking to RT, McNeilly said people who promote nuclear weapons claim that "nuclear weapons deter war." However, that claim is based on the assumption that humans are rational thinkers, he says.

"The United States clearly has the power to destroy Kim Jong-un's regime, but that didn't deter Kim Jong-un from threatening to bomb Guam. Clearly weapons aren't that great of a deterrent.

"The Islamic terrorists aren't deterred by nuclear weapons. The Chinese weren't deterred by India's nuclear weapons when they recently threatened to start a war with India, over Indian troops entering Chinese territory. India and Pakistan aren't deterred by nuclear weapons when their troops kill each other in Kashmir. The terrorists launching rockets into Israel aren't deterred by Israel's nuclear weapons.

"Will nuclear weapons deter war or just ensure that war continues to have catastrophic potential? Examine the facts in the real world and you'll find the answer."
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Attention

Amnesty: Iran's 'shameful' execution of man arrested at age 15


RFE/RL
Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:09 UTC
nooses
© MEHRFate awaits.
Iran has executed a 21-year-old man who was arrested at age 15, Amnesty International and an Iranian news agency reported. Alireza Tajiki was executed on August 10, the London-based human rights group Amnesty said, calling it a "shameful act."

"By going ahead with this execution in defiance of their obligations under international law, and despite huge public and international opposition, the Iranian authorities have again cruelly demonstrated their complete disdain for children's rights," Amnesty's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Magdalena Mughrabi, said in a statement.

"This shameful act marks a critical turning point for Iran, and exposes the hollowness of the authorities' claims to have a genuine juvenile justice system," she said.

According to Amnesty, Tajiki was arrested in May 2012, when he was 15 years old, and sentenced to death in April 2013 after a criminal court in the southern Fars Province had convicted him of murder and forced male-male intercourse. It said the trial was "grossly unfair" and that the case hinged largely on confessions that Tajiki "said were extracted through torture, including severe beatings, floggings, and suspension by the arms and feet."

The semiofficial Iranian news agency Ana.ir quoted the chief prosecutor in the city of Shiraz, Ali Salehi, as saying the prosecution of Tajiki was "fair and just, and that his execution was "legal." He was quoted as saying that Iran's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence following an appeal and that Tajiki was executed in the morning on August 10. Under Iranian law, murder, rape, sodomy and armed robbery are punishable by death.

Comment: See also: Iranian deputies push to abolish the death penalty for drug-related offenses

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