March 14, 2017

Germany plans to fine social media sites over hate speech

Source: Reuters

Tue Mar 14, 2017 | 11:14am EDT

Germany plans a new law calling for social networks like Facebook (FB.O) to remove slanderous or threatening online postings quickly or face fines of up to 50 million euros ($53 mln).

"This (draft law) sets out binding standards for the way operators of social networks deal with complaints and obliges them to delete criminal content," Justice Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement announcing the planned legislation on Tuesday.

Failure to comply could see a social media company fined up to 50 million euros, and the company's chief representative in Germany fined up to 5 million euros.

Germany already has some of the world's toughest hate speech laws covering defamation, slander, public incitement to commit crimes and threats of violence, backed up by prison sentences for Holocaust denial or inciting hatred against minorities. It now aims to update these rules for the social media age.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-fakenews-idUSKBN16L14G?il=0

March 14, 2017

Mika On Wiretapping Claims: Were You Lying, Mr. President? Did You Make It Up?

We now have a Gonzo Presidency. (And that may be an insult to "gonzo.&quot

March 14, 2017

'Devastating' CBO Report Hands Democrats Line Of Attack Morning Joe MSNBC

Okay, now let's use it. And call our Sens and Reps and tell them to use it!

March 14, 2017

Cystic fibrosis patients living 10 years longer in Canada than U.S.

Source: CBC News

Posted: Mar 13, 2017 5:00 PM ET Last Updated: Mar 13, 2017 10:57 PM ET

Over the last two decades there's been a big improvement in survival rates for people with cystic fibrosis, with patients in Canada living 10 years longer than those in the U.S.

People with cystic fibrosis are living to a median age of 50.9 years in Canada, compared with 40.6 years in the U.S., according to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

And that's years longer than the life expectancy 25 years ago, when Erick Bauer was first diagnosed with the disease.

"I was diagnosed when I was five years old," Bauer told CBC News, as he awaited treatment at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, which has the largest adult cystic fibrosis clinic in Canada.

"At the time, the life expectancy for people with cystic fibrosis was about 17 years of age, so certainly now, being 31 years old, I've come a long way, but still see many good years left in my future hopefully."

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/cystic-fibrosis-survival-rates-1.4022970

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Ultimately, screw all "-----care."
We need Single! Fucking! Payer!

March 14, 2017

AP FACT CHECK: What about Trump's vow on health coverage?

Source: Associated Press

Mar. 14, 2017 3:41 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump told Americans he'd do it all on health care: "insurance for everybody," better coverage and lower consumer costs. By the reckoning of nonpartisan budget analysts at Congress, that's not what will happen if the Republican bill he's backing becomes law.

A look at how statements by Trump and his team compare with estimates of the Congressional Budget Office:

TRUMP: "We're going to have insurance for everybody. There was a philosophy in some circles that if you can't pay for it, you don't get it. That's not going to happen with us." — To The Washington Post, Jan. 15.

CBO: It estimates the bill would leave 14 million fewer people insured in the first year, 24 million fewer by 2026. One reason: higher premiums. As well, the requirement to obtain insurance would be gone. And Medicaid would change, with states pulling back on expanding eligibility for the program and with spending per enrollee capped.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/db7252af72064c92873468968fa4aff1/ap-fact-check-what-about-trumps-vow-health-coverage

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There's nothing to worry about! Kellyanne Conway was on The O'Reilly Factor earlier tonight, and she explained that the CBO stupidly used the Base-10 system, which is how it got the figure of 24 million, whereas if we expanded our pathetic minds and used Base-1000000 math, we'd see that only two dozen people will lose their coverage!

I don't know about you, but I certainly feel stupid!

March 14, 2017

"I wont defend Trump not now, not in the future": Paul Ryan caught on tape trashing Trump before el

Source: RawStory

14 Mar 2017 at 00:20 ET

Conservative website Breitbart continued their war on House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), releasing audio taken just prior to the election saying he had no interest in sticking up for Donald Trump.

Bretbart.com has long been known for attacking Ryan on orders from chairman Steve Bannon, with the current senior adviser to Trump once telling his staffers Paul Ryan is the enemy.

Monday evening, as Ryan was fending off a CBO report stating his health care plan would leave an additional 14 million Americans without health insurance in 2018, the website chose to create friction between the House Speaker and President Trump.

In the audio taken during a private October conference call with House Republican members, Ryan has few kind words for then-GOP presidential nominee Trump.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2017/03/i-wont-defend-trump-not-now-not-in-the-future-paul-ryan-caught-on-tape-trashing-trump-before-election/

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1. The profile in cowardice starts just after the 1-minute mark.
2. The audio does come from Breitbart, so take with a grain of salt.

March 13, 2017

Verbose and Aggressive

My name's Matthias, Matt for short. My father was Irish, my mom Greek, so my siblings and I were given Grecofied versions of Anglo-Celtic names: Matthias instead of Matthew, Michalis instead of Michael, Angelica instead of Angela.

I've always tended to be exuberant and enthusiastic. When I find something that I like (such as DU), I dive in! I only signed up yesterday, yet this is my 8th thread and 20th post overall. I don't mean to monopolize anything, but I've never been one to hold my tongue when I really want to say something. The fact that I'm retired gives me even more time to put in my 2000 cents whenever I feel like it.

Bottom line, I hope you don't object to my decidedly-opinionated personality, even when we're disagreeing!

March 13, 2017

Daily Beast: Marines Continue To Share Womens Nude Photos MSNBC

I truly do not get this: why the specific need for pics of female coworkers? I whacked off to Playboy and Penthouse when I was in the Army, but there was an understanding that those women were voluntarily posing and being paid for it. And now, with 1,479,332 different ways to access random porn, why focus on fellow soldiers?

March 13, 2017

Trump budget expected to seek historic contraction of federal workforce

March 12 at 7:47 PM

President Trump’s budget proposal this week would shake the federal government to its core if enacted, culling back numerous programs and expediting a historic contraction of the federal workforce.

This would be the first time the government has executed cuts of this magnitude — and all at once — since the drawdown following World War II, economists and budget analysts said.

The spending budget Trump is set to release Thursday will offer the clearest snapshot of his vision for the size and role of government. Aides say that the president sees a new Washington emerging from the budget process, one that prioritizes the military and homeland security while slashing many other areas, including housing, foreign assistance, environmental programs, public broadcasting and research. Simply put, government would be smaller and less involved in regulating life in America, with private companies and states playing a much bigger role.

The cuts Trump plans to propose this week are also expected to lead to layoffs among federal workers, changes that would be felt sharply in the Washington area. According to an economic analysis by Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody’s Analytics, the reductions outlined so far by Trump’s advisers would reduce employment in the region by 1.8 percent and personal income by 3.5 percent, and lower home prices by 1.9 percent.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/through-his-budget-a-bottom-line-look-at-trumps-new-washington/2017/03/12/29739206-05be-11e7-b9fa-ed727b644a0b_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_newwashington-830pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.afbed9f7b96e

Looks like Donald Harkonnen Trump wants to turn America into Geidi Prime! (Yes, certified nerd reporting in.)

March 13, 2017

U.S. Northeast Braces For Late Winter Blizzard

Source: HuffPo

03/13/2017 08:44 am ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Forecasters put the U.S. East Coast from New York City to Boston on ablizzard watch starting as early as Monday night, with authorities warning residents to prepare for the possibility of widespread power outages, road closures and flight disruptions.

Weather experts predicted the region could see 12 to 18 inches of wind-blasted snow from Monday to early Wednesday.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced preparations for the so-called Nor’easter storm, activating the state Emergency Operations Center as of Monday night while also directing state agencies to be on heightened alert.

“I encourage all New Yorkers in affected regions to plan ahead and avoid any unnecessary travel as the storm progresses,” Cuomo said in a statement, adding that commuters should expect road closures, delays and cancellations.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/us-northeast-braces-for-late-winter-blizzard_us_58c691f6e4b054a0ea6bc790?

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Hey, I'm originally from Jersey, so I sympathize, believe me!