Climate Change Has Possible Benefits For Malaria In Africa?

 

Photo: Our World

Is there any good that can result from the spread of Climate Change across the globe?  I am sure that people are walking the Earth that could find a few suggestions.  But seriously, are there?

In a recent post on Politico, turns out that the effects of Climate Change have been beneficial in the fight against the spread of malaria:

Climate change could reduce the number of Africans at risk of malaria, according to a new study that examined how water supplies could affect the breeding grounds of the mosquitoes that carry the disease.

That might sound like good news since Africa accounts for the vast majority of the world’s malaria cases and deaths — but it might foreshadow other threats, one of the study authors told Carmen.

How’s that? In the study published in Science, researchers in the U.K. and Namibia created models to predict how climate change will affect where malaria is transmitted in Africa. The models considered surface water and rainfall coupled with low or high levels of the greenhouse gas emissions that warm the Earth.

Unlike previous studies that considered mostly rainfall, the new research predicts that some areas of Africa — starting in the west and moving east to South Sudan — will become too hot and dry for malaria-carrying mosquitoes to breed. Malaria causes flu-like symptoms and kills more than half a million people a year worldwide.

But Mark Smith, associate professor in water research at the University of Leeds in the U.K. and part of the team leading the study, told Carmen that a dwindling water supply would have worse effects than a good supply would.

While a dwindling water supply would be helpful to reduce malaria, it won’t decrease dengue, another mosquito-borne disease. In fact, it would increase it, since dengue is caused by a virus that can withstand higher temperatures.

The models also predicted potential changes in the malaria season across different parts of the continent: a decrease in Botswana, for instance, while some parts of South Africa would see an increase.

 This is not the 'great news' regarding climate change that we would like to read about.  There have to be workable and sustainable solutions that do not wipe out people or precious resources.

Investing in the stock market made easy - trust me - I do it and love it.

 

Photo: Yahoo Finance

Have you watched from the sidelines as investors (neighbors, friends, family, etc.) invest money into the stock market and brag about their returns?  How does a person invest?  Which stocks do you choose?  How do you avoid paying all your returns to the broker as fees?  I will tell you a simple method to start with.

Acorn investing services are a great way to start investing in the stock market.  I was super skeptical of the process at first.  However, then a fellow staff member at my work convinced me to just start with the basic process of the service.  Which is?

Investing made easy!

To start with, follow the link to Acorns here:

Acorns Investing Service

Note: I do get credit for referring you.

But more importantly, connecting your checking account to the Acorns account will allow the service to withdraw small amounts of money.  I mean small donations - rounding up your purchases to a $1.  That means, say, you spend $0.75 on a purchase.  Then Acorns will invest $0.25 into the stock market in your Acorns account.

Small Amounts Add Up Quickly - well relatively so

Don't expect to get rich overnight.  But I have been with the service for 4 years and looked at my account the other day.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had a balance of $4,000.  Wow!  An average return of 20-30% on my deposits.

You don't have to believe me.  But I will continue to use the service to build money without having to look at the account.  I have not looked at the account for 4 years.  

Note: If you withdraw money from the account, you will pay taxes on capital gains as profits.

I suggest that you take advantage of this service.  It is cheap as far as fees are concerned.  Plus, compare the returns (profits) to your brokerage accounts (retirement, 401K, etc.).  Acorns will outperform some of these with computerized (AI) investing.

Note: I set my risk level on Acorns to 'Aggressive' = I want the largest return.  I am willing to risk some change.

Former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer Talks About The Current State Of The Court...

 

Photo: NY Times

Listen to the news at any hour of the day, and discussion of the Supreme Court will undoubtedly arise. For many reasons (i.e., cases), the Court has found itself at the center of the debate stage. From questioning Justice Clarence Thomas's ethics to the secret release of Dobb's decision, which was written by Justice Alito last summer, controversy has sunken the nation's Highest Court to new lows.

In the following interview, Joe Scarborough of MSNBC Morning Joe interviews Justice Breyer about the current state of the U.S. Supreme Court:

I like the analogy describing the complexity of cases Justice Breyer used.  In describing the complexity of cases, he tells a story he read in a French newspaper about a railroad passenger traveling with a basket of snails.  The conductor asked the passenger to pay for the '1/2 fare' for each snail as the train system requires 'all animals' in baskets to be paid for.  An argument ensues whether the snails are pets, animals, or the exception.  That describes the complexity of cases entertained by the Supreme Court.

What Do U.S. Allies Think Of Candidate Former President Donald J. Trump?

 

Photo: Time Magazine

Despite no longer being the President, Donald Trump is still making headlines as the 2024 election cycle approaches. Many people are speaking out against him, particularly in regard to his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meidas Touch has shared a video featuring the opinions of several world leaders on former President Trump:

As we are currently in an election year, it is crucial that we spread this video to those around us. The national security risks posed by Donald Trump should not be underestimated.

Former Trump Administration Aide Talks Wall Street's Thought on Trump

 

Photo: NBC news

Wall Street loves to hear presidents discuss lowering taxes.  Who among the rich doesn't?  Does the Street (i.e., Wall Street) really care about President Donald Trump?  The former president experienced the highest price on the S&P 500 during his 4 years in office.  And he also experienced an unprecedented drop in the market with the onset of COVID.  What are the current thoughts among investors?

In the following video by CNN, former Trump aide Anthony Scaramucci discusses the former president's current situation and how Wall Street fits into it:

One remark I agree with from Anthony Scaramucci is the question asked in return to the CNN news anchors in the video above.  Mainly, does the former president have numbers that are better than 2016?  How about 2020?  President Trump is flaming out as a candidate.  

Further, if the former president is chosen as the Republican nominee, the party is looking for a reset for 2028.  I can definitely be on board with candidate Trump losing in 2024 and a reset for the republican party for 2028.

January 6th Protester Will Spend 5 Years In Jail For Engaging In Insurrection Protest

 

Photo: New York Times

The events of January 6th, 2021, still haunt those of us who actually care about democracy.  No, that day was not a peaceful protest.  No, that was not a peaceful march to the Capitol.  Yes, Capitol police did endure PTSD, among other life-lasting injuries, to the remaining days of their lives.  One Capitol police officer died that day - by suffocation.  Other police officers were brutally assaulted with their own weapons.  The events of that day were terrible not peaceful.

Question: When was the last time that the reader decided to go and assault police officers outside a courtroom?  Or any police officer standing guard outside of a building?

Did those participants forget that bringing weapons into a courthouse is illegal?  

In the video below by CNN, a grandmother is facing 5 years in prison starting this week for her participation on January 6th, 2021.

What made me cringe while watching the video above was multifold:

1) She believes that the election was stolen after conviction.

2) She believes that President Trump will pardon her.

3) She believes that, basically, she did nothing wrong.

4) She has been on house arrest the entire time until recently.

I would like to see a follow-up interview with here every 6 months starting now.  I think that she might change her tune after a few months to years in jail.  Additionally, I wonder what her response will be when Trump cannot pardon her?

The sad day of January 6th, 2021, will be forever tied to the dictator, former President Trump.  He has been charged with coordinating the attack indirectly.  The court will show us this soon. It is time for the former president to reap the consequences of this giant threat to our democracy.

Checklist for Healthcare Providers Who Are Looking To Adopt/Incorporate Artificial Intelligence Into Healthcare System

 

Photo: Forbes

Artificial Intelligence has been a topic of conversation across all sectors.  Especially when looking for predictions about the future of the workforce.  What role will Artificial Intelligence (AI) play in the workforce?  What role does AI play now?  Answers to these questions vary as AI is developed daily for technology applications.

Recently, a brief from Politico Future Pulse listed a 'checklist' that Healthcare providers should consider when transitioning to AI.  Below are the 6 points listed on the checklist:

1. A use case, including how a proposed system is expected to help patients and improve health system efficiency or treatment equity

2. A clear specification of the task the system performs to achieve those goals

3. Benchmarks to evaluate the system’s success or failure

4. An understanding of how the system performs for different groups of people

5. A grasp of a system’s limits and when it shouldn’t be used

6. A protocol for monitoring systems to ensure it’s working under real-world conditions

While considering the 6 above items, consider how AI might change the atmosphere in your own workplace.

More on AI coming.