Tag: news

Is Your Weed Killer Giving You Cancer? Roundup Lawsuit Awards $289 Million!

Monsanto, the company that makes Roundup weed killer, is in a bit of hot water recently due to new lawsuits over their weed killer formula. The first case to go to trial, wherein former groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson sued the company after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, resulted in the plaintiff being awarded a $289 million verdict.

This has led to a sudden surge in interest in the Monsanto Roundup case. Class action suits are now underway for people who have used Roundup and then been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There are legal teams offering free case reviews, and many people who have been affected may be owed money from litigation against Monsanto.

Is Roundup Dangerous?

At the time of this writing, the only organization to outright state that glyphosate is a potential carcinogen is the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Their findings hold that glyphosate, the main chemical found in Roundup, is a “probable” carcinogen. Interestingly enough, the EPA continues to deny the potential health hazards of glyphosate.

In fact, the EPA recently published (and hastily took down) a paper with numerous inaccuracies claiming that glyphosate was actually not a carcinogen. In 2013, the EPA changed regulations defining what the safe level of glyphosate in soybean and oilseed crops was, allowing Monsanto’s product to be marketed as “safe”. This has led to some lawsuits alleging that the EPA has been doctoring research on behalf of Monsanto.

Global Context

Monsanto is a global mega-corporation that operates all around the world. The class action suit against them is a major factor in recent protests against the company’s business practices. Globally, the company has come under harsh scrutiny in places like Germany. There, many people are protesting the projected merger between Monsanto and German company Bayer.

Ostensibly, the merger is to increase Monsanto and Beyer’s global reach and to pool their considerable resources. Many have speculated, however, that the move is to allow Monsanto to hide its name by operating globally as just “Bayer.” This would allow Monsanto to avoid negative associations with its old name, while rebranding itself as a clean and respectable agriculture company.

Bans

In France, Roundup was banned in 2015 following many protests including professional chefs. In an open letter, over 100 chefs in France wrote “citizens cannot stand by and watch their plates be filled with chemicals.” The Netherlands joined France in banning Roundup, and the two have been pressuring the EU to ban the product altogether.

The EU voted against a 15-year license for glyphosate recently, and instead only offered an 18-month extension to the product. In light of the current class-action suit and other litigation going on in America, however, it is likely that the product will be pulled before long.

Similar Suits

Many lawsuits are ongoing in relation to glyphosate’s potential status as a carcinogen. Monsanto themselves have sued the state of California for allegedly “falsely listing” glyphosate as a carcinogen. Quaker Oats, another mega-corporation involved in agriculture, has also been sued over “deceptive labeling.” The plaintiffs in that case are claiming that Quaker Oats labelled products “all-natural” when they had traces of glyphosate residue on them.

Numerous other similar suits are cropping up in the US legal system as products like baby food and wine are also found to contain traces of glyphosate. As these cases unfold, it becomes clear that use of Monsanto’s Roundup product is likely to prove rather costly for several companies.

What This Means

For individuals, this means if you’ve been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after being exposed to Monsanto’s Roundup product, you could be entitled to monetary compensation. It would be worth contacting a relevant legal team to have them review your case.

August 30, 2019
iPhone 11 Rumors: Latest Reports

New rumors around the iPhone 11 are swirling, and they’re all rather impressive. Apple’s had some issues lately moving phones, as people are keeping their older phones longer and technology is plateauing. The suite of new features in the iPhone 11 seemed geared to both impress tech-heads while also converting people who are hanging on to their iPhone SEs still. Let’s take a look at the newest iPhone 11 rumors.

iPhone 11 Rumors

Camera Bump

The notorious camera bump that has been speculated to be coming in the iPhone 11 has looked ugly in previous mock-ups. The large, protruding square with a cluster of three cameras throws the entire appearance of the back of the phone off. Thankfully, some newly-leaked concepts show the iPhone 11’s three-camera array will be on a much more subdued bump from the back of the phone.

New mockups show the camera bump has rounded corners, a staple of Apple design, as well as a sleek profile that barely pops up from the back of the phone. This design looks much more stylish and professional, and we’re happy to see it rather than a larger, square-shaped version of the iPhone X’s camera bump.

Mute Switch

Everyone who owns an iPhone knows what a pain the mute switch on the side can be. If you’ve ever meant to have your phone on silent when it starts ringing during a meeting, you know what we’re talking about. This is due to the shape of the mute switch: it’s a thin bar that can simply be toggled forward or backward to silence or un-mute the phone.

Thankfully, Apple’s got a solution for this one cooked up for the iPhone 11. The newest phone looks poised to introduce the same silence-toggle seen on the more recent iPad models: a circular switch that is moved up and down, rather than forward or back. Hopefully this will cut down on the number of times the switch gets flipped in our pockets.

Construction

It seems like Apple is in the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” camp when it comes to the phone’s glass back. Glass-backed phones started getting big in 2017 for a number of reasons. Firstly, the glass allows for wireless charging signals to pass through unimpeded. Secondly, on the same token, they’ll likely make it easier for 5G signals to be passed to the phone over the airwaves.

Another upside of an all-glass back is that is looks very stylish while also protecting the phone against damage. That might sound counterintuitive, but hear us out. The incredibly durable Gorilla Glass used in phones like the iPhone XR is actually even better at protecting your phone’s internal components than plastic.

Returning Features

Further returning designs include the return of the dual-camera sensor for Face ID and the lack of a physical front button. Apple’s been the sole company allowing for only Face ID to unlock their flagship phones, foregoing fingerprint scanners altogether. This has made the iPhone X and its family of phones a very futuristic and natural device for Apple users.

The lack of a physical front button means that this iPhone will also necessitate the use of gesture controls to navigate iOS. This news might be disappointing for people who were hoping that Apple would reintroduce the older style of navigation using the physical front button. For fans of the clean and easy-to-use buttonless iOS, however, this is great news.

When Will it Release?

If this year is anything like previous release years for Apple, we could expect to see the iPhone 11 landing sometime in late September. We’ll likely see a full and proper unveiling of the device during the week of September 8th.

July 23, 2019
Alex Jones, Milo Yiannoupolis, Others, Banned from Facebook, Instagram

Controversial right-wing personalities like Alex Jones were banned from Facebook and Instagram on Friday. The figures also included Milo Yiannoupolis and Laura Loomer, avowed far-right commentators who are well-known for their combative and confrontational personalities. The bans also extend to Facebook-owned photo-sharing app, Instagram.

Far-Right Bans Laid Down by Facebook, Instagram

Facebook’s Reasoning

The reasoning behind the banning, as stated by Facebook, was that the people in question violated their terms of service and community guidelines. As Facebook puts it, Alex Jones and the other figures represent dangerous ideologies and as such banned them. For comparison, the platform also banned Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, as well as numerous other figures from all sides of the political spectrum.

“We’ve always banned individuals or organizations that promote or engage in violence and hate, regardless of ideology,” went a Facebook statement following the bans. “The process for evaluating potential violators is extensive and it is what led us to our decision to remove these accounts today.”

Facebook noted that part of the reasoning behind the banning of Jones included his show hosting Gavin McInnes, founder of the Proud Boys and known “white nationalist”. This move highlights Facebook’s increasing attempts to take responsibility for the voices of hate on their platform.

Outcry

There was some outcry regarding the banning on Facebook and Twitter among various far-right groups. Many complained that the move violated the First Amendment rights of the banned individuals, including notable Twitter personalities. However, this is a misunderstanding of the First Amendment, which protects speech from censorship by the government.

As neither Facebook nor Instagram are governmental agencies, their moves have no interaction with the Bill of Rights. Oddly, their moves to ban people from their platforms on the basis of violating terms of service line up neatly with normal Conservative values that include lack of government oversight into private industry.

May 6, 2019
Tesla Being Sued Over Fatal Autopilot Crash

Surprisingly, luxury automaker Tesla is being sued over a deadly crash that occurred in early 2018. The family of Walter Huang, who died in a tragic accident when his Model X hit a central concrete median, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The suit claims that Tesla’s autopilot feature was to blame for Huang’s death, not his own inattentiveness at the wheel.

Tesla Being Sued over Autopilot

The Crash

Huang was 38 when he passed away on March 23, 2018. He was driving in Mountain View, California, deep in Silicone Valley, when his autopilot misread the lane and didn’t brake before striking the concrete median. According to the complaint, not only did Huang’s vehicle not brake, it accelerated into the barrier.

Mark Fong, a partner at a firm that is representing Huang’s family, released a statement. He stated that Tesla is “beta testing its Autopilot software on live drivers,” and that “The Huang family wants to help prevent this tragedy from happening to other drivers using Tesla vehicles or any semi-autonomous vehicles”.

The Suit

The lawsuit alleges that Tesla holds liability for Huang’s death due to a defective product design. The suit also alleges that Tesla failed to warn drivers enough about the autopilot system’s limitations, and that they intentionally misrepresented the system and advertised it falsely.

The complaint does not specify the amount of damages the plaintiffs are seeking. However, it does name the State of California as a defendant for not replacing the guardrail that should have surrounded the median that Huang hit. Presumably, that guardrail would have greatly reduced the impact of the crash.

Tesla’s Response

As of yet, Tesla has made no formal response to the complaint. Likewise, the State of California has made no statement regarding the suit. It is worth noting that when news of Huang’s death was made public, Tesla stated that “safety is at the core of everything we do and every decision we make, so the loss of a life in an accident involving a Tesla vehicle is difficult for all of us.”

At the time of that news breaking, Tesla expressed deep sadness over the crash. However, official reports stated that, despite Tesla warning drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and remain attentive while using autopilot, “the vehicle did not detect the driver’s hands on the steering wheel in the six seconds before the crash.”

May 2, 2019
Can the iPad Replace Your Laptop? An Upcoming Feature Might Change Your Mind

Tablets are neat, but they’re really just a half-step between smartphones and laptops, right? Certainly, an iPad could never truly replace a laptop. When you need to be productive, you need to put the iPad away and bust out the laptop. Or, do you?

iOS 13 promises to bring some long-awaited functionality to the iPad that might make you reconsider its usefulness. The much-anticipated feature in question? Mouse compatibility, for the first time since the iPad launched in 2011.

iPad Mouse Functionality Coming in iOS 13

Specifications

Specifics and hard details are scarce at the time of this writing. This information comes courtesy of Federico Viticci, from the Connected podcast. This was corroborated on Twitter by Steve Troughton-Smith, an Irish Apple developer. Neither was forthcoming with hard-and-fast information, as the functionality isn’t yet officially confirmed.

What Kind of Mouse?

Rumor has it that every USB mouse will be included in this update, which is likely to be touted as an accessibility feature. This is great news for power-users who would prefer to just own one productivity device. Importantly, this could also be a huge help for mobility-limited people who want to use a mouse on their iPad for accessibility reasons.

While USB supported was explicitly named in the rumor, we wouldn’t be surprised if Bluetooth mouse options were supported, too. It’s not a stretch to picture this feature being a low-key addition to iOS 13, though it would be a big deal for the right types of users.

Apple and Laptops

Apple’s relationship with laptops has been a bit rocky lately. Their own iMac line of products, alongside the MacBook product line, has been struggling as of late. Smartphones and tablets have been the focus of many “tech-forward” users who were once Apple’s laptop faithful.

It would make sense, then, if Apple were to simply position the iPad as a competitor to, and replacement for, traditional laptops. This could simply be another step in that direction.

April 26, 2019
Rumor Mill: Cheaper Switch Coming in June

There have been rumors swirling regarding new versions of Nintendo’s mega-popular Switch system for months. Most rumors have centered on a supposed “Pro” version that fans hope includes better graphical capabilities and a larger, brighter screen. However, recent rumors indicate that a less-expensive, more kid-friendly Switch is likely to hit as early as June of this year.

Less Expensive Switch Coming in June

The Rumor

This rumor comes courtesy of a report from Bloomberg, which corroborates existing speculation regarding the hybrid console. However, the rumor doesn’t include any information regarding exact release date, console specifications or a price point. All that is included in this rumor is that the system will likely see a June release and will cost less than the existing Switch.

Best Guesses

If we had to hazard a guess, a less expensive Switch model could go a few ways. One of the simplest ways for Nintendo to do this would to be making a Switch that doesn’t, well, Switch. A system with no dock and without the capability of up-scaling graphics for TV mode could be sold for less than the existing $300 model.

This move, while simple, seems unlike. The biggest selling point of the Switch is the ability to play in handheld mode or TV mode. As such, a more likely outcome is a Switch model without detachable Joy-Cons, a smaller screen and perhaps even a small battery.

This model could still include a dock, though it would likely require buyers to furnish their own controllers for use in TV mode.

Potential Price

We wouldn’t be surprised to see a scaled-back Switch retail for between $220 and $250, making it a more affordable option. Nintendo has long seen the young demographic of gamers as ideal targets for their handheld systems, making console revisions like the Nintendo 2DS with that exact demographic in mind.

It makes sense that Nintendo would want to release a less expensive, more kid-friendly version of their mega-hit console. Parents are more likely to buy their kids a cheaper console, especially if they already have a Switch or PS4 in the living room.

April 25, 2019
Hurricane Michael Was Category 5 When it Touched Down: Updates

When Hurricane Michael made landfall on the Florida Panhandle in October of 2018, it caused absolute havoc. The storm was originally estimated to have hit at Category 4, though it seems that categorization might have been incorrect. New post-storm analyses show it hit at Category 5 when it touched down.

Hurricane Michael Category 5 When it Touched Down

Stronger Than Thought

New post-storm analyses have drawn new conclusions about the 2018 hurricane. It now appears that the storm had winds at 160 mph even when it hit land. As such, Michael is only the fourth ever Cat 5 hurricane to touch down on US soil.

Originally, it was thought that the storm had wind speeds up to 155 mph when it hit land on October 10^th. That would have made the storm on the high end of Category 4. However, no matter the recorded windspeeds, the storm was incredibly destructive.

Destructive Power

The destructive power of the storm was nearly unprecedented. While only a small portion of the coast was exposed to the full force of the Category 5 wind speeds, the destruction was widespread across the Panhandle and even into the Carolinas.

The storm was directly responsible for no less than 16 deaths, and indirectly could have cause as many as 30 more. Economically, roughly $25 billion in damage was wrought in the United States alone. That’s not counting the amount of damage the storm wreaked on the islands before making US landfall.

What This Means

While this new up-tick in Categorization is interesting for academic reasons, it has no bearing on the actual damage the storm wrought. Hurricane Michael’s categorization is more important for chronicling weather history than for assessing the damage it dealt to the coast.

The last Category 5 storm to hit the US before Michael was Andrew in 1992. Before that, Camille hit in 1969 and the Labor Day Hurricane was a Category 5 in 1935.

April 19, 2019
Ever Wondered What Jason Momoa Looks Like Without a Beard?

Jason Momoa is a very beloved actor and is known for his good looks, big muscles and killer beard. In a new YouTube video Momoa, who has played Aquaman and Khal Drogo, shaves off his famous beard, causing tons of his fans to cry out and ask “why?”. There’s actually a very good reason, so read on to find out.

Why Did Jason Momoa Shave his Beard?

Jason Momoa

Momoa is well-known for his roles in Game of Thrones and the DC Cinematic Universe. In Game of Thrones, he portrayed wild horse-lord Khal Drogo, a fan-favorite character. In the DC Universe, he portrays a much swarthier and meaner version of Arthur Curry, also known as Aquaman.

A huge part of his public image, of course, is his thick beard. In a video recently uploaded to YouTube, however, Momoa is seen shaving off his famous facial hair.

For a Good Cause

Momoa uploaded the beard-shaving in order to draw views to the video for a good cause. The video, sponsored in part by the Aluminum Association, draws attention to the pollution of plastic bottles and the importance of recycling.

Momoa, per the Association, tells the viewer that 75% of all aluminum that has been produced is still in circulation today. As such, Momoa and the Association argue that the use of aluminum is much preferable to plastic.

So Long, Beard

As Momoa shaves off the famous beard, he bids farewell to the famous characters he’s portrayed with it. He says goodbye to Aquaman and Khal Drogo, all while walking through a desert that is strewn with plastic.

Momoa explains that his big change in appearance is preface to another change. That change, he says, is aluminum over plastic. Given that he also plays Aquaman and defends the seas, it makes sense that Momoa would want to see us cut down on plastic usage. After all, the oceans are home to the vast majority of plastic pollution.

April 19, 2019
Attorney General Barr Releases Full Mueller Report

Despite the lengthy investigation and contentious creation of the report, Mueller’s full (well, slightly redacted) report has been made public. The release followed a press release by Attorney General Barr. On March 22^nd, Robert Mueller’s team turned the report over to Attorney General Barr, who, in turn, provided a 4-page summary of the 400-page report to Congress.

Mueller Report Released

USA Today

The Press Release

The Attorney General held a press conference prior to the release of the report, attempting to frame the Special Counsel’s findings in his own light. Famously, Barr wrote an unsolicited 19-page memo prior to being nominated to the AG job in which he alleged that the Department of Justice wouldn’t be able to find Trump guilty of obstruction of justice.

Barr’s press release focused mainly on depicting the Special Counsel as having differing opinions of legal theory from the AG’s office. This largely tracks with what legal experts expected, following Barr’s numerous attempts to spin the report as not being as bad for the administration as people have predicted.

The Report

Mueller’s report focuses on ten specific episodes that could be evidence of obstruction of justice by the Donald Trump administration. The report also spends some time focusing on Russian interference in the election, which led to no less than 25 criminal charges levelled at Russian hackers.

Obstruction

According to the report, Mueller’s team didn’t find sufficient evidence to either exonerate nor indict Trump on charges of obstruction of justice. The obstruction case largely centered around the firing of former FBI director James Comey, as well as multiple tweets sent by Trump following that event.

Russian Interference

The other major part of the Special Counsel’s report involved an unprecedented Russian hacking effort that used social media to sow discord. The massive project had a budget of over $35 million and was overseen by top GRU operatives.

The interference campaign created sock-puppet accounts to argue vehemently on wedge issues like abortion, gun control and trans rights. Then, the Russians used their considerable budget to advertise heavily on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, all in the name of exposing political fault lines in battleground states.

Conclusions

The 400-page report is available online from the Special Counsel’s website for free. Those curious about its contents can download it and read it today. Some small parts of the report are redacted, likely for the sake of national security.

The report is expected to be a bombshell for the beleaguered Trump administration. As legal experts and Congressional committees absorb and dissect the document, it is expected that the full scope of the administration’s actions will come into clearer focus.

April 18, 2019
Event Horizon Telescope Photographs Supermassive Black Hole

Is there anything in the cosmos more mystifying and terrifying than a black hole? The Event Horizon Telescope array has managed to do the impossible and photograph a distant black hole in the M87 galaxy. Well, the array photographed the hole in space where the black hole should be. It devours all the light that passes the event horizon, of course.

Event Horizon Telescope Photograph

Supermassive

The black hole in question is incredibly huge. It is so big, in fact, that it could envelop the entirety of our solar system. The object is estimated to be 3.5 million times the size of our planet. In order to image the supermassive black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy, the Event Horizon Telescope team used an array of eight telescopes.

Imaging

The team used radio imaging and very precise array movements to gather petabytes of radio signals. Yes, petabytes. The tremendous amount of data gathered by the team was, in fact, too great to be sent over the internet. Instead, each dish in the array had an on-site hard drive recording information.

When the team had enough data across their eight dishes, they brought all eight hard drives to a supercomputer. In order to image the black hole properly, the supercomputer collated the eight data points and gave us our clearest view yet of the oddest objects we’ve ever observed.

Einstein’s Theories

According to the Event Horizon team, the images gathered support Einstein’s theories, proving the famous scientist right yet again. The image itself shows superheated gas being sucked into the black hole, resembling some demonic force consuming all that surrounds it.

This image largely shows what physicists expected: black holes have their own set of rules. Einstein theorized that sufficiently massive object bend reality around them, altering gravity and light in the area. According to Einstein, as you approach the event horizon and get nearer to the singularity within, the very laws of physics begin to break down.

What This Means

Black holes fascinate us because they are so unlike any other objects in the cosmos. Their massive, light-obliterating profiles cast an odd shadow on our understanding of physics and reality. How can an object be so massive and so dense that it alters the nature of reality around itself?

Surely, our thirst for knowledge as a species can never be quenched. What is truly impressive is the lengths to which we will go to learn more about the world around us.

April 11, 2019