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cbabe
cbabe's Journal
cbabe's Journal
February 24, 2024
A Marketplace of Girl Influencers Managed by Moms and Stalked by Men
Seeking social media stardom for their underage daughters, mothers post images of them on Instagram. The accounts draw men sexually attracted to children, and they sometimes pay to see more.
By Jennifer Valentino-DeVries and Michael H. Keller
For this investigation, the reporters analyzed 2.1 million Instagram posts, monitored months of online chats of professed pedophiles and interviewed over 100 people, including parents and children.
Feb. 22, 2024
The ominous messages began arriving in Elissa’s inbox early last year.
“You sell pics of your underage daughter to pedophiles,” read one. “You’re such a naughty sick mom, you’re just as sick as us pedophiles,” read another. “I will make your life hell for you and your daughter.”
Elissa has been running her daughter’s Instagram account since 2020, when the girl was 11 and too young to have her own. Photos show a bright, bubbly girl modeling evening dresses, high-end workout gear and dance leotards. She has more than 100,000 followers, some so enthusiastic about her posts that they pay $9.99 a month for more photos.
…more but paywall…
A Marketplace of Girl Influencers Managed by Moms and Stalked by Men
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/22/us/instagram-child-influencers.htmlA Marketplace of Girl Influencers Managed by Moms and Stalked by Men
Seeking social media stardom for their underage daughters, mothers post images of them on Instagram. The accounts draw men sexually attracted to children, and they sometimes pay to see more.
By Jennifer Valentino-DeVries and Michael H. Keller
For this investigation, the reporters analyzed 2.1 million Instagram posts, monitored months of online chats of professed pedophiles and interviewed over 100 people, including parents and children.
Feb. 22, 2024
The ominous messages began arriving in Elissa’s inbox early last year.
“You sell pics of your underage daughter to pedophiles,” read one. “You’re such a naughty sick mom, you’re just as sick as us pedophiles,” read another. “I will make your life hell for you and your daughter.”
Elissa has been running her daughter’s Instagram account since 2020, when the girl was 11 and too young to have her own. Photos show a bright, bubbly girl modeling evening dresses, high-end workout gear and dance leotards. She has more than 100,000 followers, some so enthusiastic about her posts that they pay $9.99 a month for more photos.
…more but paywall…
February 23, 2024
Claims of Israeli sexual assault of Palestinian women are credible, UN panel says
Experts report evidence of rape, sexual humiliation and threats of rape against girls and women
Julian Borger in Washington
Thu 22 Feb 2024 14.12 EST
UN experts say they have seen “credible allegations” that Palestinian women and girls have been subjected to sexual assaults, including rape, while in Israeli detention, and are calling for a full investigation. The panel of experts said there was evidence of a least two cases of rape, alongside other cases of sexual humiliation and threats of rape. Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, said the true extent of sexual violence could be significantly higher.
…
She noted that reticence in reporting sexual assault was common because of the fear of reprisals against victims. She said that in a wave of detentions of Palestinian women and girls after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on 7 October, there was an increasingly permissive attitude towards sexual assault in Israeli detention centres.
“I would say that, on the whole, violence and dehumanisation of Palestinian women and children and civilians has been normalised throughout this war,” Alsalem said.
There was evidence of widespread sexual violence by Hamas against Israeli women and girls during the 7 October raid in southern Israel. The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel has reported that the use of rape and other abuse by the Hamas attackers was “systematic and intentional”. Those assaults, which were also condemned by Alsalem and the other UN experts, are to be the subject of a report by the UN secretary general’s special envoy on sexual violence, Pramila Patten.
…more…
Claims of Israeli sexual assault of Palestinian women are credible, UN panel says
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/22/claims-of-israeli-sexual-assault-of-palestinian-women-are-credible-un-panel-saysClaims of Israeli sexual assault of Palestinian women are credible, UN panel says
Experts report evidence of rape, sexual humiliation and threats of rape against girls and women
Julian Borger in Washington
Thu 22 Feb 2024 14.12 EST
UN experts say they have seen “credible allegations” that Palestinian women and girls have been subjected to sexual assaults, including rape, while in Israeli detention, and are calling for a full investigation. The panel of experts said there was evidence of a least two cases of rape, alongside other cases of sexual humiliation and threats of rape. Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, said the true extent of sexual violence could be significantly higher.
…
She noted that reticence in reporting sexual assault was common because of the fear of reprisals against victims. She said that in a wave of detentions of Palestinian women and girls after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on 7 October, there was an increasingly permissive attitude towards sexual assault in Israeli detention centres.
“I would say that, on the whole, violence and dehumanisation of Palestinian women and children and civilians has been normalised throughout this war,” Alsalem said.
There was evidence of widespread sexual violence by Hamas against Israeli women and girls during the 7 October raid in southern Israel. The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel has reported that the use of rape and other abuse by the Hamas attackers was “systematic and intentional”. Those assaults, which were also condemned by Alsalem and the other UN experts, are to be the subject of a report by the UN secretary general’s special envoy on sexual violence, Pramila Patten.
…more…
February 22, 2024
The mothers fighting a scandal bigger than thalidomide: ‘We were told the medication was safe’
Since the 1970s, it has been known that sodium valproate can harm babies in the womb. So why was it prescribed to pregnant women?
Anna Moore
Thu 22 Feb 2024 00.00 EST
In 2009, Emma Murphy took a phone call from her sister that changed her life. “At first, I couldn’t make out what she was saying; she was crying so much,” Murphy says. “All I could hear was ‘Epilim’.” This was a brand name for sodium valproate, the medication Murphy had been taking since she was 12 to manage her epilepsy.
…
At that point, Murphy was a mother to five children, all under six, and married to Joe, a taxi driver in Manchester. “My kids are fabulous, all of them, but I’d known for years that something was wrong,” she says. “They weren’t meeting milestones. There was delayed speech, slowness to crawl, not walking. There was a lot of drooling – that was really apparent. They were poorly, with constant infections. I was always at the doctors with one of them.
“I knew there was something wrong and I’d say it to doctors, to friends, to family, but no one was listening. I was told: ‘It’s a phase.’ ‘You’re reading too much into things.’ ‘You’re depressed.’” At times, she had wondered if her medication was to blame. “Everyone knows about thalidomide, but then I’d think: there’s no way. It can’t be. I’ve been told so many times – by midwives, by doctors, by consultants – over so many years that it was safe to keep taking.” By the time Murphy saw the news item, one of her children, Lauren, had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
…
This call between Murphy and Janet Williams was the start of an incredible partnership. It led to the report published this month by England’s patient safety commissioner, Dr Henrietta Hughes, which recommended a compensation scheme for families of children harmed by valproate taken in pregnancy. Hughes has suggested initial payments of £100,000 and described the damage caused by the drug as “a bigger scandal than thalidomide”. It is estimated that 20,000 British children have been exposed to the drug while in the womb.
…more… three babies born every month still…
The mothers fighting a scandal bigger than thalidomide: 'We were told the medication was safe'
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/22/the-mothers-fighting-a-scandal-bigger-than-thalidomide-we-were-told-the-medication-was-safeThe mothers fighting a scandal bigger than thalidomide: ‘We were told the medication was safe’
Since the 1970s, it has been known that sodium valproate can harm babies in the womb. So why was it prescribed to pregnant women?
Anna Moore
Thu 22 Feb 2024 00.00 EST
In 2009, Emma Murphy took a phone call from her sister that changed her life. “At first, I couldn’t make out what she was saying; she was crying so much,” Murphy says. “All I could hear was ‘Epilim’.” This was a brand name for sodium valproate, the medication Murphy had been taking since she was 12 to manage her epilepsy.
…
At that point, Murphy was a mother to five children, all under six, and married to Joe, a taxi driver in Manchester. “My kids are fabulous, all of them, but I’d known for years that something was wrong,” she says. “They weren’t meeting milestones. There was delayed speech, slowness to crawl, not walking. There was a lot of drooling – that was really apparent. They were poorly, with constant infections. I was always at the doctors with one of them.
“I knew there was something wrong and I’d say it to doctors, to friends, to family, but no one was listening. I was told: ‘It’s a phase.’ ‘You’re reading too much into things.’ ‘You’re depressed.’” At times, she had wondered if her medication was to blame. “Everyone knows about thalidomide, but then I’d think: there’s no way. It can’t be. I’ve been told so many times – by midwives, by doctors, by consultants – over so many years that it was safe to keep taking.” By the time Murphy saw the news item, one of her children, Lauren, had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
…
This call between Murphy and Janet Williams was the start of an incredible partnership. It led to the report published this month by England’s patient safety commissioner, Dr Henrietta Hughes, which recommended a compensation scheme for families of children harmed by valproate taken in pregnancy. Hughes has suggested initial payments of £100,000 and described the damage caused by the drug as “a bigger scandal than thalidomide”. It is estimated that 20,000 British children have been exposed to the drug while in the womb.
…more… three babies born every month still…
February 21, 2024
Boeing 757 Makes Emergency Landing After Wing Falls Apart Mid Flight
Story by Bill Galluccio • 23h
A United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Boston with 165 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing in Denver after the plane's wing started to fall apart in midair.
When the pilot announced the plane was diverting to Denver, passenger Kevin Clarke looked out the window and saw part of the wing breaking off.
…more… video on x…
Boeing 757 Makes Emergency Landing After Wing Falls Apart Mid Flight
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/boeing-757-makes-emergency-landing-after-wing-falls-apart-mid-flight/ar-BB1iBlu2Boeing 757 Makes Emergency Landing After Wing Falls Apart Mid Flight
Story by Bill Galluccio • 23h
A United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Boston with 165 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing in Denver after the plane's wing started to fall apart in midair.
When the pilot announced the plane was diverting to Denver, passenger Kevin Clarke looked out the window and saw part of the wing breaking off.
…more… video on x…
February 21, 2024
Curious. Across the alley vw has been
making a sound like an old sliding whistle for three days. And headlights are on.
He tried battery charging to no avail.
Curious what the problem is..?
February 20, 2024
George Soros fund poised to take control of nation’s second-largest chain of radio stations
Story by Josh Kosman, Ariel Zilber
George Soros is poised to take a massive stake in the nation’s second-largest radio company, which owns more than 220 stations nationwide, according to court filings and sources close to the situation.
The left-leaning billionaire’s Soros Fund Management has bought up $400 million of debt in Audacy — the No. 2 US radio broadcaster behind iHeartMedia with stations including New York’s WFAN and 1010 WINS, as well as Los Angeles-based KROQ, according to bankruptcy filings.
One insider close to the situation, noting that he was a Republican, said he believed it was possible Soros was buying the stake to exert influence on public opinion in the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election.
“This is scary,” the source said.
George Soros fund poised to take control of nation's second-largest chain of radio stations
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/george-soros-fund-poised-to-take-control-of-nation-s-second-largest-chain-of-radio-stations-this-is-scary/ar-BB1ihGzeGeorge Soros fund poised to take control of nation’s second-largest chain of radio stations
Story by Josh Kosman, Ariel Zilber
George Soros is poised to take a massive stake in the nation’s second-largest radio company, which owns more than 220 stations nationwide, according to court filings and sources close to the situation.
The left-leaning billionaire’s Soros Fund Management has bought up $400 million of debt in Audacy — the No. 2 US radio broadcaster behind iHeartMedia with stations including New York’s WFAN and 1010 WINS, as well as Los Angeles-based KROQ, according to bankruptcy filings.
One insider close to the situation, noting that he was a Republican, said he believed it was possible Soros was buying the stake to exert influence on public opinion in the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election.
“This is scary,” the source said.
February 20, 2024
…shooting? Finland hopes hobby will boost national defence
Nato’s newest member, which shares 830-mile border with Russia, plans to open hundreds of new shooting ranges
Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent
Mon 19 Feb 2024 10.22 EST
Finland plans to open more than 300 new shooting ranges to encourage more citizens to take up the hobby in the interest of national defence. It is hoped that shooting in the Nordic country – which last year became Nato’s newest member and which shares a 830-mile (1,330km) border with Russia – could become as popular as football or ice hockey.
There are about 670 shooting ranges in Finland, down from about 2,000 at the turn of the century. By 2030, the government plans to increase the number to about 1,000.
Jukka Kopra, a National Coalition party MP and the chair of Finland’s defence committee, told the Guardian: “The present government aims to increase the amount of shooting ranges in Finland from roughly 600-700 up to 1,000. This is because of our defence model, which benefits from people having and developing their shooting skills on their own.”
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the popularity of voluntary training courses aimed at teaching reservists and civilians how to defend Finland has doubled. There has also been a big increase in the number of Finns applying for gun licences. Last year the Finnish defence training and education association MPK put on 116,000 training days, a significant increase on previous years when there were usually about 50,000.
…more…
Shooting ranges: Finland hopes hobby will boost national defence
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/19/finland-to-open-more-shooting-ranges-amid-russia-threat…shooting? Finland hopes hobby will boost national defence
Nato’s newest member, which shares 830-mile border with Russia, plans to open hundreds of new shooting ranges
Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent
Mon 19 Feb 2024 10.22 EST
Finland plans to open more than 300 new shooting ranges to encourage more citizens to take up the hobby in the interest of national defence. It is hoped that shooting in the Nordic country – which last year became Nato’s newest member and which shares a 830-mile (1,330km) border with Russia – could become as popular as football or ice hockey.
There are about 670 shooting ranges in Finland, down from about 2,000 at the turn of the century. By 2030, the government plans to increase the number to about 1,000.
Jukka Kopra, a National Coalition party MP and the chair of Finland’s defence committee, told the Guardian: “The present government aims to increase the amount of shooting ranges in Finland from roughly 600-700 up to 1,000. This is because of our defence model, which benefits from people having and developing their shooting skills on their own.”
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the popularity of voluntary training courses aimed at teaching reservists and civilians how to defend Finland has doubled. There has also been a big increase in the number of Finns applying for gun licences. Last year the Finnish defence training and education association MPK put on 116,000 training days, a significant increase on previous years when there were usually about 50,000.
…more…
February 19, 2024
Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff and turn a profit
Published: February 13, 2024 8:20am EST
Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez, Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, Florida International University
Flowers grown on inexpensive floating platforms can help clean polluted waterways, over 12 weeks extracting 52% more phosphorus and 36% more nitrogen than the natural nitrogen cycle removes from untreated water, according to our new research. In addition to filtering water, the cut flowers can generate income via the multibillion-dollar floral market.
In our trials of various flowers, giant marigolds stood out as the most successful, producing long, marketable stems and large blooms. Their yield matched typical flower farm production.
Why it matters
Water pollution is caused in large part by runoff from farms, urban lawns and even septic tanks. When it rains, excess phosphorus, nitrogen and other chemicals wash into lakes and rivers.
These nutrients feed algae, leading to widespread and harmful algae blooms, which can severely lower oxygen in water, creating “dead zones” where aquatic life cannot survive. Nutrient runoff is a critical issue as urban areas expand, affecting the health of water ecosystems.
…more…the Aztecs’ chinampas in Mexico and the Miccosukees’ tree island settlements in Florida…zinnias, sunflowers and giant marigolds…
Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff and turn a profit
https://theconversation.com/flowers-grown-floating-on-polluted-waterways-can-help-clean-up-nutrient-runoff-and-turn-a-profit-215127Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff and turn a profit
Published: February 13, 2024 8:20am EST
Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez, Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, Florida International University
Flowers grown on inexpensive floating platforms can help clean polluted waterways, over 12 weeks extracting 52% more phosphorus and 36% more nitrogen than the natural nitrogen cycle removes from untreated water, according to our new research. In addition to filtering water, the cut flowers can generate income via the multibillion-dollar floral market.
In our trials of various flowers, giant marigolds stood out as the most successful, producing long, marketable stems and large blooms. Their yield matched typical flower farm production.
Why it matters
Water pollution is caused in large part by runoff from farms, urban lawns and even septic tanks. When it rains, excess phosphorus, nitrogen and other chemicals wash into lakes and rivers.
These nutrients feed algae, leading to widespread and harmful algae blooms, which can severely lower oxygen in water, creating “dead zones” where aquatic life cannot survive. Nutrient runoff is a critical issue as urban areas expand, affecting the health of water ecosystems.
…more…the Aztecs’ chinampas in Mexico and the Miccosukees’ tree island settlements in Florida…zinnias, sunflowers and giant marigolds…
February 19, 2024
War on Gaza: Indian union refuses to load ships with arms headed for Israel
The move comes days after Israel received 20 Indian-made Hermes 900 drones, routinely used in attacks on Gaza
By Azad Essa
Published date: 18 February 2024 17:23 GMT
An Indian trade union operating at several ports across the country have vowed not to load or offload ships carrying weapons to Israel, the general secretary of the Water Transport Workers Federation of India has said, just days after news broke that Indian-made combat drones had made their way to Israel.
In an interview with Middle East Eye on Sunday, T. Narendra Rao, general secretary of the Water Transport Workers Federation of India, said the union refused to be involved in any action that would add to the further suffering of Palestinians.
"We decided, if any vessel or any ship is carrying the arms or ammunitions or weaponised cargo to Israel, we decided to boycott. We will not cooperate with that," Rao told MEE.
Last week, the union released a statement announcing its decision to boycott all ships carrying arms to Israel. It added the decision also applied to any ship with military cargo headed to Israel.
…more…
War on Gaza: Indian union refuses to load ships with arms headed for Israel
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/war-gaza-indian-union-refuses-load-ships-arms-headed-israelWar on Gaza: Indian union refuses to load ships with arms headed for Israel
The move comes days after Israel received 20 Indian-made Hermes 900 drones, routinely used in attacks on Gaza
By Azad Essa
Published date: 18 February 2024 17:23 GMT
An Indian trade union operating at several ports across the country have vowed not to load or offload ships carrying weapons to Israel, the general secretary of the Water Transport Workers Federation of India has said, just days after news broke that Indian-made combat drones had made their way to Israel.
In an interview with Middle East Eye on Sunday, T. Narendra Rao, general secretary of the Water Transport Workers Federation of India, said the union refused to be involved in any action that would add to the further suffering of Palestinians.
"We decided, if any vessel or any ship is carrying the arms or ammunitions or weaponised cargo to Israel, we decided to boycott. We will not cooperate with that," Rao told MEE.
Last week, the union released a statement announcing its decision to boycott all ships carrying arms to Israel. It added the decision also applied to any ship with military cargo headed to Israel.
…more…
February 18, 2024
UFCW Local Leads Fight to Win Washington's Strongest Tenant Protections
February 12, 2024 / Ty Moore
Grocery and retail workers helped win the strongest tenant protections in Washington state last November for the 100,000 renters in the city of Tacoma.
First we had to beat the mayor’s and city council’s attempt to bring a competing watered-down ballot measure. And then we had to overcome a vicious and deceptive landlord opposition that smashed all previous political spending records in Tacoma.
“We’ve created incredible goodwill in the community just as we gear up for a tough contract fight,” said Michael Whalen, who helped initiate the campaign as a dairy clerk and shop steward at Fred Meyer.
“Members were inspired to take on this fight not only because we have co-workers sleeping in cars; not only because rent hikes keep eating away at bargaining table gains,” said Whalen, a member of Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 367’s executive board and now on union staff. “Solidarity goes both ways, and we’re going to need all of Tacoma to stand with us as we get strike-ready.”
…more… what we won…
UFCW Local Leads Fight to Win Washington's Strongest Tenant Protections
https://www.labornotes.org/2024/02/ufcw-local-leads-fight-win-washingtons-strongest-tenant-protectionsUFCW Local Leads Fight to Win Washington's Strongest Tenant Protections
February 12, 2024 / Ty Moore
Grocery and retail workers helped win the strongest tenant protections in Washington state last November for the 100,000 renters in the city of Tacoma.
First we had to beat the mayor’s and city council’s attempt to bring a competing watered-down ballot measure. And then we had to overcome a vicious and deceptive landlord opposition that smashed all previous political spending records in Tacoma.
“We’ve created incredible goodwill in the community just as we gear up for a tough contract fight,” said Michael Whalen, who helped initiate the campaign as a dairy clerk and shop steward at Fred Meyer.
“Members were inspired to take on this fight not only because we have co-workers sleeping in cars; not only because rent hikes keep eating away at bargaining table gains,” said Whalen, a member of Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 367’s executive board and now on union staff. “Solidarity goes both ways, and we’re going to need all of Tacoma to stand with us as we get strike-ready.”
…more… what we won…
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