Component Planet: 2019

Tuesday, 31 December 2019

Crossrail boss says managers 'have a grip' on project

The route is already two years late and more than £2bn over budget.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50958940

Security Camera Maker Wyze Admits to 23-Day Data Breach

Internet connected home security cameras have become a big business with companies like Google’s Nest and Amazon’s Ring dominating the high-end market. However, there are also numerous smaller players like the budget-minded Wyze. This company attracted attention for its $20 security camera and other super-cheap smart home products. However, Wyze now admits it suffered a serious security breach in December.

Wyze security cameras don’t have batteries, 4K resolution, or advanced AI like some devices on the market, but they’re cheap enough that you can keep an eye on your humble abode for a relative pittance. Whereas a 1080p Wyze camera costs $20, the basic indoor Nest Camera costs $200. However, Nest has Google’s account security, which is among the most robust you’ll find. Wyze recently made a grave error when it left a repository of user data wide open for several weeks.

The saga started last week when consulting firm Twelve Security reported that it discovered a copy of Wyze’s database accessible online. Wyze later confirmed the scale of the breach in an email to consumers. The data included camera names, Wi-Fi SSIDs, activation times, and access tokens for mobile apps and Alexa. Passwords and stored recordings were not part of the breach. Reports indicate about 2.4 million users were put at risk.

Wyze says the database was accidentally copied to an insecure location by an employee. The company doesn’t believe anyone’s login data is compromised, but the availability of login tokens could have allowed a determined third-party to hijack accounts. As a precaution, Wyze logged everyone out and reset tokens.

Unsecured Wyze databases, via Twelve Security.

Twelve Security says the database was accessible between December 4th and the 26th, but that’s not the only issue. The company also claims Wyze is routing traffic through Alibaba’s servers in China, which will no doubt set off alarm bells for some US consumers. Wyze, however, denies this claim. Twelve Security also says Wyze’s US servers were never as secure as its Chinese servers, suggesting user data might have been accessible in some form all the way back in January 2019. Wyze has yet to respond to that, but it continues to investigate.

While devices like Wyze cameras can be appealing, it’s important to remember they aren’t bulletproof. This is far from the first time a camera maker has had a data breach, and it won’t be the last. It’s probably a good idea to make sure these devices aren’t pointed at anything you wouldn’t want revealed.

Now Read:

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/internet/303955-security-camera-maker-wyze-admits-to-23-day-data-breach

Police given more time to question terrorism suspects

Police now have until 6 January to question the men, who were arrested during raids on Monday.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50958944

Chinese Scientist Responsible for Genetically Engineered Babies Gets 3 Years in Prison

The international medical community was aghast last year when a Chinese scientists announced the first ever genetically engineered babies. He Jiankui and his team used the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing tool to make two twin girls immune to HIV infection but did so without authorization from medical authorities. Now, Chinese state media reports that He Jiankui has been sentenced to three years in prison following a secret trial.

He Jiankui dropped off the radar shortly after the announcement. Many speculated that he had been arrested by the Chinese government, and now we know what became of him. He Jiankui has been convicted of “illegal medical practice” and sentenced to three years in prison along with 3 million yuan ($429,000) fine. He’s also banned from working in reproductive medicine for life. Two co-authors of the paper have also been sentenced in the case. Zhang Renli will spend two years in prison, and Qin Jinzhou has been sentenced to 18 months.

The CRISPR/Cas9 system has been heralded as a groundbreaking tool for editing DNA. The system comes from bacterial cells, allowing scientists to make precise cuts in DNA. Cas9 is a restriction enzyme — a protein that can cut DNA. Scientists can guide Cas9 to the right part of a genome using CRISPR DNA sequences. Researchers have used CRISPR in the lab to neuter disease-carrying mosquitoes, halt HIV replication inside cells, and engineer bacteria that can eat plastic. Editing the human genome with the intention of producing living, breathing people is regarded as irresponsible by most of the medical community when there is still so much we don’t know about the possible side effects.

That didn’t stop He Jiankui, who published his paper last year along with 10 co-authors. The team introduced mutations into the CCR5 gene, which codes for a protein (also called CCR5) on the surface of white blood cells. This protein is important in immune system signaling, but it’s also the route by which HIV infects cells. There are millions of people with CCR5 mutations that make them immune to HIV, and He Jiankui introduced that mitation into embryos. The twin girls born in 2018 are allegedly healthy and have no other genetic abnormalities.

The announcement of the sentence is also the first time Chinese authorities have confirmed the existence of a third gene-edited baby. He Jiankui claimed shortly after the initial announcement that another woman was due to deliver another designer baby in the coming months. So, there are now three genetically engineered people growing up in China, and the consequences of that are still unclear.

Now Read:

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/303927-chinese-scientist-responsible-for-genetically-engineered-babies-gets-3-years-in-prison

David Moyes: New West Ham manager 'best person for job' - captain Mark Noble

Captain Mark Noble calls on West Ham supporters to "get behind" new manager David Moyes, adding he is the "best person for the job".

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50960280

Did Honda’s CEO Say EVs Make No Sense? Not Exactly

Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo says there’s no future for EVs. Or maybe he didn’t. Comments Hachigo made recently indicate he doesn’t see “a dramatic increase in demand for battery vehicles.” Much of the confusion comes from analysis / commentary from other media outlets reacting to a recent interview with Automotive News Europe. Hachigo appears, at worst, to be honest in noting that demand sucks currently for fully electric vehicles. That honest appraisal disheartens EV-enthusiast journalists who dislike an executive who isn’t a full-on cheerleader for battery electric vehicles.

Tesla has shown there’s a market for pure EVs, not just hybrids, not just plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). Similarly, two decades ago, Toyota showed there’s a market for hybrids that went a mile or two on battery power, the rest of the time on gasoline (but still managed impressive mpg increases). Their dominant products sucked the oxygen out of the market for a decade or more.

What Honda CEO Hachiago Really Said

Here’s the key points from an interview of Hachigo with Automotive News Europe editors Jamie Butters and Hans Greimel, through a translator:

Q (ANE): Honda wants two-thirds of its global sales to come from electrified vehicles by 2030. What is your road to electrification when demand for hybrids and EVs is still undeveloped?

A (Hachiago ): I believe hybrid vehicles will play a critical role. The objective is not electrification, per se, but improving fuel efficiency. And we believe hybrid vehicles are the way to abide by different environmental regulations.

Q: What about full-electric vehicles?

A: Are there really customers who truly want them? I’m not so sure because there are lots of issues regarding infrastructure and hardware. I do not believe there will be a dramatic increase in demand for battery vehicles, and I believe this situation is true globally. There are different regulations in different countries, and we have to abide by them. So it’s a must to continue R&D. But I don’t believe it will become mainstream anytime soon.

What we hear from Honda’s head guy is what you’d expect to hear from pragmatic automaker: a straightforward appraisal of where the market is today. He did not, unlike other CEOs, complain that governments need to underwrite a big charging infrastructure first.

What we hear from some of our fellow editors tracking EVs is disbelief that Honda hasn’t gotten with the program. From Elektrek (“Honda CEO says ‘There Will Be No Dramatic Increase EV demand’”):

Honda EV Plus: first modern EV, 1997-99, 80-100 miles range, 300 built.

The automotive industry is operating on two completely separate alternative planes of existence. Readers of this site are familiar with the overwhelming evidence of EVs approaching an inflection point, and the last gasps of internal combustion. Let’s call that reality. And then there’s Honda’s Takahiro Hachigo, joined by executives from Toyota (and others). In their alternative universe, the inevitability of a pure-electric future is not proven. Nobody wants them.

… Nearly four decades ago, Honda introduced the first engine technology to meet US Clean Air Act standards without the need for a catalytic converter. In 1999, the Honda Insight was the first hybrid. But that’s ancient history. Today, the company remains fixated on 20-year-old technology rather than innovating for the new electric age. … At the same time, Hachigo’s latest statements are entirely out of step with the times. The imperative of global climate change is too urgent for minimal compliance and CES eye candy.

And from Jalopnik (“Ghostly Specter Of Honda’s CEO Still Not Convinced Electric Cars Are A Thing”):

Here comes Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo, rising from the dead to walk among us in the year 2019—a year in which Tesla has sold more than 255,000 cars [worldwide]—to inform us he is still not sure about this whole electric car thing, revealing himself to be not a man but a ghost of a bygone era.

Honda is also designing a modular electric car platform which they hope to have ready by 2025. Does that count as “anytime soon?” By automaker timelines, probably not, which means there’s plenty of time for more CEOs to die and rise from the dead before Honda completes its EV platform for a future it doesn’t think will happen.

One company dominated hybrid sales 20 years ago: Toyota. Now Tesla is doing the same with EVs. Four-fifths of EVs sold in the US are Teslas. After that, only Chevy, Nissan and BMW sell more than 5,000 EVs year. (Source: Statista)

The EV Market Is Good (For Tesla)

Automakers have lots of rules to follow: crash protection, safety equipment, emissions. Also they have to make money for shareholders. And stay in business. Right now, Tesla dominates battery-electric vehicle sales, controlling 80 percent (182,000) of the 228,000 pure EVs sold in 2018 in the US, which is 1.0 percent of all US sales. What’s left is table scraps. Chevy has 8 percent of the EV market (0.1 perecent of all vehicles sold), Nissan 6 percent of EVs (0.1 percent of all sales). For everybody else, it rounds to 0.0 percent unless you go to two decimal places.

Honda sold 948 Clarity BEVs in 2018. That is a small number: one of every 1,500 Hondas sold, one of every 18,000 cars sold (all brands) in 2018. Clarify is actually three vehicles: a fuel-cell car that converts hydrogen to electricity, a BEV (the sub-1,000 sales), and a plug-in hybrid. Together they accounted for 20,000 Clarity sales, but virtually all of them were PHEVs. Honda marketed the Clarity BEV as a comfortable family car (think Accord with batteries instead of gasoline). But with an EPA combined-driving range of 89 miles, it was a challenging car to sell. Honda will move into 2020 with the fuel cell and PHEV but not the Clarity EV.

Critics scoff at PHEVs as uninteresting for the long term, and they’re probably right. For. The. Long. Term. But in the US with its greater driving distances than Europe, they make sense. You can drive to and from work on electricity alone if you remember to recharge when you get home. And then on weekends you go where you want, mostly on gasoline. Meanwhile, battery technology is improving at about 20 percent a year, so four to five years from now, a 100-mile Clarity BEV could be a 200-mile Clarity. (And, okay, a 250-mile Tesla could be a 500-mile Tesla.) So Honda could lay low until 2025, rejoin the fray then, and not miss a lot of EV sales in the US. In Europe, the company may face regulatory pressure to act sooner.

The Honda E is part of a new architecture coming within five years.

Honda’s Roadmap for Electrification

Honda e, due in 2021 in Europe – Honda’s first minicar since 2001.

Honda will bring to bring to market an electric city car in 2020 called the Honda E, in the spring of 2020. At 157 inches, it’s smallish for the US market. Over the summer Honda told investors and media it’s developing a dedicated EV platform for midsize and large sedans and SUVs. The first vehicles will come to market in 2025. It’s this timeframe that has some media critics upset with Honda.

Right now in the US Honda has these alternative vehicles:

Honda Accord Hybrid, 48 mpg city / 46 mpg highway, this from what measures as a full-size car.
Honda Insight third-generation compact hybrid, 48 mpg city / 46 mpg highway
Honda Clarity PHEV, BEV, hydrogen fuel cell through 2019.
Honda CR-V Hybrid, due early 2020, targeting Toyota RAV4.

Honda appears to be intercepting the glidepath toward higher-efficiency, zero-tailpipe-pollution vehicles. Europe especially is pushing automakers toward cleaner, higher-efficiency vehicles. Honda will begin selling the retro-look Honda e next year in Europe, with a goal of at least 10,000 units a year, possibly more. The Honda e, a minicar, will allow Honda to meet EU CO2 targets in 2020 and 2021 without paying fines.

While we live on the same planet and breathe the same air (more or less), Europe feels the shock more when Russian or the Middle East countries restrict access to petroleum – the US can always “drill, baby, drill” (per Sarah Palin – and Europe is also more concerned about clean air. The US’ concern about fuel consumption and clean air depends a lot on who’s in the White House come 2021. Currently the US supports aggressive petroleum-source development and extraction.

Now Read:

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/303907-did-hondas-ceo-say-evs-make-no-sense-not-exactly

Cambridge and UCL professor ‘did not notice’ double salaries

Prof Akhilesh Reddy made a £50,000 mortgage repayment while being paid by two universities.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-50956380

Norwich City v Crystal Palace

Preview followed by live coverage of Wednesday's Premier League game between Norwich City and Crystal Palace.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50908728

Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur

Preview followed by live coverage of Wednesday's Premier League game between Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50908727

CoolBitts Launches $2450 PC Immersion Cooling Kit

Immersion cooling manufacturer CoolBitts thinks there might be a market for immersion cooling systems at the ultra-high-end of the market. The company has announced a kit including chassis, coolant, fans, PCIe tray, power meter, pump, radiator, and rear IO panel. Total price? Just $2450 — though the five gallons of EC-120 coolant that you get does typically retail for about $500.

There are two types of immersion cooling system — two-phase evaporation where a liquid evaporates into a gas before condensing into a liquid, and single-phase systems that rely on a pump and radiator. The use of a pump and radiator makes immersion cooling conceptually similar to both closed-loop and open-loop water cooling, with the obvious difference that with immersion cooling, the entire PC is dropped directly into the fluid.

Obviously, this requires a non-conductive fluid. Mineral oil has been used before, but supposedly EC-120 is easier to work with and a bit less hard on motors. The ICEbox can handle up to 750W of cooling and the rear I/O port of the system is kept out of the liquid to ensure connectivity. The system supports both mATX and ATX motherboards and is capable of keeping both a CPU and GPU at a temperature of about 30C according to Anandtech.

Could systems like this power high-end computers of the future? They definitely can, but it’s not clear if they will. One of the major advantages of immersion cooling compared to forced air in the data center is that you waste far less energy. A ratio of 1.5W of power expended per 1W of computation is typical for data centers, advanced cooling systems have been measured as low as 1.08.

Will Immersion Cooling Ever Go Mainstream?

The advantage of coolant systems like this is that they’re as silent as it’s practically possible for any piece of equipment to be. It’s possible for advanced hardware to debut at the server level before waterfalling into consumer systems, but companies would need to get much more serious about immersion cooling in data centers before we’d see any waterfall IP usage over on the PC side of things.

There’s always been an enthusiast cooler market in PCs. It looks approximately like this: High-end air, closed-loop liquid cooler (these two overlap), followed by open-loop water coolers, chillers (water coolers that reduce the water temperature below ambient air temperature), phase change units, dry ice, and liquid nitrogen. It’s not actually clear how immersion coolers perform compared to other options — if I had to guess, I’d rank them between open-loop water coolers and below chillers. The high cost, in this case, is related to the fact that none of the highest-end options for CPU cooling are all that practical, and they get increasingly impractical the higher up you go.

Immersion cooling like this makes sense for dense deployment data centers, but I’m not sure what the enthusiast angle would be. They don’t seem likely to allow for dramatic performance improvements (overclocking, generally speaking, isn’t having a great moment). If this type of cooling is going to ever go mainstream, kits like this will play a part in making it happen, but so far the enthusiast PC community has relied on improving air coolers (or CLLCs) rather than moving to a radically new type of cooling.

Now Read:

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/303936-coolbitts-launches-2450-pc-immersion-cooling-kit

What happened in London in 2019?

From climate strikes to a state visit, it has been a busy year for London.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50950215

Picasso painting attacked at Tate Modern

A man is charged with the criminal damage of a £20m Picasso painting at the London gallery.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50956400

The year 2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the London Eye

The temporary structure which was built to herald the year 2000 now dominates the capital's skyline.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50956672

'I feel complete' in Uganda - George the Poet

London-born spoken word artist and podcaster George the Poet reflects on belonging, diaspora and his Ugandan heritage before his first gig in the country.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50866762

Arsenal v Manchester United

Preview followed by live coverage of Wednesday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Manchester United.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50908732

Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea

Preview followed by live coverage of Wednesday's Premier League game between Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50908733

West Ham United v Bournemouth

Preview followed by live coverage of Wednesday's Premier League game between West Ham United and Bournemouth.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50908731

Fulham v Reading

Preview followed by live coverage of the New Year's Day Championship game between Fulham and Reading (15:00 GMT).

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50908502

Streatham Hill stabbing: Mother attacked in front of child

The 36-year-old victim was pushing her child in a pushchair when she was attacked, police say.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50956670

Bristol City v Brentford

Preview followed by live coverage of the New Year's Day Championship game between Bristol City and Brentford.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50908497

Millwall v Luton Town

Preview followed by live coverage of the New Year's Day Championship game between Millwall and Luton Town.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50908495

England in South Africa: Ollie Pope is recovered and ready for second Test

Ollie Pope is "ready to go" if selected for England's second Test match against South Africa which starts on Friday.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/50955910

Monday, 30 December 2019

New Year's Eve: Police warning as UK prepares for 2020

People are warned against attending a display in London without a ticket as areas prepare to usher in 2020.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50952973

Civil partnerships: First mixed-sex unions to take place

Thousands of heterosexual couples in England and Wales are expected to enter into the unions from today.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50953410

You Can Launch A Project Management Career With This PMP Certification Training

Once you’ve gained several years of work experience, you should start thinking about where your career will take you in the future. For most of us, that means leading our own teams, and the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification will endorse your skills as an effective leader. If you want to take your career to the next level, you can train for the PMP exam with this $79 training course.

The Official PMP 6 Certification Training Course features over 40 hours of training content to prepare you for the PMP exam. This includes 460 practice questions, 524 rapid-fire quiz questions, and 100 definition game questions. The prep material will help you master the 6th edition of Project Management Body of Knowledge, so you’ll be introduced to the latest skills PMP-certified professionals should learn. Finally, you can take this course at your own pace and access it from any device via the web, so you can even tackle it while working full-time.

No team is successful without a skilled leader, and a PMP certification endorses your knowledge to be one. You can prepare for the PMP exam with the Official PMP 6 Certification Training Course, which is on sale today for $79, or 84 percent off.

Note: Terms and conditions apply. See the relevant retail sites for more information. For more great deals, go to our partners at TechBargains.com.

Now read:

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/deals/303744-you-can-launch-a-project-management-career-with-this-pmp-certification-training-2

There’s Still a Serious Chance We Lose the Notre Dame Cathedral

On April 15 2019, the historic Notre Dame cathedral caught fire and burned. Firefighters battling the blaze were able to save key parts of the structure, including the buttresses, facade, stained glass windows, towers, and walls, though the spire and roof were both destroyed. Immediately after the fire, the French authorities made it clear that there was still some risk of collapse in windy weather. Eight months later, there’s still a 50/50 chance we lose the building altogether according to its rector, Monsignor Patrick Chauvet.

Christmas services were not held in the church for the first time since the French revolution. “Today it is not out of danger,” Monsignor Chauvet told the Associated Press on the sidelines of Christmas Eve midnight Mass in a nearby church. “It will be out of danger when we take out the remaining scaffolding.”

Notre Dame scaffolding, pre-fire. Image by Wikimedia

“Today we can say that there is maybe a 50% chance that it will be saved. There is also 50% chance of scaffolding falling onto the three vaults, so as you can see the building is still very fragile,” he said.

The problem with Notre Dame’s restoration is that the cathedral was already under restoration when it caught fire, with some 50,000 tubes of scaffolding spanning the structure. The roof burned around the scaffolding and the spire collapse further damaged it. The problem, of course, is that there’s no way to start fixing the damage without taking down the old scaffolding first. That’s scheduled to take until 2021, at which point the actual restoration work can begin.

There have been serious concerns about Notre Dame’s ability to remain standing without its roof, which acted to stabilize the structure. The high vaulted ceilings of the cathedral also act to stabilize its walls, which is why Chauvet is so concerned — any damage to the vaults by further scaffolding collapse could fatally compromise the cathedral.

“We need to remove completely the scaffolding in order to make the building safe, so in 2021 we will probably start the restoration of the cathedral,” Chauvet said. “Once the scaffolding is removed we need to assess the state of the cathedral, the quantity of stones to be removed and replaced.”

The French government has passed a law requiring Notre Dame to be restored to its exact original appearance. Further damage to the cathedral from scaffolding collapse could make that significantly more expensive, or even downright impossible.

Now Read:

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/303930-theres-still-a-serious-chance-we-lose-the-notre-dame-cathedral

'Wrong saveloy and chips order' among 999 calls

More than 22,000 nuisance calls were made to the Met Police this year.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50950213

Mars 2020 Rover Completes First Test Drive

NASA has inched closer to completing its next Mars rover with a milestone driving test. The team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California fired up the Mars 2020 rover and allowed to to drive around the Spacecraft Assembly Facility clean room. NASA reports the rover passed the test with flying colors, signaling it’s ready to drive on the red planet.

The still-unnamed Mars 2020 rover borrows heavily from Curiosity’s highly successful design. It has six wheels with independent suspensions, allowing it to traverse uneven terrain. In the JPL test, the team set up small staggered ramps to test the robot’s weight distribution as the wheels moved up and down. The rover drove in one-meter increments for more than 10 hours.

The rover has now shown that it can operate under its own weight on Earth, so it should encounter no problems on Mars where it will weigh much less. NASA hopes this rover will cover a lot of ground on Mars — Opportunity holds the current record with 28.06 miles (45.16 kilometers), but Curiosity (upon which Mars 2020 is based) has managed a respectable 13.10 miles (21.09 kilometers).

This driving test also demonstrated the rover’s autonomous capabilities for the first time. NASA designed this robot to handle more decision-making on site rather than waiting for controllers on Earth to send instructions for each maneuver. For this reason, it has higher resolution cameras and additional processing power to create maps and run its auto-navigation software. It should have the necessary muscle, too, with its thicker aluminum wheels and titanium spokes. Curiosity’s wheels have suffered heavy damage from the sharp rocks of Mars, but Mars 2020 should be able to cover more distance before showing wear. Mars 2020 should be able to average 650 feet (200 meters) per day, which is just shy of Curiosity’s best day at 702 feet (214 meters).

NASA plans to launch the rover in summer 2020 when Mars and Earth pass close by each other. It should land on Mars using a Curiosity-style rocket sled in February 2021. The Jezero crater landing site is ideal for the mission to search for evidence of ancient life, as well as current water deposits. It will even store samples that a future mission could collect for a return trip to Earth. The rover should also get a name in the next few months.

Now read:

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/303915-mars-2020-rover-completes-first-test-drive

Missing man over Christmas found dead in Barking, east London

Police say they are treating the 62 year old's death as unexplained, pending investigations.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50951991

'You can speak freely without worrying'

Layla says attending a pupil referral unit has helped put her at ease.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50950211

Fulham: Aboubakar Kamara and Kevin McDonald sign contract extensions

Fulham hand new deals to Kevin McDonald and Aboubakar Kamara, whose time at Craven Cottage looked over 11 months ago.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50951663

Lia Walti: Arsenal Women hand Switzerland midfielder a new contract

Switzerland international Lia Walti signs a new "long-term" contract with Women's Super League leaders Arsenal.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50947570

A New Study Indicates Humans Self-Generate Misinformation

A new study into sources of misinformation suggests that humans self-generate it on a regular basis by misrecalling information they’ve previously learned in ways that fit already-existing opinions and biases.

The term misinformation is specifically defined as Merriam-Webster as “incorrect or misleading information.” It is distinct from terms like disinformation, which is defined as “false information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth.” One of the major differences between misinformation and disinformation is motive. Disinformation campaigns are always deliberate, misinformation can be spread in good faith.

The sources of misinformation matter a great deal if your goal is to deepen people’s understandings of facts and improve the quality of public discourse. If you think about how information is distributed, you probably picture some version of a top-down model: Something happens, eyewitnesses and journalists converge on it, and the information they collectively report filters down to all of us through whatever media we use to consume it. The education system uses more-or-less the same model.

Typically, when people think about fighting misinformation, we think about it in terms of fact-checking sources and ensuring the data in an article or textbook is as complete and up-to-date as possible. I check facts like die sizes, launch dates, and benchmark results on a regular basis to make certain that I’m writing factual data.

A new paper published in Human Communication Research suggests, however, that we’ve been overlooking a significant source of misinformation — and it’s going to be far more difficult to fix: Humans appear to self-generate misinformation even when they’ve been given the facts. This study focused on numerical misinformation — i.e., mistransmission of data related to specific factual information that study participants had been given. The fundamental goal of the experiment was to measure whether or not humans would remember numbers better if the claims they were given were consistent or inconsistent with the beliefs of the individual.

To test this, individuals were presented with data on topics like support for same-sex marriage in the US, gender preferences for one’s boss, the number of Mexican immigrants in the United States, and the total number of white people killed by police in 2016 versus the total number of black people. The individuals being tested were polled for their own pre-test expectations on these topics and the data presented to them was given in a manner that was both consistent with what individuals believed would be true or was chosen to present facts they were less likely to believe are true. Table 1, shown below, shows the framing for the experiment:

Individual polling of the test group showed that the poll results aligned with expectations, which is why this is called “schema consistent.” In the case of Mexican immigrants, people expected there to be more immigrants in 2014 than in 2007, when in fact the opposite was true. The first group of participants were asked to answer questions based on the data they had just seen. Their answers were then used to inform the questions that were shown to a second group of people. The answers from that group were used to inform the questions asked to a third group of people.

The image above shows how the system worked. The test was administered using numerical sliders to give answers and using text input. Effectively, this replicates a game of telephone — each person is transmitting the version of data they remember. Before you look at the next slide, let’s quickly review: Americans generally expect there were more Mexican immigrants in the US in 2014 than in 2007, they believe police killed more black people than white people in 2016, they prefer a male boss to a female boss, and they favor support for same-sex marriage. Now, look at what the test results showed. The values on the far left of the graph are the actual statistics, in every case. Wave 1 indicates the answers of the first group, Wave 2 the second group, etc.

When presented with data that conflicted with their own previously held beliefs, humans get really bad at math. The drop in Mexican immigrants that occurred from 2007 – 2014 reverses in Wave 1. The very first people who saw the data literally couldn’t remember the answer correctly and flipped the values, associating 2007 with fewer immigrants and 2014 with more. Importantly, these results continue to diverge when transmitted to Wave 3. In other words, it’s not just that people think that the overall Mexican immigrant population must have risen because of the passage of time. Wave 1 overestimated the number of Mexican immigrants by 900,000. Wave 3 overestimated it by 4.1 million. In this case, the initial figure of total immigrants doesn’t drop all that much and most of the inaccuracy is introduced by grossly inflated estimates of how many Mexicans moved to the US over this period.

With police shootings, Wave 1 manages to remember that more whites than blacks were shot, even if both values are wrong. Starting with Wave 2, we get the same crossover that we saw with Wave 1 — except in this case, the initial value keeps being shoved lower.

The data on police shootings shows a little more staying power. While the absolute values both moved towards reversing, Wave 1 still remembered which group was larger. By Wave 2 — remember, that’s the group that used the answers Wave 1 gave — that effect has completely reversed. This time, however, both numbers have come unmoored from their original data points in both tests.

But if you give people data they do expect, they show completely different mental patterns — not so much necessarily in terms of absolute accuracy, but at least in terms of relationships. In the case of percentage of Americans who prefer a male versus a female boss, the percentages climb towards the group-reported estimate of belief rather than maintaining the initial levels given, even though the initial percentages show clear preference for male over female bosses (aligning with general group preference). In the last case, the number of Americans who favored same-sex marriage was underestimated, while the percentage opposed declined in Wave 1 and then moved back towards the actual value.

Participants in the NIH ResearchMatch version of the study were told that numerical percentages could not exceed 100 percent in the slider version, and also told that the total number of immigrants did not exceed 20 million, which may explain some of the differences, but the charts are in general agreement.

People Remember Facts Less Well if They Disagree With Them

There are two interesting findings here. First, there’s further evidence that people literally remember facts less-well if they don’t agree with them. For all the people who claim they change their mind if confronted with facts, the reality is that people tend to change their facts, not their opinions — even when asked to answer questions about information they literally just read.

This has serious implications for how we think, as a society, about the transmission of information from one mind to another. About a year ago, I wrote a story debunking some rumors about AMD’s then-future 7nm Ryzen CPUs. At the time, some individuals were arguing that AMD’s 7nm CPUs would simultaneously deliver huge price cuts, more cores, large clock speed increases, and a giant leap in IPC, simultaneously. My debunk article wasn’t 100 percent accurate — I guessed that AMD might not use chiplets for desktop Ryzen and reserve them for Epyc instead — but the final chips AMD launched bear absolutely no resemblance to the rumored configurations.

I addressed this topic several times over six months because this set of rumors simply would not die. I bolstered my arguments with historical CPU data, long-term CPU clock scaling trends, AMD’s statements to investors, AMD’s statements to the press, and long-term comparisons on the relationship between AMD’s margins and its net profits. I discussed increasing wafer costs and how chiplets, while a great innovation, were also a symptom of the problems AMD was facing.

Now, let me be clear. I’m not arguing that everyone who read those stories was somehow automatically obligated to agree with me. My prognostication record is anything but perfect and reasonable people can disagree on how they read broad industry trends. There’s a difference, however, between “I think 7nm clocks might come in a little higher than you do,” and “I think AMD will simultaneously slash prices, slash power consumption, and revolutionize semiconductors with generational performance gains we haven’t seen in almost a decade,” despite the fact that there was literally no evidence to support any of these positions.

If you showed up to argue the former, or something that even reasonably looks like it, I’m not talking about you. I’m talking about the vocal minority of people who showed up to argue that AMD was about to launch the Second Coming in silicon form. Those who didn’t predict my firing often suggested I’d be writing a tearful apology at some later date.

My point in bringing this up isn’t to rehash old arguments or toot my horn. My point is that there’s a real life example of this very phenomena that you can go and read about. I don’t know where these rumors started, but once they took hold, they proved quite tenacious. As good as Ryzen is — and 7nm Ryzen is great — the rumors about it were better than the CPU could ever possibly be. When confronted with this, some people got angry.

Short of giving the planet some in-depth training in overcoming cognitive bias, it’s not clear how to reduce the spread of person-to-person misinformation, and the authors conclude that more study is needed here. As important as it is to ensure the factual accuracy of primary sources, the fact that humans appear to generate misinformation in an effort to make that data align with pre-existing schemas means focusing solely on the primary source problem will never address its full scope.

Now Read:

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/303881-a-new-study-indicates-humans-self-generate-misinformation

Five held after raids in London, Manchester and Peterborough

Five men, aged 19 to 23, are arrested in London, Manchester and Peterborough, the Met Police says.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50945135

David Moyes: New West Ham manager says winning is 'what I do'

New West Ham boss David Moyes says winning is "what he does", and adds the club's owners have shown "a lot of class" in bringing him back for a second spell.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50950041

Top schools defend rejecting bursary for white boys

Winchester and Dulwich colleges decline an offer of scholarships for disadvantaged white boys.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-50947271

Anthony Knott: Search for missing firefighter continues

Anthony Knott, 33, was last seen on 20 December before disappearing on a night out with colleagues.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-50948292

The Top 5 Games We Played in 2019

What is life without fun? Few things are as fun as getting truly lost in a game you love. As we close out 2019, it’s time to look back on the games that dominated our free time. This year, we have top five (or almost five) lists from Joel Hruska, David Cardinal, Michael Justin Allen Sexton, and Ryan Whitwam. Our picks skew newer, but not everything we’ve been obsessed with is from the last year. These are just the games we’ve enjoyed the most in 2019.

Ryan

Red Dead Redemption 2

As a primarily PC gamer, I was never able to play the original Red Dead Redemption, but Rockstar saw fit to make port the sequel to PC. The game suffered from a rocky launch on PC, and not all the bugs have been ironed out, but it’s still one of the most engaging gaming experiences I’ve had in recent memory. The world is detailed and rich with content, and not just repetitive fetch quests like some games that tout the size of their maps. The storytelling and voice acting are also absolutely top notch. Traveling to distant waypoints in many games is tedious, but the journey is part of the fun in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Pokemon Sword and Shield

Pokemon occupies a unique place gaming culture as a franchise that became a worldwide phenomenon without any full console releases. Pokemon Sword and Shield broke with tradition when they launched on the Nintendo Switch. They still have many of the same problems as older Pokemon games like clunky menus, confusing online features, and bad writing. That’s not why people play Pokemon games, though. It’s about catching ’em all, and Pokemon Sword and Shield do that better than any previous games in the series. In addition to the game’s linear routes between cities, there’s a vast Wild Area to explore. The raid battle mechanics are also a nice addition. You can waste truly obscene amounts of time searching for your favorite mons in these games.

Untitled Goose Game

Who would have thought a goose could be the bane of an entire town? But that’s what you become in Untitled Goose Game. The game presents you with a to-do list and turns you loose on the unsuspecting people of this unnamed hamlet. Some items on the list are simple — steal the gardener’s rake and put it in the lake. Others will take more planning and thought, like the quest to make someone put on the wrong glasses. This game speaks to some sort of casual maliciousness we all have when playing games, and it’s incredibly engaging. You will become the goose, and as you walk away from your vanquished foes, honking and flapping your wings, you feel almost unreasonably powerful.

The Outer Worlds

The Outer Worlds is basically a smaller, quirkier Fallout in space. As a refugee from a stranded transport ship, you have to make your way in the libertarian fantasy that is the Halcyon solar system. You can either support the mega-corporations that dominate the colony or fight to change things. Along the way, you’ll assemble a crew of misfits with their own backstories to explore across the Halcyon system. The settings are fun to explore, and the voice acting is surprisingly good. I will be the first to admit The Outer Worlds isn’t a perfect game; it’s too short, and there’s not enough variation in gear. Still, it’s still one of the best things I played this year.

MechWarrior 5

I love giant fighting robots, and MechWarrior is the premiere giant fighting robot franchise. However, we went almost 20 years without a proper single player MechWarrior game. That finally changed a few weeks ago with the release of MechWarrior 5. You play as the leader of a mercenary group, traveling the stars in search of money and revenge at the controls of heavily armed mechs. The combat in this game is superb — the dozens of included mechs have unique characteristics, weapon loadouts, and roles. These war machines feel heavy and powerful, and it’s an absolute delight to blast other mechs as you fulfill a contract. The game does have some problems with a meandering storyline, and the voice acting is barely passable. I’m willing to forgive that in light of the incredible combat, though.

Joel

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden

Mutant Year Zero is one of my favorite games that I’ve played this year. It’s not really a full AAA title in scope — think of it as more of a “AA” game, bigger than an indie, but smaller than what a large studio would build. The game is built on the same engine used for the newer version of XCOM, but it allows free-moving exploration in ways XCOM isn’t known for. It’s not perfect — there are definitely a few rough spots — but it feels like a Fallout title (and includes a few easter eggs referencing that game).

World of Warcraft Classic

I haven’t had nearly as much time to play WoW Classic as I’d like, but I’ve definitely had tons of fun with it. Bringing back Blizzard’s iconic World of Warcraft proved to be a popular choice for the company. The mode has been more popular than Blizzard anticipated, though it’s not clear how many players are brand-new to the title versus those coming back to relieve the glory days.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

Don’t look at me that way. I never had access to a console growing up, which means I’ve had a lot of first-time fun with some of the old console games. Yoshi’s Island is a truly amazing game for it’s era, with gorgeous artwork and great level design.

It was designed to be a more ‘accessible’ platform, and I’m willing to admit I need that kind of feature, having basically never played platformers as a kid. I die. A lot. The restore button is going to break off the NES Classic long before any other component. I may not be very good at the game, but I’ve certainly had a lot of fun with it.

Sadly, I’m only in for three titles — I’ve scarcely done enough gaming to talk about it, outside of the above. One of the ironies of writing about the topic is that it’s hard to find the time to actually do it, and life had other plans for Christmas this year. I had planned to write an article about No Mans Sky, which I recently bought, but I’ve only been able to spend an hour with the title thus far.

Michael

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Taishi

I got my first taste of the Koei Tecmo’s Nobunaga’s Ambition game franchise roughly twenty years ago on the SNES. Afterwards I fell out of touch with the series but recently have got back into these wonderful strategy games with Nobunaga’s Ambition: Spheres of Influence and Nobunaga’s Ambition Taishi. Though both games provide an enjoyable experience as you fight to conquer the Japanese isles, Taishi has options to automate some of the more tedious aspects of the game and makes the later stages of the game significantly more enjoyable than in Sphere’s of Influence. Though it’s not what I’d call perfect, it’s currently my favorite strategy game that I feel any fan of the genre will enjoy.

Jade Empire

Jade Empire is sent in a fictional world roughly based Chinese history and culture with Buddhist elements influencing the game’s story. The game also features its own artificial language that was created by a linguist explicitly for use in the game. Released in 2005, I first played this game when I was 14, and it helped to grow my interest in Asia. It’s by far my favorite game of all time, and I make it a point to replay this game at least once every year. Though my hopes for a sequel have yet to be answered, if you’ve never tried the game before its well worth giving it a try.

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy

This is another game that I first played years ago on the original Xbox. Set in ancient Egypt, Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is predominantly a puzzle game with some fighting and RPG elements mixed in. I got back into this game this year after discovering that THQ Nordic had released a remastered version of the game with improved graphics. Though the gameplay remains unchanged from the original, it holds up well it’s still fun to play. There is also a fan based mod in the works which includes content cut from the original game.

Fable III

When Lionhead studios launched the original Fable, it instantly became one of the best RPG games in the world. Later games in the series changed drastically and mixed reviews. Though the games were fun, they were also disappointing because of the extent to which they changed. Fable III has never been able to stand up to the original Fable, but trying the game again after a few years I found this game to still be fun to play and an enjoyable experience.

StarCraft 2

StarCraft 2 needs little introduction. Since its release StarCraft 2 has been a crowd favorite with the online multiplayer gaming community. The game also has a long and highly enjoyable campaign that also has plenty of replay value. Though I don’t play online much, I often return to run through the campaign, which is why I opted to include it in my list of top five games for the year.

David

Untitled Goose Game

This game comes pretty close to qualifying as the ultimate un-video-game — at least compared to most current hits. You can’t get killed. At most you suffer from a couple momentary ruffled feathers. There is no time pressure, unless you complete the entire game and decide to try and set speed records. Graphics are trivial and cartoon-like — but artfully thought out. It is fun, addictive, and can be played by anyone. You only need a couple buttons and a joystick, along with a sense of humor.

The plot is simple. You’re an annoying goose who spends your day harassing the unlucky denizens of a nearby village. When in doubt honking is sure to get a start out of them, and help you distract them. There are dozens of tasks you get to try to accomplish, ranging from breaking things to befuddling shopkeepers. Watching and kibitzing can be almost as fun as playing, so don’t hesitate to fire it up when the whole family is around.

F1 2019

For some reason lost in history, our family follows F1 racing. Despite the relative lack of passing or on-track action, we’re addicted. So it is great to be able to “follow along” with the season by playing the F1 games for each season. This year in particular, the game came out part way through the season, so it was possible to drive the same tracks that the racers would that weekend. There are extensive team and career modes, but they’re wasted on me, as I don’t have the attention span for them. But experimenting by driving different cars and different setups adds to the enjoyment of the race season.

Forza Motorsport 7

If it wasn’t for the F1 connection, I’d rate Motorsports 7 as a no-brainer winner over F1, and it definitely has the best AIs of any version of Motorsports. I really enjoy the versatility of the game, with a huge selection of cars, tracks, and race series. It is certainly not anything like iRacing when it comes to racing fidelity and true competitive racing, but the graphics are much more detailed, and I don’t participate in multi-player racing (other than with Avatars) anyway. I also play Assetto Corsa and Project CARS, but Motorsports is my go to if I just want to spend some time on track.

Dirt Rally

The most stressful video game experience ever for me was driving a mountain course in Dirt Rally in VR using my Oculus. I can imagine driving a NASCAR around an oval at full speed (as lethal as that might prove to be), but I can’t imagine driving at high speed on a dirt track hugging a cliff. So for the most part I stick with the forest tracks in Dirt Rally, but I love the combination of needing to drive the car and interpret the messages about the upcoming hills and turns from my rally co-driver.

Ultimate General: Civil War

This is another game where the campaign modes are wasted on me. But the detailed, and carefully-modeled, tactical engagements and multi-day battle strategies are great fun for a reformed hex board gamer like me. And unlike with tabletop versions of military campaigns, I can play this one against the computer any time I want. Like many games of its genre, it doesn’t get updated much, and some elements of it are behind the times, but it looks great on my 4K 32-inch photo monitor.

That’s the titles we’ve been playing — what’s held your interest through 2019?

Now Read:

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/303784-the-top-5-games-we-played-in-2019

Ninth-tier side Fisher walk off over alleged racial abuse by an AFC Croydon Athletic player

Non-league side Fisher claim racist abuse was directed at them by a AFC Croydon Athletic player, which prompted them to walk off.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50947565

Grace Fisk: West Ham United Women sign former England Under-20 captain

West Ham United Women sign former England Under-20 captain Grace Fisk from the University of South Carolina.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50948725

Derby County v Charlton Athletic

Preview followed by live coverage of Monday's Championship game between Derby County and Charlton Athletic.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50888379

'Wrong saveloy and chips order' among nuisance 999 calls

The Met Police says time-wasting calls are a "huge waste" of resources and can put lives at risk.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50944961

David Moyes: West Ham appoint former boss for second spell

David Moyes is appointed West Ham manager and will return for a second spell at the club.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50942538

Sunday, 29 December 2019

Costa del Sol: Mother wants more tests on pool after Christmas Eve deaths

Olubunmi Diya says police are wrong to assume that her family died after getting out of their depth.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50938171

Anthony Knott: CCTV shows missing firefighter's 'distinctive' walk

Police hope CCTV footage of missing Anthony Knott's "bouncing walk" will jog someone's memory.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-50939124

Anti-Semitic graffiti daubed on London synagogue during Hanukkah

The vandalism during Hanukkah is being treated as a "racially motivated hate crime", police say.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50938967

David Moyes: West Ham set to reappoint ex-manager after Manuel Pellegrini sacking

West Ham hope to be able to announce Manuel Pellegrini's replacement as manager on Monday, with former boss David Moyes almost certain to take over.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50938924

Manuel Pellegrini: How West Ham faith dwindled - and could David Moyes return?

BBC Sport's Simon Stone looks at where it wrong for Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham and who the Hammers could turn to now.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50936102

New Year Honours: Government apologises after addresses published

The Cabinet Office says it is "looking into" how addresses of New Year Honour recipients were published online.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50929543

Costa del Sol: Mother says husband and children who drowned could swim

A woman whose husband and two children drowned believes there was "something wrong with the pool".

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50929536

Arsenal v Chelsea

Preview followed by live coverage of Sunday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Chelsea.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50882583

Millwall v Brentford

Preview followed by live coverage of Sunday's Championship game between Millwall and Brentford.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50882306

Fulham v Stoke City

Preview followed by live coverage of Sunday's Championship game between Fulham and Stoke City.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50882310

Queens Park Rangers v Hull City

Preview followed by live coverage of Sunday's Championship game between Queens Park Rangers and Hull City.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50882308

AFC Wimbledon v Oxford United

Live coverage of Sunday's League One game between AFC Wimbledon and Oxford United.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50882382

Prep For Today & Tomorrow’s Hottest Jobs With Lifetime Access To This Leading Certification Training

Just because you’ve finished high school or college doesn’t mean you’ll stop learning. Luckily, there are countless resources on the web that allow you to garner new skills at your own pace and from the comfort of your own home. Whether you’re looking to climb the corporate ladder or make a lateral career shift, Whizlabs is here to help, and you can get a lifetime membership today for $59.

Whizlabs is an online certification training provider that offers courses on today’s most in-demand skills, including AWS cloud computing, agile Scrum, business analysis, blockchain, and much more. Each course is taught by certified industry professionals who will guide you through the learning process, so you can rest assured that you’re receiving the best education possible.

If you want to succeed in the corporate world, you should constantly be learning new skills, and Whizlabs has all the knowledge you need to do so. Normally $4,499, you can get a lifetime membership with Whizlabs for just $59, over 90 percent off the usual price.

Note: Terms and conditions apply. See the relevant retail sites for more information. For more great deals, go to our partners at TechBargains.com.

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from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/deals/303798-prep-for-today-tomorrows-hottest-jobs-with-lifetime-access-to-this-leading-certification-training

The theatre shows you won't want to miss in 2020

Timothee Chalamet and Imelda Staunton will be among the star attractions in the next 12 months.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50593751

Saturday, 28 December 2019

Virtual reality takes the stress out of surgery

Doctors hope the scheme will be adopted by more hospitals across the country if it is successful.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50925033

Battersea fatal shooting: Flamur Beqiri's family speak of heartbreak

Swedish national Flamur Beqiri was killed in front of his wife and child in Battersea on Christmas Eve.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50934390

Murder charge after man stabbed to death in Hounslow

Ebrima Cham was attacked while he was staying at a friend's flat in Hounslow, west London.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50933133

Feltham Young Offender Institute violence leaves officers injured

About 14 officers at Feltham Young Offender Institute in west London were treated.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50933128

Aldershot Town v Barnet

Live coverage of Saturday's National League game between Aldershot Town and Barnet.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50875740

Man arrested in east London on suspicion of terrorism offences

The 21-year-old was taken to a south London police station where he remains in custody.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50933125

Mikel Arteta aims to restore relationship with Arsenal fans

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he wants to rebuild the side's relationship with the club's fans.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50929614

Premiership: Harlequins v Leicester Tigers

Team news as Harlequins play Leicester Tigers in Saturday's Premiership fixture at Twickenham (16:30 GMT).

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50824328

Historic England: 10 English archaeological finds of the decade

Historic England has named 10 significant archaeological finds made in England in the last decade.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50895746

Friday, 27 December 2019

The Good Guys: Decorators transforming lives

For every paid job, Cyle and Nick paint the bedroom of a young person living in poverty for free.

from BBC News - London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50903726

No, The Impossible Whopper Won’t Make Men Grow Boobs

Plant-based meat substitutes are becoming increasingly popular as the quality increases and costs fall. You can even buy an Impossible burger from Burger King now. This situation has clearly caused some alarm among meat producers, and they’ve dug up some old pseudoscience to try and convince people that meat substitutes are bad for them. A livestock trade publication called Tri-State Livestock News (TSLN) has resurrected the claim that soy causes feminization in men. Don’t clutch your pearls — there’s no evidence for that.

The post on TSLN covers several points, none of which are free of spin. Veterinarian James Stangle complains about protein measurements, GMO status, and more. The most outrageous claim is that the Impossible Whopper has 44mg of estrogen, which is 18 million times more than a beef burger. He warns that too much plant-based meat will cause men to grow breasts, which is at best a half-truth.

TSLN as a publication is aimed at people in the livestock and farming industries, so the goal here is probably to give them talking points that sound legitimate. However, some conservative news outlets have started repeating these claims, too. What Doctor Stangle doesn’t explain is that an Impossible Whopper doesn’t actually contain any estrogen. What we’re really talking about here is a class of molecules called isoflavones that are structurally similar to estrogen. Many isoflavones can act as a “phytoestrogen” that activate estrogen receptors in the body.

The structural similarities of some phytoestrogens and estrogen (bottom).

Some in the medical community have expressed concern over the effects phytoestrogens could have on people, but no study has yet to show compelling evidence of negative effects. Not everyone metabolizes isoflavones in the same way, but the hormonal impact of phytoestrogens seems generally weaker in most people than the native biological hormones. Someone who is particularly sensitive to phytoestrogens and consumes a huge amount of foods rich in them can exhibit some hormonal changes. There are several anecdotal reports of this is the literature, but that’s all they are — anecdotes. So, saying an Impossible Whopper has 44mg of estrogen is profoundly misleading on several levels. The one case in which a man developed breast tissue as a result of eating soy was from a 2008 case in which the man had been drinking three quarts of soy milk a day. Drinking too much iced tea can cause kidney failure. Drinking too much water can literally kill you. There is no special, unique, or particular risk to eating soy. Also, 5G does not cause cancer.

Most doctors no longer consider isoflavones in soy to be an issue — after all, we get plenty of phytoestrogens in our diet from oats, rice, beans, and even beer. That hasn’t stopped certain internet communities from calling people with whom they disagree “soy boys,” with the implication being that they have been feminized by eating soy instead of meat. Doctor Stangle perpetuates this nonsense with his misleading article.

Now read:

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/303871-no-the-impossible-whopper-wont-make-men-grow-boobs