fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
12 Days of Dogs
By: Adi Ofir
Tags: Animals, Logo Design, Design, Branding, Dogs

12 Days of Dogs

The Chinese calendar may say it’s the year of the rat, but it looks like 2020 has become the year of the dog instead. Dog adoptions have soared across North America, and in some cases, adoption rates have increased by as much as 85%.

I’ve witnessed this increase first-hand as I began looking for a dog back in June. I found that many of the humane societies and rescues I reached out to were consistently out of dogs or had a backlog of so many applications that they simply could not accept more.

Supply just couldn’t keep up with the demand.

It makes sense — many of us are now working from home and have the extra time to hang out with and train a new companion. I filled out 22 applications before a rescue called me back, and eventually, I got a foster dog. Humbled and inspired by this experience, I wanted to create something special for the holidays this year: I designed a series of logos for rescue dogs that were recently adopted or in foster care.

My criteria for submissions:

Your dog must have a cool nickname

Their photo must somehow match the nickname

Here are the lucky dogs (and parents) who won the rescue dog lottery this year and got their very own custom-designed logo as a holiday gift.

12 Days of Dogs — A Logo Series
FACT: Bears don’t urinate while they hibernate.
By: Jacob Vandersluys
Tags: Animals, Education, Facts, Nature

Did you know that bears don’t urinate while they hibernate? Their body converts the urine into protein, and they use it as food. Although I subscribe to the idea of not having to go to the bathroom during my sleep, not sure I am on board with the whole urine consumption…
Animal Love
By: Sheila Valerie
Tags: Animals, Pets, Unconditional Love, Love

The unconditional love of an animal in your life is remarkable. This love is real. This love is deep and loyal. This type of love encompasses forgiveness and is non-judgemental.

Today when I came through my door the black, ninety-pound, fur ball of love almost knocked me off my feet. Yes, this is bad behavior, and we are still working on making it better. He has gotten much better. For some reason though, today, he decided to greet me like he had not seen me in a year. It had been ten minutes. I forgave him and we moved on.

I have not been a good Mom, lately. The temperatures have not been great. I really do have to get back at it. As soon as I put his leash on, he will forgive me. This is the love, I speak of.

No need to put make-up on, or nice clothing to impress. I can wear track pants and a messy bun. He will not judge me on my worst or best days. He does not care if I got the promotion or if I was fired. Most animals are so loving by nature.

They will love an inmate as much as they will love royalty. Truth be told, they will devout their life to you.

At this time of year, they could teach us all a lesson. At any time of year, they could teach us a lesson.

I am going to work hard this year at spreading more unconditional love. Learning to forgive more and work towards understanding the loving nature of an animal.
IS THIS PET BED THE BEST FOR THE MOST ADORABLE HUSKY MISKA?
Tags: Animals, Animal Welfare, Pets, Pet Care, Dogs

Miska on her temperature-controlled pet bed by Pal Pet Bed

Appropriate rest cleanliness is probably the most recent pattern to clear the human well-being world, from weighted blankets and weighted sofas to smart beds and silk bedding. Given the additional time many are going through with their pets, it very well may be an ideal opportunity to offer them that equivalent extravagance. On the off chance that you effectively own a Dog or Cat, you realize exactly that it is so significant to guarantee their health and safety. And in case you’re anticipating an adoption, it’s ideal to arm yourself with comfortable options once you invite them into their eternity home. Despite the fact that dogs can’t speak with us directly about the sorts of materials and surfaces they like, we can look for obvious signs. Procuring a Dog bed is more about improving your Dog solace and happiness regarding their living space.

I. Do you take part in several domestic climatic control measures for your pet temperature to keep them healthy?

Ii. Do you swap your Dog's beds around depending on the season?

We realize some do every one of those activities above to discover additional approaches to keep their dogs cooler during the harsh climatic period (hot) and hotter during the colder period when winter sets in.

Here is the most ideal choice for you regardless of size, age, and variety of your pet

Pal Pet Bed assembly can provide insurance against both the cold and blistering climates.

Beds and bedding commonly accessible for pets are centered around the delicate quality or presence of the bed, for instance: Sofa beds are industrially accessible that are stylish in appearance and soft for the pets.

The chief object of our development is aimed at temperature-controlled bed for pets.

Pal Pet Bed temperature-controlled innovation is directed for pets with the accompanying interesting highlights:

• Pressure sensor that can identify the presence of the pet on the bed

• Temperature-controlled bed assembly for pets to shield them from cold and sweltering climate.

• Control board for association with portable app utilized for setting the ideal temperature ( remote access and control ).

• Scent diffuser to radiate fragrances or smells according to the convenience of the pet.

Advantages:

I. Pal Pet Bed is empowered to cleverly control the temperature consequently

II. Pal Pet Bed would likewise give consistent characters to the bed and to shroud any pet scent.

III. Pet owners can preset the temperature of molded air and set the temperature distantly.

Based on the guidance we got from experts, as well as our own research, we arrive at the best modern dog bed to keep your pet safe, comfortable, and well-rested, including options for larger dogs, orthopedic-first designs, outdoor-ready dog beds, and more.

“The quality, look and solace of the bed are largely incredible”

Read more

Much obliged to Pal Pet Bed for developing the shrewd programmed climatic-controlled pet bed for the ease of pets!
Rascal Cat Brothers part 2
By: Lisa Jacovsky
Tags: Animals, Cats, Kids, Kids Stories, Kidlit

Hiya, my name is Snowball and I believe you met my brother Midnight already.

He told ya all about the supposed silly shenanigans we get into huh, well, I think they are just

fun things.

I cannot help Mommies feet smell good. So, I want to rub all over her shoes, sometimes I even

paw at her shoes, till she catches me and says ‘no no they are Mommies shoes, not the baby’s shoes’.

pshhhhh I am the baby I think everything should be mine.

Ya know what else is so fun trying to grab Mommies’ feet when she is by the bed.

See under the bed is my domain; I hide there and if the blanket is on the floor I can hide even more and whoosh! Out goes my paw to grab Mommies foot hahaha.

I think it is so funny and my big brother sits next to Mommy and watches too while Mommy laughs.

Speaking of my big brother Midnight, he is so fun to wrestle with.

He even loves to pretend to run from me, who would not want to play with me haha.

Mommy plays with me and Midnight all the time.

He likes to chase these shiny balls that make a sound when Mommy crushes them in her hand.

I like this red dot Mommy moves around and I try to catch it.

One day I will catch it and eat it I know it.

Mommy got us this toy that has balls to chase in it.

I got all those balls out pretty quick with my paw and thought I was pretty smart.

Mommy just laughed and gave me lots of pets; she says I am a purr machine when she pets me, whatever that is.

I just purr because it feels so good when she pets me.

Me and Midnight we both love to play in boxes and lucky for us Mommy always has a bunch. One day I watched Midnight be very silly. This big box was hard to get into but Midnight he

figured it out really quick. He got on top and wiggled and jiggled his booty and squeezed himself in that box.

Then all Mommy and me saw were his eyes. Imagine that, he got himself in there.

He was so silly! Mommy and I just laughed. I love watching the silly shenanigans my big brother Midnight gets into.

I cannot remember a time I was not with my Mommy and Midnight.

Now, when the day is over, I sleep at Mommies feet at night and Midnight sleeps in her arm.

I feel so lucky to have them to cuddle and sleep with after a long day of shenanigans.
Is a Rabbit the Right Pet for you?
By: Victoria A. Fraser
Tags: Rabbits, Animals, Pets, Pet Care, Advice

Should You Adopt More than one Rabbit?

Rabbits are social creatures. In nature, rabbits live together in their dens and rely on each other for protection from predators. If you leave your rabbits locked up often by themselves that will be bad for their health. Researchers in the UK found that rabbits who lived alone in their hutches were more anxious.

Because they are social, it’s important you provide them with a friend or a lot of socialization. Rabbits will start bonding with you or each other which will ease their anxiety. You wouldn’t want to live alone with nobody to talk to, would you?

Do Children and Rabbits Get Along?

It’s important to remember that rabbits are prey animals. While they all have different and unique personalities, many are easily startled when picked up or handled aggressively. Children aren’t always old enough to know how to be careful with animals and rabbits require special care.

If you have young children, you may want to wait a few years before you welcome a rabbit to your family. If you can’t wait, then it’s important you are around to provide supervision with any children and a pet bunny. After all, a happy bunny is much friendlier than a scared bunny!

Do Rabbits Chew on Things?

There is one major reason that rabbits chew on things: Their teeth are always growing. That means they need to wear them down by chewing on things. When your bunny’s teeth get too long, they need to shorten them. Think of your rabbit’s teeth like your fingernails. They need to be maintained.

When you adopt a bunny, you will definitely need to rabbit-proof your home. They’ll chew on anything from stray cables to wooden furniture if you look away for even a second. Luckily, there are lots of easy ways to prevent this like taping your cables or keeping any expensive furniture in a room your bunny can’t enter.

When do Rabbits Sleep?

A rabbit has a different sleep schedule from you or me. They’re actually crepuscular; that means they’re awake at dawn and dusk. It also means they’re awake for early morning cuddles and kisses before bed.

If you’re not a morning person, then you might become one because of your new bunny. It can be difficult to tell if they’re sleeping because they often keep their eyes open appearing awake to predators. However, there are positions they enjoy like lying down on their side that give it away. Some rabbits even snore!

How much exercise do Rabbits need?

It’s recommended that a rabbit gets at least 3 hours of exercise per day. While letting them romp around a yard is great for them, you can also let them explore your house if it has been made safe.

Many owners let their rabbits have free-range all around their home, but some also choose to keep them in a hutch. It’s up to you to decide. In either case, you need to be able to play with your bunny and keep it entertained. A rabbit's mental health and physical health benefit from exercise, just like us!
The Human Agents of Extinction
By: Karlee Pryor Thompson
Tags: Animals, Environmental Impact, Extinction

The Human Agents of Extinction

There are millions of species of animals on Earth. 8.7 million different species according to a 2011 study. 41,415 of these species are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of threatened species. There are 751 species that have gone extinct, and that’s only since 1750. And the sad part is, so many of these creatures go unnoticed. There is so little awareness of the extinction problem in the world, that ecosystems are continuing to fall apart because of the human contributions to their demise.

People around the world are contributing to the extinction crisis, whether they know it or not. By overhunting and overharvesting we kill off an excessive amount of animals, and the vegetation that they live off of. Through pollution and habitat destruction we take away their homes, leaving them with no shelter from predators or extreme natural conditions. Activists, including myself, would love to place the blame on the humans for all of these things, but the truth is that they typically aren’t aware that they are doing it. Raising awareness is the first step towards a solution. The human causes of extinction are things that should be talked about, so people know what to stop doing if they want to help preserve our planet’s ecosystems and biodiversity. The animals that are dying off don’t have voices, and can’t speak for themselves, so I am here to do it for them. I hope you will join me.
Furbo Dog Camera
By: Amy Trumpeter
Tags: Dog Training, Animals, Pets And Animals, Pets, Dogs

As times evolve we do too, and as the world becomes a little bit more advanced in terms of technology, we make way for items like the Furbo Dog Camera and welcome them into our lives to have an engaging experience with our pet even from afar! This coveted item has been featured in many popular places through the internet and even made its appearance on the talk show that Ellen Degeneres hosts! The novelty of this little treat thrower is undeniable as we connect ourselves to our dogs and interact with them wherever we are.

Furbo App

With the Furbo App, you may enter the interface of your Furbo treat dispenser and throw a treat to your dog whenever you feel like it! You can also listen to all the noises your pup is making from the other side and even talk to it yourself! The HD 1080p camera installed in the device allows you to see what your terrier is up to even when you’re miles away. That way, even when you’re at work or just running some errands, you can keep your pet in check and entertain them a little bit if you can see them getting bored!

Setting up the Furbo Dog Camera

As complicated as you may think this device is, the truth is, it couldn’t be simpler to set it up. Bring it home, take it out of the box. Plug it straight into the outlet and download the official Furbo App from the AppStore on your phone. The interface is compatible with all kinds of android devices and iOS. Once downloaded, connect to your home wifi and sync up the device for endless hours of remote interaction! Day or night, rain or sun, you will be able to stay connected to your dog through this wonderful piece of tech. The Furbo Dog Camera also has a night vision feature that provides sight of your pet even in dark environments to ensure your pup won’t get out of sight!

Combine with your Dogs Favourite Treats!

Oh, and don’t forget to fill up your Furbo with your dog’s favourite treats. Connect remotely and call out your dogs name to lure them into the device and surprise them with a little treat so that they feel less alone when they’re home bored without you! Talk to them and help them calm down and feel less uneasy for being away from you for so long and listen to them playfully bark back with joy as they hear their beloved’s owner’s voice!

training treats for with Furbo dog camera

Helps with Separation Anxiety

In this day and age, we don’t know who is the real sufferer of separation anxiety, if owner or dog are the most impacted when away from each other. But, if there is something that we do know, is that the connection between master and pup will always be incomparable. Monitoring your dog’s behaviour with bark alarms, visual check ups, audio exchanges and even a tasty treat from time to time is one of the best ways to cope through the day and bring your mind some peace knowing that your pup is home alive and well while you’re away doing whatever adult humans need to do when they’re away from their pups!
The Two Cats Under the Same Roof
By: Christie Li
Tags: Animals, Life Lessons, Life, Self, Fiction

The Two Cats Under the Same Roof

Photo by author.

It’s the winter season again.

Stepping into December, Mr. Jiggles, a chubby ginger cat, and Meeka, a black tabby cat of the same age, instantly felt the sharp drop in temperature compared to last week.

“It’s getting so cold right now, I wish I’m allowed to sleep in the bedroom. I don’t know how but I swear the humans have the comfiest mattress and fluffiest blankets.” Said Meeka one afternoon.

“Well, we were originally allowed to sleep in the main bedroom remember? We were only kicked out because you broke mom’s laptop last week.” Mr. Jiggles protested.

“Oh is that the reason? Jeez, how are they so unforgiving.”

Meeka had always been the destructive one, the curious one, the aggressive one amongst the two.

“What's it with the stupid laptop anyway? Not like it's edible. The only good part about it is that I get to disassemble the keyboards and play catch with them individually.”

“I don’t know, but all I know is that you made me lose my designated sleeping area!” moaned Mr. Jiggles. He was still very frustrated with Meeka’s behavior. For this matter, he had already fought with her a few times.

“You’re always the affectionate one. All you care about is getting their attention. You don’t see what’s bad in them. I don’t get it, I don’t think I’m loved by them at all. In return, I don’t think the humans are that great either.”

“Well, how do you know that?”

“I rarely get cuddled or patted in the head. Remember how she used to let us into her room and sleep with her? She doesn’t even do that anymore.”

“That’s because she has some sort of allergies. Didn’t you hear her sniffing and sneezing every time she pets us?”

“I’d say she doesn’t love us anymore.”

“That’s only what you choose to believe. You always think that humans are the devils. Don’t you ever wonder maybe it’s just you overthinking it?”

“Humans might hurt me, I still remember how she tried to hurt me by trimming my nails.”

“That’s not fair. She stopped trimming your nails ever since your aggressive protest. She was only trying to make you clean and healthy. Besides, even if she did hurt you, I’m sure she didn’t mean it. It probably happened because you’re moving vigorously to escape. Look, I never get hurt by letting them trim my nails.”

The conversation did not carry on further. It was pointless because Meeko had always concluded that humans were evil no matter what. Mr. Jiggles, though still tried to argue with her every time, knew that it was impossible to change Meeka’s mind.

“Love exists in all shapes and forms. Just because she stopped letting us into her bedroom doesn’t mean that she doesn’t love us,” Mr. Jiggles concluded, no matter what Meeka’s combat previously was.
Petting zoo animals bringing holiday cheer to seniors
By: Tony Cowger
Tags: Animals, Pets, Seniors, News, Holidays

“In Las Vegas, petting zoo animals are spreading holiday cheer.

Video being shared throughout social media shows a camel going into a Bath & Body Works store.

‘Most people are not used to seeing camels and any time we take him anywhere, it’s always a big reaction,’ Nancy Rouas, owner of Petting Zoo 2 U, told KVVU.

Rouas said taking two-year-old camel Abraham into stores is part of his training process.

‘He needs practice loading onto the trailer and getting out into new places,’ he said.

Like other businesses, Petting Zoo 2 U has been impacted by the pandemic. Rouas said many parties and bookings for live nativities have been canceled due to COVID-19.”

View the whole story here: https://www.wmur.com/article/petting-zoo-animals-bringing-holiday-cheer-to-seniors/35020055
Horrific reality of South Korea’s illegal dog farms-forced breeding and illegal dog slaughter
Tags: Animals, Dog Meat, South Korea, Animal Cruelty, Dogs

We are a group of volunteer campaigners who are opposed to dog and cat consumption in South Korea. https://koreandogs.org/about-us/
How to Out-Smart a Smart Animal
Tags: Philosophy, Animals, Science, Intelligence, Psychology

5. Tester and Tested…

Pika et al. also point to the raven’s naturally competitive social life, with each raven looking at each other as both social partner as well as competitor for resources. The hand-raised ravens thus may have seen the experimenter as a competitor for the food reward — and this factor may have overshadowed the effects of intelligence alone in test performance.

Others have pointed out that primates also have a highly competitive social environment, and that a competitive component should be included in experimental designs. Brian Hare published a 2001 paper in the journal Animal Cognition suggesting and evaluating the inclusion of competition in primate studies. Hare states:

“…Primate social life is highly competitive. This means that all aspects of primates themselves, including their cognitive abilities, have likely been shaped by the need to out-compete conspecifics [other members of the species]…”

Practically, this means that the laboratory staff who raise primates may be seen as members of their social network and conspecifics and competitors, and thus the behavior of the human tester during the test will highly influence the behavior of the animal. Therefore, the test administered by the human is not really testing intelligence, but a social interaction.

Another insight into the interference of tester and tested, is that the raven’s performance during their CCTB test differed tremendously from parrots, which are also generally known for their outstanding intelligence.

A 2019 paper by Krasheninnikova et al., published in Behaviour, showed that applying the PCTB to four different parrot species showed that all failed to perform better than random chance. This is in contrast to the ravens, in which their test performance was clearly better than random chance. The raven and parrot studies varied considerably in the details of their execution. The raven study was performed by the same people who hand-raised the birds. The parrot study was done by people both familiar and unfamiliar to the birds, none of whom raised them. These details of human interactions with test subjects likely overwhelmed the validity of the parrot tests.

The raven’s ability to track the gaze of another animal is another critical and confounding skill. Since ravens are exceptionally competitive with each other, it makes sense that they developed an ability to follow the gaze of other ravens. Where a raven looks is probably where the food is, so ravens learned to pay attention to where other ravens look. A study by Christian Schloegel et al. found that ravens developed an ability to follow another raven’s gaze by eight weeks of age, but took another seven weeks before they could also follow a human gaze.

Therefore, it is likely that these intelligence tests in many social animals with gaze-following abilities are not testing intelligence — but gaze-following.
DATA PRIVACY MESS
By: Balaji Aravamuthan
Tags: Data Privacy, Upanishad, Data, Blockchain, Policy

DATA PRIVACY MESS

While “data privacy” may sound very recent, you will be surprised to know that the first data privacy laws were introduced way back in 1970. Currently there are 132 countries out of 195 (67.6%) which have put in place legislation to secure the protection of data and privacy.

In the hyper-connected world, data is playing a crucial role in self-driving cars, AI driven manufacturing, robotics/automation, etc. Since the world revolves around data, we face constant data threats and our privacy is compromised. The following table enumerates the commercial usage and criminal risk of your data :-

Privacy mess:

We can categorise privacy mess in two ways viz., mess around policy and mess around technology(security).

Policy mess-

How many of us actually read the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy while registering? This usually entails the company’s policy on all the data they acquire from you, its usage and their protection. Hereby, they could have access to your personal data. To circumvent this problem, many countries have passed country specific data privacy laws to assure security to their citizens. Every company is ought to submit the methods of data processing and the legitimate purpose behind data gathering and not use this data for any other purpose.

However, each country has drafted a law that suits their sovereignty which makes it difficult for businesses across the world. Consider the following example of user consent :-

Technological mess -

Difficulty in tracing the data violator as they use mix networks which gives them the advantage of non traceability. No retrospective withdrawal possible. Digital footprints are lifetime footprints. Only prospective misuse can be avoided.

The broader solutions to these problems are -

Prepare a global protocol which ensures global citizen’s privacy and every country’s sovereignty. This will also bring in uniformity is definition, data life-cycle management and consistent solutioning. Block-chains have been attempted to protect private keys using cryptography. Still there have been three failures reported so far. In spite of this, it is the best possible solution available which can bring in transparency. Be aware of the fact that you are the product in the digital world. So, be mindful of your digital footprints. Fine prints are not fine. System design should be created in line with the data residency laws of the country/region. In simple terms, data origin and its governance should be in the same country.

ayam bandhurayam neti ganana laghuchetasam

udaracharitanam tu vasudhaiva kutumbakam

-Maha Upanishad

Only small men discriminate saying: One is a relative; the other is a stranger. For those who live magnanimously the entire world constitutes but a family.

Signing off

A Balaji & B Shrinidhi
Outlook and Future US-China Policy
By: Samm Wiggins Jr.
Tags: Policy, America, China, Economics, Trump

Tensions Are Rising…

The world is in the midst of global pandemic. Tensions have risen as President Trump publicly refers to COVID-19 as the “Chinese-Virus,” due to that fact that it originated from China. Hong Kong protests in masses calling for President Trump to free them from the grips of the communist regime. Meanwhile, the US has experienced the highest unemployment rate in decades as violent riots and protests spread across the country. Both powers appear to be suffering from death, political tensions, and economic instability. Furthermore, China’s best approach forward seems to be gradual, long term, and not aim to destabilize.

As other countries have offered to partner with China in their geo-economic strategies, opposing US allies have begun to see how much of a threat the communist party really is. The Trump Administration has jeopardized China’s entire BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) by withdrawing troops from the Middle East. If terrorist attacks increase in Pakistan, then the security of Chinese energy is at risk and foreign economies will not seek to invest in Pakistan. If the BRI is jeopardized then the US still has the upper hand over China with control over the Malacca Strait.

A United States ally, Japan, has been buying massive amounts of US Treasuries over the past few years. Currently, Japan and China nearly hold the same amount of US Treasuries. The US has benefited from Japan diluting China’s “Nuclear Option.” The United States has proven to benefit Japan as well with their market share as one of the largest final consumers for Japanese manufacturing. Most of the world’s smartphones are manufacturing in Japan and assembled in China. The US-Japanese partnership will likely continue to grow as China has begun to directly compete with Japan in robotic and semiconductor manufacturing.

The Trump Administration has sought to reduce the US trade deficit with China in efforts to bring back additional jobs to the United States. Prior to the pandemic, the US experienced the lowest unemployment rate in American history. As the US continues to compete with China in innovation and technology, the Trump Administration and US Congress must come to an agreement on future Chinese cyber-crime policies. As the American government continues to be distracted by pressing economic and pandemic concerns, the Chinese are actively profiting from the theft of US intellectual property through cyber espionage. China’s infiltration of American social media, personal data, and intellectual property poses as the greatest threat to US national security.
Is China An Economic Threat To The United States Dominance?
By: Samm Wiggins Jr.
Tags: United States, Economy, China, Politics, Policy

The United States has maintained their position as the largest economy in the world for nearly a hundred years to date. Although the US has experienced almost ten years of economic nirvana, the Chinese have experienced similar economic success and now pose as a threatening rival. China has quickly taken over as the largest exporter, and second largest economy in the world. China’s geo-economic strategy for global dominance is detailed in their “Belt and Road” initiative (BRI) and “Made in China 2025” campaign.

Globalization has increased exponentially over the last hundred years. The US has been able to capitalize and sustain their larger middle class by outsourcing manufacturing jobs to cheap labor in China. Although inexpensive labor has been key to China’s economic success, China has begun to experience a slowed economy due to its increasing labor shortage. China’s “Made in China 2025" campaign details their plan for supplemental labor by increasing production efficiency through robotics.

China’s explosive economic growth has positioned them as global leader and influencer; however, it has come with its own challenges. In order for China to sustain their economic growth they must seek additional natural resources that can only be found outside their borders. China is second, only to the United States, as the largest importer in the world. The security of energy and minerals is currently the largest threat to the Chinese. The “Belt and Road” initiative is China’s plan to build infrastructure through Pakistan in efforts to have direct access to 40% of the world’s oil, African minerals, and direct trade with Emerging Asian economies.

China’s authoritarian governance consists of furthering the communist regime by any means necessary. China elaborates on the methods in which they intend to extend their influence across the world with their “Three Warfare’s Doctrine.” These military writings detail their concepts of public opinion warfare, legal warfare, and psychological warfare. All methods in which the Chinese have publicly used against the United States and the rest of the world.

The world’s two largest economies have publicly denounced each other for cyber-crimes, trade tariffs, and military threats. Although political and military tensions are rising, the Chinese and American economies are too interdependent to simply cut ties. The question remains, will a new administration allow China to go back to stealing America’s economic dominance, or will this administration treat the Chinese authoritarian regime as the threat it has proven to be?
No, the stimulus is not “just $600”
By: Chuck Mcshane
Tags: Policy, Covid 19 Crisis, Stimulus Check, Economics, Politics

The problem — he’s just wrong. The more than $3 trillion spent on COVID relief so far accounts for about 18% of GDP, higher than France’s 16% and double UK’s 9%, according to an analysis by Turkish economist Ceyhun Elgin. While it’s true that European countries have generally higher levels of existing social supports, the level of unemployment support and federal spending is unmatched since World War II.

More directly to Reich’s tweet, unemployment supplements of $600 per week from March through July came on top of existing state programs. The combination of these two programs provided about 110% replacement of average income for unemployed workers in most states (up to 130% in some). This helped bolster consumer spending among lower-income households. That boost in spending has since waned as coronavirus cases rose this fall. Economist Ernie Tedeschi estimates the new $300/week supplement will replace, on average, around 85% of unemployed workers’ pay. Tedeschi’s entire thread is worth reading.

Why did the “just $600” travel so well on Twitter? A few weeks ago, I reviewed Robert Shiller’s new book Narrative Economics. The gist of the book is that economists should pay more attention to stories, because they drive more economic decision-making than the math-minded think. Narratives don’t exist in isolation. People interpret new information through existing stories. In this case, the narrative of the stingy American safety net in comparison to more generous EU nations has become common, especially in left-leaning circles. The universal nature of the $600 direct payments — even people who kept their jobs will get them — makes it easy to ignore the rest of the policy.

Beyond being simply misleading, the “just $600” narrative is counterproductive for the policymakers and organizations who would like to expand the social safety net more permanently. An honest analysis of unemployment supplements and their role in preventing a deep recessionary spiral could open more productive conversations on how states or the federal government might balance extended unemployment or even some form of universal payments with the needs of employers in a more fully functioning, post-pandemic economy.

So far, judging from Twitter engagement numbers, the posters looking to get their more nuanced takes out there are swimming upstream.

Chuck McShane is an economic researcher in North Carolina. This article originally appeared in his weekly newsletter “Growth and Dreams.”
Can NOT bathing actually save fresh water?
By: Smit Veer
Tags: Water, Urban Planning, Mumbai, Environmental Issues, Policy

We have many water saving techniques the most common is the rainwater harvesting. We are facing acute ground and fresh water shortages so sitting at home during winters and not taking a shower could be one of the contributions to saving water, the reason given to parents can really workout if you make them realize it. For example , we have four Sunday’s in a month if 65% of Mumbai’s population (2.4 Cr % 65 = 1.32 Cr ) do not bathe for 2 of those 4 Sunday’s or any of the 2 days in a month assuming 15 liters of water (avg per person) entire Mumbai can save 39.6 crore liters of water in a month equivalent to 158.4 Olympic size swimming pools of water in a month! An Olympic size swimming pool holds around 2500000 liters i.e. 660000 US gallons of water. If we calculate for 8 months in a year (leaving 4 months of summer) we get 1267.2 Olympic size swimming pools!. At our best we can save fresh water of up to 1200 Olympic size swimming pools in these 8 months.

‘kethe hai na boond boond se sagar banta hai’

(saving every drop of water makes an ocean). If one city can save such amount of water, imagine what other metro cities in India can do or if even more number of people follow it.
Seth Moulton Pulls the Veteran Card
By: G. Gabby
Tags: Veterans, Politics And Elections, Politics For Tomorrow, Senate Republicans, Policy

Seth Moulton is not the first person to flag his veteran status around Washington. He has been known to be as opportunistic as they come. The former presidential candidate serving as a U.S. Representative has a long list of controversial allegiances.

Moulton touted gay rights as a major issue at the Nashua Pride Festival in New Hampshire. He pushed the bill that President Trump signed as the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act. We can’t help but anticipate Moulton’s nudge for more government programs and fueling money into the pockets of The Department of Health and Human Services. “Gay rights are the civil rights fight of our generation,” says Moulton. While laws are modernizing, we can’t help but admit that the left is advocating for a heavy gay-agenda.

Taking it a step further, he is pushing to retract dishonorable discharges from veterans who were kicked out due to being gay. Let’s not forget they signed a form stating that they acknowledged the policy. Many Lesbian, Gay, and Bi-sexual veterans have successfully retired from the military on the policy and many more continue to reap one hundred percent of the benefits of the new policy allowing gays, lesbians, and transgender individuals to enlist or commission.

Let’s not forget the hundreds of LGBTQ+ youth that want to join the military service simply to claim gender dysmorphia for free surgery and a one-way ticket home due to their sudden mental change. We don’t know how many have slipped through the cracks on a medical board retirement which is what the taxpayers are absorbing. Luckily, government defense has changed the rules to allow transgender persons to serve as long as it is without special accommodations and with a stable mental health evaluation. We haven’t yet considered the service members who claimed “gay” status during the don’t ask, don’t tell era as a means to purposefully be discharged.

If anything we should be asking ourselves about Seth Moulton’s diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Is he really a good candidate for any office? He is justifying social program overreach into Veteran Affairs. He calls President Trump “fundamentally un-American”. Yet, he fails to be the voice of the Veterans. The best approach to meeting the needs of service members is to grassroots rally the network of veterans of the baby boomer generation and of foreign wars which make up a large capacity of veterans. It’s not to push rights for a small concentrated group of LGBTQ+.
What’s in the $900 billion U.S. Stimulus bill?
By: Courtney Allen-Gentry Rn Msn Phn Ahn-Bc Hwnc-Bc
Tags: Congress, Senate, Politics, BlackLivesMatter, Policy

What’s in the $900 billion U.S. COVID-19 aid package? The bill includes $166 billion in new direct payments of up to $600 per adult and child, for individuals making up to $75,000 a year and $1,200 for couples making up to $150,000 a year. An additional $300 per week for some unemployment recipients. $25 billion for rent and utility payment assistance for people struggling to stay in their homes, and an extension of the eviction moratorium until Jan. 31. States will receive a minimum of $200 million in assistance. $13 billion for food assistance, including additional funding for food banks and senior nutrition programs, college student access to the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Another $13 billion for direct payments, purchases and loans to farmers and ranchers. This bill demonstrates how some of the richest people in the land with an average income of half million dollars per year and many of whom have gained income during the pandemic, have no idea what life is like for those earning less and challenged to stay housed, warm and fed during a global pandemic. Read more:
The New Stimulus Shows How Out of Touch Congress is.
Tags: Covid 19, Jobs, Politics, Coronavirus, Policy

In the midst of a pandemic, where the last stimulus bill was over six months ago, where unemployment benefits expired in July, and where eviction moratoriums are set to expire, Mitch Mcconnell had the guts to cut out stimulus check to a one-time payment of 600 dollars and only 300 dollars in extra unemployment.

This package is truly a ‘Let them eat Cake moment.’ People are starving, evictions are coming, and the food line is miles long. However, Congress has decided that after months of no stimulus, 600 dollars will hold us over. Does anyone think that 600 dollars will hold anyone over. That wouldn’t pay a third of a month of rent in New York City. 600 dollars could barely hold a family of four for food.

But what’s more disturbing is how Nancy Pelosi stood by with the bill and wants it passed. Nearly everyone can agree that 600 dollars will never cover a full month’s expenses, yet the speaker somehow will let this through. This shouldn’t be something that we have to compromise for. 600 dollars barely pays for the thousands of dollars of missed rent for the past several months, nor will an extra 300 dollars a week help that much.

The speaker does not understand that working Americans cannot simply live with this money. It makes sense though, Pelosi and members of congress have been out of touch with their constituents for years.
‡ This does not look good.
By: Terry Bain
Tags: China, Tech, Zoom, Executives, Policy

‡ This does not look good.

U.S. prosecutors have charged a company executive based in China with conspiring to terminate online meetings about the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Hope you’re not using Zoom, y’all. I mean the tech is really good but the executive team could use a good audit.

— Terry
Mas Tapas
By: Cesar Diaz
Tags: Policy, Real Estate Development, Las Vegas, Tech

A Cross-Section of Tech, Policy, & Real Estate Development in Las Vegas

Dec. 14–18, 2020

Book Your Next Hotel Stay on Airbnb? While last week’s big story was how Airbnb’s shares skyrocketed (going from $68 a share to $146) on their trading debut, locally, the *RJ, reported hosts (condo owners) listing hotel rooms on Airbnb, without resort fees. A room that goes for $79 per night on the tech platform is $158.50 (not including fees) on the hotel’s website. Is it legal? Yes. (Condo) Owners of these rooms can list them for short-term rentals. Is it fair? You be the judge. Analysis: Airbnb has more of a robust brand recognition and advertising reach than a single hotel brand has. The practice is no different than Raiders’ ticket holders reselling their tickets on StubHub instead of on the team’s website. Who wants to pay resort fees anyways?

Why Not Rent Your Next Home?: Even though local home builders have experienced a record-breaking year for new home sales in Las Vegas, one developer thinks there’s a demand for new rental homes. They are not alone, new home communities from some of the largest single-family landlords have emerged in the Sunbelt. Analysis: People want flexibility and the stigma of renting is being erased, especially if everyone around you is a renter.

Betting on a Brighter Future for Vegas: Nevada has the second-highest unemployment rate in the country, behind Hawaii at 12%. It’s no surprise since both states have tourist-dependent economies. Through the lens of unemployment and COVID numbers, the future looks bleak. But how do others see Vegas? On the contrary, Frontier Airlines announced six new routes starting next year for destinations to the U.S. Midwest and Mexico. Amazon announced eight new operation facilities that will create 2,000 new jobs. Separately, the City of Henderson intends to sell land to owners of the M Casino and Resort who have drawn up plans to develop a new hotel and casino. Analysis: Folks are betting on Vegas yet again!
New Education Policy Aims to Make Young Minds Practical
Tags: Education, Policy

As all of us know, the latest education policy, 2020 has brought several changes in the education system of India. While people have different points of view for this education system, in this article we are going to focus on how this new education policy is going to help children learn practical aspects of subjects from the early years of education. Many of the best IGCSE schools in Pune have already welcomed this new policy. You can find the following points clearly stating how emphasis is laid on practical education so as to make children develop their analytical skills.

1. Bagless internship

You can visit the websites of schools that are implementing the new education policy. There you will find out and that about 10 days a month, the child won’t have any theoretical education. This can vary from school to school but the main purpose of doing so is to encourage practical learning among the students from the early years. This will help students to devote a good time to practical education.

2. Education in the mother tongue

The new education policy focuses on making the education available in the mother tongue of the student making things easy for students. This will make it easy for students to grasp the concepts easily. Not all the schools will have this facility though. If you wish to accept this concept, then you can choose a school that has this facility and apply now for admission.

3. Compulsory education for children aged 3–18

The age of receiving education has been increased so that the students can learn better and spend their young and adolescent years learning and creating a strong understanding of the subjects. There are special programs for younger children to learn in the play way method so that they won’t feel the burden of education. This will help children to get into the habit of reading early on in their lives. Given the competition, what else could be best for children to get into the study environment so that they don’t feel the stress later on in their lives.

4. Learn coding from early classes

Another thing that is added in the education system is to start the coding from class 6th onwards. This helps to grow the brain of the students as they will learn computer languages. It will also make them smart as they will go through different challenges and will develop their analytical capability. For some schools, coding education will be optional while in other schools it will be compulsory. This will be the choice of an individual school.

5. Inviting foreign educators

We all know that the foreign education system is very different from the Indian education system. So, inviting the foreign education investors in India will help the Indian students to get the experience of foreign education in their country without having to go to an international school. This will bring many positive changes to the education system. It will also help the young generation to develop a broad mindset regarding education and knowledge.
Cannabis Research Bill Is Passed By U.S. Senate
By: Louis O Neill
Tags: Drugs, Cannabis, War On Drugs, Marijuana, Policy

Another marijuana research bill has been introduced, this time to the U.S. Senate following the introduction of a similar bill last week by the House of Representatives.

Last week, legislators from both sides of the political aisle introduced the Medical Marijuana Research Act to the House of Representatives, which seeks to allow researchers to use dispensary cannabis for their studies, as opposed to current regulation which only allowed for marijuana grown at the University of Mississippi to be studied.

Just one week later, a similar marijuana research bill was passed by the U.S. Senate called the Cannabidiol and Marihuana Research Expansion Act, which was initially introduced in 2019.

The bill seeks to remove red-tape when it comes to researching cannabis-derived medicines, expediting research for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA.)

Given that just last week a very similar bill was introduced by representatives on both sides of the political spectrum, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), it stands to reason that this senate bill will likely be passed with bipartisan support.

Should this occur, the bill will be enacted into law, and Americans can expect barriers to research to be brought down in 2021, allowing for a more evidence-based prescription process when it comes to cannabinoid medicines.

This is critically important, as Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) outlined in 2019, stating:

“In many cases, there are very limited data from which to draw specific recommendations for treatment.”

The series of marijuana research bills follows growing scrutiny placed upon the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), who have been stonewalling research into medical cannabis. The DEA hasn’t carried out the evaluation process for 37 applications to cultivate cannabis for medical research purposes after nearly four years of delays.

In theory, removing the barriers to research surrounding cannabis-derived medicines in the U.S. may allow cannabis to be removed from the list of Schedule I substances, which deems the plant to have no “accepted medical uses.”

Should positive research emerge surrounding the benefits of cannabis use for legitimate medical conditions, this may prompt a revision of cannabis’s scheduling within the Controlled Substances Act.