Posts Categorized: News

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Democrats quietly approve bill to install kill switch in all vehicles

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

The Biden administration's $1.8 trillion Build Back Better bill died on the floor of the Senate after Sen. Joe Manchin voiced his opposition to nearly everything in it.

Meanwhile, Democrats slipped controversial legislation into Pres. Joe Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that was signed into law last year.

The new law requires car and truck manufacturers to install the kill switch in every new vehicle sold in this country.

But critics complain that the remote kill switch will negatively impact drivers around the country.

Democrats insist their kill switch is a life-saving measure. However, critics say the device will make it easier for government agencies to stop your car in its tracks.

Banks will also have an easier time repossessing your vehicle if you fall behind on your car note.

According to the bill, the kill switch, which was signed into law by Biden in November, must "passively monitor the performance of a driver of a motor vehicle to accurately identify whether that driver may be impaired."

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

If the driver is impaired, the vehicle will automatically shut off in the middle of the road or highway. Don't bother trying to restart it.

Critics also say the bill features a "backdoor" allowing government agencies to hijack your car.

Hackers can also access the backdoor and remotely control your car with you inside it.

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Outrage: USA Today says pedophilia ‘is determined in the womb’

Jasmin Merdan / Moment

USA Today deleted tweets following public backlash to its article attempting to normalize abnormal adult attraction to children.

The article, titled "What the public keeps getting wrong about pedophilia," was quickly moved behind a paywall.

The writer quoted researchers who claimed there's a difference between pedophiles who harm children and people who only think about it.

The writer claimed scientific studies found "pedophilia is determined in the womb, though environmental factors may influence whether someone acts on an urge to abuse."

"Not all people who sexually abuse children are pedophiles. Some pedophiles never abuse children, experts say, and some people who sexually abuse children do not sexually prefer them, but use them as a surrogate for an adult partner. They may be disinhibited and anti-social, with impulse control problems."

NurPhoto via Getty Images

"The evidence suggests it is inborn. It's neurological," said James Cantor, a clinical psychologist and sex researcher. "Pedophilia is the attraction to children, regardless of whether the (person) ever ... harms."

Cantor said there's no treatment for pedophilia, but pedophiles can be taught self-control and strategies to compensate, which he said is more likely if they're under the care of a professional.

"There are the people who are sexually attracted to children ... (and then) there are some people who molest kids who are not pedophiles," said Anna Salter, a psychologist, author, and internationally recognized expert. "They molest kids because of anger. They molest kids because they're scared of adult women. They molest kids to get revenge, but they don't actually have an age preference for prepubescent children."

After deleting the tweets, USA Today explained:

"A previous thread did not include all information and the story it was written about is behind a paywall. We made the decision to delete the thread."

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Maya Angelou becomes first Black woman to be featured on a U.S. quarter

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Steve Exum/Getty Images

While we wait for American abolitionist Harriet Tubman to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, the U.S. Mint has begun shipping quarters featuring legendary poet Maya Angelou.

According to Politico.com, the new U.S. quarters are part of an effort to increase representation of Black Americans on U.S. currency.

Angelou, who died in 2014, is best known for her autobiographies and poetry, including "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings," about her teenage experiences.

Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at the first inauguration of Bill Clinton, making her the first Black poet to perform a poem at a presidential inauguration.

Politico claims The Trump administration halted the efforts to place Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. Former President Donald Trump reportedly called the efforts to replace Jackson "pure political correctness".

Shortly after Joe Biden's inauguration in January 2021, press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration would speed up the process of putting Tubman's likeness on the $20 bill.

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Former Atlanta mayor accuses Publix of discrimination in Black communities

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Former Atlanta mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms took to Twitter to voice her complaint about racial discrimination by Publix.

Keisha, who declined to run for a second term in office, compared empty Publix stores in the Black community to fully stocked stores in affluent northern Atlanta neighborhoods.

She tweeted:

"I've received 8 messages & counting from my very polite @Instacart shopper over the last 10 minutes about missing items in the Cascade Rd @Publix. I shopped in Buckhead & Vinings last week and no one else seems to have the supply chain issues."

Keisha lives on the southwest side where she was raised. That side of town is slowly gentrifying but is still majority Black.

The mom-of-four shared a screenshot of photos in text messages from her Instacart shopper showing empty store shelves at Publix in the hood.

Keisha wrote:

"Shelves in SW Atlanta have consistently looked like this for months. I've not seen anything like this when shopping in @Publix stores in other areas."

She hinted that Publix prioritizes stores in affluent neighborhoods north of Atlanta, where groceries are plentiful.

An embarrassed spokesperson for Publix responded to Keisha's complaints by assuring her that the "supply chain" was at fault.

"Hi Keisha. The supermarket supply chain is under a lot of stress, impacted by product and labor shortages, demand, record exports, shipping constraints, and inflation. We appreciate your understanding as we work to obtain as much product as possible for our customers."

Keisha replied by reiterating her suspicions that the grocery store giant is discriminating in Black neighborhoods:

"Thank you for the prompt response. I understand the global challenges, but it is difficult to understand why some stores, within a few miles of each other, are consistently stocked and others are not."

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Report: ‘Joy Reid will lose her show at MSNBC’

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YouTube/MSNBC

The Twitterverse is reporting that Joy Reid is out at MSNBC. There is no plan to shuffle her to another show.

According to an editor at news site Mediate, quoting a source at Comcast:

"Joy Reid will lose her 7p show in the next round of reshuffling at MSNBC." - "She does not have a show come mid Spring" - The "decision has been made, the only thing left is messaging on the move, which will be ratings.

"As was the case with Chris Cuomo at CNN, Reid has allies at Comcast, however, she is now viewed as "unmanageable" by many. Also, similar to Cuomo, it appears those allies have found out she has been "less than truthful about past incidents."

What's the reason for her departure?

As you can see from the above tweet, Reid is "viewed as unmanageable by many" and she has been "less than truthful about past incidents."

We're sad to see her go. She seems like a nice lady. The viewers loved her.
 

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Amazon’s gender recognition software identifies Michelle Obama and Serena Williams as men

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Twitter

Amazon's gender recognition system identified former First Lady Michelle Obama and tennis superstar Serena Williams as male.

According to MIT researcher Joy Buolamwini, Amazon's response was that the software is not "facial recognition, it's gender recognition" -- as if that makes it acceptable to identify women as male.

Both Michelle and Serena are genetically and biologically female, but they have been plagued by vicious rumors that they are men.

Uri Schanker/Getty Images

It doesn't help that Amazon's gender recognition software also identifies them as the male gender.

While "gender" and "sex" are often substituted for the other, their meanings are different. According to Dictionary.com, sex is "a label assigned at birth based on the reproductive organs you're born with."

"Gender includes a person's perception, understanding, and experience of themselves and roles in society... their inner sense about who they're meant to be and how they want to interact with the world."

However, both Michelle and Serena interact with the world as biological women.

Critics complain that Amazon's system shows gender and racial bias, and recent studies have confirmed that bias.

Studies led by Buolamwini found huge racial and gender bias in the facial recognition software.

Protests across the United States prompted Amazon to suspend police use of its software in 2020.

After some tweaking, the ban was lifted by Amazon, saying it hoped Congress would pass a law to ensure ethical use of the gender recognition technology. However, no such law has been passed, according to Fox Business.

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UNLV basketball player calls Trey Songz a ‘rapist’

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Instagram, Prince Williams/ATLpics.net

A former basketball player for the University of Las Vegas stunned Twitter followers when she accused R&B singer Trey Songz of being a rapist.

On Friday morning, Dylan Gonzalez tweeted: "Trey Songz is a rapist. Lord forgive me I Couldn't hold that in another year. See you in 2022."

Gonzalez didn't elaborate on her tweet.
 

Prince Williams/Wireimage

The tweet comes after it was reported in November that Las Vegas authorities were investigating rape allegations against the promiscuous singer.

The alleged sex assault occurred at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas resort casino and hotel. Trey reportedly invited a group of female fans back to his hotel room from Drais Nightlub after celebrating his 37th birthday.

Pray for Trey if you're a fan. He's about to be R. Kelly'd.

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Graphic video shows Florida cop shoot tiger that grabbed cleaner’s arm at Naples Zoo

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Naples PD

Police body camera footage captured the moment a Naples police officer fatally shot a tiger attacking a cleaner at the Naples Zoo, according to DailyMail.com.

Police say the cleaner, River Rosenquist, was supposed to be cleaning the public restrooms when he entered an unauthorized area of the zoo and attempted to feed or pet Eko, an 8-year-old Malayan tiger.

Rosenquist, who works for a third-party cleaning service, stuck his arm through the fence of Eko's enclosure and nearly lost his life and limb when Eko clamped down on it.

A police officer responding to the 911 call from a zoo employee arrived to a horrific sight. "Oh my god, is that real?" he asked a zoo employee.

The graphic video shows Rosenquist lying outside the fence, screaming in pain as Eko attempted to pull his mangled arm through the fence.

"Please help me! Please help me!" Rosenquist cried.

After kicking the fence, the officer asked if anyone had a tranquilizer gun to sedate the large animal.

Rosenquist screamed, "I'm gonna die! Shoot him! Shoot him! Shoot him!"

"You're gonna have to shoot it man," said a medic. The officer fired a single gunshot into Eko's head, as the wounded tiger grunted and fled into the darkness.

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Naples PD

As medics tended to Rosenquist, a zoo veterinarian arrived and entered the enclosure to find Eko deceased.

Rosenquist was transported to a local hospital. His condition is unknown. It is not clear if he will face criminal charges.

"Our deputy did everything he could do in that situation and he ultimately made the only possible decision he could in order to save this man's life," Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said in a press release.

"This was a tragic encounter at our world-class zoo facility. We value our community partnership with the Naples Zoo and their focus on conservation and education."

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Florida mayor says police responsible for 13-year-old boy’s death in dirt bike crash

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Family handout, PD

The mayor of Boynton Beach, Florida has come under fire after blaming police for the death of 13-year-old Stanley Davis Jr.

Stanley died when police tried to pull him over after observing him riding recklessly on a dirt bike.

Surveillance video at a Chevron gas station shows Davis Jr. filling up his bike with gas as a patrol car turns into the station.

The patrol car followed Davis Jr. out of the station and attempted a traffic stop. The patrol unit is not equipped with a camera and the officer was not required to wear a body cam.

According to police, the boy was killed when his dirt bike crashed on North Federal Highway during the attempted traffic stop.

In a statement on Sunday, the Boynton Beach Police Department said the "preliminary investigation indicates that the dirt bike operator was observed driving recklessly on Boynton Beach Boulevard. Officers attempted a traffic stop, and the dirt bike went down in the 800 block of North Federal Highway."

Boynton Beach Mayor Steven B. Grant said "the city and the police are responsible" for the boy's death.

"We should not blame the police department for the actions of an individual officer. However, the city and the police are responsible," said Mayor Grant.

"You know, the situation that created this, you know, it didn't happen just yesterday," Mayor Grant said. "This is an aspect of how the city has treated parts of the community for decades before I was even mayor. And so the city is trying to understand and work with the community to get a result, resolution so that it is safer for everyone."

The unnamed officer was placed on administrative leave Sunday amid an investigation led by the Florida Highway Patrol, according to the report. "Based on our preliminary investigation, the officer's vehicle did not come into contact with the dirt bike," said an FHP spokesman.

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Audio captures chilling last words of Learjet crash pilot: ‘Oh s***! Oh s***! Oh S***!’

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Twitter

Four people were killed in a fiery Learjet crash near San Diego, California on Monday. The private Learjet 35A crashed shortly after 7 p.m. in unincorporated El Cajon, according to Eurweb.com.

The plane was carrying two passengers and two flight crew when it hit several power lines and crashed into a residential neighborhood while on approach to Gillespie Field.

The passengers were identified as two flight nurses who worked for an air ambulance service.

The plane departed earlier from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, NBC Los Angeles reports.

In audio leaked online, the Learjet pilot requested to land and asked an air traffic controller to turn up the approach lights a little bit more.

The air traffic controller said the approach lights were already at 100% brightness.

Seconds later, the pilot screamed "Oh sh*t! Oh sh*t! Oh SH*T!" followed by a scream before the transmission ends abruptly.

No injuries or fatalities were reported on the ground but one house was damaged. The fiery crash was captured on a resident's Ring doorbell camera.

Listen to the disturbing audio below.