News You Can Use

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LA Considers First Ever City-Owned Public Bank In US « CBS Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – Would a city-owned public bank address some of Los Angeles’ pressing issues — such as affordable housing, small business growth and financing for municipal projects — while also freeing the city from the influence of private banks who put shareholder interests over those of the public good?

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American job hunters are now worried that robots will throw out their résumés - MarketWatch

Most Americans expect these advancements to have a negative impact on both the workforce and the U.S. economy, according to a new survey of more than 4,100 people in the U.S. released Wednesday by the Pew Research Center, a think tank in Washington, D.C. Perhaps surprisingly, ome 67% of people are worried rather than enthusiastic (22%) about algorithms evaluating and choosing job candidates. However, people are more sanguine when it comes to driverless cars (54% express worry) and robot caregivers (47% express worry).

The findings suggest workers are fearful of automation:

• 72% of Americans are worried about robots replacing human jobs — more than double the share (33%) that is enthusiastic

• 77% of people think it’s realistic that robots and computers might one day be able to do many of the jobs currently done by humans

• And yet only 30% think it “very or somewhat likely” that their own jobs or professions will be done by robots or computers in their lifetimes

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Google’s New Gadgets Come With a Big Helping of A.I. - The New York Times

On Wednesday, Google did its best to demonstrate its commitment. It introduced two new Pixel smartphones, Google Home speakers both small and large, a laptop running the company’s Chrome software, a new virtual reality headset and wireless headphones.

But Google’s pitch for why its hardware is different had little to do with the hardware itself.

Unlike the way an Apple event is conducted — usually chock-full of talk about chip speeds and screen resolutions — Google didn’t spend much time on product specifications. Instead, its focus was on artificial intelligence. Sundar Pichai, Google’s chief executive, spent the first 10 minutes explaining how artificial intelligence was helping Google Maps and its translations.

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Federal Debt Increases for 60th Straight Fiscal Year

(CNSNews.com) -- The total federal debt climbed by $671,455,302,116.72 in fiscal 2017, making 2017 the 60th straight fiscal year in which the federal debt has increased, according to the official numbers published by the U.S. Treasury.

At the end of fiscal 2016, the federal debt stood at $19,573,444,713,936.79. By the end of fiscal 2017 (which closed on Sept. 30), it was $20,244,900,016,053,51.

The last fiscal year in which the federal debt declined was fiscal 1957. In that year, according to the Treasury, the total federal debt dropped from $272,750,813,649.32 at the close of fiscal 1956 to $270,527,171,896.43 at the close of fiscal 1957.

But, in fiscal 1958, the debt climbed to $276,343,217,745.81—and in every fiscal since then, it has finished each fiscal year higher than it started that fiscal year.

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More than 70% of US fears robots taking over our lives, survey finds | Technology | The Guardian

As Silicon Valley heralds progress on self-driving cars and robot carers, much of the rest of the country is worried about machines taking control of human tasks

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Bill proposed to decriminalize sex work in DC - Story | WTTG

WASHINGTON - A D.C. lawmaker has proposed a bill aimed at decriminalizing sex work in the nation’s capital.

David Grosso (At-Large-I) introduced the Reducing Criminalization to Improve Community Health and Safety Amendment Act of 2017 on Thursday. He said he developed the bill after working with the Sex Worker Advocates Coalition.

“I believe that we as a society are coming to realize that excessive criminalization is causing more harm than good, from school discipline to drug laws to homelessness,” said Grosso. “It is time for D.C. to reconsider the framework in which we handle commercial sex and move from one of criminalization to a focus on human rights, health and safety.”

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'Our minds can be hijacked': the tech insiders who fear a smartphone dystopia | Technology | The Guardian

Google, Twitter and Facebook workers who helped make technology so addictive are disconnecting themselves from the internet. Paul Lewis reports on the Silicon Valley refuseniks who worry the race for human attention has created a world of perpetual distraction that could ultimately end in disaster

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'Our minds can be hijacked': the tech insiders who fear a smartphone dystopia | Technology | The Guardian

Google, Twitter and Facebook workers who helped make technology so addictive are disconnecting themselves from the internet. Paul Lewis reports on the Silicon Valley refuseniks who worry the race for human attention has created a world of perpetual distraction that could ultimately end in disaster

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Which American Cities Will File Bankruptcy Next? | Zero Hedge

We harp on the massive, unsustainable, yet largely unnoticed, debt burdens of American cities, counties and states fairly regularly because, well, it's a frightening issue if you spend just a little time to understand the math and ultimate consequences.  Here is some of our recent posts on the topic:

America's Pension Bomb: Illinois Is Just the Start
Stanford Says Soaring Public Pension Costs Devastating Budgets For Education And Social Services
Pension Consultant Offers Dire Outlook For Kentucky: Freeze Pension And Slash Benefits Or Else
Luckily, for those looking to escape the trauma of being taxed into oblivion by their failing cities/counties/states, JP Morgan has provided a comprehensive guide on which municipalities haven't the slightest hope of surviving their multi-decade debt binge and lavish public pension awards. 

If you live in any of the 'red' cities below, it just might be time to start looking for another home...

[Sunain]

Canada province to ban abortion protests outside clinics

A Canadian province is tabling legislation that would make it illegal to protest outside abortion clinics.

Ontario's attorney general announced on Thursday that the government will introduce the Safe Access to Abortion Services Act.

If passed, the legislation would create "safe access zones" around abortion clinics as well as the homes of staff.

Anti-abortion activists would not be allowed to protest within at least 50m (164ft) of a clinic or staff residence.

British Columbia, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador have already enacted safe access zone laws.

"Our government is standing up for every woman's right to choose, and protecting the safety of abortion service providers," said Ontario's Attorney General Yasir Naqvi in a news release.

"The proposed safe access zones would mean that patients, visitors and staff are able to enter and depart from clinics and facilities that provide abortion services in a manner that protects their safety, security, health and privacy."

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US Intelligence Unit Accused Of Illegally Spying On Americans’ Financial Records

The Treasury Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis has been illegally rifling through and filing away the private financial records of US citizens, Treasury employees alleged. “This is such an invasion of privacy,” said one official.

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Canadian doctors help 2,000 commit suicide in a year

Ottawa (AFP) - Nearly 2,000 people with incurable diseases were helped to die by a doctor in the first year since Canada legalized medically-assisted suicide, according to a report published Friday.

From the time Ottawa passed the legislation in June 2016 to June 30, 2017, 1,982 people ended their lives in this way, according to Health Canada.

Most had cancer, the agency said.

[Joel]

Teen Expelled for Sitting During Pledge of Allegiance, Lawsuit Says

HOUSTON (AP) — A lawsuit says a Houston student’s Constitutional rights were violated when she was expelled for not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Randall Kallinen, an attorney for 17-year-old India Landry‘s family, said the civil lawsuit was filed Saturday against the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District and a high school principal.

The lawsuit says Landry, who’d been sitting for the pledge in class, was expelled Monday after doing that in the principal’s office. The lawsuit says Landry returned to school Friday after the principal reversed course, saying Landry could sit.

Landry, who is black, told KHOU she doesn’t think “the flag is what it says it’s for, for liberty and justice and all that.”

A district spokeswoman said Saturday she was unaware of a lawsuit and referred to a district statement saying a student won’t be removed for refusing to stand for the pledge.

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Missouri woman claims religious rights violated by abortion law | The Kansas City Star

A Missouri woman who is an adherent of the Satanic Temple won a victory in court last week in her quest to show that state abortion law violates her religious beliefs.

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Automated farm in England grows barley crop - CNN

(CNN)A farm in the United Kingdom is the first in the world to successfully plant, tend and harvest a crop without a single person ever setting foot in the field, according to researchers and developers involved in the project.

From sowing the seeds to picking the grain, human workers were replaced with automated machines operated from a control room. The project, called Hands Free Hectare, was completed last month with a yield of 4 1/2 tons of barley, according to news releases.

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Kansas vaccine law fought over religious grounds | The Kansas City Star

The 2-year-old grandson of Linus and Terri Baker has never been vaccinated.

His mother and the Bakers oppose immunization on religious and health grounds.

But now that the boy is in temporary state custody, the Kansas Department for Children and Families intends to vaccinate him despite the family’s wishes.

The Bakers, who have physical custody of the boy as his foster parents, say it’s an unconstitutional overreach and they are now fighting it in federal court.

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Get your food storage. Get prepared.

Without Power Until Next Year, Puerto Ricans Are Leaving—Maybe Forever

When it gets dark, the entire island of Vieques is dark.
This is life on the world-renowned tourist island. And it’s going to be life for at least the next six to eight months, if not longer, before electricity is restored here.

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Dubai as a tech pioneer, from flying taxis to robocops | Daily Mail Online

Star of the GITEX expo, which runs until Thursday, was the flying taxi project
Drone is supported by 18 rotors and equipped with an emergency parachute
Dubai police, which uses robots to direct tourists, presented several innovations
Another futuristic machine presented at GITEX was a hybrid drone-motorcycle, with rotors instead of wheels that allow it to fly

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Nasa may alter the DNA of astronauts who journey to Mars | Daily Mail Online

High energy particles will bombard the bodies of 'Marsonauts' on their voyage
Earth's magnetic field protects people on the planet from most of these particles
DNA drugs could help to treat any damage to cells caused by radiation
More radical genetic alterations could help to boost the body's own resilience

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Americans Face a Rising Risk of Dying Alone - Bloomberg

More older people are living on their own, and fewer have close relatives to help them out as they age.

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China is living the future of mobile pay right now

Mainland Chinese stores and services are increasingly centered around mobile pay apps like WeChat Pay and Alipay.
Chinese mobile payment volume more than doubled to $5 trillion in 2016, according to Analysys data cited by Hillhouse Capital.
Mobile pay is growing so rapidly in mainland China that as a foreigner, I sometimes found it difficult to complete basic transactions without it.
The dominance of mobile transactions lends itself to greater data collection by the Chinese government.

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New California law allows jail time for using wrong gender pronoun, sponsor denies that would happen | Fox News

California health care workers who “willfully and repeatedly” decline to use a senior transgender patient's “preferred name or pronouns” could face punishments ranging from a fine to jail time under a newly signed law. 

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed the legislation last week. 

The sponsor, Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, has argued adamantly that nobody is going to be criminally prosecuted for using the wrong pronoun. 

“It’s just more scare tactics by people who oppose all LGBT civil rights and protections,” he said in a statement last month. 

But the language seemingly allows for the possibility, however remote. 

The bill itself is aimed at protecting transgender and other LGBT individuals in hospitals, retirement homes and assisted living facilities. The bill would ensure those facilities accommodate transgender people and their needs, including letting them decide which gender-specific bathroom they prefer to use. 

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Environmental groups denounce Trump override of climate plan

HAZARD, Ky. (AP) — The head of the Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that he will sign a new rule overriding the Clean Power Plan, an Obama-era effort to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants.

“The war on coal is over,” EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt declared in the coal mining state of Kentucky. He said no federal agency “should ever use its authority” to “declare war on any sector of our economy.”

For Pruitt, getting rid of the Clean Power Plan will mark the culmination of a long fight he began as the elected attorney general of Oklahoma. Pruitt was among about two-dozen attorney generals who sued to stop President Barack Obama’s 2014 push to limit carbon emissions, stymieing the limits from ever taking effect.

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Tiny houses coming to Charlotte at Keyo Park West development | The State

CHARLOTTE, NC
To developer Kelvin Young, his planned “tiny house” community in northwest Charlotte will create an affordable place for first-time home buyers or for people downsizing.

But to neighbors, Young’s Keyo Park West is a threat to their property values. They are asking City Council to stop it.

“We have been hanging out there for 60 years in Coulwood,” said Robert Wilson, who lives a half-mile from Young’s planned tiny house neighborhood off Cathey Road near Paw Creek Elementary. “All of a sudden this little building started coming up and no one knew what it was. Then it started looking like a house.”

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IMF Says Venezuela's Inflation Rate May Rise Beyond 2,300% in 2018 - Bloomberg

Next year’s price estimate increased from a previous 2,069%
GDP estimates for 2017, 2018 revised down to 12% and 6%