November 6, 2024

I am very disappointed VP Harris

did not even make a campaign stop in Ohio. Unless I have a failed memory, she just wrote Ohioans off; we needed to be energized.

October 27, 2024

Amazon's top grocery stores exec Tony Hoggett is leaving in big exit from senior leadership team

https://www.geekwire.com/2024/
by Todd Bishop on October 25, 2024 at 12:45 pm

Tony Hoggett, the Amazon senior vice president in charge of the company’s worldwide grocery stores business, is leaving the tech giant as it continues to try to find its way in a critical retail segment.

A former Tesco executive, Hoggett started at Amazon in January 2022, and served on the company’s senior leadership team, or S-team, which meets regularly with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and other top executives.

During his tenure at the company, he brought together and oversaw all of Amazon’s grocery businesses, including Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, Amazon Go, and the company’s grocery partnerships.

Hoggett’s last day at the company will be Nov. 1, according to an internal Amazon email viewed by GeekWire. The email notes that the company is still working on a succession plan, with more details expected in the coming weeks. Amazon’s top grocery stores exec Tony Hoggett is leaving in big exit from senior leadership team (snip)

Did he want a raise? Is he okay? Is he ill? Did he have a premonition about his Amazon boss man?

October 25, 2024

You've heard of ADHD, but have you heard about Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome?

https://neurolaunch.com/cognitive-disengagement-syndrome

Paradoxically, while some minds race at breakneck speeds, others struggle to ignite their cognitive engines, trapped in a fog of disengagement that mirrors ADHD’s frenetic energy. This stark contrast in cognitive functioning has led researchers and clinicians to explore a lesser-known condition that appears to be the antithesis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Known as Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS), this intriguing phenomenon presents a unique set of challenges for those affected and offers a fresh perspective on the spectrum of attention-related disorders.

New and controversial: Read much more at the link.

October 16, 2024

Liam Payne, former One Direction singer, dies in fall from Argentina hotel balcony at 31

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/liam-payne-former-one-direction-singer-dies-in-fall-from-argentina-hotel-balcony-at-31

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, was found dead after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, local officials said.

Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Argentina’s capital, resulting in “extremely serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said.

Pablo Policicchio, the spokesperson for the Security Ministry of Buenos Aires municipality, said in a statement to The Associated Press that Payne “had thrown himself from the balcony of his room.” He said police were dispatched to the hotel in response to an emergency call about an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” Arriving police heard a thud and found Payne’s body in the hotel courtyard, Policicchio said.
(snip)
Argentine media reported that Payne was in Buenos Aires to attend the concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.
Read more at link
for one too young to end it all but who apparently made a few really bad final decisions - sad.

I remember the band's name but much too old for boy bands. I did take my daughter and friends to see New Kids on The Block once at a nearby county fairgrounds, LOL, so I'm sure One Direction had a big following of teens in their time, though I think more popular in Europe.

October 15, 2024

My grandson left this morning on a 4-day 8th grade trip to Washington, DC.

It's a full agenda every day; a whirlwind of government buildings, museums, and monuments including a stop at Gettysburg. Ummm, speaking of their daily itinerary, before the trip a student was chosen to participate in an essay contest for the honor of participating in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. My grandson will be doing the honors for his most excellent essay. Imagine that...what a great young man! I'm so proud.

October 11, 2024

Did I miss a scheduled maintenance announcement last night?

I got a 503 error message and was unable to see DU content. It was about 11:30 pm to 12:15 a.m. October 10, 2024.
Isitdownrightnow.com said it was down for everyone. Solar flare issue?

October 1, 2024

FDA Introduces Streamlined Complaint Process in New Human Foods Program

Constituent Update
October 1, 2024

Today FDA’s Human Foods Program (HFP) is announcing a new, streamlined approach for processing complaints, including whistleblower complaints, that will improve the Agency’s ability to detect and respond to problems related to FDA-regulated products and better protect public health. A complaint may be about an illness, injury, allergic reaction, or other health-related issue or about defects in the quality or safety of an FDA-regulated food, dietary supplement, or cosmetic product. Now, the public will be able to direct complaints about foods and dietary supplements to HFP by using our online reporting forms for:

Foods and Dietary Supplements: Safety Reporting Portal
Cosmetics: MedWatch Voluntary Reporting Form
The links to these forms and more information about how to submit questions or complaints about FDA-regulated products can be found on the Industry and Consumer Assistance from HFP webpage.

Until today, consumer complaints were directed to Consumer Complaint Coordinators (CCCs) in the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA). As of October 1, 2024, the phone numbers associated with the CCCs will no longer be in service. Instead, consumers now will be able to call 1-888-SAFEFOOD to submit complaints by phone about foods and dietary supplements. HFP will receive, triage, and evaluate complaints, and the new Office of Inspections and Investigations (OII), formerly ORA, will follow up with firms as needed. This streamlined process will expedite delivery of inquiries and complaints to the appropriate public health experts at the FDA and allow for more consistent processing and earlier detection of potential public health problems. (snip) and read more.
==================
Hope this isn't more of the same automated (octupus) phone systems used to keep people from their government services.

September 18, 2024

Hungary to provide 200 million aid loan to Chad

English
September 18. 2024. – 03:44 AM updated
Iván-Nagy Szilvia
Andrea Horváth Kávai (translation)

https://telex.hu/english/2024/09/18/hungary-to-provide-eur200-million-aid-loan-to-chad

Just over a week ago, the exact amount Hungary would provide to Chad in the form of an assigned assistance loan was still uncertain, but the government has now left no room for doubt.

The resolution published in the Hungarian Official Gazette on Tuesday night states that the government will offer an assigned assistance loan of €200 million for water management, agriculture, food and information technology projects to the African country, while adding that the phasing must be done in such a way that it does not jeopardise compliance with the framework on Hungary's stability. The loan is provided by Eximbank. (Of which country? - USA has one EXIM Bank too, but words are divided.)

The Chadian president visited Hungary in early September. Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno travelled to Budapest following the China-Africa summit in Beijing to finalise security cooperation agreements between Chad and Hungary. Following the visit, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó spoke about the cooperation between Chad and Hungary, including the assigned assistance loan programme and security agreements.

As part of the security agreements, around 100 Hungarian soldiers would be sent to Chad to train local security forces. Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky announced on 13 October last year that the government would send 200 Hungarian soldiers to the civil war-torn country to help contain the migration crisis in the Sahel region. Parliament voted in favour of the military mission on 6 November last year, but the government – and the parliamentary vote – decided weeks before the announcement to allocate 817 million forints for the establishment of a humanitarian, training and development centre in Chad.

(snip) a paragraph more...bolded emphasis note mine.
==================================================================================================

This is weird...Military intelligence hub? Migrants? Hmmmm...

Let's communicate and talk about what our families are doing over the best chocolate cake, okay, Orbi? "Nothing personal; just business?And a violation of the Logan Act?

August 22, 2024

Is it?

https://www.barrons.com/articles/high-yield-savings-accounts-rate-cut-84017225?siteid=yhoof2
By Ian Salisbury Follow Updated Aug

It’s been a golden era for high-yield savings accounts. But with interest rates set to come down, it is time for savers to look at other vehicles like CDs and Treasury notes that will let them lock in today’s yields for years to come.

Online savings accounts now paying interest rates of 5% or more are easy to set up and convenient to use, so it isn’t hard to see why investors love them. But with the Federal Reserve likely to cut interest rates as soon as September, online savers may soon face some hard choices. Markets should get more insight into the Fed’s plans on Friday when Chair Jerome Powell addresses the central bank’s annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

Once the Fed does cut rates, most savers will see changes within a month, says independent banking analyst Ken Tumin. Some popular banks, including Ally and Marcus, have already started edging down rates. Lenders have reason to try to contain their costs, especially when long-term lending rates are comparatively low, putting pressure on banks’ profits.

Banks’ response will be a lot more rapid than when rates are rising. “It’s always faster on the way down,” he says. (snip)
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I'm the tiniest of savers, usually because I'm old and not rich, but I need to save for a special purpose not for a safe place to stash all my investment cash. In the last day, my bank has been encouraging this strategy of laddering CDs for best yields instead of a higher yield accounts without a minimum. Discuss? I will be happy to remove it not allowed for discussion.

July 21, 2024

I recall I never voted for Gerald Ford, either!

Joe should resign entirely and make Kamala the President; make his final "official acts" and just swear her in!

I will never vote for that Orange non-compis mentis; dictator on Day 1....indeed. UGH!