Month: October 2024

Authored by Andrew Latham via RealClearDefense,

When AUKUS—an unprecedented defense pact between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia—was announced in 2021, many Canadian defense commentators expressed concern that Canada’s exclusion from the agreement marked a significant setback.

To some, it signaled a diminution of Canada’s standing as a so-called middle power, a nation accustomed to “punching above its weight” in the international peace and security field. This perception led to calls for Canada to seek formal inclusion in the pact, particularly in Pillar 2, which focuses on advanced military technology development, from cyber warfare to artificial intelligence. However, while there are valid reasons for Canada to consider joining AUKUS, this decision must be made with strategic restraint and in line with Canada’s long-term security interests. In particular, Canada’s involvement in AUKUS should not draw it into an Indo-Pacific security alliance that could distract from its more pressing obligations in the North Pacific, Arctic, and North Atlantic.

The Strategic Logic of Pillar 2 Participation

AUKUS was conceived primarily as a response to rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, especially concerning China’s growing influence and assertiveness. While the agreement’s first pillar involves Australia acquiring nuclear-powered submarines—a development less relevant to Canada’s immediate military needs—Pillar 2 offers a more attractive opportunity. This component focuses on advancing cooperation in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cyber capabilities, and advanced undersea technologies.

Canada’s participation in Pillar 2 would offer several advantages. First, it would allow Canada to access and contribute to innovative military technologies that are vital to modern warfare and national security. Canada’s defense capabilities in areas such as cyber defense and artificial intelligence are limited compared to larger military powers, and AUKUS Pillar 2 could provide a critical opportunity for enhancing these capabilities. Additionally, collaboration with close allies such as the United States and the United Kingdom could strengthen Canada’s ability to defend its national infrastructure from cyberattacks and to maintain a competitive edge in military technology development.

Yet, while the opportunity to join AUKUS Pillar 2 offers clear technological and defense benefits, it is essential that Canada approaches this decision with caution. The logic of participating in AUKUS should not be driven by a desire to uphold Canada’s traditional middle-power status or to be seen as an essential player in global security forums. Instead, it should be guided by a sober assessment of Canada’s own defense needs and its core regional interests.

Avoiding Indo-Pacific Overextension

Canada’s involvement in AUKUS must be carefully calibrated to avoid being drawn into the larger strategic focus of the pact: the Indo-Pacific. AUKUS was designed in large part to counter China’s growing influence in that region, and while the Indo-Pacific is of significant importance to Canadian trade and foreign policy, it does not represent Canada’s most pressing security concern. For Canada, the key security challenges lie in the North Pacific, the Arctic, and the North Atlantic. The country’s vast and vulnerable Arctic region, in particular, presents growing concerns amid climate change and increasing interest from Russia and China. Meanwhile, the North Atlantic remains a critical theater for Canada’s NATO commitments and defense of the North American continent alongside the United States.

Joining AUKUS should not be seen as an opportunity to expand Canada’s military presence in the Indo-Pacific at the expense of these more critical regions. It is imperative that Canada’s defense strategy remain focused on securing its northern flank and fulfilling its NATO obligations in the Atlantic. While a presence in the Indo-Pacific may be warranted in specific circumstances, such as freedom of navigation operations or peacekeeping missions, Canada must resist the temptation to overextend its limited military resources in a region where its core security interests are not at stake.

By focusing on Pillar 2, Canada could enhance its technological capabilities without being drawn into the full scope of AUKUS’s Indo-Pacific focus. This would allow Canada to reap the benefits of the agreement—improved cyber defense, advanced technologies, and closer military cooperation with key allies—while avoiding a deeper commitment to Indo-Pacific military operations that do not align with its security priorities.

The Limits of the Middle Power Mentality

Canada’s foreign policy has long been shaped by the idea that it is a middle power with a responsibility to participate in global security efforts, even in regions far from its own borders. This mentality has often led Canada to participate in international coalitions and interventions, from peacekeeping missions in Africa to military engagements in Afghanistan. However, in the current era of great-power competition and rising regional tensions, Canada must reassess its role in the international system.

The belief that Canada must join every significant defense initiative to maintain its middle-power status is misguided. Canada should prioritize its own security needs over any perceived obligation to project influence globally. In the context of AUKUS, this means recognizing that Canada’s inclusion in the pact should not be driven by a desire to uphold its middle-power identity, but rather by the practical benefits it can derive from participation—specifically, in the realm of advanced military technologies.

Furthermore, the notion of Canada as a global middle power no longer aligns with the realities of the international security landscape. The geopolitical environment has shifted, with regions such as the Arctic and the North Pacific becoming increasingly important for Canadian security. Canada must embrace its identity as a North Pacific, Arctic, and North Atlantic power, focusing its defense strategy on these regions rather than spreading its resources thin by participating in global military alliances that do not directly serve its interests.

Balancing Opportunities with National Interests

In considering formal participation in AUKUS, Canada must carefully weigh the potential benefits against the risks. While participation in Pillar 2 offers significant opportunities for technological advancement and military cooperation, it should not lead to a shift in Canada’s strategic focus away from the regions where its core security interests lie.

Canada’s defense establishment is already facing significant challenges, from underfunded procurement processes to recruitment shortfalls and aging military infrastructure. Committing to AUKUS’s broader Indo-Pacific objectives could further strain Canada’s limited defense resources and distract from the more urgent task of securing its northern and Atlantic approaches.

At the same time, Canada must not shy away from opportunities for technological collaboration with its closest allies. By participating in Pillar 2 of AUKUS, Canada can enhance its military capabilities and ensure that it remains competitive in the rapidly evolving field of military technology. This is not only essential for national defense but also for maintaining Canada’s credibility as a reliable ally within NATO and the broader Western alliance.

Conclusion

Canada’s decision to potentially join AUKUS must be grounded in a clear-eyed assessment of its national interests. While the technological benefits of participation in Pillar 2 are significant, Canada must avoid being drawn into the broader Indo-Pacific security focus of the pact. Nor should Canada’s involvement in AUKUS be driven by an outdated sense of middle-power identity. Instead, Canada should embrace its role as a North Pacific, Arctic, and North Atlantic power, focusing its defense efforts on securing these critical regions while selectively engaging in global security initiatives that directly serve its national interests.

By participating in AUKUS on its own terms—focused on advanced military technology development rather than broader geopolitical ambitions—Canada can enhance its defense capabilities without sacrificing its strategic priorities. This is the path of restraint and pragmatism that should guide Canada’s approach to AUKUS and future international security partnerships.

Andrew Latham is a professor of international relations at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minn., a senior Washington fellow at the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy, and a non-resident fellow at Defense Priorities in Washington, D.C. He regularly teaches courses on international security, Chinese foreign policy, war and peace in the Middle East, Regional Security in the Indo-Pacific Region, and the World Wars. Professor Latham has been published in outlets such as The Hill, The Diplomat, Canadian Defence Quarterly, The Conversation, Wavell Room/British Military Thought, Defense One, and Responsible Statecraft.

Authored by Cynthia Cai via The Epoch Times,

The largest cannabis delivery company in California will shut down by the end of the year, according to a letter from the chief executive officer Sunday, joining a growing number of marijuana businesses in the state that are going belly up.

In the note published on LinkedIn, Eaze CEO Cory Azzalino said that “ongoing challenges” in the state’s cannabis industry led to the foreclosure of company assets on Aug. 6.

He added that the San Francisco-based company is “winding down” current operations and is expected to fully close around Dec. 31.

Eaze’s management team is working with a group to transfer the assets under new ownership and to determine whether operations will reopen next year.

Around 500 workers could face layoffs as a result, according to United Food and Commercial Workers, the union representing those employees.

Founded in 2014, the company says on its website that it provides on-demand delivery to adults across California and Michigan. After California legalized recreational marijuana in 2018, the business rapidly grew to become one of the largest cannabis delivery companies in the state.

It was once valued at $700 million, but top executives have faced financial issues over the years. Former Eaze CEO James Patterson pleaded guilty in 2021 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. His case was related to that of Hamid Akhavan, a consultant for the company, who was convicted of deceiving credit card companies into processing marijuana transactions, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

In that same year, tech investor and co-founder of Netscape James Henry Clark invested in the company but was embroiled in lawsuits with other investors in the following years. In 2022, he loaned Eaze $36.9 million but foreclosed on the company at the start of this year, according to federal court documents first reported by WeedWeek.

Then in August, Clark took ownership of Eaze after purchasing the company for $54 million at auction, but his plans for the company are currently unclear.

The Epoch Times reached out to Eaze and United Food and Commercial Workers for comment but did not hear back by deadline.

The delivery company joins a growing number of cannabis-related businesses in California that are closing. Five companies have downsized or closed since 2023. This includes MedMen, which faced financial difficulties earlier this year, leading the company to close all but two of its stores. Similarly, Herbl, a cannabis distribution business, closed at the end of 2023 due to a financial collapse. Flow Kana closed early last year. High Times sold some assets after failing to repay roughly $29 million in loans. GrassDoor also closed late last year after liquidating its assets.

A report by GreenWave Advisors found that marijuana companies owe California around $732 million in unpaid sales, excise, and cultivation taxes which include penalties and interest. However, 72 percent of those taxes are owed by businesses that are no longer in operation.

This comes as California Gov. Gavin Newsom last month proposed emergency regulations to ban THC from foods and drinks accessible by people under 21 years old. Meanwhile, he signed Assembly Bill 1775 last week to allow cannabis consumption lounges to operate statewide.

The number of ghost guns recovered by U.S. law enforcement rose swiftly between 2016 and 2022, the same year the Biden Administration introduced background checks and outlawed accessible built-at-home kits without serial numbers for these types of firearms which had previously evaded tracing due to their DIY nature.

You will find more infographics at Statista

Now, as Statista’s Katharina Buchholz reports, the Supreme Court is hearing a case that pro-gun groups, manufacturers and citizens have brought against the U.S. government trying to overturn these rules that they say are based on an unjust expansion of the term firearm and therefore are beyond the power of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to enforce.

A lower court sided with the plaintiffs and the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case back in April.

Since the introduction of the new rules and states also passing their own bans and regulations on the subject, there are indications that the proliferation of ghost guns has slowed.

There are no 2023 numbers available from ATF.

However, an analysis of police department data from 34 cities by Everytown Research showed a well-known manufacturer of ghost gun kits, Polymer80, was still the seventh most common source of guns used in crimes in 2023 across these municipalities at 1.5 percent.

The number of 670 recovered Polymer80 guns that year was a step down from 933 in 2022 (across continuously reporting municipalities).

The most used manufacturer was Glock at 18.4 percent.

Polymer80, whose name alludes to the 80 percent-ready firearm kits if produces, has ceased operation in July.

It was headquartered in Nevada, a state that decided to ban and regulate ghost guns in 2021.

Authored by Jingduan Yang, M.D. via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Fasting helps with weight loss and activates the body’s autophagy, allowing deep-seated cell repair and improving cell health. As a result, fasting has been found to help prevent various diseases, slow aging, and effectively treat some illnesses.

What Is Autophagy?

Autophagy is an important function that every cell possesses. As the name suggests, it means self-engulfing and is an essential cellular self-cleaning process.

Each cell contains multiple parts that keep it functioning continuously. Over time, these parts may become defective or stop performing and become waste inside an otherwise healthy cell. For example, when damaged proteins, discarded organelles, or other wastes appear inside our cells, the efficiency of normal cell operation is reduced.

Autophagy is equivalent to the body’s cellular recycling system that decomposes and recycles cell parts and waste. At the same time, it repurposes the salvageable bits and pieces into new, usable cell parts to generate energy and repair the cells, keeping the latter healthy and helping to prevent the incidence of diseases.

A 2013 study published in Ageing Research Reviews has found that with normal autophagy in place, the body is able to resist disease effectively and can even delay aging. When autophagy slows, the waste removal process from the cells becomes less reliable, which may lead to various health issues, culminating in neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, and even cancer.

Fasting and Autophagy

How are fasting and autophagy related? When we fast, our cells sense a decrease in energy supply, signaling that they need to start cleaning up their internal “inventory,” initiating autophagy to recycle and utilize the resources already present in the cell.

Studies have shown that autophagy is a dynamic catabolic process that is strictly regulated. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), known as the “cell energy regulator,” acts like a switch to energy-saving mode in the cell organelle. It is activated whenever it senses a low energy condition, and the cell will then reduce the synthesis of new proteins and start autophagy.

Fasting triggers the autophagy process, and cells will automatically enter self-repair mode. This helps to remove waste from our bodies and improves the health of cells.

Research has found that regular fasting can reduce weight and improve aging-related health problems, including cardiometabolic, cancer, and neurocognitive outcomes. Another study found that metabolic profiles related to lung and colorectal cancer risk were reduced after fasting during Ramadan.

Case Sharing From My Medical Practice

1. An older man with Alzheimer’s disease: After trying various treatment options, the man’s family decided he should try an intermittent fasting program of fasting for 14 to 16 hours a day, eating only between an 8 to 10-hour time span. After four months, his cognitive function improved significantly. Scans of his brain showed a decrease in the buildup of proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This improvement may be closely related to the autophagy process activated during fasting, which helps clear harmful proteins from the brain.

2. A breast cancer cancer patient: This patient fasted for 48 hours before chemotherapy. The side effects from chemotherapy were significantly reduced while producing a much better effect from chemotherapy treatment. This is because, during fasting, the autophagy process helps clear damaged cell structures and promotes the regeneration of the immune system, thus enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment. However, some cancer patients suffer from cachexia or are unable to eat at all. In these cases, fasting is not appropriate.

3. A middle-aged woman with lupus erythematosus (achronic autoimmune disease): This patient found that her symptoms improved significantly after intermittent fasting, and her dependence on hormonal drugs was significantly reduced. This is because autophagy effectively cleans up waste in the body and reduces the inflammatory response.

These cases demonstrate that fasting can profoundly affect the health of our cells and even help treat diseases.

However, fasting is not for everyone. People with chronic illnesses or special health needs are advised to consult a physician or nutritionist specialized in this area before beginning any fasting program.

Two Popular Fasting Routines

Healthy adults who want to try fasting can start with short-term or intermittent fasting.

16:8 Fasting: One of the most popular intermittent fasting methods. Fast for 16 hours a day and eat within the remaining eight hours. For example, restrict yourself to eating only between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

5:20 Fasting: Eat normally for five days of the week and limit your daily caloric intake to 500 to 600 calories on the remaining two days. This approach is also effective at kick-starting autophagy while making it easier for you to stick with it.

Fasting is not about starving yourself, but rather managing your diet more intelligently so that your body has time to repair itself. During the fasting period, drink enough water and keep up with nutritional balance by choosing the right foods in your meals to ensure adequate nutritional intake.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times or ZeroHedge.

This chart, via Visual Capitalist’s Pallavi Rao, ranks America’s most popular cars amongst different generations. Data was sourced from Insurify, as of August 2024.

To create this ranking Insurify analyzed car ownership rates by brand and model across different generations, based on 4.5 million customer applications between 2023 and 2024.

They followed the Pew Research Center’s definition to categorize the generations:

• Baby Boomers: 1946–1964

• Generation X: 1965–1980

• Millennials: 1981–1996

• Generation Z: 1997–2012

Rankings are based on a car model having the highest rate of ownership in a generation versus the national average for that model. Please visit the source (linked above) for full details on their methodology.

America’s Favorite Cars by Age Groups

The Ford F-series pickup truck is the most popular vehicle for Baby Boomers and Gen X.

However, for Millennials, the Ford pickup ranks sixth by ownership, and it doesn’t appear in Gen Z’s top choices at all.

Trucks in general do better with older generations, as evidenced also by the Chevrolet Silverado’s presence. It’s ranked fifth for Baby Boomers and Gen X, 10th for Millennials, and once again not in the top choices for Gen Z.

Older generations also seem to like—and can probably afford—bigger cars. Baby Boomers and Gen X both have SUVs in their top 10 (Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and the Chevrolet Equinox) while Millennials and Gen Z have none.

Across all generations, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord consistently rank in the top five. Interestingly both car brands rank in the top five for reliability.

These are about car models, how do generations feel about brands? Check out America’s Top Car Brands, by Generation. Spoiler: Hyundai ranks 6th across all four.

Authored by Ken Silva via HeadlineUSA.com,

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released the results of a 2023 survey on Tuesday, finding that 3.3% of U.S. high school students identified as transgender as of last year.

The CDC survey also found that 2.2% of students “identified as questioning.” The study, from the 2023 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey, was touted as the first of its kind.

“Until recently, population-based data describing the experiences of transgender students and students questioning whether they are transgender (questioning) have been limited,” the agency said Tuesday.

Of the trans-identifying students, about 47.5% of them identified as female.

There were also apparently fewer black transgender students.

“A lower proportion of transgender students identified as Black and higher proportion identified as White compared with cisgender or questioning students. In addition, for questioning students, differences in grade distribution were observed,” the CDC said.

The CDC survey found that trans students perform more poorly than their “cisgender” counterparts in just about every metric.

“Transgender and questioning students experienced a higher prevalence of violence, poor mental health, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and unstable housing, and a lower prevalence of school connectedness than their cisgender peers,” the CDC said, defining “cisgender” students as “those whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth.”

According to the CDC, some 40% of transgender and questioning students were bullied at school, and 69% of questioning students and 72% of transgender students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness—a marker for experiencing depressive symptoms.

“Approximately 26% of transgender and questioning students attempted suicide in the past year compared with 5% of cisgender male and 11% of cisgender female students,” the CDC said.

Trans students are also gayer than cisgender ones, the survey found.

“Most cisgender students reported their sexual identity as heterosexual (79.4%), whereas only 8.7% of transgender students and 7.5% of questioning students identified as heterosexual. Transgender questioning students had a higher prevalence of questioning their sexual identity (20.4%) than both cisgender and transgender students (4.1% and 7.0%, respectively),” the CDC said.

“The prevalence of students who described their sexual identity in some other way was greatest among transgender students (32.8%), followed by transgender questioning students (23.2%), with only 2.9% of cisgender students identifying as such.”

X user Robert Sterling summed up the farce perfectly:

The idea that one out of every 33 high school kids is trans is patently absurd.

The DSM-IV, which psychologists used from 1994 until 2013, estimated the prevalence of transsexualism to be 1 out of every 30,000 males and 100,000 females.

You really mean to tell us all that researchers just 30 years ago were off by a factor of 1000x?

I’m sorry but it’s not bigotry to call this a social contagion, and we’re doing our kids a disservice by pretending otherwise.

As another X user noted, “This is failed parenting on a grand display. America is screwed.”

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority featured footage from Lebanon this week which showed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops raising the Israeli flag on Lebanese territory, after pushing Hezbollah out of the area.

The ongoing ground invasion to degrade and dismantle Hezbollah had been previewed as ‘limited’ and as expected to last for a few weeks, according to government officials, but the highly controversial planting of the flag could suggest an indefinite occupation of some parts of southern Lebanon.

תיעוד: רגעי הנפת דגל ישראל במארון א-ראס שבלבנון@ItayBlumental
(צילום: צוות אביר 91 ביחידת הבלנ”מ) https://t.co/6oJHmUx0lA pic.twitter.com/98B7VLiAKI

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) October 8, 2024

The incident happened Tuesday, and involved several IDF troops planting the flag in the village of Maroun el-Ras in Bint Jbeil district in Nabatieh. This location is about a kilometer away from the border.

The soldiers can be heard saying in Hebrew in the video: “Pay attention to the Iranian promenade/boardwalk, in front of Avivim” – in reference to the closest Israeli settlement on the other side of the UN-demarcated border.

Iranian officials over the years were known to have visited the now destroyed spot, which is called “Iran Garden” – and is a vantage point from which Iranian leaders could peer into Israel from a high point, and which had memorials to past Hezbollah and Iranian officials.

Lebanese tourism guide companies have described it as “a place that commemorates Hezbollah’s resilience against the Israeli invasion in 2006.”

Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had reportedly visited the spot over a decade ago. It now appears to be rubble after this week’s fighting. Israel’s YNet has described of the location:

The garden was well-maintained with tables for hosting visitors, a green plaza with seating areas, a cafeteria and an amphitheater overlooking Avivim. It also featured a playground for children, guard towers facing Israel, stone arches, a parking lot and a water well.

Its centerpiece was a model of the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, and a cutout of the former Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, pointing toward Israel was also present at the site.

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen in follow-up has confirmed the Israeli army has effectively “occupied” the village and “destroyed the houses from which Hezbollah launched anti-tank missiles at Israeli civilians.”

And Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the same day strongly signaled expanded operations are coming, also as an Israeli Navy warship is parked off the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre. He called for the Lebanese population to “free” the country from Hezbollah or they will face “destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza.”

Authored by Huey Freeman via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Recent research has linked clozapine, a powerful medication for schizophrenia, to an increased risk of mortality associated with pneumonia and severe gastrointestinal complications.

Clozapine is the only drug in the United States approved to treat “treatment-resistant schizophrenia,” which affects one in five schizophrenic patients. It was removed from global markets in the 1970s due to its association with dangerously low white blood cell counts in 2 percent of users.

Following its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1989, it has been clinically available in the United States since 1990.

A comprehensive analysis of 25 years of patient data revealed that within 20 years of initiating treatment, 30 percent of schizophrenic patients on clozapine developed pneumonia, while 5 percent experienced intestinal blockages.

These complications are reportedly more severe than previously documented and are linked to an increased risk of death, the researchers wrote.

“Clozapine-induced pneumonia and intestinal blockage should be taken as seriously as the white blood cell drop once was,” Dr. Jukka Koskela, leader of the study conducted at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) at the University of Helsinki, said in a press release.

The study was recently published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. It was based on data from 2,659 participants with a schizophrenia diagnosis in FinnGen, which tracks electronic health records in Finland.

Participants had an average duration of clozapine use of more than eight years.

Clozapine’s Role in Treating Schizophrenia

The authors of the study tracked the electronic health records of over 30,000 patients over 25 years, with a particular focus on schizophrenic patients and clozapine users.

They identified several serious adverse effects associated with clozapine use, including ileus—a condition in which the gastrointestinal tract malfunctions—seizures, pneumonia, and other respiratory infections.

Clozapine was also linked to low white blood cell counts, Type 2 diabetes, and rapid heart rates. The reasons for these adverse events remain unclear.

The loss of white blood cells may be linked to immune suppression, Dr. Peter Breggin, a psychiatrist, told The Epoch Times. He argues that while clozapine may outperform other medications in suppressing symptoms, it does not address the underlying issues faced by schizophrenic patients, ultimately making them more manageable rather than fundamentally treated.

The medication works by affecting the release of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Psychiatrists prescribe clozapine because it may improve suicidality, cognition, and mood in patients.

“The use of clozapine is, however, hampered by adverse drug events (ADEs), some of which are life-threatening and have relegated clozapine to a third-line treatment option,” the Finnish researchers wrote.

Clozapine is metabolized in the liver, and some people with genetic variations affecting its breakdown may experience adverse effects.

High concentrations and clozapine metabolites have been linked to seizures, sedation, and excess salivation, the authors wrote. The study revealed that overall, 70 percent of clozapine users experienced at least one adverse event during treatment.

The authors particularly highlighted the link between pneumonia and ileus, which can occur years after initiating clozapine use. Both conditions are also significantly linked with increased mortality.

Having ileus more than quadrupled the risk of death among clozapine users, while pneumonia tripled the odds of mortality.

The prolonged follow-up period of the study allowed for a more accurate assessment of clozapine’s side effects, Dr. Juulia Partanen, a research physician at FIMM and study co-author, said in the press release.

“Previous studies have mainly identified side effects that occur shortly after starting the medication,” she said.

The research was funded by several institutions, including the Doctoral Program in Population Health at the University of Helsinki, the Finnish Medical Foundation, the Swedish Society for Medical Research, the Academy of Finland, and the Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Complex Disease Genetics.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) warned Wednseday that a super fast Earth-facing coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the sun at a speed of 1200 to 1300 km/s and would spark a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm on Thursday, potentially disrupting critical assets on the grid that are crucial for powering modern society.

Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground. However — when intense enough — they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS & communications signals travel.

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) October 9, 2024

According to SWPC’s website, the space weather event will “likely arrive at Earth on 10 October,” adding, “We won’t know the characteristics of the CME until it arrives 1 million miles from Earth and its speed and magnetic intensity are measured by the DSCOVR and ACE satellites.” 

WATCH: Geomagnetic Storm Category G4 or Greater Predicted
Highest Storm Level Predicted by Day:
Oct 10: G4 (Severe) Oct 11: G4 (Severe) Oct 12: G1 (Minor)
Issue Time: 2024 Oct 09 1233 UTChttps://t.co/ZbtuNtIFJC

— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) October 9, 2024

The NOAA Geomagnetic Storm Scale indicates a G4 storm can disrupt “key assets” on the grid… 

Visualize it.

The solar storm is set to arrive just hours after Hurricane Milton pounds Central Florida early Thursday morning.

X1.8 Solar Flare – Big Coronal Mass Ejection of Plasma

Impact to earth is expected Friday/Saturday, with strong geomagnetic storms predicted. pic.twitter.com/4ZQOr0CmRH

— SpaceWeatherNews (@SunWeatherMan) October 9, 2024

SWPC’s Aurora forecast for tomorrow shows that northern lights will be visible as low as the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Mid-Alantic, and Northeast. 

It appears as if the NYC is in play. 

Huge Flare, and great forecast for NYC both in terms of Aurora AND clouds Thursday Night! https://t.co/Y0B2P2YCFN

— Mark Popinchalk (@MarkPopinchalk) October 9, 2024

Last week, the sun fired off a massive X9.05 solar flare… 

“Today’s incredible X9.0-class solar flare, the most intense flare since 2017. An Earth-directed solar storm is highly likely, given the spot region is faced directly at Earth,” Space Weather Watch wrote on X. 

All this solar activity comes as Solar Cycle 25 has reached a maximum period. 

Last year, we pointed out that Cycle 25 is expected to peak sometime in 2025. 

• Solar Cycle 25’s Maximum Might Arrive Earlier And Hit Harder

It was noted that the ‘first traces’ of Solar Cycle 26 had been detected. 

In early May, one of the most powerful solar storms in years blasted Earth. Fortunately, the digital economy held up, and Starlink’s massive satellite constellation also survived. 

• US Power Grid & Communication Networks Survive Extreme Geomagnetic Storm

Remember, we’ve outlined for years how fragile modern society has become in a solar maximum period of heightened Earth-facing space weather. 

• Digital Economy Disruption Possible As “Terminator Event” Suggests Strongest Sunspot Cycle On Record Imminent

• The Next Big Geomagnetic Storm Poses An Astronomical Risk To Modern Man

•  Solar Storms Can Devastate Entire Civilizations.

• Solar Storms Present Danger Of Blackouts For Major East Coast Cities

• Washington DC Most Vulnerable US City For Grid Failure During Geomagnetic Storm

Hurricanes, solar storms, and the looming threats of World War III in the Middle East and Eastern Europe—what a time to be alive.

Authored by Jeremy Portnoy via RealClearInvestigations,

Topline: The City of San Antonio will spend $500,000 on planting trees to provide shade for gorillas, according to the city budget approved this month.

Key facts: A San Antonio Zoo spokesperson told the San Antonio Report that the money will be used on “trees for animal wellbeing and guest comfort, providing more shade and greenery within the zoo grounds.”

The cash will be taken out of the city’s Tree Canopy Preservation and Mitigation Fund, which charges urban developers for cutting down trees during construction. 

The fees, worth up to $600 per inch of tree trunk diameter, are supposed to be used to replant greenery in the same streets and neighborhoods they were removed from — not to acquiesce to napping apes.

The fund collected $9 million last year and used it to plant 12,600 trees, according to the San Antonio Report. The nonprofit San Antonio Trees, which advocated for the fund’s creation in 1996, told the news site that the zoo is violating the ordinance’s intent. 

The zoo’s two-acre gorilla exhibit is expected to open in late 2025. It includes a 60-foot viewing tower for an “immersive experience” that FOX says will “blur the lines” between “gorillas and visitors.”

Background: The gorilla exhibit is part of a planned $65 million renovation of the zoo, funded by both private and public money. The nonprofit San Antonio Zoological Society has already secured a $10 million bond from the city, and another $10 million in property taxes will be redirected to the zoo. 

The project began with a new $13 million entrance unveiled in December, complete with a gigantic gorilla topiary and a canopy of model butterflies stretched over visitors’ heads.

Search all federal, state and local government salaries and vendor spending with the AI search bot, Benjamin, at OpenTheBooks.com. 

Summary: While caring for gorillas is noble, that’s not why these funds were collected in the first place. And with millions in public funds already going to the zoo, the gorillas should be fine without a $500,000 government handout.

The #WasteOfTheDay is brought to you by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com