#What is new Consumer Protection Act 2019

[mariacallous]

Sipping pints of Guinness, swapping football shirts and purring about respect and new dawns, the British and Irish prime ministers seemed determined to inject long-absent warmth into the relationship between their countries when they met on Saturday. The thaw is overdue; Keir Starmer’s visit to Dublin was the first by a British PM in five years. In 2019, Boris Johnson’s visit came amid manifold anxieties about securing a Brexit deal, prompting a declaration from the Irish government that “the people of this island, North and South, need to know that their livelihoods, their security and their sense of identity will not be put at risk as a consequence of a hard Brexit. The stakes are high. Avoiding the return of a hard border on this island and protecting our place in the single market are the Irish government’s priorities in all circumstances.”

The distrustful atmosphere was a product not just of the June 2016 British vote to leave the EU, but a broader Tory ignorance about what the border in Ireland represented. The failure to consider that issue during the Brexit referendum campaign was compounded by simplistic distortions and assertions. The border was then resurrected as a touchstone, much to its discomfort, as imagined irascibly in the Twitter feed @BorderIrish: “I was just minding my own business, being a largely invisible little border that no one had thought about for years … after decades of misery … and then along comes Brexit, like some gobshite taking its first lesson, crashing all over the place.”

Unfortunately, it was worse than that for most Irish observers, who saw Brexit as many gobshites, driving multiple cars in too many directions with no knowledge of the destination. Ireland seemed a rock of political stability, maturity and calm as the Tories imploded. A deal was eventually struck that infuriated unionists as Northern Ireland remained half in and half out of the EU.

Brexit poisoned the well of British-Irish relations. The Tories’ romantic and selective view of Britain’s imperial past led to much renewed flexing of Irish nationalist muscles, a reminder of the continuing relevance of the observation by the then British ambassador to Ireland, Alan Goodison, in 1983 that in Anglo-Irish relations there was “a raw nerve which never sleeps”.

The desire to now reset appears genuine. Starmer, with an oft-expressed fondness for Ireland, a history of involvement with Northern Ireland issues and a strong component of staff with Irish links, is well placed to reduce strains. But we should not get carried away. One message that has resonated through the years is the advice given to another British Labour prime minister, James Callaghan, who, when he was home secretary, was urged to avoid “getting sucked into the Irish bog”.

That bog might be less perilous than it once was, but it still creates wariness in Britain.

Although the fervid days of the Troubles and violence are over and power-sharing has been restored in Northern Ireland, there are ongoing concerns about the prospects of Irish unity, immigration and the legacy of the Troubles. Starmer has committed to repealing the contentious Legacy Act, introduced by the Conservatives, which closed down criminal investigations into the Troubles. But what will replace it remains unclear.

Starmer is circumspect about Irish unity. And while historically there was the British Labour slogan “Justice for Ireland”, in practice there was much detachment and hesitancy about getting embroiled in Ireland.

Starmer’s Dublin visit generated healthy promises, including a formal annual summit between the two countries, protecting and developing an estimated yearly £100bn trade and business relationship, and nurturing cooperation on energy, climate change, sport, education and culture. There was also the assertion of the importance of both governments being co-guarantors of the Good Friday agreement.

None of this should be dismissed; geography as well as history has always been central to British-Irish relations, and what is being attempted is a recognition of the scale of our entwinements. But while a dose of British humility will be welcomed in Ireland and Starmer appears genuine, the Irish appetite for adapting to shifting British currents and priorities has waned.

Brexit fundamentally altered Irish foreign policy. The Irish public have consistently been enthusiastic about EU membership. Brexit deepened that; at the height of tensions in 2019, a Eurobarometer poll suggested Ireland topped the EU table for having a positive image of the EU at 63%. Only 7% had a negative image, hardly a surprise given the solidarity with Ireland shown by its EU partners amid the Brexit fallout.

Ireland’s foreign policy anchor lies heavily in EU waters. Security, the climate crisis, migration, economic and defence issues for Ireland demand more focus on Europe. The late historian Ronan Fanning identified a constant feature of the Anglo-Irish relationship when he observed in the most fraught days: “Britain looms larger in the Irish consciousness than Ireland in the British.” That endures, but it has faded somewhat.

When Starmer speaks of a British-Irish partnership reaching “its full potential”, he is also seeing that as a route to a warmer British relationship with the EU. That potential is somewhat limited; nor is the Irish consciousness quite as consumed by Britain as it once was.

[southpark-source]

A New York judge has trimmed Warner Bros. Discovery‘s lawsuit looking to enforce the company’s exclusive streaming rights to South Park on HBO Max.

Justice Margaret Chan on Tuesday found that Paramount didn’t violate any state consumer protection laws because the complaint revolves around a “private contract dispute” that allegedly caused WBD to overpay for certain rights in the $500 million deal and “not conduct that has caused harm to consumers.” She concluded that Paramount didn’t engage in what WBD called a “campaign of verbal trickery” that muddled understanding of who held the exclusive rights to the series when it debuted South Park: Post Covid and South Park: The Streaming Wars on Paramount+.

WBD in February sued Paramount, South Park Digital Studios and MTV Entertainment, alleging that a $500 million licensing deal reached in 2019 for the exclusive streaming rights to the existing 23-season library and 30 new episodes was breached. It claimed that some of the South Park specials and other related content was diverted to Paramount+ to prop up its own fledgling streaming platform.

Paramount, in turn, fired back with its own counterclaim for breach of contract, arguing that WBD is claiming violations of terms that weren’t agreed-upon in the deal. It sought $52 million in unpaid licensing fees, though the countersuit was dropped last month.

Dismissal of the claim centering around allegedly deceptive practices was premised on Chan’s finding that Paramount never made false statements as it relates to its description of some South Park specials, which WBD claimed were part of the original package of content it licensed. She pointed to evidence that consumers could distinguish that Paramount+ was the exclusive home of two South Park movies per year while Max housed the series’ back catalogue.

“Although plaintiff may take issue with defendants” characterization of the Post-COVID Content and Streaming Wars Content as ‘events’ or ‘movies’ as an attempt to circumvent the terms of the 2019 Agreements, defendants” literally true public representations are not actionable,” Chan wrote.

Additionally, Chan dismissed a claim that Paramount didn’t act in good faith because it overlapped with WBD’s breach of contract claim. She said they allege “the same injuries and damages against the same party.”

WBD still has remaining for breach of contract, tortuous interference with contract and unjust enrichment.

[idigitizellp21]

Small Business Marketing: Strategies for Safely Experimenting New Approaches

In ‘The State Of Small Businesses In India’ by Global Journal of Advanced Research suggests that the number of small businesses in India has increased from 20 million in 2000 to 60 million+ in 2022. As a small business owner or marketer, you've probably wondered: "How can I shake things up and break out of this clutter without putting my brand at risk?" It’s a valid concern. You want to keep things fresh, but let's face it, every new marketing trend isn’t always a safe bet. At iDigitize, we get it. Experimentation is key, but it’s all about doing it smartly. 

Strategies for Safe (and Smart) Experimentation

1. A/B Testing: Your Safety Net

Imagine you are ready to roll out a brand-new campaign, but instead of going all-in, you test it with a smaller group first. That’s A/B testing, one of the most reliable ways to experiment safely, allowing you to compare two versions of an ad, email, or landing page. Which headline gets more clicks? What kind of CTA sparks action? Small tweaks can give you big insights without a big risk.

Pro Tip: Change something small, like the colour of a button or a headline, before making dramatic shifts. As if you were toeing into the water before jumping in.

2. Leverage Customer Data: Personalise, Don’t Generalise 

Want to really connect with your audience? Use what you already know about them. Customer data isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s your roadmap for creating marketing experiences that feel personal. Imagine offering product suggestions on social media platforms that are right on target. Personalisation boosts engagement and reduces guesswork.

Pro Tip: Use simple data, like their past purchases or the pages they visit most, to create campaigns that feel tailor-made. Your customers will appreciate the effort.

3. Influencers? Think Micro, Not Mega  

The word "influencer" might make you think of celebrities with millions of followers, but here’s a little secret: For small businesses, micro-influencers can be your marketing MVPs. These are people with smaller but super-engaged followings. Partnering with them gives you the chance to experiment with influencer marketing in a way that’s authentic and affordable.

Pro Tip: Make sure the influencer you pick genuinely aligns with your brand. Authenticity is everything.

4. Low-Budget Paid Ads: Test, Learn, Grow  

Pay-per-click (PPC) ads are fantastic for small businesses. The beauty of it is you control the budget. Start small, measure the performance, and adjust. Platforms like Google Ads let you experiment with keywords and targeting, so you can find out what works without breaking the bank.

Pro Tip: Use automated bidding strategies on Google to optimise your results while keeping costs in check.

What Should You Watch Out For?

1. Keep ROI Top of Mind 

Let’s be real, some experiments will flop. It happens to the best of us. But the trick is to keep your eye on ROI (return on investment). If you’re spending more than you're gaining, it’s time to pivot. Don’t get too attached to one strategy if it’s not working; flexibility is key.

2. Stay True to Your Brand

Experimenting with new marketing strategies should never come at the expense of your brand identity. It is easy to get caught up in the latest trends, but always ask yourself, “Does this align with who we are?” Consistency matters. Don’t stray too far from the voice and values that your customers already love.

3. Be Legally Sound  

And now, a quick but important reminder: legal stuff matters! Especially when it comes to data. Make sure any new customer engagement strategies comply with regulations like General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) under Section 10(1) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Play by the rules, and you won’t have to worry about penalties that could derail your progress.

Take Calculated Risks for Growth!

Experimentation is a must in today’s fast-changing marketing landscape. But, as with all good things, it needs a striking balance with push and pull marketing tactics. You can innovate while keeping your risks under control by starting small, measuring success, and staying true to your brand. At iDigitize, we specialise in helping businesses like yours navigate the tricky waters of new marketing strategies.

Curious to know more? Let’s chat about how iDigitize can help your business grow with innovative, yet safe, marketing strategies.

[iso27001inlibya]

ISO 27701 Certification: A Pathway to Privacy Information Management

ISO 27701 is an international standard that establishes privacy information management requirements within organizations. This standard builds upon the ISO 27001 Information Security Management System (ISMS) and ISO 27002 guidelines, adding detailed protocols for managing personal data (personally identifiable information, or PII) and helping organizations comply with global data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe.

What is ISO 27701?

ISO 27701, formally titled "ISO/IEC 27701:2019," is an extension to ISO 27001, focusing specifically on privacy and data protection. It provides a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) framework that organizations can implement to enhance their existing ISMS to manage privacy and data protection risks. ISO 27701 Certification in Saudi Arabia specifies guidelines for processing PII, emphasizing both data privacy and security to safeguard sensitive information within an organization. It’s relevant for any organization processing personal data, making it applicable across industries, including healthcare, finance, government, and technology sectors.

Key Objectives of ISO 27701 Certification

The main objectives of ISO 27701 are to:

Ensure Data Privacy: By establishing robust data privacy practices, ISO 27701 helps organizations protect PII against unauthorized access, breaches, and misuse.

Enhance Transparency: The standard encourages organizations to clarify their data handling practices, ensuring transparency with customers, partners, and regulatory authorities.

Meet Regulatory Compliance: ISO 27701 aligns with various global data protection regulations, simplifying compliance with laws like GDPR, California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and others.

Establish Trust: A certified ISO 27701 compliance demonstrates to stakeholders that an organization is committed to maintaining data privacy, helping build trust and strengthen business relationships.

ISO 27701 Certification Process

Achieving ISO 27701 certification requires an organization to already have, or be in the process of implementing, ISO 27001. The process typically involves these steps:

Gap Analysis: Identify where the organization currently stands concerning ISO 27701 requirements. This involves assessing current practices, policies, and controls related to PII.

Implementing PIMS Controls: Based on the analysis, organizations need to establish or enhance their privacy controls. ISO 27701 Implementation in Qatar provides a list of specific controls related to managing PII, such as data minimization, consent management, and data subject rights.

Internal Audit and Review: After implementation, an internal audit helps identify potential areas for improvement, ensuring readiness for the certification audit.

External Certification Audit: A third-party certification body conducts an audit to assess the organization's PIMS. Upon successful completion, the organization receives ISO 27701 certification.

Continuous Improvement: ISO standards emphasize continuous improvement. Maintaining ISO 27701 certification requires regular audits and updates to privacy practices as technologies, business operations, and regulatory requirements evolve.

Benefits of ISO 27701 Certification

Enhanced Data Protection: Implementing ISO 27701 reduces risks associated with data breaches and cyber threats, as organizations adopt systematic data privacy controls.

Increased Customer Confidence: With data privacy becoming a priority for customers, ISO 27701 certification is an assurance that an organization values privacy and data protection.

Improved Operational Efficiency: Implementing PIMS can streamline data handling practices, making data processing more efficient and compliant.

Alignment with Global Standards: ISO 27701 enables organizations to meet international data privacy laws, making it easier to expand into new markets and manage cross-border data transfers.

Risk Management: By identifying and addressing privacy risks, ISO 27701 certification helps prevent financial and reputational damage from potential privacy incidents.

Who Should Consider ISO 27701 Certification?

ISO 27701 is suitable for any organization handling PII, regardless of size or industry. It is especially valuable for organizations in highly regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, government, and technology. Businesses that frequently process, store, or transfer customer data will benefit from the added layer of privacy protection, which can improve compliance, efficiency, and reputation.

ISO 27701 and Regulatory Compliance

ISO 27701 aligns closely with GDPR requirements, particularly in areas like data subject rights, data minimization, and consent management. By following ISO 27701 guidelines, organizations can demonstrate a structured approach to GDPR compliance, which is beneficial in the case of audits or data subject complaints. It also harmonizes with other international privacy laws, offering a standardized approach to privacy management.

Challenges of ISO 27701 Certification

While ISO 27701 provides substantial benefits, achieving certification can be complex and resource-intensive. The need to integrate privacy controls with existing information security management processes may require significant organizational changes. Additionally, ISO 27701 requires continual monitoring, which can require dedicated resources to ensure ongoing compliance and improvement.

Conclusion

ISO 27701 is an essential certification for organizations committed to privacy and data protection. By extending ISO 27001's scope, ISO 27701 Consultants in Hyderabad offers a clear framework for managing privacy risks and meeting global data protection requirements. For organizations seeking to gain a competitive edge, improve customer trust, and enhance regulatory compliance, ISO 27701 certification is a powerful step toward achieving robust privacy information management.

[getlegalattorney]

Special Benefits for Newlyweds - GetLegal

What are the Special Benefits for Newlyweds?

There are unique set of special benefits for newlyweds as they embark on their journey together. The strengthening of intimate and emotional ties is one important benefit. A lifetime of collaboration begins with marriage, which encourages intimacy and trust between partners.

The special benefits for newlyweds are on the social and cultural fronts as well. Families and friends may offer assistance and motivation to couples as they start this new phase of their lives. Since marriage is frequently regarded as a big milestone and a symbol of commitment, being a part of a married couple can also provide a sense of validation and acceptability within society.

The Legal Benefits of Marriage

Newlyweds who are legally married have a wide range of special benefits in the United States, including:

Employment benefits—health insurance, bereavement leave and family leave

Family benefits:

Adoption rights and joint foster care rights

The right to a portion of jointly owned property upon separation or divorce

Government benefits:

Social Security benefits (you may receive your spouse’s Social Security benefits if you are at least 62 or if you are caring for a child under the age of 16)

Medicare

Disability benefits

VA benefits and public assistance

Tax and estate planning benefits:

the marital tax deduction (you are allowed to transfer any asset to your spouse at any time without paying taxes on that asset)

the option to file joint tax returns, which is especially beneficial If one spouse earns significantly more than the other

the right to inherit your spouse’s estate without paying an estate tax

Medical and death benefits:

The right to visit your spouse in the hospital

The right to make medical decisions for an incapacitated spouse

The right to participate in burial and funeral arrangements

Consumer benefits—discounts to families or couples

The Validation of Same Sex Marriage

In the last twenty years, same-sex couples have been granted greater recognition for their ability to marry under American law. In 2013, the Defense of Marriage Act's definition of marriage as a partnership between a man and a woman was overturned by the United States Supreme Court. Under that verdict, same-sex couples in states where same-sex marriage was legal were eligible for federal benefits. Following Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that same-sex couples are entitled to all other financial and legal benefits associated with marriage, including the right to marry.

The Court used the Equal Protection and Due Process sections of the Fourteenth Amendment to establish that states could not refuse to recognize a marriage between same-sex couples if they were granted that privilege. Additionally, it held that states could not refuse to acknowledge legally consummated same-sex unions from another state. Because to this ruling, same-sex unions are legal throughout the entire United States. Before the Obergefell ruling by the Supreme Court, same-sex marriage was legal in thirty-seven states.

Common Law Marriage

A marriage that is recognized by state law without the need for a license, ceremony, or other paperwork is known as a common law marriage. A man and woman who see themselves as husband and wife, or who "hold themselves out as such," enter into a common law marriage. A common law marriage does not have to last for a certain amount of time; rather, it is recognized and acknowledged as such by any two people who regard themselves as married or who simply act as such. Only seven states—Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Texas—clearly still recognize common law marriage as of 2019. Common-law marriage is also recognized in the District of Columba. Common-law unions are only recognized in New Hampshire for the restricted purpose of probate.

Domestic Partnership

Before same-sex couples were granted the ability to marry, they frequently engaged into domestic partnerships, also known as civil unions, which offer some of the same advantages as marriage. A domestic partnership, as contrast to a common law marriage, is usually a formal legal arrangement that needs to be registered in order to be recognized. In domestic partnerships, gender is not a determining factor; nonetheless, partners must be older than eighteen, be unrelated to one another, have never been in a previous domestic relationship, and live together or have a permanent residence. Domestic partners may be entitled for medical leave or health insurance, among other advantages offered to spouses; eligibility may vary based on local legislation. When certain states started to accept same-sex marriage, like Washington, most or all domestic partnerships registered in the state were legally transformed to marriages.

[upinsmokedcdispensary]

How to Use Marijuana to Enhance Your Sexual Life, as Recommended by Sunny Leone

Hello, I'm Sunny Leone, and I'm here to tell you all about the amazing ways in which marijuana may improve your sex life. As a sexologist, I feel compelled to provide my two cents on how cannabis may be used sensually and sensually. Let's delve in and find out how this mystical herb may improve your intimate life.

Communication is essential:- It's important to have a frank discussion with your spouse before incorporating cannabis into your sex life. Talk about what you want from the relationship, where you want it to end, and any worries you have about it. Always make sure you and your partner are on the same page before trying anything new together.

Selecting the Appropriate Strain:- To get the most out of your sexual experience with cannabis, it's important to choose a strain that complements your individual needs. Relaxing and tranquil, indica-dominant strains allow you to fully indulge in sensuous activities. Sativa-dominant strains are the ones most likely to increase arousal and desire, since they are more upbeat and livelier.

Try out different ways of consuming:- Even if smoking or vaping cannabis is typical, these aren't the only ways to get the advantages of this plant. Try a cannabis-infused oil, tincture, or edible for more precise dosage and extended relief. Cannabis-infused massage oils and lubricants may also increase pleasure and closeness during pre- and post-coital activities.

Get your feet wet slowly:- If you've never used cannabis in the bedroom before, it's important to ease into it by taking a little quantity at first. By taking it slowly, you can find the dose that works best for you, reducing the likelihood of unpleasant side effects. Be patient with yourself and allow yourself the time it may take for your body to acclimate to the effects of cannabis.

Keep your attention on your spouse and on creating a sense of closeness and intimacy by smoking some cannabis. You may use these effects to your advantage by engaging in sensuous activities like massage, snuggling, or in-depth discussion with your partner. An increased closeness between partners may improve sexual encounters.

Be willing to explore new things; cannabis has been shown to lower inhibitions and enhance openness to experience. Take advantage of the relaxed atmosphere and try out some new sexual acts, positions, or fantasies that have always intrigued you and your lover. Before doing anything new, make sure you're both feeling relaxed and agreeable.

While cannabis might improve your sexual life, it is vital that you always put your safety first. You should both be in a secure setting since being high on cannabis might impair your ability to make sound decisions. Don't discount the significance of safe sex and the use of protection either.

So if you want greater closeness, more pleasure, and more memorable sex encounters, try introducing cannabis into your routine. You may safely and efficiently include cannabis into your bedroom escapades and enhance your sexual encounters by following these ideas inspired by Sunny Leone. Why not give it a go and see where you and your companion end up on this exploratory journey?

Up in Smoke DC is one of the most prominent cannabis delivery service in the Washington, DC area established in 2019. We are an initiative-71 delivery service company with a mission to provide a safe and reliable access to both medical and recreational cannabis.

We offer high quality products with wide variety of selections, from top growers across the nation. Since the first day in business we have always strived to make the customer’s experience, an excellent one. We are determined to provide service completely within the confines of the law.

Our team is well experianced, professional, knowledgeable and attentive to each individual clients personal needs to provide an unforgettable experience.

Our couriers are dependable, punctual and professional. Customer satisfaction is always our highest priority. You can contact us on  (202) 957-3496 or www.upinsmokedc.com for doorstep or Kerbside pick up. For in Store please make an appointment, we have 5 locations across Washington DC.

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[waterfiltergurus]

Is Wilmington Water Safe To Drink? (According to Data)

Is the water in Wilmington, NC safe to drink? What's going on with Wilmington's drinking water? Where does Wilmington water come from, and are there any contaminants in the City's water supply that exceed national and federal regulations for safety? In this guide to Wilmington's water quality and safety, we've answered all these questions and more. 📌 Key Takeaways: - The drinking water in Wilmington, North Carolina is considered generally safe to drink. - The City of Wilmington water contains 56 contaminants, but none of these exceed guidelines set by the EPA. - Controversially, the EPA currently doesn't regulate PFAS (the organization is in the process of establishing an MCL for the contaminant), but Wilmington's water was found to be heavily polluted with PFAS in 2017. - The 3 biggest problem contaminants in Wilmington drinking water are chromium, disinfection byproducts, and radium. 🚰 Can You Drink Wilmington Tap Water? Yes, you can technically drink Wilmington tap water because the water is treated to remove contaminants down to legal trace amounts. We say "technically" because Wilmington's history with PFAS contamination (see below) proves that being legally compliant doesn't necessarily mean that water is safe to drink. Like all public water systems, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (which provides Wimington's drinking water) treats its water to remove contaminants and kill microorganisms, according to guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The contaminants that are currently regulated by the EPA were all found in concentrations lower than the EPA maximum allowances in Wilmington's water. That means that, on the surface, the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority is doing everything it should to make the City's drinking water safe. However, the Authority did have a few violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act in the April 30, 2019 - June 30, 2022 period according to the most recent EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database. These violations were for monitoring turbidity and for failure to report under the Consumer Confidence Rule. None of these violations were health-based (so they didn't affect water quality) and have all been resolved. Despite Cape Fear Public Utility Authority's compliance with EPA guidelines, this doesn't necessarily mean that you'll happily drink the City's water - especially as organizations like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) believe that the EPA's regulations are too lenient. The EWG has produced its own stricter Health Guidelines for EPA-regulated contaminants - as well as some contaminants that don't currently have legal restrictions - based on its research into their potential health effects. We can see from the EWG's Tap Water Database for Wilmington that there are over 50 trace contaminants detected in the City's water (more on these later). Lead is one of the major contaminants affecting tap water quality, so let's quickly look at how this drinking water contaminant may impact the safety of the water in Wilmington. While its use in water pipes and distribution systems is now banned, lead was commonly used for this purpose several decades ago. For this reason, many local tap water supplies contain lead, which leaches from underground pipes. Wilmington has had some issues with lead in the past. The City is required to regularly test its water for lead under the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule, and in 2019, elevated levels of lead were detected in the pipes leading to some homes in New Hanover County. However, the Cape Fear Public Water Authority currently has a Corrosion Control Program in place across its three water systems: the Richardson Water System, the Sweeney Water System, and the Monterey Heights Water System. This program oversees the use of a food additive called orthophosphate, which is added during water treatment and coats the insides of pipes and plumbing fixtures to reduce lead corrosion. 👨‍🔧 The safest way to protect yourself against lead contamination is to install a water filter that can remove this heavy metal. Wilmington PFAS Contamination We can't talk about water safety without discussing the PFAS contamination discovered in Wilmington's water supply in 2017. PFAS are chemicals that are used in a number of industrial processes. They were particularly popular for manufacturing water-resistant clothing and non-stick cookware. They're also still now used in firefighting foam, so they're common in airports and military bases. PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" because they linger in the environment for decades after they're produced. In 2017, a news article uncovered that the Fayetteville Works site, run by DuPont, had been polluting the Cape Fear River (used to supply Wilmington's drinking water) with GenX, a toxic PFAS chemical, produced as a byproduct of the production of vinyl ethers. The City's water utility admitted that none of the existing water treatment processes were capable of removing this contaminant. Wilmington is accused of "ignoring" its drinking water crisis, which may in part be due to the fact that PFAS aren't currently regulated by the EPA, so public water systems aren't legally required to reduce these chemicals in their water supplies. Many residents developed cancer and, although there was no way to prove it, believed that drinking PFAS-contaminated water was to blame. In response to these concerning findings, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority installed eight granular activated carbon filters in its water treatment plant in 2021. Water was tested and deemed to be "PFAS-free", and the City continues to monitor PFAS contamination - with a new bill being passed that allows state regulators to hold PFAS polluters accountable and make them pay for water treatment and cleanup. But for many residents, these actions are too little, too late. It's worrying to consider how long the City might have turned a blind eye to its PFAS contamination had the initial news story not been broken and had this contaminant continued to remain unregulated. 🗺️ Where Does the Tap Water in Wilmington Come From? Tap water in Wilmington is sourced from the Cape Fear River. There are also a couple of underground aquifers (Castle Hayne & PeeDee) that provide some of the City's drinking water. Around 16 million gallons of water are delivered to homes in New Hanover County every year. Surface water sources (such as the Cape Fear River) are more susceptible to contamination and pollution than groundwater sources because they're exposed to air pollution and surface runoff. The Cape Fear River is a prime example of this because it was contaminated by PFAS for years due to nearby industrial pollution. The water in Wilmington is treated at the Sweeney Water Treatment Plant before being delivered around the City in the Sweeney Water System. This is the Cape Fear Public Utility's largest water distribution system, and delivers water beyond the city to River Lights, Tarin Woods, Pine Valley, Echo Farms, the Ogden area, and other neighborhoods. To ensure it is safe for drinking, water is treated with various treatment processes, including sedimentation, flocculation, filtration, and UV/ozone disinfection. It is then delivered to homes and businesses via the City's distribution pipes. source: Cape Fear Public Utility Authority 📉 Who Regulates Wilmington Drinking Water? The City of Wilmington drinking water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Public Water Supply Section of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and managed by the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA). The EPA has established protective water regulations, called National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Water utilities, including the CFPUA, must monitor and treat their water to ensure that contaminants with health concerns are reduced to below the EPA's enforced Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). The CFPUA conducts hundreds of tests every month according to the requirements of these regulations. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality regulates the state's public water systems and ensures that residents receive safe, potable drinking water that adheres to federal regulations. 🧪 Wilmington Annual Water Quality Report All public water systems must provide annual Consumer Confidence Reports, or Water Quality Reports, which share data from water quality testing throughout the year. Wilmington's most recent Water Quality Report, dated from January to December 2021, lists information including: - Where the City's water comes from - How the water is treated - The contaminants detected in the water - Whether or not these contaminants exceed EPA guidelines We can see from the Report that none of the detected contaminants were found in concentrations that violate EPA standards. However, that doesn't mean you want to drink them in your water. For instance, 35.9 PPB (parts per billion) of TTHMs were detected in the City's water, which is well below the EPA's MCL of 80 PPB - but most people would probably rather not drink even trace levels of this cancer-causing disinfection byproduct. Some of the detected contaminants listed in the Report include: - Fluoride - Thallium - Bromate - Chlorine - Copper - Lead - Total trihalomethanes - HAA5 - Iron - Manganese It's a good idea to read through the Report and research any contaminants that you're concerned about. You may choose to filter your own tap water at home if you're not pleased with the treatment provided by the City. ☣️ Contaminants Found Above Guidelines in Tap Water in Wilmington The EPA might deem Wilmington's tap water safe to drink, but you might disagree. So, in this section of the guide, we've looked at the contaminants present in Wilmington water that exceed the Health Guidelines set by the EWG. The EWG detected a total of 56 contaminants in Wilmington's water. We've looked through a lot of EWG Tap Water Databases in the making of these guides, so we know that this is about double the average amount of total contaminants detected in a public water utility. There are 16 contaminants found to exceed the EWG's Health Guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA5)† and Haloacetic acids (HAA9)† When water is disinfected with chlorine or a similar chemical, a common type of disinfection byproduct produced is haloacetic acids. There are two types of haloacetic acids, HAA5 and HAA9, that have several known health effects including an increased risk of colon, bladder, liver, and rectal cancer. 19.6 PPB and 26.3 PPB (parts per billion) of HAA5 and HAA9 were detected in Wilmington drinking water - between 195 and 438x the EWG's Health Advisories of 0.1 PPB and 0.06 PPB. HAA5 currently has an MCL of 60 PPB, but the EPA doesn't yet impose a legal limit on HAA9. Hexavalent Chromium Hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, is the most dangerous form of chromium detected in drinking water across the US. This drinking water contaminant usually pollutes water due to industrial activity and poor waste disposal and is known to cause cancer when ingested in large amounts. 0.0618 PPB of hexavalent chromium was detected in Wilmington's drinking water - 3.1x the EWG's Health Guideline of 0.02 PPB. Currently, there is no EPA legal limit for chromium-6 on its own - only total chromium (chromium-3 and 6) is regulated. Perfluoroheptanoic Acid (PFHPA) And Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Wilmington's water is now treated with carbon filtration to reduce PFAS chemicals, but two types of these chemicals - PFHPA and PFOA - were still detected in trace levels by the EWG. 4.90 PPT (parts per trillion) and 1.37 PPT of these cancer-causing chemicals were present in Wilmington's tap water - between 4.9 and 196 x the EWG's Health Guidelines of 1 PPT and 0.007 PPT. Neither of these chemicals is currently regulated by the EPA. Radium (-226 & -228) Radium combined refers to two types of radium - radium -226 and radium -228 - that occur naturally or due to pollution in the environment. High concentrations of these drinking water contaminants in water may cause cancer, anemia, and immune system depression. 0.20 pCi/L (picoCurie per liter) of total radium was detected in Wilmington water - 4.1x the EWG's Health Guideline of 0.05 pCi/L. The legal limit for radium combined in drinking tap water is 5 pCi/L. Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)† Chlorine disinfection also results in the production of total trihalomethanes (TTHMS). These disinfection byproducts increase the risk of certain cancers, like colon and bladder cancers, if they're present in large amounts in tap water. 41.1 PPB of TTHMs were detected in Wilmington tap water - 274x the EWG's recommended Health Guideline of 0.15 PPB. The EPA legal limit for TTHMs is 80 PPB. Other Disinfection Byproducts Alongside haloacetic acids and TTHMs, disinfection byproducts, including bromate, bromoform, bromodichloromethane, chloroform, dibromoacetic acid, dibromochloromethane, dichloroacetic acid, and trichloroacetic acid, were other disinfection byproducts detected in Wilmington tap water. There aren't currently any legal limits for most of these contaminants, but the EWG has its own recommended Health Guidelines of 0.06-o.4 PPB (which differ depending on the contaminant). The disinfectant byproducts in Wilmington's water were detected in concentrations 12 to 195x these Guidelines. We can see from this data that disinfection byproducts and PFAS are the main trace contaminants in Wilmington tap water. If you're concerned about your water quality or you're not sure you want to drink tap water in the City, conduct a water test and consider installing an at-home water filter - here are our top picks for . 🧫 Main Contaminants Found in Wilmington Tap Water There are numerous contaminants found in Wilmington's tap water that are present in quantities that aren't considered dangerous by the EPA or the EWG. These contaminants include: - Barium - A non-toxic metal that occurs naturally in the ground; large amounts in water may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even death, but low levels are considered harmless. - Bromide - An element that's naturally present in the environment; has a low degree of toxicity and is considered safe if found in small amounts in water. - Cadmium - A toxic heavy metal that has been widely dispersed in the environment by smelting, mining, fertilizer use, and more; has a long biological half-life in the human body and may cause health effects including disrupted bone density and composition, and renal damage. - Fluoride - A mineral that occurs naturally but is also produced synthetically and added to many local tap water supplies (including Wilmington water) for dental health purposes; not harmful in low levels but may stain the teeth, especially in young children. - Manganese - A mineral that, coupled with calcium, leads to hard water effects including limescale and soap scum; has no physical health effects in naturally present levels in water. - Strontium - A heavy metal that the human body may confuse for calcium, causing it to replace calcium in the bones when ingested in large amounts. - Total chromium - The two most common types of chromium: the toxic, cancer-causing chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium) and the harmless, more environmentally-friendly chromium-3 (trivalent chromium). - Various chemicals in the PFAS family, including perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA), Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA), Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and 15 more (see EWG Database for complete info); tests on laboratory animals show that PFAS can cause health effects including liver damage, increased cancer risk, and high cholesterol. - Vanadium - A trace element in the earth's crust; found in naturally high levels in rocks and isn't considered harmful when small amounts are present in water. ⛲ Wilmington Drinking Water in Public Places We know how water is sourced and treated for homes and businesses in Wilmington - but what about water in the City's public places? Water in public places, like bars, hotels, and restaurants, is exactly the same as the water supplied to private buildings in the City. It's on the same distribution system, so it's no different from the water that comes out of your tap at home. If you're staying at an old hotel, check with reception that your bathroom faucet water is safe to drink. Some old hotels use lead pipes and bathroom fixtures, so water isn't guaranteed to be safe for drinking. Restaurants in Wilmington will likely offer you free tap water on request, although they're not legally required to do this. You can also buy bottled water in the City's grocery stores and supermarkets if you don't want to drink tap water in a public place. Some bottled water products are treated with a thorough filtration method, such as a reverse osmosis system, making them cleaner than normal tap water. However, bottled water is bad for the environment, so only buy what you need. Continue Reading: Find Out Which US States Offer the Best Quality Tap Water 💬 Frequently Asked Questions Why can't you drink the water in Wilmington NC? You can drink the water in Wilmington, NC - the water is now safe to drink and adheres to federal guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency. However, up until 2017, the City's water contained dangerous levels of PFAS due to pollution in North Carolina’s Cape Fear River. News sources from 2021 say that the river is still contaminated with these cancer-causing "forever chemicals", but the EPA is still in the process of establishing MCLs for PFAS following a proposal issued in August 2022. What is going on with Wilmington's drinking water? Wilmington's water has been in the news in recent years because dangerous chemicals were discovered in the water due to PFAS pollution of the local Cape Fear River. Currently, the City's water utility continues to monitor PFAS in its drinking water supply, and after installing granular activated carbon water filters in its treatment plants in a $43 million project, the water is now free from PFAS. How do you remove GenX from water? GenX is one of the most common chemical contaminants that was discovered in Wilmington's water supply in 2017. If you don't want to rely on the City to remove all GenX from your water, you should consider installing a point-of-use water filter. Various types of at-home water filters remove the chemical, including granular activated carbon (GAC) filters, reverse osmosis systems, and water distillers. If you've got your eye on a water filter but don't know if it removes GenX, contact the manufacturer and ask for proof of testing. Where does Wilmington water come from? Wilmington water comes from the Cape Fear River. Can you drink the tap water in Wilmington NC? Yes, you can drink the tap water in Wilmington, NC. After disturbing findings of PFAS pollution in the City's water, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority reacted by installing eight granular activated carbon filters in its water treatment plant in 2021, which now remove these dangerous contaminants during water treatment. The water still contains trace levels of various contaminants, but all within EPA legal limits. Is Wilmington NC water fluoridated? Yes, Wilmington, NC water is fluoridated and has been since August 2010. Fluoride is produced synthetically and added to public drinking water supplies because of its ability to protect the tooth enamel, preventing tooth decay and helping to reduce costs associated with dental work in the country. However, some people argue that public water shouldn't be fluoridated because of the potential for dental and skeletal fluorosis, and other health effects. Does Wilmington have hard water? Read the full article

[pablo-orihuela]

J.498 - Final Reflection

The Truth Behind The T.V. Show “COPS”

In Vox’s 2019 youtube video titled, The Truth Behind The T.V. Show COPS, audiences learn that the longest running primetime T.V. show is COPS. 

It was a show that followed and filmed real life cops while on the job. The idea came from the creator John Langley sharing a video of a drug bust. It also helped that the show came in the wake of a writer’s strike. With no actors or writers needed to create an episode of COPS, it was the perfect program for the then-new FOX network to carry and drive viewership. The show ran for 30 years.

The show began in Broward, Florida, but it would later spread across the country due to the show’s success. It also helped that the show gave positive PR for law enforcement. The video best shows this when COPS appears in Los Angeles after the Rodney King riots. 

But this pattern grew. Salina, California and Omaha, Nebraska had bad moments. They then invited COPS to come and film in their area. 

FOX would eventually cancel the show, but the COPS formula was mimicked through programs like LIVE P.D.

LIVE P.D. was advertised as a way to build trust through audiences by following law enforcement live. Though it presents itself as transparent, the filmed content still needs to be approved by law enforcement before it airs on T.V.

“False Flag” Hoaxers Claim Mass Shootings Are Staged

A 2018 video from Vice follows the rise of False Flag conspiracists who claim mass shootings never happened. 

The video follows conspiracy theorists “Side Thorn” and “Conspiracy Granny,” who claim that the 2017 mass shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas was a “false flag” — a hoax. The shooting was real and claimed the lives of 26 people inside the church, including the 14-year-old daughter of the church pastor Frank Pomeroy. 

“Side Thorn�� and “Conspiracy Granny” have spent some time after the shooting confronting the surviving loved ones of the deceased to see if they can gain evidence of their status as a paid government actor. In one portion of the video, a clip from “Side Thorn’s” Youtube video shows him calling a survivor over the phone to tell them that the event was fake. 

“There is no evidence this person existed,” Side Thorn says in reference to the dead family member. 

People like “C.W. Wade” have come forward to debunk these conspiracy theorists. Wade thinks that these people pose a threat to the surviving victims of the dead loved ones, and thinks that it’s only a matter of time before one of the conspiracy theorists commits an act of violence. 

“C.W. Wade” is not the real name of the “False Flag Debunker'' shown in the video. It is an alias they use to protect themselves from the real harm he feels these conspiracy theorists can bring. 

The video ends with the conspiracy theorists confronting pastor Pomeroy. The police eventually arrest the conspiracy theorists, but not before they threaten to continue to harass teh pastor and the remaining surviving victims. 

Reflection

Visual Journalism will be affected by the internet and social media in the sense that it will need to compete for attention and clicks. 

While it’s true that the internet age has made information more easily accessible than ever before, that very real, objective truth is burying in a sea of conspiracy theories and bad reporting. What remains is a very broad field of information for people to sift through in an effort to find the answers we’re looking for. 

Journalism majors like me can easily find what we’re looking for while separating what’s with or without merit. But what about people who aren’t as media literate? These people may wind up consuming information like that of the conspiracy theorists in the Vice video. They’ll consume content like that and take it at face value, causing more conspiracy theorists to appear. 

It does’;t help that many news outlets hide their information behind a paywall. Though I certainly don’t mind paying the subscription price for my favorite news outlets, I also understand that I’m in the minority. Most people will simply look for outlets that don’t have a paywall. Those are not always trustworthy.

Social media was meant to level the playing field by having paid content still be posted on the site. However, filter bubbles can cause people to still be directed to false information, or at least information that only confirms their biases. 

I think as Journalists/Communications majors, we can help the world become more media literate by being more active with our audiences. Though some news may be behind a paywall, we can create threads on platforms like Twitter, so that we can at least report the basics to our audiences. 

To both paid and unpaid subscribers, we can also make a point to interact with them and answer questions they might have. I’ve noticed that many intentionally harmful outlets build a strong relationship with their audiences by constantly interacting with them. While I don't think we should be spending a large amount of our time on social media, I think there is a benefit to answering questions our audiences have by directly interacting with them as opposed to hiding that answer behind a paywall. 

I also think we can also do our part to make sure we call out and debunk misinformation, especially when it’s gaining traction. 

I think many older journalists misinterpret debunking as causing friction or drama, especially on social media, but I think we can educate people without causing strife. 

[moonstarsunearth]

The thing for me with this theory is that I don't see Tashi having and unplanned pregnancy of Patrick's child but also this movie cares so much about the relationships between these characters that if the movie really wanted to make Lily Patrick's daughter it must affect the characters and their relationships in the movie. She is Patrick's daughter but didnt affect the plot or is used in way that sells why is an interesting writing decision at all ? So tashi and Art had a daughter that could be really an Atlanta's child and Patrick never suspected about it,because one thing is not recognizing Lily's name but that Tashi was pregnant or that Art had a daughter must be on the news. So you are telling me Patrick was never interested in his daughter or even used that as way to introduce himself in Tashi and Art's life for years as he wanted ,or even if he just learnt in 2019 how he wouldn't search about it? Finding when Coach Tashi that must be on tour always with her husband, was pregnant must be easy. Why did he never mention it when he is all the movie talking with Tashi about her life with Art and how their lives aren't that good as they pretend or how she wanted to see him? How would he not feel betrayed or this wouldnt affect his self worth if something like this was hidden from him?

If Lily is Patrick's daughter why Tashi didn't act so protective about her when Patrick is so close to them, Tashi even used her name so easily in a conversation with Patrick,how about when Patrick asked her if Art knew about Atlanta? Did Art knew or suspected ? This must affect how he related to his daughter and not just "I am busy tennis player that want to be more with my daughter and I cant", how this wouldn't be another level of betrayal that Tashi just fucking Patrick ? You can even say he was a little bit in denial about the Atlanta thing, everything was so quickly but when you added a daughter.... If he knew how he won't be more protective of lily knowing Patrick was so close?

Like it could be an interesting choice to explore in fics,but when I read most of them are like "Tashi lied to Patrick and Art about it " but you know "Art always knew and didn't care(are you sure he wouldn't?) and Patrick learnt about the news and is just "scared but happy ",sorry but something like this would be a mess,they are already a mess but that is another BIG thing to add to the mess,acting like they solved it so quickly and they are happy throuple, no bad blood or resentment, it isn't just unrealistic but what is interesting about it ?

Sincerely the way that the child is used in the movie sold me more about being first a contrast of what Tashi and Art had created together: a tennis career,a marriage,a family ,they had "everything" vs Patrick not having any of this ("Time for your Uber driver to drop you back off to your family"),but even if they rejected him,they still wanted him.

And second how even if Tashi and Art loved her daughter,elite tennis' player life is so demanding and consuming that they didn't have enough time for her as they wanted or her daughter needed,she is being raised traveling,in hotels,etc,and how that can affect Tashi and Art's decisions about Art's career.

the “lily is actually patrick’s daughter!!” theory is one i cannot get behind. tashi duncan had her whole life planned out, controlled. the one unpredictable thing in her life was her knee injury which completely threw her off course. every choice she makes is a concious one - she has weighed the pros and cons of it all before making a decision. yes, even cheating on art in atlanta. but there is not a chance in HELL that she wasn’t tracking her cycle or on long form birth control or something akin to her knowing her windows. you really think patrick zweig’s daughter wants to cuddle and watch spiderverse? that child would be bouncing off the fucking walls. lily was certainly planned between tashi and art. maybe i’m wrong and i’m willing to be wrong, but the way tashi is written i cannot imagine her having an unplanned pregnancy with patrick. regardless, art is lily’s father in every sense of the matter.

[acquis12345]

Respecting the PBT Regulations of Section 6(h) of the TSCA: What You Need to Know According to TSCA Section 6(h), the 2016 Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act mandates the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expedite action on specific persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals in order to address risks and minimize exposures as much as possible. In 2019, the EPA issued a proposed rule and identified five PBT chemicals for expedited action in 2016. The EPA finally issued final rules for these chemicals on January 6, 2021. The EPA is authorized by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to regulate persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals for environmental and human health protection. These chemicals have the potential to accumulate over time in the environment and pose potential dangers to exposed populations, such as the general population, consumers, and commercial users, as well as susceptible subpopulations (such as workers, subsistence fishers, tribes, and children). The following are the five PBT chemicals for which the EPA has taken immediate action: Phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) or PIP 3:1 (CAS 68937-41-7) Decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) (CAS 1163-19-5) 2,4,6-tris(tert-butyl)phenol (2,4,6 TTBP) (CAS 732-26-3) Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) (CAS 87-68-3) Pentachlorothiophenol (PC

Keep track of the restricted substances they include in their products, components, and materials. At the very least, keep this documentation for three years. Inform their downstream customers of any substances in their products that are restricted by TSCA.

Extension of PIP compliance to 3:1: New Dates to Keep in Mind In September 2021, the EPA said it would start a new rulemaking process and would propose new rules for these five PBT chemicals in the spring of 2023. In addition, the EPA issued a final rule in March 2022 that extended the compliance dates for the prohibitions against processing and distribution as well as the recordkeeping requirement for one of these PBT chemicals—phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) or PIP 3:1—when used in particular articles until October 31, 2024. The extensive information provided during the 60-day public comment period for the EPA's October 2021 proposal served as the basis for this action.

Because of its lubricating and flame retardant properties, phenol, isopropylated, phosphate (3:1) is widely used. The use of flame retardants like PIP (3:1) in textiles, rubber, polyurethane foam, antistatic agent, cellulose, cotton, cutting oils, electronic equipment like video display units cables, casting resins, glues, engineering thermoplastics, epoxy resins, and phenolic resins are just a few of the applications for which flame retardants are added. It is essential for businesses to be aware of these new rules and to take the necessary steps to comply with them in order to stay out of trouble with the Additionally, it is essential for businesses to keep an eye on developments pertaining to these PBT chemicals as well as any upcoming alterations that the EPA may make to the regulations. Companies can guarantee that they are conducting business in a sustainable and safe manner, safeguarding the health of their employees and the environment.

Reach out to our compliance experts to stay compliant

[newshindiplus]

Consumer Protection Act 2019: सिनेमा हॉल-होटल में खाने-पीने की वस्तुओं पर वसूले ज्यादा पैसे तो होगी कार्रवाई

Consumer Protection Act 2019: सिनेमा हॉल-होटल में खाने-पीने की वस्तुओं पर वसूले ज्यादा पैसे तो होगी कार्रवाई

[ad_1]

सिनेमा हॉल में खाने-पीने के वस्तुओं पर एमआरपी से ज्यादा पैसा वसूले गए तो कड़ी कार्रवाई की जाएगी.(सांकेतिक फोटो) नए कंज्यूमर प्रोटेक्शन एक्ट 2019 ( New Consumer Protection Act 2019) में 6 महीने से लेकर 5 साल तक की सजा के प्रावधान किए गए हैं. अगर…

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Biden delivers Right to Repair via executive order

Right to Repair is a no-brainer. You — not manufacturers — should have the right to decide whom you trust to fix your stuff, even (especially) when that stuff is “smart” and an unscrupulous repair could create unquantifiable “cyber-risk.”

And yet…dozens of state R2R bills were defeated in 2018, thanks to an unholy coalition of Big Ag, Big Tech, and consumer electronics monopolists like Wahl. That supervillain gang reassembled to fight and kill still more bills in 2020/1.

https://pluralistic.net/2021/05/26/nixing-the-fix/#r2r

It’s part of the long trend in which all levels of government make policy based on what serves the interests of the rich and powerful, not the people they serve.

2014’s “Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens” (Cambirdge University Pree) quantifies this phenomenon:

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/testing-theories-of-american-politics-elites-interest-groups-and-average-citizens/62327F513959D0A304D4893B382B992B#authors-details

“Economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while average citizens and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence.”

Right to Repair advocates never lost hope. May’s “Nixing the Fix” report from the FTC establishes a factual record in support of the right to repair across many sectors, but especially agricultural equipment.

https://pluralistic.net/2021/05/07/pro-act-class-war/#we-fixit

Big Ag is a particularly odious repair troll, and John Deere is its standard-bearer. The company has been trying to felonize farmers’ repairing their own tractors since at least 2015:

https://web.archive.org/web/20150428173001/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/how-digital-rights-management-keeps-value-in-hands-of-the-manufacturer/article24130876/

They told the US Copyright Office that farmers don’t own their tractors — because tractor firmware is copyrighted, it is licensed, not sold, and farmers must abide by the company’s license terms.

https://www.wired.com/2015/04/dmca-ownership-john-deere/

At the same time, Deere started pushing the insulting story that farmers are yokels, too stupid to fix their tractors. This despite Deere’s long history of turning farmers’ modifications of their equipment into money-making features in new tractors.

https://securityledger.com/2019/03/opinion-my-grandfathers-john-deere-would-support-our-right-to-repair/

Farmers have been fixing their own gear literally since the dawn of civilization, hacking their own plows. Every farm has a workshop, because when you’re at the end of a country road and there’s a hailstorm coming, you need to bring in the crops, not wait for a repair tech.

Deere’s arguments that independent repair will expose America’s food supply to cyber-risk are equally hollow, because Deere has some of the worst cybersecurity of any industry — winning the infosec race to the bottom.

https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#deere-john

Despite Deere’s lobbying, patronizing and FUD, the right to repair has — finally — triumphed.

Today, the Biden administration announced an executive order directing the Department of Ag and the FTC to develop R2R rules for agricultural equipment!

https://www.vice.com/en/article/epn5mk/biden-to-sign-executive-order-granting-farmers-right-to-repair-protections

The fight’s not over yet. The devil is in the details, those rules the FTC and Ag develop. But with superheroes like Lina Khan running the FTC, there’s reason to believe that we’re going to get good, evidence-based and fair rules.

This is huge, a massive vindication for R2R activists and their long, tireless struggle.

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[ddtvnews]

27 जुलाई से बदल जाएगा देश में सामान बेचने-खरीदने का तरीका, जानें नए नियम के बारे में नई दिल्ली. देश में 20 जुलाई से नया उपभोक्ता संरक्षण अधिनियम, 2019 (Consumer Protection Act, 2019) लागू हो गया है.

[digimakacademy]

केंद्राचे आणखी एक मोठे पाऊल; E-Commerce कंपन्यांसाठी नवा निमय लागू

केंद्राचे आणखी एक मोठे पाऊल; E-Commerce कंपन्यांसाठी नवा निमय लागू

[ad_1]

नवी दिल्ली: केंद्र सरकारने इ-कॉमर्स कंपन्यांसाठी एक नवा नियम लागू केला आहे. यापुढे ऑनलाइन विक्री करणाऱ्या या कंपन्यांना सर्व उत्पादनांवर त्याच्या निर्मितीच्या ठिकाणाचा उल्लेख करावा लागेल. जर एखाद्या कंपनीने अशा पद्धतीचा उल्लेख केला नाही तर कारवाईला सामोरे जावे लागले. यासाठी सरकारने ग्राहक संरक्षण (इ-कॉमर्स) कायदा २०२०ची अधिसुचना जारी केली आहे.

वाचा- नैतिकता, संवेदना काही आहे की नाही?;…

[rwood2477]

Dude has been in office for 3 years.... what has he done? Other than dodging the darts the media and Pelosi have thrown?!?

what has PRESIDENT TRUMP and his cabinet accomplished.....

Here you go.

* Trump recently signed 3 bills to benefit Native people. One gives compensation to the Spokane tribe for loss of their lands in the mid-1900s, one funds Native language programs, and the third gives federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Montana.

* Trump finalized the creation of Space Force as our 6th Military branch.

* Trump signed a law to make cruelty to animals a federal felony so that animal abusers face tougher consequences.👀👀

* Violent crime has fallen every year he’s been in office after rising during the 2 years before he was elected.

* Trump signed a bill making CBD and Hemp legal.👀👀

* Trump’s EPA gave $100 million to fix the water infrastructure problem in Flint, Michigan.

* Under Trump’s leadership, in 2018 the U.S. surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world’s largest producer of crude oil.

* Trump signed a law ending the gag orders on Pharmacists that prevented them from sharing money-saving information.

* Trump signed the “Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act” (FOSTA), which includes the “Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act” (SESTA) which both give law enforcement and victims new tools to fight sex trafficking.👀👀

* Trump signed a bill to require airports to provide spaces for breastfeeding Moms.

* The 25% lowest-paid Americans enjoyed a 4.5% income boost in November 2019, which outpaces a 2.9% gain in earnings for the country's highest-paid workers.

* Low-wage workers are benefiting from higher minimum wages and from corporations that are increasing entry-level pay.

* Trump signed the biggest wilderness protection & conservation bill in a decade and designated 375,000 acres as protected land.

* Trump signed the Save our Seas Act which funds $10 million per year to clean tons of plastic & garbage from the ocean.👀👀

* He signed a bill this year allowing some drug imports from Canada so that prescription prices would go down.

* Trump signed an executive order this year that forces all healthcare providers to disclose the cost of their services so that Americans can comparison shop and know how much less providers charge insurance companies.

* When signing that bill he said no American should be blindsided by bills for medical services they never agreed to in advance.

* Hospitals will now be required to post their standard charges for services, which include the discounted price a hospital is willing to accept.

* In the eight years prior to President Trump’s inauguration, prescription drug prices increased by an average of 3.6% per year. Under Trump, drug prices have seen year-over-year declines in nine of the last ten months, with a 1.1% drop as of the most recent month.

* He created a White House VA Hotline to help veterans and principally staffed it with veterans and direct family members of veterans.👀👀

* VA employees are being held accountable for poor performance, with more than 4,000 VA employees removed, demoted, and suspended so far.

* Issued an executive order requiring the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs to submit a joint plan to provide veterans access to access to mental health treatment as they transition to civilian life.

* Because of a bill signed and championed by Trump, In 2020, most federal employees will see their pay increase by an average of 3.1% — the largest raise in more than 10 years.

* Trump signed into a law up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for millions of federal workers.

* Trump administration will provide HIV prevention drugs for free to 200,000 uninsured patients per year for 11 years.👀👀

* All-time record sales during the 2019 holidays.

* Trump signed an order allowing small businesses to group together when buying insurance to get a better price👀👀

* President Trump signed the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act that provides funding for states to develop maternal mortality reviews to better understand maternal complications and identify solutions & largely focuses on reducing the higher mortality rates for Black Americans.

* In 2018, President Trump signed the groundbreaking First Step Act, a criminal justice bill which enacted reforms that make our justice system fairer and help former inmates successfully return to society.

* The First Step Act’s reforms addressed inequities in sentencing laws that disproportionately harmed Black Americans and reformed mandatory minimums that created unfair outcomes.👀👀

* The First Step Act expanded judicial discretion in sentencing of non-violent crimes.

* Over 90% of those benefitting from the retroactive sentencing reductions in the First Step Act are Black Americans.

* The First Step Act provides rehabilitative programs to inmates, helping them successfully rejoin society and not return to crime.

* Trump increased funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by more than 14%.👀👀

* Trump signed legislation forgiving Hurricane Katrina debt that threatened HBCUs.

* New single-family home sales are up 31.6% in October 2019 compared to just one year ago.

* Made HBCUs a priority by creating the position of executive director of the White House Initiative on HBCUs.

* Trump received the Bipartisan Justice Award at a historically black college for his criminal justice reform accomplishments.

* The poverty rate fell to a 17-year low of 11.8% under the Trump administration as a result of a jobs-rich environment.👀👀

* Poverty rates for African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans have reached their lowest levels since the U.S. began collecting such data.

* President Trump signed a bill that creates five national monuments, expands several national parks, adds 1.3 million acres of wilderness, and permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

* Trump’s USDA committed $124 Million to rebuild rural water infrastructure.👀👀

* Consumer confidence & small business confidence is at an all time high.

* More than 7 million jobs created since election.

* More Americans are now employed than ever recorded before in our history.

* More than 400,000 manufacturing jobs created since his election.

* Trump appointed 5 openly gay ambassadors.👀👀

* Trump ordered Ric Grenell, his openly gay ambassador to Germany, to lead a global initiative to decriminalize homosexuality across the globe.

* Through Trump’s Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team (ACTeam) initiative, Federal law enforcement more than doubled convictions of human traffickers and increased the number of defendants charged by 75% in ACTeam districts.

* In 2018, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismantled an organization that was the internet’s leading source of prostitution-related advertisements resulting in sex trafficking.

* Trump’s OMB published new anti-trafficking guidance for government procurement officials to more effectively combat human trafficking.

* Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations arrested 1,588 criminals associated with Human Trafficking.

* Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services provided funding to support the National Human Trafficking Hotline to identify perpetrators and give victims the help they need.

* The hotline identified 16,862 potential human trafficking cases.

* Trump’s DOJ provided grants to organizations that support human trafficking victims ��� serving nearly 9,000 cases from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018.👀👀

* The Department of Homeland Security has hired more victim assistance specialists, helping victims get resources and support.

* President Trump has called on Congress to pass school choice legislation so that no child is trapped in a failing school because of his or her zip code.👀👀

* The President signed funding legislation in September 2018 that increased funding for school choice by $42 million.

* The tax cuts signed into law by President Trump promote school choice by allowing families to use 529 college savings plans for elementary and secondary education.👀👀

* Under his leadership ISIS has lost most of their territory and been largely dismantled.

* ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi was killed.

* Signed the first Perkins CTE reauthorization since 2006, authorizing more than $1 billion for states each year to fund vocational and career education programs.

* Executive order expanding apprenticeship opportunities for students and workers.

* Trump issued an Executive Order prohibiting the U.S. government from discriminating against Christians or punishing expressions of faith.

* Signed an executive order that allows the government to withhold money from college campuses deemed to be anti-Semitic and who fail to combat anti-Semitism.

* President Trump ordered a halt to U.S. tax money going to international organizations that fund or perform abortions.

* Trump imposed sanctions on the socialists in Venezuela who have killed their citizens.

* Finalized new trade agreement with South Korea.

* Made a deal with the European Union to increase U.S. energy exports to Europe.👀👀

* Withdrew the U.S. from the job killing TPP deal.

* Secured $250 billion in new trade and investment deals in China and $12 billion in Vietnam.

* Okay’d up to $12 billion in aid for farmers affected by unfair trade retaliation.👀👀

* Has had over a dozen US hostages freed, including those Obama could not get freed.

* Trump signed the Music Modernization Act, the biggest change to copyright law in decades.

* Trump secured Billions that will fund the building of a wall at our southern border.

* The Trump Administration is promoting second chance hiring to give former inmates the opportunity to live crime-free lives and find meaningful employment.

* Trump’s DOJ and the Board Of Prisons launched a new “Ready to Work Initiative” to help connect employers directly with former prisoners.👀👀

* President Trump’s historic tax cut legislation included new Opportunity Zone Incentives to promote investment in low-income communities across the country.

* 8,764 communities across the country have been designated as Opportunity Zones.

* Opportunity Zones are expected to spur $100 billion in long-term private capital investment in economically distressed communities across the country.

* Trump directed the Education Secretary to end Common Core.👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

* Trump signed the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund into law.

* Trump signed measure funding prevention programs for Veteran suicide.👀👀

* Companies have brought back over a TRILLION dollars from overseas because of the TCJA bill that Trump signed.

* Manufacturing jobs are growing at the fastest rate in more than 30 years.

* Stock Market has reached record highs.

* Median household income has hit highest level ever recorded.

* African-American unemployment is at an all time low.

* Hispanic-American unemployment is at an all time low.

* Asian-American unemployment is at an all time low.

* Women’s unemployment rate is at a 65-year low.

* Youth unemployment is at a 50-year low.

* We have the lowest unemployment rate ever recorded.

* The Pledge to America’s Workers has resulted in employers committing to train more than 4 million Americans.

* 95 percent of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future— the highest ever.

* As a result of the Republican tax bill, small businesses will have the lowest top marginal tax rate in more than 80 years.👀👀

* Record number of regulations eliminated that hurt small businesses.

* Signed welfare reform requiring able-bodied adults who don’t have children to work or look for work if they’re on welfare.🙌🙌

* Under Trump, the FDA approved more affordable generic drugs than ever before in history.

* Reformed Medicare program to stop hospitals from overcharging low-income seniors on their drugs—saving seniors 100’s of millions of $$$ this year alone.👀👀

* Signed Right-To-Try legislation allowing terminally ill patients to try experimental treatment that wasn’t allowed before.

* Secured $6 billion in new funding to fight the opioid epidemic.❤️❤️

* Signed VA Choice Act and VA Accountability Act, expanded VA telehealth services, walk-in-clinics, and same-day urgent primary and mental health care.👀👀

* U.S. oil production recently reached all-time high so we are less dependent on oil from the Middle East.

* The U.S. is a net natural gas exporter for the first time since 1957.

* NATO allies increased their defense spending because of his pressure campaign.

* Withdrew the United States from the job-killing Paris Climate Accord in 2017 and that same year the U.S. still led the world by having the largest reduction in Carbon emissions.👀👀

* Has his circuit court judge nominees being confirmed faster than any other new administration.

* Had his Supreme Court Justice’s Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh confirmed.

* Moved U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.👀👀

* Agreed to a new trade deal with Mexico & Canada that will increase jobs here and $$$ coming in.

* Reached a breakthrough agreement with the E.U. to increase U.S. exports.

* Imposed tariffs on China in response to China’s forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft, and their chronically abusive trade practices, has agreed to a Part One trade deal with China.

* Signed legislation to improve the National Suicide Hotline.👀👀

* Signed the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation ever into law, which will advance childhood cancer research and improve treatments.

* The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law by Trump doubled the maximum amount of the child tax credit available to parents and lifted the income limits so more people could claim it.

* It also created a new tax credit for other dependents.

* In 2018, President Trump signed into law a $2.4 billion funding increase for the Child Care and Development Fund, providing a total of $8.1 billion to States to fund child care for low-income families.

* The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) signed into law by Trump provides a tax credit equal to 20-35% of child care expenses, $3,000 per child & $6,000 per family + Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) allow you to set aside up to $5,000 in pre-tax $ to use for child care.

* In 2019 President Donald Trump signed the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act (CARES) into law which allocates $1.8 billion in funding over the next five years to help people with autism spectrum disorder and to help their families.👀👀

* In 2019 President Trump signed into law two funding packages providing nearly $19 million in new funding for Lupus specific research and education programs, as well an additional $41.7 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the most Lupus funding EVER.

* Another upcoming accomplishment to add: In the next week or two Trump will be signing the first major anti-robocall law in decades called the TRACED Act (Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence.) Once it’s thelaw, the TRACED Act will extend the period of time the FCC has to catch & punish those who intentionally break telemarketing restrictions. The bill also requires voice service providers to develop a framework to verify calls are legitimate before they reach your phone.

* US stock market continually hits all-time record highs.

* Because so many people asked for a document with all of this listed in one place, here it is. No links provided to remove bias as Google search is easy. Print this out for family, friends, neighbors, etc. I encourage you to drop this list off to voters before the 2020 election too!

*Trump did all of this while fighting flagrant abuse and impeachment charges.

——-please explain to me why you have a problem with OUR president? Because he has misspoke a few times? Tell me when you find a perfect person, please....I’ll wait! I’ll tell you why, because the media has skewed him in such a negative light and unfairly report his accomplishments to undermined those achievements! Why? Because the media is complicit in every single thing this man is trying to undo! Start thinking for yourself!

🇺🇸WWG1WGA🇺🇸

🇺🇸🇺🇸Are you tired of winning yet?🇺🇸🇺🇸

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[lokiondisneyplus]

[This story contains spoilers for Loki episode five.]

Forced to the edge of time and space known as The Void, and saved by his counterparts from alternate timelines, Classic Loki (Richard E. Grant), Kid Loki (Jack Veal), Boastful Loki (DeObia Oparei), and Alligator Loki, and hunted by the matter consuming entity, Alioth, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) finds a power greater than lies, stronger than time, and more glorious a purpose than any he’s fought for before: emotional honesty. Serving as both a cosmic mystery and therapy session for its titular character, Loki, displays a sincerity that places the character’s arc a step above his brother Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) initial journey. The result is heroism that’s being earned the hard way. The penultimate episode of Loki, “Journey into Mystery,” directed by Kate Herron and written by Tom Kauffman, forces Loki and Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) to come to terms with the fact that lives built upon cyclical patterns of betrayal and revenge will ultimately only lead to loneliness and unfulfilled purpose. The mystery then becomes a question of what will happen when they finally allow themselves to reach out and truly connect to another individual, outside of personal gain? What does a Loki become? Perhaps it’s the very thing that Loki has always sought in some shape or fashion. From seeking the throne of Asgard, waging war against his brother, Thor, and father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), and seeking attention from his mother, Frigga (Rene Russo), Loki’s efforts, misguided as they were, have ultimately been an effort for one thing: to prove himself worthy.

But worthiness for Loki is more than hammer, and it’s more than possessing the power of Thor. It’s the ability to be valued as something more than what is seen, which can’t be easy for someone who is most often seen as a villain. Thor had it easy comparatively. His worthiness, as depicted in Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 film, Thor, sees the God of Thunder able to pick up the mighty Mjolnir after willingly sacrificing his life to the Destroyer to protect citizens in New Mexico, including his newfound love Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). There is a simplified nature to Thor’s heroes’ journey, in part because Thor was always meant to be worthy. Thor’s bravery and protection of innocents in front of him was never in doubt, thus his worthiness being defined by such an act does little to interrogate his character or showcase change. Thor is worthy because his role in the story is to be worthy. That was the path laid out for him. Loki on the other hand, was never meant to be worthy. From his place in myths, comics, and the MCU, Loki being worthy was never an expectation for the character. Because of that factor, the series can bend those expectations, bend the supposed definition of what makes a Loki, and allow the character to evolve beyond his formerly predictable nature.

Because there is no expectation or precedent for Loki being worthy, his journey to get to that point relies on a more intensive investigation of character than Thor ever faced on his path to worthiness. “We cannot change. We’re broken. Every version of us. Forever,” Classic Loki, an older version of Hiddelston’s God of Mischief, tells his younger counterpart. Except, as the series has shown, particularly with this most recent episode, Classic Loki’s self-deprecating statement isn’t entirely true. Lokis are, in part, the Gods of Lies after all, and no lies told have done more damage than the lies they’ve told to themselves and heard parroted back them, as the illusion of Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander) did in the previous episode: “You deserve to be alone, and you always will be.”

For Loki, his worthiness is something that would ultimately be proved by not being alone. It’s what makes his connection to Sylvie so powerful. And it’s what makes Classic Loki’s efforts to save the day so meaningful — he has experienced the true depths of loneliness only to come away ultimately understanding the salvational quality of connection. And what emerges from Loki’s sincere connections? A legendary weapon of his own, an enhanced power set and true friendship. Thor’s journey has played a bit fast and loose with how much he values his connection to others, like members of his childhood friends the Warriors Three being killed off in Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and never given another thought, or the fact that much of his journey with the Avengers has consisted of him acting alone or going off on separate quests, ie. Age of Ultron (2015), Infinity War (2018), Endgame (2019). But for Loki, whose list of allies are few and far between, the connections he does share mean everything and the series gives them weight and “sentiment,” the very thing Loki scoffed at in The Avengers (2012).

At the end of time and space, and facing off against Alioth, Loki accepts his love of his Variant, and thus himself, and emerges better. As much as the mystery of who’s pulling the strings of the TVA remains to be seen in the final episode, the true impetus of Loki isn’t about laying the groundwork for a new villain but giving a former villain time to discover his own worth. And in that way, Loki has already proved worthy.