News + current events
- Thread starter srimes
- Start date
Yeah, NASCAR has always seemed stupid and boring to me. Nothing to do with real cars, and they drive in circles. Back when there were actual differences in the cars (like the 60's and earlier?) it seems more interesting to me. The cult following it has with some is even more perplexing. I remember the day Dale Earnhardt died in NC. It was like Sept 11.
My college roommate and his girlfriend took the day off school to watch Earnhardt’s funeral.
Agree if they used stock cars I’d find it more interesting.
It would be more interesting with stock cars, and if they would let real drivers drive. Earnhardt Sr was the last "cowboy", and they really didn't like him and his style at the end. I've met a few of the higher ups, and let's just say they're all gated-community-white-gloves-country-club-golfing kind of guys. (soft)
I think that’s why I enjoy watching random YouTubers race Crown Vic’s with nitrous.
I am exactly the same. I am way more interested in watching real life cars that are modified compete against each other.
Couldn’t make the Danger Ranger, I know of another forum member that will be there.
Got my tickets and a place on the beach for LeMullets.
https://abcnews.go.com/Internationa...etically-engineering-giant/story?id=108117977
A Montana man pleaded guilty before a federal judge to two felony wildlife crimes for an almost decade-long effort to create giant sheep hybrids to sell the species to hunting facilities, the U.S. Department of Justice announced this week.
Eighty-year-old Arthur "Jack" Schubarth of Vaughn, Montana, is the owner and operator of Sun River Enterprises LLC – also known as Schubarth Ranch – a 215-acre "alternative livestock" ranch, according to a March 12 press release from the DOJ.
Schubarth conspired with at least five other individuals between 2013 and 2021 to genetically engineer a larger hybrid sheep species that would garner higher prices from shooting preserves, according to the release, which cites court documents in his case.
Schubarth faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count.
To genetically engineer the sheep species, the DOJ said Schubarth imported parts of Marco Polo argali sheep, which is the largest sheep species in the world, from Kyrgyzstan into the U.S. without declaring the importation.
Schubarth sent genetic material from the argali sheep to a lab to create cloned embryos, which he then implanted in a female sheep on his ranch, according to the DOJ, which produced a single, pure genetic male that Schubarth named the "Montana Mountain King," or MMK.
To create several hybrid sheep, Schubarth then used MMK's semen to artificially impregnate various species of female sheep, the DOJ said.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/mont...fficking-charges-part-yearslong-effort-create
A Montana man was sentenced today to six months in prison for committing two felony wildlife crimes — a conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and substantively violating the Lacey Act
The Lacey Act prohibits interstate trade in wildlife that has been taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of federal or state law. The Lacey Act also prohibits the interstate sale of wildlife that has been falsely labeled. The Act is one of the most powerful tools the United States has to combat wildlife trafficking and prevent ecological invasion by injurious wildlife.
Schubarth brought parts of the largest sheep in the world, Marco Polo argali sheep (Ovis ammon polii), from Kyrgyzstan into the United States without declaring the importation.
Court documents also describe how Schubarth illegally obtained genetic material from wild-hunted Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in Montana. Schubarth purchased parts of these wild-hunted sheep in violation of Montana law, which prohibits the sale of game animal parts within the state and prohibits the use of Montana game animals on alternative livestock ranches.
According to court documents, disease introduction was a risk associated with Schubarth’s conduct and at least two sheep from the scheme died from Johne’s disease. Johne’s disease is a contagious, chronic wasting disease easily spread between animals directly or through environmental contamination.
“This sends a clear message that we will not tolerate the illegal importation, sale and transport of wildlife, especially when it endangers our natural heritage.”
A Montana man pleaded guilty before a federal judge to two felony wildlife crimes for an almost decade-long effort to create giant sheep hybrids to sell the species to hunting facilities, the U.S. Department of Justice announced this week.
Eighty-year-old Arthur "Jack" Schubarth of Vaughn, Montana, is the owner and operator of Sun River Enterprises LLC – also known as Schubarth Ranch – a 215-acre "alternative livestock" ranch, according to a March 12 press release from the DOJ.
Schubarth conspired with at least five other individuals between 2013 and 2021 to genetically engineer a larger hybrid sheep species that would garner higher prices from shooting preserves, according to the release, which cites court documents in his case.
Schubarth faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count.
To genetically engineer the sheep species, the DOJ said Schubarth imported parts of Marco Polo argali sheep, which is the largest sheep species in the world, from Kyrgyzstan into the U.S. without declaring the importation.
Schubarth sent genetic material from the argali sheep to a lab to create cloned embryos, which he then implanted in a female sheep on his ranch, according to the DOJ, which produced a single, pure genetic male that Schubarth named the "Montana Mountain King," or MMK.
To create several hybrid sheep, Schubarth then used MMK's semen to artificially impregnate various species of female sheep, the DOJ said.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/mont...fficking-charges-part-yearslong-effort-create
A Montana man was sentenced today to six months in prison for committing two felony wildlife crimes — a conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and substantively violating the Lacey Act
The Lacey Act prohibits interstate trade in wildlife that has been taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of federal or state law. The Lacey Act also prohibits the interstate sale of wildlife that has been falsely labeled. The Act is one of the most powerful tools the United States has to combat wildlife trafficking and prevent ecological invasion by injurious wildlife.
Schubarth brought parts of the largest sheep in the world, Marco Polo argali sheep (Ovis ammon polii), from Kyrgyzstan into the United States without declaring the importation.
Court documents also describe how Schubarth illegally obtained genetic material from wild-hunted Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in Montana. Schubarth purchased parts of these wild-hunted sheep in violation of Montana law, which prohibits the sale of game animal parts within the state and prohibits the use of Montana game animals on alternative livestock ranches.
According to court documents, disease introduction was a risk associated with Schubarth’s conduct and at least two sheep from the scheme died from Johne’s disease. Johne’s disease is a contagious, chronic wasting disease easily spread between animals directly or through environmental contamination.
“This sends a clear message that we will not tolerate the illegal importation, sale and transport of wildlife, especially when it endangers our natural heritage.”
Decatur Fire & Rescue Chief Tracy Thornton on Tuesday said he would take appropriate action after learning of an “inappropriate” training exercise as the Alabama Fire College continues to investigate the DFR recruit school.
The state began its investigation into DFR’s recruit training on Monday after the class was abruptly sent home on Friday, according to Thornton. The class began on Sept. 3 with 21 new recruits. In addition to Decatur firefighters, the DFR Training Center offers classes to self-sponsored recruits and aspiring firefighters from nearby departments.
“A video has been shared with Decatur Fire/Rescue that was taken from one of our previous training classes ... . The video was taken during a drill that was intended to show recruits that they may have respond to very odd circumstances on emergency calls,” Thornton said in a written statement.
..
“During the video, we witnessed an exercise being used that was inappropriate for this type of training. Even though the concept of preparing recruits for the unexpected is good in theory, the practical application was completely wrong.”
The Decatur Daily obtained the video Thornton referenced in his statement.
It shows an apparent simulated medical emergency — a man lays facedown on a bathroom floor with his pants down around his thighs. The handle of a plunger appears to protrude from the man’s backside, although it isn’t actually lodged in him.
A man who appears to be an instructor stands in the left of the frame and films on his phone as four recruits enter the room.
As the recruits decide how to respond to the simulated injury, some in the video struggle to contain their laughter.
One man wears a Decatur Fire jacket, while another man wears a shirt that reads Alabama Fire College. Another man, apparently playing the role of a bystander, wears a shirt that reads Fire Marshal. “He just really likes plungers,” the latter tells the recruits.
“Training scenarios like this should never have occurred and will not be permitted to happen again,” Thornton said. “It was wrong. Even though the DFR Command Staff should have never let this happen, it did and now that we are aware, we are taking the appropriate action.”
The video depicts a “completely different” recruit class than the current one, according to Thornton. He said it was filmed during training earlier this year.
Thornton confirmed that three recruits dropped out last week, although he doesn’t yet know if the dropouts are related to the current investigation. On Tuesday evening, he said the Fire College had cleared the department of all major charges but there were some small changes that needed to be made. He said recruit school would resume Wednesday morning.
https://www.al.com/news/2024/10/ina...ving-man-and-plunger-under-investigation.html
Training resumed at Decatur Fire & Rescue’s recruit school on Wednesday after an investigation by the Alabama Fire College found no major violations, according to DFR Chief Tracy Thornton.
https://www.al.com/news/2024/10/dec...e-college-investigates-video-controversy.html
Burnet County Police Search for Two Suspects in Attempted Shooting at EpiCenter Church
On Sunday October 6, 2024, at approximately 1033 hours Deputies with the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Church at the Epicenter located at 2401 N US 281 Burnet, Burnet County, TX 78611 in reference of a check welfare due to an unknown 911 call.
According to BCSO dispatch, a male subject called 911, stated the address above, requested police and then disconnected.
Upon the arrival of law enforcement, it became clear that shots had been fired, and that all of them came from a member of the church’s volunteer safety team.
The safety team member stated that he confronted 2 suspicious males outside the church, one of whom presented a rifle. The safety team member fired multiple rounds causing both males to enter a white minivan and flee the scene, driving north bound on US 281.
There are no known injuries at this time.
Epicenter Church Burnet issued the following statement:
Security personnel noticed a suspicious man moving near the cars in the parking lot. Upon closer inspection, the man was seen placing a rock near an exterior door, seemingly trying to block it from opening. When security confronted him, he ran toward a white van. At that moment, another individual, wearing a Muslim turban, exited the van armed with an AR-15 style rifle. In response, security opened fire on the armed man. The van then fled north in the direction of Lampasas.
The Burnet County Sheriff’s Office has issued a description of the suspects: two dark-skinned males in a white mini-van, wearing white or off-white head dresses, and armed with rifles.
According to the Burnet City Manager, a recent incident occurred in Burnet involving two armed men who fled north towards Lampasas.
The Sheriff’s Office is also requesting any camera footage from 3 a.m. to 11 a.m. of the area north of 2401 N US 281.
Out of an abundance of caution, the Lampasas Police Department immediately called in additional staff and supervision to patrol our city, specifically our churches. We have coordinated with other local law enforcement agencies to be on high alert and ready to deter or respond immediately to any incidents that might occur.
As of now, no related incidents have occurred in or around our city. The Lampasas Police Department will remain on high alert throughout the afternoon. There is nothing further to report at this time.
If you have information, you are urged to contact the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office at 512-756-8080.
Stay alert and report any suspicious activity.
https://channel2now.com/2024/10/06/...epicenter-church-fled-north-towards-lampasas/
Shots fired by church security after armed suspects attempt to enter Burnet County church
https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/sh...uspects-attempt-to-enter-burnet-county-churchThese types of events don't get reported much for some reason...
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/com...ding-to-inflate-the-price-of-beef/ar-AA1rUAVx
McDonald’s has some beef with today’s largest meat packers.
The fast food giant is suing the U.S. meat industry's “Big Four” — Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef Packing Company — and their subsidiaries, alleging a price fixing scheme for beef specifically. In a federal complaint, filed Friday in New York, McDonald's accused the companies of anticompetitive measures such as collectively limiting supply to boost prices and charge “illegally inflated” amounts.
This collusion caused the beef market to become “a monopoly in which direct purchasers were forced to buy at prices dictated by (the meat packers),” McDonald's suit reads — later noting that the injury it has sustained as one of those buyers is what “antitrust laws were designed to prevent.”
McDonald's alleges that the meat packers' conspiracy dates back nearly a decade, at least as early as January 2015, and continues today. Its suit argues these companies' actions violate the Sherman Act, a federal antitrust law.
Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. But these companies have faced federal probes and allegations of price fixing before.
Lawsuits filed by grocery stores, ranchers, restaurants and wholesalers have piled up over the years. Some litigation is still pending, although meat packers and processers have opened their wallets in the past.
In 2022, for example, JBS agreed to a $52.5 million settlement in a similar beef price-fixing lawsuit. And Tyson agreed to pay $221.5 million back in 2021, after facing class-action claims that alleged purposely inflated chicken prices.
Such settlements did not include admissions of wrongdoing, however. Meat processors have previously maintained that larger supply and demand factors out of their control, not anticompetitive behavior, has caused prices to go up. Meat processing plants were occassionally closed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, and the industry has also faced labor shortages that were worsened by the pandemic.
Still, lawsuits like the one from McDonald's point to increased profit margins during the alleged time of conspiracy — and argue that overall concentration of the market helps facilitate collusion.
“Conspiracies are easier to organize and sustain when only a few firms control a large share of the market,” McDonald's suit reads. Data from recent years has showed that Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef control more than 80% of the U.S. beef market combined, the suit notes.
McDonald's is seeking a trial by jury. The Chicago-based chain, which did not immediately respond to a request for further comment Tuesday, has more than 39,000 locations across over 100 countries worldwide, including about 13,000 in the U.S. The vast majority are franchised.
McDonald’s has some beef with today’s largest meat packers.
The fast food giant is suing the U.S. meat industry's “Big Four” — Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef Packing Company — and their subsidiaries, alleging a price fixing scheme for beef specifically. In a federal complaint, filed Friday in New York, McDonald's accused the companies of anticompetitive measures such as collectively limiting supply to boost prices and charge “illegally inflated” amounts.
This collusion caused the beef market to become “a monopoly in which direct purchasers were forced to buy at prices dictated by (the meat packers),” McDonald's suit reads — later noting that the injury it has sustained as one of those buyers is what “antitrust laws were designed to prevent.”
McDonald's alleges that the meat packers' conspiracy dates back nearly a decade, at least as early as January 2015, and continues today. Its suit argues these companies' actions violate the Sherman Act, a federal antitrust law.
Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. But these companies have faced federal probes and allegations of price fixing before.
Lawsuits filed by grocery stores, ranchers, restaurants and wholesalers have piled up over the years. Some litigation is still pending, although meat packers and processers have opened their wallets in the past.
In 2022, for example, JBS agreed to a $52.5 million settlement in a similar beef price-fixing lawsuit. And Tyson agreed to pay $221.5 million back in 2021, after facing class-action claims that alleged purposely inflated chicken prices.
Such settlements did not include admissions of wrongdoing, however. Meat processors have previously maintained that larger supply and demand factors out of their control, not anticompetitive behavior, has caused prices to go up. Meat processing plants were occassionally closed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, and the industry has also faced labor shortages that were worsened by the pandemic.
Still, lawsuits like the one from McDonald's point to increased profit margins during the alleged time of conspiracy — and argue that overall concentration of the market helps facilitate collusion.
“Conspiracies are easier to organize and sustain when only a few firms control a large share of the market,” McDonald's suit reads. Data from recent years has showed that Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef control more than 80% of the U.S. beef market combined, the suit notes.
McDonald's is seeking a trial by jury. The Chicago-based chain, which did not immediately respond to a request for further comment Tuesday, has more than 39,000 locations across over 100 countries worldwide, including about 13,000 in the U.S. The vast majority are franchised.
Cobb Sheriff: ‘I probably should have just drove off,’ facing controversy over Burger King order
Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens has faced criticism following the release of body camera footage showing multiple deputies responding to a Burger King over a wrong order dispute.
The video, shared by his opponent David Cavender, raises concerns about the usage of law enforcement resources.
Channel 2 Action News spoke with both Owens and Cavender to gather details on the incident.
Owens told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell that he was in plain clothes and did not identify himself as the sheriff.
He described calling the situation in as a non-priority matter but admitted that it could have been handled differently. It’s reported that three deputies arrived at the scene with sirens on.
“It was about the wrong order, and it would make my wife sick. If she ate mayo she would get sick, so we clearly explained that to him,” Owens said in an exclusive interview discussing the incident, which took place in 2023.
He mentioned that when his wife received an incorrect order containing an ingredient, she is allergic to, he sought assistance from the restaurant’s management.
Owens recounted asking for either a resolution or a refund, both of which the Burger King manager allegedly denied.
“When he refused, I asked, ‘Well can we get our money back?’ He also refused and slammed the door, the drive-thru window,” Owens stated.
“Why did you feel it was necessary to call a deputy out for an issue at Burger King?” Newell asked Owens.
“I thought the best thing to do was to call a deputy. In hindsight, I probably should have just drove off and took the bad service and left and came back another day,” Owens said.
“Thinking about it now you wouldn’t have done that?” Newell asked Owens.
“Thinking about it now, in hindsight, again I apologize to any of the citizens of Cobb County that this has affected negatively as well as my office,” Owens said.
Cavender, who is running against, criticized Owens’ actions as an abuse of power.
“You shouldn’t use that position to make any citizen, whether on or off duty, feel unsafe. Especially when they have to lock themselves in the business,” Cavender said.
He also raised concerns about the misuse of multiple deputies.
“You’re going to tie up multiple deputies that should be serving the citizens of Cobb County when instead they are coming here because you were unable to navigate the turbulent waters of ordering fast food,” Cavender said.
Channel 2 Action News reached out to Burger King for comment but has yet to receive a response. The assistant manager stated that Owens cursed and raised his voice, prompting them to lock the doors.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/cobb-sheriff-probably-just-drove-205558767.html
Amazon cloud boss says employees unhappy with 5-day office mandate can leave
Amazon’s cloud boss Matt Garman told employees in an all-hands meeting that if they don’t agree with its new five-day in-office mandate, they could leave for another company.
The company announced the new policy last month. Employees have until Jan. 2 to adhere to the new policy.
Roughly 37,000 employees have joined an internal Slack channel created last year to advocate for remote work and share grievances about the return-to-work mandate, according to a person familiar.
Amazon’s cloud boss on Thursday gave employees a frank message about the company’s recently announced five-day in-office mandate.
Staffers who don’t agree with Amazon’s new policy can leave, Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman said during an all-hands meeting at the company’s second headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.
“If there are people who just don’t work well in that environment and don’t want to, that’s OK, there are other companies around,” Garman said, according to a transcript viewed by CNBC. “At Amazon, we want to be in an environment where we are working together, and we feel that collaborative environment is incredibly important for our innovation and for our culture.”
Amazon has observed that working in-office helps teams be more collaborative and effective, a company spokesperson told CNBC.
Garman’s comments were reported earlier by Reuters.
Amazon announced the new mandate last month. The company’s previous return-to-work stance required corporate workers to be in office at least three days a week. Employees have until Jan. 2 to adhere to the new policy.
The company is forgoing its pandemic-era remote work policies as it looks to keep up with rivals Microsoft, OpenAI and Google in the race to develop generative artificial intelligence. It’s one of the primary tasks in front of Garman, who took over AWS in June after his predecessor Adam Selipsky stepped down from the role.
The move has spurred backlash from some Amazon employees who say they’re just as productive working from home or in a hybrid work environment as they are in an office. Others say the mandate puts extra strain on families and caregivers.
Roughly 37,000 employees have joined an internal Slack channel created last year to advocate for remote work and share grievances about the return-to-work mandate, according to a person familiar with the matter.
At the all-hands meeting, Garman said he’s been speaking with employees and “nine out of 10 people are actually quite excited by this change.” He acknowledged there will be cases where employees have some flexibility.
“What we really mean by this is we want to have an office environment,” said Garman, noting an example scenario where an employee may want to work from home one day with their manager’s approval to focus on their work in a quiet environment.
“Those are fine,” he said.
more at link
I've been strongly against this new age of remote work that was accelerated exponentially by COVID. In engineering, collaboration and communication is critical to successful projects, and human nature (laziness) hurts that in a remote-work environment. Employees will make bad assumptions instead of collaborating, and they will also not inform their team members of the change made as a result of the bad assumption. Those mistakes are costly...
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