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Friday, February 26, 2021
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3 Celestial Phenomena to Take Place in a Single Night this February

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Snow Moon above a mountain range

A Snow Moon, a lunar eclipse, and a comet flyby will grace the skies in a single night in February.

Stargazers in the U.K. are in for a celestial treat during the evening and night hours on Feb. 10 and 11. After the sun sets on the 10th of February, the heavens will put on a show that will feature three amazing phenomena. Getting a front row seat to the action won’t be difficult as long as the skies are clear and you are away from the glare of city lights. The moon will put on a show to remember, experts say.

Three Lunar Acts in One Evening

The penumbral lunar eclipse starts on the evening of Feb. 10. The eclipse begins around 10:43 that night in the U.K. The moon will not be totally eclipsed. It will pass through the Earth’s peripheral shadows, becoming darkened as it rises in the night sky. The eclipse will last four hours and 19 minutes. It should end around 2:53 in the morning of Feb. 11.

The second act of the evening begins as soon as the sun sets. The 45P/Honda-Mrkos Pajdusakova comet will jet across the night sky. This comet, which was discovered in 1948, will whiz past Earth at a 7.7-mile distance and be visible to the naked eye. The comet takes about 200 years to orbit the sun in its journey through the universe.

The final lunar act starts around 12:30 a.m on Feb. 11 as the moon exits its eclipse. After it leaves the Earth’s shadows, it will put on a brilliant white color. Its appearance during the event matches its name, which is the Snow Moon or the Hunger Moon. Folklore suggests that this lunar appearance indicates heavy snowfall is soon to follow. Native American tribes also call it the Bone Moon because it occurs during a time of the year when hunting is more difficult and game is less available to hunters. Seeing the moon and comet should be easy. Still, you may have to leave city limits to get a better view.

This Year’s Mid-August Total Solar Eclipse

These three lunar phenomena are not the only celestial acts to occur this year. In North America, the sun will be totally eclipsed, leading to an astronomical event that was last witnessed in the late 1970s. The total solar eclipse is scheduled to take place on August 21 this year. It will be visible in certain parts of the U.S. but out of sight for many states that are outside the eclipse’s path.

The eclipse should begin around 10:15 a.m. off the coast of Oregon. As it travels across the state, it will grow darker and quickly pass over the skies of Idaho, Wyoming, and Nebraska. Parts of extreme Northeast Kansas will be able to see the eclipse and most of the state of Missouri will witness the eclipsed sun pass over it. Extreme southwest Kentucky, central Tennessee, northwest Georgia, and North Carolina will also be in the path of the eclipse.

Stargazers must wear a pair of safety spectacles to view the sun during the eclipse. Watching the solar eclipse without proper protection could lead to severe optical damages and blindness.

The skies regularly put on a good show that some people are lucky to see firsthand. If you want to watching an eclipse, comets, and other celestial events you should know when to look toward the heavens. Feb. 10 and 11 will be prime dates in the U.K. to watch the moon change its appearance. The next major astronomical event will occur in North America in August when the sun will be totally eclipsed as it travels across the continent.
Image Source: Pexels

What We Learned from Data Privacy Day

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Smartphone with the Wi-Fi and Mobile Data On

On the Data Privacy Day, cyber security experts advised technology users to take extra measures to protect the personal data stored on their computers and phones.

As risks to data privacy are on the rise, new tools for virtual security are created every day. Cyber security experts advise Internet users to take steps to protect their computer files and online data by learning more about the newest cyber security threats. People falsely believe that simple measures like deleting files can prevent cyber thieves from compromising their data. Experts note that deleting files and emptying recycle bins on devices are not enough to keep data thieves at bay. Computer users must completely eliminate or reformat their files.

The Annual Data Privacy Day: Lessons Learned

People who do not know a lot about computers or mobile technology are often not aware of how to keep their data safe online. They believe a simple measure like moving a file to the recycle bin is all it takes to remove it from their computer. However, computer experts warn newbies that these steps are not enough to get rid of the data entirely. Even after the recycle bin is emptied, the files can still be found and restored.

So, users should invest in software that can completely eliminate files and information from their computers instead. Even simple reformatting may not be enough to get rid of the data completely. Users must pair their computers with devices equipped with the special software. The software can then safely delete the marked files and ensure that they cannot be recovered.

As noted, most inexperienced computer users have no idea of the lengths they must go to when it comes to protecting their virtual information.

Data Privacy Day, held on January 28 every year, aims to educate the public about cyber security risks. Web search engines like Google and Bing joined forces to make these lessons available to anyone who wants to learn more about identity theft, hacking, and other virtual threats. The lessons also come in handy for smartphone users. Many smartphone owners do not realize that their devices can be compromised and their information stolen.

The Newest Data Privacy Risks

So exactly what are the newest risks to your data privacy? You might be aware of some of the older threats like phishing emails or other email scams. You can avoid these threats by deleting the emails or by refusing to click on suspicious email links. The newest threats go beyond simple email links, chain letters, and other widely publicized hacking attempts. According to privacy advocates, government agencies and federal regulations now represent the biggest challenge to keeping your data safe and off limits.

Privacy advocates and governmental entities continue to square off both in courtrooms and public forums about what data agencies like the NSA, FBI, and other organizations should have access to. This question was on everyone’s lips after the San Bernadino shooting when the FBI forced Apple to release one of the shooters’ iPhone files. Apple refused the FBI’s request, leading to a courtroom battle whose ultimate victor was Apple.

This battle was just one facet of the ongoing war between privacy advocates and global governments. The question about what degree of privacy computer and smartphone users like you are entitled to remains hotly debated and yet for the most part unanswered.

It is easy to believe that your computer files and online information are safe. It is also tempting to think that removing files from your computer is as simple as emptying the recycle bin. Cyber security experts point out that these files can be recovered without much effort. Removing data safely requires the use of special software. However, protecting private files can be even more difficult if a government agency like the FBI lays claim to them.
Image Source: Flickr

Younger Americans Start Embracing the Value of Paid Financial Advice

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Paid financial advice for young americans

People are more likely to be successful at managing their expenses and saving for retirement if they can use the services of a good financial advisor. Financial advisors have many roles, ranging from investing to taxes. Traditionally, many people either planned their finances themselves or only hired an investor who would work on commission, but new surveys show that many young Americans value financial advice enough to actually pay for it.

Millennials Express Growing Interest in Paid Financial Advisors

For a long time, Americans had faith in stock market investors, financial advisors, and other economic experts. However, the stock market crash of the 80s spread a feeling of distrust that is only starting to go away now. Many expressed concerns that financial advisors would not look out for the best interests of their clients, and boomers tended to try to manage their own investments.

The current economic market shows a shift towards paying for financial advice among younger Americans. A survey by the asset management research firm, Cerulli Associates, showed that younger people are more willing to hire financial advisors than any other age group. The survey revealed that almost four out of five investors between the ages of 30 and 39 expressed a desire to pay for financial advisors.

Investors under the age of 30 also had a high percentage of investors who either already used or planned to use paid financial advisors. By way of contrast, only 54 percent of investors over the age of 40 will hire a financial advisor even though they tend to be the demographic that can most easily afford financial help. Older investors seem to be more cautious in such matters, because they remember more about previous investment crises caused by unethical advisors.

In the past, many people would only work with an investor who had a commission because they thought that a commission based payment was the only way to protect their investments. However, many big brokerages are starting to shift to a fee-only payment scheme because the public is now more willing to actually pay their advisors. For example, Merrill Lynch announced their elimination of commission based advisors with the headline, “we’re committed to your best interest, not the status quo.”

This seems to follow a general trend among younger Americans who are willing to admit when they do not know how to do something. Instead of following a do-it-yourself ethic that could lead to financial ruin, millennials seem inclined to trust the experts. The millennial tendency to trust intellectuals instead of attempting to bumble through a complicated field on their own may lead to a growing market for economic advisors.

The increase in young Americans who would like to pay a financial advisor for help also seems to indicate a growing trust in the economic industry. Strong government regulations like the fiduciary rule are being implemented, and these help to ensure that financial advisers do not have conflicts of interest that would put investors at risk. The political battle to pass the fiduciary rule raised awareness about how the government could protect people who pay for financial advice.

The Future of Financial Advice

A lot of this willingness to pay financial advisors seems to hinge on the new regulations that were supposed to be finalized in April. However, Republican legislatures are still attempting to block the fiduciary rule with a lengthy delaying movement. Though young millennials still seem to be generally more interested in paying for investment advice, some may back out if the government does not seem likely to protect their investments any more.

Image source: pexels.com/photo/business-signing-writing-writer-24193/

Utah Environmentalists Sue the Discovery Channel

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Diesel Brothers Discovery tv show

Air pollution can potentially harm the health of millions of people, but it can sometimes be difficult to prove whether or not a person is intentionally violating regulations. One group of environmentalists from Utah believes that online videos provide enough evidence to sue members of a reality television show. The members of the “Diesel Brothers” show is being sued because Utah-based physicians believe that their show is teaching people how to illegally modify diesel trucks.

Diesel Brothers Sued for Allegedly Teaching Audience to Violate Pollution Laws

Diesel Brothers is a popular reality television show that follows the antics of a group of diesel truck enthusiasts. The four men, known as Diesel Dave, Heavy D, The Muscle, and Redbeard, modify regular trucks to make them bigger and more powerful. The funny stunts and tricked out trucks have drawn many viewers.

The Diesel Brother’s newfound fame has drawn some unwanted attention to their practices. Truck modification might seem like harmless fun, but many environmentalists are strongly against diesel engines. Diesel engines are responsible for over two thirds of all air pollution emissions in the United States, so there are strict regulations in place.

A group called the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment claims that the Diesel Brothers regularly modify engines to produce more roughly 30 times more pollution than legally allowed. On Tuesday, they filed a lawsuit against all four members of the Diesel Brothers and their Utah based businesses. Executive director of the group, Denni Cawley, said,

It’s hard to think that there is a business that is really making a profit out of putting a health risk for their families and the community.

The lawsuit alleges that the Diesel Brothers (and, by extension, the Discovery Channel) have online videos which teach diesel enthusiasts how to bypass emission’s control systems on diesel trucks. The stars of the reality television show also have an online website where they sell these modified diesel trucks to consumers.

People in Utah report that they keep seeing diesel trucks spouting massive clouds of black smoke near the Diesel Brothers’ shops. This much pollution could be causing many environmental issues in the area. The group suing the reality show members tried to negotiate with the Diesel Brothers before the lawsuit, but they say that the men were never really interested in stopping their behaviors.

The Utah Physicians group is using the United States Clean Air Act as the basis for their lawsuit. This federal law contains comprehensive regulations on air pollutants, and it gives private citizens the right to sue people who have violated the federal air standards and harmed others through this violation.

The Utah Physicians group says that their main goal is not to make money or harm the reality television show, and they just want to stop the production and sale of these illegally modified trucks. In order to win the lawsuit, the Utah Physicians will just need to prove that the Diesel Brothers are violating Utah emissions laws and that this violation is causing problematic pollution in the state. If they win, they can force the Diesel Brothers to comply with state regulations.

What’s Next for the Diesel Brothers and the Discovery Channel

So far the members of the Diesel Brothers have declined to commit on the lawsuit, and the Discovery Channel is still running the show. However, this lawsuit could end up having a very large impact on their fame. The legal precedents behind the lawsuit make it likely that the Utah Physicians could win. Even if the Diesel Brothers are acquitted, this lawsuit could potentially damage the show’s reputation enough to cause a cancellation.

Image source: discovery.com

Charleston Shooter Sentenced to Death by Judge

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Mugshot of Dylann Roof, the Charleston shooter

In 2015, the nation was shocked by the Charleston church shooting at an African Methodist Episcopal Church. A white supremacist murdered nine people during their prayer meeting before being apprehended by law officials. The shooter in the mass killing, Dylan Roof, was just sentenced to death on January 10th. Though many instances of the death penalty result in controversy, there has been a great deal of support for executing the Charleston shooter.

Man Convicted of Mass Shooting Is Sentenced to Death

The Charleston Shooting occurred when Roof entered the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, attended a Bible study with the victims, and then shot several members of the Bible study group at close range. The victims of the Charleston shooting were Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lance, Pastor Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Senator Clementa Pinckney, Tywanza Sanders, Pastor Daniel Simmons, Pastor Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, and Myra Thompson.

Throughout the shooting, the killer shouted racial epithets, and told victims, “I have to do it. You rape our women and you’re taking over our country. And you have to go.” He spared one woman, telling her that she needed to survive so that she could tell others about the incident. Before the shooting, Roof had published a white supremacist manifesto online, and he later wrote another while in prison after the shooting.

Roof was first charged with nine counts of murder and one count of possessing a firearm, and then he was later charged with three attempted murder charges, 12 federal hate crime charges, 12 federal counts of violating a person’s freedom, and 12 civil rights violations. Altogether, 18 of the charges that Roof faced have a potential death penalty sentence. He was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to death in early January.

Throughout the entire legal process, there has been little question of whether or not the shooter was guilty. Most of the controversy was in finding an appropriate punishment for him. There was some uncertainty that the Charleston shooter was mentally competent, so no one knew if he would actually be sentenced to death.

Some speculated that Roof would be declared insane due to his erratic behavior such as firing his defense team. However, multiple competency evaluations found that Roof was mentally competent to stand trial for his crimes. These findings were supported by the shooter, who released statements claiming that “there’s nothing wrong with me psychologically.”

The sentence of the death penalty is somewhat surprising because execution is becoming rare even in very heinous crimes. However, Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina called for prosecutors to seek the death penalty due to the killer’s premeditated plan of a mass shooting. His lack of remorse and desire to start a race war further influenced the decision to sentence him to death.

This new trend towards increasing death penalties may be related to the increase in mass shootings over the past decade. Strict consequences may be viewed as a deterrent for people who wish to make a political statement with a shooting, and there is little public sympathy for killers in these cases. Mass shootings also tend to have clearly defined shooters, so there is less of a concern about wrongly convicted innocents being executed.

The Road to Execution Will Be Lengthy

Despite his clear expressions of guilt, the Charleston shooter has plans to appeal his sentence. Some theorize that he is either mentally disabled or just wants to draw more public attention to his case. If the killer continues to appeal his case, years could be spent in bureaucracy and more trials. Even though he has been sentenced to death, it will be quite some time before the shooter is actually executed.

Image source: Charleston County Sheriff’s Office

A Discovery in Zika Affected Brains Could Lead to a Treatment

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Mosquito, Zika virus carrier

Though it has been around for years, the public has just started to gain awareness of Zika because it is spreading rapidly. When the virus traveled from isolated islands to South America, it started to cause many issues. It is normally almost harmless in adults, but it can cause severe brain damage in infants or immunocompromised people. New research offers some hope for people who have been infected with the virus.

Researchers Find Way to Reduce Likelihood of Brain Damage

Zika has become one of the most concerning diseases in modern times because it can sometimes cause a truly shocking symptom. Women can be infected with Zika without ever having symptoms, but if they become pregnant in the next few months, their infants can be born with microcephaly, a condition that results in severely malformed and shrunken brains.

The most common ways Zika spreads are the following: sexual intercourse, mosquito bites, and blood transfusions. It’s very easy for pregnant women to come into contact with this virus. Unfortunately, there is no way to treat a child that is born with microcephaly. New research provides some hope for pregnant women who have gotten the Zika virus.

A team of researchers at the Aix-Marseille University of France has found a way to potentially block Zika from interfering with a fetus’ brain development. This new information was just published in the January edition of the Cell Reports journal. It finally reveals the precise mechanism that Zika uses to damage developing brains.

It was already known that Zika causes microcephaly by entering individual brain cells. Once it is in the cells, the Zika virus prevents the brain cells from generating new neurons, and if this happens while a fetus is developing, then the fetus can be born without a complete brain. Until the new research was published, scientists were not certain how Zika was actually managing to get into the cells in the first place.

The disease brought on by the virus is harmless if the immune system can promptly respond and fight against the it. The Symptoms one would experience should not surmount those of a simple flu. Still, it turns out that the virus uses a protein response to stop the immune system from defeating it. Zika uses the AXL protein to circumvent the immune system and deposit the virus into host cells. The research showed that the virus is using AXL proteins as an entry point into developing brains.

The findings of the study may be used to develop a method of preventing pregnant women from giving birth to children with microcephaly. It is now necessary to find a treatment method that can safely block AXL protein expression, but this may prove difficult. Lead researcher, Professor Xavier de Lamballerie, cautions that it might be hard to safely block Zika from using AXL proteins without harming other essential bodily mechanisms.

This incredibly useful information was discovered because the EU donated 30 million euros to scientific research as part of their effort to stop the devastating impact of the virus. Not only does it show that pregnant women with Zika may still be able to give birth to healthy infants, but it also shows that increased research funding can be an effective way of dealing with world health crises.

The Next Steps for Zika Researchers

The new understanding about how this horrible virus damages the brain may help doctors to treat pregnant women and prevent them from giving birth to children with microcephaly. It can be used to develop new medications and treatments eventually. Though researchers are excited by the potential of this discovery, they are still mostly focused on reducing the disease’s spread. Avoiding infection in the first place will prevent women from needing innovative Zika cures.

Photo by frankieleon, available under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Gmail Will Start Blocking JavaScript Attachments

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Gmail account

Gmail will purge Javascript attachments from all incoming emails in a bid to stop potential hackers.

With hacking attacks proliferating and making front page headlines around the world, Google is taking another step to improve cybersecurity for Gmail users by cleansing emails in Gmail of JavaScript attachments. The change, which goes into effect this month, is designed to prevent a nightmare for many computer users: clicking on a link that allows hackers run a script and cause potential devastating damage on a computer or a network.

Hacking Concerns Brought to the Fore, Especially In 2016 Elections 

While cyber attacks and intrusions have been a staple of life on the Internet since the web became truly worldwide, public attention to hacking and other bad acts in cyber space has surged in recent years. The media has focused on massive breaches in which millions of accounts were compromised, such as mass hacking of information contained in email accounts at Yahoo, as well more specific but high-profile incidents, like the intrusions that targeted the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta.

In many hacking cases, like that targeting Podesta, the source of the intrusion was a link attached to a fraudulent email that handed personal information directly to a hacker. For instance, Podesta’s assistants, who managed his email account, received a so-called “spearfishing” link that prompted the user to change their Gmail password when clicked. When Podesta and his team typed in that information, it was copied by hackers who were able to quickly gain access to his emails. The hacking was blown into the open when the contents of the emails were given to Wikileaks for public release. (A formal investigation was conducted by the Intelligence Community after the election and concluded that Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, were behind the hacking.)

While “spearfishing” is relatively unsophisticated, more nefarious actors have been able to gain access to accounts and even entire operating systems through similar tactics. A November 2016 Vanity Fair article details the underworld of cyber attackers, many of whom are for hire by foreign governments or malicious organizations or individuals. Those hackers reportedly develop new techniques to penetrate computers and networks and steal sensitive information on a constant basis.

Among the techniques profiled in the Vanity Fair article there is a commercially-developed malware that overtakes an iPhone and allows the hackers to track all of the content and activity on the phone. Such a cyber attack would be particularly useful for an authoritarian government that wants to spy on its own citizens and closely monitor the activities of dissidents.

To stay ahead of the threat, major technology companies devote a tremendous amount of resources to dismantle tools that hackers normally use. Google’s decision to block JavaScript attachments is designed to prevent hackers or spammers from using a JavaScript attachment to trick an email recipient into clicking a link that could then implant hostile or harmful programs on a computer or device.

However, since JavaScript is vital to the operation of many businesses, Google isn’t banning the attachments entirely; they can still be sent in the more secure environments of Google Drive and Google Cloud Storage.

Users, Providers Must Partner for Security

To stay one step ahead of hackers and other hostile actors, computer and phone users must stay vigilant and avoid clicking on malicious links or opening attachments from unknown or untrustworthy senders.

At the same time, key technology companies like Google and Internet service providers must take proactive steps to shutter vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to compromise personal information or steal other valuable content from users.
Image Source: Flickr

Trump’s Immigration Order Sparks Nationwide Protests

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Trump protesters rally aginst Trump's immigration policies

Trump’s executive order to bar Muslim refugees from entering the U.S. was met with nationwide protests. Photo credit: Ted Eytan/Flickr

Intense protests started nationwide over the weekend and early this week because of President Donald Trump’s executive order to halt the admission of refugees and boost the vetting of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. With many on the left denouncing the policy as a “Muslim ban” and some refugees being held at airports, thousands of people gathered outside airports in cities like New York, while Democratic lawmakers staged a protest on the steps of the Supreme Court in Washington.

Order Rollout Marred By Protests, Airport Chaos 

Promises to limit refugee admission and specifically target immigration from Muslim majority countries were a staple of Trump’s rhetoric on the campaign trail. During the presidential race, the billionaire frequently railed against “stupid” immigration policies that he claimed led to terrorist attacks such as the San Bernardino shootings in December 2015 and the Orlando nightclub massacre in June 2016.

With the assistance of a team of policy advisors who normally work for conservatives in the House of Representatives, Trump’s team began drafting the outline of the immigration order during the presidential transition. (House Democrats are now pushing for an investigation as to whether that collaboration between executive and legislative staffers was legal.)

The plan was fully developed in the first week of the new administration but the order was abruptly announced on Friday afternoon. While Trump deployed his typical rhetorical flourishes to accompany the announcement, the rollout was botched from the start. For starters, key officials such as John Kelly, a former general who is now serving as Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security, had never been briefed on the order before it was announced.

As Customs and Border Protection staff struggled to make sense of the order, the immediate effects were felt at airports across the country. While Trump’s executive order specifically applied to all refugees and targeted immigrants from overwhelmingly Muslim countries, confused border patrol agents stopped immigrants who fell far outside the scope of the order.

Hundreds of international travelers, immigrants, and refugees were held at airports and more were detained as planes landed on Friday night. In some cases, they were denied access to lawyers or contact with family members. In the meantime, attorneys from advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stepped in, as did Democratic Senators, and members of Congress.

In a scene that played out across the country, two Democratic Representatives from New York, Jerrold Nadler and Nydia Velazquez, went to the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City to meet with the families of immigrants and refugees being detained at the airport. There Nadler and Velazquez tried to persuade border patrol agents to grant the families’ access to their relatives. With news coverage of the members of Congress at the airport, huge crowds gathered around airfields in mostly peaceful demonstrations.

Protests at airports continued even after the ACLU secured an injunction from a federal judge who halted some key parts of the Trump order, which was widely hailed as a victory for the demonstrators. In Washington D.C., on the other hand, House and Senate Democrats gathered on the steps of the Supreme Court for their own candlelight protest.

Despite Opposition, Order Hinges On Court Verdicts

However, as the chaos of implementation has been abated, so did the large public protests. Trump publicly defended the order along with many senior figures in the Republican Party, such as House Speaker Paul Ryan (R.-WI).

With few Republicans falling in line with the protesters, it seems unlikely for the kind of legislative challenge Democrats have supported to emerge. That leaves the courts as the only remaining avenue for immigrants and refugees to challenge the order. Several cases are pending across the country.
Image Source: Flickr

Is Neil Gorsuch a Good Pick for the Supreme Court?

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The U.S. Supreme Court

Will another strong conservative at the Supreme Court make a wise pick?

In what will likely be one of the most consequential decisions of his presidency, President Donald Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch, a judge on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, on Tuesday to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The announcement – made at a lavish White House ceremony – fulfills Trump’s campaign promise to quickly nominate a strong conservative to fill a seat left vacant for nearly a year after the death of justice Antonin Scalia.

Trump Taps Gorsuch to Fill Scalia Vacancy

Justice Scalia’s death last February sparked the first Supreme Court vacancy since Elena Kagan filled John Paul Stevens’ seat in 2010. Immediately after Scalia’s death, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced that the seat would remain vacant until the newly-elected President was inaugurated. This way, McConnell denied President Barack Obama the opportunity to fill the seat with a more liberal nominee.

Obama picked District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals judge Merrick Garland for the job, but Senate Republicans sided with McConnell on the issue and refused vote on the Garland nomination. With Garland stuck in the Senate, then-presidential candidate Trump announced a list of conservative justices that he would consider for the vacancy, if elected.

The Supreme Court vacancy proved to be a galvanizing point for conservatives and Republicans. Many evangelical Christians, who were otherwise disturbed by Trump’s behavior, decided to support him over his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton due to the prospect that he would appoint a staunch conservative to the highest court in the land.

An additional conservative vote besides those of staunch right-leaning justices Samuel Alito, John Roberts, and Clarence Thomas and that of right-tilting justice Anthony Kennedy would help shift the Supreme Court’s balance on key issues like abortion and gay rights, potentially leading to the reversal of Roe v. Wade.

It seems that Trump has found just that conservative voice and vote he wants in Judge Gorsuch. The new SCOTUS nominee boasts an elite pedigree, having obtained an undergraduate degree from Columbia before picking up a Harvard law degree. After graduation, Gorsuch served as a Supreme Court law clerk – a highly prestigious position – for Justice Kennedy and the late Justice Byron White.

After practicing as civil lawyer in Washington and then serving a brief stint in the Justice Department under President George W. Bush, he was nominated for the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2006. The Denver-based federal court is just on level of the judiciary below the Supreme Court.

On the 10th Circuit, Judge Gorsuch received considerable praise for his strong legal mind and a collegial attitude. Fellow judges and attorneys who practiced alongside him, have lauded his intellect and his well-written opinions, many of which are written in a language plain enough to be accessible to the general public.

However, many liberals have expressed serious concerns about Judge Gorsuch’s political views. In his book “The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia,” Judge Gorsuch made comments that appeared to indicate support for overturning Roe v. Wade. He is also the author of a Hobby Lobby decision that hammered a federal requirement from employers to provide female employees with access to contraception regardless of their religious views on birth control.

Senate Confirmation Battle Looms

While barely any Democrat has challenged Judge Gorsuch’s basic qualifications to serve on the Supreme Court, many have raised serious concerns about the possibility that he will steer the court rightward.

Under the rules stemming from the time Democrats controlled the U.S. Senate, 60 votes are required to confirm a Supreme Court nominee. With only 52 Republicans in the Senate, eight Democrats will have to be persuaded to vote for Gorsuch or McConnell. If they reach a deadlock, Republicans might consider invoking the “nuclear option” and change Senate rules.
Image Source: Flickr

Twitter Has Just Sold Its Developer Platform to Google

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Artistic concept of Twitter

Twitter recently sold its developer platform, Fabric, to Google Inc for an undisclosed amount of money.

As one of the world’s largest multinational tech company, Google brings in around $75 billion in revenue every year. Even so, it is constantly on the lookout for new products and services that it can buy from other companies in a bid to better its own. Last year, Google took advantage of the technology that was invented and frequently used by one of the largest social networking companies. It will now use that program to its own advantage.

Google’s Purchase of Twitter’s Fabric

Twitter has invented an developer platform called Fabric that became immensely popular with companies throughout the world. Before Google purchased it, thousands of businesses used it to create and launch their mobile apps that helped them expand businesses’ growth and visibility on new markets.

Fabric piqued the curiosity of Google so much that the tech giant eventually purchased it from Twitter for an undisclosed amount of money. The purchase gave Google access to the platform and all of the technology that it entailed. However, it did not include a personnel transfer. Twitter will keep its own leaders with the exception of Rich Paret who will join Google to take over Fabric.

What does this mean for Google?

As the world’s most frequently used search engine, Google will presumably turn Fabric into its premier entity for app creation. Google might also combine Fabric with its other desktop and mobile website building resources like Keywords. App developers now have a one-shop stop for all of their website creation needs without having to waste their time, energy, and money on separate resources. Moreover, Google, will certainly boost its already impressive annual revenue and could soon pull rank with top tech companies like Apple and Samsung. Just as it acquired Fabric from Twitter, the web search giant might also be on the next best tech purchase from other social media companies.

The Rise of New Social Media in 2017

While Twitter and Facebook continue to reign the world of social networking, their days might be numbered with the rise of social media platforms like Snapchat. In fact, many of the youngest social media users, dubbed Generation Z, sense websites such as Twitter and Facebook are outdatedas tey are accessed by older people. They do not want to share Internet space with their parents – the Gen X-ers – and grandparents – the Baby Boomers. As a result, Snapchat has become increasingly popular with the Gen Z audience primarily because their parents, grandparents, and even some Millennials have yet to catch onto it.

Snapchat is so successful that it has recently filed for its initial public offering (IPO). It is now estimated to go public in March. If it manages to secure its own IPO, it could become a breakout tech company like Google proved to be in 2005 when it went public. Also, if it continues to remain the favorite of the newest generation of social media users while securing a constant growth, it could soon dethrone longstanding favorites like Twitter and Facebook. Both of these social media companies could share the fate of MySpace if Snapchat overtakes them.

The rise of Snapchat is one tech story to follow closely in 2017. The Venice, Calif-based company might soon morph into one of the largest multinational tech companies in the world, even taking a place alongside giants like Google.  On the other hand, experts think Google will retain its position as one of the most powerful tech companies in the world thanks in part to its purchase of Twitter’s Fabric.
Image Source: Flickr

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