January 19 and 20, 2016


News Clips For The Day


http://www.cbsnews.com/news/detroit-public-schools-close-teacher-sick-out/

Most of Detroit's public schools close amid teacher sick-out
AP January 20, 2016


DETROIT -- Most of Detroit's public schools closed for the day on Wednesday due to teacher absences, as disgruntled educators stepped up efforts to protest the governor's plans for the district, its ramshackle finances and dilapidated buildings.


Play VIDEO
Detroit teachers sick out to protest school conditions

Detroit Public Schools said more than 85 of its roughly 100 schools were shut. On Tuesday night, a group advocating for change at city schools known as Detroit Teachers Strike to Win warned of closures and said protests were planned Wednesday.

On Tuesday night, Gov. Rick Snyder again pushed state lawmakers to pass bills to overhaul the school district by splitting it in two, spending more than $700 million over a decade, warning of a potential bankruptcy. Already, the district is run by an emergency manager appointed by the Republican governor.

Teacher and activist Steve Conn said in a statement that Snyder is "attacking public education in Detroit."

The closings also come the same day that President Obama plans to visit Detroit with a tour of the North American International Auto Show to highlight progress in the city and the auto industry. A rally and picket by teachers is planned outside downtown's Cobo Center, where the tour will take place.

The district said it has no choice but to close schools when teachers don't report to work. It said those who don't call in sick still were required to report to their buildings Wednesday.

Detroit has about 46,000 students. More than 60 schools were closed Jan. 11 because of an absence of teachers. Other sick-outs affecting a smaller number of schools have taken place. In response, city officials have started inspecting schools for possible code and safety violations.


SPECIFIC TEACHER GRIEVANCES


http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2016/01/teacher_complaints_of_black_mo.html
Teacher complaints of black mold in Detroit schools attract concern

Update: Duggan told the Associated Press after touring schools Tuesday that he saw a dead mouse, cold children wearing coats in classrooms and a warped gym floor. He said the schools he visited with building safety officials were a "mixed bag," with some in good shape. . . . . I encourage the teachers to end the sick-outs and remain in the schools, and I encourage our state officials to move quickly to address these pressing educational problems," Duggan said in a statement. . . . Teachers have reported problems with mold, rodents, cockroaches, plumbing, heating and cooling and overcrowding. . . . . "Far too many classrooms are overcrowded, creating conditions that are not even safe, let alone conducive to learning... We have been set up to fail in every way. The successes that happen in classrooms every day, both academic and emotional, largely go unseen, and most cannot be measured or displayed on a data wall."



This is one aspect of what happens when Republicans and other “conservatives” follow their stated goal of letting the public schools “die on the vine.” Let’s face it, if kids’ parents can’t pay a high tuition to schools of a better quality, that’s just too bad. Republicans don’t care what happens to the people in the US if they need help financially, and they don’t actually want an educated populace. They are harder to control.



http://www.cbsnews.com/news/billionaire-environmentalist-undecided-on-clinton-open-to-sanders/

Billionaire environmentalist undecided on Clinton, open to Sanders
By REENA FLORES CBS NEWS
January 20, 2016

Photograph -- Tom Steyer speaks at Global Green USA's Millennium Awards at Fairmont Miramar Hotel on June 8, 2013 in Santa Monica, California benefiting the places, the people and the planet in need. CHARLEY GALLAY, GETTY IMAGES FOR GLOBAL GREEN


Billionaire and environmental activist Tom Steyer isn't set on backing Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, and he's open to throwing his weight behind underdog Bernie Sanders.

"Our real goal has been not to support any one candidate, but to emphasize and highlight the issue [of climate change] so that the candidates can lay out their solutions and so the American people can have a chance to make a decision," Steyer said in an interview with Reuters published Wednesday.

Steyer, a Democratic megadonor who made his billions as a hedge fund manager, changed the political calculus on climate change during 2014's midterm elections. His super PAC, NextGen Climate Action Committee, funneled millions backing candidates that proposed aggressive climate agendas and opposed the Keystone XL pipeline (three of whom won). Steyer, giving over $50 million to his super PAC, was the largest donor during that midterm cycle.

"We have always come out and supported the climate champion," Steyer said. "The idea that for some reason we wouldn't do that, I'd have to understand why in hell we didn't. Because that has been our practice always."

Of Clinton, Steyer doesn't believe the Democratic front-runner has "fully fleshed out everything she has to say about energy and climate."

"I think that as the campaign goes on, I would imagine she will put out more detailed plans of exactly what she thinks," he said. "I don't find what she's said inadequate, but I don't think it's complete yet."

Last year, Clinton drew praise for her climate change action plan from Steyer, which he called an "ambitious framework" that positioned the former secretary of state as a "strong leader in solving the climate crisis."

Clinton's proposals called for an increase in the use of solar and wind energy, setting a benchmark for every American home to be powered by renewable fuel sources by 2027.

Steyer has raised money for Clinton in the past, holding a fundraiser last year at his San Francisco home for the Democrat.

Still, Sanders' climate plans, which include a more dramatic push away from fossil fuels and proposals to ban hydraulic fracking, seem to align more closely with the billionaire's own stated climate goals.

And new poll show the Vermont senator with strong chances in the early-nominating contests of Iowa and New Hampshire. A CNN/WMUR poll released Tuesday found Sanders leading Clinton by 27 points in the Granite State.

Sanders, however, has repeatedly said that his presidential campaign would not accept big money donations from super PACs.

But Steyer said the senator's views on super PACs "certainly wouldn't disqualify him for us, I can tell you that."

"What Bernie Sanders is talking about, which is trying to get back to a more perfect democracy, is something that we support too," Steyer said. "We just think that the idea of ... wishing the rules were different and then pretending they were, is something which, unfortunately, probably would be disastrous from the standpoint of energy and climate."



"Our real goal has been not to support any one candidate, but to emphasize and highlight the issue [of climate change] so that the candidates can lay out their solutions and so the American people can have a chance to make a decision," Steyer said in an interview with Reuters published Wednesday. …. His super PAC, NextGen Climate Action Committee, funneled millions backing candidates that proposed aggressive climate agendas and opposed the Keystone XL pipeline (three of whom won). Steyer, giving over $50 million to his super PAC, was the largest donor during that midterm cycle. …. . "I don't find what she's said inadequate, but I don't think it's complete yet." Last year, Clinton drew praise for her climate change action plan from Steyer, which he called an "ambitious framework" that positioned the former secretary of state as a "strong leader in solving the climate crisis." Clinton's proposals called for an increase in the use of solar and wind energy, setting a benchmark for every American home to be powered by renewable fuel sources by 2027. …. A CNN/WMUR poll released Tuesday found Sanders leading Clinton by 27 points in the Granite State. Sanders, however, has repeatedly said that his presidential campaign would not accept big money donations from super PACs. But Steyer said the senator's views on super PACs "certainly wouldn't disqualify him for us, I can tell you that." …. . "We just think that the idea of ... wishing the rules were different and then pretending they were, is something which, unfortunately, probably would be disastrous from the standpoint of energy and climate."


“… wishing the rules were different and then pretending they were….” That could be applied to any visionary or purist, which I do consider Sanders to be; and using the down and dirty, old fashioned “go along to get along” will seem to many to be more effective because we do get something passed that way. I just all too frequently don’t like what was passed. While I can see that reasoning, therefore, I unfortunately don’t see Clinton as pursuing the changes that I want to see put forward within the next four to eight years. Free four year degrees at state schools for all in state students is more like it.

The far right needs to be defeated soundly and the percentage of liberal thinking legislators in both Federal and state forums increased. A massive outpouring of liberals at all elections could produce that result. Voter apathy is one of our main problems in the Democratic Party. It would also be of help to eliminate the filibuster as an allowable maneuver to delay discussion or voting and the gerrymander for the purpose of invalidating black, poor and other minority voting. I would respect governmental bodies more if they would stop all the time wasting and game playing, discuss the particular issue honestly and thoroughly and then vote, for heaven’s sake.


Addendum – forums vs fora -- http://www.mediacollege.com/internet/forum/forums-vs-fora.html

“Fora is sometimes cited as the correct plural for forum. Although it is indeed correct, there is some debate over whether it is the only correct pluralisation. Most online dictionaries provide both fora and forums as acceptable terms.

You will notice that we use the plural forums here at MediaCollege.com. This is for two reasons:
1.It appears to be acceptable English.
2.It is the pragmatic solution.

Whilst we are against most forms of language dumbing-down, we are also against unnecessary complication. Everyone knows and understands the word forums. Most people don't know what fora means. There is almost no chance of changing that situation significantly, no matter how hard the purists might want to. Like the failed Esperanto language, we believe reality wins over idealism. It's sad but inescapably true.

We don't believe it makes sense to promote fora as the "correct" pluralisation because it creates confusion, offers no real benefit, and can't work anyway so it's pointless trying.”


I defend my right to say forums as long as supposedly well-educated people insist on saying “Aren’t I?” That is one of the most annoying things I ever hear. It keeps popping up because teachers and parents have punished the use of “ain’t I,” a good old fashioned British contraction of the phrase “am not,” without as thoroughly teaching the difference between singular and plural. See “www.quora.com/What-is-the-origin-of-the-word-aint.”



http://www.cbsnews.com/news/uk-police-muslim-boy-terrorist-house-misspelling-terraced-house/

Muslim boy's spelling mistake leads to terrorism probe
AP January 20, 2016

Photograph -- Typical British terraced housing is seen in Smethwick, Birmingham. ISTOCK


LONDON -- Police have dropped an investigation of a 10-year-old Muslim boy who mistakenly wrote that he lived in a "terrorist house" rather than a "terraced house" - a British term for row houses.

The boy's school had notified authorities about his statement because of a law requiring schools to report any possible links to extremism.

Lancashire Police said in a statement Wednesday that a police officer and a social worker visited the boy at his home in Accrington because of the misspelling.

Police said: "There were not thought to be any areas for concern and no further action was required by any agency."

The boy's name has not been released.



This is a sad statement about our times, but all we can do is deal with each possible threat fairly. The British authorities did what was needed without making a rumpus about it. I do like the “Brits.”



http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hillary-clinton-had-emails-on-server-more-classified-than-top-secret/

Hillary Clinton had emails on server more classified than top secret
By NANCY CORDES, REBECCA KAPLAN
CBS NEWS
January 19, 2016


Photograph -- Hillary Clinton answers questions from reporters March 10, 2015 at the United Nations in New York. Clinton admitted Tuesday that she made a mistake in choosing for convenience not to use an official email account when she was secretary of state. DON EMMERT/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Play VIDEO -- Hillary Clinton on emails: “There was no transmission of classified information”


Hillary Clinton's private email server contained information that was classified at a higher level than "top secret," the inspector general of the intelligence community told members of Congress in a letter obtained by CBS News.

The server Clinton used as secretary of state contained "several dozen emails containing classified information determined by the [intelligence community] element to be at the CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, and TOP SECRET/SAP levels," the inspector general, Charles McCullough, wrote in the letter, which was first reported by Fox News. "SAP" stands for special access programs, which carry a classification level higher than top secret.

Former CIA Director David Petraeus was sentenced to two years' probation and fined $100,000 for sharing similarly classified information with Paula Broadwell, his biographer and mistress.

The FBI is currently investigating whether State Department officials improperly included classified material in email correspondence with Clinton. The State Department and the intelligence community have at times clashed over how the material on her server should be classified, with the State Department arguing it is less sensitive than the intelligence community insists.

Her campaign press secretary, Brian Fallon, reiterated what Clinton has said for months: no classified information was sent or received through her private email server.

"This is the same interagency dispute that has been playing out for months, and it does not change the fact that these emails were not classified at the time they were sent or received," he said. "It is alarming that the intelligence community [inspector general], working with Republicans in Congress, continues to selectively leak materials in order to resurface the same allegations and try to hurt Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. The Justice Department's inquiry should be allowed to proceed without any further interference."

The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Dianne Feinstein, had a similar response, calling the story "nothing new."

"None of the emails that are alleged to contain classified information were written by Secretary Clinton. The question of whether she received emails with classified information has nothing to do with any action taken by Secretary Clinton," she said. "Additionally, none of the emails that were sent to Secretary Clinton were marked as including classified information, a requirement when such information is transmitted."

Feinstein said the inspector general was being used for "baldly partisan attacks."

An earlier version of this story referred to the inspector general of the Intelligence Committee. It has been updated to reflect that the inspector general is for the intelligence community.



“The FBI is currently investigating whether State Department officials improperly included classified material in email correspondence with Clinton. The State Department and the intelligence community have at times clashed over how the material on her server should be classified, with the State Department arguing it is less sensitive than the intelligence community insists. …. "This is the same interagency dispute that has been playing out for months, and it does not change the fact that these emails were not classified at the time they were sent or received," he said. "It is alarming that the intelligence community [inspector general], working with Republicans in Congress, continues to selectively leak materials in order to resurface the same allegations and try to hurt Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. The Justice Department's inquiry should be allowed to proceed without any further interference." …. "None of the emails that are alleged to contain classified information were written by Secretary Clinton. The question of whether she received emails with classified information has nothing to do with any action taken by Secretary Clinton," she said.”


It does look as though the Tea Party, Koch Brothers, et al are probably afraid of Hillary Clinton. They’ve said relatively little to discredit Sanders, comparatively speaking, though he is a smart dude, very popular and a tough fighter. There was an article yesterday in which he was lambasted by Clinton’s side for his support of legislation opposing gun control some six or so times down through the years. That could be a serious problem for him, but it is just one negative factor. I think he still has a chance to beat her. She possibly is more likely to win in the national election, due to Sanders’ “Democratic Socialist” moniker, but I’m not ever certain about that. To many of us it seems that this is a time in our history when a good, honest Democratic Socialist may be exactly what we need.

In my opinion these multiple claims about Hillary’s infamous emails are getting exceedingly tiresome to Democrats, and possibly to Independents or moderate Republicans, also. I do think that a fair number of moderate Republicans may refuse to support Trump with their vote, since several have refused to support his radical statements. Whether they would vote for a Democrat is another question.



http://www.cbsnews.com/news/glenn-frey-guitarist-of-the-eagles-dies-at-67/

Glenn Frey, guitarist of the Eagles, dies at 67
By ANDREA PARK CBS NEWS
January 18, 2016

Photograph -- The band members in 1977: Don Henley, drums; Joe Walsh, guitar; Randy Meisner, bass; Glenn Frey, guitar; and Don Felder, guitar. AP
Photograph -- Musician Glenn Frey poses for pictures during the 29th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York in this April 10, 2014 file photo. Guitarist Glenn Frey, a founding member of rock band the Eagles, died in New York on Monday at age 67, the band said on its website. REUTERS/CARLO ALLEGRI
Video -- Don Henley: Trump went over fine line between pride and arrogance


Glenn Frey, a founding member and guitarist of the Eagles, has died at 67.

His family released a statement on the Eagles' website, saying:

"Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia. The Frey family would like to thank everyone who joined Glenn to fight this fight and hoped and prayed for his recovery. Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community & millions of fans worldwide."


The family also thanked fans for their support, and posted the lyrics to the Eagles song "It's Your World Now," which was co-written by Frey. The lyrics include, "Be part of something good; leave something good behind."

Frey was born in Detroit and was raised in its suburbs. His solo hits include "The Heat Is On" and "Smuggler's Blues." An Eagles greatest hits collection from the mid-1970s and "Hotel California" are among the best-selling albums in history.

2016-01-18t222950z1310038456tm3ec1i1ciw01rtrmadp3people-glennfrey.jpg
Musician Glenn Frey poses for pictures during the 29th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York in this April 10, 2014 file photo. Guitarist Glenn Frey, a founding member of rock band the Eagles, died in New York on Monday at age 67, the band said on its website. REUTERS/CARLO ALLEGRI

Frey was lead vocalist on the Eagles' breakthrough hit, "Take It Easy," a song mostly written by Jackson Browne that came out in 1972. His other showcases included "Peaceful Easy Feeling," ''Already Gone" and "New Kid in Town."

Bandmate Don Henley said, "He was like a brother to me ... We were two young men who made the pilgrimage to Los Angeles with the same dream: to make our mark in the music industry -- and with perseverance, a deep love of music, our alliance with other great musicians and our manager, Irving Azoff, we built something that has lasted longer than anyone could have dreamed. But, Glenn was the one who started it all. He was the spark plug, the man with the plan. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and a work ethic that wouldn't quit."

Frey underwent surgery in November. The Eagles were supposed to play at the Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 6, but canceled because of Frey's declining health. At the time, the band released a statement saying Frey "has had a recurrence of previous intestinal issues, which will require major surgery and a lengthy recovery period."

The band members in 1977: Don Henley, drums; Joe Walsh, guitar; Randy Meisner, bass; Glenn Frey, guitar; and Don Felder, guitar. AP
Frey co-founded the Eagles with Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit in 1971, releasing their first studio album, "Eagles," in 1972.

When "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft asked Frey the secret to the band's staying power, he answered, "Take It Easy, Witchy Woman, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Desperado, Tequila Sunrise, Already Gone, Best of My Love, One of These Nights, Lying Eyes, Take It to the Limit, Hotel California, Life in the Fast Lane, New Kid in Town, I Can't Tell You Why, The Long Run, Heartache Tonight."

He said that even after the band's rough patches, the members remained friends.

"You know, we're in business together. We're in the business of song - we will forever be associated. You know, we might as well get along," Frey said. "You know, because there's no getting away from each other."

Frey co-wrote and sang most of the band's hits, like "Take it Easy" and "Hotel California." The band won six Grammys.

After the Eagles broke up in 1980, Frey embarked on a solo career, releasing "No Fun Aloud" in 1982. Frey found success with several Top 40 hits, including "The Heat is On."

The Eagles reunited in 1994 and released an album in 2007, called "Long Road Out of Eden," which opened at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and went platinum.

Frey said of recording new music, "Well weren't gonna, we were gonna be done. We'd been the guardians of the Eagles legacy for some time now and I wouldn't wanna have it end - you know you're just sort of doing a caricature of yourself, your just doing a tribute to yourself. We either had to fold our tent or make a record. And fortunately, and I'm so glad we did, we decided to make a record."

After "Long Road Out of Eden," Frey recorded another solo album, called "After Hours" in 2012.


Some of my favorite rock songs were produced by The Eagles. They are like the Everly Brothers in their smooth harmony and gentle sound. They also contained in several selections an emotionality equal to some of the best, for instance the Beatles, when they were not doing pure rock ‘n’ roll like “I want to hold your hand” or “When I’m 64.” It is disturbing me lately to see several of “my generation’s” performers dying now. The late 60s on into the 80s was a truly great, if informal, period of music. Many of the singers and musicians of that time were excellent in their skills and highly creative.

It was also largely a grassroots movement in music, rather than an outgrowth of expensive Eastern conservatories. Though some rock stars had that sort of University training, many began in their garage with an electric guitar, a drummer and a singer or two. Musical talent is one of those things which is less intellectual than it is a result of feelings. You “have it” or you don’t. That’s what makes music so very powerful in evoking emotion in the listener. It is used in psychotherapy sometimes, which isn’t surprising. The workings of the human intelligence are really varied and mysterious. Studying artistic subjects didn’t make me wealthy, but it did make me more perceptive and personally creative. Art is very, very therapeutic and the idea of removing those courses and activities from the high schools to “save money” sickens me.

Due to the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, The Women’s Movement and the rise of powerful if not entirely new liberal ideas, the atmosphere in the country among the young was one of hope combined with dread. Hope for a new and better society, and dread of the already visible “vast right wing conspiracy” beginning with the John Birch Society. I went through a period when I thought we had made progress – and we did up to a point – but it has been combined with a constant battle against the White Power and states’ rights groups. The same class consciousness and greed that dominated the right at that time is still active, and possibly more so. It’s a war that isn’t over and may in reality be the same old, built in struggle of good versus evil of the human psyche. My pledge is to continue that war, hopefully on the side of good.





http://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-nuclear-deal-goes-into-effect/

Iran nuclear deal goes into effect; what happens now?
By MARGARET BRENNAN CBS NEWS
January 18, 2016

Photograph -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, left, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini arrive at the United Nations building in Vienna, Austria, Jan. 16, 2016. REUTERS/LEONHARD FOEGER
Play VIDEO -- Americans released from Iran begin journey home
Photograph -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, left, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini arrive at the United


The release of the Americans from Iran was a secret bargain negotiated while the United States was leading talks to dismantle Iran's nuclear weapons program.

The nuclear deal went into effect this weekend. Iran agreed to suspend its program for at least 10 years.

"We have now cut off every single path that Iran could have used to build a bomb," President Obama said Sunday.

President Obama on Sunday hailed the administration's nuclear deal with Iran. It went into effect over the weekend, after Iran made good ahead of schedule on its promise to disable key nuclear facilities.

But what did Iran have to give up?

Iran transferred 25,000 pounds of atomic fuel to Russia, mothballed 12,000 centrifuges which can enrich Uranium, and poured concrete into a plutonium reactor -- rendering it useless. U.N. weapons inspectors will now be on the ground watching whether Iran cheats.

In exchange, the White House lifted sanctions, allowing Iran access to $100 billion in assets. Iranian businesses are no longer locked out of global markets. Iran's ships are free to sail into foreign ports, and it can buy or sell goods like oil.

On Monday, Tehran issues an order to immediately pump 500,000 additional barrels of oil a day -- a move that could further drive down its price in a market already glutted with too much supply.

"We recognize that there remain profound differences between the United States and Iran," President Obama said.

But challenges remain. Just last week, the Iranian Military detained ten Navy sailors at gunpoint. Iran is still considered a state-sponsor of terrorism. And last fall, it twice illegally tested ballistic missiles, which can carry nuclear warheads.

Just after the American prisoners were released on Sunday, President Obama unveiled limited sanctions on Iran because of those launches.

The White House says the next test will be whether Iran helps end the war in Syria, a conflict it fuels with fighters and funds. At this point, there are no plans to reestablish formal diplomatic relations with Tehran and it is not clear what happens when President Obama leaves office.



“The release of the Americans from Iran was a secret bargain negotiated while the United States was leading talks to dismantle Iran's nuclear weapons program. The nuclear deal went into effect this weekend. Iran agreed to suspend its program for at least 10 years. …. In exchange, the White House lifted sanctions, allowing Iran access to $100 billion in assets. Iranian businesses are no longer locked out of global markets. Iran's ships are free to sail into foreign ports, and it can buy or sell goods like oil. On Monday, Tehran issues an order to immediately pump 500,000 additional barrels of oil a day -- a move that could further drive down its price in a market already glutted with too much supply. …. Iran is still considered a state-sponsor of terrorism. And last fall, it twice illegally tested ballistic missiles, which can carry nuclear warheads. Just after the American prisoners were released on Sunday, President Obama unveiled limited sanctions on Iran because of those launches. …. At this point, there are no plans to reestablish formal diplomatic relations with Tehran and it is not clear what happens when President Obama leaves office.”


Conflicts go on, but Iran is back in business and one nuclear threat has been removed for the present. I am not so untrusting as some Republicans are about the stability of the arms agreement. Since the overthrow of the Shah the government there hasn’t dissolved into chaos, as has occurred in too many countries with that kind of regime change, and I have hope for the future. Not all nations will have our type of democratic ideas, and we really can’t go to war with all of them over the matter. I worry more about North Korea and the quasigovernment of the ISIS territory. I personally feel that if Iran will put troops on the field to fight ISIS – despite the Sunni vs Shia matter – they will be more of a friend than an enemy.



http://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-questions-link-between-teen-pot-smoking-and-iq-decline/

Study questions link between teen pot smoking and IQ decline
AP January 18, 2016

Play VIDEO -- Survey uncovers new trends in teen drug use


A new analysis is challenging the idea that smoking marijuana during adolescence can lead to declines in intelligence.

Instead, the new study says, pot smoking may be merely a symptom of something else that's really responsible for a brainpower effect seen in some previous research.

It's not clear what that other factor is, said Joshua Isen, an author of the analysis. But an adolescent at risk for smoking pot "is probably going to show this IQ drop regardless of whether he or she is actually smoking marijuana," said Isen, a lecturer in psychology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

The study was released Monday by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Some prior research has led to suggestions that the developing adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to harm from marijuana.

Studying the topic is difficult because children can't ethically be randomly chosen to either take illicit drugs or abstain for years so that their outcomes can be compared. Scientists have to assess what people do on their own.

For the new work, the researchers examined data that had been collected for two big U.S. studies of twins. They focused on 3,066 participants who were given a battery of intelligence tests at ages 9 to 12 -- before any of them had used marijuana -- and again at ages 17 to 20.

They tracked changes in the test scores and studied whether those trajectories were worse for marijuana users than for non-users. Most tests revealed no difference between the two groups, but users did fare more poorly than abstainers in tests of vocabulary and general knowledge.

If smoking pot harmed test scores, the researchers reasoned, people who'd smoked more pot should show poorer trends than those who'd smoked less. But that's not what the data revealed. Among users, those who'd smoked more than 30 times or used it daily for more than a six-month stretch didn't do worse.

The study also looked at 290 pairs of twins in which one had used marijuana and the other had not. The members of each pair had grown up together and 137 sets were identical twins so they shared the same DNA. Again, the pot users did not fare worse than their abstaining twin siblings.

So, the researchers concluded, pot smoking itself does not appear responsible for declines in test scores. Isen noted, however, that the work says nothing about other potential harmful consequences of smoking marijuana in adolescence.

Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said that while the study has some limitations, it is important and deserves to be followed up with more research. She noted the government has already launched a project to follow about 10,000 children over time to assess the impact of marijuana and other drug use.

A prominent 2012 study had indicated long-term IQ harm from pot smoking in teenagers. An author of that research said the new work does not conflict with her finding. Terrie Moffitt of Duke University said her study dealt with marijuana use that was far more serious and longer-lasting than the levels reported in the new work.



“But an adolescent at risk for smoking pot "is probably going to show this IQ drop regardless of whether he or she is actually smoking marijuana," said Isen, a lecturer in psychology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. …. Scientists have to assess what people do on their own. For the new work, the researchers examined data that had been collected for two big U.S. studies of twins. They focused on 3,066 participants who were given a battery of intelligence tests at ages 9 to 12 -- before any of them had used marijuana -- and again at ages 17 to 20. …. Most tests revealed no difference between the two groups, but users did fare more poorly than abstainers in tests of vocabulary and general knowledge. …. Again, the pot users did not fare worse than their abstaining twin siblings. So, the researchers concluded, pot smoking itself does not appear responsible for declines in test scores. Isen noted, however, that the work says nothing about other potential harmful consequences of smoking marijuana in adolescence. …. An author of that research said the new work does not conflict with her finding. Terrie Moffitt of Duke University said her study dealt with marijuana use that was far more serious and longer-lasting than the levels reported in the new work.”


I did smoke enough pot to say that it seemed to me to be at least somewhat hallucinogenic, which is not good in that hallucinations are a symptom of some psychoses, and that some people I knew seemed to be addicted or at least “habituated” to it. Psychologists do make a distinction between addictiveness and a psychological dependence. The same claim has been made about alcohol and nicotine. The heavy users of marijuana also tended to pay less attention to daily reality including their studies, and get deeply involved in political theories, going into a trancelike state. That isn’t necessarily bad if it isn’t a permanent effect, but it does lead to changes in emotionality and radical ideas in some; and possibly may end up causing incarceration. That isn’t brain damage, of course, but it is a major problem.

The 2012 test studied a much more heavily involved use of marijuana, both in terms of quantity and the time involved. While I think this new test should be considered, the older one may be more representative of the totally abusive pattern of some people. Also, the age or developmental stage of the user seems important to me. I have personally never trusted marijuana as being “safe,” and I am not in favor of legalization with the possible exception with medicinal use. It should be better tested and controlled than it has been, though. At least one case of a small child find one of the chewables caused damage to its’ health. In short, I’m afraid it isn’t going to make us better citizens or brighter. We don’t need it, and it’s very likely harmful.



http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-robot-revolution-will-take-5-million-jobs-from-humans/

The robot revolution will take 5 million jobs from humans
By AIMEE PICCHI MONEYWATCH
January 18, 2016


Robots are gunning for your job.

The "Fourth Industrial Revolution" is already underway, according to a report from the World Economic Forum, which is focusing on how technological change is reshaping the workplace and global economies at its meeting this week in Davos, Switzerland. Developments in fields including robotics, big data, and artificial intelligence will change workplaces and the required different skills from workers in the years to come, according to "The Future of Jobs" report.

Not everyone will be impacted equally, with the report concluding that the jobs most at risk are office and administrative roles. Other industries with negative job outlooks include manufacturing and production, the arts and entertainment, construction and extraction, and installation and maintenance. Overall, automation and robotics will cause 5.1 million job losses over the next five years, the researchers found.

"As entire industries adjust, most occupations are undergoing a fundamental transformation," wrote World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab and managing board member Richard Samans in the report. "While some jobs are threatened by redundancy and others grow rapidly, existing jobs are also going through a change in the skill sets required to do them."

The findings are based on a survey of 371 global companies with more than 13 million employees in 15 major developed and emerging economies.

Office and administrative jobs will face what the report calls "a perfect storm of technological trends." Mobile internet and cloud technology will make some jobs redundant, while big data analytics and the Internet of things will also reduce the need for workers in these roles, the research found.

About 7.1 million jobs will be shed, with two-thirds of those losses concentrated in office and administrative categories. That will be somewhat offset by the gain of 2 million new jobs in areas such as business and financial operations. The net result? About 5.1 million fewer jobs overall by 2020, the report noted.

While that might seem frightening, especially to office managers, the World Economic Forum's forecast is hardly predicting the kind of doom that Oxford researchers predicted last year. According to that report, almost half of U.S. jobs are at risk, with household service robots and automation projected to sharply reduce the need for workers.

The job market is already changing quickly in response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with employers seeking workers with STEM-related skills and experience. But almost four out of 10 employers report having difficulties finding qualified workers, which suggests that the education system isn't retooling quickly enough to provide students with the skills they'll need to weather the labor market.

"It is simply not possible to weather the current technological revolution by waiting for the next generation's workforce to become better prepared," the report noted. "Instead it is critical that businesses take an active role in supporting their current workforces through re-training, that individuals take a proactive approach to their own lifelong learning."

While "The Future of Work" doesn't delve into economic inequality, their forecast has troubling implications for how the robotics revolution may exacerbate already widening gaps between the haves and have-nots, based on issues ranging from gender to geographic location.

Any industrial revolution comes with growing pains, and among those most likely to feel the brunt of it are women, given that some of the fields with the highest projected growth -- such as in computers and math -- have the lowest rates of female workforce participation. That underscores the need to reexamine why women aren't pursuing so-called STEM fields, or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Because STEM-related jobs tend to pay higher salaries than other industries, it means fewer women may reach earnings parity with their male cohorts in the coming years.

And then there is the widening gap between rich and poor countries. The Fourth Industrial Revolution could make that worse, with poor countries losing jobs to automation, increasing the jobless rates there and creating even bigger refugee waves. The Middle East and North Africa have the highest youth unemployment rate in the world, and many of the countries in those regions are failing to equip their youths with the skills necessarily [sic] to thrive in a world driven by AIs, robots, and automation, the report noted.

"The region runs the risk of worsening unemployment and talent shortages if skills gaps are exacerbated due to technological changes that further disrupt business models and labour markets," it warned.



“The "Fourth Industrial Revolution" is already underway, according to a report from the World Economic Forum, which is focusing on how technological change is reshaping the workplace and global economies at its meeting this week in Davos, Switzerland. Developments in fields including robotics, big data, and artificial intelligence will change workplaces and the required different skills from workers in the years to come, according to "The Future of Jobs" report. …. Overall, automation and robotics will cause 5.1 million job losses over the next five years, the researchers found. "As entire industries adjust, most occupations are undergoing a fundamental transformation," wrote World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab and managing board member Richard Samans in the report. "While some jobs are threatened by redundancy and others grow rapidly, existing jobs are also going through a change in the skill sets required to do them."

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_Shock, about the 1970 examination of the drastic changes in our society which are brought about by “progress.” The futurist Alvin Toffler is the author, and the great Orson Welles narrates a documentary on the subject. The following is taken from this book:

“Alvin Toffler distinguished three stages in development of society and production: agrarian, industrial and post-industrial. The first stage began …. The third stage began in the second half of the 20th century in the West when people invented automatic production, robotics and the computer. The services sector attained great value. Toffler proposed one criterion for distinguishing between industrial society and post-industrial society: the share of the population occupied in agriculture versus the share of city labor occupied in the services sector. In a post-industrial society, the share of the people occupied in agriculture does not exceed 15%, and the share of city laborers occupied in the services sector exceeds 50%. Thus, the share of the people occupied with brainwork greatly exceeds the share of the people occupied with physical work in post-industrial society. The overall production of goods and services doubles each 50 years in developed countries. Society experiences an increasing number of changes with an increasing rapidity, while people are losing the familiarity that old institutions (religion, family, national identity, profession) once provided. …. Whole branches of industry die off and new branches of industry arise. This impacts unskilled workers who are compelled to change their residence to find new jobs. The constant change in the market also poses a problem for advertisers who must deal with moving targets. …. People of post-industrial society change their profession and their workplace often. People have to change professions because professions quickly become outdated. People of post-industrial society thus have many careers in a lifetime. The knowledge of an engineer becomes outdated in ten years. People look more and more for temporary jobs. To follow transient jobs, people have become nomads. For example, immigrants from Algeria, Turkey and other countries go to Europe to find work. Transient people are forced to change residence, phone number, school, friends, car license, and contact with family often. As a result, relationships tend to be superficial with a large number of people, instead of being intimate or close relationships that are more stable. Evidence for this is tourist travel and holiday romances.”


Several things mentioned in the excerpt from Future Shock above are striking to me, as are the similarities to the subject of this news article. It is a situation of much concern to me as more and more citizens have lost their source of income and have to live “on the dole” in every way – housing, food, transportation. Being black or Hispanic or Islamic contributes to the problem. Our people in power from cops on the street to presidents of the US aren’t really addressing this societal dislocation, nor in my opinion do they have a very good idea of what to do about it.

The millionaire and billionaire classes of course don’t have “a problem,” as they are focused on their personal wealth and their socially important peers. As the poor, the unemployed and the unemployable skillwise become more and more endangered, our society is inevitably becoming more fragile by the day. It may not be possible to maintain a democratic form of government within the next decade or two.

The need to constantly retrain oneself to suit the newest set of job skills and to relocate in order to be close enough for the reasonable commute is a constant emotional stress. The changing of those factors in our life which had been stable in the past such as church, etc., while it gives more personal freedom of choice – nobody is watching me to judge me for failing to go to church on Sunday –the change causes a distinct emotional discontinuity with my fellow man and probably something between fear and guilt. With the uprising of a form of fascist thought and an ever greater greed, the forces of what I call evil are taking over.

Another factor, the rendering of personal relationships more superficial rather than intimate and emotionally secure, mentioned above, is one of the reasons for the loss of personal loyalties and the rise of crime. The more crowded the cities are, the worse this becomes.

Another matter that is damaging to our society is the loss of emotional security that goes with knowing our neighbors well and interacting a great deal with the family. The small town life when I was young was healthy for me, and is for many adults even though there is less in the way of entertainment to do there. I had people in the neighborhood and church to visit with, and I do miss that. Though there are some in my housing unit, I know very few people in Jacksonville. It has in the range of a million people now, including the suburbs.

While lizards probably care very little about the presence or absence of others, mammals are very dependent on other life forms for good mental health. A young child will adopt anything from a grasshopper to a stray kitten to give him some other being for companionship. I’m even going to throw in beautiful potted plants, because I have been known to stroke the leaves of a favorite philodendron as though it can feel my touch, and even talk to it. That may be a little loony, but a scientist some 20 years ago wrote a paper on playing music to your plants to make them grow better. If there was any validity to that, I don’t see why they won’t derive some comfort from the human voice.

I am personally very grateful to have been brought up in a highly flawed but relatively comforting small town environment with rules – too many rules, but I could see reasons for most of them. Now that I am retired and living a much more leisurely life than when I was a young worker, with a modest but so far dependable income due to Social Security, my personal happiness is much greater. I am convinced that things like overcrowding, noise pollution, air pollution and more that are connected with modern cities is harmful to the body as well as the spirit. The Tea Party Republicans who are trying to take my Social Security away, (so the government can be smaller, less economically encumbered and therefore more perfect according to their theories) are now my natural enemies, or at least arch rivals politically, so my job with this blog is to keep track of the nefarious plans they are carrying out. I find comfort in the contact I have with fellow liberals on the Internet and in my UU church, and some hope that money won’t totally overpower simple goodness in this country.

I am less stressed by the factors above, also, simply because I am no longer competing. I was highly stressed less than three years ago, when I had no job and didn’t find it easy to get one. I turned to early retirement and HUD housing, then at 65 Medicare. I was in my mid-sixties in 2013 with neither the desire nor the financial ability to go get a second degree in computer science or something like that, nor would I have found it easy to learn IT, I don’t think. Anyway, women aren’t finding themselves well-treated on their IT jobs by the men out of sheer professional jealousy, even if they have succeeded in securing such a job. That field is technical and math oriented, so it’s considered “a man’s job.” In 2013 I finally retired fully and adjusted my expenditures as well as I could, which is more comfortable for me since I wasn’t making much money on my last office job.

I am pleased with my news blog because I believe it is useful to some and entertaining to others. I have readers in Western and Eastern Europe and Asia, plus some in Africa, South and Central America. It serves to give me a much sharper view on the world than I have ever had before, and keeps my mind active. I can only do this now that I do have a modest income and a reasonably secure place to live, of course. When I was job hunting I was too busy worrying to achieve anything on the personal level. I was caught in the undertow of “future shock.”