Monthly Archives: December 2012

Scientists say ‘robot boy’ can be built within nine months

"Robotics engineers say that they can build a humanoid robot 'boy' that will help with everyday tasks within nine months. The childlike 'Roboy' will have special artificial muscles and tendons, and is designed as a companion and helper for sick and elderly patients. A team at the University of Zurich’s Artificial Intelligence Lab, headed by professor Rolf Pfeifer, has enlisted up 15 project partners and more than 40 engineers in the creation of what they hope will be the most advanced humanoid robot ever built. Pfeifer said that the team hope Roboy will be a model for 'service robots' that work alongside humans." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingScientists say ‘robot boy’ can be built within nine months

Better Than Human

"Imagine that 7 out of 10 working Americans got fired tomorrow. What would they all do? It’s hard to believe you’d have an economy at all if you gave pink slips to more than half the labor force. But that—in slow motion—is what the industrial revolution did to the workforce of the early 19th century. Two hundred years ago, 70 percent of American workers lived on the farm. Today automation has eliminated all but 1 percent of their jobs, replacing them (and their work animals) with machines. But the displaced workers did not sit idle. Instead, automation created hundreds of millions of jobs in entirely new fields." Continue reading →

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The Fiscal Cliff’s Structural Endgame

"This Grand Bargain is coming apart as the promises made to everyone cannot possibly be met. Claims on welfare and disability programs are skyrocketing at the same time that the demographics of an aging populace are causing 10,000 people a day to enter Social Security and Medicare, the two costliest government programs. Meanwhile, the upper middle class that pays most of the taxes has been slammed with lower income and a devastating drop in their housing-based net worth." Continue reading →

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Social Security Ran $47.8B Deficit in FY 2012; Disabled Workers Hit New Record in December: 8,827,795

"The Social Security program ran a $47.8 billion deficit in fiscal 2012 as the program brought in $725.429 billion in cash and paid $773.247 for benefits and overhead expenses. The Social Security Administration also released new data revealing that the number of workers collecting disability benefits hit a record 8,827,795 in December--up from 8,805,353 in November. The overall number of Social Security program beneficiaries also hit a record in December, climbing from 56,658,978 in November to 56,758,185 in December." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSocial Security Ran $47.8B Deficit in FY 2012; Disabled Workers Hit New Record in December: 8,827,795

U.S. drone strikes intensify in Yemen

"Yemen saw a drastic increase in the clandestine attacks, with strikes against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants rising from 18 in 2011 to 53 in 2012. This 'drone war' is officially classified, and the US does not provide any information on the strikes. President Barack Obama only incidentally recognized their existence at the end of January in an online exchange. In Yemen, between 397 and 539 militants were killed by drone strikes, according to the New America Foundation, which did not specify the number of civilian victims. The drones used there are operated both by the CIA and by the Joint Special Operations Command." Continue reading →

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Bahrain, a Brutal U.S. Ally

"The United States speaks about supporting human rights and democracy, but while the Saudis send troops to aid the Khalifa government, America is sending arms. The United States is doing itself a huge disservice by displaying such an obvious double standard toward human rights violations in the Middle East. Washington condemns the violence of the Syrian government but turns a blind eye to blatant human rights abuses committed by its ally Bahrain. This double standard is costing America its credibility across the region; and the message being understood is that if you are an ally of America, then you can get away with abusing human rights." Continue reading →

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Human Rights Watch: Kuwait using ‘excessive force’ against protesters

"During large demonstrations staged by the opposition since October 15, police frequently used tear gas and stun grenades and beat up protesters, leading to the injury of dozens and the arrest of many more, said HRW. The Islamist, nationalist and liberal opposition, angry over an amended electoral law, has been staging protests almost every night since December 1 polls to demand the parliament’s dissolution and scrapping of the amendment." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHuman Rights Watch: Kuwait using ‘excessive force’ against protesters

‘Liberator Of Kuwait’: ‘Stormin Norman’ Schwarzkopf dead at 78

"Norman Schwarzkopf, the US general who led 1991 Operation Desert Storm, which liberated Kuwait from Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, has died at the age of 78, a US official said Thursday. Schwarzkopf, an American hero known popularly as 'Stormin Norman,' died in Tampa, where he retired after his last military posting as commander-in-chief of US Central Command. Former president George H. W. Bush, himself sick in intensive care in Texas, was first to issue a statement mourning the loss of the man he chose to lead the war that came to define both of their careers." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Liberator Of Kuwait’: ‘Stormin Norman’ Schwarzkopf dead at 78

Prohibitionists Respond to Repeal: Bootlegging, Racketeering, and Kidnapping Will Go Up Now!

"Seventy-nine years ago today, Utah, of all states, delivered the killing blow that brought the national prohibition of alcohol to an end. In honor of Repeal Day -- and with an eye on what may be the early stages of an end to the war on marijuana -- here's a flashback to December 1933, as prohibitionists watched their achievement crumble." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingProhibitionists Respond to Repeal: Bootlegging, Racketeering, and Kidnapping Will Go Up Now!