The San Francisco Department of Public Health's latest consultant once made comments that "no one has to be healthy." Article content Virgie Tovar, 42, a longtime activist for body positivity and fat acceptance and self-described "anti-weight-based discrimination" expert, was hired to consult on stigmas faced by overweight people. "Weight stigma can lead to psychological distress and can have a negative impact on mental health," the health department said in a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle. "Weight stigma can also undermine health behaviors and preventive care, causing disordered eating, decreased physical activity, health care avoidance and weight gain." Tovar will be paid $12,000 for her temporary position with the city, which ends on June 30, 2025, the publication reported.
Researchers accuse the Gaza ministry of health of overstating casualty data by including natural deaths, failing to differentiate between civilian and combat casualties and over-reporting the numbers of women and children killed. Read more
For the first time in modern history, the House majority will rest on thinner margins than the Senate's in the 119th Congress.
With a surface area more than twice that of Greater London's, A23a is the biggest iceberg on the planet, having calved from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in 1986. The frozen leviathan is now on the move across Antarctica seas once more having spent the last few months going round in circles.
Federal officials say they're worried about sharing documents via email with Donald Trump's transition team because the incoming officials are eschewing government devices, email addresses and cybersecurity support, raising fears that they could potentially expose sensitive government data.
Tovar will be paid $12,000 for her temporary position with the city, which ends on June 30, 2025, the publication reported. Read more
The House voted to support a measure to keep the government funded past Friday night's midnight shutdown deadline. The Senate is expected to vote on the plan later Friday evening. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Friday afternoon that the House would vote on a modified version of the bill that was defeated Thursday -- minus the debt ceiling provision pushed by President-elect Trump.
In June, President Biden issued an executive order that sharply limited asylum which along with Mexico's help led to a decrease in illegal border crossings.
Since then, the number of individuals released by the US Border Patrol pending immigration court proceedings is down 70%, the agency said.
An experiment showing that quantum and classical communication can be carried out through the same fibre at the same time may open the door to building a quantum internet with existing infrastructure. 20 December 2024 Read more
Provisions aimed at limiting American investments in certain Chinese industries were scrapped from a temporary spending bill negotiated to avert a government shutdown.
The original bill, which was renegotiated after Donald Trump and Elon Musk came out against it, would have prohibited or required notification of overseas transactions involving China in sectors like semiconductors, quantum technology and artificial intelligence.
The slimmed-down version was stripped of language that would have allowed children with relapsed cancer to undergo treatments with a combination of cancer drugs and therapies. (Currently the Food and Drug Administration is only authorized to direct pediatric cancer trials of single drugs.) The bill also didn't include an extension of a program that gave financial lifelines, in the form of vouchers, to small pharmaceutical companies working on rare pediatric diseases. It was also missing earlier provisions that would have allowed for kids on Medicaid or CHIP"that is, poor children"to access medically complex care across state lines. For political veterans, however, the most striking absence in the revised bill was the language that would have extended funding for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Program. Read more
At least one person has died and dozens are injured after a car plowed into a crowd at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg, according to local authorities. Between 60 to 80 people were injured in the attack, fire and emergency services told CNN. According to local public broadcaster MDR, police have said that the driver of the car that plowed through the crowd has been arrested. Read more
From Chuck Morris, Fb, 12/17/24: Another one passes. Mike Brewer of Brewer and Shipley. Loved them! "One toke Over The Line" -- that song was not played on bunch of stations because it was about Pot. But the song put them on the map. (Boy, have times changed). One show I had with them and (new band at the time) The Ozark Mountain Daredevils (both managed by my old buddy Stan Plesser). ... Brewer & Shipley was one of the very early country rock bands with great harmonies. 1970. 2 years before Eagles first record.
Musk is trying to backtrack on his previous demands to shut down the government.
Elon Musk really hopes you don't remember when he was cheering on a government shutdown ... less than 48 hours ago. Read more
Louisiana's health department has been barred from advertising or promoting vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and mpox, according to reporting by NPR, KFF Health News, and New Orleans Public Radio WWNO.
Democrats and some Republicans are calling Elon Musk "president" after he led the charge against a Republican-backed government funding bill, possibly sending the government into shutdown over the holidays. ...Amid the chaos in Washington, Democrats and a former Republican congressman are calling Elon Musk "president" in an attack that seemingly suggests that Trump may not be in control.
