New Zealand: GoodFor Wholefoods Refillery
February 4th, 2019Just a quick note for people in New Zealand who are looking for organic, not-from-China bulk foods. Check out: goodfor.co.nz
Depending on the items you’re after, the prices range from the best available in New Zealand to not so great, but the website mostly works and everything that the site said was in stock was actually in stock when I ordered. (Amazing for a NZ business!) Shipping was very prompt. They seem to make a strong effort to source foods from places other than China. They clearly understand that some of us won’t buy “organic” anything from China. (Ceres, can you hear me now?!)
I have no affiliate relationship with GoodFor. I’m just a customer who really appreciates what they’re offering in New Zealand.
Britain: Dementia Patients to be Tracked by Smart Meters
February 4th, 2019Just dementia patients… *wink*
Via: DailyMail:
The NHS is to use energy smart meters to monitor dementia patients in their homes.
The devices will track patients’ daily routines, such as when they boil the kettle, cook dinner or turn the washing machine on.
They will flag up any sudden change in behaviour which could indicate an illness, a fall or a decline in their mental state. The meters will be able to send alerts to family members or carers, who can pop round to check if the patient is all right.
Faith Healer with Millions of Followers Ran a “Sex Slave Farm and Sold Babies to Highest Bidder”
February 3rd, 2019Update/Confirmed: Sabrina Bittencourt Dead
Via: Daily Mail:
A woman who helped to bring down a Brazilian faith healer accused of sex abuse has taken her own life in Spain.
Sabrina Bittencourt, 38, died at her home in Barcelona just days after accusing John of God – real name Joao Teixeira de Faria – of running a ‘sex slave farm’.
…
Ms Bittencourt left Brazil and was forced to live under protection after receiving death threats.
Her eldest son Gabriel Baum confirmed her death, writing on Facebook: ‘She took the last step so that we could live. They killed my mother.’
Sex abuse victim support group Victimas Unidas, who worked with the 38-year-old, said: ‘We announce with regret the death of Sabrina de Campos Bittencourt, which occurred around 9pm on Saturday on February 2 in Barcelona where she was living.
‘The activist committed suicide and left a farewell note explaining the reasons why she took her own life.’
—
Update: Attempting To Confirm: Sabrina Bittencourt Dead???
Apparently, Sabrina Bittencourt, the activist who led authorities to Faria, is dead. As of now, there are no articles in English. Until something appears in English, here is a machine translation from CartaCapital, Sabrina Bittencourt, que denunciou João de Deus, comete suicídio.
Updates to follow.
Via: Mirror:
He was Brazil’s most famous faith healer whose “miracle surgeries” drew millions of pilgrims from across the globe.
Joao Teixeira de Faria – known as John of God – achieved international fame after being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey.
And Bill Clinton, singer Paul Simon and supermodel Naomi Campbell are among the other celebrities rumoured to have visited him.
His boasts of healing powers to cure diseases, including cancer, brought people flocking to his compound in the small town of Abadiania, central Brazil.
But two months ago, his world crumbled when he was accused of sexually abusing a Dutch woman, live on TV.
It led to a flood of similar allegations from more than 600 women from around the world.
…
The 77-year-old was arrested a week later in what prosecutors say could be the worst serial crimes case in the country’s history.
Faria’s own daughter, Dalva Teixeira, has also spoken out, called him a “monster” and claiming he molested her as a child.
The case has shocked Brazilians, many of whom regarded the so-called ‘psychic surgeon’ – famous for performing procedures such as removing tumours or cataracts with his hands and without anaesthesia – as a modern-day miracle worker.
And last week even more explosive acccusations have been thrown at John of God.
Brazilian activist Sabrina Bittencourt, whose investigations led to Teixeira’s arrest in December, now claims the celebrity medium ran a baby trafficking operation where children were “farmed” in Brazil before being sold to childless couples around the world.
Shockingly, she claims young girls were held captive in remote farms where they were forced to produce babies – before being murdered after 10 years of giving birth.
Attempts to Dance Around the Kafkaesque Nightmare in California
February 3rd, 2019This is very difficult to watch. I only made it about a third of the way through this.
“There’s no law against having a garden hose in your backyard… yet. We’re waiting for them to catch on.”
Anyway, one more for your herniating California-Is-Hell file folder.
Via: Exploring Alternatives:
Related: L.A. Coliving: PodShare
Here’s the Medical Cannabis Super Bowl Ad CBS Refused to Run
February 3rd, 2019Via: Green Entrepreneur:
It was all over the news on Tuesday: CBS rejected a public service announcement highlighting the benefits of medical cannabis, which was intended to be aired during the 2019 Super Bowl.
Long story short, what happened was Acreage Holdings, one of the largest U.S. based cannabis companies, which counts former House Speaker John Boehner and former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld among its advisors, created a 60-second public service announcement (or ad, if you will) featuring three medical cannabis patients and their loved ones explaining how marijuana had changed their lives for the better — and suggesting it is a great alternative to other more dangerous pharma drugs.
The company submitted the ad to CBS and was ready to pay the estimated $5 million to $10 million it would cost to air during the 2019 Super Bowl.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering that cannabis remains illegal on the federal level under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, CBS rejected the ad. A network spokesperson told USA Today that, for the time being, pot-related ads did not fit CBS’ broadcast standards.
The One About Screen Time Not Harming Children
February 3rd, 2019And now, tobacco industry grade nonsense is being used to justify the insanity around screen time and children.
“…little or no support for harmful links between digital screen use and young people’s psychological well-being.”
Well-being.
*snort*
See what they did there?
Try looking at language acquisition or physical development and screen time.
The Actual Effects of Screen Time on Kids’ Development
Via: Nautilus:
It looks like grownups can disregard the fear-mongering about the ill effects of digital media on kids. A 2017 study in Child Development found “little or no support for harmful links between digital screen use and young people’s psychological well-being.” Parents can police their kids’ smartphone use if they like, but they should know such restrictions aren’t evidence-based. As authors Andrew Przybylski and Netta Weinstein explain, “a critical cost-benefit analysis is needed to determine whether setting firm limits constitutes a judicious use of caregiver and professional resources.”
Orlando: TSA Agent Dies After Jump from Balcony
February 3rd, 2019Via: Miami Herald:
A TSA agent committed suicide by jumping from the balcony of a Hyatt Regency Hotel near the Orlando International Airport on Saturday morning, sparking confusion and delays at the busy airport.
The man landed at the airport’s atrium, near some security checkpoints.
Gates 70-129 were closed for a few hours after the 9:30 a.m. incident and the Federal Aviation Administration briefly grounded flights.
Orlando police reported that they were working the incident at the airport, but have not released the agent’s name. They did describe him as a male in his 40s.
San Francisco, Where Drug Addicts Outnumber High School Students
February 3rd, 2019Via: San Francisco Chronicle:
San Francisco has more drug addicts than it has students enrolled in its public high schools, the city Health Department’s latest estimates conclude.
There are about 24,500 injection drug users in San Francisco — that’s about 8,500 more people than the nearly 16,000 students enrolled in San Francisco Unified School District’s 15 high schools and illustrates the scope of the problem on the city’s streets.
It’s also an increase of about 2,000 serious drug users since 2012, the last time a study was done.
Welcome to the Literal Nanny State
February 2nd, 2019Via: Truthstream Media:
Your Complete Guide to the N.Y. Times’ Support of U.S.-Backed Coups in Latin America
February 2nd, 2019Via: TruthDig:
On Friday, The New York Times continued its long, predictable tradition of backing U.S. coups in Latin America by publishing an editorial praising Donald Trump’s attempt to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This will be the 10th such coup the paper has backed since the creation of the CIA over 70 years ago.
