Brittney Walker

Where do you get a giant plane-sized treadmill that goes 100 mph? Good question. I'm going to answer a different one.

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WIRED's Top Stories in January: The Diversity War Inside Google

Plus: "Meltdown" madness, a 787 breaking a speed record, and the Logan Paul-prompted YouTube reckoning.

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7 True Crime Docs You Should Stream Right Now

Here are a few things you can watch when you're not watching 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story' on FX.

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Now That Tech Runs the World, Let's Retire the Hacker Ideal

Here’s a remedy amid Big Tech's failures: honest valuations, business ethics, and the application of scientific method unmolested by greed.

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The EPA Website Is 'Still Updating' Climate Change Info

Internal emails show Administrator Scott Pruitt personally ordered science to be scrubbed away.

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A Family’s Race to Cure a Daughter’s Genetic Disease

Personalized medicine promised a cure for rare genetic disorders. Now patients and families themselves are trying to make up for its failures.

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How to Design Beacons for Humanity's Afterlife

A time capsule meant to teach aliens about humans could consist of math, DNA, a bot, or a brain—or something else entirely.

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Replika, the Emotional Chatbot, Goes Open-Source

Software developer Eugenia Kuyda is releasing the code to her Replika chatbot, which can inject emotion into conversations.

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Uber and Lyft Might Not Be Ruining the American City

New research affirms the relationship between ridehialing services, transit ridership, and congestion

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Tuesday, 30 January 2018

Why Tether's Collapse Would Be Bad for Cryptocurrencies

Tether, a so-called "stablecoin," is in trouble. Its collapse could trigger a crypto version of a bank run, potentially toppling exchanges and cratering the price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies

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Can Our Phones Save Us From Our Phones?

Mobile apps and internet interfaces can make us distractible. But digital tools could also counteract those bad habits.

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Study: Marijuana Smoke Exposure Not Linked To Poor Lung Health

Long-term exposure to cannabis smoke is not associated with adverse effects on pulmonary function, according to clinical data published in the journal Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.

A team of investigators led by researchers at the Colorado School of Public Health assessed the relationship between marijuana use and respiratory function and symptoms in a cohort of 2,300 subjects, many of whom also smoked tobacco.

Authors reported, “Neither current nor former marijuana use was associated with increased risk of cough, wheeze, or chronic bronchitis when compared to never marijuana users after adjusting for covariates. … Current and former marijuana smokers had significantly higher FEV1 (forced expiratory volume) … when compared to never users. … Both current and former marijuana use was associated with significantly less quantitative emphysema … when compared to never users, even after adjusting for age, … current tobacco smoking pack years, and BMI. … In agreement with other published studies, we also did not find that marijuana use was associated with more obstructive lung disease.”

The long-term combined use of tobacco and cannabis also was not found to be associated with any additive adverse effects on the lungs. Authors concluded, “Among older adults with a history of tobacco use, marijuana use does not appear to increase risk for adverse lung function. … There may be no to little increased risk of marijuana use for a further increase in respiratory symptoms or adverse effects on lung function among those with a history of concomitant tobacco use.”

Prior longitudinal studies assessing the effects of long-term cannabis smoke exposure on lung function have similarly reported that subjects’ marijuana use history is not positively associated with increased incidences of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, or with other significant detrimental effects on pulmonary function.

Full text of the study, “Marijuana use associations with pulmonary symptoms and function in tobacco smokers enrolled in the subpopulations and intermediate outcome measures in COPD Study (SPIROMICS),” appears online here.

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Study: Marijuana Smoke Exposure Not Linked To Poor Lung Health

Long-term exposure to cannabis smoke is not associated with adverse effects on pulmonary function, according to clinical data published in the journal Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.

First Hand, “First-Timer” Lobby Day Recap

On Sunday, January 21st & Monday the 22nd, NORML members along with non-member cannabis-reform-supporters gathered at the general assembly in Virginia for a Lobby Day. I [Nicole] was among the participants in this specific effort to advocate for marijuana legislative reform. Having lived in Virginia my whole life and being a current constituent of Representative Tim Hugo [R] and Senator David Marsden [D], this definitely felt like my call-to-action. This was my first time lobbying, and I am grateful my introductory experience was in support of sensible cannabis reform, something I so vehemently endorse on a personal level.

Our purpose in gathering was in order to influence, and essentially demand, lawmaker support for HB 1251, and SB 111. These legislative works would legalize medical cannabis oil under physician recommendation [to include all diagnoses, not just intractable epilepsy] as well as decriminalize simple possession charges, respectively.

If you have ever considered joining the marijuana movement, but don’t think you know enough to contribute effectively or even where to begin, never fear! On Sunday I was among numerous fellow supporters in attendance of a conference orchestrated by Virginia NORML’s Executive Director, Jenn Michelle Pedini. There, keynote speakers covered marijuana policy, how to effectively persuade with facts and knowledge regarding marijuana, and went on to take an in-depth look at how prohibition has negatively affected citizens and society. This abundantly informative and motivational colloquium couldn’t have prepared me more to speak with lawmakers and provided great relief to an otherwise intimidating situation. Let’s say hypothetically you have absolutely no interest in lobbying for marijuana reform. Attending the conference portion is still extremely enlightening, and I would recommend it to supporters and prohibitionists alike. A little extra knowledge never hurt anyone, right?

While at the capitol building, I had great conversations with both Rep. Tim Hugo and Sen. David Marsden. Although it was still a bit nerve-racking to be in front of these prestigious figures; I am confident that I was able to effectively communicate the message of necessary marijuana reform in conjunction with the legislation denoted above [greatly due in part to the preparation I received at the conference], and have gained their support on these issues. This has been an experience I will never forget, and I will be sure to seize the chance at every opportunity to do it again in the future. NORML lobby day in any state is the opportunity to affect change and be part of history. Please join us, and we can make it happen together!

Nicole Powell is a current intern at the National NORML office, as well as a current collegiate-level honors student. She has been “saved from a life of opioid drug abuse & dependence due to medical cannabis therapy” [to which she became at serious risk of after a major vehicular accident], in addition to the various other drastic medical benefits cannabis has provided to her after this accident.

Follow Virginia NORML on Facebook, Twitter, and visit their website: http://www.vanorml.org/

'Monster Hunter World' Review: It's More Than a Sequel, It's a Resurgence

The newest in Capcom's franchise is also the latest Japanese title to lead a charge for a revitalized middle tier of gaming.

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Steelcase Silq: Price, Specs, Release Date

Steelcase's engineers have developed the new Silq chair made from a polymer that closely mimics the structural properties of carbon fiber at a much lower price.

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Facebook Wants to Fix Itself. Here's a Better Solution.

Opinion: The only way to clean up tech's biggest platforms is stronger, smarter government regulation.

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How Long Beach Is Trying to Cool Down

Temperatures have soared in the Southern California city in recent years, but taming them presents its own set of challenges.

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How US Security Services Will Protect the Winter Olympics

You may not know the Diplomatic Security Service, but you'll be glad its agents started preparing for these Games years ago.

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Chrome Extension Malware Has Evolved

While helpful and creative, Chrome extensions have also become a new playground for hackers intent on stealing your data.

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Meet the Company Trying to Democratize Clinical Trials With AI

It practically takes a medical degree to find the right clinical trial. But new tools powered by machine learning could make them more accessible.

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Fitness Apps Like Strava Erode Your Privacy. Here's How to Protect It

If you don't want your digital running group to know where you live, it might be time to revisit some of your app's settings.

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Nuro's Self-Driving R-1 Doesn't Drive You. It Drives Stuff.

The autonomous vehicle startup has impressive founders and a clever business model.

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First Hand, “First-Timer” Lobby Day Recap

Follow Virginia NORML on Facebook, Twitter, and visit their website: http://www.vanorml.org/

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Waymo Gets Ready to Deploy Thousands of Self-Driving Minivans

The Alphabet spinoff is in a rush, so it’s buying thousands more “driverless” cars from Fiat-Chrysler.

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Health Experts Ask Facebook to Shut Down Messenger Kids

Coalition wants Facebook to discontinue app aimed at 6- to 12-year-olds, citing studies on harms of social media and digital devices.

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Monday, 29 January 2018

Strava Data Heat Maps Expose Military Base Locations Around the World

The US military is reexamining security policies after fitness tracker data shared on social media revealed bases and patrol routes

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Proposal for Government Wireless Network Shows Fear of China

National Security Council presentation argues that the government, rather than private companies, should build a fast wireless network to minimize Chinese influence.

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Arguably The Individual Most Responsible For The Rise Of The Medical Marijuana Movement In California, And Eventually Nationwide, Passed Away This Weekend

The individual most responsible for the medical marijuana movement in CA, and eventually in more than 30 states across this country, was San Francisco gay rights and marijuana advocate Dennis Peron, who died this past weekend from lung cancer at age 71.

Peron was drafted and sent to Vietnam in 1966, where he first discovered marijuana. When his tour of duty ended and he returned home, he also managed to bring two pounds of marijuana with him – starting a career that he later acknowledged would last more than 40-years. In the 1970s, he opened the Big Top, a café in San Francisco where marijuana was openly sold and customers could smoke and socialize. The café was eventually closed by San Francisco police, who arrested Peron on numerous occasions.

Peron was among the earliest marijuana and gay rights advocates to recognize that marijuana could provide relief to HIV-positive and AIDS patients. In 1991 he organized the nation’s first medical marijuana initiative, Proposition P, approved by 80% of voters of San Francisco. Subsequently, he founded the nation’s first medical marijuana dispensary, the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers’ Club, where patients with HIV and other illnesses could openly buy, use and share marijuana.

The “buyers club” served as many as 11,000 patients before eventually being forced to close by the courts in 1998.

In 1996, with the help of Dale Gieringer and CA NORML, Peron organized the first state initiative to legalize medical marijuana, the Compassionate Use Act (Prop. 215), which went on to be approved by 56% of California voters. The favorable experience with medical marijuana in CA eventually led to the adoption of medical marijuana laws in an additional 29 states and growing.

But Peron’s influence went well beyond the medical use of marijuana. Of the 9 states that have now legalized the recreational use of marijuana by adults, each one has first adopted the medical use of marijuana. Only after the states had grown comfortable with medical use, and had seen first-hand that marijuana was an important medicine that helped tens of thousands of seriously ill Americans, were they willing to move forward to legalize the responsible use of marijuana by adults, regardless of why they smoked.

All of us who smoke marijuana, whether for medical or recreational use, are truly indebted to the courageous early work of Dennis Peron. Without his willingness to stand-up publicly and fight for the medical use of marijuana, despite it’s illegal status at that time, we would not be where we are today.

May he rest in peace

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Film Festivals Are Forever Changed in the Wake of #MeToo

At this year's Sundance Film Festival, female directors and the Time's Up movement received top billing.

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This "Crypto Genius" Tried to Debate Bitcoin. It Wasn't Pretty.

A "debate" over the value of cryptocurrency turns out to be mostly a debate about nothing.

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The Legend of Chimp, the Vaguely Humanoid Robot

Two and a half years after Chimp competed in the Darpa Robotics Challenge, it remains one of the weirdest humanoid robots on Earth.

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Arguably The Individual Most Responsible For The Rise Of The Medical Marijuana Movement In California, And Eventually Nationwide, Passed Away This Weekend

The “buyers club” served as many as 11,000 patients before eventually being forced to close by the courts in 1998.

May he rest in peace

Intimate Glimpses of Ordinary Life in Iran

A photographer goes beyond the headlines to capture day-to-day life in the ever-opening country.

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Star Wars News: Guide to All the ‘The Last Jedi’ Easter Eggs

There were a lot of hidden gems in Rian Johnson's movie—and now you'll be able to spot all of them.

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Don’t Call It a Blood Moon. Or Supermoon. Or Blue Moon

The first was recently popularized by this-must-be-prophecy types, the second was created by an astrologer, and the third is highly subjective.

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Why the Tech Elite Love New Zealand

Beyond Wellington’s obsessive coffee culture and Queenstown’s unspoiled landscape, New Zealand has established itself as an unlikely bolt-hole for the impending apocalypse.