Tag: Common

What science and democracy have in common: us, hopefully

Posted on by [email protected]_84

Parthenon in Athens, undergoing partial restorationThe Parthenon, a symbol of democracy, is undergoing renovation and repair—symbolically enough. Image courtesy of Vladimirya/Pixabay

Donald Trump has said, several times in the week up to and including September 29’s presidential debate, that he will not commit to a peaceful transfer of power should he lose the election in November. He said this in 2016, and it was frightening then. It is incomparably more frightening now, when he has the power of the presidency at his disposal, and when a Republican party that controls most of the levers of power has shown no inclination, now or in the last four years, to check his abuses of power. The President of the United States is telling us clearly that he has no respect for the most fundamental principle of democracy.

A few days after the debate, the White House revealed that Trump had contracted COVID-19. This was clearly a consequence

… Read More Read More

Unveiling common molecular mechanisms of parasitism and grafting — ScienceDaily

Posted on by [email protected]_84

Using the model Orobanchaceae parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum, scientists from Nagoya University and other research institutes from Japan have discerned the molecular mechanisms underlying plant parasitism and cross-species grafting, pinpointing enzyme β-1,4-glucanase (GH9B3) as an important contributor to both phenomena. Targeting this enzyme may help control plant parasitism in crops. Also, this mechanism can be exploited for novel cross-species grafting techniques to realize the goal of sustainable agricultural technologies.

Plant parasitism is a phenomenon by which the parasite plant latches onto and absorbs water and nutrients from a second host plant, with the help of a specialized organ called the “haustorium.” Once the haustorium forms, specific enzymes then help in forming a connection between the tissues of the parasite and host plants, known as a “xylem bridge,” which facilitates the transport of water and nutrients from the host to the parasite.

A similar mechanism is involved in the process

… Read More Read More

Common Sense Launches ‘Which Side of History?’ Campaign to Challenge Leaders to Reverse the Harm Tech Is Having on Democracy and Our Lives

Posted on by [email protected]_84

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Today Common Sense, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families in the digital world, launched Which Side of History?, a campaign to hold Big Tech accountable for sowing mistrust and spreading misinformation, threatening free and open societies, exacerbating the gap between rich and poor, creating an unequal society, and leaving an entire segment of the population behind.

Anchored by Common Sense founder and CEO James P. Steyer’s newest book, Which Side of History?: How Technology Is Reshaping Democracy and Our Lives (available October 13, 2020), the campaign convenes leading experts and Big Tech antagonists, such as Franklin Foer,Thomas Friedman, Shaun Harper, Julie Lythcott-Haims,Roger McNamee,Shoshana Zuboff, and others for a series of live virtual events to examine the impact of the tech sector on

… Read More Read More

Five common tech questions, answered

Posted on by [email protected]_84

CLOSE

You don’t need to spend $1,000 to get a smartphone. Here are 4 smartphones under $300.

USA TODAY

A woman called her company’s tech support desk, and the technician asked for her password. She replied, “Snow White Cinderella Snoopy Dopey Pinocchio Harry Potter Ariel 5.” The technician said, “That’s a great long password.” The woman replied, “Thank you! I was told my password needs to have seven characters and one number.”

Jokes aside, you should never give anyone your password. As hacking methods get more sophisticated, there are new rules for creating hard-to-crack passwords. Tap or click here to make sure your passwords are up to snuff.

It’s also essential to set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts. If someone tries to hack your account, he won’t have access to the one-time code sent to your phone or email.Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up 2FA

… Read More Read More

PAR Technology Announces Pricing of Public Offering of Common Stock

Posted on by [email protected]_84

PAR Technology Corporation (NYSE: PAR), a leading global provider of point of sale (POS) software, hardware and integrated technical solutions to the restaurant and retail industries, today announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 3,350,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $38.00 per share, for total gross proceeds of $127.3 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses payable by PAR Technology. All of the shares to be sold in the offering are being offered by PAR Technology. In addition, PAR Technology has granted Jefferies LLC, the underwriter of the offering, a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 502,500 shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The offering is expected to close on or about October 5, 2020, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

PAR Technology expects to use the net

… Read More Read More

PAR Technology Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Stock

Posted on by [email protected]_84

PAR Technology Corporation (NYSE: PAR), a leading global provider of point of sale (POS) software, hardware and integrated technical solutions to the restaurant and retail industries, today announced the commencement of a proposed underwritten public offering of 3,350,000 shares of its common stock. All of the shares to be sold in the offering will be offered by PAR Technology. In addition, PAR Technology expects to grant Jefferies LLC, the underwriter of the offering, a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 502,500 shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

PAR Technology expects to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate

… Read More Read More

Common coronavirus misconceptions and the science you need to know

Posted on by [email protected]_84

Since the beginning of 2020, when we first started hearing about a new coronavirus, eventually dubbed SARS-CoV-2, our understanding of what it is, how it infects people, who it infects and how we can protect ourselves have all evolved as our knowledge has grown.



a group of people that are standing in the grass: (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

© Spencer Platt/Getty Images
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

But that evolution — and the changing information and recommendations that accompanied it — has also sown confusion, and in some cases, deliberate disinformation.

“Just as Covid-19 has spread around the world, so too have rumors, untruths and disinformation. And they can be just as dangerous,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said on Wednesday.

Mis- or disinformation has led to people harming themselves based on falsehoods, self-medicating with toxic chemicals or dangerous medications and not taking the precautions that they should be taking, Tedros said. It has also impacted our trust in

… Read More Read More

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Ink Pact With Advertisers For ‘Common Definition’ on Hate Speech

Posted on by [email protected]_84

San Francisco: After months of intensive talks with major advertisers, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have agreed to adopt a common set of definitions for hate speech and other harmful content, the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) said on Wednesday. Also Read – No Coercive Action Against Facebook Chief in Delhi Riots Case Till Oct 15: Supreme Court to Delhi Assembly

GARM is a cross-industry initiative founded and led by the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and supported by other trade bodies, including ANA, ISBA and the 4A’s. Also Read – Gucci Unveils Jeans With Fake Grass Stains For Whopping Rs 88,000, Internet Left Baffled!

The move comes after over 200 brands including Starbucks and Levis recently pulled their advertising from Facebook and the #StopHateforProfit campaign gained momentum after celebrities, like Kim Kardashian West, froze their social media account for a day. Also Read – Soaring Popularity: Twitter Records 6.1

… Read More Read More