Sports
The Good: Jamaica Sending First Women’s Bobsled team To Winter Olympics
The sequel to “Cool Runnings” is here! The Winter Olympics is coming this February and it marks the 30th anniversary of Jamaica’s men’s bobsled team that debuted at the 1988 Calgary Games. The Jamaican Bobsleigh Federation announced that it will be sending a women’s bobsled team to compete for the first time in the country’s history. The sled will be driven by Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian, along with team members Audra Segree and Carrie Russell all nationally recognized athletes.
The Bad: Vice President Pence To Lead Olympic Delegation
Vice President Michael Pence will be leading the US delegation to the PyeongChang Olympic Games in South Korea. Michael Pense and the Trump administration have been cloaked in controversy since their inauguration this past January. After announcingthe plans the administration quickly came under fire for the decision. Adam Rippon, who won the 2016 U.S. Figure Skating Championship, and an openly gay member of the Olympic team heading to Korea was asked by USA Today Sports about Pence to which he replied: “You mean Mike Pence, the same Mike Pence that funded gay conversion therapy?” “I don’t think (Pence) has a real concept of reality,” Rippon continued. Rippon along with Lindsey Vonn who will also be on the Olympic team said they will be turning down any invites to the White House, Rippon even saying he won’t be going out of his way to attend the meet and greet event with Pence if it begins before his event.
Technology
The Good: Hyundai, Volkswagen To Debut Self Driving Cars
The future of driving will be autonomous. Hyundai and Volkswagen have announced partnerships with the company Aurora who has developed a self driving technology for automobiles. The goal is to introduce the new technology to the market in 2021. Volkswagen’s Chief Digital Officer Johann Jungwirth told the Associated Press: “Our vision is ‘Mobility for all, at the push of a button.’ This means that we want to offer mobility for all people around the world. Mobility also for children, elderly, sick and visually impaired people, really for all.” Although the new technology will benefit many, it will be interesting to see how people will adapt the the distribution coming to the transportation industry.
The Bad: Social Media A.I. Under Scrutiny From Law Makers Concerning Online Terrorist Threats.
Internet giants like Facebook, Twitter, & Google were grilled by lawmakers this week with questions about what they are doing to prevent terrorist threats online. Lawmakers claiming that more needs to be done to prevent any dangerous material such as propaganda from getting on their platforms. Although the aforementioned companies have taken steps to automate the removal of illicit content, the current artificial intelligence system can only detect and remove what it already knows and has seen, there is nothing in place to prevent terrorist from ever uploading content in the first place, or using alternative tactics that aren’t already known by companies. Senator Bill Nelson from Florida also had questions about Russia’s use of the internet to compromise the presidential elections this past November. “What have we learned about how the Russians attacked us? What have social media companies done to assess this threat, both individually and collectively? What have they done to address this threat? And what more do they need to do to be ready for the future?”
Health
The Good: Advancements Made For Treating Cardiovascular Diseases
Last week James Eberwine, a Professor of Pharmacology, and Tae Kyung Kim, a post-doctoral fellow, published their recent breakthrough in treating damaged heart tissue. They have successfully changed brain and skin cells into heart cells. For decades, research has been done to transform cells; heart cells being at the center of investigation for the part it’s likely to play in new regenerative medicine. Researchers at The University of Pennsylvania are the first to demonstrate a direct change in cell make up.
The Bad: CDC Acknowledges Flu Outbreak
As the flu continues to wreak havoc on the US, the Center of Disease Control is urging people to be prepared by getting a flu shot. The sickness has claimed the lives of over 20 people under 65 in California, and has caused the deaths of at least 20 children throughout the United States. Lynnette Brammer leads the CDC’s Domestic Influenza Surveillance Team. “Sadly, we hear every year of people that were previously healthy and active and they get influenza and die and for reasons we don’t understand,” Brammer said in an interview with Fox News. “If you get sick and you’re not getting better…call your doctor.” As the nation continues to fight the illness scores of families are sharing their stories in the hopes that others won’t be caught off guard.
Hilarity:
Congratulations, You Played Yourself
New Sheriff Already Fired & Arrested
Matthew “Bo” Williams began his job as Roane County’s Sheriff located in West Virginia this past Sunday, however after leaving bags of stolen Meth in his car and desk he was arrested on drug possession and grand larceny. Williams stole the meth from the evidence locker from his previous job and left all the evidence numbers on the bags leading investigators directly to the source. Williams is now facing up to 10 years in prison.
Former Assistant Charged With Stealing 1.2 Million Dollars Worth of Wine
A former assistant to Goldman Sachs’ Chief Operating Officer David Solomon was arrested after stealing bottles of wine and then selling them out of Solomon’s own home. U.S. prosecutors on Wednesday said Nicolas DeMeyer sold the wine to a North Carolina dealer and will now be facing charges for transporting stolen property. DeMeyer began stealing the bottles in 2014, first selling select bottles for over $100,000. The stealing continued until 2016.
Make sure to check back every week for our review of the good, the bad, and the hilarious!
