General News Thread

[st albans fox]

27 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Shia/Sunni, Catholic/Protestant, Hindu/Sikh, Jedi/Sith.

 

All we need is Zoroastrians to turn on the Wiccans.

people’s front of Judea /judean people’s front …………

 

[leicsmac]

31 minutes ago, danny. said:

Do you mean classes together as a religious group? People of all ethnicities can be Muslims, the same for any other cult or religion. 
 

I’ve never heard that, who is equating race and religion? And yes it’s tiring, although you seem to be mixing up ethnicity and religion yourself in that last paragraph. 

... every time some poor Sikh (for instance) gets abused and/or attacked simply because someone with something on their mind thought they "looked" Muslim (eg, brown skin).

 

And yes, I'm conflating the two to make the point that it's being done already and, like it or not, history shows very clearly where it ends. 

[Parafox]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

Exciting results from blood test for 50 cancers
A woman puts a piece of cotton wool onto her arm after giving blood. In the foreground of the picture, a healthcare professional holds two samples of blood in a gloved hand.
Image source,Getty Images
ByFergus Walsh
Medical editor
Published
17 October 2025
Updated 1 hour ago
A blood test for more than 50 types of cancer could help speed up diagnosis, according to a new study.

Results of a trial in North America show that the test was able to identify a wide range of cancers, of which three-quarters don't have any form of screening programme.

More than half the cancers were detected at an early stage, where they are easier to treat and potentially curable.

The Galleri test, made by American pharmaceutical firm Grail, can detect fragments of cancerous DNA that have broken off a tumour and are circulating in the blood. It is currently being trialled by the NHS.

The trial followed 25,000 adults from the US and Canada over a year, with nearly one in 100 getting a positive result. For 62% of these cases, cancer was later confirmed.

Lead researcher Dr Nima Nabavizadeh, associate professor of radiation medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, said the data showed that the test could "fundamentally change" their approach to cancer screening.

He explained that it could help detect many types of cancer "earlier, when the chance of successful treatment or even cure are the greatest".

The test correctly ruled out cancer in over 99% of those who tested negative.

When combined with breast, bowel and cervical screening it increased the number of cancers detected overall seven-fold.

Crucially, three-quarters of cancers detected were those which have no screening programme such as ovarian, liver, stomach, bladder and pancreatic cancer.

The blood test correctly identified the origin of the cancer in nine out of 10 cases.

These impressive results suggest the blood test could eventually have a major role to play in diagnosing cancer earlier.

But scientists not involved in the research say more evidence is needed to show whether the blood test reduces deaths from cancer.

Clare Turnbull, professor of translational cancer genetics at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: "Data from randomised studies, with mortality as an endpoint, will be absolutely essential to establish whether seemingly earlier-stage detection by Galleri translates into benefits in mortality."

The topline results are to be released at the European Society for Medical Oncology, external congress in Berlin on Saturday, but the full details have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Much will depend on the results of a three-year trial involving 140,000 NHS patients in England, which will be published next year.

The NHS has previously said that if the results are successful, it would extend the tests to a further one million people.

Sir Harpal Kumar, president of biopharma at Grail called the results "very compelling".

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "The vast majority of people who die from cancer do so because we find their cancers too late."

Many cancers are found when they are "already very advanced" he added, explaining that the aim is to "shift to earlier detection, when we have the chance to use treatments that are much more effective and potentially curative".

But Naser Turabi of Cancer Research UK cautioned that further research is needed to "avoid overdiagnosing cancers that may not have caused harm".

"The UK National Screening Committee will "play a critical role in reviewing the evidence and determining whether these tests should be adopted by the NHS," he added.

 

What view will Trump & Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr make of this great news or taking blood from humans causes Autism

Current advice from POTUS: inject bleach 

[Parafox]

1 hour ago, st albans fox said:

people’s front of Judea /judean people’s front …………

 

Stop. You'll get the topic taken down...

[Dahnsouff]

2 hours ago, leicsmac said:

It's always been about power. The methods of keeping and abusing that power have just become more sophisticated.

Perhaps also even more flagrant.

[st albans fox]

30 minutes ago, Parafox said:

Stop. You'll get the topic taken down...

You’re only making it worse for yourself ……..

[leicsmac]

10 minutes ago, Dahnsouff said:

Perhaps also even more flagrant.

Possibly, though I think we've come at least something of a way from the times when the direct and killing and/or violation of someone with less social status in full view of everyone was considered acceptable. 

Edited 18 October 2025 by leicsmac

[Trav Le Bleu]

5 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

You’re only making it worse for yourself ……..

Yes, but what have the Muslims ever done for us?

[davieG]

2 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Yes, but what have the Muslims ever done for us?

Quite a bit according to AI (I'm sure you were only jesting)

 

Muslim scholars made foundational contributions to various fields during the Islamic Golden Age, including algebra, optics, and medicine. They preserved and translated ancient texts, developed the scientific method through experimental medicine, and invented practical tools like surgical instruments and the first vertical-axle windmills. These developments were crucial for the European Renaissance and scientific revolution. 

 

Medicine and Biology

• Surgery: 

  Al-Zahrawi's Al-Tasrif was a 1,500-page illustrated surgical encyclopedia used in Europe for centuries. He invented surgical instruments still in use today, such as forceps, bone saws, and syringes, and was the first to mark incisions on a patient's skin. 

   
• Experimental Medicine: 

  Physicians like Rhazes and Avicenna advocated for experimental and control-based clinical research, with Rhazes suggesting comparing patient groups to test the effects of bloodletting. 

   
• Disease and Physiology: 

  Avicenna's The Canon of Medicine was the first text to recognize the contagious nature of tuberculosis, identify meningitis, and describe the parts of the eye in detail. 

   
• Drug Testing: 

  Avicenna also established rules for testing the effectiveness of drugs, requiring that a drug's effect be seen consistently or after many repetitions to be counted as valid. 

   

Mathematics and Physics

• Algebra: 

  The term "algebra" itself comes from the title of a book by the Muslim mathematician al-Khwarizmi. 

   
• Arabic Numerals: 

  The decimal number system, including the concept of zero, was developed and spread by Muslim scholars. 

   
• Optics: 

  Ibn al-Haytham developed a foundational understanding of scientific methodology through his work in optics, which explored the nature of light and vision. 

   
• Physics: 

  Ibn al-Haytham also made contributions to the understanding of momentum, gravity, and optics. Ibn Sahl accurately described Snell's law in 984 CE. 

   
• Astrology and Astronomy: 

  While astrology was often critiqued, it served as a partial incentive for the study of astronomy. Scholars accurately calculated the Earth's diameter and made precise observations of planetary motion. 

   

Engineering and Technology

• Surgical Tools: 

  In addition to those invented by Al-Zahrawi, many other surgical tools were developed or refined during this period. 

   
• Windmills: 

  The first vertical-axle windmills were developed in Persia for grinding grain and pumping water. 

   
• Paper-making: 

  The technology for papermaking was adopted from China, allowing for the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. 

   
• Flying Machines: 

  Early experiments with rocketry and human-powered flight were conducted, with Lagari Hasan Celebi known for his attempt at a human flight using rockets. 

   

How these developments were shared

• The House of Wisdom: 

  In Baghdad, this institution became a major center for translation and scholarly work, preserving knowledge from Greek, Roman, Persian, and Indian sources. 

   
• Transmission to Europe: 

  These translated works and new discoveries were transmitted to Europe, providing the foundation for the Renaissance and the scientific revolution. 

 

[st albans fox]

10 minutes ago, davieG said:

Quite a bit according to AI (I'm sure you were only jesting)

 

Muslim scholars made foundational contributions to various fields during the Islamic Golden Age, including algebra, optics, and medicine. They preserved and translated ancient texts, developed the scientific method through experimental medicine, and invented practical tools like surgical instruments and the first vertical-axle windmills. These developments were crucial for the European Renaissance and scientific revolution. 

 

Medicine and Biology

• Surgery: 

  Al-Zahrawi's Al-Tasrif was a 1,500-page illustrated surgical encyclopedia used in Europe for centuries. He invented surgical instruments still in use today, such as forceps, bone saws, and syringes, and was the first to mark incisions on a patient's skin. 

   
• Experimental Medicine: 

  Physicians like Rhazes and Avicenna advocated for experimental and control-based clinical research, with Rhazes suggesting comparing patient groups to test the effects of bloodletting. 

   
• Disease and Physiology: 

  Avicenna's The Canon of Medicine was the first text to recognize the contagious nature of tuberculosis, identify meningitis, and describe the parts of the eye in detail. 

   
• Drug Testing: 

  Avicenna also established rules for testing the effectiveness of drugs, requiring that a drug's effect be seen consistently or after many repetitions to be counted as valid. 

   

Mathematics and Physics

• Algebra: 

  The term "algebra" itself comes from the title of a book by the Muslim mathematician al-Khwarizmi. 

   
• Arabic Numerals: 

  The decimal number system, including the concept of zero, was developed and spread by Muslim scholars. 

   
• Optics: 

  Ibn al-Haytham developed a foundational understanding of scientific methodology through his work in optics, which explored the nature of light and vision. 

   
• Physics: 

  Ibn al-Haytham also made contributions to the understanding of momentum, gravity, and optics. Ibn Sahl accurately described Snell's law in 984 CE. 

   
• Astrology and Astronomy: 

  While astrology was often critiqued, it served as a partial incentive for the study of astronomy. Scholars accurately calculated the Earth's diameter and made precise observations of planetary motion. 

   

Engineering and Technology

• Surgical Tools: 

  In addition to those invented by Al-Zahrawi, many other surgical tools were developed or refined during this period. 

   
• Windmills: 

  The first vertical-axle windmills were developed in Persia for grinding grain and pumping water. 

   
• Paper-making: 

  The technology for papermaking was adopted from China, allowing for the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. 

   
• Flying Machines: 

  Early experiments with rocketry and human-powered flight were conducted, with Lagari Hasan Celebi known for his attempt at a human flight using rockets. 

   

How these developments were shared

• The House of Wisdom: 

  In Baghdad, this institution became a major center for translation and scholarly work, preserving knowledge from Greek, Roman, Persian, and Indian sources. 

   
• Transmission to Europe: 

  These translated works and new discoveries were transmitted to Europe, providing the foundation for the Renaissance and the scientific revolution. 

 

He was jesting 

well done for doing that - there’s a well trodden narrative on SM that it’s nothing 

[Trav Le Bleu]

2 hours ago, davieG said:

The decimal number system, including the concept of zero

They've literally given us nothing!

 

And yes I was joking.

Edited 18 October 2025 by Trav Le Bleu

[slymunn]

29 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Yes, but what have the Muslims ever done for us?

Aqueducts

[kenny]

4 hours ago, leicsmac said:

Lord Cardigan was a proper idiot, wasn't he? 

I've seen his house. I want to be an idiot if that's what it gets you.

[leicsmac]

11 minutes ago, kenny said:

I've seen his house. I want to be an idiot if that's what it gets you.

No, that's what privilege gets you, in spite of however much idiocy you also possess. 

[kenny]

10 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

No, that's what privilege gets you, in spite of however much idiocy you also possess. 

He died in 1868. Why don't you visit his grave and nelson muntz his ass.

 

That'll show him where his privilege got him.

[Trav Le Bleu]

4 minutes ago, kenny said:

He died in 1868. Why don't you visit his grave and nelson muntz his ass.

 

That'll show him where his privilege got him.

You who's grave should be Nelson Muntzed?

 

Lord Haw Haw.

[leicsmac]

7 minutes ago, kenny said:

He died in 1868. Why don't you visit his grave and nelson muntz his ass.

 

That'll show him where his privilege got him.

Fair, but I'm not sure about the necessity of the oppobrium here when it's painfully obvious the guy was both insanely privileged and also incredibly incompetent as a military officer, and only is remembered as fondly as he is in certain circles because he could afford to have people write positive stories about his legacy and people often mistake idiot disregard for life as positive bravery. 

Edited 18 October 2025 by leicsmac

[kenny]

1 minute ago, leicsmac said:

Fair, but I'm not sure about the necessity of the oppobrium here when it's painfully obvious the guy was both insanely privileged and also incredibly incompetent as a military officer, and only is remembered as fondly as he is in certain circles because he could afford to have people write positive stories about his legacy and people often mistake idiot disregard for life as positive bravery. 

It was how society was at that time. Judging them through a 2025 lense is fruitless and idiotic IMO.

 

We now have a value on human life that is different from a time whereby laying your life down for a social order decided by 'God' himself was the 'right' thing to do. 

 

[leicsmac]

29 minutes ago, kenny said:

It was how society was at that time. Judging them through a 2025 lense is fruitless and idiotic IMO.

 

We now have a value on human life that is different from a time whereby laying your life down for a social order decided by 'God' himself was the 'right' thing to do. 

 

Personally I think applying such judgement shows how we've progressed (or not) as a species, but fair enough. 

 

Second paragraph is interesting and actually plays into an earlier mention today on this thread; has the value of human life actually changed, or have the methods of devaluing it simply become more sophisticated in a way that we just think that it has?

 

Edit: actually, the contemporary observation of a French officer had it about right for me:  "C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre - C'est de la folie"

Edited 18 October 2025 by leicsmac

[Parafox]

2 hours ago, st albans fox said:

You’re only making it worse for yourself ……..

Cetuwion, thwow him to the floor.

 

Vewy woughly

[leicsmac]

On the topic discussed earlier:

 

"The idea that a civilization might destroy itself is both ludicrous and likely. We are pathetically inadequate at long-term planning, idiotically primitive in our destructive urges and pathologically incapable of simply getting along." - Brian Cox

[Trav Le Bleu]

8 hours ago, Parafox said:

Cetuwion, thwow him to the floor.

 

Vewy woughly

"The man has spewit!"

 

"What sir?"

 

"Spewit!"

 

"Yes, he did sir!"

[Parafox]

2 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

"The man has spewit!"

 

"What sir?"

 

"Spewit!"

 

"Yes, he did sir!"

 

"I have a vewy good fweind in Wome. His name is... Biggus Dickus".

 

"He has a wife, you know. Incontinentia... Incontientia Buttocks".

 

Surely we can't get a ban for quoting classic lines from Life of Brian.

 

It needs it's own Topic tbf.

 

 

Edited 19 October 2025 by Parafox

[davieG]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3vnl0yxg53o

 

Landmark deal to cut global shipping emissions in tatters after US pressure

Shipping accounts for 3% of global emissions but is set to grow

ByEsme Stallard
Climate and science reporter

A landmark deal to cut global shipping emissions has been abandoned after Saudi Arabia and the US succeeded in ending the talks.

More than 100 countries had gathered in London to approve a deal first agreed in April, which would have seen shipping become the world's first industry to adopt internationally mandated targets to reduce emissions.

But US President Donald Trump had called the plan a "green scam" and representatives of his administration had threatened countries with tariffs if they voted in favour of it.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the outcome a "huge win" for Trump.

But reflecting the pressure countries faced, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation Arsenio Dominguez issued a "plea" for this not to be repeated.

In a dramatic conclusion on Friday, when countries should have been voting to approve the deal, Saudi Arabia tabled a motion to adjourn the talks for a year.

The chairman said this would mean that the agreement was not approved, as key timelines for the treaty would have to be revised.

The motion passed by just a handful of votes.

Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change for the Republic of Vanuatu, said Saudi Arabia's motion was "unacceptable given the urgency we face in light of accelerating climate change".

"We came to London in reluctant support of the IMO's Net-Zero Framework. While it lacks the ambition that climate science demands, it does mark a significant step," he said.

The shipping industry has been broadly supportive of the deal because it offered consistent global standards.

Speaking after the talks ended, Thomas Kazakos, secretary-general of the industry body the International Chamber of Shipping, said : "We are disappointed that member states have not been able to agree a way forward at this meeting."

"Industry needs clarity to be able to make the investments," he added.

The UK and most EU nations voted to continue the talks, but some countries including Greece went against the EU bloc and voted to abstain.

The countries that voted in favour of adjourning the talks included Russia, Saudi Arabia and the US, who raised concerns that the deal would lead to price rises for consumers.

Some key countries including China that had initially voted to support the deal in April agreed to delay proceedings.

Island states Bahamas also changed their position and Antigua and Barbuda, who agreed in April, abstained. A delegate from the island states group told the BBC that these nations particularly rely on the US for trade and had been leaned on heavily by the Trump administration to change their position.

 

 

 

[leicsmac]

18 minutes ago, davieG said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3vnl0yxg53o

 

Landmark deal to cut global shipping emissions in tatters after US pressure

Shipping accounts for 3% of global emissions but is set to grow

ByEsme Stallard
Climate and science reporter

A landmark deal to cut global shipping emissions has been abandoned after Saudi Arabia and the US succeeded in ending the talks.

More than 100 countries had gathered in London to approve a deal first agreed in April, which would have seen shipping become the world's first industry to adopt internationally mandated targets to reduce emissions.

But US President Donald Trump had called the plan a "green scam" and representatives of his administration had threatened countries with tariffs if they voted in favour of it.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the outcome a "huge win" for Trump.

But reflecting the pressure countries faced, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation Arsenio Dominguez issued a "plea" for this not to be repeated.

In a dramatic conclusion on Friday, when countries should have been voting to approve the deal, Saudi Arabia tabled a motion to adjourn the talks for a year.

The chairman said this would mean that the agreement was not approved, as key timelines for the treaty would have to be revised.

The motion passed by just a handful of votes.

Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change for the Republic of Vanuatu, said Saudi Arabia's motion was "unacceptable given the urgency we face in light of accelerating climate change".

"We came to London in reluctant support of the IMO's Net-Zero Framework. While it lacks the ambition that climate science demands, it does mark a significant step," he said.

The shipping industry has been broadly supportive of the deal because it offered consistent global standards.

Speaking after the talks ended, Thomas Kazakos, secretary-general of the industry body the International Chamber of Shipping, said : "We are disappointed that member states have not been able to agree a way forward at this meeting."

"Industry needs clarity to be able to make the investments," he added.

The UK and most EU nations voted to continue the talks, but some countries including Greece went against the EU bloc and voted to abstain.

The countries that voted in favour of adjourning the talks included Russia, Saudi Arabia and the US, who raised concerns that the deal would lead to price rises for consumers.

Some key countries including China that had initially voted to support the deal in April agreed to delay proceedings.

Island states Bahamas also changed their position and Antigua and Barbuda, who agreed in April, abstained. A delegate from the island states group told the BBC that these nations particularly rely on the US for trade and had been leaned on heavily by the Trump administration to change their position.

 

 

 

As mentioned on the Sci thread, on a scale of 1 to omnicidal maniac, how sociopathic is this, exactly?

 

I think the casual disregard for anything outside of short term gain for one very specific demographic puts it up there. 

Edited 19 October 2025 by leicsmac