From boldly boasting shoulder pads to embracing wildly dyed hair or frizzed-out perms — two out of three Americans have a previous fashion choice or hairstyle that haunts them, according to new research.
Floyd 99’s Barbershop, in conjunction with OnePoll, conducted a study to examine the hair, beauty, and grooming routines of 2,000 Americans. It found that 66 percent of Americans have a cringeworthy look or fashion regret from their past that they can’t bear to think about.
And through their research they found the common denominator of regretful styling, beauty and grooming habits people have had about themselves in the past.
Poor fashion choices aside, the ghosts of hairstyles past was the biggest factor.
Beyond the perm and hair color gone wrong, a mullet, bangs and big curls were hairstyles that most Americans would like to leave in the rearview mirror.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Monday, May 06, 2019
A Guide to Understanding and Avoiding Cultural Appropriation
Cultural appropriation is the adoption of certain elements from another culture without the consent of people who belong to that culture. It's a controversial topic, one that activists and celebrities like Adrienne Keene and Jesse Williams have helped bring into the national spotlight. However, much of the public remains confused about what the term actually means.
People from hundreds of different ethnicities make up the U.S. population, so it’s not surprising that cultural groups rub off on each other at times. Americans who grow up in diverse communities may pick up the dialect, customs, and religious traditions of the cultural groups that surround them.
Cultural appropriation is an entirely different matter. It has little to do with one’s exposure to and familiarity with different cultures. Instead, cultural appropriation typically involves members of a dominant group exploiting the culture of less privileged groups. Quite often, this is done along racial and ethnic lines with little understanding of the latter’s history, experience, and traditions.
In order to understand cultural appropriation, we must first look at the two words that make up the term. Culture is defined as the beliefs, ideas, traditions, speech, and material objects associated with a particular group of people. Appropriation is the illegal, unfair, or unjust taking of something that doesn't belong to you.
More here
People from hundreds of different ethnicities make up the U.S. population, so it’s not surprising that cultural groups rub off on each other at times. Americans who grow up in diverse communities may pick up the dialect, customs, and religious traditions of the cultural groups that surround them.
Cultural appropriation is an entirely different matter. It has little to do with one’s exposure to and familiarity with different cultures. Instead, cultural appropriation typically involves members of a dominant group exploiting the culture of less privileged groups. Quite often, this is done along racial and ethnic lines with little understanding of the latter’s history, experience, and traditions.
In order to understand cultural appropriation, we must first look at the two words that make up the term. Culture is defined as the beliefs, ideas, traditions, speech, and material objects associated with a particular group of people. Appropriation is the illegal, unfair, or unjust taking of something that doesn't belong to you.
More here
Helicopter parenting gone wild! Family paid $6.5M to get daughter into Stanford
The college admissions scandal reveals unpleasant cultural forces and status anxiety that fuel such risky gambles
A Chinese pharmaceutical billionaire allegedly paid $6.5 million to snag his daughter a place at Stanford University.
Even judging by the recent college-admissions scandal, this figure is shocking.
A Chinese pharmaceutical billionaire allegedly paid $6.5 million to snag his daughter a place at Stanford University. The family reportedly used the same contact, William “Rick” Singer, a college-admissions consultant, who helped families get their kids into colleges in the recent $25 million college-admissions scandal. A spokeswoman for Stanford told The Los Angeles Times this week that Singer allegedly received the $6.5 million, not Stanford University. The family was not cited in the recent federal court case involving multiple families.
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A Chinese pharmaceutical billionaire allegedly paid $6.5 million to snag his daughter a place at Stanford University.
Even judging by the recent college-admissions scandal, this figure is shocking.
A Chinese pharmaceutical billionaire allegedly paid $6.5 million to snag his daughter a place at Stanford University. The family reportedly used the same contact, William “Rick” Singer, a college-admissions consultant, who helped families get their kids into colleges in the recent $25 million college-admissions scandal. A spokeswoman for Stanford told The Los Angeles Times this week that Singer allegedly received the $6.5 million, not Stanford University. The family was not cited in the recent federal court case involving multiple families.
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Congressman Andy Harris Applauds Department of Homeland Security for Finalization of H-2B Visa Increase
WASHINGTON, DC: Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the imminent finalization of the rule providing for the release of 30,000 additional H-2B visas for the summer season of Fiscal Year 2019. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) has spearheaded the effort to secure these extra visas both in the House of Representatives and in the Maryland delegation, and made the following statement supporting the DHS’ decision to increase the allotted amount of H-2B visas:
“I applaud the Department of Homeland Security for finalizing the rule providing for the release of 30,000 supplemental H-2B visas in time for the upcoming summer season. The low unemployment rate and oversubscription to the H-2B visa program are chronic problems for the economy of Maryland’s First District and the country. While I commend the Trump administration for providing these extras visas, it is Congress who ultimately bears the responsibility to pass a permanent solution to the H-2B visa shortage. I look forward to continuing to working with my colleagues here in the House toward such a permanent solution.”
Details on eligibility and filing requirements are available in the final rule and at USCIS.gov. Note that the rule is expected to be published and effective on May 8, 2019. USCIS will begin accepting petitions after the rule is published.
Virginia Murder Suspect Captured in Delaware
On May 3, 2019 at approximately 12:00 p.m., Task Force Officers from the First State Fugitive Task Force were advised by their counterparts in Baltimore that Addison was at a residence in the Rose Hill subdivision near Bear. Addison was observed by the Task Force Officers entering a silver 2007 Infiniti G35 and drive from the residence.
A car stop was conducted on US Route 40 at Glasgow Park. Addison was subsequently taken into custody without incident and transported back to Troop 2, where an Out-of-State Fugitive warrant was obtained.
Addison was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and is being held without bail at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, pending extradition back to Virginia.
2019 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey
INTRODUCTION:
The winter dredge survey is the only bay-wide fishery independent effort to estimate the number of blue crabs living in the Chesapeake Bay. The winter dredge survey produces information that is essential for the management of the species, such as an estimate of the number of crabs over-wintering in the bay and the number of young crabs entering the population each year. Also calculated is the estimated number of females that could spawn within the year, which is an important indicator of future spawning potential. Estimating the total number of crabs living in the bay allows us to calculate the percentage of the crab population that is removed by harvest each year. A pilot version of the winter dredge survey was first conducted in 1988 with the cooperation of the University of Maryland Chesapeake Biological Lab. In 1989 the Virginia Institute of Marine Science joined the survey, and the two states continue to sample each winter from December through March.WHERE WE SAMPLE:
Since 1994, the survey has been conducted according to a stratified random design (Rothschild and Sharov, 1996). The bay is divided into three regions or strata: Lower Bay (the mouth of the Chesapeake to Windmill Point, VA), Middle Bay (Windmill Point, VA to Cove Point, MD) and the Upper Bay/Tributaries (Cove Point to Pooles Island and all of the Bay's tributaries). Each year, a total of 1500 sites in waters deeper than 5 feet are randomly selected. The number of sites assigned in each region is proportional to its area.HOW WE SAMPLE:
A six-foot-wide Virginia crab dredge fitted with a half inch nylon mesh liner is towed along the bottom for one minute at a speed of three knots. Latitude and longitude, measured with a Differential Global Positioning System (GPS), is recorded at the beginning and end of each tow to determine distance covered. This distance is multiplied by the dredge's width to calculate the area covered. Beginning and ending depth, water temperature, and salinity are recorded at each site.
Funds Awarded for Prekindergarten Expansion
$26.6 Million in Grants Advance PreK Education
BALTIMORE (May 6, 2019)- The Maryland State Department of Education’s Division of Early Childhood has awarded 50 grants aimed at serving four-year-olds in high-quality prekindergarten classrooms in Maryland.
In total, 19 school systems have been funded for one or more additional PreK classrooms. In addition, 31 community-based, Head Start and other programs in 12 jurisdictions have been funded. Approximately $26.6 million in grant awards will provide four-year-old children from low-income families access to full-day prekindergarten during school year 2019-2020.
“Early learning programs provide a strong educational foundation for our state’s youngest learners," said Governor Hogan. "These grants are a much-needed investment in Maryland’s future generation and will allow for increased access to these programs for youth across the state.”
These funds allow school systems and early childhood programs to increase the length of the school-day from a half-day to a full-day, fund highly qualified and certified Early Childhood teachers in each classroom, and serve more vulnerable children who otherwise would not have access to the early education they need for success in school. Maryland’s statewide plan expands high-quality prekindergarten, provides intensive technical assistance, and ensures comprehensive services are accessible in many high-need communities.
Jersey Boys, The Sound of Music Canceled
Jersey Boys, The Sound of Music Canceled
Performances of The Sound of Music and Jersey Boys at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center have officially been canceled. The Sound of Music had been scheduled for May 13, and Jersey Boys was postponed on March 28 and had not yet been rescheduled.
Neither show will be rescheduled.
The cancellations are the result of an April 30 letter received from NETworks, the management company of both shows, which listed demands of Wicomico County in a short timeframe and included concerns about the safety of the venue.
In a statement of response, Wicomico County representatives rejected the notion of a safety issue at the building and cited NETworks’ demands as not necessary or appropriate.
“Since 2009, the County has partnered with Broadway in Salisbury and successfully and safely produced 47 shows at the Civic Center,” explained Steve Miller, Director of Recreation, Parks & Tourism. “The notion that the building is unsafe is simply not true.”
Adam Epstein, CEO of innovation arts and entertainment, the producers of Broadway in Salisbury, said “We have complete confidence in the safety of the WY&CC to host Broadway shows and other programming, and we will continue to bring shows to the venue as we have for over a decade.”
Three days after the Jersey Boys cancellation on March 28, the venue successfully hosted a concert for over 3,000 people. In April, the Civic Center hosted Kelsea Ballerini’s Miss Me More Tour and PJ Masks Live! “Save the Day” without incident, as well as many other events for thousands of guests.
In its response to NETworks, the County expressed disappointment with the apparent lack of concern for customers of both shows. According to the County, NETworks unnecessarily delayed the Jersey Boys cancellation “without any concern for the welfare of customers waiting to enter the building.” The County went on to state that “NETworks has further inconvenienced these customers by refusing to respond to offers for a reschedule date despite many efforts on behalf of the County, including a listing of available dates provided the night of the cancellation.”
“Our priority is the customers,” explained Miller. “We do not want ticket holders to have the same disappointing experience they did the evening of the Jersey Boys show and that is what The Sound of Music was shaping up to be. We believe that both shows could have proceeded as scheduled.”
Refund Process
Jersey Boys and Sound of Music ticket holders will be refunded the full purchase price of their tickets, including fees. Jersey Boys refunds will start immediately. Sound of Music refunds will begin no later than May 28.
For customers who purchased through the WY&CC:
All online purchases will be refunded automatically.
· Customers who purchased online or in person with a credit card within the last four months will receive a refund to their credit card.
· Customers who purchased online with a credit card prior to February 1 will be issued a check.
Ticket holders who fall into one of the below categories will need to call the box office at 410-548-4911 and provide their order number and mailing address.
· Customers who purchased with credit card in person at the box office prior to February 1.
· Customers who purchased with cash.
Please do not contact the box office unless you fall into one of these categories.
WY&CC box office hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Broadway in Salisbury subscribers will receive a refund via check or credit card automatically. These customers do not need to contact the Broadway in Salisbury offices.
Customers who purchased through a third party will need to contact that seller directly.
Refund information is also available online at www.WicomicoCivicCenter.org.
Bartender, 27, who 'served a drunk man' is arrested after he went on Plano shooting rampage killing eight including his ex-wife at a party
A bartender accused of serving a drunk man has been arrested after he went on a shooting rampage killing eight, including his ex-wife at a football watch party.
Lindsey Glass, 27, is charged with allegedly violating a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code titled 'Sale to Certain Persons' following Spencer Hight's murderous spree in 2017.
She was arrested at the end of last month after Hight, 32, finished drinking at the Texas bar she worked at before driving to a Plano home and killing the eight people at a Dallas Cowboys-watching party.
The code states: 'A person commits an offense if the person with criminal negligence sells an alcoholic beverage to an habitual drunkard or an intoxicated or insane person.'
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Lindsey Glass, 27, is charged with allegedly violating a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code titled 'Sale to Certain Persons' following Spencer Hight's murderous spree in 2017.
She was arrested at the end of last month after Hight, 32, finished drinking at the Texas bar she worked at before driving to a Plano home and killing the eight people at a Dallas Cowboys-watching party.
The code states: 'A person commits an offense if the person with criminal negligence sells an alcoholic beverage to an habitual drunkard or an intoxicated or insane person.'
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Driver passes DUI check, gets fined for having dog in lap
A driver in New South Wales, Australia, who passed a random breathalyzer test, was issued a ticket for driving with a dog on his lap last month.
“Driving with an animal on your lap is extremely dangerous and can interfere with the driver's ability to control the vehicle,” the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command wrote on Facebook.
The fine for the offense was the equivalent of $312 and 3 points on his license, and he wasn’t the only one that was clueless on the violation. News.com.au reports that several commenters said that they had no idea the act was against the law.
The rules on unrestrained pets vary state to state in the U.S, with several including Hawaii and Arizona specifically banning pets from the driver’s lap or vicinity, according to Puppy Traffic School, while some treat a lap dog (or cat, or bird, etc.) as a distraction and others are more ambiguous about the act.
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https://www.foxnews.com/auto/driver-passes-dui-dog-lap
“Driving with an animal on your lap is extremely dangerous and can interfere with the driver's ability to control the vehicle,” the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command wrote on Facebook.
The fine for the offense was the equivalent of $312 and 3 points on his license, and he wasn’t the only one that was clueless on the violation. News.com.au reports that several commenters said that they had no idea the act was against the law.
The rules on unrestrained pets vary state to state in the U.S, with several including Hawaii and Arizona specifically banning pets from the driver’s lap or vicinity, according to Puppy Traffic School, while some treat a lap dog (or cat, or bird, etc.) as a distraction and others are more ambiguous about the act.
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https://www.foxnews.com/auto/driver-passes-dui-dog-lap
The FTC is investigating DNA firms like 23andMe and Ancestry over privacy
Popular DNA testing companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com are being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission over their policies for handling personal info and genetic data, and how they share that info with third parties.
The probe was revealed in the agency’s response to a Freedom of Information Act request by Fast Company seeking records pertaining to 23andMe and Ancestry.com. The FTC denied the FOIA request, saying in its letter that any records “would be exempt from disclosure . . . because disclosure of that material could reasonably be expected to interfere with the conduct of the Commission’s law enforcement activities.” The agency cited an exemption—5 U.S.C. 552(b)(7)(A)—which has often been interpreted by journalists as the disclosure of an investigation.
A spokesperson for the agency declined comment, saying that “FTC investigations are non-public, and so typically we do not comment on an investigation or even whether we are investigating.”
Privacy issues in the use of such DNA testing kits came to the forefront with the arrest of the notorious Golden State Killer, when it was revealed that police had used data from GEDMatch, a genealogy research site where users upload genealogical and genetic information, to help identify the suspect. When contacted by Fast Company, spokespersons for 23andMe and Ancestry.com said they’re rarely approached by law enforcement for genetic data.
Yet as the DNA testing market has exploded—worth approximately $99 million in 2017 and expected to increase to $310 million by 2022—concerns have also grown about the use of genetic data. Many consumers don’t realize that their personal info may be shared with third-party companies and there have been complaints raised that the companies’ terms of service are not always clear about their policies in such matters.
More here
The probe was revealed in the agency’s response to a Freedom of Information Act request by Fast Company seeking records pertaining to 23andMe and Ancestry.com. The FTC denied the FOIA request, saying in its letter that any records “would be exempt from disclosure . . . because disclosure of that material could reasonably be expected to interfere with the conduct of the Commission’s law enforcement activities.” The agency cited an exemption—5 U.S.C. 552(b)(7)(A)—which has often been interpreted by journalists as the disclosure of an investigation.
A spokesperson for the agency declined comment, saying that “FTC investigations are non-public, and so typically we do not comment on an investigation or even whether we are investigating.”
Privacy issues in the use of such DNA testing kits came to the forefront with the arrest of the notorious Golden State Killer, when it was revealed that police had used data from GEDMatch, a genealogy research site where users upload genealogical and genetic information, to help identify the suspect. When contacted by Fast Company, spokespersons for 23andMe and Ancestry.com said they’re rarely approached by law enforcement for genetic data.
Yet as the DNA testing market has exploded—worth approximately $99 million in 2017 and expected to increase to $310 million by 2022—concerns have also grown about the use of genetic data. Many consumers don’t realize that their personal info may be shared with third-party companies and there have been complaints raised that the companies’ terms of service are not always clear about their policies in such matters.
More here
NOI 5/5/19 Somerset Apartment Fire Somers Cove
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NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
Date: May 5, 2019
Time: 2:05 a.m.
Location / Address: 330 Somers Cove, Crisfield, Somerset Co.
Type of Incident: Fire
Description of Structure / Property: One story wood frame multi-unit apartment building
Owner / Occupants: Crisfield Housing Authority (Owner) Lawrence Bishop (Occupant)
Injuries or Deaths: None
Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $30,000 Contents: $10,000
Smoke Alarm Status: Present and activated
Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: Fire Alarm present and activated / Sprinkler – n/a
Arrests(s): None
Primary Responding Fire Department: Crisfield Fire Department
# of Alarms: 1 # Of Firefighters: 15
Time to Control: 10 minutes
Discovered By: Occupant
Area of Origin: Roof Assembly
Preliminary Cause: Accidental, lightning strike
Additional Information: As a result of the fire, the occupant was displaced and is being assisted by Red Cross.
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CBO spells danger for House-sponsored 'Medicare for all
More than 100 House Democrats have endorsed a "Medicare for all" plan which would eradicate private health insurance, and every single senator running for president, with the sole exception of Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, has backed single-payer. So the Congressional Budget Office put it to the test, and needless to say, it's not pretty.
Every American who sits even a centimeter and a half to the left of Paul Krugman understands that the cost component of "Medicare for all" renders it immediately untenable. In the arguably most comprehensive valuation of the bill as proposed by 2020 hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the Mercatus Center conservatively estimated that the bill would cost $32.6 trillion in its first decade. That would roughly double our federal spending, and so far, not one Democrat has announced a tax or a combination of taxes that would remotely fund it.
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Every American who sits even a centimeter and a half to the left of Paul Krugman understands that the cost component of "Medicare for all" renders it immediately untenable. In the arguably most comprehensive valuation of the bill as proposed by 2020 hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the Mercatus Center conservatively estimated that the bill would cost $32.6 trillion in its first decade. That would roughly double our federal spending, and so far, not one Democrat has announced a tax or a combination of taxes that would remotely fund it.
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Terror in Alabama: Walking you through an accused terrorist's compound
MACON COUNTY, Ala. (WPMI) —A WPMI report uncovered a terrorist compound right here in Alabama. A federal search warrant WPMI obtained says this compound was similar to the terror cell's desert compound in New Mexico that was raided last summer. Siraj Wahhaj and four others are now facing federal terrorism, kidnapping and firearms charges.
The property in question is located 6 miles from downtown Tuskegee. Drone footage we shot shows what the federal search warrant described as a "makeshift military-style obstacle course" consisting of "five-gallon buckets with chain link fencing over the top." The search warrant says it "resembled an obstacle course similar to what the military uses to low crawl."
Agents from the FBI Mobile field office also conducted aerial surveillance and says in its search warrant that the structure on this sight was "designed" the same way as the one in New Mexico. Both were "surrounded with hundreds of vehicle tires, assorted trash, and both structures have wooden pallets with clear plastic tarps draped over them."
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The property in question is located 6 miles from downtown Tuskegee. Drone footage we shot shows what the federal search warrant described as a "makeshift military-style obstacle course" consisting of "five-gallon buckets with chain link fencing over the top." The search warrant says it "resembled an obstacle course similar to what the military uses to low crawl."
Agents from the FBI Mobile field office also conducted aerial surveillance and says in its search warrant that the structure on this sight was "designed" the same way as the one in New Mexico. Both were "surrounded with hundreds of vehicle tires, assorted trash, and both structures have wooden pallets with clear plastic tarps draped over them."
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FamilyTreeDNA Admits to Sharing Genetic Data With FBI
The president of FamilyTreeDNA, one of the country’s largest at-home genetic testing companies, has apologized to its users for failing to disclose that it was sharing DNA data with federal investigators working to solve violent crimes.
In the booming business of consumer DNA testing and genealogy, FamilyTreeDNA had marketed itself as a leader of consumer privacy and a fierce protector of user data, refusing, unlike some of its competitors, to sell information to third parties.
But unbeknown to its users, the Houston-based firm quietly and voluntarily agreed in 2018 to open its database of more than two million records to the F.B.I. and examine DNA samples in its laboratory to identify suspects and victims of unsolved crimes.
FamilyTreeDNA confirmed the deal on Thursday, in a report by Buzzfeed News, setting off a backlash among its loyal users who felt betrayed and igniting another debate over privacy and ethical issues with investigators using genealogical sites to solve crimes.
In an email to its users, the company’s president, Bennett Greenspan, defended the agreement with the F.B.I. but apologized for not revealing it sooner.
“I am genuinely sorry for not having handled our communications with you as we should have,” Mr. Greenspan wrote, according to a copy of the email obtained by The New York Times. “We’ve received an incredible amount of support from those of you who believe this is an opportunity for honest, law-abiding citizens to help catch bad guys and bring closure to devastated families.”
The news underscored the lack of universal regulations governing direct-to-consumer genetic testing in the United States and how companies can use their data without consumers’ knowledge.
More
In the booming business of consumer DNA testing and genealogy, FamilyTreeDNA had marketed itself as a leader of consumer privacy and a fierce protector of user data, refusing, unlike some of its competitors, to sell information to third parties.
But unbeknown to its users, the Houston-based firm quietly and voluntarily agreed in 2018 to open its database of more than two million records to the F.B.I. and examine DNA samples in its laboratory to identify suspects and victims of unsolved crimes.
FamilyTreeDNA confirmed the deal on Thursday, in a report by Buzzfeed News, setting off a backlash among its loyal users who felt betrayed and igniting another debate over privacy and ethical issues with investigators using genealogical sites to solve crimes.
In an email to its users, the company’s president, Bennett Greenspan, defended the agreement with the F.B.I. but apologized for not revealing it sooner.
“I am genuinely sorry for not having handled our communications with you as we should have,” Mr. Greenspan wrote, according to a copy of the email obtained by The New York Times. “We’ve received an incredible amount of support from those of you who believe this is an opportunity for honest, law-abiding citizens to help catch bad guys and bring closure to devastated families.”
The news underscored the lack of universal regulations governing direct-to-consumer genetic testing in the United States and how companies can use their data without consumers’ knowledge.
More
Trump cranks up pressure on China ahead of Wednesday's trade talks as he announces new 25 per cent tariffs on $325 BILLION in goods that will kick in Friday
President Donald Trump turned up the pressure on China on Sunday, threatening to hike tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.
Trump's comments, delivered on Twitter, came as a Chinese delegation was scheduled to resume talks in Washington on Wednesday aimed at resolving a trade war that has shaken financial markets and cast gloom over the world economy.
Trump turned up the heat by saying he would raise import taxes on $200 billion in Chinese products to 25% from 10% on Friday.
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Trump's comments, delivered on Twitter, came as a Chinese delegation was scheduled to resume talks in Washington on Wednesday aimed at resolving a trade war that has shaken financial markets and cast gloom over the world economy.
Trump turned up the heat by saying he would raise import taxes on $200 billion in Chinese products to 25% from 10% on Friday.
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Why a DNA data breach is much worse than a credit card leak
[About a year ago], DNA testing service MyHeritage revealed that hackers had breached 92 million of its accounts. Though the hackers only accessed encrypted emails and passwords — so they never reached the actual genetic data — there’s no question that this type of hack will happen more frequently as consumer genetic testing becomes more and more popular. So why would hackers want DNA information specifically? And what are the implications of a big DNA breach?
One simple reason is that hackers might want to sell DNA data back for ransom, says Giovanni Vigna, a professor of computer science at UC Santa Barbara and co-founder of cybersecurity company Lastline. Hackers could threaten to revoke access or post the sensitive information online if not given money; one Indiana hospital paid $55,000 to hackers for this very reason. But there are reasons genetic data specifically could be lucrative. “This data could be sold on the down-low or monetized to insurance companies,” Vigna adds. “You can imagine the consequences: One day, I might apply for a long-term loan and get rejected because deep in the corporate system, there is data that I am very likely to get Alzheimer’s and die before I would repay the loan.”
MyHeritage doesn’t offer health or medical tests, but many companies, like 23andMe and Helix, do. And there are plenty of players interested in DNA: researchers want genetic data for scientific studies, insurance companies want genetic data to help them calculate the cost of health and life insurance, and police want genetic data to help them track down criminals, like in the recent Golden State Killer case. Already, we lack robust protections when it comes to genetic privacy, and so a genetic data breach could be a nightmare. “If there is data that exists, there is a way for it to be exploited,” says Natalie Ram, a professor of law focusing on bioethics issues at the University of Baltimore.
Genetic testing sites are treasure troves of sensitive information...
One simple reason is that hackers might want to sell DNA data back for ransom, says Giovanni Vigna, a professor of computer science at UC Santa Barbara and co-founder of cybersecurity company Lastline. Hackers could threaten to revoke access or post the sensitive information online if not given money; one Indiana hospital paid $55,000 to hackers for this very reason. But there are reasons genetic data specifically could be lucrative. “This data could be sold on the down-low or monetized to insurance companies,” Vigna adds. “You can imagine the consequences: One day, I might apply for a long-term loan and get rejected because deep in the corporate system, there is data that I am very likely to get Alzheimer’s and die before I would repay the loan.”
MyHeritage doesn’t offer health or medical tests, but many companies, like 23andMe and Helix, do. And there are plenty of players interested in DNA: researchers want genetic data for scientific studies, insurance companies want genetic data to help them calculate the cost of health and life insurance, and police want genetic data to help them track down criminals, like in the recent Golden State Killer case. Already, we lack robust protections when it comes to genetic privacy, and so a genetic data breach could be a nightmare. “If there is data that exists, there is a way for it to be exploited,” says Natalie Ram, a professor of law focusing on bioethics issues at the University of Baltimore.
Genetic testing sites are treasure troves of sensitive information...
You Are Now More Likely To Know A Prostitute Than A Primetime CNN Viewer
Donna Summer sings, "No one seems to know her name, and even less about the place from where she came," in her 1976 song Lady of the Night. Flash forward 40 years and it seems those lyrics are more applicable to the nightly CNN audience than they are to a prostitute. As reported by Newsbusters, the latest cable news ratings indicate that CNN primetime has just 760,000 viewers, officially making members of the oldest profession more prominent in America than fans of the cable news network.
Newsbusters Rich Noyes reports there are an estimated 1 million prostitutes currently in the United States, meaning there are 240,000 more people out there whose profession is known as the politically correct "sex worker" than are folks tuning into CNN each evening for their news.
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Newsbusters Rich Noyes reports there are an estimated 1 million prostitutes currently in the United States, meaning there are 240,000 more people out there whose profession is known as the politically correct "sex worker" than are folks tuning into CNN each evening for their news.
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