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Republican tax plan

Nations with strong women's rights likely to have better population health and faster growth

Trend evident even in resource-poor countries, say researchers

BMJ

Nations with strong women's rights are more likely to have better health and faster growth than those who don't promote and protect these values, finds research published in the online journal BMJ Open.

This trend is evident in even in resource-poor countries, say the researchers.

While many parts of the world have made good economic progress, women's rights have often been overlooked, say the researchers. 

This is despite many countries having signed the international bill of rights for women, formally known as The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

The researchers wanted to find out if there might be a link between protection of women's rights, and health improvement and sustainable development, and if ultimately, women's rights might have more of an impact than economic and social, or civil and political rights alone.

Many of the deadliest cancers receive the least amount of research funding

'Embarrassing' or stigmatized cancers like lung and liver are underfunded

Northwestern University

Many of the deadliest or most common cancers get the least amount of nonprofit research funding, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study that examined the distribution of nonprofit research funding in 2015 across cancer types.

Colon, endometrial, liver and bile duct, cervical, ovarian, pancreatic and lung cancers were all poorly funded compared to how common they are and how many deaths they cause, the study found. In contrast, breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma and pediatric cancers were all well-funded, respective to their impact on society.

The study is the first to compare nonprofit funding distribution in the United States across cancer types. It will be published July 18 in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Shrink explains that what Trump means is often the opposite of what he says

Yale psychiatrist explains the root of Trump’s ‘pathological racism’

By Tana Ganeva

On Monday morning, President Donald Trump once again escalated his conflict with “the Squad,” the group of freshman Congresswomen of color he told to go back to their own countries. 

Although moderate Republicans had hoped last week that the President would tone down his remarks, on Monday he once again doubled down on Twitter.

“The “Squad” is a very Racist group of troublemakers who are young, inexperienced, and not very smart. They are pulling the once great Democrat Party far left, and were against humanitarian aid at the Border…And are now against ICE and Homeland Security. So bad for our Country!” he tweeted.

The “Squad” is a very Racist group of troublemakers who are young, inexperienced, and not very smart. They are pulling the once great Democrat Party far left, and were against humanitarian aid at the Border...And are now against ICE and Homeland Security. So bad for our Country!

The feud between the junior lawmakers and Trump continues to hog the limelight, even as Democratic presidential candidates try to break through.

Raw Story spoke with Yale psychiatrist Dr. Bandy X. Lee about why the president can’t stop himself from attacking the young women. Lee is a forensic psychiatrist and an expert on violence at Yale School of Medicine.

She helped launch a public health approach to global violence prevention as a consultant to the World Health Organization and other United Nations bodies since 2002.

She is author of the textbook, “Violence: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Causes, Consequences, and Cures,” president of the World Mental Health Coalition, and editor of the New York Times bestseller, “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 37 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President.”

She and her coauthors recently prepared a mental health analysis of the Mueller report with recommendations (for more information, visit: dangerouscase.org).

Why can't we at least agree on the FACTS?

The Mueller hearing and the death of factsLee McIntyre, Boston University

Listening to former special counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony on July 24, the nation heard a duel over the facts.

Not what the facts imply, not our response to them, but what the facts are.

Founding Father John Adams once said, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”

But this is no longer Adams’ America, where facts were unalterable.

As a scholar of philosophy and what I call the “post-truth” era, I believe Mueller’s testimony shows that at least in the political world, “alternative facts” have replaced actual facts and feelings have more weight than evidence.

Why they love him

Jon Stewart and Mitch McConnell

Works for me

Stress reduction benefits from petting dogs, cats

Washington State University

College is stressful. Students have classes, papers, and exams. But they also often have work, bills to pay, and so many other pressures common in modern life.

Many universities have instituted "Pet Your Stress Away" programs, where students can come in and interact with cats and/or dogs to help alleviate some of the strain.

Scientists at Washington State University have recently demonstrated that, in addition to improving students' moods, these programs can actually get "under the skin" and have stress-relieving physiological benefits.

Nutrition Science Is Broken

This New Egg Study Shows Why.
By Timothy F. Kirn


It’s been a tortuous path for the humble egg. For much of our history, it was a staple of the American breakfast — as in, bacon and eggs.

Then, starting in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it began to be disparaged as a dangerous source of artery-clogging cholesterol, a probable culprit behind Americans’ exceptionally high rates of heart attack and stroke.

Then, in the past few years, the chicken egg was redeemed and once again touted as an excellent source of protein, unique antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, and many vitamins and minerals, including riboflavin and selenium, all in a fairly low-calorie package.

This March, a study published in JAMA put the egg back on the hot seat. It found that the amount of cholesterol in a bit less than two large eggs a day was associated with an increase in a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease and death by 17 percent and 18 percent, respectively.

The risks grow with every additional half egg. It was a really large study, too — with nearly 30,000 participants — which suggests it should be fairly reliable.

So which is it? Is the egg good or bad? And, while we are on the subject, when so much of what we are told about diet, health, and weight loss is inconsistent and contradictory, can we believe any of it?

Quite frankly, probably not. Nutrition research tends to be unreliable because nearly all of it is based on observational studies, which are imprecise, have no controls, and don’t follow an experimental method.

Want to Meet With the Trump Administration?

Donald Trump Jr.’s Hunting Buddy Can Help

By Jake Pearson for ProPublica

Tommy Hick Jr. on the right with best bud Donald
"Fredo" Trump Jr.

Over the past two years, the Trump administration has been grappling with how to handle the transition to the next generation of mobile broadband technology. 

With spending expected to run into hundreds of billions of dollars, the administration views it as an ultra-high-stakes competition between U.S. and Chinese companies, with enormous implications both for technology and for national security. Top officials from a raft of departments have been meeting to hash out the best approach.

But there’s been one person at some of the discussions who has a different background: He’s Donald Trump Jr.’s hunting buddy. Over the past two decades, the two have trained their sights on duck, pheasant and white-tailed deer on multiple continents. (An email from another Trump Jr. pal characterized one of their joint duck-hunting trips to Mexico years ago as “muy aggresivo.”)

Tommy Hicks Jr., 41, isn’t a government official; he’s a wealthy private investor. And he has been a part of discussions related to China and technology with top officials from the Treasury Department, National Security Council, Commerce Department and others, according to emails and documents obtained by ProPublica. In one email, Hicks refers to a meeting at “Langley,” an apparent reference to the CIA’s headquarters.

Hicks’ financial interests, if any, in the matters he has discussed aren’t clear. The interests are much more apparent when it comes to at least one of his associates. Hicks used his connections to arrange for a hedge fund manager friend, Kyle Bass — who has $143 million in investments that will pay off if China’s economy tanks — to present his views on the Chinese economy to high-level government officials at an interagency meeting at the Treasury Department, according to the documents.

Hicks is hardly the first private-sector power broker to emerge in a presidential administration, but he may represent a new subspecies: The Friend of the President’s Kid.

Rhode Island kids’ lawsuit may continue

'Big Win' for Rhode Island in Court Battle to Make Polluters Pay for Consequences of Climate Crisis

By Jessica Corbett, staff writer for Common Dreams

In what one advocate called a "big win" for climate liability litigation, a federal judge on Monday remanded Rhode Island's lawsuit targeting 21 fossil fuel giants to state court, where the oil and gas companies are more likely to be forced to pay for their significant contributions to the global climate crisis.

Last July, Rhode Island became the first state in the country to file suit against dirty energy companies—including BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell—seeking to hold them accountable for knowingly contributing to a climate emergency that is "causing catastrophic consequences to Rhode Island, our economy, our communities, our residents, our ecosystems."

The Ocean State accused fossil fuel producers of "externalizing the responsibility" for the consequences of the human-caused crisis—such as sea level rise, drought, extreme precipitation, and heatwaves, and the damage those events cause—by expecting taxpayers to foot the bill.

Business is good

Busy schedule for WPWA

Thursday's Paddle Boarding Registration is Live! Sign up Soon for These Paddle Programs! WPWA.org to Register and For Full Details.

Basket Weaving 9-Noon on Mon 7/29 Join Loren Spears, Tomaquag Museum Executive Director, as she paddles and points out traditional weaving materials on the Wood River before teaching weaving at WPWA headquarters. WPWA Safety Kayak Instructor Kassi Archambault will join in the fun. We hope you do to! Monday 7/29 (rain date Tuesday, 7/30) 9am - 12 noon $65 per teen or adult Kayaks and Weaving materials and instruction included! Register on WPWA.org    Birds & Bats 6-9pm on Thurs 8/1 Laura Carberry, long time employee of the Exeter, RI office of the state's Audubon Society, knows all about birds and bats! We will have a short indoor presentation about bats. Then, the group will kayak up to Frying Pan Pond to see all the fliers in their evening activities. Because of the time of night, we may even see beavers.   Thursday, 8/1 (rain date Friday, 8/2) 6 - 9 pm $55 per person Kayak included upon registration! Register on WPWA.org   Wading Birds 1-3:30pm on Mon 8/19  Join WPWA and Audubon in Little Narragansett Bay for peak shore bird viewing! Details and Registration on WPWA.org $100 per person **Includes upgrade to WPWA Membership at Trout Level!!** Includes boat, life jacket, safety guide and bird expert. Limited to 8 participants  Weekly SUP 6-8pm on Thurs 7/25 Plan to join WPWA's rock star volunteer Bill McCusker every Thursday night for this intimate paddling experience. First come first served click here, registration is required for each paddle, will be done on a weekly basis, and is limited to only 5 participants. We will activate our online registration system each week when we know the weather is expected to be clear.  So be sure to check our events registration page regularly.   Know someone who has always wanted to try paddle boarding?  Please forward this email to them, they will thank you for it! Free for WPWA Members!  Non-members must pay a registration fee of $35 which includes a WPWA membership at the Dragonfly level!  So if you are not a member, you will be after your first paddle.  Then you can come for free for the rest of the summer! Beginners, experts and children 12 and over who are competent swimmers and accompanied by an adult are all welcome to attend.

Our Contact Information

Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association

203 Arcadia Road

Hope Valley, RI 02832

401-539-9017

www.wpwa.org

From wood waste to clean water

Eco-friendly composite catalyst and ultrasound removes pollutants from water

National Research Council of Science & Technology

The research team of Dr. Jae-woo Choi and Dr. Kyung-won Jung of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology's (KIST, president: Byung-gwon Lee) Water Cycle Research Center announced that it has developed a wastewater treatment process that uses a common agricultural byproduct to effectively remove pollutants and environmental hormones, which are known to be endocrine disruptors.

The sewage and wastewater that are inevitably produced at any industrial worksite often contain large quantities of pollutants and environmental hormones (endocrine disruptors). 

Because environmental hormones do not break down easily, they can have a significant negative effect on not only the environment but also the human body. To prevent this, a means of removing environmental hormones is required.

The performance of the catalyst that is currently being used to process sewage and wastewater drops significantly with time. Because high efficiency is difficult to achieve given the conditions, the biggest disadvantage of the existing process is the high cost involved.