August 20, 2020

Spike in church infections grips greater Seoul, gov't warns of stern response

SEOUL, Aug. 19 (Yonhap) -- A continued surge in church-related infections put the greater Seoul area on edge Wednesday, prompting the government to consider tougher measures against a church at the center of the COVID-19 resurgence.

South Korea reported 297 new infections, the largest number of cases since early March, which has raised the country's total caseload to 16,058, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

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While infections were reported at various other facilities, including several other churches in the capital, the majority of the recent infections were tied to Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul. Its pastor Jun Kwang-hoon has led anti-government street rallies. In the most recent large-scale demonstration held in Gwanghwamun on Saturday, thousands of people chanted slogans, sitting close to one another.

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The number continued to rise later in the day as people related to the church were tested for the virus. Among them were 16 students attending a private cram school near the church who tested positive, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.

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Jun himself has tested positive, and health authorities are screening church members and demonstrators based on a list submitted by the church. The list, however, has turned out to be inaccurate, raising concerns over infected people unconsciously spreading the virus across the country.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200819003053315?section=national/politics

I guess being washed in the blood of Christ didn't help much
Fortunately in South Korea you can be criminally charged for obstructing by not cooperating in a health crisis
They can also fine you
Those who attended the rallies and don't get tested can be fined about 3,000 dollars for not getting tested and then fined more if they are found to have engaged in behavior that made others ill

August 20, 2020

(Korea) Supreme Court upholds decision in favor of Kia union's claim in standard wage suit

SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lower court's ruling in favor of workers at Kia Motors Corp. that fixed bonuses should be counted as standard wages, closing a curtain on the almost decadelong legal battle.

The Supreme Court confirmed that the automaker should pay its workers back wages, based on a calculation that counts regular bonuses in "ordinary wages."

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The Seoul High Court also sided with the unionists of the country's No. 2 automaker two years later, but it slightly reduced the amount of back payments by excluding some meal and family allowances initially included in the lower court's definition of the base payment. The court told the company to pay its workers 422.3 billion won (US$355 million) in unpaid wages and interest.

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As in the previous rulings, the top court rejected the claim by the carmaker that the unionized workers violated "the principle of good faith" by suing the company knowing that it would damage the company's financial status.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200820005500315?section=economy/economy

August 20, 2020

Teaching in the US vs. the rest of the world

August 19, 2020

Florida's Primary (1 incumbent (R) has likely lost and one everyone is still viable)

https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/florida/

While most of it is rather bland and predictable coming in, there are two primaries that are worth watching

District-3: Both primaries
About 87% of the precincts have reported and both parties primaries are not givens
On the Democratic side, about 1,200 votes separate first from third (2.1%)
On the Republican side, the leader has 25% of the vote, with three others trailing. Cammack will probably win given she has a 6% lead over 2nd place. But, it is still worth watching.

In the 15th District incumbent Republican congressman Ross Spano appears to have lost his primary.
I know nothing about Scott Franklin, but I'm guessing he's an uber-trumpist

August 17, 2020

What is QAnon? A not-so-brief introduction to the conspiracy theory that's eating America

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Conspiracy theories have always been used by what we now call "persuasion engineers" as tools of mass indoctrination. A good conspiracy theory that seems plausible and frightening enough can be worth more than a thousand well-reasoned stump speeches.

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Earlier this year, in March, I was talking to a friend about COVID-19 and the national lockdown. He's 10 years older than me and lives in a small town in the Midwest. I live in Long Beach, California. While chatting with him on the phone about all the unexpected difficulties that have arisen from teaching my English classes online, he suddenly volunteered the opinion that COVID-19 would be a positive development in 2020.

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He proceeded to tell me, with complete sincerity, that after Trump is re-elected in 2020, he will deliver "free energy" to the people of America. Not only that, he's also going to abolish the income tax. Right now, at this very moment, United States troops have been deployed underground where they're busy "cleaning out" covert subterranean tunnels, "saving hundreds of children from satanic slaves," and kicking out the "black hats." Without skipping a beat, my friend then insisted that news of this game-changing development would be "coming out" soon.

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Furthermore, my friend said in tones of absolute certainty, Trump supporters working behind the scenes (referred to by my friend as the "white hats" ) had recently wrested control of the entire Google corporation from devil worshippers, which is why you could now retrieve "accurate information" from that particular search engine.

https://www.salon.com/2020/08/16/what-is-qanon-a-not-so-brief-introduction-to-the-conspiracy-theory-thats-eating-america/

If you truly wish to be enlightened to the *ahem* truth search engine for "Adrenochrome" to be enlightened (I guess it can be enlightening)

August 17, 2020

For the religious out there that refuse to social distance or wear a mask

“Noah didn’t swim in the flood to prove his faith; he stayed in the ark until it was safe.”

August 17, 2020

All these places had really, really, really high heat

I thought covid would be gone with the heat

August 16, 2020

New Video Of Belarus Protester's Death Appears To Contradict Official Version Of Events

New video published by the Associated Press on August 15 showing the death of a Belarusian protester appears to contradict the official version of events.

The death of Alyaksandr Taraykouski on August 10 has become a rallying cry for the protest movement against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka in the wake of a disputed election and harsh crackdown that has drawn international outrage.

The Associated Press published a video made on August 10, which shows Taraykouski wobbling with a blood-stained shirt before he collapses to the ground several meters from a line of riot police at Pushkinskaya subway station in the capital, Minsk.

Riot police then go straight toward him and surround the body of the 34-year-old.

According to the official version of events, an explosive device blew up in Taraykouski’s hands as he was trying to throw it at police, but nothing like that can be seen in the video.

https://www.rferl.org/a/video-contradicts-official-belarus-version-of-protester-death/30785761.html

August 16, 2020

Interactive: See how COVID-19 has dramatically changed Hajj pilgrimage (5 pics)

To see all the photos at Euronews
https://www.euronews.com/2020/07/31/interactive-see-how-covid-19-has-dramatically-changed-hajj-pilgrimage


Hajj in Mecca in 2019 and 2020 - Copyright Saudi Ministry of Media /AFP


The medical team from Saudi Arabia's health ministry await the first arrivals of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Saudi ArabiaSaudi Ministry of Media via AFP


Hundreds of Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, as they observe social distancing to protect themselves against COVID-19 in Mecca, Saudi ArabiaSTR/AP Photo


A limited number of pilgrims move several feet apart, circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in the first rituals of the HajjSaudi Ministry of Media via AP


Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar in the symbolic stoning of the devil as they keep social distancing in Mina near Mecca, Saudi Arabia. July 31, 2020

August 13, 2020

Better to be thought a fool, then post on twitter and remove all doubt