Post a news story, entertain me!

I solved this conundrum but never wearing shoes. Can't take my feet off but so many times.

I just want to know where y’all live that you’re constantly stepping in dog sh!t

My brother was in the 10th Mountain then and spent about 4 months in the field supporting the return of services to various places in the US and Canada.

How the relentless drive for optimization made baseball impossible to watch

I don't care much about baseball but I found it an interesting article.

Michael J. Fox: Do you have Parkinson's? New test is 'breakthrough' in diagnosing disease.

This week in New York City, 300 of the world’s top neuroscientists are meeting to chart the future of Parkinson's disease research. They are the leaders of the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), a major international study designed to help cure Parkinson's disease faster.

They come together every year, from points all around the globe, to share data, troubleshoot challenges and map out next steps in the research strategy. It has always been an action-packed couple of days — equal parts realistic, optimistic and futuristic — and even a pretty good time, if you dig science.

And this year, things are super-charged. The meeting’s focus has been electrified by one of the most significant Parkinson’s breakthroughs in decades, announced by PPMI and The Michael J. Fox Foundation just a few weeks ago: the discovery of a spinal fluid test that can objectively detect Parkinson’s in the cells of living people. It’s a first, and a monumental leap forward, for our disease.

'You're going to have a great life':Michael J. Fox on what he wishes he had known when diagnosed

More from Michael J. Fox:We can help end Parkinson's disease by learning early markers and symptoms

New Parkinson's test will unlock the disease's secrets
The new test is remarkably accurate (this is especially rare in brain disease). It will allow scientists to unlock some of Parkinson’s deepest-held secrets — like how early cellular dysfunction begins in brain and body cells, what other aspects of biology are involved in risk, onset and progression, and why Parkinson’s symptoms and disease course are so notoriously different in different people. This will crack wide open our ability to develop next-generation drugs that will benefit everyone living with the disease.

What’s more, we can detect the insidious biology unfolding well before any outward symptoms have shown up. (Historically, symptoms have been the first discernible sign of the disease. In my case, it was an innocent-seeming flutter in my right pinky finger.) Not only will it be possible for the disease to be diagnosed and monitored earlier, but we are standing on the threshold of being able to prevent it altogether.

I’m involved with the work of The Michael J. Fox Foundation in many ways, but I come to this breakthrough first and foremost as a patient. My journey, which includes being diagnosed at age 29 with Parkinson's, is portrayed in "STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie," which will debut May 12 on Apple TV.

While I admire and marvel at the researchers leading the charge, the people I really can’t stop thinking about are the study volunteers — the thousands of everyday people, with and without Parkinson’s disease, who have stepped up, on behalf of me and every other patient, to be part of PPMI.

They’ve been coming since the foundation launched PPMI in 2010. By 2020, in partnership with the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s initiative, we expanded PPMI to include “at risk” individuals — people who had not been diagnosed with Parkinson’s but were living with early identified risk factors. The goal was to confirm that these risk factors were connected to Parkinson’s onset.
It’s no exaggeration to say we’ve entered a new era in Parkinson’s research. We can start answering questions that have stumped scientists, doctors and patients since James Parkinson first wrote about the disease in 1817. The foundation is moving at top speed to get the new test into immediate use in PPMI and other clinical trials recruiting today — as well as to help answer longstanding questions about Parkinson’s onset, progression from diagnosis to advancing disease, wide variability of symptoms in different individuals, prognosis and more.

Do you have Parkinson's symptoms? Newly diagnosed? Volunteers help to make this progress possible.
But just as it has been all along, the single most important ingredient in our recipe for success will be the volunteers who step up to take part in studies. And we know just who we need. If you’re about 60 or older, and your sense of smell isn’t what it used to be (not the brief loss associated with COVID-19, but serious smell loss that persists), or you’ve been diagnosed with REM sleep behavior disorder, a condition that causes people to kick, punch and yell in their sleep, you could be at increased risk of developing Parkinson’s and part of PPMI.

The same is true for those newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s. You’ll be helping us leverage this discovery to speed progress toward a cure for Parkinson’s. It’s as simple as visiting michaeljfox.org to get started.

Because no matter how brilliant the scientists, how well-planned the research and how many hundreds of millions of dollars we raise for PPMI, none of it can go anywhere without you — the visionary joiners sharing our optimism and agreeing to take part. Research volunteers are collectively contributing a tidal wave of time, energy and belief in a better future. This breakthrough belongs to everyone who’s already taken part, and to those who will in the future. But thanks to these activated participants, it is already transforming what’s possible for us all.

Michael J. Fox is an award-winning actor, best-selling author and founder of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991.

Special fire department units break 391 kg (862 lb) woman out of house in France.

My American wife:
"In France?!? That's something that only happens in America!"

*we continue to read the article*

The American woman refused all medical assistance.

IMAGE(https://media.giphy.com/media/AjYsTtVxEEBPO/giphy.gif)

I would bold the "refused all medical assistance" as well.

In much happier news Seattle's Cinerama is coming back!

Legally it loses the Cinerama name but realistically people will always call it that.

Chairman_Mao wrote:

In much happier news Seattle's Cinerama is coming back!

Legally it loses the Cinerama name but realistically people will always call it that.

And bought by SIFF?! That's awesome!

Aspartame: Key ingredient in Diet Coke set to be declared ‘possible cancer risk’ by WHO

As someone who drinks 60+ oz of Diet Coke a day I am thinking I need to find something else to drink

farley3k wrote:

Aspartame: Key ingredient in Diet Coke set to be declared ‘possible cancer risk’ by WHO

As someone who drinks 60+ oz of Diet Coke a day I am thinking I need to find something else to drink

Coke Zero tastes better than Diet Coke, and doesn't contain aspartame. Win/win!

That's not exactly true.

The article wrote:

Coca-Cola Zero Sugar (Coke Zero) uses several common artificial sweeteners, including aspartame and acesulfame potassium (Ace-K). The remaining ingredients are carbonated water, caramel color, food additives, and natural flavors (1).

? I looked it up and unless I am picking the wrong thing "Coca-Cola Zero Sugar" it does contain aspartame

https://us.coca-cola.com/products/co...

INGREDIENTS
CARBONATED WATER, CARAMEL COLOR, PHOSPHORIC ACID, ASPARTAME, POTASSIUM BENZOATE (TO PROTECT TASTE), NATURAL FLAVORS, POTASSIUM CITRATE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, CAFFEINE.

Now I would love to be wrong because I want some cola so maybe you mean something else.

Oh what the hell? It originally used Stevia!

I think aspartame and stevia taste so gross - I can always tell when it's added.

Honestly just drink Mexican Cokes (real sugar, not HFC) in moderation. Probably better for you in the long run.

Non-digestible sugar substitutes will give you diarrhea if you drink enough. Sugar will give you diabetes if you drink enough. Pro-tip - "Enough" is a value that decreases with age... And it's never as large as you think.

I used to drink a lot of Coke Zero, but I've successfully stopped over the past year or two. I've been mostly drinking flavored water now, via Cirkul, recommended by a GWJer here a while back. It's not carbonated, but they do have caffeinated and/or electrolyted flavors, and a few different non-aspartame sweeteners. I'm intentionally not posting a referral link, but if you're interested in checking them out, I can PM a referral so we both get something.

merphle wrote:

I used to drink a lot of Coke Zero, but I've successfully stopped over the past year or two. I've been mostly drinking flavored water now, via Cirkul, recommended by a GWJer here a while back. It's not carbonated, but they do have caffeinated and/or electrolyted flavors, and a few different non-aspartame sweeteners. I'm intentionally not posting a referral link, but if you're interested in checking them out, I can PM a referral so we both get something.

It may have been me who recommended Cirkul. I've gotten away from drinking it but now you reminded me and I think I may pick it up again

Nevin73 wrote:

Honestly just drink Mexican Cokes (real sugar, not HFC) in moderation. Probably better for you in the long run.

I just found a carneceria y restaurante here in Lincolnton that not only has the best* Mexican I’ve had so far in North Carolina and has two liters of Mexican coke.

*best identified with styles and flavors that most closely hew to Sonoran style.

Agent 86 wrote:
Nevin73 wrote:

Honestly just drink Mexican Cokes (real sugar, not HFC) in moderation. Probably better for you in the long run.

I just found a carneceria y restaurante here in Lincolnton that not only has the best* Mexican I’ve had so far in North Carolina and has two liters of Mexican coke.

*best identified with styles and flavors that most closely hew to Sonoran style.

Oh you're near Charlotte? We really need to have another NC S&T.

Stele wrote:
Agent 86 wrote:
Nevin73 wrote:

Honestly just drink Mexican Cokes (real sugar, not HFC) in moderation. Probably better for you in the long run.

I just found a carneceria y restaurante here in Lincolnton that not only has the best* Mexican I’ve had so far in North Carolina and has two liters of Mexican coke.

*best identified with styles and flavors that most closely hew to Sonoran style.

Oh you're near Charlotte? We really need to have another NC S&T.

Yes. I haven't been into Charlotte proper as much as I've been into Mooresville and Cornelius. I'll have been here for two years in September. I'm about 45-50 mins to Charlotte-Douglas, although a lot of that is influenced by the fact that 85 by Gastionia is a complete shit show at all times of the day.

I'm into the idea of a slap and tickle but my house is the size of a postage stamp so I'd need to be an attendee.

NC meet up thread.

Usually the party happens in Cary although it's been a minute, probably pre covid.

Oh, that's rich!

Posting this because the opening line of this news story is just... :

A Winnipeg couple living in the affluent Tuxedo neighbourhood learned that the criminal justice system applies equally to all those accused and out on bail despite their family's financial circumstances.

tl;dr: 21 year old gets busted for making and selling 3D printed guns. Wealthy parents are worried about their reputation on their street. Not because their son is a criminal, but because the police come at all hours to check that their son is adhering to his curfew and it looks bad for them.

Remote workers report saving $5,000 to $10,000 a year

What value would American workers place on the privilege to work from home?

The answer: either $4,600 or $6,000 a year, depending on how you do the math.

Three years into the remote-work revolution, research increasingly suggests that telework is a commodity, a job descriptor worth thousands of dollars in potential savings and improved quality of life.

A prospective employee will give up about 8% in annual pay for a job that is partly or fully remote, according to Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford University economist who is a leading voice in remote-work research.

That works out to about $4,600 a year, based on a median U.S. salary of $57,200 for full-time employees.

Employees who work from home probably save more than that.

Remote workers spend about $6,000 less a year than office-bound employees, according to FlexJobs, a remote-work site that has run surveys on the value of telework. Workers reap those savings by preparing their own meals, walking their own dogs and making fewer trips to the dry cleaner.

“You’d have to pay me a lot to be in an office,” said Emilie Bergstrom, 28, a remote worker who lives in Brooklyn.

Bergstrom was working as a personal assistant in a New York office when the coronavirus pandemic hit. When the lockdowns lifted, her employer didn’t return to Gotham.

Bergstrom took a remote job at Safe Families for Children, a nonprofit that works to support and stabilize families. Her new office is in Chicago, but Bergstrom no longer commutes. Her new routine is simpler and cheaper.

“I’m not eating out as much during the week. I’m not buying coffee out,” she said. “Being able to work out at home, I don’t have a gym membership anymore.”

Other savings have revealed themselves over time. Bergstrom saves money on airfare now, because her more flexible schedule permits her to travel more or less when she wants. She spends less on business attire.

“I had to just go to a conference in Oklahoma City,” she said, “and I thought, ‘I don’t have a lot of work-minded clothing.’”

Remote workers report saving $5,000 to $10,000 a year
In a 2022 survey by FlexJobs, 45% of remote workers reported saving at least $5,000 a year. One in 5 reported saving $10,000 a year. The savings average out to about $6,000 a year. The poll reached 4,000 workers in July and August of last year.

Some American workers have leveraged remote work to relocate, moving from cities to suburbs, from suburbs to exurbs, or from larger markets to smaller ones.

The remote-work movement has spawned pandemic boomtowns, or “Zoom towns,” named for the now-ubiquitous videoconferencing platform. They include Austin, Texas, Provo, Utah, and Boise, Idaho, cities smaller in size and lower in cost than New York or Los Angeles.

“Maybe you’re employed by a company that is headquartered in a major city, with a high cost of living,” said Keith Spencer, a career expert at FlexJobs. “But now you’re working remotely, and you can live in a rural area with a much lower cost of living. That can save employees thousands of dollars a year.”

Many Americans have moved across the country on the theory that their physical address no longer matters: They can work remotely for the foreseeable future.