nailer
audionerd
This might just be the key driver. In addition, the logistics cost reductions are probably being driven by software and robotics automation initiatives.
Random Thoughts or Whatever
- Thread starter whoaru99
- Start date
Mystic
We're all born mad
The 2024 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), was released today. This year, the agency highlights a “worrying decline in support and respect for media autonomy and an increase in pressure from the state or other political actors.” This is based on the fact that, of the five indicators used to compile the ranking, it is the political indicator that has fallen most, with a global average decline of 7.6 points.
Out of the 180 countries and territories analyzed, some 138 places had a majority of their respondents say that political actors in their countries were involved in disinformation or propaganda campaigns. This involvement was described as “systematic” in 31 countries.
The report writers also highlight the lack of political will on an international level to enforce protection of journalists, with particular reference to the war in Gaza, which has been marked by a record number of violations against journalists and the media since October 2023. According to the report, more than 100 Palestinian reporters have now been killed by the Israel Defence Forces, including at least 22 in the course of carrying out their journalistic activities.
Taking a look at wider trends, this chart shows that 36 countries were listed in the worst category in the index - where there exists a “very serious” situation of the press. 49 countries fall under the “difficult” category and 50 in the “problematic" group, while 45 have either a “satisfactory” or “good” situation. Norway is once more at the top of the list, ranking in first place for the eighth year running, followed by Denmark and Sweden. The final trio, considered the most repressive countries for the press, are Afghanistan (position 178), Syria (179) and Eritrea (180). The report states: “The last two countries have become lawless zones for the media, with a record number of journalists detained, missing or held hostage.”
The United States ranked 55th in 2024, having dropped ten positions. RSF notes that the country is experiencing growing distrust in the media, partly driven by antagonism from political officials, while there have also been cases of local law enforcement having raided newsrooms.
Reporters Without Borders have compiled the index annually since 2002. The agency devised a new methodology in 2021 with the help of a panel of experts from the media and academic world. This year, 180 countries and territories were analyzed based on five indicators covering political context, legal framework, economic context, socio-cultural context and safety.
spicer
Lunatic Member
Perspective would flip that. Something to at least consider.
SolderIron
Addicted Member
It will be intersection to see what will happen in the next 5 years.
spicer
Lunatic Member
It has a wizard of oz thing about it. For sure.
nailer
audionerd
My skepticism toward our media and polititians has been on the increase since Tricky Dicky and was fully apolitical by the early 80s.
nailer
audionerd
There will be multiple intersections. Each with a somewhat different perspective/take.
spicer
Lunatic Member
I am not a skeptic per se but do look to meaning for we are affected and live in a world designed to take sides.
Mystic
We're all born mad
NOTE: While I do not give a damn about this topic, data are data, and usually worth sharing as even these data might be meaningful to someone(s) among the reading public.
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In 2012, The Walt Disney Company bought the as-of-then independent production company Lucasfilm, founded by George Lucas in 1971, for $4 billion, acquiring the rights to such lucrative franchises as Indiana Jones and Star Wars. As the chart based on figures from Box Office Mojo shows, the last five franchise entries on the big screen alone have been well worth this asking price.
With production costs between $200 and $317 million and global box office revenues ranging from $392 million to $2.1 billion, every Star Wars movie released since 2015 has been more or less a success. The odd one out in this five-movie line-up is Solo: A Star Wars Story, which only made around $120 million when subtracting the cost of production. Since Box Office Mojo doesn't state what's included in production costs, Solo might have not made any profit at all if marketing and other costs were not included.
Films making a profit despite nine-figure production costs were Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and all entries in the third trilogy of the franchise. The best-performing out of the three was The Force Awakens, released in 2015. The movie introduced the new protagonists Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron, played by Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac, respectively. It signaled a quasi soft reboot for the long-running movie series, with each of the three movies mirroring certain aspects of the original trilogy. The second installment, The Last Jedi, was surrounded by severe criticism from fans, partially due to the treatment of the original trilogy's hero Luke Skywalker, which might have resulted in a worse performance at the global box office.
Mystic
We're all born mad
Data published by the American Cancer Society shows that there are expected to be 100,640 new cases of melanoma of the skin in 2024 (a majority of the 108,270 overall skin cancer cases), and a total of 8,290 deaths from the disease (out of the 13,120 total skin cancer deaths). Breast cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer are expected to continue to be the most common cancers in the U.S. in 2024, with the latter expected to claim more than 125,000 lives.
Pancreatic cancer and liver cancer, both not included in this list due to their lower numbers of expected cases (66,440; 41,630), stand out for their high death rates per cases (51,750 deaths predicted in 2024 for pancreatic cancer; 29,840 deaths predicted for cancer of the liver & intrahepatic bile duct).
LINK:
Cancer Statistics Center - American Cancer Society
cancerstatisticscenter.cancer.org
DeadRock
Ideas Guy
It would make a lot of sense from a design perspective (not to mention waste management), that they'd be on the Holodeck.
Mystic
We're all born mad
Toilets didn't arrive @ (US) television serials until "cable", and even then not until around the mid 1990s. Well, something like that.
Pio1980
AK Member
"Terlits"
Archie Bunker and the notorious flushes.
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Mystic
We're all born mad
Ah, that's right .... Norman Lear, wouldn't ya know. How about w/in the context of other NL products, e.g., Sanford And Son, The Jeffersons, Maude? ("Walter, what is that odious stench?")
davidhun
Well-Known Member
They (probably Scotty) beam it directly out of you into space.
That blue Romulan Ale will give you the trots, for sure !
