Delphi, an online AI bot, promises to answer any moral question users pose
Have you ever thought that a bot
Might somehow be someone who’s got
A simple way out
Of life’s moral doubt?
Because I’m fairly sure that they’ve not
MORE to follow.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly
Sure why not?
This afternoon.
Dail Eireann.
Via RTE News:
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has told the Dáil that “we have to be concerned that things will deteriorate further” as he proposed extending emergency legislation providing for face masks, Covid passes, enforcement powers and fixed penalty notices.
The laws were due to expire on 9 November.
Mr Donnelly proposed extending them for another three months until 9 February.He said he could not commit with certainty what the trajectory of the disease would be.
Minister proposes extending Covid emergency legislation until 9 February (RTÉ)
Skyfall
at
Behold: the Milky Way and a waterfall. Seems like a simple enough juxtaposition, but not so. To wit:
The dream was to capture both the waterfall and the Milky Way together. Difficulties included finding a good camera location, artificially illuminating the waterfall and the surrounding valley effectively, capturing the entire scene with numerous foreground and background shots, worrying that fireflies would be too distracting, keeping the camera dry, and avoiding stepping on a poisonous snake. […] The waterfall is the picturesque Zhulian waterfall in the Luoxiao Mountains in eastern Hunan Province, China. The central band of our Milky Way Galaxy crosses the sky and shows numerous dark dust filaments and colourful nebulas. Bright stars dot the sky — all residing in the nearby Milky Way — including the Summer Triangle with bright Vega visible above the Milky Way’s arch. After capturing all 78 component exposures for you to enjoy, the photographer and friends enjoyed the view themselves for the rest of the night.
(Image: Xie Jie)
This afternoon.
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
A protest outside Leinster House in support of student nurses and midwives over poor pay and work conditions.
Meanwhile…
SPLUTTER!
Nurse, the screens.
There will not be any cull of the (cattle) herd but a stabilisation of the herd, the Tánaiste has said. He said the methane emissions reduction target in the Climate Action Plan will be 10%. Leo Varadkar said Ireland without beef and dairy farms would not be Ireland.
— Mícheál Lehane (@MichealLehane) November 2, 2021
This afternoon.
Glasgow, Scotland.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is currently addressing the COP26 summit on Climate Change.
He said:
“We have enacted legislation to put a legally binding target of reducing our emissions by 2030 to 51% below 2018 levels. We will reach climate neutrality by 2050.
“We are working closely with our EU partners in the green transition that will make Europe the first climate-neutral continent.
“We are implementing a statutory system of carbon budgeting and emissions ceilings for each sector of the economy.”
More as we get it.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet at COP26 yesterday
This afternoon.
Via RTÉ News:
As of 8am, there were 493 people in hospital with the virus, down 22 on the same time yesterday.
Of these, 90 were in intensive care units, down one from yesterday.
Mr Martin said the use of antigen testing is increasing and if people “collectively remain cautious we can avoid the need to have a backward return to restrictions”.
The Health Service Executive said it has issued by post 6,976 antigen test kits to people who are close contacts of a confirmed case.
Mr Martin also said he spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet at the COP26 summit in Glasgow, who told him that Israel’s booster campaign had been “very successful and impactful” on the latest wave of the virus there.
Mr Martin said that “no one can guarantee anything”, but the vaccines work and Ireland was in a different position to last year.
Rise in Covid-19 cases ‘very concerning’ – Martin (RTÉ)
“Can I ask you what the case mortality rate for COVID is?”
“Why is the vaccine not working in Israel?”
“How come the vaccine has a 39% efficacy rate in Israel but you are still pushing it here in New Zealand for the Delta virus?”https://t.co/ewwn7bI79j
— Viewspot (@viewspotnz) November 2, 2021
Oh.
Meanwhile…
NOW – U.S. Army Brigade Surgeon says "in one morning I had to ground 3 out of 3 pilots due to vaccine injuries" at a panel discussion hosted by U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson.pic.twitter.com/jLlGwePPdQ
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) November 2, 2021
The legendary @billybragg brings his UK/IRE Tour to Vicar Street this Thursday 🎸
Limited tickets remain here 👉https://t.co/D8BAoCCqr8 pic.twitter.com/fVccUvvzz9
— Vicar Street (@Vicar_Street) November 2, 2021
Only for the jabbed?
You’ve changed, man.
Oh, you know.
Segregated the country based on medical status.
Not crazy busy.
This afternoon.
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Minister for Justice and new mother Helen McEntee arriving at Leinster House for the first time since the beginning of her maternity leave in April on the birth of a son, Michael.
Meanwhile…
This afternoon.
Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns (above) launched a Bill that would extend maternity, adoptive and paternity leave to councillors.
Ms Cairns said:
“Just 24pc of councillors around the country are women. If we ever want to substantially increase this proportion, then we must make changes to make a career in politics a more attractive prospect for women. The bare minimum required, in this regard, is maternity leave.
“My Bill, which I have launched today, would extend maternity, adoptive and paternity leave to councillors.
“Many political careers are launched in the local politics arena – but the lack of maternity leave acts as a limiting factor for women and a barrier to their participation in public life. It also denies the country of the representation of strong female political candidates, many of whom feel unable to progress a career in politics because of structural barriers that are placed in their way.
“Currently, female councillors must obtain a resolution of a local authority in order to avail of leave when they give birth. In 2021, it is bizarre that a reformed system of maternity leave, and other family leave, is not yet available to councillors. My Bill would ensure that leave is an entitlement – which does not require a resolution to be passed.”