Body Found In Canada Identified As Neo-Nazi Spam King

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Krebs On Security: The body of a man found shot inside a burned out vehicle in Canada three years ago has been identified as that of Davis Wolfgang Hawke, a prolific spammer and neo-Nazi who led a failed anti-government march on Washington, D.C. in 1999, according to news reports. Homicide detectives said they originally…

Can vitamin D supplements help protect against covid-19?

There is no definitive evidence that vitamin D protects against covid-19, but the case is growing – and most people should take a daily supplement anyway, for bone strength Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2256074-can-vitamin-d-supplements-help-protect-against-covid-19/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

At Least 10 Amazon Employees Took Bribes from Sellers, Indictment Alleges

CBS News reports: Six people allegedly conspired to bribe Amazon employees and contractors in order to gain a competitive advantage on the retailer’s marketplace, federal prosecutors announced Friday. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, those charged posed as consultants and worked with third-party sellers whose products had previously been removed from Amazon Marketplace get the items back on the platform….

‘We Must Take a Stand’: Portland’s Iconic Powell’s Books Says It Won’t Sell Books On Amazon Anymore

Portland-based Powell’s Books, the world’s largest new and used bookstore, says it won’t sell on Amazon anymore, “declaring that the online retail giant undermines communities by siphoning business from the real world and replacing it with internet commerce,” reports Oregon Live. From the report: “For too long, we have watched the detrimental impact of Amazon’s business on our communities and the…

Amazon’s New Competitive Advantage: Putting Its Own Products First

Brands have long been able to bid for the premier slot at the top left of Amazon’s listings, but during the pandemic the online retailer has begun using this position for its private-label items, raising antitrust concerns. From a report: Until recently, when Amazon customers typed “melatonin” into the site’s search bar, a variety of sleep supplements would appear in the…

Quasar tsunamis rip across galaxies

Astronomers using the Hubble Telescope found that the region around a quasar’s black hole pushes out material at a few percent the speed of light. These quasar tsunamis wreak havoc on the galaxies in which the quasars live. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/quasar-tsunamis-rip-across-galaxies…

Does a Vegan Diet Affect Your Intelligence?

“The vegan diet is low in — or, in some cases, entirely devoid of — several important brain nutrients,” argues the BBC. “Could these shortcomings be affecting vegans’ abilities to think?” omfglearntoplay shared their article:
According to the latest statistics, there are around 375 million vegetarians on the planet. In the West, veganism has ditched the hippie stigma to become one of…

40% of Anti-Vaccine Group’s Funding Came From Wealthy ‘Alternative Health’ Vendor

An anonymous reader quotes the Washington Post: The nation’s oldest anti-vaccine advocacy group often emphasizes that it is supported primarily by small donations and concerned parents, describing its founder as the leader of a “national, grass roots movement.” But over the past decade a single donor has contributed more than $2.9 million to the National Vaccine Information Center, accounting for about…

Instagram, Facebook Bans Influencers From Getting Paid To Promote Vaping, Tobacco, and Weapons

An anonymous reader quotes a report from CNBC: Facebook and Instagram will no longer allow influencers to promote vaping, tobacco products or weapons on its platforms using “branded content.” Instagram announced Wednesday it would no longer allow “branded content” that promotes those goods on either platform. In June, Instagram introduced a change that would let advertisers promote posts from influencers, or…