DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Stunning video shows Antarctic killer whales appearing to use icebergs as scratching posts, possibly to exfoliate their skin
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

National Geographic said it captured the first footage of killer whales rubbing up against an iceberg. AdvertisementOrcas living in the freezing waters of Antarctica have been captured in footage rubbing up against icebergs in what could be an innovative skincare technique. AdvertisementLike humans, whales and dolphins typically shed their skin continuously, and most of them have no problem doing this in warmer waters. The study found that some antarctic killer whales make an essentially nonstop, nearly 7,000-mile migration to warmer waters that takes six to eight weeks. While the reasons whales migrate remain a mystery, the study argued the evidence suggests "deferred skin molt could be the main driver of long-distance migration for antarctic killer whales."

Persons: —, Robert Pitman, Pitman, Andrew Trites Organizations: Service, National Geographic, Newsweek, Mammal, Oregon State, Mammal Institute, Pacific Northwest, Northern, Marine Mammal Research, University of British Locations: Antarctica, molting, Pacific, British Colombia, Canada, University of British Columbia

And for that, Suzette Baker was fired as a library director in a rural county in central Texas. She and two other librarians who were similarly fired have filed workplace discrimination claims with the U.S. Reached through the Colorado Civil Rights Division, the settlement requires her former employer to give librarians more say in decisions involving library programs. After her firing in 2022, Baker filed an EEOC claim against her employer, the Llano County Library System in Kingsland, Texas. Like Baker, Lesley had trouble finding work after being fired from the library system she directed in Gillette, Wyoming.

Persons: —, Suzette Baker, ”, Baker, Brooky Parks, Iris Halper, “, Terri Lesley, Halpern, Rathod Mohamedbhai, David Lopez, ” Baker, ” EEOC, Victor Chen, Lesley, Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Robie Harris, Robert Pitman, Lesley's, ” Lesley Organizations: U.S, Commission, American Library Association, Erie Community Library, Colorado Civil Rights Division, High Plains Library District, University of Denver, Public, System, Rutgers University, “, American Terrorist, Sexual, ”, ” Texas U.S, District, Supreme Locations: Texas, Kingsland , Texas, Erie, Denver, Llano County, Campbell, Gillette , Wyoming, Tennessee, Kingsland, ” Texas, U.S, Llano

HOUSTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a ruling delaying this week's scheduled execution of a Texas inmate for fatally shooting an 80-year-old woman more than two decades ago. The three-judge panel said that another case before the appeals court that was brought by a different Texas death row inmate raises similar issues. Political Cartoons View All 1205 ImagesThe Texas Attorney General’s Office had sought to overturn the stay order. If Murphy’s execution took place Tuesday, it would have occurred on World Day Against the Death Penalty, an annual day of advocacy by death penalty opponents. Last week, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles unanimously declined to commute Murphy’s death sentence to a lesser penalty or grant a six-month reprieve.

Persons: Jedidiah Murphy, Bertie Lee Cunningham, “, Monday’s, Murphy, Robert Pitman, Bertie Cunningham, Texas Attorney General’s, I’ve, ” Murphy, Michael Zoosman, Paroles, Pitman, Juan, Lozano Organizations: HOUSTON, —, U.S, Circuit, Texas Attorney General’s, Texas Attorney, Jewish, Texas Locations: Texas, Huntsville, Dallas, Garland, Austin, U.S

☆ Stunning video appeared to show 2 humpback whales trying to save a seal from a pod of orcas, but the seal may have been trying to hide behind the gentle giants
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

National Geographic captured humpback whales interrupting orcas that were hunting a seal in Antarctica. But then, Gregory said in the video, two humpback whales appeared out of nowhere. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile killer whales do not pose a direct threat to adult humpback whales, which are much larger than orcas, killer whales do prey on humpback whale calves. While most people believe the humpbacks are swimming over to save the seal, the seal may actually be swimming toward the humpbacks to save itself. Sea lions and seals have been captured hopping onto boats in order to evade killer whales.

Persons: Bertie Gregory, Gregory, Leigh Hickmott, Andrew Trites, Trites, Robert Pitman, Pitman Organizations: Geographic, Service, University of St, Marine Mammal Research, University of British, Biologists, US, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Hakai Magazine Locations: Antarctica, Wall, Silicon, Andrews, Scotland, University of British Columbia, Canada, British Columbia

☆ A rare pod of orcas washed up dead on a beach in Chile. It's the first event of its kind in 67 years and only the second in recorded history.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Chris Panella | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A rare pod of orcas washed up dead on a beach in Chile late last year, according to LiveScience. It was only the second time in recorded history the Type D orcas had been found stranded. It's the first mass stranding of these killer whales in 67 years and only the second event of its kind in recorded history, according to LiveScience. Type D orcas have one of the highest levels of inbreeding of any mammalLittle is known about Type D orcas, since they tend to live in especially turbulent and rough seas in the Southern Pacific where few boats venture. The researchers found an almost identical genetic code between Type D orcas in Chile and the skeleton of a Type D that was beached in New Zealand.

Persons: —, Robert Pitman, LiveScience, Pitman, Andrew Foote of Organizations: Service, Oregon State University, Norwegian Institute of Science, Technology, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration Locations: Chile, Gibraltar, Spain, New Zealand, Southern Pacific

☆ A Texas County Keeps Libraries Open Amid Battle Over Books
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Jennifer Calfas | Photographs Jordan Vonderhaar For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A Texas county will keep its public libraries open amid a debate over which books belong on the shelves. Leaders in Llano County met Thursday to weigh whether to halt operations at public libraries until they receive further guidance from federal courts. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ordered the county’s three libraries to return about a dozen books to their shelves two weeks ago in response to a lawsuit brought by seven county residents and library patrons last year.

☆ A Battle Over Books Could Lead One Texas County to Close Its Libraries
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Jennifer Calfas | Photographs Jordan Vonderhaar For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Leaders in a Texas county are considering closing its public libraries following a federal judge’s order to place recently removed books back on the shelves. The Commissioners Court of Llano County is expected to meet Thursday afternoon to weigh whether to halt operations at its three libraries until it receives further guidance from federal courts, according to a public notice. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ordered the county’s libraries to return about a dozen books to their shelves two weeks ago in response to a lawsuit brought by seven county residents and library patrons last year.

☆ Texas County Keeps Public Libraries Open Amid Book Ban Controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( David Montgomery | Alexandra Alter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A small Texas county decided to keep its public libraries open during a heated public meeting in which county commissioners weighed whether to shut down the library system after a judge ordered the county to restore banned books to its shelves. The decision was seen as a victory for a group of residents who had sued the county and library officials, arguing that the book removals were unconstitutional and violated citizens’ First Amendment rights. The judge, Robert Pitman, of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, ordered Llano County to return the books to their place while a lawsuit over the banned books, brought on by a group of county residents, proceeds. After the judge’s order was issued, county commissioners called a special meeting to decide whether to “continue or cease operations” at the library. The ongoing fight has divided the community and made Llano, a rural county in central Texas about 80 miles northwest of Austin, a new testing ground for citizens invoking First Amendment protections in the face of rising book bans.

LLANO, Texas, April 13 (Reuters) - A rural Texas county's public libraries will remain open while a court battle continues over whether local officials can remove books deemed inappropriate, commissioners decided on Thursday. "Does Llano, Texas, want to be known as the town that closed the public library?" No state bans more books than Texas, according to PEN America. "Public libraries are not meant to serve particular ideological factions," said Kasey Meehan, who directs the "Freedom to Read" project of PEN America. Reporting by Evan Garcia in Llano, Texas, and Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; editing by Donna Bryson and Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The pre-Roe laws include criminal penalties for people who help others obtain an abortion. Pitman's order, which is preliminary, will remain in place while abortion funding groups, including Fund Texas Choice, The North Texas Equal Access Fund and The Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity, move forward with a lawsuit seeking to block enforcement of the laws. The order applies only to five individual local prosecutors who are named as defendants in the case, though the groups have said they will seek to expand their case to include a class of all local prosecutors in the state. Paxton's office and lawyers for the abortion funds and for the local prosecutors did not immediately respond to requests for comment. They cited statements by Paxton and by some state lawmakers suggesting that the pre-Roe laws criminalized funding or facilitating such abortions.

☆ Phoenix sign WNBA top scorer Taurasi to multi-year contract
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 18 (Reuters) - Diana Taurasi, the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, has signed a multi-year contract to remain with the Phoenix Mercury, the team said on Saturday. The deal means the 40-year-old Taurasi, a three-time WNBA champion whose name is all over the Mercury franchise's record book, will play at least a 19th season in the league in 2023. Taurasi, whom the Mercury selected first overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft, holds franchise records -- either outright or shared -- in 16 categories, including seasons, points scored, defensive rebounds, assists and steals. A five-time Olympic champion, Taurasi averaged 16.7 points, 3.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds during the 2022 season. The 2023 WNBA regular season is scheduled to tip off on May 19.

☆ Final farewell: From Sidney Poitier to Pope Emeritus Benedict a look back at the influential figures who died in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +55 min

Other world leaders who died in 2022 include former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who died in August. The final days of 2022 saw the loss of some exceptionally notable figures, including Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2022 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___Dan Reeves, 77. A Cuban-born artist whose radiant color palette and geometric paintings were overlooked for decades before the art world took notice. A prolific character actor best known for playing villains and tough guys in “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Ocean’s Eleven” and other films.

☆ Dorothy Pitman Hughes, Black Feminist and Activist, Has Died at 84
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Dorothy Pitman Hughes in 2013 with a 1970s image of her and Gloria Steinem. Dorothy Pitman Hughes , a Black feminist, activist and child-welfare advocate who collaborated with Gloria Steinem , has died. She was 84 years old. Ms. Hughes died Dec. 1 of natural causes at the home of her daughter Delethia Ridley Malmsten in Tampa, Fla., Ms. Ridley Malmsten said Sunday.

☆ Dorothy Pitman Hughes, pioneering feminist who co-founded Ms. Magazine, dies at 84
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Dorothy Pitman Hughes, a pioneering Black feminist, child welfare advocate and activist who co-founded Ms. Magazine with Gloria Steinem, formed a powerful speaking partnership with her and appeared with her in one of the most iconic photos of the feminist movement, has died. Gloria Steinem, left, and Dorothy Pitman Hughes attend the Ms. Foundation for Women Gloria Awards in New York in 2014. Hughes, a pioneering voice in child care, organized the first shelter for battered women in New York City and co-founded the New York City Agency for Child Development. She met Steinem in 1968, according to a biography on the Ms. Magazine website, when Steinem, then a journalist, was writing a story for New York Magazine about Pitman Hughes’ child care center. Hughes was born Dorothy Jean Ridley on Oct. 2, 1938, in Lumpkin, Georgia, her family wrote in an obituary posted by the funeral home.

☆ Judge rules that Texas AG who ran away from being served a subpoena won't have to testify in abortion lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Sarah Al-Arshani | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Texas AG Ken Paxton ran away from being served a subpoena for an abortion access lawsuit. On Tuesday, a judge ruled that Paxton did not have to show up for a hearing on that lawsuit, CNN reported. In a motion, the judge said Paxton feared for his safety since the process server was "unidentifiable." "Top executive officials should not be called to testify absent extraordinary circumstances," the motion from Judge Robert Pitman said, CNN reported. The subpoenas required Paxton to testify at a hearing on Tuesday on a lawsuit filed by abortion rights groups.

☆ Orcas observed devouring the tongue of a blue whale just before it dies in first documented hunt of the largest animal on the planet
▼ + stars: | 2022-01-29 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A study from Australia is the first to scientifically document blue whales' killings by orcas. Orcas were observed devouring the nutrient-rich tongues of the giant blue whales. It includes details of how the killer whales swam inside the mouth of the enormous whales to eat their nutritionally rich tongue just before they died. A few weeks later, the next attack occurred when a blue whale calf was targeted. The final attack recorded by the study was on a 45-foot-long blue whale, chased for 15 miles in a 90-minute hunt.

Persons: orcas, Orcas, —, Jeff Foott, Robert Pitman, It's Organizations: Service, Mammal, Cetrec WA, Oregon State, Mammal Institute, Geographic Locations: Australia, Western Australia

Search resuls for: "Pitman"

16 mentions found