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Algorithm could help keep consumers safe from illegal online pharmacies
Gail Short PharmaceuticalThe National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) reported this year that it identified dozens of illicit online pharmacies (IOPs) selling drugs marketed as treatments for COVID-19, drugs that would normally require a prescription. "Rogue internet pharmacy networks are run by criminal opportunists, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has provided the perfect opportunity for illegal online drug sellers to prey on fearful consumers," the NABP says in its "Rogue Rx Activity Report." But now, researchers at Penn State University have developed an algorithm that may be able to identify which online pharmacies are legitimate and which ones are not. They wrote about their findings in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
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A record hunting season could be on the horizon in Texas, other states
John McAdams Recreation & Leisure2020 has been an extremely unique year in many respects. Among the other significant occurrences that we’ve seen in this year, it’s quite possible that the state of Texas may set a hunter participation record as well. We’ll have to wait a few months to see exactly how things shake out, but data gathered so far this year indicates that 2020 has already seen a massive jump in hunter participation. For one thing, many states have reported gigantic increases in hunting license sales this spring for turkey season. Other states saw record numbers of applicants entering the lottery for drawn hunts and had leftover hunting licenses and tags snapped up in record time.
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No federal deal yet: What are the consequences of no stimulus?
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementDiscussions for a new relief/stimulus bill fell apart this week, apparently. It began with tumult, as President Trump, infected with COVID-19 and taking a cocktail of drugs, tweeted on Oct. 6 that federal aid for the economic harm from the pandemic will resume after the Nov. 3 election. He then reversed that position, muddying the waters. Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin discussed a stand-alone bailout of air carriers facing financial distress and making thousands of job cuts.
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TikTok: How a kids’ social media platform became a huge cybersecurity…
David Lukić Science & TechnologyTikTok is a huge online social network based around short videos, often contains funny content, and is very popular among children. This popularity among a younger generation has made it a target for a lot of different scams. It’s prone to security issues, but this is not helped by the fact that people suspect the brand's parent company of spying on people.
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Coming to your workplace soon: Legal protections against hair discrimination
D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementEmployers routinely try to control employees’ professional appearance at work through personal appearance policies in their employee handbooks. Now, unwitting employers risk claims of discrimination based on hairstyle under a new type of law or legal theory that is taking hold across the country. Last year, California passed the CROWN Act, short for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, which prohibits discrimination based on natural hair style and texture. That law has become a model for similar legislation in other states, counties and cities.
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Key risks to consider when doing business in China
Dr. Chris Chu Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementOrganizations doing business with China know that the operating environment is complex and very different from the Western world. However, the market opportunity remains promising, despite recent challenges from the coronavirus pandemic. Success depends on identifying and managing a number of China-specific risks.
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A look at how different home security systems work and how they help the…
Amanda Kowalski Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityWhether you just bought a new house or are seeing some things in your neighborhood that make you uncomfortable, you are now shopping for a home security system. So, what kind should you get — company-monitored or self-monitored? And do they really help the police? First, how much is it going to cost? About $400 for the equipment, and, if you choose professionally monitored, between $10 and $50 a month. But that’s negligible compared to what you could lose.
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The gold standard in policies
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementPolicies are the wisdom of prior boards, adopted as motions and recorded in the minutes, to guide actions and decisions of the current and future boards. They frequently interpret broad sections of the bylaws, which purposely lack detail. For example, the bylaws may require a periodic financial audit. A policy will specify frequency, type of audit, and the hiring of a CPA. It is easier to adopt, amend or repeal a policy than the bylaws, which usually require as approval process by the membership. Associations rely on 25 to 50 policies.
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A look at 2 alternative cartridge options for the AR-15
John McAdams Recreation & LeisureWhile the majority of rifles built on the AR-15 platform still use the ubiquitous .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges, hunters and shooters do have a couple of other options if they want to use a different cartridge in their AR. Today, we’ll discuss two in particular: the 6.5 Grendel and the 6.8 Remington Special Purpose Cartridge.
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How has COVID-19 affected crime?
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityCrime rates are declining in 2020 — thanks to COVID-19. Or at least that’s what we thought. Violent crime and property crime rates did indeed fall during the first months of the pandemic, according to the FBI. However, the report does not categorically state that the period covered by the data coincides with COVID-19 quarantines and social distancing rules. Furthermore, some large cities are dealing with increases in crimes like burglaries and gun violence.
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