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Pence declares 'ISIS has been defeated' on the same day as deadly Syria attack

On the same day that an ISIS-claimed attack killed US service members in Syria, Vice President Mike Pence declared that "the caliphate has crumbled and ISIS has been defeated."

Pence's remark to the Global Chiefs of Mission conference at the US State Department came about an hour after the US-led coalition confirmed that American troops had been killed in an explosion in Manbij.

"U.S. service members were killed during an explosion while conducting a routine patrol in Syria today. We are still gathering information and will share additional details at a later time," the tweet from Operation Inherent Resolve said.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, which the ISIS-affiliated Amaq agency said was carried out by a suicide bomber with an explosive vest.

Pence Declares ISIS ‘Defeated’ Hours after Group Brags of Killing U.S. Troops

Mission Accomplished.

Think I got a taste of why people disdain Reddit.

Yesterday, a moderator for r/programminglanguages took offense to my message and banned me from that particular subreddit. Claimed that a private message I sent was insulting to the entire community, I had a bad attitude, blah, blah. No warning, no 3 strikes, no consensus with other moderators or anyone else, just that moderator's sole judgment, and apparently it's a permanent ban, not timed. Reddit's new interface does a poor job of informing banned users that they are banned. To check, have to try to post and see if it is rejected.

It occurred to me that I could simply make another account. But Reddit threatens extreme reprisal for doing that, as in, they will delete all your accounts if they detect that you are working around a ban in that fashion.

I have never been more than a very occasional user of Reddit. I don't know the ropes there too well. From what I read, bans happen all the time, and it is a bit random. Eh, Reddit is too harsh and absolute. Lousy system. One mistake and ZAP! Account gone. (Say it like "Caribou gone.") I suspect the harshness is one factor that results in all around lower quality discussions, and I have heard complaints along those lines about Reddit. Much, much rather hang out here on SoylentNews than chance the whims of such all powerful, capricious individuals.

Do patents make sense in 2019?

Patents deny the right to build an invention to everyone. This made sense with the smaller population in the early 1800s , as the small population meant whatever someone invented probably wouldn't have been invented by someone else in the 20 year period. So the 20 year monopoly encouraged innovation. With today's larger population and greater scientific prevalance, there are an average of 6 duplicates per software patent, and a minimum average of 3 duplicates per patent overall. Are patents really nessecary outside the pharmaceutical industry?

Gunman who killed officer left a note accusing police of hitting him with 'sonic waves'

The gunman who killed an officer in Northern California left behind a letter accusing the Davis police department of hitting him with "ultra sonic waves."

A man on a bicycle shot Davis police Officer Natalie Corona, 22, Thursday night as she responded to a triple-car crash in the city of Davis. He was later found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

[...] Limbaugh left behind a letter, according to Davis police spokesman Lt. Paul Doroshov, who read the letter on camera to CNN affiliate KMAX.

"The Davis police department has been hitting me with ultra sonic waves meant to keep dogs from barking. I notified the press, internal affairs, and even the FBI about it. I am highly sensitive to its affect [sic] on my inner ear," the letter reads. "I did my best to appease them, but they have continued for years and I can't live this way anymore."

The letter is signed "Citizen Kevin Limbaugh."

Gab, a supposedly pro-free speech website, is shutting down user accounts without providing an explanation. My own account was set to private, I cannot log in, and password reset emails don't arrive.

Is Gab a ruse?

Check comments here:

https://www.contactforsupport.com/social-networking/gab-support-number/

Edit: Seems this is just technical issues. Gab support fixed my account for me. Seems they don't have the least buggy system in the world. If this happens to you email support@gab.com.

Facebook Removes Page That Aimed to 'Expose' R. Kelly Accusers

A newly launched Facebook page that sought to defend R. Kelly and "expose" his accusers in the aftermath of Surviving R. Kelly has been pulled off the social network for violating terms of service.

On Monday, after the six-part docuseries' weekend run on Lifetime, TMZ reported that "[Kelly] and his camp" were behind a pair of sites – a Facebook page called Surviving Lies and an in-the-works website bearing the same name – that aimed to clear his name and discredit his accusers. It has not been confirmed whether Kelly is actually behind the pages.

After the Facebook page launched Monday, its operators posted a previously surfaced audio recording that allegedly contradicted the story of one of the women who appeared on Surviving R. Kelly.

Also at Vulture and Billboard.

Uber driver pleads guilty to killing six people between rides

An Uber driver charged with killing six strangers in between picking up passengers pleaded guilty to murder in Michigan on Monday, just before attorneys were set to interview jurors for his trial.

[...] The 48-year-old Dalton answered “yes” to a series of questions, admitting that he shot eight people at three locations. After his arrest, police quoted Dalton as saying a “devil figure” on Uber’s app was controlling him on the day of the shootings.

Could this "devil figure" be an undocumented feature of Uber's app that is being pushed out to some drivers to test mind control?

Arizona police investigate after 'vegetative patient gives birth'

Police in the US state of Arizona have launched a sexual assault investigation amid reports a patient in a vegetative state for a decade gave birth.

The woman is a patient in a clinic run by Hacienda HealthCare near Phoenix.

Hacienda HealthCare gave no details but said it was aware of a "deeply disturbing incident".

A local CBS station said the baby was healthy and quoted a source as saying that staff had been unaware the woman was pregnant.

The woman has not been identified.

"It's a miracle!" says an Anonymous Coward.

https://www.businessinsider.com/krystal-whipple-suspected-of-killing-ngoc-nguyen-2019-1/

Police are out looking for a "murderer" who ran over another person in a parking lot. The problem? That victim jumped in front of her car.

I have a hard time being convinced that the alleged murderer here was anything more than a thief. Jumping in front of a moving car to prevent someone from escaping without paying a $35 bill seems a bit... intellectually lacking. Personally, I put the blame for the victim's death on the victim.

Thinking about this rationally for a second, if someone was jumping on or in front of your car to prevent you from driving away, should you have an obligation to prevent them from being harmed if they themselves are actively trying to throw themselves in front of your car and (presumably) use extralegal means to detain you?

Should those rules change if the driver just committed a civil violation of contract like failing to pay for a manicure?

Should comcast agents be able to throw themselves at your car and prevent you from leaving your home until you pay the latest new "service fee" you forgot to account for?

The person in this video might not be an angel, and the fact the car was stolen doesn't help their case, but I have a hard time calling them a murderer.

What are your thoughts? Does the video depict a murderer of just a thief?

Sexism Claims From Bernie Sanders’s 2016 Run: Paid Less, Treated Worse

Bernie Sanders says he was not aware of claims of sexism in 2016 campaign

Bernie Sanders apologizes for allegations of sexism in 2016 campaign

Sexism Isn’t a Problem for Just the Bernie Sanders Campaign

We have to get the weird old capitalist out of the room. #Warren2020!