Quokkas

Nature 8 Minutes

Ever heard of a Quokka?  It’s been called the most cheerful animal on the planet due to their perpetual smiles!  Read on for more fascinating facts!!

What does the quokka look like?

Quokkas are small, four-legged animals covered in fur. They’re from the kangaroo family and have pouches in their abdomens for carrying their young. Though they’re much tinier than kangaroos; the quokka is around the size of a domestic housecat. They have narrow faces, round ears, big noses, and tiny paws. Their tails are short and skinny. They’re almost always a shade of brown. One of the most distinctive features of the quokka is their smile. Known as “the world’s most cheerful animal,” quokkas have a perpetually happy expression on their face. It can range from a tiny smile to a toothy grin, but it’s always there, and it’s always the absolute cutest.

How do you pronounce “quokka?”

It depends on where you live. North Americans usually pronounce it koo-WOH-kuh, but native Australians favor kah-WAH-kah.

How big is a quokka?

Quokkas are the size of domesticated cats. Their bodies measure between 16 – 21 inches long, and their tails are usually 9 – 12 inches long.

How much does a quokka weigh?

Male quokkas usually weigh about 5 – 10 pounds. Females are slightly smaller at 3 – 8 pounds.

Can quokkas climb trees?

Quokkas love to climb trees! They can ascend as high as 4 – 6 feet, which is pretty good for their size. It’s like a housecat climbing to the top portion of a door.

Are quokkas friendly or aggressive?

Quokkas are friendly and approachable creatures. They’re used to tourists, so they have little fear of human contact, and they’ll hop right up to people who are marveling at them. This is how visitors to Rottnest Island are able to pose for so many “quokka selfies.” That said, quokkas can have a bit of amean streak to them. They aren’t afraid to bite when they’re feeling threatened. And they have powerful hind legs that can be used for kicking just as easily as hopping. They don’t like to be handled, either, and the Australian government has strict rules about this, so trying to pet a quokka might result in injuries and fines. To put it another way, quokkas might be friendly, but they’re not domesticated. They’re still wild animals.

Why do quokkas smile?

They’re famous for their chubby-cheeked grins, but why do quokkas actually beam?

The simple answer is that we don’t know. There’s nothing about their mouth or jaw structure that necessitates smiling.

Most experts agree that it’s just a quirk of the species. Like dolphins, quokkas simply have a natural smile. Some other animals with natural smiles include mata mata turtles and axolotls.

Is the quokka the happiest animal?

Quokkas are often called “the happiest animal on Earth” because of their big grins and friendly natures.  However, it’s important to remember that they’re still wild animals. They can bite, and they can get aggressive when fighting over mates or when they feel threatened. Males often form social hierarchies based on size and dominance. Females will even abandon their babies if the situation calls for it. The life of a quokka isn’t easy just because it’s smiling!

Some quokkas will even hang around stores, parks, campsites and youth hostels where people have been known to illegally feed them.

Why can’t you feed a quokka?

You shouldn’t feed a quokka for the same reason that you shouldn’t feed any wild animal. Their bodies aren’t used to artificial ingredients, and their diets can be completely disrupted with the introduction of foods and snacks that aren’t native to their environment. You can even cause physical damage to quokkas if you insist on feeding them. Marsupials are prone to something called lumpy jaw disease that can infect their bone cartilage and lead to pain, distress, starvation, and death. LJD can be caused by something as simple as sandwich bread sticking to their gums, so never feed a quokka!

Do quokkas bite?

Yes. Quokkas can and will bite when they’re feeling threatened, and they’ve been known to nip at the fingers of people who try to feed them.

What eats a quokka? Predators and Threats

Quokkas are vulnerable to cats, dogs, foxes, dingoes, and snakes. Their natural predators are birds of prey and dingoes, but the rest have been introduced to their environment over time.

When faced with a predator, the quokka’s first instinct is to run away. They can hop at high speeds for their size, and they can dive into burrows and scurry up branches to try and lose their pursuers. Moms have even been known to sacrifice their children as a distraction to escape. If they’re cornered, quokkas will fight tooth and nail for survival. They can bite with their teeth and scratch with their claws, and their powerful hind legs are good for kicking. It’s only their small size that dooms them. Compared to a dingo or even a dog, quokkas are no match for larger animals.

Are quokkas endangered?

Quokkas are listed as “vulnerable” by the Australian Department of Environment and Energy.

They aren’t quite endangered, but their population trends are decreasing.

How many quokkas are left in the world?

The IUCN estimates that there are between 7,500 – 15,000 mature adults in the wild. The vast majority is on Rottnest Island. There’s also a protected population on Bald Island, and there are a few scattered colonies on mainland Australia as well.

What threatens the quokka?

The biggest threat to quokkas is deforestation. Humans are tearing down trees to build cities; weather changes are having ripple effects on vegetation, erosion, and rainfall. In 2015, a wildfire in Western Australia decimated 90% of the local quokka population. Their numbers went from 500 to 39.

Another big threat to quokkas is humans. People just can’t resist trying to feed, pet, cuddle and capture them, and the smallest of sandwiches can have long-term consequences for their health. There have also been cases of animal cruelty towards quokkas. Since they’re such a prevalent part of life on Rottnest Island, people take liberties with them. One man was jailed when he threw a quokka off a boat to prove that it could swim.

Do quokkas live in groups? Are they sociable?

Yes and no. Quokkas live in colonies, but they don’t really socialize with one another. For example, they don’t groom or play together. They live solitary lives that just so happen to intersect for food and safety reasons.

What do quokkas eat?

Quokkas are herbivores that eat grasses, leaves, shrubs, and plants. One study has suggested that their favorite food is Guichenotia ledifolia, a type of white-purple flower.

Do quokkas mate for life?

There’s no evidence to suggest that quokkas mate for life, but they’ve been known to return to the same mates for several breeding cycles in a row, so they aren’t opposed to monogamy. It seems to be a matter of convenience more than anything. Remember: They’re solitary creatures that mostly live together for survival rather than any desire for companionship.

What sound does a quokka make?

Quokkas don’t make a lot of noise. They don’t have calls or songs to communicate with others of their kind, and they don’t growl when they’re threatened. They might make involuntary sounds of fear or panic when they’re distressed, but that’s about it.

Are quokkas nocturnal?

Quokkas are nocturnal.  Their natural instinct is to sleep during the day and forage at night. However, you’ll find plenty of quokkas that are active in the daylight hours. They know that they have better chances of being illegally fed by tourists if they hang around crowded places at high noon.

Where does the quokka live?

The quokka is native to Australia. Its biggest population is on Rottnest Island, but there are small groups on Bald Island and mainland Australia as well. These are the only places in the world where you can find wild quokkas.

What is the habitat of the quokka?

Quokkas live in trees, shrubs, swamps and other areas with dense vegetation. They don’t like the exposure of wide and open spaces. They prefer environments where they can hide from predators or take shelter from the elements when necessary.

How many babies do quokkas have?

Quokkas have one baby at a time. Since they’re a mammalian species, it’s a live birth, and the baby will require milk after it’s born.

What do you call a baby quokka?

Like kangaroos, baby quokkas are called “joeys.”

What are baby quokkas like?

They’re adorable! Baby quokkas are miniature versions of their parents, and they ride around in their mother’s pouch until they’re old enough to fend for themselves. It isn’t uncommon to see babies poking their tiny, fuzzy heads out of their pouches as their mom hops from location to location. As for their life cycle, a quokka female will give birth to a single baby after gestating it for about a month. Then she’ll nurse it and carry it around in her pouch for an additional six months. At six months, the joey will be encouraged to leave the safety of the pouch. It will start to wean itself off mom’s milk as it learns how to forage for food. At 10 – 12 months, the joey will be considered independent, and it won’t rely on mom at all anymore. It might stay close as part of a colony, but it will be a mature and solitary adult.

Do male quokkas play any part in child-rearing?

Male quokkas will defend their pregnant mate, but they don’t have anything to do with mom or baby after it’s born.

How often do quokkas reproduce?

Quokkas are known for their rapid reproduction rates. They mature quickly and can give birth twice per year, so in a 10-year lifespan, they might produce anywhere from 15 – 17 babies. They’re unbound by mating seasons, though it’s most common for quokkas to breed between the months of January – March.

Do quokkas really throw their babies?

Despite their sweet and friendly nature, quokkas have a survival instinct that’s pretty nasty: If a mother is being pursued by a predator, she’ll sacrifice her baby to save herself. She won’t actually throw it, but she’ll eject it from her pouch by relaxing her pouch muscles, causing the baby to drop out. The baby will flail on the ground and make noise that attracts the predator.

Where can I see a quokka?

If you want to see a quokka in the wild, book a trip to Rottnest Island. Quokkas are such an everyday part of life that they’re considered a nuisance by local shopkeepers! They run inside businesses looking to scavenge, and they distract customers, cause messes, dig into garbage and poop everywhere. They’re adorable little troublemakers. Outside of their native habitat, you can find quokkas in all kinds of Australian zoos, including the Perth Zoo, Adelaide Zoo, Sydney Zoo, and Melbourne Zoo.

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Published by pat frederick

Published

200 thoughts on “Quokkas”

      1. Right now, Sally’s Dad is not able to handle the strenuous intense parts of Sally’s care. I drove him to the doctor Monday and his heart/chest X-ray were ok, but he was pretty tired when I dropped him off at his house. He is sore from the fall, has a big bruise and puddling under his chin, and his back is sore and stiff, but there is no sign of concussion or stroke. However, he seems more dithery, forgetful, easily frustrated, discombobulated. His balance is not as good, and walking seems a little more limited. He seems to tire easily.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. i will keep him in my prayers!
          when I mom fell last year, it was in her kitchen–she laid on the floor for almost a whole day before anyone found her. for 3 days after she didn’t know anyone–then, boom, it all came back to her.
          we got her a life alert device to wear around her neck so if she ever has a problem, she can alert someone.

          Liked by 2 people

          1. I remember what happened to your Mom… it was heart-wrenching.

            We found her Dad’s EMT call button in Sally’s apartment – and he said he had been looking for it for a long time – !

            Liked by 2 people

            1. sometimes she sets it off accidentally–and she’ll hear a voice asking her if she’s okay…she says she gets embarrassed telling them it was a false alarm…and I keep telling her that gives me peace of mind–and that’s what we’re paying them for!

              Liked by 2 people

  2. just had to go out, shovel a path to the satellite dish and brush it off…
    we had 2 hours of freezing rain before the snow started yesterday,
    there’s about 4 inches of snow on top of the ice and more is falling

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Morning, Pat! I’ll take snow over ice any day of the week, thank you! IDK how many inches we got because it was blowing so badly. But I’ve got some drifts – I’ll take a pic in a few. And it is still snowing and blowing, 18 outside now. I never did see LM – the food dish just filled up with snow so I brought it in. I brushed some snow off the porch and put it out again this morning.

      Considering quokkas short gestation period, it makes sense from a self-preservation standpoint for her to eject the baby from the pouch. Cute faces! Excellent advice on not feeding wild animals human food.

      BTW, did you see the article I posted as you were signing off about PA? At least they are making restitution.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning!
        yes I did see that…
        we’ll see. one thing i’ve noticed is since ultra maggot took over the gas companies have switched hands–so who we thought owned them is no longer true—they could be foreign owned at this point. when they started exploring and leasing land, they held open public meetings where they detailed who they were and their intentions and the public was allowed to ask as many questions as they wanted–about safety and procedures.
        since they have changed hands, none of that is guaranteed…

        Liked by 1 person

  6. from wolfs

    TheseTruths
    TheseTruths (@thesetruths)Offline
    Coyote
    4 hours ago

    Here’s a transcript of PDJT’s remarks yesterday:
    https://patriots.win/p/16ZXVQ3unD/transcript-of-trumps-december-15/

    If we don’t have free speech, we don’t have a free country. It’s as simple as that. If this most fundamental right is allowed to perish, the rest of our rights and liberties will topple, like dominoes.

    That’s why today I’m announcing my plan to shatter the leftwing censorship regime, and to reclaim the right to free speech for all Americans. And reclaim is a very important word in this case, because they’ve taken it away.

    In recent weeks, bombshell reports have confirmed a sinister group of deep state bureaucrats, Silicon Valley tyrants, left wing activists, and depraved corporate news media, have been conspiring to manipulate and silence the American people. They have collaborated to suppress vital information on everything from elections to public health. The censorship cartel must be dismantled and destroyed, and it must happen immediately.

    Here is my plan.

    First, within hours of my inauguration, I will sign an executive order, banning any federal department or agency from colluding with any organization, business, or person to censor, limit, categorize or impede the lawful speech of American citizens. I will then ban federal money from being used to label domestic speech to be labeled as mis or disinformation. And I will begin the process of identifying and firing every federal bureaucrat who has engaged in domestic censorship, directly or indirectly, whether they are the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, the FBI, the DOJ, no matter who they are.

    Second, I will order the DOJ to investigate all parties involved in the new online censorship regime, which is absolutely destructive and terrible, and to aggressively prosecute any and all crimes identified. These crimes include possible violations of federal civil rights law, camp finance laws, federal election laws, securities laws, anti-trust laws, the Hatch Act, and a host of other potential criminal, civil, regulatory and Constitutional offenses.

    To assist in these efforts, I am urging House Republicans to immediately send preservation letters. We have to do this right now. To the Biden administration, the Biden campaign, and every Silicon Valley tech giant, ordering them not to destroy evidence of censorship.

    Third, upon my inauguration as president, I will ask Congress to send a bill to my desk revising Section 230. To get big online platforms out of censorship business. From now on, digital platforms should only qualify for immunity protection under Section 230 if they meet high standards of neutrality, transparency, fairness, and non-discrimination. We should require these platforms to increase their efforts to take down unlawful content such as child exploitation, and promoting terrorism while dramatically curtailing their power to arbitrarily restrict lawful speech.

    Fourth, we need to break up the entire toxic censorship industry that has arisen under the false guise of tackling so called mis and disinformation. The federal government should immediately stop funding all nonprofits and academic programs that support this authoritarian project.

    If any US university is discovered to have engaged in censorship activities, or election interference in the past, such as flagging social media content for removal, or blacklisting, those universities should lose federal research dollars, and federal student loan support for a period of five years, and maybe more.

    We should also enact new laws laying out clear criminal penalties for federal bureaucrats who partner with private entities to do an end run around the Constitution, and deprive Americans of their First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendment rights. In other words, deprive them of their vote. And once you lose your elections, and once you lose your borders like we have, you no longer have a country.

    Furthermore, to confront the problems of major platforms being infiltrated by legions of former deep-staters and intelligence officials, there should be a seven year cooling-off period before any employee of the FBI, CIA, NSA, DNI, DHS, or DOD is allowed to take a job at a company possessing vast quantities of US user data.

    Fifth, the time has finally come for Congress to pass a digital bill of rights. This should include a right to digital due process. In other words, government offs should need a court order to take down online content; not send information requests such as the FBI was sending to twitter.

    Furthermore, when users of big online platforms have their content or accounts removed, throttled, shadow-banned, or otherwise restricted, no matter what name they use, they should have the right to be informed that it’s happening; the right to a specific explanation of the reason why, and the right to a timely appeal. In addition, all users over the age of 18 should have the right to opt out of content moderation and curation entirely, and receive an unmanipulated stream of information, if they so choose.

    The fight for free speech is a matter of victory or death for American, and for the survival of western civilization itself. When I am president, this whole rotten system of censorship and information control will be ripped out of the system at large. There won’t be anything left.

    By restoring free speech, we will begin to reclaim our democracy and save our nation. Thank you, and God bless America.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. from tcth…lamenting the nft cards

    FollowTheMoney
    FollowTheMoney
    December 16, 2022 3:24 am
    Reply to Citizen 817

    If President Trump thought this was a good idea, it wasn’t. His image has declined in the eyes of many of his supporters. The nation is on the brink and pushing superhero playing cards is not a good look. This is not the way to fundraise and the left will have a field day mocking him.

    I am very disappointed that he approved of this.
    1
    Reply
    Charlotte Powell Brooks
    Charlotte Powell Brooks
    December 16, 2022 5:18 am
    Reply to Citizen 817

    They’re already sold out.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. classic bait and switch…sure you can sell us the “excess” electricity and we’ll pay you for it. that was the ploy to get homes to install solar panels in CA–now they’re gonna cut the price they’ll pay for that “excess” up to 75%…
    FTA
    Utilities and consumer groups have argued the incentive payments have unfairly favored wealthier consumers and harmed poor and low-income households. But solar companies and renewable advocates have said that lowering the compensation would slow solar installations and hinder the state’s goals to address climate change.

    The proposal, which California utility regulators unveiled last month, will change a net metering policy by paying solar owners for extra power at a lower rate, which is determined by the cost the utility would need to spend to purchase clean power from an alternative source. The solar industry has said the plan would amount to a 75% cut in average payment rates to customers.

    https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/15/california-lowers-solar-energy-incentives-for-homeowners.html

    Liked by 1 person

  17. OH KEA!!!!
    fta
    BERLIN (AP) — A huge aquarium in Berlin burst, spilling debris, water and hundreds of tropical fish out of the AquaDom tourist attraction in the heart of the German capital early Friday.

    Police said parts of the building, which also contains a hotel, cafes and a chocolate store, were damaged as 1 million liters (264,000 gallons) of water poured from the aquarium shortly before 6 a.m. (0500 GMT). Berlin’s fire service said two people were slightly injured.

    Mayor Franziska Giffey said the incident had unleashed a “veritable tsunami” of water, but the early morning timing had prevented far more injuries.

    “Despite all the destruction, we were still very lucky,” she said. “We would have had terrible human damage” had the aquarium burst even an hour later, once more people were awake and in the hotel and the surrounding area, she said.

    The 25 meters tall (82 feet tall) AquaDom was described as the biggest cylindrical tank in the world and held more than a thousand tropical fish before the incident. Among the 80 types of fish it housed were blue tang and clownfish, two colorful species known from the popular animated movie “Finding Nemo.”

    “Unfortunately, none of the 1,500 fish could be saved,” Giffey said.

    https://www.fox8live.com/2022/12/16/huge-berlin-aquarium-bursts-housed-1500-tropical-fish/

    Liked by 1 person

  18. here’s an interesting theory…buying the trading cards actually protects the identity of those who wish the $$ to go to the president’s campaign without fear of being doxxed…the article explains
    FTA

    An astute reader suggested to me, though, that Trump is crazy like a fox. He may be circumventing campaign laws, not because they’re a problem for him, but because they’re a problem for would-be donors.

    People have learned how dangerous it is to show support for Trump. Once leftists have the federally required list of campaign donors, they dox them. That is, they try to shame individuals, get them fired, or force social isolation upon them. If a business has donated, activists urge people to boycott the business. This effectively dissuades people from exercising their First Amendment right to political speech via campaign donations.

    By selling a product, Trump can get money without publicly revealing donors. Even though there are limits on how NFTs can be created and marketed, selling them is still easier than trying to raise campaign funds by moving mugs, t-shirts, and bumper stickers. Importantly, paying for an NFT is not a donation because the buyer is getting something of value in exchange for his or her money; namely, the NFT, an object with a price freely agreed upon between seller and buyer.

    Some will point out that the NFT’s FAQs state explicitly that the monies received from the trading cards are not going to Trump or any campaign entity:

    NO. These Digital Trading Cards are not political and have nothing to do with any political campaign. NFT INT LLC is not owned, managed or controlled by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization, CIC Digital LLC or any of their respective principals or affiliates. NFT INT LLC uses Donald J. Trump’s name, likeness and image under paid license from CIC Digital LLC, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms.

    Keep in mind, though, that money is fungible. There is nothing to stop NFT INT LLC from donating a substantial portion of the money it makes to… Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

    Think of what’s going on here as the Hunter “the Artist” Biden approach to fundraising. Who believes the hundreds of thousands of dollars paid for Hunter’s craptastic amateur poster work aren’t finding their way into Joe Biden’s pockets in exchange for political favors? If you raised your hand, I’ve got some of my own craptas… er fantastic artwork to sell you.

    To add more credibility to the idea that Trump has figured out a legal way to allow people to donate to him without risk, look at what people get for their purchases. There’s the sure thing: “BUY 45 DIGITAL TRADING CARDS AND YOU ARE GUARANTEED A TICKET TO A DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT.” There’s also a sweepstake (which you can enter without a purchase) with prizes including that dinner with Trump, meeting Trump at Mar-a-Lago, golfing with Trump, etc.

    Of course, assuming that this theory is true (and it is only a theory), the rules prevent Trump from acknowledging what he’s doing and, so far, no one in the media world, Left or Right, seems to have thought of it. Still, people who’d like to see Trump finally get his second term may be hoping that this theory is exactly what’s happening and, free from dangerous doxing eyes, they may be planning to buy their “Donald Trump Digital Trading Card.”

    https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2022/12/is_there_a_brilliant_ulterior_motive_behind_trumps_baseball_card_fundraiser.html

    Liked by 1 person

    1. This wouldn’t surprise me at all – he is VERY good about understanding the law and knows how to make it work for him. Not to mention the tons of lawyers he pays to handled these things. Just look how he got around the local ordinance that prevented him from putting up the huge flag pole at Ma-A-Lago.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. I just came in from shoveling–we got 5 inches of snow so far but there is a half inch of ice under that so it is HEAVY!
      I wanted to get it off before the stuff on the roof fell off onto the deck–cuz that stuff is always heavier!

      Liked by 1 person

  22. from wolfs…sometimes the “q” stuff is amazing…a post back in 2018…#648…seems foreshadowing…

    para59r(@para59r)Online
    Coyote
    December 16, 2022 10:49

    Getting stranger and stranger all the time.

    TurnTurnTurn
    @TurnTurnTurn
    ·
    20h
    Replying to @JustLikeGizmo
    New Freedom of Speech video is 6:48 long

    This is confirmed. Speech is 6:48 long.
    https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/109518990392565381

    Lots of decodes on the @JustLikeGizmo post. Interesting for sure.
    https://truthsocial.com/@JustLikeGizmo/posts/109518944790543486

    Like

          1. here’s another coincidence…or was it planned?? LOL gwp (i know)

            para59r(@para59r)Online
            Coyote
            Reply to para59r
            December 16, 2022 12:04

            One more from GWP comments, but I think someone has already caught this… not sure if that was yesterday or not.

            Trump announces 

            ” Digital Bill of Rights “

            December 15 2022

            America Ratified the original 

            “Bill of Rights”

            on December 15th 1791

            from https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/12/must-watch-urging-house-republicans-immediately-send-preservation-letters-president-trump-makes-huge-announcement-vowing-reclaim-first-amendment-rights/#disqus_thread

            Like

  23. This is my back patio with the snow piled up on my trash cans and A/C unit:

    Drifts against my neighbors’ house/garage:

    Drifting next to my garden beds:

    Guess who???? No wonder he wasn’t eating the food in front! The minute I went out and opened the seed bin, I heard mewing – I looked to see if it was Jake inside – nope! I opened the door and LM pranced right on in! I have now uncovered the doggie door and showed him how to use it. His food dish is sitting right next to it and I’ve cleared the snow from the chair so he can curl up there if he wants. Yeah, yeah, yeah….I’m a sucker!!!

    He saw all the birds on the feeder outside and was trying to get to them….bust my screen, asshole, and you’re gone!!!!

    He wanted me to come back out on the patio, so he climbed up on the back of the chair to look for me! “Hey, where’d you go????”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Jake was at the patio door just growling, yowling and hissing. At one point, LM slapped the door outside and Jake went the fuck off! LM must have gone back outside ’cause I don’t see him out there now. Jake keeps wandering away and then back to the doors to look for that nasty interloper! He is too funny!!!

      Liked by 1 person

              3. The lack of snow last winter contributed to our already-serious drought situation. We need that moisture. Crap! The snow is coming down heavier again and the skies are darkening a bit. Not over yet!

                Liked by 1 person

  24. Issue: December 15, 2022
    “Corporate coalition pushes government to create digital ID infrastructure–Major corporations want to see the installation of digital ID.”
    By Ken Macon
    Posted 3:10 pm
    ENTIRE ARTICLE@ReclaimTheNet: “A group of private companies have published a digital ID blueprint encouraging state governments to implement policies involved in creating a digital ID system. The blueprint was published by the Better Identity Coalition, a group of 27 US companies, including Mastercard, Equifax, AT&T, and more. The group either wants to stop the worry about ID fraud or to profit from preventing ID fraud by pushing to normalize digital IDs.

    The coalition is encouraging states to make their department of motor vehicles the core of developing and maintaining digital ID systems because these departments are central to each state’s identification systems.

    The second recommendation is the updating of vital records bureaus and having these bureaus create attribute-validation services. These records include birth, death, and marriage databases. The third recommendation is for state officials to stop fearing or doubting digital ID innovations, like digital driver’s licenses, which can encourage wider adoption by the general public.

    Policymakers should also make sure digital ID systems meet government and industry standards.

    The fourth policy recommendation is for government to ensure 100% participation in digital IDs by targeting marginalized populations and ensuring they get the same attention as others, like the mobile driver’s license.”

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Issue: December 15, 2022
    “Senator Elizabeth Warren uses FTX collapse as a reason to introduce surveillance of all crypto wallets–Even though the two events are unrelated.”
    By Ken Macon
    Posted 10:51 am

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “As the US Senate conducts hearings about the collapse of crypto exchange FTX, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced a bill to regulate the cryptocurrency industry, going beyond fraud in companies and instead targeting crypto holders themselves.

    Critics have called the bill unconstitutional and authoritarian. The Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act will impose know-your-customer (KYC) requirements on providers of blockchain infrastructure, including developers of decentralized networks as well as validators supporting such networks and miners.

    We obtained a copy of the bill for you here.

    The bill would require the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to treat miners, validators, crypto wallet providers, and other such networks as “money service businesses.” As such, they would be required to collect KYC data on participants and required to implement anti-money laundering (AML) programs.

    The bill would also impact personal self-custody crypto wallets, and require networks to identify clients and track all transactions. The bill also bans the use of asset mixers and other technologies that enhance privacy by concealing transactions between wallets. In August Tornado Cash, which was one of the most popular mixers, was banned by the Treasury Department through sanctions.

    “The crypto industry should follow common-sense rules like banks, brokers, and Western Union, and this legislation would ensure the same standards apply across similar financial transactions,” Warren said in a statement. “The bipartisan bill will help close crypto money laundering loopholes and strengthen enforcement to better safeguard U.S. national security.”

    The proposed bill has already drawn criticism from the crypto industry. “The Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act is a direct attack on technological progress and also a direct attack on our personal privacy and autonomy,” said Peter Van Valkenburgh, the director of research at crypto advocacy group Coin Center.

    “Make no mistake, while proposed as a solution to potential money laundering and terrorist financing, the bill is, in fact, a repudiation of liberal values and a move towards the types of surveillance and control prized by authoritarians like Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong-un.”

    The bill was inspired by the collapse of FTX, even though the surveillance of user transactions on the centralized exchange would have done nothing to stop the fraud that was going on within the company. The exchange’s founder and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested in the Bahamas this week. He is facing multiple charges in the US. The bill’s sponsors claim that it would prevent a scandal like FTX in the future. But Van Valkenburgh disagrees.

    “This bill is focused exclusively on financial surveillance and does not address any of the issues of corporate control that led to the collapse of FTX,” he wrote.”

    https://reclaimthenet.org/warren-digital-asset-anti-money-laundering-act/

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Issue: December 15, 2022
    “Israel to introduce sweeping online censorship law–Including such things as “offensive” content.”
    By Christina Maas
    Posted 1:27 pm
    ENTIRE ARTICLE @ ReclaimTheNet: “The Israeli government has announced that it will adopt recommendations to regulate social media platforms to create a “safer” online environment. The recommendations are similar to the social media rules in the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which will take effect next year.

    Outgoing Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel announced that Israel would adopt recommendations made by the committee for examining legislation on online social media platforms, which was formed in October 2021. The committee, which was led by the Communications Ministry director-general Liran Avisar Ben-Horin, was created to find solutions to tackle the regulatory and ethical questions related to social media.

    “This is an unregulated space where negative and harmful social phenomena have emerged,” said Hendel, as reported by the Times of Israel. “Legal responsibility needs to be applied to digital platforms in relation to the distribution of illegal sexual content, incitement to violence and terrorism, and more.”

    “The step we are taking today brings us closer to a more protected and safer online space while preserving freedom of expression.”

    The committee recommended that social media companies should be obligated to immediately remove illegal and offensive content, create an online hotline for reporting offensive and illegal content, create a system where users can appeal censorship and suspension decisions, and be more transparent. Courts will be given the power to issue content removal orders, and a social media regulator will be created. Platforms operating in Israel will be required to set up offices in Israel.

    The recommended rules, which will need to be passed in parliament, will apply to social media platforms with more than 500,000 users.

    Content that will require the immediate attention of platforms is intimate photos and bullying of minors. Social media platforms will also be required to monitor offensive content like the invasion of privacy, incitement to violence, threats, terrorism, racism, defamation, and sexual content.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. THAT’S why Fauxahontas is pushing that bill – bring us in-line with the EU!!!! I realize this is a separate issue but I’ll bet it’s the same principal. BTW, offensive to whom, exactly???? That word is FAR too broad!!!!

      Liked by 1 person

  37. I got to thinking…..it might be a good thing to keep letting LM on the patio – even if he does bring a friend or two – they can catch the mice!!! (Am I good at rationalizing or what??!!??) I also need to put all of the bird stuff into a different bin. I’m still using the same one I used when we were living in the Blue Ridge and the mice chewed a hole in one corner at the time. I found a dead one inside a couple of months ago – I guess the D-Con got him. I don’t want to put any more out if LM is going to be out there so he can pay for his keep by catching mice! Yeah….that’s the ticket! Damn, I’m good! LOL – guess I need to add outdoor cat food to my shopping list….

    Liked by 1 person

  41. “Outrage after Afghan gang rapist given police protection in Germany; interior ministry refuses to deport him — The convicted gang rapist was given police protection on the same day as Ece S.’s funeral”

    December 16, 2022
    editor: REMIX NEWS author: JOHN CODY

    (Mukthar N. was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for gang rape.)

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “After just two and a half years in prison for gang rape, Afghan Mukthar N. is back out on the streets of Illerkirchberg, but this time he enjoys taxpayer-funded police protection. The fact that he is in Illerkirchberg is also notable, given it is on the outskirts of Ulm, a city that made national headlines recently after an Eritrean migrant murdered the 14-year-old girl Ece S.

    Authorities say they are “concerned” for the gang rapist’s safety due to growing resentment in Illerkirchberg, which has a troubled asylum home where gang rapists and murderers have menaced the small community. The police protection detail reportedly began on the same day of the funeral for Ece S.

    The 29-year-old Mukthar N. was already supposed to have been deported, but due to intervention from left-wing Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), the man has been allowed to stay in Germany. The district continues to try to deport the sex offender, who drugged and raped a girl, also 14 years old at the time, with three other asylum seekers. The ordeal lasted for hours for the young girl. However, Faeser’s interior ministry argues that such a deportation is not possible due to Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

    After Mukthar N.’s prison sentence, the state government sent him back to the scene of the crime, Illerkirchberg, where he now has taxpayer-funded police protection. However, the community was never informed the convicted gang rapist was sent back into their area, despite police saying the man continues to represent “high potential danger of committing further sexual offenses to the detriment of unknown young women.”

    Mukthar N. is supposed to report daily to the town hall of the village as a part of his release conditions, but the rejected asylum seeker has fundamentally violated this requirement. Despite this violation, he has faced no consequences.

    After the murder of Ece S, who was stabbed to death on her way to school by a migrant from the local asylum home, police fear there will be retribution against asylum seekers in Illerkirchberg. As a result, once news leaked that Mukthar N. was back in Illerkirchberg, police began guarding his home. According to Bild newspaper, the Ulm police headquarters announced, “We also have to worry about his safety. If there is a recommendation we can give him, then of course we will give it to him.”

    Mukthar N. has since gone into hiding, and it is unknown where the man, who police have labeled as dangerous, is currently located.”

    Liked by 2 people

  42. OK, now this is really strange…..my neighbor’s garage….one of their kids, I assume, is out there clearing the snow from the side of the garage across from the house. But instead of just tossing it out in the yard, he is trying to dump it from the shovel into a bucket….WTF????

    Liked by 2 people

      1. It’s up against the wall of the garage so no, it’s nothing like that but he is also clearing the snow from the house foundation. They did have a big water line break in their basement a couple of years ago. I watched them working on that for days. Besides, Denny and Delores are up at their place on the river. Their kids keep up on the house for them. I can see getting the snow away from the walls but why not take 2-3 steps and toss it in the yard? Makes no sense whatsoever.

        Liked by 1 person

          1. I’ve seen Denny out there using the leaf blower when there isn’t much snow. But he is very old now – well into his 90’s – and went thru a bout with COVID. Dorothy told me they fought tooth-and-nail against any jabs or Remdesivir. She is big into natural healing products and is the one who gave me some of that special water.

            Liked by 2 people

  43. Dealing with a problem like Sam’s dirty money: How a QUARTER of congress (130 Democrats AND Republicans) took donations from fallen crypto king SBF – and now find themselves in a VERY tricky spot

    Lawmakers from both parties are washing their hands of donations from disgraced crypto king Sam Bankman-Fried amid arrest in Bahamas on Tuesday

    Just months ago, Bankman-Fried was touted as the next George Soros, second only to the famed liberal donor in contributions to Democrats in 2022

    Prosecutors now claim Bankman-Fried tried to bilk investors out of more than $1.8 billion and used customer funds to make illegal political donations

    Bankman-Fried publicly donated some $46.5 million in the 2022 election cycle, with all but about $240,000 going to Democrats

    He says he donated an almost equal amount to Republicans but did so through dark money channels so reporters wouldn’t ‘freak the f*** out’

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11543163/Members-Congress-wipe-hands-Sam-Bankman-Frieds-donations.html

    Liked by 2 people

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