#R programming training institute

[wedentistinjaipur]

Exploring the Best Data Science Courses in Bangalore: A Guide to Your Career Path

Exploring the Best Data Science Courses in Bangalore: A Guide to Your Career Path

Bangalore is a hub for technology and innovation, making it the perfect place to start a career in Data Science. The city is home to numerous top-tier institutes offering specialized training and certification courses in Data Science, Machine Learning, Big Data, Python, and more. In this guide, we will explore some of the best Data Science courses offered across key locations in Bangalore, including Indiranagar, Marathahalli, Koramangala, and Banashankari. We will focus on factors such as curriculum, duration, placement opportunities, and student success stories. Whether you're just starting your journey or looking to advance your skills, this guide will help you make an informed decision.

Data Science Training in Marathahalli

Marathahalli is one of the most prominent areas in Bangalore for tech education, with several reputed institutes offering Data Science Training Marathahalli. These institutes provide a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip students with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed for a successful career in data science.

Many Best Data Science Institutes Marathahalli offer courses that cover essential topics like data cleaning, exploratory data analysis, machine learning algorithms, and big data technologies. The programs typically include hands-on training and projects to ensure that students can apply their learning to real-world challenges.

Some institutes even offer Data Science Certification Marathahalli, which is highly valued by employers. This certification signifies that you have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge to work as a data scientist. With a combination of classroom learning and practical exercises, these programs are designed to make you job-ready.

Moreover, many institutes in Marathahalli offer specialized Machine Learning Course Marathahalli, Big Data Course Marathahalli, and Python for Data Science Marathahalli programs. Whether you're interested in understanding complex machine learning models or diving into the world of big data, there's a course for every interest.

If you're looking for more flexibility, many institutions also offer Data Science Online Course Marathahalli, allowing you to learn from the comfort of your home while working at your own pace. This option is ideal for those who have busy schedules but still want to pursue their passion for data science.

Success Story: "I enrolled in the Advanced Data Science Marathahalli program at Programmers Club, and the experience was transformative. The curriculum was challenging but well-structured, and the hands-on projects helped me build confidence. Within three months of completing the course, I landed a job as a data analyst at a leading tech firm. I highly recommend this institute to anyone looking to start a career in data science!" — Priya S.

Data Science Classes in Koramangala

Koramangala is another buzzing locality in Bangalore, famous for its start-up culture and proximity to tech giants. It is also home to some of the top Data Science Classes Bangalore that offer cutting-edge training and up-to-date curriculum. If you're in this area, you have access to a range of programs including specialized courses in AI and Data Science Course Marathahalli, Deep Learning Course Marathahalli, and R Programming for Data Science Marathahalli.

These institutes offer a comprehensive approach to learning, covering both theoretical and practical aspects of data science. The Data Science Program Marathahalli usually spans over several months, giving students the opportunity to dive deep into data analytics, business intelligence, and data visualization. Many of the top-rated institutions have ties with global companies and offer placement assistance to help students secure jobs after completing the course.

Data Science in Indiranagar

Indiranagar, known for its vibrant tech community, also offers a wide array of Data Science Courses with Placement Marathahalli. The institutes here often focus on industry-relevant skills and offer hands-on training that equips you with practical knowledge of the tools and technologies used by data scientists today. You will also find Business Analytics Course Marathahalli and Data Analytics Course Marathahalli, both of which are highly sought after by professionals aiming to transition into the field.

Success Story: "After completing the Data Science Bootcamp Marathahalli at Programmers Club, I gained a deep understanding of data analysis techniques. The project-based learning approach helped me work on real-time data problems. With their excellent placement support, I secured a role at a reputed analytics company shortly after graduation." — Rohit T.

Benefits of Taking a Data Science Course in Bangalore

Bangalore's reputation as the Silicon Valley of India makes it an attractive location for anyone interested in data science. The city's vast network of tech companies, startups, and research organizations offers ample job opportunities for aspiring data scientists.

Curriculum Quality: Institutes in Bangalore offer a well-structured curriculum that is constantly updated to reflect industry trends. Many institutes collaborate with top companies to ensure that students are equipped with the latest tools and techniques in data science.

Industry Connections: Many institutions in Bangalore have partnerships with leading tech companies, providing students with networking opportunities, internships, and job placements.

Placement Support: A major advantage of enrolling in a Data Science course in Bangalore is the robust placement support offered by many institutes. Data Science Job-Oriented Course Marathahalli focuses on preparing students for real-world job scenarios, which significantly increases their chances of landing a job in a competitive market.

Affordable Courses: Compared to other cities, the cost of living and tuition fees in Bangalore can be relatively affordable, making it an ideal destination for students and professionals looking to upskill without breaking the bank.

Networking and Collaboration: Being a tech hub, Bangalore hosts numerous meetups, workshops, and events for data science professionals. Enrolling in a local course gives you the chance to network with industry experts and fellow students, creating opportunities for collaboration and learning.

Data Science Bootcamp and Specialized Courses in Banashankari

If you're looking for a more intensive, short-term program, a Data Science Bootcamp Marathahalli could be the right choice. These bootcamps are designed to teach data science concepts quickly, allowing students to immerse themselves in the field and gain hands-on experience in just a few months. They are perfect for individuals looking to switch careers or upskill in a short amount of time.

Banashankari also offers a variety of specialized programs such as SQL for Data Science Marathahalli, Data Science Training Institutes Near Marathahalli, and R Programming for Data Science Marathahalli. These focused courses allow you to build proficiency in specific tools and programming languages, giving you an edge in specialized data science roles.

Conclusion

Whether you're based in Indiranagar, Marathahalli, Koramangala, or Banashankari, Bangalore offers an abundance of opportunities to study and advance in the field of data science. With a variety of training programs, from basic courses to intensive bootcamps, there's a learning option for every individual. Not only will you gain the technical expertise needed to succeed, but you'll also benefit from the city's thriving tech ecosystem, networking opportunities, and strong industry connections.

For more details about the best Data Science Classes Bangalore, Machine Learning Course Marathahalli, or to explore Data Science Certification Marathahalli, visit Programmers Club.

Are you ready to start your journey in Data Science? Choose the right course, gain the right skills, and make your mark in the world of data science!

[rifki16]

Anti-Sisyphus: A Reflection after being rejected from a PhD Program at DTU

I have been trying to get back to writing, for non-academic purposes, again. And after my latest PhD application rejection, I figure, this might be the best opportunity for me to start writing non-academic analytic essays again.

I got rejected by the Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) for a PhD program under their Department of Technology, Management, and Economics. The PhD program is also under the EU MOVEO project, a project which tries to conduct research on the inclusivity of transport in the EU. This rejection hits quite differently than the others - hence why I'm writing on my Tumblr page again. This is the tenth PhD application rejection I got, so far in the span of less than a year since my master's graduation ceremony. I had felt differently and more optimistically about this PhD application and program because the program is directly about STS, the field which tries to use social studies perspectives on the social of the natural sciences, a field which I'm madly interested in, and have extensive knowledge about and experience in. I really took time in making the reflective essay used for the application. I have the relevant experience of conducting STS research, which I think would actually be my competitive advantage compared to the other applicants, considering that not a lot of STS research has been done. I have quite a clear understanding of what I will do with the research if I had gotten accepted to the program - something which I don't always have about the PhD programs I applied to.

The rejection email arrived yesterday, on Saturday, at 2-ish PM, my time, or 9-is AM Danish time. I did not get a notification for the email at first. I just realized about the email when I opened the Gmail application several minutes after it had arrived. I was on the train back to my parents' place, and I did not want to ruin my mood during the trip, so I decided to open it after I got home and with my friends, Lars and Leo, being at least virtually present as I opened it. Several times during the trip, I clicked on the email again and again, and I had to restrain myself from reading the email; I couldn't understand the first part of the email anyway, as it's written in Danish. When I arrived at my parents' place, I became more and more anxious about what's inside the email.

In all my past applications, I have only managed to get into a further selection stage for one application, for the Cawthron Institute Scholarship at the Victoria University of Wellington's Geography/Environmental Studies PhD program. When I got the email about the first stage result of that scholarship, I was about to run at 6-ish AM my time, as New Zealand is several hours ahead of me. When I did my morning 24-minute running routine that day, I was already telling myself to brace for the bad news of being rejected by the scholarship team. I was at peace with that apocalyptic prediction about the email. I felt good about not having to worry about what that email entailed, what it could mean for me. I felt this sense of peace. When I got back to my place, I pushed the activity slot of opening that email quite back in the queue as I did not really need to read about being rejected and some templatic, fake, consolation message about the rejection and their attempt to rescucitate my motivation to apply to some other PhD applicaitons out there. I finally got to opening the email, I think it was already during brunch time. Then, there it was in the email, I got into the next stage of the selection process for the scholarship. I was so surprised. I really did not think that I could get it.

Now, that is sort of the go-to sign I'm looking for whenever I'm about to open a reply to my PhD applications: "Am I feeling at peace before opening the email?" When I eventually got rejected from that scholarship at the last selection stage, I wasn't feeling the same peace feeling after seeing the reply email in my inbox. The false belief then became reinforced so strongly in my head that I forced myself not to be giddy or to feel that fervently in any way whenever I received a reply. I suppose that it doesn't work since, even though I made myself feel "peace", I still got rejected again and again. I also did not have that feeling when I eventually lied down last night in my bed and opened the email. Underneath the Danish text, the English text plainly said that I got rejected, without any explanations of why, just rejection. Another reason why this rejection hurts quite deeply is that I don't have many other PhD applications on rotation - something which made me question my "suitability" in academia.

This whole ordeal, PhD applications, has been like an anti-Sisyphus activity for me. As Sisyphus was condemned to roll up a huge boulder up a hill only for it to roll down and Sisyphus to roll it back up, I, on the other hand, feel like I have to plunge myself further and further into this unknown, dark, and consuming abyss. Just like a blackhole, this abyss, which I'm falling further and further seems to also "take", "absorb", every mass, or in my case, spirit and confidence, away from me. I find the abyss analogy apt as all but one of the application processes I applied to did not leave any meaningful feedback about what made me get rejected from the application, and hence, I feel like I'm pouring all of this energy and effort just for some unexplained "black box"-effectuated hands to beat me up again and again as I'm diving deeper and deeper into the abyss.

I know that I have been saying to myself that I might not fit in academia every time I got rejected for a PhD program. However, this time, this rejection feels very different; it feels like it knocks down the last worth pillar I have about my sense of belonging in the academic world.

I know it's about the journey. I know it's about giving yourself hope in times of darkness. It just hurts. It really hurts to be rejected by fellow STS researchers.

I used to feel angry, pissed off at the PhD process which rejected me. Now, I'm just tired. I'm thinking that maybe I have to find other routes from fleeing this country.

On the other hand, when I looked back ever since that second rejection by Cawthron Institute, a lot of things have changed. Back then, I never really thought that I could ever take my PhD abroad. Now, I know that I can - even though I still question the time frame of when it will happen. I know which universities have funded PhD programs. I still have four other PhD applications ahead of me, one of which I have a good feeling and interest in.

The abyss might not have beaten me in taking all of my mass away from me, but it sure is depleting. And as I only try to gauge the things ahead of me, I become even more depressed about where I am. I know I have come a long way. I now have a tool belt, which I think can get me out of the abyss and land on a good PhD program. But it sure sucks to be falling this deep, this far, and without a light to guide me.

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

Tragedy Vultures

The Los Angeles County Natural History Museum Dinosaur Ball fundraiser, renamed Night of Wonders, is canceled due to riots. Patrons are invited to visit the museum during normal business hours.

Markle & Sparry latched on to Altadena Girls to redeem their Tragedy Tourism reputation and then grifted into some mickey mouse phony commendation (only for Sparry's baby mama) that wasn't even announced by the museum🤦‍♂️🤦‍♀️, but via their personal PR, People Magazine. She is just tacky & desperate. Just PATHETIC!!!

"As an institution ‘of, for, and with Los Angeles,' our responsibility during challenging times is clear: to serve as a community resource focused on healing and unity, not celebration," Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, President and Director of NHMLAC

"Los Angeles needs us to channel our energy toward supporting our neighbors and demonstrating the values that make our city and county strong," her statement continued. The decision to postpone the gala was made by the Museum's Board of Trustees, leadership and event partners, who "unanimously agreed" that pausing the event was "the appropriate response to current community circumstances," the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County

REALLY???🤔

NHMLAC's ESTEAM Pathways

Your contribution helps ensure that future generations of environmental and scientific leaders reflect the diversity of Los Angeles by supporting educational initiatives that include: 

Outdoor Equity Programs 

We work with a network of local community partners to empower youth and families from South L.A. through outdoor experiences at state parks and other public lands. These programs remove barriers to the outdoors by providing transportation, learning materials, and accessible field trips that serve historically marginalized communities.

Marine Teen Internships

We offer a six-month-long internship program for East Los Angeles high school students that introduces them to the joy of scientific discovery by providing real-world experience in marine science subjects. The program helps participants become critical thinkers, communicators, and community ambassadors as they produce marine science-related projects and encourages them to pursue science careers and pathways to higher education.  

Research Training and Mentorship

We support professional development and educational enrichment for 30 post-baccalaureate students and graduates who facilitate biodiversity research alongside our curators and other NHMLAC staff. The program provides focused mentoring that enables mentees to build confidence and competence in a broad range of STEM careers as they participate in research that focuses on how our changing planet impacts Southern California's biodiversity.

NHMLAC has received generous funding from the Vera R. Campbell Foundation for the Marine Science Teen Internship Program, from the National Science Foundation for the RaMP research training and mentorship initiative, and from the CA State Parks and Recreation agency for the Outdoor Equity Program.

Duchess In Name Only

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil government program to fund teachers in underserved regions

The initiative, called “More Teachers for Brazil,” will cost R$1.7bn over the next two years

With an eye on the 2026 elections, the Lula administration has launched a program aimed at funding the training of new teachers in Brazil and financing the deployment of educators to regions with critical shortages. The initiative, called “More Teachers for Brazil,” will cost R$1.7 billion over the next two years, an amount already allocated in the Education Ministry’s budget.

The government has said there will be no need to send a bill to Congress to implement the program. The initiative is expected to benefit 2.3 million teachers, including 1.8 million in public schools and 566,000 in private institutions.

The program includes several measures, with two primary initiatives:

1.“Licensure Savings Fund”: This provides a monthly financial stipend of R$1,050 to encourage high-achieving students from the National High School Exam (ENEM) to pursue and complete teaching degrees.

2.“More Teachers Grant”: This program offers a monthly payment of R$2,100, in addition to a teaching salary, for educators who agree to work in regions with teacher shortages.

Continue reading.

[lboogie1906]

Frank Calvin Mann (November 22, 1908 - November 22, 1992) was an engineer and designer who worked with Howard R. Hughes on projects that included the Spruce Goose, at the time the largest airplane ever built.

He was born in Houston. He attended Prairie View A&M College. He studied at both the University of Minnesota and UCLA. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering.

Howard Hughes hired him to work at Hughes Aircraft Company. He worked as an independent contractor for Lockheed, Boeing, and other aircraft manufacturers.

He decided to fly his airplane to Ethiopia to help the country resist the invasion. He joined the small Ethiopian Air Force but when the Italians conquered Ethiopia, he escaped and returned to the US.

He was invited to Tuskegee Institute to become one of a handful of African American civilian pilot training instructors. He left the program because of the poor condition of the training planes that the government supplied and asked Howard Hughes to use his influence with the government to get better training aircraft for the program.

After the US entered WWII, he became one of the aeronautical engineers chosen by the Army to strip excess weight from the Mitchell B-25. He worked for Howard Hughes in a program to re-arm bombers and fighters with 50-caliber machine guns.

He began designing and building custom sports cars for Hollywood celebrities including Mickey Rooney, David Rose, and Herb Jefferies. He built a small fiberglass body sports car for a Walt Disney executive that became a prototype for the Chevy Corvette. He built an aerodynamic car modeled on the F-86 Sabre Jet that he named Baby LeSabre. The car won Motor Trend Magazine’s Best Sports Car of the Year award at the Los Angeles Motorama.

He worked in the aerospace laboratories of Hughes Culver City. His work included several projects with NASA including the Surveyor Moon Exploration Unit. He worked on the early designs of the space shuttle as well as the Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircraft.

He retired in 1972 and moved to Houston to care for his aging parents and open a small auto repair shop. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[biopractify]

How to Transition from Biotechnology to Bioinformatics: A Step-by-Step Guide

Biotechnology and bioinformatics are closely linked fields, but shifting from a wet lab environment to a computational approach requires strategic planning. Whether you are a student or a professional looking to make the transition, this guide will provide a step-by-step roadmap to help you navigate the shift from biotechnology to bioinformatics.

Why Transition from Biotechnology to Bioinformatics?

Bioinformatics is revolutionizing life sciences by integrating biological data with computational tools to uncover insights in genomics, proteomics, and drug discovery. The field offers diverse career opportunities in research, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and AI-driven biological data analysis.

If you are skilled in laboratory techniques but wish to expand your expertise into data-driven biological research, bioinformatics is a rewarding career choice.

Step-by-Step Guide to Transition from Biotechnology to Bioinformatics

Step 1: Understand the Basics of Bioinformatics

Before making the switch, it’s crucial to gain a foundational understanding of bioinformatics. Here are key areas to explore:

Biological Databases – Learn about major databases like GenBank, UniProt, and Ensembl.

Genomics and Proteomics – Understand how computational methods analyze genes and proteins.

Sequence Analysis – Familiarize yourself with tools like BLAST, Clustal Omega, and FASTA.

🔹 Recommended Resources:

Online courses on Coursera, edX, or Khan Academy

Books like Bioinformatics for Dummies or Understanding Bioinformatics

Websites like NCBI, EMBL-EBI, and Expasy

Step 2: Develop Computational and Programming Skills

Bioinformatics heavily relies on coding and data analysis. You should start learning:

Python �� Widely used in bioinformatics for data manipulation and analysis.

R – Great for statistical computing and visualization in genomics.

Linux/Unix – Basic command-line skills are essential for working with large datasets.

SQL – Useful for querying biological databases.

🔹 Recommended Online Courses:

Python for Bioinformatics (Udemy, DataCamp)

R for Genomics (HarvardX)

Linux Command Line Basics (Codecademy)

Step 3: Learn Bioinformatics Tools and Software

To become proficient in bioinformatics, you should practice using industry-standard tools:

Bioconductor – R-based tool for genomic data analysis.

Biopython – A powerful Python library for handling biological data.

GROMACS – Molecular dynamics simulation tool.

Rosetta – Protein modeling software.

🔹 How to Learn?

Join open-source projects on GitHub

Take part in hackathons or bioinformatics challenges on Kaggle

Explore free platforms like Galaxy Project for hands-on experience

Step 4: Work on Bioinformatics Projects

Practical experience is key. Start working on small projects such as:

✅ Analyzing gene sequences from NCBI databases ✅ Predicting protein structures using AlphaFold ✅ Visualizing genomic variations using R and Python

You can find datasets on:

NCBI GEO

1000 Genomes Project

TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas)

Create a GitHub portfolio to showcase your bioinformatics projects, as employers value practical work over theoretical knowledge.

Step 5: Gain Hands-on Experience with Internships

Many organizations and research institutes offer bioinformatics internships. Check opportunities at:

NCBI, EMBL-EBI, NIH (government research institutes)

Biotech and pharma companies (Roche, Pfizer, Illumina)

Academic research labs (Look for university-funded projects)

💡 Pro Tip: Join online bioinformatics communities like Biostars, Reddit r/bioinformatics, and SEQanswers to network and find opportunities.

Step 6: Earn a Certification or Higher Education

If you want to strengthen your credentials, consider:

🎓 Bioinformatics Certifications:

Coursera – Genomic Data Science (Johns Hopkins University)

edX – Bioinformatics MicroMasters (UMGC)

EMBO – Bioinformatics training courses

🎓 Master’s in Bioinformatics (optional but beneficial)

Top universities include Harvard, Stanford, ETH Zurich, University of Toronto

Step 7: Apply for Bioinformatics Jobs

Once you have gained enough skills and experience, start applying for bioinformatics roles such as:

Bioinformatics Analyst

Computational Biologist

Genomics Data Scientist

Machine Learning Scientist (Biotech)

💡 Where to Find Jobs?

LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor

Biotech job boards (BioSpace, Science Careers)

Company career pages (Illumina, Thermo Fisher)

Final Thoughts

Transitioning from biotechnology to bioinformatics requires effort, but with the right skills and dedication, it is entirely achievable. Start with fundamental knowledge, build computational skills, and work on projects to gain practical experience.

Are you ready to make the switch? 🚀 Start today by exploring free online courses and practicing with real-world datasets!

[beardedmrbean]

Kentucky’s public colleges and universities would have to defund all Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices and trainings, eliminate race-based scholarships and end administrative promotion or justification of so-called “discriminatory concepts” like white privilege under a Republican-backed bill filed Friday.

House Bill 9, introduced by Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Waddy, would bar public post-secondary institutions from providing any “differential” or “preferential” treatment to a student or employee based on race, religion, sex, color or national origin.

That includes through any office, programming or training on diversity, equity and inclusion — also known as DEI — which has become a frequent target of conservatives nationwide.

In a news release accompanying the bill, Decker called DEI initiatives “misguided” and said they “made college more divided, more expensive and less tolerant.”

Diversity, equity and inclusion offices on campuses are designed to support marginalized or underrepresented student populations by fostering a more inclusive college experience, college administrators and experts say.

The University of Kentucky’s Office of Institutional Diversity, for example, says on its website it serves to “enhance the diversity and inclusivity of our university community through the recruitment and retention of an increasingly diverse population of faculty, administrators, staff and students.”

And UK does this, the office says, “by implementing initiatives that provide rich diversity-related experiences for all to help ensure their success in an interconnected world.”

“If education is to be the great equalizer in the commonwealth, the opportunity to obtain a college degree in our state must be equally available and affordable to all,” Decker said in a news release.

“HB 9 would allow our universities and colleges to return their focus to providing Kentucky students with excellent academic instruction in an environment that fosters critical thinking through constructive dialogue.”

A handful of states with Republican majorities have passed anti-DEI bills in recent years, perhaps most notably in Florida.

[theculturedmarxist]

This interview was conducted with a public health employee of the Hawaii State Department of Health (HIDOH), as part of the WSWS Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic. The worker chose to use the pseudonym Robert to protect their identity.

Evan Blake (EB): Thank you for participating in the Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic, it’s a pleasure to interview you. Can you describe your background and training in public health before the pandemic?

Robert (R): My training in public health began more than 25 years ago, initially centered on women’s reproductive health. I earned a degree in Public Health. My focus soon broadened from just women’s health to everyone’s due to the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis.

Throughout my career, I collaborated with various organizations, including academic institutions and community health centers, to develop programs targeting most of the populations in the Bay Area. These initiatives encompassed health education, addiction support, and promoting healthy relationships, as well as offering HIV/AIDS and HCV [hepatitis C]testing, counseling, contact tracing, case management and patient navigation services. When I moved to Hawaii, I continued doing health education and working with those experiencing developmental disabilities, aging and chronic illnesses.

EB: What were your initial experiences when the pandemic began in early 2020? How would you characterize the initial pandemic response of DOH [Department of Health] and state officials more generally in Hawaii?

R: I noticed in December 2019, when there was talk of unusual illness in China’s news and social media. Seeing how it was being handled there made me concerned. There seemed to be more effort in hiding it than in handling it.

I waited for our government to mention it, especially on a more local level. I really thought that since, historically, the Hawaiian Kingdom has had effective quarantine and mitigation practices, that the current leadership would follow suit. My thinking was that we don’t have rabies in Hawaii, so obviously we know how to keep viruses out.

By February, I started contacting the DOH to hire me to help out any way possible. This looked like something that could easily be squashed if they rounded up all the HIV experts and put them to work. In early March, I put my disabled clients on quarantine. I bought a bunch of fabric and a serger and my family and I made hundreds of masks. Airborne transmission has always been known.

On March 4, 2020, Hawaii’s Democratic Governor David Ige declared a state of emergency in response to COVID-19, granting the state greater flexibility in responding to the crisis. This is officially when the problems with disappearing COVID funds began. On March 26, Ige issued a stay-at-home order, closing nonessential businesses and implementing strict travel restrictions.

I participated in the statewide Lt. Governor’s COVID town halls. Stay-at-home orders in March and May helped keep the numbers low. I waited for the health department to do something and cranked out masks. Schools had gone online at this point. It went pretty well for us. My kid’s school was really proactive about making sure the kids had access to what or who they needed, including computers.

My partner was labeled an essential worker because he was in construction. His boss took full advantage of this allowance and I wrote several of our state’s representatives who seemed actively concerned about COVID, about what to do in this situation.

By the end of May 2020, Dr. Mark Mugiishi, the chief executive of HMSA, brokered a deal with the UH Manoa nursing school to provide students to be trained as contact tracers. They were supposed to have seven different cohorts, but they stopped at three or four. Most of the trainees were never hired to do any work in the DOH and a majority of the graduates got letters stating thanks, but no thanks. The DOH only ever brought on a couple hundred contact tracers. That was after they got in trouble for not having enough and refusing help.

All the tracers and investigators started out being hired by agencies other than the DOH. This meant that we had no rights, but we had the same responsibilities as any other employee would have. We didn’t get hazard pay, union, or PTO, couldn’t participate in any of the benefits or mental health support and other programs they regularly provided and encouraged all employees to participate in. Most of us worked from 7 a.m. to late in the evening most nights. Most tracers and investigators were not from the locally COVID-trained cohorts.

A majority of the COVID hires weren’t brought in until much later in 2020 or in 2021. More were needed and available and instead of hiring tracers or case management, a call center was contracted to bottleneck the high volume of calls and cases.

State officials are notoriously reactive to any problem, emergency-related or not. The officials in charge of HIDOH when the pandemic was officially recognized were ill-fitted for their positions. Their responses were lackluster at best, with Sarah Park (state epidemiologist, COVID response leader) coming in to the UH Manoa COVID trainings to tell us that contact tracing was ineffective, as well as other disease mitigation techniques that we were being trained on, like routine screening.

When the contact tracing program started at the DOH, the National Guard was tasked with training us and facilitating most of the COVID mitigation efforts. This was after they had only received one day of training themselves. I met not one of them who had any health background whatsoever.

It’s been a performative disaster from the very start. Our DOH and state leadership were instrumental in encouraging the spread of COVID-19. State officials were slow to respond and, when they did, it was never an appropriate response. Hawaii usually sees at least 30,000 visitors per day from all over the world. They did everything in their power to keep that going.

EB: You mentioned that DOH employees were split up into different groups, including groups working with prisoners, homeless people, sports personnel, the wealthy, etc. Can you describe this in more detail and the class divide in the pandemic response in Hawaii?

R: DOH employees as a whole are siloed and do not collaborate or even have the slightest clue what the others are doing ever. It was difficult trying to get resources or info from within when trying to access data or connect people with other services. It was deeply embarrassing to me sometimes how incompetent everyone was.

For the pandemic efforts, the entire venture was militarized and we were beholden to chain of command operations as civilians. We were not allowed to speak to our higher-ups. Many were discouraged from speaking to anyone.

The contact tracing and case investigation were separated into several different focus groups headed by epidemiologists. These epidemiologists already had a disease focus and their loads were not lightened. They were added to. Most of them are not in fact actual trained epidemiologists. They have fallen into the position often through nepotistic means and meet bare minimum educational requirements. They had a lot of weird toxic drama that affected program function overall.

For example, if your team’s epidemiologist didn’t get along with a different team’s epidemiologist and you needed a file or lab result or info about an individual in their category, they may delay the info or just never give it to you. It was the worst addition to an already extreme high-stress situation.

The main group management often fell to the inexperienced National Guard, who were under the epidemiologists. Each group’s numbers fluctuated and usually had about 7–15 people, half National Guard, half civilian. The focuses were separated into schools, food service, military, healthcare and LT facilities, travel/VIP, Pacific Islander, severe/death, correctional facilities and homeless.

We had to wait for the daily cases to be handed to the epidemiologists. They would post new cases as they were processed into the system usually via an external call center, who received the cases mostly via the department’s only fax machine.

HIDOH hired an external call center to handle what was called first contact calls. This was actually one of the biggest obstructions to actual contact tracing or any real handling of infected patients in a timely manner.

First contact call center got the first reporting of the case. The report would come in via fax (another massive problem). That person’s name and number would be taken down and someone from the call center or the National Guard would call and ask screening questions about their health and symptoms, often with not much health training. They had three days for the individual to answer before they stopped calling and threw it out.

By the time investigators or tracers got the case, it was often 5–10 days old. We never did real contact tracing in the department. Real contact tracing would involve calling the case immediately to help them trace and notify anyone who may have been exposed. It would also involve timely and actual distribution of resources, including testing, food and money. This is not what happened.

I saw hundreds of people who were overqualified for resources denied or provided the offered resources too late. Some tracers did what could be considered “guerrilla tracing” because they had their contact info passed around for those who needed help and couldn’t get through to the health department when they needed to, or they just needed resources or their results.

A majority of people who were infected did not receive a call from the DOH or any help. They also didn’t receive guidance on quarantine or health at all. Internally, there was never training or updating on variants, pathology or how to ask sensitive questions and talk to the general public. There was a lot of secrecy and internal guidance that wasn’t health-oriented or generally useful. It was often self-congratulatory and bloviated.

This all increased the class divide as those in the service industry couldn’t afford to heal or get better and many lost and are losing their jobs. Those who were able to sealed themselves away. Admin stayed in their offices and told no one to enter, and there was an increase in work-from-home jobs for those with privilege or education, like myself.

EB: Hawaii has the highest per capita number of active US military personnel of any US state and is the state’s largest income producer, yet tourism is often claimed to be the state’s dominant industry. What were the roles of the military and the tourism industry in relation to the pandemic?

R: The military has largely handled their own COVID cases, navigation, and often not sharing when they have clusters that directly impact civilians.

The tourism industry has a finger in everything. They have been extremely instrumental in helping COVID spread. Tourism interests are largely against the people of Hawaii, who are more often harmed than helped by their existence. Tourism and business degrees are what steers most of the boards of every institution in this state. You will find significantly more business degrees than Kanaka (Hawaiian person) representing leadership in the islands. Tourism is why most of those whose birthright is the islands are homeless or not in the islands.

Both industries had large roles in facilitating spread. They pushed to keep everything open and often refused to cooperate with the HIDOH in COVID mitigation efforts.

EB: How have the federal pandemic funds approved under Trump and Biden been dispersed within Hawaii? Can you describe any corruption or negligence that you’ve seen in this regard?

R: I can pretty much only describe corruption and negligence regarding the usage of funds. The HIDOH let over 30 million dollars’ worth of badly needed COVID tests go to waste and then spent over $60,000 to destroy them. The schools never saw much of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds put to use in the schools for mitigation efforts. Countless non-profits denied resources to the community. A robot dog was purchased to test homeless people for COVID, over $1 million were spent on Thanksgiving turkeys in Maui. Oahu’s police department got a bunch of new toys.

The HIDOH never upgraded their information transmission capabilities. They depended on two fax machines for the entirety of the COVID efforts, meaning that all data and case info was transmitted through these machines, slowing down any work or real efforts.

The machines ran over the weekend and whoever was on the following Monday had literal piles of data to enter into the system for reported cases, hospital data, etc. The whole venture has been performative negligence. The funding was better and more resources were distributed while Trump was president. Biden is an absolute disgrace, considering he campaigned on getting rid of COVID.

Most of the funds that could have been used to improve the community and help mitigate COVID were used irresponsibly and have been absorbed by the state. Governor Ige went out of his way to pass legislation that approved shady usage of funds and halt transparency. Governor Green is even worse. The COVID response was just a preview for how Green is handling the Lahaina fires.

EB: Schools reopened with less and less mitigation measures each year, causing repeated waves of mass viral transmission. Can you describe this process and the public health measures you advocated for them to implement? What was the response of various officials to your efforts? How are you seeing the impacts on children, including with Long COVID?

R: The 2020 school response was much better than the following years. Students were provided Chromebooks and instruction from their teachers. It wasn’t implemented in a way that made it easy for many instructors and families, but it was the safest option that was provided.

The following year, the district (the state has only 1) offered something completely different.

In-person instruction or a program for those staying home, that required the parent or caregiver to spend 4–6 hours per day implementing. With no live teachers or real support offered from the school or Department of Education (DOE). The schools who offered it didn’t even know what it was or how it functioned. They just referred parents to the program’s website or phone number if they needed any assistance.

Often parents who required more support or Special Education (SPED) services for their children were ignored, punished, had CPS called on them, or were harassed by some school’s staff and admin.

In many of the poorest areas, where much of our service industry workforce resides, the schools didn’t even offer an alternative to in-person classes. I’m in one of these areas and I removed my child from her school after they refused to provide any support or programming besides that awful program they were offering which forced the parent to provide instruction without support. I already had a job. They called CPS on me. They would send staff to my door every week to sign unnecessary paperwork. They did this for two years. Officials didn’t care. The School’s Superintendent and the super for my area was never even available and never returned calls. I called weekly. I was working on so many cases connected to our schools the whole time, it was no question about removing my kid.

None of the public schools had their air systems improved or HEPA filters added. Some were using hand sanitizer on children’s desks in between classes when they were supposed to sanitize them properly. There wasn’t any solid guidance provided to the schools. Every time I got through to a school nurse or principal about a case, they begged for info on what to do and how to handle mitigations with all the sickness.

Sickness in children and school staff wasn’t being reported accurately because contact tracers were instructed not to connect cases in the classroom with each other. This kept the cluster report low. Many teachers were punished for mentioning their own infections and they were not allowed to notify students’ parents either. This devastated our community, since it has one of the highest counts of multigenerational households in the nation.

Josh Green, who is now Hawaii’s governor, was the head of the COVID Task Force. His main messaging has only ever been regarding vaccines. He spent a significant amount of time pointing the finger at many of our Pasifika communities in regard to their vaccine hesitancy instead of working with them to mitigate COVID in other ways.

When the 2021–22 school year started, the district was ill-prepared and kids weren’t approved for vaccines yet. The school’s superintendent, Christina Kishimoto, was completely useless at getting any mitigations in the schools at all. She ignored the entire community, including so many teachers and parents who tried to keep or make the schools, or at least education, safe and accessible to all.

Senator Brian Schatz and others who had been previously notified about in-school spread and the actual numbers present instead of the falsely low reported ones, maintained the script that children needed to learn in-person. Even after in-person learning saw children being shoved together in cafeterias all day without proper instruction due to sick staff, those in charge maintained that the children needed to be in schools. This was supposedly for their mental health and education, which had never been prioritized previously.

Hawaii has had a major deficit in adequate and accessible education, as well as mental health care providers and services, for a very long time. Additionally, we don’t have school nurses in each school like many contiguous states offer. Many of our schools share a nurse and may not have an area for children to be sick or wait for someone to get them from school.

In-school cases often fell to vice principals and other staff. By the 2022–23 school year, schools had removed any guidance that was useful. They never upgraded or improved the air systems. Many of our schools have had problems with lack of proper air conditioning for a long time before the pandemic. The pandemic just made it worse.

There was a program created at the start of the 2022–23 school year to make the DOH, DOE and CDCF work together to improve the conditions in the schools. The HIDOE refused to meet or participate in any improvements to their school’s systems, provide resources such as testing, PPE or pandemic guidance.

Our state leadership has met with many COVID experts, DOH employees and medical staff who have told them what is happening in their districts, classrooms, hospitals and the community throughout the official pandemic and even now. They all have given lip-service and often have reacted appropriately in those meetings but nothing ever comes of it.

At first, children were just getting cold-like symptoms like everyone else. Those who had existing health issues usually suffered more. Not many children’s cases were followed past the initial call. Over time, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) became a focus as the children’s symptoms didn’t always go away.

Since Omicron emerged in November 2021, kids have had an increase in seizures and a lot of problems with focus and memory. My child has had several friends die from COVID. Long COVID in kids is terrifying, and the impact is already noticeable. Mine just stated that what everyone needs to know is that it’s harder for kids to learn now. She notices so much brain damage in her peers already. Before she got COVID, it was easier for her to process information. Things take much longer now.

To be honest, I’ve rarely seen an actual full recovery. People move benchmarks and brain damage is extremely hard to self-identify. COVID is long and lasting. Nearly every infection shows damage whether it’s noticed or not. For those who don’t have immediate consequences, it’s playing the long game.

EB: How else are you seeing the ongoing impacts of the pandemic associated with COVID-19 infection, including Long COVID?

R: I noticed very early on that regardless of how mild the cases were, there were often residual issues with the person’s ability to handle and process information. The one symptom that should be tracked more than temperature is cognitive ability—confusion, disorientation, odd and unusual thoughts and behaviors. The ongoing impact of any COVID infection is a significant amount of unchecked and untracked brain damage. It’s very difficult to self-diagnose and most of our medical providers are still unaware of COVID and how it presents.

Getting infected with COVID can reduce the immune system’s ability to function. Each reinfection can reduce immune function even more, inviting opportunistic infections to eventually kill us. This is how HIV functions, but at least there is treatment for that. There’s no treatment for Long COVID and there’s even less treatment or care for those under 12 years old. The impact I see right now is immense. Children and young adults are exhibiting Alzheimer’s and dementia-like symptoms, and there are huge increases of cancer, diabetes and heart problems at the population level.

EB: What have been your experiences advocating for Long COVID patients, and what are some of your greatest concerns with the “mass disabling event” of Long COVID associated with the pandemic? What do doctors know or not know, and what do you think needs to be done to address this?

R: While documenting cases in 2020, some had symptoms that just wouldn’t resolve. A few threatened to commit suicide and were in constant and severe pain. Many of their doctors didn’t believe them. I would contact their doctors and explain what Long COVID was. I would send them studies if they requested and would tell them what labs or referrals to order for their patients.

Many doctors were receptive at first. Some would gaslight the patients, saying that they were experiencing anxiety and not their actual ongoing COVID symptoms. I made an extra effort to contact those ones because they were making the patients worse and confused. I spent hundreds of hours on social media spaces giving talks about COVID, Long COVID and what I was seeing. Other Long COVID sufferers and advocates would join.

None of this data was being collected or distributed by our DOH, regardless of how the variants mutated or the community was being impacted. Any attempts to send information up the chain of command to the top were ignored and sometimes punished.

Over time, the doctors I was working with were getting Long COVID themselves. It led to a significant reduction in care for their patients. Some would brush the issue off because they had it and they were working, which they thought meant they were fine.

Doctors need to have proper information and guidance. Without it, many people are being told COVID isn’t really a problem. They trust their doctors to know about COVID. Their doctors are unknowingly feeding them to the fire. Vaccines are only one layer of a many-layered solution, and at this point vaccines aren’t very effective at preventing infection as the virus continues to rapidly mutate and new variants continue to evolve.

In terms of public health as a whole, the CDC is looked at as the main guidance for all these institutions. They need to be putting out clear messaging about COVID being airborne, the fact that an infection commonly lasts anywhere from 14–20 days, each reinfection can reduce immune function, and COVID is a vascular disaster that can wreck any and all organs of the body. These are things that scientists have known since 2020. There is absolutely no reason Drs. Rochelle Walensky and Anthony Fauci didn’t know the correct protocols for handling this pandemic. They both have HIV backgrounds.

My greatest concern about this mass disabling event is that I live in Hawaii. Disabled people were hidden, ignored and underserved here before the pandemic. It was nearly impossible to find mental and behavioral health services and they were often insufficient at best.

When everyone keeps getting reinfected, they will not be able to function. There’s low availability for services now and it’s already getting pretty noticeable. My friends working in the hospital are reporting incredibly low staff numbers and extreme burnout. We only had nine ambulances in circulation a couple weeks ago due to callouts.

Suicides, mental hospital stays and inability to function are becoming increasingly common and we’re just getting started. Since the pandemic began, there’s been an increase in car and plane accidents, heart attacks, diabetes, cancers, previously rare disorders and sudden deaths. Currently, COVID is listed as the third leading cause for death in the US, but if data were properly collected, COVID would be number one.

I took someone to the doctor for a head wound to be stitched and the doctor didn’t even mention concussion protocol. He said strange things that hadn’t been relevant regarding COVID since 2021. He behaved odd and childlike.

This mass disabling event is largely invisible. Many cannot self-diagnose the brain damage that a significant percentage of infections cause to some degree. It changes moods, thoughts, function, and can make people confused or angry.

My biggest concern is that with mass infection and reinfection, everyone is getting their brains melted. Who will take care of anyone when no one is left healthy and functional? Who will grow our food, participate in society, or even be able to get out of bed after we’ve all had multiple infections? Who will be left?

EB: Those are critical points, and concerns that should be more widely shared. The propaganda of the corporate media and political establishment has had a real impact, and prevented masses of people from understanding the dangers of COVID-19 and Long COVID.

Changing topics somewhat, when we spoke before you said that “Lahaina is an active crime scene, just like the COVID situation here is also an active crime scene.” Can you elaborate more on this and the criminal negligence that you believe caused this catastrophic fire? What other connections do you see between this fire and the COVID-19 pandemic?

R: Just the fact that there’s such a focus from those in charge on reopening and getting back to work tells me everything I need to know. The community just experienced a life-altering trauma and instead of really taking care of them and helping them get situated and time and resources to heal, it’s full-steam ahead. Open up, get back to work, go to school. Don’t worry about how you’re going to pay that mortgage on the burn pile where you used to live.

Just like with the COVID pandemic, the Emergency Management Agency lead didn’t have experience. They didn’t sound any alarm, and clearly weren’t well versed on emergency response protocols, otherwise they would have correctly used the emergency alarm system. Instead, Herman Andaya reasoned with everyone about why he didn’t think they were necessary.

For COVID, Josh Green facilitated thousands of tourists freely and consistently infecting our community with almost no guidance other than to get vaccinated. He gaslit us for years from his whiteboard and scrubs. He got even worse after he got COVID. The brain damage is real.

Why didn’t Maui sound the emergency system that is used for emergencies including wildfires? Why didn’t HIDOH enact their public health police powers to protect the community from COVID? Why do they both consistently report false numbers? Why do they both tell the community about resources that exist, but in reality are not actually available? Why is the community being forced to bear the brunt of the outcome of both disasters alone? Why does our leadership refuse to work with the community to solve either issue?

I know how greedy and careless this government is first-hand. Especially when local people are involved. Both disasters have resulted in very high losses to our Filipino and Pasifika communities.

How are we the only state without a fire marshal? Why is there never anyone held accountable? How do all these incredibly incompetent folks keep getting replaced by more incompetence? Nepotism. It has led to incredible incompetence and I have to assume it’s why there’s no accountability or oversight anywhere or for anything.

EB: Since the beginning of the pandemic, the WSWS has advocated for the full deployment of all available public health measures to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 throughout the world. Multiple countries proved that such a Zero-COVID strategy was possible, and we now know even more about viral transmission.

We have stressed that the fundamental reason this global elimination strategy has not been implemented is due to the division of the world into rival nation-states and the refusal of the capitalist ruling elites to accept any impingement on their ability to exploit workers and generate profits. What are your thoughts on this, and do you agree that we need to fight for a global elimination strategy?

R: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has exposed the challenges associated with the division of the world into nation-states, each pursuing its own approach to pandemic management. It’s been an absolute disaster.

When the virus first hit and people began seeing consequences and acting accordingly, I thought we had a chance at stopping the virus. Then the countries with more behaved greedily. They hoarded and wasted resources in the face of the countries who couldn’t get access to resources from the global market.

We are all in this together and no one is getting off this rock alive. Working together is the only way to get rid of this virus and all the others that have been popping up in the past few years.

Unfortunately, such an approach seeks to prioritize the well-being of individuals and communities over economic interests as Cuba has done. They developed their own COVID-19 vaccines. They consistently have the lowest reported COVID cases and deaths globally. Often close to zero. Their vaccines work much better than ours have been.

This reflects true commitment to public health and an ability to leverage existing medical and scientific infrastructure to respond to the pandemic independently.

EB: Thank you for this invaluable interview and contribution to the Global Workers’ Inquest.

R: Thank you.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Roland Fryer

Published: May 9, 2024

The anti-Israel protests on college campuses present a puzzle for observers of academic norms and mores. Today, even relatively minor linguistic infractions, like the failure to use someone’s preferred pronouns, are categorized as abuse at many elite institutions, some of which even define potentially offensive speech as “violence.” One need not even speak to run afoul of campus speech codes; I recently participated in a training in which we were warned of the consequences of remaining silent if we heard someone “misgender” someone else.

Definitions of “harmful” speech have become so capacious that one assumes they include antisemitism. In some cases, they surely do: A university wouldn’t take a hands-off approach to a student or faculty member who expressed prejudice against Jews in the manner of Archie Bunker or the Charlottesville marchers. Yet that’s what many of them have done when faced with protesters’ speech that is offensive to Jews, even when it crosses the line into threats, intimidation and harassment.

At a December congressional hearing, the presidents of Harvard, Penn and MIT struggled to answer when Rep. Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.) asked whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” violates the schools’ “code of conduct or rules regarding bullying and harassment.” Two of the presidents lost their jobs, but the central question remains unresolved: How could it be that the university is zealous about policing pronouns but blasé about the advocacy of hateful violence?

For someone who prides himself on adherence to fact, reason and rationality, trying to follow the logic of university decision-making over the past five years has been a mind-bending experience. But universities are also political entities, where competing interests vie for influence over the function and purpose of the institution. In the case of the protests, two competing interests have made themselves heard most loudly: students and faculty who are hostile to Israel and alumni donors who see the protests as antisemitic. Caught between them are administrators, who must figure out how to balance these interests without entirely losing the faith of either group.

This dynamic can be explained by economic theory. In the early 1970s, economist Michael Spence introduced the concept of signaling, which has since become one of the foundations of information economics and earned Mr. Spence the 2001 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics. This seminal concept helps explain how individuals and organizations communicate their attributes or intentions in situations of information asymmetry.

The best-known application is the job market. Employers and potential employees face a situation in which applicants have more information about their productivity than the employer, since the employer can’t directly observe those qualities before hiring. To overcome this asymmetry, job seekers engage in signaling—taking actions that can credibly convey information about their abilities. Such signals include everything from educational credentials to the way the applicant dresses for an interview.

When I encountered Mr. Spence’s model in graduate school, I was mesmerized. My doctoral dissertation extended his work to understand underinvestment in education in some black communities. The basic economics also seem applicable to what’s going on now on college campuses.

The key idea is that the protests present university administrations with a two-audience signaling quandary: Behaviors that appease students may anger alumni, and vice versa. Like a job applicant’s potential productivity, university administrators’ political preferences are hidden from students and alumni, but they may signal them in various ways. They may choose a liberal commencement speaker rather than a conservative one, they may create programs that emphasize “inclusiveness,” and so on. Students and alumni observe these strategic disclosures of preference, and each group decides whether to accept the decision or agitate against it.

University administrators whose preferences align most closely with their alumni will ignore the students and simply do what they think is best, as the University of Florida’s president did when he banned encampments and declared that the school is “not a daycare.” Those whose views align with the protesting students will do the opposite.

But most top administrators don’t have such strong preferences. They will engage in a high-wire act of trying to appease both students and alumni. If students decide “safety first” is the most important initiative on campus, administrators—even if they disagree—will adopt stances consistent with that and hope the alumni don’t revolt too much. If a few months later students set up encampments and chant anti-Israel slogans, then administrators will also adopt stances consistent with that and, again, hope the alumni don’t complain too much.

The congressional hearings revealed that this signaling strategy was at work. The three presidents would risk alienating students if they disavowed anti-Israel slogans and alumni if they endorsed them. So they offered lawyered-up equivocations that signaled confusion and weakness.

Economic theory can explain why the situation on so many campuses has spiraled out of control and why no interested party—neither students nor donors nor seemingly anybody else—has anything good to say about how administrators are handling the protests. But economics can’t address the more essential issue at play, which is moral. Elite universities decided years ago that they would adopt a basic principle: Any speech act that attacks, questions or even declines to affirm the self-understood identity of another constitutes harm worthy of punishment.

I may not like that principle, but it’s now a fait accompli. And if you’re going to punish one person who violates it, you have to punish everyone who violates it. To permit attacks on one identity group while prohibiting attacks on others is worse than hypocrisy—it is profoundly immoral. If administrators had the courage of their stated convictions, if they had principles rather than merely gestures meant to signal their status as good liberals, the most egregious antisemitism on campus would have been stopped before it could snowball.

Mr. Fryer is a professor of economics at Harvard, a founder of Equal Opportunity Ventures and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

[dishachrista]

Exploring Game-Changing Applications: Your Easy Steps to Learn Machine Learning:

Machine learning technology has truly transformed multiple industries and continues to hold enormous potential for future development. If you're considering incorporating machine learning into your business or are simply eager to learn more about this transformative field, seeking advice from experts or enrolling in specialized courses is a wise step. For instance, the ACTE Institute offers comprehensive machine learning training programs that equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in this rapidly evolving industry. Recognizing the potential of machine learning can unlock numerous avenues for data analysis, automation, and informed decision-making.

Now, let me share my successful journey in machine learning, which I believe can benefit everyone. These 10 steps have proven to be incredibly effective in helping me become a proficient machine learning practitioner:

Step 1: Understand the Basics

Develop a strong grasp of fundamental mathematics, particularly linear algebra, calculus, and statistics.

Learn a programming language like Python, which is widely used in machine learning and provides a variety of useful libraries.

Step 2: Learn Machine Learning Concepts

Enroll in online courses from reputable platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udemy. Notably, the ACTE machine learning course is a stellar choice, offering comprehensive education, job placement, and certification.

Supplement your learning with authoritative books such as "Hands-On Machine Learning with Scikit-Learn, Keras, and TensorFlow" by Aurélien Géron and "Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning" by Christopher Bishop.

Step 3: Hands-On Practice:

Dive into real-world projects using both simple and complex datasets. Practical experience is invaluable for gaining proficiency.

Participate in machine learning competitions on platforms like Kaggle to challenge yourself and learn from peers.

Step 4: Explore Advanced Topics

Delve into deep learning, a critical subset of machine learning that focuses on neural networks. Online resources like the Deep Learning Specialisation on Coursera are incredibly informative.

For those intrigued by language-related applications, explore Natural Language Processing (NLP) using resources like the "Natural Language Processing with Python" book by Steven Bird and Ewan Klein.

Step 5: Learn from the Community

Engage with online communities such as Reddit's r/Machine Learning and Stack Overflow. Participate in discussions, seek answers to queries, and absorb insights from others' experiences.

Follow machine learning blogs and podcasts to stay updated on the latest advancements, case studies, and best practices.

Step 6: Implement Advanced Projects

Challenge yourself with intricate projects that stretch your skills. This might involve tasks like image recognition, building recommendation systems, or even crafting your own AI-powered application.

Step 7: Stay updated

Stay current by reading research papers from renowned conferences like NeurIPS, ICML, and CVPR to stay on top of cutting-edge techniques.

Consider advanced online courses that delve into specialized topics such as reinforcement learning and generative adversarial networks (GANs).

Step 8: Build a Portfolio

Showcase your completed projects on GitHub to demonstrate your expertise to potential employers or collaborators.

Step 9: Network and Explore Career Opportunities

Attend conferences, workshops, and meetups to network with industry professionals and stay connected with the latest trends.

Explore job opportunities in data science and machine learning, leveraging your portfolio and projects to stand out during interviews.

In essence, mastering machine learning involves a step-by-step process encompassing learning core concepts, engaging in hands-on practice, and actively participating in the vibrant machine learning community. Starting from foundational mathematics and programming, progressing through online courses and projects, and eventually venturing into advanced topics like deep learning, this journey equips you with essential skills. Embracing the machine learning community and building a robust portfolio opens doors to promising opportunities in this dynamic and impactful field.

[panache-academy]

Navigating the Skies: Choosing the Best Aviation Training Academy with 100% Job Guarantee

Embarking on a career in aviation is an exhilarating journey filled with opportunities for growth and exploration. However, with numerous aviation training academies available, selecting the right one can be daunting. Aspiring aviation professionals often seek institutions that not only provide top-notch education but also offer a guarantee of job placement upon completion of the course. So, which academy is the best choice for aviation training courses with a 100% job guarantee? Let's explore some key factors to consider when making this important decision.

Reputation and Accreditation:

When evaluating aviation training academies, reputation and accreditation are paramount. Look for academies that are recognized and accredited by reputable aviation authorities or regulatory bodies. Accreditation ensures that the academy meets stringent standards of quality and professionalism, instilling confidence in the education and training provided.

Industry Partnerships:

Academies with strong industry partnerships have a distinct advantage when it comes to job placement opportunities. These partnerships enable students to gain valuable hands-on experience through internships, apprenticeships, or placement programs with leading aviation companies. Additionally, industry collaborations often lead to direct job offers upon graduation, providing a seamless transition into the workforce.

Comprehensive Curriculum:

The best aviation training academies offer comprehensive and up-to-date curricula that cover all aspects of aviation theory, practical training, and industry-relevant skills. Look for courses that align with your career goals, whether it's pilot training, aircraft maintenance, cabin crew, airport operations, or aviation management. A well-rounded curriculum ensures that you are equipped with the knowledge and skills required to excel in your chosen field.

Experienced Faculty:

An experienced and knowledgeable faculty is essential for delivering high-quality education and training. Look for academies with faculty members who have extensive experience in the aviation industry, whether as pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, or aviation managers. Faculty expertise enriches the learning experience, providing valuable insights, mentorship, and guidance to students as they navigate their aviation careers.

Job Placement Guarantee:

While no academy can guarantee employment, some institutions offer job placement assistance or guarantee a certain level of job placement success for their graduates. When considering aviation training academies, inquire about their job placement services, success rates, and alumni outcomes. A transparent and proactive approach to job placement indicates the academy's commitment to student success and employability.

Student Support Services:

Look for academies that prioritize student support services, including career counseling, resume building, interview preparation, and networking opportunities. These services empower students to navigate the job market effectively and secure employment upon graduation. Additionally, ongoing support from faculty and staff fosters a supportive learning environment conducive to student success.

Industry Recognition and Alumni Network:

Consider academies that are well-recognized within the aviation industry and have a strong alumni network. Industry recognition enhances the credibility of the academy and increases the likelihood of employers recognizing and valuing the education and training received. A robust alumni network provides valuable connections, mentorship, and career opportunities for current students and graduates alike.

Based on these criteria, one academy that stands out for its excellence in aviation training courses with a 100% job guarantee is Panache Academy. Let's take a closer look at what sets Panache Academy apart:

Reputation:

Panache Academy has built a stellar reputation as a leading provider of aviation training courses, with accreditation from renowned aviation authorities and regulatory bodies.

Industry Partnerships: Panache Academy has established strong partnerships with leading aviation companies, airlines, and industry stakeholders, providing students with valuable opportunities for internships, placements, and direct job offers upon graduation.

Comprehensive Curriculum: Panache Academy offers a comprehensive range of courses tailored to various career paths in aviation, including pilot training, aircraft maintenance, cabin crew, airport operations, and aviation management. The academy's curriculum is regularly updated to reflect industry trends and requirements.

Experienced Faculty: The faculty at Panache Academy comprises seasoned professionals with extensive experience in the aviation industry. They bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and real-world insights to the classroom, enriching the learning experience for students.

Job Placement Guarantee: Panache Academy is committed to supporting its students' career aspirations and offers a 100% job placement guarantee for eligible graduates. The academy's dedicated placement cell provides personalized assistance and support to students throughout their job search journey.

Student Support Services: Panache Academy offers a range of student support services, including career counseling, resume building, interview preparation, and networking opportunities. The academy's faculty and staff are dedicated to providing ongoing guidance and mentorship to help students succeed in their aviation careers.

Industry Recognition and Alumni Network: Panache Academy is widely recognized within the aviation industry and has a strong alumni network of successful aviation professionals. The academy's alumni network provides valuable connections, mentorship, and career opportunities for current students and graduates.

In conclusion, when choosing an aviation training academy with a 100% job guarantee, it's essential to consider factors such as reputation, accreditation, industry partnerships, curriculum, faculty expertise, job placement services, student support, industry recognition, and alumni network. Panache Academy excels in all these areas, making it an ideal choice for aspiring aviation professionals seeking quality education, training, and job placement opportunities. With Panache Academy, you can embark on your aviation career journey with confidence and assurance of a bright future in the dynamic and rewarding aviation industry.

[tomorrowusa]

The US is looking more favorably on supplying Ukraine with Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). They have a range of 190 miles/305 km and would enable Ukraine to hit almost anyplace in Ukrainian territory occupied by Russian invaders.

In the region, Romania, Greece, Turkey, and Poland all have ATCAMS. Lithuania and Estonia are in the process of obtaining them.

US President Joe Biden and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discuss the delivery of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, according to Jake Sullivan, the United States national security advisor to President Joe Biden. Joe Biden is considering providing Ukraine with long-range missiles. Still, the decision regarding the supply of ATACMS missiles has not yet been made, Jake Sullivan said during the Aspen Institute’s annual security forum. The US will start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets within “a matter of weeks,” according to Jake Sullivan.

Ukraine does have its own weapons program. Most famously, Ukraine sank the Moskva, flag ship of the Russian Black Sea fleet, with its own R-360 Neptune missile.

Ukraine's modification of drones is world class. It just used one to attack a Russian ammunition warehouse and oil depot in occupied Crimea.

Ukrainian drone blasts munitions depot in Crimea, as Zelensky says counteroffensive about to ‘gain pace’

But drones have a limited strike capability and new weapons take time to develop and build. Meanwhile, Putin's Russia has no plans to let up on its genocidal war.

So let Ukraine have ATACMS as soon as possible.

[libertariantaoist]

News Roundup 11/2/2023 | The Libertarian Institute

Here is your daily roundup of today's news:

News Roundup 11/2/2023

by Kyle Anzalone

Russia

Ukraine and some European countries are ramping up a lobbying push in the US to get Americans to back more aid to Kiev. Ukrainian officials are seeking new long-range rockets and accelerated training programs. The propaganda push comes after a Time magazine article portrayed Kiev in disarray and a hotbed for corruption. The Institute 

China

Chinese and Japanese coast guard vessels faced off near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Monday, The South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday. AWC

Israel

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said on Tuesday that there should be “no limit” on how many civilian casualties Israel incurs in its bombardment of Gaza. AWC

The UN’s Human Rights Office said Wednesday that Israeli airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp could be a war crime due to the high number of civilian casualties. AWC

After weeks of enduring a vicious bombing campaign, some dual nationals and severely wounded Palestinians were allowed to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt. AWC

The Israeli military has said 16 Israeli soldiers have been killed fighting in Gaza since Israel launched its invasion of the besieged enclave. AWC

A trio of South American countries, along with Jordan, have downgraded ties with Israel over the onslaught in Gaza. According to Palestinian sources, the Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed nearly 9,000 people, half of which are women and children. The Institute

Read More

[vivekavicky12]

Charting Your Course: A Roadmap to a Successful Data Science Career

Embarking on a career in data science is a thrilling journey marked by continuous learning, skill development, and real-world applications. Whether you're a beginner or looking to specialize, understanding the types of data science courses available is crucial. Choosing the best Data Science Institute can further accelerate your journey into this thriving industry. This comprehensive guide outlines the typical path a data scientist takes, from educational foundations to leadership roles, providing insights for aspiring professionals.

1. Educational Foundation:

A strong educational background forms the bedrock of a data scientist's career. Degrees in statistics, mathematics, or computer science, whether at the bachelor's, master's, or Ph.D. level, set the stage for a deep understanding of data principles.

2. Specialized Training:

The journey intensifies with specialized training. Online courses, bootcamps, and workshops offer hands-on experience in programming languages (Python, R), data manipulation, statistical analysis, machine learning, and data visualization.

3. Building a Skill Set:

Versatility defines a data scientist's skill set. Proficiency in programming languages, expertise in data manipulation libraries, knowledge of machine learning algorithms, and familiarity with data visualization tools contribute to a well-rounded skill set.

4. Gaining Practical Experience:

Transitioning theory into practice is paramount. Engaging in real-world projects or internships provides the practical experience necessary to apply skills in a professional setting and develop problem-solving capabilities.

5. Developing a Portfolio:

A robust portfolio becomes a calling card. Showcasing completed projects, data analyses, and machine learning models offers tangible proof of skills and accomplishments, enhancing prospects during job applications and interviews.

6. Networking and Community Engagement:

Data science thrives on community collaboration. Networking through events, conferences, and online forums fosters connections, provides learning opportunities, and opens doors to career advancement.

7. Job Entry and Specialization:

Entry-level positions like data analyst or junior data scientist serve as entry points. With experience, professionals may specialize in areas such as machine learning, data engineering, or natural language processing based on their interests.

8. Continuous Learning:

Data science is synonymous with constant evolution. A commitment to continuous learning ensures professionals stay abreast of industry trends, new technologies, and emerging methodologies, contributing to ongoing success.

9. Leadership and Advanced Roles:

Seasoned data scientists may progress into leadership roles, such as data science manager or director. Specialization in niche areas or transitions to roles like Chief Data Officer represent the pinnacle of a data scientist's career journey.

The journey of a data scientist is a dynamic expedition that demands a commitment to education, hands-on experience, and continuous growth. As technology evolves, so does the role of a data scientist. Adapting to change, staying connected with the community, and embracing lifelong learning are the keys to unlocking the vast potential within the realm of data science. Whether you're starting your journey or looking to ascend to leadership roles, the path is rich with opportunities for those willing to explore and innovate. Choosing the best Data Science courses in Chennai is a crucial step in acquiring the necessary expertise for a successful career in the evolving landscape of data science.

[360digitmg-datascience]

Building Future-Ready Skills: Data Science Courses in Noida

Building future-ready skills in data science is essential in today's data-driven world. Noida, as a growing technology hub, offers a range of data science courses and programs to help individuals develop the skills needed to excel in this field. Here's a look at some data science courses and programs available in Noida:

Bachelor's Degree Programs:

Many universities and colleges in Noida offer undergraduate programs in computer science, data science, or related fields. These programs provide a solid foundation in programming, statistics, and data analysis.

Example: B.Sc. in Data Science, B.Tech in Computer Science with Data Science specialization.

Master's Degree Programs:

Postgraduate programs in data science, business analytics, and artificial intelligence are popular choices for those looking to specialize in this field.

Example: M.Sc. in Data Science, M.Tech in Artificial Intelligence, MBA in Business Analytics.

Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science:

Many institutes and universities offer one-year postgraduate diploma programs specifically designed to equip students with practical data science skills.

Example: Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science and Machine Learning.

Certification Courses:

Short-term certification courses provide focused training in data science tools, techniques, and programming languages.

Example: Certificate in Data Science, Python for Data Science Certification.

Online Courses:

Online learning platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udemy offer a wide range of data science courses that can be taken from anywhere in Noida.

Example: "Data Science Specialization" on Coursera, "Data Science MicroMasters" on edX.

Corporate Training Programs:

Some IT companies and consulting firms in Noida offer in-house data science training programs for their employees, which can be highly specialized and job-oriented.

Data Analytics Bootcamps:

Bootcamps are intensive, short-term programs that focus on practical skills and often include real-world projects.

Example: Data Science Bootcamp, Machine Learning Bootcamp.

Specialized Workshops and Seminars:

Noida hosts various workshops, seminars, and meetups related to data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. These events provide an opportunity to learn from experts and network with professionals in the field. let's delve deeper into the various aspects of data science courses in Noida:

1. Curriculum and Topics Covered:

Data science courses typically cover a wide range of topics, including data analysis, machine learning, statistical modeling, data visualization, and programming languages such as Python and R. Ensure that the course you choose aligns with your career goals and interests.

2. Practical Experience:

Practical experience is crucial in data science. Look for programs that offer hands-on projects, case studies, and access to real datasets. Practical exposure helps you apply your knowledge to real-world problems.

3. Faculty Expertise:

The quality of instructors can greatly impact your learning experience. Research the faculty's qualifications, industry experience, and their contributions to the field of data science.

4. Industry Connections and Internship Opportunities:

Institutes with strong ties to the industry often provide opportunities for internships and collaborations with companies. These experiences can help you gain practical experience and potentially lead to job offers.

5. Placement Assistance:

Check whether the institute offers placement support and has a track record of placing students in reputable companies. Good placement assistance can significantly boost your career prospects.

6. Flexibility and Duration:

Consider your schedule and preferences. Some courses are full-time, while others offer part-time or online options, making it easier for working professionals to upskill.

7. Certification and Accreditation:

Look for courses that provide industry-recognized certifications upon completion. These certifications can enhance your credibility in the job market.

8. Alumni Network:

Institutes with active alumni networks can be valuable for networking, mentorship, and job referrals. Connect with alumni to gain insights into their experiences and career paths.

Kickstart your career by enrolling in this data analyst course noida

9. Cost and Financial Aid:

Compare the costs of different programs and check if there are any scholarships, financial aid, or installment options available to ease the financial burden.

10. Continuing Education and Resources:

Data science is an ever-evolving field. Choose an institute that supports lifelong learning through resources, workshops, and alumni access to updated content.

11. Infrastructure and Technology:

Ensure that the institute has the necessary infrastructure, including computer labs with the latest software and tools for data analysis.

12. Course Reviews and Testimonials:

Read reviews and testimonials from previous students to gauge their satisfaction with the course and its impact on their careers.

13. Location and Networking:

Noida's proximity to Delhi and its thriving tech industry provides ample networking opportunities, as well as access to tech conferences, seminars, and job fairs.

Don’t delay your career growth, kickstart your career by enrolling in this business analytics course in noida

14. Specializations:

Depending on your interests and career goals, consider whether the program offers specializations in areas like deep learning, natural language processing, or big data analytics.

Remember that building a successful career in data science requires dedication, continuous learning, and practical application of skills. Therefore, choose a course that not only imparts knowledge but also equips you with the ability to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of data science. Additionally, consider seeking advice from professionals already working in the field to gain insights into the most relevant skills and courses for your specific career aspirations.

When choosing a data science course in Noida, consider your background, career goals, and preferred learning format. It's also important to research the institute or platform offering the course, review the curriculum, and seek feedback from past students if possible. Additionally, look for programs that provide hands-on experience and opportunities for practical application of data science skills, as real-world projects can significantly enhance your learning and future employability.

Source link: Data Analytics Case Studies

Top 12 IT Companies in Noida

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Aaron Sibarium

Published: Jun 12, 2024

Congressional Republicans introduced a bill on Wednesday that would eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion positions in the federal government and bar federal contractors from requiring DEI statements and training sessions.

The Dismantle DEI Act, introduced by Sen. J.D. Vance (R., Ohio) and Rep. Michael Cloud (R., Texas), would also bar federal grants from going to diversity initiatives, cutting off a key source of support for DEI programs in science and medicine. Other provisions would prevent accreditation agencies from requiring DEI in schools and bar national securities associations, like NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange, from instituting diversity requirements for corporate boards.

"The DEI agenda is a destructive ideology that breeds hatred and racial division," Vance told the Washington Free Beacon. "It has no place in our federal government or anywhere else in our society."

The bill is the most comprehensive legislative effort yet to excise DEI initiatives from the federal government and regulated entities. It offers a preview of how a Republican-controlled government, led by former president Donald Trump, could crack down on the controversial diversity programs that have exploded since 2020, fueled in part by President Joe Biden’s executive orders mandating a "whole-of-government" approach to  "racial equity."

From NASA and the National Science Foundation to the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S Army, all federal agencies require some form of diversity training. Mandatory workshops have drilled tax collectors on "cultural inclusion," military commanders on male pregnancy, and nuclear engineers on the "roots of white male culture," which—according to a training for Sandia National Laboratories, the Energy Department offshoot that designs America’s nuclear arsenal—include a "can-do attitude" and "hard work."

The Sandia training, conducted in 2019 by a group called "White Men As Full Diversity Partners," instructed nuclear weapons engineers to write "a short message" to "white women" and "people of color" about what they’d learned, according to screenshots of the training obtained by the Manhattan Institute’s Christopher Rufo.

The bill would ban these trainings and close the government DEI offices that conduct them. It would also prevent personnel laid off by those closures from being transferred or reassigned—a move meant to stop diversity initiatives from continuing under another name.

The prohibitions, which cover outside DEI consultants as well as government officials, would be enforced via a private right of action and could save the government billions of dollars. In 2023, the Biden administration spent over $16 million on diversity training for government employees alone. It requested an additional $83 million that year for DEI programs at the State Department and $9.2 million for the Office of Personnel Management’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility—one of the many bureaucracies the bill would eliminate.

A large chunk of savings would come from axing DEI grants made through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which has a near monopoly on science funding in the United States. The agency hosts an entire webpage for "diversity related" grant opportunities—including several that prioritize applicants from "diverse backgrounds"—and has set aside billions of dollars for "minority institutions" and researchers with a "commitment to promoting diversity." All of those programs would be on the chopping block should Vance and Cloud’s bill pass.

Cosponsored by Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.), Rick Scott (R., Fla.), Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.), Bill Cassidy (R., La.), and Eric Schmitt (R., Mo.) in the Senate, the Dismantle DEI Act has drawn support from prominent conservative advocacy groups, including Heritage Action and the Claremont Institute. At a time of ideological fracture on the right—debates about foreign aid and the proper role of government bitterly divided Trump’s primary challengers, for example, both in 2016 and 2024—Wednesday’s bill aims to provide a rallying cry most Republicans can get behind: DEI needs to die.

"It’s absurd to fund these divisive policies, especially using Americans' tax dollars," Cloud told the Free Beacon. "And it’s time for Congress to put an end to them once and for all."

The bill has the potential to free millions of Americans—both in government and the private sector—from the sort of divisive diversity trainings that have become an anti-woke bête noire. Its most consequential provisions might be those governing federal contractors, which employ up to a fifth of the American workforce and include companies like Pfizer, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, and Verizon.

Each firm runs a suite of DEI programs, from race-based fellowships and "resource groups" to mandatory workshops, that have drawn public outcry and in some cases sparked legal challenges. By targeting these contractors, the bill could purge DEI from large swaths of the U.S. economy without directly outlawing the practice in private institutions.

Targeting accreditors, meanwhile, could remove a key driver of DEI programs in professional schools. The American Bar Association and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which accredit all law and medical schools in the United States and derive much of their power from the U.S. Department of Education, have both made DEI material—including course content on "anti-racism"—a requirement for accreditation, over the objections of some of their members.

Those mandates have spurred a handful of law schools to require entire classes on critical race theory. The transformation has been even more acute at medical schools, which, per accreditation guidelines released in 2022, should teach students to identify "systems of power, privilege, and oppression."

Yale Medical School now requires residents to take a mandatory course on "advocacy" and "health justice," for example. And at the University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, students must complete a "health equity" course that promotes police abolition, describes weight loss as a "hopeless endeavor," and states that "biomedical knowledge" is "just one way" of understanding "health and the world."

While the bill wouldn’t outlaw these lessons directly, it would prevent accreditors recognized by the Education Department from mandating them. Such agencies, whose seal of approval is a prerequisite for federal funds, would need to certify that their accreditation standards do not "require, encourage, or coerce any institution of higher education to engage in prohibited" DEI practices, according to the text of the bill. They would also need to certify that they do not "assess the commitment of an institution of higher education to any ideology, belief, or viewpoint" as part of the accreditation process.

Other, more technical provisions would eliminate diversity quotas at federal agencies and end a racially targeted grant program in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Unlike past GOP efforts to limit DEI, which have focused on the content of diversity trainings and the use of explicit racial preferences, the bill introduced Wednesday would also ax requirements related to data collection. It repeals a law that forces the armed services to keep tabs on the racial breakdown of officers, for example, as well as a law that requires intelligence officials to collect data on the "diversity and inclusion efforts" of their agencies.

Though officials could still collect the data if they so choose, the bill would mark a small step toward colorblindness in a country where racial record-keeping—required by many federal agencies—has long been the norm.

"DEI destroys competence while making Americans into enemies," said Arthur Milikh, the director of the Claremont Institute Center for the American Way of Life, one of the conservative groups supporting the bill. "This ideology must be fought, and its offices removed."

==

I don't care who raised it. If the Dems raised it, I'd support it. DEI is absolute poison.