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current struggles, it seems, were somewhat inevitable; nevertheless, in Dreher’s view, we should blame ourselves and don sackcloth.
Christians have their failings, to be sure, but it seems perverse to paint ourselves into grim corners when our co-religionists (living and dead) have such a remarkable history of surviving and thriving under diverse circumstances. It’s one thing to sacrifice worldly glory for the sake of higher goals, but are our eyes really turned upward? Or are we simply reeling from recent cultural losses whose impact we haven’t yet fully absorbed? There’s no doubt that Christians have lost ground in the culture lately, and it’s reasonable to mourn those losses. But how long must we spend by the waters of Babylon, weeping for Billy Graham and Fulton Sheen? We must recall in the paradoxical Christian faith that losing can be winning, and too much winning can be the most soul-destroying thing of all.
Finally, it is important to recognize that withdrawal could represent a lost opportunity for the nation at large. The Christian tradition contains rich philosophical and cultural resources that America may need if it is to work through contemporary social crises. Consider our most pressing modern problems. Global markets have generated tremendous wealth, but far too many people are now marginalized, alienated, and lacking in purpose. Modern nation-states are finding it difficult to maintain democratic norms in increasingly diverse and polarized societies. On a more individual level, it’s difficult in our interconnected world to balance obligations toward those close to us against the claims of the further removed. Globalization has created a whole host of practical and cultural challenges, which in turn give rise to social unrest.
What philosophical or cultural tradition has experience addressing these sorts of issues? Might we find some helpful hints in a religion that’s spent the past 2,000 years bathing the globe in a message about God’s all-encompassing love, preaching it tirelessly to a divided, stratified, and wildly diverse array of humans? For centuries before our nation was even born, Christianity struggled to reconcile the dignity of the individual person with the broader need for social cohesion. Is now really the moment for Christians to throw in the towel?
Jesus Christ was not a politician. Still he was aware that the political realm can have great relevance to mankind’s quest for salvation. As we see in the Passion narrative, mere humans rarely appreciate the eschatological significance of their tawdry political struggles. God sees how they matter.
From Jesus’ time to our own, Christians have labored diligently to be salt and light to a fallen world. We never fully triumph. All the same, we should press forward with hope, believing that the best is yet to come. Even in the darkest hours, Christians are in a position to know that the sweetest victory may only be a sunrise away. | 1,265,400 |
Poverty is on the rise and inequality has reached unprecedented levels, even in the developed world.
No-one expected a world with so many intelligent minds and with such abundant methods of communication between them to decline in such a manner, in spite of our astonishing technological advancements.
As members of this race we thought that science would do it all; that if we allowed erudition and research to take a leading role in shaping our lives, it would eradicate poverty and carve a more equal landscape.
However, more than 200 years after the Age of Enlightenment, wars continue to dominate events around the world, conflicts linger unresolved, and the trading of arms as well as the plundering of natural resources continue unabashed.
“It is not the fault of science – how could you expect it to fix everything?” one might exclaim.
That is precisely the point: we need more than scientific advancement to better the lives of people.
We need values that guide us as to how to use science and technology, how to distribute wealth equally across the globe, and how to stand firmly against policies that protect only the interest of those with financial might. Only then can we realise the dream of a more equal, just society.
The legend of Christ and the values he strived to implement must be revived. They must not be regarded as ‘old’ or antiquated ideals. People are people and the scruples that govern their interactions are the same – whether they live in the 21st or the 1st century, whether they use coal, wind or nuclear power as their primary energy source.
Universal ideals surpass time and place: be it for our parents or our children; or be it in the Levant or in London. Principles must never be dented or eroded by any force. What was noble in the eyes of Christ and others who forged a better way is still noble today. What was evil at that time, should still be viewed as such.
One may argue against this by using slavery as an example. The practice of human subjugation was acceptable in the past and humanity has only recently developed to reject it. Yet the likes of Christ never viewed slavery as a good thing – the practice was always wrong in their eyes. It us up to the people – to us – to transform those higher moral standards into reality.
Easter and Lent come this year to a world full of pain and suffering. Their arrival is timely. They bring back hope; hope in the people themselves. As we reflect on the life of Christ and the principles that he called for – whether or not we view him as a religious figure – people of faith and none can find the morality that the world needs the most in this period.
The values of Christ – and Hussain ibn Ali – are what people really need to effect change in a world that needs it more than ever before. | 1,265,401 |
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Keira Knightley and Hugh Grant will reprise their original roles
Romantics rejoice - the cast of Love Actually is reuniting for a short sequel to raise money for Comic Relief.
Red Nose Day Actually will be written by Richard Curtis and star Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley and Colin Firth.
Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy and Rowan Atkinson will also appear in the film, which sets out to discover what the original characters are doing in 2017.
The 10-minute sequel will be shown on 24 March on BBC One as part of the Red Nose Day appeal.
Plot suggestions
It comes 14 years after Love Actually was released.
Love Actually scriptwriter Emma Freud, Curtis's partner, has asked for ideas for the plot, saying the follow-up is still being written.
Many have suggested a tribute to the late Alan Rickman, who starred in the original.
Another suggestion tweeted to Freud involved Atkinson's character, who was seen in the original as a shop assistant.
Image copyright Twitter/@Leonade
But Freud's reply? "Not gonna happen...".
And one fan wanted a happy ending for Emma Thompson's character, after the hard time she had in the first film.
Image copyright Twitter/@T2Va
'Nostalgic moment'
Curtis said: "I would never have dreamt of writing a sequel to Love Actually, but I thought it might be fun to do 10 minutes to see what everyone is now up to.
"We hope to make something that'll be fun - very much in the spirit of the original film and of Red Nose Day."
The writer said he was "delighted" that so many of the original cast could take part, adding: "It'll certainly be a nostalgic moment getting back together."
Image copyright Working Title
Martine McCutcheon, Andrew Lincoln, Lucia Moniz, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Olivia Olson will also reprise their original roles.
The original film, set at Christmas time, followed an extensive cast of characters, whose lives intertwined in various ways.
Among them was Hugh Grant's character, David - the prime minister at the time - who was seen getting together with Natalie, played by McCutcheon, at the end of the original film.
Sam (played by Game of Thrones star Brodie-Sangster, who was 13 at the time), was seen chasing Joanna, played by Olivia Olson, through the airport at the end of the last film to declare his love.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]. | 1,265,402 |
Building the future of cryptocurrency requires more than just ambition, detailed plans and code. A complete and established team along with key expert advisors are a necessity in today’s crypto-community.
MF Chain is pleased to announce the addition of well-respected and talented blockchain experts. Each of our new team members brings a diverse background of financial management and planning, code development, fund-raising and marketing experience within the blockchain and cryptocurrency community.
These key additions will be instrumental in MF Chain’s success. As members to our Advisory Board and Team, these experts will assist MF Chain in achieving all milestones set within our roadmap.
Bogdan Fiedur, Advisor — Blockchain Expert
Bogdan is a full stack developer, smart contract developer, crypto-investor, entrepreneur and President of Blockchainexperts.io. He has over 20 years of IT experience in building e-commerce websites and has been involved in blockchain development during last 3 year
He is also an ICO advisor working with 10+ successful ICOs to date and deeply involved in offering presentation and workshops on blockchain and smart contract programming in his local crypto community of Winnipeg.
Bogdan now focuses on the Blockchain industry and offers advice, consulting services and connections to Blockchain experts. Most recently Bogdan has cofounded ‘Bitjob’, a freelancer blockchain platform for students and participated in several ICO projects as a team member.
Through these projects Bogdan acquired intimate knowledge with inner-workings of ICO development from conception to execution.
Naviin Kapoor, Advisor — Blockchain Expert
Naviin Kapoor, a block chain consultant and a business transformation leader with more than eleven and half years of experience in project management and business analysis and more than one year of experience in ethereum, bitcoin, hyper ledger, EOS, consensus protocol and distributed/shared ledger technology. He has also attained various industry certifications such as PMP, CBAP, ITIL & Professional Scrum Master Level 1.
He had worked on various banking transformation projects — “sustainable and disruption”, which were initiated in various domains such as Retail Banking, Cash Management, Integrated Liquidity Management (ILM), Corporate Banking, Asset & Wealth Management, Financial Messaging, Regulatory Sanctions Filtering and Local and International Payment Systems.
Hristo Piyankov, Advisor — Blockchain analytics
Hristo is a blockchain consultant in the intersection of his two main interests — analytics and blockchain. He has a 13+ years experience in the banking and finance sector, with majority of the time spent on machine learning, analytics, financial models and making sure data works for the business and not the other way around.
Now, he is helping blockchain companies make sense of their data and economy models; plan their investments; manage their risk and revenue; or build the occasional machine learning model. | 1,265,403 |
The reddish-brown scorch marks are still visible on the roofs and cream-colored stucco walls.
Villagers here in this southern Gaza farm town say their neighborhood was showered with hundreds of chunks of burning white phosphorus, a controversial substance commonly used as a smoke screen to cover troop movements, over a three-day Israeli incursion in Khozaa last month.
Majid Najar said the phosphorus started fires all around the home where he had taken shelter along with 20 relatives. He said he was next door helping evacuate a pair of elderly neighbors when he felt the impact of something striking his home.
An empty shell casing had punched through the building’s roof and an interior wall, striking his wife, Hannan, in the chest and killing her immediately.
On Jan. 24, a research team from Human Rights Watch visited Khozaa. Researcher Marc Garlasco, a weapons expert, examined the markings on the artillery shell that killed Hannan Najar.
“This is clearly white phosphorus,” said Garlasco, a former Defense Intelligence Agency official. “See those markings? PB. This was made in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.”
In the streets and yards around Najar’s home, Garlasco found remnants of several more phosphorus shells. Khozaa, he concluded, had seen the heaviest use of the controversial munitions in the three-week Israeli offensive.
Garlasco reconstructed the X-shaped tray that holds 160 phosphorus wafers per shell. When the tray ejects, the wafers disperse over a 150- to 250-yard radius, depending on the height of the airburst.
The burning phosphorus puts out a dense white fog and causes intense chemical burns if it comes in contact with human skin.
Its use as an offensive weapon in residential areas is internationally banned. Israel isn’t a signatory to the phosphorus treaty, but in response to questions from The Times, the Israeli military released a statement saying that it “only uses weapons permitted by law.”
The statement said, “In response to the claims of NGOs and claims in the foreign press relating to the use of phosphorus weapons, and in order to remove any ambiguity, an investigative team has been established in the Southern Command to look into the issue.”
Amnesty International has declared Israel’s use of white phosphorus in Gaza “indiscriminate” and a war crime. Human Rights Watch is still preparing its report on the conflict, but the group’s senior emergencies researcher, Fred Abrahams, said firing phosphorus shells in a populated area “is inherently indiscriminate because it spreads over such a wide area.”
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[email protected] | 1,265,404 |
A world-renowned Adelaide plastic surgeon will fly to Greece today to treat victims of deadly wildfires with Australian-developed skin repair technology.
Dr John Greenwood will assist Greek surgeons with the 10 most severely burned patients from the fires near Athens that have taken at least 82 lives and injured many more.
He will begin work on Sunday at the KAT Hospital in Athens using a biodegradable skin graft substitution he pioneered with the CSIRO after the Bali bombings in 2002.
World-renowned Adelaide plastic surgeon Dr John Greenwood will fly to Greece to treat victims of the deadly wildfires that have killed at least 82 people. Picture: AAP. (AAP)
Dr Greenwood is director of the Adult Burns Unit at Royal Adelaide Hospital and was 2016 SA Australian of the Year for his world-leading work in burns treatment.
The skin graft product, called NovoSorb, made by Melbourne-based company Polynovo, acts as a dermal tissue scaffold allowing new dermal cells, blood vessels and skin structures to develop, leaving soft, supple skin with minimal scarring.
The product is considered a game-changer for burns treatment.
Meanwhile, Greek authorities say they have "serious indications" the wildfires were set deliberately.
Public Order Minister Nikos Toskas said satellite image analysis and ground inspections suggest the fire that broke out in multiple places in a short time frame on Monday likely resulted from arson.
The death toll from the fire that swept through a coastal area east of Athens has risen to 82 as the search for more victims on land and at sea continued.
Germany's federal criminal police department says a team of its forensics specialists is in Greece to help officials there identify victims from this week's deadly forest fires.
The team includes veterans of such major disasters as the 2002 midair plane crash over Ueberlingen, Germany that killed 71 people and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed at least 225,000 across multiple Asian countries.
The chief coroner in Athens says the task of identifying victims is difficult because most of the bodies at the morgue were severely burned.
A fire damaged area with houses in Rafina, Attica, Greece. (AAP) (AAP)
Another complicating factor is wind-whipped flames raced through a large area. Authorities are working to put together a complete list of those missing.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Belgian foreign ministry says a Belgian tourist was killed as he tried to flee blazes in the summer resort of Mati north of Athens.
The spokesman, who spoke to the Associated Press on customary condition of anonymity, said the tourist was among a larger group staying at an area hotel that was ordered evacuated to the nearby sea as the flames approached.
But he said the exact circumstances under which the Belgian man died during Monday's blaze are unclear. | 1,265,405 |
in the region.
"We're trying to figure out how many people will be playing and trying to make sure the servers will be there for that," Shiring says. Essentially, that's where Respawn's responsibilities end. If player experience is suffering at launch, that's on Redmond to fix.
"One of the really nice things about it is that it isn't my problem, right?" Shiring says. "We just say [to Microsoft], here are our estimates, aim for more than that, plan for problems and make sure there are more than enough servers available -- they'll know the whole time that they need to bring more servers online."
Titanfall benefits from dedicated servers, but it's dangerously dependent on them to function; there are parts of the world where Azure data centers don't exist. Like South Africa, for instance. Because Respawn couldn't guarantee the quality of the experience, its debut game won't be released there. An entire country will miss out on a console game because of the lack of Microsoft's servers in the region.
THIS IS JUST THE START
Shiring is keenly aware of the pressures on him and his coworkers to not only launch well, but also to maintain a consistent level of quality throughout Titanfall's lifespan. It isn't just the first tentpole title of the current generation of gaming; it could also be the killer consumer app for Microsoft's Azure tech.
He expects that once his team's game ships and is complete, the studio will have more confidence that the grunt work associated with brand-new code and technology will be done. From there, other developers can build on Respawn's foundation. Shiring believes that, eventually, centralized hosting will become the new normal. He also recognizes the risk in being first.
"Working with Microsoft is great, but we're kind of taking a bullet with doing the pain of proving that the game will scale up, and we're finding bugs that every system has at launch," he says.
The only other proof that Azure actually works for gaming is Xbox One launch title Forza Motorsport 5. The game's Drivatar system uses the cloud to catalog your racing behavior and create a virtual driver that competes in other people's online races, earning in-game money while you're away. Doing laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, however, doesn't have as wide an appeal as, say, operating a three-story robotic death machine. Should Titanfall and Azure live up to expectations, Shiring thinks that Redmond's infrastructure could change how studios approach developing games. If he's right, this could lead to much more Respawn-style experimentation from other studios and maybe create entirely new genres of games as a result.
"Suddenly, the publisher solution becomes more risky than the cloud solution," he says. "That will be a big shift in the industry for everybody." | 1,265,406 |
(This story originally appeared in on Jul 03, 2014)
NEW DELHI: The public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) are making profits by selling oil and petroleum products to consumers, contrary to the perception that they are selling oil at a loss. The gain, which could easily have been passed on to retail consumers, has been estimated to be around Rs 50,000 crore in five years between 2007 and 2012.This has been the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General CAG ) in its latest audit report on pricing of petroleum products. The report has already been submitted to the government and likely to be tabled in Parliament in the forthcoming budget session.The estimated gain to the government is at least Rs 25,000 crore in profits through the sales at petrol pump prices and another gain of similar amount by way of customs duty and other charges added to the sale price of petrol and diesel.On contrary, the OMCs have been reporting "under recoveries" to the tune of over Rs 1.10 lakh crore every year. The government auditor has observed that all these projected losses are notional due to flawed petroleum pricing. The CAG report is believed to have listed reasons how state-owned oil companies adopted a pricing formula that resulted in windfall gains to them and even some private refiners.Sources said the CAG, in its report on pricing of petroleum products, has summarised that the public sector oil companies - Indian Oil HPCL and BPCL — have made profits of over Rs 25,000 crore by selling oil to consumers and at least Rs 25,000 crore more have been added to the petrol pump prices due to levies and other charges imposed. The profit indicated is for the period between April 2007 and March 2012.The federal auditor has disputed the under-recovery stories of these public sector OMCs and explained in detail how these could have been avoided to give relief to the consumers. The findings are based on a thorough scrutiny of accounts of IOC, HPCL and BPCL.In January 2013, the government had authorised these OMCs to increase retail prices of diesel at Rs 0.50 every month to close the gap on their under-recoveries. While the petrol prices have fully been deregulated, the OMCs claim their under-recoveries for 2014-15 for subsidised LPG, kerosene and diesel may exceed Rs 1.07 lakh crore.On Monday, OMCs increased both petrol and diesel prices. A statement from IOC said despite increase of Rs 0.50 on retail diesel prices, the under recoveries remained to the extent of Rs 3.40 per litre.The auditor has finalised at least 15 audit reports and submitted to the government for their tabling in Parliament in the coming session. Important among them are performance audit report on public private- partnership projects in Railways and a compliance audit report on Air Force and Navy. Post a comment | 1,265,407 |
For over a year, owners of a Samsung smart fridge have been unable to use their fridge’s pre-installed Google Calendar app, proving what we all suspected: the Internet of Things can quickly become an Internet of Broken Things.
A digital calendar on your fridge seems useful—that way, the whole family knows when Susie’s oboe lesson is cancelled or the Joneses are coming over for dinner. But anything that’s Internet connected has to get regular updates, or it will break. Apparently, the Samsung fridge depends on an old version of the Google API, and Samsung hasn’t yet pushed out necessary updates to all fridges. They acknowledged the issue in November last year and began to send updates to some fridges in February, but many people are still waiting for a fix. (Silver lining? While the calendar app is broken, it can’t leak your Google login information to hackers.)
The Google Calendar break is just the most egregious of a laundry list of software problems with this fridge: users report difficulty with everything from Twitter to the photo reader. Worse, after a power outage, it reboots into demo mode—with the cooling compressor off. Spoiled milk, ahoy.
If you think a smart fridge is a dumb idea, you’re not alone. When people started buzzing about the Internet of Things (4.9 billion connected devices and counting), lots of experts sent up warning flares. “If you think error messages and applications crashes are a problem now, just wait until the web is embedded in everything from your car to your sneakers,” Wired reporter Klint Finley cautioned in 2014.
We’ve worried in the past about how embedded electronics open up your teddy bears and cars to copyright restrictions, as well as about how they can shorten the lifespan of devices. For refrigerators, a shorter lifespan is a particularly big deal—appliances actually make up about 60% of global e-waste.
Refrigerators usually last about 14 years, a lifespan that has held pretty constant in the last few decades. But smart fridges threaten to shorten that lifespan significantly. In the software world, 14 years is practically an eternity. Most companies won’t support software that old, so the fate of the Samsung smart fridge Google Calendar is all but inevitable. And when people can only fix the out-of-date electronics on the front of their fridge by replacing the whole kit and caboodle, they’ll upgrade. This wastes all the materials and energy that went into manufacturing. Sad news for anyone who cares about the environment.
So, before you go out and educate all your appliances, consider how smart you really need them to be—and how smart they’ll be when their software is out of date next year.
Header image via Kars Alfrink on Flickr. | 1,265,408 |
A MELBOURNE restaurant has been fined more than $100,000 for “grossly” exploiting a foreign employee on a working holiday visa.
The operators of Kitchen Republik in Box Hill, a popular ‘hawker-style’ Taiwanese and Malaysian restaurant, have been ordered to pay $107,551 after a court found a kitchen hand was underpaid a total of $33,169 over a period of nine months in 2014 and 2015.
The 22-year-old worker, who spoke limited English and has since returned to Taiwan, was paid flat hourly rates of $10 and $11, well below the industry award of $17.49 to $18.02 for ordinary hours and penalty rates ranging from $22.53 to $45.05.
The worker completed more than 770 hours of overtime, an average of about 20 hours overtime per week, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Judge Heather Riley said “the underpayments of minimum wages were very significant and deliberate”. “Paying $10 or $11 per hour is an egregious departure from the mandated minimum rates of pay,” Judge Riley said.
“[The employee] was a young and vulnerable worker, who the respondent grossly exploited. It is necessary for the court to signal its disapproval of such conduct in strong terms, both to the respondent and to the industry generally.”
A director of the restaurant’s parent company, Food Republic Australia Pty Ltd, gave affidavit evidence that the contraventions were “totally unacceptable”.
“I accept that he does feel apologetic and remorseful. However, there was no evidence of any apology to [the worker],” Judge Riley said.
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said the case highlighted that all employees, regardless of their visa status, must be paid correct wages.
“We treat cases involving underpayment of overseas workers particularly seriously because we are conscious that they can be vulnerable due to a lack of awareness of their entitlements, language barriers and a reluctance to complain,” she said.
The company rectified the underpayments in full last year. Food Republic also admitted failing to provide payment in lieu of notice and untaken annual leave entitlements on the worker’s termination, and record-keeping and pay-slip contraventions. The worker was not given any pay slips during either of the employment periods.
Ms James said the case also served as a reminder to employers about the important legal obligation to keep records. “It is completely unacceptable for an employer to not issue pay slips,” Ms James said.
The Fair Work Ombudsman says it recovered more than $3 million for all visa holders in 2015-16, with $1.37 million returned to 417 visa holders. | 1,265,409 |
(Getty)
Roy Moore has called the legalisation of gay sex “terrible” and “devastating”.
The most homophobic Senate candidate in recent history – who has been accused by nine women of sexual misconduct – also said California’s decision to legalise same-sex marriage was proof that the US was a “nation gone under”.
He said that the ruling would lead to laws allowing “one man to marry ten women or a man to marry his two daughters.”
Moore, a disgraced former judge who has said that “homosexual conduct should be illegal,” compared those who follow same-sex marriage laws to Nazis.
Moore made the remarks in a 2008 speech to Vision Forum, a now-disbanded evangelical group which promoted an extremely misogynistic “Biblical patriarchy” theology, ThinkProgress has reported.
The Republican candidate for Alabama’s Senate seat said that Nazis had followed the law of their country, comparing them to US judges who had ruled in favour of marriage equality.
“Without God, there is no morality,” he said. “Unless we wake up to that we’re going to see a worsening”.
He added that pro-LGBT activists and judges “want to destroy the institution of marriage.
“This is a spiritual battle in which everything of God is being attacked.”
Moore was then asked what he thought were the worst decisions handed down by the US Supreme Court in the last 10 years.
He answered that the 2003 ruling which overturned Texas’s law criminalising homosexuality – which meant gay sex became legal in every US state – was “devastating”.
“Lawrence v. Texas was terrible, when they okayed sodomy,” he said.
“They actually turned to the laws of Germany, France and the United Kingdom to find there was a right to commit sodomy.
“I think that was a devastating opinion.”
He added: “My personal opinion is this: it all goes back to your worldview.
“Their worldview doesn’t include God. When it doesn’t include God, there is no basis for morality.”
Yesterday, speaking to a Baptist Church in Theodore, Alabama, Moore said “lesbian, gay, bisexual transgenders” were behind the nine sexual assault allegations against him.
In a similar vein to his 2008 comments, he also blamed “socialists who want to change our way of life and put man above God”.
The special election between Moore and Democratic Party candidate Doug Jones, which follows Attorney General Jeff Sessions vacating the seat, is set for December 12. | 1,265,410 |
away the dominant greenhouse gas emitted by humans, is responsible in good part for recent climate change, and, once emitted, will remain in the ocean-atmosphere system for thousands of years, warming the planet, changing climate, and driving acidification of the oceans. Atmospheric CO2 has been about 280 ppm through almost all of human civilization, yet, primarily in the past century, humans have driven it up to around 400 ppm mainly by burning fossil fuels. These emissions continue to accelerate unabatedly. Last year, NOAA reported that CO2 at all arctic sites reached 400 ppm for the first time. This month, the iconic Mauna Loa site reports 400 ppm, with the global average not far behind. South Pole, the last to reach this marker, will do so in 4-5 years."
Pieter Tans, Climate Scientist, NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory
The modern measurements of atmospheric CO2 started in 1958 near the summit of Mauna Loa, Hawaii. The station is still the best known global "benchmark station" because the site was very carefully chosen to be representative of most of the northern hemisphere. The round number of 400 ppm can be seen as a milestone. It reminds us that CO2 is now higher than in the last several million years. In addition, the rate of increase, over the last decade more than 2 ppm per year, is at least 100 times faster than what has been observed in ice cores over the last 800,000 years. We know for a fact that today's CO2 increase is entirely due to human activities, especially the burning of coal, oil and natural gas.
Mark Serreze, Director, National Snow and Ice Data Center
"It seems that we've made our decision regarding what to do about climate change. We are going to do nothing and hope that the effects will be manageable. The history of humanity is filled with shortsighted, illogical choices. We can now add another one to our quiver."
Robert Corell, Principal, Global Environment and Technology Foundation Center for Energy and Climate Solutions
"For the past 800,000 years, the maximum average concentration of C02 in the atmosphere has been about 270 ppm, but with fossil fuels use accelerating, CO2 concentration will now exceed 400 ppm. The CO2 levels in the atmosphere will fly through 400 ppm towards 500 ppm by 2060, leading to serious food shortages for the poorest of the poor, water scarcity for half of the world and extreme floods and droughts. At current rates of fossil fuel emissions, the CO2 levels in the atmosphere will double over the maximum level of CO2 in the atmosphere experienced during the past 800,000 years with devastating consequences. At current rates of fossil fuel emissions, sea level globally will very likely rise 1.5 feet by 2050 and global average surface temperatures will pass the international target of 2 degrees centigrade by 2050." | 1,265,411 |
The House Oversight Committee, the premier investigative body in Congress, devolved into a group therapy session on Wednesday as one of the nation's leading legislators openly accused another of racism during the testimony for Trump fixer-turned-foe, Michael Cohen.
It wasn't pretty. In fact, it was so bad that freshman Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., somehow managed to get the chairman of the committee, Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., to defend one of the president's closest allies, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., from a charge of racism.
Cohen was expected to use his testimony to paint Trump as a racist, and Meadows brought Lynne Patton, who is black, a longtime friend of Trump's, and current HUD administrator, to testify to the contrary. The defense itself didn't prove much. It certainly didn't come from any malicious intent. Plenty of racist people can have individual friends of color. But Meadows' move at worst was ineffective.
Tlaib evidently disagreed.
Rather than use her position — a remarkable appointment for a freshman, especially given the number of Democrats who've waited their turns for the post — to garner substantive evidence that Trump's corruption has interfered with his governance, Tlaib decided to attack a fellow member of the Oversight Committee, warranting a full-scale meltdown in Congress.
"The fact that someone would actually use a prop, a black woman in this chamber, in this committee, is alone racist in itself," Tlaib said of Meadows bringing Patton.
Meadows immediately rebuked the attack, becoming visibly emotional as he brought up that his niece and nephew are people of color and demanding that the remarks be stricken from the record, his right as a member. It all went downhill from there.
Cummings gave Tlaib the opportunity to rephrase and walk back her remarks, an overture she immediately denied, eliciting a visible eye-roll from the chairman.
"I am not calling the gentleman, Mr. Meadows, a racist for doing so. I’m saying that, in itself, it is a racist act," Tlaib responded.
Meadows directly appealed to Cummings, who came to the defense of Meadows and deemed him one of his "best friends." It was a stunning and strange moment, one almost positive for its bipartisanship but humiliating for the dignity of the nation's most powerful body.
To think, a hearing meant to determine whether Trump's dealings with his personal attorney constituted presidential corruption devolved into an emotion hissy fit sparked by an ugly outburst alleging racism from the first congresswoman to ever call for the complete eradication of the world's only Jewish state. It would almost be funny if these morons weren't the ones in charge of designing the laws that dictate our lives. | 1,265,412 |
A Tunisian activist who sparked controversy by posting topless pictures of herself online in support of Arab women’s rights vowed on Monday to bare her breasts in protest, after being held captive by her family and beaten.
The young woman, Amina Tyler, was speaking on Skype to Ukrainian women’s power group Femen after running away from home, where she said she was abducted, drugged and beaten by members of her family.
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“I don’t want to leave Tunisia before doing a topless protest. I will do a topless protest then I will leave,” she said in the video posted on Femen’s Facebook page.
Tyler described being grabbed by a cousin from a cafe in Tunis, forced into a car and taken first to her aunt’s house and then to her grandmother’s house, where she was subjected to a virginity test and made to read the Koran.
She said she was given “strong doses of medicine” to send her to sleep and make her docile.
The Tunisian activist provoked the ire of Islamists when she posted pictures of herself online last month with the words “My body belongs to me, it doesn’t represent anyone’s honour,” and “F*** your morals” emblazoned across her bare breasts.
After posting the pictures, Tyler told French television that she feared for her life and wanted to leave Tunisia, adding that she had been forced to stay at home, in a town outside Tunis, where she had been beaten.
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Earlier on Monday, her mother confirmed that Tyler had left the family house three days earlier but denied that she had been kidnapped, saying that her family was simply trying to protect her.
“Some groups are exploiting my daughter’s story at her expense,” Tyler’s mother, who refused to be identified, told AFP, her voice choking with emotion.
“There has never been any kidnapping. We are just trying to protect our daughter by refusing to let her go out on her own for the sake of her security,” she said, adding that she feared for the young woman.
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Tyler risks six months in prison for breaching the peace.
Her actions were a defiant imitation of women’s topless protest group Femen, in a country where hardline Muslims have become increasingly active since the January 2011 revolution.
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The Femen movement has flourished since 2010, with feminists around the world stripping off in protest against issues ranging from homophobia to prostitution and sexism.
Tunisian women are some of the most free in the Arab world but have limited inheritance rights, which women’s groups say have been further abused by the ruling Islamist party Ennahda. | 1,265,413 |
Story highlights President Obama and the Pope will discuss poverty and inequality, the White House says
The visit will be the first between the two
Obama met with Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI, in 2009
The President will also to visit the Netherlands and Belgium
President Barack Obama will meet with Pope Francis for the first time on March 27 at the Vatican, the White House announced Tuesday.
Obama's visit with the leader of the Roman Catholic Church will be part of a larger European trip that the President will take that month.
"The President looks forward to discussing with Pope Francis their shared commitment to fighting poverty and growing inequality," a White House news release said.
Obama raised the Pope's stance on inequality in an economic address in December.
"Across the developed world, inequality has increased," Obama said. "Some of you may have seen just last week, the Pope himself spoke about this at eloquent length. 'How can it be,' he wrote, 'that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?' "
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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters last week -- after his own visit with the Vatican's secretary of state -- that Obama would soon meet with Francis. But Kerry did not specify when.
Obama met Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI, in 2009. That meeting, which took place at the Vatican, was Obama's only meeting with a Pope.
Obama will start his trip on March 24 in the Netherlands, where he will attend the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague and meet with Dutch officials.
He then will go to Brussels, Belgium, for a March 26 summit with the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, and also will visit with the NATO secretary general and Belgian officials, the White House said.
Additionally, Obama will meet with Italy's Prime Minister and President in Rome.
Obama's presidency has been marked by some high-profile clashes with the Catholic Church, including over abortion and contraception. But Francis' approach to world economic issues is widely seen as more in line with Obama's own approach than that of Benedict, who stepped down last year.
In an MSNBC interview last year, Obama called Francis an "extraordinarily thoughtful and soulful messenger of peace and justice."
"I haven't had a chance to meet him yet," Obama said. "But everything that I've read, everything that I've seen from him, indicates the degree to, to which he is trying to remind us of those core obligations." | 1,265,414 |
US Naval Sea Systems Command said in early September that it would move the USS John S. McCain from Singapore to a Navy ship-repair facility in Japan.
But the McCain, a guided-missile destroy damaged in a collision near the Straits of Malacca in late August, is not seaworthy, so the Navy called in the services of a heavy-lift vessel, known as a float-on/float-off ship, to move the McCain to Japan.The Navy released footage of the McCain being loaded aboard the heavy-lift vessel MV Treasure off the coast of Singapore on October 7.
One clip shows the McCain being positioned over the submerged deck of the Treasure by tugboats and guide wires.
Once the McCain is in place and secured against pylons, the Treasure releases its ballast and the destroyer rises above the water on the heavy-lift vessel's deck.
The McCain, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, was damaged on August 21, when it collided with a merchant tanker. The destroyer's hull was punctured on the port side aft, and berthing, machinery, and communications rooms were flooded. Ten US sailors were killed in the incident.
The Navy said in September that moving the McCain to Japan was needed to complete a damage assessment and to compose a full repair plan. The move would also allow the ship's crew to be closer to their families during the repair process.
The McCain's collision came two months after the USS Fitzgerald, another guided-missile destroyer belonging to the US 7th Fleet, collided with a cargo ship in Japanese waters.
The damage done to the Fitzgerald and McCain may have strategic implications for US missile defense in the Pacific region as well. The 7th Fleet has eight Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, which are equipped with the Aegis defense system that gives them the ability to intercept short- and intermediate-range missiles, though not every ship is outfitted with interceptors at all times.
The Fitzgerald and McCain collisions also prompted Navy efforts to make personnel changes and reassess operating procedures. Two senior 7th Fleet commanders were fired in mid-September, around the same time that the Pacific Fleet commander announced his retirement after being passed over for promotion to chief of US Pacific Command.
"The ships still have some level of flexibility" with the exact schedule, "but sailors are going to have to get a certain amount of protected sleep," Naval Surface Force spokesman Cmdr. John Perkins told Navy Times last month. Commanders will have to submit their schedules by December 20.
NOW WATCH: These are the massive ships the Navy uses to carry other ships around
The Navy also announced in September that it would for the first time implement formal rest guidelines for sailors at sea. The service will mandate that fleet commanders institute watch schedules and shipboard routines that mesh better with natural sleep cycles. | 1,265,415 |
Moon or Earth.
Most revolutionary of all, the discovery of antigravity could extract the concept of the ‘warp drive’ from Star Trek scripts and release it into the real world. According to the mathematical solution for General Relativity discovered by theoretical physicist Miguel Alcubierre in 1994, spacetime could be deformed by antigravity forces to allow for faster-than-light travel, should it be confirmed that such a thing as antigravity exists and can be generated by human technology.
Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until 2021 to get answers. ALPHA-g and GBAR will not be commence until then, since the particle accelerators at CERN have now been shut down for a facility upgrade and will not be restarted again for another two years. Without these accelerators, it will not be possible to create the antiprotons needed to make these experiments work.
Is Antigravity Here Already?
Antigravity is a concept frequently featured in science fiction stories. Its theoretical basis in these tales has seldom been made clear, but imagining antigravity technology into existence has set science fiction writers free to create spellbinding stories of intrigue about interstellar travel and alien contact.
But are these really just stories? And do we really need CERN to authenticate the existence of antigravity? Is it possible that antigravity was discovered long ago, but has been kept secret from the general public and mainstream scientists alike?
For many years, rumors and conspiracy theories have been bouncing around asserting that the secrets of antigravity have already been discovered by the United States government. During the 2001 Citizens Hearing on Disclosure, whistleblowers with connections to the military-industrial complex claimed that extraterrestrial craft using antigravity propulsion systems had been retrieved from crash sites and reverse engineered for human use.
For many years, credible witnesses have reported seeing gigantic black triangles floating silently and swiftly above their heads in the United States, Belgium and many other locations, apparently under the control of technology capable of defying gravity. Many believe these are experimental aircraft, quite possibly based on alien technology, which have been built in secret black projects undertaken at Area 51 or other hidden sites.
Naturally, we must take reports from supposed whistleblowers, and from UFO gadflys like the infamous Stephen Greer, the primary organiser of the Citizens Hearing on Disclosure, with a grain of salt. But average citizens with no connection to UFO research have been reporting their sightings of the giant black triangles for more than two decades, and in some instances these mysterious flying machines have even been recorded on film. This strongly suggest some kind of antigravity technology is in use by someone, whether they’re alien or human. Either way, the implications of these sightings are earth-shaking.
Top image: Warp speed travel. Peter Jurik / Adobe Stock
By Nathan Falde | 1,265,416 |
Sitting in the hospital Thursday night, Tammy Kilborne knew who her hero was: her 15-year-old son.
NEW HARTFORD — Sitting in the hospital Thursday night, Tammy Kilborne knew who her hero was: her 15-year-old son.
The 43-year-old woman and her son Gage Kilborne were driving to Colgate University earlier that day for a swimming training event. They only made it a fraction of the way when she suddenly fell unconscious at the wheel.
During an interview at her home Friday, she credits her son with saving their lives and preventing what could have been a fatal accident.
An official from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Friday that at 4:37 p.m. April 13, they were called to assist with a car in a ditch off Route 12 near Crown Hill Memorial Park in Clinton. The official said their investigation is ongoing.
Kilborne said she had a seizure — something she’s controlled successfully for the past five years with medication — and the quick-thinking of her son got them safely off the road when she became unconscious.
“Gage had the common sense, the quick response and courage to take the steering wheel and to steer us across the road, avoiding any oncoming traffic,” she said tearfully. “We came to a ‘soft’ landing in a ditch. We were going 55 miles-per-hour.”
Gage Kilborne, a freshman at Ralph Perry Junior High School and a member of its swim team, said he became aware that something was wrong with his mother when the car took a fast turn and began to drift into the opposite lane of traffic. He looked over and saw her hands come off the wheel. She wasn't responding to her name, causing him to reach over and yank on the wheel, guiding it through the opposite lane and into the ditch.
He said he focused on keeping his emotions in check while flagging down a passing car and calling first-responders and family members. He said he didn't become aware of the enormity of his actions until his Boy Scout leader texted his father after he learned of the incident, telling him he was a hero.
"I was trying to hold all my emotions together, I was walking around frantically," he said. "My dad picked up after I texted him that mom had a seizure while driving and we crashed into a ditch. I remember he picked up and I just started crying afterward. I just let it all out."
"Every parent knows that their kids are above and beyond in some respects but he's just remarkable," she said to her son. "The fact that we're still here is due to you."
Follow @OD_Parker on Twitter or call her at 315-792-5063. | 1,265,417 |
It's Trump's Birthday. If He Wins, He'd Be The Oldest President Ever To Take Office
Enlarge this image toggle caption Spencer Platt/Getty Images Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Tuesday is Donald Trump's 70th birthday. If he wins the election in November, that means he would be the oldest newly elected president in U.S. history, putting him ahead of Ronald Reagan, who was just shy of 70 on Inauguration Day 1981.
If Hillary Clinton were elected, she wouldn't be far behind. She will turn 69 in October. Come Inauguration Day 2017, that would put her not far behind Reagan when he was inaugurated, making her the second-oldest president.
Here's how those two candidates compare with America's past presidents:
Not only would the two presumptive candidates be the oldest and second-oldest in history, respectively, but were he elected, Bernie Sanders would have by far been the oldest ever, at 75 on Inauguration Day 2017.
Still, "old" has been relative over time. When Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated in 1901, at nearly 43 years of age, he was only around five years away from the white-male life expectancy at birth (48, for states that reported that data at the time).
At 43, Teddy Roosevelt was the youngest president sworn in. But, in 1901, he was only around five years away from the white-male life expectancy at birth.
This year's candidates are much older, but then, more people today are living longer. Presidential ages have climbed, but so has life expectancy. Today, the life expectancy at birth for a white man is 76.6 (for a white woman, it's 81.3). So while Trump and Clinton may be nearly 30 years older than the youngest president ever, they're also (like Roosevelt) a few years shy of the norm for their race and genders.
(But then, these are life expectancies at birth — a 70-year-old man like Trump could be expected to live longer than these life expectancies. A 2006 article from the Harvard Gazette explains it well: Older people "have already dodged the mortal dangers that do in younger people: infant mortality, violence, and auto wrecks." If you've lived to 70 already, the idea goes, you've cheated death already, and you could reasonably be expected to live a few years beyond the average. According to the CDC, a 65-year-old man could be expected to live 18 more years. For a woman, it's more than 20 years.)
In addition, Clinton and Trump both have another reason to expect relatively long, healthy lives: High-income Americans tend to live substantially longer than lower-income people. In case you haven't heard, Trump is "really rich" (and Clinton hasn't done too bad herself). | 1,265,418 |
A Twitch streamer who was angered by his wife interrupting his Fortnite game and appeared to attack her on stream, has reportedly been apprehended by authorities.
The streamer, who goes by 'MrDeadMoth' was playing Fortnite when his wife asked that he stopped playing because he had been on too long, to which he reacted angrily.
After the argument became more heated, the streamer stood up and moved out of the camera shot, but his wife could be heard screaming in the background. A child/children can also be heard.
Warning: Footage is distressing.
Twitch streamer MrDeadMoth hits his wife with domestic abuse live on stream. Absolutely horrific. According to @Cylints the wife is okay and the streamer has been arrested. pic.twitter.com/BOvEucP5io — Rod Breslau (@Slasher) December 9, 2018
After returning to his chair and resuming play, the argument continues, and MrDeadMoth gets up for a second time and attacks his partner.
Although none of the attack is visible on camera, the woman's screams are even more audible on this second occasion.
Warning: Footage is distressing
Fortnite woman beater Part 2 pic.twitter.com/LKARJVoMEZ — KEEM (@KEEMSTAR) December 9, 2018
A Twitter account has been providing updates, after apparently digging through MrDeadMoth's social media accounts, whose real first name is Luke, claiming that he has been arrested but "no word on charges".
Confirmed: Luke / MrDeadMoth has been arrested no word of charges yet but the wife is clear of charges. — ً (@Cylints) December 9, 2018
However, YouTuber and host of DramaAlert, Daniel 'KEEMSTAR' Keem, says both the man and woman have been charged, according to his sources.
Fortnite Woman Beater Update : Both man & woman have been charged by police according to our sources. — KEEM (@KEEMSTAR) December 9, 2018
The account which shared the original video of the incident on Twitter claims that MrDeadMoth originally 'evaded' authorities, but has now been apprehended.
I have just received confirmation via @Cylints that @MrDeadMoth has been apprehended by authorities. He briefly evaded police but he has now been caught. All of the charges on his wife have also been dropped. — j♡ck (@RevvOCE) December 9, 2018
They also claim that all charges against the woman have been dropped. The user, RevvOCE, told Newsweek that they were contacted by a lawyer shortly after posting the clip, who then reached out to Police and Twitch. | 1,265,419 |
@keyshiacole #RP @boomlife So happy to announce I will be playing a part in this movie!!!!!!!!! #AllEyesOnMe #MyFirstMovieRoll #Playing my Girl from back in the day!!!! Her name is #Queen!!!! Don't mind playing a gangsta. #FULLCircle!!!!! #SheKnewMeAsAChi
@0ne0fone Been a long Process but I'm proud to announce Its finally that time to present the Tupac Movie!! Shoutout to my Big bro @lthutton We breaking records with this one!! History in the making.. Glad to say I'm A producer on this movie 💯💯 gi
It's official, Tupac's long awaited biopic, "All Eyez On Me" has finally begun production, and photos recently surfaced reveal actress Kat Graham who plays Jada Pinkett Smith and "Notorious" actor, Jamal Woolard who will once again play Brooklyn rapper, Biggie Smalls. Instagram photos on music producer and former A&R of Ruthless and Interscope Records, L.T. Hutton's Instagram page gave fans a taste of what to expect in the near future.
Hutton shared shots of his director's chair next to director Benny Boom and other screen grabs of Demetrius Shipp, Jr., who will play the iconic rap star. Excited about the start of production, he captioned the photo, "WORDS CANNOT EXPLAIN!! EPIC!! EPIC!!! EPIC!! #G.O.A.T #WEWORKING #TUPAC #MOVIECOMINGSOON GREAT TIME TO BE ALIVE!"
Surprisingly, Washington Redskins' wide receiver, Desean Jackson, announced that he was an executive producer for the film, "Been a long Process but I'm proud to announce Its finally that time to present the Tupac Movie!! Shoutout to my Big bro @lthutton We breaking records with this one!! History in the making.. Glad to say I'm A producer on this movie giving the ppl what they want.. Business is Business."
Also, singer Keyshia Cole recently announced that she'll be playing Queen, a woman in which she says she personally knew as a child. Saturday, Cole told her 2.6 million followers, "[I'm] so happily to announce I will be playing a part in this movie!!!!!!!!! #AllEyesOnMe#MyFirstMovieRoll #Playing my Girl from back in the day!!!! Her name is #Queen!!!! Don't mind playing a gangsta. #FULLCircle!!!!! #SheKnewMeAsAChild."
What do you think about Tupac's biopic?
Source: Instagram | Photo Cred: LT Hutton | ThaCelebritea | 1,265,420 |
The announcement of Google's possible acquisition of Fitbit has sparked concern amidst the Labour party's ranks, triggering a request to halt the buyout.
Tom Watson, the shadow secretary for digital, culture, media and sport, has urged the Competition and Market Authority (CMA) regulator to freeze the acquisition of FitBit by tech giant Google.
According to Watson, acquisitions such as that of Fitbit by Google should be paused “until the CMA’s market study is concluded and its recommendations are implemented”.
Watson wrote that he has long been concerned about the data monopolies that dominate the tech market, including Google.
"These companies hold and gather an unprecedented amount of data on users which is then monetised through micro-targeting and advertising to amass huge profits and power," he said. "Meanwhile, the digital giants themselves remain unaccountable, unregulated and see themselves as above the law. They have run rings around regulation for far too long".
Watson’s concern is that the deal between Google and Fitbit would not just constitute a business deal. “It’s a data grab – and that should worry us all. Any such proposal must be subjected to the most rigorous possible scrutiny and must be fully investigated by the CMA”, he wrote.
Watson posted health data as a possible concern, as Fitbit stores physical health data for its users. This data is increasingly viewed as the company's primary asset and its main value.
San Francisco-based Fitbit sells activity trackers and wireless-enabled wearable technology devices across the world. On its website, the company informs users: "[If] we collect health data or another special category of personal data subject to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation ('GDPR'), we ask for your explicit consent to process the data".
Previously, the firm was criticised over its website’s default activity-sharing settings. After initially making users' manually entered physical activities available for public viewing, the company responded by making all such data private by default.
According to Fitbit's condensed consolidated statements of operations issued in August this year, the firm's six months revenue increased by 7 per cent for June this year, compared to June of 2018. Its recorded gross profit, however, fell by 15 per cent over the same period.
In recent years, Fitbit has aggressively branched out into new tracking areas. In early 2019, the company announced that its apps are to offer a “more comprehensive view of menstrual cycle data” via Female Health Tracking.
For its part, Google has been offering users the ability to track their fitness via Google Fit since 2014. Until now, the company did not offer its own hardware to go with it, instead relying on third-parties such as Samsung to produce Android Wear smartwatches. | 1,265,421 |
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Archaelogists are digging to unearth the secret behind one of the Forests oldest historical sites.
Mysterious Soudley Camp has baffled historians for years with several theories being put forward for exactly what it is.
Now archaelogists have moved in to trawl the ground for clues to real history of the mystery hillock.
And on Sunday they will be showing members of the public what they have found in the first sheme to examine 1,700 sites discovered by a specialist aerial survey of the Forest of the Dean, many of them previously unknown to archaeologists.
The enigmatic archaeological site is on a promontory above the Soudley Brook, with a large bank and ditch defending its more accessible western side.
Nobody knows why it was built or even when it was built.
Theories include that it is a Neolithic hilltop enclosure, defensive Iron Age settlement, or an early medieval castle.
“The site is officially recorded as an Iron Age 'promontory fort' or defended farmstead, but it doesn't quite fit the typical form for these sites,” explains a spokesman for the project.
“The team are hoping to find answers to some of these questions. In addition to three trenches and six small test pits, environmental samples will be taken across the ditch in the hope of establishing its depth.”
The archaeology open day is being held on Sunday October 29 2017 between 11am-3pm.
As well as revealing any finds from the initial dig by Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology, there will be site tours, children's activities and news of a five year project designed to get the Forest to yield its age-old secrets.
Another major aspect of the Programme is to survey and investigate the 1,700 archaeological sites identified by the LiDAR survey.
Archaeologist Andy Walsh, who is leading the excavation, said that: “The excavations will hopefully answer some of our long held questions about Soudley Camp, as well as being a great opportunity for local people to get involved in uncovering the heritage of the Forest of Dean.”
The Soudley Camp excavation is part of the £2.5 million Foresters' Forest Programme, a Heritage Lottery Funded Landscape Partnership being led by the Forestry Commission.
There will be information available about this work presented at the Open Day and an opportunity to sign up to help surveying them over the next five years.
Access to Soudley Camp is off the road to Soudley School, on the right before the school buildings. Please feel free to drop in between 11am and 3pm on Sunday 29 October. | 1,265,422 |
didn't inherit her position. She worked for it.
That Richardson hired her is endorsement enough for some. Beane understands.
"Mister is very particular," he said of Richardson, known simply as "Mister" to those who worked with him. "He's going to put somebody in a position that he knows is going to do things how he views the right way -- how to treat people, how to operate, how to be fiscally responsible.
"We're here to win games, and Tina gets all that. She understands rule No. 1 at Carolina is to win football games. I know with some teams that's not always the case. Sometimes the revenue is more important than winning games. So Mr. Richardson knows she's going to operate that way."
'Very qualified'
Carolina coach Ron Rivera met with Becker on almost a daily basis for two weeks while the NFL looked into a harassment allegation by the former wife of general manager Marty Hurney, who was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Like others, Rivera developed a new appreciation for Becker.
"Very thoughtful," he said. "She doesn't say anything she hasn't thought out. That's very important. It's been real interesting. I really would like to have seen her have this opportunity [under different circumstances]."
The circumstances have not been easy for Becker. She acknowledged that in a statement when she was hired.
"These have been some of the most difficult days of my 19 years with the Panthers, but I am lifted up by the strong resolve and the commitment our employees have shown to this organization," she said in the statement. "My immediate focus will be to ensure the corporate side of the organization performs at the same high level, while addressing the real concerns that have been raised in recent days."
Becker, 44, has been full steam ahead with her duties despite the impending sale of the team, which could be finalized at the May meetings in Atlanta. She extended the contract of Rivera prior to the playoff game at New Orleans and promoted Hurney from interim to full-time GM.
She has stepped out of the shadow that she was in when Richardson attended these meetings. Those who know her believe the next owner would be smart to keep her in some capacity.
"Tina is very qualified for what she is doing," Gettleman said.
Beane agreed.
"I have a feeling, and I haven't had a deep conversation with her about this, but I'm sure she's in a tough spot and she's doing the best she can in a tough situation," he said. "In the end, you hope that she's rewarded by the new owner in being able to stay there.
"Or another team says, 'Wow, she did really good. We need to get her on our staff.'" | 1,265,423 |
You would never believe what they went through. Those poor men.
"They took them to the sick bay, and if 2% or 3% of them survived I'd be surprised.
Image copyright Richard Hancox
"They did what they could for them, but they were too far gone - they were mostly dead before they got them in the sick bay.
"But the injuries - faces, stomachs, legs off - oh God. I know nurses would say to me'silly sod', they see it every day, in a more clinical fashion.
"But the way I saw it - God, I think to myself, I'm lucky to be alive. Those poor people.
"I think there were about 10,000 men lost that day. And what for? We don't learn do we?"
Apart from periods replenishing ammunition, HMS Belfast was almost continuously in action over the five weeks after D-Day and fired thousands of rounds from her guns in support of Allied troops fighting their way inland.
But D-Day was not the only battle Ted fought in during his time onboard HMS Belfast.
Between 1943 and 1944, he took part in some of the navy's most intense and dangerous operations including the Arctic Convoys and the Battle of North Cape.
Image copyright Richard Hancox Image caption A framed photo of Ted in his navy uniform is in pride of place on his mantelpiece
Immediately after the war ended Ted continued his military service as a minesweeper, working off the coast of Scotland.
He left the navy in 1946 and returned to his job as an apprentice printer where he went on to "work at practically every paper on Fleet Street".
Just one month after D-Day Ted met a woman named Lila while he was on leave and married her three weeks later in August 1944.
They had one son, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and were together until her death in 1991.
Ten years later Ted met and married his second wife, Glynis, with whom he lives in Oxford's suburbs.
They will attend the 75th anniversary events in Normandy this week.
Many assumed that technological advances would ensure the World War Two was less horrific than the Great War.
But the fighting during the Battle of Normandy, which followed D-Day, was as bloody as it had been in the trenches of the World War One..
Casualty rates were slightly higher than they were during a typical day during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
Ted says: "I well up every time I talk about it. Sometimes I think about it when I'm lying in bed awake.
"I don't like to dwell upon it too much because there's nothing you can do about it. But like millions of others I did my bit." | 1,265,424 |
A federal judge is delaying Stormy Daniels’ lawsuit against President Trump for 90 days, ruling on Friday that the case will be paused while a criminal investigation into Trump’s longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen proceeds in New York.
Cohen is a central figure in the civil suit brought by the adult film actress, who accepted a $130,000 payment from Cohen shortly before the 2016 presidential election in exchange for keeping silent about her alleged affair with Trump. Daniels is now suing to invalidate the agreement she made with Cohen.
Cohen is also subject to a separate criminal probe, following an FBI raid of his home and office earlier this month. Federal agents seized documents related to the settlement with Daniels, among other personal emails and business records.
Judge James Otero, currently overseeing the civil suit brought by Daniels, determined there are too many of the same issues at play in both cases. He argued that Cohen’s testimony is “indispensable” considering he was “the alleged mastermind” of the deal between Trump and Daniels — but recognized that Cohen could invoke the Fifth Amendment to avoid fully answering questions in the civil suit, so as not to further incriminate himself in the ongoing criminal probe.
Indeed, Cohen confirmed on Wednesday that he planned to assert his Fifth Amendment rights in the civil case brought by Daniels.
The news is a temporary reprieve for Cohen — and one that the attorney representing Stormy Daniels, Michael Avenatti, has vowed to fight, writing on Twitter that he expects to file an appeal within the next few days.
While we certainly respect Judge Otero’s 90 day stay order based on Mr. Cohen’s pleading of the 5th, we do not agree with it. We will likely be filing an immediate appeal to the Ninth Circuit early next week. Justice delayed is justice denied. #basta — Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) April 27, 2018
But it’s not all good news for the president and his personal lawyer.
The judge also indicated that he expects Cohen to be indicted in connection with the ongoing criminal probe, pointing out that there must be serious enough allegations at play to justify the approval of the search warrants.
“[T]he significance of the FBI raid cannot be understated,” Otero wrote. “This is no simple criminal investigation; it is an investigation into the personal attorney of a sitting President regarding documents that might be subject to the attorney-client privilege.”
And there could be even more lawsuits coming. Daniels has suggested she may file a new legal suit next week, alleging that Trump libeled her when he accused her of perpetuating a “con job” by releasing a sketch of a man who she says threatened physical harm against her in 2011 if she didn’t stop talking about Trump. | 1,265,425 |
Former adult film star Jenni Lee, whose real name is Stephanie Sadorra, was discovered living in the underground tunnels beneath the Las Vegas Strip in July. The 37-year-old Clarksville, Tennessee native appeared in a documentary about the hundreds of homeless people who live there that appeared on Dutch television. Sadorra was barely recognizable during her interview, in which she said she got "maybe a little too famous" in the porn industry.
"I actually got very famous. Maybe a little too famous," Sadorra said in the documentary, reports The Daily Mail. "I should still be in the top 100 on some list somewhere. I used to be so hot."
Sadorra, who was ranked 119th on Pornhub's list of top porn actresses, said she likes living in the tight-knit community underground, even though they have no access to running water.
"It's not as difficult as you might think, everybody's really respectful," she said in the documentary, which aired on RTL 5. "Everybody's good to each other, which I don't think you find much (above ground)... I'm happy, I have everything I need here."
She added that "hardships built camaraderie" and she has more genuine friends how than she did before. In the film, she did not say how long she has been living underground.
Sadorra's PornHub account still has 45,000 subscribers and her videos have about 135 million views.
Sadorra started her career as a model at age 19 and appeared in television commercials before she started making hardcore adult films at 21. She made her most recent appearance in a 2016 movie.
There are 200 miles of flood tunnels under the Las Vegas Strip, and hundreds of homeless people have been living there for years. A 2016 report by News3LV described the tunnels as being in complete darkness and they become a "death trap" when it starts to rain.
"Walking 50 feet, I've seen it go from ankle-deep to waist-deep. That gets scary because I've been trapped down there when it's been that deep," a homeless man named Alex told the station at the time. "You don't know how long you can hold on in the dark with the water."
Earlier this month, another adult film star stunned the Internet with a surprising revelation of her current status. Mia Khalifa, once thought to be one of the most popular adult film stars online, said she only made $12,000 during her career.
"People think I’m racking in millions from porn. Completely untrue," Khalifa tweeted. "I made a TOTAL of around $12,000 in the industry and never saw a penny again after that. Difficulty finding a normal job after quitting porn was... scary."
Photo credit: YouTube | 1,265,426 |
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- When Josh McDaniels reversed course to return to the New England Patriots on Tuesday, one of the first questions it sparked was: How much longer does Bill Belichick plan to coach?
Belichick turns 66 in April, he’s committed to be back in 2018, and it seems fair to say he’s “year-to-year” after that.
Some believe McDaniels’ return could accelerate Belichick’s eventual retirement, but here’s an alternative theory: It actually might prolong his stay on the sideline because it reduces what would have been a major strain.
This was shaping up to be one of Belichick’s most challenging years because he was going to have to replace McDaniels, his offensive coordinator; defensive coordinator Matt Patricia; and maybe even special teams coach Joe Judge, whose contract is expiring.
McDaniels’ return takes a major headache away from Belichick, as the Patriots didn't have a clear in-house candidate to replace the offensive coordinator. It probably would have meant Belichick devoting more time to that side of the ball like he did in 2005, when Charlie Weis departed and McDaniels was being eased into the playcalling role.
McDaniels coming back in 2018 and into the future simplifies things for Belichick, allowing the freedom that is ideal for him to oversee the entire team, or chip in more on defense under a new coordinator (likely Brian Flores).
Meanwhile, another trickle-down effect of McDaniels’ return is the odds of Judge’s return as special teams coach have increased. Over the past 24 hours or so, there has been positive momentum building that Judge will be back with the Patriots in 2018 (although, as we saw with McDaniels and the Colts, nothing is official until it’s signed).
If that’s the way it unfolds, the turnover that was projected for two key spots on the Patriots' staff will not have come to fruition.
That’d be a huge coup for Belichick, who has also been relishing one other aspect of things: having his sons, Stephen (safeties coach) and Brian (coaching assistant), on staff. Leading up to the Super Bowl, when asked about coaching alongside his sons, he said: “Special, unlike any other, really. It's obviously great to have Steve, but also Brian, too. It's special."
Whenever Belichick decides to retire, he’d be stepping away from that, which figures to be a notable part of his decision-making process.
So maybe it’s two to three years. Maybe it’s four to five. Or even longer.
If anything, McDaniels’ return might extend the window rather than shorten it. | 1,265,427 |
The Richmond Mural Project 2015 has begun and we’re here to help you learn mor
The Richmond Mural Project 2015 has begun and we’re here to help you learn more about the artist who will be adding to RVA’s already world-class collection of murals. Below is a profile of one of the RMP 2015 artists. Keep an eye out for the rest in the coming weeks, and make sure you come out for the RMP 2015 opening party July 18th 4-8pm at Sabai – 2727 West Broad st.
See a mural you like? put it on Instagram and tag us in it – then use the hashtag #RMP2015 and the person with the most murals tagged at the end of the festival will win an original piece of art by RMP Artists.
——
Today’s Muralist: Inkten
Location: 312 Goshen St
Singapore graphic writer and artists Inkten, and Eman Jeman better known as Clogtwo have been collaborating since 2009 and since formed the duo Ink&Clog. The graffiti artists will be among the many other muralists that bring their work to the Richmond Mural Project July 13-24.
Ink&Clog met in 2004, but didn’t start working together until five years later. Their work is recognizable by the sharp lines and graphic details showing the artist’s background in digital media. The work often appears to exist in an alternate universe where a chain-smoking skeleton can have tea with a blue human-like creature. Anything can happen.
Ink&Clog travel the world creating murals and spreading their culture. They have become a part of a global community of graffiti artists travelling and telling stories through their art.
“We wanted to tell stories and educate people about our heritage, culture and race, due to the fact that we travel half the world,” Ink&Clog told Bangkok-based publication Siam2Nite. Ever since, we’ve been addicted to travelling, meeting new writers and building new connections through our art. We finally found home, the world.”
According to Siam2Nite’s article, Inkten got her start with graffti in high school. never stopped looking at markers and letters the same way. At 14-years-old she picked up spray cans and started painting outside.
“She started vandalizing the school’s tables and often check out the seniors’ classrooms where they beautify their school tables with letters and characters. They even carved out their own tables with graffiti fonts.”
“Cosmic Deers” Spray paint on wall Amsterdam, Netherlands Painting with @clog_two @thebeyond83 and @karskione ☁️ | 1,265,428 |
Gov. Scott Walker signed 19 bills Monday, including one that spells out who would pick Wisconsin's delegates to a first-ever "convention of states" to amend the U.S. Constitution.
Earlier this month, the Wisconsin Legislature officially joined the growing number of states calling for an Article V convention to amend the Constitution. While backers say it would be strictly to consider a balanced budget amendment, experts say there would be nothing keeping delegates from proposing other amendments, too.
The bill Walker signed would have Wisconsin appoint nine delegates if such a convention ever happens. The Assembly Speaker and Senate Majority Leader would each appoint three, while the governor and the Legislature's minority leaders would each appoint one.
That means that under the current power structure of state government, Republicans would appoint seven out of nine delegates.
At this point, that's still a hypothetical. Advocates say Wisconsin is the 28th state to join the call for an Article V convention. Thirty-four states are needed.
Combating Homelessness
Walker also signed a bill to bring state agencies together in an effort to fight homelessness.
The state's new Interagency Council on Homelessness will meet quarterly and report to the governor and Legislature.
Representatives from several agencies will serve on the council, including the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, the state Department of Corrections, and the state Department of Health Services.
It's tasked with establishing a statewide policy to prevent and end homelessness.
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Walker also signed another bill that allows for a two-year pilot program aimed at helping chronically homeless people get first priority for housing vouchers.
When the bills went through the Legislature, homeless advocates praised them as positive first steps while Democrats called them Band-Aid solutions for a serious problem.
Still, the bill to create a Council on Homelessness passed the Legislature unanimously and the other received a bipartisan vote.
Homeowners' Bill of Rights
Another bill Walker signed into law was spawned by a legal fight that went all the way to the United States Supreme Court.
The plan would let property owners sell and use what are known as substandard lots, which are pieces of land that met zoning requirements when they were first parceled off, but don't any more.
It was backed by the Murr family, which said it wanted to sell some of its land off the St. Croix River, south of Hudson, for years, but can't because it's a substandard lot.
The Murr family took its case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where it lost in a 5-3 decision earlier this year.
The "Homeowners' Bill of Rights" proposal would also make it easier for people to use land for things it isn't zoned for. | 1,265,429 |
Wages, after adjusting for expected inflation, will fall over 2017, which would make this the first calendar year of negative growth in four years, according to revised projections from the Bank of England.
In its latest Inflation Report forecasts the central bank projects average weekly earnings to rise by just 2 per cent in 2017, a significant downgrade from the 3 per cent it expected in February.
At the same time, the Bank has revised up its inflation projections for 2017 from 2.7 per cent to 2.8 per cent.
That means that inflation will outstrip wages, spelling negative real wage growth - the first time this has occurred since 2013, when prices rose 2 per cent and wages just 1.5 per cent.
Negative real wage growth returns in 2017
Bank of England forecast in dotted lines
The Resolution Foundation think tank estimates that, if the Bank's projections are borne out, average pay will be £320 lower this year than was previously thought, and £915 lower than it forecast in its pre-Brexit vote May 2016 report.
"The pay squeeze we’re currently experiencing is set to continue throughout the year, resulting in a renewed phase of living standards stagnation over the coming years," said Matt Whittaker, chief economist of Resolution.
On a monthly basis, real wages in the UK are already zero.
However, the Bank thinks wages will pick up to 3.5 per cent in 2018, an upgrade from February's 3.24 per cent forecast. It also thinks they will rise by 3.75 per cent in 2019, outstripping inflation in both years as the slack in the economy is used up.
The spike in inflation reflects the slump in sterling since last year's Brexit vote.
And at his press conference the Bank's Governor Mark Carney said some of the weakness in wages could be due to firms' uncertainty about the future trade outlook outside the European Union, causing them to offer "more modest pay settlements".
But Mr Carney also stressed Brexit was not the only factor.
"Is the squeeze in real incomes all because of Brexit? The short answer is no because wage growth has been weak for several years."
The Bank now thinks the UK has a lower equilibrium unemployment rate of around 4.5 per cent, which is helping to keep a lid on wage growth. Productivity has been largely flat since 2008, which again limits pay rises.
Wage growth has been below pre-financial crisis trends for years. Between 1998 and 2007 average wages grew by 4.25 per cent a year on average.
The Bank's latest wage and inflation forecasts for 2017 are worse than those of the Office for Budget Responsibility at the the time of the March Budget.
At that point, the OBR projected 2.6 per cent growth in average earnings this year and 2.4 per cent inflation. | 1,265,430 |
the LA Clippers expired at the end of the regular season a few weeks ago. As with any sponsorship advertising, some assets remain in market – to that end we are diligently working to remove all sponsorship assets. Moving forward, we will continue to monitor the situation as we look to make decisions about 2014-15 sports marketing sponsorships.
Lumber Liquidators tells BuzzFeed in a statement that the hardwood flooring retailer is also suspending its relationship with the Clippers:
In light of the racist comments allegedly made by the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Lumber Liquidators is suspending all planned advertising for the team's 2014-2015 season until further notice.
A Mercedes-Benz spokeswoman also told The Huffington Post that it "has moved to cease its sponsorship of the Clippers effective immediately."
The league's official beer sponsor, Anheuser-Busch, provided the following statement:
As the Official Beer of the NBA, we are disappointed to hear the alleged recent comments attributed to L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling. While Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light are not team sponsors of the L.A. Clippers, we fully support the NBA's efforts to investigate quickly and trust that they will take appropriate action.
Yokohama Tire Corporation is also suspending their sponsorship, Director of Marketing and Product Planning Andrew Briggs told BuzzFeed in a statement.
Yokohama Tire Corporation does not tolerate discrimination in any fashion. The alleged remarks by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling are completely unacceptable and we find it necessary to immediately suspend our sponsorship of the organization as a result. We will continue to assess the situation and weigh our options. Meanwhile, we wish to express our continued support to the Clippers players and fans.
Commerce Hotel & Casino sent BuzzFeed the following statement saying it was suspending relationship with the team:
The Commerce Hotel & Casino has enjoyed being a sponsor of the LA Clippers for the past eighteen years. The arena experience for fans and the reputation the team has maintained is why we have aligned with the franchise. We know the NBA is reviewing the matter and we expect the NBA will quickly provide its findings and explain any action it will take. At this time, we are suspending our relationship with the LA Clippers pending the outcome of that review.
Southern California Ford dealers association told BuzzFeed it has suspended its affiliation with the Los Angeles Clippers indefinitely:
Due to the current circumstances, the Southern California Ford Dealers are suspending their affiliation with the Los Angeles Clippers organization indefinitely. We will continue our support of the Clippers players and fans and wish the team continued success in the playoffs.
Adidas followed suit Tuesday, telling CNBC it is suspending its current marketing with the Clippers.
Karina Diehl, a spokeswoman for Miller Lite, told BuzzFeed the company is "kind of assessing everything right now," but added that they "aren't actually an "official sponsor of the team." | 1,265,431 |
Investigators are looking into the cause of a fire which gutted The Edwards, a Newcastle bar and restaurant co-owned by Silverchair bass player Chris Joannou.
A team of forensic examiners visited the site yesterday on Parry Street after a blaze tore through it during the early hours.
No-one was injured in the fire, which took more than three hours to extinguish and required dozens of firefighters. Some 70% of the building was destroyed, the ABC reports.
There were no “glaringly obvious” signs of suspicious circumstances, local police told the Newcastle Herald, but there aren’t any updates at this stage. Forensics will “have to look at what the causal factors were and whether a further investigation needs to be made at that point,” Newcastle duty officer Chief Inspector Paul Johnson tells TIO.
Messages of support have flooded in for the Edwards, a popular hub for Novocastrian foodies and culture vultures which was established in 2014 by Joannou and his business partner Chris Johnston.
“This is no ordinary bar,” the establishment boasts on its website, “ it’s the heart of a vibrant, creative community blooming in the awesome post-industrial architecture of Newcastle’s West End.”
A statement on the venue’s official Instagram page reads, “Friends, as we process the enormity of what went down last night, we are absolutely blown away by the love and support that has poured in from our beloved Newy and wider community – for this, words alone will never do, it’s all feels.” Its owners pay homage to the emergency who “worked tirelessly to ensure there was zero injury and minimal damage to the neighbourhood. These guys are the real MVPs.”
TIO has reached out to reps for Joannou, whose family has owned the site –a one-time dry cleaning business — for more than 20 years.
Fire crews prevented damage to the adjacent laundromat, restaurant and record store, though, sadly, some 80,000 bees may be been destroyed. Newcastle business Urban Hum had three hives on The Edwards’ roof.
“My sincerest condolences to all the crew The Edwards Bar,” reads an Urban Hum message posted Thursday on social media. “The guys have been great supporters of Urban Hum from very early on and for that we thank you. I hope they can bounce back from this awful event. The fate of the hives on the roof is unknown at this stage.
“They were located on the remaining roof but we can’t get near to check them. Survival is probably unlikely.”
The statement concludes with the hashtags, #fingerscrossed and #lifeisfullofsurprises. | 1,265,432 |
So much for "Marcomentum."
Sen. Marco Rubio, who failed to win any of the first four nominating contests, has shown little ability to cut into Donald Trump's lead, even in Rubio's home state of Florida.
A new poll out from Quinnipiac University Thursday, the first taken in Florida since January, shows Rubio gaining slightly overall but making little headway against Trump, who still holds a wide lead over the field.
Forty-four percent of likely Republican voters surveyed said they planned to support the billionaire real estate mogul in the March 15 primary, compared to just 28 percent who favored Rubio.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz trails with just 12 percent support, followed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich, with 7 percent, and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, with 4 percent.
Rubio's narrowing path to the nomination counts on his winning Florida's contest, where the victor will collect all of the state's 99 delegates – the biggest haul of any winner-take-all state in the 2016 cycle.
"If Sen. Rubio can't win in his own home state, it is difficult to see how he can win elsewhere," Quinnipiac polling director Peter Brown said.
Trailing Trump in national polls and the Super Tuesday primary states, Rubio has struggled to identify the states where he expects to win. He has attempted to downplay his challenge by suggesting he can capture the nomination by winning enough delegates to prevent Trump from obtaining an outright majority, then unifying the opposition at the Republican National Convention in July.
"You don't win the nomination by how many states you win," Rubio said on Fox News Tuesday.
Cruz, who is battling Rubio to claim the non-Trump vote, can at least point to his win in Iowa and recent polling in his home state. Although Cruz appears poised to win Texas, the Lone Star state assigns its delegates proportionally, meaning any victory there will be somewhat blunted in the chase for the 1,237 delegates necessary to win the nomination.
Rubio can take some solace in Thursday's poll, in which 21 percent of respondents said they would definitely not support Trump for the Republican nomination, and 26 percent said the same of Cruz. Seventeen percent said they would not support Rubio.
He also appears to have benefited directly from the exit from the race of his erstwhile mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who dropped out last weekend after placing fourth in South Carolina.
Surveys from January, when Bush was still in the race, showed Rubio below 20 percent in Florida, while Bush averaged around 10 percent.
If Trump does well on Super Tuesday, as is expected, his rivals' only other chance to stop his march to the nomination, besides Florida, is in Ohio, where 66 winner-take-all delegates are at stake. | 1,265,433 |
It’s been said many times before and it will keep being said: Guardians of the Galaxy is Marvel’s riskiest movie to date. Judging by what we’ve seen so far, it’s not only going to be unlike any Marvel film, but also unlike many sci-fi space adventures in recent memory. This kind of bold, daring movie needs a bold, daring, and twisted (in a good way) director, and it has one in James Gunn.
While walking the red carpet for Thor: The Dark World, he was candid about the movie, which is unusual for most Marvel directors. However, because Guardians is so strange, Marvel may be trying to get audiences acclimated as soon as possible. After the jump, Gunn talks about how we’ll see a teaser of some kind fairly soon, working with Bradley Cooper to get the right voice for Rocket Raccoon, the practical sets, and more. He also dances around Vin Diesel‘s role in the film. Guardians of the Galaxy opens August 1, 2014. [Warning: Spoilers ahead]
First up, Gunn talked with MTV about trying to get just the right voice for Rocket Raccoon, which makes sense since Gunn has said that the character is the heart of the movie. He praised Cooper’s patience, and added that while they’re using cameras to photograph all of the actor’s reactions, they’ll only use them as an animation option rather than strict motion capture.
What’s more interesting is how he spoke about Vin Diesel’s role. Several months ago, Marvel confirmed that Diesel was in talks to voice the walking, taciturn tree alien, Groot. But when asked about videotaping Cooper and presumably Diesel, Gunn responded that they were doing it for Cooper “and whoever plays Groot.” Gunn also says in the interview that he recently spoke on the phone with Diesel, so it seems like the actor is in the movie. This all leads me to believe a theory that a friend of mine recently put forward: Diesel’s not voicing Groot; he’s voicing Thanos.
Here’s the interview with MTV [Warning: Spoiler for those who haven’t seen Thor: The Dark World; if you don’t want to hear it, skip 2:06 to 2:57]
Moving on to an interview with Crave Online, Gunn made it clear that while Guardians will have Thanos, the main bad guy is Thanos’ henchman, Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace). Gunn also talked about the practical sets and also dismissed this promo poster as fan art. [Warning: There’s another Thor: The Dark World spoiler in here, so skip to 0:56 if you don’t want to hear it] | 1,265,434 |
Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett was expecting a little better of a performance out of his team on Sunday.
The Cowboys lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 23-6, in somewhat of a dismal effort. Garrett hammered his team during the postgame, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“It wasn’t very good on offense," Garrett said. "It wasn’t very good on defense. It wasn’t very good kicking game. It wasn’t good early, middle or late. It wasn't a very good performance at all.”
Not many of the starters played in the contest. In fact, the offensive line was without three key starters which could partially explain the lackluster offensive performance.
“No excuses. We’re going to evaluate the game,” Garrett said. “We’re going to evaluate the guys who played in the game and from my vantage point, we didn’t play very well. We’ll watch the tape and try to find some of the positive things and build on those and address the negative things. When you’re out there you have a responsibility to play to a certain level. Period. The standard we set is high and we’re looking for guys to play to that standard. We didn’t get enough of that tonight.”
Running back Joseph Randle averaged 4.3 yards per carry on seven attempts which wasn't bad at all. And running back Gus Johnson chipped in 24 rushing yards in the fourth quarter. But other than that, the rushing attack was underwhelming along with some other areas from the game.
“We didn’t run the ball very well, obviously,” Garrett said. “First series wasn’t very good. Second, third and fourth series weren’t very good. Obviously, we were trying to control the line of scrimmage and didn’t do a very good job of that. It’s hard for me to make specific assessments, I have a bad angle on the sideline, but we obviously weren’t successful running the football, moving the football, making first down. We turned the ball over on offense, we didn’t get any takeaways. Got a punt blocked. Weren’t consistent in our execution in any of the three phases. Just really didn’t play well.”
There were still a few bright spots for the Cowboys. Most notably, the defensive line was excellent as the unit collected five tackles for losses and three sacks.
Related: Quick hits from Dallas Cowboys' second preseason game
The Cowboys are off on Monday and hit the practice field on Tuesday. They'll have three more days of training camp left before they depart back for the Dallas-Fort Worth area. | 1,265,435 |
them. It is absurd.”
No editor – right, left or centre – could fail to point to the significance of that opinion. Hunt’s subsequent Twitter claim that the Mail on Sunday story was “nonsense”, along with a pledge of support for Miliband, hardly compensated for his mistake. Meanwhile, mischief-making backbenchers, including Simon Danczuk, were given ample airtime throughout Sunday with their calls for Miliband to step down. The story may not have been “all got up by the meedja”, but the media was only too happy to give it legs.
There will be more to come. Despite Tory MPs making life difficult for prime minister David Cameron over the European Union, a diversion he could have done without while his opposite number was on the ropes, the questioning of Miliband’s leadership suitability has become a recurrent media theme.
However, rightwing newspapers do not appear eager to see Miliband removed as leader. Better, they clearly believe, to keep him in situ and berate him continually in order to undermine Labour.
Witness Boris Johnson’s sarcastic column in Monday’s Telegraph in which he suggested the Tories should “save the Panda” – a nickname for Miliband that emerged after an unwise description of him by the former Labour justice secretary, Jack Straw.
“It would be in our interests to protect the poor beleaguered Lefty,” wrote Johnson, “in case he is replaced by someone more threatening.”
The Sun disagreed in its leading article. Despite internal opposition to Miliband, Labour could win the election, it said, and implied that the “plotters” should redouble their efforts. It concluded: “As the saying goes: when you strike at the king, you must kill him.”
But the Times, in referring to Miliband as a “damaged, beleaguered leader”, believes Labour “is stuck with Mr Miliband for now, and he with them”.
That is probably the prevailing view among pro-Tory owners, editors and journalists. The rightwing press has Labour on the run and belittling its leader will soon become very nasty indeed. And don’t believe that the power of the press is on the wane.
Newspapers, despite falling print readerships, still set the daily agenda. Broadcasters follow their lead. Nor does social media have the collective muscle to combat the fire power generated by the press. Users may nit-pick but they have not yet been able to challenge the newspaper-generated climate.
Papers will play a crucial role over the coming months and it is obvious that editors now scent six months of blood. Doubtless the Sun is already preparing for Miliband’s lightbulb moment. | 1,265,436 |
Donald Trump has vetoed a trio of congressional resolutions aimed at blocking his administration from selling billions of dollars of weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, last month cited threats from Iran as a reason to approve the $8.1bn arms sale to the two US allies in the Gulf.
Saudi Arabia is an enemy of Iran and tension has mounted between the UAE and Tehran over several issues, including the UAE’s coordination with US efforts to curb what it calls Iran’s malign activities in the region.
But Trump’s decision in May to sell the weapons in a way that would have bypassed congressional review infuriated lawmakers. In a pushback to Trump’s foreign policy, Democrats and Republicans banded together to pass resolutions to block the weapons sale.
The White House had argued that stopping the sale would send a signal that the US did not stand by its partners and allies, particularly at a time when threats against them were increasing. The arms package included thousands of precision-guided munitions, other bombs and ammunition and aircraft maintenance support.
Anger has been mounting in Congress over the Trump administration’s close ties to the Saudis, fuelled by the high civilian casualties in the Saudi-led war in Yemen – a military campaign the US is assisting – and the killing of the US-based columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents. Trump’s decision in May to sell the weapons further inflamed the tensions.
“The president’s shameful veto tramples over the will of the bipartisan, bicameral Congress and perpetuates his administration’s involvement in the horrific conflict in Yemen, which is a stain on the conscience of the world,” the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, said in a statement.
It did not appear that lawmakers opposed to the sale had enough votes to override Trump’s veto.
The New Jersey senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate foreign relations committee, led the effort, but he had support from two of Trump’s GOP allies in Congress: Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Last month members of the House foreign affairs committee grilled state department officials about the sale. Its chairman, Eliot Engel, a Democrat representative of New York, said it was a “slap in the face” to Congress and accused the Trump administration of using threats from Iran as a “convenient excuse” to push through the sale.
In a statement, Engel said: “The president’s veto sends a grim message that America’s foreign policy is no longer rooted in our core values – namely a respect for human rights – and that he views Congress not as a co-equal branch of government, but an irritant to be avoided or ignored.” | 1,265,437 |
Baltimore Orioles: Buck Showalter Doesn’t Like to Change Things Up by Steve Rudden
The budding Maryland basketball big man Bruno Fernando has a monumental decision to make on whether he’ll declare for the NBA draft 2018 or stay at the University of Maryland.
Maryland basketball forward Bruno Fernando has until April 22 to decide the future of his basketball career. Will he stay with the Maryland Terrapins men’s basketball team for his sophomore season or declare for the 2018 NBA draft?
Meanwhile, Maryland has already suffered two key losses to their 2018-19 roster in Justin Jackson and Dion Wiley.
Jackson’s decision to enter the NBA draft and forego his last two years at Maryland comes after missing the last 21 games on the Maryland basketball schedule due to a torn labrum.
Unlike last offseason, Jackson has signed an agent meaning his Maryland basketball career is officially over.
Among the latest 2018 NBA mock drafts, Sports Illustrated has Jackson as a projected second-round pick going No. 40 overall to the Brooklyn Nets.
However, projected as a first-round draft pick at No. 25 is Fernando, who is coming off a stellar freshman season with the Terps. His averages of 10.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks last season showcased his NBA potential.
As the season progressed, so did Fernando as the big man scored a career-high 21 points against Iowa on Jan. 7 and later on Feb. 13 against Nebraska. Fernando also had a monstrous double-double performance against top-ranked Purdue with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
From the Purdue game on Jan. 31 to the end of the Terps season, Fernando averaged 12.6 points and 8.3 rebounds in nine games.
The mighty Fernando will only grow stronger and perhaps develop into an NBA lottery pick with another season in college. Fernando would stay with potentially a contending Maryland basketball team in 2019 with Jalen Smith, Eric Ayala and Aaron Wiggins rounding out a top-10 recruiting class of 2018.
Smith is a 6-foot-9 power forward from Mount St. Joseph High School who landed at No. 15 in the 2018 ESPN 100 rankings and participated in the 2018 McDonald’s All-American Game. The five-star recruit is the first Maryland player to be a McDonald’s All-American since Diamond Stone in 2015.
With Jackson out, Smith likely takes over one of the starting forward positions and would join Fernando in what would be a potent Terps frontcourt.
Assuming Fernando stays, Maryland would likely be a preseason top-25 team and have already appeared in several early top-25 lists:
If Fernando stays at Maryland for his sophomore season, the projected starting lineup is guards Anthony Cowan and Kevin Huerter, along with forwards Aaron Wiggins, Jalen Smith and Bruno Fernando. | 1,265,438 |
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Today, February 2, became aware of the appearance of third zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2015-0313) in Adobe Flash Player.
Today, February 2, Adobe has released a security notice, which informs about the latest zero-day vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player. This is the third zero-day vulnerability in 2015 in a popular player. The vulnerability received identifier CVE-2015-0313, and the exploit to the vulnerability included in Angler Exploit Kit.
About the new vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player reported experts from Trend Micro. According to the researchers, attackers placed the exploit on the site dailymotion.com. Users of this portal redirected to a file hxxp: //www.retilio.com/skillt.swf, which carried out the compromise. Trend Micro detects this exploit as SWF_EXPLOIT.MJST and blocks the URL.
At the moment, the vulnerability is present in the latest version of Adobe Flash 16.0.0.296. The manufacturer plans to release an emergency security patch for this week. While the correction is not available, we encourages our readers to temporarily disable the vulnerable plug-in.
Remote execution of arbitrary code in Adobe Flash Player
The vulnerability allows a remote user to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
Severity Rating: Critical (zero-day vulnerability)
The presence of fixes: No
The Amount of vulnerabilities: 1
CVSSv2 Rating: (AV: N / AC: L / Au: N / C: C / I: C / A: C / E: H / RL: U / RC: C) = Base: 10 / Temporal: 10
CVE ID: CVE-2015-0313
Vector of exploitation: Remote
Impact: System Compromise
Platform: All Platforms
Affected Products: Adobe Flash Player 11.x; Adobe Flash Player 13.x; Adobe Flash Player version 16.x
Affected versions: Adobe Flash Player 16.0.0.296 and earlier versions for Windows and Macintosh; Adobe Flash Player 13.0.0.264 and earlier 13.x; Adobe Flash Player 11.2.202.440 and earlier versions for Linux
Description:
CVE-2015-0313 vulnerability is caused due to an unspecified error. A remote user can execute arbitrary code and to take control of the affected system.
Note: The vulnerability is being actively exploited by hackers today.
Solution: The way to eliminate the vulnerability does not exist at present.
Manufacturer’s URL: http://www.adobe.com
References:
https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsa15-02.html | 1,265,439 |
click to enlarge PHOTO BY THEO WELLING
Protesters and police face off in downtown St. Louis on September 15, 2017, the day a former cop was acquitted of murder.
St. Louis residents are deeply divided when it comes to the protests that have erupted in the city in the last three weeks, according to a new poll from Missouri Scout The poll consulted 1,072 likely general election voters on Friday and Saturday. It found that the percentage of city voters who approve of protesters' methods and actions is almost identical to the percentage who approve of the police department's handling of them — with 41 and 39 percent approval, respectively. Both police and protesters, too, earned 41 percent disapproval rates.With a margin of error of 3.2 percent, that suggests the two factions are in a statistical dead heat in the court of public opinion — or, at least, the part of the court that has landlines and agrees to take survey questions. (Observers have noted that Tishaura Jones' strong second-place finish in the city's Democratic primary, which went unpredicted by many pollsters, suggests that young voters and black voters are underrepresented in such surveys.)Mayor Lyda Krewson, too, finds herself right in the middle of a divided city, the poll found. A total of 36 percent say they approve of her performance, while 36 percent disapprove. Twenty-eight percent are undecided.For the police department, however, the real danger might be in the results of another survey question — one that doesn't sound so bad on its face. The Missouri Scout poll found that 52 percent of respondents were in favor of increasing the sales tax by one half of one percent, as the Board of Aldermen has agreed to ask voters to do in November, "solely for the purpose of providing revenues for the department of public safety, including hiring more police officers, police and firefighter compensation and enhanced law enforcement." Twenty-nine percent said they opposed it, while nineteen percent said they were undecided.But those numbers suggest support for law enforcement may be dropping: A previous Missouri Scout poll that asked the same question on August 4 and 5 found that 60 percent were in favor of the sales tax hike, with just 24 percent opposed.This weekend's poll found that support for the sales tax increase was strongest among conservatives, who might ordinarily dislike higher taxes. Conservatives said yes to the increase, 58 to 28 percent. Liberals said no, with a margin of 48 to 31 percent. White voters also approved of the increase, with 57 percent lending support. That was true of only 49 percent of African American respondents.Interestingly, 62 percent of poll respondents said they believe protesters have "legitimate concerns that need to be addressed." Just twenty percent said "no" to that question, with eighteen percent undecided.The Missouri Scout poll is available only to subscribers, although thewas given access by the site's founder. | 1,265,440 |
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that Twitter Inc was biased against him and accused the social media company of deleting many of his followers and making it harder for users to follow him, without providing evidence.
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It was the latest salvo by Trump against social media and technology companies such as Twitter, Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google for what he has described as “silencing” conservative views on their services.
“Twitter has removed many people from my account and, more importantly, they have seemingly done something that makes it much harder to join - they have stifled growth to a point where it is obvious to all. A few weeks ago it was a Rocket Ship, now it is a Blimp! Total Bias?” Trump tweeted.
Any reduction is likely the result of Twitter’s recent moves to remove millions of suspicious accounts after it and other social media services were used in misinformation campaigns attempting to influence voters in the 2016 U.S. presidential race and other elections.
“Many prominent accounts have seen follower counts drop, but the result is higher confidence that the followers they have are real, engaged people,” Twitter spokesman Brandon Borrman said on Friday.
Trump lost 204,000, or 0.4 percent, of his 53.4 million followers in July when Twitter started its purge of suspicious accounts, according to social media data firm Keyhole.
Last week Twitter gave details of some 10 million tweets it had deleted in the belief they were the work of Russian and Iranian government-backed influence operations.
The account purge has benefited Twitter financially, as advertisers will pay more to connect with authentic users than automated accounts.
The company smashed Wall Street’s profit forecasts on Thursday, and said its “health” initiative to cull fake accounts will allow it to grow revenue faster over a sustained period.
Shares in Twitter posted their biggest one-day gain in a year on Thursday. They rose another 2.7 percent on Friday.
Earlier this week, Trump’s re-election campaign manager Brad Parscale in an opinion piece that tech companies such as Facebook and Google have become incubators of “far-left liberal ideologies” that are doing “everything they can to eradicate conservative ideas and their proponents from the internet.”
Parscale served as Trump’s digital director for his successful 2016 White House bid, which made significant use of social media.
Despite his attacks, Trump remains an avid user of Twitter, which has allowed him to communicate directly with people and bypass traditional media outlets.
Trump’s re-election team, however, is planning to circumvent such platforms for his 2020 bid, news website Politico reported this week, citing four officials involved in the campaign. | 1,265,441 |
Talavera Pottery at Home with Contemporary Decor
Sleek, modern, contemporary home decor. The spare minimalism, the cool lines; it's a striking backdrop to the most sophisticated city dweller.
The only catch? It takes a keen eye and a deft design hand to ensure that a cleanly iconic look doesn't veer into somewhat cold or impersonal territory.
One design secret to ensure an inviting yet modern space?
A dash of warmth from an unexpected source, something to add an unexpected dose of color in an otherwise neutral palette.
Talavera pottery, the original, hand-created Mexican pottery found in museums and private collections around the world, is a surprisingly satisfying source.
The key to personalizing a coolly contemporary living space without looking jarring or kitschy revolve around three key steps:
1. Be bold - but limit the space
A stunning splash of color can completely wake up an interior, but the adage "less is more" is the key. Note our Mexican pottery (an original Mayolica-glaze piece) sits front and center on the mantel, but only there.
2. Pick your color wisely
Don't throw in strong color, only to follow up with a pastel or mid-range. The muted neutral of a contemporary room invites accent, but pick wisely and with fuerte (force)!
3. Quality
The artisan original piece doesn't have to be expensive, but it should be of excellent quality. It's will be a focal point, so don't draw your guests' eye to something which won't stand the scrutiny. Of course, if it's something with authentic history, cultural significance - or the ultimate watershed - you just simply love it, well, be my guest!
Of course, I would argue that an item with those heart-warming, culture-grabbing characteristics is the true hallmark of quality, so, select away.
For example, the Talavera pottery of our online gallery, Rustica Gift & Pottery, is hand-curated to feature only the most authentic pottery pieces from Mexico. Our Talavera pottery artisans have been creating their masterpieces for generations, using only hand-made paints and glazes, so the purity of color and quality of workmanship is extraordinary. Yet, most pieces are well under $100, so the quality/price ratio works.
OK. Go have fun adding a dash of color and warmth to your contemporary decor home. Create that focal point, have fun with color, and create an ambience that is uniquely you, knowing the three principles of limited space, wise color choice and quality in selection will deliver the delight you're looking for.
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Comments will be approved before showing up. | 1,265,442 |
A 15-year-old boy was raped twice by a Bangladeshi migrant who gave him a cannabis joint which made him feel “dizzy” in Bolton, north-west England.
Mohammed Suman, 33, approached the boy near the city’s town hall on July 2nd last year and offered him the drugs in order to “ingratiate himself and bring about a sense of confidence” with him, said Judge Timothy Stead in comments reported by Bolton News.
Suman persuaded the boy to go for a walk with him, then “asked for sex on a number of occasions… [the boy] repeatedly said no,” explained Juliet Berry, prosecuting.
The Bangladeshi, who arrived in Britain in 2003, did not take no for an answer, however, manhandling the boy against a fence, pulling down his pants, and raping him.
The teenager eventually managed to separate himself from Suman and tried to get away through Queens Park, but soon realised he was tracking him.
Ms Berry said the 15-year-old “told him to go away” but he instead he raped his victim a second time.
Pakistani migrants arrested for rape of young Italian boy at railway station, weeks before election in which immigration will be key issue. https://t.co/lHFeeRZJce — Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) February 24, 2018
“The whole incident has affected me greatly,” the boy commented in a victim impact statement.
“It will be a long time before it begins to make sense to me.”
His mother added that, as a parent, “all you want to do is protect your children [and] I feel as though I have failed to do that.”
“Why did he do this to my son?” she asked rhetorically. “We’ll have to live with the memory of this for the rest of our lives. I’ll never truly understand why this happened.”
Judge Stead said he was “satisfied the effect on this child has been lasting and has been significant” — but only gave him an eight-year term.
It is typical for criminals in the United Kingdom serving determinate sentences to be automatically released to serve them “on licence in the community” after serving just half, or in rare cases two-thirds, of their custodial term.
Afghan Migrants Brutally Rape Underage Boy and Film the Attack https://t.co/WrP0SPVg5I pic.twitter.com/hIRnwxQcaF — Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 7, 2016
Follow Jack Montgomery on Twitter: @JackBMontgomery | 1,265,443 |
jocko willink
When Jocko Willink, a former US Navy SEAL who is now an author and occasional Business Insider contributor, was asked on Twitter how he would handle the North Korean crisis, he gave an unexpected answer that one expert said just might work.
Willink's proposal didn't involve any covert special operation strikes or military moves of any kind. Instead of bombs, Willink suggested the US drop iPhones.
"Drop 25 million iPhones on them and put satellites over them with free wifi," Willink tweeted last week.
While the proposal itself is fantastical and far-fetched, Yun Sun, an expert on North Korea at the Stimson Center, says the core concept could work.
"Kim Jong Un understands that as soon as society is open and North Korean people realize what they're missing, Kim's regime is unsustainable, and it's going to be overthrown," Sun told Business Insider.
For this reason, North Korea's government would strongly oppose any measures that mirror Willink's suggestion.
Sun pointed out that when South Korea had previously flown balloons that dropped pamphlets and DVDs over North Korea, the Kim regime had responded militarily, sensing the frailty of its government relative to those of prosperous liberal democracies.
For this reason, North Korea would turn down even free iPhones for its entire population, thought to be about 25.2 million.
Such a measure, Sun said, would also open the West to criticism "for rewarding a illegitimately nuclear dictatorship" that "we know has committed massive human rights against its people."
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reacts during a celebration for nuclear scientists and engineers who contributed to a hydrogen bomb test, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on September 10, 2017. KCNA via REUTERS
And as North Korea puts the Kim regime above all else, any investment or aid would "be exploited first and foremost by the government," Sun said, adding: "We will have to swallow the consequence that of $100 investment, maybe $10 would reach the people."
Story continues
North Korea harshly punishes ordinary citizens who are found to enjoy South Korean media, so there's good reason to think providing internet access or devices to North Koreans could get people killed.
But in a purely practical sense, the US has few options. War with North Korea could start a nuclear conflict or otherwise introduce a more long-term proliferation risk.
"They're not going to denuclearize until their regime changes and society changes," Sun said. "This approach may be the longer route, but it has the hope of succeeding."
NOW WATCH: Watch the F-22 in action — the most dangerous jet fighter in the US Air Force for the last 20 years
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Attorney General Máire Whelan issued a formal instruction to the Garda Síochána earlier this month that all tapes made in stations around the State were not to be destroyed.
She took this decision around noon on Thursday, March 20th, on learning that the legal affairs division in the Garda Commissioner’s office was seeking permission from the Data Protection Commissioner to destroy their archive of recordings. It has subsequently emerged that the Garda authorities have 2,485 tapes in their possession.
The Irish Times has learned that the Attorney General had not been informed of the systemic unauthorised taping in Garda stations on November 11th, 2013.
Routine request
The memorandum presented to her office at that time was a routine request for the nomination of legal counsel to advise on the disclosure obligations in the Ian Bailey case. It has also been confirmed that the Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice are currently dealing with the order for discovery made by Mr Justice John Hedigan on May 17th, 2013, in respect of at least three recordings.
The analysis of remaining recordings is continuing, according to a letter dated March 10th from former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan to the secretary general of the Department of Justice. They include recordings of telephone calls between journalists and members of the Garda at Bandon station.
“It has since transpired following inquiries that systems would appear to have been installed during the 1980s in Garda stations to allow for the recording of incoming and outgoing telephone calls from designated extensions,” Mr Callinan said in his letter.
The rationale behind this, he stated, was the recording of Garda radio traffic to and from control rooms, 999 calls and the gathering of evidence around calls made to Garda stations regarding bomb threats and other code word messages. This practice had continued in some stations, he added, with the relevant recordings being retained within the station itself. The former commissioner made a general reference at the meeting in the Attorney General’s office last November to systems put in place in Garda stations – then thought to be in the 1970s – to allow for the recording of telephone calls.
Bailey case
The issue came to light because a member in the Bandon station, when asked for any material which might be relevant to discovery in the Bailey case, came forward with tapes of conversations which took place at the time of the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. The commissioner was inquiring from the Attorney General’s office whether there was anything which would stop him from directing the destruction of recordings.
The Irish Times has confirmed that the Attorney General was not aware of the working group set up by Mr Callinan to investigate the unlawful recordings of conversations. She did not initiate it nor was she a member of it. She first learned of it last week. | 1,265,445 |
Famous for facilitating an incredible exchange of culture and goods between the East and the West, the ancient Silk Road is thought to have meandered across long horizontal distances in mountain foothills and the lowlands of the Gobi Desert. But new archaeological evidence hidden in a lofty tomb reveals that it also ventured into the high altitudes of Tibet—a previously unknown arm of the trade route.
Discovered in 2005 by monks, the 1,800-year-old tomb sits 4.3 kilometers above sea level in the Ngari district of Tibet. When excavations began in 2012, the research team examining the site was surprised to find a large number of quintessential Chinese goods inside. The haul lends itself to the idea that merchants were traveling from China to Tibet along a branch of the Silk Road that had been lost to history.
“The findings are astonishing,” says Houyuan Lu, an archaeobotanist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Geology and Geophysics in Beijing. Among other artifacts, archaeologists unearthed exquisite pieces of silk with woven Chinese characters wang hou (meaning “king” and “princes”), a mask made of pure gold, and ceramic and bronze vessels.
They also were taken aback by what looked like tea buds. The earliest documentation of tea in Tibet dates to the seventh century A.D., but these buds would be 400 to 500 years older. To confirm the identification, Lu and his colleagues analyzed the chemical components of the samples and detected ample amounts of caffeine and theanine, a type of amino acid abundant in tea. Moreover, the chemical fingerprints of the tea residues were similar to those of tea found in the tomb of a Chinese emperor of the Han Dynasty dated to 2,100 years ago, and both could be traced to tea varieties grown in Yunnan in southern China. “This strongly suggests that the tea [found in the Tibetan tomb] came from China,” Lu says. The findings were recently published in Scientific Reports.
Such early contacts between Tibet and China “point to a high-altitude component of the Silk Road in Tibet that has been largely neglected,” says Martin Jones, an archaeobotanist at the University of Cambridge. The evidence contributes to the emerging picture that the Silk Road—which the Ottoman Empire closed off in the 15th century—was a highly three-dimensional network that not only traversed vast linear distances but also scaled tall mountains.
Other studies, too, have documented signs of trade along mountain trails in Asia from around 3000 B.C.—routes now known as the Inner Asia Mountain Corridors. “This suggests that mountains are not barriers,” says Rowan Flad, an archaeologist at Harvard University. “They can be effective conduits for the exchange of cultures, ideas and technologies.” | 1,265,446 |
Everyone has knick-knacks of sentimental value around their home, but what if your emotions could actually be shaped into household things?
A project recently unveiled at the Sao Paulo Design Weekend turns feelings of love into physical objects using 3D printing and biometric sensors. “Each product is unique and contains the most intimate emotions of the participants’ love stories,” explains designer Guto Requena.
As users recount the greatest love stories of their lives, sensors track heart rate, voice inflection, and brain activity. Data from their physical and emotional responses are collected and interpreted in an interface, transforming the various inputs into a single output.
The real time visualization of the data is modeled using a system of particles, where voice data determines particle velocity, heart rate controls the thickness of the particles, and the data from brain waves causes the particles to repel or attract each other. To shape these particles into the form of an everyday object such as a lamp, fruit bowl or vase, a grid of forces guides the particles as they flow along their course.
The final designs are then sent to a 3D printer, which can print in a variety of materials including thermoplastics, glass, ceramic or metal.
While this method is both creative and intriguing, are any of the produced objects meaningful if the viewer is unable to interpret the emotion from which the object was created?
Looking at the objects produced, it’s difficult to imagine them eliciting similar feelings in viewers as were felt by those recounting their tales of love. Furthermore, the data that produced the objects cannot be extracted, so that information is lost.
Other groups have begun to experiment with infusing printed objects with interactivity, where the object provides the user with information. Techniques to convert digital audio files into 3D printable audio records have been developed as well as a way to play a ‘sound bite’ on a 3D printed object by running a fingernail or credit card along printed ridges which produce a sound.
The “Love Project” is an interesting experiment that successfully includes the end user in the process of creating objects of meaning while also democratizing and demystifying the use of interactive digital technologies, yet it’s a stretch to think that the aesthetics of the objects themselves can help understand the mysterious human emotion of love.
What would be truly exciting is if we were able to transform intangible emotions into data, that data into a physical object and interact with the object in a way which brings insight and meaning and new way of understanding and visualizing our emotional states. With designers like Requena and Neri Oxman finding new ways to integrate art and 3D printing, we’re likely to see even more exciting projects at the interface of technology and expression on the horizon.
[Photo credits: Guto Requena] | 1,265,447 |
We all witnessed the scenes when Panama qualified for their first ever World Cup in October 2017. We also know that since it was the nation’s first qualification, it played a big role in the size of the celebrations. What many people may not know, however, is that Panama has been on the rise for a while.
The recent results in Panamanian soccer are really good. Panama reached three consecutive Gold Cup final fours in 2011, 2013, and 2015. They, of course, qualified for the World Cup, edging out the historically superior Honduras and the much better funded United States.
At the youth level, Panama’s U-17 teams have shown success in recent years, and as those players are hitting the top-level that success is carrying over. The boys made the 2011 and 2013 U-17 World Cups, meaning there are now two generations of U-17 players in their primes.
Most people do not expect Panama to obtain great results in Russia, and frankly, they have a pretty tough group, but third place is within their grasp. The matches against Belgium and England will be difficult encounters, but it is possible to imagine a draw for the canaleros. Tunisia, on the other hand, is winnable and Panama will play to win with the hope to earn some points in Group G.
Embed from Getty Images
It is their first ever showing at the World Cup, and I think most Panama fans will agree that good results are not as important as enjoying the experience. Next time, whenever that may be, will be the time to get serious.
The other piece of the puzzle, one that often gets abandoned, is the success of the domestic league in Panama. Thanks to Tauro’s upset over FC Dallas in the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) earlier this week, the Liga Panameña will again be represented in the quarterfinals of the competition. Last year, one might recall Arabe Unido’s back-to-back group stage victories over Monterrey, in what has to be considered one of the biggest upsets in CCL history.
Arabe Unido also won their group in the 2013/14 edition, knocking-off the Houston Dynamo in the process. Remember, the Liga Panameña does not receive many seeds in this tournament when compared to the MLS or Liga MX. With limited options, they have still managed to advance into the later rounds at a consistent rate; one that is matched only by the region’s “Big 3”.
All in all, it is clear that football in Panama is on the upswing, and I don’t think it has reached its peak yet. Keep your eyes on Tauro in the next round of the CCL, and of course, we’ll see how they fare in Russia. | 1,265,448 |
A popular drinking fountain in downtown Wellington has closed because arsenic was detected in the water.
Photo: RNZ
The fountain at Moore Wilson's was closed in August and no date has been set for its reopening.
The fountain sits above a bore which was originally drilled in 1926 as part of the old Thomson and Lewis factory, which made aerated waters, cordials, and non-alcoholic beverages.
The drinking fountain has operated for 10 years without any problems.
Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
It's not connected to the major aquifer that feeds Wellington.
The first positive test for arsenic came through last year when Wellington Water was looking for alternative emergency water sources.
The testing, which was carried out by an independent consultant, showed elevated levels of arsenic. But Moore Wilson's was not told of those results until July. At that time they were notified by regional public health and immediately commissioned their own tests.
When the water was retested in mid-July it showed the level of arsenic was just above the limit for drinking water.
Medical Officer of Health Stephen Palmer then advised Moore Wilson's to turn off the bore below the fountain, as a precautionary measure.
Dr Palmer said because because previous tests were clear and the results were just above the limit, it does not believe the public has been at risk.
He said Moore Wilson's was not required to regularly sample the well, but tests had been done on occasions over the last few years. Dr Palmer said nothing else was found.
Moore Wilson's sales manager Amanda Thompson said they were undertaking ongoing monitoring of the fountain and sharing the results with regional public health.
She said no one knew why the arsenic has become a problem, although she stressed the levels were very low and there was no risk to the public.
Wellington Water's manager of risk and assurance, Erin Ganley said the bore was 150m deep and ran into fractured greywacke.
"It takes water from the natural fissures in the greywacke, from the artesian water that trickles down through the greywacke below Wellington and so it's not connected to the aquifer."
She said it wasn't clear how arsenic came to be in the bore and it wasn't present in Wellington's aquifer.
"There are other locations around New Zealand that do have challenges with arsenic. It is linked to different types, some soils have naturally high arsenic levels, so it just depends on what the soils are that the water is travelling through and what it picks up as it travels through it."
"We don't have arsenic in the Wellington aquifer and we don't have arsenic in any of our surface water sources. So it is very specific to the geology that you are taking the water from," she said. | 1,265,449 |
The i-CoBat project—a collaboration between M&I Materials, WMG and Ricardo —aims to develop and to demonstrate a new form of EV battery cooling technology based on cell immersion cooling using dielectric fluid.
This innovation promises improved power output and cell longevity, faster charging rates and lower costs, significantly addressing the key consumer issue of range anxiety.
As the automotive industry seeks to electrify its product ranges, the thermal management of high capacity batteries used for electric vehicles (EVs) is proving a significant challenge. The performance and efficiency of battery cells can deteriorate—and their ageing can be accelerated—if operating temperatures exceed the upper or lower limits of a comparatively narrow range. In extreme cases, exceeding upper operating limits can risk thermal runaway of cells, leading to catastrophic failure and potentially, fire.
For market acceptability—and in particular, to persuade owners of liquid-fuelled vehicles to switch to an EV—charging times can be a significant challenge in terms of alleviating range anxiety. Consumers seek fast recharging times, good performance and range, and competitive prices; during fast charging, however, battery cells can produce up to three times more heat energy than in normal driving and charging operations; with heating of the cells being a dominant factor in battery ageing and performance degradation. Using current battery cell technology, therefore, the requirement for thermal optimization of pack design and operation is a vitally important one.
Current EV batteries packs tend to use air cooling or cold plate cooling using water/ethylene glycol or a refrigerant. The limitations of such thermal management systems act to restrict charging rates or the number of fast charge cycles that can be carried out each day. One possible answer to range anxiety could be to increase pack size, but this would significantly increase costs.
Led by M&I Materials, the i-CoBat projectis part of the UK government’s Faraday Battery Challenge and will test an immersion cooled battery pack concept using M&I Materials’ biodegradable dielectric cooling fluid, MIVOLT. The chemistry of MIVOLT fluids allows them to act as a dielectric coolant, removing heat directly from all areas of a battery cell surface.
MIVOLT’s dielectric fluids do not conduct and can therefore come into direct contact with battery packs. Direct liquid immersion cooling with MIVOLT means that heat transfer begins at the source with no reliance on a secondary indirect cooling system. Direct liquid immersion cooling inherently enables a simpler thermal management solution, negating the need for complex systems.
M&I Materials have been working in advanced materials and electrical insulation for more than 100 years, with a core specialism in dielectric fluids for more than 40. The innovation promises improved power output and cell longevity, faster charging rates and lower costs, significantly addressing the key consumer issue of range anxiety. | 1,265,450 |
S. workforce has a criminal record, so Latinos will get caught up. The system is too big,” said Cartagena.
For Alex Piquero, a criminology professor at the University of Texas in Dallas, the surge in demand for reform coincides with calls from people urging law enforcement to collect better data to understand how Hispanics are getting caught up in the criminal justice system.
“It’s possible that Latinos need specific resources, but we don’t know that,” Piquero told NBC.
According to data collected by the Urban Institute, only 40 states report race in their arrest records and only 15 states report ethnicities such as Latino or Hispanic.
“States that only count people as “black" or “white” likely label most of their Latino prison population “white,” artificially inflating the number of “white” people in prison and masking the white/black disparity in the criminal justice system,” the Urban Institute report reads.
In New York, where Cabán is running, Latinos make up nearly 30 percent of the state’s population. Yet it only collects data on Latinos who are part of the parole and prison population — not those who are arrested or are part of the probation population.
“None of these new policies that we intend to implement will mean anything if we don't change culture and change how we're measuring success,” said Cabán. “We're not going to be measuring success through how many convictions we can get, how quickly and how many people we can throw in jail.”
Cabán added "we are at this precipice of a point where needed change could save thousands and thousands of lives.”
LatinoJustice's Cartagena, who has spent decades working on criminal justice issues, said that system reform should not only focus on fixing the future, but helping those who have been affected by the consequences of unduly harsh prosecutions and sentences.
“It should also be about retroactive restoration,” he said. “And right now there’s not enough political will to do this.”
Cabán said that if she wins on Tuesday, she hopes to be part of a change many see as way overdue.
Her plans include engaging in a series of community efforts to provide people across neighborhoods with services that could help close what is referred to as the school-to-prison pipeline.
“When you lay your head down at night, knowing that you have a job, education opportunities, health care, it's the best way to keep our community safe,” Cabán said. “Stability equals public safety.”
FOLLOW NBC LATINO ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM. | 1,265,451 |
FILE - In this Tuesday, May 22, 2018 file photo, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, right, welcomes Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg upon his arrival at the EU Parliament in Brussels. A senior European Union lawmaker on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 is calling for an audit of Facebook by Europe's cyber security agency and data protection authority. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)
FILE - In this Tuesday, May 22, 2018 file photo, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, right, welcomes Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg upon his arrival at the EU Parliament in Brussels. A senior European Union lawmaker on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 is calling for an audit of Facebook by Europe's cyber security agency and data protection authority. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union lawmakers appear set this month to demand audits of Facebook by Europe’s cybersecurity agency and data protection authority in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
A draft resolution submitted Thursday to the EU Parliament’s civil liberties and justice committee urged Facebook to accept “a full and independent audit of its platform investigating data protection and security of personal data.”
The assembly summoned Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in May to testify about allegations that political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica used the data of millions of Facebook users to target voters during political campaigns, including the one that brought U.S. President Donald Trump to office.
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Claude Moraes, the chairman of the EU parliamentary committee who drafted the resolution, said the probes “need to be done.”
“Not only have Facebook’s policies and actions potentially jeopardized citizens’ personal data, but then they have also had an impact on electoral outcomes and on the trust citizens pose in digital solutions and platforms,” Moraes said.
The committee aims to adopt the resolution, which will almost certainly be modified, by Oct. 10 and put it to the full assembly for endorsement in late October, well ahead of EU elections next May.
The resolution also urges European justice authorities to investigate any alleged “misuse of the online political space by foreign forces,” and calls on the EU’s executive Commission to propose ways to boost the powers of Europe’s public prosecutor’s office so it can tackle crimes against electoral infrastructure.
It notes “with regret” that Facebook did not send staff with the right technical knowledge to answer lawmakers’ questions and “points out that such an approach is detrimental to the trust European citizens have in social platforms.”
Zuckerberg was questioned in Brussels on May 22, but the lawmakers used up most of the speaking time with their own remarks, leaving the Facebook chief with little time to respond. | 1,265,452 |
Woman killed in Punta Gorda police gun demonstration
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – A 73-year-old woman was shot and killed by a police officer in front of about 34 people Tuesday evening during a live gun demonstration just before 7 p.m. on Tuesday at police headquarters, the department said.
Mary Knowlton was one of two Citizen Police Academy students chosen to participate in a “shoot/don’t shoot” role-playing situation, Punta Gorda police said. The demonstration was supposed to instruct the class about making decisions “using simulated lethal force,” according to Chief Thomas Lewis.
Knowlton was “mistakenly struck” with a live round during the lesson’s “first scenario,” the department said.
She was rushed from the police department to Lee Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead, PGPD said.
Lewis, who was named the permanent chief in March after serving in the interim, called the shooting a “horrible accident.”
“Our entire police department and all of our city leaders are absolutely devastated for everyone involved in this unimaginable event,” he said in a press conference Tuesday night. “I am asking that if you pray, you pray for Mary’s husband and family and for all the officers and witnesses that involved this incident. Everyone involved is in an overwhelming state of shock and grief.”
Knowlton was a board member with Friends of the Punta Gorda Library, according to the organization’s webpage. She was originally from Minnesota, according to her Facebook.
Her son, Steven Knowlton, called it a devastating time for the family in a statement to CBS This Morning.
Niece Jenny Tucker Christensen shared sentiments via Facebook.
“My mom was a saint,” he said. “Such a tremendous loss of a wonderful human being and the best mom a kid could ever hope for.”
Punta Gorda police did not immediately identify the officer involved, but said they were placed on administrative leave. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been asked to conduct an investigation into the incident, which is common in officer-involved shootings.
The academy is a free eight-session course offered to as many as 35 people who are interested in learning local civics, according to Punta Gorda’s official website. The class meets biweekly on Tuesdays at different government buildings from January to May. Knowlton’s class met at the department at 5:30 p.m., according to Lt. Katie Heck.
Photos posted in a March Facebook album show adult students in a classroom watching and participating in what appears to be live demonstrations.
Do you see a typo or an error? Let us know | 1,265,453 |
Jon Bernthal has said he wants to reprise his role as The Punisher in the MCU.
The actor revealed that he is ready and waiting to get back into black and kick some more criminal a**, should the opportunity arise for a movie.
Responding to questions about the character at Fandemic Tour Houston over the weekend, the 43-year-old said he isn't done with Frank Castle just yet.
But he kept fans guessing, refusing to give any certainties about what the future holds.
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"I mean, you know I can't talk about that," he said. "And like, by the way, honestly, y'all will know before me. They don't tell me s***.
Credit: Netflix
"It's all about Frank. He needs to be portrayed in a very certain way, in my opinion, and he means so much to so many people in the comic book community, and the law enforcement community, and the military community.
"In my opinion, you don't just do a Punisher, you don't just do a Frank Castle thing, you know? You gotta do it right, and you gotta respect what he stands for, what he's all about. To me, if that works out, then I'll jump in with everything I have. And if not, I'm not gonna."
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He added: "I love Frank, too. I really don't have any desire to move off of him."
In February this year, Netflix announced that the popular series would not be returning for a third season.
Netflix released a statement to LADbible which read: "Marvel's The Punisher will not return for a third season on Netflix. Showrunner Steve Lightfoot, the terrific crew, and exceptional cast including star Jon Bernthal, delivered an acclaimed and compelling series for fans, and we are proud to showcase their work on Netflix for years to come."
The news broke the hearts of fans across the world, so much so that a petition was opened demanding Netflix bosses reconsider their decision.
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Credit: PA
But it wasn't just fans who were left distraught by the news, the show's star was also deeply saddened by how things ended.
Taking to Twitter at the time, Bernthal shared a goodbye message with fans. It read: "To all who have served. All who know loss. All who love and understand Frank and his pain.
"It has been an honour to walk in his boots. I'm endlessly grateful to the comic fans and the men and women of the Armed Services and law enforcement community who Frank means so much to.
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"Thank you to the USMC and all the wonderful soldiers who trained me. Go hard. Be safe." | 1,265,454 |
We love talking to our cam performers, and they are a lot of help in answering your questions. Today, we’re talking with popular performer Anabelle Blondy, a 25 year old blonde bombshell who puts on some of the best and most dynamic shows.
She’s here to answer a burning question on the minds of our members. We asked Anabelle Blondy, what are the best high tech sex toys? Do they increase pleasure? She was more than happy to give us the rundown.
There’s a huge range of sex toys that are “high tech”, but some of them may not be what you think. I’m just going to run down a few toys I want and a few of my favorites.
High-joy gives the users the ability to hook into the internet once they purchased the toys themselves and purchase an account, and meet new friends. With this capability the toys can be controlled via the internet and the new friends control them. Interesting huh? Kinda cool. Never tried that but it does sound amazing.
“I’m ready to give you best show you have seen!))I like to play with myself with fingers and toys and like to be watched))”
Then there is ohmibod and the awesome items there. Ohmibod offers the MP3 attached vibrators and the cell phone activated vibrators. Get a playlist with some good tunes and lotsa bass beat and well..err…yeah. You do the math. And the cell phone one? Works off the RF of the cell phone. Get a phone call or make a phone call? Yep. You figured that one out! I have these, so request them in my show if you want to learn about these or if you want more info. I’ve tried them and have them and LOVE them!
The sybian, well, there is TONS of press about the various models on this. They are great to ride, and the textured patch gives lots of clitoral stimulation, plus it frees up your hands and allows access to the rest of your body, so it’s great for double penetration or playing with your partner while they ride it.
The wireless remote toys certainly take the play out into the open and that is an incredible feeling! There is so much variety out there to choose from. Vibrating panties, vaginal, anal, etc.
And then there is the classic Hitatchi, my favorite high tech toy. It plugs into the wall and is all about the torque. It’s my favorite friend for squirting orgasms.
There are so many more toys and really…’high tech’ does not always mean “MORE POWER”, so just use what gets you or your partner off the best. | 1,265,455 |
News Bitcoin ‘Failed Safe Haven Test’ Again: Goldbug Schiff
Bitcoin proponents have rallied round to denounce gold bug Peter Schiff after he said the cryptocurrency has proven it is not a safe haven.
Schiff: Bitcoin Failed ‘Again’
In a Twitter debate on August 29, Schiff used the sudden weakness in the Bitcoin price to suggest it was an unreliable alternative investment to assets such as stocks and fiat currency.
He rejected previous theories that BTC could help investors looking to hedge risk from exposure to factors such as the US-China trade war.
Bitcoin lost around 8% on Thursday, taking its price to below $9500 – a level it has stayed at since.
“Bitcoin has again failed the safe haven test,” Schiff declared.
“On Friday, as escalating trade tensions sent global stock markets plunging, investors sought refuge in monetary safe havens. The Japanese yen, Swiss franc, and especially gold all moved higher. Yet Bitcoin plunged by more than stocks!”
The concept of Bitcoin as a safe haven has seen major traction in recent months as stock markets worldwide tumbled. The largest cryptocurrency nonetheless remains a no-brainer investment: BTC/USD is up 150% since the start of 2019.
Schiff is well known as a Bitcoin naysayer. Recent weeks have seen him at the center of a number of clashes with the BTC community, some of which became media spectacles.
Last week, the gold mogul said that Bitcoin would never reach the kind of price levels its foremost figures hope for. $50,000, he tweeted, was impossible, while gold would “eventually” become worth $5000.
Gold Bug Triggers Parabolic Trav
Responding to his latest comments meanwhile, the Twitter account known as Parabolic Trav took Schiff to task over his apparent logical fallacy.
“Why on earth would Bitcoin be a safe haven? Bonds are the safe haven in the current paradigm. Nor is gold a safe haven,” a noticeably triggered Trav wrote.
“Bitcoin is simply, over time, ‘number go up[.]’ If you try to fit it into the legacy financial analysis box, you’ll be rekt[.] Which is what you are Pete!”
Gold has nonetheless performed strongly this year. In August, the precious metal reached a new record price against the euro.
Going forward, other BTC participants expect current price underperformance to become an insignificant issue. In an interview with Bloomberg this week, Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz said the tide of institutional investor involvement would slowly start to show its impact on Bitcoin markets.
What do you think about Peter Schiff’s latest ani-Bitcoin argument? Let us know in the comments below!
Images via | 1,265,456 |
Boris Johnson wants to consider an illegal immigrant amnesty The Mayor of London is to commission a study of a potential amnesty for illegal immigrants in the capital. Boris Johnson said deporting thousands of people working illegally in the UK was "just not going to happen". He told Channel 4 News that allowing long-term illegal immigrants to earn the right to stay would see "hugely increased" tax revenues. Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said the suggestion was "naive" and would lead to more trafficking of people. Mr Woolas said: "I think this is naive of the Mayor. His comments might start with the best of intentions but will lead to more people traffickers making more money and exploiting more vulnerable individuals." Of the 700,000 illegal immigrants thought to be in the UK, about 400,000 are in London. Mr Johnson said: "What I want to do is to commission a study by my own economics team here at the Greater London Authority into the possibility [of an amnesty]." "We want to look in detail at what the economic impact of such an earned amnesty system would be." I think that we could have other hoops that they might have to go through in order to be able to quality for an earned amnesty scheme
Boris Johnson He acknowledged that illegal immigrants had broken the law and should "in principle" be deported, but he added: "Unfortunately it is just not going to happen." Mr Johnson said he did not want to encourage illegal immigration but said there were significant legal and financial obstacles to mass deportations. He suggested that those allowed to stay would have to have at least five years' residency. They must also be able to demonstrate their commitment "to this society and to this economy". He added: "There's got to be a very substantial period in which they have been in this country. "I think that we could have other hoops that they might have to go through in order to be able to qualify for an earned amnesty scheme. 'Every eight minutes' "For instance, it might be necessary to have a clean criminal record. It might be important that they should go through various citizenship tests, the kind we already have. "And there might be some sort of financial obligations that they have to meet as well." Migrationwatch UK said the proposal was "amazing" with a recession looming. Chairman Sir Andrew Green said: "An amnesty would also add hundreds of thousands to the housing lists." Mr Woolas said the UK Border Agency was committed to stopping illegal migration. "We are putting in place the biggest shake-up of the immigration system for 45 years and we are seeing the results of this." He added: "We are putting more resources into expelling foreign law breakers and last year we removed one person every eight minutes."
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age to his pitching arm.
Mike Foltynewicz finished the 2015 season, for the Atlanta Braves, with a 5.71 ERA, 5.05 FIP, 8.00 strikeout rate, and a 3.01 walk rate. Foltynewicz possesses one of the best fastballs in the game, rated as a 70 (out 0f 80) by Fangraphs. Also, Folty offers two average off-speed pitches to his arsenal, a curveball and change-up. If he develops his secondary pitches, he looks like a lethal back-end bullpen arm in the making.
John Hart stated that the Braves want to pursue relief arms this offseason, but Mike Foltynewicz presents an alternative route for the Braves. Arodys Vizcaino finished the 2015 season as the Braves closer, but 2015 was his most successful season to-date. Throughout the 2015 season, Foltynewicz struggled after hitters went through the lineup once; thus, that makes him a viable option for the pen. Another aspect of Folty’s game that needs to improve is his ability to pitch instead of throw.
Too many times in 2015 did Mike Foltynewicz get hit hard, because he became too predictable as a pitcher. He needs to learn how to command his secondary pitches to get ahead of hitters on a more regular basis. Anyone in the MLB can hit a 97 MPH fastball down the middle, and too many times did Folty need to resort to his fastball, because he fell behind in the count. By gaining more experience in the MLB, Foltynewicz likely improves his command heading into 2016.
However, the Atlanta Braves have a log-jam at starting pitching entering next season, likely relegating a couple arms to the bullpen. With Mike Foltynewicz’s plus-plus fastball, he looks like a leading candidate to get the bump to the bullpen. He presents a solid alternative option to Vizcaino, and he may even overtake Vizcaino. Jason Grilli is expected to be back for the Braves in 2016, but it remains to be seen if he reclaims the closer role. A one-two-three punch of Grilli, Foltynewicz, and Vizcaino could transition the Braves from having a terrible bullpen to a solid bullpen without having to go out and acquire talent.
The Braves likely want to add a strong left-handed relief pitcher to the mix, but the answer to their bullpen woes may lie, in large-part, within the organization. Do not forget that Tyrell Jenkins is pushing for a spot on the Braves roster next season. With eight or more viable candidates for a rotation spot in 2016, look for the outliers to be inserted into the bullpen. Look for Spring Training to paint a clearer picture heading into 2016, showing who the Braves favor as starter or relievers. | 1,265,458 |
. I call it eternity.
When we are completely being here and now, it is delightful to see the chrysanthemums. In his teisho on this poem, Sawaki Roshi mentioned that the chrysanthemum is called enrei-ka (延齢花), which means present “the flower which prolongs one’s longevity.” When we sit in zazen, and when we do things dwelling right here and now, being free from a self-made karmic story, the buddha’s eternal life is revealed right there. This is what Sawaki Roshi meant when he said, “It’s pointless for human beings merely to live a life that lasts seventy or eighty years.”[4]
In Manzan’s version, this is not a philosophical poem about time but a very straightforward expression of Dogen’s joy at meeting his brother monks again. The title is, “Meeting again with Brother Monks on the Ninth Day of the Ninth Month.” The subject of the first two lines is his brother monks. “This place” refers to Eiheiji. His brother monks left Eiheiji on the ninth day of the ninth month the previous year, and they returned on the same day of the current year. Dogen express his joy at meeting them again. They talk about what happened to them during the year in which they did not see each other. When they laugh with each other leaning on the handrail, they find beautiful chrysanthemums blooming.
— • —
[1] (Dogen’s Extensive Record 10-7５, p.629) © 2010 Taigen Dan Leighton and Shohaku Okumura, Dōgen’s Extensive Record. Reprinted by arrangement with Wisdom Publications, Inc., www.wisdompubs.org.
[2] Realizing Genjokoan: The key to Dogen’s Shobogenzo (Shohaku Okumura, Wisdom Publications, 2010) p.2.
[3] The Wholehearted Way: A Translation of Eihei Dogen’s Bendowa with Commentary by Kosho Uchiyama roshi (translated by Shohaku Okumura and Taigen Daniel Leighton, Tuttle Publishing, 1997) p.23.
[4] The Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo (Wisdom) p.205.
— • —
Translation and commentary by Shōhaku Okumura Roshi.
— • —
For further study:
> More of Dōgen Zenji’s Chinese Poems
Copyright 2019 Sanshin Zen Community | 1,265,459 |
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Washington (AFP)
President Donald Trump renewed claims Sunday that Special Counsel Robert Mueller has "conflicts of interest" that should bar him from probing Russian interference into the 2016 election, saying the pair had a business relationship.
In a series of tweets targeting Mueller's credibility, Trump alleged he had "a very nasty & contentious business relationship" with Mueller.
The message marked the first time Trump publicly elaborated on prior vague claims of conflicts of interest regarding Mueller.
"Is Robert Mueller ever going to release his conflicts of interest with respect to President Trump, including the fact that we had a very nasty & contentious business relationship, I turned him down to head the FBI (one day before appointment as S.C.) & Comey is his close friend," Trump said.
In January, The New York Times reported that Trump had tried to fire Mueller in June 2017 but backed down after White House Counsel Don McGahn threatened to resign if the president made him follow through with the order.
Trump, the Times said, cited three conflicts of interest Mueller had that disqualified him from the high-profile probe.
The alleged conflicts included: a dispute over fees at Trump National Golf Club; work for a law firm that once represented the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner; and an interview for FBI director a day before being named special counsel.
- 'Illegal Scam!' -
Trump, who has called the probe -- which also seeks to determine whether the ex-reality TV star's campaign team colluded with Russia and whether he obstructed justice -- a "witch hunt" and repeatedly demanded it be ended, claimed that Mueller's team is filled with Democrats.
Mueller is a Republican like Trump, as is Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who hired the special counsel, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
In his tweets, Trump also said the investigation was triggered by a damning dossier compiled by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, and questioned why Mueller wasn't investigating Democrats.
"There is No Collusion! The Robert Mueller Rigged Witch Hunt, headed now by 17 (increased from 13, including an Obama White House lawyer) Angry Democrats, was started by a fraudulent Dossier, paid for by Crooked Hillary and the DNC. Therefore, the Witch Hunt is an illegal Scam!" Trump said.
"Also, why is Mueller only appointing Angry Dems, some of whom have worked for Crooked Hillary, others, including himself, have worked for Obama....And why isn't Mueller looking at all of the criminal activity & real Russian Collusion on the Democrats side-Podesta, Dossier?"
Mueller's team recently indicted a dozen Russian intelligence agents for hacking into Democratic party computers. Four members of the Trump campaign also have been charged for alleged crimes, but they were not directly linked to collusion.
© 2018 AFP | 1,265,460 |
Transcript for Panic! at the Disco Performs Live on 'GMA'
We are here now with panic at the disco. Their fifth studio album ""Death unbelievable. Debuted at number one on billboard and you guys were here when it first came out in January. Welcome back to "Gma." Thank you so much for having us. Hi, guys. How does that feel? I know this one was near and dear to your heart. Absolutely. Everything I write is personal. I felt reborn and wanted to showcase that and I hope it comes across. I think it does. I think it does as well and a lot can enjoy you. Big tour in the work. Yes, February. We're starting a headline tour. It'll be phenomenal. Headline tour meaning, tell me where. Everywhere. All over. All over the U.S. U.S. So what we're doing is this is actually my first -- I'm happy to say this playing Madison square garden. Yes. Oh, my, what. Yeah, it's crazy. Do you get nervous. Oh, yeah, always. I love it. Do you have a ritual. High-five and take a shot to kill the nerves. We got a chance to watch you warm up. A little Sinatra. A little queen influencing your music. Is that intentional? Absolutely, I love both of those artists. Frank, I have him tattooed forever and ever. Both phenomenal and so different that I love pulling from different ends of the spectrum. We love your voice. Thank you so much. Unbelievable. My little girl is here by the way. I know you are excited. We won't keep fans waiting any longer. Panic at the disco with "Death of a bachelor."?????? do I look lonely I see the shadows on my face?????? people have told me I don't look the same maybe I lost weight?????? I'm playing hooky with the best of the best?????? pull my heart out my chest so that you can see it too?????? I'm walking the long road watching the sky fall?????? the lace in your dress tangles my neck how do I live?????? the death of a bachelor oh oh oh?????? letting the water fall the death of a bachelor oh oh oh?????? seems so fitting for happily ever after whooo?????? how could I ask for more?????? lifetime of laughter at the expense of the death of a bachelor?????? I'm cutting my mind off feels like my heart is going to burst?????? alone at a table for two and I just want to be served??? the best you've ever had?????? share one more drink with me smile even though you're sad?????? I'm walking the long road watching the sky fall?????? the lace in your dress tangles
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate. | 1,265,461 |
Dear indaHash Community,
KuCoin has chosen indaHash Coin (IDH) as an eligible project for their official Vote for Listing Telegram Action 2! ☑️📈🎉
Check it out:
https://news.kucoin.com/en/vote-for-all-your-favourite-coins-telegram-action-2/
Please be sure to read these instructions carefully and support indaHash Coin (IDH) to win the Vote for Token Listing on KuCoin exchange! 🏆
How to Vote 📝
If you haven’t done so, make sure you sign-up on KuCoin. You need to be registered on KuCoin in order for your vote to count. Your account needs to be verified, 2FA activated and hold at least 1 KCS in order for your vote to count. Join the competition’s Telegram channel: https://t.me/Kucoin2ndtelegramcompetition Follow the instructions in the pinned post. The voting system is automated, so things will be super easy for you. Make sure you READ THE PINNED POST, so you know what to expect, you will have to start a private conversation with Kucoin voting bot, it will take care of the rest! Fill the fields bot sends you in the private chat, you will be asked the following:
What is Your KuCoin Account Email Address (remember this account must be verified, have 2FA enabled and hold at least 1 KCS for your vote to count)
Project Name You Want To Get Listed (just choose the project from the list)
Please spread the word to vote for indaHash Coin (IDH) and let’s win this! 🏁
NOTE: The more KCS your account holds the more your vote will count!Each account gets 1 vote per KCS with a maximum cap of 1000 voted per account i.e:
1 KCS = 1 vote
2 KCS = 2 votes
3 KCS = 3 votes
1000 KCS = 1000 votes
5000 KCS = 1000 votes
So the more KCS you have the more weight your vote has! Make sure you keep the KCS in your account at least for 7 days after the competition is finished to allow our admins to account for fake accounts and tally the votes effectively.
The competition goes live on September 27th 18.00 UTC+8 and voting will remain open until September 30th 18.00 UTC+8.
We will keep the community informed on the status of listing! Thank you all for your participation and engagement! We look forward to seeing indaHash Coin (IDH) on KuCoin exchange ✌️
Thank you for your support,
indaHash Team | 1,265,462 |
Najib said he was baffled at the worsening economic state of the country, despite the PH administration’s move in selling various government assets. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his Merdeka Day message today criticised the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration, expressing his sadness and disappointment at the country’s state of affairs in a five-minute video clip posted on his Facebook page.
Najib blamed PH for the disunity the country currently faces, saying peace and harmony in Malaysia have become even more fragile.
“How did we get here when all this while, for 61 years before the PH government, unity was the backbone of the country’s development.
“Where is the spirit of 1Malaysia, the spirit of Negaraku, Sehati Sejiwa, the spirit of Malaysian leadership that at the moment is most needed?” Najib asked.
The Pekan MP lambasted the disunity among PH leaders on certain issues, citing the Chinese educationist group Dong Zong as an example.
“The current PH government members argue with one another. DAP, PKR and Bersatu are constantly blaming and doubting each other.
“For example, on the Dong Zong issue, they disagree with one another and are not on the same page. The easiest thing for them to do is point fingers at the Opposition.
“They are the ones who are playing the racial and religious sentiments to the point that Malaysia is at unease, and who are the victims? The people,” he said.
Najib said he was baffled at the worsening economic state of the country, despite the PH administration’s move in selling various government assets.
He said the drop of the Malaysian ringgit is the worst in history and pointed out that the national debt has drastically increased, citing a monthly payment of almost RM10 billion a month.
“Every month we read about the sale of government asset which was gathered previously by Barisan Nasional.
“Every month we hear news about some crony who is interested in government assets.
“The PH government should have more money after selling the assets and wealth but what is baffling is, the national debt is increasing,” he said.
Najib ended his Merdeka message by stating that though BN was now the Opposition, it will not sabotage the country.
“Whatever challenges we face ahead, we should not let Malaysia fall.
“In conjunction with the 62nd Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day 2019, we have reached this point. Malaysia is in critical condition under PH,” he said. | 1,265,463 |
Our paper "Islands as refuges for surviving global catastrophes" is published in Foresight. The preprint is here.
This article continues a series of articles which explore the plan B of global risks mitigation which is an attempt to survive a possible global catastrophe (where plan A is prevention, and plan C is leaving a message to the next civilization in Earth).
The survival on islands is possible only in case of a very narrow range of catastrophes (likely, less 1 per cent of all possible catastrophes), but it is still much cheaper than creating space refuges on Mars or Moon, and moreover, most needed infrastructure on islands already exists, like research scientific bases on remote islands, so converting them in a catastrophic shelter will be thousands time cheaper than creation of the space refuges and could be done much quicker in case of emergency.
Different islands may help to survive different types of catastrophes.
A criterion for island refuge is suggested and only a few from millions exiting islands are suitable as refuges. The most suitable for such refuge is Kerguelen group of islands, as they are very remote, don't have airstrip, could provide food, have mountains and small scientific base.
A combination of a nuclear submarine converted into a refuge, an island as its base and an underground bunker on that island could provide most diverse and effective way of survival on Earth (Branson, btw, survived hurricane Irma on a wine cellar on his Necker Island.)
Abstract. Islands have long been discussed as refuges from global catastrophes; this paper will evaluate them systematically, discussing both the positives and negatives of islands as refuges. There are examples where isolated human communities have survived for thousands of years on places like Easter Island. Islands could provide protection against many low-level risks, first of all bio-risks. However, they are vulnerable to tsunamis, bird transmitted diseases, and other risks. In this article, we explore how to use the advantages of islands for survival of global catastrophes. The large number of islands on Earth, and their diverse conditions increase the chance that one of them will provide protection from a catastrophe. Additionally, we could increase this protection if an island were used as a base for a nuclear submarine refuge (the “Yellow submarine” project), and/or combined with underground bunkers, and/or extremely long-term data storage. We explore the requirements for survival on islands, their vulnerabilities, and ways to mitigate and adapt to risks. We look at several existing islands, suitable for the survival of different risks, timing, and budgets. To end, we will compare islands with different types of refuges, and look for places similar to islands, which could also provide protection.
This table from the article presents the relation between different catastrophe sizes and needed refuges. | 1,265,464 |
It's all fun and games when an animal learns to ride a unicycle or puts on people clothes, but as we've previously discussed, there's a fine line between "adorable" and "creepy," one that gets crossed when our furry friends get too smart. For instance, monkeys wearing bow ties are always welcome, but as soon as they're hunting with spears and cooking hamburgers, we start worrying about how difficult it will be to learn their language once they take over the world.
5 Orangutans Are Learning to Spearfish
Chad Baker/Jason Reed/Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
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Orangutans are the paradoxically-smaller-yet-10-times-stronger cousins of human beings. We're perfectly fine with making movies about them playing baseball or checking into hotels, but if one decides to tear your head off, there isn't a whole lot you can do except make some funny faces and hope that derails its train of thought. Unless, of course, you have a weapon -- the primary advantage we have over orangutans is that we can make awesome tools that we can use to stab or shoot them out of murdering range. You're never going to see an orangutan with a-
Jay Ullal/H.F. Ullmann
OH SHIT.
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In 2008, workers at an animal sanctuary on the island of Kaja in Borneo noticed the apes hanging from tree branches and attempting to spearfish with harpoons, just like the locals do. In other words, the orangutans saw us using weapons to cause harm to other species and quickly realized how powerful and awesome that makes you feel. Look at that majestic bastard up there. He even seems proficient, dangling precariously above water that we assume is full of deadly piranhas, steadying himself for a lethal strike of laser-like precision.
Luckily for human civilization, physical evolution has not yet caught up with the orangutans' desire, and their lack of dexterity makes it almost impossible for them to actually spear any fish. But they are able to use the sticks to spear fruit that's fallen from the trees to float tauntingly out of reach in the river, because before you learn to walk, you have to learn to crawl.
Jay Ullal/H.F. Ullmann
"Walk" and "crawl" being polite euphemisms for "conquer humanity" and "it'll happen any day now."
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That said, the orangutans have figured out how to use the spears to steal fish out of the natives' fishing nets, which means they have already discovered the primary reason humans developed tools -- to fuck with other people. | 1,265,465 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tony Carr, 503-249-9996, [email protected] IDA Pledges $2,500 To Catch And Convict
Kitten Torturer in McMinnville, Oregon
Portland, Ore. (July 20, 2011) – In Defense of Animals (IDA), an international animal protection organization with over 100,000 members, has pledged $2,500 to a reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals who tortured and abandoned four kittens in McMinnville, Oregon.
On June 30, four starving and dehydrated kittens estimated to be 3 to 4 weeks old were brought in a box to the Homeward Bound Pets animal shelter in McMinnville. One cat appeared physically healthy otherwise but the other three showed signs of torture.
A calico kitten had such severe injuries that she had to be euthanized. Her whiskers had been burned off and her lower jaw was broken, possibly due to a kick to the head or another extremely forceful impact. A Siamese kitten showed multiple wounds at various stages of healing, a sign of continuous abuse rather than a single incident or accident. The third injured cat - a long-haired white kitten with grey spots – is weak, barely able to stand or walk, and exhibits a strange gait when moving. The cause of these symptoms is unknown. The shelter worker fostering the kitten reported that he had a hard time holding up his head to eat and cried incessantly while held, unable to be comforted.
Shelter workers and IDA staff believe the nature and variety of these injuries constitute solid evidence of torture. The attending veterinarian is in the process of filing a report of possible aggravated animal abuse with local police.
“FBI profiles of serial killers suggest that the disturbed individual responsible for these despicable acts is a danger, not only to other animals in the area, but to people as well,” said Tony Carr, Northwest Coordinator for IDA. “Serial killers commonly practice on animals before 'graduating' to humans and studies have confirmed that those who abuse animals are much more likely to abuse humans. For your own safety, as well as the safety of the animals, children, and adults around you, please contact the police if you have any information on animal cruelty in your community.”
IDA urges anyone with information leading to the conviction of the criminal(s) responsible for the brutal mutilation of these defenseless kittens to contact the City of McMinnville Police Department at (503) 434-6500. The three people who dropped off these kittens at Homeward Bound are urged to contact either the shelter or the police to help with the investigation. To contribute to the reward fund, please call IDA at (415) 448-0048. ### | 1,265,466 |
Cocos-BCX forum has been officially launched to pump the user experience on November 25. Together with Cocos-BCX’s website and WeChat public account, the forum provides a platform for users and developers to gather on and share the thoughts on Cocos-BCX and blockchain technology.
As the platform for the next-generation digital economy, Cocos-BCX aims to build an open-source community for blockchain and gaming development, and to create an integrated multi-platform runtime environment for games, providing developers with the convenience and completeness in game development, while bringing users a whole new gaming experience and unprecedented gaming status. By now, an overwhelming majority of developers have hankered for a platform of mutual support and technical exchange for Cocos-BCX developers. Since mass effort makes things different, the idea of online community forum gathering global Cocos-BCX developers is hence produced and has blossomed into a real development.
Cocos-BCX forum is open to all, whether users are senior developers, students, researchers or fans, you can exchange on interesting topics, give feedback, provide support and make suggestions or comments. In this community, users can learn and make use of everything and advance the development of Cocos-BCX, which will get involved in more extensive distributed governance and make greater progress.
A noteworthy fact is that, similar to open-source blockchain technology, Cocos-BCX forum belongs to those concerned developers. Partners and contributors are welcome to join in the construction of the community, jointly promoting the world-wide development of Cocos-BCX technology.
Initiated and created by Cocos-BCX, the Cocos-BCX Forum now involves Main, Ecosystem, Developers and Local board, providing coverage of:
Technical Q&A: Users can either raise or answer technical related questions in here;
Cocos-BCX tutorials: This board is designed for tutorials resources sharing of Cocos-BCX technology;
Cocos-BCX feedbacks: Engineers and technical experts from Peking University, blockchain business will be here to take users‘ feedback and share their insights on the technology & Cocos-BCX product.
Cocos-BCX cases: Users can post their own experience on Cocos-BCX cases, and thus get their creative thinking spread and receive more comments and feedback.
Cocos-BCX multi-languages: This board supports discussion in multi-languages, such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
Others: Cocos-BCX news updates and other subject discussions.
The forum is available on https://forum.cocosbcx.io/，click here to sign up and keep up to date with what’s new in Cocos-BCX now. | 1,265,467 |
President Donald Trump singled out NBC “Meet The Press” moderator Chuck Todd on Twitter Saturday morning, asking when “Sleepy Eyes Chuck Todd” and NBC will stop covering the “fake Trump/Russia story.”
When will Sleepy Eyes Chuck Todd and @NBCNews start talking about the Obama SURVEILLANCE SCANDAL and stop with the Fake Trump/Russia story? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2017
Mr. Trump fired off two tweets Saturday, first asking when Todd and NBC will stop covering any Russian government ties to the White House, then vilifying NBC as the same network that perpetuated the theory he had “no path to victory” before the election. Mr. Trump dubbed NBC’s coverage a “total scam.” Todd discussed Russia Friday on NBC’s “Nightly News.”
It is the same Fake News Media that said there is "no path to victory for Trump" that is now pushing the phony Russia story. A total scam! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2017
Todd wasted little time responding to Trump’s Twitter explosion.
For those wondering, I slept well even tho I stayed up late watching the #msstate upset of UConn. #cowbell. Don't feel sleepy at all though — Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) April 1, 2017
Mr. Trump didn’t stop tweeting criticisms of news outlets from there, saying the “failing New York Times finally” got something right and linking to a story about a lack of insurance companies under Obamacare.
The failing @nytimes finally gets it - "In places where no insurance company offers plans, there will be no way for ObamaCare customers to.. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2017
Mr. Trump’s tweets comes after a week filled with Russia developments, including reports that his former national security adviser Michael Flynn is seeking protection before offering testimony. In addition, a pair of White House officials have been accused of helping provide the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee with reports showing Mr. Trump and his associates were swept up in surveillance of foreign communications by American intelligence agencies.
FBI Director James Comey confirmed two weeks ago that the FBI is investigating ties between Mr. Trump and the Russian government. CBS News learned Friday that the probe extends back earlier than previously reported, with investigators looking into connections between the Trump campaign and the Russian hack of the Democratic National Committee beginning in March 2016.
Mr. Trump has either criticized or ignored angles on the Russia story. On Friday, the president walked out of the Oval Office without signing planned executive orders on trade, dodging questions from CBS News’ chief White House correspondent Major Garrett about Flynn and any immunity offer. Pressure is building for Flynn to testify before Congress without immunity. | 1,265,468 |
on 17 March 2016
If you’re building a SaaS startup, then your biggest competitor isn’t a competitor. It’s Microsoft Excel. That was the mantra a few years ago. Add in Google Docs and it still holds true. Contact lists, mailing lists, accounts, invoicing, market research, budgets, checklists, schedules, timetables: Excel is the hammer of choice for anything that looks like data in a business, large or small.
Today, if you’re building a service for communities or individuals then Facebook is almost certainly your biggest competitor. B2B: Excel, B2C: Facebook.
People are increasingly using Pages, Groups and Albums for all kinds of things that would previously have justified a whole startup.
Job hunting? There’ll be dozens of job groups in your city. Working on a car restoration? There’s a group for that. Looking to buy or sell something? Local groups. Add in the fact that every Facebook group and page basically comes with a free mobile app (albeit embedded in Facebook’s app).
There’s an increasing threshold of utility for people to move away from Facebook: the place where everyone already has accounts, receives notifications and visits on a daily basis.
By threshold of utility I mean the features that make your service better than a Facebook group or page. Pitching Squarespace against Facebook Pages, for example, Squarespace provide better search engine discovery, and more scope to express branding and convey detailed information. For some businesses that’s important, but for many others it’s of zero benefit. They get everything they need from a Facebook page - opening hours, a map, and some photos.
Similarly with groups: A Facebook group listing apartments to rent will lack any form of domain-specific search fields. You can’t search by rooms or area. But it’s very accessible and you can search by keyword easily enough. You can also see other people’s comments on places, which might be an advantage over a standalone property search site.
One piece of good news though, is that contacting people through these groups and pages is actually easier than ever now. So if you’re not frantically spamming everyone, then you’ve a great opportunity for engaging with customers.
Any startup should include Facebook in its competitive analysis. How are people using it? Does it work? What’s missing? And be open to the idea that a Facebook group that does even 80% of what people want might easily be your toughest competitor. You can guarantee that Facebook has already signed up 99% of your potential userbase.
I’m starting to write a little more frequently - follow me on twitter @alexmuir if you like the way I waffle! | 1,265,469 |
(Reuters) - Blackstone Group LP, the world largest alternative asset manager, has raised over $22 billion for its latest buyout fund, setting it on course to be the private equity industry’s biggest ever, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
FILE PHOTO: Stephen A. Schwarzman, chairman and CEO of Blackstone, attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2019. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
The strong fundraising underscores how investors are brushing aside concerns over the private equity sector overheating, as they search for returns that beat the stock market by a wide margin. The industry has raised some $3 trillion from investors since 2012, according to industry tracker Preqin.
New York-based Blackstone, led by co-founder Stephen Schwarzman, expects to conclude the fundraising for what will be its eighth buyout fund later this year, said the source, requesting anonymity as the details are confidential.
Blackstone has not set a fundraising target, but it anticipates the buyout fund will overtake Apollo Global Management’s $24.6 billion fund as the largest ever, the source added.
This is a departure from the traditional fundraising model, whereby managers set caps on the size of the fund targeted to allay investor concerns over amassing more capital than they can prudently invest.
Blackstone President Jon Gray had said in January the firm expected the fund to exceed $20 billion in size. A Blackstone spokeswoman declined to comment on the progress of the fundraising, which was reported earlier by Bloomberg News.
Blackstone has a target of reaching $1 trillion in assets under management by 2026. At the end of 2018, it had $472.2 billion in total assets under management.
Blackstone, which had $44.4 billion in private equity funds it had raised but yet to invest at the end of 2018, has been pursuing several large leveraged buyouts in recent years.
Last year, it purchased a majority stake in the Financial and Risk business of Thomson Reuters Corp, the parent company of Reuters News, in a $20 billion deal.
Acquisition prices in leveraged buyouts are rising on the back of increased competition for deals, setting off alarm bells among private equity backers.
According to Cambridge Associates, a private equity investment adviser, the U.S. industry’s average internal rate of return (IRR), a key benchmark for private equity returns, was just under 10 percent in 2015, the most recent year for which it compiled data.
Blackstone’s seventh flagship buyout fund, which raised $18.6 billion in 2016, has so far posted a net IRR of 21 percent. Its sixth fund, raised in 2011, has a total net IRR of 13 percent. | 1,265,470 |
Yesterday, I attended the city’s quarterly Bicycle Plan Implementation Team meeting, and among the many questions with which I annoyed the good folks from LADOT and City Planning (during what must have been a long two hours for them) was one about wayfinding. This, as regular readers will know, is a subject dear to my heart—for what good are bikeways, when we get them, if you can’t find your way to where you want to go on them, for want of decent signage?
It’s hard for any one person to be intimately familiar with all the scattered neighborhoods of a city as vast as Los Angeles; even if you’re not a visitor, you may get lost following our bikeways now and then. Yet so often bikeway signage consists of nothing more than a flimsy tin rectangle stating that you are on a bike route or path, or in a bike lane. Which you probably already knew; the stripes aree kind of a giveaway&hellip.
When I’ve explored the bikeways of Portland, San Francisco, the East Bay, or Denver, I’ve been pleased to find that there are clear and informative signs letting you know what popular destinations lie how far off in which direction. Neighborhoods, shopping areas, rivers and hills, other bikeways, all listed on discreet but very obvious signs.
We have a few of these in the LA area, though most of them are not in the City of Los Angeles. The array of signs in the photo is on LA County land, in Marina del Rey. It is, however, very good, though a bit of a stylistic mishmash: one sign clearly indicates and names the two bike paths that intersect at this spot; another names the creek by which one is riding; and a third names nearby destinations, such as the shopping strip, the Coast Guard and Sheriff’s stations, and the Marina.
The best wayfinding I’ve seen so far in the city has been on the Chandler bike path connecting North Hollywood to Burbank. And some new signs have popped up along the Los Angeles River bike path in Elysian Valley—but those were placed by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Agency, not the city.
But at the BPIT meeting, I finally received an answer I could be happy with: the LADOT has budgeted for a citywide wayfinding project, to improve (or in most cases simply add) signage along bike routes, lanes, and paths.
We know how LA works, so there is a likelihood that the effort will take a long time to implement, or may simply peter out, if we don’t keep nagging LADOT. But apparently it’s now a public commitment—which in itself is a sign that we’re headed in the right direction. | 1,265,471 |
This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.
A truck driver potentially faces vehicular homicide charges in the fiery and fatal crash near Denver on Thursday, police said. At least 28 vehicles were involved in the incident — 24 cars and four semis. The driver has been taken into custody.
[Previous story, 7:15 a.m. ET]
A runaway semi plowed into stopped traffic near Denver, igniting a fiery crash that included a dozen cars and three semis. Multiple people were killed, authorities said.
In addition to an unknown number of fatalities, at least six people were hospitalized with injuries following the crash on Interstate 70 on Thursday, according to the Lakewood Police Department. The driver of the semi was among those injured.
The semi hit cars stuck in a jam due to evening rush hour and a prior crash farther ahead, Lakewood Police Agent Ty Countryman said.
“We do know that I-70 eastbound traffic was at a standstill or close to a standstill because of a crash way out ahead of it,” he said at a news conference. “The semi was eastbound and ended up colliding with the … cars that were stopped because of the accident ahead. That’s all we know or we are releasing at this point.”
Video from the scene showed towering orange flames and piles of lumber scattered across the highway. By Thursday night, the area was littered with smoldering ruins.
Darin Barton was panhandling near the scene when the crash happened. He told CNN affiliate KDVR that when the cab of the truck rolled over and flames ignited, he quickly dropped the sign he was holding and ran toward the cars.
“It just caught on fire. And I just dropped my sign, took off running,” Barton said. “As soon as I [saw] flames, I headed under the bridge, grabbed three or four people out of a couple cars.”
The fire was extinguished, but glowing embers and hot spots prevented investigators from immediately getting to the crashed vehicles. Investigators are working to match who was in each car, police said early Friday.
It’s unclear what made the vehicles ignite, Countryman said, adding that he does not know what was in the semis other than the one that appeared to be carrying lumber.
“This is looking to be one of the worst accidents we’ve had here in Lakewood,” he said.
The Denver West Parkway bridge over I-70 sustained significant structural damage from the fire, authorities said. The portion of I-70 affected by the crash is closed overnight in both directions.
Lakewood is about 10 miles from Denver. | 1,265,472 |
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones may be trying to position himself for the ability to declare victory, even if running back Ezekiel Elliott’s holdout lasts into the regular season.
“We’ve got a marathon here,” Jones said earlier this week. “We want Zeke when we get to the playoffs. We want Zeke when we’re in the dog days of the season.”
Whether they sign Elliott to a new contract or not, they’ll likely get Zeke in the “dog days of the season.” Signed through 2020, Elliott risks tolling his contract for a full year if he doesn’t show up in time to get credit for the fourth year of his five-year rookie deal. Under the Joey Galloway arbitration precedent from nearly 20 years ago, a player under contract gets credit for the contract year by playing in eight games.
Given the possibility that the Cowboys will request and receive a roster exemption of up to three weeks when Elliott returns, his best move would be to show up right after Week Six. That way, he’s guaranteed to be available for eight games — from Week 10 (a Sunday night contest vs. the Vikings) through Week 17 — even if the Cowboys use the maximum roster exemption.
The Cowboys understand these rules, and they surely assume that Elliott will show up in time to get credit for 2019, setting himself up for 2020 being the final year of his contract. By talking about the season being a marathon and wanting Zeke for the “dog days” and the playoffs, Jones hints at a regular-season holdout of up to six weeks, a roster exemption to get Zeke into shape, and then having Elliott on the team for the final two months of the regular season.
Of course, it’s possible that Elliott, who didn’t flinch at forfeiting a year of credit toward free agency, won’t care about letting his contract toll for a full year. If his goal isn’t to become a free agent but to get more money from the Cowboys, he could choose to skip the full season, giving up more than $3.5 million but preserving his body.
While that wouldn’t secure the same path to free agency that Le’Veon Bell finagled a year ago, Elliott’s leverage over the Cowboys comes from the withholding of services. And Elliott, who seemingly stunned the Cowboys with his training-camp holdout, could shock them by not showing up at all this season.
For now, they assume he’ll be there, perhaps no later than the days following the sixth Sunday of the season. Unless the two sides begin to make progress soon in their negotiations, it’s time to start looking at Week Six as the potential point of no return. | 1,265,473 |
Amber Rudd has admitted she hasn't read a leaked report blaming police cuts for a rise in violent crime - on the day she launches a strategy to tackle the trend.
The Home Secretary said there are "a lot of documents that go round" her department because "we do a lot of work in this area".
She was responding after a memo marked "official - sensitive" obtained by The Guardian found police cuts have "likely contributed" to a spike in violent crime.
The document said criminals may have been "encouraged" by the reduction in police staffing numbers and a fall in prosecution rates.
"I haven't seen this document," Ms Rudd told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday.
Govt cuts led to 'breeding ground for knife crime'
"There are a lot of documents that go round the Home Office. We do a lot of work in this area.
"Of course violent crime is a priority. I think that you do a disservice to the communities and the families by making this a political tit-for-tat about police numbers."
Ms Rudd later added: "There are many different views that people have, which is why I commissioned this report to make a really detailed look at it."
:: London's year of horror so far
London Mayor Sadiq Khan met with her that morning to discuss knife crime, which has risen significantly in the capital.
He wrote on Twitter that she had "some positive ideas on tackling violence".
Image: 51 people have died as a result of crime in London so far this year
But, he warned, "there needs to be an acceptance that cuts to policing and youth services are a factor".
It comes on the same day Ms Rudd launches a £40m Serious Violence Strategy to tackle violent drug gangs and introduce prevention inventive.
Ahead of the launch, she said the Government "must do whatever it takes" to make Britain's streets safe.
Home Office minister Victoria Atkins defended police numbers, which have been cut from 143,734 to 123,142 in seven years.
"We have to be led by the evidence and we know that in the most recent spikes in knife crime, there were many more police on the streets," she told Sky News Sunrise.
"By the time we've got the police involved, it's too late. We need to be getting to these young people before they make that terrible decision to pick up a knife."
She added the rise in violent crime was "incredibly complex" and that "we need to focus on all these factors, not just one or two".
More than 50 people have died in London since the start of 2018 as a result of crime.
Ms Rudd delivered a speech at on Monday morning laying out her plan to put an end to the killings. | 1,265,474 |
out someone else. Cool.
34. Go out for ice cream. Huge, topping-crazed ice creams.
35. Play Bingo. It’s surprisingly fun, affordable, and you may even win extra money for your honeymoon.
36. Have a water gun fight. ‘Nuff said. (Winter alternate: have a snowball fight.)
37. Teach the other how to do something they’ve never tried: the guitar, a new card game, how to bake an apple pie, just as a few examples.
38. Grab tickets to a local college sports game (baseball, football, basketball).
39. Go to a jazz club. (Or make your own at home.)
40. Get hooked on a new TV series and have a marathon. (Note: I love the series available on Amazon Prime, try it for free right now!)
41. Go for a night drive. Pack up some good tunes and ride off into the sunset.
42. Go to a club and dance your you-know-whats off.
43. Plan out your honeymoon. Spend the evening talking about where to go; once you decide, surf the internet to find attractions and things to do while you’re there.
44. Go blading or skating at your local rink or around town.
45. Make reservations for dinner at a restaurant you’ve always wanted to go to. Get deals and save even more money.
46. Take a fitness class together you’d both enjoy. Or, buy a workout DVD, a challenging one (or even this!) to try at home.
47. Grab inflatable tubes and spend an afternoon on a river. (Cold weather alternate: go ice skating, sledding, or spend the afternoon at a cider mill.)
48. Learn how to brew your own beverage: try your hand at making cappuccinos, a flavored ice tea, or your own brewed beer. Become a coffee connoisseur and learn how to use a french press. You may find a new favorite.
49. Go on a restaurant tour – on the cheap. Stop in for an appetizer at a few different locations to try out some new foods.
50. Grab a few laughs at a comedy club or rent a funny movie to get rid of any wedding planning stress.
It doesn’t matter what the activity is… just have fun, take a break from stressing out, and enjoy spending some one-on-one time together.
So, we want to know…
What are YOUR favorite cheap date ideas?
Share them below!
Happy Planning!
xo
Emma
Have you read the book yet?
Updated 2019 | 1,265,475 |
Apparently there is a new Russian botnet floating around by the name of Amadey. Despite the very high price tag on Russian forums, it is a very simplistic bot that is quite honestly poorly made.
SHA-1: B7235E2981456D29412AD935BDBCA140B6AD0151 Compiler info (from ExeInfo PE): Microsoft Visual C++ ver 5.0/6.0 Sample given by a friend.
The payload was not spreaded directly but rather was packed with a crypter. The crypter seems to be TitanCrypt, based on the storage method (appended section which contains the payload which was encrypted and then base64 encoded). The crypter’s code is encrypted using a self-decryptor as well as heavily obfuscated, and is executed by using windows API callbacks.
The code being passed as a callback function
The code is put into a layer of self decryption loop, after which we jump into a very obfuscated region of code. After some (and by some I mean a lot) of manual analysis, the important code where the payload is decrypted is identified.
The decryption call:
The code decryption call
After the call
Stepping over the call, we see the region decrypted rather clearly. Dumping this, we get the actual payload.
SHA1: 3E4CD703DEEF2CFD1726095987766E2F062E9C57 Compiler info: FreeBASIC Compiler v0.14 – 0.17
The malware in question is “Amadey”, a new bot that is sold on a Russian forum. Link to thread content in Russian. It goes for $600 for a license, and for the high price cap the author is extra nice in his customer service – he delivered the symbols for us within the binary, allowing reverse engineers to inspect it with great ease : )
Main function
UAC bypass just runs self as admin…
Terrible permission check by creating a file in a privileged folder
Startup is added by executing the command “REG ADD “HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders” /f /v Startup /t REG_SZ /d path_to_folder_containing_the_file”
The bot is not too interesting, it is in fact very simplistic. I would write more about the bot but…there is nothing else to write about. The programmer was nice enough to ship the file with symbols for us, making things a lot easier and in the process of doing so defeated the point of him encrypting strings. All files are available on virustotal and virusbay as usual. | 1,265,476 |
ANKARA (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said he would stress the need to respect Iraq’s sovereignty during a visit on Friday to Turkey, which has been locked in a dispute with Baghdad over who should participate in the campaign to retake Mosul from Islamic State.
Slideshow ( 6 images )
Carter, acknowledging it was a delicate issue, declined to explicitly say whether he thought Turkey should be allowed toparticipate in the operations in Iraq. Washington in the past has deferred that matter to Baghdad.
“Of course we’ll talk about that. And yes, of course there are sensitivities there. We conduct ourselves, and the coalition does, respecting Iraqi sovereignty. That’s an important principle of ours,” Carter said.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has been frustrated that NATO member Turkey has not been more involved in the U.S.-backed assault on Mosul and angered by Washington’s support for Kurdish militia fighters battling Islamic State in Syria.
Asked about Turkish air strikes that pounded a group of Kurdish fighters allied to a U.S.-backed militia in northernSyria, Carter said he was not certain about what precisely transpired.
“I can’t clarify that now,” he said.
A U.S. defense official said on Thursday the specific groups struck by Turkish jets were not themselves U.S.-backed, but were “close to and friendly with” the fighters Washington is working with.
Ankara has been in a row with Iraq over the presence of Turkish troops at the Bashiqa camp near Mosul, as well as over who should take part in the offensive in the largely Sunni Muslim city of Mosul, once part of the Ottoman empire and still seen by Turkey as firmly within its sphere of influence.
Erdogan has warned of sectarian bloodshed if the Iraqi army relies on Shi’ite militia fighters.
A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged Turkey had legitimate security concerns in Iraq but added that Washington had been clear that “no military should be operating in areas (of Iraq) where they aren’t invited expressly.”
“We have been working behind the scenes to get the Iraqis and the Turks to come to an understanding about how we’re going to move forward on Mosul,” the official said.
Carter steered clear of directly commenting on the matter ahead of his talks in Turkey. He acknowledged the United States was partnering with both Iraq and Turkey in the fight against Islamic State.
“These are two close friends of ours. In the case of Turkey, it’s a NATO ally. And we want to keep everybody focused on the objective here, which is to defeat ISIL, because that is a threat to all three of us,” Carter said. | 1,265,477 |
Meghan Markle joined fiance Prince Harry and the rest of the Royal Family at church for their traditional Christmas Day service.
The couple arrived at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk for a morning carol service, alongside the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Image: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate
Wearing a light brown coat and brown hat, with warm boots and a bag, Ms Markle walked arm-in-arm with Prince Harry and waved to waiting crowds, as they made the short journey from Sandringham House.
Her Majesty was in attendance having missed last year's service with a cold, as was husband Prince Philip.
Meghan curtsies for the Queen
Just before the group headed off to the church, Ms Markle was seen to curtsy before the Queen, prompting a furious flurry of picture taking from the waiting press photographers.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were also at the service, with hundreds of people having gathered to witness the family's arrival and some calling out "Merry Christmas" as they walked past.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arm in arm as they head for church
Among the onlookers were American couple Ashley Millican and Michael Metz, who got engaged live on Sky News as they waited for the Royals to arrive.
Sky's Royal Correspondent Rhiannon Mills said: "I suspect there are a few people at home who are thinking, why on earth would I want to leave my nice, warm, comfy house and my nice Christmas presents and stand outside in the cold.
Image: Harry and Meghan meet wellwishers outside church
"But there have literally been thousands of people this morning who have been queuing up to try and get inside the gates of the Sandringham estate. It's been an unbelievable scene, really.
"I suspect some of it is to do with the Meghan Markle effect. This is one of the rare occasions people will be able to see Meghan before Harry and Meghan get married in May.
Image: Ms Markle walked next to the Duchess of Cambridge
"People have also talked about the fact that it has been very important to see the Queen as well, who last year was too unwell to go to church on Christmas morning."
Prince William and Kate mingled with the crowds outside once the service came to a close, with the Royals then returning home for a traditional festive lunch.
The couple greet wellwishers after church
Later they were expected to watch the Queen's annual Christmas address, whichthis year focused on remembering those affected by the traumatic events of 2017, including the Grenfell Tower fire, the Manchester Arena bombing, and the terror attacks in London. | 1,265,478 |
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A £40million theatre and cinema will be built opposite Paisley Abbey, we can reveal.
Paisley Community Trust wants to open the arts centre in the grounds of the former Arnotts department store.
It will be sited in the shop car park and include a bar and restaurant.
MSP George Adam has hailed the vision as the town vies for the UK City of Culture 2021 crown.
He said:“Every city or town should always be aiming higher and for better.
“Progress has to be made or we get left behind viewing the successes of others.
“This project provides a new vision of Paisley, providing arts and culture facilities much needed by the town.
“It will also bring employment and training, which will help form a community, including a chance to tap into the talent and potential offered by Paisley’s university and college.
“The 2021 bid is an ideal opportunity to place this project at the heart of our regeneration.
“It would not only improve the town, but also expectations and impressions of Paisley.
“I think it would be a missed opportunity if it is not part of the city of culture bid.
“This is a project that should be viewed by the people of Paisley and Renfrewshire to see if this is the vision they share and if it should be taken forward for the benefit of all.”
Paisley Community Trust insists the space would be the first step in creating a cultural and creative quarter.
Stallan Brand’s award-winning architects have drawn up blueprints for the mooted theatre on Gauze Street.
They will be unveiled at the Piazza Shopping Centre later this month.
The design is expected to include a main theatre and secondary studio, rehearsal and dressing rooms, dance practice rooms and cinema spaces.
It will be the first film complex in the town centre since the Kelburne Cinema closed its doors in 1997 before a blaze destroyed it the next year.
The project would build on the opening of Pendulum Bar and Grill, a restaurant opened by the Cardosi family in the former Arnotts store earlier this year.
Paisley Community Trust was founded back in 2014 by businessman Gary Kerr, computer games entrepreneur Andy Campbell and David Wallace, from Pace Youth Theatre.
They are staging a workshop featuring architects drawings, a model and their vision for the area.
Trust members will be on-hand to listen to feedback and answer any questions.
The drop-in session takes place in the mall from noon. | 1,265,479 |
of the continent’s most fertile countries, produces a wide range of foods including maize, rice, millet, sorghum, and sweet potatoes.
Despite this, according to the Zambian National Food and Nutrition Commission, 52 per cent of child deaths are due to malnutrition with 40 per cent of children under the age of five experiencing stunted growth.
It was in part due to Neria’s Investments' efficient supply of fertiliser, that the country successfully yielded a food surplus and exported vital produce to neighbouring countries, themselves facing a food shortage crisis caused by the devastating climatic conditions.
Mr Yousuf says: “Significant work is needed to develop the agricultural sector in southern Africa to ensure that it is productive, sustainable, and diverse enough to mitigate the risk posed by climate change.
“In the short-term, we can be prepared for the challenges posed by drought, parasites or flooding. However, to revolutionise food production in the region, we require long-term solutions through the adoption of innovative and ground-breaking practices.
“One such example of this is a particularly valuable effort in Zambia that is being supported by the UK government's Department for International Development.”
The department has invested more than £100m funding research to create "super crops" which are more nutritious and better resistant to disease with an improved ability to withstand severe flooding or drought.
The project shows how the problem of Zambia’s low-yielding agriculture can be mitigated by promoting new super crops.
But according to Yousuf, southern African countries also need to “diversify and modernise to tap into their full potential. Super crops are just one piece of the puzzle.
“Good farm management, effective irrigation, crop insurance, and the use of crops suited to local climate and conditions are other, vitally important factors.
“The efficient production of tea, coffee, sugar, maize and several other cash-crops is reliant on changing farming methods and moving away from rudimentary techniques towards a fully, mechanised approach.”
The incentives for African farmers to adopt these new crops are significant given their extensive benefits, as well as their market value given the overwhelming demand on the international market.
However, awareness of how to grow and harness these crops is poor and requires significant investment on the side of African governments to train farmers, increase understanding, and support throughout the initial stages of crop development.
The combined approach of revolutionising farming methods through mechanisation; the appropriate use of fertiliser and pesticides, and the deployment of high-yielding super crops means the future is bright for agriculture in Africa.
The next generation of farmers, harnessing the true potential of the land, will not only have the potential to deliver food security but a significant opportunity to prosper economically. | 1,265,480 |
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Kingston’s sexual assault numbers are continuing to rise, and the local sexual assault centre says a recent funding cut from the provincial government is making it hard for them to serve victims in the community.
This week, Statistics Canada published its crime statistics for 2018 — between 2017 and 2018, there was more than a 27 per cent increase in level one sexual assaults reported in Kingston.
The city saw an even more dramatic jump of reported sexual assaults the year previous, with a 54 per cent increase between 2016 and 2017.
But prior to 2016, Kingston was tracking minimal increases or even fairly dramatic decreases in reported sexual assaults.
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Sexuals Assault Centre Kingston is attributing the rising numbers to several factors.
“More survivors are coming forward, we are building a more supportive community to welcome survivors, and there is a broader acceptance that sexual violence is never okay and it can be stopped,” a news release from the centre read. Tweet This
Last year, Kingston police attributed the high sexual assault numbers to changes they made in dealing with victims of sexual assaults, as well as changes in classifying sexual assaults as “unfounded.”
With more victims coming forward, executive director of Sexual Assault Centre Kingston Brea Hutchinson says they are not equipped to meet the demand of people coming forward.
In March 2018, Hutchinson said the previous Liberal government promised the centre nearly $89,000 a year for three years to deal with the rising number of victims. Hutchinson said the funding would have paid for two new counsellors to help with the higher number of clientele as well as the higher number of events the centre has been invited to attend over the last two years.
But in March 2019, the Progressive Conservative government announced they would be changing the funding model promised by the Liberals.
Instead, the centre was awarded a one-time funding increase of $21,000.
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“This is helpful but a one-time funding increase of this size means we could at most, be hiring a part-time counsellor (say 18 hours a week), for one year. As a result of this change we have not hired two new counsellors,” Hutchinson said in an email.
Current funding has afforded an increase in hours for three of the centre’s counsellors for one year, but come April 2020, Hutchinson says the centre will see its services reduced.
She also said it’s unclear if the centre will receive any funding next year.
“I’ve been told it’s a one-time increase, and this government is hard to predict. We’ve been told nothing,” Hutchinson said.
Kingston police did not respond in time for publication. | 1,265,481 |
Unai Emery was asked about a variety of topics after our final pre-season friendly against Barcelona on Sunday.
The head coach spoke about the performance at the Nou Camp, the latest on Alexandre Lacazette's injury, whether Pepe will feature against Newcastle and the latest on possible transfers.
Here's what he said:
on the game...
Good evening. I am really happy with our work, with our performance. The next week we are going to start the Premier League against Newcastle and the result is going to be important. But not today. We want to create a winning mentality but the first today was to work with all the players, to start thinking how we can be better for the first match against Newcastle. We have some injuries but that is normal for every team. We played a good match here, away here in Barcelona against a good team, where every match is difficult. We had some mistakes, but it is up to us to improve that.
on Alexandre Lacazette...
It's one process. Hopefully he could be available for the match against Newcastle. The doctors, they are optimistic. We are going to wait. The next days are going to be very important to see how he is going to progress with his injury. But I am really, really happy with other players also. If he is ready for Sunday, perfect. If he isn't, then for the next. We need now to have a very competitive team, with the players ready forth next matches but above all to create a mentality to start strong and find our best performance in the next match.
on whether Nicolas Pepe could face Newcastle...
He is training with us for two days only and today we spoke and it was better to be continuing working alone in Colney. Tomorrow we are going to do training together with us and I think each day for him and for us is information we can receive on how he can be for the next training and next match, but with him I want to patient and also see every day how he is taking the pieces and the rhythm with us and also to see how we can play with him. He is in the same situation as other players who came in the same days. For example today with Lucas, after a week of training, today was his first minutes. After two training sessions I think it is best to keep training.
on if he thinks he will sign any defenders before the deadline...
But it has not changed, our idea and our message. Only if we can sign a player who really, really can improve our squad, then we are going to do that. If not, then not. We have good competitive players to achieve or try to achieve our target this season and we are going to be looking at something if we can sign someone, but with this idea. Only, and only, if we can improve. | 1,265,482 |
I, R Crino and L Ogliari (2017), “Import competition and mental distress: The hidden cost of globalization”, mimeo.
Dix-Carneiro, R and B K Kovak (2017), “Trade Liberalization and Regional Dynamics”, American Economic Review 107(10): 2908-46.
Dragone, D and N R Ziebarth (2017), “Economic Development, Novelty Consumption, and Body Weight: Evidence from the East German Transition to Capitalism”, Journal of Health Economics (51): 41-65.
Dupas, P (2011), “Health behavior in developing countries”, Annual Review of Economics 3(1): 425-449.
Giuntella, O, L Rotunno and M Rieger (2017), “Weight Gains from Trade in Foods: Evidence from Mexico”, University of Pittsburgh Working Paper No. 17/010.
Jacobs, A and M Richtel (2017), “A Nasty, Nafta-Related Surprise: Mexico’s Soaring Obesity”, New York Times, 11 December.
Mani, A, S Mullainathan, E Shafir and J Zhao (2013), “Poverty impedes cognitive function”, Science 341(6149): 976-980.
McManus, T C and G Schaur (2016), “The effects of import competition on worker health”, Journal of International Economics 102: 160-172.
Mullainathan, S (2011), “The psychology of poverty”, Focus 28(1): 19-22.
Ng, M et al. (2014), “Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980-2013: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2013”, The Lancet 384(9945): 766-781.
Pierce, J R and P K Schott (2016), “Trade Liberalization and Mortality: Evidence from U.S. Counties”, NBER Technical Report No. 22849.
Popkin, B M and P Gordon-Larsen (2004), “The nutrition transition: worldwide obesity dynamics and their determinants”, International Journal of Obesity 28: S2-S9.
Rogoff, K (2017), “The US is Exporting Obesity”, Project Syndicate, 1 December.
Endnotes
[1] Related studies provide evidence for adverse effects of manufacturing imports on the health of workers – see for instance, Colantone et al. (2017) and the associated VoxEU column, McManus and Schaur (2017), and Pierce and Schott (2016). | 1,265,483 |
not to overreact but the options would be limited if the budget remained as it was.
“If this budget goes through, we absolutely have to massively cut services and raise taxes,” Watt said. “That would be impossible to avoid.”
In Unalakleet, a rural Norton Sound hub community of about 700 people, Mayor Wade Ryan said he was concerned state cuts would lead to higher water, sewer and electrical bills for residents.
Unalakleet is among the cities that depend on money from a “community assistance” program, also known as revenue-sharing. The most recent version of the fund has paid out excess earnings from a rural electric subsidy endowment, to the tune of about $30 million. But the amount has declined over the years, forcing cuts. In some places, money from the fund makes up more than 70 percent of local government revenue.
The program is being changed, but not cut, officials said. Laura Cramer, the deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote in an email that the proposed budget included the $30 million payment in 2020. She said the administration hoped the proposed budget would stabilize expenses and allow the program to continue in the future.
Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, a former Democratic state representative, has long railed against cuts in state services and what he describes as a lack of a long-term state fiscal plan. He said in a Wednesday interview the Dunleavy budget was short-sighted and would not relieve Anchorage of its responsibility to respond to emergency calls.
“When we think of what Alaska is supposed to be, we always imagined a future built on the things we’ve done, but this budget devastates the legacy we’ve inherited,” Berkowitz said. “And in order to reconstruct it at some point of the future will be incredibly expensive.”
Price said communities that have been “prudent in their spending habits” will have options. He said some should be able to weather cuts with savings.
In the Kenai Peninsula Borough, which covers unincorporated cities on the Peninsula, managers were planning a conservative budget to cope with losing out on $15 million in oil property tax revenue and another $2.6 million in school bond debt, said Brenda Ahlberg, the community and fiscal projects manager.
The borough has faced cuts in recent years and will be looking at what more it could do, Ahlberg said.
For now, the borough mayor, Charlie Pierce, had ordered a hiring a freeze and a stop on capital projects that aren’t paid by grants, Ahlberg said.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the title of Bryce Ward. He is the mayor of the Fairbanks North Star borough, not the manager. | 1,265,484 |
and also by industry specialists.
Canvas Network
Information Security and Risk Management: An Overview will help you become more aware of the legal implications of managing cybersecurity in organizations. Study topics include:
Information security strategies and individual privacy
Legal security implications
Medical health record confidentiality and integrity
Cutting-edge technologies.
Learning Tree
From “Cyber Security for Management and the Boardroom” to “Cyber Security: Accessibility and Quality“, LearningTree offers a wide range of courses for infosec professionals.
You should take your time to read the course descriptions thoroughly before starting a course and see where they fit in your career path.
Stanford University
You can pick your favorite from various courses offered by this prestigious institution:
Know that these courses require advanced skills and knowledge to complete.
Security Tube
Security training online courses provides at least two interesting subjects to study:
USB Forensics
Android Security and Exploitation and almost a dozen others to consider.
PentesterAcademy
Here you’ll find some very technical and very specific cybersecurity courses, such as:
These courses boast using real-world scenarios which will help you try your hand at situations that you can come across in your professional practice.
The Virus Doctor
Advanced Techniques for Virus Removal is a great course for those involved in the business of computer repairs and assistance. As technology evolves, more people will need help with identifying malware infections and mitigating their impact, so this course could help you improve your business.
Infosec Institute
As the name says, the Infosec Institute focuses on helping cybersecurity and IT professionals keep the extra-fast pace of the field they work in.
The list of live courses is very appealing, as you can see from the sample below:
Information Security
Information Assurance
IT Audit
Microsoft
Cisco
8570.1
CompTIA
Secure Coding
Linux
Project Management
ITIL.
More cybersecurity resources to follow!
I really hope that this list of cyber security online courses gives you a good starting point to find exactly what you need to improve your knowledge and skills!
Do you have more insight?
If you have any recommendations, please send them in a comment below and I’ll be happy to add them to the list!
Are you new to MOOC (massive open online courses)?
Here is an article about Coursera, Udacity and edX will help you get a better picture of how you can explore them to your benefit.
This article was published by Andra Zaharia on May 17, 2016, and updated by Ana Dascalescu on February 9, 2018. | 1,265,485 |
Women suffragists picketing in front of the White House in 1917.
Suffragettes like Alice Paul remind us how ordinary citizens can successfully hold governments accountable and bring about extraordinary changes together.
Alice Paul, full-length portrait.
Beginning in January of 1917, six days a week for over two years, suffragists joined lead organizer Paul in protesting outside the White House with banners that called for an amendment, which would give women the right to vote. The banners emphasized America’s unfulfilled promise of democracy. One banner quoted from a speech made by President Wilson, the sitting head of state at the time, back to him –
“We shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts—for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments.”
The banner highlighted the hypocrisy of a government that touted democratic ideals and yet silenced half its citizens’ political voices by banning them from the ballot box.
Today, the fight to uphold the integrity of our elections and America’s democratic ideals continues in our republic. In the post-Citizens United era, unrestricted big money has flooded our elections and silenced the voices of ordinary citizens. Simply put, if you don’t have billions of dollars to support a politician’s race, your vote is increasingly worthless.
But like the suffragists, citizens are coming together to protest the effects of recent, misguided Supreme Court decisions, which has diminished the value of our votes and our right to influence our nation’s political process.
The tactic of the Stamp Stampede, a grassroots campaign that involves rubber-stamping cash with messages like “Stamp Money Out of Politics” in order to create a mass visual protest, was directly inspired by the women’s suffrage movement.
StampStampede.org bill that reads “Stamp Money Out of Politics”
In nineteenth century England, local groups calling for women’s suffrage carved “Votes for Women” onto pennies to get their rallying cry circulating as money exchanged hands. These pennies are now exhibited in the “History of the World in 100 Objects” at the British Museum.
The women in the suffrage movement tapped into the viral circulation of money to demand their right to vote. Now, 100 years later, American citizens are coming together in this generation’s ultimate fight to defend the power of everyone's vote.
In 1919, Paul and fellow activists saw the passing of the 19th amendment in Congress, which was then successfully ratified by the states in the following year. Today we are halfway to passing a 28th amendment that will stop big money’s takeover of our republic. And history is on our side – people-power works. | 1,265,486 |
Virginia Tech Chief of Police Wendell Flinchum will pass the reins of leadership in 2014 announced Sherwood Wilson, vice president for administration.
“Chief Flinchum is an outstanding leader and has been the glue binding the department during some very hard and stressful crime events,” said Wilson. “He is admired and respected by his officers, staff, the university community, and his colleagues in law enforcement. Regretfully, we accept the chief’s decision to start a new chapter in his life.”
Flinchum has been on the Virginia Tech police force for almost 29 years beginning as a patrolman in 1985. He began working as a student employee in the department in 1983 while a Virginia Tech student and never left. He worked his way through the ranks as detective, sergeant, lieutenant and captain, and became chief in 2006.
He has also served on the New River Valley Drug Task Force.
“He’s led with professionalism and dignity through some momentous events including the tragedy of April 16 and the loss of one of their own, Deriek Crouse, among several very high profile and emotionally difficult criminal investigations,” said Wilson.
Flinchum is well known among law enforcement circles. His close relationships with leaders at Virginia State Police, Blacksburg Police, Christiansburg Police, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, among others greatly improved local law enforcement effectiveness.
Under his leadership, the Virginia Tech Police Department received accreditation through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) in 2010. In 2012, the department received its fifth consecutive re-accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Incorporated.
At Virginia Tech, Flinchum added 11 sworn officer positions and other supporting staff, chaired and implemented a behavioral threat assessment program, and guided many initiatives impacting campus safety and security. He was a persistent advocate for a Public Safety Building which became reality earlier this fall when the police department and Office of Emergency Management moved into the Southgate Center.
Flinchum has served as the president of Virginia Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. He has spoken to police departments around the country and world concerning the events of April 16.
In a note to his department Flinchum said, “There comes a point in our life when we find it is time to transition to a new phase. I have been blessed with a wonderful career, great opportunities and the privilege of working with great people. I am proud of all of you and the work you have done to make [the Virginia Tech Police Department] one of the premier university law enforcement agencies in the country.”
Maj. Kevin Foust, will become acting chief Feb. 1, 2014, while the university conducts a national search for Flinchum’s replacement, said Wilson. | 1,265,487 |
I have a couple ethereum mining rigs using AMD GPUs but my partner and I would like to diversify our operation. We wanted a Monero CPU and GPU Miner for AMD cards but couldn’t find a pre-compiled binary.
Get AMDAPPSDK http://developer.amd.com/amd-accelerated-parallel-processing-app-sdk/ You’ll need to get this into your linux rig somehow and install it.
Next we need to prep the system for the build so run the follow lines of bash.
sudo apt install libmicrohttpd-dev libssl-dev cmake build-essential libhwloc-dev cmake-curses-gui
git clone https://github.com/fireice-uk/xmr-stak.git
cd xmr-stak; mkdir build; cd build
Now we’re ready to configure the compilation. ccmake.. -DCUDA_ENABLE=OFF Change the install path to /usr/local/xmr-stak Press “C” a couple times until you see a “G” option for generate config file.
After this I tried to run make but it errored out saying that libOpenCL.so was missing so make sure the OpenCL library in /opt is pointing to the right place.
tjadmin@rig05:~/xmr-stak/build$ ls -l /opt/AMDAPPSDK-3.0/lib/x86_64/libOpenCL.so
/opt/AMDAPPSDK-3.0/lib/x86_64/libOpenCL.so -> /usr/lib/libOpenCL.so.1
tjadmin@rig05:~/xmr-stak/build$ ls -l /usr/lib/libOpenCL.so.1
ls: cannot access '/usr/lib/libOpenCL.so.1': No such file or directory
rm /opt/AMDAPPSDK-3.0/lib/x86_64/libOpenCL.so
ln -s /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libOpenCL.so.1 /opt/AMDAPPSDK-3.0/lib/x86_64/libOpenCL.so
After this is done you should be able to make and then make install
Once installed navigate to /usr/local/xmr-stak/bin and run sudo./xmr-stak
You’ll be navigated through some first-run questions to ask for your pool and wallet address and whether you want to run nicehash. | 1,265,488 |
Norman Medical Marijuana Dispensary Is 1st In State To Accept Cash-Free Payments
Friday, May 31st 2019, 6:32 pm
By: News 9
NORMAN – A new medical marijuana dispensary in Norman has a ground-breaking new partnership with a bank. It is the first business of its kind where patients do not have to pay with cash.
Vertica is changing the state’s industry from first seed to final sale. When you step through the door of the new luxury cannabis company in Norman, you will immediately notice the décor of fish-looking lighting fixtures. That is not by accident.
Live tilapia are at the heart of the operation on their farm in Eufaula.
“It basically is the Swiss army knife of fish,” said grower Phillip Jacobson. “It can handle a lot more diverse environments, and it produces a high-quality protein.”
The tilapia becomes a special life source for rows of cannabis seedlings, just like the lettuce that grew in the greenhouse before. Retail operations manager Tommy Griffith said the nutrients from the fish pump up the terpenes in each strain, causing the patient to not just see the difference; they taste it, too.
Griffith explained, “With the terpenes being increased like that, you just get a blast of flavor in your mouth.”
At Vertica, though, you can choose if your desired dosage is grown in soil, water with fish or water without fish.
“We can have three of the same products grown in different environments, and it might produce different results for different patients,” said Vertica CEO Craig Carter, who has a background as an accountant and attorney.
Carter has been working to get his new venture off the ground all year with one major goal, backing from a bank.
“The banks were desperate for a provider that would help them do all their compliance if they’re going to get into the industry,” Carter said.
First National Bank of Oklahoma finally agreed to give him a shot, and now his patients can pay with the Hypur app.
“You just put in your PAC, which is your Personal Account Code,” said Griffith.
Having less cash in the store makes it physically and financially secure.
Carter said, “Every transaction that we’ve done since we’ve opened has been fully banked, fully transparent.”
Carter hopes this partnership can open the doors for others in the industry to have their own safer storefront.
Vertica will open its flagship store in Oklahoma City at the end of June. Additional locations in Edmond and Stillwater will open before the end of the year. To learn more, click here. | 1,265,489 |
News
El Chapo’s lawyer: Mexican presidents are on cartel’s payroll
Brooklyn prosecutors asked a judge Wednesday to strike explosive opening statements made by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s lawyer — in which he claimed both former and current Mexican presidents are on the drug cartel’s payroll.
“Opening statements are not argument, and should be confined to statements about the evidence,” US Attorney Richard P. Donoghue wrote to federal Judge Brian Cogan in a letter filed early Wednesday.
In his openings, which are expected to continue Wednesday, one of Guzman’s lawyers, Jeffrey Lichtman, claimed that his client was the victim of a vast conspiracy orchestrated to “scapegoat” the accused kingpin and allow the drug trade in Mexico to go on uninterrupted.
Lichtman even asserted that longtime Guzman associate Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada had “bribed” the entire Mexican government, including President Enrique Peña Nieto, and was the true leader of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Both Peña Nieto and his presidential predecessor, Felipe Calderón, decried the statements as blatantly false on Twitter on Tuesday.
Lichtman’s claims failed to touch on the boatloads of evidence prosecutors told jurors they have on Guzman, including statements in his own words implicating him as a major cartel figure.
In court Wednesday morning, Lichtman argued with Cogan while continuing to claim that Guzman was the victim of a “frame-up by the government.
“And it’s been done in American courtrooms a thousand times a day,” the lawyer complained.
Cogan replied dryly, “No, that’s not hyperbolic at all.
“What does it matter if the last two presidents took bribes if it’s not tied to the defendant here?” the judge said.
He added to Lichtman, “Your opening statements handed out a lot of promissory notes that it’s not going to be able to cash.”
But Cogan refused to strike the defense’s opening statements, instead issuing a reminder to jurors that the arguments are not evidence.
“There were some references in Mr. Lichtman’s opening statements to conduct that might be considered outrageous,” he told the panel. “The conduct of the government is for me to decide, not you.”
Guzman stands accused of running a criminal enterprise, multiple counts of importing cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine from Mexico into the US, and other charges.
If convicted, he faces life behind bars.
Share this: | 1,265,490 |
Marina Pitofsky | USA TODAY
AP
Andrew Harnik, AP
The father of a victim of the Feb. 14 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida criticized Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Twitter Thursday for claiming his life has been ruined by sexual assault allegations.
Fred Guttenburg, whose daughter, Jamie, was killed in the Parkland shooting that left 17 dead, tweeted Thursday afternoon attacking Kavanaugh for calling himself a victim of false sexual misconduct allegations during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings Thursday.
.Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual misconduct and assault by four women.
"Justice Kavanaugh your life and family are not ruined. Try having a child murdered by a weapon you refer to as 'common use,'" Guttenberg wrote. "You will get through this and hug both of your children tonight."
AP
Guttenberg referenced Kavanaugh's opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller, in which the Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals upheld Washington's ban on semiautomatic rifles. Kavanaugh dissented, stating semi-automatic rifles "are in common use by law-abiding citizens for self-defense in the home, hunting, and other lawful uses."
Kavanaugh defended the opinion earlier this month when questioned by Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Guttenberg tweeted again Thursday evening, calling Kavanaugh "partisan" for criticizing Democratic senators in his opening statement Thursday for their treatment of the allegations leveled against him.
"Judge Kavanaugh, I listened to you talk of your life being ruined. It is not. I listened to you turn yourself into a victim. You are not," Guttenberg wrote. "What today showed is that you clearly are partisan and do not have the temperament for the court. Even worse, you are just a bad person."
Justice Kavanaugh your life and family are not ruined. Try having a child murdered by a weapon that you refer to as "common use." You will get through this and hug both of your children tonight. — Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) September 27, 2018
Judge Kavanaugh, I listened to you talk of your life being ruined. It is not. I listened to you turn yourself into a victim. You are not. What today showed is that you clearly are a partisan and do not have the temperament for the court. Even worse, you are just a bad person. — Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) September 28, 2018
Guttenberg tried to approach Kavanaugh at confirmation hearings on Sept. 4. to discuss gun control and to tell Kavanaugh about his daughter's death. Kavanaugh refused to address Guttenberg or shake his hand.
Guttenberg also called Senator Jeff Flake a "wimp" Friday morning for announcing he would vote to confirm Kavanaugh. | 1,265,491 |
USA Network’s cybersecurity drama “Mr. Robot” entered the Emmy race for the first time in 2016 and came away with six nominations and two wins. Now, after a year that’s featured continuing real-world cyber attacks on corporations and a hacking scandal at the highest political levels, the show’s zeitgeisty vibe could well advance it to more Emmy love — perhaps even in the editing category this time around.
Franklin Peterson, who edited three “Mr. Robot” episodes in season one and six in season two, saw the show’s degree of difficulty increase ever so slightly in its second go-round as the series took a visually darker turn.
Peterson was a relative newbie to television editing when he joined the show in 2015. He had edited 2012’s “Safety Not Guaranteed” and a handful of other indie films, then had the good fortune to cut director Sam Esmail’s 2014 feature debut, “Comet.” So when Esmail needed an editor to fill in during the first season of his hacker-takes-over-the-world drama, he called Peterson.
“[Director] Sam [Esmail] is open to outside-of-the-box ideas. I loved getting time to experiment.” Editor Franklin Peterson
The editor read the pilot, saw a cut and was hooked. He joined the team with the season already well in progress. Working in L.A., he regularly received updates about the story threads as the show was being shot in New York, and accustomed himself to a TV schedule that was far more accelerated than that of the features timetable he was used to.
To portray the unusual, often confused worldview of lead character Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), Peterson used creative editing styles that included jump cuts, varied lengths of takes and shuffling scenes around within an episode and sometimes even between episodes.
Esmail encouraged the experimentation as Peterson and his team explored the personality of each character in the editing suite, finding creative ways to tell their stories and maintain their humanity — especially that of Elliot, who suffers from social anxiety.
“Sam is open to outside-of-the-box ideas,” Peterson says. “I loved getting time to experiment and play.”
Peterson was initially apprehensive about the show’s darker look last year, but he praises DP Tod Campbell for carving out actors’ features with limited light and finding the proper balance in the backlit shots. “There was always plenty of extra coverage to work with,” he says.
With “Mr. Robot” renewed for a 10-episode third season set to premiere in October, playtime will continue. And who knows what real-life scandals the coming months will hold. | 1,265,492 |
Description
The following is the letter I e-mailed to the city regarding my personal property damage claim. The response I got was a man absolutely refusing to take responsibility for the damage, and trying to blame someone, anyone, else.
To whom it may concern,
I wish to file a claim against the City of Toronto for Personal Property Damage. My name is Allison Orr, my permanent address is 268 Reynolds St. Oakville, Ontario, L6J 3L4. My cell phone number is XXXXXXXXX. I locked my Bicycle on the long multi-bicycle rack near 1 Atlantic Ave. on the north side of Exhibition Go Station at 5:40pm on Friday Oct. 19th. I returned Monday Oct. 22nd just after noon to retrieve my bicycle and the rack had been relocated down a slight hill about 20 feet away from it's original location. My bicycle was still attached, but completely unrideable. I took it immediately to a bicycle mechanic and await an estimate for repairs. The front fork is bent beyond repair and there are a number of other damaged areas. My bicycle is my main form of transportation. I ride it from Oakville to Burlington (20km) for work a minimum of twice a week and at least an additional 10km a day most days. Without it I will require other transportation until my bicycle is in working order once again. This will also cost me a great deal of time because my bike is my fastest possible transportation around the city, and I missed a number of hours of work today dealing with this issue.
The fork on the bicycle was replaced earlier this year and cost over $100. In addition there are other repairs required, including parts and labour, plus alternate transportation, and money lost due to missed work and time set backs, I estimate this will total near $400.
There is construction going on where the rack was moved and Go Transit has confirmed that the bicycle racks are maintained there by the City of Toronto. The rack was likely relocated for the construction on site, however there was no warning given, nor were there signs posted warning not to use that rack. There were a number of other bicycles also attached that may have been damaged, however I use my bicycle more than the average bike commuter and keep it in high working order.
Shannon, my bicycle mechanic from Red Arrow Bikes can be reached at 416-464-4243. I filed a complaint with the City of Toronto by calling 311 earlier today and the reference number for that complaint is 1760186. I spoke with a woman named Jackie, and despite my frustration at the situation found her very helpful and pleasant.
Thank you for your time, I hope this matter can be dealt with promptly. If you require any additional information I can be reached at this e-mail address or on my cell phone.
Regards,
Allison Orr | 1,265,493 |
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The parents of a British executive murdered by his wife in China have offered her £40,000 to send their grandson to the UK.
Ian and Linda Simpson have spent more than two years fighting so their grandchildren - Jack, eight, and Alice, six - can grow up together in Britain.
Their son Michael Simpson was stabbed to death by wife Wei Wei Fu in his Shanghai apartment in 2017.
Michael's grieving parents later agreed to pay £9,000 to the killer wife's family in China in exchange for custody of Alice.
The little girl flew back to the UK last year and she now has weekly video calls with her big brother who's still in north-west China.
The Chinese side of the family have reportedly refused to honour a court agreement to send Jack back to Britain too.
(Image: IanSimpson/BNPS) (Image: IanSimpson/BNPS)
Ian and Linda are now offering to put 350,000 yuan (£40,200) into Wei Wei's bank account to support her after she is released from her jail term.
In exchange, they want Jack to come to Britain to live with them.
Michael, 34, a British executive with clothing firm Next, was killed when Wei Wei burst into his flat and stabbed him in the neck while Jack and Alice slept.
The couple had separated two years earlier and Michael had been left to raise the children alone.
(Image: Copyright Albanpix.com,)
The grandparents launched a complex legal battle for the custody of the children from their Chinese grandparents - bicycle repairman Fu Shi Bao, 61, and Hu Dei Xiu, 55.
However, the Chinese grandparents reportedly asked for a sum of over £60,000 in order to strike a deal on Christmas Day.
Grandfather Ian, 70, told the Mail on Sunday : "The reason the Fu family want to keep Jack is so he can look after his mother - that is the [traditional] Chinese approach.
(Image: PhilYeomans/BNPS)
"The earliest Wei Wei will get out is 2036 and Jack will be 27 by that time.
"We've said we will put money in Wei Wei's bank account and it will be worth double by the time she gets out, and that is the alternative to them hanging on to Jack.
"If money is what it takes to bring jack to Britain and reunite him with Alice, that is what we have to do."
Wei Wei is serving a life sentence after being convicted of stabbing Michael to death during a heated argument. | 1,265,494 |
National bans on smacking children have been linked to lower rates of violence among young people.
When parents cannot smack and corporal punishment is banned in schools, the rate of fighting in boys falls by more than two-thirds.
In girls it falls by more than 40 per cent, according to a study of teenagers across 88 countries.
Researchers suggest repeated physical punishment may ‘reinforce aggressive thoughts, emotions and actions’.
Research has found that when parents cannot smack and corporal punishment is banned in schools, the rate of fighting in boys falls by more than two-thirds. In girls it falls by more than 40 per cent (stock picture)
The Government has come under growing pressure to outlaw smacking in the home in England. Wales and Scotland are already due to ban it.
The study was led by McGill University in Canada and published in the journal BMJ Open. The authors say: ‘These results support the hypothesis that societies that prohibit the use of corporal punishment are less violent to grow up in.’
But critics say ministers should not intrude into family life by changing the law, which now allows smacking at home as long as it causes no physical or mental harm.
The study gives Britain as an example of a country with a partial ban on smacking.
These countries, where physical punishment is banned in schools but not homes, have a 56 per cent lower rate of violence among girls, it states, although there is no difference for boys.
Surveys on teenage behaviour were examined for 88 countries to determine if smacking bans altered rates of violence.
The study, which was led by McGill University in Canada, found research that suggested repeated physical punishment may ‘reinforce aggressive thoughts and actions’ (stock picture)
The surveys principally involved children aged 11 to 17 and included a question on whether, and how often, the respondent had been involved in a physical fight over the past 12 months.
Analysis of the responses showed that frequent physical fighting was more than three times as common among boys as girls.
In countries were full bans were in force, the prevalence of physical fighting was 69 per cent lower among young men and 42 per cent lower among young women than it was in countries without any ban.
In countries operating a partial ban, which include the UK, the US and Canada, the prevalence of physical violence was lower only among girls.
This remained the case even when national wealth, murder rates and government programmes to reduce exposure to violence were taken into account.
The study, published in the journal BMJ Open, states: ‘A growing number of countries have banned corporal punishment as an acceptable means of child discipline and this is an important step that should be encouraged, especially in countries that have seen an effective lobby against such prohibitive approaches.’ | 1,265,495 |
Forget Ozil! Christian Eriksen and Philippe Coutinho are the Premier League’s best playmakers – but who is better?
Unfortunately for Arsenal, Mesut Ozil appears to be turning more and more ineffective with every passing game.
Having arrived in the Premier League as a world class talent, the Germany midfielder is now considered one of the most overrated players in the division; someone who would not get in any other top team.
And though big things have been expected of Ozil since his signing, he has since been overtaken as the best playmaker in the division.
Two players in particular vie for that title nowadays, Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen and Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool.
But just which one is the better playmaker? Click the right arrow, above, to find out…
4 Eriksen v Coutinho: Goalscoring – read the verdict below, then click the right arrow to see the rest of the Eriksen v Coutinho verdict – Coutinho has always been regarded as the better goalscorer than Eriksen, with the Brazil midfielder known for his superb long-range shots. The stats this season back up Coutinhos strength, with 10 goals to Eriksens eight this season. However, both players have spent a similar amount of time in the division, and the Dane actually has a better goal record. He has netted 31 times in 131 Premier League games, while Coutinho has needed 135 matches to record the same tally. This composure in front of goal from Eriksen is backed up by having a higher shot accuracy than Coutinho this season.
4 Chance creation – Eriksen has been one of the best creators in the division this season, far exceeding Coutinho. He has double the amount of assists than the Brazilian (12 to 6), and has created almost twice as many goalscoring opportunities (100 to 56). Eriksen is only one assist behind league leader Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City, and leads the league for key passes. Since arriving in the Premier League, the Dane has registered 38 assists to Coutinhos 30, with the latter playing four games more.
4 Defensive work – Playing under Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino, both Coutinho and Eriksen have to fulfil more defensive duties than the majority of Premier League playmakers. When comparing the two, it is only right to look at the defensive impact the pair have in high pressing teams. And this season, Eriksen is revealed to be far better than Coutinho. He has won more tackles (30 to 23), more interceptions (24 to 18), and made more clearances (20 to eight) than the Brazilian. Considering his slight frame, it is incredible Eriksen has such an integral role in Tottenhams defensive work. | 1,265,496 |
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Next year, the 25th anniversary of the birth of the world wide web as defined by that first memo he circulated in 1989, is the perfect moment, he suggests, to devise what he calls a charter of rights for the internet.
I ask him how he would he frame such a charter were he to write it himself. He answers the question with a stream of consciousness, firing out bullet points about the fundamentals he would expect as an internet user:
• "I can behave as though I'm not being spied on.
• "If I'm being spied on, I know it's by somebody I trust for reasons that I approved, even if it's done secretly, and I know there's a system in place that ensures it is accountable to the public.
• "I can communicate with everybody and I won't find my packets suddenly delayed because I go to an abortion site and my ISP provider disapproves of abortions.
• "That the internet is neutral politically from the point of view of race, colour, creed, sexual preference – all the things where we do not discriminate."
Berners-Lee, who was brought up in south-west London and still spends a part of every month in the UK, has a special message for his country of birth. He is convinced such a proactive search for an internet charter could be transformative for the UK. After all, he quips, isn't the British constitution famously not worth the paper it isn't written on?
"Maybe it's time for Brits to decide that being constitution-less has lasted long enough. That it's time to put down some basic rights. We've seen our rights being violated, so let's write down what they are. Let's include the rights of the internet, let's include the independence of the fourth estate which is parallel but different. And let's include something that Britain can learn from America – the right to freedom of speech."
A life of sharing information
1955 Born in London
1976 Graduated in physics, Oxford University
1980 While working at Cern, the Geneva-based European laboratory for particle physics, he proposes a hypertext project to allow sharing information between scientists. Calls it ENQUIRE
1989 Proposes an internet-based initiative for global information sharing which he calls world wide web Aim is 'to allow all links to be made to any information anywhere"
1990 Writes the first web client and server. His specifications of URLs, HTTP and HTML are refined as web technology spreads
1994 Founds the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an organisation that seeks to lead the web to its full potential, at the at Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he is a professor
2009 Sets up World Wide Web Foundation that campaigns to end the global digital divide between those who are on the web and those who aren't. | 1,265,497 |
Barnaby Joyce’s New South Wales colleague John “Wacka” Williams doesn’t know if Joyce will lead the Nationals to the next election, as pressure continues to mount on the deputy prime minister.
Ahead of a meeting of Nationals MPs on Monday morning, Williams, a New South Wales Nationals senator, told the ABC he wasn’t sure if Joyce had “done anything wrong by the law of the taxpayers”.
“Hopefully he hasn’t breached any regulations in terms of travel allowances and spending of the public purse,” he said.
Williams said Joyce had previously told the ABC there were no problems, so “let’s hope it is the situation, and see what pans out”.
“My job is to keep my nose clean and look after my staff. I can’t answer for other people. Let’s see how the travel thing comes out,” he said.
When asked directly if Joyce would still be leading the Nationals at the next election, Williams said he could not answer that for sure.
“I don’t know … I don’t know if he’s done anything wrong by the law of the taxpayers. I can’t judge on that. How do I form an opinion when I don’t know. That is just speculation.”
Pressure has mounted on Joyce over the weekend following confirmation last week that his 24-year marriage had ended, and he was expecting a child with his new partner and former staffer, Vikki Campion.
There has been a focus on taxpayer-funded travel and on Campion’s movements in government staff positions once she left Joyce’s office. Labor has signalled over the weekend that it intends to investigate Joyce’s expenditure of taxpayer funds.
Campion was first moved to the office of then resources minister Matt Canavan, but once he moved to the backbench after becoming embroiled in the dual citizenship controversy, she was employed in the office of Nationals whip, Damian Drum.
As the Daily Telegraph first reported over the weekend, Drum’s staffing allocation was increased from six to seven to accommodate Campion.
Campion was understood to have moved to Drum’s office on her six-figure salary as a senior advisor. Campion’s contract ended in December last year.
An assessment of staffing allocations, tabled for Senate estimates over the last three years, shows the Nationals whip does not usually receive an allocation for a senior advisor. Of the four electorate officers, plus one or two personal staff allocations, the maximum level has traditionally been that of advisor.
The highest position allocated to the chief government whip, a more senior position than that of the Nationals whip, is also advisor. | 1,265,498 |
Resident Evil and Dead Rising publisher Capcom announced today that it has begun construction on two R&D buildings to be erected near the company's Osaka headquarters. Capcom will spend a total of around $78 million to build the offices and they come in response to the release of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Capcom says that it needs the R&B labs to ensure that it can succeed in the "challenging" and digital-focused video game market today.
"The appearance of next-generation consoles with a variety of network functions has shifted the focus of sales from conventional package software to digitally distributed content," Capcom said. "The profit structure and business model are changing at an increasing speed as a result. Furthermore, the popularity of social games due to the widespread use of smartphones is enabling games to reach more user segments and enlarging the entire game market."
"To succeed in this challenging environment, Capcom has been focusing resources on strategic and growing areas under a policy of selection and concentration in order to operate with speed and flexibility. Constructing these new R&D buildings will make game development operations more efficient by centralizing these operations and upgrading speed and control," the publisher added.
The two R&D buildings will incorporate the "latest facilities," Capcom said. They will be equipped with a motion capture room, a sound effects studio, and "multi-purpose" spaces that can hold more than 100 people.
Capcom also noted that both new R&D buildings will have seismic isolation systems to protect against earthquakes. What's more, one of the buildings even uses uneven surfaces on its north and south sides to block sun in the afternoon, thus reducing total energy consumption.
"The two buildings will enable Capcom to utilize its outstanding game development skills even more effectively," the company said. "Capcom is determined to use the new facilities to create highly original games that can meet the expectations of users."
R&D Building S is an 8-floor office with 2,054.38 square meters of floor area that is expected to be complete by January 2015. Its cost of development is estimated at ¥2.5 billion ($24.6 million). Meanwhile, R&D Building N is twice as big, with 16 floors and 10,972.87 square meters of floor space. It should be ready in February 2016 and Capcom plans to spend around ¥5.5 billion ($54 million ) to build it.
Outside of the creation of the two new R&D labs, Capcom says its general goal is to "improve quality while holding down development expenses" by bringing on development technologies and other knowledge. As a means to accomplish this, Capcom will hire around 100 people every year (mostly new graduates, they say) so the company can do more game development internally as opposed to externally.
By March 2022, Capcom said it plans to have a total workforce of 2,500 people. | 1,265,499 |
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