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Europe returns to Coal: Italy to increase reliance on coal for power generation to 33% from 14% despite climate change concerns By Finfacts Team Apr 23, 2008 - 3:40:40 AM Enel power plant in Civitavecchia, northwest of Rome, where conversion from oil to coal is underway. Europe returns to coal and in Italy, major electricity producer, Enel, is converting its massive power plant in Civitavecchia, northwest of Rome, from oil to coal, the dirtiest fuel on earth. A report in the New York Times today says that over the next five years, Italy will increase its reliance on coal to 33% from 14%. Power generated by Enel from coal will rise to 50%. The report says that Italy is not alone in its return to coal. Driven by rising demand, record high oil and natural gas prices, concerns over energy security and an aversion to nuclear energy, European countries are slated to build about 50 coal-fired plants over the next five years, plants that will be in use for the next five decades. Coal powered plants are being opened at a rapid pace in India and China. Australia, the world's biggest coal exporter, is a key supplier to Asia. The port of Newcastle, north of Sydney, is straining to meet the demand. Despite planned expansions, the ability of Australian seaports to handle increased coal shipments is unlikely to improve in the next few years, the head of the world's largest coal producer said on Tuesday. "It's not going to happen,"Gregory Boyce, chairman and chief executive of Peabody Energy Corp said during a conference call with Wall Street analysts. Boyce was asked whether recent congestion at Australian ports would be fixed soon. "It depends on what you mean by 'fixed,'" said Boyce. "We'll see some substantial increases in port capacity, but enough to satisfy demand? They will still be short." Some 38% of global electricity is generated from coal. Australia, Poland, South Africa and China all rely on coal to produce over three quarters of their electricity, India over 60%, and the USA and Germany more than half. In Germany and Italy, there is a ban on building nuclear power stations and some environmentalists who advocate anti-climate change measures do not accept that where oil is more expensive than coal, which has a reserve life of 200 years compared with up to 50 years for oil, choices have to be made in the real world. In Ireland, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan, called last January for "an urgent public debate in Ireland on nuclear energy." The call by the Green Party minister coincided with the announcement of the UK government's plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations, ending years of uncertainty over its energy strategy. The "urgent debate" may as well be held on Mars. The New York Times report says that Europe’s power station owners emphasize that they are making the new coal plants as clean as possible. But critics say that “clean coal” is a pipe dream, an oxymoron in terms of the carbon emissions that count most toward climate change. They call the building spurt shortsighted. “Building new coal-fired power plants is ill conceived,” said James E. Hansen, a leading climatologist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies told the NYT. “Given our knowledge about what needs to be done to stabilize climate, this plan is like barging into a war without having a plan for how it should be conducted, even though information is available. “We need a moratorium on coal now,” he added, “with phase out of existing plants over the next two decades.” Enel, like other electricity companies, say they have little choice but to build coal plants to replace aging infrastructure. Fuel costs have risen 151% since 1996, and Italians pay the highest electricity costs in Europe. Enel said in 2006 when it announced the planned conversion of the Civitavecchia plant from oil to coal, that the adoption of cutting-edge emissions-abatement technologies and the increased efficiency of coal-fired plants, make the use of coal compatible with the even stricter environmental regulations that were due to enter force in 2008. "The project not only helps to reduce emission levels of more than 80% compared with the previous oil power plant but it also allows the plant working under further better conditions even compared with the emission limits contained in the VIA Decree (Environmental Evaluation Impact decree)." Enel also emphasized that the wide availability of coal in many countries and the size of estimated coal reserves, which are far greater than those of gas and oil, make it an attractive option and an essential component of a balanced mix of energy resources for power generation. About one fourth of all energy consumed in Finland is generated utilising nuclear power. A French-German Consortium formed by Framatome ANP and Siemens has responsibility for the current construction of the Olkiluoto 3 plant pictured above. Enel also said that in circumstances "that are laying bare the dramatic structural fragility of the natural gas supply system and the dangers of over-reliance on one type of fuel to generate electricity, the diversification of energy resources, supplier countries and supply systems, and the need to ensure energy security and greater competitiveness for Italy has become a matter of even greater urgency and strategic importance." The company also defended the decision to expand the role of coal in electricity generation in Italy, with the objective of increasing its share of the fuel mix towards the European average, as the only feasible way to bring Italian electricity prices into line with those in the main European countries, thereby boosting the competitiveness of Italian companies and easing the burden of energy costs on the budgets of Italian households. Today's NYT report says that the technology, which the industry is counting on to reduce the carbon emissions that add to global warning — carbon capture and storage — is not now available for coal. No one knows if it is feasible on a large, cost-effective scale. Enel says it will only start experimenting with the technology — in which carbon emissions are pumped into underground reservoirs rather than released — in 2015, in the hopes of “a solution” by 2020.

“I hate cold calling.” “Cold calling is dead.” “Cold calling doesn’t work.” It’s interesting the effect a core set of beliefs can have on your sales results. Many of the salespeople I know that struggle to produce results prospecting have a very negative set of beliefs about cold calling. The salespeople I know that produce the best results have a different set of beliefs about cold calling. Many of them know that they are good at it, and they prefer to pick up the telephone and call their prospects. Some don’t have any strong feelings for or against cold calling. All of them make calls. You may want to believe that things have changed and that you no longer have to cold call. You may want to believe that you can gain enough prospects to make your number through social media and referrals. You may want to believe these things, but that doesn’t make them true. Maybe you aren’t worried about cold calling. But you should be worried about your competitors that are effective at cold calling and who are willing to pick up the phone and call your clients and dream clients. You know, the dream clients that you are waiting to develop through your drip campaign. What if? What if you were to change your beliefs about cold calling? What if, instead of convincing yourself that cold calling sucks, you told yourself that cold calling still works—as long as you approach is professional and it creates value? What if, instead of resisting cold calling, you embraced it? What if you were really good at it? What if you used cold calling along with all of the other prospecting methods available to you to build an effective prospecting plan, one that produces and develops enough opportunities for you to make and exceed your number? What if you were really good at cold calling? What if you were able to open the relationships that open opportunities effectively on the telephone? What if instead of worrying about your competitors calling into your clients and dream clients effectively they had to worry about you calling into theirs? What if you were such a tremendous value creator that you could cold call and build an unassailable pipeline? Get the Free eBook! Want to master cold calling? Download my free eBook! Many would have you believe that cold calling is dead, but the successful have no fear of the phone; they use it to outproduce their competitors. Download Now

.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — For updates throughout the day on city and community reaction, click here. The Department of Justice has found the Albuquerque Police Department has established a pattern and practice in the use of excessive and fatal force that violates the Constitutional rights of those shot or harmed by police officers. ADVERTISEMENTSkip In a 46-page letter of findings to Mayor Richard Berry, the DOJ reported, “We have determined that structural and systemic deficiencies — including insufficient oversight, inadequate training and ineffective policies — contributed to the use of unreasonable force.” The Department of Justice reviewed 20 fatal shootings by Albuquerque Police between 2009 and 2013 and found that in the majority of cases the level of force used was not justified because the person killed by police did not present a threat to police officers or the public. The DOJ also reviewed the use of nonlethal force involving significant harm or injury to people by APD officers and found a similar pattern of excessive force by officers against people who posed no threat and was not justified by the circumstances.Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels said in an interview the findings were “pretty disturbing” and that public trust of the department has been eroded. “A lot of the most troubling incidents involved mentally ill people,” Samuels said. But the Justice Department said that whether it decides to seek a monitor to oversee changes in the department would depend in part on how willing APD was to make changes. Berry recently called on DOJ to begin negotiations for monitoring of the police department. Samuels said that there was a “culture of acceptance of the use of excessive force” within APD that stems from “systematic failures” that are department wide. In some cases, Samuels said, the reckless actions of officers put themselves in a position where force was needed. The letter thanks city, police administrators and rank-and-file officers for cooperating with the DOJ investigation. Among the findings: –Albuquerque police officers too often use deadly force in an unconstitutional manner in the use of their firearms where there is no imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm to officers or others. Instead officers used deadly force against people who posed a minimal threat and the conduct of officers heightened the danger and contributed to the need for force. — Albuquerque police officers use Tasers on people who are passively resisting, unable to comply with officer orders because of their mental state or posed only a minimal threat to officers. –The use of excessive force by APD officers is not isolated or sporadic. The failure to implement an objective and rigourous internal accountability system has led to force incidents not being properly investigated, documented or addressed with corrective measures. ADVERTISEMENTSkip –A significant amount of force cases reviewed were found to involve persons with mental illness and in crisis. The department’s policies, training and supervision were found insufficient to ensure officers properly responded to people they encountered with mental illness or in distress. “A disconnect exists between officers and residents about the perception of overly aggressive conduct by officers. We observed that many officers were dismissive of community concerns. For instance, many officers complained that the media generated the complaints about their perceived aggressiveness in citizen encounters. Some officers complained that citizens were the ones who were aggressive towards them. This perception persists even though the data suggests otherwise. These concerns suggest an unwillingness to embrace community policing. This rejection of one of the basic elements of community policing contributes to the department’s pattern or practice of unjustified force.” (page 40-41 DOJ letter) The DOJ letter cites the fatal shootings of Andrew Lopez and Dominic Smith in separate incidents in 2009 as examples of excessive force on unarmed men. Later examples include the shooting deaths of Alan Gomez outside a relative’s home in May 2011 and January 2010 shooting death of Kenneth Ellis which led to an $8 million civil settlement with the city. “We understand policing is a tremendously difficult job and the majority of officers do their jobs without violating constitutional rights,” Samuels said. But according to the DOJ letter, the culture of accepting the use of excessive force, both fatal and nonfatal, is created by the department’s failure to properly report excessive force incidents, thoroughly investigate those reports and properly discipline officers. Proper training and guidance were contributing factors to the fatal shootings and Constitutional violations in the nonfatal use of excessive force. ADVERTISEMENTSkip Federal officials made it clear that the recent shooting of James Boyd in the Albuquerque foothills by police is not part of the department’s civil findings and is being investigated separately as a criminal case. A police video recording of that shooting went viral on the Internet and ignited large street protests in Albuquerque. Key recommendations Samuels said the findings and recommendations released this morning are the start of discussions with Mayor Richard Berry’s administration on how to fix the problems with APD. The DOJ findings do not recommend a monitor or special master to oversee implementation of the lengthy list of remedial actions DOJ believes APD needs to make. Mayor Berry has already asked that independent monitors be appointed and a new deputy police chief was hired this week to work with a DOJ monitor to help implement changes in the department. “We have used these remedies in other cities and found they work,” Samuel said. “We hope they are willing to work with us.” ADVERTISEMENTSkip Whether DOJ seeks a monitor or goes to federal court to seek an appointed special master to oversee changes in APD depends on how receptive Berry’s administration is to making the changes the DOJ wants. “We have found monitors are critical to make sure the changes are successful,” Samuels said. Justice Department officials said APD has taken some positive steps to correcting problems but that those first steps need a lot of work. For instance they point to the department’s use of lapel cameras as an important innovation for police in Albuquerque, but the police department fell short in training, policy guidance and discipline on when and how the cameras should be used in dealing with the public. Another program to reduce police use of force, the formation of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), also drew praise from DOJ officials but they point out that the department again fell short in how and when the team trained to deal with mentally ill people is used. “Innovations the department has made are undermined by the lack of clear guidelines,” one DOJ official said. “When is the CIT called? Who is in charge of the scene?” ADVERTISEMENTSkip The DOJ recommends a nearly complete overhaul of the department’s use of force policies including a prohibition against shooting at motor vehicles and requiring the reporting of all use of force incidents, including the use of choke holds. Other sweeping recommendations include the reconstruction of APD’s Internal Affairs unit and policies governing it. The DOJ, for instance, wants all department employees to be required to report alleged or perceived misconduct to a supervisor or Internal Affairs for review and an easier system for the public to make complaints. DOJ recommends that incidents where force is used, whether fatal or not, should be treated as crime scenes were evidence is gathered and witnesses sought out for statements. The DOJ wants all use of force incidents to be reviewed by supervisors but not supervisors who were involved in the incident or ordered the use of force. DOJ wants the department to re-emphasize community policing after it found that department’s leadership had not made it a priority resulting in a department culture that is hostile to forming partnerships with community groups. Federal investigators found that the department’s training is too heavily focused on weaponry and scenarios where officers use force and that officers do not get enough training in how to de-escalate situations. The DOJ letter calls for an overhaul of the Police Oversight Commission, where investigators found the current and past review officers to be more closely aligned with the department than the community.

It's around this time of year that the names Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. become important. Though they both work for ESPN, each puts out separate "mock drafts" leading up to the NFL Draft in April. Their mock drafts are generally among the most accurate and most telling when analyzing the draft stock of a prospect. Each of these men released a new mock draft today and, although they both have the San Diego Chargers selecting offensive linemen with their #11 overall selection, they do not agree on who the Bolts will be taking. Todd McShay Lane Johnson, OT (Oklahoma) McShay sees the Chargers parting ways with Jared Gaither, opening up a hole at the most important position on the line (Left Tackle). Johnson is not only a first-round talent when it comes to pass blocking and run blocking, but he's a good fit for the Zone Blocking scheme that new Offensive Line Coach Joe D'Alessandris will be implementing in San Diego. Cutting Gaither would free up $500,000 in cap space in 2013, but it would also save the Chargers $4.5 million in real dollars. The #11 pick in last year's draft, Dontari Poe, got a 4-year contract worth $11.3 million. His cap hit for his rookie season was a hair over $2 million. Would the Chargers be willing to eat $1.5 million in cap space to replace Gaither with Johnson? See More: Free Agent Offensive Tackles (Pre-Franchise Tags) Mel Kiper, Jr. Jonathan Cooper, G (North Carolina) Kiper went back and reviewed tape of the 2012 San Diego Chargers and was shocked at how poorly the Guards played. He seems to think that they were equally responsible for the poor pass blocking, and more responsible for the poor run blocking, as were the Offensive Tackles. Cooper would be an easier addition to a roster than Lane Johnson, if only because the team barely has just one Guard (Johnnie Troutman) signed for the upcoming season. See More: Free Agent Offensive Guards (Pre-Franchise Tags) One thing is for sure, the Chargers have holes to fill at the Tackle and Guard spots. Most teams in situations like this will attempt to fill both via free agency, and take whichever free agent fits the team best (in terms of scheme, personality and dollars). They'll then fill the remaining hole on the offensive line with a first or second-round draft pick. That means that Kiper or McShay could be right, but it will probably depend on free agency to decide which one actually is.

August 18th, 2013 On this day, the New York Yankees were finishing up a three game road series against the division leading Boston Red Sox. For the Yankees, the game seemed meaningless as they trailed the Red Sox by 7.5 games in the AL East. However, this series marked the first time that Alex Rodriguez returned to Fenway Park after serving a hefty suspension for being convicted of using PEDs. A player who was already hated throughout the league because of his on and off field antics, ARod gave opposing fans a reason to boo even louder when he stepped up to bat. And that’s exactly what the Red Sox faithful did as ARod walked to the plate for his first at bat of the night. After throwing one pitch behind Rodriguez and two very inside, Ryan Dempster used his last pitch to hit Rodriguez right below the elbow. As Red Sox fans jumped to their feet and cheered, Joe Girardi threw an on field tantrum that would subsequently lead to his ejection. Fast forward two at bats later and ARod got his revenge as he redirected Dempster’s fastball into the centerfield seats. That seemingly meaningless game manifested into a playoff-like atmosphere. That’s exactly what the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry did, every game had a purpose. This, however, would be the beginning of end of one of the most exciting rivalries in professional sports. In the 2000’s, every Yankees-Red Sox game was must watch baseball. Not only were both clubs top teams in the league for a majority of the decade, but their contempt for each other was unparalleled by any other rivalry in sports. The tension augmented game-changing moments, such as Aaron Boone’s walk off homer in 2003 ALCS and David Ortiz’s grand slam in the 2004 ALCS. However, in the early 2010’s, there was something different about the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. When the Yankees were good, the Red Sox were rebuilding. Conversely, when the Red Sox were good, the Yankees were overpaying MLB stars way out of their prime. The days of the ARod-Varitek fight and “Who’s your daddy?” seemed like a thing of the past. At a time when baseball was taking a backseat to sports such as the NBA and NFL, its most famed rivalry was nowhere to be found. Fast forward to today and the narrative is changing. After acquiring Chris Sale in the offseason, the Red Sox were dubbed the “Warriors of the MLB” and instantly labeled World Series contenders. And rightfully so. The Red Sox boast a talented rotation filled with all-stars and former Cy Young winners. Their bullpen is anchored down by the most dominant closer in baseball today, Craig Kimbrel. To top it all off, they have one of the top offenses in baseball (maybe except when Chris Sale pitches). With a perfect mixture of young talent and savvy veterans, the Red Sox are right up there with Astros, Nationals, and Dodgers as the top teams in the league. As for the Yankees, they went into this season expecting to rebuild and develop their young core. Well, I don’t know if we can say they are still technically rebuilding. Just a couple of months into the season, the Yankees surprised all of baseball with their level of play. Their offense was producing at record levels, led by the biggest surprise of them all, Aaron Judge. Even their pitching staff was performing at their best in years. While I will admit the Red Sox are definitely the better team this year (even though this pains me as a Yankee fan), the future in New York is as bright as Times Square. But it takes more than talent to ignite this once fiery rivalry. As Mike Vaccaro wrote in his New York Post article, they are missing a necessary four letter word; hate. Hate is what drove this rivalry from good to great, from “exciting” baseball to “must watch” baseball. We need to see more hate. We need Aaron Judge to get into a fight with Sandy Leon after being intentionally throw at by Drew Pomeranz. We need Clint Frazier to slap the ball out of Rick Porcello’s hand in the late innings of a playoff game. We need Chris Sale to shove Tony Pena to the ground in the middle of a benches clearing brawl. We need boos and f*ck you’s. You take all of that and combine it with game changing plays, intense divisional matches, and all-or-nothing playoff scenarios, and you will see the fire return. This is what Boston and New York fans have been waiting for. Just show us a little hate coupled with competitive baseball and we’ll take care of the rest. We’ve been itching for this. I really do believe we are beginning to see the next chapter of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. One of the main reasons for this is because both teams are finally becoming competitive at the same time again. But even more so, both teams are setting themselves up for extended success through their young talent. And while the Red Sox out-gun the Yankees right now, let’s not forget how much cap space the Bronx Bombers have going into the next two off-seasons. I’d almost go as far as to guarantee that sometime in the next three years the Yankees and Red Sox will meet in the playoffs. How great would that be? Just one playoff series could catapult this rivalry back on the map. We’re not there yet, but I think we’re close. The faint boos that you could hear on Sunday when Aaron Judge stepped to the plate seemed like a preview of what’s to come. Get excited, I know I am. P.S. I’ll leave these videos here for your own viewing pleasure 😉 Share this: Twitter Facebook Google Like this: Like Loading... Related

The Shops at Willow Bend is getting a $100 million makeover from its new owners, who say it needs major changes to reach its potential. Starwood Retail Partners bought the Plano shopping center a year ago from the original developer, Taubman Centers Inc. Major additions will include a class A office tower, a hotel and an entertainment district with six to eight restaurants. Starwood is still working on its plans for residences and another fashion anchor store. The project will begin early next year with the razing of the 125,000-square-foot former Saks Fifth Avenue. The addition in its place will be the "architectural focal point" of the mall's new main entrance facing east toward the Dallas North Tollway. The first phase of the work will be completed in 2017 and the total project completed in 2019, Starwood said. The company promises the redevelopment will be highly visible from the tollway, with a "vibrant, welcoming façade that expresses a sense of arrival" for people visiting the center. "Plano is experiencing terrific growth, and our vision for Willow Bend is in step with the city's business, shopping and entertainment plans for the future," said Scott Wolstein, CEO of Starwood Retail Partners. The original developer tried to make the mall into a high-priced, super luxury center that was built around Neiman Marcus, Wolstein said, but the demographics for the area are much broader than just luxury shoppers. "The demand for merchandise went beyond the initial Prada, Gucci and Armani level," he said. "Neiman Marcus can serve that customer, and it does very well. Dillard's, Macy's, Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel and Apple all do extremely well." Those tenants are all sought after by shopping center landlords, he said, and "we're very happy to have that base in the mall. The hard work is done. "We're going to re-energize it into the mall it could be and should be," he said.

Nearly a fifth of the people on the planet live without access to electricity, and while generators can be used to provide power to these areas, most are too expensive or not portable enough to offer a real alternative. That’s where students at ETH Zurich stepped in. As part of their masters thesis project, the team created a low-cost portable hybrid generator that can provide enough power to supply over 20 homes with electricity – and it produces clean water as well. Students John Oldridge and Till Richter from the Laboratory of Energy Conversion at ETH Zurich wanted to create a system that was both portable and affordable that could easily be launched in areas that lack energy resources. After six months of research, they revealed a prototype compact enough to fit on a trailer, with a diesel generator – assisted by solar cells producing 10% of the power – that can produce power for 100 people in twenty households every day. In addition to producing power, the generator can also provide clean water. Using waste heat, the generator can heat water above the temperature where pathogens can survive, providing over 260 gallons of clean water a day. A central computer monitors resources to prevent overloading and allows for preloaded cards to be used by patrons to track individual billing. Dubbed SMiG, the project is currently looking for funding, after which it will be tested in developing countries in Asia and Africa. + ETH Zurich Via Phys.Org

This week in Elixir Elixir Users' Survey 2016 Josh launched the Elixir Users' Survey 2016 this week. He does these every year and while aren't in any way an official thing, I'd like to encourage you to participate (the results are published). Elixir ETS/DETS/Mnesia/BEAM vs Redis Redis is becoming an assumed part of many web stacks, in the same breath as your database. But with Elixir, do you need it? Do you even need a database? GenStage Patterns Adam shows us some ways he found useful when working with GenStage. Great read! Pairs.One has been open-sourced This multiplayer online memory game written in Elixir/Elm has been open-sourced during a lightning talk at EuRuKo! Ecto.Rut - Ecto Shortcuts to make your life easier! Ecto.Rut gives you simple wrapper methods that let you directly call CRUD methods from your Module, like `Post.all`. ElixirConf 2016 videos Confreaks by now has released a lot of the ElixirConf 2016 videos! Elixir.LDN 2016 videos Last, but not least: Video recordings of Elixir.LDN, the London conference, went up on YouTube as well.

Mayoral candidate and City Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell has a lien on her house because the IRS says she owes about $27,500 in unpaid income taxes, The Lens reported on Friday (July 21). Cantrell told the investigative website that her mortgage lender, First NBC Bank, made a mistake that needs to be corrected. The Lens reported the exact amount as $27,564.99 and said it was for federal taxes that weren't paid between 2010 and 2012 by Cantrell and her husband, attorney Jason Cantrell, including interest and penalties. Mayoral candidate LaToya Cantrell says 'nothing stops a bullet like a job,' offers vision for tackling crime Candidate Desiree Charbonnet, meanwhile, released a written outline of her crime fighting plan. Cantrell told the website that the mistake was part of a refinancing she and her husband undertook in 2013 to repair damage to the home dating to Hurricane Katrina. She said she had paid money into an escrow account that was supposed to settle the tax debt, but the bank never sent the money to the IRS. During the last mayoral race, The Lens also discovered mayoral candidate Michael Bagneris also had unpaid taxes. The Lens said it hasn't found any court filings indicating Bagneris still owes those taxes. Read the full Lens report here.

Jibo robot snags new Sensory cloud-free speech control Home robot companion Jibo may be able to recognize natural speech but it won’t demand a web connection to do it, the first ‘bot to feature a new offline engine that cuts the cord. Jibo, announced last year and expected to ship in 2016, may look like a kitchen appliance brought to life, but thanks to Sensory’s new TrulyNatural system will be able to perpetually listen and react to a broad range of voice commands without requiring a connection to the cloud as most speech-recognition does. Handiwork of Cynthia Breazeal, an associate professor of media arts and sciences at MIT and director of the Personal Robots Group at the MIT Media Lab, Jibo stands 11-inches tall and has a moving LCD for a face. It’s designed to be a storyteller for kids, a companion for the elderly, and a quick way to keep up to date with news and web searches for everyone else. It was enough to score almost $2.3m in a crowdfunding campaign, though deliveries aren’t expected until sometime next year, and product demonstrations themselves will only be shown this year. TrulyNatural’s magic is based on shrinking the voice-recognition engine down to the point where it’s small enough to be installed locally and efficient enough to run without demanding huge servers in the crowd. In fact, Sensory says, one version can fit “hundreds” of recognizable words into less than 1MB on a smartphone or wearable. For Jibo, though, that number can be far, far larger, not to mention work without the lag that’s normally involved when speech is shuttled to remote servers for processing. Sensory claims an error rate of less than 8-percent for 1m attempts. “We believed it’s the highest capacity large vocabulary recognizer out on the market today,” Sensory CEO Todd Mozier says. TrulyNatural will initially recognize US English, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Japanese, UK English, French, Spanish, and German; Italian, Portuguese, and Russian will follow later on in 2015. Meanwhile, there are SDKs for iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. While completely offline use is supported, another implementation can blend both local and cloud-based processing, the server-side component expanding on the core functionality whenever there’s a working connection. For Jibo, it should mean the robot is more responsive, which will help it feel more lifelike. Since Breazeal and her team revealed the project, for instance, Amazon launched its Echo speech-controlled assistant, but that involves cloud-based processing and the lag that entails. Interestingly Sensory can also identify individual speakers, not only differentiating between them but improving its voice recognition engine on a per-user basis by learning how each specific person speaks. However, robotics are only one potential implementation for TrulyNatural. Sensory is also targeting automotive applications, which could mean car infotainment systems that react to a wide range of natural phrases and instructions but don’t need a web connection, as is relied upon in Android Auto. For drivers, that extra turn of speed and responsiveness could be even more important. One of TrulyNatural’s abilities, for instance, is distinguishing between over half a million different song titles, perfect for a Tesla-style spoken jukebox search. Intel is also using Sensory technology, demonstrating offline recognition earlier this year as embedded in the Jarvis headset. MORE Sensory

A Mexican judge expected to hand down rulings for cases on some top drug lords died at the hands of a professional assassin. The murder has sparked outrage among public officials in the country who have demanded an investigation. The murder took place Monday, early morning in a wealthy neighborhood in Ecatepec, not far from Mexico City. Breitbart Texas obtained a copy of the video that shows when the assassin, wearing black clothing, runs up to Judge Vicente Bermudez in order to shoot him in the head. The video purports to show Bermudez collapse after being shot. The assassin simply turns around and runs away thereafter. Another man in dark pants and a white shirt appears to run alongside the assassin. Bermudez had been jogging without any security escort at the time of his murder. The video does not reveal the type of pistol used by the assassin. Unlike the United States, the purchase of weapons is controlled by the Mexican Army. Currently, Mexican citizens can only purchase hunting weapons such as bolt-action rifles, pump shotguns and .22 caliber pistols. Only criminals, military, and police forces carry weapons in Mexico. While government officials have not named a suspect in the murder, Bermudez’s court docket proved to be a who’s who of the Mexican underworld. The judge was expected to issue rulings on challenges to the extradition of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera, the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, which is considered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to be the most powerful cartel in the world. Bermudez also handled some of the challenges filed by the attorneys of the top leader for the Los Zetas Cartel, Miguel Angel “El 40” Treviño Morales. The judge also heard cases tied to the prosecution of Mario “El Gordo” Cardenas Guillen, who at one time was the leader of the Gulf Cartel. The high-profile assassination led to Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto to call for federal authorities to take over the murder investigation. In Mexico, violent cases are usually investigated and prosecuted at the state level. Ildefonso Ortiz is an award winning journalist with Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Cartel Chronicles project and you can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook. Tony Aranda contributed to this report.

Getty Images Wide receiver Dez Bryant has signed a new, long-term deal with the Dallas Cowboys after being given the franchise tag at the start of free agency. The deal brings an end to a prolonged negotiation that included threats of a holdout which could have extended deep into the regular season. Continue for updates. Cowboys Reportedly Have Agreement in Place Wednesday, July 15 NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Bryant and the Cowboys have a five-year, $70 million contract agreement in place. Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported $45 million will be guaranteed in the deal. Pro Football Talk reported Bryant will earn a $20 million signing bonus as part of that guaranteed money, leaving $3 million in guarantees for the 2015 season, and another $22 million guaranteed in March 2016. Bleacher Report's Jason Cole added that the Cowboys were hoping to get a clause in a new deal that would allow them to void Bryant's deal in the event that the wideout gets in trouble: On July 14, Rapoport reported Bryant was asking for more money than Calvin Johnson, and while one source said the sides had "a long way to go," the Cowboys' offer averaging over $12.8 million per year is far superior to the initial deal they offered, which averaged $10 million a year. Bryant Threatened to Sit Out Regular-Season Games in Contract Dispute Tuesday, July 14 Rapoport reported he has not talked to anyone who believes Bryant's threat to sit out any regular-season games is legitimate, but Rand Getlin of NFL Network says sources close to the Cowboys star insists he will if he doesn't get a deal. On July 13, Ed Werder of ESPN passed along news that Bryant won't attend training camp without a deal, reporting the star wide receiver called executive vice president Stephen Jones personally to inform him of his decision. Werder added Bryant would also miss real games without a long-term deal. However, Jones told Werder Bryant made no such threat, while the player himself confirmed he intends to hold out without a new contract: On July 14, Florio explained why Bryant would be willing to miss regular-season games, noting that even if he failed to play for the Cowboys in 2015, the collective bargaining agreement states the wideout would still be eligible for a 20 percent raise over the franchise-tag price next season. Despite Bryant's stance, Jerry Jones said back on June 17 he expects Bryant to "lead the Cowboys charge" in Week 1 against the Giants regardless of his contract status, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. Jones said he was "sympathetic" to Bryant, according to Mike Fisher of Fox Sports: "I would like nothing more than to have long-term security with Dez." Bryant took to Twitter to defend his decision to hold out: "With my conversations with him, he is willing to miss regular-season games," Bryant's agent Tom Condon told Sirius XM NFL Radio on June 16. ESPN's Chris Mortensen first reported June 12 that Bryant is considering skipping the Cowboys' Week 1 game against the New York Giants if he doesn't get a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline to sign a franchise-tagged player. NFLPA Reviewing Possible Collusion Claim Friday, July 10 Schefter reported the NFLPA is reviewing information that could lead to a collusion claim over the Cowboys and Bryant's negotiations: Bryant, Cowboys Reportedly Optimistic Over Negotiations Monday, July 6 Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports passed along what he was hearing regarding a potential time line for a resolution to negotiations, stating talks will continue to evolve and "possibly conclude by midweek." On July 4, Fisher reported the Cowboys and Bryant are optimistic about getting a deal done, noting the two sides are comfortable enough to not negotiate over the holiday weekend because of a shared willingness to have a positive impact on the Cowboys for life. He also said while the structure of the potential seven-year, $100 million deal is unknown, Jones wants to make a "positive mark" on the contract. The news comes on the heels of a June 27 report from Archer, who passed along word of the meeting between Condon and the team—the first in "nearly four months." On June 25, Cole reported the star wide receiver has "significant financial issues," which gives the team leverage as Bryant continues to hold out: Despite Bryant's desire for a new contract, a June 10 report from Ross Jones of Fox Sports provided comments from an agent who said teams will "likely" make stars like Bryant and the Denver Broncos' Demaryius Thomas play on a franchise deal and that it's "possible" they can get tagged next season. Playing under a fully guaranteed deal for one season does hamper the Cowboys' salary cap in 2015 but also gives them more flexibility over the next few years without having a huge cap number for a wide receiver on the books. Bryant at Stadium, Not Attending OTAs Thursday, June 18 Fisher reported Bryant was at AT&T Stadium on Thursday, but that the wide receiver was not there to participate in the team's minicamp. However, he did speak with Jones, per Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram provided Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett's take, saying "it's great" Bryant was in attendance. Garrett said he had been talking with the wide receiver, and that Bryant knew the importance of being present for the team's final message of minicamp, per David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. Bryant has emerged as one of the NFL's best wideouts after leading the league in receiving touchdowns last year (16) and being named first-team All-Pro. The Cowboys need Bryant to be happy and on the field if they want to make another playoff run in 2015. He would be sacrificing money to skip regular-season games, if that's the route he wants to take.

A new study has uncovered all kinds of interesting tidbits about the sex habits of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton supporters. The annual study, conducted by top dating website company “Match,” found that Trump supporters are 11 times more likely to to expect sex on the first dates, while Hillary supporters are more likely to lie about their total number of sex partners. Trump supporters are also more likely to film themselves having sex. The Singles in America study analyzed 5,504 singles ages over the age of 18. From the study: Hillary supporters are more likely to: lie about the number of past sex partners (102%); “wait for the right person” (38%); actively look for commitment (43%) and want children (65%). On the first date they expect no physical contact (2133%), are 70% more likely to discuss politics and 226% more likely to discuss marriage. Trump supporters are more likely to: film themselves having sex (99%); have five or more exes (54%); be unemployed (82%) or retired (96%); expect sex on the first date (1104%) and discuss their exes (116%). According to the study, a third of women would not ask for a second date with Donald Trump. Older women said Sen. Marco Rubio was the candidate they’d most like to kiss, but millennial women said Sen. Bernie Sanders would be their first choice for a kiss. The study also found that if you wanted a second date with a Republican, taking them to a fancy restaurant would make you 122 percent more likely to get that second date. Oddly, ordering sushi will make you 124 percent more likely to get a second date with a Democrat. Send tips to casey@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Follow Casey on Twitter and like him on Facebook. Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

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Accordingly, the baggage carried by Steven Mnuchin, President Trump's nominee for Secretary of the Treasury, gives me great pause. The abuses by the IndyMac-cum-OneWest financial institution under his leadership are well-documented. As a member of the professional tax community, my interest in the goings on over at the Treasury Department is a bit more keen than that of most Americans. And as an American expatriate, I am impacted financially in ways which leave my stateside countrymen and -women largely unscathed (including, for most American resident citizens, the requirement to report foreign bank accounts under threat of severe penalty for noncompliance). Our financial privacy has been seriously eroded. There are severe restrictions on where and how we expats can invest our money. The laws are crippling enough to begin with, but the way they are administered by IRS and the Treasury Department is driving many Americans to renounce their citizenship . At a Connecticut General Assembly hearing, Ms. Frances Kenneally gave an account of IndyMac/OneWest's abusive tactics in the mortgage mediation process, including being told conflicting stories by IndyMac and OneWest as to the status of her mortgage. Perhaps the most notorious practice from the recent mortgage crisis was the process called "robo-signing." Erica Johnson-Seck gained notoriety as the poster child of robo-signers. In some Florida litigation, Ms. Johnson-Seck avered under oath that while serving as a vice-president of OneWest and its previous incarnations (plural), she simultaneously served as an officer of other entities whose interests would normally be inconsistent with those of OneWest/IndyMac In the Drayton case, a Kings County (Brooklyn), New York foreclosure action, Justice Arthur Schack dismissed the case, but gave OneWest Bank leave to renew, provided that, within 60 days, OneWest Bank, F.S.B., submits to the court: (1) proof of the grant of authority from the original mortgagee, Cambridge Home Capital, LLC, to its nominee, Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., to assign the subject mortgage and note to IndyMac Federal Bank, FSB; and (2) an affidavit by Erica A. Johnson-Seck, vice-president of plaintiff OneWest Bank, F.S.B., explaining: her employment history for the past three years; why a conflict of interest does not exist in how she acted as a vice-president of assignor Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., a vice-president of assignee/assignor IndyMac Federal Bank, FSB, and a vice-president of assignee/plaintiff OneWest Bank, F.S.B. in this action; why she was a vice-president of both assignor Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. and assignee Deutsche Bank in Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v Maraj (18 Misc 3d 1123[A], 2008 NY Slip Op 50176[U] [2008]); why she was a vice-president of both assignor Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. and assignee IndyMac Bank, FSB in IndyMac Bank, FSB v Bethley (22 Misc 3d 1119[A], 2009 NY Slip Op 50186[U] [2009]); and, why she executed an affidavit of merit as a vice-president of Deutsche Bank in Deutsche Bank v Harris (Sup Ct, Kings County, Feb. 5, 2008, index No. 35549/07); and (3) counsel for plaintiff OneWest Bank, F.S.B. must comply with the new court filing requirement, announced by Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman on October 20, 2010, by submitting an affirmation, using the new standard court form, pursuant to CPLR 2106 and under the penalties of perjury, that counsel for plaintiff OneWest Bank, F.S.B. has personally reviewed plaintiff OneWest Bank, F.S.B.'s documents and records in the instant action and counsel for plaintiff OneWest Bank, F.S.B. confirms the factual accuracy of plaintiff OneWest Bank, F.S.B.'s court filings and the accuracy of the notarizations in plaintiff OneWest Bank, F.S.B.'s documents. In that same judicial opinion, Justice Schack defined a robo-signer as "a person who quickly signs hundreds or thousands of foreclosure documents in a month, despite swearing that he or she has personally reviewed the mortgage documents but has not done so." The case was not refiled by OneWest. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) believes, apparently with good reason, that Mr. Mnuchin misled the Senate Finance Committee when he denied that robo-signing occurred while he was CEO and chairman at IndyMac/OneWest. The Columbus Dispatch reports that robo-signing did in fact occur during that period. Some full disclosure is now in order at this juncture: I voted for Donald Trump in the past election, knowing that, like all other candidates for public office, there would be some disappointments from him if he were elected. I do support most of what our president has done thus far. But I fear that the Mnuchin nomination may well cause the president more than a little bit of damage. The Department of the Treasury is a complex organization, and its CEO, the Secretary of the Treasury, even more than the IRS, wields profound powers over the lives of all Americans, whether individuals or business entities. As Ms. Kenneally's testimony exemplifies, taxation, financial, and economic policies can take a significant toll on the noneconomic aspects of an individual's life, thereby affecting his well-being. Mr. Mnuchin no doubt understands this dynamic on an intellectual level, but how well has he internalized it? And what of his ability or willingness to control the behavior of his subalterns? These are serious questions for which I, as an expatriate tax professional, would really, really like to see satisfactory answers. Kenneth H. Ryesky, now a senior advisor in the U.S. Desk of Ernst & Young's International Tax Services in Tel Aviv, is a lawyer who has taught business law and taxation at Queens College CUNY. He formerly served as an attorney for the IRS.

November 27, 2010 — andyextance The amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached the highest level recorded since pre-industrial times in 2009, despite a fall in CO2 emissions during the year, scientists have underlined this week. Writing in Nature Geoscience on Sunday, a group of UK, US and Australian scientists found that global CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuel in 2009 were 1.3 percent below the record 2008 figures. However, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Wednesday underlined that the overall amount of “radiative forcing” from greenhouse gases – a measure of the warming energy that they contribute – actually rose by 1 percent in 2009. The WMO notes that reduced growth rates for concentrations of greenhouses gases like CO2 and nitrous oxide last year were accompanied by more rapid growth for methane. Atmospheric levels of methane, which contributes around one-fifth of global radiative forcing, had been steady for a decade previously, but have been rising rapidly since 2007. The WMO’s 2009 Greenhouse Gas Bulletin says that although the reasons for this are unclear, it’s thought that it is down to natural emissions as regions like the Arctic warm. “Potential methane release from northern permafrost, and wetlands, under future climate change is of great concern and is becoming a focus of intensive research and observations,” said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud. The WMO bulletin says that in 2009 the atmospheric concentration of CO2 was 386.8 parts per million, methane was 1803 parts per billion (ppb) and nitrous oxide’s concentration was 322.5 ppb. These values are 38 percent, 158 percent and 19 percent greater than in 1750, respectively, before the industrial revolution began to intensify humanity’s burning of fossil fuels. These figures will rise still further, with global CO2 emissions set to reach their highest ever levels in 2010, according to the University of Exeter’s Pierre Friedlingstein and colleagues. The 1.3 percent drop in 2009 that their Nature Geoscience paper documented was less than previously predicted, and unlikely to happen again this year. “Despite this drop, the 2009 global fossil fuel and cement emissions were the second highest in human history at 30.8 billion tons of CO2, just below the 2008 emissions,” the team wrote. They also predicted that 2010’s economic growth will raise CO2 emissions from fossil fuel by more than 3 percent, a high growth rate similar to what was seen earlier in the decade through 2000 to 2008. The financial crisis seen in Europe and North America was expected to have a knock-on effect reducing energy use, Friedlingstein explained. “The 2009 drop in CO2 emissions is less than half that anticipated a year ago,” he said. “This is because the drop in world Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was less than anticipated and the carbon intensity of world GDP, which is the amount of CO2 released per unit of GDP, improved by only 0.7 per cent in 2009 – well below its long-term average of 1.7 percent per year.” The global financial crisis severely affected western economies, reducing their industrial activity and need for electricity, for example, and therefore cutting CO2 emissions produced in power generation. UK emissions were 8.6 percent lower in 2009 than in 2008, with similar figures seen in most other industrialised nations. Rapidly growing emerging economies recorded substantial increases in CO2 emissions, with China’s emissions increasing by 8 percent, and India’s by 6.2 percent, broadly agreeing with figures produced earlier this year. These countries are more “carbon intense”, producing more CO2 for the money earned in their economies. This and the increasing reliance on coal around the world contributed to the poor carbon intensity result. The good news, however, is that the team finds CO2 emissions resulting from forests disappearing over the last decade have decreased by over 25 percent compared to the 1990s. This is thanks largely to reduced deforestation in tropical areas. “For the first time, forest expansion in temperate latitudes has overcompensated deforestation emissions and caused a small net sink of CO2 outside the tropics”, says Friedlingstein’s co-author Corinne Le Quéré, from the University of East Anglia and the British Antarctic Survey. “We could be seeing the first signs of net CO2 sequestration in the forest sector outside the tropics”, she adds. Advertisements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 7, 2017 ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have hired former Capital Peter Bondra as director of alumni affairs and business development, president of business operations and chief commercial officer of Monumental Sports & Entertainment Jim Van Stone announced today. “We are thrilled to add a familiar face to our organization,” said Van Stone. “Peter’s contributions to our organization both on and off the ice is remarkable. Peter has always been generous with his time and this is a great opportunity for him to continue to make a positive impact in the community.” Bondra played in 1,081 NHL games over a 16-season career, scoring 503 goals and 892 points. Bondra played in five All-Star Games and he remains second in Capitals’ franchise history in goals (472) and points (825). Bondra represented Slovakia internationally on multiple occasions, highlighted by a gold medal at the 2002 IIHF World Championship and a bronze medal at the 2003 World Championship. He also played in two Olympics (1998, 2006) and in the World Cup of Hockey (1996). In addition, Bondra served as General Manager for Slovakia’s national team from 2007-11 and as a scout for Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. “I am excited to join the Capitals in an official capacity,” said Bondra. “Washington has always been my home and I look forward to helping this organization in any way I can.” In his new role, Bondra will serve as the managing director of the Capitals Alumni Association with a focus on program and event development, alumni recruitment efforts and revenue development. In addition, he will support the Capitals fan development, community relations and MSE Foundation initiatives on various brand events and programs. Bondra will be available for interviews when the Capitals host Rock the Red Carpet on F Street in front of Capital One Arena from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. today, prior to the Capitals Opening Night presented by GEICO. The Capitals open the 2017-18 season presented by Capital One Bank by hosting the Montreal Canadiens at 7 p.m.

Being a developer for over 20 years I realized that when a started I saw debugging not as a craft on which I could improve but as a tedious factory job that sadly you need to do when you're a developer. And nobody wants to do dull work, so as many before me I started looking for ways to improve my debugging skills so I could be more efficient at it. Nowadays I see debugging as an art which takes ongoing efforts to master. But can be really fun when you get better at it. The value of debugging Fact: Nobody writes perfect code, and errors are an inevitable part of developing software. Being able to locate and fix errors is an important and underestimated part of learning to code. It's also the hardest skill to teach. To be honest, learning to step through your code with a debugger isn't very complicated, but it only will get you so far. Learning how to use scientific, methodical logic, creative problem solving and being able to understand what you're actually seeing is much more complicated. This is why I decided to create a list with tips to help you get a head start on becoming better at debugging. The list is based on my personal best practices and years and years of frustrating error-solving. Looking back, it would have helped a lot if I've had a couple of the tips from the start. Hopefully, you'll pick up some new ideas. Mindset: They're errors not bugs Before you continue it's important to have the right mindset. Remember: every error is an opportunity to learn, almost always about yourself (because only beginners blame the computer). And yes, they're errors, not bugs! As Dijkstra stated: the term bugs support the idea that something sneaked in our code while we weren't looking, instead of being there by our own creation (http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/EWD/transcriptions/EWD10xx/EWD1036.html) The list! 1. Learn to use a step-by-step debugger: (or print/echo/console.log a lot if you don't have a debugger). Use the debugger by: a. Adding watches to validate values of variables b. Setting breakpoints on relevant parts of your code c. Go through your code step by step and validate the input/output of each and every step 2. Assumptions are the m*therf*cker of all f*ck-ups Assumptions are wonderful: these quick conclusions are what makes you a real expert, but sometimes they are just plain wrong. How many times did you spend hours and hours staring at lines of code and saying: "This should work!" Blinded by your assumptions, unable to see the obvious flaw right under your nose. When you finally found the error, you decide to quit your job, because of how stupid you were not seeing your mistake right away. Should you not make assumptions then? You should make a lot of assumptions on what caused the error. Give yourself some time (max. 15 minutes), make drawings, write your assumptions down. Which one does your intuition tell you is the correct assumption? Which ones are easiest to validate? And start validating your assumptions. Making those assumptions and validating them first, helps you reason about the structure of your code. If you don't know for sure how something is working, and assume that it must be correct, you're making assumptions. So figure out how it's working first, read the code or ask someone to explain. If you just randomly assume and change your code, you're not a developer, you're a vlorker (which is what we at GHG Tech call someone who does that). Read http://us.talentlens.com/dr-judy/how-to-recognize-your-assumptions about recognizing assumptions 3. Binary search to the rescue Don't start at the beginning of your executed code, start halfway the steps of the code. The idea behind binary-search is to quickly identify/isolate a small region which contains the error. Developers are often not aware that they save a lot of time with this. How often was the error right at the start of your code? A simple example If you don't know which line in a 100-line program has an error, you set a breakpoint at 50 lines. Do the variables have the expected value, is this code even reached? If not, you know this first segment contains the error. You next try to split this and run the first 25 lines and see if the problem is there and so on until you have figured out a short enough piece to look at. Other approaches are commenting out code till it works and then adding pieces back'or more modern approaches like git bisect. My problem with tools like that is that you don't learn to debug code, learn from it and thus will make the same mistakes in the future. 4. RTFE (where E = Error message) Error messages are scary things you must avoid at all cost! Especially when you just started developing, they can be quite overwhelming. One important thing to understand about error messages, although an error message will tell you where it was detected it will not tell where it occurred. Read the message and try to understand that. Learn about the stack trace. If you have a run-time stack trace, start at the top and trace your variable assignments and function calls backwards. If you have a compiler error, the cause is often in a line before the one cited by the error message. Google for the error message and add context to your search query, if you're debugging Boto in regards to an S3 problem, combine the error message adding Boto and s3 to your search query. And if you get a result, don't just copy/solutions, understand what the solution is and validate if it's indeed a fix for your error. 5.Baby steps Run your code every time you make a significant change. Don't randomly tweak code; follow the code's execution process and validate your assumptions. Ask yourself the question: "If I change this part of the code will it result in the expected behavior?" Yes, continue with the next change. It's maybe stating the obvious but be honest are you always applying this principle? 6. Rubber ducking The term comes from a story in the book The Pragmatic Programmer in which a programmer carries around a rubber duck and debugs his code by forcing himself to explain it, line by line, to the duck. Have you had the experience when explaining a programming problem to someone else, even to someone who doesn't know anything about coding, and in a sudden realization, finding a solution? You can use actual rubber duckies or use the modern day version created by my colleague Erik Driessen directly. 7. Take a break and walk away. Remember those late nights, up till 3 a.m. working on that nasty error, going to bed completely defeated, waking up the next morning with a new brilliant solution. When you are stuck your mind tends to get even more stuck and you don't see the actual problem anymore. Just let it rest for a while, go out for a walk, drink a cup of coffee, attend to another piece of code or pay a visit to your grandma (chance to apply your rubber ducking skills). You will probably notice that taking a step back might actually reset your brain and you will see another way to tackle the error 8. Ask for help Asking a colleague for help should not be seen a weakness it's actually a strength. How wonderful it is to be able to help out a colleague with a problem and solving it together. Giving each other a high five and talk about that nasty error even years later is really good bonding mechanism. But don't do it before you've at least tried to tackle it yourself with the first 7 tips. Conclusion I wrote down my personal approach to debugging, but since it's a creative process and you learn every day, it's in no way a definitive list. I'm curious to hear your anecdotes and best practices. And keep in mind: Everyone knows that debugging is twice as hard as writing code in the first place. So if you're as clever as you can be when you write it, how will you ever debug it? So for now happy debugging...uh...de-erroring!!

About two-thirds of Americans who work at small businesses will see health-insurance premiums increase under Obamacare, according to a new federal report. The higher premiums will affect about 11 million Americans, according to the report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The report also estimated an additional 6 million individuals will see reductions in their premiums. The report was released Friday, but came to light late Monday as some lawmakers have seized on the report's release to voice their skepticism about Obamacare. House Speaker John Boehner, late Monday, released the following statement in response to the report. "For all the promises of lower costs for small businesses, the administration now admits that far more of these workers will pay higher than lower premiums under the law," he said. "The bad news keeps mounting and our nation's best job creators are paying the price," said House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) in a statement. "Earlier this month, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office provided economic data that echoed what many small businesses have been telling us – that the health law is killing jobs and harming the economy," Graves said. The report can be found here. (Read more: Why there are fewer new US businesses and jobs)

Think of the most neglected areas in Dayton, Springfield, Middletown or Hamilton and super-size it by 1,000 times or more. The WSU men's basketball team passed a run down and worn out area to play at Detroit Mercy on Dec. 31, 2016. That’s not a mocking indictment on this nation’s onetime industrial might. It’s more a nod to the evolution of a mighty city that couldn’t keep up with changing technology or overcome unchecked political corruption from within. This video is a snippet of what pervades much of Detroit. It’s 6 Mile Road, also known as McNichols Avenue. Taking this exit off Interstate 75, this is the way to Detroit Mercy University, where Wright State played a men’s college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. The gated campus is about two miles from I-75. Scores of abandoned and burned-out homes line the way. This also is about 15 miles north of downtown Detroit, where much has been revitalized but the rest wastes away in disarray. PARKER ERNSTHAUSEN: Comes up big for Raiders We have a new incoming president who’s fond of saying let’s make America great again. Detroit would be a great place to start. FACEBOOK: For more sports you should like Marc Pendleton

Author takes out top prize for fiction for the second time with novel about race, poverty, loss and family in America’s south Jesmyn Ward has won one of the highest awards in American literature for the second time, taking home the National Book Award’s top prize for fiction for her critically lauded novel about race, poverty, loss and family in America’s south: Sing, Unburied, Sing. At the ceremony, held in New York and hosted by actor Cynthia Nixon, Ward saw off competition from Elliot Ackerman (Dark at the Crossing), Lisa Ko (The Leavers), Min Jin Lee (Pachinko) and Carmen Maria Machado (Her Body and Other Parties: Stories). Ward, 40, won the same award in 2011 for her novel Salvage the Bones. Sing, Unburied, Sing is half road novel and half ghost story, following a family that lives in a fictional Mississippi town, post–Hurricane Katrina. “Throughout my career, when I have been rejected, there was sometimes subtext, and it was this: ‘People will not read your work because these are not universal stories,’ ” Ward said. “I don’t know whether some doorkeepers felt this way because I wrote about poor people, or black people, or southerners, but as my career progressed ... I still encountered that mindset, time and time again.” Ward spoke of people who would contact her asking what her characters had to offer them, and praised the judges and her readers for seeing themselves in her writing. “You looked at me and at the people I love and write about – my poor, my black; my Southern children, women and men – and you saw yourself. You saw your grief, your love, your losses; your regrets, your joy, your hope.” Jesmyn Ward: ‘So much of life is pain and sorrow and wilful ignorance’ Read more The nonfiction category was won by the Russian and American journalist Masha Gessen, for The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia. Facilitated by a grant from the Carnegie Foundation, Gessen’s book weaves through four decades of Russian history, and the country’s turn away from democracy – a topic which becomes particularly timely in Donald Trump’s America. “I never thought that a Russia book could ever be longlisted or shortlisted for the National Book Award but, of course, things have changed,” Gessen said, to laughs. The night’s other major awards were for poetry and young people’s literature. In the poetry category, a three-time Pulitzer finalist, Frank Bidart, won for Half-light: Collected Poems 1965-2016. “I’ve realised during the past month that I”m almost twice as old as any of the other finalists,” Bidart said. “Writing the poems was how I survived.” The young people’s literary category was won by Robin Benway for Far from the Tree. Richard Flanagan and Jesmyn Ward – books podcast Read more About 1,500 books were submitted for the awards, which are restricted to works published between 1 December 2016 and 30 November 2017. Of the 20 finalists this year, 15 were women. Each finalist receives $1,000, and the winners take home $10,000 each. Established in 1950, and administrated by the National Book Foundation since 1988, the award’s former winners have included Ralph Ellison, Jonathan Franzen, Saul Bellow and more recently Ta-Nehisi Coates, who won in 2015 for his nonfiction book Between the World and Me. Coates’s win signalled a shift in direction for the awards, whose judges tended to favour more obscure choices rather than well-known writers covering topical issues. Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad won last year and was published by Oprah Winfrey’s imprint. Other award winners on Wednesday night included the former National Book Award winner Annie Proulx, who was given the medal for distinguished contribution to American letters, and Dick Robinson, president and chief executive of Scholastic, who received the literarian award for outstanding service to the American literary community. The former US president Bill Clinton gave Robinson his award, and Anne Hathaway (who featured in the adaptation of her short story Brokeback Mountain) gave a passionate introduction to Proulx, saying her work helped her to “welcome the tenderness of loss” and the “beauty and value of loss, which is to say life itself”. Receiving the award, Proulx said: “I didn’t start writing until I was 58. So if you’ve been thinking about it and putting it off – go ahead.” She then launched into a searing critique of contemporary life. She said that we’re living in a “Kafka-esque times” with “flicking threats of nuclear war” and that humans are stripping the Earth of its natural resources and urged the audience to get involved in citizen science projects to protect the natural environment. The 2016 National Book Award finalists and winners Fiction Dark at the Crossing, by Elliot Ackerman The Leavers, by Lisa Ko Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee Her Body and Other Parties: Stories, by Carmen Maria Machado Sing, Unburied, Sing, by Jesmyn Ward Nonfiction Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge, by Erica Armstrong Dunbar The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America, by Frances FitzGerald The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia, by Masha Gessen Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, by David Grann Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America, by Nancy MacLean Poetry Half-light: Collected Poems 1965-2016, by Frank Bidart The Book of Endings, by Leslie Harrison WHEREAS, by Layli Long Soldier In the Language of My Captor, by Shane McCrae Don’t Call Us Dead: Poems, by Danez Smith Young people’s literature What Girls Are Made Of, by Elana K Arnold Far from the Tree, by Robin Benway I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, by Erika L Sánchez Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, by Rita Williams-Garcia American Street, by Ibi Zoboi

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form. MIKE BURKE: Interestingly, one of the more active relief efforts that we came across in the Rockaways was done by a group calling themselves Occupy Sandy Relief. And this is a group of—pretty much of alumni from Occupy Wall Street who started organizing really in the hours after the storm, about ways that just, you know, regular members of the community could help. And we talked to one organizer named Catherine Yeager. She lives in the Rockaways, and we talked to her outside of the—a restaurant called the Veggie Island, which had been transformed into a relief hub. And this is part of what she had to say. CATHERINE YEAGER: My name is Catherine Yeager. I moved down to the Rockaway in March of this last year. I am good friends with Elizabeth Gilchrist, who owns Veggie Island. I have a bungalow down on 89th Street, and I was here for the entire hurricane. You know, it’s been a whirlwind. We’ve been trying as much as possible to organize things. We’ve been putting food out as much as possible. Lots of stuff has been coming in. And I just love Rockaway, and I want it back to where it was before the storm. MIKE BURKE: So what’s happening behind you right now? CATHERINE YEAGER: What’s happening behind me right now is basically we’re working with Sandy Relief and OWS. The people are bringing by the car loads in clothes, food, cans goods, diapers, batteries, flashlights, everything under the sun, you know, that we kind of need right now. And so, people are able to come up and sort of pick through the different things they need, be handed the things. We have warm food that we’re making all the time for people. And so, it’s really, essentially—I mean, we have cars that come in, and things are dropped off, and within 30 minutes it’s all gone. You know, I mean, it’s that desperate down here. People have literally lost everything. Right now, the biggest issue that we need is generators, and we need pumps, because we can’t get the electricity turned back on until all of the basements are pumped out. And there’s still—if you walk Rockaway and you knock on any door, someone—every single door, someone is going to need help. The water that came in is toxic, OK? We had water from the beach. I watched the waves that morning. They were already incredibly dirty. The bay and the ocean met every single part of Rockaway during the storm. There was at least two feet of flooding everywhere, sometimes up to six or seven feet of flooding, depending on where you lived. Everyone’s been affected, doesn’t matter who you are, doesn’t matter where you are. Every single person’s been affected. And so, a lot of right now is getting those basements pumped out, debris getting pulled out, you know, sweeping out huge chunks of just gunk and junk, and trying to figure out where it all goes. The boardwalk is destroyed. You know, I watched the boardwalk out my window come rushing down. The water level here got up to about five feet, and the winds were almost 20 miles per hour, so it looks like the ocean coming through this entire place. I watched cars rolling down the street. I mean, it was—it was scary. And out the window, you could see the fire. You could see this huge flame of fire coming from Breezy Point. And they really—I mean, there were, I think, 80 homes lost over there—and just devastated. So, the last couple days have been very inspiring, because we’ve had so many people coming. People are starting to realize that Rockaway was hit as bad as it was hit, and they’re coming to start helping and starting to think about us a little bit more. So, we’ll see what happens. I don’t know when we’re going to get electricity back. I don’t know. A lot of the people’s homes are heated by baseboard heaters, and it’s just—this is salt water we’re talking about. So salt water is going to kill everything, you know? Anything, any kind of tools or cars or anything that runs on these different motors or electricity, when that salt water hits it, it’s destroyed, you know? MIKE BURKE: Now, how are the relief efforts that are taking place here different from what we’re seeing with FEMA and the National Guard down the street? CATHERINE YEAGER: FEMA down the street, from what I understand, is handing out pieces of paper that tell you to call a phone number to get help. Here, you come, and you get help immediately. We’re going to start organizing and having people come down with their—we’re encouraging people who come down and want to do manpower help, bring your own cleaning supplies. Be your own self-sufficient cleaning person, so that we can start sending you to homes, and you just knock on the door, and you can go in, and you can start cleaning. You don’t have to come here and grab cleaning supplies. You’ve got your own to go out. We’re going to start trying to put signs up at the ends of streets and do red flags, so that people can put red flags out if they do need help, so that we have a better idea of who’s doing things on their own, who’s OK, who’s not. You know what I mean? Because it’s hard. You walk around, and it’s just such devastation that you don’t even quite know where to start. And sometimes when it’s that overwhelming, you don’t quite know where to go. FEMA is providing cellphone charging down there, but you’ve got to wait in line—I don’t know—for an hour to be able to get your cellphone plugged in, you know? Besides that, I don’t know what they’re doing. You know? I’ve seen some cleanup. There was definitely a lot of the boardwalk that’s been moved. But, you know, nothing that I would—I’m sure is happening on Wall Street or cleanup that’s happening in other parts of Manhattan, you know? MIKE BURKE: Speaking of Wall Street, what is the connection with Occupy Wall Street and this relief effort? CATHERINE YEAGER: Sandy Relief—basically, you know, Occupy Wall Street were one of the main people who started immediately knowing that Rockaway was the one that was the hardest hit. I was contacted pretty much immediately from friends of mine who are in Occupy Wall Street, like Bobby and Olivia Katz, you know, who contacted me and were reaching out and saying, “We want to bring Occupy down there. We want to help with the relief effort,” you know? And it’s—they’ve been the only ones that I—that have really helped, you know what I mean? And really been able to make real, tangible things that are going on right now. We’ve been open since 8:00 this morning. We have been giving things away all day long. People are walking away with smiles on their faces. People are able to, you know, for one night be able to not be in a totally dark room, because they’ve gotten flashlights. You know, they have warm clothes for their children. They have clean diapers, you know. They’re going to actually be able to eat tonight. MIKE BURKE: Amy, that was Catherine Yeager. I spoke to her in the Rockaways on Friday outside Veggie Island, which had been transformed into this really impressive relief hub. While we were there, there were several cars that came by. They were able to ask for specific items, and then volunteers would search the building. In one case, someone asked for baby food, which is something that FEMA and the National Guard did not have down the street. And they had a box of baby food. They were able to run it out to the car and give it to them, and they drove off with the baby food. It’s interesting. There was an article in Slate yesterday titled “Is Occupy Wall Street Outperforming the Red Cross in Hurricane Relief?” AMY GOODMAN: Well, that’s an interesting question. We’re going to go to break, and when we come back, we’re going to Staten Island, where the Staten Island borough president has said, stop supporting the Red Cross. Stay with us.

Conclusions Available evidence from randomized controlled trials shows that replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes. Findings from the Minnesota Coronary Experiment add to growing evidence that incomplete publication has contributed to overestimation of the benefits of replacing saturated fat with vegetable oils rich in linoleic acid. Results The intervention group had significant reduction in serum cholesterol compared with controls (mean change from baseline −13.8% v −1.0%; P<0.001). Kaplan Meier graphs showed no mortality benefit for the intervention group in the full randomized cohort or for any prespecified subgroup. There was a 22% higher risk of death for each 30 mg/dL (0.78 mmol/L) reduction in serum cholesterol in covariate adjusted Cox regression models (hazard ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 1.32; P<0.001). There was no evidence of benefit in the intervention group for coronary atherosclerosis or myocardial infarcts. Systematic review identified five randomized controlled trials for inclusion (n=10 808). In meta-analyses, these cholesterol lowering interventions showed no evidence of benefit on mortality from coronary heart disease (1.13, 0.83 to 1.54) or all cause mortality (1.07, 0.90 to 1.27). Design The MCE (1968-73) is a double blind randomized controlled trial designed to test whether replacement of saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid reduces coronary heart disease and death by lowering serum cholesterol. Recovered MCE unpublished documents and raw data were analyzed according to hypotheses prespecified by original investigators. Further, a systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials that lowered serum cholesterol by providing vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid in place of saturated fat without confounding by concomitant interventions was conducted. We analyzed recovered raw data according to hypotheses prespecified by the original study investigators (table 1 ⇑ ). Further, to put these MCE findings into context, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of all available randomized controlled trials that specifically tested whether replacement of saturated fat with linoleic acid rich oils reduces risk of death from coronary heart disease and all cause mortality. We recovered raw MCE data, including previously unpublished records of serum cholesterol and autopsy reports (table 1 ⇑ and fig 2 ⇓ ), and an extensive collection of study documents, including a 1981 master’s thesis by S K Broste. The Broste thesis, which includes detailed survival analyses for the full randomized cohort and for the prespecified age and sex subgroups, has never previously been cited or considered part of the scientific evidence base ( http://www.psych.uic.edu/download/Broste_thesis_1981.pdf ). Despite the potential importance of this trial, critical analyses prespecified by the original MCE investigators have not been previously published or considered part of the evidence base (table 1 ⇓ ). For example, we do not yet know the effects of the serum cholesterol lowering intervention in prespecified subgroups; the association between longitudinal changes in serum cholesterol and risk of death; or the effects of the intervention on any autopsy endpoints. The Minnesota Coronary Experiment (MCE), a randomized controlled trial conducted in 1968-73, was the largest (n=9570) and perhaps the most rigorously executed dietary trial of cholesterol lowering by replacement of saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid. The MCE is the only such randomized controlled trial to complete postmortem assessment of coronary, aortic, and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis grade and infarct status and the only one to test the clinical effects of increasing linoleic acid in large prespecified subgroups of women and older adults. Only a handful of randomized controlled trials have ever causally tested the traditional diet-heart hypothesis. The results for two of these trials were not fully reported. Our recovery and 2013 publication of previously unpublished data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study (SDHS, 1966-73) belatedly showed that replacement of saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid significantly increased the risks of death from coronary heart disease and all causes, despite lowering serum cholesterol. 14 Our recovery of unpublished documents and raw data from another diet-heart trial, the Minnesota Coronary Experiment, provided us with an opportunity to further evaluate this issue. Fig 1 Traditional diet-heart hypothesis. Solid line indicates that causal relation has been established by randomized controlled trials (A); dashed lines indicate that no causal relation has been established (B and C). A=randomized controlled trials show that replacement of saturated fat with vegetable oils rich in linoleic acid lowers serum total cholesterol and LDL; B=intermediate endpoints related to serum cholesterol are robustly associated with risk of coronary heart disease events and deaths in observational studies; C= randomized controlled trials have tested whether replacement of saturated fat with linoleic acid reduces coronary heart disease events or deaths; none have shown significant benefit The traditional diet-heart hypothesis 1 2 predicts that the serum cholesterol lowering effects of replacing saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid will diminish deposition of cholesterol in the arterial wall, 3 4 slow progression of atherosclerosis, 5 reduce coronary heart disease events, and improve survival. 6 7 This diet-heart paradigm is supported by evidence from randomized controlled trials showing that replacement of saturated fat with linoleic acid lowers serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein 8 9 10 11 12 and by observational evidence linking serum cholesterol to coronary heart disease events and deaths (fig 1 ⇓ ). 13 Despite these compelling relations, no randomized controlled trial has shown that replacement of saturated fat with linoleic acid significantly reduces coronary heart disease events or deaths (fig 1 ⇓ ). A key component of dietary guidelines has long been to replace saturated fat with oils rich in linoleic acid (such as corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, or soybean oil). This advice is based on the traditional diet-heart hypothesis prediction that replacement decreases coronary heart disease and all cause mortality. Thus, we followed PRISMA standards 23 for reporting a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that specifically tested whether replacement of saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid decreases mortality from coronary heart disease and all cause mortality. Included in the main analysis were all serum cholesterol lowering randomized controlled trials since 1950 with publication in English that randomly assigned individual participants; provided an intervention of vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid in place of saturated fat, compared with a usual care control diet; were not confounded by the addition of large quantities of n-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) or by other major concomitant interventions (such as complex changes in diet pattern) or unequal intensity of medical management (such as advice on smoking cessation or control of blood pressure); and reported deaths from coronary heart disease or all causes. Hence, we excluded randomized controlled trials that provided large quantities of n-3 EPA and DHA or provided advice only without provision of linoleic acid rich oils from the main analysis, and studies with only biochemical or intermediate endpoints. Sensitivity analyses included diet-heart randomized controlled trials that also provided large quantities of n-3 EPA and DHA or provided advice only without provision of a linoleic acid rich study oil but otherwise met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the main analysis. As we recovered only 149 of the original 295 autopsy files, our analysis of the effects of the serum cholesterol lowering diet on atherosclerotic progression and myocardial infarcts confirmed at autopsy should be considered provisional until the complete autopsy data are recovered. We calculated incidence rate ratios for the presence of at least one autopsy confirmed myocardial infarct according to diet group. We used linear regression to examine whether assignment to diet group or changes in serum cholesterol concentration were associated with coronary or aortic atherosclerosis. We used logistic regression to examine the association between serum cholesterol concentration and the presence of at least one autopsy confirmed myocardial infarct. For our main analysis, we used Cox regressions for death as a function of continuous time varying serum cholesterol (up to 12 repeated measures on each participant) and adjusted for clustering within hospital. We used Schoenfeld residuals to test the proportional hazards assumption and martingale residuals to assess model fit. We present results from crude models, models adjusted for relevant variables including age, sex, blood pressure, BMI, and adherence to diet (percent of missed meals), and sensitivity analyses further adjusting for time varying changes in BMI and systolic blood pressure. All models were tested for effect modification by diet group. For simplicity, we have shown hazard ratios for each 30 mg/dL (0.78 mmol/L) decrease in serum cholesterol. First, we provide a crude visual representation of the association between cholesterol and death by graphing the distribution of change in total serum cholesterol concentration (using the average of measurements for each participant before and after randomization) along with the number and percentage of deaths followed by plots of age adjusted logistic regression models. Our analyses used longitudinal data for the 2355 participants who received the intervention diet for a year or more and were carried out in Stata version 13.1. To determine the effect of the dietary intervention on serum cholesterol, we analyzed group differences in serum cholesterol over time using a generalized estimating equation model with time × group interaction. Fig 4 MCE flow diagram. *16 825 participants completed MCE form No 011 (tape 4 data, appendix part 1); †Broste thesis reports that 9570 participants were randomized and that 147 dropped out prior to diet exposure, 1975 abstract and 1989 manuscript reported that 9449 and 9057 participants were randomized, respectively; ‡longitudinal serum cholesterol data recovered for 2355/2403 randomized participants exposed to diet for one year or more (tape 2 data, appendix part 1); ¶autopsy files with aortic and coronary atherosclerosis and infarct data recovered for 149/295 completed autopsies We were unable to recover the complete MCE dataset including all randomized participants. Thus, we could not conduct a traditional randomized controlled trial analysis to determine the effect of randomization. We do, however, include the life table graphs from the 1981 Broste thesis. A thorough explanation of methods and results can be found on pages 21-49 of the Broste thesis ( http://www.psych.uic.edu/download/Broste_thesis_1981.pdf ). For context, we include a CONSORT flow diagram (fig 4 ⇓ ). The degree of aortic atherosclerosis was graded from 1 to 7 according to the technique devised by the Committee on Grading of Lesions of the Council of Atherosclerosis of the American Heart Association 20 and recorded on form No 10 (appendix 2). Each aorta was graded independently by two observers without knowledge of age, sex, diagnosis, hospital of origin, or diet group. An aortic atherosclerosis score variable was created by taking the average of the two measures for each individual. The degree of coronary atherosclerosis and mapping of myocardial infarcts were evaluated by the multiple cross section technique as described by Spiekerman and colleagues. 20 21 At each of 16 coronary vessel sites, vessel narrowing was scored on a 4 point scale based on the percentage closure of the coronary lumen with 1, 2, 3, and 4 signifying <25%, 25-50%, 50-75%, and 100%, respectively. These data were recorded on MCE form No 8 (appendix 2). Scores at each site were summed to calculate a total coronary atherosclerosis score (range 16-64). Subendocardial and transmembrane infarcts were identified after the ventricles were cut into transverse sections and recorded on MCE form No 9 (appendix 2). The MCE grant proposal, supplements, and FORTRAN coding sheets 6 19 20 21 included detailed plans for analysis of autopsy data, and a 9-track magnetic tape file with full autopsy data (MCE Tape #380) (appendix part 1) was known to exist. To our knowledge, however, no autopsy results have ever been published or reported. According to the 1989 publication, 57.1% (corresponding to 295 of the 517 reported deaths) of participants who died during the experimental dietary intervention phase underwent autopsy. Hearts, aortas, and brains were sent to the University of Minnesota for blinded grading by university pathologists. We recovered heart and aorta autopsy files for 149 out of these 295 completed autopsies. The remaining autopsy files remain unaccounted for. MCE investigators categorized fatal and non-fatal events into 10 categories (table C in the appendix). They used a conservative approach to attribute the cause of death to coronary heart disease. The MCE team noted “reluctance to classify a death in this category unless objective evidence is at hand.” Close attention was therefore directed to the overall death rate as “atherosclerosis may contribute to many deaths in which no actual fresh myocardial infarct or coronary occlusion has occurred.” 6 20 We recovered data on all cause mortality but did not recover data on non-fatal events or deaths from coronary heart disease. Data on coronary heart disease deaths in relation to intermediate endpoints existed, however, and were reported in the 1981 Broste thesis. MCE investigators hypothesized that the clinical effects of lowering serum cholesterol would take substantial time to manifest and thus placed special emphasis on the subgroup of participants exposed to the study diets for a year or more. 6 15 19 20 MCE investigators chose not to measure serum cholesterol in the whole sample of participants exposed to diets for less than a year because they “remained in the hospital for too short a time to contribute significantly to the results.” 15 Based on recovered data, 2403 MCE participants were exposed to study diets for a year or more. We recovered longitudinal data on serum total cholesterol for 2355 (98%) of these participants. In addition to pre-randomization measures, participants had an average of six follow-up measurements of serum cholesterol. On study entry and at six month intervals thereafter throughout both the pre-randomization and randomized controlled trial phases, a project technician carried out a brief evaluation of the participant’s risk status, 6 fasting serum was sealed under nitrogen and stored at −20°C, and an electrocardiogram was obtained. Fifteen MCE forms were devised for recording the data from the hospitals and laboratories (appendix 2). The data collected on these forms and the adherence data collected on the punch cards were transferred to magnetic tapes for later analysis. Study foods were designed to appear similar in both groups. Both diets were served in a single line. Each study participant received his or her group specific food tray based on a unique computer generated code number, which was designed to be incomprehensible to the participants but easily interpreted by the food servers. 15 Twenty one labels were printed out for each participant each week. Labels remaining on the sheet were used to record missed meals, which were transferred to a “Port-o-Punch card” for later assessment of the correlation between adherence (defined as the percentage of meals received) and cholesterol response. The original hospital inpatient population was randomized according to a stratified randomization scheme with 512 cells on the basis of eight variables (age, sex, length of stay in the hospital, weight, blood pressure, diabetes, cigarette smoking, and electrocardiographic evidence of previous myocardial infarction). When new patients were admitted to a hospital after the diet start date, the stratified randomization scheme used four cells, according to age and sex. 15 We did not recover specific details on implementation of randomization and concealment of allocation. The control MCE diet was patterned after the “D” diet of the National Diet Heart Study. It was designed to appear similar to the experimental diet. Notably, free surplus USDA food commodities including common margarines and shortenings were key components of the control diet, making the daily per participant allocation from the state of Minnesota adequate to cover the full costs. 2 15 16 As common margarines and shortenings of this period were rich sources of industrially produced trans fatty acids, 23 24 25 the control diet contained substantial quantities of trans fat. Compared with the pre-randomization hospital diet, the control diet did not change saturated fat intake but did substantially increase linoleic acid intake (by about 38%, from 3.4% to 4.7% of calories). Based on this increase in dietary linoleic acid alone, the Keys equation predicts that the control diet would lower average serum cholesterol compared with baseline (fig 3 ⇑ and table 2 ⇑ ). This reduction, however, would be modest compared with the reduction in the intervention group. The MCE experimental serum cholesterol lowering diet was derived from the “BC” diet of the institutional arm of the National Diet-Heart Feasibility Study at Faribault Hospital. 2 6 15 16 20 22 Liquid corn oil was used in place of the usual hospital cooking fats (including hydrogenated oils) and was also added to numerous food items (for example, salad dressings, filled beef (lean ground beef with added oil), filled milk, and filled cheeses). Soft corn oil polyunsaturated margarine was used in place of butter. This intervention produced a mean reduction in dietary saturated fat by about 50% (from 18.5% to 9.2% of calories) and increased linoleic acid intake by more than 280% (from about 3.4% to 13.2% of calories) 15 16 (fig 3 ⇑ ). Hospital specific fatty acid compositions based on chemical analysis of a three week supply of study foods in 1971 are shown in part 1 of the appendix. There was substantial variability in study diets between hospitals, with saturated fat ranging from 8.0% to 12.3% and linoleic acid ranging from about 11.3% to 16.5% of calories. Saturated fat, however, was markedly reduced, and linoleic acid was markedly increased, in each hospital. Based on the average dietary changes, the Keys equation predicts that the MCE intervention diet would produce a marked reduction in serum cholesterol concentration (fig 3 ⇑ and table 2 ⇓ ). Fig 3 Linoleic acid and saturated fat compositions of MCE control and intervention group diets. Values in figure are based on chemical analysis of study foods. 16 Intervention group reduced saturated fat intake by about 50% and increased linoleic acid intake by >280%. Control group maintained high saturated fat intake but increased linoleic acid intake by about 38%. Based on Keys equation, these diet changes are predicted to lower cholesterol in both groups (table 2 ⇓ ) Prior to randomization, each hospital’s food production program was covered by free provision of surplus USDA food commodities (common margarine, shortening, skim milk, flour, and rice) and Minnesota state funding. 6 The average baseline hospital diet provided 18.5% and 3.8% of calories as saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids, respectively 16 (fig 3 ⇓ ). Based on the traditional distribution of polyunsaturated fatty acid species in US diets (about 90% of which are linoleic acid), this baseline hospital diet provided about 3.4% of calories as linoleic acid. The experimental dietary intervention phase, which was initiated over a 15 month period according to start dates of hospital specific diets, lasted for a maximum of 56 months. The start dates and duration of diet for each hospital are presented in table B in the appendix. Participants were followed up only while they were inpatients at the study hospitals. Participants who were admitted to a given hospital after its respective diet phase was underway completed baseline risk assessment, electrocardiographic testing, and serum collection before they started the study diets. The randomized controlled trial phase was preceded by a 33 month pre-randomization observational phase (February 1966 to November 1968), during which the study team characterized the hospital populations, developed and refined procedures for diet delivery, baseline and follow-up visits, sick visits, blood collection, electrocardiograms, and postmortem examination, as well as the data collection and management plans. The recovered documents did not contain a traditional sample size calculation. This was likely because of the lack of a prespecified primary endpoint. We did recover multiple power calculations with different endpoints and assumptions, which provide ranges for adequate sample sizes. For example, based on epidemiological associations between serum cholesterol and coronary heart disease events in non-randomized cohorts, the MCE investigators applied the Cornfield equation [risk = k(serum cholesterol) n ] to predict that between 2490 and 11 645 participants would be required to “obtain a difference in 5 years significant at the 95% confidence level” with α=β=0.05. 19 Based on the rate of strictly defined deaths from coronary heart disease observed during the MCE observational phase, and the elimination of all participants staying in the hospital less than a year, the estimated duration of the experiment required to assess the efficacy of the intervention was 3.6 years (with α=β=0.05). 20 These calculations were made to allow 95% power; typical β used in randomized controlled trials today is 0.20, which allows for 80% power. There was no single prespecified primary outcome for this randomized controlled trial in any of the records we recovered, including the R01 grant application, detailed supplementary progress reports, and an extensive collection of FORTRAN coding sheets. In each of these documents, an emphasis was placed on total deaths, deaths from coronary heart disease, and non-fatal coronary heart disease events. According to the MCE R01 grant proposal entitled “Effect of a Dietary Change on Human Cardiovascular Disease,” the project objective was to “provide evidence concerning the possibility of reducing the incidence of clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis by dietary modification.” 6 The MCE team planned to test whether the dietary intervention reduced coronary heart disease events and deaths in the total population and in prespecified subgroups of women, men, ages ≥65 and <65, and participants with and without established coronary heart disease (primary and secondary prevention), with a special emphasis on participants exposed to study diets for a year or longer. 6 19 20 21 We obtained approval from the NIH Office of Human Research Protection (OHSRP #5743) and collaboration from Robert Frantz to recover, analyze, and interpret de-identified MCE data and study related materials stored on two 9-track magnetic tapes (see appendix fig A) and an extensive collection of paper documents, including numerous green-bar paper files, paper autopsy folders, original and supplementary grant proposals, data collection forms, and FORTAN coding sheets. Part 1 of the appendix describes the methods used to recover data, convert into a useable format, verify accuracy, and merge into a master file. For further validation, we compared each of the recovered MCE datasets with each other and with data reported in the 1989 study publication, 15 the 1981 master’s thesis (Broste S K, Lifetable analysis of the Minnesota Coronary Survey http://www.psych.uic.edu/download/Broste_thesis_1981.pdf ), 7 and 1975 conference proceedings, 16 17 18 as well as numerous other recovered MCE documents and data sources as described in part 1 of the appendix. Previous mentions of this study, including the recovered documents, refer to the “Minnesota Coronary Survey (MCS)” because prior to randomization there was an observational phase that lasted almost three years. We call it Minnesota Coronary Experiment (MCE) to emphasize that we are using the experimental, randomized controlled trial phase of the MCS. No patients were involved in setting the research question or the outcome measures, nor were they involved in developing plans for design or implementation of the study. No patients were asked to advise on interpretation or writing up of results. There are no plans to disseminate the results of the research to study participants or the relevant patient community. The MCE was approved by the clinical research committee of the University of Minnesota and by each of the seven collaborating hospitals. 15 No consent forms were required because the study diets were considered to be acceptable as house diets and the testing was considered to contribute to better patient care. 15 Prior to beginning the diet phase, the project was explained and sample foods were served. Residents were given the opportunity to decline participation. Non-participants were served the control diet and did not provide blood samples or undergo electrocardiography. We were not able to recover a detailed description of the MCE autopsy consent procedure. According to the 1989 publication, 42.9% (corresponding to 222 of the 517 reported deaths) of those who died did not undergo autopsy, which was almost always because of “refusal by relatives or inability to contact relatives.” 15 The MCE was a double blinded, parallel group, randomized controlled dietary intervention trial, designed to evaluate the effects of increasing n-6 linoleic acid from corn oil in place of saturated fat for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events and deaths, and for reducing the degree of coronary, aortic, and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis, and the number of myocardial infarcts and strokes detected at autopsy. It was conducted from 1968 to 1973 in the state of Minnesota, United States. Eligible participants were men and women aged ≥20 admitted to either the Oak Terrace Nursing Home or one of six state mental hospitals (Anoka, Fergus Falls, Hastings, Moose Lake, Saint Peter, Willmar). The experiment lasted from 41 to 56 months, depending on the hospital. The experiment was funded by the US Public Health Service and National Heart Institute through the R01 mechanism (HE 09686), with Ivan Frantz as principal investigator and Ancel Keys as co-principal investigator. Fig 7 Meta-analysis for mortality from coronary heart disease in trials testing replacement of saturated fat with vegetable oils rich in linoleic acid. Main analysis: trials provided replacement foods (vegetable oils) and were not confounded by any concomitant interventions. Sensitivity analysis: includes trials that provided advice only and/or were confounded by addition of n-3 EPA and DHA. Risk ratios were used as estimates of hazard ratios in MCE, RCOT, LA Vet, and MRC-Soy. MCE=Minnesota Coronary Experiment; SDHS=Sydney Diet Heart Study; RCOT=Rose Corn Oil Trial; LA Vet=Los Angeles Veterans Trial; MRC-Soy=Medical Research Council Soy Oil Trial; DART=Diet and Re-infarction Trial; ODHS=Oslo Diet Heart Study; STARS=St. Thomas Atherosclerosis Regression Study; LA=linoleic acid; SFA=saturated fat; ALA=α linolenic acid; EPA=eicosapentaenoate; DHA=docosahexaenoate The complete systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines is presented in appendix part 2. Briefly, out of 1270 screened records we identified only five randomized controlled trials that provided vegetable oil(s) rich in linoleic acid in place of saturated fat and were not confounded by unequal application of concomitant interventions. These five trials included 10 808 participants, 324 deaths attributed to coronary heart disease, and 1001 deaths from all causes (table K and L in appendix). The mean change in serum cholesterol concentration in the course of the randomized controlled trials ranged from 7.8% to 13.8% lower in the intervention versus control groups. In meta-analyses of these five trials, there was no evidence of benefit on mortality from coronary heart disease (hazard ratio 1.13, 95% confidence interval 0.83 to 1.54) (fig 7 ⇓ ) or all cause mortality (1.07, 0.90 to 1.27) (fig D and E in appendix). In a sensitivity analysis, inclusion of three additional diet-heart trials that provided advice only and/or were confounded by the provision of large quantities of n-3 EPA+DHA did not appreciably alter results for mortality from coronary heart disease (1.00, 0.81 to 1.24) (fig 7 ⇓ ) or all cause mortality (1.00, 0.87 to 1.15) (figs H and I in appendix). In sensitivity analyses that included non-fatal endpoints, there was no indication of benefit from the replacement of saturated fat with vegetable oils rich in linoleic acid, with either a composite outcome of myocardial infarcts plus death from coronary heart disease or non-fatal myocardial infarcts alone (fig K and L in appendix). Thus, although limited, available evidence from randomized controlled trials provides no indication of benefit on coronary heart disease or all cause mortality from replacing saturated fat with linoleic acid rich vegetable oils. MCE investigators hypothesized that participants in the intervention group would have fewer myocardial infarcts confirmed by autopsy and less advanced atherosclerosis. In this autopsy cohort, however, 41% (31/76) of participants in the intervention group had at least one myocardial infarct, whereas only 22% (16/73) of participants in the control group did (incidence rate ratio 1.90, 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 3.72; P=0.035). Also, participants in the intervention group did not have less coronary atherosclerosis or aortic atherosclerosis (table 5 ⇓ ). These findings should be interpreted with caution because of partial recovery of autopsy files. There was no association between serum cholesterol and myocardial infarcts, coronary atherosclerosis, or aortic atherosclerosis in covariate adjusted models (table G in appendix). Characteristics of the partially recovered autopsy cohort are shown in table F in appendix; the intervention and control groups were well balanced at baseline, with no evident differences for any demographic, clinical, or laboratory variables. The mean age was 69.5, 36% were women, and the median follow-up was 298 days (316 days for intervention group, 217 days for control group). Baseline serum cholesterol concentration was 210 mg/dL. The mean change in serum cholesterol during follow-up was −17.9% in the intervention group and −1.3% in the control group. This finding that greater lowering of serum cholesterol was associated with a higher rather than a lower risk of death in the MCE does not provide support for the traditional diet-heart hypothesis. To explore the possibility that frailty (which is associated with both low cholesterol and death 28 29 ) could confound these results, we did a sensitivity analysis adjusting our Cox models (table 4 ⇑ ) for two known markers of frailty (changes in body weight and changes in systolic blood pressure). 28 29 30 These adjustments did not materially change the effect estimates, which remained significant in both groups. The higher risk of death associated with decreased serum cholesterol seems to be driven by the subgroup aged ≥65. Among participants who were older than 65 at baseline, a 30 mg/dL decrease in serum cholesterol was associated with 35% higher risk of death (hazard ratio 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.18 to 1.54), whereas among people aged under 65 at baseline there was no relation between the change in serum cholesterol and death (1.01, 0.88 to 1.16). In survival analyses (table 4 ⇑ ), there was a robust association between decreasing serum cholesterol and increased risk of death, and this association did not differ between the intervention and control group (P>0.16 for all serum cholesterol × intervention interactions). Among both groups combined, a 30 mg/dL (0.78 mmol/L) decrease in serum cholesterol was associated with 22% higher risk of death from any cause (hazard ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 1.32) based on a Cox model adjusted for baseline serum cholesterol, age, sex, adherence to diet, BMI, and systolic blood pressure. Fig 6 Death from any cause and change in serum cholesterol in cohort that received diets for one year or more (n=2355). Panels indicate relations between change in serum cholesterol and number of participants, number of deaths, percent of deaths, and probability of death among intervention, control, and combined groups. Change in serum cholesterol calculated with average of measurements before and after randomization for each individual. Last row represents logistic model for death as function of average change in cholesterol, adjusted for age at baseline. Likelihood ratio test used to test effect modification by diet group (P=0.67) The traditional diet heart hypothesis predicts that participants with greater reduction in serum cholesterol would have a lower risk of death (fig 1 ⇑ , line B). MCE participants with greater reduction in serum cholesterol, however, had a higher rather than a lower risk of death. Figure 6 ⇓ provides a simplified visual representation of change in serum cholesterol and death in the intervention group, control group, and combined groups; table 4 ⇓ provides more advanced statistical analyses, with hazard ratios for crude, adjusted, and sensitivity models. The average change in serum cholesterol in the intervention, control, and combined groups was −31 (SD 31), −5 (SD 30), and −18 (SD 33) mg/dL, respectively (fig 6 ⇓ , top row). The number, proportion, and probability of death increased as serum cholesterol decreased (fig 6 ⇓ , rows 2, 3, 4). Fig 5 Risk of death from any cause by diet assignment in full MCE cohort and prespecified subgroups (Kaplan Meier life table graphs of cumulative mortality). Graphical depiction of cumulative mortality in full MCE cohort (n=9423) and prespecified subgroups in 1981 Broste thesis 7 showed no indication of benefit and suggested possibility of unfavorable effects of serum cholesterol lowering intervention among participants aged ≥65. Patient level data needed to repeat this analysis were not recovered To our knowledge, the most complete analysis comparing mortality in the intervention versus control group was reported in the Broste thesis. 7 This included Kaplan Meier life table graphs for cumulative mortality for the full MCE cohort, and for each prespecified subgroup (fig 5 ⇓ ). These life table graphs confirm that there was no mortality benefit in the full MCE cohort. Moreover, the life table for the cohort aged ≥65 (fig 5 ⇓ ) suggests the possibility of an increased risk of death for the intervention group compared with controls. In the thesis, Broste noted “the excess mortality in the diet group seems to have been confined primarily to patients 65 or older.” 7 In the absence of the raw data, however, we cannot determine the statistical significance of this finding. A survival analysis that was presented in the 1989 manuscript 15 also showed no mortality benefit in the full MCE population (subgroup analyses were not reported). Thus, collective data from the 1989 publication and 1981 Broste thesis provide no evidence for mortality benefit and suggest the possibility of increased risk of death in older adults. The control diet, which increased dietary linoleic acid by 38% but did not alter saturated fat, produced a modest but significant reduction in serum cholesterol compared with baseline (−5 mg/dL (SD 30 mg/dL); −1.0% (SD 14.5%); P<0.001) (fig 3 ⇑ and table 2 ⇑ ). Higher adherence to the control diet was also associated with greater reduction in serum cholesterol (P=0.004). Among the intervention group, higher adherence (fewer missed meals) was associated with a more pronounced reduction in serum cholesterol (P<0.001). Participants who missed ≤2% of their meals (n=390) achieved reductions in concentration of −18.0%, which is similar to that predicted by the Keys equation (table 2 ⇑ and table E in appendix). MCE investigators hypothesized that replacing saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid would lower serum cholesterol in a manner consistent with the Keys equation. 27 As predicted, participants in the intervention group significantly lowered serum cholesterol compared with the control group (P<0.001) and compared with baseline (mean change −31.2 mg/dL, (SD 30.6 mg/dL); −13.8% (SD 13.0%); P<0.001) (table 2 ⇑ ). Participants in the intervention group also reduced serum cholesterol in each of the prespecified subgroups of sex and age (all P<0.01). Characteristics of the full MCE population are reported in the 1981 Broste thesis (n=9423; http://www.psych.uic.edu/download/Broste_thesis_1981.pdf ) Table 3 ⇓ shows characteristics of the serum cholesterol cohort (n=2355) who received the diets for a year or more. The intervention and control groups were well balanced at baseline, with no detectable differences in any of the recovered variables. The age ranged from 20 to 97, with a mean age of 52. Slightly more than half were women, and 25% were aged 65 or older. Average BMI was 24.5 and average serum cholesterol concentration was 208 mg/dL (to convert from mg/dL to mmol/L, divide by 38.67 (for example, 208 mg/dL /38.67 = 5.39 mmol/L)). Mean follow-up for participants in this cohort was 2.9 years (median 3.1 years). Discussion The traditional diet-heart hypothesis predicts that replacing saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid will reduce coronary heart disease events and deaths by lowering serum cholesterol. Many studies have yielded results consistent with pieces of this hypothesis. The clinical benefits of these serum cholesterol lowering diets, however, have never been causally demonstrated in a randomized controlled trial and thus remain uncertain. We have recovered previously unpublished data from two landmark trials that were designed to provide causal evidence to support the diet-heart hypothesis. In a prior publication, we reported that the Sydney Diet Heart Study intervention group had an increased risk of death from coronary heart disease and all causes, despite a significant reduction in serum cholesterol.14 The present analysis of MCE data examines missing links along the proposed causal chain of events linking dietary linoleic acid to serum cholesterol and to clinical outcomes. Though the MCE intervention effectively lowered serum cholesterol in all prespecified subgroups, there was no clinical benefit in any group. Paradoxically, MCE participants who had greater reduction in serum cholesterol had a higher rather than a lower risk of death. In addition, the MCE intervention group did not have less atherosclerosis or fewer infarcts at autopsy. Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials that specifically tested replacement of saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid showed no indication of benefit. Thus, collective findings from randomized controlled trials do not provide support for the central diet-heart tenet that the serum cholesterol lowering effects of replacing saturated fat with linoleic acid translate to lower risk of coronary heart disease or death. Limited and inconsistent evidence from non-randomized studies While the randomized controlled trial is the only study design that can show a cause and effect relation, observational cohort studies can be used to investigate longer term exposures than are typically feasible in randomized controlled trials.31 Limitations of observational studies (for example, healthy consumer bias), however, can sometimes distort,31 32 33 or even reverse,34 35 36 true associations. Self reported intake of foods that are often high in linoleic acid was associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease in two large prospective observational cohorts of US health professionals37 38 and in one pooled analysis of several cohorts.39 Other large prospective observational studies40 and another pooled analysis,41 however, found no association. Similar inconsistent associations between circulating linoleic acid and risk of coronary heart disease have been reported,42 43 with pooled analysis showing no association.41 Ecological associations between linoleic acid intake and coronary heart disease have also been cited to support the diet-heart hypothesis.44 These associations, however, are subject to important confounders and are wholly dependent on the timeframe selected (fig B, appendix). Thus, the conclusions that can be drawn from non-randomized studies on this topic are limited. Together with the lack of support from randomized controlled trials (after recovery of data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study and MCE), the totality of evidence no longer provides support for the traditional diet-heart hypothesis. Why didn’t lowering serum cholesterol translate to clinical improvement in diet-heart randomized controlled trials? A plausible explanation for the seemingly paradoxical results of the Sydney Diet Heart Study and MCE is that vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid was the agent used to lower serum cholesterol. As the major vehicle for delivery of cholesterol to vascular tissues, low density lipoprotein is often considered a causal mediator of coronary heart disease.45 As replacing saturated fat with linoleic acid specifically decreases low density lipoprotein (without affecting high density lipoprotein8) it is tempting to assume that such dietary changes will automatically translate to reduction in risk of coronary heart disease. Critically, however, consumption of vegetable oils rich in linoleic acid produces a wide range of biochemical consequences, including qualitative changes in lipoprotein particle oxidation that could plausibly increase risk of coronary heart disease.14 46 Hence the clinical effects of replacing saturated fat with vegetable oils could reflect the net impact of decreasing low density lipoprotein while increasing its susceptibility to oxidation. Moreover, low density lipoprotein concentrations are influenced by many factors, such as delivery of low density lipoprotein to blood vessels and other tissues, as well as hepatic clearance of native and oxidized low density lipoprotein particles.47 48 49 50 Therefore, a decrease in low density lipoprotein can represent widely different biochemical phenomena. This broader understanding could help to explain why some agents that decrease low density lipoprotein have been shown to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease,51 52 while others have no clear effect,53 and still others might actually increase risk.54 55 The collective data from diet-heart randomized controlled trials suggests that lowering serum cholesterol by replacing saturated fat with vegetable oils rich in linoleic acid has no clear benefit. Further, one way to interpret the unfavorable results of the two recovered trials is that high intakes of linoleic acid could have adverse effects in people who are prone to linoleic acid oxidation (such as smokers, heavy drinkers, and older adults). High linoleic acid intakes from vegetable oils are a recent and atypical nutritional phenomenon To interpret research on linoleic acid one needs to consider both the food sources and the amounts consumed. Individuals eating only minimally processed whole foods—as everyone did until about 100 years ago—would have consumed about 2-3% of calories from linoleic acid56 57 (fig 8⇓). By contrast, among industrialized populations today, most linoleic acid intake is derived from highly concentrated vegetable oils, in which the fatty acids are separated from the fiber, protein, and micronutrients that are naturally present in vegetables and seeds61 (table H, appendix). Because these concentrated sources of linoleic acid are used widely as cooking and frying oils and added to many processed and packaged food items, the linoleic acid content of modern industrialized diets is much higher than natural diets (fig 8⇓). For example, mean linoleic acid intake in the US of about 17 g a day (7% of calories)58 is much higher than the approximately 6 g of daily linoleic acid provided by natural food diets without added vegetable oils. If these concentrated sources are considered to be dietary supplements, on average Americans ingest the equivalent of 11 capsules of 1 g linoleic acid a day above and beyond intake from natural foods. Fig 8 Linoleic acid content of MCE diets compared with current and historical intakes in US in 2011-12 (NHANES, adults aged ≥20).58 Nutritional adequacy defined as lowest amount of dietary linoleic acid required to prevent deficiency symptoms.59 60 Pre-agricultural diets modeled from fatty acid compositions of hunter-gatherer diets.56 Pre-industrial US diets calculated from US Department of Agriculture economic disappearance data61 Impacts of high linoleic acid intake extend beyond serum cholesterol lowering Increasing dietary linoleic acid has been shown to increase oxidized linoleic acid derivatives in a dose-dependent manner in many tissues.40 62 63 64 65 66 These oxidized derivatives, along with other non-cholesterol lipid mediators, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases including coronary heart disease,14 chronic pain,40 67 68 69 and steatohepatitis70 71 72(fig 9⇓). While the biochemical and clinical consequences of high intakes are incompletely understood, there is a possibility for unintended harm. These potential risks highlight the importance of ensuring that the full evidence base from randomized controlled trials is available for consideration by scientists, policymakers, and the public. Fig 9 Potential unanticipated consequences of high linoleic acid intake. A=increased consumption of vegetable oils rich in linoleic acid alters non-cholesterol lipid mediators, including hydroperoxy- and hydroxy-octadecadienoic acids, eicosanoids, and endocannabinoids; B=hydroperoxy- and hydroxy-octadecadienoic acids have been linked to coronary heart disease pathogenesis via mechanisms independent of traditional diet-heart hypothesis; non-cholesterol lipid mediators can also contribute to development of other common conditions including chronic pain and steatohepatitis Historical context for publication of Sydney Diet Heart Study and MCE findings With today’s recognition of publication bias and requirements for trial registration and timely publication on completion of registered trials, the omission of key results of these two trials from the literature might seem difficult to understand. In the case of the MCE, the crude study results were clearly at odds with prevailing beliefs. One can speculate that the investigators and sponsors would have wanted to distinguish between a failed theory and a failed trial before publication. While robustly designed and carefully executed, the MCE had several unique features that complicated analysis and could have biased results. The MCE investigators might have been concerned that heavy censoring or the complicated health and social histories of study participants could have impacted results. In addition, the methods of adjusting survival time analyses for covariates were just emerging, and statistical software packages were not widely available, even at the time the Broste thesis was written. Failure to measure cholesterol concentrations for participants who left the hospital before one year could have introduced bias and would have reduced power for some analyses, and the heavy censoring might have further contributed to the possibility of type II errors. There would have been little or no scientific or clinical trial literature at the time to support findings that were so contrary to prevailing beliefs and public policy. And, finally, it is possible that medical journal reviewers would not have accepted study results for the reasons cited above. Whatever the explanation for key MCE data not being published, there is growing recognition that incomplete publication of negative or inconclusive results can contribute to skewed research priorities and public health initiatives.73 74 75 Recovery of unpublished data can alter the balance of evidence and, in some instances, can lead to reversal of established policy or clinical practice positions.73Figure 10⇓ provides a historical context for the completion and publication of the MCE and Sydney Diet Heart Study results in relation to key US policy events over the past half century. It is interesting to speculate whether complete publication of randomized controlled trial results might have altered key policy decisions promoting replacement of saturated fat with linoleic acid rich oils (such as the 1977 McGovern report76 and National Cholesterol Education Program (1984-85)45) or contributed to a shift in research priorities. Fig 10 Diet-heart timeline: key research and policy events. SDHS=Sydney Diet heart Study; MCE=Minnesota Coronary Experiment; AHA=American Heart Association; LA=linoleic acid Implications for recovery of additional MCE data files MCE data files that remain missing could provide further insights into the diet-heart hypothesis (table D in appendix). For example, there is a suggestion that high linoleic acid intake could adversely affect those who are known to have increased linoleic acid oxidation, including smokers, heavy drinkers, those with established coronary heart disease, and older adults.14 With additional data recovery one could determine whether the high linoleic acid diet had deleterious effects in these subgroups. The partial recovery of 149 heart and aorta autopsy files provides an intriguing clue that the intervention might have had unfavorable effects. As 146 heart and aorta files and the data on the full cohort of 295 autopsied brains remain missing, however, one cannot draw conclusions from these provisional findings. It is highly unlikely that a diet-heart trial of the size and scope of the MCE will ever be conducted again so it is essential that these missing autopsy files are recovered and analyzed as specified in the 1967 MCE grant application and FORTRAN coding sheets.6 19 20 21 Strengths and limitations The MCE had several exceptional features and strengths. For example, the MCE is by far the largest randomized controlled trial to test the central diet-heart tenet that lowering serum cholesterol by replacing saturated fat with linoleic acid rich vegetable oil will translate to a lower risk of coronary heart disease and death. The MCE is also the only randomized controlled trial to test the clinical effects of increasing linoleic acid in large cohorts of women and individuals aged ≥65 and the only such trial to complete a postmortem assessment of atherosclerosis grade and infarct status. As MCE participants were randomly assigned and all meals were provided, we know that changes in linoleic acid and saturated fat were from the diets provided. Thus, MCE effectively dealt with the problem of healthy consumer bias that confounds many observational studies.31 Other strengths were that the intervention effectively lowered serum cholesterol and that these changes were consistent with predictions based on the Keys equation and the chemical analysis of study foods. The MCE also had several important limitations in study design and generalizability. Participants were followed only while in hospital, and only about a quarter of randomized participants remained in the study for a year or longer. Although the original investigators emphasized this subsample and believed the longer follow-up to be more informative, it is a limitation that the association between serum cholesterol and death can now be examined only among those who survived the first year and remained in hospital. Moreover, even though we used data from a randomized controlled trial, the analysis of the association between serum cholesterol and death is observational in nature. Therefore, it is not possible to examine causality or to disentangle changes in serum cholesterol because of diet from changes because of other factors. In addition, low density lipoprotein (and high density lipoprotein) subfractions, which are more closely linked to risk of coronary heart disease than total serum cholesterol, were not assessed. Numerous randomized controlled trials, however, have shown that replacing saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid leads to predictable lowering of low density lipoprotein without altering high density lipoprotein.8 Thus, the serum cholesterol lowering effects of the MCE diets were likely specific to low density lipoprotein. Because the trans fatty acid contents of MCE study diets are not available, one could speculate that the lack of benefit in the intervention group was because of increased consumption of trans fat. Indeed, in addition to liquid corn oil the intervention diet also contained a serum cholesterol lowering soft corn oil polyunsaturated margarine, which likely contained some trans fat. The MCE principal investigator (Ivan Frantz) and co-principal investigator (Ancel Keys), however, were well aware of the cholesterol raising effects of trans fat prior to initiating the MCE.77 Moreover, Frantz and Keys previously devised the diets used in the institutional arm of the National Diet Heart Feasibility Study (NDHS), which achieved the greatest reductions in serum cholesterol of all NDHS study sites.2 Hence, it is highly likely that this experienced MCE team selected products containing as little trans fat as possible to maximize the achieved degree of cholesterol lowering. Perhaps more importantly, it is clear from the MCE grant proposal that common margarines and shortenings (major sources of trans fat) were important components of the baseline hospital diets and the control diet (but not the intervention diet). Thus, confounding by dietary trans fat is an exceedingly unlikely explanation for the lack of benefit of the intervention diet. Another limitation in the interpretation is incomplete data recovery. For example, in the Sydney Diet Heart Study the increased mortality in the high linoleic acid group was most evident in smokers and heavy drinkers.14 Without additional recovery of MCE data we are not able to determine if the effects of the high linoleic acid diet varied by smoking status, pre-existing coronary heart disease, psychiatric history, or drug use. Also, as we were not able to recover data for the full MCE cohort, we present the Broste thesis as recovered, without a more thorough analysis of differences in mortality between groups. Limitations in generalizability The MCE intervention diet contained almost twice as a much linoleic acid as the average American diet. Only a small percentage of the US population currently consumes linoleic acid in amounts that overlap those in the MCE intervention diet (fig 8⇑). As this high linoleic acid diet produced a maximum lowering of serum cholesterol, it was ideal for testing the diet-heart tenet that serum cholesterol is the critical mediator linking diet to coronary heart disease. However, one cannot necessarily extrapolate findings to lower linoleic acid intakes. The decision to conduct the MCE in mental hospitals and nursing homes reduced the number of missed meals and maximized the achieved degree of serum cholesterol lowering. However, the results are not necessarily generalizable to populations without mental illnesses or living outside nursing homes. As the MCE, Sydney Diet Heart Study, and other diet-heart trials used concentrated vegetable oils, the results should not be generalized to nuts or other unprocessed foods containing linoleic acid. Meta-analysis limitations Limitations of our meta-analysis include the small number of randomized controlled trials that have tested the effects of replacing saturated fat with linoleic acid rich oil, the differences in design and population characteristics of each trial, and the many limitations of meta-analyses in general (appendix part 2). The Big Picture The molecules that we eat every day as foods act as substrates, which enter into and regulate numerous highly leveraged biochemical pathways.25 38 40 69 78 79 Thus, although the story of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis did not unfold as predicted, the foods that we eat likely play critical roles in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Given the complexity of biological systems and limitations of our research methods, however, current understanding of the biochemical and clinical effects of foods is rudimentary. The history of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis suggests that nutrition research could be improved by not overemphasizing intermediate biomarkers; cautious interpretation of non-randomized studies; and ensuring timely and complete publication of all randomized controlled trials. Given the limitations of current evidence, the best approach might be one of humility, highlighting limitations of current knowledge and setting a high bar for advising intakes beyond what can be provided by natural diets.

Interviews with dozens of people, including former Fyre employees, contractors, and potential investors, reveal the organizers behind Fyre Fest knew months in advance that they were not going to be able to provide even a fraction of what they were selling. Despite the glossy marketing, McFarland and his company, Fyre Media, had little to offer investors beyond a now-infamous photoshoot featuring 10 of IMG’s most popular models, and a press release touting a partnership with YachtLife, a luxury yacht charter app. It turns out customs was something Billy McFarland, Fyre Festival’s 25-year-old founder, should have worried about. On Saturday, Bahamian officials shut down the ill-fated site. “Customs has the area on lockdown because Billy has not paid Customs duty taxes on the items that he imported,” the Bahamian Ministry of Tourism said in a statement obtained by ABC. By then the festival had at least one toilet trailer and a cluster of porta-potties, but the ticket-holders were long gone from the site, which some compared to a refugee camp in part because the “luxury tents” were similar to FEMA tents. “There was no infrastructure to even support the equipment. They didn’t even have a loading dock, they had no understanding of what vehicles were on the island to even move the stuff off the ship once it got there,” said the supplier. “They said stuff like, ‘Don’t worry about customs; it’s only for a weekend, you don’t have to worry about customs.” They were running low on cash and the festival lacked fundamental necessities — toilets and showers, for example — and they were running out of time. One supplier told VICE News that when they were contacted by the festival in April, they told the organizers that all the money in the world wouldn’t get trailers for toilets and showers past customs in time, because that takes weeks to process. The festival was scheduled over two weekends in late April and early May. One month before thousands of well-heeled millennials were set to descend on a remote island in the Bahamas for the Fyre Festival to frolic on yachts, rub elbows with models, and hear acts like Blink 182 and Major Lazer, the organizers had a big problem. Read more One month before thousands of well-heeled millennials were set to descend on a remote island in the Bahamas for the Fyre Festival to frolic on yachts, rub elbows with models, and hear acts like Blink 182 and Major Lazer, the organizers had a big problem. They were running low on cash and the festival lacked fundamental necessities — toilets and showers, for example — and they were running out of time. One supplier told VICE News that when they were contacted by the festival in April, they told the organizers that all the money in the world wouldn’t get trailers for toilets and showers past customs in time, because that takes weeks to process. The festival was scheduled over two weekends in late April and early May. “There was no infrastructure to even support the equipment. They didn’t even have a loading dock, they had no understanding of what vehicles were on the island to even move the stuff off the ship once it got there,” said the supplier. “They said stuff like, ‘Don’t worry about customs; it’s only for a weekend, you don’t have to worry about customs.” It turns out customs was something Billy McFarland, Fyre Festival’s 25-year-old founder, should have worried about. On Saturday, Bahamian officials shut down the ill-fated site. “Customs has the area on lockdown because Billy has not paid Customs duty taxes on the items that he imported,” the Bahamian Ministry of Tourism said in a statement obtained by ABC. By then the festival had at least one toilet trailer and a cluster of porta-potties, but the ticket-holders were long gone from the site, which some compared to a refugee camp in part because the “luxury tents” were similar to FEMA tents. Interviews with dozens of people, including former Fyre employees, contractors, and potential investors, reveal the organizers behind Fyre Fest knew months in advance that they were not going to be able to provide even a fraction of what they were selling. Despite the glossy marketing, McFarland and his company, Fyre Media, had little to offer investors beyond a now-infamous photoshoot featuring 10 of IMG’s most popular models, and a press release touting a partnership with YachtLife, a luxury yacht charter app. Serious logistical planning for the festival didn’t even begin until late February or early March — less than two months before the thousands of people McFarland had sold a luxury vacation on a private island were scheduled to arrive. The toilet and shower supplier, who did not get the Fyre Festival contract, told the organizers it would cost north of $1 million just to order the equipment — a rush-order mark-up he unironically referred to as “disaster pricing.” That number did not include the cost of shipping the equipment to the island or the high cost of the barge needed to dispose of the wastewater created by thousands of people showering and using the toilet for four days. The collapse of the festival became a national punchline. Those involved believe McFarland and his co-organizer Ja Rule started out wanting to deliver on their promises — an ultra-lux experience on a private island formerly owned by Pablo Escobar, with famous models dancing on yachts, bottle service at beachside concerts, and hidden treasures accessible only by jet-ski. But all agree they knew or should have known well in advance it wasn’t going to work. McFarland has since tried to blame bad weather for the debacle, and Ja Rule, in a statement, also said the festival was “NOT MY FAULT” and “NOT A SCAM.” FREE GETAWAY ALERT If Fyre Festival seemed last-minute, that’s because it was. McFarland thought of the idea in October 2016 and announced the festival on Instagram a month later, spending millions on models, private jets, and yachts to promote what would be his first-ever large-scale event, sources familiar with the planning said. He spent $250,000 on a single Instagram post from Kim Kardashian’s half-sister Kendall Jenner and laid out hundreds of thousands more on lesser-name “influencers,” none of whom were paid less than $20,000, one person familiar with the payments said. Sky High✈️ #mannequinchallenge ( that’s me on the phone) #fyrefestival A post shared by SHANINA SHAIK (@shaninamshaik) on Nov 20, 2016 at 6:30am PST Only one model — “Gone Girl” actress Emily Ratajkowski — labeled her promotion as an ad, as required by the Federal Trade Commission. The other models’ omissions are now the subject of a class-action lawsuit. “These ‘sponsored posts’ were in direct violation of Federal Trade Commission guidelines on disclosing material connections between advertisers and endorsers,” the suit alleges. “Social Media ‘influencers’ made no attempt to disclose to consumers that they were being compensated for promoting the Fyre Festival. Instead these influencers gave the impression that the guest list was full of the Social Elite and other celebrities.” Fyre Festival employees said planning for the event took on the feel of an extended Spring Break frat party. McFarland and members of his team would fly down “every other weekend for lavish vacations” on nearby islands, but only male employees and models were allowed to go. “Billy would take all the boys down there, it would be boys only,” the employee said. “They talk about f—ing bitches and hoes in conference meetings.” The employee said McFarland would often urinate in the office with the door open for employees to see. “It’s a boys club,” the employee said. “They laugh about it.” Another former contractor called the environment “low-key sexist and racist.” Someone who briefly worked on the festival and asked to remain anonymous agreed: “They were just stoked on getting vacation homes there. I didn’t feel like they were taking it seriously at all.” work is tough A post shared by Hailey Baldwin (@haileybaldwin) on Dec 12, 2016 at 9:31am PST According to Chloe Gordon, a production coordinator, the team laughed off warnings that they wouldn’t be able to finish in time. “Let’s just do it and be legends, man,” she said a man on the marketing team said in response to advice that they should postpone the festival to 2018. By March, things were starting to get desperate. The festival was running low on cash, despite significant investments from a New York City socialite who also worked with McFarland on his failing millennial credit card company, Magnises. McFarland and his team started soliciting a second round of investments, said several people familiar with the offering. In at least one meeting with an investor, McFarland intimated that Fyre had spent several million dollars on celebrity endorsements and marketing and now needed cash to pay vendors, staffers, and artists. Despite a pitch deck that promised 10,000 ticket-holders each weekend, sales were low and largely discounted. Most buyers had paid somewhere between $500 and $2,000 for their tickets, despite outlandish claims that people were purchasing ticket packages for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The target audience wasn’t elite or affluent people — it was people who wanted the lifestyle but couldn’t afford it, until Fyre Festival came along. A former Fyre Media employee who asked for anonymity recalled McFarland and Fyre Fest director Grant Margolin’s pitch to the prominent New York socialite. “She was sold a story. They were taking her to the same island as they were taking the models. She had no idea,” the employee said. Their promises to registrants also kept changing over time. Pablo Escobar never owned an island in the Bahamas, and even if he had, the festival was located on an abandoned development site on a public beach near a Sandals resort. In an early pitch deck obtained by Vanity Fair, McFarland’s team claimed the festival had been given $8.4 million in land on Black Point in Exuma “in exchange for hosting the festival and promoting the island.” Though sources say McFarland and 24-year-old Margolin did look into buying a private island in December after the first wave of ticket purchases came in, they abandoned the plan because the location had no electricity, no water, and no space for more than a thousand or so revelers. They initially said they expected to sell 40,000 tickets by March 31. That number was later lowered to 20,000, but the “private island” bit was left in all the marketing materials. After tickets had been sold, the company abruptly changed the lodging options from a “rustic lodge” tent picture in renderings to the FEMA-style tents that were standing there when attendees showed up. The villas advertised on the website never existed, one Fyre employee said — they listed them as a joke, not expecting anyone to buy them. Organizers ignored emails and left ticket-holders unsure of where they were flying in from or when until days before the festival. An agreement with Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr to provide gourmet catering was canceled on April 2 after the organizers failed to make payments, an employee familiar with the transaction said. Starr confirmed in a statement that since April, it had “not been involved with, or provided any services in connection with, this event.” Bloomberg reports the organizers balked at the six-figure estimate given by Starr. Many of the vendors who were involved said they still haven’t been paid. During that time, several former employees and one manager for artists slotted to play the festival confirmed, most people were having trouble getting paid, and those who were getting paid were getting money directly from McFarland. Payroll abruptly stopped in the Fyre Media office in October, according to one employee at the company. “We started getting paid as wires from Billy’s account and one time [in January] we got paid in a wad of cash. They didn’t have any money. They kept paying the influencers and the models,” the employee said. Alarmed by what was happening, multiple employees quit after it became clear upper management wasn’t interested in their concerns, the employee said. “At South by Southwest this year, every party had someone who had worked on this, and everyone was like, ‘It’s a hot mess,’” the person who briefly worked on the festival said. The organizers also cycled through several production teams, after firing some for saying the job was impossible and driving others to quit with slow payments and unfeasible tasks, multiple sources said. One team arrived at their Miami hotel only to find the credit card information provided by Fyre wasn’t working. The same happened when they arrived in the Bahamas. “They were trying to get us to use our own cards for the hotel rooms,” a member of the production team said. “And the owners were just walking around with giant wads of hundreds to pay people off.” A former Fyre employee said McFarland sold Ja Rule a “pipe dream,” though there’s evidence to suggest the seasoned recording artist should have known better. Video hyping the festival he posted on Twitter and later deleted includes footage of the main stage, which had walk-up stairs and lacked barricades or an exit for EMS. “People would have died,” the production employee said. The festival’s first website was also pulled — after Fyre failed to pay the company that created it, a former Fyre employee said. On Thursday, festival organizers, including McFarland, started warning celebrity VIP guests not to come, according to a $100 million lawsuit filed Sunday by Mark Geragos. McFarland and Frye Media declined to comment for this story, but they’re far from done selling. On Monday festival organizers began circulating a form that offered ticket holders the option to get free tickets to the 2018 Fyre Festival in lieu of the refund they were promised. “Would you prefer to exchange your 2017 ticket(s) for additional 2018 VIP passes, as opposed to receiving a refund? (Ex: If you purchased 3 passes for 2017, you would receive 6 total 2018 VIP passes),” the form asks. “We have received support and commitments from several musicians to perform at next year’s event. We would be so thankful to have your support as well.”

So much thought and care was put into this exchange! I was contacted by the Gifter several times and assured that everything was getting ready. I've received amazing handmade reddit coaster! So cool, so thoughtful and caring :) Lots of evidence of good stalking skills: r/aww and r/cats! Game of Thrones book - my latest obsession and a lovely set of stationery items - notebooks and pens - all so cute and very "me". Oh, I must not forget the sweets which were gone in seconds! I told HistoryMaker118 that I will open the package after I get back from holidays - this was yesterday and the photostory below shows my wonderful adventure. My kitten Lluan was very curious and personally examined each gift! Thank you very very much!

Photo courtesy of 19 Action News. Pat Mahaney after the beating last August. A North College Hill, OH man who was the victim of a brutal beating by a group of "bored" teenagers last August has died. The Hamilton County Prosecutors office confirmed that 46-year-old Pat Mahaney passed away on Friday morning, less than a year after receiving a vicious beating that caused him to suffer internal bleeding and put him in the hospital for four days. The cause of death is still unknown and results from Mahaney's autopsy will not be released for several weeks. The man was assaulted on Aug. 11, 2012 in North College Hill by a group of teenagers, ages 13 and 14, who told police they were bored and looking for something to do. North College Hill Police Chief Gary Foust told ABC that the juveniles jumped Mahaney from behind and hit him in the head with a six-pack of beer he had just bought. "As they were approaching the individual they actually discussed this event, before actually doing the event," Foust said. Six teens were arrested in relation to the attack and charged with felonious assault and aggravated riot. Three of the six teenagers pleaded guilty to the felonious assault charges after prosecutors agreed to drop the aggravated riot charges, ABC reported. Should the autopsy reveal that Mahaney's death was caused or contributed to by the beating he received last year, the youngsters could face additional charges.

Jo said: Needless to say how reckless it was to allow for the Syrians to protest and hoping for no incodents to happen. Click to expand... Especially if the Lebanese are having a counter protest at the same time.We don't know how the Syrians in custody died. We don't know if they were really terrorists, or unfortunate souls who got swept away, by mistake, along with real terrorists. It is understandable that their families feel the way they do. However, it's a miracle that the LAF, ISF, and HA were able to prevent the Syrian war from crossing into our borders, without more violent clashes with the refugees. Especially that members of these forces, as well as Lebanese civilians, were kidnapped and killed by terrorists hiding among those refugees.And, all this, with the government in the state it was, and with a ratio of one refugee for every two Lebanese nationals, in a country that can't even provide water and electricity reliably. Any other country in Lebanon's situation would have descended into chaos by now.Inshallah the war in Syria is over soon and they all go back home to rebuild their homes and communities, before the situation in Lebanon deteriorates further. Lebanon has enough issues to deal with on its own.

Michigan mom and leukemia patient Julie Boonstra already had her run-in with the tolerant Left. Boonstra, who filmed an ad about her struggles with Obamacare for Americans for Prosperity, was targeted by Michigan Rep. Gary Peters, who threatened to sue her into silence. That wasn’t the end of the attacks, however. Slade O’Brien, southern regional director for AFP, shared this letter sent anonymously to Boostra. This letter to cancer victim Julie Boonstra tells you everything you need to know about the "tolerant" left ! #tcot pic.twitter.com/UbMbA0TlgF — Slade O'Brien (@SladeOBrien) April 1, 2014 @SladeOBrien @AFPhq @AFPMichigan @seanhannity trying to keep it classy w/ the classless is a waste of time. Time for scorched earth policy — Ringo (@ringo031980) April 1, 2014 @SladeOBrien @AFPhq @AFPMichigan @seanhannity That message was written by one sick puppy whose idea of being a good person is twisted. — Anne Drover Stafford (@csamsonrdelilah) April 1, 2014 Is it a fake?

eso1235 — Photo Release A Cluster with a Secret A new image from ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile shows the spectacular globular star cluster Messier 4. This ball of tens of thousands of ancient stars is one of the closest and most studied of the globular clusters and recent work has revealed that one of its stars has strange and unexpected properties, apparently possessing the secret of eternal youth. The Milky Way galaxy is orbited by more than 150 globular star clusters that date back to the distant past of the Universe (eso1141). One of the closest to the Earth is the cluster Messier 4 (also known as NGC 6121) in the constellation of Scorpius (The Scorpion). This bright object can be easily seen in binoculars, close to the bright red star Antares, and a small amateur telescope can show some of its constituent stars. This new image of the cluster from the Wide Field Imager (WFI) on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory reveals many more of the cluster’s tens of thousands of stars and shows the cluster against the rich background of the Milky Way. Astronomers have also studied many of the stars in the cluster individually using instruments on ESO’s Very Large Telescope. By splitting the light from the stars up into its component colours they can work out their chemical composition and ages. New results for the stars in Messier 4 have been surprising. The stars in globular clusters are old and hence not expected to be rich in the heavier chemical elements [1]. This is what is found, but one of the stars in a recent survey was also found to have much more of the rare light element lithium than expected. The source of this lithium is mysterious. Normally this element is gradually destroyed over the billions of years of a star's life, but this one star amongst thousands seems to have the secret of eternal youth. It has either somehow managed to retain its original lithium, or it has found a way to enrich itself with freshly made lithium. This WFI image gives a wide view of the cluster and its rich surroundings. A complementary and more detailed view of just the central region from the orbiting NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope was also released this week as part of the Hubble Picture of the Week series. Notes [1] Most of the chemical elements heavier than helium are created in stars and dispersed into the interstellar medium at the end of their lives. This enriched material then forms the building blocks of future stellar generations. As a result very old stars, such as those in globular star clusters, which formed before significant enrichment had occurred, are found to have lower abundances of the heavier elements when compared to stars, such as the Sun, that formed later. More information The year 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world’s most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world’s most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and two survey telescopes. VISTA works in the infrared and is the world’s largest survey telescope and the VLT Survey Telescope is the largest telescope designed to exclusively survey the skies in visible light. ESO is the European partner of a revolutionary astronomical telescope ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. ESO is currently planning a 40-metre-class European Extremely Large optical/near-infrared Telescope, the E-ELT, which will become “the world’s biggest eye on the sky”. Links Contacts Richard Hook ESO, La Silla, Paranal, E-ELT & Survey Telescopes Press Officer Garching bei München, Germany Tel: +49 89 3200 6655 Cell: +49 151 1537 3591 Email: rhook@eso.org Connect with ESO on social media

Systems in package are heading for the mass market in applications that demand better performance and lower power. As they do, new options for cutting costs are being developed to broaden the appeal of this approach as an alternative to shrinking features. Cost has been one of the big deterrents for widespread adoption of 2.5D. Initially, the almost universal complaint was that interposers were too expensive, which is why the majority of early adopters were in price-insensitive markets such as chips for servers and network switches. But there are less-obvious costs, as well. All of these packages need to be custom-designed because there is no standardized way of assembling various components into a package the way they might fit into an SoC. And not everything goes together seamlessly, adding to the time and overall cost and potentially affecting yield, which further drives up the price tag. Cost isn’t the only stumbling block, though. As companies developing these chips are finding out, there are a number of less obvious technical problems, including everything from different coefficients of expansion to testing and simulation issues. This is why TSMC Integrated Fan-Out (InFO) packaging has caught on over the past year. Fan-outs are a much simpler approach to heterogeneous integration than 2.5D. Rather than designing multiple chips using an interposer or some kind of silicon bridge, they basically can be pushed closer together on a board and then packaged. But how close together isn’t always clear. “The routes used to be 10 to 20 microns, so you could basically ignore the buzzing of the die at that geometry,” said John Ferguson, technical marketing engineer at Mentor Graphics. “Now they shoot for 5 microns, but ultimately it’s going down to 1 to 2 microns, which raises a question about how much interaction is going on with the different die.” That interaction could become more prevalent with higher-density fan-outs, which basically are a middle-of-the-road advanced packaging approach between existing fan-outs and 2.5D in terms of power, performance and area. “We used to look at the fan-out, which has a capability now of about a 2-micron line and space, as a poor man’s TSV or interposer,” said John Hunt, senior director of engineering at Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE). “We came out with a high-density fan-out in January, which is a 16nm and 28nm die side-by-side fan-out, but instead of being a package with balls, it has bumps on it. It’s then treated as if it’s a die, and then placed on a BGA (ball grid array) substrate. It’s a hybrid solution. But using the fan-out eliminates the need to use a through-silicon vias interposer.” Hunt noted that ASE currently has 12 variations of fan-out in various stages of engineering and development. Thermal effects 2.5D moves everything much closer together, leveraging high-bandwidth memory and high-speed interconnects. In doing that, it also adds some problems that need to be understood and thought through by chipmakers. “Some materials expand more or less than others, and multiple layers expand or shrink at different rates,” said CT Kao, product engineering architect at Cadence. “If you deposit material on the wafer, you may see the wafer bulge up or down. The same is true of packages. If you have different materials in the package, a temperature change can cause big problems. If you have a mismatch it causes thermal stress. We’ve seen this in the polymer, which is organic, which is used to enclose the chip. It can shrink more than the metal.” A second problem is warpage, which can occur when an organic material absorbs moisture from the environment. “We’ve seen a problem with the solder joints between the package and the PCB,” said Kao. “During manufacturing, the package and the PCB warp at different amounts. The corner balls experience more stress and the worst. That’s a function of ∆T and thermal expansion. There’s also residual stress, which depends on what temperature you put the package together. If you use a high temperature for reflow, it’s stress-free at the time, but as it cools down the stress increases.” The worst-case scenario is a die crack inside the package due to different materials, which can lead to chip failure. Thermal expansion differences can cause warpage, solder ball cracks and system failure. There are some familiar problems that need to be taken into account here, as well, such as parasitics. “As the package gets hot, the parasitics change,” said Mentor’s Ferguson. “Resistivity changes with temperature. As you put everything in a package, you can change the path of the heat sink. We need to understand the temperature impact on the die. We do know that dies at advanced process nodes are sensitive to stress. How that impacts the transistors themselves is unknown. There are a lot of questions on all of this. How accurate is accurate enough, and what are the appropriate use models?” Answers to those questions are still not entirely clear. “Thermo-mechanical stress is indeed a problem,” said Max Min, senior technical manager at Samsung. “ We have worked on TSV-based, and we have put this together with micro-bonding in the packaging. There is indeed a lot of mismatch between the thermal-mechanical coefficients when you have a lot of microbumps. How we put designs together may affect the underlying transistor structure and stress and mobility. We need to model them and design them with an understanding of the material side. That’s an issue.” Creating blueprints and models As more of these systems-in-package reach the market, there is more history to show what can go wrong and more data on how to fix problems or avoid them in the first place. This is a prerequisite for building economies of scale into the design through manufacturing process. “The goal is to put more in less space,” said Bill Bottoms, chairman of Advanced Polymer Monitoring Technologies, a spinoff from Tulane University. “The problem is power. You can’t get things close enough together because of power density, so when you need high performance you have to keep the frequency low.” One way to achieve that is through new architectures and packaging. A heterogeneous integration consortium—supported by IEEE’s Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology Society (CPMT), and sponsored by SEMI and the IEEE Electron Devices Society—is working on a series of blueprints to iron out best practices and processes for making that happen. In addition, Si2 has a chip-package co-design group that is working to understand what is required for a design flow on advanced packaging. Mentor’s Ferguson pointed out there also is more attention being paid in conferences to advanced packaging. “A few years ago if you went to a packaging conference, it was equipment, engineering tools and testers. That’s starting to change.” All of this will help add some structure to 2.5D packaging to enable volume production, after which Bottoms predicts the price will drop significantly, regardless of whether the interposer is organic, silicon or glass. “This is no longer just about the process node. You shouldn’t have to force memory processes on logic, and you cannot make RF on a logic process.” It also will help add structure for 3D IC, which is still the least expensive approach to achieving throughput and density. Exactly where this packaging approach takes root, though, isn’t clear. While the focus has been on processors, memory has been stacked for some time, and some sensors are being packaged using this approach. “If you look at image sensors, that satisfies all of these criteria,” said Sitaram Arkalgud, vice president of 3D portfolio and technologies at Invensas. “There are through-silicon vias. There are logic die in cameras that is below the sensor. And these are very, very thin die. It’s in very high-volume production and it’s also very cheap. 3D is happening in a very big way, but in a different area than we typically look at.” He noted that for high-performance CMOS, 2.5D is current best approach. But it’s certainly not the only option. One of the big challenges is that packaging approaches are so tightly married to applications that it’s overwhelming to wade through all of the possible options, even for experienced engineering teams. Just coming up with the right parameters for models is difficult. “Your model is only as good as the data that goes into it,” said Arkalgud. “And then you keep validating it over and over and you come up with something reasonable.” Whether the tools are sufficient to deal with this is a matter of debate, too. The current thinking is that many of the existing tools work well enough for 2.5D. Whether they work for 3D is uncertain. Whether tools are sufficient to deal with advanced packaging is a matter of debate. “If you look at 2.5D, it’s not that demanding,” said Mike Gianfagna, vice president of marketing at eSilicon. “We’ve been able to develop proprietary analysis tools for thermal stress and warpage. But for real 3D, that’s going to require massive retooling. You start moving parts of the system and the specs you have in place about which slice is where and how you’re going to manage thermal stress—that affects the whole design flow.” Fine tuning this process will be challenging, as well. “We understand enough physics to understand what will be the likely problems,” said Mentor’s Ferguson. “The bigger challenge is prioritizing which impacts will be the most critical. So your design methodologies may be okay but if you have poor yield you have to scramble to fix it.” The final piece is testing. There has been a lot of focus on how difficult it is to test 3D-ICs because there are no exposed contacts for attaching probes. But testing high-density fan-outs and 2.5D chips isn’t so simple, either. “With 2.5D, you still have components integrated inside the package,” said Joey Tun, principal market development manager at National Instruments. “You’ve got integrated passive components. You also have functional density, which makes it significantly harder.” Conclusions The push into advanced packaging is inevitable as it becomes more difficult, expensive and time-consuming for most companies to continue shrinking features at the most advanced nodes. The end of the ITRS road map is a tacit recognition that change is required, and that change will come in many areas—materials, packaging, software, IP, tools, equipment and processes. All of these areas will undergo significant change over the next few years as the semiconductor industry retools from a centralized compute architecture, whether that is a PC or a phone, to a more connected and distributed and increasingly diverse compute environment. As William Chen, a fellow at ASE, observed rather succinctly, “We need to understand how things fit together.” That will take years, but it also will shift the focus of the semiconductor industry well beyond just the chip to the package, the system, and possibly even well beyond that. Related Stories Plotting The Next Semiconductor Roadmap Industry leaders examine enablers, implications, and perspectives for a changing technology ecosystem. Inside Advanced Packaging Why and where 2.5D and fan-outs are gaining traction, and what’s coming next. Thinking Outside The Chip Intel joins AMD, IBM on advanced packaging; performance is the key driver. Advanced Packaging Is Real, Now What? With all the industry leaders now on board, big changes are expected.

Festivals to commemorate ancient maritime traditions in South East Asia Baliyatra, meaning a ‘Voyage to Bali’, is a festival celebrated every year in coastal Orissa on Karthika purnima, the Full moon day of October-November to commemorate Orissa’s glorious maritime history. Masakapan Ke Tukad, is a Balinese festival where toy boats are floated in memory of maritime ancestors. Loy Brah Prahdip or LoyKrathong, meaning ‘the floating of lamps at night’, is a festival of Thailand that is celebrated in December (twelfth month of Kartika). During this festival, little rafts, made of plantain stems and decorated with flags, paper umbrellas, incense sticks, and lighted candles, with offerings of food and flowers, are set adrift on the river by people living near its banks. Three festivals, with similar celebrations consisting of ritualistic floating of toy boats, are celebrated in three different countries, in memory of ancient mariners, who undertook trans-oceanic voyages from Orissa to South East Asian countries including Indonesia and Thailand. Past cultural and commercial connections between Orissa and South East Asia ‘Boita Bandana‘ –symbolizes the ceremonial send off to the merchants’ ships of the past when seafarers of yore would set sail in large vessels called ‘Boitas’ to the islands of Bali, Java, and Sumatra and Borneo that now form Indonesia. The trade exchanges resulted in many cultural similarities between Bali and Orissa. The influence can be seen on temples and monuments, distinctive style of Indo-Balinese architecture, dance forms, art and handicrafts, tie-dye techniques and elegant textile designs. It is likely that the Mariners used monsoon wind and currents as an aid for sailing ships during their onward and return voyages to Southeast Asia. The decline of Orissa’s sea trade in the 19th century . In the 19th century, siltation and the formation of sandbars at the mouth of many rivers prevented ships from entering into the ports, leading to the decline in the usage of many ports. The Orissa coast frequently experienced cyclones and storms. Cyclones, accompanied by severe floods brought extensive damage and suffering in the districts of Balasore, Cuttack and the adjoining regions. Further, Orissa suffered greatly from the devastating floods which occurred between 1868 and 1896. Under such circumstances, the destruction of port installations was inevitable. The maritime trade was gradually transferred to Bengal, as the Europeans shifted headquarters from Balasore to Hugli. Thus, over a period of time, ancient methods of maritime trade disappeared, and are now only remembered and celebrated as rituals and social events along the east coast of India. Baliyatra celebration This festival is still celebrated throughout Orissa in memory of the maritime glory of ancient Kalinga. Apart from other places of Orissa, Baliyatra is celebrated with much pomp and grandeur in the historic city of Cuttack for seven days from Kartika Purnima (full-moon day of the month Kartika). Lakhs of people congregate in the famous Baliyatra festival of Cuttack city, where a fair is organized. Toy boats, made up of paper or banana peels, lit up with candles are floated on water, accompanied by blowing of conch and an occasional burst of crackers. It is a pretty sight to watch thousands of boats with blinking lights floating on the river at night, before they are swallowed up by the tide. Baliyatra festival is also associated with the legend of ‘Taapoi‘, a young girl who awaits the return of their sailor brothers. Rituals like ‘Bada Osha‘, linked with the boat making tradition of yore, and ‘Khudurukuni Osha‘ observed by unmarried girls to worship Goddess for the safe return journey of the family members from the sea, evoke memories of the maritime glory of ancient Orissa. Though the ancient ports are extinct, the memory of past traditions is preserved through these annual cultural celebrations. Taking a cue from the past, perhaps Indian exporters can explore potential export opportunities in the South East Asian markets that were once India’s favoured export destinations. Also Read: Pattachitra: A spectacular Folk art of Odisha If you like this post, please consider following the blog. Subscribe to Blog via Email Please like, share and/or leave feedback in comments below! References: Baliyatra: Reminiscence of Orissa’s Maritime Glory by Prabhukalyan Mohapatra Role of cyclones and other factors in the decline of the ports of northern Orissa, by Sila Tripati* and A. S. Unnikrishnan Bio Social By: Somali K Chakrabarti Hi there! Welcome to Scribble and Scrawl! Here, we delve into themes related to positive lifestyle, explore facets of art and culture, share travel experiences, and highlight inspiring stories. Hope you enjoy reading the posts.

ATLANTA - With a new stadium nearing completion right across the street, R.A. Dickey chuckled at the idea of not being the Atlanta Braves' oldest starting pitcher next season. A mere 42, Dickey will be ceding that honor to 43-year-old Bartolo Colon. ''I gave myself the nickname Little Ugly,'' Dickey quipped Friday after formally introduced by the Braves in an office tower overlooking SunTrust Park. ''Big Sexy and Little Ugly are going to be leading it on.'' All kidding aside the Braves insist their unorthodox moves show how serious they are about contending again for a postseason spot. The major hole in their massive rebuilding plan was the starting rotation. That's where Colon and Dickey come in, giving the Braves two guys who can eat up innings, mentor the younger pitchers and not require the sort of long-term commitment that might block the path of several top prospects who are still a year or two away. Colon and Dickey both agreed to one-year contracts with a team option for 2018. ''These aren't four- or five-year deals. These won't, theoretically, block any of our kids,'' said general manager John Coppolella. ''It will just give them a little more time. Guys that may have been force-fed up here now have a little more time to get their sea legs under them as they turn into really good big league pitchers.'' In a way, the signings of Dickey and Colon show that the Braves' timetable for a return to postseason contention has been pushed up a bit, coinciding neatly with the move from Turner Field to a $622 million suburban stadium that anchors a massive complex of retail shops, restaurants, office space, residential areas and a hotel. It was impossible to miss the symbolism of introducing Dickey from an eighth-floor suite that provided an ideal view of SunTrust Park and the furious construction activity going on below. This is a franchise that has undergone a major overhaul, on and off the field. ''It's a real honor for me to be a part of a very storied franchise that looks like it's on its way to becoming what it once was,'' Dickey said. ''I'm happy to be a part of that growth and hoping that I can add to what they did at the end of the year.''

Welcome back! Topics covered in this episode include: Ron Paul and the Modern Freedom Movement Why “money” and “economics” are important to achieving personal liberty Evolution of Crypto-currencies (Bitcoin vs Dash) How Amanda became the first-ever podcast/vblog to get funding DIRECTLY from a blockchain (and why this is a necessary step towards crypto-economic longevity). Amanda B Johnson started down the rabbit-hole of libertarianism and voluntaryism in 2011. At the time she was struggling to find work and became really interested in what caused the economy to become so crappy. She heard about a guy named Ron Paul who was running for President and was shocked when he sounded like he was speaking the truth. With her new found enthusiasm, Amanda started creating liberty related, Ron Paul videos on Youtube and quickly gathered following. She became fascinated with money and economics and the role they play in pursuit of personal freedom and wanted to share her new found perspective with the world. In 2013, Amanda encountered Bitcoin. Like many of us, she read and studied it with passion and eventually wrote blog posts for several large Bitcoin publications including Bitcoin Magazine, CoinTelegraph, Bitcoin.com. In late 2015, Amanda started a YouTube series entitled The Daily Decrypt, which discussed the currency competition and evolution taking place in the crypto space. By mid-2016, she decided to specialize in one network in particular -- Dash -- which she finds to be the most technically and economically superior thus poised to gain strength, market-cap and influence. She named the new show Dash: Detailed. Amanda and her colleagues are the first ever podcast or video blog to be sponsored and paid DIRECTLY from the Dash blockchain, or any blockchain for that matter. Someone needs to add this to Wikipedia. A self-funding blockchain this is an evolutionary step for cryptocurrencies. Unlike Bitcoin, the Dash blockchain allocates a certain % of the block-reward (or inflationary payout) to fund projects which help build, support and market their network and is much more business-like in their approach.. Dash: Detailed is showing the world how blockchains and crypto-assets can be used to build and support a voluntary community and economy with a open-source and transparency money. Thanks again for tuning in! Build Freedom, Ashe Contact Info: Twitter: @Dashpay Dash: Detailed: https://www.youtube.com/dashorg Referenced Podcast: LE41: Generating Passive Income with a Crypto-currency ATM with Cindy Zimmerman - http://libertyentrepreneurs.com/2016/07/le41-generating-passive-income-crypto-currency-atm-cindy-zimmerman/ PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW ON YOUR FAVORITE PLATFORM!

The title is not something I just made up for attention. It is straight from the child abusing mouth of Zach Rosenberg, to and about his four year old son, now gracing the pages of the post-Matlack version of the Good Men Project. The unfortunate youngster had informed his father that he had tried to kiss a girl at school, and that the girl didn’t like it. Rosenberg told him that the attempted kiss was rape. As most of you who follow my writing know, I am a pacifist. I can think of very, very few situations in life, almost none, where I think violence is an answer. Zach Rosenberg almost tested that today. What kind of father tells his four year old son that trying to kiss a girl is rape? Take that back, what kind of human being does it? I have literally hundreds of adjectives that come to mind, none of which I will bother sharing here. Besides, I hope that I cannot compete with what you are now thinking yourself. The real question here is not what kind of human being Zach Rosenberg is. We don’t even need to ask because he tells us himself in the article, when he discloses that he is more comfortable talking to his son about rape than he is sex. ◊◊◊ There was a twenty minute pause before I starting typing this part of my commentary. That is a rarity for me. I typically form what I want to say in my head it flows out pretty evenly. I have spent more time mentally stuttering on this one than writing. I am simply at a loss on what to say. I will start with the obvious. Zach Rosenberg is a child abuser. Let me say that again in a headline tag so it will Google all the better. Zach Rosenberg is a child abuser. And the abuse he is delivering is sexual, because the sexual shaming of children is sexual abuse. He is so ideologically driven that he is uncomfortable talking with his son about healthy sexuality, but has no problem calling him a rapist as he sits at the dinner table. He has taken the innocence of childhood and criminalized it in the mind of his own child. He has taken his son’s normal sense of curiosity and desire to express affection and twisted it into a sex crime. His son, courtesy of a really fucked-up father, has now internalized the word rape into his personal identity. That is the thing about childhood, especially at that age. Children see their parents in the light of gods. They are the providers and protectors. They are the teachers and the all-important mirrors of their children’s identity. This is why what parents say to children about who and what they are is so goddam important. They internalize it. They become it. To a four year old, parents are often infallible. If Dad says you raped someone, you did. Even if you don’t know what the word really means. In Zach Rosenberg’s narcissistic need to create a Mini-Me of gender ideology, or perhaps just a cheap and base desire to appeal to female readers whose approval he craves, he has sacrificed his four year old boy. Rosenberg has taken what at worst is a common opportunity to teach a boundaries lesson to a child, and turned it into something vile. ◊◊◊ OK, I have just spent a few more moments stuttering again, struggling for what else to say. I find that I have nothing. I never want to think about this motherfucking child abusing asshole again for as long as I live. I will instead close with a note to Lisa Hickey. You know this shit is wrong. Shame on you. Oh, and one more thing. Some day Zach Rosenberg’s son will get old enough to read this. Hopefully by then he will have figured out that it was his father, not him, that is so fucked up. Note: This article is also available in Spanish.

British Columbia is known for being one of the most expensive places to live in Canada, but household incomes in the province were below the national average, according to newly released Census figures. Median household income in B.C. — meaning half of households made more and half made less — was $69,995 in 2015, Statistics Canada figures show. This compares with $70,336 in Canada, $74,287 in Ontario and $93,835 in Alberta the same year. B.C. also had higher rates of low-income households and children living in low-income households than was the case nationally. The Vancouver Metropolitan Area, which includes most of Metro Vancouver, ranked 15th in the country in terms of median household income in 2015, at $72,662. This was just behind Abbotsford-Mission. Calgary and Edmonton topped the country at $99,583 and $94,447 respectively. Household income growth in B.C. kept pace with country Household income in B.C. grew by 12.2 per cent between 2005 and 2015. This was slightly higher than the national rate and placed B.C. in the middle of the pack relative to other provinces, ahead of Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes but well behind Alberta, Saskatchewan and the territories. In Metro Vancouver, the Census also revealed sharp income differences from one neighbourhood to another. The province was home to Canada's poorest urban community, Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, with a median household income of $17,051 in 2015. B.C.'s richest neighbourhood, at $145,481, was in West Vancouver. Map shows median household income by census tract in 2015. Click on an area for details. Northern B.C. saw highest incomes in 2015 Five of the 10 B.C. municipalities with the highest household incomes in 2015 were in northern B.C., four of them in northeastern B.C.'s Peace region. Northern B.C. was also home to many of the communities that recorded the largest growth in household income between 2005 and 2015. The Peace region, Dawson Creek and Fort St. John all saw increases in household income of 30 to 35 per cent between 2005 and 2015. However, the data was collected by Statistics Canada in 2015, before the economy responded to the impact of the sharp decline in oil prices. Brad Sperling, a director of Electoral Area C for Peace River Regional District said he was surprised to see his municipality at the top of the household income list. "We're industry-based ... so I can see where the income would be high. It's in the oil and gas industry," Sperling said. "It can be here today and gone tomorrow." Starting in 2015, there was a two-year slowdown in the region due to a decline in energy prices, so data from that year does not paint an accurate picture of the area today, he said. Things are starting to pick up again now, Sperling said, adding that to him, the most important metric is unemployment. The cities with the lowest median incomes, meanwhile, were scattered throughout the province. At the top of that list was Electoral Area A, which includes a vast swath of territory above Metro Vancouver' North Shore and Coquitlam as well as the University of British Columbia. Median household income in the university area was just $46,322, which is likely reflective of the large number of students living in that district. There were three B.C. communities where median household income dropped between 2005 and 2015: Quesnel, Port Alberni and West Vancouver. Port Alberni and Quesnel were among the lowest-income communities in B.C., while West Vancouver was one of the richest. With files from Andrew Kurjata

After marijuana was legalized for adults in the U.S. state of Washington, younger teens there perceived it to be less harmful and reported using it more, a new study found. States should consider developing evidence-based prevention programs aimed at adolescents before they legalize the recreational use of marijuana, the researchers said today in JAMA Pediatrics. "Across the country there has been a decreased perception of risk and an increase in marijuana use among adolescents," lead author Magdalena Cerda, of the University of California, Davis School of Medicine in Sacramento, told Reuters Health by email. She noted that trying marijuana at a young age is tied to an increased risk of regular use later on. Chronic use of marijuana may be tied to negative outcomes, such as psychosis and poor financial status. Since 1996, 28 states and Washington D.C. have legalized marijuana for medical purposes, and Colorado and Washington state legalized it for recreational purposes in 2012. For the new study, the researchers used data from a national survey of 253,902 teens in grades eight, 10 and 12. The survey, conducted between 2010 and 2015, included questions about how harmful adolescents perceived marijuana to be and whether they had used it within the past month. In Washington state, eighth graders' perception of marijuana's harmfulness fell by about 14 percent from before legalization (2010 to 2012) to afterward (2013 to 2015). Similarly, among 10th graders, the perception of harmfulness decreased about 16 percent. Additionally, the proportion of kids reporting marijuana use in the previous month rose 2 percent among eighth graders and about 4 percent among 10th graders over that same period. Those changes were significant when the researchers compared them to states that hadn't legalized recreational marijuana, where teens' perception of harm fell by 5 to 7 percent and their use of the drug only increased about 1 percent. There were no significant changes in perceived marijuana harmfulness or use among 12th graders in Washington, however. The researchers speculate that older students may already have a fully formed opinion of marijuana. Additionally, the researchers didn't see any significant before-and-after-legalization differences among students in Colorado. Possibly, they say, this might be because adolescents there were exposed to a robust medical marijuana industry before its recreational use was legalized. In an editorial accompanying the new study, Dr. Alain Joffe of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore said research on marijuana is crucial for public policy development. "Sound public policy should be based on data that are meticulously collected and thoughtfully analyzed," writes Joffe, who is an associate editor of JAMA Pediatrics. "The evolving status of marijuana in the United States provides a critical opportunity for us to do so." Since 2012, Alaska, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, D.C. have also approved marijuana for recreational use. Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirmed its opposition to the legalization of marijuana, which it says may be harmful to youths (see http://reut.rs/2hhKNH2).

"Oh no, he will," Bellwether cackled through her crooked teeth as she fired the gun. The pellet flew through the air and hit Nit at the back of his neck, right below the ear. He stumbled, and fell to his knees, panic taking over him as he looked frantically around the pit they found themselves in. "Run, carrots," he gritted his teeth as his eyes began to change. Judy stopped, she looked at Nick as he twisted in an abnormal manner and began to growl hideously. "You thought I wouldn't check? Please, Judy, your little blueberry trick didn't fool anyone." Judy began to breathe heavy with fear, she was trapped in a pit with a savage fox, with Nick. He turned to her, crouched down on all fours, he fixed his eyes on her and Judy was frozen. Both the pain in her leg and in her heart was keeping her still, she was about to be killed by her friend, her only friend. Tears began to well in her eyes and her ears drooped, Nick approached and she remained still. She could feel his approach, his eyes staring with such intensity and his breath warming the air around her. "Please, Nick," she quietly whimpered as he brought his face inches from her own. She waited for it, the shock of his teeth around her neck, of the pain as he ripped her apart and ate her as he was designed to do. But it never happened, his jaws remained closed and his eyes lost their fire, instead he sniffed her. Her head first and then her face, his nose traveled along much of her torso and body as he began to circle her. She watched in a shock that Bellwether shared as the fox circled her with a playful grin, his tail wagging ever so softly. "What?" was all Bellwether could manage, she turned to one of her cronies and snapped at him. "Get down there and finish them," the ram looked up at her as if she had gone mad. "There's a fox in there." "I don't care, and he's obviously not much of a threat," Bellwether walked over and pushed the ram in "So finish them." As the ram hit the floor of the pit Nick changed, his fury was back and he turned towards the intruder. Stepping in front of the motionless Judy he placed himself between her and the ram, he snarled loudly and began to back up pressing into Judy's chest with his butt. Her eyes widened as the steady pressured forced Judy to the ground and Nick took up a place over her. She was being covered completely by his body as he stood above her and tightened his muscles. The ram stumbled up and faced the duo, putting his hands out in front of him as he approached. Nick tightened, even more, the closer he came, and Judy watched Nick's muscles he had previously kept hidden visibly moved beneath his clothing. "Now, now fox," the ram said "I don't want to hurt you, why don't you just hand over the bunny and," the ram never finished, instead he charged. Judy watched from under Nick as the ram barreled for them, they had less than seconds, she went to roll and Nick disappeared from over her. She looked up to see Nick soaring through the air to meet the ram, perhaps it was his savage instinct or what little bit of that cunning mind of his that was still present. Either way, the ram never stood a chance, Nick landed on one of the rams horns and drove him into the ground before going for the throat. Bellwether watched in horror as nature played out before her and she saw the exact reason she had always feared and hated predators. Below in the pit, Judy watched as well, with a mix of relief and her own sense of fear. She raised herself off the ground and looked up at Bellwether with her hands on her hips, a smug look plastered on her face. A thought occurred to her and she pondered if it would work if it was possible. She decided there was no harm in trying. "Nick," she said accompanied by a pat on her thigh "Come." Dutifully he obeyed and left his kill to trot over to her, his paws leaving red marks in the sand. He stood by her side and began to rub his face against her thigh, nudging her paw in an attempt to coax her into scratching him. She obliged and scratched lightly behind his ear as she turned to Bellwether. Bellwether was fuming, she looked from the ram to the bloodied fox and the smug rabbit petting it. "Fine," she said, "If he won't kill you, then I will just do it myself." "Attempted murder is a serious crime Ms. Bellwether." "Ha, I am the law, Judy. Look around, you're alone, no one will miss you or your pet." "Actually Mayor Bellwether, I suggest it is you that should look around," came a deep, accented voice behind her. She turned to see Chief Bogo and what she would assume to be the whole ZPD glaring down at her. Judy smiled as Bellwether was cuffed and escorted away and the fox beside her, continued his nasal odyssey of her body. Bogo grinned as his officers took the crooked mayor away, he crossed his arms over his chest triumphantly. "Good work Officer Hopps, a team will be here to pick up the fox, but you seem to have a handle on things-oh," as he turned he was greeted by a most embarrassing sight. "Actually could someone, maybe, tranq him, uh, now he-ooh-is -uh-getting a bit too curious," Judy said as Nick buried his nose into her rear and breathed deeply. She silently cursed herself that the smell she was currently shooting out in every direction would only invite him to go further. "Right, Del Gato, help out officer Hopps." "Looks like the fox is doing that fine on his own sir," Del Gato said as he pulled out his tranq gun.

Old pastoral letter cites ‘death squad’ existence in Davao MANILA, Feb. 21, 2017— While Malacañang denied there’s such a “death squad” in Davao city, a church document issued more than 15 years ago cited the existence of the group that carried out secret killings of suspected criminals. As early as November 2001, the Archdiocese of Davao wrote a pastoral letter,“Thou Shall Not Kill,” in expressing alarm over the spate of extrajudicial killings in the city. Although it stopped short of linking President Rodrigo Duterte to such killings while mayor of Davao City, the letter deplored his supposed tolerance on “criminal groups like the Davao Death Squad to kill”. “It is an admission of failure in the fulfilment of its obligation to prevent crime and its recurrence,” part of the statement, signed by then Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, read. Duterte has repeatedly denied his involvement in any summary killings as Davao mayor and claimed that the term Davao Death Squad or DDS was only invented by his local political rivals. The Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported at least 1,424 cases of summary executions in Davao City from 1998 to 2015. The data does not include those killed in nearby cities where the alleged DDS have expanded. Redemptorist Fr. Amado Picardal, former spokesman of the Coalition Against Summary Executions, said the victims in Davao City alone also include 132 minors–126 boys and six girls. The youngest was a 12-year old boy and a 15-year old girl, he added. He said Duterte has been accused of operating a death squad but he has not been prosecuted because no witnesses have come out. Picardal left Davao City in 2011 after he was reassigned to Manila but he lamented that until 2015, summary killings still occurred in the city. A retired police officer supposedly confirmed at a news conference on Monday the existence of DDS and implicated Duterte in extrajudicial killings in Davao City. Arthur Lascañas narrated several killings that Duterte allegedly had ordered. And at one point, he broke into tears when he recalled his role in the deaths of his two brothers because they were drug users. Picardal said he is hoping and praying that more cops and DDS members will be “touched by their conscience and will have the courage to come out and testify”. “This will contribute to the stoppage of EJK and hold those responsible for the killings accountable,” Picardal said. As soon as he assumed the presidency in June last year, Duterte called on the public to help him in his war on drugs. The crackdown has resulted to at least 7,600 deaths. Authorities said more than 2,500 died in shootouts and legitimate police operations. (Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)

Highly Rated Copy URL View Post Hi. My name is Kate. I have been playing Overwatch since open beta last year on May 23rd, and it's been a wild ride from then up to this point. Overwatch has held a special place in my heart, as it has with many others for the past year or so no doubt, and I don't know where else to post a thank you to the Overwatch team. I know they read the forums often enough and respond now and then when they have the time, but I want to explain how Overwatch has personally affected my life so they can understand how much they have helped me out indirectly. Last year, on March 24th, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma (cancer). I had been working 40-50 hours a week at my local convenient store, trying to support my father and I at the time. I was only 19, and he didn't have much in the way of a job, so I couldn't afford time off or much of a break until I was forced to go to the ER earlier in March by a concerned coworker. The diagnosis came a few weeks later after a couple biopsies, but the signs were there -- I had lost 70 pounds over the prior months, was in a constant state of exhaustion, dizzy spells were frequent, and unrelenting pain in my chest put me on the edge 24/7. I went through a few surgeries, one being to have a port implanted so I could undergo chemotherapy for 6 months. I had to stop work immediately once I found out, and was left to the whims of my landlord, friends, and family who tried helping out however they could. (Just because you get sick, it unfortunately doesn't mean the bills stop coming..) Going further down the line, once I had started chemotherapy, I was bedridden. I was unable to do little more than simply exist-- eating was impossible for the first week after having a round of chemo, as was drinking, and I often had to be taken to the ER or my treatment center to receive IV fluids because of the dehydration. As my strength left me, so did my ability to walk on my own for a long time. It was summer time before I was able to move around without needing assistance or a wheelchair. I was on numerous medications, I remember at least four being to combat nausea, as I was dry heaving every other minute or so for couple months-- I had my very own bucket I kept at my side, because I lacked the ability to use the restroom by myself. I remember being hyped up when I realized the open beta was going to start in May. I had barely touched the computer much after my diagnosis, as I was just too exhausted all the time, but I had to try out Overwatch. All my friends had been excited for it, I was excited for it since I saw the cinematics on youtube, and I spent as much energy as I had that first day playing on open beta. In fact, it was my second FPS game I've ever played, next to TF2, and I had set my mouse sensitivity up to 100% without thinking about it and had thought that the game was too good for my computer because the screen kept changing so fast every time I tried to move! After realizing it was just my fault (as normal) that the game was acting crazy, I grew to love Overwatch. When the open beta ended, I was saddened because I was too afraid to buy it knowing that I had to be careful with what money I had left. My memory is a bit iffy in the earlier months of chemotherapy, but I remember asking my dad if it was alright if I used $40 of our money to buy Overwatch. At the state I was in, chemotherapy had left me deathly ill, and my dad was more on the side of providing whatever made me happy rather than staying strict with finances and said that if that's what I wanted, then I should buy it. (It probably helped too that I didn't get anything for my birthday other than a card from my sister, so technically it can be viewed as my own belated birthday present to myself. June 4th btw!!) Playing the game was.. difficult. I could only spend 5-10 minutes playing it at a time throughout the day, as I simply didn't have the energy to sit up and be energized for it. As time wore on, my body grew accustomed to the chemotherapy, and I started being able to spend a little bit more and more playing. Very late August, I joined a discord server known as Liberty's Last Army (LLA). I'd received an invite from a old friend because there were people who played Overwatch in it, and I wanted in. During Season 2 of Overwatch comp, I made so many friends in LLA and the game itself. I made friends that I talk with every day, that I play other games with now on a regular basis, that we group up with others now and then and have custom matches and still play QP and everything together just like last year. (It's hard to do comp anymore because some of our ranks have split now, some of are in silver or gold, a few are in diamond, and myself and a best friend are in masters [[HE'S AIMIN FOR THAT GRANDMASTER TOP 500 GET READY FOR THE BEST 720ING MCCREE YOU'VE EVER SEEN]]). The point I want to get across is -- because of my cancer, I was limited to very few things I could do in life. Every day I suffered in pain, whether it was the cancer, chemotherapy, side effects, or who knows what, it was a bad day. But. Overwatch was there for me. Overwatch turned my bad days into good days. There were days where I simply had to mute my mic on discord because my throat was sore and worn out from laughing so much during Overwatch. Overwatch kept me happy during one of the worst periods of my life. After chemotherapy, there was a month break before I had about a month of radiation. Then more scans. Anyone who's ever had a PET scan can tell you all about the gross milkshake smoothie stuff they make you drink. I don't miss those at all. In January, I had my port taken out, and I was in the clear. I had spent almost a year with cancer, and I was ready to get my life back on track and start over from step 1. (rip savings..) You'd think I'd have posted this back then, back when I was "cured". I thought about it, but then I started getting caught up with work, taking back 40 hours a week again back at the same job. I wasn't able to play Overwatch as much as I wanted anymore, but I still tried to manage to squeeze some time in there. I was warned of a microscopic chance of my cancer coming back. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't given it much thought. The thought occurred to me every day. I was always scared in the back of my mind, especially only still just recovering, of a resurgence. A few months ago.. my old symptoms returned. The pain returned. I had high hopes that I simply had just burned myself out by working. But then the weight loss came. It wasn't much, but when I looked myself in the mirror before a shower, I could see it -- I'm about 5'2", and I normally manage around 150 pounds and stay chubby/fat because I'm happy with myself like that. A trip to the scale had told me I had lost 10 pounds.. for no apparent reason. I'll get to the point. My cancer is back. I had a CT scan on Tuesday, and after being told it could take up to 72 hours to hear back my results, my doctor had called me 3 hours later to inform me that "the disease" had reoccurred. That there's already a full body scan setup next week to find out how far it's gotten this time. That I'll have to go through everything again a second time to figure this out. I've already cried about it. I'm still crying about it. I'm never not going to cry about it. It's been less than 9 months since my last chemotherapy treatment. It hasn't even been a full year since I was told I would be okay. While I've received verbal support from some friends and family, there was no one but my father who stayed with me and physically helped me out throughout my time of need. He has been one of the best father's anyone could ever ask for, from getting up at 3am to help me with medication to wiping back tears while holding back his own. I'm prepping up for the rest of this year to be a tough one. And I'm turning back to Overwatch in my time of need again to help keep me happy. It's one of the few things I'll be able to do once all my treatments start up again. So thank you, Overwatch team. Thank you for making such an amazing game. Thank you for making characters that I love to play and love to read about in the comics. Thank you for making event after event for all us players, and working tireless hours to create new content and facilitate old content. To keep in touch with your playerbase and constantly review feedback. To even go so far as change how the game works because of player feedback. That's one thing I'll always be grateful for, no matter how many decisions I may find a bit wacky. ;) Thank you for everything you've done since you've created Overwatch. You've helped many players out there have many enjoyable experiences, but you've especially helped me recover through cancer the first time around. And I'm going to be counting on you the second time, too. Thank you. Edit: I honestly did not expect this much positivity or reaction from the community at large. Seriously, thank you everyone who has wished me good luck or is keeping me in their prayers. I've had multiple requests in this thread to set up a gofundme, and while that's not the main reason I set up this thread, I set one up just recently if anyone wanted to help me out. (I don't want this to be labeled as begging for donations, so please don't see it that way.) https://www.gofundme.com/fighting-cancer-one-cell-at-a-time

Sports Illustrated told the story of Abel Rodríguez, a 41-year-old Mexican-American from California, and an obsessive Real fan, who took two weeks' unpaid holiday for the last seven years to volunteer at the team's annual summer trip to Los Angeles. He chased balls and laid out cones for Mourinho and his team of coaches when they visited the Californian city for pre-season friendlies. He woke up at 5am every morning and drove to the UCLA training site, only returning home at 11pm for a few hours' sleep each night. Rodríguez's annual interaction with Mourinho and Los Blancos strengthened his passion for the club and this year he took the decision to withdraw his life savings to fund a trip to Madrid, in a desperate attempt to attend El Clásico before Mourinho left the club. This meant he could not afford a family holiday, but on the insistence of his wife and daughter ("You should go. It's always been your dream") he made the lengthy journey to the Spanish capital. Rodríguez arrived at the club's Valdebebas training complex with no accommodation booked, no ticket for the Mar 3 match against Barcelona, and, crucially, no contact details for Mourinho. The security staff at the training ground refused to let him in and he was forced to sit on the side of the road, in snowy conditions, in a desperate attempt to flag down Mourinho. He waited for five fruitless hours, with only a coat to protect him from the elements, until his luck changed. As Mourinho was leaving his assistant Rui Faria's car he spotted Rodríguez and stopped in his tracks. Mourinho bounded over to Rodríguez and asked to know what the "guy from Los Angeles" was doing nearly 6,000 miles from home. After explaining his quixotic trip to Mourinho, everything changed for Rodríguez. The Special One instantly called for an assistant and arranged for Rodríguez to have his own room at the hotel where Real were staying for the Barcelona match. He ordered Rodríguez to rest up and rejoin them at the training site the next morning. The night before the match the two men met up 90 minutes before sharing dinner with the rest of Mourinho's staff. As they spoke about Rodríguez's plans – he intended to return to LA after El Clásico – Mourinho insisted that he join the club for their trip to Manchester for the round of 16 clash at Old Trafford. "I told him, 'No way, you come to Manchester with us and work as a kit man,'" Mourinho told Sports Illustrated. "'You help us and you live a bigger dream, a Champions League match from the inside!'" Rodríguez lit up and said he would love to join them, insisting he would pay his own way. But Mourinho shook his head, smiled, and said: "When you're with me in Europe, you don't pay for s---." This incredible gesture was too much for Rodríguez and he was overcome with tears of joy. The football gods had repaid him for seven summers of voluntary work and he was about to join the entourage of one of the game's finest managers for a match (in Mourinho's words) "the world is waiting for". Rodríguez attended El Clásico – Real won 2-1 – watching from a good seat and visiting the home side's dressing room afterwards for photographs with Cristiano Ronaldo, Maradona and the Argentine legend's girlfriend. Lifelong ambition fulfilled, it was now time to get down to business. Rodríguez was kitted out in Real's full team gear and given official status as a bag-handler, coaching assistant and good-luck charm (Mourinho and the players were rubbing his stomach for positive vibes). Rodríguez's friends in Los Angeles could see him on their televisions as he walked off the field next to United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and he was even immortalised on YouTube, standing next to Ronaldo in a pre-game clip of the tunnel. A few seconds before that clip was filmed, Javier Hernandez, Rodríguez's compatriot, approached the cleaner to tell him he would be giving him his match jersey at the final whistle. How did he know about Real's good-luck charm? Unbeknown to Rodríguez, Mourinho had approached Hernandez and asked him to do the favour. "These people treated me like I was part of the team," Rodríguez said. "This is something I'll tell my grandkids." Ferguson would not speak to the British press that night – he was in a state of distress after seeing Nani's red card end United's hopes of advancing. But he spoke to Rodríguez, urging him to grab Mourinho for a post-match glass of wine. Rodríguez said: "He came out of the dressing room with a cup of wine in his hand, and he told me, 'Tell José that the wine is ready, and tell him to hurry up.'" Rodríguez's wondrous night continued with him acting as go-between for Robin van Persie and Marcelo when they swapped shirts, and collecting as many keep-safes and mementos as he could. Hernandez, too, followed up on his promise, handing Rodríguez his match shirt with a unique, personalised message. The two spoke, with Hernandez listening in wide-eyed wonder at the Mexican-American's amazing story. "The first thing he said to me was, 'How long have you been working for Real Madrid?'" Rodríguez said to Sports Illustrated. "I said, 'The truth is I don't work for them.' I explained to him what happened, and he looked shocked at the beginning. But he said, 'You know what? That's amazing.'" All the memorabilia he could get his hands on was worth nothing compared to the memories, insisted Rodríguez, and a knowing wink for a job well done from Mourinho on the flight back was a particular highlight. Rodríguez finished his duties as the equipment man by unloading the bags off the plane at Madrid. But his conscientious dedication to his work meant he never had the chance to thank Mourinho, and still doesn't have any contact details. He shared his story with Sports Illustrated to say thank you for a very special night.

Two women known as Diamond and Silk could be Donald Trump’s secret weapon against Hillary Clinton. YouTube sensations Lynette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson joined Trump for a rally in Greenville, North Carolina on Tuesday. Hardaway tore into Clinton as Richardson provided verbal punctuation. “Now she said the other day there’s smoke, but there’s no fire,” Hardaway said of Clinton. “So I said, okay, Benghazi, housing emails on that private server, missing emails, pay-for-play schemes, funneling and tunneling money through that Clinton Foundation. “Opening classified emails and she doesn’t even understand the ‘C’ stands for classified,” Hardaway continued. “I guess she must have thought it stood for ‘Clinton cash,'” she said to roars from the audience. “Now, Hillary, oh Hillary, we know that you told the FBI over 30-some times that you couldn’t remember, but in case you forgot, this is something we learned in school: There can be no smoke without fire!” Hardaway shouted as the audience erupted. “Where there’s smoke, the alarms go off,” she continued, “and we the American people are alarmed. “It is time for people to stop, drop and roll away from that Democratic plantation.” She urged her fellow black Americans to join her on the “Trump train.” “You don’t have to reach down for crumbs, you can start reaching up for the stars, baby,” Hardaway said.

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There is an unfortunate tendency for articles nowadays to have sensationalist “click-bait” headlines, but by any standards the aggressive spin put on Michael Chessum’s latest piece in the New Statesman is highly unfortunate. The headline screams “It’s time for Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters to take on the trade union leadership”. Nothing could be more counterproductive than seeking to mobilize supporters of Jeremy Corbyn in the Labour Party to intervene in internal union politics. Trade unions are organizations that have their own rule books, decision making structures and autonomous interests. The lay activists who participate in the decision making processes, and who are elected and delegated to conferences and to sit on committees, are the same lay activists who represent their work colleagues in disciplinary and grievance hearings, who negotiate with management, who recruit to the union on a daily basis, who hold the participatory branch, sectional and regional structures together, and campaign on industrial and political issues. Many thousands of these lay member activist in trade unions also support Jeremy Corbyn, and it is highly mischievous and irresponsible for Michael to misrepresent such activists as potential agents of disruption within their own unions. From my experience the deliberations on policy issues within trade unions are serious and well informed, based upon the expert opinions of those with experience in the industries or sectors whose interests are at stake, and informed by other expert opinion commissioned by or researched by the unions themselves. Michael Cheesum seems to be suggesting that pressure should be applied to unions from outside to subvert the outcomes of such democratic decision making. This is a fundamental breach of the well established protocols whereby the political and industrial wings of the party operate in a spirit of mutual restraint. As Lewis Minkin describes in his magnum opus The Contentious Alliance – Trade Unions and the Labour Party the development of unwritten “rules” governing the relationship between the unions and the party have arisen over many years, and effectively derived “from fundamental values of trade unionism”. Trade unionism is inherently based upon collectivism, and preserving the autonomy of collective organisation from constraint. It is collective organisation which counterbalances the disparity of wealth and power between employers and individual workers. As Minkin describes: Through their collective capacity, the liberty of the individual worker was enhanced via-a-vis the employer. Through the collective, workers increased their control over the work environment. Through the collective, workers advanced living standards without which a simple “absence of restraint” was often the freedom to go without, to grow sick or starve. This view of collective capacity involved minimizing impediments to the operation of the industrial collective, whether they were external or internal to the organisation. By its nature, this involved restricting individual rights in relation to the collective (albeit a democratic collective). Whatever libertarian views trade unionists might hold about individual rights in a wide social and political sphere, they recognized the necessity in industrial life to accept some diminution of choice in one relationship in order to enhance it in another This concept of liberty as being a mediated one through respect for the collective is one that dovetails with the moral underpinnings of labourism as associated with thinkers as diverse as R H Tawney and Tony Benn. For example, the astute observation of RH Tawney is that liberty is related to equality. If freedom is defined as absence of restraint, then liberty promotes inequality, because the more powerful in our society have less constraints upon them, and the majority of the population will always be unfree. For Tawney, true liberty is the freedom to act positively for the benefit of the community, and being empowered to resist the tyrannical demands of the rich and powerful. Trade unionism is therefore inherently virtuous through being founded upon collectivity and mutual support, rather than individualism and personal acquisitiveness. It is worth looking at Michael’s views in more detail. He writes The logic that drives unions to support projects like Heathrow expansion – and which drives the GMB union to support fracking and Trident renewal – is grounded in a model of trade unionism which focuses not on transforming the workplace, but on the narrowly-defined interests of workers – job creation, economic growth and a larger share of the pie. It views the trade union movement not as merely antagonistic to employers, but as a responsible lobbying partner for business and industry, and as a means of mediating workers’ demands in a way that is steady and acceptable to the state and the economic system. This model, and the politics that accompanied it, is why, historically, trade unions were a conservative influence on Labour’s internal politics. The description of the unions as a “conservative influence” is spookily close to that of Tony Blair, who used to rail against unions as the forces of conservatism because unions resolutely advocated economic growth and good, well paid, high skilled jobs, and resisted his deregulation and privatization. Of course Michael Chessum has different objectives to Blair, but in his case he considers unions to be conservative because they advocate economic growth and good, well paid, high skilled jobs in the face of sometimes ill-considered and knee-jerk policies from parts of the fashionable left. It is hard to know what Michael means by “transforming the workplace”, which he thinks trade unions don’t currently do. Let us look at the premium that workers in organized workplaces enjoy. According to a 2014 booklet by the TUC: In the public sector, for every £10,000 that a non-member earns, a union member on average earns around £1,690 more; in the private sector it’s around £580 more. Over the period 2001–2013 union members were on average a third more likely to have received training than nonunionised employees. Union membership brings the greatest financial benefits for young workers: 16- to 24-year-old union members earn 38 per cent more than their non-union counterparts. Union members also have more paid holidays, with 3.8 days more paid holiday than non-members (25.5 days compared with 21.7 days). Workplaces with unions have far fewer accidents, according to a 2007 study. To take two examples over the last couple of weeks, the solicitors Leigh Day won the first stage of a legal campaign to force ASDA to give equal pay to the mainly female retail workforce compared to mainly male workers doing similar work in distribution. With the same employer, GMB national negotiators recently gained agreement from ASDA that they would cease the individual monitoring of scanning rates in stores, which colleagues were finding oppressive and demeaning. These are both examples of trade union organization making a real difference. The workplace is transformed when workers have a strong independent organization which allows employees to redress injustice, and gain greater respect. Michael seems to believe that unions are failing their members if we are not involved in ceaseless class warfare. However, while recognizing that in the final analysis employers may have potentially antagonistic interests to their workforce, it is also true that employees do have a material interest in their employer’s business prospering: there is no point is advocating higher wages if employers don’t have the means to pay them. Where an employer treats their workforce with respect and dignity, then trade unions do have a legitimate interest in advancing the business prospects of such good employers, thus benefiting their members. Currently, with perhaps the exceptions of Community and USDAW, every British trade union has a leadership that historically could be regarded on the centre left; and the claim by Michael that trade unions mediate “workers’ demands in a way that is steady and acceptable to the state and the economic system” is nonsense. The constraint on militant industrial trade unionism in the modern world is due not to timid nor bureaucratic leadership, but deep seated difficulties of organizing workers in workplaces blighted by casualization, bogus self employment, low union densities and not enough experienced lay activists. Indeed it is worth reflecting, as Gregor Gall did in his recent Huffington Post article, that far from being unimaginative, unions – especially Unite and GMB – have been very innovative in combining political, legal and media pressure on employers, such as Uber, Asos and Sports Direct. The challenge for such campaigning tactics is ensuring that they are financially sustainable for the unions in the longer terms by both recruiting and maintaining paid membership. Ultimately, however innovative trade unions may be at using our political and campaigning leverage, the foundation of union power is industrial strength. This is why Michael Chessum’s article is so disappointing. Whereas the locus of purely political campaigning is constantly pulled towards Westminster, and a schedule of elections that is dis-empowering for activists, trade unionism is geographically dispersed and workplace injustice happens every day, giving activists an opportunity to make real change for the better. The biggest opportunity for building a powerful campaigning left is not to encourage Corbyn’s supporters to challenge the leadership of the unions, as Michael rather foolishly does, it is to encourage activists to join and recruit to the unions where they live and work, and to help us all together to build the strong industrial organization that can empower working people to improve their own lives.

Earlier today, former MMA fighter Jarrod Wyatt pled guilty to first degree murder and mayhem for one of the more grotesquely violent crimes in recent memory; in 2010, Wyatt cut an 18-inch hole in his friend and sparring partner Taylor Powell's chest before ripping out Powell's heart, tongue and face, all while tripping on mushrooms. As part of his plea Wyatt will serve at least 50 years in prison. Fifty years does sound like a pretty good deal considering the barbaric nature of the crime, the scene of which is somehow more horrific than you'd imagine: When police arrived that day at a home at the mouth of the Klamath River, they found Wyatt naked and covered in blood. He told the officers, "I killed him," and said he had cut out Powell's heart and tongue, according to court documents. The officers found Powell's body on the couch of the Requa home. His chest was cut open, and his heart, tongue and the skin of his face were gone, court records said. His heart was found charred in a wood-burning stove. An autopsy determined the organs had been removed while Powell was still alive, the documents said. There's a lesson here, one from which we can all learn, and it is: under no circumstances should you ever take mushrooms with someone whose job is to maul people into submission while trapped in a steel cage. [Image via AP]

Just over six months after facilitating Zlatan Ibrahimovic's switch to PSG, the 45-year-old Italian was back in the news for masterminding yet another massive transfer Mino Raiola’s Maguire Napoli Laurentiis Raiola Maguire kwan Mino Raiola Agri Haarlem Raiola Raiola Haarlem RAIOLA'S WHEELING & DEALING ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC The Swede has made five permanent moves since hooking up with Raiola in 2004 for an estimated cumulative total of €165 million. MARIO BALOTELLI Raiola engineered the €30m switch from Inter to Manchester City in 2010 and has now brought him back to Milan, to the Rossoneri , for €22m. ROBINHO The Brazilian wanted to swap City for Barcelona in 2010 but Raiola , who wasn't even Robinho's agent, intervened and sent him to Milan. PAVEL NEDVED Again, Raiola wasn't technically representing Nedved when he left Lazio for Juventus in 2001, but the agent brokered the €41m transfer. MAXWELL The defender officially came under Raiola 's wing in 2009 and has since made two lucrative moves, to Barcelona and then PSG. Raiola “The president of Haarlem came to eat with us every Friday,” he explained in an interview with Secolo Raiola Raiola , having honed his skills as a mediator while working as a broker for Dutch businessmen with commercial interests in Italy, negotiated a deal with the player’s union in Netherlands that enabled him to represent all of the country’s footballers. Napoli Partenopei Corrado Ferlaino Bergkamp Bergkamp Wim Jonk Nerazzurri Raiola Serie Foggia Raiola Raiola Zlatan Ibrahimovic Juventus Calciopoli Bianconeri Moggi Raiola Moggi : "You and Ibra continue to make trouble. Don't send him to training ..." Raiola Pogba Trafford Pogba Laurentiis Raiola Marek Hamsik Raiola Laurentiis Hamsik Raiola insists otherwise, though, claiming that he only ever does right by his clients, arguing that he does not engineer transfers, but merely facilitates them. Pogba Ibrahimovic’s "I think that when a player decides to leave a team, he should leave ... The old agents worked in the interests of the club. For me, the player comes first " - Mino Raiola Balotelli Siro Balotelli Ballon Ibrahimovic Raiola Mino Raiola By Mark Doyleaccountancy firm is calledTax & Legal, its name inspired by an Oscar-winning movie starring Tom Cruise.president Aurelio Dewould no doubt be offended by the insinuation thatis in any way similar to Jerry, the fictional sports agent who comes to champion love (or “”) over greed, but many of his clients would argue that the comparison is just.Welcome to the divisive - yet lucrative - world of, super agent.The 45-year-old was born in, Italy, but his parents emigrated to Netherlands when he was still an infant, settling in. It was in this Dutch municipality thatwas raised before taking the first steps to becoming one of the most influential agents in football.Although it might not look it now,was a moderately talented player in his youth and he played for his local club before quitting the game at just 18. However, while he started studying law, he had not lost his passion for football, electing to take charge of theyouth team.Even at such a tender age,was a straight-talker with a distinct lack of respect for any figure of authority other than his restaurateur father.IlXIX two years ago. “I was always telling him that he knew nothing about football. One day he takes me aside and says: ‘Listen, you try it.’ He appointed me sporting director.”, though, became frustrated by his inability to make what he reckoned were the requisite changes due to a lack of funds. However, with Dutch players very much in vogue in the mid-1980s, he saw that there was money to be made in selling his adopted nation’s top footballing talent to Italy, which was then the centre of the footballing universe.His goal at this point was to establish a special working relationship with, “the club of my heart”. However, the deal collapsed. "I called [thenpresident. We started the collaboration. I offered him [Dennis]for 700 million lire [€362,000]. He hesitated. Two years later [1993], he offered €14 million, but I gave the player to Inter."With thedeal, which also sawjoin thefrom Ajax,had established himself as a major player inA, coming as it did a year after Bryan Roy's successful switch from Amsterdam toWhat was clear at this juncture was thatwas adept at making his clients happy. However, clubs were becoming increasingly concerned by his methods.Indeed, Ajax, who had profited substantially from-arranged deals during the early '90s, were less enamoured with the way in which star forwardleft forin 2004. Their ill-feeling only intensified two years later when the fallout fromled to the release of the following recorded telephone exchanges between thenmanaging director LucianoandRaiola: "Tomorrow, I'll keep the player at home all day; he won't show up for training. I then have an appointment with the directors of Ajax at noon, but I'll come at two ..."'s influence on players was also queried by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson during his club’s ultimately futile attempts to persuade former midfielder Paulto remain at Oldlast year. “He [] has got an agent who’s obviously become a bit difficult ...”Meanwhile, the aforementioned Dewas, unsurprisingly, far more blunt when it came to addressingand the agent's all-too-public protestations that, who is not even officially a client, should leave the San Paolo in order to better himself as a player. "," Demused. "He's a pain in the backside, who, for years, has been trying to takeaway.""I think that when a player decides to leave a team he should leave," he reasons. "I have never made compromises; I work exclusively in the interest of my client. The players are my fortune and I have a great responsibility towards them. However, I have never carried out improper activity or activity that I, personally, do not think proper. The old agents favoured the interests of the club. For me, the player comes first.”Whatever the truth, this is a man with an undeniable way with words who knows how to sell himself, and his players. He has memorably comparedwith a Salvador Dali painting and claimed thatmove to Paris Saint-Germain has provided visitors to the French capital with something to see other than the Mona Lisa. However, while he speaks eight languages (Italian, Dutch, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and "of course Neapolitan"), he rather humbly puts his impressive linguistic capabilities down to "preparation, not intelligence".Whatever it is, he is incredibly canny. He has cultivated a mutually beneficial relationship with Milan, as further evidenced by his masterminding of Mario's recent switch to San, and he has also proven himself wonderfully adept at massaging the ego of his players. He told a teenagethat he would make him a three-timed’Or winner, yet says the same award will be rendered meaningless if it is never given toSuch contradictions lie at the very heart of the role of agents in the modern game. Yes, the world of football would be a beautiful place if there were no agents, but it is a pipe dream, as football is no longer a sport, but big business. "We live in a cynical world," as Dicky Fox says in 'Jerry Maguire'. "A cynical world. And we work in a business of tough competitors."Consequently, there will always be a need for people like. Love him or loathe him, one cannot deny that he is very good at what he does. The man himself says he resolves problems. His detractors say that he creates them. Perhaps the truth is somewhere in between - and perhaps utterly irrelevant because the bottom line is thatmakes money. Both for his clients - and himself.

moda-center-rendering.jpg Moda Health, sponsor of the Blazers' arena, scored a major victory at the U.S. Court of Claims on Thursday. Photo courtesy of the Moda Center (Courtesy of Moda Center) Moda Health, the Oregon health insurer that has struggled in the era of the Affordable Care Act, finally got some good news Thursday. The U.S. Court of Claims issued a strongly worded opinion that the federal government must pay Moda $214 million it had earlier reneged on. "The Court finds that the Government made a promise in the risk corridors program that it has yet to fulfill," wrote Judge Thomas Wheeler . "Today, the Court directs the Government to fulfill that promise. After all, to say to [Moda], 'The joke is on you. You shouldn't have trusted us,' is hardly worthy of our great government." The government's risk corridor program promised significant financial assistance to companies if they agreed to participate in the insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act and then lost money. Moda enthusiastically jumped into the program and proceeded to hemorrhage red ink for three consecutive years. Moda sought hundreds of millions of dollars. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid paid out just over $11 million to Moda in 2014 and nothing in 2015 or 2016. Robert Gootee, Moda's chief executive, has said his company never would have jumped so aggressively into the new markets created by the Affordable Care Act if it knew the federal government was going to renege on its obligations. Moda's parent company was forced this spring to sell off assets and borrow additional funds in order to replenish its depleted capital reserves. Oregon's Department of Consumer and Business Services took Moda into supervision last January. Moda staved off being put into receivership only after raising more than $100 million in fresh capital. Other insurance companies have filed similar claims seeking billions of dollars. Here in Oregon, Health Republic and Oregon's Health Co-op, two of the new health insurance co-ops created by the Affordable Care Act, closed their doors in part because their risk corridor money never materialized. Health Republic is the lead plaintiff in a class-action suit of insurers. Dawn Bonder, founder and former chief executive of Health Republic, said the Moda ruling is welcome news for her litigation. But she fears the Trump administration and Republican Congress will appeal the ruling in order to avoid what Republicans have called an "insurance-industry bailout." "It's great news, I'm very happy," Bonder said. "But it's not over." The Affordable Care Act set off a bitter partisan war in Washington, D.C. The risk corridor program was essentially defunded by Congressional Republicans in late 2014. "The Republicans sabotaged the program," said Nick Bagley, a University of Michigan law school professor. Amid the political sniping, Moda, Health Republic and other insurers were collateral damage. -- Jeff Manning 503-294-7606, jmanning@oregonian.com

Movistar director says the Spanish team is standing by its decision to send Quintana to Italy, even with Sky showing weakness GENT, Belgium (VN) — Many are still scratching their heads over Movistar’s insistence to send Colombian sensation Nairo Quintana (Movistar) to the Giro d’Italia instead of the Tour de France. Quintana was the revelation of the 2013 Tour, winning a stage, two jerseys, and pushing Chris Froome (Sky) to his limit in the mountains en route to a South American-best second overall. Despite a strong start to the season and a Tour route well-suited to Quintana’s abilities, Movistar is sticking to its decision to steer the Colombian clear of France this summer. Movistar confirmed to VeloNews this week that there would be no mid-season adjustments, and Quintana will not race the Tour. “What is sure, if Nairo races the Giro, he won’t race the Tour,” Movistar sport director José Luis Jaimerena told VeloNews . “OK, if something happens, and he cannot race the Giro, we’ll see, but what he certainly will not do is race the Giro and then the Tour.” Why not strike while the iron is hot with Quintana? Movistar made its rather contrarian decision not to return to the Tour with Quintana last fall, something that appeared to catch even the team’s budding star by surprise. Even into January’s Tour de San Luís, which Quintana handily won, he was still holding out hope that he could race the Tour again, as he would like to. The Colombian wants to become the first South American to win the Tour, but Movistar officials had to work hard to convince Quintana that the best path to a future Tour win included first racing to win the Giro. “The easy thing would be to say, ‘yes, the Tour, Tour, Tour,’ but we believe we must also go forward with a bit calm,” Jaimerena said. “Because if we go back to the Tour, well, after second, you have to win … that’s a lot of pressure.” In February, Movistar publicly revealed that Quintana would race the Giro, a decision that eliminates one of Froome’s most dangerous rivals from the startlist. Since then, especially in light of a few Sky hiccups in early 2014, many hoped, especially in Colombia, that Quintana might be cut loose on the Tour after all. Movistar is sticking to its plan, however. Jaimerena insisted this week that Quintana, who is only in his third pro season, still needs space to grow, and the best place to do that, he says, is the Giro. “Nairo is still very young, he is still developing his skills, his strength,” Jaimerena said. “Some say, ‘well, look what they did, they don’t take him to the Tour.’ He has a lot of road ahead of him. He is only 24.” And the team has other ambitions as well. With a climbing-heavy world championships course waiting in northern Spain, Quintana will also race the Vuelta a España, with one eye on GC ambitions, and the other on hitting peak form in time for the worlds. No Colombian has ever won the elite men’s rainbow jersey on the road, and the Colombians will bring a stacked team to Ponferrada, with Quintana playing a key role. The Valverde factor And then there’s Alejandro Valverde. The veteran Spanish rider has been Movistar’s franchise man since 2005. The team stuck by him during his controversial two-year ban for links to the Operación Puerto doping scandal, and it wants to give Valverde one last shot at the Tour. Quintana’s rise last year was in part thanks to bad luck suffered by Valverde in stage 13 at the Tour, when a mechanical cost him 10 minutes and all hopes of the podium, despite riding out of the Pyrénées seemingly secure in second behind Froome. That opened the door for Quintana, but Valverde still managed to finish eighth. Movistar and Valverde both believe that if the Spaniard, who turns 34 in April, can avoid similar disaster, he has the legs to reach the podium in Paris. With Quintana waiting in the wings, Valverde also knows this could be his last shot at the Tour podium. And as much as this year’s course might be good for Quintana, it favors Valverde even more. With only one time trial, slotted in on the penultimate day, and with all the hard climbing packed into the second week, Valverde could be this year’s dark horse for the yellow jersey. To make sure he’s prepared for the pavé waiting in stage 5 of this year’s Tour, Valverde was one of a few Tour GC favorites who decided to skip the Volta a Catalunya, instead racing in Belgium for a taste of cobblestones. Valverde raced both Dwars door Vlaanderen and E3 Harelbeke last week, with Jaimerena telling VeloNews that Valverde, who rode into a late breakaway in the former, “passed the exam with honor.” Quintana racing to win the Giro According to team management, Movistar brass simply believe it’s a better for Quintana’s young career to send him to the Giro, where he can race to win what would be his first grand tour, rather than return to the Tour with too many expectations, and face off against an ever-confident Froome. “It’s going to be a great Giro,” Jaimerena said. “Nairo is not the only favorite. It’s a great field in the Giro. And I think it would be wonderful if Nairo could win the pink jersey. The Giro is a beautiful race, too.”

This is the embarrassing moment Mexico's most famous burlesque dancer lost her wig during a live TV performance. Liliana Mayanes, 64, was a 'sex symbol' in her 1970s heyday but a return to the dancefloor went horribly wrong. Trying to prove that she still had her moves, the star better known as Lyn May performed on talk show Sale el Sol. This is the embarrassing moment Mexico's most famous burlesque dancer lost her wig during a live TV performance Footage of the show shows her wearing a revealing red bra and skirt as she shimmies around and flicks her hair back and forth. As she throws her head forwards, she loses her wig but manages to grab it. She tries to put it back on her head as she continues her moves but to no avail. The black wig then falls the floor behind her as she carries on her routine, all too aware of the mishap. Afterwards the laughing star took the incident in her stride, saying it was not the first time she had been caught out on live television. Liliana Mayanes, 64, was a sex symbol in her 1970s heyday but a return to the dancefloor went horribly wrong as her wig fell off Footage of the show shows her wearing a revealing red bra and skirt as she shimmies around and flicks her hair back and forth She recalled how she was doing a routine once when her hot pants fell down during a show in Aguascalientes, Mexico. She said: 'I am laughing. You have to. If my hot pants fall too I have to start laughing. It is an issue that comes with the job.' Lyn was born in Mexico but her Chinese ancestry is said to have captivated Mexicans in the 70s.

A new drug figured out how to provide long-acting HIV defense — with as little as one to two doses a year! The dream of long-acting HIV drugs is becoming a reality each and every day, thanks to sophisticated medical breakthroughs. One of the newest drugs to get our attention has shown promise in creating HIV drugs that can be administered once or twice a year. As published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers developed a drug called URMC-099, which has the purpose of lifting the brakes on a process called autophagy. What is autophagy, you ask? It works like this: Autophagy is a process our cells use to rid itself of waste, thus allowing them to invade viruses. Without it, our cells are vulnerable to becoming consumed by viruses. HIV in particular prevents autophagy from happening altogether, which is why it's so hard to kill. But scientists have found a way to lift HIV's brake on autophagy. As a result, cells are free of the virus for longer periods of time. URMC-099 turns autophagy back on in our cells. When combined with nanoformulated antiretroviral drugs, it has potential of unleashing a long-acting HIV defense. While strategies of developing an HIV vaccine to give lifetime protection from the virus are taking place around the world, URMC-099 seems to be closest to production. Researchers tested URMC-099 in combo with nanoformulations of two FDA-approved HIV medications (a protease inhibitor called atazanavir and an integrate inhibitor called dolutegravir), according to the study. Experiments were done using human immune cells and in mice engineered to have a human immune system. After these experiments, it was found that URMC-099’s initiation of autophagy allowed the HIV drugs to be in cells for a longer period of time — nearly 50 times longer! URMC-099 developer Harris A. Gelbard, professor and director of the Center of Neural Development and Disease at the University of Rochester said the treatment will be mobilized for human use in the next five years. “This study shows that URMC-099 has the potential to reduce the frequency of HIV therapy, which would eliminate the burden of daily treatment, greatly increase compliance and help people better manage the disease,” Gelbard said to Futurity.org.

By the time Paul Morphy was felled by a stroke on July 10, 1884, he had become an odd and familiar presence on Canal Street in New Orleans: a trim little man in sack suit and monocle, muttering to himself, smiling at his own conceits, swinging his cane at most who dared approach. Sometimes he would take a fancy to a passing woman and following her for hours at a distance. He lived in fear of being poisoned, eating only food prepared by his mother or sister, and he believed that neighborhood barbers were conspiring to slit his throat. His family tried to have him committed to an asylum, but he argued his sanity so convincingly that the authorities declined to admit him. It had been a quarter-century since he became a world-renowned chess champion, and for the last decade of his life he was loath to discuss the game at all. No one could say with certainty what prompted Morphy’s slow decline, but the discovery of his genius in 1846 remained legendary. Morphy, at age 9, was sitting on his family’s back porch as his uncle and father, a justice on the Louisiana State Supreme Court, played chess. After several hours, the men declared the match a draw and moved to sweep away the pieces. Morphy stopped them. “Uncle,” he said, “you should have won that game.” He maneuvered the pieces and explained: “Here it is: check with the rook, now the king has to take it, and the rest is easy.” And he was right. Soon afterward, Major General Winfield Scott, who had a reputation as a skilled player, stayed in New Orleans for five days while he was en route to the Mexican War. He asked an acquaintance at the chess club on Royal Street to find him a worthy opponent, and at eight o’clock that evening Scott found himself sitting across from Morphy, who wore a lace shirt and velvet knickerbockers. Scott, believing he was the victim of a prank, arose in protest, but his friends assured him that Morphy was no joke. He checkmated Scott in ten moves. Morphy had an astounding memory, capable of recording every factor he deemed pertinent to his play—openings, defenses, even entire games—but he also had an intuitive grasp of the possibilities. He could visualize the board several plays deep, anticipating and capitalizing on even the slightest misstep. “The child had never opened a work on chess,” wrote Morphy’s uncle, Ernest Morphy, to the editor of chess magazine La Régence, which published one of Morphy’s early games. “In the openings he makes the right moves as if by inspiration, and it is astonishing to note the precision of his calculations in the middle and end game. When seated before the chessboard, his face betrays no agitation even in the most critical positions; in such cases he generally whistles an air through his teeth and patiently seeks for the combination to get him out of trouble.” The prodigy next took on Johann J. Lowenthal, a political refugee from Hungary who was well known in European chess circles. Morphy, in his French vernacular, described Lowenthal’s reaction at losing to him in one word: “comique.” In 1850, Morphy registered at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. He was elected president of the Thespian Society during his freshman year and played Portia in The Merchant of Venice. He abhorred sports and tried to compensate for his slight, 5-foot-4 frame by briefly studying fencing. He played no chess in his college years, other than a few games with classmates in the summer of 1853. For his thesis he chose to write about war, a subject that, according to one acquaintance, “he brought within very narrow limits the conditions that make it justifiable. The logic of his argument would exclude forcible secession, and whether in play or in life Morphy was severely logical, even to a fault. But such a course brought consequences that preyed upon his mind.” After graduation he returned to New Orleans and enrolled at the University of Louisiana. He earned a law degree in 1857 but was legally obliged to wait until his 21st birthday to begin his career as an attorney. In the meantime he returned to chess, a decision that had less to do with any great passion for the game than with a fervent ambition to defeat the best players of the United States and Europe. “He felt his enormous strength,” said Charles Maurian, a childhood friend, “and never for a moment doubted the outcome.” Morphy entered the First American Chess Congress, held on October 5, 1857 at the New York Chess Club. He won his first game in 21 moves, almost in a matter of minutes—and this in an era with no time limit, when players pondered for hours and games lasted for days. His only true competitor was a German immigrant named Louis Paulsen, who exasperated Morphy by taking as long as 75 minutes on a move and beating him at their third game. Before the sixth game, Morphy dined with fellow player William James Appleton Fuller. “His patience was worn out by the great length of time Paulsen took for each move,” Fuller recalled. “His usually equable temper was so disturbed that he clenched his fist and said, ‘Paulsen shall never win another game from me while he lives.’” Morphy beat him five times and won the competition, then spent the next month in New York being feted like a king. He set his sights on Howard Staunton, an Englishman and arguably the most respected player in Europe. On Morphy’s behalf, the New Orleans Chess Club raised a purse of $5,000 and invited Staunton to visit the city for a match, promising him $1,000 for expenses if he lost. He declined, on the ground that New Orleans was too far away. Morphy planned a trip to England, intending to enter a tournament in Birmingham and challenge Staunton on his own turf, where he couldn’t refuse. But when he reached the city he learned that the tournament had been postponed for two months. He stayed anyway and joined forces with Frederick Milnes Edge, a flamboyant newspaperman who began acting as Morphy’s publicity agent. Edge stirred up controversy by accusing Staunton of cowardice in the press. Staunton, who was the chess editor of the Illustrated London News, responded by suggesting that Morphy was an adventurer without the financial backing he claimed and, worse, that he was a professional, not a gentleman. Morphy tried for three months to arrange a match with Staunton but gave up in October 1858. “Permit me to repeat,” Morphy wrote in his last letter to him, “that I am not a professional player; that I never wished to make any skill I possess the means of pecuniary advancement, and that my earnest wish is never to play for any sake but honor.” Morphy set sail for Paris, where he won a “blindfold” tournament: He sat in one room of the Café de la Regence while his eight opponents sat in another. The opponents had the chess boards, along with several other players who could give them advice; Morphy simply faced a bare wall and called out his moves in loud, clear, flawless French. He played for 10 hours, with no food or drink, and beat them all. “He was shaken by the hand and complimented till he hung down his head in confusion,” the New York Times reported. “Such a mind never did exist, and, perhaps, never will again.” Morphy returned to New Orleans an international celebrity but settled into a strangely subdued mood; he said he hadn’t done as well as he should have. He finally embarked on a law career, but interrupted it at the outbreak of the Civil War. He opposed secession, and felt torn between his loyalties to the Union and to Louisiana, but he journeyed to Richmond to see Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard, a family friend, about the possibility of securing a diplomatic position. Some accounts suggest that he served as a volunteer aid to Beauregard (even gathering intelligence for the Confederates during the First Battle of Manassas), but others say the general deemed Morphy unqualified to serve, on or off the battlefield. He spent the next few years traveling, first to Havana and then to Europe, staying in Cadiz and Paris and declining numerous invitations from chess clubs. To his friend Daniel Willard Fiske he confessed “intense anxiety” about the war raging back home. “I am more strongly confirmed than ever in the belief that the time devoted to chess is literally frittered away,” Morphy wrote. “I have, for my own part, resolved not to be moved from my purpose of not engaging in chess hereafter.” He returned to New Orleans in November 1864 and opened a law office, only to close it after a few months—prospective clients seemed more interested in talking about chess than about their cases. He tried again several years later and had the same frustration. He began seeing evil intentions where there were none. As late as 1878 he continued to receive invitations to compete, but he played chess very rarely and never publicly, and usually out of some imagined desperation. Once Morphy entered the office of a prominent resident of New Orleans and said he needed $200 to ward off impending disaster. The man, an old friend, decided to test the strength of both Morphy’s delusion and his aversion to chess. “You want this money very much, it seems,” he said. “Yes,” Morphy replied. “I must have it—it is absolutely necessary.” “Well, I’ll tell you what I will do: if you will play a game of chess with me, I will make it two hundred and fifty dollars.” Morphy thought about it, exhibiting a “disdainful curl of the lip and manifest repugnance.” Finally he agreed, and a chessboard was set upon the desk. Morphy allowed his friend to beat him in a few moves. “There!” the former champion exclaimed. “I have done what you require, but the next time I play chess with you, I will give you the queen!” He turned to leave. His friend called out, reminding him that he was forgetting his reward. “I will come for it tomorrow!” Morphy promised. But he never did. Sources Books: David Lawson, Paul Morphy: The Pride and Sorrow of Chess. New York: McKay, 1976; William Ewart Napier, Paul Morphy and the Golden Age of Chess. New York: McKay, 1957; C.A. Buck, Paul Morphy: His Later Life. Newport, KY: Will. H. Lyons, 1902; Frederick Milnes, Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion. New York: Appleton, 1859. Articles: “Paul Morphy Dead: The Great Chess Player Insane.” New York Times, July 11, 1884; “Letter from Paul Morphy to Mr. Staunton, of England.” New York Times, November 1, 1858; “Our Foreign Correspondence: Paris.” New York Times, October 19, 1858.

Five people were injured in a brawl at Saturday night’s boxing match at the Bell Centre in downtown Montreal. Around 11 p.m., after the victory of Ontarian Brandon Cook over Montrealer Steven Butler, objects were thrown into the ring by the audience. A brawl in the audience followed. Source: Lorena Welsh/Facebook Two Bell Centre employees were injured, as were a man and woman caught up in the fight. They were all taken to hospital. Cook suffered facial injuries from the projectiles thrown into the ring. Source: Lorena Welsh/Facebook Two suspects in their 20s were arrested at the Bell Centre. A 22-year-old man faces an assault charge and will remain in custody until he appears in court Monday. A 23-year-old man, facing a charge of armed assault, has been released on promise to appear at a later date. Police were studying video footage of the incident Sunday afternoon to determine if other arrests would be made. Camille Estephan, president of Eye of the Tiger Management, and Butler’s promoter, said he was disappointed by the events. He called the incident “irresponsible and inexcusable.”

The Limited Edition Desco Figure You Can Only Get With A Disgaea 4 Append Disc By Spencer . July 19, 2011 . 1:26pm Nippon Ichi is continuing the story of Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten with a downloadable scenario starring Fuka and Desco. Just like Raspberyl’s side story from Disgaea 3, the Fuka and Desco storyline has four chapters, will be sold as downloadable content on PSN, and as an append disc at stores. The retail version of the Fuka & Desco chapters requires a copy of Disgaea 4. Fans still might want to give the append disc a look because it comes with bonus items. A soundtrack CD and a Desco figure are part of the package. Let’s take a look at that. The Disgaea 4 append disc will retail for 4,179 yen ($53) and it can only be purchased if you pre-order it by July 24. The scenario alone will cost 2,000 yen ($25) as a digital download. The append disc, downloadable scenario, and a new version of Disgaea 4 with the Fuka & Desco episode built in will be available in Japan on October 27.

August 2016 seems a very long way away. Back then, there was talk of Manchester United possibly winning the title this season -- and now, there's claims Jose Mourinho believes the squad needs at least two transfer windows to be fixed. If this is true, it is worrying that Mourinho so badly underestimated the scale of the problem before him. However, there is a suspicion that if these are indeed Mourinho's sentiments, he is buying himself time. With the exception of Eric Bailly, the players he has brought in have not been consistently outstanding. Paul Pogba has dazzled in patches, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has flitted between dominant and listless and Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been the most baffling of absentees. Before Mourinho goes shopping again, he must ask more from those under his command. Looking at United's Premier League season so far, the problems look to be systemic. They are sixth in the table and after 12 games have scored 17 and conceded 14 -- both fairly average returns which reveal both insecurity at the back and a failure to penetrate. To address the latter issue, Mourinho will need his full-backs to be more far effective in attack. It seems harsh to demand anything else from Antonio Valencia, who has been one of Mourinho's most reliable performers in recent weeks. His work ethic is faultless and he has been far less prone to mistakes than Luke Shaw, who everyone would regard as a more natural full-back. At the same time, Mourinho needs to be more creative in order to bring the best from United's attackers. Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are both intelligent and self-sacrificial enough to spend several months on the wing, but that is not where they are most dangerous. They do their best work closer to goal -- Martial looking happiest at inside-left with Rashford able to operate equally well as an inside-left or No. 9 -- but recent formations have seen them marooned on the touchline. What's more, they have defensive duties that hinder them from wreaking the havoc in the final third of which they are truly capable. Eden Hazard's form this season shows what can happen if a team's playmakers are truly liberated by their manager's tactics. Hazard is supported on the flanks at Chelsea by Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses, who cover a formidable amount of ground and allow him to dictate the play. Valencia and Shaw, at their best, can perform a similar function for Rashford and Martial, allowing them to stay closer to the penalty area and combine better with Pogba -- who, it must be noted, has completed more passes in the final third than any other central midfielder in Europe this season. The more these three are able to play off each other, the better. Anthony Martial has had a difficult start to life under Jose Mourinho, scoring just twice in 13 games. This brings us back to United's full-backs. They are essential for two reasons -- first, as mentioned above, they allow their team's most creative players to move infield, and secondly, they stretch the play against teams who try to congest the midfield. And this is where Valencia can and should do more. Since the 2012-13 season, when United last won the title, he has scored only four times in 118 matches. Given his speed and strength, and the fact he takes up very advanced positions for his club, this is an area where he could do better. He could also improve his final ball -- he was once a winger whose delivery was among the very best in the division, perhaps even Europe, but on several occasions in the last few seasons his crosses have found themselves deflected away by the first man. Daley Blind's best games have served as a reminder of just how important it is to have playmakers in the back four, which is perhaps one reason why United have been so strongly linked with the Monaco right-back Fabinho -- and which makes it more surprising that he was not acquired this summer. At present, United's full-backs are largely hardworking but offensively limited -- see also, Matteo Darmian -- while their competitors, both at domestic and European level, have players in these positions who not only accompany forwards in attacks but initiate those attacks themselves. There is much talk of Barcelona's magnificent trident of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar, but they would not be nearly as dangerous if they did not have Sergi Roberto tearing up the flank to their right, as Dani Alves did before him. What's more, Roberto is smart enough to exploit the space these players draw away from him. Martial, Rashford and Pogba are three of the most disruptive presences in the Premier League, with their movement confusing some of the very best defences. United's full-backs must be at their very best to profit from the ensuing chaos. Musa Okwonga is one of ESPN FC's Manchester United bloggers. Follow on Twitter: @Okwonga.

The budget is coming and the news is out that the focus will not be on job-threatening automation, but yet another innovation agenda. The downwardly mobile are unlikely to be thrilled. How many times have the feds laid out supposedly trailblazing innovation schemes – the past four governments have tried them – only to have them fade away? They haven't worked. The country has never been turned into a leading business or technological innovator. But Liberal strategists are undeterred. They will double down on innovation in this budget. It's to be innovation of a different kind, insiders say. Past measures, such as pouring funding into university science research, haven't brought forward the anticipated trickle-down benefits. Now the Grits are intent on getting into the business of cherry-picking. They'll identify specific sectors and potential champions and target them for special support. One way will be by spending a large chunk of their procurement budget on them. The plan might be likened, so to speak, to an Own the Podium program for innovators instead of athletes. Economic growth will allegedly follow. Story continues below advertisement But what about the elephant in the room? The job-ravaging behemoth called automation. Dominic Barton, the head of Justin Trudeau's Advisory Council on Economic Growth, said recently that automation will eliminate no less than 40 per cent of existing Canadian jobs in the coming decade. He's referring to such technologies as self-checkout counters, driverless cars, burger-flipping robots. These are what Joe Populist cares about. More than any trade agreements, they are the job killers. But strangely the torrid pace of automation is hardly even being debated in Parliament or elsewhere. There's a collective throwing up of the hands. Nothing can be done. Technological determinism is here to stay, earthlings. Deal with it. There's got to be more focus on automation and robotization, argues Frank Graves, co-author with Graham Lowe of Redesigning Work. "There will be huge carnage and it is going to happen quickly. There are solutions but they will require bold action, not some bromides about innovation." Bold action will not be forthcoming. Automation will be given short shrift in the budget. The word from insiders is that while the projected scary numbers of job losses have to be taken seriously, "There isn't an appetite to hold back the tide" of technology. There is no pickup, for example, on Microsoft founder Bill Gates's idea of taxing robots that do the work of humans and using the revenues for social needs. There is no enthusiasm for measures such as rewarding retailers who don't switch to self-checkout counters. Such proposals are readily batted down by the argument that interfering with the advance of technology hinders progress by slowing down productivity. Countries that engage in such practices will become less competitive. The counter-argument is that we're moving into a new hyper-accelerated phase of automation. Just because it hasn't had a negative impact on jobs in the past doesn't mean it holds true for the future. It's a reason more governments are looking at economic nationalism to protect their workers. It's a reason why globalization appears to be winding down. The Liberals point out that countries with the highest degree of automation still have the lowest unemployment rates. Mr. Barton and his group see no reason for proactive measures to slow it down. Their automation strategy is reactive. They will address it as a social problem that has a purchasable social solution. They are planning, for example, enhanced programs for people over 50 whose skills are ill-suited for the digital age. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement Their plan to move away from trickle-down innovation agendas to a more targeted supporting of winners may well be worth a shot, especially if the winners don't win by reducing jobs. But it won't, given the failures of past innovation schemes, be an easy sell. Joe Populist is more worried about having his job displaced by innovative technologies than seeing the country becoming more adept at creating new ones.

Strange things happen when suddenly my SAI went down. You see a Picture for but what you see is not what was original. I managed somehow to let SAI crashed in the middle of saving my picture. After starting my PC new and open SAI again, the picture is god thanks there where it belongs. But suddenly it has only one layer and many effects are missing or completing to much. Also the whole color schematic changed to only red like colors.For me and Kooner it doesn't look bad, we like it, but after all the original picture is missing and I also can't edit it to the original. So here it is, the new version. XDThis is Autumn Leaves a OC from The first picture of two for him. A gift picture for one of my best friends here._______________________________________________

This Captain America: Civil War comic book cover is just one of the surprises included in Marvel’s January 2016 solicitations The full Marvel January 2016 solicitations have been released and, over at SuperHeroHype.com, we’ve got a full gallery with more than 100 different comic book cover and official synopses for all the books hitting stores shelves first thing next year. Among a number of different surprises contained in the solicitations is this Captain America: Civil War comic book cover, showing off the key players from the May 6, 2016 release. Set for release in the United States on May 6, 2016, Captain America: Civil War is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo from a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. It is set to feature the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America, this time joined in his “solo” film by fellow Avengers Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon, Paul Bettany as The Vision, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye, Don Cheadle as Jim Rhodes/War Machine and Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch. Sebastian Stan will also be back as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier alongside Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther, Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter / Agent 13, Daniel Brühl as Baron Helmut Zemo, Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlow / Crossbones, William Hurt as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, and Paul Rudd as Scott Lang / Ant-Man. The film is also supposed to debut Marvel’s new Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland. Captain America: Civil War picks up where Avengers: Age of Ultron left off, as Steve Rogers leads the new team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. After another international incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability and a governing body to determine when to enlist the services of the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers while they try to protect the world from a new and nefarious villain. Click on the image below to check out everything else arriving from Marvel in January 2016 and let us know in the comments below what you think of this Civil War comic book cover!

ES Football Newsletter Enter your email address Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in or register with your social account Tottenham are continuing to monitor Real Madrid midfielder Isco after showing an interest in him in the summer. Isco has made only two starts for Madrid this season and said this week he would consider his future if coach Zinedine Zidane continues to ignore him. Spurs are believed to have enquired about the Spaniard in the closing days of the transfer window but neither party made a decisive move. Yet Standard Sport understands Isco is still admired by Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino, even though he has a number of attacking midfielders. Isco’s contract expires in the summer of 2018, meaning he could leave Madrid for nothing in less than two years. If Isco’s situation has not improved by January, clubs are likely to attempt to persuade Madrid to release him. The most probable deal at that stage would be a loan, with an obligation to buy. It is more realistic, however, that Isco would move at the end of the season, when Spurs are expected to be one of his suitors. Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar technical director Max Huiberts has backed Vincent Janssen to succeed at Spurs. Janssen moved to north London from AZ last summer but has yet to score in the League. Huiberts said: “I’m sure he’ll adapt quickly to the Premier League. People said it was ridiculous we wanted more than £8million for him but he was the top scorer in the Dutch league last season.”

Officials say the city's website was hacked today, though users were able to access most online services. Federal authorities and Chicago police are investigating the attack, according to a source familiar with the incident. Authorities are also exploring whether the attacks are linked to a threat to hack NATO's website in Europe. Hackers claimed credit for bringing down the cityofchicago.org site, according to Twitter feeds this morning. The cityofchicago.org appeared to be back to normal by 2 p.m. A group using the name antis3curityops sent out a message on Twitter at 6:17 a.m. directing people to “fire” on chicagopolice.org and chicagoseargeants.org. A Twitter user who claims affiliation with Anonymous, an international hacker community, tweeted a little later "Tango Down," with a link to cityofchicago.org -- shorthand used on the Internet to indicate a site has been hacked or targeted. That site was also unresponsive as of noon. The group antis3curityops posted a video saying it was "actively engaged in actions against the Chicago Police Department," and it encouraged "anyone to take up the cause and use the AntiS3curityOPS Anonymous banner. For those able, chicagopolice.org should be fired upon as much as possible. We are in your harbor Chicago, and you will not forget us." Referring to clashes between police and protesters during marches in the Loop Saturday night, the video said "let us unite and show the violent Chicago police and the government big brother tactic’s (sic) that we are not gonna take this." A Twitter account claiming to represent Anonymous cited "violation of humanrights" as a reason for the cyberattack against the police site. hdardick@tribune.com

Israeili artist Ronit Baranga (born in 1973) uses clay and porcelain to craft some really disturbing tableware that would probably instantly make you lose your appetite. Already known for her strange sculptures, Baranga applied her creepy creativity to the kitchen, putting realistic mouths and fingers on dishes and cups. “I would like that anyone who sees my work feels something – what they feel is not relevant to me, as long as they feel. I hope that the emerging feelings will cause the viewers to think about the ideas behind my work… The combination of ceramic cups with ceramic fingers represent an idea in which the still creates a will of its own, enabling a cup to decide whether to stay or leave the situation it is in,” [1] says the artist. Website: ronitbaranga.com

The fundamental thing to understand about Senate Republicans’ latest attempt to repeal Obamacare is that the bill under consideration would not just undo the Affordable Care Act—it would also end Medicaid as we know it and our federal government’s half-century commitment to closing the country’s yawning gaps in health coverage. And it would do so without putting in place any credible resources or policies to replace the system it is overturning. If our country enacts this bill, it would be an act of mass suicide. In my surgery practice in Boston, I see primarily cancer patients. When I started out, in 2003, at least one in ten of my patients was uninsured. Others, who had insurance, would discover in the course of their treatment that their policies had annual or lifetime caps that wouldn’t cover their costs, or that they would face unaffordable premiums going forward because they now had a preëxisting condition. When he was governor of Massachusetts, it was Mitt Romney, a conservative, who brought Republicans and Democrats together to make a viable state system of near-universal coverage. That system then served as a model for the A.C.A. The results have been clear: increases in coverage have markedly improved people’s access to care and their health. For the last four years, health-care costs in Massachusetts have risen more slowly than the national average—while the national numbers themselves have been at historic lows. I have not seen a single uninsured patient—zero—in a decade. And now comes an utterly reckless piece of legislation that would destroy these gains. To review how we got to this point: last spring, the House passed a health-care-reform bill that proposed to hollow out the A.C.A.’s funding, insurance mandates, and protections for people with preëxisting conditions. It was immensely unpopular with the public. The problem was not just that twenty-three million Americans would lose their health insurance if the bill becomes law but also the Republicans’ vision of a health system where insurance with deductibles of five thousand dollars and more, and little or no primary-care coverage, would become the norm. This summer, Senate Republicans failed to secure enough votes to pass a modified version of the House bill. Later, in a dramatic late-night session, the Senate also rejected, by a single vote, a “skinny” repeal bill. That bill would have repealed only the parts of the A.C.A. that required large businesses to insure their workers and all Americans to carry coverage. It would have resulted in a mere sixteen million more uninsured people, according to estimates. The Republican bill currently being rushed to a vote was put forward by a group of senators led by Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, and Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana. As has become the apparent rule for Republican health-care bills, there have been no hearings or committee reviews of the Graham-Cassidy bill. And, this time, lawmakers and the public do not even have a Congressional Budget Office analysis of the effects the bill would have on the budget, insurance costs, or the uninsured rate. This is unprecedented: senators are moving ahead with a vote on a bill that would alter the health care of every American family and the condition of a sixth of our entire economy, without waiting to hear any official, independent estimates of the consequences. The irresponsibility is as blithe as it is breathtaking. Before becoming a senator, Cassidy spent twenty-five years working as a physician in hospitals devoted to the uninsured. I find it baffling that a person with his experience would not recognize the danger of this bill. But here we are. The Graham-Cassidy bill goes even further than the bill passed by the House. It would bring to a virtually immediate end not only the individual and employer mandates but also the whole edifice of the Medicaid expansion, insurance exchanges, and income-based coverage subsidies set up under the A.C.A. Graham-Cassidy expects all fifty states to then pass, and implement, alternative health systems for tens of millions of people within two years—with drastically less money, in most states, than the current law provides. This is not just impossible. It is delusional. Like the House bill, Graham-Cassidy would cut Medicaid payments for traditional enrollees—the elderly in nursing homes, pregnant women in poverty, disabled children, etc.—by a third by 2026. A portion of the money saved would go into a short-term fund for states to use for health-care costs. The rationale is that this would give states “flexibility” to design coverage for their residents as they see fit. But the amount of funding provided is, by multiple estimates, hundreds of billions of dollars below what the A.C.A. provides. The bill also nakedly shifts funds from Democratic-leaning states that expanded Medicaid under the A.C.A. to Republican-leaning states that didn’t. Analyses indicate that states like California, Massachusetts, and New York will receive block-grant funding anywhere from thirty-five to almost sixty per cent below the health-care funding their residents would receive under current law. Much of those missing funds would be transferred to states like Texas, Mississippi, and Wisconsin. And special deals to make further shifts from blue states to red states such as Alaska are being negotiated to win votes. As for what states can do with the funds they do receive, they would not be allowed to use them to enroll people in Medicaid, or able to establish a single-payer system. And states would not be receiving enough to continue Obamacare on their own. The only options for spending are for commercial coverage. States will be permitted to let insurers bring back higher costs for people with preëxisting conditions and to reinstate annual and lifetime limits on coverage. And then, starting in 2026, the funding turns out to only be temporary. Under the bill’s provisions, unless further action is taken then, four trillion dollars will be removed from health-care systems over twenty years. With these massive sums being flung around, it is easy to forget that this is about our health as human beings. The evidence is that health-care programs like the A.C.A. save lives. The way they do so is by increasing the number of people who have affordable access to a regular source of care and needed medications. Such coverage has been shown to produce a substantial and increasing reduction in mortality—especially among those with chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, or H.I.V.—in as little as five years. Virtually all of us, as we age, will develop serious health conditions. A critical test of any health reform, therefore, is whether it improves or reduces our prospects of having the continuous care and medicines we need when we come to have a chronic illness. The Graham-Cassidy bill fails this test. It will terminate Medicaid coverage and insurance subsidies for some twenty million people. The entire individual-insurance market will be thrown into a tailspin. Federal protections for insurance coverage will be gone. Every major group representing patients, health-care professionals, health-care institutions, and insurers has come out vociferously against this plan. Governors from Alaska to Ohio to Virginia have opposed the bill. In a highly unusual, bipartisan statement, the national association representing the Medicaid directors of all fifty states has also opposed the bill. The top health official in Louisiana, Cassidy’s home state, has opposed the new plan. There is not a single metric of health or health care that the Graham-Cassidy plan makes better. This bill is a national calamity. It should not even come to a vote.

An Oxford University study shows fathers who are more emotionally involved have better behaved children 11 years on Children whose fathers embrace parenthood are less likely to be troubled as they approach their teens, researchers say. An Oxford University study has found that fathers who were emotionally committed and felt confident about parenthood in the first few months had better-behaved children 11 years later. The amount of time the father spent with the child or got involved in domestic chores was not as significant as these two factors. For the study, parents of more than 10,000 children from south west England answered a set of questions when their child was eight weeks and eight months old. Researchers who carried out the study said: ‘The findings suggest that it is psychological and emotional aspects of paternal involvement in a child’s infancy that are most powerful in influencing later child behaviour and not the amount of time that fathers are engaged in childcare or domestic tasks. ‘How new fathers see themselves as parents, how they value their role as a parent and how they adjust to this new role, rather than the amount of direct involvement in childcare in this period, appears to be associated with positive behavioural outcomes in children.’ Researchers looked at markers of fatherly involvement such as being confident with their child, forming a strong bond, feeling fulfilled and parenthood making them feel closer to their partner. They then gave fathers a score on a relative scale for three different factors: emotional response to the child; how frequently they were involved in domestic chores and childcare; and how secure they were in their role as a father. Researchers looked at markers of fatherly involvement such as being confident with their child, forming a strong bond, feeling fulfilled and parenthood making them feel closer to their partner. File photo The same families were questioned again when the child was nine and 11, but this time they were asked questions about the child’s behaviour and social skills. Of the original cohort, 6,898 children were still in the study by nine years old and 6,328 were still involved at 11. The study’s authors found fathers who scored highly for their emotional response were 21 per cent less likely to have a child with behavioural problems at nine years old and 19 per cent less likely when their child was 11. Those who scored highly for their security in their role as a parent had a 28 per cent lower risk of their children having behavioural problems at both ages. There was no such link for fathers who scored highly for their involvement in childcare. Other factors affecting child behaviour included the parents’ ages and their education and socio-economic levels. Those who scored highly for their security in their role as a parent had a 28 per cent lower risk of their children having behavioural problems. File photo Older, more educated parents were at lower risk of having children with problems. The researchers from Oxford’s National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, who published in the journal BMJ Open, added: ‘Positive parenting by fathers may contribute to good outcomes in children in a number of ways. ‘Involved fathers may influence children indirectly by being a source of instrumental and emotional support to mothers, who provide more of the direct care for children. The potential positive effect of this on mothers’ well-being and parenting strategies may then lead to better outcomes for the children. There is evidence that fathers’ involvement can also alleviate the impact of factors such as maternal depression, which is known to increase children’s risk of behavioural problems.

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Through this signage at Promenade Temecula, the mall is notifying shoppers that their phones may be tracked as they move throughout the premises. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Attention holiday shoppers: your cell phone may be tracked this year. Starting on Black Friday and running through New Year's Day, two U.S. malls -- Promenade Temecula in southern California and Short Pump Town Center in Richmond, Va. -- will track guests' movements by monitoring the signals from their cell phones. While the data that's collected is anonymous, it can follow shoppers' paths from store to store. The goal is for stores to answer questions like: How many Nordstrom shoppers also stop at Starbucks? How long do most customers linger in Victoria's Secret? Are there unpopular spots in the mall that aren't being visited? While U.S. malls have long tracked how crowds move throughout their stores, this is the first time they've used cell phones. But obtaining that information comes with privacy concerns. The management company of both malls, Forest City Commercial Management, says personal data is not being tracked. "We won't be looking at singular shoppers," said Stephanie Shriver-Engdahl, vice president of digital strategy for Forest City. "The system monitors patterns of movement. We can see, like migrating birds, where people are going to." Still, the company is preemptively notifying customers by hanging small signs around the shopping centers. Consumers can opt out by turning off their phones. The tracking system, called FootPath Technology, works through a series of antennas positioned throughout the shopping center that capture the unique identification number assigned to each phone (similar to a computer's IP address), and tracks its movement throughout the stores. The system can't take photos or collect data on what shoppers have purchased. And it doesn't collect any personal details associated with the ID, like the user's name or phone number. That information is fiercely protected by mobile carriers, and often can be legally obtained only through a court order. "We don't need to know who it is and we don't need to know anyone's cell phone number, nor do we want that," Shriver-Engdahl said. Manufactured by a British company, Path Intelligence, this technology has already been used in shopping centers in Europe and Australia. And according to Path Intelligence CEO Sharon Biggar, hardly any shoppers decide to opt out. "It's just not invasive of privacy," she said. "There are no risks to privacy, so I don't see why anyone would opt out." Now, U.S. retailers including JCPenney (JCP, Fortune 500) and Home Depot (HD, Fortune 500) are also working with Path Intelligence to use their technology, Biggar said. Home Depot has considered implementing the technology but is not currently using it any stores, a company spokesman said. JCPenney declined to comment on its relationship with the vendor. Some retail analysts say the new technology is nothing to be worried about. Malls have been tracking shoppers for years through people counters, security cameras, heat maps and even undercover researchers who follow shoppers around. And some even say websites that track online shoppers are more invasive, recording not only a user's name and purchases, but then targeting them with ads even after they've left a site. "It's important for shoppers to realize this sort of data is being collected anyway," Biggar said. Whereas a website can track a customer who doesn't make a purchase, physical stores have been struggling to perfect this kind of research, Biggar said. By combining the data from FootPath with their own sales figures, stores will have better measurements to help them improve the shopping experience. "We can now say, you had 100 people come to this product, but no one purchased it," Biggar said. "From there, we can help a retailer narrow down what's going wrong." But some industry analysts worry about the broader implications of this kind of technology. "Most of this information is harmless and nobody ever does anything nefarious with it," said Sucharita Mulpuru, retail analyst at Forrester Research. "But the reality is, what happens when you start having hackers potentially having access to this information and being able to track your movements?" Last year, hackers hit AT&T, exposing the unique ID numbers and e-mail addresses of more than 100,000 iPad 3G owners. To make it harder for hackers to get at this information, Path Intelligence scrambles those numbers twice. "I'm sure as more people get more cell phones, it's probably inevitable that it will continue as a resource," Mulpuru said. "But I think the future is going to have to be opt in, not opt out."

Much of SOD's work is considered confidential and according to Shiffman and Cooke, documents from the program show that law enforcement officers have been instructed to obscure SOD's involvement in cases, through something called "parallel construction." That's where police have to "recreate" investigations along a different track from the original tip, in order to wipe SOD's fingerprints from the case. For example, the SOD might receive a tip from a wiretap or NSA intercept directing them to track down a specific vehicle that might be involved in a drug crime. They would then pass that tip along to the FBI or a local police department. But because they wouldn't want the police to reveal where they got the tip from, the officers would have to find some other excuse to stop the vehicle and begin their own independent investigation. Police would then go forward as if the traffic stop was their first clue, not the SOD tip. The situation is compared to laundering money in order to obscure its source. But that could also mean entire cases being built on faulty or illegally obtained evidence. Even if it isn't, the secrecy involved could compromise the judicial proceedings. When and if the suspect goes to trial they might never discover the original evidence that led to their arrest, possibly creating a constitutional violation of the right to a fair trial. If the defense does find out about the "parallel construction," the whole case could be thrown out due to improper gathering of evidence. There's also the further complication that many of the tactics that are legal when used against a drug lord from another country (like warrant-less wiretapping), are illegal when used against American citizens. It's possible for an NSA tip to indirectly lead to an arrest of American — and for that original tip to be covered up by SOD. Like all government surveillance projects, SOD seems to have started with just a handful of agents and ballooned beyond its original mandate. But one big question is: Does it even work? One former agent told Reuters the SOD tips were only accurate about 60 percent of the time. Also, because the agency was so worried that the program would be exposed if a case went to trial, defendants who refused to plea bargain and instead asked to see the evidence against them would sometimes see their charges dropped simply to avoid getting SOD involved. A lot of people might be fine with pushing the boundaries of legality to catch terrorists, but to push the boundaries to not catch American drug dealers is another story. This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.

Yesterday’s post on the presidential election campaign ended on an optimistic note regarding the “activism” of Maidan Self-Defence and Right Sector in the city. Unfortunately, this optimism proved premature as the farce of the selection of the new head of police in region entered a new act today. Since 25 April, an armoured personnel carrier has been stationed outside the police HQ in the city, so the building whose Security Service wing was burned out in mid-February. The campaign to prevent Volhynia native and experienced police functionary Serhiy Piddubnyj becoming head of Ivano-Frankivsk region police has been going on much longer. Today was supposed to have been Piddubnyj’s first day at work, although he never turned up, at least not through the front door. Perhaps because since this morning a crowd of a hundred or so “activists” had been awaiting his arrival, hoping that he would take the APC “Taxi to Dubno” back to his native region.Most probably the armoured personnel carrier belongs to one of these guys, interviewed here, with the article asking if they are “extremists or defenders”. Good question. It’s not clear from any media reports what grievance Maidan Self-Defence and Right Sector have with Piddubnyj, other than that they are categorically opposed to his role.* While the media continue to claim that this small group of activists represent “the community”, in reality public opinion in the city has very little interest in who is head of police and instead is more concerned by the ability of these groups to continue to blockade streets and administrative buildings. *UPDATE: Since writing initially, I have found this interview from 5 Kanal, Petro Poroshenko’s news channel and one of Ukraine’s most watched. Here a representative of Self-Defence claims that they don’t want Piddubnyj because “he’s not from this region”, “he’s an outsider” and the “community doesn’t want him”, with Kyiv failing to listen to the demands. First-hand evidence, then, of these organisations declaring themselves the voice of the community, which is quite far from the truth. Presumably, too, these organisations and “activists” are angered by the fact that the new head of Odesa police is from… Ivano-Frankivsk region. Viktor Nemish is the local councillor who in local power structures is the voice of these organisations, and he claims that only two candidates are acceptable to these groups after conducting a folk version of “lustration”. If the simple reason for opposing Piddubnyj is that “he’s not from our region”, then this is quite a worrying insight into the mentalities of these groups that claim to speak for the city community and seek to determine its future. If someone from Volhynia in north western Ukraine is unacceptable, then what chance does anyone more exotic stand in the city? The groups involved today were: Maidan Self-Defence, which took on a coordinating role in the protests in Kyiv and locally, but now seems to be some kind of semi-paramilitary gang of camouflaged men; Right Sector, who locally at least are basically UNA-UNSO, a paramilitary group, plus the youth organisation Tryzub (Trident); and Automaidan, with the Kalush branch most evident today. Very few police, beyond traffic cops blocking the street, were visible when I passed about 13:30 this afternoon, although the media show that many uniformed officers did come out to declare that “the police are with the people”. (The photo reportage linked to here also manages to be typically sexist towards female police officers) It’s not clear what intention the police had with this statement, although since most have declared loyalty to the new head it was presumably a rejection of the “activists'” attempts to appropriate the voice of the people of Ivano-Frankivsk region. Some obvious questions that are raised by this farce are: how is it possible for someone to park an APC on a main street in the city centre and outside the police HQ and get away with it? It suggests the police here are weak and in fear of these paramilitaries, or they are somehow coordinating with them on a more significant level than joint patrols around the city in the aftermath of Euromaidan. Should these “activists” get more active and violent, what are the chances of the police or other forces in the city halting them? Another question is in whose interest is it to disrupt the installation of the new police head? The declaration that it is in the interests of the “community” does not wash, so it is necessary to inquire what connections these organisations and their paramilitaries have to various political, business or criminal interests in the city and the wider region. I’m not suggesting that these connections necessarily exist but it is worthwhile investigating. The only sensible suggestion surrounding this whole farce – beyond internet comments which suggest that these blokes who claim to be the region’s biggest “patriots” and “heroes” are actually harming their country – is to hold elections for the head of police. Obviously, however, given the popular indifference to this question then it could be easy to swing any election in favour of these groups’ and their backers’ interests. My own suggestion is that if these blokes are such heroes and so concerned for their country, then the Ukrainian army is waiting with conscription for 18-25 year olds having been reinstated. That could also solve the problem of having so many men with little to do in the middle of the day marching around the city, potentially armed, and causing more trouble than good. Indeed, for anyone coming to Ivano-Frankivsk from outside the area, these camouflaged groups and their APC are really the only visible sign in the city that the country is actually in crisis. It is, as I mentioned yesterday, a source of a sense of incongruity being in this part of Ukraine while the foundations of civil conflict, or worse, grow deeper in other parts of the country. Aside from the presidential campaign coming to town, new restaurants continue to open including this place on the main street, the “Stumetrivka” or Nezhalezhnosti Street. It’s a sushi bar, suggesting there’s some nouveau riche cash still sloshing about the city. The owners of the restaurant, meanwhile, have taken liberties with this neat nineteenth-century building and destroyed the original façade with new doors and windows, including extending their size which is probably against planning regulations. But no one cares much for those in the city – as my post on the infamous Royal Burger brewery building showed. The tragedy in Odesa has, however, been recognised officially in the city, with more raucous events within Ivano-Frankivsk’s City Day anniversary celebrations, scheduled for 9-10 May, cancelled. So this means that there will be no rock concerts and such, since these fall within the traditional nine-day mourning period. The annual blacksmiths’ festival will go ahead as planned. Aside from this official gesture, though, there’s little evidence of mourning in the city for those killed in Odesa. Although the Fabbrica restaurant that I have written about did abandon owing to events in Odesa its traditional closing dances over the weekend. Meanwhile, as the country plunges further into crisis, those in Self-Defence and Right Sector who claim to be the greatest heroes and patriots continue to fight their absurd, farcical struggle over the head of police on the streets of the city. Advertisements

Spread the love “Get him! Get him! Get him!” Vineland, NJ — Early this morning, yet another video has emerged showing the heinous murder of Phillip White by Vineland Police. As we reported last week, 32-year-old Phillip White died in police custody last Tuesday morning after being beaten by police and viciously mauled by a K-9. The video released on Facebook shows more clearly that White was limp and unresponsive when officers yelled at the K-9 to “Get him!” One cop continued to inflict blows to White’s body as the dog mauled his face, chest and arms. The cops roll the unconscious man onto his back, then scream at him to roll back over, the entire time letting the K-9 continue to maul White, who was, again, completely unresponsive. At no point in the video does Phillip White show any sign of consciousness, let alone resisting arrest. As the video progresses, White’s arm can be seen being shaken about as the dog tears into him, completely limp. The man capturing the video is pleading for the officers to stop their attack, screaming that he is unconscious. “He’s knocked out!” screams the onlooker. But sadly, this was to no avail. It is even less surprising now, with the emergence of this new video, that Vineland police attempted to confiscate the damning footage. Fortunately, they were not successful. Residents in the area have identified one of the officers to arrive on the scene as Dion Colvin. Although Colvin did not participate, he stood by and watched Phillip White get brutally assaulted and ultimately killed. Members of the community are urging Officer Colvin to speak out against this heinous crime.

Amid a crushing economic malaise, millions of Puerto Ricans will go to the polls to vote on their preference for president and governor in the U.S. territory’s Democratic primary Sunday. They also could push Hillary Clinton a lot closer to becoming the Democrats’ presumptive nominee. The primary has been almost overlooked with the much larger cache of delegates up for grabs on primaries Tuesday in a handful of states, including California. Close video How to stop the Puerto Rican debt crisis Wisconsin Representative Sean Duffy outlines the current economic conditions in Puerto Rico and what needs to be done to combat the billions of dollars in debt that the Puerto Rican government faces. share tweet email save Embed But the close race in California, the aggressive push Bernie Sanders has been making in Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican’s exhaustion from the island’s economic crisis are drawing much more attention to the elections. “There rarely is attention to the primaries in Puerto Rico and most of the time they are not held on the same days as the Puerto Rico primaries,” said Federico de Jesus, principal at FDJ Solutions. Clinton, who has a long history in Puerto Rico was the victor on the island in 2008 against Barack Obama. On Saturday, 60 delegates are at stake and frontrunner Hillary Clinton is widely expected to win. What many watching will want to know is by how much? Whatever number of delegates she picks up in the race will put her that much closer to the 2,383 overall delegate goal that is within her grasp. The island’s governor, Alejandro García Padilla, endorsed her earlier on Wednesday. He is not running for re-election. RELATED: ‘Hamilton’ star Lin-Manuel Miranda on his mission to help Puerto Rico “I think Hillary has the odds to win, but Bernie has definitely been very aggressive on his policy positions and on debt issues,” de Jesus said. “It’s not going to be a slam dunk, but I think she is going to win.” Hoping to shore up his chances, Sanders said on Thursday he would introduce his own bill dealing with the Puerto Rico debt crisis, The Associated Press reported. A House bill that has been approved by a U.S. House committee to deal with Puerto Rico’s financial crisis has drawn criticism, although it has won bipartisan and administrative support. Clinton, like other Democratic supporters of the bill, has expressed concerns about parts of the bill, but wants to see it move forward to stop Puerto Rico’s problems from worsening. Puerto Rico’s primary race for governor pits Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, the island’s representative in Congress against Ricky Rosselló, the son of former Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Rosselló. RELATED: The most important number for Bernie Sanders next week: 256 Pierluisi has been representing Puerto Rico in Congress since 2009 and served as its attorney general for three years. He has dogged Congress for the past couple of years to take action to assist Puerto Rico and pushed his own legislation that would have allowed the territory to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy, as cities like Detroit have done. The legislation stalled. Rosselló is a scientist who has focused work on stem cell research. He also has been a political commentator and founded a political advocacy group. The debt crisis also spills into their campaign because Pierluisi has backed the House committee bill, despite disagreeing with parts of it. He opposed earlier versions of the bill that Republicans withdrew because they could not get enough support for its approval. Follow NBC News Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sheena Bora, who was allegedly murdered by her mother Indrani Mukerjea three years ago, had told close friends she planned to marry former Star TV CEO Peter Mukerjea’s son Rahul by the end of 2012. “Sheena and Rahul were very much in love and she told some of us who were very close to her that she intended to marry Rahul, possibly by November 2012,” said a source who played a key role in alerting Mumbai Police on Tuesday that Indrani was Sheena’s mother. The source, among Sheena’s closest friends, said Indrani was very upset with Sheena’s relationship with Rahul as she believed it could affect her own marriage with Peter Mukerjea. “Indrani was very particular about matters like her social status and thought Sheena’s marriage plans could cause her embarrassment. Indrani was probably worried her real relationship with Sheena, which she had kept secret for so many years, would come out in the open,” the source told Hindustan Times. Sheena, who was 24 when she was killed in April 2012, told her closest friends about her mother’s unhappiness with her relationship with Rahul. While she also told them about her marriage plans, she did not say whether she had discussed the matter with Indrani, the source said. “Rahul too wanted to marry her. He was very worried when Sheena went missing in March 2012 and initially told us he wanted to file a police case. Later he just seemed to give up after there was no news of her,” said the source who did not want to be identified because of being employed in a sensitive government institution. The source said Sheena’s closest friends had visited her home at Sundarpur in Guwahati two or three times after she disappeared but were told by her brother Mikhail Bora that she had gone to the US for studies. The source said Sheena’s friends had reservations about Mikhail’s role in the affair. During a visit to the Boras’ home in late 2012, the source said he was able to spend a few minutes in private with Sheena’s grandmother Durga Rani Bora, who alleged that Mikhail sometimes mistreated her and her husband Upendra Kumar Bora. Mumbai Police have arrested Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyam Rai for alleged involvement in Sheena’s murder on April 24, 2012. They have also been accused of disposing of her body in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. Mikhail has said he has no doubts that his mother killed Sheena. He has hinted he has more information about the motive for the murder but refused to give details. Indrani married Peter Mukerjea in 2002 and passed off Sheena and Mikhail as her sister and brother. Peter Mukerjea has acknowledged that Sheena and his son Rahul were in a relationship. He has also said he was told that Sheena was sent to the US because Indrani was opposed to the relationship. Read:Said, unsaid and suspense in Sheena Bora murder case Sheena Bora murder case: A complex web of lies and deceit First Published: Aug 27, 2015 15:25 IST

Germany: Layoffs at gourmet chain Karstadt/Perfetto By Jan Peters and Marianne Arens 12 August 2015 The layoffs and wage cuts at the German department store group Karstadt continue. The most recent piece of bad news concerns employees at the gourmet chain Perfetto, whose 43 branches are co-managed by Karstadt and the retailer Rewe. According to a letter management sent to employees on July 15, quoted by Handelsblatt, “the previous business model with a heavy focus on the luxury chain [has] failed. Perfetto ran a “constant deficit” and was in need of major restructuring. For this reason, “Perfetto was not able to avoid personnel cuts.” The exact number of job cuts has not been announced, but it is estimated that between 300 and 500 of the approximately 2,200 employees will be laid off. Ten years ago, Karstadt still had 3,700 gourmet food employees in 60 branches. The remaining employees will be subject to a so-called “wage freeze,” a policy that had already been implemented for employees of the other department stores. Employees will have to do without wage increases, Christmas bonuses and holiday pay. A year ago, the previously convicted Austrian real estate speculator René Benko bought the Karstadt corporation for a symbolic sum of €1. In June 2015, however, he and his real estate holding company Signa were not able to acquire the department store chain Galeria Kaufhof and merge it with the Karstadt Group. Since then, the billionaire has made it clear that he is not interested in restructuring the department stores but only in exploiting the workforce and further capitalizing on the attractive commercial space and real estate. In August 2014, Benko took over 83 Karstadt branches. Since then, he closed the store in Stuttgart and announced that five additional stores will be shut down by 2016. An additional 15 branches and six sports outlets are threatened with closure as well. In spring 2015, Benko sold the majority shares of three Karstadt-owned luxury department stores (KaDeWe in Berlin, Oberpollinger in Munich and the Alsterhaus in Hamburg) to Thai investors. Two weeks ago, he sold the “Sevens” shopping centre in Düsseldorf to the international real estate company CBRE Global. The piece of high-end real estate had belonged to him since 2010. Stores like Saturn, Christ, Douglas and others are located there, and Benko had raised the rent by 72 percent over a period of five years. Further efforts were supposedly required in order to help the Karstadt department stores stay on their feet. Sales expert Gerrit Heinemann of Niederrhein University calculated that investment of €1 billion was needed in the sales department alone, and an additional €1 billion would have to be spent on the expansion of e-commerce. He wrote, “The new orientation of Karstadt would require so much capital that it might even surpass what Benko can manage.” Since then, the department stores have been heavily “restructured” through personnel cuts and store closings, indicating that they are being made an object of speculation and investment for new investors. Of a total of 17,000 jobs, 2,500 will be cut. Under its previous owner, Nicolas Berggruen, Karstadt had already abandoned the union-agreed retail wage contract, so that sales staff earn on average at least €120 less each month than the contract amount. Karstadt head Stephan Fanderl now recommends the demotion of a part of the staff to shelf stackers, which will result in their being paid even less. Benko and Fanderl would not be able to carry out these attacks if they could not rely 100 percent on the works council and the Verdi union. Once again, Verdi is playing a central role in layoffs and cuts. Even if they are the worst asset strippers, Verdi praises every new owner as a “rescuer” and offers its support. This pattern has been repeated for decades. In 2005, the union and works council welcomed Thomas Middelhoff, who now sits in prison for breach of trust, as the “white knight” at KarstadtQuelle AG, and supported his “restructuring plan,” i.e., his programme of deep cuts. Middelhoff took Karstadt into bankruptcy in 2009. His successor, Nicolas Berggruen, acquired the Karstadt business in 2010, for a symbolic €1. While Karstadt suffered losses every year, Berggruen collected €7.5 million annually for the Karstadt name rights alone, which he purchased for a single payment of €5 million. In August 2014, René Benko stepped onto the scene. As soon as he took over Karstadt for €1, he announced store closings and layoffs. The Austrian Standard newspaper called him an “adventurer and phony”. Wirtschaftswoche quoted a Karstadt saleswoman with the words, “We already had one billionaire as an owner. They provide absolutely nothing.” Verdi, on the other hand, bestowed pre-emptive praise on Benko. Arno Peukes, retail secretary at Verdi, commented on the takeover: “We had great hopes for Nicolas Berggruen in those days. I will put it this way: René Benko seems more grounded, and he seems to have some people around him who are familiar with the topic of department stores.” In the game of poker over the department store chain a few weeks ago, the union fully supported Benko and supposedly intervened with Olaf Koch, head of wholesaler Metro Cash & Carry, on his behalf. In an unmistakable pot shot at the competing Hudson’s Bay (the Canadian department store chain that was awarded the bid in the end), Verdi board member Stefanie Nutzenberger told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that the union opposes the “expanded concessions model in which a department store offers ever increasing floor space to outside retailers and their employees”. Nutzenberger, like Peukes, is a well-rewarded Karstadt supervisory board member. A few days ago, Karstadt published its figures for the business year 2013/14, in which the corporation suffered a loss of €190 million. According to Karstadt head Stephan Fanderl, the loss in 2015 was “in the area of the mid tens of millions”. As reported at the press conference announcing the figures, the loss would have “been much greater without the contributions of the 16,328 employees”, Die Welt wrote. “On the one hand, their numbers fell through job cuts and the removal of three premium department stores in Munich, Hamburg and Berlin by a good 900, on the other hand, Karstadt temporarily left the union agreed wage contract and saved on payments in this way. All together, personnel costs sank by almost 20 million.” Once again, the company management, works council and the union are demanding a new “offensive” in order to get out of the red. Jürgen Ettl, the new chairperson of the general works council who took over this post from Hellmut Patzelt in June, warned that the company head should not “exceed the target”, but in the same breath emphasised that “Mr. Fanderl tackles things consistently.” Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Architect Of Obama's War On Whistleblowers: 'It's Good To Hang An Admiral Once In A While As An Example' from the governing-through-fear dept At a closed hearing in December 2009, members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, led by Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, scolded Mr. Holder, Mr. Blair and the F.B.I. director, Robert S. Mueller, saying they had not adequately protected national security secrets. “A tipping point was reached in 2009,” said one knowledgeable Senate aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not an official spokesman. “There was an official change of policy.” Mr. Blair said, “We had to do 50 push-ups and promise to do better.” In tracing the origins of this effort, present and former government officials said the focus on leaks began at the administration’s highest levels and was driven by pressure from the intelligence agencies.... Soon after President Obama appointed him director of national intelligence in 2009, Dennis C. Blair called for a tally of the number of government officials or employees who had been prosecuted for leaking national security secrets. He was dismayed by what he found. In the previous four years, the record showed, 153 cases had been referred to the Justice Department. Not one had led to an indictment. That scorecard “was pretty shocking to all of us,” Mr. Blair said. So in a series of phone calls and meetings, he and Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. fashioned a more aggressive strategy to punish anyone who leaked national security information that endangered intelligence-gathering methods and sources. “My background is in the Navy, and it is good to hang an admiral once in a while as an example to the others,” said Mr. Blair, who left the administration in 2010. “We were hoping to get somebody and make people realize that there are consequences to this and it needed to stop.” Mr. Holder’s “attitude, the same as mine, was to speed up the process and make it more effective,” Mr. Blair said. “So, yes, that would mean more aggressive prosecution.” The Justice Department imposed a tight deadline to decide whether to open criminal inquiries into leaks, shortening to just three weeks a review process that had often dragged on for months. Leaks considered unworthy of prosecution were marked for administrative inquiries. Underscoring the administration’s determination, Robert M. Bryant, Mr. Blair’s national counterintelligence executive, was put in charge of stanching leaks. The White House has kept a careful distance from the Justice Department prosecutions, but President Obama seemed unwavering in his support for them. When government transparency advocates told him in March 2011 that chasing whistle-blowers was sullying his record, the president disagreed, saying some disclosures had been very damaging to national security. On March 28th, Obama held a meeting in the White House with five advocates for greater transparency in government. During the discussion, the President drew a sharp distinction between whistle-blowers who exclusively reveal wrongdoing and those who jeopardize national security. The importance of maintaining secrecy about the impending raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound was likely on Obama’s mind. The White House has been particularly bedevilled by the ongoing release of classified documents by WikiLeaks, the group led by Julian Assange. Last year, WikiLeaks began releasing a vast trove of sensitive government documents allegedly leaked by a U.S. soldier, Bradley Manning; the documents included references to a courier for bin Laden who had moved his family to Abbottabad—the town where bin Laden was hiding out. Manning has been charged with “aiding the enemy.” Danielle Brian, the executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, attended the meeting, and said that Obama’s tone was generally supportive of transparency. But when the subject of national-security leaks came up, Brian said, “the President shifted in his seat and leaned forward. He said this may be where we have some differences. He said he doesn’t want to protect the people who leak to the media war plans that could impact the troops.” Though Brian was impressed with Obama’s over-all stance on transparency, she felt that he might be misinformed about some of the current leak cases. She warned Obama that prosecuting whistle-blowers would undermine his legacy. Brian had been told by the White House to avoid any “ask”s on specific issues, but she told the President that, according to his own logic, Drake was exactly the kind of whistle-blower who deserved protection. Over the last few years, we've covered President Obama's war on whistleblowers , including the fact that he's used the Espionage Act against whistleblowers more than every other President combined, which is really quite incredible when you think about it. The NY Times has tried to dig around and figure out why the Obama administration is so harsh on whistleblowers and comes up with a few different sources. The first one, the Times reporter actually buries pretty far down in the story: Senator Dianne Feinstein from California:Of course, as we've pointed out a few times, Feinstein, ridiculously, seems much more concerned about leaks than the government abuses and lawbreaking that those leaks reveal. That's quite incredible when you think about it.The second source -- also underplayed by the article -- is officials in the intelligence community itself, who the President and his top advisors seem somewhat in awe of, and rarely seem willing to push back on what they have to say:Basically, the long term intelligence insiders were sick of leaks -- such as the revealing of their warrantless wiretapping -- meaning that they actually have to answer to the public for overreaching into everyone's private lives. Given the combination of those intelligence agencies and Feinstein (who has always parroted whatever the intelligence agencies have to say), President Obama put his first Director of National Intelligence on the job of "solving" this issue of whistleblowers. And Blair apparently took to it with fervor, believing that the best thing to do would be to "make some examples" bypeople:While he's not literally talking about hanging someone, just the idea that they set out, purposefully, to "make examples" out of whistleblowers, is what lead to these kinds of massive overreaches and the chilling effects found today. The administration may think that's a good thing, because it keeps their secrets secret -- but it's also what's allowed massive abuses within the government to flourish with no one willing to blow the whistle.The next culprit outlined (and mentioned above) is Attorney General Eric Holder, who teamed up with Blair to craft a program that was focused on going after anyone they could very aggressively:So, rather than get the whole story, understand what's going on, the DOJ has a three-week deadline before moving forward withinvestigations on whistleblowing.The final person to blame for all of this: the President himself. As noted above, he seems to accept everything the intelligence guys tell him without question. And that leads to absolutely moronic claims like the following:The Times reporter doesn't dig into this, but that meeting from March 2011 was first written about in Jane Mayer's amazing New Yorker article about the ridiculous prosecution against whistleblower Thomas Drake . That was a case where Drake legitimately blew the whistle on fraud and abuse within the NSA -- and it was only in searching for who was behind a different leak, that investigators found a completely pointless document on his home computer, including details of some meeting schedules. The document was, but prosecutors said that Drake should have known it was actually classified (even though the documentdeclassified months later).That was clearly an extreme case of going after a whistleblower for being a whistleblower -- and yet when confronted on this, the President strongly pushed back against it and seemed to buy completely into the bogus claims his intelligence people were telling him about Drake. From the Mayer piece:Of course, Brian was exactly right -- Thomas Drake was exactly the kind of whistleblower President Obama claims he wants more of: the kind who reveal government wrongdoing in the form of financial shenanigans. And yet, he never seemed to recognize or acknowledge that Drake never revealed anything that jeopardized national security. Given how the various intelligence bosses -- from Blair to Keith Alexander to James Clapper (and their various predecessors who are now making tons of money working for private defense contractors bilking billions from the government on these issues) -- seem to have decided that they need to "hang" a few leakers, President Obama's failure to recognize that they've been using his support for this to hang true whistleblowers, rather than anyone who's harmed national security, means he needs to take the blame for this massive failure within his own administration.Brian was completely correct in her statements. These actions -- and the latest Snowden revelations of a President who seems to cave to the intelligence agencies at every chance -- really do a massive amount of harm to his legacy. But, tragically, the President appears to have a huge blindspot on that, not realizing how damning his war on whistleblowers has become. Filed Under: barack obama, chilling effects, dennis blair, dianne feinstein, ed snowden, eric holder, espionage act, james clapper, keith alexander, leaks, whistleblowers

New York, March 18, 2011--One journalist was fatally shot and another wounded in Sana's today when Yemeni security forces used live ammunition to disperse demonstrators from a central protest area, killing dozens of people. The death of photographer Jamal al-Sharaabi is the first confirmed media fatality in Yemen since political unrest began in January, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Al-Sharaabi, a photojournalist for the independent weekly Al-Masdar, was among 44 individuals killed by security forces who opened fire on a demonstration against President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 33-year-long rule, local media and the Yemeni Journalists' Syndicate (YJS) reported. Most of the victims were shot in the head or the neck, according to local media. New accounts described at least some of the gunmen as snipers. Several hundred more civilians were wounded by security forces' fire at the demonstration site in a square outside the main entrance to Sana'a University, news reports said. Among them was a photojournalist, working for the BBC Arabic service, who was shot in the shoulder, the BBC reported. The photojournalist was not identified by name. "We extend our condolences to the family and colleagues of Jamal al-Sharaabi, who was killed today as he performed his professional duties," said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ's Middle East and North Africa program coordinator. "This killing comes on the heels of many weeks of increasingly hostile rhetoric and violent reprisals against independent and critical media." The Yemeni Journalists' Syndicate has documented more than 50 separate attacks on journalists since political unrest began in January. The attacks include abductions, assaults, confiscation of equipment, and threats of violence against journalists and their families.

Washington (CNN) The Office of Government Ethics Wednesday sent a series of four tweets outlining its procedures examining incoming Trump administration officials -- right in the middle of a contentious Senate hearing about Rep. Tom Price's stock transactions. The OGE tweets did not specifically cite Price, his financial holdings or the Senate hearing. The tweets came less than an hour after Price -- President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of Health and Human Services -- defended himself against questions about his stock transactions at a Senate hearing and invoked the ethics office's approval. Under questioning about his investments, Price cited the Office of Government Ethics and its "diligence" in its role reviewing all Cabinet nominees' financial records. "We have agreed to every single recommendation that they've made to divest of whatever holdings we have that might even give the appearance of a possible conflict," Price said. CNN reported on Monday that financial disclosures show Price invested in a medical device manufacturer days before introducing a bill that would benefit that company. Democrats including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have called for an investigation into whether Price may have violated the law. Price has said the stocks were purchased through a broker and that he did not know which stocks he owned. He repeated that he did nothing inappropriate and pointed to disclosures he made to OGE that were signed off on in the nomination process. The ethics office's tweets came shortly thereafter, with messages outlining what it does -- and doesn't -- do. "OGE's focus is prevention; IGs investigate potential misconduct & @TheJusticeDept prosecutes criminal violations," OGE tweeted shortly thereafter. "OGE oversees the executive branch #ethics program, while Congress & the Courts have their own ethics programs," they continued . "OGE does not handle complaints of misconduct. Please learn where & how to report #fed employee misconduct," the agency wrote , including links to its missions and procedures. OGE did not comment on the tweets on the record. Though the tweet did not specially refer to Price, the OGE has tangled with the incoming Trump administration before. The office's Twitter account has been vocal in advocating for full divestment by President-elect Donald Trump, which Trump is not opting to do, and the chief of the office has been vocal about his concerns. An expert on ethics and former Federal Election Commission general counsel said Price's submission to OGE would not have been scrutinized for past actions. "The Office of Government ethics reviews his current situation for potential conflicts of interest and negotiates an agreement with how he should handle (divestment) in the future," Larry Noble, general counsel at the Campaign Legal Center, said about Price's testimony. "It does not look at his past activity." Noble also said that purchasing the stock through a broker alone wouldn't mean there are no ethical questions -- saying Price would need to assure he and the broker did not discuss the stock or the bill. "The fact of the matter is that I have had no conversations with my broker about any political activity at all other than her congratulating me on my election," Price said before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy said that Price appeared to have invested in a number of drug companies before taking action to "inflate" those firms' values. "Why wouldn't you at least tell her, 'Listen, stay clear of any companies that are directly affected by my legislative work?'" Murphy asked. "Because the agreement that we have is that she'd provide a diversified portfolio, which is exactly what virtually every one of you have in your investment opportunities, and make certain that in order to protect one's assets, that there's a diversified arrangement for purchase of stocks," Price said. "I knew nothing about those purchases." Correction: The OGE tweets did not specifically cite Price, his financial holdings or the Senate hearing.

One of the challenges on the way to realizing the benefits of quantum computing is finding a way to compactly assemble and then precisely control enough quantum bits to deliver on the technology’s enormous processing potential. Researchers at Penn State University said they’ve made a big advance. Quantum bits, or qubits, are the quantum equivalent of the bits used in traditional computing. While today’s bits typically represent data as 0s or 1s, qubits can be both 0 and 1 at the same time through a state known as superposition. To achieve their breakthrough, the scientists first corralled quantum atoms into a 3D array. To construct it, they used beams of light to trap and hold the atoms in a cubic arrangement of five stacked planes, much like a sandwich made with five slices of bread. Each plane had room for 25 equally spaced atoms; in all, the arrangement formed a cube with an orderly pattern of individual locations for 125 atoms. The scientists filled some of the possible locations in the array with qubits consisting of neutral cesium atoms possessing no positive or negative charge. Then, they used crossed beams of laser light to target individual atoms in the lattice, causing a shift in the energy levels of those atoms. When the scientists then bathed the whole array with a uniform wash of microwaves, the state of the atoms with the shifted energy levels changed, while the states of all the other atoms did not. To demonstrate their control over the qubits in their array, the researchers changed the states of selected atoms in three of the stacked planes in order to draw the letters P, S, and U—the letters that represent Penn State University—as shown in the image above. “We have set more qubits into different, precise quantum superpositions at the same time than in any previous experimental system,” said David Weiss, the physics professor who led the research team. “Our paper demonstrates that this novel approach is a precise, accurate, and efficient way to control large ensembles of qubits for quantum computing.” The paper was published last Friday in the journal Science. Currently, the system offers a reliability of about 99.7 percent, but the team hopes to increase that to 99.99 percent, Weiss said. Also among their goals is to focus on quantum entanglement, whereby the state of one particle is implicitly correlated with the state of the others around it. “Filling the cube with exactly one atom per site and setting up entanglements between atoms at any of the sites that we choose are among our nearer-term research goals,” Weiss said.

Gov. Chris Christie will leave office next year, and his final state budget has left a real mess for whoever succeeds him as New Jersey's chief executive. An analysis by S&P Global Ratings, one of the three major credit ratings agencies, says New Jersey's budget remains "structurally imbalanced" thanks to underfunded state pension systems. "Christie's fiscal 2018 budget proposal might look fine in the near term, but long term, structural balance remains elusive thanks to the state's continued deferral of full funding for future retirement obligations," wrote David Hitchcock and John Sugden, the two S&P analysts who authored the report. "The picture looks much worse" in future years, they warned, since the current budget relies on a series of short-term fixes. Those concerns probably sound familiar, because they're almost identical to the reasons given for the 10 credit rating downgrades New Jersey has recieved during Christie's tenure. The most recent downgrade came in November, when S&P cut the state's rating to A-, the fourth lowest grade in their system. In the new budget plan, Christie has proposed to pay about $2.5 billion into the pension fund during the next fiscal year, which starts on July 1, but that's not enough to satisfy the public retirement system's needs. It's not even close. New Jersey's pension funds are facing a deficit of more than $135 billion, one of the worst shortfalls in the country. Actuaries for the funds say nearly $5 billion in state contributions would be needed next year to break even. "We have done more for the solvency and stability of the pension system than any governor in history despite all the empty rhetoric to the contrary," Christie said last month during his budget address. Incredibly, he's right. That's how bad things are in New Jersey. Bloomberg did the math and determined that Christie has paid more than $8.8 billion into the state pension system since he took over as governor in 2010. That's more than double the total payments made by all New Jersey governors in the 16 years before Christie took over—so give him some credit there—but it's less than half of what the pension system needs on an annual basis to remain solvent, according to the actuaries who make such determinations. That should give you a sense of both how completely unsustainable New Jersey's (and many other states') pension mess is, and also how long it's been ignored. Christie has paid more than three decades of pension bills in just eight years, and yet he's still only halfway to breaking even. And who might inherit this fiscal disaster? Possibly Reason buddy Preet Bharara, maybe.

The Narendra Modi government wants to identify and repeal archaic laws, many that are centuries old, as a part of its reform process. A committee has already been formed to sift through hundreds of these outdated legislations that make little, or no, sense in modern India. The Law Ministry lists about 203 laws that were enacted a 100 years ago. Some of these have been repealed, but many continue to be around complete with mentions of the East India Company and “Her Majesty.” Here are some select specimens. Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878 If you come across any “treasure” or basically anything that is more valuable than Rs 10, you can be jailed if you do not report it to a revenue officer. As the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) explains it, the law was designed to “protect and preserve treasure found accidentally but had archaeological and historical value” and was “enacted to protect and preserve such treasures and their lawful disposal.” The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Section 497) Only men, this law rules, can be punished for adultery—and women go free. But there’s more. If a married man has sex outside marriage with an unmarried woman, a divorcee or a widow, it will not be treated as adultery under this section of Indian law. In case a man has sex with a married woman and has her husband’s consent that, too, will not be treated as adultery. Effectively, this means that it is legal for a man to have an extramarital affair as long as it’s with a single woman or a married woman whose husband consents to it. Ganges Tolls Act, 1867 Enacted for “improving and facilitating the navigation of the Ganges” between Allahabad and Dinapur (near Patna), steamers and boats plying on the stretch had to pay a toll of 12 annas. A single (now defunct) anna was equal to a 1/16 of a rupee. The Act requires that the toll shall “not exceed 12 annas per hundred maunds (a unit of mass),” and was applied to vessels typically carrying 200 maunds and upwards. The Cattle-Trespass Act, 1871 Much before India’s highways became a free-for-all, this law was enacted with the intention of keeping cattle off public roads. Cattle also had to stay away from “pleasure-grounds, plantations, canals, drainage-works, embankments and the like”, otherwise they would be seized and locked away in a pound. Owners can subsequently reclaim them by paying a fine, or risk having them auctioned after seven days. Cows, however, are exempt from any such restrictions. But elephants, camel, buffaloes, horses, mare, geldings, ponies, colts, fillies, mules, asses, pigs, rams, ewes, sheep, lambs and goats aren’t. Glanders and Farcy Act of 1899 Glanders (or farcy) is a disease that affects horses, and can be passed on to humans. Under this act horses with the disease can be culled and the owner gets a compensation for the loss of livelihood. Inspectors also have the power to “enter and search any field, building, or other place for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is therein any horse which is diseased.” As recently as 2011, this law was used to pay a compensation of Rs 50 to the owners of a horse affected by glanders. The horse cost the owners Rs 35,000 and helped them earn Rs 250 a day. The Bengal Bonded Warehouse Association Act, 1838 This act helped form a corporate body for the warehousing of goods, known as the Bengal Bonded Warehouse Association, with a capital stock of Rs 10,000 and six directors, all residents of “Bengal Presidency.” The act stipulates that only residents of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal can be its directors. The East India Company has the first right on any property the Association wishes to sell. The original East India Company was dissolved in 1874. Indian Post Office Act, 1898 India’s massive courier industry is mostly illegal as a result of this law. That’s because, as per this act, the government retains the exclusive privilege “of conveying by post, from one place to another” most letters. Courier companies can, however, send letters by calling them “documents.” Indian Sarais Act, 1887 If you get ill while living at a hotel in India, the establishment has to report it to a police station under the Sarais Act. The innkeepers are also required to “to remove all noxious vegetation on or near the sarai (hotel), and all trees and branches of trees capable of affording to thieves means of entering or leaving” the premises.

President Barack Obama nominated openly gay Justice Department attorney Todd Hughes to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Thursday, a move that drew praise from LGBT groups. Hughes would be the first openly gay judge to sit on the federal appeals court bench if confirmed by the Senate. Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute, issued a statement applauding Obama for the nomination. "If confirmed, Todd Hughes would become the first openly gay federal appeals court judge in U.S. history. His nomination is a testament to the expanding opportunities for openly LGBT Americans who want to serve their country, and to the president's respect for the depth of talent and experience within the LGBT community. We look forward to his confirmation by the U.S. Senate," Wolfe said. It's not the first time the president has nominated an openly gay man to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. In April 2010, Obama nominated Deward DuMont. After waiting more than 18 months for a confirmation hearing, however, he withdrew his nomination. Obama also nominated Raymond Chen, a lawyer in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, for the Court of Appeals, on Thursday.

A weekend in the Sierra de Gredos is really rewarding. You can enjoy a few days in the countryside, with snow covered mountains as background and exploring this natural landscape and towns, full of history. In this post you will discover, through my travel photography, some of the places that you should not miss on your journey through the Sierra of Gredos. There are many towns and places to explore, so I encourage you to leave a comment telling Mindful Travel’s Community your favorite place at the countryside or at the mountains. I would love to hear your choices! Oropesa Pantano de Rosarito Santuario de Chilla Castro Celta en El Raso Garganta de Alardos Atardecer en Madrigal de la Vera Puente Romano en Madrigal de la Vera Even Kiba loved it!

Ramesh Chandra (name changed) recently sold his first-floor apartment in a premium location of Jor Bagh in New Delhi. As usual, the deal was worth much more than the official circle rate for the area. But given the government’s hawk eye on black money, Chandra was wary of accepting cash to cover the difference. He arrived at a happy solution: The apartment buyer is ‘gifting’ him a luxury sedan and two expensive watches, and footing the bill for a foreign holiday for the family. Chandra’s is not a one-off case, estate agents say: it has become more of a norm than the exception. “A lot of people are opting for this route since they are scared to transact in black money,” said a senior executive of an international property consultant that has facilitated some similar deals. “Such payments are purely by choice and as per the dealing between the transacting parties,” said Anshuman Magazine, chairman and managing director, CBRE South Asia. “This route definitely helps avoid the risk of black money.” Such transactions happen in resale of land parcels and independent houses held by individuals, he added. “Combating the country’s parallel economy has been at the top of the NDA government’s agenda… such deals are a clear indication that there is substance to the government’s belief that a lot of black money is locked in the real estate sector,” a real estate expert said on the condition of anonymity. “What drives this is the huge gap between market rates and the prevailing circle rates,” said Navin Raheja, realtor and chairman of National Real Estate Development Council. “We have requested the government to look into such deals when they talk of black money in real estate.” Given the government’s hawk eye on black money, real estate buyers are footing the bill for foreign holidays, apart from giving watches, expensive cars to sellers. First Published: Dec 01, 2014 00:17 IST

Fargo Police are investigating what they believe is a credit card skimming operation. They have been receiving reports of people's credit or debit card information being used, while still having cards in their possession. Deputy Chief Joe Anderson says they believe the skimming operation is travelling through the area and may go back as far as January 2016. Fargo Police officers and detectives are investigating numerous incidents, which have resulted in multiple active cases. They say there may be multiple suspects involved. The department wants to remind people there are numerous ways criminals can obtain your credit card information. “It may be as simple as criminals finding your credit card statement in your mail or garbage, leaving your credit card unattended, hacking internet sites where you make purchases, or using a scanner to capture your credit card information.” Police say to monitor your credit and debit card activity and report unauthorized charges to your card provider. Anyone with information regarding the individuals involved should notify the Fargo Police Department at 241-5777.

The actress and newcomer Florence Pugh star in writer-director Carol Morley's dreamlike coming-of-age drama. LONDON – Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones) and newcomer Florence Pugh are starring alongside Monica Dolan, Greta Scacchi and Maxine Peake in British writer/director Carol Morley's The Falling. Morley's script, billed as a dreamlike coming of age drama, details the story of a troubled girl at the center of a mysterious fainting epidemic, who is determined to discover the cause of the malady spreading through her British all-girl school in 1969, a year when the whole world seemed poised on the brink of change. PHOTOS: 'Game of Thrones'' Most Gruesome Deaths: From Robert Baratheon to the Red Wedding The project, which begins shooting in the U.K. this week, follows Morley's BAFTA-nominated The Alcohol Years, Edge and the critically acclaimed Dreams of a Life. British sales, finance and production banner Independent Film Sales will rep the project to buyers at next month's American Film Market. The Falling is presented by BBC Films and the British Film Institute in association with Lipsync Productions. PHOTOS: 'Game of Thrones' Season 3 Premiere: Westeros Meets Hollywood A Cannon and Morley/ Independent production in association with Boudica Red, the project was developed with the BFI Film Fund and is produced by Cairo Cannon and Luc Roeg. The film is set for release 2014. Morley is an artist turned filmmaker whose first narrative feature Edge -- made on a micro budget -- was premiered at the London Film Festival in 2010. Her first documentary feature film was Dreams of a Life.

Sarafovo International Airport in Burgus Channel 10 News (Israel) At least seven people are dead - including five Israeli tourists - after a bomb detonated on a bus carrying Israeli tourists at an airport terminal in Bulgaria. The mayor of Burgas said explosives were placed in the trunk of the bus and that 33 Israeli tourists have been hospitalized while nine other Israelis are still missing, but officials have released a video of a purported suicide bomber. The Jerusalem Post reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "all signs lead to Iran" and "Israel will react powerfully against Iranian terror." From the Guardian: The fatal attack comes just days after a 24-year-old Lebanese man affiliated with Hezbollah was arrested on suspicion of planning a terror attack targeting Israeli tourists, based on evidence provided to local police by Israeli intelligence. The man was found with information on tour buses carrying Israeli passengers, a list of Cypriot tourist spots favored by Israel tourists and details of Israeli airlines that fly into Cyprus, Greek newspaper Phileleftheros reported. Israel previously warned Bulgaria of the threat posed by Iran proxy Hezbollah around the second largest resort on the country's Black Sea coast after a suspicious package was found on a bus that was to carry Israeli tourists from Turkey to Bulgaria in January. Netanyahu noted that Wednesday is 18th anniversary of an Iran-sponsored attack on a Jewish center in Buenos Aires, Argentina that killed 85 people. Hezbollah denies all connection to the attack, according to Haaretz. From the Telegraph: "Shoshi", an eyewitness, told Voice of Israel Radio: "We put the bags in the trunk, and after a few minutes, the bus exploded in flames. Then we returned to the terminal, and now we are trying to determine who is missing and who is dead. People who survived the explosion escaped from the window, and could not step over the bodies. The bus was shattered on both sides." Channel 10 News (Israel) The explosion occurred at around 6 p.m. local time, about an hour after a flight arrived from Tel Aviv, according to Marcus Dysch of the Jewish Chronical. The airport has been closed and all flights from Israel to Bulgaria have been suspended. Bulgaria's EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said she was "shocked and saddened by the news about the explosion," according to Dysch. Bulgaria has a Jewish community of about 7,000 and Burgas is a popular destination for Israeli tourists. Below is the latest report from Russia Today with footage from the scene:

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will miss the April 25 deadline to announce India’s team for the ICC Champions Trophy, it has been learnt. (FULL IPL 2017 COVERAGE) The Board will announce the team only after the ICC Board meeting, where the controversial revenue and governance reforms will be put to vote, ends on April 27. The Board has been keeping pressure on the ICC with its right to exercise the Members Participation Agreement (MPA) that gives it the right to pull out of the tournament in case of disagreement. READ | Lonwabo Tsotsobe, South Africa bowler, suspended indefinitely for match fixing While BCCI is in discussion with various boards, the discussion between BCCI and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the bilateral series issue could resume at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting to be held on Tuesday in Dubai. PCB has vehemently opposed the structure that guarantees BCCI a major share after the latter did not honour bilateral commitments. First Published: Apr 25, 2017 00:42 IST

Sidewalk surfing in California. Photo: Hamboards Skateboarding has its roots in surfing. Sometime in the 1950s when the waves were flat, surfers began attaching roller skate wheels to wood planks so that they could go “street surfing”. Early skateboards were crude, with wheels made of metal and then clay. As board designs advanced, incorporating urethane wheels and improved trucks, increasingly difficult tricks became possible. Imagine trying to ollie with these hefty wheels to land on! Then skateboarding began to give back to surfing. In the late 70s, after skateboarders were regularly launching into the air above swimming pools, surfers attempted their first aerials. Pro surfer Christian Fletcher grew up skateboarding and was an early pioneer. Others, including now 11-time world champion Kelly Slater, quickly followed suit, bringing airborne skate moves to the water. And in 2011, Zoltan Torkos was awarded $10,000 by Volcom for completing the first kickflip in surfing history. Such advanced tricks aren’t the only things skateboarding has to offer surfing. While professional surfers like Josh Kerr and John-John Florence use skateboards to hone the difficult contest manoeuvres, surf instructor Barry Green believes skating can also help the typical wave rider. Green, who runs Making the Drop surf school in Santa Cruz, California, points out that skateboarding mimics the board-body technique and timing of surfing. He says “the average novice surfer has much to gain from simple flat-ground carving turns, and smooth rail-to-rail transitions, rocking from toe edge to heel edge” on a skateboard.

My Vegan MoFo theme this year is “Go Vegan with JL…In the kitchen!” in which I reply to your questions about cooking in your vegan kitchen. (I explain a bit more about my theme and plan for my October posts here.) Today’s issue: “I don’t know how to make tofu!” I was pretty intimated by tofu when I first went vegetarian, about ten years ago. In fact, I went vegetarian while in Kenya and called my husband, who did most of the cooking in our home at the time, to tell him about this big dietary change and that I needed him to figure out tofu. Once I went vegan, and dedicated myself to becoming a solid, vegan home cook, I learned to love cooking with the flexible, chameleon-like bean curd filled with protein, calcium and iron. Here’s my laywoman’s take on preparing tofu. Firm Tofu First, you want to press the water out of the tofu. Most people wrap the tofu in towels, set it on a plate or cutting board, and place a heavy object on it, such as books or a heavy pan. I use a TofuXpress. Either way works, just press that water out of the tofu before using. The tofu is pressed. Now what? Make a marinade! You can scour vegan cookbooks and websites/blogs for great marinade recipes but why not make something that tastes good to YOU? All you need to start is a fat (olive or sesame oils) an acid (vinegar or citrus juice) spices salt (I prefer Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, but sea salt, soy and tamari sauces are good, too) garlic (not a must but I almost always use it) Then you take it from there. I have tried things like miso with date syrup and pumpkin. Tuesday I made this:

To celebrate the Summer Solstice of Movie Days Past, now we get our heads straight and taste the colors of madness. You dig this trip? Outta sight. PSYCH-OUT was released in March of 1968 by American International Pictures, produced by teen maven Dick Clark, and based on a screenplay by Jack Nicholson called THE LOVE CHILDREN, to be directed by rising maverick Richard Rush. The duo’s previous motorcycle film from 1967, HELL’S ANGELS ON WHEELS, grossed millions so they were brought in to give the hippie exploitation film counter-culture verisimilitude — and do it in 18 days with a 200 grand budget. AIP old school owner Samuel Z. Arkoff and others thought THE LOVE CHILDREN was a story about bastards, so like the carny barker at heart he was, Arkoff combined LSD with Hitchcock and came up with PSYCH-OUT. Another set of writers, E. Hunter Willett and Betty Ulius were brought in to revise Nicholson’s lengthy experimental script to a more linear AIP narrative, namely that of Jenny (Susan Strasberg), a 17 year old deaf girl searching for her artist brother in the paisley streets of San Francisco circa Summer of Love ’67. I first saw PSYCH-OUT on VHS when I was working at Broadway Video in Long Beach way back in 1992 (I was the token straight employee of the gay owned/operated movie rental place, but that’s a whole other amazing post). I was immediately mesmerized with the credits (see it here), a musical journey through the heart of the Haight at the very peak of its cultural power. Buoyed by the pretty theme song, apropos named, “The Pretty Song from Psych-Out” by the Strawberry Alarm Clock, Jenny watches this new kaleidoscopic world through her bus window. As photographed by Lazlo Kovacs’ liberated camera, Strasberg’s face radiates a child-like glee at the colorful denizens of Hippie Land and it was a wise narrative move to let her be our surrogate. Her innocence is reflected by the atmospheric music and flower people of Golden Gate Park. The location footage also provides a perfect time-capsule glimpse at the apex of the legendary love summer. I consider this whole opening section a minor film in itself; even possibly my favorite credit scene of the 60’s. Pursued by cops, Jenny stumbles into a Haight street coffee shop and is saved from The Man by one Stoney, played by Jack Nicholson in a role written for himself. Jenny finds herself drawn into the pot, bead and incense mindscape of Stoney and his band, Mumblin’ Jim (who I like to imagine had a single song that made it to number 27 on the charts: “One Big Plastic Hassle”). She’s been following the clues left behind by her brother, known only as “The Seeker” by the local heads and rednecks. The other band mates, played by AIP stalwart Adam Roarke and THE MACK star Max Julian, are joined by future director Henry Jaglom as a poster artist with the most outrageous mutton chops I’ve ever seen. Rush stages their cafe conversation in a loose, casual fashion, and there’s more verite here than almost all the exploitive hippie films of the decade. They seem like actual drop-out artists basking in coffee shop lassitude. And since the filmmakers were indeed on the fringe of the industry, their self-absorbed exuberance is palatable. I also love Roarke’s rejoinder to a friend’s too obvious pot smoking in the cafe: “Man, you are totally uncool.” Of course, what’s probably most cool about PSYCH-OUT is Jack Nicholson, in a role very much like his famous outsiders. As this was his last film before EASY RIDER would make him a star, I find this a unique, terrific performance, his method style and libertine philosophy percolating under the dewy guise of a counter-culture musician. Nicholson nails all of his dialogue, managing to rise above the exploitation elements of the film. What’s particularly interesting is that Stoney is not an idealized peace and love archetype of the era. He’s tough, cynical and pragmatic; when his band mate accuses him of seeing only dollar signs, Stoney flashes that famous Nicholson devil grin and says, “Oh, the old bad thing, the root of all evil, right?” His character wants fame and fortune, not to mention a stable of liberated partners. He’s honest about his desires, less concerned with the socio-political implications of the period. And he has a pony-tail. Credit is also overdue to Susan Strasberg in one of her few starring roles. It’s a shame that she was overshadowed not only by her famous father, Lee Strasberg, but by Marilyn Monroe, who seemed to have a stronger thespic relationship with him. Strasberg deserved better than what she was given, but she’s very appealing in PSYCH-OUT and easily matches Method with Nicholson. It’s also nice that in a movie decade not revered for its portrayals of female empowerment (Pussy Galore doesn’t quite count), that Strasberg stands out as a young girl on the cusp of womanhood. She emanates a joy of discovery, sexual and cultural, and the film is always on her side. Along her journey, Jenny ends up falling in love with Stoney, of course. But his open warmth is replaced by cold indifference after he beds her in a love scene equivalent of a 60’s blacklight poster, their nude bodies covered by swirling psychedelic colors, soundtracked by that “Pretty Theme From Psych-Out.” Stoney’s friend, Dave (Dean Stockwell) the resident guru of the group, acts as his conscience, throwing out pithy koans like a hippie Pez dispenser. Stockwell’s yin to Nicholson’s yang are fun to watch together. Their banter about art versus commerce, love versus lust, reality versus illusion are the verbal high points of the movie. There is a lot of wit here, even in the expert photography of Laslo Kovacs (singled out as the only good thing in the film by the New York Times review). My favorite moment is a long, single-take tracking shot of Stoney and his band jamming a nifty organ tune as the searching camera goes from hippie to hippie, each doing his or her own thing, capturing the boredom and malaise of the love children. Jenny finds herself disgusted by the stoned lethargy of the household and Stoney’s indifference. She finds little comfort with Dave, The Love Guru, who himself is painted as a hypocrite. The sexism of the day is still manifest, especially when Stoney shows up and gives her an ugly harangue, even though he’s the one who blew her off. Angered, she ends up taking the dangerous speed/acid drug, STP, offered by Dave, just as Stoney finds her brother Steve, played by Bruce Dern (in a wild, stringy mane wig). I like it when Dern is babbling about his fiery visions, and Nicholson cuts him off with, “You’re a little high.” But Dern gets a good scene to himself as he tells Stoney exactly how Jenny became deaf. One of the tropes of the hippie film was the inevitable psychedelic freak-out, with the best of the decade belonging to Peter Fonda’s movie-length THE TRIP (1967), followed by Jackie Gleason’s 8 minute acid fest in my beloved SKIDOO and then the Mardi Gras hallucinogenic bad trip of EASY RIDER (1969). There are three trip sequences in PSYCH-OUT: the first with Max Julian seeing himself as a knight while he beats the shit out of some junkyard rednecks. The second is Henry Jaglom having scary visions hopped up on LSD. “I’m the guy who psych-outs!” he told me when I talked to him about his role as Warren. It’s hilarious when Warren says all he has to do is snap his fingers and he can come out of it…then he snaps his fingers and without a beat says, “It’s not working this time.” Finally, Strasberg has an epic trip, effectively portrayed as a living hell, culminating with her body falling, tumbling through golden flames in a striking image. That the film ends on a bummer note is typical of the era, with the promise of Dionysus reduced to the threat of Hades. Just like THE TRIP was altered by AIP to make it seem that Fonda’s experience destroyed him (by adding cracks to the final image!), here we leave our flower children tangled in thorny vines with a tiny hope of redemption for Jenny. Or as Stoney says to Dave, “The acid has curdled and made you sour.” Despite the cultural baggage, PSYCH-OUT is actually flat-out enjoyable, moreso than you might think. If you want to be limited in your thinking, you can watch the movie to laugh at the dirty hippies. Or you can find pleasure in a team of young artists working on a budget to create a work of period artfulness that would reflect their later work. There’s also a terrific score by Ronald Stein with memorable songs by The Strawberry Alarm Clock (who I got to sign my LP soundtrack at the Mods & Rockers Film fest) and The Seeds. Anybody interested in sixties cinema can find pleasure here. When I praised PSYCH-OUT to Jaglom, he said, “But it’s still an exploitation film.” I said, “But one more honest and adventurous than the others.” And I think it is. The movie also shows the roots of the discord and violence that would reflect the less loving year of 1968. I’m also big fan of iconoclast director Richard Rush, who claims to have invented the rack-focus shot, one that alternates between the foreground figure and the background figure, except he calls it “critical focus” and it’s in ample use here. Along with Kovacs’ atmospheric lighting, Rush has a gift for framing. Sometimes he goes for obvious points, like a group of hippies outside a church who just happen to look like Jesus and his disciples, but I like the attempt to make visual metaphors into social critique. He was sympathetic, but not slavish, to the youth movement. Oddly, when PSYCH-OUT was finally released with THE TRIP on DVD under MGM’s fantastic Midnite Movie series, almost 8 minutes of footage was shorn, possibly as it might have been a better print (in fact, I saw this shorter version at the late, great University Theater in Berkeley). The cuts are unfortunate, because they’re all interesting bits of business including a whole dressing room montage and an extended version of the lovely “Beads of Innocence” scene. The coveted DVD is out of print now, so hopefully MGM will find the longer version for re-release. But purists can track down the VHS from HBO Video for the uncut version. PSYCH-OUT is an important pop movie foot-note since it was the last exploitation film of the 1960’s for many of the principals. It’s almost a cinematic graduation. Along with Nicholson on the cusp of stardom, co-stars Bruce Dern and Jaglom were about to embark on their next career phase. Richard Rush would direct the hit student-protest film, GETTING STRAIGHT (1970) for Columbia, and Nicholson, Jaglom and Kovacs would all be part of the creative team for the groundbreaking EASY RIDER. If anything, PSYCH-OUT is the missing link between AIP’s exploitation drug/motorcycle genre and the coming 70’s storm of the New Hollywood. Next to SKIDOO and EASY RIDER, it’s my favorite counter-culture film of the decade. Like this: Like Loading... Related

https://twitter.com/hitchBOT/status/627593886186254336 The 2015 HitchBOT saga is over—or, at least, the original hitchhiking robot's journey has formally concluded for now. The anthropomorphized robot equipped with cameras, microphones, speakers, and external battery chargers had set out to criss-cross the United States in July—and conduct a sort of social experiment—by asking humans to ferry it along, only to be stopped short by vandals in Philadelphia on Saturday. Not content to have its "brotherly love" reputation tarnished, some robo-minded citizens at Philadelphia hacker/maker space The Hacktory responded by offering to rebuild or repair HitchBOT and send the yellow-gloved wonder on its way. On Wednesday, the bot's co-creators at Toronto's Ryerson University responded with a polite but firm declination. "We appreciate your support," HitchBOT's team told The Hacktory in an e-mail exchange shared with Ars Technica. "Unfortunately, according to the images we have received, we believe that HitchBOT is damaged beyond repair. As such, one would be left with no starting point from which to build a new bot. We have therefore arranged for the remaining parts [discovered by HitchBOT fans] to be shipped back to us." Following that exchange, Ryerson University spokesperson Johanna VanderMaas issued a press release confirming that HitchBOT's journey was conclusively over and that alleged security-cam footage of its demise turned out to be fraudulent. VanderMaas teased tentative plans for HitchBOT to be rebuilt and go on one of two journeys in 2016: either a recreation of the original, remaining American path from Philadelphia to San Francisco or a "school-to-school" path that would ask American students to "devise robot adventures" at its every stop. The press release also remarked on the social-experiment nature of HitchBOT's journey, noting that its destruction was met by an "outpouring" of fans asking to send financial and technical support. "Even though it did end badly for HitchBOT, we’ve learned a lot about human empathy and trust," McMaster University assistant professor Dr. David Harris Smith said in the statement. "Everything we’ve learned will be borne out in the resulting research and used in future planning for HitchBOT’s adventures.” That hasn't stopped The Hacktory from moving forward with an alternate plan (with the official blessing of Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter no less). "This is our time to show the world how great Philly is, how much talent we have here, and break this curse of the bad reputation!" the group wrote in an announcement page for its HitchBOT mini-hackathon happening Thursday, August 6. Rather than build a replica HitchBOT, the event will have a looser objective of "creative and fun responses to this series of events," and the announcement page includes requests for specific skills and parts. While that list reads like the kind of stuff you'd put in a HitchBOT replacement, we'll just have to wait and see what Philly's craziest hackers come up with by the end of Thursday.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video JACKSON, Miss. -- Mississippi is the birthplace of William Faulkner, Richard Wright, and recent U.S. poet laureate Natasha Trethewey. However, some lawmakers say they want to look beyond the secular literary world and designate the Bible as the state book. At least two bills are being filed during this state election year to make the holy book a state symbol. One is from Republican Rep. Tracy Arnold of Booneville, who is the pastor of a nondenominational Christian church. The other is from Democratic Reps. Tom Miles of Forest and Michael Evans of Preston, who say they have promises of bipartisan support from more than 20 colleagues. In Desoto County Tuesday, most people WREG talked to thought it was a good idea and certainly couldn't do any harm. Bruce Reed of Olive Branch was in favor of the measure. "I think it would be a good idea. Everybody needs more of it...more Bible...yeah. More of the word," he said. Miles told The Associated Press on he's not trying to force religion or even reading on anyone. "The Bible provides a good role model on how to treat people," Miles said. "They could read in there about love and compassion." Lawmakers say designating the Bible as the state book would be completely symbolic and nobody would be required to read it. Furthermore, Miles' version would not specify a particular translation. "I think this is not a push of a specific religion. I think that would be wrong to do that," Pastor Chad Everson of Trinity Baptist Church in Southaven said. Pastor Everson said, political motives aside, the idea has gotten his attention. "Anyone that turns, any family, any individual, any country that turns to Christ is in much better shape. So, I think it's a good thing," Everson said. Mississippi lawmakers over the years have designated several other symbols, including the teddy bear as the state toy and milk as the state beverage. The teddy bear was named for President Theodore Roosevelt after he refused to shoot a bear tied to a tree while hunting in Mississippi. Sherry from Desoto County told us she believes the Bible should be up there with the Magnolia and mockingbird. "I like it. I think it's a good idea. God made us, so it's His word," she said. But Audrey McClain, who's moving to Mississippi from Nashville, is opposed. She said State has no business promoting religion in any form. "Even some Christians have a different perspective of what the Bible means. And as a Christian myself, I believe that it shouldn't be the State Book," she said. In 2014, Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed a law that adds "In God We Trust" to the state seal. Legislators also begin each work day with a prayer over the microphone at the front of the House and Senate chambers, frequently with references to Jesus. It's unlikely the proposal will generate much opposition in the Legislature this election year, unless House and Senate leaders decide they don't want to spend time on symbols. Larry Wells, whose late wife, Dean Faulkner Wells, was William Faulkner's niece said Monday that if Mississippi lawmakers feel compelled to designate a state book, they should draw on the state's native talent. "It's impossible to conceive of a state abandoning its literary heritage like that," said Wells, director of a small publishing house in Oxford, Yoknapatawpha Press. "What would Faulkner and (Eudora) Welty and Shelby Foote and Richard Wright think? I think they would collectively link arms and say, 'Go back to kindergarten, Legislature.'"

President Obama told reporters at a White House news conference on Tuesday that the media ignored peaceful protests in the city until violence erupted, and gave his views on the broader problems facing American cities. “Frankly it didn’t get that much attention,” Obama said of the peaceful movement sparked by the death of black man Freddie Gray, who died in police custody. “One burning building will be looped on television over and over and over again. The thousands of demonstrators who did it the right way, I think, have been lost in the discussion.” The President added that unrest in cities like Baltimore will not go away until solutions are found beyond law enforcement. “This is not new, and we shouldn’t pretend that it’s new,” he said. “If we think we’re going to send police to do the dirty work of containing the problems that arise there — without as a nation and society saying what can we do to change those communities, to help lift up communities, and give those kids opportunity — then we’re not going to solve this problem,” he added. “We’ll go through the same cycles of periodic conflicts between the police and communities, and occasional riots in the streets. And everybody will feign concern until it goes away,” Obama added. “Then we’ll go about our business as usual.” The President said that he sensed a lot of police forces have realized “they’ve gotta get their arms around this thing and work with the community to solve the problem,” adding that his administration was looking to help. “I’m under no illusion that under this Congress we’re gonna get massive investments in urban communities,” he said, but promised to try and work with the Congress on economic solutions to help cities implement solutions. He apologized to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for taking so much time during their joint news conference. “That was a really long answer, but I felt pretty strongly about it,” he concluded.

Young Mum’s Enthusiasm For Jeremy Corbyn Sparks Huge Reaction This young mum who urged voters to back Jeremy Corbyn after reading Labour's manifesto has generated a huge amount of reaction. Daisy told Iain the party’s promises, including the £10 per hour minimum wage, would resonate hugely with working class voters. Labour has also pledged to ban zero hour contracts to guarantee workers a “number of hours each week” as well as four new public holidays to mark national patron saints’ days. “I don’t think it reflects in the media how popular he is”, Daisy told Iain Dale. “It’s a real shame as the more people who knew about him and his policies, I think it would be a good thing.” The Conservatives have described Labour’s manifesto as “nonsensical”, but Daisy went on to explain how she’d seen a decline in public services under the current government. She added: “I’ve just had a baby, I’ve gone to my local doctors and told: ‘No, you can’t get antenatal classes now all the funding has been cut, you’ll have to pay and go private'.” Iain described Daisy's call as "one of the most convincing arguments for voting Labour" he had heard, with a number of LBC listeners also getting in touch. Watch above and see if you agree.

Via the Free Beacon, is this the first time Trump himself has delivered a version of the now obligatory “this is why you got Trump” retort by Republicans whenever Democrats overreach culturally? I’m not knocking him for it. Hillary defending the protests after she wiped out in the Rust Belt does feel like a “this is why you got Trump” moment. She said people should resist “what are very clear dog-whistles” to the Trump base, pointing to the example of kneeling NFL players. “That’s what black athletes kneeling was all about,” she said in response to a question about ways to resist the White House. ”That’s not against our anthem or our flag.” “Actually, kneeling is a reverent position,” she continued. “It was to demonstrate in a peaceful way against racism and injustice in our criminal system.” In fairness to Dems, they have their own base to please on this issue and that base, for the most part, is pro-protest. Democratic voters, young adults, and blacks all approve by wide margins… …but not as wide as the margin by which Republicans disapprove. Indies are also against the protests on balance. And whites without a college degree, the group that did more than any other to sweep Trump into the White House, disapprove overwhelmingly at 28/68. Maybe Democratic leaders should balance their pro-protest stance by introducing a new bill to make flag-burning a criminal offense. You know, like the one Hillary sponsored in 2005. The Clintons weren’t above a little flag-related pandering to bank goodwill from red-state and purple-state voters. Gotta try to play both sides in the culture war to some extent if you want to win elections. I think the Trump political dream scenario is the NFL caving and ordering the players to stand during the anthem, which would be a clear victory for the president, and then the players and the ACLU dragging this battle out by suing on First Amendment grounds when they kneel anyway and are suspended. How could they sue the government for actions taken by a private entity like the NFL? Well, since Trump has tweeted threats about tax breaks that the league receives if players don’t respect the anthem, conceivably they could argue that any suspensions they receive for defying a league “stand or else” rule are de facto state action. How do you think Trump would like that court battle, Colin Kaepernick and his allies against him and the flag? “The biggest wild card of all here is the president’s tweets,” said Marc Edelman, who teaches sports law at Baruch College in New York. “The NFL didn’t publicly voice ­opposition until baited into doing so and being threatened with financial sanctions by the president of the United States.”… If the NFL acts because of Trump’s threat to punish the league, players could legitimately claim that their First Amendment rights have been violated, said David Cole, the ACLU’s national legal director. “The courts have recognized that when government officials threaten punishment or consequences because of protected speech, that in and of itself can chill the speech, in violation of the First Amendment,” Cole said, citing a 1986 case in which a federal court sided with a challenge by Playboy Enterprises against Edwin Meese, then the U.S. attorney general, for sending letters threatening to publish a list of ­7-Eleven convenience stores that sold pornography. The obvious problem with that suit is that it’s easier to believe the league is nervous about the protests due to fans’ unhappiness than Trump’s unhappiness. POTUS can bellow threats all he wants but in the end he’d need Congress’s help to punish the NFL by revoking any tax breaks. His influence over the league has much less to do with his influence over the government than with his influence over his supporters. If 10 percent of Trump voters stop watching games at the president’s suggestion, that’s not “state action.” That’s persuasion. The public withholding its money to change corporate behavior of which it disapproves is the very definition of a boycott. Ain’t nothing illegal about that. By the way, I saw a story somewhere this morning suggesting that the Packers could solve their problem at QB now that Aaron Rodgers is out for the season by signing Kaepernick. Can you imagine Kaep quarterbacking middle America’s favorite team while fighting some sort of protest-related legal battle against the NFL and/or Trump? That’s the sort of cultural weirdness we’ve come to not just hope for but to expect in 2017.

Christopher Columbus is often remembered as the first European to discover the Americas, eventually leading to the colonization of these two continents by European powers. It is undeniable that Columbus’ voyage has earned him a place in history, however, he was not the first European to set foot in the New World. Such a title belongs to the Vikings who explored part of North America several centuries before Columbus. The Maine Penny. Credit: www.mnh.si.edu. Literary evidence for the Viking exploration of North America can be found in the Vinland Sagas . These were two Icelandic sagas written in the 13 th century regarding the Norse exploration of North America undertaken about two centuries earlier. As for archaeological evidence, the Norse presence in North America is perhaps best seen in the Viking settlement of L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada. Regarding Norse artifacts, it has been claimed that of the two dozen or so objects found in North America, only one can be securely dated. This is the Maine Penny. The Maine Penny was discovered on 18 of August 1957 by an amateur archaeologist by the name of Guy Mellgren. Mellgren found the coin at the Goddard prehistoric archaeological site, which contained the remains of an old Native American settlement, at Naskeag Point, Brooklin, Maine. It was only about 20 years later, however, that the significance of the coin was revealed. In 1974, the Maine Penny, along with 20,000 (or 30,000) other artifacts discovered at the Goddard archaeological site were donated to the Maine State Museum. MORE Initially, the Maine Penny was identified as an English penny from the 12 th century, perhaps brought to Maine by English colonists. In 1978, the artifact was examined by experts from London, who speculated that the coin might have been Norse. Subsequently, an expert on Norse coins from the University of Oslo, Kolbjorn Skaare, confirmed that the Maine Penny was indeed a genuine coin from the Norse world. Furthermore, it was established that the coin was struck sometime between 1065 and 1080 during the reign of King Olaf III. The occupation of the Goddard site, however, has been dated to between 1180 and 1235. Nevertheless, the type of coin struck by Olaf III was circulating widely during the 12 th and 13 th centuries, thus placing the Maine Penny within the circulation period of such coins. Coin cited as similar to the Maine Penny. (Coin of Olaf III of Norway) Public Domain Given that the Goddard site was occupied by a Native American settlement, the presence of this Norse artifact is indeed odd. Despite the presence of the Maine Penny, subsequent excavations at the site in the 1970s failed to yield any additional Norse artifacts. This suggests that it is unlikely that the coin was brought by Vikings who travelled all the way to Maine. One plausible explanation for the presence of the coin at the Goddard site is that it was a traded object. Other artifacts from the site, such as one identified as a Dorset Eskimo burin, suggests that the Goddard site was a hub in a large Native American trade network. The Maine Penny also had a perforation for use as a pendant, perhaps indicating that the Native Americans who possessed the coin transformed its function from a form of currency to an exotic ornamental object. The lack of proper archaeological recording, however, has led some to question the provenance of the coin, believing that the Maine Penny is a hoax, perhaps deliberately planted at the site to create confusion. The experts, however, are adamant that the Maine Penny is authentic, citing the fact that this type of coin is extremely rare and valuable, and that Mellgren paid no special attention to it when he found the object. Considering the information available at present, it may perhaps never be known whether the Maine Penny found its way to the Goddard site through Viking explorers or Native American trade networks. Featured image: Painting detail, Nicholas Roerich "Guests from Overseas". Public Domain, and, Maine Penny, Credit: www.mnh.si.edu. Deriv. References Bourque, B. J., 2011. Twelve Thousand Years: American Indians in Maine. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. Brown, D. O., 1979, 'Expert Confirms Authenticity of Norse Penny Found in Maine’, Florence Times – Tri Cities Daily 8 February, p. 8. Hoge, R. W., 2005. Current Cabinet Activities. [Online] Available at: http://ansmagazine.com/Spring05/Cabinet Homren, W., 2009. Query: The Maine Penny. [Online] Available at: http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n50a17.html www.historychannel.com.au, 2015. Mysterious "Maine Penny" Discovered. [Online] Available at: http://www.historychannel.com.au/classroom/day-in-history/761/mysterious-maine-penny-discovered www.mnh.si.edu, 2015. Vinland Archaeology. [Online] Available at: http://www.mnh.si.edu/vikings/voyage/subset/vinland/archeo.html By Ḏḥwty

More gyms are catering to plus-size clients who want to work out but are intimidated by the types of people featured in New York Times trend pieces. (Bachelorette gym parties, anyone?) One gym in Vancouver, Body Exchange, actually screens potential clients over the phone and bans non-plus-size women from joining. (Men aren't allowed, either.) The goal is for the space to be a "save haven" for heavier clients, founder and CEO Louise Green told The Province. "Many of our clients have not had successful fitness pasts so I can see the anxiety before we get started and I can see the relief and happiness after we finish," she said. "People are often too fearful to become active. There wasn't a model that offered camaraderie. I used to walk into fitness classes where nobody would even say ‘Hi.' This has got to be fun or it's not going to work." Green said three types of people join her gym: women who are "idle," women who used to work out but have put on weight in recent years, and the "do or dies" who need to get fit for medical reasons. But all have one thing in common: they don't want to get patronizing side-eye glances when they're on the treadmill. "It's intimidating going into a gym setting," one satisfied customer said. "I honestly think some people in a gym setting are judgmental to people who are overweight or have a different body type." Other gyms don't go as far as barring skinny people from joining, but instead say they "target people of size" or don't "encourage" a thin crowd. "We make it known that our specialty is working with people who have at least 50 pounds to lose," Jason Burns, a partner at Downsize Fitness in Chicago, told the New York Daily News. "Most people who come here, come here for that reason." Michael Hayes, owner of Buddha Body Yoga in Union Square, said he started a yoga studio for plus-size people because he "was tired of being the biggest person in the classroom." That's the same reason why Marty Wolff, who competed on season three of NBC's "The Biggest Loser," started the health club Square One in Omaha, Nebraska. "My whole life, I have always wished there was a place for other big people," he said. "So I created one." He doesn't turn anyone away, though — not because he wants to be inclusive, but because he thinks some skinny people would rather work out with bigger people. "What we have found is that there are some [non-overweight] sub-populations who like to work out with ‘people of size,'" he explained. That's probably a sub-population all gym-goers should stay away from; they sound even more fucked up than the boot camp bachelorettes. Advertisement Body Exchange provides safe fitness haven for plus-size women [The Province] Gym bans skinny people; More fitness centers move to create friendler environments for larger-size clientele [NY Daily News]

Toronto's animal services agency is investigating after 30 ducks and one heron were found dead on the sandy shores of Woodbine Beach Sunday morning. Parks Toronto initially told CBC Toronto approximately 50 ducks were found dead, but later said there were in fact 30. Joanne Ingrassia, a volunteer with Toronto Wildlife Centre, told CBC Toronto she came to the waterfront hoping to rescue any birds that were still alive. "Sadly it doesn't look like any have survived," she said, adding that many lifeless birds in various stages of decay in the water are still washing up. Crews from Toronto's Parks, Forestry and Recreation were at the beach cleaning up the ducks' bodies throughout the day for the city's animal services agency to conduct an investigation. "All have been removed," said Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation spokesperson John Bugailiskis in an email. "A necropsy will be done on the animals to determine cause of death." The dead ducks are not all one breed. Ingrassia said she saw different types of arctic ducks and long-tailed ducks on the sand. Toronto Animal Services are probing what caused the ducks' death. (Keith Burgess/CBC) Toronto Animal Services hasn't identified the cause, but Ingrassia believes bacteria in Lake Ontario could have been the cause. "It's hard to say what caused it but we suspect it's possible that it's botulism," she said. Avian botulism is a paralytic disease found in waterfowl that is fatal and causes paralysis. "I'm not aware of this happening here before," she added, noting she has lived in the Beach neighbourhood for more than 30 years. "I have seen botulism in waterfowl before but not this many at one time." Toronto Animal Services say they are working to pinpoint what caused the ducks' death. In the meantime, Bugailiskis is advising dog owners to ensure they are kept leashed in the area. "If the dog was in the park today and has developed any symptoms of illness, they should take their dog to their veterinarian," he said.

Security officers are seen outside the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals building in San Francisco on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017. A federal appeals court refused Thursday to reinstate President Donald Trump's ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations, dealing another legal setback to the new administration's immigration policy. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Latest on the travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump (all times local): 4:50 p.m. President Donald Trump says a federal appeals court ruling against reinstating his refugee and immigration order is a “political decision.” He says the “security of our country is at stake” and he looks forward to “seeing them in court.” He did not specify what his administration’s next legal steps would be following Thursday’s ruling. Trump says he doesn’t believe the decision undercuts his presidency and says his administration will “win the case.” Trump made a brief, impromptu appearance in the West Wing following the decision. His comments were recorded by the network pool at the White House. ___ 4:50 p.m. Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson says President Donald Trump’s immigration ban has “created needless chaos” for children, families, students and others. Swanson reacted Thursday after a federal appeals court in San Francisco refused to reinstate the ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Minnesota and Washington state sued to block the ban. In a statement, Swanson says the Trump administration could have avoided the lawsuit by taking a “more deliberate approach.” Instead, the Democrat says Trump’s executive order was “haphazard in its approach and roll-out” and “not properly vetted” by Congress and federal agencies. ___ 4:10 p.m. The U.S. Justice Department has responded to a federal appeals court’s refusal to reinstate President Donald Trump travel ban, saying it “is reviewing the decision and considering its options.” It’s the first day on the job for new Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was sworn in at the White House earlier Thursday by Vice President Mike Pence. ___ 4:10 p.m. Washington state’s attorney general says President Donald Trump should withdraw his “flawed, rushed and dangerous” ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations. Bob Ferguson also said in a statement that if Trump doesn’t pull the executive order, he “will continue to hold him accountable to the Constitution.” Washington state and Minnesota sued over the ban. A federal appeals court has refused to reinstate it. ___ 4 p.m. Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee has responded to President Donald Trump’s tweet after a federal appeals court refused to reinstate the travel ban. Trump tweeted: “SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!” In response, Inslee said, “Mr. President, we just saw you in court, and we beat you.” ___ 4 p.m. The American Civil Liberties Union is hailing a federal appeals court’s refusal to reinstate President Donald Trump’s travel ban. Omar Jadwat, director of the organization’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, said, “The government’s erratic and chaotic attempts to enforce this unconstitutional ban have taken a tremendous toll on innocent individuals, our country’s values, and our standing in the world.” He said the group would keep fighting the executive order until it’s permanently dismantled. ___ 3:55 p.m. David Miliband, president of the International Rescue Committee that helps refugees resettle, said he was heartened by a federal appeals court’s ruling refusing to reinstate President Donald Trump’s travel ban. In a statement, Miliband said, “We are grateful that we can get back to work resettling refugees who have fled the terrors of war and violence, while also caring for those who remain trapped in conflict zones.” ___ 3:55 p.m. A law professor says the “million-dollar question” is whether the Trump administration would appeal a federal appeals court’s refusal to reinstate the travel ban to the U.S. Supreme Court. That could run the risk of having only eight justices to hear the case, which could produce a tie and leave the lower-court ruling in place. Josh Blackman, a professor at South Texas College of Law in Houston, said, “There’s a distinct risk in moving this too quickly. But we’re not in a normal time, and Donald Trump is very rash. He may trump, pardon the figure of speech, the normal rule.” ___ 3:50 p.m. Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee says the federal appeals court’s refusal to reinstate President Donald Trump’s travel ban “is a victory for Washington state and indeed the entire country.” In a statement, the Democrat said the decision emphasizes that no one is above the law, not even the president. Washington state and Minnesota sued over the ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries. ___ 4:45 p.m. President Donald Trump has tweeted, “SEE YOU IN COURT” after a federal appeals court refused to reinstate his ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations. Trump’s also says in the tweet that “THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!” In a unanimous decision, the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower-court ruling that suspended the ban and allowed previously barred travelers to enter the U.S. Thursday’s ruling marked another legal setback for the new administration’s immigration policy. ___ 3:40 p.m. After a federal appeals court refused to reinstate President Donald Trump’s travel ban, he took to social media. Trump tweeted: “SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!” ___ 3:40 p.m. A federal appeals court says the U.S. government hadn’t pointed to any evidence that anyone from the countries named in the executive order had committed a “terrorist attack” in the U.S. The panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said, “Rather than present evidence to explain the need for the executive order, the government has taken the position that we must not review its decision at all. We disagree, as explained above.” ___ 3:40 p.m. A federal appeals court has noted that there are compelling public interests on both sides of President Donald Trump’s travel ban, which is one reason it has generated so much scrutiny. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said, “On the one hand, the public has a powerful interest in national security and in the ability of an elected president to enact policies. And on the other, the public also has an interest in free flow of travel, in avoiding separation of families, and in freedom from discrimination.” ___ 3:35 p.m. Three federal judges say the U.S. government presented no evidence to explain the urgent need for President Donald Trump’s executive order to take effect immediately. The panel from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says courts have the authority to review presidential orders on immigration and national security. ___ 3:35 p.m. Three federal judges have unanimously rejected the Justice Department’s arguments that the president’s authority on immigration policy is his discretion alone, with no authority for review by the courts. The panel from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said there’s no precedent to support that notion, which “runs contrary to the fundamental structure of our constitutional democracy.” The judges noted that Washington state and Minnesota had raised serious allegations about religious discrimination in President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries. ___ 3:30 p.m. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected the Donald Trump administration’s claim that the court didn’t have the authority to review the president’s executive order. The panel of three judges noted that Washington state and Minnesota had raised serious allegations about religious discrimination. Their decision was unanimous. ___ 3:25 p.m. The three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says Washington state proved it had the legal right to bring the lawsuit over President Donald Trump’s travel ban by alleging its universities would suffer harm. That was one of the questions that the judges considered. Universities have complained about students and faculty getting stranded overseas. ___ 3:20 p.m. A federal appeals court says the U.S. government hasn’t shown a likelihood it will succeed in appealing to reinstate President Donald Trump’s travel ban. It also hasn’t shown that failure to reinstate the ban would cause irreparable injury. ___ 3:15 p.m. A federal appeals court in San Francisco has refused to reinstate President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday wouldn’t block a lower-court ruling that suspended the ban and allowed previously barred travelers to enter the U.S. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is possible. U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle issued a temporary restraining order halting the ban last week after Washington state and Minnesota sued. The Justice Department appealed to the 9th Circuit. Government lawyers argued that the ban was a “lawful exercise” of the president’s authority and that the seven countries have raised terrorism concerns. The states said Trump’s executive order unconstitutionally blocked entry based on religion. ___ 2:10 p.m. A federal appeals court in San Francisco is set to issue its ruling in the legal fight over whether to reinstate President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals announced that it will release its decision before the end of the business day Thursday in California. The court is deciding whether to block a lower-court ruling that suspended the ban and allowed previously barred travelers to enter the U.S. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is possible. U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle issued a temporary restraining order halting the ban last week after Washington state and Minnesota sued. The administration said the seven nations — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — have raised terrorism concerns. The states argued that the ban targets Muslims.

“We have to be vigorous in holding the norms of our civil society," said former Government Ethics Chief, Walter Shaub. "We have to protect our institutions.” It came as no surprise to me that our Government Ethics Chief, Walter Shaub, resigned a few weeks ago. I had the pleasure of listening to him speak and answer questions today at the NPC where he discussed the seriousness of what’s happening inside our White House, and to our country. He reminded us that ethics is “neither for or against a party.” The definition of Ethics, according to the dictionary, (because I think it’s time we’re all reminded), is “a moral set of principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an activity.” Synonyms include: morals, moral codes, values. What is right and what is wrong. Ideals and standards, virtues, dictates of conscience. Shaub expressed how important it was for journalists and for citizens to keep initiating conversation about the importance of ethics in the executive branch, that we cannot depart from our ethics and values, that departing from these norms means that we’re setting new standards of behavior (we all know now that Steve Bannon is apparently busy s*cking his own c*ck) as well as adding a level of fragility to our ethics agency. ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website ADVERTISEMENT Thanks for watching! Visit Website I appreciated Schaub’s vulnerability and authenticity when he was candid about the administration’s attempt to smear his name. He feels -and fears- that many in the current administration might not stand up to this erosion of ethics we’re experiencing (i.e. Trump still hasn’t released his tax returns and he hasn’t sold his business assets), setting up a “blind trust” is irrelevant, they all fear the same: they’re scared their name will be smeared and a professional future doomed. Schaub also expressed extreme concern that this will become the new norm, and that it is up to US to keep SPEAKING OUT, remembering that of this IS NOT NORMAL. “We have to challenge this before it takes root... If Mueller gets fired, it would be destructive to our society in ways we can’t even fathom right now,” Shaub said. “We have to be vigorous in holding the norms of our civil society. We have to protect our institutions.” When asked what more we can do as citizens to help fight against this kind of corruption and greed, Shaub said if you know anyone who is a financial expert, have them write to congress and share their views and expertise, help them understand the complexities of MONEY - now that the 1% has taken over our government. It is typically very hard to follow this kind of money but it can be done. He ended with this, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.” #resist If you enjoy reading The Daily Banter, please help support what we do and become a paid subscriber. You'll get access to all our long form Members Only content and the digital magazine Banter M, and you'll be contributing to truly independent media. Find out more here.

I feel like Marie Reyes is the Kim D of Real Housewives of Dallas. She brings nothing to the show and does whatever she can to get attention. Obviously, Marie was the one who spread the story about LeeAnne Locken, and that is the only reason she is getting any screen time on this show. She is not even a Real Housewife and her desperation is just way too much for me to handle. I am definitely not a LeeAnne fan and even I can tell that Marie is an attention-seeking shit stirrer. Needless to say, I was pretty shocked to watch the RHOD reunion episode and hear that Marie supposedly hired a social media team to take down LeeAnne and Tiffany Hendra. It’s absurd, to me, that she would invest so much thought and money into maintaining some sort of persona. CLICK “CONTINUE READING” FOR MORE! I feel silly because I’m giving Marie attention, but I feel like this is too ridiculous not to address. As expected, Marie addressed this in her Bravo blog (which she basically only has to trash LeeAnne). Marie wrote, “I’ve been accused of having a social media team that attacks LeeAnne and Tiffany, so let me set the record straight. I employ several people who help me with PR for my Signature skin care line RAGS2Riches by Marie Reyes in three different cities and I employ a young man, ONE young Millennial man, who helps me with my businesses’ social media accounts. He also helps me with social media, specifically Twitter, around the airing of this show. Surprise, I’m not the gif or photoshop queen, LOL! So, my social media “team” is a whopping one person (someone has to do the artwork and hit the send button) + me and my husband!” I can’t imagine that many people are hitting up Marie or regularly checking her social media pages for content. This is definitely not something that she needs an employee for. As I keep saying, she’s not even a Real Housewife. RELATED: LeeAnne Locken Compares Marie Reyes To A Tornado Plus, there’s the fact that Marie uses her social media to impart negativity and make fun of people: there is nothing at all acceptable about that. Marie attempted to justify this when she wrote, “Yes, in an effort to add colorful context I’ve made fun of people’s on screen words and behaviors. I never made fun of or “attacked” any of the other ladies for anything they’ve done that wasn’t directly related to something aired on the show, nor have I asked anyone else to do so on my behalf.” Anyone who has checked out her social media profiles knows that this is not at all accurate, unless Marie just has a very different version of the word “attacked.” Then Marie proves once again that she disillusioned by the level of “fame” that she has when she wrote, “The notion that I bought the Internet and or employ trolls to attack anyone on the show is simply ridiculous. By now everyone should know that if I have something to say I’m pretty direct and at no loss for words via my blog or live during my after show periscope.” No one thinks that Marie would be able to “buy the internet.” As far as random trolls go, I bet that they are just a series of accounts that Marie has the password to. And I have no idea who this “everyone” she is referring to in regard to the readers of her social media content and blog. She is not even a Housewife – I can’t stress that enough. Marie needs to stop trying to bring down others just to get attention. It’s really not a good look on her at all – no matter who is operating the social media accounts. I’m also wondering if she even wrote her Bravo blog entry herself…. TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MARIE’S SOCIAL MEDIA ANTICS? DOES SHE THINK THAT SHE’S A BIGGER DEAL THAN SHE ACTUALLY IS? [Photo Credits: Bravo]

(Reuters) - Delaware Governor Jack Markell nominated the first African-American to the state’s Court of Chancery, one of the country’s premier venues for shareholder disputes. Markell nominated Tamika Montgomery-Reeves to become vice chancellor, succeeding Donald Parsons, whose term expires on Oct. 22. Montgomery-Reeves must be confirmed by Delaware’s senate, which will consider her nomination on Oct. 28. If confirmed, Montgomery-Reeves will be the first woman on the five-judge court since 1994, when Carolyn Berger was elevated to the state’s Supreme Court. Montgomery-Reeves is a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Wilmington, Delaware, where she focuses on corporate governance and corporate litigation. She was part of the Wilson Sonsini team that represented Chevron Corp in a key 2013 case in which the Court of Chancery upheld the use of corporate bylaws to force shareholders to sue in Delaware courts. “Tamika Montgomery-Reeves has the intellectual ability and strong work ethic necessary to serve on Delaware’s Court of Chancery,” said Markell in a statement. “She also has substantial experience practicing corporate law and clerking for the Court of Chancery.” Prior to joining Wilson Sonsini, Montgomery-Reeves practiced securities law at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in New York. She also served as a law clerk for William Chandler, the former chancellor, or chief judge, on the Court of Chancery. Judges are appointed for 12-year terms on the non-jury Court of Chancery, which is favored by business for its relatively quick proceedings and protections from liability for corporate directors. If Montgomery-Reeves is confirmed, she will be the fourth judge on the court appointed by Markell, a Democrat in his second term. Markell has also appointed four of the five members of the Delaware Supreme Court, which hears appeals from the Court of Chancery.

Image via Wikipedia Last May, I finally made available for download the first version of Webservice::Viddler on CPAN (Comprehensive Perl Archive Network) after having written about it in March. One of the reasons for the delay in making the packaged source code available for download had to do with one simple fact, the Viddler module was my first ever submitted for public consumption. Now, don't misunderstand me, Webservice::Viddler is not the first Perl module I have ever written. I've been writing code in Perl for about as long as CPAN has existed. However, as is the case with my current work in PHP for Orbit Media Studios, most of the Perl code I wrote over the years was on behalf of a employer of some sort. As such the ownership of the code, and the right to distribute, rested with them, not me. So then, why the delay? Well there are a couple of reasons. First of all, the code I posted in March was a proof of concept based on some work I did for Orbit at the time. While the basic framework of the module worked the "proto-module" didn't implement all of the functionally provided by the Viddler Web API. Secondly, I needed to organize the source code for proper distribution on CPAN as well as get the packaged distribution uploaded and made available. The Packaging Before I did anything, I wanted to make sure that my module had all of the necessary files. In doing a little googling, I came across a blog post entitled Submitting a CPAN module which outlines the basic steps: Apply for an account on PAUSE (Perl Authors Upload Server) Organize your code Profit Not too complex, granted, but organized how? As the author notes there doesn't seem to be any "what the package must have" rules. However, as anyone who has worked with third-party Perl modules knows, there is an accepted process and organization of code that all modules tend to adhere to. After a little more googling I came across module-starter, a handy command-line interface to a Perl module, Module::Starter, which does all the work of creating a base module for distribution. After adding in my code and documentation I quickly had something close to ready. Close, but not complete. Besides making the package useful to install, I wanted to make the code useful to modify. For that I turned to perltidy a Perl script which indents and reformats Perl code to makes it easier to read and follow. Great! Now here is where this can get interesting (and where a lot of suggestions, if not outright rules, do exist). If you follow the steps in the order above, good, because that means while waiting for a PAUSE account to come online , proper considerations can be made for the naming of the module. The Namespace The PAUSE documentation On The Naming of Modules notes that "a module name must accomplish quite a bit in a few characters", such as provide context as to what the module does or problem it addresses. Also of importance is the fact that "once chosen, you rarely have the opportunity to change it after people start using it." So a little careful consideration is in order. Also, it is important to note that namespaces, by definition, are unique. Besides providing a singular meaning, the name cannot be shared with some other module, public or otherwise. As such it is recommend that PAUSE developers register the namespace of the module written. Again, this isn't a hard and fast rule per se, but a recommendation to avoid duplication and improve searchability. That about covers the basics. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to take some time to address these test results.

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from the most recent episode of Outlander. Read at your own risk! In one of the more tender scenes from “Of Lost Things,” the fourth episode from Starz’ Outlander, Jamie (Sam Heughan) offers his body to Lord John Grey (David Berry), a closeted gay soldier, in exchange for watching over his son, Willie, after he returns to Scotland. Grey is, understandably, overwhelmed with emotion. “I should probably want you ’til the day I die,” he says to Jamie. But he declines Jamie’s offer. Reached overseas by EW, Berry looks back at the scene and talks about how challenging it was for him and Heughan to communicate so much in so little time. Starz “It was tricky and involved many rewrites,” says Berry. “I think the scene was more difficult for Sam than it was for me. The audience needs to buy that Jamie would do anything to ensure the safety of his son, including sacrificing his dignity by allowing Grey to essentially rape him. Whereas the book has the benefit of several hundred pages to flesh out this conflict, in the show it’s condensed into only a couple of short scenes. It was important for both Sam and I to endow Jamie’s proposal with as much sincerity as possible so that we could then subvert the expectations of the audience when Grey rejects him. And for Grey it was important for the rejection not to seem cruel but come from a place of honor and compassion for Jamie. This helps the audience to understand the depth of their friendship. Grey loves Jamie but would never abuse or transgress his friendship with Jamie for his own selfish purposes.” “It’s a lot to convey!” Berry continues. “Hopefully, we achieved it.” Want to chat about episode 4? Tune in at noon ET Monday, Oct. 2, to Outlander Live! on EW Radio. Hannah James (Geneva) will be our guest. You can find EW Radio on Sirius XM 105. Outlander airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Starz.

The intention of the Japanese whalers is to commit criminal acts of poaching against protected Minke whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in defiance of the International ban on commercial whaling, in defiance of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, in defiance of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), in defiance of the International Court of Justice, in defiance of the Australian Federal Court and in defiance of world opinion and international law. The reason that Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is not now pursuing the Japanese whaling fleet is simple. Sea Shepherd cannot match the surveillance and military technology of the Japanese government and their fleet of criminal poachers. The whalers have real time Sat-Surveillance – Sea Shepherd does not. The whalers have $50 million U.S. in subsidies from their government. The whalers have military backing. The whalers have the full backing of their government because the whaling fleet is owned by the Japanese government. They can inflict violence without repercussions. When we defend ourselves non-violently, there are severe repercussions. Sea Shepherd does not have the backing of any government in opposing illegal Japanese whaling operations in the Southern Ocean. Sea Shepherd operates within the boundaries of practicality. Last year Sea Shepherd could find the whaling fleet but could not close in because Japanese real time sat-technology can tell them exactly where Sea Shepherd ships are at all times. We have no way to compete with that. This is government military level technology completely unavailable to us. Japan also passed new anti-terrorism laws specifically to stop Sea Shepherd and these laws would have allowed the use of lethal force and would allow severe punishments to our crews. In other words, the world changed and not in favor of the whales or us. Last year we were criticized by some former supporters and crew for not finding them when the reality is that we could not possibly engage them. Now we are being criticized by the same few people for not sending our ships south this season. Criticized for sending them and not finding them last year and criticized for not sending ships this year. To continue would be foolish. We would spend a few million dollars and many months only to have another failure to engage, and if we did by some miracle encounter the fleet, we would be subject to lethal force without support from our own cowardly governments. In short, Sea Shepherd went as far as we could possibly go with the resources we had within a very hostile environment against an extremely powerful and ruthless government. On the positive side, we accomplished a great deal. Humpbacks and Fins are now off the kill list. The Minke whale kills have been reduced to 333 from 935. Sea Shepherd cost the Japanese government over 100 million dollars in losses. The Japanese government are now spending an obscene amount of money to keep their outlaw fleet afloat. Sea Shepherd exposed Japan’s illegal activities in the Southern Ocean to the entire world through Whale Wars. Sea Shepherd contributed greatly towards securing evidence that helped to convince the International Court of Justice to condemn Japanese so called scientific whaling as bogus and unlawful. Sea Shepherd humiliated the Japanese government for years. And these achievements did not happen without cost. Japanese legal assaults cost Sea Shepherd USA millions of dollars. My personal freedom to travel was taken away and five years later I still cannot travel abroad. Sea Shepherd went as far as we could and pushed the envelope as much as we could, more so than any other group or government. We went as far as it was possible to go with the resources available to us.