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Serious discussion of guns and gun control took center stage in a presidential debate on Tuesday for the first time in 15 years, breaking one of the great taboos of American politics. "This was unthinkable just four years ago," said Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, in a statement that described the Democratic debate as "evidence we have reached a tipping point in this movement". Other advocates said that the discussion, on national television and between figures as prominent as former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, was a victory in itself. "The myth that addressing gun violence is a political third rail is now in the past," said Shannon Watts, the founder of gun control group Moms Demand Action, alluding to the common mantra around Washington that to broach gun control is tantamount to ending a political career. "This is a marked change from 2008, when gun safety was largely avoided during the presidential campaign," John Feinblatt, the president of Everytown for Gun Safety, said in a statement. "Candidates are now running on gun safety." Clinton made gun control a key point of attack against Sanders, her main rival, by criticizing his record of votes against gun control laws . Asked if Sanders was tough enough on guns, she bluntly said, "no, not at all" and then criticized his claim that a law to protect gunmakers from litigation was "complicated". "It was pretty straightforward to me," she said. "This has gone on too long and it's time the entire country stood up against the NRA ." Third-place challenger also Martin O'Malley jumped in, boasting about his own gun control record and saying that Sanders was "backing down" from the gun lobby. Sanders defended himself by saying, as a point of pride, that the National Rifle Association graded him "a D-minus" on gun rights. The Democratic candidates' scrambling to polish their gun control credentials underscores the change since the 2012 and 2008 elections. In 91 primary and general election debates since 1999 , candidates have discussed gun control as an issue in only 30, transcripts show. Democrats were more willing to broach the issue than Republicans, who in several instances spoke of gun control only to defend their conservative credentials from accusations of being "anti-gun", as Mitt Romney did in 2012. Serious discussion of gun control last took place during the 2000 election campaign, when the 13 people killed during the 1999 Columbine high school shooting were still strong in the memory of the candidates and media. Related: Oregon shooting: eight ideas to help stop gun violence And despite Feinblatt's assertion that "the political calculus has changed", the ideas put forward by then-governor George W Bush and Vice-President Al Gore are in many cases identical to proposals made 15 years later. Gore argued for waiting periods for purchases, and Bush for mandatory trigger locks and greater prosecution of illegal sales, three proposals still being pushed by reform advocates. Both supported gun-free schools and closing the background-check loophole at gun shows the latter proposal embraced by Clinton on Tuesday night. Four years after Bush won his first term, he continued to espouse instant background checks but also let the national ban on assault weapons expire without protest, a sign that the tenor of the conversation had changed. His opponent in 2004, then senator John Kerry, criticized Bush on guns only with a quick assurance to the public: "I'm a gun owner. I've been a hunter since I was a kid." In 2007, the year a gunman shot 32 people dead at Virginia Tech, Republican candidates discussed whether, had students been allowed to carry guns, "the tragedy might have been lessened", as a moderator put it . Democrats broached the issue only four times in 19 debates, largely to discuss tracing illegal sales and, again, the gun show loophole. A year later, neither of the senators running for president, Barack Obama and John McCain, mentioned gun control in their presidential debates. By the 2012 election, debate over guns was relegated to one side in favor of discussions about jobs, inequality and the economy. Obama and former governor Mitt Romney discussed the issue in one debate , in which they both carefully stepped away from gun control and toward other subjects the president talked about education in poor urban areas; Romney about the administration's lackluster operation to track weapons smuggling . A few months later, a gunman killed 26 people at Sandy Hook elementary school in Connecticut, returning national attention to gun control and prompting legislation on background checks that ultimately failed . The new generation of advocates for gun control hope the tide has at last turned, despite the fact that gun control proposals have made no progress in Washington after a decade and more than 1,000 mass shootings . Hayley Zachary, the executive director of Americans for Responsible Solutions, the gun control group founded by former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after she recovered from a 2011 shooting that killed six people, said in a statement that enough voters now "expect to hear the candidates' plans for making our country safer from gun violence". "That's what we got tonight," she said of Tuesday's debate. "It's about time." | 5 | 94,600 | news |
Typhoon Koppu will put lives and property across Luzon Island of the Philippines in danger through early next week. Koppu developed into a typhoon early Friday morning local time and is currently approaching the northern Philippines. Disruptive wind shear had prevented Koppu from any significant strengthening through Thursday; however, Koppu will enter an area of low wind shear prior to making landfall in Luzon. This will allow for continued strengthening and result in Koppu becoming a very dangerous cyclone as it approaches and moves into Luzon this weekend. "Rapid intensification is likely to occur right before Koppu reaches Luzon," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty. "Koppu will become a significant typhoon, likely the equivalent to a Category 3 or 4 hurricane." Koppu will not only strengthen as it approaches the Philippines but will also slow down significantly. The combination of a powerful and slow-moving typhoon could spell a disastrous situation for residents and communities in its path, which will be northern Luzon Island in Koppu's case. From this weekend into early next week, Koppu will crawl toward and into northern Luzon Island before eventually turning to the north. Koppu is expected to make landfall, but how quickly it turns north will determine the duration of life-threatening conditions for northern Luzon. While damaging winds are a concern, the greatest threat will be life-threatening flooding from days of torrential rainfall. "A total of 300 to 600 mm (12 to 24 inches) of rain is expected to be widespread," stated Douty. There will even be localized amounts upwards or in excess of 900 mm (36 inches). Such rain is sure to trigger severe and life-threatening flooding and mudslides. "The most significant rain will fall in the mountainous terrain of northern Luzon," added Douty. Residents in Baguio, Bangui, Aparri, Tuguegarao and Pagudpud are among those across northern Luzon who are being urged to prepare for the impending severe flood danger. Heed all evacuation orders and begin making plans to seek shelter away from areas prone to flooding and mudslides. Streams and rivers will quickly turn into raging waterways and flood neighboring homes and land, roads and bridges can get cut off and low-lying communities could get turned into lakes. While dangerous flooding is the primary concern, Koppu will also bring a threat of damaging winds, coastal flooding and extremely rough seas to northern Luzon. "Wind damage will be greatest along the northeast coast of Luzon with wind in excess of 200 km/h (125 mph) possible," Douty continued. The damaging wind threat will become more expansive and severe across northern Luzon the farther Koppu tracks inland. The potential for winds to knock down trees will only increase as the rain persists and further saturates the soil. Based on current indications, Koppu will stay far enough to the north for Manila to escape the worst of the impacts; however, heavy rain may push into the city and surrounding areas on Sunday afternoon into Monday. During this time there will be a heightened risk for flash flooding. Impacts from Koppu will not be limited to the Philippines. Taiwan, Japan and far eastern China remain on alert for potential hazards next week. "By Tuesday, we should see Koppu slowly begin to pull to the north and impacts in Taiwan should gradually increase," stated Douty. How long Koppu tracks over Luzon and stalls before turning to the north will determine whether far eastern China or Japan's southern Ryukyu Islands join Taiwan in facing hazardous weather next week. The faster that Koppu shifts northward, the more likely it is that the storm will cross near or east of Taiwan and then be pulled northeast with heavy rain and strong winds possible for the Ryukyu Islands, however mainland Japan would be spared any significant impacts. The longer Koppu sits over Luzon, the more time high pressure will have to build north of the cyclone producing more of a easterly component to the steering flow which would then likely lead to the cyclone tracking somewhere between Hong Kong and Taiwan during the second half of next week. This scenario would bring the greatest threats to southern and western Taiwan as well as the east coast of China. While Koppu would likely be a much weaker storm than when it impacts the Philippines, locally damaging winds and flooding rainfall will still be a serious risk. "If Koppu instead continues to the north past Taiwan and into the East China Sea, it will encounter increased wind shear and should significantly weaken," Douty said. "Because of this, if there are impacts to Japan, we do not think they will be significant." AccuWeather meteorologists will continue to provide updates on the expected track and more precise details of its potential impacts to lives and property in the upcoming days. Behind Koppu is Champi, which strengthened into a typhoon in the western Pacific Basin on Friday. WATCH: Flash Flood Washes Across Utah Desert Road Champi crossed the Northern Mariana Islands on Friday with wind gusts around 130 km/h (80 mph). While Saipan was battered by Champi, Guam was far enough south to miss the worst of the cyclone. Even so, wind gusts of 65-80 km/h (40-50 mph) were common along with downpours. The latest indications point toward this system then curving to the north, then northeast well away from Japan. Content contributed by AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski | 5 | 94,601 | news |
We expect to lower our $79 fair value estimate for Wal-Mart WMT by approximately 5%, but we believe the nearly 10% sell-off in Wal-Mart's shares following the company's fiscal 2017 guidance (earnings expected to be down 6%-12%) represents an overreaction and a buying opportunity in this wide-moat firm. With shares trading around 13-14 times fiscal 2017 earnings, we think that Wal-Mart shares warrant a closer look. The sell-off and market price of Wal-Mart's shares imply that Wal-Mart's recent investments in e-commerce and wages will be unsuccessful in driving profits long-term. We see this scenario as a possibility, but we believe that the market underestimates wide-moat Wal-Mart's cost advantage and its ability to compete with an omnichannel model. Over the long term, Wal-Mart continues to drive sales, which is essential to our thesis. The firm appears to be on track, as traffic (up 1.3% in the past quarter) and same-store sales (up 1.5%) continue to increase. Neighborhood market comps are increasing by 7% and e-commerce sales are increasing just below 20%. Wal-Mart announced that it expects sales to increase 3%-4% annually over the next three years, which is higher than our expectation of 2%-3%. We expect to maintain our forecast for 1% same-store sales growth in the U.S. and slightly higher growth abroad, as we believe that lackluster growth in U.S. grocery and slowing economic growth in international markets will continue. Over the long term, Wal-Mart's reputation for low prices and its cost advantages should allow it to lower prices and drive low-single-digit volume growth. If Wal-Mart continues to grow sales as investments moderate over the next 12-18 months, which we've expected for a while, investors should still earn good risk-adjusted returns. Wal-Mart shares offer an earnings yield above 10%, so if Wal-Mart generates a 3% earnings-growth rate over the next several years (once investments moderate), we believe investors could realize a 10% return. Morningstar Premium Members gain exclusive access to our full Wal-Mart Report, including fair value estimates, consider buying/selling prices, bull and bear breakdowns, and risk analyses. Not a Premium Member? Get this and other reports immediately when you try Morningstar Premium free for 14 days. | 3 | 94,602 | finance |
Getty Images There has been no bigger dumpster fire in the NBA over the past few seasons than the New York Knicks . When Carmelo Anthony arrived in the Big Apple prior to the 2010-11 season, he was heralded as the player who would be the Knicks' savior and make Madison Square Garden the Mecca of the basketball world once again. Neither of these things happened; in fact, it turned into quite the opposite. The team did make three straight playoff appearances in Melo's first three seasons, but in a depleted Eastern Conference, and never reached the ultimate the goal of making the NBA Finals like so many in New York believed they would. All of this belief from fans who haven't seen their team in the Finals since 1994 stemmed from Anthony's talent and bravado. Widely regarded as one of the top three scorers in the NBA, Anthony has always been a polarizing anomaly in the league. He seemingly has all the gifts of past legendary scorers, but unlike his gifted counterparts he's never made an NBA Finals appearance in his own right. His time in New York reached a boiling point last season as the Knicks were the laughing stock of the league. Melo's pride forced him to shut it down as soon as he stepped off the floor of the All-Star game that was held in MSG, which he actually played in. This was only infuriating because he hadn't suited up for the Knicks for weeks before the game because of a mysterious nagging injury but some how found it in himself to play in the meaningless showcase. Now at 31 years old, Anthony appears to be having a complete change of heart and more importantly personality. The 6-foot-8 swingman told the New York media early this week that he wants the coaching staff to hold him "accountable" for mistakes. So, what does this look like? "Call me out in the film session so everybody can see that and hear that. By them doing that, it kind of forces me to be at the top level of my game on both ends of the court. I think it brings the best out of me and if you bring the best out of me, I think it will bring the best out of everyone on the team," Melo told reporters. This was something we would have never heard from him even last year, so is it really possible that in a span of a few months, and after his openly harsh critique of the direction that Phil Jackson has the team headed in, that Anthony could have done a complete 180? It's actually close to impossible. For 13 seasons we have watched a selfish Anthony hoist up shot after shot without regard for what it meant for those around him; as long as he got his he was happy. Melo may be looking around at fellow superstars like Dwyane Wade or LeBron James and finding himself envious of their rings, but his mindset is likely far more simplistic. If Melo wanted rings he would have feverishly courted all the available free agents this offseason or looked to re-sign on a contender for less money. But the only one who can hold Carmelo Anthony accountable is himself, and while he is one of the best ballers in the world, he will always put Carmelo Anthony first. Douglas Ammon is an NBA Featured Writer for RantSports.com. Who covers all things about the Association, follow him on Twitter @DA76er | 1 | 94,603 | sports |
Despite having a stellar NBA career, Lamar Odom has had a very tough life. From the loss of his mother when he was 12, to his father's battle with addiction, and the loss of his son Jayden, Lamar Odom has had to fight adversity throughout his life. The former Los Angeles Lakers star is currently fighting for his life in a Las Vegas hospital after being found unconscious at Dennis Hof's Love Ranch brothel due to an overdose. | 8 | 94,604 | video |
Victor Decolongon/Getty Lamar Odom, the former NBA player and ex-husband of reality star Khloe Kardashian, is reportedly being treated for a drug overdose after being found unconscious at a brothel in Nevada. Sources inside Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas told E! Online that "virtually every drug imaginable" was found in Odom's system, and that he also possibly suffered from a stroke. From E! Online : [Odom] appears to have suffered an "ischemic stroke," which is caused by a blood clot preventing blood flow to the brain. This type of stroke is often associated with a cocaine overdose, among other drugs. Sources also said that this type of stroke may cause long term brain damage. Although Odom is being treated for an overdose, it was likely accidental and not a suicide attempt. According to ESPN, Odom is still alive but the next 48 hours will be crucial. Tweet Embed: https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/654340837334196224 A source tells ESPN that Lamar Odom is fighting for his life and "the next 48 hours are critical." pic.twitter.com/o6tX1fPjty According to Lakers' beat reporter Bill Oram, who is at the hosptial, Odom is recovering. Tweet Embed: https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/654340351558221824 Jesse Jackson outside sunrise hospital pic.twitter.com/VBFQdewDhG Tweet Embed: https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/654343017671733252 Jesse Jackson: "Khloe is by his side. He is unconscious but doctors say he is recovering." Odom, who has been out of the NBA since 2013, won NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010, and won the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2011. His basketball career and life have been plagued with personal tragedy , and over the past few years he's struggled with alcohol and substance abuse. NOW WATCH: The most expensive and extravagant vacations in the world | 1 | 94,605 | sports |
The White House says it has "deep concerns" about violence in Israel and the West bank, and condemns the loss of any innocent life. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). | 5 | 94,606 | news |
First Ariana Grande, and now Taylor Swift. Wendy Williams is blasting Tay Tay saying that her new Instagram queen crown isn't what it seems. During the host's famous show, she said the photos with her cats and her cooking are just a façade and because Taylor is not naked, she is a phony. Also, it's all just a mask for a darker underlying trait and that Taylor is probably meaner than Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian put together. Check out the video for more. | 6 | 94,607 | entertainment |
Russian jets hit 40 Islamic State targets in new strikes in Syria over the past 24 hours, destroying several ammunition depots and training camps, the Russian defence ministry said on Wednesday. | 5 | 94,608 | news |
MILAN A former CIA operative who is among 26 Americans convicted in absentia for the 2003 kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric in Milan has requested a pardon from Italy, her Italian lawyer said Wednesday. Sabrina De Sousa, who was arrested last week in Portugal on a European warrant, submitted the pardon request last year, lawyer Dario Bolognesi told The Associated Press. He said the process was held up when Italy changed presidents but he expects to meet with Judicial Ministry officials, who are also part of the pardon process, later this month. De Sousa, who was working in Italy under diplomatic cover, faces a six-year sentence for her role in the 2003 kidnapping of Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr, a terror suspect who was under surveillance by Italian law enforcement at the time. Italy has granted only one pardon in the case, for the lone military member among the defendants. Another defendant, former CIA base chief Robert Seldon Lady, sent a letter to former Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in 2013 seeking a pardon, saying he "never intended to disrespect Italy's sovereignty." Lady, who received the stiffest sentence of nine years, was detained briefly in Panama two years ago on an international warrant. The case, which also implicated Italy's secret services, has proven embarrassing to successive Italian governments, which have refused to issue extradition requests even after the Americans' convictions were finalized by Italy's highest court. The Justice Ministry issued an international warrant only in Lady's case, citing the length of the sentence. De Sousa, who was born in India and holds both U.S. and Portuguese passports, told a court in Lisbon that she had been living in Portugal and intends to settle there. She was on her way to visit her elderly mother in India with a round-trip ticket when she was detained. She was released from custody after surrendering her passports, while a Portuguese court decides whether to surrender her to Italy. | 5 | 94,609 | news |
Google's getting rid of the desktop notification center it brought to Chrome for Windows and OS X in 2013. In a post on its Chromium blog, the company today admitted that "in practice, few users visit the notification center," which bundled rich notifications from Google Now and Google's other apps and made them easily accessible with a shortcut on the Windows taskbar and OS X menu bar. But some users found the added icon to be a bit annoying and disabled it, defeating the whole purpose of what Google was trying to do. Since then, the company has reworked its approach to desktop (and mobile) Chrome notifications by adopting what it described last spring as "the new emerging web standard for push notifications." Users now grant websites permission to deliver push notifications on an individual basis, and at least on Android, they appear alongside alerts from native apps installed on your phone. On desktop, Google notifications can always be accessed from the Google.com homepage by clicking the bell icon. But this puts Google Now on Windows and Mac in a bit of a weird spot, at least for the "few" people who enjoyed having it a click away at all times. We've reached out to Google for more details on that subject. Google says the notification center on ChromeOS will remain unchanged. | 3 | 94,610 | finance |
WASHINGTON Vice President Joe Biden says he's proud of the Democratic candidates who took part in the party's first presidential primary debate. Biden says he thought every one of the candidates on the stage did well. Biden is considering entering the 2016 presidential race but hasn't announced a decision. The vice president was speaking Wednesday to a White House meeting on infrastructure financing. He says it's a dirty secret that most Republicans support infrastructure spending but that "they're being intimidated by a minority." He says those Republicans need encouraging. | 5 | 94,611 | news |
Donald Trump may have been the driving factor in record ratings numbers for the first two Republican primary debates of this election cycle, but he appears to have had a halo effect on the Democrats' first gathering as well. In preliminary estimates from Nielsen, Tuesday's debate on CNN drew a big 15.3 million viewers the largest-ever crowd for a Democratic debate and the sixth largest non-sports cable audience on record. Prior to last night, the highest-rated Democratic presidential primary debate on cable was CNN's January 2008 Los Angeles debate, which averaged 8.3 million viewers. And overall, the highest-rated was ABC's 2008 Philadelphia debate, which drew 10.7 million viewers in April of that year. | 5 | 94,612 | news |
New England Patriots left tackle Nate Solder will miss the rest of the season with a torn right biceps muscle. Solder suffered the injury in Sunday's victory over Dallas. The Patriots placed Solder on season-ending injured reserve on Wednesday. In other injury news: Buffalo QB Tyrod Taylor was limited at practice Wednesday. Despite reports on Tuesday that Taylor would miss the next two games, coach Rex Ryan would not rule him out of Sunday's game vs. Cincinnati, according to The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. E.J. Manuel took most of the reps with the first team in practice Wednesday. ""I know it's been widely reported that Tyrod's not playing. That's news to me. That's not official," said Ryan, according to the Democrat & Chronicle. Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger (knee) took part in 7-on-7 drills Wednesday. He is not expected to play Sunday against Arizona, even though he has expressed a desire to play. Cleveland QB Josh McCown (ankle) will be limited in practice in Wednesday. McCown had said on Monday he was 'hopeful' he could face Denver on Sunday. Indianapolis QB Andrew Luck, who has missed the last two games, was in full pads and made all the throws in the portion of practice open to the media, according to reports. Atlanta WR Julio Jones will play Thursday in New Orleans, but the team will monitor his snaps, NFL Network reported. Detroit LB DeAndre Levy will undergo hip surgery and could miss the season, Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. | 1 | 94,613 | sports |
Priceline's deal will make it easier for TripAdvisor users to instantly book hotel rooms. Fred Katayama reports. | 2 | 94,614 | travel |
The Pierre Cardin owned mansion includes a 500-seat amphitheater Not a fan of right angles? You can escape them completely if you choose to buy the iconic Bubble Palace, which was recently placed on the market for the reported price of $455 million. In 1989, Pierre Cardin, the famous Italian-born French fashion designer, became the second owner of the estate, which is located on a rocky cliff within Massif de L'Esterel, a volcanic mountain range overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in the South of France. Bubble Palace was designed by the Hungarian architect Antti Lovag, who wanted to build a home that mimicked humanity's earliest dwellings in caves. The mansion was built between 1975 and 1989 and, spans roughly 13,000 square feet, including dozens of rooms; the grounds, meanwhile, boast three swimming pools, several gardens, and a 500-seat amphitheater. Over the years, Bubble Palace has hosted many swanky parties and events; MTV hosted James Bond's 40th birthday party there in 2002, while this past May, Dior held an indoor/outdoor fashion show at the sprawling property, featuring the brand's resort collection. In 2012, Assouline published a book replete with beautiful pictures from the mansion and estate. Until Bubble Palace is sold, the entire estate can be rented for a daily rate of roughly $31,000. Built-in seats line parts of the exterior. A view of the top of Bubble Palace. The illuminated circular windows create a spectacular setting at night. The swimming pools, built close to the mansion, reflect lights and figures from its façade. A view into one of the many rooms within Bubble Palace. | 3 | 94,615 | finance |
The return of DeAndre Levy was expected to help cure several of the ailments suffered by the Lions defense. It was immediately clear as early as the preseason that the unit suffered from the absence of the star linebacker. However, during Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals , Levy left after 17 snaps and didn't return. Now it appears that the Lions may be missing him again. During a Wednesday press conference, head coach Jim Caldwell announced that DeAndre Levy had re-aggravated the strain on his hip on Sunday and the injury would require Levy to undergo surgery. Caldwell said that the Lions had consulted with the team doctors and received additional opinions from other medical sources that surgery would be the best course of action. #Lions Jim Caldwell says Levy will have surgery shortly after discussion with doctors. Had missed first 4 games with hip injury. Paula Pasche (@paulapasche) October 14, 2015 The decision to place Levy on the injured reserve list has not been made yet, but doing so would likely spell the end to the linebacker's 2015 NFL season. Caldwell was asked if he would've used the short-term IR designation on Levy if Alex Carter had not been already given the designation, but he refused to answer . The injury comes at a time where the Lions defense has been ranked #25 in the league by Football Outsiders , #26 in passing defense and #23 in rushing. Levy will almost certainly be ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears . Naturally, this is an opportune time to point out that the Fearless Leader of Pride Of Detroit, Jeremy Reisman, proudly owns a DeAndre Levy jersey and has been known to inadvertently curse the associated players when he wears these jerseys. He accepted responsibility for this disaster Wednesday on Twitter. | 1 | 94,616 | sports |
A bridge collapses and leaves one person dead and Johannesburg snarled in traffic chaos. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). | 5 | 94,617 | news |
WASHINGTON U.S. airlines have ramped up an aggressive lobbying campaign that seeks nothing less than converting the government from industry regulator to business ally. The big three legacy carriers Delta, American and United want the Obama administration to protect them from competition from foreign airlines, arguing those rivals can undercut ticket prices thanks to government subsidies or cheaper labor. At the same time, the U.S. airlines want Congress to roll back or forestall rules aimed at protecting consumers. One is a requirement that airlines show ticket buyers the full cost of fares, including taxes and fees, instead of burying the information in fine print. The lobbying already has been effective. At the urging of the big three and the Air Line Pilots Association, 262 House members and 22 senators wrote the administration asking for a freeze in the number of flights to the U.S. now allowed for three Persian Gulf airlines Emirates, Etihad and Qatar and discussions with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar about whether those airlines are violating aviation treaties with the U.S. Such "open skies" agreements, a hallmark of U.S. policy for two decades, permit U.S. airlines broad access to aviation markets in more than 100 countries in exchange for similar access to the U.S. for those countries' airlines. The U.S airlines and their unions say the Gulf carriers have received $40 billion in subsidies from their governments since 2004, in violation of the treaties, and those subsidies have allowed them to charge lower fares and gain market share. Consumer advocates say the U.S. carriers have carved up about 80 percent of the lucrative trans-Atlantic market through joint ventures and alliances with overseas airlines, and now are trying to ward off competitors offering a cheaper alternative. In January, the top executives of American, Delta and United pressed their case in private meetings with the secretaries of Transportation and Commerce, as well as White House and State Department officials. The heads of American and Delta followed up with a meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry on Sept. 17. The big three and their pilot unions have also blocked, at least for the moment, an application by Norwegian Air International, a subsidiary of Norwegian Air Shuttle, the third largest low-cost carrier in Europe, to fly to the U.S. from Europe and Asia. They say the subsidiary's business model would drive down wages and undermine safety; Norwegian denies that. The Ireland-based subsidiary plans to hire pilots through a Singapore broker and base them in Thailand. On another front, Delta Air Lines, which carried more passengers last year than any airline in the world, has been campaigning to block the U.S. Export-Import Bank from helping foreign competitors such as Air India and the Gulf carriers finance the purchase of planes from Boeing. Delta says the planes are used to compete on routes Delta also flies. Boeing is the nation's largest exporter in dollar terms. Tea party conservatives in the House have branded the bank an example of "corporate welfare" and have prevented Congress from renewing the bank's lending authority, which lapsed on July 1. It's part of a struggle by airlines to maintain control of international markets for their joint ventures and alliances "in the fastest-growing regions of the world" such as the Middle East and southern Asia, said Charlie Leocha, president of the consumer group Travelers United. Delta says it isn't trying to gain "government protection from competition, but to ensure our national policies foster fair competition." U.S. airlines are not united on these issues. Delta is alone in its opposition to the bank. JetBlue and others oppose the big three's position on the Gulf carriers. JetBlue transports passengers arriving in the U.S. on those carriers to other cities. What does unite the airlines and their trade association, Airlines for America, is opposition to consumer protection rules issued or proposed by the Transportation Department. Several airlines took their case to the Supreme Court to block a regulation that requires airlines to display ticket prices that include taxes and fees. After they lost, they persuaded the House to twice pass a bill to roll back the rule. The Senate has shown no interest in taking up the legislation, but Nick Calio, president of the trade association, said the issue is not dead and the airline industry will prevail, eventually. "Some of the members of Congress are fond of telling me, 'You can't get everything you want'," he said in an interview. "I just don't take that attitude. We can, and we know that, so we're making progress." Airlines also oppose a proposed requirement that ticket sellers inform consumers of the cost of a first and second checked bag, an advance seat assignment and a carry-on bag on the first computer search screen where airfares are displayed, rather than waiting until a buyer has selected a fare and is checking out. That way, the department reasons, consumers will know the full cost of the trip from the beginning and won't be surprised later by fees, which can vary widely. In general, airlines say it's in their interest to keep their passengers happy, so these sorts of consumer protections are unnecessary. The state of government regulation of airlines is "dismal," Calio, the top White House lobbyist under Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, said in a speech to the International Aviation Club last year. "We are still operating in an environment where the DOT thinks it needs to protect customers from airlines," referring to the federal Transportation Department. Airlines also are fighting airports over whether to raise from $4.50 to $8.50 the "passenger facility charge" included in tickets. The fee hasn't increased in 15 years. It generates money primarily used for additional airport runways and gates. Airlines say the $4-increase per flight segment would reduce ticket sales. Airports and industry observers say the issue is really about controlling access to airports. Airports want to use the money to enlarge terminals and add gates in order to attract more airlines. But airlines already there have an interest in keeping out competitors. Because of mergers, one or two carriers control a majority of the market at most airports. The airlines are the political muscle behind a movement in Congress to take responsibility for air traffic control away from government and give it to a nonprofit corporation. The hope is that shift would avoid congressional budget fights hampering modernization of the air traffic system. Private aircraft owners, however, worry the change would shift costs to them and force them from busy airports to make more room for airlines. At the same time, airlines are under pressure from the Obama administration. The Justice Department is investigating whether Delta, United, American and Southwest have colluded to limit available seats and keep fares high. United's chairman and CEO, Jeff Smisek, stepped down on Sept. 8 amid an investigation into the airline's dealings with the agency that operates New York-area airports. The Transportation Department is investigating whether airlines engaged in price gouging in the Northeast after a deadly Amtrak crash in Philadelphia in May left passengers scrambling for travel alternatives. To bolster their influence, airlines Delta in particular have hired from their former overseers. Robert Rivkin, a former general counsel at the Transportation Department who oversaw consumer regulations, is Delta's senior vice president and deputy general counsel. Bob Letteney, who was the department's assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, is a Delta managing director. Will Kinzel, another Delta managing director, was a policy adviser to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. Former Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Technology Committee's aviation subcommittee until he retired in 2011, is lobbying on behalf of American for transferring air traffic control to a nonprofit corporation. The revolving door spins both ways. Chris Brown was a vice president at Airlines for America before he was hired this year as staff director for the House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on aviation. The full committee's chairman, Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., has acknowledged a "private and personal relationship" with Shelley Rubino, a vice president of the trade group who lobbies his committee. Shuster's personal office chief of staff, Eric Burgeson, is married to Christine Burgeson, a senior vice president at the trade association. A former US Airways lobbyist, Tom Chapman, is the Democratic counsel for the Senate aviation subcommittee. The airline industry and its employees donated nearly $3.6 million to congressional candidates for the 2014 elections. The industry spent nearly $26.5 million on lobbying last year, according to the political money website OpenSecrets.org. Three days after Boehner announced he was resigning from Congress, airline CEOs and lobbyists flocked to a fundraiser for Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who at the time was seen as Boehner's most likely successor. Four years ago, Airlines for America and its members proposed that Congress and the administration create a "national airlines policy" that would bolster the industry's economic well-being by decreasing taxes, reducing regulation and modernizing the air traffic control system. At the time, many airlines were operating on the thinnest of profit margins. But lately airline profitability has rebounded thanks to mergers, lower fuel prices and an improved economy. The lobbying fight for that goal is more intense than ever. To Calio, there are "some champions on Capitol Hill who are willing to stand up for the industry." But more work needs to be done, he said, to counter the perception that now that the industry is profitable, "that is somehow a bad thing." ___ Follow Joan Lowy on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/AP_Joan_Lowy | 5 | 94,618 | news |
The Best Halloween-Themed Races Across the U.S. Whether you've constantly got your sights set on a shiny new PR or you're a recreational runner in it mostly for fun, we doubt you'll disagree that fall is, quite possibly, the best time of year for running. Not only do crisp, cool temperatures and gentle breezes make for the perfect running conditions, but during this time of year festive, Halloween-themed fun runs begin popping up all across the country. Given our love for outdoor activities we know you're not surprised to learn that we can't think of a better way to celebrate the season than with a festive fun run. And our favorite part of it all is that with so many events to choose from runners of all abilities can join in on the Halloween race scene. From dodging brain-hungry zombies and dashing through spooky courses lined with menacing monsters, to hauling pumpkins and completing half marathons in full costume, you won't have to search too hard to find a way to join in on the fun. The following Halloween-themed races are regarded as some of the best in the country and include everything from seriously spooky obstacle courses to family-friendly fun runs. So whether you're in for a fast-paced fright or simply want to show off your stylish costume, you're sure to find a race that will make all of your Halloween dreams (or nightmares) come true. The Monster Dash Chicago, Saint Paul, Minnesota and Fort Worth, Texas The Monster Dash hosts Halloween half-marathons, 10ks, and "fun run" (non-scored) 5k races in Chicago, St. Paul and Fort Worth all through the fall. Runners are invited to dress up during the race and can enter their costumes to be judged in the post-race costume contest. Judges rate costumes based on originality, execution and perhaps most importantly, its ability to be worn while running. A few winners from the 2014 festivities included the "Lego People" from The Lego Movie, Flo from the Progressive commercials and the Pink Power Ranger. monsterdash.org Panic in the Dark Lowell, Massachusetts Self-proclaimed as the "original nightmare obstacle run," Panic in the Dark is a festive 5k fright fest. Runners wear headlamps as they set out into the dark of night and race along a haunted course filled with zombies, monsters, ghosts and ghouls. The event creators promise to turn your worst nightmares and favorite horror movie scenes into a race-day reality, so only sign up if you're really ready to face your biggest fears. panicinthedark.com LA Cancer Challenge Los Angeles, California This Halloween-themed charity event is held each year in support of pancreatic cancer research. So not only is it an opportunity to dress up and have fun running, but also to raise awareness and funds for a great cause. Plus, with a Fit Family Expo, Halloween Kids Zone, 4-Legged 5k Dog Walk and an adult costume contest, it's the perfect way for the whole family to kick off the season with some good-hearted Halloween fun. LACancerChallenge.com The Zombie Run Denver, Colorado and Various Locations The premise of The Zombie Run is simple: make it through five one-kilometer zombie-infested zones, and after, party like it's the apocalypse. Or, you could sign up to participate as a zombie and chase down humans if that sounds like more fun. Either way, each zone is bustling with more zombies than the last, and participants must attempt to get through the entire 5k without having their "life balloons" popped. But finishing without "becoming infected" is not a requirement and there's no reward for "surviving" with your balloons intact either because everyone is welcome to the end of the world after party. thezombierun.com Franklin Park Zoo's Run Wild 5k Boston, Massachusetts A collaboration between Zoo New England and RACE Cancer Foundation, the organizers of this race call the event "frighteningly fun," as participants are invited to dress up and race through Boston's Franklin Park Zoo . The course winds through the zoo's scenic trails and the race is followed by a wild Halloween after party including a variety of craft beers and plenty of festive fun. racecancer.org Devils Chase Salem, Massachusetts 6.66 devilish miles make up this diabolical dash through Salem, Massachusetts. Those who are doubtlessly demonic can cast a bid for the chance to race with bib number 666 pinned proudly to their shirt. In past years it's sold for more than $200 , which is no surprise considering it also comes with a totally tempting goody basket. This year's will include prizes valuing more than $500. bnseventmanagement.com The City of Shoreline's Monster Mash Dash 5k Family Fun Run & Walk Shoreline, Washington With a name like Monster Mash Dash, of course participants are encouraged to show off their Halloween costumes at this family 5k and fun run/walk. The event follows Shoreline's scenic Interurban Trail, and while it's not officially timed, organizers guarantee the 5k to be "officially fun." And at the end, prizes are awarded for the best costumes in each age group. shorelinewa.gov The Haunted Half & 5K Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah and Phoenix, Arizona From apple-bobbing to doughnut-eating Haunted Half participants can expect to break for much more than just water and Gatorade along this 13.1-mile course. While the race doesn't involve any brain-hungry zombies or menacing monsters, runners must make their way through several "Spook Zones" like the Tunnel of Terror, the Ghostly Graveyard and the Fearsome Forest. And at the finish line, they'll find fun treats like the "Mummification Station," "Donuts on a Noose" and even a Trick or Treat Tent. thehauntedhalf.com The Great Pumpkin Haul Littleton, Colorado If your idea of Halloween fun includes hauling the heaviest pumpkin you can find for two miles (or more), then sign yourself up for The Great Pumpkin Haul. Lug your big orange orb through fields and forests and over creeks and hay bales to prove your fitness in the most festive fashion. Make sure you hold on tight to your pumpking the whole way though, because only those who finish without dropping it are considered winners. thegreatpumpkinhaul.com Boxer Boogie 5k/3k Schertz, Texas The Boxer Boogie 5k and 3k fun run encourages humans to dress up with their furry friends, not only because it increases their chance of winning more costume contest prizes, but also just because it's fun. In fact, there are four costume contest categories including best overall costume, scariest costume, best dog and owner coordinated costume and best dressed Boxer. Additionally, humans can chow down on free tacos at the finish line and all race proceeds benefit Alamo Boxer Rescue. boxerboogierun.com Miami Beach Halloween Half Marathon & Freaky 4-Miler Miami Beach, Florida This festive half marathon held each year in Miami celebrates all things Halloween. Runners are absolutely encouraged to show up at the start line dressed in costume and each year the organizers create a new theme for the race that takes life through everything from the logo artwork and t-shirt designs to the highly coveted race medals. halloweenhalfmarathon.com Haunted Hill - Diamond Hill's Demon Run Cumberland, Rhode Island Put both your physical and mental strength to the test as you make your way through this seriously spooky 5k obstacle course. Not only will you be challenged to tackle all the usual mud-run-type obstacles, but you'll also have to face killer scarecrows, Michael Myers and a handful of other Haunted Hill psychos. Not everything about the race is evil, though. All entry proceeds go to the Town of Cumberland's Park and Recreation Youth Programs and the race is followed by a family-friendly fun day. hauntedhill.net | 7 | 94,619 | health |
Why don't planes have overhead storage bin space for all passengers? WSJ's Scott McCartney joins Lunch Break with Tanya Rivero and explains how some airlines have retrofitted their bin space to accommodate, in some cases, 50% more bags. Photo: Corbis Images | 2 | 94,620 | travel |
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been suspended for one match and fined £50,000 after he admitted to breaching Football Association rules, the FA announced Wednesday. The charges of misconduct stemmed from improper comments Mourinho made to the media following a 3 1 loss to Southampton. Immediately after the game, Mourinho went off on a rant, saying that the referees were afraid to call fouls in his team's favor and telling Chelsea higher ups that they could fire him, but that he wouldn't quit. The suspension is for the comments about the referees, due to the fact that they "alleged and/or implied bias on the part of a math official or match officials and/or brought the game into disrepute." Mourinho's one-game stadium ban will begin immediately. Chelsea currently sits 16th in the Premier league standings with a 2 2 4 record. Mourinho signed a new four-year contract with Chelsea on Aug. 7. • Prince Ali: Election delay would increase FIFA instability | 1 | 94,621 | sports |
The Fantasy Lunch Hour crew weighs in with their picks for the WRs to avoid for FanDuel tournaments. Will Antonio Brown's numbers continue to suffer if Mike Vick is under center? | 1 | 94,622 | sports |
It seems as though Taylor Swift can't even get on stage without the performance turning into an impromptu party, complete with famous BFFs like Karlie Kloss , Selena Gomez , and Kendall Jenner , so who better to helm one of the year's biggest affairs, the annual benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute? The "Shake It Off" singer and Idris Elba are among the co-chairs for the 2016 Met Gala, and designers Karl Lagerfeld, Nicolas Ghesquière, and Miuccia Prada are honorary chairs, the museum announced. Also a co-chair is Apple's Chief Design Officer Jonathan Ive an appropriate choice given the company's role as a sponsor of t he gala and the year's theme, which will reflect the Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology exhibition at the museum. According to the Met, the display "will explore the impact of new technology on fashion and how designers are reconciling the handmade and the machine-made in the creation of haute couture and avant-garde ready-to-wear." It will showcase more than 100 pieces and juxtapose traditional techniques such as embroidery and lacework with new ones like laser cutting and 3D printing. Swift has already proved herself a dab hand at party organizing, albeit on a smaller scale: She's hosted house parties and Fourth of July celebrations and even arranged an emotional birthday surprise for her childhood best friend. | 4 | 94,623 | lifestyle |
Randy Quaid's wife Evi allegedly had feces thrown at her during a bust-up in prison over the weekend. Officials at the Chittenden County Correctional Facility in Vermont have launched an investigation into the alleged spat between two inmates, which occurred on Sunday. Facility spokesman Mike Touchette has confirmed there was no physical interaction between Evi Quaid and the other woman, who has been named as Veronica Lewis, but confirms to Wptz. | 5 | 94,624 | news |
Pretty Little Liars star, Janel Parrish, shows off her bikini body in Hawaii. Oh, she also brought her boyfriend. | 8 | 94,625 | video |
Are these cemeteries simply creepy -- or are they haunted? STOP BY THE OLD HAUNTS Why pay admission to a haunted house to get spooked, when cemeteries and the paranormal seem to fit hand in glove, especially as Halloween approaches? In every state, there's a graveyard where visitors have seen, heard, or felt spirits or other unexplained phenomena -- or fallen victim to some eerie stories and their own imaginations. Almost all of these atmospheric, often beautiful cemeteries are free to enter. ALABAMA What brings so many ghost-hunting groups to investigate Dallas County's privately owned Adams Grove Presbyterian Church and nearby cemetery? The abandoned church, now on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1853, and ghosts of Confederate soldiers and a former minister reportedly walk the site. ALASKA Decay is slowly taking over at the Russian Cemetery in the city of Sitka. It's abandoned and overgrown with moss, and broken crosses mark the landscape. Tree roots have pushed up headstones, making it look every bit like the dead are trying to claw their way to the surface. ARIZONA Boot Hill Graveyard, one of the state's most famous cemeteries, opened in 1878 and closed a short six years later. Originally named the Tombstone Cemetery, it holds famous gunslingers and many unmarked graves. Some of the headstones tell short stories, such as: "Here lies Lester Moore, four slugs from a 44. No les. No more." Unidentified figures supposedly have appeared in tourists' photos. ARKANSAS "The Westminster Abbey of Arkansas," Mount Holly Cemetery in downtown Little Rock is the burial site of state governors, senators, Supreme Court justices, and Confederate generals. Every year during the "Tales of the Crypt" event, local high school students dress up and deliver speeches as one of the dead in front of that person's tombstone. CALIFORNIA Nortonville is an abandoned coal mining town founded in 1855 by Noah Norton. It is said that his wife, Sarah, has haunted the town's Rose Hill Cemetery since being killed by a runaway horse in 1879. Some visitors to the cemetery claim to have seen her ghost. COLORADO Silver Cliff Cemetery was established in the early 1880s and is still used. (The Protestant section is called the Cross of the Assumption Cemetery.) Some visitors to Silver Cliff report seeing dancing blue lights in the cemetery at night, not unlike lanterns or spheres, and on some days that's enough to draw several carloads of people looking to experience a haunted cemetery. CONNECTICUT One of the state's best-known haunted sites, Union Cemetery in Easton has drawn visits from the New England Society for Psychic Research and inspired a book, "Graveyard: True Hauntings from an Old New England Cemetery." The most famous ghost said to wander Union Cemetery is the White Lady, a woman dressed in a white nightgown and wearing a white bonnet. DELAWARE There is a legend of a man with catlike features who prowls Long Cemetery in Frankford. The so-called Catman is the cemetery's former caretaker, who was buried in an aboveground tomb there, the story goes. Some visitors allege that knocking on the brick wall at the rear of the cemetery summons him. FLORIDA A stop on ghost tours in St. Augustine, the Huguenot Cemetery near the Old City Gates was in use in the 19th century. Several ghosts supposedly haunt the area, including the ghost of Judge John B. Stickney, whose oddly well-preserved body was exhumed for a move to Washington, D.C., when two drunken men stole his gold teeth, prompting the judge's spirit to stick around searching for them. GEORGIA Colonial Park Cemetery in Savannah is sometimes called "Paranormal Central." The oldest cemetery in the area, it was opened in 1750, and some of its dead are people who fell ill with yellow fever in the 1820s or died after duels. Some believe the paranormal activity is the result of the dead not having received a proper burial. There are more than 10,000 bodies in the area -- some outside today's cemetery walls -- but fewer than 1,000 tombstones. HAWAII The Manoa Chinese Cemetery on Oahu is the island's largest, and many ghostly tales are associated with the place. They claim that the spirits of buried children come out to play at night and the cemetery's 150-year-old tree may be a portal to the afterlife. IDAHO Due to flooding in the early 1900s, more than 150 graves had to be moved to the current location of Fort Boise Military Cemetery -- potentially disturbing the dead and leading to the appearance of restless soldiers, children, and a woman dressed in a black gown. As late as 1998, an additional three bodies, possibly of Civil War soldiers, were found and reburied. ILLINOIS Two cemeteries near Chicago are known for paranormal activity. At Bachelor's Grove, an abandoned graveyard in Bremen Township, there have been reported sightings of two-headed ghosts, black dogs, a lady in white carrying a child, and a vanishing farmhouse. About 15 minutes away in the town of Justice, "Resurrection Mary" supposedly hitchhikes in ghostly white garb to wander Resurrection Cemetery. INDIANA In the Morgan-Monroe State Forest, the Stepp Cemetery is still in use and said to be haunted by several spirits. One is the Black Lady, who watches over the grave of her son (possibly along with the family's dog). Other potential hauntings: a road worker, the former groundskeeper, and a woman who watches over her husband's grave. IOWA The 8-foot Black Angel in Iowa City's Oakland Cemetery has taken on a darker color as the bronze has oxidized. Some say the darkening is due to abnormal storms, evil spirits, or a connection to the dark arts. The statue is popular on Halloween, when visitors tempt fate by touching and kissing it -- an act that is said to risk a quick death. KANSAS Stull Cemetery in Douglas County is believed by some to be near, or perhaps on top of, one of the seven gateways to hell. The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry traces the tale back to an urban legend invented by a professor at the University of Kansas in the 1950s, but others say the claim is real. Either way, visiting the graveyard serving the tiny town of Stull is now considered trespassing, punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. KENTUCKY Reports from Marion's Baker-Phillips Cemetery (also known as Baker Hollow Road Cemetery) tell of a large black dog that guards the grounds -- a "Hound of Hell" -- along with inexplicable sounds of music, laughter, and screams, and mysterious spirits and orbs of light appearing in pictures. LOUISIANA St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is one of the best-known (and possibly most haunted) cemeteries in the country. It's the resting place of Marie Laveau, the "grande voodoo queen." The cemetery was closed to the public this year but can still be visited by family members of the deceased and those accompanied by a licensed tour guide. MAINE The Pinewood Cemetery in Belfast is considered one of the state's most haunted. Visitors report hearing footsteps following them through the cemetery and banging on the sides of their cars. Glowing lights or orbs also sometimes appear in people's photographs. MARYLAND Antietam National Battlefield was the site of one of the Civil War's deadliest battles. More than 23,000 soldiers died over the course of a dozen hours on Sept. 17, 1862. Antietam National Cemetery is the final resting place for many of the soldiers, although some were first laid to rest in mass graves on the battlefield. Visitors report hearing cannon and gunshots out of nowhere, and paranormal groups report ghostly sightings, primarily around dawn and dusk. MASSACHUSETTS Howard Street Cemetery in Salem has ties back to the infamous 17th century witch trials, when Giles Corey was tortured to death in a Howard Street field. He cursed the town before gasping for his last breath, and his spirit is still said to haunt the area. MICHIGAN Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek is a popular tourist destination because of the famous people buried there, including Sojourner Truth and breakfast cereal magnates W.K. Kellogg and C.W. Post. There are also tales of an odd sight in the cemetery: The statue of the Virgin Mary above a mysterious woman's grave reputedly weeps at midnight on Sundays or during the full moon. MINNESOTA Ferguson's Cemetery, serving the town of Plato, is a small and secluded graveyard allegedly haunted by a young boy who can sometimes be seen peeking over the top of the tombstones. Visitors leave toys and coins at his gravesite. MISSISSIPPI Supposedly haunted by a murdered family, Garden of Hope Cemetery in Gautier can be a spooky place to visit. Some say they have seen the long-dead children playing in the cemetery. MISSOURI Old Lorimer Cemetery in Cape Girardeau is one of the city's oldest (it's on the National Register of Historic Places). There are reports of a "tapping ghost" who haunts the grounds, tapping people on the shoulder and occasionally pulling someone's hair. MONTANA The cemetery in Garnet is so small that just five miners are buried there. Little is known about them but their names and when they died. Their home is a ghost town abandoned in the mid-1950s. Visitors and a few volunteers keep the place alive and tell tales of paranormal activity. NEBRASKA Springfield's Ball Cemetery is allegedly haunted by several spirits. A ghostly spirit sometimes called Mary Mumford sings, laughs, and occasionally tugs on visitors' clothing. There are also reports of apparitions, odd sounds when no one is around, and ghosts appearing in pictures. NEVADA On the outskirts of Virginia City, there are 15 cemeteries collectively called the Virginia City Cemeteries or Silver Terrace Cemeteries. There are reports of a number of apparitions, as well as a heavy tombstone that seems to relocate on its own. NEW HAMPSHIRE Pine Hills Cemetery in Hollis is nicknamed the Blood Cemetery after two inhabitants, Abel and Betsy Blood, who were supposedly murdered. Abel's tombstone changes color and design at night, people say, and reports have surfaced alleging strange voices and lights in a cemetery where the oldest remains date from the 1700s. NEW JERSEY At the Strangers Burial Ground in Old Deptford, tombstones -- some broken or unmarked -- are all that remain of Hessian soldiers who died during the Revolutionary War at the Battle of the Red Bank. (The term "strangers" refers to the fact that none of the dead belonged to a local religious community.) Around 1915, the bodies were moved to their current resting place -- and moved bodies often lead to stories of hauntings. NEW MEXICO Once a coal mining town, Dawson was abandoned in the 1950s; today little remains in this ghost town aside from its large cemetery. Iron crosses painted white recall those who died in mine explosions during Dawson's heyday in the early 1900s. NEW YORK Rochester's Mount Hope Cemetery opened in part because of a cholera outbreak in 1838 and now has more than 350,000 graves. It is said the land itself was haunted before the cemetery was built, and visitors may see odd lights and hear wailing and cries during the day or night. NORTH CAROLINA There are not many reports of the Old Scotch Graveyard in Moore County being haunted, but there's no question it's a creepy place to visit. Scottish immigrants and their descendants from surrounding counties sent their dead to this burial ground, and today many of the headstones are broken or sunk into the earth. NORTH DAKOTA Riverside Cemetery in Fargo is well kept but still bears legends of mysterious voices. If recording devices are put atop some of the mausoleums, they may pick up knocking sounds, as if a spirit within wants to get out. OHIO Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery in Columbus was a training ground and prisoner-of-war camp during the Civil War. Several thousand Confederate soldiers died from disease, exposure, or malnutrition while detained here. Today it is a national park reputedly inhabited by spirits. One is known as The Lady in Gray, perhaps a woman named Louisiana Rainsburgh Briggs. OKLAHOMA The Violet Springs Cemetery in Pottawatomie County is supposedly haunted by a woman buried there in 1917. Katherine Crosss tombstone reads "murdered by human wolves," and visitors may be able to hear growling by her grave. OREGON Legend has it the Witch of Lafayette cursed the town and said it would burn. Since that proclamation, several large fires have destroyed large sections of the town. There is some debate about whether the witch was buried in Lafayette Cemetery, but many agree she haunts the area. PENNSYLVANIA The old Hollenback Cemetery in Wilkes-Barre is across the street from the general hospital. Some bodies buried as far back as the 1770s were moved to Hollenback in the mid-1800s when the city hall was built on top of the old burial grounds. Flickering lights and mysterious music are two signs of haunting from one of the site's various dark tales. RHODE ISLAND Some people know of the Chestnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Exeter because of one of its residents: a possible vampire named Mercy Brown. She died in 1892 at the age of 19 after the deaths of many around her, and when exhumed she seemed to have shifted in her coffin. Her tale may have been an inspiration for Bram Stoker's "Dracula," written in 1897. SOUTH CAROLINA Oakwood Cemetery in Spartanburg has quite a reputation -- as a gateway to hell. Whether spirits haunt the area or not, it is a spooky cemetery, and there are police reports of vandals, drug use, and a grave robbing as recent as 2012. SOUTH DAKOTA Mount Moriah Cemetery overlooks Deadwood Gulch in Deadwood. There are a few local celebrities buried in the graveyard, including gunslinger Wild Bill Hickok, and reports of a ghost in a wheelchair rolling straight through the locked gates to the cemetery. TENNESSEE Stamps Cemetery between Monterey and Algood is also known as "The Witches' Graveyard." The tombstones above the unusual tented graves have stars carved into them -- perhaps pentagrams to mark good or bad witches, or perhaps a sign the person below died of smallpox or tuberculosis. Whatever the case, there have been sightings of animal sacrifices and hooded figures walking the grounds. TEXAS In 1900 a hurricane struck Galveston Island and killed about 8,000 people. Some of the bodies are in the Old City Cemetery, but others were thrown into the sea -- only to be washed ashore, then disposed of with fire. Ghosts supposedly still haunt the area. (Visitors in room 501 at the Hotel Galvez are particularly likely to meet one.) UTAH Logan City Cemetery holds a 10-foot statue of a woman kneeling and weeping -- the grave marker of Julia Cronquist, a mother of eight children, five of whom died within a two-year period. Some say the statue cries during the full moon, as she did every day to mourn while she was alive. VERMONT The Black Agnes statue in Green Mount Cemetery, west of Montpelier, marks the gravesite of local philanthropist John Hubbard. The figure is supposed to be cursed, and anyone who sits on its lap during a full moon will have seven years of bad luck -- or die in misery. VIRGINIA Arlington National Cemetery, established during the Civil War, is one of the country's best-known cemeteries, as well as a national park and the resting place of more than 400,000 American veterans. The Old Post Chapel on this hallowed ground is said to be haunted, with some visitors reporting mysterious sitting figures, unexplained voices and footsteps, and a door that locks and unlocks itself. WASHINGTON Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Black Diamond Cemetery is a well-known destination for paranormal investigators. Built in the 1880s, it is the resting place for many miners, children who died from influenza or smallpox, and immigrants from Italy, Australia, Germany, and Russia. Visitors have encountered odd lights, smells, and mists. WEST VIRGINIA Swann Cemetery near the small town of Barboursville makes visitors feel as if they are not alone. One paranormal investigator notes that there are three Swann cemeteries in Barboursville, but the Leven C. Swann Cemetery is likely the haunted one. WISCONSIN The Dartford Cemetery in Green Lake was featured on the Discovery Channel TV show "A Haunting." It allegedly houses a number of spirits: a ghost who pushes people off an old mausoleum on the cemetery's south side, an Indian chief, Civil War soldiers, and child phantoms who were once polio victims. WYOMING A small ghost town named Kane lies just west of Lovell. At one time there were several stores, banks, a school, and a motel here, but the land was condemned due to rising waters after the Yellowtail Dam was built in the mid-1960s. Visitors sometimes can see the Kane Cemetery during low tide, and it's said to be haunted by the Blue Lady -- beautiful from a distance, fearsome up close. | 2 | 94,626 | travel |
An attacker stabbed and moderately wounded a woman near Jerusalem's crowded central bus station at rush hour Wednesday evening before being shot dead by police, authorities said. It was the second stabbing incident of the day, while more than 20 have occurred since October 3, spreading fear among Israelis. Most of the attackers have been young Palestinians. "A terrorist tried to board a bus after apparently stabbing a woman aged about 70," a police statement said. "A policeman fired and neutralised him." A later statement said that the unidentified attacker was dead. An AFP journalist at the scene said the incident sparked panic among commuters as armed police rushed into the bus station amid rumours of a second attacker on the loose. Police later said there had been no second suspect. Earlier, police said a "terrorist" attempted to stab a security guard at an entrance to Jerusalem's Old City on Wednesday but was shot dead before harming anyone. Palestinian media named him as Bassel Sadr, 20, from the West Bank city of Hebron. Three Israelis were killed and many more were wounded in attacks in Jerusalem on Tuesday, making it the city's bloodiest day in the current wave of unrest. Israel set up checkpoints in Palestinian neighbourhoods of annexed east Jerusalem on Wednesday. The upsurge in violence that began on October 1 has led some to warn of the risk of a third Palestinian intifada, or uprising. | 5 | 94,627 | news |
Israeli forces fire rubber bullets and tear gas shells at masked Palestinians hurling stones at them after the funeral for a man killed in clashes. Rough cut (no reporter narration). | 5 | 94,628 | news |
LAS VEGAS The first Democratic presidential primary debate of the season likely will be remembered foremost for Bernie Sanders' coming to Hillary Clinton's rescue on her "damn emails." But here are four other lasting takeaways from the showdown in Sin City that will mold the race going forward. Hillary Remains a Force Given the toilsome summer she had with tumbling polling numbers and daily email revelations, it was easy to forget how well Clinton can perform when the moment requires it. Tuesday night showcased how decades of experience under fire can work to her advantage in a field featuring less polished rivals. She showed aggressiveness and fight in challenging Sanders' gun control position. She demonstrated unparalleled depth and command when speaking about foreign policy strife. She deployed stinging retorts when confronted by her rivals: "I was very pleased when Gov. O'Malley endorsed me in 2008," she reminded. And she showed growth from her 2008 campaign by proudly playing the gender card to her advantage, and with a smile. Clinton's most formidable opponent in this primary may just be herself. Her team has sought to limit her face-to-face interactions with her opponents, but that may have been an utter miscalculation. Placing her on the stage between Tuesday's four male competitors made her look stronger, not weaker. It served as a reminder to Republicans that even a damaged Clinton is a dangerous one. Bernie's Immune to Traditional Debate Standards Sanders looked off-kilter throughout the evening. When he came under siege at the outset of the debate over his more conservative stance on gun control , he looked bewildered, timid and unsure how to respond. At times it looked like he had trouble hearing the question, cupping his hand over his ear and leaning forward over the lectern, an image that only underscored the perception of him as a crotchety 74-year-old. He also stayed glued to his progressive message, declining to challenge Clinton in a sustained way on any substantive issue, and his best line of the night was served up as an assist to her. Is this a recipe for debate success? Apparently. Peruse the online snap polling afterward, and one survey after another showed Sanders' crushing it. And it's unlikely he'll see a polling dip when professional surveys trickle out over the next few days. Sanders, like Donald Trump, may be immune to traditional debate scoring. The loyalty he summons as a leader of a burgeoning movement supersedes much of the usual, superficial shortcomings on performance. A bad debate for Bernie among the punditry may be seen as an inspiring tour de force by his followers. This makes it difficult to assess the trajectory of his candidacy. But in the short run, it means he's not going away. Clinton's Performance Should Give Biden Pause If Clinton would have belly-flopped inside the Wynn hotel, the calls for Vice President Joe Biden to enter the race would have only swelled. She knows that, and so does he. But her sterling performance helped ice Biden, as he continues to contemplate whether he can mount a late entry into the contest. The worst outcome for Clinton would have been a debate that exposed any weaknesses to Sanders or Martin O'Malley. That would have enticed Biden to swoop in and seize an opportunity. But she didn't let that happen. Instead, she showed what kind of fight the vice president would be in for if he decides to take the plunge, and she reassured donors and party leaders that a white knight isn't needed to rescue the party she's already here. Webb and Chafee Are Non-Factors Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee, the two former senators standing at the outer edges of the stage, looked like they didn't belong there at all. Webb is barely running a campaign and yet seemed stunned that he got stiffed on time. Chafee appeared nervous and was painfully exposed as a political chameleon someone who had run previously as a Republican and an independent. It was fair to give them a chance under the klieg lights, but it's highly unlikely either will see any movement in the polls as a result of Tuesday night. That serves up a difficult choice for sponsors of the remaining five Democratic debates, the next of which is a month from now in Des Moines, Iowa. Should Webb and Chafee be included, or is a debate pared down to the three top contenders more worthwhile? Copyright 2015 U.S. News & World Report | 5 | 94,629 | news |
China has hit back at the US in a row over marine territorial claims. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying alluded to the US when she blamed "some countries" for flexing "their military muscles again and again" in the South China Sea. Last week, US officials said they were considering sailing warships in an area around the Spratly island chain which China claims as territory. It has sparked tit-for-tat warnings between the two powers. China has been worrying its neighbours - and the US - by enlarging the series of tiny islands, reports the BBC's China analyst Michael Bristow. Washington believes Beijing is constructing military facilities, designed to reinforce its disputed claim to most of the region - a major shipping zone. China says its work is legal and needed to safeguard its sovereignty. 'Make no mistake' The row began when US officials said they were considering sending warships inside the 12-nautical-mile zones that China claims as territory around the Spratlys. That sparked strong words from China, with Ms Hua warning: "We will never allow any country to violate China's territorial waters and airspace in the Spratly Islands, in the name of protecting freedom of navigation and overflight." On Tuesday, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter expressed "strong concerns" over island-building, and defended Washington's plans. "Make no mistake, the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as we do around the world, and the South China Sea will not be an exception," he said at a news conference with the Australian foreign and defence ministers. "We will do that in the time and places of our choosing," he added, according to Reuters news agency. That in turn triggered Wednesday's rebuke from China. Asked about Mr Carter's comments, Ms Hua said: "I want to point out that some countries, in a region far from their own lands, have deployed offensive weaponry on a large scale and flexed their military muscles again and again in the South China Sea. "This is the biggest factor in the militarisation of the South China Sea. We hope the relevant countries cease hyping up the South China Sea issue and scrupulously abide by their promises not to take a position on the territorial disputes," she said, according to Reuters. US dilemma The US might have mounted sea patrols in this area, but not for several years, our analyst says - and not since China began its massive building programme in the South China Sea. A US military plane that flew near one of the islands in May was warned off - eight times. The US now has to decide whether to send in its ships and risk confrontation, or back down and look weak, our analyst says. Earlier this week, Vietnam criticised China's completion of two lighthouses in the South China Sea's Spratly islands, arguing they violated Vietnam's sovereignty. Beijing maintains the lighthouses will improve navigation. | 5 | 94,630 | news |
U.S. stocks stumbled Wednesday after a gloomy earnings forecast from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. weighed on shares of consumer-focused companies. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 157.14 points, or 0.9% to 16924.75. The S&P 500 lost 9.45 points, or 0.5% to 1994.24. The Nasdaq Composite fell 13.76, or 0.3%, to 4782.85. Wal-Mart shares tumbled 10.04%, or $6.70 to 60.03, - the lowest closing price since May 2012 - after the retailer predicted a sharp drop in earnings next year. Wal-Mart's tumble shaved almost 45 points off the Dow and was the company's biggest one-day percentage loss since January 1988. The outlook fuelled more selling in consumer stocks. Investors had already been grappling with weaker-than-expected U.S. retail sales growth of 0.1% in September. The S&P consumer staples index fell 1.1% while its consumer discretionary index dropped 1%. "The strength of the consumer in the U.S.…is being questioned," said Kate Warne, investment strategist at Edward Jones. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note dropped below 2% for the first time in two weeks as demand for haven assets rose. Yields fall as prices rise. Gold futures rose for a fourth session, adding 1.2% to end at $1,180.10 an ounce. Other retailers were not immune to the selloff. Target fell 1.69, or 3.3% to 49.11. Dollar General fell 2.86, or 4.21% to 65.11. Best Buy fell 2.21, or 6% to 34.83. "Retail investors and general consumers are uncertain and are anxious," said Omar Aguilar, chief investment officer for equities at Charles Schwab Investment Management. The U.S. economy continued to expand at a modest pace at the end of the third quarter, though activity slowed or declined in some pockets as the stronger dollar weighed on some employers, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday European shares followed Asian markets lower after data showed lower-than-expected Chinese inflation in September, a day after disappointing import and export data from China dented stocks around the world. The consumer-price index rose 1.6% in September from a year earlier, compared with a 2% rise in August. One outlier in Wednesday's broad decline, TripAdvisor, surged 17.03, or 25.5% to 83.72 after Priceline Group Inc. agreed to list some of its travel websites on TripAdvisor. Investors were also grappling with mixed earnings reports. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. shares ended 1.56, or 2.6% lower, at $59.99 after the bank missed analysts' third-quarter estimates. J.P. Morgan reported after market close on Tuesday. Bank of America Corp. shares rose 12 cents, or 0.8% to $15.64 after the bank beat analysts' expectations for third-quarter earnings. The Stoxx Europe 600 fell 0.9%, deepening losses from Tuesday. Most Asian indexes declined amid fears Beijing would miss its year-end growth target. The Shanghai Composite Index closed 0.9% lower, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost 0.7% and Japan's Nikkei Stock Average fell 1.9%. China's third-quarter growth figures are due for release on Monday. In currencies, the euro was recently up 0.8% against the dollar to $1.1474, while the dollar was 0.8% lower against the yen at ¥118.85. Brent crude oil was down 0.2% at $49.47 a barrel. Write to Leslie Josephs at [email protected] | 3 | 94,631 | finance |
It's easy to overlook appetizers on Thanksgiving Day - there are a lot of other dishes to manage, after all - but we'd argue this is a big mistake. Not only does that turkey almost always take longer to cook than anticipated, but the last thing that's needed on a (sometimes) tense holiday is a hangry family. Instead, bookmark (or pin) a couple of these appetizers that are perfect for the big day. Many can be made ahead, others are great last-minute options, and a few are more involved showstoppers, perfect for making when you're not in charge of the main spread. Rosemary-Sesame Pecans Get the recipe : rosemary-sesame pecans Greek-Yogurt-Based French Onion Dip Get the recipe : lightened-up french onion dip Cheesy Phyllo Crackers Get the recipe : cheesy phyllo crackers Cranberry Crostini Get the recipe : cranberry crostini Walnut and Honey Baked Brie Get the recipe : walnut and honey baked brie Smoky and Spicy Almonds Get the recipe : smoky and spicy almonds Spicy Deviled Eggs Get the recipe : spicy deviled eggs Pumpkin Goat Cheese Dip Get the recipe : pumpkin goat cheese dip Vegetarian Stuffed Mushrooms Get the recipe : vegetarian stuffed mushrooms Ham and Cheese Pinwheels Get the recipe : ham and cheese pinwheels Everything Bagel Goat Cheese Get the recipe : everything bagel goat cheese Baked Rosemary Beet Chips Get the recipe : baked rosemary beet chips Roasted Red Pepper and Bacon Goat Cheese Truffles Get the recipe : roasted red pepper and bacon goat cheese truffles Prosciutto-Wrapped Feta-Stuffed Dates Get the recipe : prosciutto-wrapped feta-stuffed dates Brie and Pear Toasts With Thyme and Honey Get the recipe : brie and pear toasts with thyme and honey Spicy Marinated Olives Get the recipe : spicy marinated olives Brie and Fig Jam Bites Get the recipe : brie and fig jam bites Apricot Jalapeño Spread Get the recipe : apricot jalapeño spread Sautéed Kale and Burrata Bruschetta Get the recipe : sautéed kale and burrata bruschetta Roasted Pumpkin Seed Hummus Get the recipe : roasted pumpkin seed hummus Parmesan, Black Pepper, and Thyme Crackers Get the recipe : parmesan, black pepper, and thyme crackers Crispy Sweet Potato Wontons With Cranberry Sauce Get the recipe : crispy sweet potato wontons with cranberry sauce Vegan Red Lentil Paté Get the recipe : vegan red lentil paté Hot Crab Dip Get the recipe : hot crab dip Peppery Ranch Cheese Ball Get the recipe : peppery ranch cheese ball Creamy Herb Dip Get the recipe : creamy herb dip Oven-Roasted Chestnuts Get the recipe : oven-roasted chestnuts Rosemary Cheddar Gorgonzola Pumpkin Seed Crackers Get the recipe : rosemary cheddar gorgonzola pumpkin seed crackers Marinated Goat Cheese With Olives Get the recipe : marinated goat cheese with olives Shrimp Cocktail Get the recipe : shrimp cocktail Cheese Plate Get the recipe : cheese plate Bacon-Wrapped Dates Get the recipe : bacon-wrapped dates Rosemary and Smoked Salt Roasted Almonds Get the recipe : rosemary and smoked salt roasted almonds Mushroom and Brie Bruschetta Get the recipe : mushroom and brie bruschetta Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Swirls Get the recipe : cranberry brie puff pastry swirls Herbed Cheese Straws Get the recipe : herbed cheese straws Warm Honey Fig Blue Cheese Dip Get the recipe : warm honey fig blue cheese dip Candied Bacon and Nuts Get the recipe : candied bacon and nuts Pepper Jelly Get the recipe : pepper jelly Apricot, Goat Cheese, and Almond Bites Get the recipe : apricot, goat cheese, and almond bites | 0 | 94,632 | foodanddrink |
The 2015 NFL season hasn't started off in a way Drew Brees expected, and the New Orleans Saints quarterback isn't pretending like everything is perfectly fine. However, per Katherine Terrell of The Times-Picayune , the 36-year-old said he's trying to take the negative feelings and turn them into something positive . "I mean (I'm) not really happy with the way things are going thus far. You could say I'm a little bit angry, disappointed, frustrated, chip on the shoulder. I am harnessing that into something positive." New Orleans has trudged to a 1-4 start, including one-possession losses to a pair of NFC South foes in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers. The Saints certainly hope to avoid a clean sweep during the first round of divisional matchups when the Atlanta Falcons come to town on Thursday. But, that won't be accomplished without much a turnaround on the offensive side of the ball. Through five games, Brees and Co. have managed just 20.6 points per contest, which ranks 21st in the NFL. Since the New Orleans defense isn't doing much to stop opponents the unit has allowed at least 26 points during four outings the onus is largely on Brees to excel. Thursday night (8:25 p.m. ET, CBS and NFL Network) will show whether or not Brees has successfully harnessed the team's shortcomings and created something more beneficial. | 1 | 94,633 | sports |
Uber has acknowledged that a flaw in its software caused it to leak personal data belonging to its drivers. The company said that about 700 of its "partners" in the US had been affected by the mistake. Exposed data included social security numbers, photos of driver licences, tax forms and other details, according to news site Motherboard, which first reported the issue. The error was discovered by the drivers themselves. "Whoah - went to upload new insurance docs and the documents page showed me thousands of people private info (social security numbers, home addresses, tax info). I screencapped it and sent to support," wrote one driver on the discussion site Reddit. It is not clear if anyone unconnected to the company was able to access the information before the problem was addressed. "We were notified about a bug impacting a fraction of our US drivers earlier this afternoon," Uber said in a statement. "Within 30 minutes, our security team had fixed the issue. "We'd like to thank the driver who drew it to our attention and apologise to those drivers whose information may have been affected. "Their security is incredibly important to Uber, and we will follow up with them directly." This is not the first time the US company has had to tackle a security issue involving its drivers. It previously acknowledged that in 2014 a hacker had been able to access a database containing current and former Uber drivers. | 5 | 94,634 | news |
Welcome to HTTP's and Q's, where we'll be answering your most pressing Internet etiquette questions Internet-iquette, if you will. Have a web-based moral dilemma that plagues you each time you unlock your home screen? Send your problem to [email protected], and it might be answered in the future. In the meantime, remember to type, click and swipe with caution. Question: When I look at someone's Facebook, should I be able to tell from their information, photos and status updates if they're currently in a relationship? And should a person's relationship status be evident on all of their social media platforms? Once the idea of "swiping right" became the potential start of a new relationship, all the old rules of dating effectively went out the window. It's the wild, wild, west out there, and we're armed with little more than our eyes, ears, and the vague hope that cute guy isn't planning to harvest and sell our internal organs on the Dark Net . That's why most of us look for whatever evidence exists about potential paramours by Googling their social media profiles. (Oh, don't act like you've never done it.) It's a fair assumption that someone is single if you meet them via a dating app (although that's not always true) Things get much more murky, however, when you try to size up a person's relationship status based on a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account. "Is that girl in his photo a girl friend or girlfriend ? She's appeared in three photos in the past five weeks," you maniacally think to yourself. "Is that when they started dating or is that when they DTR'd (defined the relationship), or is she a new friend?" It's crazy-making, for sure, but not irrational in this day and age when our selves are very much defined by the online persona we present. These seemingly inane thoughts have haunted many of us at some point, but there's a simple solution: Everyone should just make their relationship statuses obvious. Laurie Davis, the founder of online dating advice site eFlirt , advises online daters about how to best approach their strategy. She's seen it all when it comes to cyber questions and hiccups. That's why she's of the mind that the less ambiguity, the better. "A general majority approach social media for personal reasons, and your love life is part of your personal life," she told the Daily Dot in a recent phone chat. It isn't necessary to broadcast your entire relationship on your various accounts, she clarified, but it is a courtesy to your significant other and people who might be interested in you to make your status known. "So often on platforms like Facebook, for example, people may not choose a relationship status," she said. "I think it's best to choose one so it's clear...If you're not selecting something, it's important for you to post photos, post updates about your spouse. Make it clear to your followers. We all have followers that we don't 100% know IRL [in real life]." Some people aren't comfortable with even disclosing that relatively minor amount of their personal life; we have heard many friends in relationships say "it's no one's business whether or not I'm single." The problem with that argument is that it's kind of their business. "It is other people's business because other people might be hoping that you're single," Davis said. "There are so many gray lines online when it comes to relationships, and what other people's intentions are, you'll never know until they reveal it you. You don't have to let the intimate details out or share photos. But you at least should check the appropriate box." You definitely don't want that big reveal to come after you've put on your sassiest outfit and triple-checked your hair to make sure it falls just so... only to find that you're actually just at drinks for professional purposes. Or, worse, he or she is attracted to you and wanted to meet up because they like the attention and wanted to scope out what's out there without leaving the comfy confines of a committed relationship. Window shopping sucks for the person behind the window. Don't be that guy (or girl.) If a person publicly interacts with you via Twitter @ replies and favs, or Facebook and Instagram likes or comments, there's a possibility that they're flirting with you. But once someone slides into your private inbox (pun intended), that is unequivocal flirting. Let's just clear this up, once and for all: DM plus initiation of get-together equals date, unless explicitly otherwise stated. The only instance where it's okay to keep your personal life under lock and key is if you only use social media for professional purposes. Are you an avid LinkedIn user who loves to #network and talk about #brands? Do you use Twitter just to contact potential sources or get your news? Then it's okay to keep your details under wraps. The final word: when it comes to social media and relationship status, do us all a favor, and leave a small trail of crumbs that helps lead a potential suitor to the right conclusion. Illustration by Max Fleishman | 4 | 94,635 | lifestyle |
The Maple Leafs are the champions of something. Unfortunately, that something isn't something most teams covet. ESPN's Ultimate Standings announced the Leafs once again take home the title for the worst franchise in professional sports. It is the third time in the last four years that the Leafs held the ignominious title. "No franchise in the four major sports leagues charges more for delivering less ($139 total cost per game for a club that has failed to qualify for the playoffs in nine of the past 10 seasons)," ESPN claimed . It's not all bad news, however, as ESPN saw reason for Leafs fans to hope for a better future. "The dream management crew second-year team president Brendan Shanahan has assembled -- GM Lou Lamoriello and head coach Mike Babcock both arrived this summer -- means there is finally real cause for optimism in a city that calls itself the Hockey Capital of the World," ESPN wrote. Some Leafs fans did not seem to object to the team's status as the worst franchise in sports, as Toronto fan website Tip of the Tower said ESPN's complaints come as no surprise to anyone in the Toronto area. None of what McIntyre wrote is untrue. Truthfully, it's just a collection of common complaints the Leafs' faithful have discussed amongst each other for years. Over priced tickets, a corporate atmosphere at the ACC, years of heartbreak and losses, yeah, that sounds like the Leafs. (h/t Tip of the Tower ) MORE NEWS: Want stories delivered to you? Sign up for our NHL newsletters. | 1 | 94,636 | sports |
A woman claims her nephew broke her wrist when he jumped into her arms to hug her at his 8th birthday party. As Mara Montalbano (@maramontalbano) tells us, she didn't quite get the $127,000 in damages she was seeking. | 8 | 94,637 | video |
A man from Missouri attempted to put out an out-of-control fire by driving over it in a van full of gasoline and ammunition. If there was ever a candidate for the Darwin Awards, it would be this man from Missouri who spent his Tuesday afternoon attempting to put out an out-of-control fire by driving over it in a van full of gasoline and ammunition. Luckily, he survived, but lost his van, and perhaps dignity, to the flames. A Clay County sheriff's deputy was in the middle of a traffic stop when he saw thick black smoke on the horizon, the Kansas City Star reported. When the unnamed officer arrived on the scene, he found a van burning in a field with bullets exploding inside. The deputy also found the owner of the van watching it burn from a safe distance. The owner explained that he was burning some trash in the field when the blaze got out of control. He drove his van back and forth over the fire to try and extinguish it, however his tires soon caught on fire. Realizing the van had a full tank of gas and was loaded with firearm ammunitions, the owner abandoned his van to its Viking funeral. The Liberty Fire Department was called in to make sure the fire did not spread. The deputy didn't charge the man with any crimes, and the owner of the van didn't bother to fill out a police report. Apparently, he didn't think his insurance would cover the total loss of the vehicle. Follow MSN Autos on Facebook | 9 | 94,638 | autos |
Latvians are most likely to live in single parent households, the Maltese and Irish are less likely to get divorced and Germans like getting married a whole lot more than the French do. These are some of the demographic details that can be gleaned from the European Union's most recent data on its citizens' relationships and residence. Updated earlier this year, they've been represented in a series of intricately detailed maps and charts created by Eurostat . While some of the trends the data reveal are predictable for example that Catholic Southern Europe has higher proportions of married couple households other micro trends are intriguing. Take a look at the above map, for example, which shows the percentage of families that have a married couple at their core. At 71.2 percent of families across the E.U. total, this group still overwhelmingly predominates, but there are nonetheless striking differences in their distribution across the map. Southern Europe is keener on marriage than the north, with particular strongholds for marriage in Greece, Southern Italy, and Northern Portugal. In only five regions did less than 50 percent of families have married couples as their nucleus. Three of these are in Europe politically but not geographically the French overseas territories of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Guyane while the remaining two were both in Britain: Glasgow and Inner London East. Overall, families not centered on married couples were far more prevalent in big cities, with the notable exception of Ireland. Elsewhere, the contrast between France and Germany is striking. Almost all regions of Germany have married couples forming at least 70 percent of family nuclei, with many regions pushing over 80 percent, while neighboring France and French-speaking Belgium show far lower levels. The explanation for this may be partly historic. Since the revolution the concubinage system has accorded some rights to unmarried French couples, a history built on by the adoption of civil partnerships for both opposite and same-sex partners in 1999. This history has lessened the stigma of unmarried cohabitation and put other legally recognized options on the table. As this second map shows, Northern Europe has more single parent households, though not necessarily in exactly the same spots where married couples are less common. Here the Baltic States, led by Latvia, show the highest numbers of lone parent households, followed by Slovenia and the U.K. When compared to the marriage map, there are some interesting unexpected outliers. While Poland shows consistently high levels of married couple family nuclei across the country, the number of single parent families is noticeably higher in regions of the country that were part of Germany before 1945. Reasons for this aren't immediately obvious these regions are relatively wealthier, so it could be that going it alone as a parent is simply more feasible there. Elsewhere, there are also heavier single parent concentrations in Northern Ireland west of the River Bann , a relatively poorer area that has seen its traditional industries decline sharply and has been left behind in the U.K.'s tentative economic recovery. This third map shows where divorced or widowed people who have not entered into new partnerships are located. They are most heavily concentrated in former Warsaw Pact countries, notably Hungary, the Baltic States and, to a lesser extent Bulgaria. This may be partly due to differing mortality rates a feature that's noticeably skewed the gender balance in Latvia , for example. Widespread migration from these regions might have also contributed to gender imbalances that mean partner choices dwindle, though as this map from 2008 suggests, it's actually Eastern Germany where the ratio of men to women has been more seriously skewed. Regional disparities in the proportion of one-person households Finally, the above chart shows exactly where the most E.U. citizens live alone, which accounts for just under a third (31.4) of all dwellings. The horizontal green lines represent national averages Finland has the highest proportion of solo occupants, at 41 percent of all homes. The chart also shows the important differences between residence patterns in major cities and other regions. The large green dots represent capital regions while the smaller dots represent other parts of the country. The pattern varies greatly. In Spain and Sweden, for example, people living alone are actually more common outside the country's capitals, while in Denmark and Germany they are far more common in the capital regions. Of all the E.U.'s cities, people living alone constitute the highest proportion of households in Brussels and Berlin, where almost half consisted of single occupants. Vienna, North Holland (the region including Amsterdam) and the Helsinki and Copenhagen regions were all close behind with between 40 and 45 percent of households consisting of single people. It's likely that big cities attract single people for the obvious reason that life there affords them more opportunities than in more family-oriented countrysides. There may also be economic reasons, however. The cities mentioned above are all relatively affluent or have good average rent-to-earnings ratios. Berlin's rents for example, are relatively low by European big city standards, while the number of smaller apartments available is fairly high. This means single people simply have greater opportunities to live alone than in, say, London, where they are far more likely to co-rent with roommates. | 5 | 94,639 | news |
Consumers are loving all-day breakfast at McDonald's. Perception of the McDonald's (MCD) brand hit its highest point in two years, according to YouGov BrandIndex , a consumer research firm that keeps tabs on the fast-food chain. The Golden Arches' recent advertisement campaign for all-day breakfast appears to be the catalyst for the chain's increased positive brand perception, the firm's research shows. "In our best judgment, it would seem like those events are related and that's what would explain some of the recent sentiment improvement in McDonald's brand scores," Ted Marzilli, CEO of YouGov BrandIndex, told CNBC. People who love breakfast at fast-food chains were clearly drawn to McDonald's big move. Among adults over the age of 18 who eat breakfast at a restaurant at least once a month, some 46 percent of them say they might eat at McD's for their next meal. That's up from 39 percent in July. This spike in brand scores could last "anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple months depending on how big of a phenomenon this becomes and how much investment McDonald's puts behind it," said Marzilli. McDonald's all-day-breakfast marks its biggest initiative in years a move aimed both at answering consumer demand for breakfast throughout the day and helping boost traffic at the massive, struggling chain. The restaurant's hashbrowns and Egg McMuffins have long dominated the breakfast category. Within McDonald's own lineup, breakfast accounts for roughly 25 percent of sales and 40 percent of profit in the United States alone. McDonald's has reached its highest buzz score in 2015, up 17 points since the beginning of August and 10 points over the average fast-food chain, YouGov notes. "The consideration scores, which are not easy to move, but we've seen that upward trend since the launch of the all-day breakfast, and that's really encouraging news for McDonald's," Marzilli said. "Particularly, in the face of declining sales over the last year or so. That doesn't necessarily mean that they are going to sustain it, but if I were McDonald's I would be pretty happy so far." | 3 | 94,640 | finance |
TUCSON The federal checkpoints on highways near the Mexican border, with trained dogs and expensive scanning equipment, are supposed to stop drugs and immigrants without legal status from heading north. But newly released complaints against United States Customs and Border Protection paint a disquieting portrait of the interactions between agents and many of those they stopped and searched. Drivers repeatedly accused checkpoint border agents of improper gunplay, racial profiling, excessive roughness and verbal abuse. Last year, in southeastern Arizona, a military veteran said his children shuddered with fear in the back seat as agents repeatedly asked him if the children were really his. A woman at a checkpoint between Phoenix and Tucson said an agent threatened to use a stun gun on her brother in 2012 after he asked why their vehicle was being searched. And at a California checkpoint in 2013, a man said an agent approached him, hand on his holstered weapon, and demanded: "How would you like to have a gun pointed at your face?" Sign Up For NYT Now's Morning Briefing Newsletter The accounts were culled from nearly 6,000 pages of complaints, arrest statistics and other records released in recent months to the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona by Customs and Border Protection's overseer, the Department of Homeland Security, after the A.C.L.U. sued the department for access. Collectively, the documents, detailing encounters between motorists and border agents from January 2011 to August 2014, portray an agency whose fractured oversight system has enabled at least some agents working along the southern border to stretch the limits of law and professional courtesy while rarely facing meaningful consequences. Among the 142 complaints obtained by the A.C.L.U., only one seems to have resulted in disciplinary action: An agent received a one-day suspension for unjustifiably stopping a vehicle, apparently driven by the son of a retired Border Patrol agent. James Lyall, an A.C.L.U. lawyer dedicated to the border, said the records not only confirmed the types of stories his office regularly hears from border residents, but also suggested that Customs and Border Protection has underreported the number of civil rights complaints it has received. For example, in reports to Congress for the 2012 fiscal year, oversight agencies listed three complaints accusing agents of violating the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, according to an A.C.L.U. report. At the same time, the records the A.C.L.U. received include 81 such accusations filed during the same period against agents assigned to the Border Patrol's Tucson and Yuma sectors, or only two of its 20 regional divisions along the southern and northern borders. "C.B.P.'s own records paint a disturbing picture of lawlessness and impunity, in which the agency continually operates without any regard for accepted best practices, and agents commit widespread abuses knowing they won't be held accountable," Mr. Lyall said. Agency officials declined to respond to requests for comment on the complaints, directing reporters to remarks from Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske that highlight his effort to make openness and accountability top priorities when he took over the agency in March 2014. One agency official held up Friday's arraignment of a Border Patrol agent, Lonnie Swartz, on the cross-border killing of a 16-year-old boy, José Antonio Elena Rodriguez, as an example that no one is above the law. But civil rights lawyers, along with members of Congress from border towns in Texas and Arizona, have long argued that Customs and Border Protection works according to its own rules, resisting calls for greater transparency and accountability. As evidence, they note that since Jan. 1, 2010, 33 people have died in encounters with border and customs agents but that so far, Agent Swartz has been the only one to face federal criminal charges. (He pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in Federal District Court here on Friday.) Many of the families of those who were killed have also complained that the agency has fought hard to keep the names of agents implicated in the killings under seal; José Antonio's family had to sue to learn Agent Swartz's identity . The agency has also been slow to investigate when shots are fired but no injuries are confirmed, and failed to track the number of stops at checkpoints or by roving patrols unless the stops result in arrests. A 2013 report by the nonprofit Police Executive Research Forum said such "no harm, no foul" procedures can lead to a "tacit approval of bad practices." Mr. Kerlikowske, in response, has convened panels and pushed for changes in the way the agency does business. In particular, he has championed the recommendations released in June by the Integrity Advisory Panel, of which Commissioner William J. Bratton of New York is vice chairman. Its recommendations for the agency ranged from basic "emphasize that its overarching responsibility is to preserve human life" to practical, such as enforcing requirements that all uniformed personnel wear visible name tags at all times and improving Spanish-language abilities at its call centers, where many of the abuse complaints are logged. "I am taking steps to make transparency and accountability hallmarks of my tenure at C.B.P.," Mr. Kerlikowske said in April during a speech at the Brookings Institution in Washington. "The public's trust in us depends on it." This month he announced the latest of several policy updates, calling for proper safekeeping of the personal effects of migrants apprehended while illegally crossing the border, adequate standards of hygiene and temperature in holding cells, and specific language on gender identity, which did not exist. On Tuesday, the agency reported that use-of-force incidents dropped by 26 percent over the past fiscal year to 768 in the 2015 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, from 1,037 in the 2014 fiscal year. There were 28 incidents involving firearms in the 2015 fiscal year, one fewer than in the previous fiscal year. In a statement, Commissioner Kerlikowske said that he was "encouraged by the progress," but that "more can be done." Civil rights advocates and elected officials say the agency still has a long way to go. The civil rights complaints filed by motorists at checkpoints and roving patrols in Arizona and southeastern California that are part of the A.C.L.U. records as well as hundreds of other cases found in complaint records obtained independently by The New York Times are full of accusations of lengthy detentions and damaged property, such as ripped carpets and seats as agents presumably searched for drugs. Often, drivers claimed that the agents' aggressive reactions were prompted by a simple question: Why had their vehicle been picked for an inspection? Representative Raúl M. Grijalva, Democrat of Arizona, whose district includes border communities from Nogales to Yuma, said his office has received numerous such complaints from constituents, who speak of "being frustrated" and "losing confidence" over the Border Patrol's "justifications and judgment." "Citizens, permanent legal residents, people who have lived in the borderlands for generations that's who's making these complaints," said Mr. Grijalva, who added that he also had his car searched this year at a checkpoint south of Tucson. "People make the complaints, but their complaints go nowhere. There's no acknowledgment, absolutely no response." Many of the complaints that he and the A.C.L.U. have received make allegations of ethnic profiling. One, by a lawyer for the City of Nogales, says, "How many non-Hispanic-looking persons get subjected to non-immigration questions? How many declarations of U.S. citizenship by non-Hispanic-looking persons are subject to further questioning? The tired excuse of 'the dog alerted' has worn incredibly thin as a reason to search Hispanics." Agents rely heavily on drug-sniffing dogs to inspect the thousands of cars that go through the Border Patrol's busiest checkpoints, tollbooth-like way stations near the border. But the agency does not seem to keep track of when dogs alert, how often they alert and how often their alerts are wrong. It records an alert only when it results in an arrest. Jane Bambauer, an associate professor of law at the University of Arizona, said this type of detailed record-keeping was "critical to accountability" because it would allow the agency to assess if a program is working or not. "If they're only reporting when their hunches turn out to be correct, we can't say if their hunches have been reliable," said Ms. Bambauer, who joined the A.C.L.U. in its public records request, which the Homeland Security Department ignored until it was sued. "What you end up with is a pretty aggressive agency that doesn't know how to measure the effectiveness of all the power that it wields." | 5 | 94,641 | news |
Following a Dutch report into the cause of the Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 crash, Russian officials are appealing for a new probe into last year's downing citing diagreements in the results. (Oct. 14) | 8 | 94,642 | video |
John Newman John Newman thinks Sam Smith's Bond song could do with being more "energetic". The 'Tiring Game' hitmaker thinks the 007 franchise's theme tunes need to represent the action films genre and break free from being ballads all the time. Asked what he thinks of Sam's 'Writing's On The Wall', he said:"It's alright. I'd just quite like to hear an energetic Bond song soon. "I know it's not the history of a Bond song but I wouldn't want it to go into a place that becomes ballads every time. It would be nice to have an energetic action one because it is an action film." The 25-year-old soul singer also said he would definitely be up for writing a Bond theme but it would have to be a a "bit different" to the traditional ones such as, 'Skyfall' and 'Diamonds Are Forever' and he would want to take his time on it and not just come up with something in minutes - as Sam said he did with the song. He told Digital Spy: "I'd love to have a bash at it. I'd want to make something energetic and a bit different ... and something that takes longer than 20 minutes to write." Meanwhile, asked what it's like being compared to the the 'Stay With Me' hitmaker, John said it's "amazing". He added: "It's always been amazing to be compared to him because his success has been incredible and his climb has been incredible. "I was on the same train as him for quite a while in terms of the rise to success until it really kicked off in America for him. I'm proud to see him do well because I think he's a nice guy." | 6 | 94,643 | entertainment |
If you wake up with Bambi-like lashes, then more power to you. But if you're like the rest of the general population and need a little help in the lash department, these tips from Courtney Akai , owner of Courtney Akai Lash Boutique in NYC, and Jolie Martin, director and head aesthetician at Skinney MedSpa , will help you achieve fuller, more luscious eyelashes in no time. Here's what women who have great lashes do: 1. They condition their lashes nightly with oils. You can apply cold-pressed, unrefined oil such as Marula or castor oil from the roots to tips of your lashes to strengthen them. (Try Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil .) Both oils will hydrate lashes, but castor may even help make them longer: "Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid and essential fatty acids, which absorb into your lash line, accelerate blood circulation, and help promote hair growth," Martin says. Use a clean finger coated in the oil to apply it to your lashes, or dip a throw-away spoolie brush into the oil and swipe it on that way. 2. They use a lash growth serum. Lash growth cycles are anywhere from 30 to 60 days, Akai says, and if your lashes are fragile and dry, they could fall out prematurely. Applying a growth serum, like RevitaLash or GrandeLash-MD , helps to prevent brittleness and breakage. 3. They take Biotin, a type of B vitamin. Biotin can help promote strong hair, skin, and nails. Talk to your doctor about it if you're curious; they can recommend the proper dosage for you. 4. They curl their lashes before applying mascara . If you apply mascara and then curl your lashes, you run the risk of your lashes sticking to the lash curler and getting pulled out when you release the curler. Also, if you don't properly remove your mascara at night and then try to re-curl them in the morning, the leftover mascara can make your lashes dry and brittle, causing them to break when you go to curl them. It's also best to curl your lashes when they're clean and makeup-free. 5. They heat their eyelash curler with a blow-dryer. This helps lashes curl more easily and hold the shape longer.Blow warm air onto the lash curler with your blow-dryer until the lash curler heats up. Wait until it cools slightly (test the warmth on the back of your hand first to make sure it won't burn you), and then curl your lashes as normal. This trick creates curled lashes the same way curling your hair with a curling iron does. 6. They rotate the angle of the eyelash curler for an even more intense curl. To create a big lash curl, clamp the lashes at the very base, press the curler together lightly, and hold the lashes in place for a few seconds. Completely release the clamp and move it about halfway up the lash hairs while turning the curler at an angle parallel to the ground. Clamp and hold again. Finally, move the curler to the tip of the lashes, and give one final press, turning the lash curler almost upright. 7. They only pump their eyelash curler twice. Pumping your lash curler more than two times can make your lashes look indented and crimped rather than curled. 8. They use a moisturizing mascara, with ingredients like panthenol and beeswax, to keep their lashes hydrated. Try Rodial GlamoLash Mascara XXL , which contains both aforementioned lash-hydrating ingredients. 9. They dust baby powder over their eyelashes between the first and second coats of mascara. Translucent powder or baby powder has grip, so it will stick to your lashes in between each coat of mascara, making your lashes appear more voluminous. 10. They remove their mascara gently using light downward motions. Rubbing your eyes side-to-side can rip your lashes out and even can contribute to crow's feet over time. Gently swiping your eye makeup off in a downward motion helps keep your lashes intact and won't cause wrinkles. Just be sure to hold the cleansing pad on your eyes for a few seconds so the solution can do its magic before you start wiping the mascara off. 11. They change their mascara every three months. It's important to always use a bacteria-free formula to accentuate your lashes. Every time you pull your mascara wand out and push it back in to get more formula on the brush, it pushes air into the tube. This is what dries out the formula and can transfer bacteria onto it. After three months (if you're using it on a regular basis, your mascara should be low anyhow), get a fresh formula to avoid a clumpy, dried out application - or worse, an eye infection. 12. They wrap false lashes around the handle of a makeup brush. This gives the strips some curve and will form to the shape of your eye more easily. If you can't get the ends of your lash strips to stay glued down, try giving them a little curl first to prevent them from sticking up while you apply them. For the full how-to on applying false lashes, click here . 13. They choose the right adhesive when using falsies. The adhesive is really important, Akai stresses. And if you use one that's too strong, it can rip out your lashes when you take off the falsies. She recommends Duo Glue in "Black" (clear can look crusty on your eyes when it dries, whereas black will just look like liner). 14. They curl their natural lashes and apply mascara before putting on false lashes. This allows your real lashes to blend in seamlessly with the falsies. Then, when you press the false lashes on, blend your real and fake ones together with your fingertips before applying more mascara. This leaves you with natural-looking lashes. 15. If they get professional lash extensions, they opt for the '"Volume Technique." This is when the lash expert adheres two to six lightweight individual lashes to one natural eyelash, creating a super-full finish without weighing lashes down, which causes them to fall out prematurely. 16. They don't play with their lashes or sleep on their face. This goes for real or fake lashes, since messing with or lying on them will always make them come out faster than they should. But, if you're wearing false lashes, this especially applies. Akai says to always sleep on your back or side - that way, the friction on the pillowcase won't rip one (or more!) of your lashes out when you're asleep. 17. They brush their lash extensions with a spoolie brush. Sure, lash extensions look amazing, but they're high maintenance. And if you want yours to look amazing 24/7, Akai suggests gently brushing them at least twice a day with a spoolie brush to keep them groomed. Otherwise, as they grow out, they can become wonky and turn all different directions. 18. They clean their lash extensions regularly with baby shampoo. Mix a pea-size amount of baby shampoo with some water and then use a tightly-packed contouring eyeshadow brush to massage the cleaning combo onto the base of your lash line. This will help clean the lash extensions, preventing bacteria buildup and, in the worst case, causing an infection. For super-sensitive eyes, Akai suggests using OccuSoft Eye Wash Solution . You can also use an oil-based cleanser depending on the adhesive your lash expert uses. | 4 | 94,644 | lifestyle |
At least 30 managers were involved in Volkswagen's emissions test cheating, German magazine Spiegel reported on Wednesday, citing internal and external investigations. VW's U.S. Chief Executive Michael Horn last week blamed "a couple of software engineers" for installing the software that defeated emissions tests and said it was not a corporate decision. Volkswagen declined to comment on the Spiegel report. Spiegel, citing preliminary results of probes by law firm Jones Day and Volkswagen itself, said the dozens of managers will be suspended. It cited a person familiar with the matter as saying the circle of those found to have been involved and who knew about the cheating could widen further. New VW CEO Matthias Mueller is expected to speak to top management on Thursday about the current state of the investigations and the strategic way forward. | 3 | 94,645 | finance |
Authorities say former NBA star Lamar Odom, the ex-husband of reality TV personality Khloe Kardashian, was hospitalized after he was found unresponsive at a Nevada brothel. Linda So reports. | 8 | 94,646 | video |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. Police say three students have been wounded by gunfire, including one shot in the head, at an off-campus party near Tennessee State University in Nashville. Metro Nashville Police Lt. Danny Haley told The Tennessean ( http://tnne.ws/1X2DhQl ) that officers went to a home across the street from the campus after receiving 911 calls of shots fired. Haley says witnesses told officers the shooting began soon after three armed males arrived at the home and were turned away from the party. Haley says the victims were all students from Tennessee universities between 19 and 20 years old. He says the student shot in the head was in critical condition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center while the others had non-life-threatening injuries. Police say they are seeking three black males. | 5 | 94,647 | news |
U.S. stocks traded lower Wednesday as investors digested mixed earnings and soft data. Wal-Mart (WMT) plunged more than 9 percent as the greatest weight on the Dow Jones industrial average, which traded below the psychologically key level of 17,000 for the first time since Oct. 8. The index traded about 80 points lower after briefly losing more than 100 points in mid-morning trade. The retail giant said Wednesday that it expects sales to be flat in fiscal year 2016 . The S&P 500 fell below the psychologically key level of 2,000 in intraday trade for the first time since Oct. 8. Financials and consumer discretionary fell about 0.5 percent each as the greatest decliners in the index. U.S. retail sales barely rose in September as cheaper gasoline weighed on service station receipts, while producer prices posted their biggest decline in 8 months. "The economic data (was) a bit disappointing and plays in to the Fed staying on hold, probably for the balance of the year," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Rockwell Global Capital. U.S. equities opened Wednesday trading mixed, with the S&P 500 near the flatline and the Nasdaq composite higher, while the Dow Jones industrial average was negative. August business inventories remained unchanged while economists expected a 0.1 percent increase. "Inventory growth has slowed to zero for two months straight as of August, a come down from the Q2 juiced GDP number," Peter Boockvar, chief market analyst at The Lindsey Group, said in a note. The U.S. Federal Reserve's latest Beige Book is scheduled for release at 2:00 p.m. "I think the Beige Book comes and goes and doesn't change the Fed's narrative at all," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Wunderlich Securities. Treasury yields traded lower after the data, with the 10-year briefly dipping below 2 percent and the 2-year yield at 0.56 percent. The U.S. dollar held about half a percent lower against major world currencies, with the euro higher above $1.14 and the yen at 119.35 yen against the dollar. Oil traded slightly lower, with crude near $46 a barrel and Brent around $49 a barrel. "We're just going to be in a trading range with oil," Cardillo said. Following on from JPMorgan's disappointing results late Tuesday, Bank of America reported earnings that beat analysts' expectations. Meanwhile, BlackRock said its third-quarter profits fell 8 percent. Wells Fargo also reported earnings that beat expectations. Overseas, equities were lower after weaker-than-expected Chinese inflation data also added to concerns about the health of the world's second-biggest economy. China's consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.6 percent in September from a year earlier, against forecasts of a 1.8 percent rise from a Reuters poll and following August's 2 percent gain. China's share markets slid into negative territory in the afternoon trading session, with the Shanghai Composite down nearly 1 percent. Major indices in Europe traded about half a percent lower. In mid-morning trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 33 points, or 0.2 percent, at 17,048, with JPMorgan Chase (JPM) the greatest decliner and DuPont (DD) leading advancers. The S&P 500 traded down 4 points, or 0.22 percent, at 1,999, with financials leading five sectors lower and utilities the greatest advancer. The Nasdaq traded down 14 points, or 0.3 percent, at 4,782. Apple (AAPL) fell more than 1.5 percent and the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) (IBB) clung to slight gains. The CBOE Volatility index (VIX) (.VIX) , widely considered as the best gauge for volatility, traded just below 18. Advancers were a touch ahead of decliners on the New York Stock Exchange, with an exchange volume of 176 million and a composite volume of 741 million in morning trade. Gold futures rose $8.90 to $1,174.70 an ounce as of 10:06 a.m. On tap this week: Wednesday Earnings: Netflix, ASML Holding, PNC Financial Services 2:00 pm: Fed's Beige Book Thursday Earnings: Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, UnitedHealth, US Bancorp, Schlumberger, Mattel, Advanced Micro Devices, Philip Morris, BB&T, Blackstone, Charles Schwab, WD-40 8:30 am: Consumer price index 8:30 am: Jobless claims 8:30 am: Empire State manufacturing survey 10:00 am: Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey 10:30 am: Natural gas inventories 10:30 am: New York Fed President William Dudley speaks 11:00 am: Oil inventories Friday Earnings: GE, Honeywell, Comerica, Kansas City Southern, SunTrust 9:15 am: Industrial production 10:00 am: JOLTS 10:00 am: Consumer sentiment 10:00 am: Atlanta Fed business inflation expectations 1:00 pm: Oil rig count 4:00 pm: Treasury International Capital | 3 | 94,648 | finance |
Gun bought at store used to shoot cops | 5 | 94,649 | news |
In spring 2014, a year before Gwyneth Paltrow failed the food stamp challenge, a masters student at New York University was trying to find a nonprofit that would make use of her project: a cookbook of cheap, easy-to-follow recipes benefitting low-income families or anyone looking to trim the grocery bill. When no groups took her on, Leanne Brown posted a PDF of the book online so that anyone could download it for free. A few weeks later, the book landed on a popular thread on the social network Reddit, which led to so many downloads it crashed her Web site. After seeing the wide interest, Brown, who had moved to New York City from Canada, launched a Kickstarter campaign so that she could distribute hard copies of the book. She established a buy-one-give-one model, where each purchase leads to another copy of the book being sent to a family on a tight budget. She asked for $10,000 and raised $144,000, allowing her to publish more than 40,000 copies of the book the bulk of which were donated or sold for $4 each to nonprofits. People can still download the book from her Web site for free it has been downloaded more than 900,000 times but Brown is also partnering with Workman Publishing to distribute the latest version of the book, called " Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day ," on a wider scale. She recently met with The Washington Post to demonstrate one of her recipes and to talk about which items people should put in their grocery carts if they want to save money. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Have you always enjoyed cooking? So I've always been into social justice, but the thing I enjoyed personally the most was to cook. But I never wanted to be a chef. Part of that is because I love to put food in front of people, but I find it 10 times more satisfying to show them here's how you make it and have them re-create it themselves. What peaked your interest in nutrition for low-income families? I think moving to the United States from Canada was a part of it, because we don't have a SNAP program in Canada, so it stuck out. Over 46 million people in the United States are on food stamps right now. The population of Canada is 35 million people, so it struck me as a pretty big deal. And that's people who are on food stamps, let alone all the people who can't sign up or won't sign up for food stamps because it's too arduous. Seniors who are on fixed income, students, there are so many other people who could benefit from that situation. How did you come to the number of eating for under $4 a day? That is the average amount that a person living on food stamps has to work with per day. I started out calling this the SNAP cookbook, but then I realized anyone outside of my policy world would be like "what the heck is that?" So I decided after several months that "Good and Cheap" would be the main title, and that the subtitle being "Eat Well on $4 a Day" was much more inclusive without the sort of stigma of food stamps, in particular. How do you get the books to the people who need it? I initially thought we'll work with a small nonprofit in New York. But when thousands of people all over the place started donating, I thought, "I can't just give them away in New York." So we decided to open it up to nonprofits. It's at schools and recreation centers and farmers markets and, of course, food banks, which are probably the most common. There is so much more: all kinds of clinics, in some cases insurance markets that do a lot of Medicaid work. Libraries, like crazy. A few people have put on classes at a local library and gotten a case and given them out at the end of the class. Is there any plan for wider distribution of the cookbook for low-income families? Now I'm working with Workman Publishing, and they've agreed to continue the model of buy-one-give-one. Our donation partner is a group called Access Wireless. They are located in Cincinnati, and they're a lifeline service provider. The program has been around since the 1980s, the Reagan era. They came to us because they work with the grocery chain Kroger, and when they found out about the book they were really excited. They warehouse all the donated books for us, and they send them out. At this point they've sent out more than 10,000. What are the key changes that people can make to cut down how much they spend on food? The first thing is to embrace cooking. Get into it. It will absolutely save you money even if you do it without a thought. The granddaddy of all tips is to buy food you can use in multiple ways. You know when you get a recipe and think "Oh gosh, I don't have any of these things." If you go to a store and are buying 30 things and only using like a teaspoon of each thing, that is not an efficient way to shop and to cook. [ 7 foods you're buying that you could make more cheaply at home ] Are there certain recipes that can help people reduce waste? One of my favorite dishes to talk about is the crustless quiche. We skip the crust because it's a little bit of extra cost and it's got a lot of butter in it, which can get expensive. You look in your fridge and you go "what do I have in here?" It can be whatever is left over from all the other stuff you've done. Eggs go with everything. It can be leftover chicken, it can be the wilted, kind of sad looking vegetables you wouldn't want to put in a salad you can put it in there. Then the egg custard is just eggs, some type of dairy, a little bit of cheese. Mix it all together and pour it over the top and bake it. And it's a fancy, sort of special feeling dish. It's great hot, it's great cold. What items should people always have in their pantry? Don't think of everything in terms of absolute cheapness, but in how much value it gives you. Butter has more innate value than things like margarine and vegetable oils can. You don't need as much of it and it adds flavor. Eggs are such a great thing to have around. They're one of the great sources of protein for your dollar. I really like to have some type of a dried grain, whatever your favorite is. At least a couple. Oats are so tremendously inexpensive. Rice is fantastic if you like that. But then, maybe, bread if that's what you prefer. I like dried beans over can beans, depending on the cost. Dried tends to be much cheaper, and it's just a new habit you need to set up. Then some of your favorite dried spices, start to slowly build that up. I also have a few other key things. I like keeping garlic around. Lemons and herbs as well. And then seasonal fruits and vegetables. Just go with what's in season. In general, that is what's going to bring you great variety to your diet. When is it smart to buy food in bulk? Generally anything that isn't going to go bad. If you like rice, then get the giant bag of rice because it's so much cheaper. Spices are something that are great to buy in bulk. The price per pound is usually going to be much more affordable than what you would get in the little plastic containers. Then potatoes and onions, certain types of vegetables that will last pretty well. Or even apples. You can buy a bag of those, but unless you have a plan for everything, don't go super nuts. How has this experience with the book changed your grocery habits? I have become a lot more conscious of what really is the best value. All these simple changes add up: buying the bunch of spinach rather than the beautiful washed bag, which is double the price. Buying the one-pound-bag of carrots rather than one pound of baby carrots. Getting cans of tomatoes and garlic instead of jars of pasta sauce. All of those things will add up. And they're not difficult things to do, they're just new habits to get into. A lot of times the excuse people give for not cooking more is that they don't have the time. How much did you think about time when coming up with your recipes? I prioritize cost and enjoyment, and I try to just provide a good variety of recipes. Some of them take longer, like making your own tortillas from scratch. But you can do it on a weekend and then have them. And others are incredibly quick. I think that once you make a habit of it, you'll actually want to spend a little more time on it. I think the bigger time barrier, from talking to so many people, is almost more to do with the shopping and getting the food in your house and setting up your pantry and having the stuff ready to go. Because once you're in the kitchen, you can have really great food in 20 minutes. Are some of these strategies better for families versus single people? I think it's harder for single people. A family can buy larger amounts of certain things so that you can have more variation from day to day. The problem there is the intensity of needing to feed such a large number of people. And then it's making sure everyone has a job. It shouldn't be one person's job to put dinner on the table for everyone. Maybe one person's job is to cook, and someone else does the cleaning, and someone else can pick up the stuff. It just makes it a lot more reasonable and healthy. Meat is generally more expensive, so how did you balance that factor when including it in your book? There's just much less of it. A lot of recipes use it as the main component, but for most of them it's kind of a flavoring. For most cooking in the world, meat is really kind of a flavoring. Like in a pasta carbonara, you have bacon and it adds tremendous flavor. It's wonderful, but it's not the steak and potatoes, which is pretty unsustainable, and it's not very good for us. And you say that meat is not the only form of protein. No! Of course there are eggs and tofu and all these other things. If you want meat you can certainly pay, you just need to make sure it's not the center of your meal or you're not going to have very much left over. So if you get a chicken, get the whole chicken. Roast it. Make sure to keep some of it and use it for stir fry, have it in your rice and beans.And make stock out of it. Just make sure to use it wisely and use every last bit of it. Any other thoughts? I want to tell the stories of all the people who write to me and tell me really incredible things about their lives. There's so much stigma around the food stamp program and I think the best way to combat that is just to tell their stories. There was this woman I met in Seattle who said, "Wouldn't it be great if food stamps, instead of being a mark of shame, were a badge of honor?" Yes! I don't think I can change that, but I hope I can tell more stories and empower people to tell more stories. Read more: The financial habits Americans struggle with most The most expensive cities in the U.S. 10 flavorful or nutritious foods that every cook should splurge on | 3 | 94,650 | finance |
Arriaga, Mexico - Guadalupe Aguirre is preparing lunch for about 20 migrants napping in front of the television, trying to recuperate before continuing their quest to reach the United States. Aguirre, 33, from western El Salvador, is a migrant herself. Aguirre, an admin worker and her boyfriend Juan Soriano, 26, a bus driver, were forced to flee after receiving death threats that they believed to be genuine and imminent. They left behind three children. The couple arrived at the hostel in Arriaga, a dusty town in Mexico's southern state of Chiapas, after a gruelling 11-day journey by land and sea from the Guatemalan border. The first leg of their passage through Guatemala was relatively uneventful. The trouble started as soon as they crossed the picturesque River Suchiate into Mexico. The country's authorities detained and deported almost 170,000 Central American migrants from July 2014 to July 2015 - double the number from the previous year. Mexico's clampdown on undocumented migrants was launched amid pressure from the United States, as it struggled to cope with a surge of unaccompanied children from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador seeking refuge at its border. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto announced measures known as the Southern Border Plan - or Plan Frontera Sur in Spanish - shortly after his US counterpart Barack Obama declared the surge in migration to be a humanitarian crisis in July 2014. Pena Nieto pledged to curtail illegal migration in order to protect people from predatory criminal gangs and the dangerous freight trains that thousands of men, women and children were boarding in Arriaga. Since then, about 5,000 Mexican federal police, army, and navy officers have been deployed to help stem the flow of northward-bound migrants. Along the 290-kilometre stretch between the Suchiate and Arriaga Rivers, there are now 11 checkpoints and mobile anti-immigration teams are operating across the country. The US State Department has provided $86m to train the security forces and modernise inspection and communication equipment. For the US, the policy has been a success as the number of unaccompanied children and families at its border has dropped by half. Its migrant crisis is ostensibly over and rarely makes headlines anymore. 'Couldn't find water' But the deadly mix of grinding poverty, extreme violence, and corruption in Central America's northern triangle means desperate people continue to do desperate things to escape. More than 24,000 Salvadorans were deported from Mexico and the US in the first six months of 2015, according to official Salvadoran figures obtained by Al Jazeera. There are currently an average of 20 murders each day in El Salvador, making this the country's most violent period since the end of its civil war in 1992. As a result, many keep trying to migrate despite the risk of gangs, cartels and authorities in Mexico. No one knows how many of those deported end up dead. Aguirre and her partner decided to walk instead of taking buses in order to avoid the immigration checkpoints. Some drivers hand over migrants to immigration officials, Al Jazeera was told. "We walked from 7am until dark following the old railway line so not to get lost. It was hard - the sun was boiling during the day, and heavy storms most evenings. We survived off beans and tortillas, sleeping in abandoned houses and churches. Some days we couldn't find water," Aguirre said. The couple was twice chased by immigration officers as they searched for food in villages, but they avoided capture by running into the surrounding dense jungle. RELATED: The Honduran meltdown: Made in the USA Halfway to Arriaga, their journey took an unexpected twist towards the stormy Pacific Ocean, which lies a few kilometres west of the disused railway. Drug traffickers have long exploited this vast, isolated coastline, and now migrants are turning to the ocean in hopes of avoiding trouble on dry land. "A fisherman warned us about a village up ahead where migrants have supposedly been killed by criminals. He took a group of us in his small boat. The sea was rough but we were lucky: He was kind and only wanted 100 pesos ($6) for the 45-minute journey," said Aguirre. But their ordeal was not yet over. They were walking deep in the jungle, on the final stretch towards Arriaga, when two men armed with pistols jumped out at them. "They threatened to kill us and took everything we had: cell phones, clothes, and cash. They made me take off my clothes to make sure I wasn't hiding anything." During the summer months, the Arriaga hostel is usually chock-a-block with those brave and desperate enough to board the freight train known as The Beast, which departs about one-and-a-half kilometres down the road. Now, the train has been virtually abandoned and the hostel is half-empty as people search for new routes to avoid immigration patrols. Carlos Bartolo Solis, director of the Arriaga hostel, told Al Jazeera: "Plan Frontera Sur has not stopped the flow of migrants, it has just made them invisible and more vulnerable than ever before. We hear stories about dangerously overcrowded fishing boats in areas where drug traffickers operate. Only those who take the most risks have a hope of making it now." 'Undeclared war against migrants' From Arriaga, it is a gruelling 12-hour walk through more dense jungle and hectares of mango groves to a small town called Chahuites in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Irineo Mujica, the director of NGO Pueblos Sin Fronteras (Towns without Borders), came to Chahuites a year ago with reports of injured and desperate migrants sleeping rough in parks and churches. "We found mattresses alongside the railway tracks where women were being raped by men from the surrounding area. We started documenting violations, and then set up this hostel because more and more injured and assaulted migrants kept turning up - we couldn't cope," said Mujica. Between 25 and 50 people arrive here each day looking for shelter. Eighty percent have suffered violence en route, most commonly as part of armed robberies. The hostel has also documented numerous rapes, of both men and women, and disappearances. "Plan Frontera Sur has put human rights back by 10 years in Mexico," Mujica said. "It's an undeclared war against migrants who are being pursued across mountains and through jungle by federal forces. It is hell for them, and this brutality is funded by the US." The Inter-American Commission of Human Rights has condemned the use of force in immigration operations, and the rise in violent attacks against migrants and their defenders. Meanwhile, Amnesty International recently declared Mexico to be a "death trap" for migrants. RELATED: Drugs, migrants and rebels: Life along Darien's Gap But the Mexican government has declared the plan a success, claiming the number of serious crimes against migrants and train accidents have fallen. Victims of crime in Mexico, such as Guadalupe Aguirre, are now eligible for a humanitarian visa that allows them to work legally in Mexico, initially for one year. It is dusk in Chahuites and a few dozen weary-looking migrants are scrambling to rescue their personal belongings from the makeshift dining area outdoors as lightning and distant thunder signal an impending rainstorm. Out back there is a huge pot of soup, made from bones and vegetables donated by sympathetic market traders, simmering on an open wood fire. Six scrawny young men, who arrived three hours earlier and asked not to be named for their own safety, said they were robbed by two men armed with a pistol and a machete just south of here near the mango orchards. They are okay, even though it was the second robbery they'd survived in the past week, but they expressed worry about five women who were walking not far behind them. A week later, the hostel confirmed the women never arrived. "We hope they were picked up by immigration and nothing worse," said Mujica. "But in truth, we'll never know." | 5 | 94,651 | news |
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It's Thomas Robinson's fourth year in the NBA, and we're yet to see any regular-season evidence that he can be close to the player scouts thought be'd become when he heard his name called fifth in the 2012 NBA draft. Instead, Robinson has lingered around the league, playing stints with the Kings, Rockets, Trail Blazers and 76ers while also even acting as a member of the Nuggets for a day last year before Denver waived him. It's been a rough NBA life for Robinson, but it appears, through some acts of self-awareness, he's not trying to change that with the Nets. Here's more from Tim Bontemps of the New York Post : "I'm tired of the disrespect," he said bluntly after Tuesday's practice. "I'm just trying to get back to where I belong." Where Robinson belongs is a legitimate question after the bumpy ride through his first three seasons. He was a top prospect in 2012 after averaging 17.7 points and 11.9 rebounds in his junior year at Kansas yet has been traded three times and waived once since. But even after traveling his winding road, Robinson is still just 24, and sounds committed to proving he is worthy of being on an NBA roster for years to come. His plan to do so sounds similar to the role Reggie Evans played a couple years ago for the Nets grab every rebound in sight. "I'm going to play like that regardless," Robinson said of his Nets preseason debut, which saw him score 12 points and grab 16 rebounds including nine offensive against Turkey's Fenerbahce last week. "The way I play is no different who we play, how we play, who I play with. … My approach is always the same. "Get everything that comes off the glass. Everything that comes off the glass is mine. Any possible steal that's near me is mine. Any block that's possible that's near me is mine. "The rebounding and defense, that stuff I do naturally, with my eyes closed. Everything else I do, scoring eight to 10 points, that's all icing on the cake for me this year." Click here to read the full piece. Robinson still has talent as a rebounder and defender. He's an athletic beast he could be a big help as a role player if he concentrates on those two things. But T-Rob's problems in the past have come when he thinks he can become a scorer or loses himself on the defensive end. It's still possible we see those moments, but if Robinson truly is committing himself to a new role and thus, a new mentality, maybe some of those issues flutter away. MORE NEWS: Want stories delivered to you? Sign up for our NBA newsletters. | 1 | 94,653 | sports |
She didn't win. | 8 | 94,654 | video |
With the Tour Championship just three weeks gone and the Frys.com Open coming up to start the 2015-16 season, our panel discusses whether the all-year golf calender is working for the PGA Tour. | 1 | 94,655 | sports |
Volkswagen has admitted to circumventing the emissions control system in about 550,000 vehicles sold in the United States since 2008 with the 2.0-liter diesel engine. As many as 11 million vehicles worldwide may be affected. This has resulted in a proposed settlement with a potential $14.7 billion sticker price to compensate car owners and address environmental harm. Reflecting the severity of the emissions deception, this a settlement is massive in breadth and scope. The settlement, expected to be approved by a judge later this summer, is tough, strong and consumer-oriented. It is significantly bigger than the civil penalties paid by other automakers, namely the more than $2 billion General Motors has paid so far over faulty ignition switches and the $1.4 billion Toyota paid over acceleration issues, according to the New York Times. In mid-September, 2015, the EPA issued a notice of violation to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America (collectively VW) for failure to comply with Clean Air Act regulations. In November, the EPA notified the automaker about violations found with its 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine, as well. In doing so, the agency determined that certain Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen models have been emitting more pollutants than legally acceptable, leaving in their wake potential environmental and health implications. Consumer Reports provided a historical diesel fuel-economy analysis to the EPA to help its ongoing investigation. By the end of November, Volkswagen told the EPA that the issues with the 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine impacts model years 2009 through 2016 and counts about 85,000 vehicles. Since the initial announcement, investigators have worked to learn how the illegal strategy came about, while the EPA has sought to close loopholes and ferret out any other potential cheaters. On the corporate side, executives have been terminated and shuffled, stock values have roller coastered, and hands were wrung but few details have emerged about the tactical decision to willingly cheat the government, customers, and the environment. Meanwhile, consumers have been left with many unanswered questions. This fast-moving situation promises new drama and eventual recalls. Here's what we know so far. Volkswagen Beetle, Beetle Convertible (2013-2015) Audi A3 (2010-2015) Porsche Cayenne (2014-2016) Volkswagen Golf (2010-2015) Audi A6 Quattro (2014-2016) Volkswagen Golf SportWagen (2015) Audi A7 Quattro (2014-2016) Volkswagen Jetta, Jetta SportWagen (2009-2014) Audi A8/A8L (2014-2016) Volkswagen Passat (2012-2015) Audi Q5 (2014-2016) Volkswagen Touareg (2009-2016) Audi Q7 (2009-2016) What Is the Concern About Volkswagen Emissions? Federal clean-air standards are configured to become increasingly stringent over time, with clear steps when new, tighter requirements must be achieved for legal new-car sales. The rules are in place to improve air quality for both long-term environmental and health benefits. Although the cited Volkswagen models can meet the standards in a laboratory test, thanks to a sophisticated software algorithm that distinguishes testing from real-world driving, these vehicles were found to emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) at up to 40 times the standard when driven normally. NOx contributes to ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter. According to the EPA, "Exposure to these pollutants has been linked with a range of serious health effects, including increased asthma attacks and other respiratory illnesses that can be serious enough to send people to the hospital. Exposure to ozone and particulate matter have also been associated with premature death due to respiratory-related or cardiovascular-related effects. Children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing respiratory disease are particularly at risk for health effects of these pollutants." Did Skirting of the Emissions Rules Result in Better Fuel Economy and Performance? It appears so. In response to the scandal, Consumer Reports conducted new testing of 2015 and 2011 Volkswagen TDI diesel vehicles in this "cheat" mode to assess fuel economy and performance. We found a noticeable decline in fuel economy for both models. Our testing also showed reduced acceleration with the 2011 model, which is equipped with a lower-tech diesel filtration system. How Will This Affect Current Owners? For now, the cars are safe and legal to drive. No action is needed by today's drivers. There will be a recall to bring the existing models up to regulations. The fixes will likely be software updates for the newest models. Pre-2015 cars are expected to need additional components installed which may mean it takes longer to develop and deploy the solution. Can I Still Buy a New Volkswagen Diesel? Not from an Audi, Volkswagen, or Porsche dealership as a new or certified pre-owned model. Volkswagen issued a stop-sale on any models at dealerships, meaning, they are not available for purchase. Once an approved fix in put in place, it is expected that new diesel models will be imported. Due to the buyback program, it is expected that there will be an abundant supply of used models. How Will VW Compensate Owners? Owners of 2009-2015 2.0-liter, four-cylinder TDIs can have Volkswagen buy their cars back at the "clean value" established by National Automobile Dealers Association Used Car Guide pricing for TDIs in September 2015, before the scandal became public. Owners who choose to keep their cars will be able to have modifications made by dealerships free of charge, once a fix is approved by the EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). In all cases, an additional cash compensation will be paid to owners. Volkswagen of America has hired Kenneth Feinberg, a prominent victim compensation attorney, to create and administer a claims program that will address the needs of car owners impacted by the company's diesel emissions violations. In addition, VW has a "goodwill" program that offers affected diesel-car owners owners with a combination of a $500 pre-paid Visa card, $500 in dealership credit, and three additional years of roadside assistance. Initially offered to just 2.0L TDI owners, the goodwill has been extended to 2009-2016 Touareg TDI owners, as well. How Much Will I Get From a Buyback? The values that will determine the buyback price of a 2009-2015 TDI are based on the estimated value prior to Sept. 18, 2015. They depend on the particular model, year, body style, mileage, location, and certain options, like a power sunroof or navigation system. (Download a PDF detailing model-by-model buyback resale values and lease restitutions.) What About a Settlement for Owners? Owners of affected VW 2.0-liter, four-cylinder TDIs from 2009 to 2014 can choose to have their cars repaired or bought back by the company at pre-scandal values, and receive an additional cash payment. VW would set aside $10 billion for this effort. The government would require 85 percent of the nearly 475,000 affected TDIs to be fixed or removed from the road by June 30, 2019. The plan does not include the V6 diesels. When Will There be a Recall? The anticipated roll-out, pending approval by the judge, is sometime in the fall. All buybacks, payments, and modifications must be completed by June 30, 2019. When issued, the recall will come from Volkswagen, and the repairs will be performed at no cost to owners. The EPA will validate the fixes to ensure they work, with an eye to potential compromises. Consumer Reports has three VW diesels in our test fleet, and once the recalls are performed, we will re-evaluate their fuel efficiency and performance. What About the Environment? VW has agreed to pay $4.7 billion toward environmental remediation efforts for the pollution its cars cause and to promote and deliver zero-emission vehicle technology in the future. What Is 'Cheat Mode'? One key factor in the emissions scandal is that the vehicles in question operate in two different modes: "on road" and "dyno." But merely having two different modes isn't a problem; many cars offer driver-selectable modes to enhance fuel efficiency or performance. The Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles in question in the U.S. use an Engine Control Unit, or ECU, designed by Robert Bosch GmbH, a German multinational engineering and electronics company. In addition to the ECU, Bosch supplies other key components, such as the computers that control the braking and electronic stability control systems. This is where the dyno mode also referred to as a test mode comes into play. Volkswagen admitted to putting the cars in a special mode just for government emissions testing, then switching to an alternative programming for driving in the real world. Emissions system and fuel economy testing is conducted while a vehicle is placed on a dynamometer think of it as a two big rollers or a treadmill rather than driving on the road. The vehicle has only its driving wheels rolling (the front ones, in the case of VW vehicles). But the rear tires are stationary. The vehicle could otherwise interpret the test procedure as a dangerous situation or malfunction, activating traction control or stability control. By enabling a test mode, the vehicle will be able to operate during the test process. Once the test is complete and the car is restarted, the car reverts to its normal function. The Bosch system (EDC 17) used by these models has the capability to run different algorithms to manage engine performance onboard and could alternate between those seamlessly. Other companies using similar hardware have employed this ability to enable the driver to adjust the car's dynamic personality. But VW used this mode for other purposes. What Is Consumer Reports' Position on 'Dieselgate'? Volkswagen lied to us. Its 11 million "clean diesel" cars have been polluting the air at up to 40 times the federal standard for years. Worse: It installed technology to hide the problem from emissions tests. The company is being punished by the markets. But that doesn't compensate either its customers or the rest of us, and it doesn't stop this from happening again. Consumer Reports' President and CEO Marta L. Tellado, Ph.D., put it this way, "We need to make certain that the consequences for deceiving the public are severe, and that they bring justice to those who have been harmed." (Also read "Will Volkswagen's Penalty Be High Enough?" by Tellado on CNN.com.) Now that a settlement has been proposed... "We're pleased that VW owners and lessees have the option to choose what to do with their faulty cars, and will get significant cash compensation regardless of their choice," said William Wallace, policy analyst for the policy and mobilization arm of Consumer Reports. "We are also glad that the settlement addresses the harmful environmental and dangerous air quality impacts from these faulty vehicles." Consumer Reports has put together a four point test by which to judge Volkswagen's response. How Do VW's Actions Affect Consumer Reports' Recommendations of VW and Audi? Based on the EPA notice of violation against Volkswagen for circumventing emissions testing guidelines, Consumer Reports has suspended its "recommended" Rating of two tested VW vehicles: the Jetta diesel and Passat diesel. These recommendations will be suspended until Consumer Reports can re-test these vehicles with a recall repair performed. Once the emissions systems are functioning properly, we will assess whether the repair has adversely affected performance or fuel economy. What Will the EPA Do Now? The EPA announced it will conduct sample tests on all diesel passenger car models to be sold for the new model year. Plus, the agency will add new tests to detect so-called "defeat devices" that can bend the rules in an automaker's favor, and has notified all manufacturers of the general changes to its test program. The agency is actively collecting diesel cars from consumers and rental fleets to augment models culled from manufacturers. These cars will be put through a battery of tests. The EPA says the investigation into Volkswagen's actions is ongoing. The EPA and the Department of Justice filed a civil complaint against Volkswagen (including Audi and Porsche) on January 4, 2016, that "alleges that nearly 600,000 diesel engine vehicles had illegal defeat devices installed that impair their emission control systems and cause emissions to exceed EPA's standards, resulting in harmful air pollution." Will My Volkswagen Fail Emissions Tests? Not likely. Since no state uses a "roller test" on periodic emission/safety inspections, there's no reason for a car to fail unless it developed an anecdotal problem. If a car is covered by an emissions warranty (differs by the state the car was originally sold in), VW will fix any related problem for free. For some states, after an actual recall has been issued, owners will have a time period, potentially a few months, to complete the recall. The car will not pass inspection unless recall work has been performed. How Dirty Are the Volkswagen Cars? The EPA estimated that the cheating VW diesels polluted at up to 40 times the emissions standards for nitrogen oxides a pollutant connected with respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms and diseases. However, that estimate was measured under maximum vehicle load and throttle. Under normal operating conditions, the emissions were more in the range of 10 to 20 times over the federal limit. Wasn't That False Advertising? The Federal Trade Commission thinks so. The FTC has filed suit in California federal court against Volkswagen Group of America, seeking compensation for consumers who were deceived by the automaker's "Clean Diesel" advertising as it cheated on government emissions tests. VW marketed the 550,000 diesel vehicles sold in the U.S. as environmentally friendly and placed a premium price on them. The crux of the suit states that, because of the emissions-defeat device, VW claims about low emissions, nitrogen oxides reductions, emissions compliance, eco-consciousness, and comparative resale value were false or deceptive. As a result, consumers didn't get the benefit of the environmentally friendly car they thought they were purchasing, and resale values likely will fall. How Do I Voice My Concerns? There are multiple outlets, starting with the commenting feature below. Further, VW owners are encouraged to comment on Consumer Reports stories platform. You also can send a letter to the company, and you can contact the EPA. More from Consumer Reports: How to buy long-lasting tires Best MPG Cars for City & Highway Commutes Which Brands Make the Best Cars Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. | 9 | 94,656 | autos |
The odds are in your favor this winter, as these warm-weather destinations are offering historically affordable airfare thanks to airline competition and new cultural attractions. HAWAII Long a place commanding four-figure airfares despite its status as a domestic destination, Hawaii is now priming for a rush of budget travelers this winter as airlines drop prices and improve comfort to remain competitive. Hawaiian Airlines upgraded their interiors to include "Extra Comfort" seats in 2014, serve complimentary hot meals in all classes, and have already run an airfare sale with deals as low as $400 roundtrip. Virgin America is due to launch flights from the west coast to both Honolulu and Maui, attracting passengers with $199 one-way promotional fares and their signature stylish service. American Airlines has already begun flying their newest Airbus A321s with brand-new interiors, on-demand entertainment, and WiFi. Joining the arms race are Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines, who have simply added more and more flights to Hawaii, increasing the number of seats for sale (and the potential for better deals) to the islands. The interest in Hawaii as an easy vacation destination is only projected to grow, and not just because those of the "Instagram effect" from travelers sharing experiences had as a result of the cheap deals this winter; the advance press and premiere of Disney's new Moana movie (about a Polynesian princess) in 2016 will see a fresh surge of interest in travel to Pacific islands. Tie-in packages for family travel to Disney's Aulani Resort on Oahu are a given. SOUTH AFRICA South Africa is so hot right now, both literally and figuratively. Aside from the fact that the southern summer is just beginning, Trevor Noah's appointment as the new host of The Daily Show is bringing pop culture cred to the country at the same time as the killing of Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe is sparking interest in responsible safari tourism. Contrary to popular opinion, embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime safari is not just for the super rich and the drop in the value of the Rand means the currency exchange rate favors tourists. South Africa Airways has already been discounting airfare, with round trips from the U.S. available for as little as $600 , and more airlines are sure to follow. Check out our guide to Cape Town for extra inspiration. ECUADOR AND COLOMBIA The northern end of South America is only increasing in affordability and accessibility. Both American Airlines and JetBlue will begin flying to Quito, Ecuador later this winter and have, over the last couple years, enhanced Colombia travel options with flights to Cartagena and Medellín. Bogotá, Colombia remains especially popular, and not just for the city's burgeoning art scene , abundance of preserved Spanish colonial architecture, and world-renowned coffee; the capital is newly home to a Four Seasons hotel and expanded flights from around the U.S. to several Colombian cities on Avianca, American, Delta, and JetBlue. COSTA RICA AND BELIZE With the launch of Southwest Airlines' international routes this year comes fresh, affordable options for reaching the blue waters of Belize as well as both the volcanic central region and surfer-favorite Pacific coasts of Costa Rica. These new routes--to Belize City, San Jose, and Liberia--increase competition and bring fares on rival airlines down to the "whoa, that's incredible" level, making a spontaneous tropical trip over the winter totally doable. There's never been a better time to make that bucketlist journey to snorkel or dive the Great Blue Hole or play in Costa Rica's bohemian surfer towns . More from Condé Nast Traveler: The 2015 Friendliest and Unfriendliest Cities Around the World 100 Top Hotels & Resorts in the World 50 Things to Do in the U.S. Before You Die | 2 | 94,657 | travel |
Bradley Cooper, who has shared the screen with Jennifer Lawrence a number of times, has responded to her gender wage gap essay, calling it a great thing. | 8 | 94,658 | video |
Hypnotherapist and neuro-linguistic programming practitioner Alicia Eaton claims she can make kids do whatever she wants them to do. And, shockingly enough, she doesn't even need to use her hypnotic powers . Eaton claims that the key to getting children to listen without being fussy is simply choosing the right words-no shouting, bribing or threatening necessary. In her recently released book, Words That Work: How To Get Kids To Do Almost Anything , Eaton explained that structuring our sentences differently and using slightly different word choices could make all the difference in terms of getting our kids to obey the first time around. Here are her ten best tips, as reported in the Daily Mail : 1. Avoid the word "don't." Eaton said, "Too many of us get in a cycle of negative talk which quickly turns into nagging." Negative phrases using the words "don't" or "how many times have I told you" are counter-productive. Instead, use positive language (for example, "let's clean up the room and put all the toys away.") 2. Create the illusion of choice. Having a choice in the matter-even if it isn't really a choice-can make things far more appealing than a straightforward demand. For example, Eaton suggested, when readying a child for school in the morning, asking "Which shirt do you want to wear today, the blue or the red?" As for picky eaters, asking if he or she wants to try the peas or the carrots first might be just the trick to getting them to eat some veggies. 3. Use the word "when." Eaton explained, "The word 'when' is often referred to as the most hypnotic word in the English language. It gently implies that something will be done in the initial instance." For example, during homework time, suggest " When you finish your homework, we can watch TV for a bit before bed." (Not " if " you finish your homework!) 4. Linguistically "link" you and your child together. The phrase "like you" holds a lot of power when it comes to children. Eaton said, "The 'like' pattern is useful for slipping into conversation and can boost your child's self-esteem and establish rapport." For example, something along the lines of "I, like you..." or "we both realize" may push your child to follow your viewpoint. 5. Say "thank you" before they do what you ask. Children naturally want to please people. So thank them before they complete the action. Eaton said, "Once they've been thanked, they feel obligated to perform the task." 6. Use the word "because." It may seem counterintuitive to have to explain to your child why you want them to do something-but it may actually be helpful later on. Eaton said, "By explaining why we're asking for something, our request is more likely to be granted." 7. Fillers are your friend. Front-loading your sentences may be just the trick to getting your child's attention. Phrases like "think about it" and "listen" add weight to a request. 8. Put a positive spin on complaining. Kids love to complain-we know that. But putting a positive, solution-oriented spin on your child's moaning and groaning could actually get them to stop. For example, if your child is complaining about being too hot, Eaton suggests saying something along the lines of, "What would make you feel better-opening a window or removing your jacket?" Eaton said, "These [kinds of] responses result in less moaning, less complaining and are more solution focused." 9. Ask questions. Taking your child's complaints and turning them into a question is a language pattern that puts the problem on a path to a solution. For example, if a child complains that he hates his math teacher this year, you can ask if he is looking forward to having a new math teacher next year. 10. Stop using the word "can't." The word "can't" shuts out the possibility of achievement. Eaton said, "The idea is to switch focus to talk about what your child can do rather than what they can't." If he's struggling with a math problem and "can't" do it, say, "You just haven't found a way to do this particular problem yet." [via DailyMail.co.uk ] | 4 | 94,659 | lifestyle |
There's a fun commercial that occasionally runs during golf telecasts in which a sea monster terrorizes a tournament. Early iterations of the ad featured a Masters scoreboard -- that part was quickly changed -- but I think more about the goofy ad as it relates to the Presidents Cup, which ended more or less as well as it could have at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea on Sunday at the gruesome hour of 2:30 a.m. ET. The contest was close. Every match mattered. But how best to "unleash the Kraken" lurking within the P.C.? How best to add some ferocity to this bland imitation of the Ryder Cup? One theory coming into last week was that the Internationals had to win for a change after going 1-8-1 in the first 10 iterations of the Cup. That didn't happen, but the Stars & Stripes' 15.5-14.5 win at least made this edition more interesting than most Presidents Cups. "These guys have now got an impetus to go on from here," said Nick Price, who as the International captain had stressed the need for competitive rebalancing and led the movement to reduce the number of available points from 34 to 30 (in order to better hide his side's relative lack of depth). "They have got some fire to go because it got so close. I remember when Seve [Ballesteros] lost the [1983] Ryder Cup and he went in the locker room, all the guys [on the European team] were down, and he said, 'No, this is only one point we lost by! This we should be excited about!' And I think that's where we the International team and the Presidents Cup are right now." Last week marked the closest Presidents Cup since 2005, and whether or not the I-Nats left Incheon with renewed enthusiasm it was highly entertaining, with one Sunday match after another decided on the 18th hole. Soft-spoken Chris Kirk struck the loudest shot of the week, a 15-foot birdie putt on 18 that forced the Internationals' Anirban Lahiri to roll in his own three-foot birdie putt in order to halve the match. But Lahiri missed -- a carbon copy of Bubba Watson's earlier miss on 18 to give Thongchai Jaidee and the Internationals a half point -- tilting the match toward the Americans. In the anchor match, Bill Haas beat Sangmoon Bae 2 up for the clinching point. It was good theater, but the P.C. could use another big change or two, starting with a spot on the schedule that doesn't go head-to-head with college and pro football and the Major League Baseball playoffs. If you play an exciting Presidents Cup in the middle of the night amid a lot of other great programming -- this year's Cup was up against a pretty good U.S.-Mexico soccer game, in addition to all of the above -- does it stand a chance? Phil Mickelson, who started the week as U.S. captain Jay Haas's hotly debated wild card pick, finished as the brightest bright spot for Team USA with a 3-0-1 record. He also invented a new celebratory handshake with Zach Johnson; found a way to lose the same hole twice by breaking the event's one-ball rule; boasted that Jason Day and Adam Scott still couldn't beat Mickelson and Johnson despite the rules gaffe (no doubt giving the International team bulletin-board material); and let his teammates rub his belly for good luck. It was a zany, fun week, even for Phil. But how many people saw it? NEWSLETTERS: Sign up to get the latest golf news in your inbox Louis Oosthuizen, who kept switching headwear on a rainy, cold Sunday, making him alternately resemble a bank robber and the Gorton's fisherman, eagled the par-5 18th hole to salvage a half-point in his singles match with Patrick Reed and go 4-0-1 for the week. That was second best to his foursomes and four-ball partner Branden Grace (5-0-0), who dusted Matt Kuchar 2 and 1 in singles. Good for them. But if you find yourself in need of a conversation starter around the water cooler this week, you'd be safer mentioning those upstart Texas Longhorns upending the ninth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners, or Los Angeles Dodgers bad boy Chase Utley's pseudo-slide into second base, breaking the leg of New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. Casual sports fans probably paid it no mind, but the revelation from this Presidents Cup was the power-hitting U.S. team of J.B. Holmes and Watson, who went 2-1-1. They didn't even play badly in their only defeat, a Saturday four-ball loss to Grace and Oosthuizen that featured 19 birdies. As for the format change, it's unclear whether the closeness of this Presidents Cup owes to the reduction in points. Maybe the Internationals simply did what the Americans need to do in the Ryder Cup: play better. The Presidents Cup will never be the Ryder Cup; it lacks the urgency and meaning of its more pedigreed USA vs. Europe counterpart. In other words, there probably is no kraken to unleash. But maybe the Presidents Cup doesn't need a kraken. Let's start with a new date and go from there. | 1 | 94,660 | sports |
It's a renters world, now that more Americans are opting to rent than buy. But landlords are still in control as far as home improvements go. Few tenants are willing to put their security deposit at risk for the sake of a room upgrade, and according to Trulia , you don't have to. Here are five rental rules that are actually okay to break. By doing so, you'll be able to inject some personality into your space, without breaking your lease (or the bank): 1. No Painting. Most landlords will be totally on-board with a fresh coat of neutral paint. If you want to go a little more bold, though, you can always make a deal to return your walls to their original color whenever you move out. In the Manhattan apartment below , the moody dark walls make the bedroom feel so much more than temporary. 2. Leave the hardware as is. The easiest way to update a rental is with a few small swaps: new drawer pulls and handles, new light fixtures, even a new shower head. There are so many options out there that allow you to create a look that's true to your style with minimal man hours. 3. Never add wallpaper. Actually wallpapering a rental is a no-no, but there are many removable alternatives that are just as stylish. If wallpaper still isn't for you, you can also try stick-on kitchen backsplashes, or adhesive wood paneling . In short, the possibilities for banishing those blank walls are endless. 4. Keep the existing window treatments. Sure, your windows came decked out with cheap plastic blinds, but swapping those out for a more sophisticated coverings will go a long way. If you fancy something really bold, try a more unexpected window treatment like patterned shades, intricate screens, and even art work. 5. Absolutely no renovations. Some landlords actually allow their tenants to totally redo a bathroom, or kitchen - sometimes even an entire apartment - especially if it means they can charge their next tenants a higher monthly rent. Just be prepared to part with your beloved updates when and if you decide to break your lease. | 4 | 94,661 | lifestyle |
Love Story stars Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal are reuniting for the Gregory Mosher -directed two character play Love Letters by A.R. Gurney opening Oct. 13 in the Wallis Annenberg Center's Bram Goldsmith Theater in Beverly Hills. It's a gig that has significance for MacGraw: "It's my first paying job since I left [Hollywood] for Santa Fe, N.M., 22 years ago." O'Neal says the idea came from producer Nelle Nugent , who noted the pair's chemistry in a 2014 THR photo . "We have this job because of The Hollywood Reporter," says O'Neal. "And now we're booked for the next several years." He's joking, but there will be a seven-city tour through June. The two actually laughed a lot during a sit-down chat at the Wallis with THR ahead of the show's opening. Tell me what this ride with Love Letters has been like? MacGraw : We did it once in Florida this summer for a week. Most of what we are going to be doing starts early next year. I read that you have stayed in touch with calls or emails over the years, but what has the reintroduction been like? O'Neal : Has there been sex? (Laughs.) No, sorry. MacGraw (to O'Neal): That will be enough of that. Has there been a reintroduction of the friendship? O'Neal : We always had a bond, and now it's just going. MacGraw : I live in New Mexico and I'm [in L.A.] very rarely, and Ryan lives in Malibu, so we haven't really seen each other very much. But we're often asked as a couple for something around Love Story - the Oscar for dear Arthur Hiller and other stuff. So we have seen each other, but not as much as we're going to see each other this year. O'Neal : I have to be on my best behavior. MacGraw : It's going to be fun. A real privilege to be doing this play, for me. Let's start with one thing: It's read, not memorized, and that is such a miracle because my memory isn't … O'Neal : Why did I memorize it then? (Laughs.) MacGraw : It's a wonderful play, and having more time under one's belt only makes it more meaningful to do. It's a lifetime from second grade to the early 70s and nobody with any sensitivity can help but relive their life and choices when they said yes and choices when they said no. Why say yes? MacGraw : Only with Ryan because it feels right. It's a beautiful piece of writing. O'Neal : Do you think it was a mistake? (Laughs.) Tell me now. We had to blow the dust off of us. I was thrilled with the idea. MacGraw : Me too. It's a wonderful play that has been around since the '80s and everybody you've ever heard of has done it. It just finished a very successful Broadway run with a lot of our friends in it. I thought it was an absolute miracle to be asked to do it and especially and only with Ryan. It makes sense. And it's my first paying job since I left for Santa Fe 22 years ago. So that's an added plus, right? O'Neal : Wait a minute, they're paying you?! I'm sure you've had offers over the years? MacGraw : Nothing that was remotely interesting. I work all the time but I do a lot of stuff for nothing. This is just all terrific as far as I'm concerned. We have a wonderful director - Greg Mosher , is a big, big, big Broadway director and it's an honor to be directed by him. And it feels right. Right? O'Neal : Yeah! What did she say? Yeah. We have about 10 cities to do. Our launch is here in Beverly Hills and then we hit the road. So much is made about Hollywood being unkind to actors of a certain age. MacGraw : We'll see! Call me tomorrow. Some people continue to work, while others find it difficult to find the right parts. What do you make of that? O'Neal : That's tragic. MacGraw : It's not so in England. As a woman, I look at the incredible actresses who continue to work and are their age doing world-class work out of the U.K. And this industry is pretty brutal to women over 40, I would say. I'm not really working, so I'm not beating that drum, but I do go to the movies all the time and marvel at a part written for someone in their 60s played by a 38-year-old. It's disrespectful. It's nuts. Have you gone to the theater recently and seen any performances from women, peers or colleagues that you loved? MacGraw : I love to go to the movies. I love to sit in a dark theater and just leave my seat and go into that reality. I live in a city that has six alternative movie theaters so I see every documentary and every foreign film. It's a luxury but it's very, very different from what the media thinks women should be like aging on the screen here. It's shocking. So much has been written about the chemistry between the two of you. Is that a lot of pressure? O'Neal : Yeah, I hope we can live up to it. MacGraw : No. You say no and he says yes. MacGraw : I say no because I adore Ryan and we're doing this together with 45 years of history together. All kinds of layers. For me, judgment is pressure. But if I just concentrate on doing this lovely play with him, whatever those 500 to 1,000 people think, they are on their own. For real. I never learned it as a performer, I was so frightened every waking minute in front of that camera - every waking minute. But here we are on this little tiny bubble doing a story that has many crossovers probably from our real lives, and as long as I stay there, it's going to be a joy. It's a joy to see you both and you both look wonderful. What is your secret? O'Neal : Makeup. There are no secrets. MacGraw : Living in the present and finding the very best thing you can about it. That is about as much as I can say about that. The past and the future are inventions and re-embellishments. And in this frightening world we live in, I try to find something great. This is going to be it for the next two weeks. I hope you come back and do another photo shoot with us sometime soon. O'Neal : Who knows where it will lead us! | 6 | 94,662 | entertainment |
A long overdue clean-sheet redesign gives the Ford Edge newfound refinement, greatly improving ride comfort, cabin finish, and interior quietness. Yet the Edge also sticks to its previous formula, trading on style and power. | 9 | 94,663 | autos |
A fall in support and a government row over the refugee crisis raised the heat on German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday, forcing allies to defend the integrity of her coalition. Germany, a favoured destination for refugees, expects 800,000 to a million new arrivals this year. Many Germans feel the country cannot cope with the record influx. As tempers frayed, Merkel's conservatives met fierce resistance from their Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners over plans for transit zones at border crossings to process refugees' asylum requests. They have had to deny such centres would resemble concentration camps. Transit zone Asked whether the transit zone row heralded the end of the ruling coalition, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told Deutschlandfunk radio: "No! We shouldn't talk about the failure of the coalition every time (there is an argument)." Merkel is trying to steer a course between pressure from her conservatives - especially the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), sister party of her Christian Democrats (CDU) - to take a harder line on refugees and SPD opposition to the transit zones. Bavaria is the first point of entry for many refugees and the state has threatened to take the government to court unless it tries to limit the flow of asylum-seekers. The CDU-run Interior Ministry has drawn up a draft bill that provides for the transit zones, which would hold refugees at border crossings so asylum requests can be examined before they are allowed in. SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel has dubbed the centres "detention zones". Responding to such criticism, CSU lawmaker Stephan Mayer told Deutschlandfunk on Tuesday: "This is not about concentration camps." Increased pressure Merkel also faces increased pressure from her own conservatives to end the open-door policy she has pursued with the catchphrase: "We can do this!" Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on Tuesday questioned whether all refugees should receive the same benefits as others in Germany. "If we pay out from the first day as much Hartz IV (benefits) to such people - who we first need to teach to speak and write the (German) language - as to someone who has worked for 30 years and is now unemployed, what will a trade unionist say to his members?" he asked. At a meeting of the conservatives' parliamentary group on Tuesday, Merkel resisted pressure to tighten border controls and turn away refugees arriving via Austria. "Her dominance over the party has suffered a bit," said Gero Neugebauer, political scientist at Berlin's Free University. But he added that she could afford to stand firm. "There is no one else who is ready to be chancellor," he said. "That is Merkel's strength." | 5 | 94,664 | news |
The U.S. men's soccer team lost 1-0 in Tuesday's match against Costa Rica. It was a bad fall after Saturday's big loss to Mexico. | 1 | 94,665 | sports |
CINCINNATI (AP) Schools that helped a college basketball player dying of brain cancer realize her dream of scoring a basket in a game say 5,000 bobbleheads of the late inspirational Ohio player will be given out at a season-opening event. Xavier will host the Nov. 14 ''Lauren Hill Tipoff Classic'' on the court in Cincinnati where Hill scored her first basket a year ago. The Mount St. Joseph University freshman died from brain cancer in April. Xavier and Mount St. Joseph say the bobbleheads depict her scoring against Hiram College last Nov. 2. Hill used her last months to raise money for cancer research and to remind people that life is precious. Hiram will visit again as part of a doubleheader, with proceeds going to cancer research. Xavier's women's team plays Evansville. | 1 | 94,666 | sports |
Mayor Rahm Emanuel says 'fetal' force the reason for increased crime | 5 | 94,667 | news |
FAIRBANKS, Alaska Santa Claus has been chosen to represent the people of North Pole. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports (http://bit.ly/1Ncp7rf ) that a man whose legal name is Santa Claus won a write-in campaign for an open City Council seat in the 2,200-person Alaska town of North Pole. He began campaigning in his red velvet suit just two weeks before the Oct. 6 election. Claus received 58 votes and a seat on the six-person Council. No official candidates had filed for the two City Council positions. The second open seat was won by write-in candidate Elyse Dawson, a youth pastor at the North Pole Assembly of God. Claus is the former president of the North Pole Chamber of Commerce. ___ Information from: Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner, http://www.newsminer.com | 5 | 94,668 | news |
HARARE, Zimbabwe Rangers in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park have discovered the carcasses of 26 elephants at two locations, dead of cyanide poisoning along with 14 other elephants who were found last week, officials said Wednesday. Patrolling rangers discovered the carcasses Tuesday, according to Bhejani Trust and the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. Bhejani Trust undertakes joint animal monitoring and welfare work with the parks agency Parks spokeswoman Caroline Washaya Moyo said 14 tusks were recovered from these elephants and others were not recovered. She said rangers found 16 of the elephants in an area known as Lupande and 10 others in Chakabvi. Washaya-Moyo said no arrests have been made and investigations are in progress. Rangers recovered one kilo (2.2 pounds) of cyanide and are increasing patrols in the park, she said. Cyanide is widely used in Zimbabwe's mining industry and is easy to obtain. "The poachers were probably disturbed by rangers on patrol, which is why some of the tusks were recovered. Cyanide poisoning is becoming a huge problem here and we are struggling to contain it," Trevor Lane, founder of Bhejani Trust and a leading wildlife conservationist told The Associated Press. Last week, the parks agency reported that 14 elephants were poisoned by cyanide in in three separate incidents. In 2013, as many as 300 elephants died in Hwange park after poachers laced salt pans with cyanide. On Monday, environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri blamed a ban on Zimbabwean elephant sport hunting by the United States for increased poaching. "All this poaching is because of American policies, they are banning sport hunting. An elephant would cost $120,000 in sport hunting but a tourist pays only $10 to view the same elephant," she said, adding money from sport hunting is crucial in conservation efforts. | 5 | 94,669 | news |
USA TODAY Sports' George Schroeder offers up the five games you can't miss in Week 7 of the college football season. | 1 | 94,670 | sports |
Priceline Group Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN) and TripAdvisor Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) made waves in the market on Wednesday morning on news of a new partnership. The companies announced a strategic partnership in which some of Priceline's online travel brands will participate in TripAdvisor's instant booking platform. TripAdvisor launched its instant booking platform to U.S. consumers in June 2014. It provides a seamless and efficient hotel booking experience for travelers. Within Priceline, Booking.com will be the first brand to implement the partnership through its global network. Apart from this, Priceline.com and Agoda.com are likely to list inventory on the platform as well. Using instant booking, travelers will be able to see Booking.com-branded hotel listings and can simply click on the "Book Now" button to book on TripAdvisor directly. TripAdvisor will then let consumers know that their hotel booking is being powered by Booking.com, and Booking.com will handle all the customer care related to the transaction. So far, development work has already begun to support the integration of Priceline hotel properties, which are expected to be available on the instant booking platform soon. Stephen Kaufer, president and CEO of TripAdvisor, commented on the partnership: Having The Priceline Group join the instant booking platform is a huge win for travelers and we couldn't be more thrilled to have them as our first strategic, global online travel agency partner. Millions of TripAdvisor users coming to the site to plan, compare prices and book their trip will be able to instantly book options from The Priceline Group's global hotel inventory in addition to the 235,000 properties that are already instantly bookable on TripAdvisor. Darren Huston, president and CEO of Priceline, said: TripAdvisor has been a long-time partner of The Priceline Group and today's announcement is part of the continued positive evolution of that relationship. Our mission is to help people experience the world, and we are constantly innovating how and where we engage with consumers to help them do this. We now believe this branded channel can help introduce more customers to our brands and the experiences we provide. Shares of TripAdvisor were up 22% at $81.40 late Wednesday morning, with a consensus analyst price target of $84.00 and a 52-week trading range of $62.24 to $94.00. Priceline shares were last trading down 2%, at $1,317.15 in its 52-week trading range of $990.69 to $1,395.00. The stock has a consensus price target of $1,482.83. ALSO READ: 8 Fresh Analyst Stock Picks With 50% to 100% Upside | 3 | 94,671 | finance |
Oscar-winning Hollywood star Meryl Streep will head the jury of next year's Berlin Film Festival, organisers said on Wednesday. Streep will be jury president of the 66th Berlinale from February 11-21 in her first-ever role as a festival juror anywhere. "It is a thrill to return to the festival under any circumstances, but it is with great relish and anticipation I look forward to jury duty," said Streep, 66, in a statement put out by organisers. "The responsibility is somewhat daunting, as I have never been president of anything before... Grateful for the honour." The Berlinale is Europe's first major film festival of the year. The three-time Academy Award winner has appeared in over 40 films and is widely considered one of the world's most talented and versatile actresses. "Meryl Streep is one of the most creative and multi-faceted film artists," said festival director Dieter Kosslick. "To mark our enthusiasm for her extraordinary talent, we awarded her the Honorary Golden Bear in 2012 for her lifetime achievement. "I am very happy that she is returning to Berlin and, with her artistic experience, will take on the chairmanship of the International Jury." Streep's international breakthrough came in the late 1970s with the TV series "Holocaust" and Vietnam war veteran movie "The Deer Hunter". Cinema highlights since then include "Kramer vs. Kramer", "Sophie's Choice", "Out of Africa", "The Bridges of Madison County", "The Devil Wears Prada", "Mamma Mia" and her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady". | 6 | 94,672 | entertainment |
I hope you didn't blink. If you did, you missed the PGA Tour's offseason. A new season begins on Thursday in Napa, Calif., with the Frys.com Open at Silverado -- less than one month after the 2014-15 season ended with the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta. Despite the quick turnaround, the Frys.com Open isn't lacking star power. Rory McIlroy makes his debut in the tournament this week. Justin Rose is there, as are the likes of Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Presidents Cuppers Hideki Matsuyama and Steven Bowditch. RELATED: Tee times for the Frys.com Open | Favorite aces from PGA Tour season Unfortunately, defending champ and Presidents Cupper Sang-Moon Bae is not there to try for the repeat, as he was forced to report to his mandatory military stint in South Korea. Here are the five players you'll want to keep an eye on in the 2015-16 PGA Tour season opener. 5. Tony Finau Best finish in 2015-16 season: Debut Reason to watch: A solid 2014-15 season saw Finau fall just short of reaching the Tour Championship. On the world stage, Finau shined at the only two majors he played -- the U.S. Open (T14) and the PGA Championship (T10). Known as one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, all signs are pointing toward a big year for Finau. Can that start this week at Silverado where he tied for 12th a year ago? 4. Brandt Snedeker Best finish in 2015-16 season: Debut Reason to watch: Snedeker had a solid 2014-15 season, which included a win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He wound up 23rd in the final FedExCup standings. Any season in which a player makes it to the Tour Championship has to be considered a good one. However, Snedeker has to be a little disappointed having missed out on the Presidents Cup. Well, lucky for him, he gets to turn the page quickly. It's a new season and the Ryder Cup is the carrot now dangling in front of him. 3. Justin Rose Best finish in 2015-16 season: Debut Reason to watch: Rose's lone victory last season came at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, but the 2013 U.S. Open winner was a regular contender. I expect that we'll see a lot more of that in the new season as well. Rose is just so steady. I don't expect him to play a lot of golf on the PGA Tour before 2016 -- this might be one of maybe two starts. 2. Steven Bowditch Best finish in 2015-16 season: Debut Reason to watch: The Australian has won on the PGA Tour in each of the last two seasons and was a member of the International Presidents Cup team for the first time a week ago. He heads back to Silverado after having finished runner up a year ago. In his last PGA Tour start -- the Tour Championship -- Bowditch finished T12. I think he'll keep the momentum rolling into a new season and perhaps it could lead to his first multi-win year. 1. Rory McIlroy Best finish in 2015-16 season: Debut Reason o watch: It's not often one can call a season "frustrating" when he finishes in the top 10 on seven occasions, including two victories. But, that's life when you're Rory McIlroy, who also missed a little bit of time with that gruesome ankle injury. After watching Jordan Spieth and Jason Day take off in 2014-15, you have to believe McIlroy is extra motivated to make a statement in the new season. Can that start at Silverado this week? Why not? | 1 | 94,673 | sports |
Deen (centre) with his Journey bandmates in April Journey drummer Deen Castronovo has pleaded guilty to several domestic violence charges. The musician was arrested in June on charges of domestic violence and appeared in a court in Salem, Oregon on Monday (10.12.15) where he was sentenced to four years on probation. As well as the probation period, he is being made to undergo counselling to stop him re-offending and to prevent drug abuse. If he breaks the terms of his sentence, he could face up to five years in prison. The 51-year-old star - who joined the band in 1998 - was previously arrested for a similar offence on his girlfriend in 2012 which he described at the time as a "misunderstanding". He said: "It was a misunderstanding that should not have been escalated to such a level in the first place". The 'Don't Stop Believin' hitmakers removed Deen from the band in June following the latest charges and it has not yet been confirmed whether he will return in light of the court's verdict. At the time, a statement from the band - whose 14th album 'Eclipse' was released in 2013 - said: "We, Journey, have made the decision to have Omar Hakim play drums for the band's upcoming US concerts (Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, June 20 and the Stadium of Fire in Provo, Utah on Saturday, July 4), as well as the band's Canadian tour (July 6 - August 3), due to Deen Castronovo's pending issues. We are very grateful to Omar filling in with his musical excellence." | 6 | 94,674 | entertainment |
NAPA, Calif. This week's Van Cynical Mailbag comes to you from The Left Coast as the new PGA Tour season tees off this week at the Frys.com Open. What did you do during the offseason and, what's in your wallet? Vans, Who's on your all-time U.S Ryder Cup Dream Team? Brian Bailey via Twitter Let's forget all the pre-Europe American teams. Those guys were great players but they built up records against weaker competition. For post-Europe, I'd take Lanny Wadkins, Fred Couples, Payne Stewart, Paul Azinger, Raymond Floyd, Tom Watson, Tom Kite and the pre-1992 Curtis Strange. Larry Nelson overlaps the GB&I and Europe eras, but he was 9-3-1 in three Cups so he'd be hard to pass up. That's a pretty good base. I don't need the other three guys because which of those nine guys would you tell to sit down? ?Van Cabernet, What's your take on Babbles Chamblee's comments on Phil and Tiger not being fit future Ryder Cup captains? Klaugh56 via Twitter I get Chamblee's message loud and clear. He says that since Tiger and Phil never fully invested in being on the team Phil by sometimes traveling and practicing separately from the team plus his Gleneagles mutiny and Tiger by not prepping to play his best golf they shouldn't be leaders now. While I agree that I would not vote for either to be captain, especially Phil after not even knowing the rules of play at the President's Cup last week, I wouldn't say they couldn't or shouldn't. Maybe Tiger is mellowing or getting more mature as a father and Phil, well, he just keeps getting smarter ever year. Van Cynical, Would adding two-man scrambles to the President's cup add interest? Or would the pros birdie every hole so there'd be no competition? Bud via Twitter Two-man scrambles would be less interesting and make it more of a putting contest than it already is. The fun of competitive golf is watching these guys try to recover from trouble. Plus, foursomes and bestball are long traditional formats of play. The scramble is a relatively recent addition invented so amateur hacks don't have to play their own errant shots. I like your outside-the-bun thinking, though, Bud Lite. Van Cinnamon Roll, What's the over-under number on Tiger wins this season Kevin Casas via Twitter If I set it at one-half, everybody takes the under but if I set it at zero, well, the house takes 100 percent of all the risk on the wagerin and the house never does that, it wants equal wagering on both sides. Instead of an over-under, I'd offer long odds on Tiger winning and shorter odds on Tiger not winning. But for betting purposes, you should stick to wagers on which you have firm information. All we know about Tiger is what we've been told by Tiger and he's proven that he's not a reliable source. Van the Man, For future Ryder Cups, can we please just ban from the team or administration anyone associated with the U.S. team from 1995-2014? Brian Bailey You're saying we throw out Boo Weekley AND Paul Azinger, too? I don't think so, Bailbonds. I do find it funny that Azinger, the only guy who's captained a U.S. Ryder Cup win in this century, isn't a PGA of America go-to guy. He developed a system that worked, redid the points system and the picks… and nobody's tried to do what he did ever since. In fact, they've slowly tried to undo his improvements. Good thinking, PGA of America. Sicklevator, Is it true that the PGA Championship and the U.S.-based Ryder Cups don't use the one-ball rule? David Troyan via Twitter Any tournament played under the Rules of Golf requires a one-ball rule, which would include golf's major championships. The Ryder Cup used to have a one-ball rule (see Seve vs. Azinger in '91 Ryder Cup at Kiawah) but the PGA of America dropped it later for foursomes play for the convenience of players, who want to support the ball companies who pay them to play their models. It's pathetic that even the Presidents Cup plays by the accepted rules of golf while the Ryder Cup (in America) doesn't. Yet another black eye for the PGA of America. Vanster, Did anyone say what Phil's second ball was? He is Mr. Callaway but could it have been one of Zach's Pro V's? John Schwarb via Twitter You said it, Schwarbie. Phil is a Callaway guy. Phil said it was a different Callaway ball that was firmer than his regular ball Callaway makes a Chrome Soft model. All we can do is take his word for it but it would be very bad form for a highly paid Callaway endorser to be seen using a Titleist and I'm certain Phil wouldn't do that when he was likely to be found out. It had to be a Callaway. G-Unit, I was too busy watching college football and sleeping but I heard they played a golf exhibition in Korea. Who won? Bustinpar via Twitter Plenty of shots were fired, Busty. South Korea hit some long bombs with their better swing planes and launched some impressive missiles while the North Koreans, led by Dennis Rodman, tanked and faded in the trenches. It was shown on TMZ or was that DMZ? and I think the final was South Korean 38 parallels, North Korea, 35 parallels. Enough silliness already? Yeah, agreed. Van Cynical, When I asked (you) who, currently off the radar, might be a factor in majors to come, one I thought of was Matt Fitzpatrick. Lionel Mandrake Good call there, HO Gauge. Now you'll have to come up with another candidate because after his first European win, Fitzpatrick is no longer off the radar. Vans, At the Frys.com Open this week, what vineyards will you visit? What's your favorite wine? Will you be able to see any golf this week, literally? Golf Connections ML via Twitter In order, No, None and Yes. I'm not a wine drinker and even if I was, I am in Napa to cover golf. No time to sightsee, Medium-Large, and if there was, it wouldn't be wineries. If the traffic is as bad all week as it was Tuesday getting to Silverado, I'm not sure anyone will see any golf. Took me an hour to cover the last eight miles. Welcome to California, I guess. Sickmananoff, Idea for tour-match play event: Something modeled after the NCAAs with players teamed by schools. Big sponsor dollars. Jeff via Twitter Your master plan has some gaping flaws, JeffyLube. Who does Vijay Singh partner with? Or Rory McIlroy? Can Troy Merritt of Boise State find a partner? Or Jerry Kelly from the University of Hartford or Dustin Johnson from Coastal Carolina? The college golf powers would have plenty of alumni for matchups there might be multiple teams from Arizona and Clemson--but few for smaller schools, . Also, big sponsor dollars from whom? Universities aren't going to sponsor this and I don't see the attraction for corporate sponsors. What's their college connection? I don't get it. Two thumbs and one big toe down. | 1 | 94,675 | sports |
Snow falls in Germany as wintery weather suddenly hits the country. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). | 5 | 94,676 | news |
Chile and Japan, the two most seismic countries in the world, began Tuesday in Santiago a program to train 2,000 professionals from Latin America to respond to natural disasters. | 5 | 94,677 | news |
Jose Mourinho is 'The Special One', Jurgen Klopp is 'The Normal One' and now ex-Germany international Stefan Effenberg described himself as 'The New One' as he became Paderborn coach on Wednesday. "I am the New One," he said as the ex-Bayern Munich midfielder, dubbed 'The Tiger', as he got his teeth into his new job. "We'll keep looking forward, never to the side or behind us. "The first 10 games don't count, we are starting fresh from here on. The quality is there." Having jetted back to Germany from his home on sunny Mallorca and touched down in heavy snow in North Rhine-Westphalia, Effenberg said he would not have taken the job if he had any doubts Paderborn could avoid a second relegation in as many seasons. AFP | 1 | 94,678 | sports |
The bad news: There are over 300 days to go before the presidential election. The good news: These tips can keep your relationship solid even if you're on opposite sides of the ballot box. 1. Have a sense of humor The couple that can laugh together can get through anything. When Amy and Tom (names changed) first met, they frequently bickered over their rabidly different political beliefs. Amy recalls, "I'm liberal; he's conservative. Discussing candidates was always a lose-lose. We couldn't change the other's mind. So we decided to act the way we do when we don't agree in other areas, like say, whose bad habits are more annoying make light of it." For instance while playing the board game Say Anything with friends, a question came up: "What would be the worst possible job for Amy?" Tom, piped up, "Campaign manager for a Republican candidate." This response brought up huge laughs and he won the round. The couple's plans for an upcoming Halloween party: She's going as Donald Trump and he is wearing a wig and Hillary Clinton pantsuit! If you can't beat 'em, laugh with 'em. 2. Stay off each other's social media feeds This is great advice even when you share political biases. It's harder still to maintain mystery and allure when you are flooded with status update after status update about your spouse's upset stomach after too much caffeine or his constant stream of cyber-joke sharing. However, when staunchly opposed to each other's political party, it's a kick in the gut each time you see the person who shares your bed lauding a candidate you detest, or worse, deriding the candidate you love. So, tell your snuggle bunny, "Honey, the most important thing to me is our relationship. So I don't want us to get upset each time we see a post on the other's feed we don't like. Can we 'unfriend' online till after the election… and vow to be better communicators in person?" 3. Don't gloat when your beloved's candidate suffers a hardship Alas, our passion for our favorite candidates and hatred for the other side can loosen our lips and lead to insensitive statements. But, "Bah ha, I said your candidate was an idiot now the country agrees with me" is not a sentiment that will inspire marital bliss. Jane shares, "I can't count the number of times I bite my tongue when, as often happens, Danny's candidate hits the shoals. But I noticed how angry I became when he rubbed it in when the Democrats lost control of the house in the 2012 elections. So I told him how I felt and we agreed to rejoice in our victories and the downfall of our 'enemies' with like-minded friends in person and on the status updates that neither of us is ever going to read." 4. You don't need to agree, but you must listen Probably the most important piece of advice is to genuinely listen to one another's viewpoints. Again, neither of you will change the other's mind, but if you merely pay lip service, or at worst, berate your partner for not echoing your beliefs, the run-up to the presidential election might irreparably hurt your relationship. If you open your ears, say, "Honey, tell me why you believe a wall should be built around the borders between the U.S. and Mexico," ask questions to make sure you understand what you are hearing (i.e., "So you feel badly for Mexicans who want a better life, but believe there is already too much unemployment here?") the love of your life will feel respected. He must of course pay you the same courtesy. When two people feel deeply listened to and treated with kindness and respect, they can survive the political gulf between them. | 4 | 94,679 | lifestyle |
Investigators looking into the cause of the crash of Malaysian Airline flight MH17 released footage showing how parts of the plane have been reconstructed. | 5 | 94,680 | news |
Looking down a highway, it is plain to see that the automotive industry is truly a global enterprise. Cars are often assembled in countries far afield from the corporate headquarters, using parts from myriad countries. The same can be said for tires, as evidenced by the hundreds we bought to test last year. The 72 car tire models we tested this year came from all over the world. This batch included 21 brands, with those tires made in 19 countries. Tires manufactured in the United States were most numerous, but no single country was a majority source, as you'll see below. However, it is possible the production balance could shift stateside in the future, as several new tire plants are slated for construction in the U.S. in the next couple of years. BFGoodrich, Cooper, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Michelin, and Yokohama currently build tires here in America, although these are not all truly American brands. For instance, BFGoodrich is owned by Michelin, based in France; Firestone is owned by Bridgestone (Japan); and General is owned by Continental (Germany). Yokohama is a Japanese company. Complicating national pedigree further, manufacturers might not build all their models exclusively in any one country. The Goodyear tires we tested were built in Canada, Chile, Germany, and the U.S. Michelin tires were manufactured in Italy, Spain, and the U.S., but none came from France. And the tires we tested from Italian tire maker Pirelli were made in Mexico and Russia. Our testing program showed no clear trend that would correlate performance with country of origin, even by tire type. Still, it is interesting to see that 40 percent of the all-season tires were made in the U.S.; in contrast only 1 of 23 winter tires was built here. So, national bragging rights have no traction especially when so many tires are not built in the brand's home nation. The closest trend we found is that Consumer Reports' top scoring all-season, performance all-season, and winter tires came from Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Russia, and the U.S. If you're looking for the best tires for your car or truck, review Consumer Reports performance Ratings rather than judge by a tire's nationality. More from Consumer Reports: Learn more about the Tesla Model S Best cars for making it to 200,000 miles Best and worst three-row vehicles Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S. Follow MSN Autos on Facebook | 9 | 94,681 | autos |
Pauline Cafferkey, the nurse who suffered complications from the Ebola infection she contracted while volunteering in west Africa, is now critically ill, the Royal Free hospital in London has said. Related: Ebola crisis the story in brief Cafferkey was flown from Scotland, where she lives, to London for specialised care in an isolation tent at the Royal Free after she fell ill last week. Her family said the local medical staff were slow to realise this was a recurrence of the infection she had successfully fought last year. The hospital said on Wednesday afternoon that her condition had deteriorated and that she was critically ill. It has not released further details of her illness. Related: Scottish Ebola nurse readmitted to hospital in 'serious condition' "We are sad to announce that Pauline Cafferkey's condition has deteriorated and she is now critically ill. Pauline is being treated for Ebola in the high-level isolation unit at the Royal Free hospital," a statement said. While there have been reports of the virus lingering in the eyes of survivors and of transmission through semen, Cafferkey is the first person known to have a life-threatening recurrence of Ebola viral disease though it is entirely possible that other survivors in west Africa may have fallen ill in the same way but without coming to public attention. Cafferkey's illness has taken doctors by surprise. Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said it was known the virus could linger, "but this is frankly staggering. I am not aware from the scientific literature of a case where Ebola has been associated with what we can only assume as life-threatening complications after someone has initially recovered, and certainly not so many months after. "Without knowing the full details it is difficult to comment but I know that the team at the Royal Free will be doing everything in their powers to help her recover. Whilst we don't know her specific symptoms we have been reassured that before she was admitted to the Royal Free she wasn't exhibiting any that we'd associate with a transmission risk to others, so contact monitoring and vaccination is a precautionary measure." Although 58 of Cafferkey's contacts are being monitored , most experts believe that is a precautionary measure to reassure the public and that it is unlikely she is infectious. Ebola is transmitted only by contact with body fluids and there has been no suggestion that her new illness is manifesting in the usual way for a first-time Ebola infection, which typically involves vomiting and eventually bleeding. In a recent interview with ITV's Lorraine Kelly, Cafferkey spoke of her brush with death in January. "Outwardly I just tried to be stoical about everything but inside, obviously I was very frightened," she said. "I knew it could have gone three ways it could have been mild, it could have been severe, which it was with me, and it could have been death, the other outcome which I came very close to." Cafferkey volunteered to work in Sierra Leone and spent four weeks there, mostly with Save the Children at its Ebola treatment centre outside Freetown. She began to feel ill when she arrived back at Heathrow airport on 28 December, where she told staff from Public Health England, who were assessing the returnees, but she was cleared to fly on to Glasgow. The following day she was admitted to the infectious diseases unit of Gartnavel hospital, Glasgow and on 30 December she was transferred by an RAF plane to London's Royal Free hospital. On 3 January, the hospital issued a statement saying that Cafferkey was in a critical condition, but her immune system rallied, with the help of intensive medical support. On 24 January she was discharged, saying she was "happy to be alive". | 5 | 94,682 | news |
Even at their quietest, leaf blowers are enough of an annoyance in residential neighborhoods that you'll want to finish the job quickly. The best handheld models in Consumer Reports' leaf blower tests deliver ample power for blowing and sometimes vacuuming up leaves. And they do so without disturbing the neighbors too much. You can't say the same for the beefiest blowers, which are backpack and wheeled models the contractor's choice. Here's a rundown on some of the best from our tests in each category, and some you're better off passing up. Gas Handhelds The "LN" in the name of the Echo PB-255LN , $200, stands for low noise, but the greater attraction of this model is its stellar power for sweeping and loosening leaves. We also liked the spring-assisted starting and five-year warranty. But other models had as much power for far less. The Husqvarna 125B, $150, scored about the same and is lighter, and newly tested models such as the Hitachi RB24EAP and the Jonsered B2126 , both $140, also packed plenty of blowing power. Skip the Troy-Bilt TB320BV , $135. It was impressive at sweeping leaves and has spring-assist starting, multiple speeds, and a speed-control lock. But it fell short in loosening and vacuuming leaves, wasn't that easy to handle, and was especially noisy. Corded-Electric Handhelds Toro dominates our ratings of corded leaf blowers that perform nearly on a par with gas handhelds. And the newest, the $100 Toro Ultra Plus 51621 , leads the pack with top-notch sweeping and impressive loosening of embedded leaves. Want to pay less? Except for a few features, the $75 Toro Ultra Blower Vac 51609 matches its newer sibling right down to the metal impeller, which is more durable for vacuuming leaves. Skip the Remington RM1300 , which, for its $100 price, should have topped our ratings. Instead, it had lackluster power for sweeping, loosening, and vacuuming. It incorporates blowing and vacuuming with twin tubes that require no mode changes but the design adds weight and compromises on power for either task. Battery-Powered Handhelds If you're okay with limited run-time or have the cash for extra batteries, a cordless-electric model is worth a look. The Kobalt KHB400B and GreenWorks GBL80300 , both $250 and 80-volt, topped the category with impressive or better sweeping and loosening. Not far behind was the 56-volt EGO LB4801 , $180. Skip the Craftsman 98021 . At $150, this 40-volt unit is cheapest in the category. But sometimes you get what you pay for. In this case, it's extremely weak sweeping and loosening, more suitable for debris on your deck or driveway than for actual leaf cleanup. Gas Backpacks These models are nearly all heavier than a handheld, but the weight is evenly distributed across your back, with little stress on your arms. Of these, the $480 Husqvarna 356BT and $350 Stihl BR 350 had superior sweeping and loosening. What's more, the two were reasonably quiet from a distance. Consider also the $200 Ryobi RY08420 if you want to pay less, but note that this model was among the noisiest of backpacks in our tests. Skip the Poulan Pro PPBP30 , $160. It was as noisy as the Ryobi but had little else on the plus side, considering its mediocre power for sweeping and loosening. Gas Wheeled Blowers Any of the wheeled models we've tested would make short work of your leaves, so there's none we'd recommend you skip. The top model remains the $800 Little Wonder LB160H , which delivered the most blowing power but also the most noise at 50 feet away. For a less-expensive model, consider the $400 Troy-Bilt TB672 or the $350 Powermate P-WB-163150 . Of all gas-powered wheeled blowers, the Troy-Bilt is the quietest at a distance. | 4 | 94,683 | lifestyle |
In Touch Weekly exclusively reports that Louis Tomlinson is expecting a little girl with stylist, Briana Jungwirth. | 8 | 94,684 | video |
Two weeks after his program was hit with a post-season ban for NCAA recuiting violations , defending NCAA champion Bryson DeChambeau told the Golf Channel that he will forego his senior season at Southern Methodist University with an eye toward turning professional in 2016. "To best prepare myself for the next six months of competition and future events, I felt it was appropriate to make this decision now to be fair to my coaches and team," DeChambeau said. Prior to winning the NCAA individual title, DeChambeau won the 2015 U.S. Amateur, earning spots to play in the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open in 2016. If he turns professional in the interim, however, he will forfeit those spots. NEWSLETTERS: Sign up to get the latest golf news in your inbox DeChambeau will have to weigh his options. He could play the Masters in April, turn pro afterwards and rely on sponsor's exemptions for the rest of the season in an attempt to earn his Tour card and possibly regain his spots in the U.S. and British Open fields. On Sept. 29, the SMU men's golf program was hit with sanctions stemming from violations that occured under former head coach Josh Gregory. The Mustangs lost 25 percent of their allotted scholarships for three years and were banned from postseason play for 2016. SMU is currently appealing the sanctions, but should they be upheld, DeChambeau would not have been able to defend his NCAA title next season. DeChambeau joined elite company as a winner of the U.S. Amateur and NCAA title in the same season; only Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ryan Moore have acomplished the same feat. | 1 | 94,685 | sports |
Now you see me, now you don't! Pygmy Seahorse Being only the size of an average fingernail, the Pygmy seahorse is the smallest in the world. They rely on their camouflaging capabilities to keep safe from predators. They're so difficult to spot they are often overlooked my marine biologists and scientists. If you want to know where to find these cool creatures, your best bet is in tropical waters -- they spend their whole adult life resting on colored sea fans, which are a type of soft coral. Follow us on Pinterest. Scops Owl Hoo can spot this master of camouflage? The Scops owl is a grayish bird that is almost indistinguishable when sitting perched against the trunk of a tree. Currently, there are five recognized subspecies of the common scops owl. They all vary in location, geographically, and all consist of different plumage coloration and markings. Nevertheless, these beautiful birds sure know how to blend in. Follow us on Pinterest. Tiger Did you know no two tigers have the exact same stripes? Tigers are mostly nocturnal, and rely on their unique stripes to help them camouflage when it's time to ambush their prey. Their coats help them blend in beautifully in the tall grass and make it very difficult for their prey to see them, making them an ideal camouflage candidate. Follow us on Pinterest. Cheetah You would think that the world's fastest land mammal wouldn't need an additional boost to help them get their food. The cheetah's long, flexible body is covered with spots, which are a form of camouflage, helping the wild animal hunt prey and hide from other predators. These beautiful felines are without a doubt extremely hard to spot in the wild. Follow us on Pinterest. Peringuey's Adder Snake Being an ambush hunter, these awesome reptiles bury themselves just beneath the surface of the sand, and just as prey comes by -- BAM! It's dinner time. They come in a variety of neutral colors, helping them camouflage and catch their prey. These are desert snakes, so they're experts at making themselves very difficult to see in the sand. Here, an Adder snake is seen hiding in the sand in the Namibian Desert in Namibia, Africa. Follow us on Pinterest. Jackson's Chameleon Jackson's chameleons are totally cool reptiles that also make awesome pets. Their coloring is usually a bright green, but these species are able to change their color depending on health, mood and temperature. Yup, they're one of those camouflaging creatures that are very difficult to see. Their color-changing abilities help protect them from predators and help them catch their prey, which mainly consists of small insects. Follow us on Pinterest. Eastern Gray Tree Frog The Eastern gray tree frog is literally the chameleon of the frog world. They have the ability to camouflage themselves from gray to green, and even black to white, depending on what they are presently sitting on. Even though they change color at a slower rate than a chameleon, they're still camouflaging experts, making them extremely difficult to see. Follow us on Pinterest. Nursery Web Spider Nursery web spiders can often be seen perfectly camouflaged on a tree trunk. They come in a variety of colors such as browns and grays, which are perfect when it's camouflaging time. When they're perfectly positioned against a tree or a plant, they're able to catch their prey easily. However, they're able to jump up to six inches to escape their predators. These spiders are pretty cool! Follow us on Pinterest. Common Baron Caterpillar These exquisite insects are remarkable camouflagers. They change colors so perfectly, they basically disappear into foliage. Many birds won't ever get a chance to swoop them up. These creatures don't stay camouflaging masters forever, though. As soon as they evolve from larvae to butterfly stage, they lose all camouflaging abilities. We hope they have fun while it lasts! Follow us on Pinterest. Praying Mantis Praying mantis are a large insect that are able to change their color in an effort to hide from predators as well as sneak up on prey. Their colors vary from dark brown to green, allowing them to blend into trees and plants. There are many different types of mantis, all varying in size. Usually, they're between 2-5 inches. Follow us on Pinterest. | 4 | 94,686 | lifestyle |
We all have those "What was I thinking?" moments, and when it comes to decorating, those mistakes often take the form of tacky wallpaper borders. While wallpaper can add beautiful pattern or textural interest to a room, it can also quickly date it, leaving you ready for a change sooner than you may have planned. But don't fret! Removing a wallpaper border is a lot simpler than the sticky business may seem, and it requires no more than a few inexpensive tools and a little patience. Continue on to learn how you can replace those unforgiving florals and make way for a more up-to-date accent in no time. TOOLS AND MATERIALS - Drop cloth- Paint scraper/putty knife- Scoring tool- Gloves- Spray bottle- Wallpaper stripper- Water- Electric steamer ( optional )- Sponge with scouring pad STEP 1 Move all the furniture that you can out of the room, and protect the floors and any remaining furniture with a drop cloth to make cleanup a cinch.Some wallpapers will come off easily without first needing to be saturated with a stripper. To test, simply try to lift a corner of the paper with a putty knife. If it comes up easily, you can continue removing the border in sections without worrying about the extra step of getting it wet.If it doesn't come off cleanly, you'll need to start the removal process by using the scoring tool to make small holes or slits in the wallpaper. Go over the entire border in a random pattern, keeping in mind that the more holes you make, the easier it will be for your stripper to seep in and loosen the wallpaper glue. STEP 2 Pull on a pair of gloves before you get to work softening the paper with solution. Fill your spray bottle with the wallpaper stripper of your choice, and mix in warm water according to the instructions on its label. Spray the solution on one section at a time, continuing until the entire border is completely saturated. Allow several minutes of soaking time to help loosen the glue. STEP 3 Begin removing one section of wallpaper border by lifting the corner of the border using just the tip of the scraper or putty knife. Then, using your hands, grasp the edge and do your best to pull off as much paper as possible in one continuous strip. If any of the border doesn't come off easily, spray again with your stripper and repeat the process until the difficult sections have been fully removed. STEP 4 Still stuck with stubborn spots of wallpaper? Try using an electric steamer (you can rent one at your hardware store) to further soften the glue, then attempt another round of scraping with a putty knife and prying with your fingers. STEP 5 After all the wallpaper border has been removed, wash the entire area with warm water and a scouring pad to remove any remaining glue. Let the wall dry completely, and it will be ready for its next makeover! | 4 | 94,687 | lifestyle |
A double century by Shoaib Malik and his 248-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Asad Shafiq gave Pakistan the upper hand at the end of the second day of the first Test against England. Chasing a massive Pakistan first-innings total of 523-8 declared, England's openers made an assured start and were 56 without loss at close. Captain Alastair Cook was unbeaten on 39, while his new opening partner Moeen Ali was on 15. Pakistan's innings was built around Malik's 245 in his first Test in more than five years, and a record-equalling eighth Test century by Shafiq (107). In Pictures: Batting for the 'Last Male Standing' Starting the day on 286-4, England's hopes hinged on a couple of quick early wickets with the new ball, which was used for just three overs on Tuesday, but Malik and Shafiq dug in and Pakistan did not lose a single wicket in the first two sessions. Malik's previous highest was 148 not out against Sri Lanka in Colombo in March 2006, and he crossed that mark and reached his 150 with a streaky shot of Mark Wood. Malik's innings lasted more than 10 hours and he faced 420 balls for his 245. He came in at the fall of the first wicket with the score on five in the third over and he was seventh to go in the 150th over. Captain Misbah-ul Haq then declared the innings a couple of overs later when Zulfiqar Babar became the fourth victim of Ben Stokes, the most successful England bowler with 4-57. Pakistan has played seven Test matches at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, winning four, including the last two by massive margins against Australia (356 runs) and New Zealand (248 runs) and drawing the other three. They won the only Test match here against England by 72 runs in 2012. Scorecard: Pakistan 523-8d (Malik 245, Stokes 4-57) England 56-0 (Cook 39*, Shafiq 0-2) | 1 | 94,688 | sports |
Milwaukee Bucks forward Greg Monroe discusses his time in High School and shares his earliest memories of watching Michael Jordan play. Check out more great stories on ThePostGame http://www.thepostgame.com/ Subscribe to us on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/thepostgame Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/Post_Game Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/the_post_game/ Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ThePostGame Check out our tumblr http://thepostgame.tumblr.com/ | 1 | 94,689 | sports |
Our guys take a closer look at the fantasy football players on the rise and weigh in on the guys fantasy owners should consider picking up. Is Duke Johnson's workload growing? | 1 | 94,690 | sports |
When the NCAA handed down SMU's postseason ban a few weeks ago, many pundits theorized that the sanction unduly penalized the wrong people. On Wednesday, SMU's players issued a statement to CBS Sports agreeing with that stance and criticizing the NCAA's "disproportionate" and "unfair" penalty. The crux of the statement is that none of the team's current roster "had any role" in or "could have possibly known of any rules infraction" that occurred when a former SMU assistant coach and secretary conspired to complete coursework to keep former player Keith Frazier eligible. MORE: Ban holds current SMU roster hostage | Brown's tumultous career The entire text of the statement is below. Bolded emphasis is our own. We, the student-athlete members of the SMU Basketball family, wish to express our profound disappointment and vehement disagreement with the sanctions levied upon us as student-athletes, and with the conclusions drawn by the NCAA Committee on Infractions about our men's basketball program and our coach, Larry Brown . We believe the NCAA exercised questionable judgment in punishing innocent people, and we strongly disagree that a dedicated group of blameless, amateur athletes should bear the overwhelming weight of the consequences in this case. We also wish to make known that the NCAA's conclusion that the SMU Men's Basketball program is not compliant with NCAA rules is simply incorrect. We are dedicated students and athletes, and we believe in rules, honor and fair play. Each and every one of us understands the seriousness of the underlying violation of NCAA rules, and we understand the role of the NCAA in fairly enforcing the rules and adjudicating infractions cases. We also believe in proportionality and due process. As student-athletes directly impacted by these sanctions, we believe the sanctions are disproportionate to the infraction and unfairly punish us for things we had nothing to do with and over which we had no control. The NCAA has imposed an immediate postseason ban that unfairly punishes our entire team. This punishment is especially unfair to our seniors, who will lose an opportunity of a lifetime despite doing nothing wrong. None of our players, especially our seniors, had any role in this case nor could possibly have known about any rules infraction. And not one member of our team was born when SMU Football was before the NCAA in the 1980s. The suggestion or conclusion that SMU Basketball does not recognize the importance of NCAA rules and compliance with those rules cannot be farther from the truth. Every single day Coach Brown and our compliance staff remind and educate us about specific rules and the general principles of fair competition, honesty, and decency. Coach Brown is not only a great basketball coach, he is a life-skills teacher, a constantly available adviser, and a father figure to all of his players. We are a family, and we support Coach Brown completely, and appreciate his unyielding support of us. We, the student-athletes, had no voice in this case, and believe we were denied our due process. We ask that the NCAA reconsider the sanctions that unfairly target and disproportionately affect the innocent, and allow SMU Men's Basketball to compete for a berth in postseason play. That sanctions disproportionately affecting the student-athlete have been levied in the past is no reason to continue such an unfair practice in this case, or in future cases. In the meantime, we will assess our options while continuing to work harder each day to make SMU students, faculty and fans proud of us and our basketball program. We are proud to play for them as they make Moody Coliseum the best arena in college basketball. | 1 | 94,691 | sports |
Italy's Prime Minister has promised headline grabbing cuts in tomorrow's budget. But As Tim Graham reports he's not yet explained how he will cover revenue shortfalls. | 5 | 94,692 | news |
Rafael Nadal needed all his trademark grit and determination on Wednesday when he was taken to a third-set tie-break by towering ace king Ivo Karlovic in a dramatic opening match at the Shanghai Masters. After Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray safely went through, Nadal was in danger of following Roger Federer to the exit when the 6ft 11ins (2.11m) Croatian zipped 24 aces past the 14-time Grand Slam winner. But Karlovic, who has fired more aces than any other player in tennis history, fatally double-faulted at 4-4 in the tense final-set tie-breaker, giving Nadal a shot at victory which he did not miss. Nadal's excited reaction to the breathless 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/4) win, when he leapt in the air and pumped his fists, and then stood with his arms aloft, left no doubt about how much the victory meant. The Spaniard had earlier walloped three return winners in a row, from Karlovic's giant serve, at 4-5 down in the first set to break the Croatian and ultimately take a one-set lead. "That game was so important -- probably one of the best games return in my career," said Nadal. "Yeah, almost a miracle. Three winners from his first serve. That was really amazing." Defending champion Federer tamely succumbed to 70th-ranked Albert Ramos-Vinolas on Tuesday but Nadal's win means the other big names march on at Shanghai's Qi Zhong Stadium. Top-ranked Djokovic, fresh from his sixth China Open victory in Beijing, breezed past Martin Klizan 6-2, 6-1 as he seeks his ninth title of a year in which he won three of the four Grand Slams. "Considering the fact that I've won so many matches this year and tournaments, probably the best season of my life definitely, anywhere I go I'm confident," said the Serb, who moves to 69-5 this season. Murray, another two-time winner in Shanghai, zipped past Steve Johnson 6-2, 6-4, and French Open champion Stan Wawrinka beat Viktor Troicki 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. - Combustible Kyrgios - Federer complained that he found it tough to adapt to the Shanghai conditions after he went out to Ramos-Vinolas, but Murray said he had arrived early enough to acclimatise. "It does take a bit of time to get used to the conditions here. But for me, that was a big positive in getting here early this year, that I've had five days to get used to it," the 2010 and 2011 champion said. Australia's number one Bernard Tomic reached the third round when he beat David Ferrer 6-4, 6-2 -- denting the Spaniard's hopes of qualifying for the World Tour Finals in London. But Tomic's outspoken compatriot Nick Kyrgios flirted with a 28-day ban after he was slapped with his second code violation in as many matches during his 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Japan's Kei Nishikori. Kyrgios was again at the centre of controversy when he received a code violation for smacking away a loose ball and nearly hitting a line judge -- a day after he was fined $1,500 for an audible obscenity. If the 20-year-old totals $5,000 in fines by February 24 he will trigger the 28-day suspended ban he received in August for making a sexual comment about Stan Wawrinka's girlfriend. But Kyrgios, who sparred with umpire Mohamed Lahyani in yet another combustible display, insisted he wasn't concerned about a potential ban, even with the Australian Open looming in January. "Not concerned at all. If it happens, it happens," shrugged the world number 32, adding: "I probably shouldn't have done it. But I didn't think it was too bad. I don't know, can't really change it now." | 1 | 94,693 | sports |
Smaller, cheaper computer processors are enabling robots and drones to map their surroundings with three-dimensional vision. WSJ's Jack Nicas shows how the technology promises to bring robots out of factories and into homes. | 8 | 94,694 | video |
Facebook is testing a new video section on its platform. The feature appears on both the web and app versions of its service, and aims to make it easier for users to "discover, watch and share" clips uploaded to its servers. It builds on wider efforts to make the social network more video-centric. One expert said that it posed a serious challenge to Google-owned YouTube, which has long dominated ad-supported videos on the net. "Facebook already accounts for about 20% of the time people spend online, and it has an unbelievable level of data about its users, which is very interesting for ad-funded content providers," said Ian Maude, from Enders Analysis. "If it can marry high-quality content and more personalised targeting through the information it has on all of us, then that's the Holy Grail for marketers." Facebook said only a "small number of people" would initially be able to see the feature while it was being tested. Saved clips The new section is accessed via an icon at the bottom of the screen in Facebook's app and in the Favourites section on the top left-hand side of its web page. For now, it is limited to suggested clips based on a user's own activities on the network as well as those of their friends, but a spokeswoman said that a search function might be added in the future. Once the viewer starts watching a clip, they can quickly switch to another one by flicking upwards on the screen of the app. "We also know that sometimes people want to watch a video, but they don't have time or aren't in a place where they can turn on sound," added Facebook executive Will Cathcart. "To make it easy to return to the videos you're interested in, we've been testing a button that allows you to save a video to watch later, which can be accessed in your Saved bookmark." In addition, Facebook is testing letting clips continue playing in a floating window superimposed over the screen when a user scrolls through their News Feed, rather than the current set-up that anchors clips to the page and stops them streaming when they move beyond the display. Paying creators Facebook revealed earlier in the year that it was achieving about four billion video clip views a day. Beyond encouraging users to spend longer on the service, Facebook is also experimenting with placing ads between the initial clip the user clicks on and other "suggested" videos it then promotes as follow-up views. To persuade video-makers to upload their clips to its service - rather than just post links to YouTube or other hosting sites - it also recently announced plans to share the revenue generated by these adverts. "A year or two from now, we think Facebook will be mostly video," the platform's advertising chief said last month. Threat to YouTube YouTube has publicly tried to play down the threat Facebook poses. The growing demand for online video meant "it will be a decade before we bump into each other," YouTube's head of content, Robert Kyncl, told the Financial Times in July. However, the BBC understands that privately Google takes the threat seriously. "This has been building up for a while," said Mr Maude. "Facebook wants to become a destination for rich content - not just news about your friends and what they are up to. "And adding professional content in particular is a way to not just drive up the amount of time people spend on the site, but also the pricing it can charge for associated advertising." | 5 | 94,695 | news |
For the last few years, states that adopted the Common Core State Standards have been purchasing new textbooks and other instructional materials to better align their curriculum with the new academic benchmarks. But it turns out they're largely in the dark when it comes to deciding which materials deliver the most bang for the buck. According to a new study from the Center for American Progress , a left-leaning policy think-tank, there is little relationship between the cost and quality of curriculum materials. In fact, higher-quality products tend to cost less, researchers found, and in some cases the most expensive curriculum is among the least effective and the least expensive is among the most effective. Confounding the issue even further, there is a dearth of research on curriculum effectiveness, making it difficult for states and local school districts to make informed decisions about which instructional materials will benefit students the most. "Many states are moving forward with implementing the new Common Core standards, and this process offers important opportunities for the creation of innovative, cost-effective instructional products," wrote Ulrich Boser, Matthew Chingos, and Chelsea Straus, the three lead researchers of the report. "However, these new products will not add much value if schools cannot accurately separate the wheat from the chaff." The report also found that some states seem to be choosing textbooks that don't entirely align with their standards, regardless of whether they're using the Common Core or not. For example, textbooks in Texas, a state that does not use the Common Core, only need to cover 50 percent of the state's grade-level standards and researchers found that the curriculum reviewers don't consider whether or not textbooks contain extraneous material. And in California, reviewers often rely on "standards maps" that the publishers provide themselves. "In other words, the state's textbooks can cover a lot of material that's not in the standards," the report's authors wrote. "The result is that schools often use misaligned textbooks, and studies have shown that there is a clear gap between what publishers say is aligned to state standards or effective and what truly fits those criteria." In addition, the report underscored an already widely acknowledged problem with the curriculum adoption process namely that it's dominated by politics rather than substance, with debates erupting over things like the role of evolution and climate change in textbooks. Last year, for example, reviewers in Texas debated over whether or not Moses inspired the Founding Fathers. "Such heated political debates are a type of distraction, and states often fail to focus in any significant way on issues of effectiveness," they wrote. "Politics may also help explain why issues of alignment are often overlooked, and a number of recent studies show that the supposedly Common Core-aligned textbooks are not all that aligned." Across the country, 19 states have a state-level adoption process for curriculum materials but leave the final selection decisions to individual school districts. Of those 19 states, nine compile a list of materials from which school districts are "required or strongly encouraged" to use when selecting textbooks and other instructional materials. In most of the other states, districts select materials with no direct input from the state. In general, states aim to purchase new materials in specified subjects at semi-regular intervals, which range from five to eight years, though sometimes state funding issues can cause delays. Typically, the process begins with appointing a committee made up of a mix of teachers, administrators, school board members, parents and students. The committee either makes the final adoption decision or reviews materials and makes recommendations to the school board, which then makes the final decision. The authors collected price data on adopted elementary math instructional materials from 19 states. They also analyzed the relationship between price and quality by collecting price data for instructional materials and comparing the relative cost and benefit of switching to a new curriculum to other education policies. Notably, the researchers did not examine digital or other online curricula. The report urged the federal government to begin studying the impact of various instructional materials. Under federal law, the federal government is prohibited from recommending curriculum or incentivizing states to adopt any specific instructional materials. But philanthropies, the researchers suggested, could create competitive grant programs for publishing companies to develop and scale-up promising instructional materials. "Put simply, the need for high-quality research on curriculum quality has never been greater, and the federal government has a clear role to play in supporting gold-standard research," the researchers said. Researchers also suggested that school districts pilot new products alongside existing products in order to produce evidence on effectiveness before committing to the new product. Districts should also create networks for sharing information across districts within a state, they said. Copyright 2015 U.S. News & World Report | 5 | 94,696 | news |
Searchers have rescued a man who had been clinging to floating plants in a lake in Indonesia for more than two days after the helicopter in which he was traveling crashed into the water. | 8 | 94,697 | video |
If there is one constant in the world of nutrition, it's that there will be controversy. And since the first announcement of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee's recommendations , we have seen nothing short of it. With so many different viewpoints on cholesterol and fat, for instance, it's hard to keep up. I recently returned from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. The highlight of the conference for me (and I think many others) was a lively discussion called "The Great Fat Debate," hosted by KIND Snacks and moderated by Dr. David Katz , the director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center and a U.S. News blogger. I was extremely honored to be a panelist of this controversial conversation alongside Penny M. Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University, and Dr. Michael Dansinger, director of the Tufts Diabetes Reversal Program. Here's what you missed: 1. Should the Dietary Guidelines for Americans include a limit on total fat? The proposed guidelines don't set a limit on total fat, but the panel's consensus was that they should. I argued that fat still equates to calories 9 grams per calorie to be exact, compared with 4 grams per calorie for protein and carbohydrates. And since obesity is still a major problem in the U.S., this point cannot be overlooked. Kris-Etherton had a similar sentiment, warning that consumers who eat more than 50 percent of their daily calories from fat will likely miss out on key nutrients even if they don't exceed their daily calorie needs since fat-containing foods will displace other nutrient-dense foods . As for Dansinger, he said he'd be happier if the guidelines had proposed people eat 10 percent to 40 percent of their day's total calories from fat, with the vast majority of that fat coming from healthy sources instead of meat and dairy. I don't like to talk negatively about meat or dairy, since I do believe they can be part of a well-balanced diet. But the bottom line with fat is that we do need guidelines and we most certainly need to look at one's entire diet for the day and not isolate any one nutrient or food. 2. Should the dietary guidelines include a total limit on cholesterol? As it stands, the guidelines propose a cholesterol limit. I, for one, don't think that's necessary anymore since years of research has shown that dietary cholesterol does not have an effect on blood cholesterol . Maybe the bacon, greasy home fries and buttered toast were to blame not the actual eggs . But Kris-Etherton had a different view, pointing out that about 25 percent of the population is "hyper-responders" to dietary cholesterol. "Increasing dietary cholesterol increases risk of cardiovascular disease in persons with diabetes, a growing population group in the U.S.," she said when I caught up with her this week. "Having no recommendation for dietary cholesterol is risky for these two groups." I won't argue with that, but we need to remember that the dietary guidelines are designed for healthy people. I believe that people with special dietary needs should be consulting with a registered dietitian nutritionist. 3. Are saturated fats back in favor? Praising saturated fats makes for great headlines (especially "Butter is back!"), but my esteemed colleagues and I agreed that doing so doesn't make for great diet advice. Based on conclusive, scientific, peer-reviewed research, there are no health benefits to consuming saturated fats. "These fats cause unhealthy cholesterol levels in the blood by blocking the liver from doing its job," Dansinger says. To be fair, some saturated fats such as stearic acid and lauric acid have recently been shown to have neutral effects on blood cholesterol levels. But just because a nutrient is neutral doesn't mean we should be choosing it over a nutrient that's proven to be health-promoting. Perhaps that message is what's lost on consumers. 4. Do consumers fully understand the role of fat in their diets? Unfortunately, we all agreed that consumers are confused. And who can blame them? It's harder to understand single nutrients than whole foods, and more appealing to believe that butter good for you than that only particular types of fats in certain quantities are good for you. The problem is, years ago, the message was to lower total fat consumption. But experts didn't tell us with what, so Americans chose a lot of refined sugars and highly-processed packaged foods over fruits, veggies and 100 percent whole grains. We need to not make that mistake again. 5. What is the current thinking about the health effects of unsaturated oils? The panel was in full agreement that unsaturated oils have positive health effects and should be included in our diets daily. We reiterated the point that we don't eat unsaturated oils; we eat food. Olive oil tossed in a salad. Nuts and seeds mixed into yogurt or oatmeal. Avocado smashed on whole-wheat toast. It is also important to remember that unsaturated oils and fats are simply one component of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Copyright 2015 U.S. News & World Report | 7 | 94,698 | health |
In many cases, rental car companies can charge you for mechanical problems that need fixing. Know your rights and responsibilities before you drive away. Q: This past April, my fiancé and I took a week-long holiday in South Africa, where we rented a car from Avis at the Cape Town Airport location. We picked up the car on a cool morning. After about 150 miles of driving, as the sun got higher, we decided to turn on the air conditioner. No luck. It produced nothing but hot air. I called Avis and left a message, which wasn't returned. Rather than drive all the way back to Cape Town, we decided to roll down our windows and make the best of it. When I returned the car, I informed the lot attendant that the A/C wasn't working. He made a note of it, and away we went.A couple weeks later, I noticed an $800 charge from Avis on my corporate credit card. I called and asked what it was for. It was a bill for a new air condenser unit on the car. As you might imagine, I complained, vigorously, but to no avail. It seems the Cape Town Avis office has dug in their heels, convinced that I somehow ruined their car's air conditioner. Me? I contend that I had to tolerate driving around Africa for a week with no A/C. Does this look like a problem you would be interested in taking on? Jack J., Mooresville, IN A: Mechanical problems with rental cars can be vexing. You might assume that if something doesn't work or the vehicle breaks down, rental companies will pay for the repairs. The truth is, often they don't. I've received letters from readers who were charged to repair leaking radiators, blown transmissions, burned-out clutches (including one clutch that failed less than a mile into the rental), broken seat belts, and many tires. In fact, when you rent from Avis in Cape Town, one of the options is to purchase a "Windscreen Tyre Damage Waiver." The fact that it's an option means if something happens to the windshield or a tire, without the waiver, you're responsible for it. Regardless, you shouldn't have to pay for a mechanical issue that happened before you ever laid eyes on the car. As it happens in this case, before I contacted Avis, Jack followed up again and got a reply from its executive resolution coordinator, who agreed to refund the cost of the repair. But that was not necessarily a likely outcome, because Jack had no proof that the damage did not happen while he was driving it, other than the phone message he left with the Avis office. And, as we've discussed before, verbal proof may not help you, particularly when it is unacknowledged. Still, it's a stretch to suggest Jack damaged the condenser unit in a car not involved in an accident. In addition, he made the call to Avis and he informed the lot attendant about the problem upon return. At the very least, someone could have warned him of the possibility that he might be charged, which would have allowed him to tell his side of the story. If there is any one thing that drives me nuts about rental companies, it's when they charge you for something weeks after you return the car, particularly when you return it to an agent who does not note any problems before handing you the "final" tally. Here are a few steps you can take to protect yourself in similar circumstances: To make sure you don't get charged for exterior or interior damage you didn't cause, fully inspect the car and note any damage, including small scratches and dings, on the rental agreement. Take pictures of the car when you pick it up, and when you return it, preferably time and date stamped, although a picture of the dash that shows the mileage should also do the trick. Check the tires and verify they have sufficient tread. Turn on the lights to make sure none are burned out. When you get in the vehicle, verify that the main systems work properly, including heat, air conditioning, lights, navigation, wipers, sound system. Also verify that no warning lights are on. Once you drive away, if you notice anything unusual about the way the car handles, return to the rental location and ask for another car. If you discover something further down the road or the car breaks down, contact the rental company or its roadside-assistance service immediately. Ask what you should do and how it handles repairs. If something on the car must be fixed, find out what the proper protocol is to be reimbursed depending on the repair, you may have to pay no matter what, but if you don't follow procedure, it's far more likely. If, as in the case of the air conditioning in Jack's rental car, it's something you can live with, make sure you get an acknowledgement from the company about the problem, preferably in writing ask it to send an email so you have a record that you reported the issue as soon as possible. As always, read the rental agreement and its associated policies, so you know what your rights and responsibilities are. As we've seen in the past, it's impossible to protect yourself against everything that could happen when you rent a car, but that's also true of your own. The difference is, what you have to pay for is more obvious when it's your car, whether it's to repair damage after an accident, a mechanical fix, or even a tank of gas. The best way to control those variables when dealing with a rental company is to know the rules, inspect the car, and document everything. More from Condé Nast Traveler: The 2015 Friendliest and Unfriendliest Cities Around the World 100 Top Hotels & Resorts in the World 50 Things to Do in the U.S. Before You Die | 2 | 94,699 | travel |
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