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When is Midsomer Murders back on ITV?

Yes: ITV announced in April 2017 that filming had begun on series 20 of Midsomer Murders, with six feature-length episodes. Advertisement Neil Dudgeon returns as DCI John Barnaby, with Nick Hendrix as DS Jamie Winter and Fiona Dolman as Sarah Barnaby. Barnaby and Winters investigations will lead them to a cursed brewery, an elite intellectual society with a dark past, a killer comic book festival and a circus of horrors Joining the team will be EastEnders Annette Badland as formidable new pathologist Dr Fleur Perkins. As for WHEN it will be back, an air date has not yet been announced. The first four episodes of Midsomer Murders series 19 aired in December 2016 and January 2017, but while the final two episodes of the six-part series aired on TV elsewhere in the world, they took some time to arrive on ITV. The show returned on Sunday 13th May at 8pm on ITV, with the final episode in the series airing on Sunday 20th May at 8pm on ITV. Episode five, titled Death by Persuasion, takes us back in time. After a young woman slips away from a camp site where a Jane Austen fan event is taking place (dressed in Georgian attire, of course), she is found stabbed in the woods. DCI Barnaby and DS Winter discover there is more to the story: the victim was a journalist, interested in the villages healthcare drone delivery programme. Advertisement Episode six, titled The Curse of the Ninth, includes the final appearance of pathologist Dr Kam Karimore (Manjinder Virk), who is moving to Canada. When a prize-winning musician is strangled with a violin string, DCI Barnaby uncovers multiple motives and multiple suspects.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/midsomer-murders-itv-time-channel-air-date-2018/

When is the Doctor Who special on TV this Christmas? Whats the plot and who are the guest stars?

For the past 13 years, fans around the world have enjoyed specially themed festive adventures from Doctor Who, with the ancient Time Lord teaming up with Santa, battling deadly Christmas trees and snowmen and even visiting a Christmas-themed town over the years. Advertisement However, its now been revealed that this year the sci-fi series will abandon its 25th December time slot for a New Years special, with Jodie Whittakers Doctor set to take on an alien threat in a snazzy new scarf as the calendars change to 2019. The BBC has now revealed that the New Years special will air on BBC1 at 7.00pm on Tuesday 1st January, aka New Years Day. The hour-long episode will conclude at 8.00pm, and is reportedly named Resolution. While that timeslot is fairly average for the most recent series of the sci-fi drama (episodes tended to start between 6.25 and 7.05pm) its a bit later than the old Doctor Who Christmas specials tended to air last years special, Twice Upon a Time, aired at 5.30pm on Christmas day. No official reason has yet been given for the episode moving, but it could just be that the BBC fancied a change. As noted above, there has been a Doctor Who Christmas special every year since 2005, and former showrunner Steven Moffat had suggested that he thought they were running out of ways to tie sci-fi adventures into the Yuletide spirit. I think it was a brilliant idea [in 2005] and it lasted a very, very long time, he told RadioTimes.com in 2017 from the set of that years Christmas special Twice Upon a Time. Alternatively, it could be that the BBC didnt have room for Doctor Who on Christmas Day among its other shows (we wont know whats taking its place until the schedules are released, but it could be the remake of Watership Down), and so the move to New Years Day was a necessity. While much of the story is under wraps, the BBC has released a couple of images from the episode and this official synopsis: As the New Year begins, a terrifying evil is stirring, from across the centuries of Earths history. (More on the precise identity of that threat below) However, despite the reference to it being set at New Year the story might not actually involve that time of year specifically, with a couple of the actors hinting that there were no significant New Year traditions included in the episode. When we were filming, we didnt know when it was going to air, Mandip Gill told Radio Times when asked about possible New Year references. Its been confirmed that Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, Bradley Walsh and Tosin Cole will be reprising their roles as the Doctor, Yaz, Graham and Ryan respectively. Its also been revealed that Charlotte Ritchie, Nikesh Patel and Daniel Adegboyega will guest star in the episode as Lin, Mitch and Aaron. The episode is called Resolution. Given that the next series of Doctor Who is not until early 2020, that could be rather fitting, as waiting over a year for a cliffhanger to be resolved might be a bit much, and it would be nice to have a few loose ends tied up instead. Fans have been hoping that the terrifying evil stirring from across the centuries of Earths history, means classic monsters the Daleks and we now know that is indeed the case, with this teaser trailer surely confirming that at least one of the tinpot terrors will be returning to face the Thirteenth Doctor and her friends The title, Resolution (of the Daleks) will certainly strike a chord with Doctor Who fans who remember other classic stories such as Remembrance of the Daleks, Resurrection of the Daleks and Revelation of the Daleks. Never say never. While therell be no Christmas special in 2018, it may be that in future years Chibnall and Whittaker fancy bringing the Thirteenth Doctor back to 25th December. After all, they may come up with a brilliant Christmas idea for Whittakers incarnation, and conjuring a New Years-themed story every year could be even harder than keeping the Christmas theme going. On the other hand, it might be that the BBC wont fancy returning the series to Christmas Day after a year off and its possible that coming up with New Years storylines wont be an issue. After all, most New Years specials dont have particular attachment to the day itself just look at Sherlocks the Abominable Bride, as a random example meaning that Doctor Who could be free to just keep coming up with hour-long standalone episodes to air on January 1st for as long as they want. Still, we cant help but hope that ONE day well see Jodie Whittaker get a Christmas special all of her own even if we have to wait a little longer to unwrap that particular present. This article was originally published on 15 November 2018 Advertisement Doctor Who continues on BBC1 on Sundays

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/when-is-the-doctor-who-special-on-tv-this-christmas-whats-the-plot-and-who-are-the-guest-stars/

What do we know about the real-life Durrells and their adventures in Corfu?

From watching The Durrells, you might expect that earnest novelist Lawrence is the Durrell kid who grew up to write about his life on the island in My Family and Other Animals. But actually its little Gerry who penned the autobiographical Corfu trilogy that has now been adapted by ITV. Louisa Durrell, her husband and their four kids were all born in India during the British Raj. Travelling engineer Mr Durrell died in 1928, so Louisa took the three youngest (Leslie, Margo and Gerald) to England where they tried to get by on a widows pension. Eldest son Lawrence had already been sent to a boarding school in England to be educated, something he definitely wasnt happy about. By 1935 Lawrence was living in Corfu with his first wife Nancy (although in the TV series Larry is single and unmarried). That was the year his mother, sister and brothers arrived to join him on the island. Gerald began to collect and keep local wildlife as pets, spurring a life-long interest in nature and conservation. He was home-schooled and allowed to run wild. The young boy also found a friend and mentor in the Greek doctor, scientist, poet and philosopher Theodore Stephanides. The two explored the island together, accompanied by Theodores young daughter Alexia (who doesnt appear in the series). Though Larry and his wife initially lived with the whole family at their house at Kontokali, in early 1936 the young couple moved to a tiny fishing village on their own. Larry later struck up a friendship with the writer Henry Miller, who came to visit in 1939. Larrys first novel, Pied Piper of Lovers, was published in 1935. He drew on his experiences growing up in British India, his loss of a parent, and his difficult time fitting in when sent to school in England. The novel then moves on to his discovery of sexuality and his characters burgeoning love life. The semi-autobiographical novel had a disappointing reception, receiving tepid reviews and a small print run. It was not republished in Lawrences lifetime. The Durrells arrived in 1935 and remained in Corfu until 1939, when the outbreak of World War II forced most of the family to return to England for safety. By series three we are already at 1937, but aside from brief mentions of Hitler the shadow of world war has not yet begun to loom in the Durrell family consciousness. Were still sort of a bit blissfully ignorant, I guess you could say, Callum Woodhouse, who plays Leslie, tells RadioTimes.com. When war did arrive, Louisa left the island with Gerry and Leslie as well as the young live-in maid. However, Larry and his wife stayed and had to escape with their baby daughter to Egypt after the fall of Greece. The entire country was occupied by the Axis Powers by June 1941. Margo also declared Corfu her true home, sharing a cottage with some local friends. She began a love affair with an RAF pilot, moved with him to South Africa and married him in 1940. The two stayed there for the duration of the war, then moved to Bournemouth, had two kids and divorced. Gerald Durrell (1925-1995): Young Gerry grew up to be a popular naturalist, conservationist and author. After returning to England he worked at an aquarium and a pet store, and though he was called up for military duty in 1943, he was excused on medical grounds. After the war he joined Whipsnade Zoo as a junior keeper, and then embarked on a number of excursions around the world to bring back unusual animals to the UK. But his focus on conservation was out of step with zoos at the time, so he worked on redefining the role of the zoo. Gerry founded the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, which is now directed by his second wife, Lee McGeorge Durrell, following his death in 1995. Gerald with a cheetah at London Zoo in 1954 He is now best remembered for his bestselling Corfu Trilogy, starting with My Family and Other Animals and then followed by Birds, Beasts and Relatives and The Garden of the Gods. Lawrence Durrell (1912-1990): Named after his father Lawrence Samuel Durrell, Larry became a diplomat and writer who married four times and lived around the world. His most famous work is The Alexandria Quartet (a series of novels set in Egypt). Like Gerald he also wrote about his time on Corfu, though his lyrical novel Prosperos Cell has been less remembered. Larrys account actually doesnt mention his mother or any siblings except for Leslie, though his first wife is featured. Larry eventually settled in Sommires, France, where he passed away in November 1990. Lawrence Durrell in 1987 Margaret Durrell (1920-2007): Margo Durrell ran a boarding house in Bournemouth after her divorce, in the city where her mother Louisa also lived until her death in 1964. Acknowledging peoples curiosity, she wrote an account titled Whatever Happened to Margo? which told the story of her eclectic guests, her love affair with a trombonist, and the occasional visits from Gerry and his travelling menagerie of animals. In fact, Gerrys collection of animals were initially housed in the back garden and garage before they found new premises. Leslie Durrell (1918-1983): Louisas second oldest child never sought the public spotlight. After the familys return from Corfu to England, he spent the war working in an RAF factory and had a son with the familys Corfiot maid Maria Kondos, who came with them back to England. Advertisement His business ventures were unsuccessful (including an attempt to run a farm in Kenya) and he later worked as a hotel concierge. Leslie died in 1983.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/the-durrells-real-history-itv-drama/

Did Winston Churchills secretary Venetia Scott from The Crown really exist?

Kate Phillips is one of the break-out stars of The Crown as Winston Churchills starstruck secretary Venetia Scott and if you dont know what happens to her character, it might be best to look away now. Poor Venetia, who hero-worships Churchill (John Lithgow), is a shock victim of The Great Smog of 1952 in episode four when she is mowed down by a bus as she hurries to Downing Street with an urgent message. Thats a twist we totally didnt see coming: it seemed more like she was heading for a passionate affair with her boss, from the way they were looking at each other. Her death brings the Prime Minister out of his stupor, inspiring him to finally address the crisis. Well, no. The earnest secretary who memorises Churchills autobiography and struggles through the smog to work is actually one of The Crowns few invented characters, adding a dose of warmth to a chilly Downing Street. Her life and death are both fictional. The Great Smog itself was certainly a real event, though. London was enveloped in a blanket of thick, poisonous smog for several days, leading to thousands of deaths and overburdened hospitals. But the pea-souper was less of a political crisis than The Crown makes out, so a dose of Venetia Scott adds tragedy to what was otherwise a devastating but undramatic event. You might recognise Phillips as Wolf Halls Jane Seymour, or remember her from her roles in Peaky Blinders and War & Peace but it will be hard to forget her all-too-brief stint in 1950s Downing Street, dodging Churchills bathwater

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-01/did-winston-churchills-secretary-venetia-scott-from-the-crown-really-exist/

Where Will Realty Income Be in 10 Years?

Realty Income (NYSE: O) has been an excellent investment over the years. Since the company's NYSE listing about 25 years ago, Realty Income has generated 15.9% annualized total returns for its shareholders, handily beating the S&P 500 over that time period. Nobody can accurately forecast any stock's future, but having said that, Realty Income's business model makes it a more predictable company than most. So, as a Realty Income shareholder myself with no intention of selling anytime soon, here's an outline of what I expect over the next decade. Man wearing suit with hands poised above a crystal ball More Image source: Getty Images. Realty Income's portfolio will get even bigger The short version of my prediction for the company's portfolio of net-lease real estate is that I think it will get much larger. Now, the company's acquisition activity won't exactly be a steady stream over the next decade. For example, when the cost of capital is low, as it was a couple years ago when interest rates were at historical lows and Realty Income's stock price was at an all-time high, the company went on quite a shopping spree. On the other hand, if borrowing rates get significantly higher and/or the company's stock price falls, I'd expect acquisitions to slow down a bit. If I had to put a number to it, I'd expect Realty Income's portfolio (currently at about 5,600 properties) to grow at an annualized rate of about 4% per year over the next decade, which is in line with its recent average. So, I'd roughly expect Realty Income to own about 8,000 properties 10 years from now. Having said that, I'd advise investors not to get too caught up in Realty Income's growth rate as long as the company is growing responsibly. It's entirely possible that the next decade will be extremely favorable for property acquisitions, or Realty Income could decide to acquire one of its competitors, in which case the portfolio could double or more. On the other hand, if the next decade isn't a great acquisition environment, the portfolio may not grow too much at all. Realty Income's management team has an excellent track record of reading the market's conditions and adapting the growth strategy accordingly, and there's no reason to expect otherwise going forward. Profits will grow and the dividend will steadily increase Realty Income has done an excellent job of growing its profitability on a per-share basis over the years. Here's a quick look at the company's FFO (funds from operations -- the REIT version of earnings) from the past few years. Year Adjusted FFO Year-Over-Year Growth 2018 $3.195 4.4% 2017 $3.06 6.3% 2016 $2.88 5.1% 2015 $2.74 6.6% 2014 $2.57 6.6% 2013 $2.41 17% 2012 $2.06 2.5% 2011 $2.01 8.1% Data sources: 2018 FFO is based on the midpoint of the company's guidance, and prior years are actual results from Realty Income's press releases. As a result of this steady growth, I expect the company's dividend growth to continue. Since listing on the NYSE in 1994, Realty Income has increased its dividend a remarkable 99 times at an annualized growth rate of 4.6%. Based on the company's steady FFO growth and increasing economies of scale as its portfolio grows, I don't see this growth rate slowing down. This means that in a decade, I'd expect Realty Income's dividend to grow by roughly 55% from its current level. Realty Income's stock price will go up and down, but the general direction will be up

https://news.yahoo.com/where-realty-income-10-years-121700761.html

Will UPS and FedEx Rate Hikes Doom Free Shipping?

The free shipping that consumers have come to expect when ordering online could be jeopardized by the latest rate hikes imposed by UPS (NYSE: UPS) and FedEx (NYSE: FDX). The average rate hike of 4.9% is the same amount the two carriers have imposed every year since 2010. But the increases in ancillary fees and surcharges are what could wreak havoc with free shipping, because they're targeted at the residential customer -- and some rates will rise as much as 30% or more. Although UPS has couched the rate hikes as a way to improve customer service, John Haber, the CEO of supply chain consultancy Spend Management Experts, says the "rate increases are massive and are going to negatively impact shippers of all sizes." UPS delivery truck More Image source: UPS. An expensive benefit UPS gave shippers less than a month's notice that it was raising rates on the day after Christmas, while FedEx rates will go up starting Jan. 7. The two national carriers are also raising a variety of fees and surcharges that -- depending upon your ZIP code -- will increase shipping costs by an average of 9% or more. More worrisome for the future of free shipping is the rate hike UPS is imposing on SurePost, the service provided in collaboration with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) under which UPS uses the USPS to provide faster last-mile delivery. For packages over one pound, rates are rising by 9%; for those under a pound, they're going up 9.34%. Surcharges to certain rural or difficult-to-access locations will see rates rise by 32%. Rates for FedEx's similar SmartPost arrangement are also going up. The USPS also raised its rates this past October, with its Parcel Select package rates rising between 9% and 12%. It's a problem because Spend Management Experts says that SurePost, SmartPost, and Parcel Select are the options retailers most often use to offer free shipping in a bid to maintain parity with Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN). That causes the retailers to operate at razor-thin margins, and the rate hikes could make free shipping a money-losing option for them. The Amazon effect The impact of the rate increases on Amazon, while not negligible, is more easily borne because it has over 100 million customers paying $119 a year for a Prime membership to get "free shipping." That offsets the cost to an extent, even though there are many other benefits included in the loyalty program. Also, Amazon began building out its own logistics operations several years ago, which are increasingly taking over package delivery from the national carriers. It just announced it was expanding by 10 planes the number of aircraft it will lease from Air Transport Services Group, to add to the 40 planes it currently has in its Amazon Air fleet. Morgan Stanley analysts estimate Amazon can save anywhere from $2 to $4 per package when using its private fleet, amounting to some $2 billion annually. That would equal about 10% of the $21 billion Amazon spent on shipping in 2017. The rate hikes will only encourage Amazon to further build out its delivery business, particularly for last-mile delivery. There's no free lunch The e-commerce giant is most dependent upon the USPS. Estimates of the post office's share of Amazon's overall volume vary widely. One analyst estimates that the USPS delivers 45% of Amazon's domestic shipping volume and 23% of Amazon's total volume. Another industry consultant says that the figure is higher, projecting as many as 62% of Amazon parcels get delivered through the USPS.

https://news.yahoo.com/ups-fedex-rate-hikes-doom-121800411.html

Is Franklin Natural Resources A (FRNRX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now?

Well, Franklin Natural Resources A (FRNRX) would not be a good potential starting point right now. FRNRX holds a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 4 (Sell), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective We classify FRNRX in the Sector - Energy category, an area that is rife with possible choices. Throughout the massive global energy sector, Sector - Energy mutual funds hold a wide range of quickly changing and vitally important industries. While oil and gas comprise the bulk of the exposure, carbon-based fuels will be the biggest group of assets in these funds, though clean energy is starting to pick up steam. History of Fund/Manager Franklin Templeton is based in San Mateo, CA, and is the manager of FRNRX. Since Franklin Natural Resources A made its debut in June of 1995, FRNRX has garnered more than $283.65 million in assets. The fund is currently managed by a team of investment professionals. Performance Of course, investors look for strong performance in funds. FRNRX has a 5-year annualized total return of -7.45% and is in the middle third among its category peers. Investors who prefer analyzing shorter time frames should look at its 3-year annualized total return of 1.08%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. The standard deviation of FRNRX over the past three years is 21.11% compared to the category average of 12.48%. Looking at the past 5 years, the fund's standard deviation is 22.13% compared to the category average of 12.56%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors should always remember the downsides to a potential investment, and this segment carries some risks one should be aware of. FRNRX lost 54.92% in the most recent bear market and outperformed its peer group by 0.23%. This might suggest that the fund is a better choice than its peers during a bear market. Nevertheless, with a 5-year beta of 1.09, the fund is likely to be more volatile than the market average. Another factor to consider is alpha, as it reflects a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark-in this case, the S&P 500. FRNRX has generated a negative alpha over the past five years of -16.05, demonstrating that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses For investors, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is key, since costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing. Competition is heating up in this space, and a lower cost product will likely outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, all things being equal. In terms of fees, FRNRX is a load fund. It has an expense ratio of 1.13% compared to the category average of 1.48%. Looking at the fund from a cost perspective, FRNRX is actually cheaper than its peers. This fund requires a minimum initial investment of $1,000, while there is no minimum for each subsequent investment. Bottom Line Overall, Franklin Natural Resources A ( FRNRX ) has a low Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively similar performance, worse downside risk, and lower fees, Franklin Natural Resources A ( FRNRX ) looks like a somewhat weak choice for investors right now. Your research on the Sector - Energy segment doesn't have to stop here. You can check out all the great mutual fund tools we have to offer by going to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds to see the additional features we offer as well for additional information. If you want to check out our stock reports as well, make sure to go to Zacks.com to see all of the great tools we have to offer, including our time-tested Zacks Rank. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (FRNRX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

https://news.yahoo.com/franklin-natural-resources-frnrx-strong-120012823.html

Is American Funds Mutual Fund A (AMRMX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now?

Large Cap Value fund seekers should consider taking a look at American Funds Mutual Fund A (AMRMX). AMRMX carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective AMRMX is classified in the Large Cap Value segment by Zacks, which is an area full of possibilities. Investors interested in a stable income stream fund these mutual funds very appealing because they have a unique investing strategy. Large Cap Value funds invest in stocks with a market capitalization of $10 billion or more, but whose share prices do not reflect their intrinsic value. This tactic often leads to low P/E ratios and high dividend yields; however, these funds'high growth opportunity are often slowed, as large-cap securities are generally in stable industries with low to moderate growth prospects. History of Fund/Manager American Funds is responsible for AMRMX, and the company is based out of Los Angeles, CA. Since American Funds Mutual Fund A made its debut in February of 1950, AMRMX has garnered more than $25.23 billion in assets. The fund's current manager is a team of investment professionals. Performance Investors naturally seek funds with strong performance. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 9.53%, and is in the top third among its category peers. If you're interested in shorter time frames, do not dismiss looking at the fund's 3-year annualized total return of 11.49%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. Compared to the category average of 8.59%, the standard deviation of AMRMX over the past three years is 7.93%. Looking at the past 5 years, the fund's standard deviation is 8.79% compared to the category average of 8.75%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors It's always important to be aware of the downsides to any future investment, so one should not discount the risks that come with this segment. AMRMX lost 43.29% in the most recent bear market and outperformed its peer group by 7.41%. This could mean that the fund is a better choice than comparable funds during a bear market. Nevertheless, investors should also note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 0.85, which means it is hypothetically less volatile than the market at large. Another factor to consider is alpha, as it reflects a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark-in this case, the S&P 500. AMRMX has generated a positive alpha over the past five years of 0.07, demonstrating that managers in this portfolio are skilled in picking securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses As competition heats up in the mutual fund market, costs become increasingly important. Compared to its otherwise identical counterpart, a low-cost product will be an outperformer, all other things being equal. Thus, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is vital for investors. In terms of fees, AMRMX is a load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.58% compared to the category average of 1.03%. AMRMX is actually cheaper than its peers when you consider factors like cost. This fund requires a minimum initial investment of $250, and each subsequent investment should be at least $50. Bottom Line Overall, American Funds Mutual Fund A ( AMRMX ) has a high Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively strong performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, this fund looks like a good potential choice for investors right now. For additional information on the Large Cap Value area of the mutual fund world, make sure to check out www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds. There, you can see more about the ranking process, and dive even deeper into AMRMX too for additional information. Zacks provides a full suite of tools to help you analyze your portfolio - both funds and stocks - in the most efficient way possible. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (AMRMX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

https://news.yahoo.com/american-funds-mutual-fund-amrmx-120012332.html

Is AMG Yacktman I (YACKX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now?

If you have been looking for All Cap Value funds, a place to start could be AMG Yacktman I (YACKX). YACKX holds a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective We classify YACKX in the All Cap Value category, an area rife with potential choices. Like the name suggests, MUTUAL FUNDS invest in small, medium, and large-cap companies, though they end up focusing on bigger firms due to percentage of assets. These funds look for key value characteristics, targeting stocks that boast low P/E ratios, high dividend yields, and whose share prices do not reflect their worth. History of Fund/Manager YACKX finds itself in the AMG Funds family, based out of Norwalk, CT. The AMG Yacktman I made its debut in July of 1992 and YACKX has managed to accumulate roughly $7.60 billion in assets, as of the most recently available information. The fund is currently managed by Stephen Yacktman who has been in charge of the fund since December of 2002. Performance Of course, investors look for strong performance in funds. This fund in particular has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 8.65%, and is in the top third among its category peers. If you're interested in shorter time frames, do not dismiss looking at the fund's 3-year annualized total return of 11.84%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. YACKX's standard deviation over the past three years is 6.17% compared to the category average of 10.25%. Over the past 5 years, the standard deviation of the fund is 7.88% compared to the category average of 10.56%. This makes the fund less volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors cannot discount the risks to this segment though, as it is always important to remember the downside for any potential investment. In the most recent bear market, YACKX lost 40.99% and outperformed its peer group by 7.96%. This makes the fund a possibly better choice than its peers during a sliding market environment. Nevertheless, investors should also note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 0.68, which means it is hypothetically less volatile than the market at large. Because alpha represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which is the S&P 500 in this case, one should pay attention to this metric as well. YACKX's 5-year performance has produced a positive alpha of 0.97, which means managers in this portfolio are skilled in picking securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses For investors, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is key, since costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing. Competition is heating up in this space, and a lower cost product will likely outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, all things being equal. In terms of fees, YACKX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.70% compared to the category average of 1.15%. So, YACKX is actually cheaper than its peers from a cost perspective. Investors need to be aware that with this product, the minimum initial investment is $100,000; each subsequent investment needs to be at least $100. Bottom Line Overall, AMG Yacktman I ( YACKX ) has a high Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively strong performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, this fund looks like a good potential choice for investors right now. Your research on the All Cap Value segment doesn't have to stop here. You can check out all the great mutual fund tools we have to offer by going to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds to see the additional features we offer as well for additional information. For analysis of the rest of your portfolio, make sure to visit Zacks.com for our full suite of tools which will help you investigate all of your stocks and funds in one place. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (YACKX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

https://news.yahoo.com/amg-yacktman-yackx-strong-mutual-120012480.html

Is Ivy Small Cap Growth Y (WSCYX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now?

Small Cap Growth fund seekers should not consider taking a look at Ivy Small Cap Growth Y (WSCYX) at this time. WSCYX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 5 (Strong Sell), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective WSCYX is one of many different Small Cap Growth funds to choose from. Small Cap Growth mutual funds build portfolios around stocks with markets caps under $2 billion and large growth opportunities. Additionally, these portfolios typically highlight smaller companies in promising markets and industries. History of Fund/Manager Ivy Funds is responsible for WSCYX, and the company is based out of Boca Raton, FL. Ivy Small Cap Growth Y made its debut in December of 1995, and since then, WSCYX has accumulated about $141 million in assets, per the most up-to-date date available. The fund's current manager is a team of investment professionals. Performance Of course, investors look for strong performance in funds. WSCYX has a 5-year annualized total return of 9.8% and it sits in the top third among its category peers. But if you are looking for a shorter time frame, it is also worth looking at its 3-year annualized total return of 13.17%, which places it in the middle third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. Over the past three years, WSCYX's standard deviation comes in at 14.3%, compared to the category average of 9.29%. The fund's standard deviation over the past 5 years is 14.45% compared to the category average of 9.4%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors One cannot ignore the volatility of this segment, however, as it is always important for investors to remember the downside to any potential investment. WSCYX lost 49.67% in the most recent bear market and outperformed comparable funds by 3.36%. This means that the fund could possibly be a better choice than its peers during a down market environment. Investors should not forget about beta, an important way to measure a mutual fund's risk compared to the market as a whole. WSCYX has a 5-year beta of 1.08, which means it is likely to be more volatile than the market average. Alpha is an additional metric to take into consideration, since it represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which in this case, is the S&P 500. WSCYX has generated a negative alpha over the past five years of -1.49, demonstrating that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Holdings Exploring the equity holdings of a mutual fund is also a valuable exercise. This can show us how the manager is applying their stated methodology, as well as if there are any inherent biases in their approach. For this particular fund, the focus is primarily on equities that are traded in the United States. This fund is currently holding about 93.84% stock in stocks, and these companies have an average market capitalization of $3.69 billion. The fund has the heaviest exposure to the following market sectors: Technology Other Health With turnover at about 43%, this fund makes fewer trades than its comparable peers. Expenses As competition heats up in the mutual fund market, costs become increasingly important. Compared to its otherwise identical counterpart, a low-cost product will be an outperformer, all other things being equal. Thus, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is vital for investors. In terms of fees, WSCYX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 1.31% compared to the category average of 1.29%. So, WSCYX is actually more expensive than its peers from a cost perspective. This fund requires a minimum initial investment of $0, while there is no minimum for each subsequent investment. Bottom Line Overall, Ivy Small Cap Growth Y ( WSCYX ) has a low Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively strong performance, worse downside risk, and higher fees, Ivy Small Cap Growth Y ( WSCYX ) looks like a poor potential choice for investors right now. Don't stop here for your research on Small Cap Growth funds. We also have plenty more on our site in order to help you find the best possible fund for your portfolio. Make sure to check out www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for more information about the world of funds, and feel free to compare WSCYX to its peers as well for additional information. If you want to check out our stock reports as well, make sure to go to Zacks.com to see all of the great tools we have to offer, including our time-tested Zacks Rank. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (WSCYX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

https://news.yahoo.com/ivy-small-cap-growth-y-120012570.html

Is Vanguard Tax-Managed Small Cap Investor (VTMSX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now?

Small Cap Blend fund seekers should consider taking a look at Vanguard Tax-Managed Small Cap Investor (VTMSX). VTMSX possesses a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective We classify VTMSX in the Small Cap Blend category, an area rife with potential choices. Small Cap Blend mutual funds usually target companies with a market capitalization of less than $2 billion. A small-cap blend mutual fund allows investors to diversify their funds among various types of small-cap stocks, which can help reduce the volatility inherent in lower market cap companies. History of Fund/Manager Vanguard Group is based in Malvern, PA, and is the manager of VTMSX. Since Vanguard Tax-Managed Small Cap Investor made its debut in April of 1999, VTMSX has garnered more than $5.95 billion in assets. The fund's current manager, William A. Coleman, has been in charge of the fund since April of 2016. Performance Obviously, what investors are looking for in these funds is strong performance relative to their peers. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 9.33%, and it sits in the top third among its category peers. If you're interested in shorter time frames, do not dismiss looking at the fund's 3-year annualized total return of 12.05%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. VTMSX's standard deviation over the past three years is 14.62% compared to the category average of 11.5%. Over the past 5 years, the standard deviation of the fund is 13.96% compared to the category average of 11.46%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors should always remember the downsides to a potential investment, and this segment carries some risks one should be aware of. VTMSX lost 50.89% in the most recent bear market and outperformed its peer group by 1.56%. This means that the fund could possibly be a better choice than its peers during a down market environment. Nevertheless, investors should also note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 1.07, which means it is hypothetically more volatile than the market at large. Because alpha represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which is the S&P 500 in this case, one should pay attention to this metric as well. VTMSX has generated a negative alpha over the past five years of -1.85, demonstrating that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses Costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing, and particularly as competition heats up in this market. And all things being equal, a lower cost product will outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, so taking a closer look at these metrics is key for investors. In terms of fees, VTMSX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.09% compared to the category average of 1.08%. Looking at the fund from a cost perspective, VTMSX is actually cheaper than its peers. This fund requires a minimum initial investment of $10,000, and each subsequent investment should be at least $1. Bottom Line Overall, Vanguard Tax-Managed Small Cap Investor ( VTMSX ) has a high Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively strong performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, Vanguard Tax-Managed Small Cap Investor ( VTMSX ) looks like a good potential choice for investors right now. Don't stop here for your research on Small Cap Blend funds. We also have plenty more on our site in order to help you find the best possible fund for your portfolio. Make sure to check out www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for more information about the world of funds, and feel free to compare VTMSX to its peers as well for additional information. If you want to check out our stock reports as well, make sure to go to Zacks.com to see all of the great tools we have to offer, including our time-tested Zacks Rank. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (VTMSX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

https://news.yahoo.com/vanguard-tax-managed-small-cap-120012879.html

What does Nova Scotia have against the apostrophe?

If you've driven along certain highways or back roads in Nova Scotia, there's a good chance at some point you've spotted a road sign and paused for half a second to question what you just read. No, not, "Is Stewiacke really halfway between the North Pole and the equator?" Or "How many Pubnicos are there, anyway?" (Answer: at least seven, including Pubnico, Lower West Pubnico, West Pubnico, East Pubnico, Lower East Pubnico, Centre East Pubnico, Middle West Pubnico and, depending on whom you ask, also Middle East Pubnico and Upper West Pubnico. Not even the perpetually burning question, "Who was Peggy, and why does she get a cove named after her?" Rather, you may have given some brief consideration to the question of a small, geographically endangered punctuation mark: the apostrophe. Clearly, some disagreement exists about the use of apostrophes in Peggys Cove, N.S. (Paul Poirier/CBC) Contrary to popular belief, few official Nova Scotia place names have apostrophes. That may come as a surprise to some readers of CBC Nova Scotia's website, who take time out of their day to file a typo report when they spot an apostrophe-less place name. According to Colin MacDonald, the province's director of geographic information services, there are only 19 community names, like L'Ardoise and Bras d'Or, with apostrophes, but only four of those have a possessive-style apostrophe: the town of Clark's Harbour. the Mi'kmaw reserve of Fisher's Grant. the municipal district of St. Mary's. the village of St. Peter's. MacDonald said those places may have gotten their names through a charter, an order in council or legislation, in which case an apostrophe would be accepted. There is no apostrophe in Head of St. Margarets Bay, but why there is no period after 'St' in this sign is anyone's guess. (Paul Poirier/CBC) While there's no rule in the books prohibiting possessive apostrophes now, MacDonald said there was a 1963 policy at the Geographic Names Board of Canada discouraging their use. That policy was likely influenced by a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) rule dating back to the 1930s disapproving of apostrophes. "It may not have looked nice on maps, or I've also heard that they really didn't want to have an apostrophe because the ownership of the feature that's being named didn't lie with that name that was being used," MacDonald said. "So it wasn't actually a possessive." While those old guidelines may have pushed the apostrophe to the brink of extinction in Nova Scotia place names, the punctuation mark is making something of a comeback, MacDonald said. Applications for place names with possessive-style apostrophes can be approved if the proper form of the language calls for an apostrophe and if the name is well-known and in public use by the community. Before approving new names, staff research the history of the place as far back as they can, including on maps dating back to the 1600s. The naming office generally does not approve applications to name a geographic feature after an applicant "or there would be MacDonald's lakes everywhere," MacDonald said.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/apostrophes-nova-scotia-place-names-1.4960108?cmp=rss

What makes Warrandyte so popular with househunters?

Househunters seeking a country lifestyle without compromising on a convenient location are spurring on Warrandytes popularity. The leafy eastern suburb has been named in Australias top 10 most in demand suburbs on realestate.com.au. Warrandyte properties averaged 8158 views per listing between January and September, the data shows. RELATED: Templestowe units make biggest gains across Manningham in 2018 2018 Manningham market turned property dreams into reality Warrandyte resort-style stunner poised for a top price A suburb record was set this year with the eye-popping $4.3 million sale of 236-240 Tindals Rd. The luxury abode on a peaceful and private 3ha features a tennis court, basketball half-court, garden chessboard, dam with jetty and a jaw-dropping infinity pool, making it the ultimate family sanctuary. A deal was inked for the resort-style property in November. Jellis Craig director Chris Chapman said the area was a hot spot for family buyers as it retained a country feel but the city was easily accessed. Buyers are attracted to the environment, proximity to the river, nice big blocks and family friendly feel all while being in a suburb of Melbourne, Mr Chapman said. You can be in the city in 45 minutes. Mr Chapman said plenty of buyers were moving from the inner east looking for more space. The appeal of Warrandyte is there is something for everyone from $700,000 properties to homes selling above $3 million. Barry Plant Manningham director Mark di Giulio said the stabilisation of the market had helped buyers achieve their goals of purchasing in Warrandyte. That lifestyle property on a big block with a pool and tennis court is more achievable now than it has been, Mr di Giulio said. For families upsizing, in a hot market they may not have been able to afford it. It has been the sleeping giant of Manningham, people underrated it but today its really coming through. Warrandytes median house price of $1.027 million has increased 7.1 per cent in the 12 months to September, according to CoreLogic data. Albert Park was Australias most popular suburb with each listing raking in more than 10,000 views. Hawthorn, Fitzroy North and Red Hill also made it into the top 10 list of most in demand suburbs across Australia. READ MORE: FOMO no more as Knox market favours buyers Yarra Ranges Castle, Lancefield Shaolin Temple among quirkiest homes for sale in 2018 Brunswick couple wait for market to turn before selling house transformed on LIOLI

https://www.realestate.com.au/news/what-makes-warrandyte-so-popular-with-househunters/

Is Meek Mill Looking for Love?

Lately , the Dream Chaser , rapper has been tweeting really deep messages. Meek Mill was seen with his son before Christmas, where his son said his gift would be for his dad, to get married. Before his son claiming his wishes for his dads love life, Meek tweeted his admiration for Beyonc and Jay-Zs relationship, Hov and bey make me wanna get a girl I fuck wit they whole come thru as a couple. Hov and bey make me wanna get a girl I fuck wit they whole come thru as a couple Meek Mill (@MeekMill) December 23, 2018 No breaking news here, the Carters are relationship goals for everyone Meek. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM https://t.co/34YID0uOVw why my son do me like this on the news I thought he wanted a Xbox controller Meek Mill (@MeekMill) December 24, 2018 Sign Up For Our Newsletter! His response made it clear that 2019 , hes making changes in his life ; tweeting ,2019 its over for the thots, my son want me married so I gotta start building. 2019 its over for the thots my son want me married so I gotta start building Meek Mill (@MeekMill) December 24, 2018 This could mean the thirty-one year old, Taurus rapper might want to settle down. According to astrology.com , When Taurus and Libra come together in a love affair, it can be the unification of two halves of a whole. These two signs are thought of as being karmically linked. Theyre both looking for security in a relationship and they share a love of art, poetry and culture. Meek still in shock on Christmas, he tweets, Im still up thinking about my son telling me only thing he want for Christmas is to be married. Im still up thinking about my son telling me only thing he want for Christmas is to be married Meek Mill (@MeekMill) December 25, 2018 Seems like this really touched his heart and had Meek thinking. The Philly native, tweeted how he admires Rhiannas instastory and her cooking saying, getting happy like Im about to eat or something Im getting lame. Sitting here watching Rihanna cook on her instastory getting happy like im about to eat or something Im getting lame Meek Mill (@MeekMill) December 30, 2018 They say men like for women to cook. Lets be honest , cooking is a survival skill. You should all be able to boil water and add ingredients, to create a meal. He goes on to drop a gem about using protection while dating, he tweets; I dont have unprotected sex while single , its only one girl that get to feel this shit. After some of these artist having multiple babies with multiple women was the theme for 2018, this could be some advice for some friends. A tweet tagging Meek about his latest tweets, this nigga meek tweeting heavy now he must be in love or something. He responded saying, I think I am. Victoria Said It! was originally published on Hiphopnc.com Also On 93.9 WKYS:

https://kysdc.com/3701537/is-meek-mill-looking-for-love/

What can I put in my Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council recycling bin?

Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Making sure you recycle is a good thing - but it is possible to get it wrong. Last year, 4,200 tonnes of recyclable waste was rejected in Leicestershire because of contamination. That shows how important it is to know what you can and can't recycle. Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council provides a blue lidded bin for recycling. Residents can put in... Glass bottles and jars Cartons Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays Food/drink tins and cans Aerosols and clean aluminium foil Paper (including newspapers and magazines) Catalogues, directories and yellow pages

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/what-can-put-hinckley-bosworth-2355111

What can I put in my Harborough District Council recycling bin?

So we have tried to make it a little easier and hopefully this will help if you live in the Harborough district. Harborough District Council provides blue lidded recycling bins. Here is what you can put in them... Paper Plastic containers (yoghurt pots and drinks bottles) not black plastic ( ready meal trays, meat packaging or any other black-coloured plastic containers) black plastic ( ready meal trays, meat packaging or any other black-coloured plastic containers) Newspapers Magazines Leaflets Junk mail Envelopes Cardboard Tins/Cans Aerosols Foil and foil containers Glass Cartons of juice, milk, soup, etc. All other materials should be disposed of via: Black bin - used for non-recyclable rubbish, including food waste and black plastics Green bin - for loose green waste such as grass cuttings, twigs and small branches, weeds, leaves, flowers and plants, and hedge clippings collection of the green bin for garden waste is a chargeable subscription service Batteries and lighters Please do not dispose of any type of battery, lighter or other items that could cause a fire in your wheeled bins. This can result in a fire being started inside the collection vehicles. All batteries must be safely disposed of at a recycling and household waste site or in a battery bank at a shop

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/what-can-put-harborough-district-2355049

Will Nintendo unveil the DS2 at E3?

Nintendo is rumoured to be preparing an Nvidia Tegra powered successor to its popular DS handheld, following the recent UK launch of the DSi XL. The rumours were swirling amongst the crowds of games developers at the Games Developers Conference in San Francisco earlier this month, with talk of a possible unveiling at this year's E3 in June. Accelerometer gaming Raymond Padilla claims that several developers working on the next-gen DS have said at GDC it could be announced at E3 in LA in three months' time. It adds that the development kits are similar to those developers received from Nintendo for GameCube and Wii, with an Nvidia Tegra chip set included as its CPU/GPU (instead of ATI's CPU chips which were used in GameCube and Wii). The developers Padilla spoke with also claimed that the DS2 will have an iPhone-style accelerometer, as suggested by Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata late last year. For now though, we will have to ride the rumour train until E3 in June, when Nintendo will do one of two things: It will announce the successor to the DS. Or it won't. Of that we can be fairly certain. Via Game Informer.

https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/gaming/will-nintendo-unveil-the-ds2-at-e3-676763

What can I put in my Blaby District Council recycling bin?

Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Blaby District Council provides an integrated refuse and recycling service to every household in the district. Each household is issued with either bins or sacks. They are collected fortnightly. Yes please Plastic bottles milk, mineral water, drinks bottles, shampoo, detergent, bleach, fabric conditioners etc Tins and cans aluminium drink cans and steel food tins - please rinse Sweet/chocolate tins Foil tin foil, foil trays, foil pie trays, takeaway trays Empty aerosol cans hairspray, deodorants etc White food trays Fruit punnets and plastic tubs Yoghurt pots Milk and juice cartons Card & plastic egg boxes Plastic cutlery Carrier Bags Glass bottles (any colour) Glass jars (any colour) Newspapers Magazines Junk mail Shredded paper (contained) Envelopes Catalogues Cereal boxes Telephone directories (including yellow pages) Cardboard No thanks

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/what-can-put-blaby-district-2355003

What can I put in my Melton Borough Council recycling bin?

Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Sifting through your rubbish to sort out what can go where is tricky. But at least you're trying. This year why not try and be armed with the facts on what can and can't go in your recycling bin. Melton Borough Council provides brown bins for recycling. Here is what can and can't go in them... Yes please: Plastic bottles Plastic food containers, such as yoghurt pots/margarine tubs White and clear plastic ready meal trays and yoghurt pots - please note we do not accept black ready meal trays Newspapers and magazines Catalogues Junk mail and envelopes Wrapping Paper Greeting cards Telephone Directories e.g. Yellow pages Cardboard packaging Food tins and drink cans Foil trays Empty aerosols Drink and food cartons Glass bottles and jars Shredded paper Egg boxes Foil No thanks

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/what-can-put-melton-borough-2355068

What can I put in my Oadby and Wigston Borough Council recycling bin?

Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Oadby and Wigston Borough Council is the only authority in Leicestershire still providing weekly collections. Here is what residents can put in their recycling wheelie bins... Yes please: Newspapers and magazines Plastic bottles Directories Yoghurt pots and margarine tubs Cardboard White ready meal food trays Cereal boxes Food and drink cans Juice and milk cartons Greetings cards Empty aerosol cans Shredded paper Carrier bags Paperback books Glass bottles and jars Clean foil No thanks:

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/what-can-put-oadby-wigston-2355139

Which omens indicate positive things to come for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp?

Liverpool go into Thursday night's titanic clash with Manchester City knowing that a victory will take them 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League table. Jurgen Klopp's side remain the only unbeaten team in the top flight and are edging ever closer to winning their first domestic league title since 1990. In another major boost to Liverpool fans, there are a number of omens suggesting this could finally be the year the Reds put their title misery to bed. Liverpool could go 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League table on Thursday night Roberto Firmino celebrates with team-mate Mohamed Salah in their 5-1 victory over Arsenal The first major indicator of impending success is relatively obvious. There has been no team in Premier League history that has been six points or more clear at New Year that has failed to win the title. After beating Watford on January 2 in 2018, Manchester City were already a staggering 15 points clear of Manchester United as they eased to the title in record-breaking fashion. Antonio Conte's Chelsea had already built a six-point lead over Liverpool on New Year's Day in 16/17 as they also waltzed towards the crown. Liverpool go into the game against City at the Etihad seven points in front and know that from this position past results show their advantage should already be enough. Only one side pre-Premier League has failed to win the top-flight title after being six clear on New Years' Day. That was Sheffield United in 1899-1900, when a victory counted for two points, who were six ahead of second-placed Aston Villa. However, the Blades went on to lose the title to by two points. No team that has been six points or more clear on New Year's Day has failed to win the title Only two sides to have conceded 10 goals at this stage didnt go on to win the league that year Both Liverpool and City were neck and neck before the chaos of the festive period kicked in and Pep Guardiola's champions fell to three shocking defeats in four matches. They lost at Chelsea and Leicester and were also stunned on home soil by Crystal Palace and that defeat to the Eagles suggests a bizarre piece of history could be unfolding. The last time Crystal Palace beat City was way back in 1990 and that year Liverpool went on to win the league title by nine points. Liverpool's imperious record this season also stands them in good stead. Before this season, every side to have had more than 50 points (since a win counted for three) after their opening 20 games in top-flight history has gone on to win the title. One of the most improved areas of Liverpool's performances in recent months has been the defensive stability added since the recruitment of Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson. The last time Crystal Palace beat City was back in 1990 and that year Liverpool won the league Manchester United were the last team to defend their Premier League crown in 2008-9 The pair have helped Liverpool conceded a mere eight goals in 20 matches so far this campaign. That is the joint-best at this stage in English top-flight history alongside Chelsea in 2004-5. Only two sides to have conceded 10 or fewer after 20 top-flight matches didnt go on to win the league Chelsea in 2008-9 and Arsenal in 1986-7. Another fact that shows things could be going Liverpool's way is that no side has managed to defend the Premier League title in the 2010s. Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Leicester have all won the title this decade but failed to build on that success. United were the last team to defend their crown in 2008-9.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6544361/Which-omens-indicate-positive-things-come-Liverpool-Jurgen-Klopp.html

What is a pulmonary embolism?

A pulmonary embolism is a blocked blood vessel in the lungs, which can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. Sufferers will have severe difficulty breathing, their heart will be beating very fast or they will have passed out. Patients at hospital are normally given an injection of anticoagulant medicine to stop blood clots getting bigger and prevent new clots forming. If tests confirm the patient has a pulmonary embolism, they will have at lesat five days of anticoagulant injections - and will need to take the tablets for at least three months. People who suffer a pulmonary embolism are normally expected to make a full recovery if it is spotted and treated early.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/fb-6544509/What-pulmonary-embolism.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

What are the top food and drink trends for 2019?

If youre up for anything or one to try the latest food fad, youll have your fill in 2019. Youll see a host of new food trends at your local supermarket or neighborhood restaurant in the new year. Food is much like fashion after all. Classics punctuated with some fads (some good and long-lasting, others puzzling.) Here are 10 food and drink trends the experts are forecasting for 2019. (We used information from Supermarket News, the National Restaurant Association, Nations Restaurant News and AF & Co., a California based restaurant and hospitality consulting firm.) 1) Dessert hummus: Yes, you read that right. Hummus, that garlicky chickpea spread we all love, has gone over to the sweeter side. Youll find one brand in particular, Delighted by Hummus, in several Valley supermarkets, including Weis and some Walmart locations. Flavors include red velvet, brownie batter and snickerdoodle. The idea: Youre having a healthier dessert as its lower in calories, sugar, fat and carbs. (Use graham crackers, pretzels or cinnamon pita chips for dipping.) The Morning Call taste testers will be giving dessert hummus a try later this month so stay tuned for those results. 2) Drink your oats: The non-dairy milk trend continues with the latest variety made from oats. Fans say it has a creamier texture, more protein that nut milks and more fiber than any of the milks. Oat-ly is a brand carried in Whole Foods and some Wegmans locations if you want to give it a try (plain and chocolate). 3) Ethnic-inspired breakfast: Youre likely to see more restaurants that serve breakfast going exotic, offering global flavors that go beyond scrambled eggs and crispy bacon. (Not that theres anything wrong with that.) Heres a popular example from the National Restaurant Association: Shakshouka, a Tunisian/Israeli option made of poached eggs, tomato sauce, onions, chili peppers and myriad spices. 4) Plant-based proteins: Plant-based is a term youre likely to see and hear over and over in 19. From burgers to sausages, youll find vegetarian options for traditional meats popping up at restaurants and in your supermarket. 5) Doughnuts are the dessert of the year: (This writer privately celebrates). AF & Co. has given the doughnut this designation as artisan shops are popping up around the country, featuring doughnuts with unique fillings and toppings. 6) Slab pies: Think bigger, square and decidedly less fussy. Instead of a round pie dish, slab pie is baked in a shallow, rectangular rimmed baking pan. These pies can go sweet or savory. (Im thinking of our areas tomato pie, for example.) 7) Next-level lemonade: Youll probably see more lemonade drinks this year and we arent talking plain. Creative infusion drinks are trending, including creamy lemonade, cucumber mint and lemonade cocktails. 8) Coming to your cup: Nitro coffee has been around for a while. Its when coffee is cold-brewed, then put into a keg and infused with nitrogen gas. Its dispensed the same way beer in a keg is and, as a result, nitro coffee gets a frothy, creamy texture. Its served cold but in 2019 youll see a trend toward hot nitro coffee. Experts are also forecasting that well see carbonated coffee. (A little fizz for your iced coffee.) You may see some tea trends too including wait for it cheese tea, a cold black or green tea topped with a foamy blanket of milk and cream cheese and sprinkled with salt. 9) Good for the gut: The trend towards eating and drinking foods that are thought to be digestively-friendly continues, especially fermented foods and drinks such as kombucha and kimchi. 10) Beets: Fans of the show The Office can start laughing here but beets will be big in 2019, from the traditional purple to golden. Diners could even see beets incorporated into some desserts. [email protected] Twitter @jenwsheehan 610-820-6628

https://www.mcall.com/entertainment/dining/mc-ent-10-trends-in-food-and-drinks-in-2019-story.html

What can I put in my Charnwood Borough Council recycling bin?

Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email It is important to recycle, and it is important to recycle right. Not everything can be recycled and it's not always the obvious things. Last year, 4,200 tonnes of recyclable waste was rejected in Leicestershire because of contamination. That shows how important it is to know what you can and can't recycle. Charnwood Borough Council provides green bins or bags for recycling. Here is what residents can put in them... Glass bottles and jars Metal cooking oil tins Clean foil Drink cans Empty aerosol cans Food tins Metal biscuit or chocolate tins Carrier bags and packaging film Detergent bottles Egg cartons Food trays, fruit punnets including the lids Margarine & ice cream tubs Plastic cutlery Shampoo and shower gel bottles

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/what-can-put-charnwood-borough-2355215

What can I put in my North West Leicestershire District Council recycling?

Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email North West Leicestershire District Council provides residents with two red boxes, a blue bag, a yellow bag, and brown-lidded bin for recycling. That could prove a little confusing. But it is important to know what goes in which bag, box or bin. Here is what goes in which... Blue bag: Newspaper and magazines Junk mail Directories (catalogues, phone books, etc) Envelopes (including plastic windows) Wrapping paper - please note plastic/foil wrapping paper cannot be recycled, please pop this in your black bin Shredded paper (please place in a carrier bag within the blue bag to prevent it escaping) Brown bin: Shrub prunings Garden weeds Plants and leaves Hedge trimmings Dead flowers Cut grass Small tree branches. Red box: Plastic bottles and lids (fizzy pop, shampoo, detergent bottles etc.) Household plastics packaging (clean yoghurt pots, plastic tubs and trays) Food and drinks cans (clean) Aerosols Clean foil Glass bottle and jars Yellow bag:

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/what-can-put-north-west-2355272

Is Californias Travel Ban a Bust?

President Trumps travel ban, which the ACLU called a Muslim ban, sparked considerable outrage and Hawaii judge Derrick Watson ruled against it. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the travel ban, which restricts travel to the United States from Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Venezuela. Those skeptical about the benefits of the measure might consider another ban that drew less publicity. In 2016, the California legislature passed Assembly Bill 1887, which restricted state-funded travel to North Carolina over its law specifying which public bathrooms transgender people could use. Last June, attorney general Xavier Becerra announced a prohibition on state-funded and state-sponsored travel to Oklahoma over its adoption law allowing private agencies to decline placement of children with same-sex parents. Californias travel ban now includes Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas, states with a total population of 57 million. California college sports teams have been forced to raise money from outside sources for travel to states on the banned list. No state or federal judge issued a ruling against Californias travel ban, and in October the California Department of Justice canceled a review of the restrictions. During the holiday season, Californians might list any possible benefits of this travel ban beyond virtue signaling by politicians. And just for fun, look for states that restrict travel to California for any reason. Might not take long to make the lists and check them twice. *** K. Lloyd Billingsley is a Policy Fellow at the Independent Institute and a columnist at The Daily Caller.

http://blog.independent.org/2018/12/29/is-californias-travel-ban-a-bust/

When is The Punisher season 2 released on Netflix? Whos in the cast and whats going to happen?

After a first season that saw Jon Bernthals Frank Castle on a warpath for bloody vengeance, Marvels The Punisher is returning to Netflix. Advertisement The Marvel television universe is expanding with multiple seasons of Daredevil, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones out, not to mention mini-series The Defenders. To find out all you need to know about the much anticipated second season, take a look below. Netflix has confirmed that The Punisher season three is set to be released at some point in January 2019 but were still not sure of the precise date yet. The second season was ordered just a month after the first finished. Fans hoping for a drop later in 2018 have been disappointed however. With the second seasons of Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Daredevil having already hit our screens in 2018, Frank Castles series was crowded out. Jon Bernthal (Frank Castle/The Punisher), Amber Rose Revah (Dinah Madani) and Jason R Moore (Curtis Hoyle) are all returning to their roles. Ben Barnes is also back on board as Billy Russo/Jigsaw. There are newcomers too: Floriana Lima of Supergirl is joining as Krista Dumont, a psychotherapist for military veterans. Giorgia Whigham will play Amy Bendix and Josh Stewart has also joined the crew as John Pilgrim. In a similar fashion to how season one was kept firmly under wraps before its release, we dont know an awful lot about whats to come in season two. We do know that after Billy and Franks epic fight scene at the end of season one (which led to Billys disfigurement) means we could yet see Jigsaw in his grizzly final form. Ben Barnes has also been seen filming scenes for season two, although another villain could yet take centre stage as the Marvel series looks to move beyond its season one storyline. Advertisement After the above tweet was published accompanying the announcement that The Punisher would be back for a second series, we have had nothing in the form of an official trailer.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2019-01-01/the-punisher-season-2-netflix-release-date-cast-plot-trailer-rumours-theories-marvel/

Who was Martin Compstons character Dr Robert Traill?

Episode six of Victorias second series takes us to a very dark place as we see the realities of the Irish Potato Famine. The hero of the story is Dr Traill a real historical figure who witnessed the crisis first-hand and tried to do something to help. Yes. Martin Compston, who played Arnott in the TV series Line of Duty, guest stars as Dr Robert Trail. The actor also recently played serial killer Peter Manuel in the crime drama In Plain Sight. Weirdly, the real Dr Robert Traill is the great-great-great-grandfather of Victoria writer Daisy Goodwin. I thought his story would be a good way to illustrate the terrible way in which the Irish were treated by the British government, she says. Dr Robert Traill was born in 1793 and became the rector of Schull in County Cork in 1832. Fiercely Protestant, he initially had a reputation for antagonising Catholics. He has been described as a noted controversialist. But when the potato crop began to rot in 1846 Dr Traill was one of the few clergymen determined to do something to help the Irish whatever their denomination, and without trying to force Catholics to convert. He became chairman of the Schull Relief Committee and wrote eloquent letters persuading people to donate. News of his efforts reached James Mahoney, who visited Dr Traill as part of his Sketches on the West of Ireland series for the Illustrated London News. Mahoney wrote: We next got to Skull, where, by the attention of Dr Traill, vicar of the parish (and whose humanity at the present moment is beyond all praise), we witnessed almost indescribable in-door horrors. Dr Traill was also mentioned in The Times in a letter from Commander Caffin, who wrote about the destitution in Ireland. He explained: Having a great desire to see with mine own eyes some of the misery which was said to exist, Dr Traill, the rector of Schull, offered to drive me to a portion of his parish. While there, he visited a scene of absolute misery: Dr Traill, on putting his head inside the hole which answered for a door, said Well, Phillis, how is your mother today? he having been with her the day before. Mother is dead! And there, fearful reality, was the daughter, a skeleton herself, crouched and crying over the lifeless body of her mother, which was on the floor, cramped up as she had died. The rector established a soup kitchen in his house with the help of his own family (my family one and all are perfect slaves worn out with attending them; for I would not wish, were it possible, that one starving creature would leave my door without some-thing to allay the cravings of hunger). Advertisement He died of famine fever in 1847.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-01/victoria-martin-compstons-character-dr-robert-traill/

Who is Father Browns Emer Kenny?

If youre a fan of BBC1 period detective drama Father Brown, youll already know Emer Kenny. She plays the Honourable Penelope Bunty Windermere. Heres all you need to know about Emer Kenny Father Brown Kenny plays wayward aristocrat Bunty who, as the actor herself puts it, drives Jags and solves crimes. Turns out thats not all she does EastEnders and E20 Kennys big break came on EastEnders, where she played rebellious teenager Zsa Zsa Carter, a character who Kenny herself had helped create as part of a BBC young writers workshop. Zsa Zsa had a further life in the soaps online spin-off E20 while Kenny continued as a writer, penning episodes of EastEnders itself. Comedy Advertisement More recently, Kenny has turned her hand to comedy, with roles in BBC3 shows Pramface, Badults and Siblings, and, in a return to her ecclesiastical roots sort of she starred as a vicars daughter-turned-minion of the undead in British film Lesbian Vampire Killers.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/who-is-father-browns-emer-kenny/

Did Queen Victoria really throw a costume ball to help the Spitalfields silk makers?

In ITVs Victoria we see the queen decide to throw a costume ball, inspired by her altruistic desire to help the failing Spitalfields silk industry (but also, admittedly, because its an excuse for a party). Queen Victorias costume ball at Buckingham Palace Just as we see in the drama, Queen Victoria DID decide to hold a ball. On 12 May 1842 at Buckingham Palace, over 2,000 people turned up for a great big party at a gathering called the Bal Costum. Prince Albert and Queen Victoria dressed as Edward III and his consort Queen Philippa of Hainault. The royal couples costumes were based on tomb effigies in Westminster Abbey, although their outfits were adapted to reflect the fashions of their own time. Other members of the Royal Household were also meant to take on the medieval theme, according to the Royal Collection. And the costumes were, indeed, specifically intended to give work to the declining Spitalfields silk industry. The couples outfits were designed under the supervision of James Robinson Planch an expert on historical costume but created by the genius and skill of Mr Vouillon and his expert and tasteful sister Madame Laure (or thats how the Illustrated London News reported it). The ball was immortalised by the painter Sir Edwin Landseer, who painted a commemorative portrait. Here we see Prince Albert and Queen Victoria in the Throne Room, standing beneath a Gothic canopy decorated with a purple velvet cloth of estate. On it you can see the royal arms of Edward III. Albert is shown wearing the Sword of Offering from George IVs coronation back in 1821. Queen Victoria also drew her own little self-portrait in her diary before the ball, writing: Went with Albert to look at the arrangement of the rooms for our great Bal Costume, which were progressing well, but are far from being finished yet. Absolutely not in fact he was a driving force. Hed grown up in a court with a long tradition of fancy-dress parties, and the historian Ian Hunter has noted: It was Alberts influence that led to so much time and effort being spent not only on the ball itself but also in capturing the moment in the formal portrait. Advertisement This was only the first of three major costume balls. In 1845 the royal couple held a ball in Georgian dress, while in 1851 they went for the Restoration period.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-01/did-queen-victoria-really-throw-a-costume-ball-to-help-the-spitalfields-silk-makers/

Where is ITVs Victoria filmed in Scotland?

The Queens wanderlust takes her to Scotland in episode 7 of Victoria series 2 and we are very glad it does, because it gives us a chance to look at the extraordinarily beautiful landscape of the Scottish Highlands. Advertisement Fed up with assassination attempts in London, Victoria decides to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and make a royal visit to Scotland. She is welcomed by the Duke of Atholl, played by guest star Denis Lawson. This episode was filmed at Blair Castle in Perthshire a castle actually visited by Queen Victoria several times. A spokesperson said: We have 145,000 acres on Atholl Estates and could easily offer the diverse range of scenery that the show needed, from flowing rivers to vast mountainous backdrops, and of course the pinnacle, which is the beautiful Castle itself. The characters, led by Jenna Colemans Queen Victoria, first arrive at the castle forecourt where they are greeted by the Duke and his regiment of Atholl Highlanders. The real Queen Victoria was the one who founded this regiment after visiting in 1844, and several actual Atholl Highlanders took part in the filming. As they are separate from the British Army, the Atholl Highlanders are now Europes only legal private army. Two of the estates native Highland ponies were also used in filming and were ridden by Victoria and Albert (Tom Hughes) when filming took place in June 2017. Queen Victoria made her first visit in 1844, with Prince Albert and their daughter Vicky at her side. In her diary she recorded idyllic walks, shooting, hunting, planting trees, pony riding and the sound of the stags at night. She wasnt too excited by the castle itself (the house is ugly outside with peculiarly distributed rooms) but when it came to the scenery, she wrote: I cannot describe how beautiful it is. Albert was in perfect ecstasies. Other extracts include: I got on to my pony, proceeding up a narrow steep path all along the Pass, overhanging the river, & with lovely peeps of the distant scenery. We dined alone, happily together, & then played &C. Looked out of the window, & listened to the deer who were grazing just below. The stags were roaring like lions, & do so all through the night, but I have got quite accustomed to it. After dinner we went down to the Hall, & saw all the Gentlemen & men dance Reels, which they did with the greatest animation. I am so sad at thinking of leaving this charming place, & the quiet, liberty, & the pure air we have enjoyed. Blair Castle is located near the village of Blair Atholl in Perthshire in Scotland. It dates back to 1269 when the cheeky Lord of Badenoch started building on the Earl of Atholls land while he was away on crusade. The original part of the castle that still stands is called Comyns Tower. By the 17th century it was in the hands of the Murray family who have kept hold of it for 19 generations. It was used by Oliver Cromwells army when he invaded in 1650 and has also been through the Jacobite Uprising, a battle and multiple sieges. Queen Victoria visited the castle with Prince Albert but it wouldnt have looked exactly the same back then. The ITV drama shows the royal visit in the 1840s, but the exterior was significantly remodelled in the sixties and seventies. Advertisement The 10th Duke of Atholl, George Murray, placed Blair Castle in a charitable trust at the end of the 20th century. His heirs live in South Africa and the castle is open to visitors.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-01/victoria-itv-location-guide-scotland/

Did Queen Victoria really get lost in Scotland and take shelter in a poor couples cottage?

In Victoria series two episode seven, we take a trip to Scotland with Queen Victoria. Shes fed up with people trying to assassinate her in London so she heads to the Highlands, where events get even more dramatic. Yes many times. Queen Victoria made a royal visit to Scotland for the first time in 1842 and toured the country with Prince Albert, spending several days in the capital at Edinburgh. Then in September 1844 she returned to Scotland with Prince Albert and her young daughter Vicky at her side. This time she visited Blair Castle in Perthshire, where episode seven of the ITV series was actually filmed. The royal family spent a blissful three weeks walking, riding, fishing, hunting, shooting and even planting trees. Victoria and Albert loved Scotland so much they inspired a trend for tartan and tweed across the kingdom. They returned over and over again, and after taking possession of Balmoral in 1848 they actually built a castle of their own. No. Or if they did, she certainly never mentioned it in her journal. Queen Victoria was a keen diarist and kept detailed records of her stays in Scotland, writing exhaustively about what happened each day: whether Alberts hunting trips had been successful, who they dined with, her thoughts on the landscape, Highland pony riding, plans for scenes to sketch, details of the people she met, whether she liked them But she certainly never mentioned getting lost in the forest alone with Prince Albert on horseback, as depicted in ITVs Victoria. She never mentioned being forced to seek shelter with a kindly poor couple who cooked delicious trout over an open fire and let them stay the night, and theres no record of her hiding her identity as Queen and learning to darn a sock like a normal person. Still you can see where this fanciful storyline came from. What we do see in her journal is that, for her, the wild Scottish Highlands were an escape from reality. After the constant trying publicity we are accustomed to, it is so pleasant & refreshing, to be able, amidst such beautiful surrounding, to enjoying such complete privacy & such a simple life, she wrote in her diary. And while and Albert avoided getting lost, they did have an idyllic pony ride accompanied by only one servant as close to privacy as the monarch could really get. When I awoke the sun was shining brightly & it lit up the mountains so beautifully, she wrote. At 9, we set off, both, on ponies, attended only by Lord Glenlyons excellent servant, Sandy McAra, in his Highland dress, to go up one of the hills. We went through a ford, Sandy leading my pony, & Albert following closely, & then went up the hill of Tulloch straight over a very steep cabbage field, afterwards going round zigzag to the very top, the ponies scrambling up over stones & heather, & never once making a false step. The view all round was splendid & so beautifully lit up. From the top it was quite like a panorama. We could see the Falls of Bruar, the Pass of Killiecrankie, Ben y Gloe, & the whole range of hills behind, in the direction of Tay mouth. The house itself & the houses in the village looked like toys, from the height at which we were. It was very wonderful. We got off once or twice, & walked about. There was not a house or creature near us, only pretty Highland, black faced sheep. She added: It was the most delightful, & most romantic ride & walk, I had ever had. Another time they cut it fine on a pony ride, with the Queen suddenly becoming worried about nightfall Got alarmed at seeing the sun sinking, for fear of our being benighted, & we called anxiously for Sandy to give a signal to Albert to come back. The only mentions of a cottage make clear this is no poor mans house: We got out at the Cottage, which is pretty & beautifully situated. There are some good Landseers in the room we went into. With paintings by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer on the walls this is not exactly a poor mans hut Advertisement As she prepared to leave at the end of September, Victoria reflected on her time in Scotland: I am so sad at thinking of leaving this charming place, & the quiet, liberty, & the pure air we have enjoyed. The action life we have been leading, peculiar in its way, has been so delightful.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-01/victoria-itv-scotland-series-2/

What was the Irish Potato Famine?

ITV drama Victoria has taken a break from intrigue and power-play and costume balls. Instead, episode six sends us across the Irish Sea to see the horrors of the Great Famine, while the Queen berates her ministers for standing by and doing nothing. The potato crop failed in Ireland between 1845 and 1849, leading to a period of mass starvation and disease which killed a million people out of a population of eight million. It also led to a mass exodus a huge chunk of the population emigrated to start a new life abroad many of them in America. The crop failures were caused by potato blight, a disease that destroys the leaves and the roots of the potato plant. The blight ravaged potato crops throughout Europe in the 1840s but the situation in Ireland made it uniquely devastating. In Ireland, almost half of the population was entirely reliant on calorie-rich, hardy, nutritious potatoes, and the rest of the population also consumed the vegetable in large quantities. So when the crop failed, people starved. Irish Catholics had previously been prohibited by law from owning land. This changed earlier in the century, but land ownership was still concentrated in the hands of English and Anglo-Irish Protestant families (often absentee landlords) who had unchecked power over their tenants. By the 1840s, many tenant farmers existed at subsistence level on small allotments of land which barely provided enough food even in good years. During the famine, the landowning class was still exporting grain from Ireland to Britain, benefitting from the Corn Laws which kept the price of bread artificially high. The Irish themselves could not afford the food that was being exported from their country. The Great Famine became a rallying point for Irish nationalist movements and increased resentment about British rule. The British government made ineffective (and unenthusiastic) efforts to relieve the famine. Conservative Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel was unable to persuade his party to repeal the Corn Laws in 1845, but he did authorise the import of corn maize from the United States. This helped a little but not enough. Lord John Russell became Prime Minister in June 1846 as part of a new Whig cabinet. He wanted to use Irish resources for relief efforts, throwing the financial burden on the Irish landowners and British absentee landowners themselves. But with rents no longer coming in, the most common result was eviction. Ultimately relief efforts were completely inadequate and half-hearted. Some British intellectuals followed the teachings of Malthus, believing that the crisis was simply natures corrective to high birth rates and overpopulation, or that the Irish national character was to blame. She had some sympathy for the horrors going on in Ireland and donated 2,000 from her personal resources (although there is a story that, when when Sultan Abdulmecid of the Ottoman Empire offered send 10,000 in aid, the Queens ambassador asked him to tone it down to 1,000 so he wouldnt embarrass the Queen). She also wrote a letter on behalf of the British Relief Association, appealing for money to relieve the distress in Ireland. Victorias long-awaited first official visit to Ireland came in August 1849. It was arranged by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, perhaps to draw British politicians focus to what was happening in Ireland but also as a propaganda exercise to shore up British rule. The famine had a negative impact on the Queens popularity, but her visit did seem to alleviate some of that hatred. The Earl of Clarendon wrote: The people are not only enchanted with the Queen and the gracious kindness of her manner and the confidence she has shown in them, but they are pleased with themselves for their own good feelings and behaviour, which they consider having removed the barrier that hitherto existed between the Sovereign and themselves. Advertisement Victoria herself fell in love with the country and visited several times over the next couple of decades. But by the 1870s and 1880s the relationship soured especially when the Dublin Corporation sent back a bust of her beloved Albert that shed given as a gift.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-01/irish-potato-famine-explained-victoria/

Did Queen Victoria really hate being pregnant and what was she like as a mother?

When we meet Queen Victoria in series two, she has safely popped out her first kid and is protesting about being confined to the nursery but it wont be very long until the monarch is pregnant again. Advertisement Daisy Goodwins ITV drama is true to life. Despite her huge family, it seems the Queen was not all that keen on pregnancy or babies, and she did not take easily to motherhood. Babies were the unwelcome result of her active sex life with Albert, the shadow side of marriage and a major distraction from the more important business of being queen. Victoria and Alberts firstborn Princess Victoria (Vicky) was followed less than a year later by Prince Albert Edward (Bertie), and then by little Alice, Alfred, Helena, Louise, Arthur, Leopold and Beatrice. That makes a grand total of nine, born between 1840 and 1857. Unusually for the Victorian period, all of them survived into adulthood, although their youngest son Leopold suffered from haemophilia and died at the age of 30. Modern writers have speculated that the queen may have suffered from postnatal depression after many of her pregnancies. She certainly struggled to bond with her children as newborns, and kept her distance from the babies in their early years. Little Vicky was born nine months after the royal wedding. Queen Victoria saw her baby only twice a day, and certainly did not breastfeed. Within another year she had given birth to her male heir, Bertie, who would go on to become King Edward VII. After that she slowed down a little, but she still managed to have nine within 17 years. Despite her many pregnancies, Victoria seems not to have liked babies very much. Abstractedly, I have no tender for them till they have become a little human she once wrote. An ugly baby is a very nasty object and the prettiest is frightful when undressed. Later she wrote to her eldest daughter that she was no admirer of babies generally and had been repulsed by her sons Bertie and Leopold (frightful). Aside from her feelings on babies, and the dangerous nature of giving birth in 19th century Britain, Victoria had other reasons to resent becoming pregnant. Each pregnancy took her away from her duties as queen. While Albert was happy to step in and take over, Victoria did not like to be sidelined and this led to a power struggle within the marriage. As a female monarch she did not want pregnancy and motherhood to dominate her reign. While Albert went for a hands-on approach as a father and took responsibility for the kids upbringing, Victoria preferred to keep her distance and instead focus on her duties as a monarch especially in the early years. Alberts enthusiasm (and a lack of family planning) seems to have been the driving force behind creating this massive brood. But both Victoria and Albert wanted to create a model happy family to set a moral example across Europe, and they wanted their children to be intelligent and educated. Albert devised a plan to create the perfect princes and princesses. In practice, this translated into a very strict, intense education with lots of harsh punishment and pressure. Life was all about Latin, Shakespeare, French, piano, German, maths, geography, science, obedience and discipline. Eldest son Bertie did not take to this regime at all, and instead of the intelligent, erudite little replica of Prince Albert that everyone had hoped for, he was labelled a dunce and diagnosed with a feeble brain by a quack doctor who measured the size of his head. His parents despaired. He was obstinate, stubborn and threw tantrums; as a young man he was reported to have been found with the actress Nellie Clifton in his bed. And when Albert died at the age of 42 after visiting Bertie to give him a good telling off, Victoria blamed her eldest son. She never forgave him. While she was distant from her offspring when they were babies, she seems to have become more involved in their lives as they became adults. With Alberts untimely death, she was now a single mother to nine children the oldest an adult, the youngest just four years old. For the rest of her time on the throne, Victoria was a central presence in the lives of her children and grandchildren, as they married into royal families across Europe. A picture emerges of a mother who was often disappointed in her children, and who was at times controlling and frustrated. She monitored the menstrual cycle of her sons wife, she tried to keep sickly son Leopold wrapped in cotton wool, she was furious when her youngest daughter decided to get married instead of devoting her life to looking after mum. But despite all this, it is clear that she did love her children very much. When Vicky married, mother and daughter wrote each other great piles of letters (8,000 survive), sharing their advice and confessions and observations. And while she had a tempestuous relationship with Bertie, she maintained good relations with most of her children (and grandchildren) for much of her life. In lesser-known correspondence she wrote of her love for her children, and she shared her fear of losing them to an early death. Advertisement Perhaps we only remember her as unloving because she wrote so honestly in her diaries and private letters, or because her correspondence was edited by men to leave all the icky feminine womanly stuff out.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-01/did-queen-victoria-really-hate-being-pregnant-and-what-was-she-like-as-a-mother/

Was Queen Victoria really forced to fire her governess Baroness Lehzen?

Since the very first episode of ITVs Victoria, Baroness Lehzen has been a constant presence just as she was in the real Queens life. She is played by the German actress Daniela Holtz as a stern but loving woman who only wants the best for Victoria and wont let anything stand in her way. Baroness Louise Lehzen was at Queen Victorias side from the moment she was born and was her most faithful and constant companion, serving as her governess and later as her advisor. The seventh daughter of a Lutheran pastor in the German Kingdom of Hanover, Lehzen had to work for her living from a young age. She was employed as a governess and moved with the Duke and Duchess of Kent to England so their daughter Victoria could be born in the country she would one day rule. The Duke of Kent died when Victoria was only young and the princess grew up in the confines of Kensington Palace, restricted by her protective mother and the dominating comptroller Sir John Conroy: she was never allowed to be alone, and she always had to have someone holding her hand when she walked down the stairs. Lehzen, who was put in charge of this unhappy kid when she was five, became her closest friend and ally. Victoria became second-in-line to the throne when she was just a young child, so King George IV promoted Lehzen to the title of Baroness after all, a potential future Queen could not consort with commoners. As Victorias governess, Lehzen was stern but also encouraged her to become informed and independent, rejecting her mother and Conroys influence. Surprised by how little they could control her, the Duchess and Conroy resented Lehzens interference but were powerless because the Baroness had the full support of Victorias uncles including the King and her Uncle Leopold, who were suspicious of Conroys attempts to manipulate the future Queen. When Victoria became Queen in 1837 she no longer needed a governess. Instead Lehzen served as a sort of unofficial private secretary and lived in apartments adjacent to Victoria in Buckingham Palace while the Queens own mother was put in a distant suite of rooms. She had an official role in the household and carried the keys as a sign of her position. Lehzen never seems to have been ambitious for power or money, instead choosing to devote her life to Victoria. The Queen married Prince Albert in 1840, three years into her reign which turned everything upside down. Albert and Lehzen detested each other. Lehzen had opposed the marriage (she was worried about keeping Victoria free of male influence and thought she should remain a virgin queen like Elizabeth I), and for his part, Albert found her repulsive and unworthy of friendship with the Queen. Everything came to a head in 1841, when the royal couples eldest daughter Victoria (the Princess Royal) suffered an illness. Lehzen had been in charge of the nursery staff and had appointed Sir James Clark as doctor, despite Alberts objections. Dr Clark said the Princess Royal had only a minor ailment and failed to give her the correct treatment; she became seriously ill. The illness led to a major row between Albert and Victoria, with the Prince Consort saying the Baroness and the Queen would be to blame if little Vicky died. She pulled through but this was the final nail in the coffin for Lehzen. Baroness Lehzen was quietly dismissed. She was sent back to Germany and her close friendship with the Queen was severed, although the two continued to write letters to each other. Lehzen retired to Hanover on a generous pension and reportedly covered the walls of her house with portraits of the Queen she never lost her affection for her old student and friend. The two met twice more when the Queen came to see her in private. Advertisement She lived several decades longer, dying in 1870 at the age of 85.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-01/was-queen-victoria-really-forced-to-fire-her-governess-baroness-lehzen/

How accurate is Victorias tale of The Duchess of Buccleuch?

Dame Diana Rigg joins the cast of Victoria series 2 as the Duchess of Buccleuch, a formidable new Lady in Waiting who takes up her position at Buckingham Palace under a new Conservative government. Advertisement The pair dont exactly seem to click at first, but their real-life tale is rather different as is the real Duchess of Buccleuchs real tale. Charlotte Anne Montagu Douglas Scott was born Lady Charlotte Anne Thynne in Longleat, Wiltshire on 10 April 1811. She was the youngest daughter of Thomas Thynne the 2nd Marquess of Bath. In March 1829 she married the 5th Duke of Buccleuch, Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott and received her title. Yes. Yes it does. The real-life Duchess was only in her 30s when she served Queen Victoria. Chances are as with all TV shows theyve made some minor changes to make a more entertaining story. In the TV series Robert Peel seems hesitant about Victorias choice of lady to replace Harriet Sutherland as Mistress of the Robes, but in real life he was the one who chose the Duchess to become a member of his newly formed ministry. Her husband (who was very much alive) became Lord Privy Seal from 1842 to 1846, an appointment that provided many advantages for the pair and their extended family. Its a fancy name for the chief lady in the Queens household. The Mistress of the Robes would have originally looked after the monarchs clothes and jewellery. Nowadays the lady in question Queen Elizabeths Mistress of The Robes is Ann Fortune FitzRoy, Dowager Duchess of Grafton is responsible for arranging the rota of attendance of the ladies-in-waiting on the queen, along with various duties at state ceremonies. Diana Riggs Duchess seems to irk the young Queen Victoria at first but in real life the pair became firm friends. Victoria actually described her as an agreeable, sensible, clever little person. The Duchess helped advise the young queen ahead of her visit to Scotland in 1842. The Queen was also godmother to one of her dear friends children, named Lady Victoria for the monarch. She was given a watercolour painting of the Duchess and her daughter as a gift. Advertisement And The Duchesss daughter in law, Louisa, was also selected to be Mistress of The Robes in 1858.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-01/how-accurate-is-victorias-tale-of-the-duchess-of-buccleuch/

Was Prince Albert really the illegitimate son of his uncle Prince Leopold?

It was shock after shock for Prince Albert in episode four of Victoria. The Queens consort, played by Tom Hughes, received a black-bordered telegram breaking the news of his fathers death. And after heading back to Coburg to attend the funeral of his dad, the Duke his uncle Prince Leopold (Alex Jennings) revealed a major secret: the man in the coffin may not be his father after all. Advertisement The revelation was this: Leopold slept with Alberts mother (and his brothers wife) Princess Louise around the time he was conceived. So, instead of being Uncle Leopold, he might actually be Daddy Leopold. Happy families! (Or not so much.) Albert was distraught to learn he might be an illegitimate son, screaming at Leopold with tears running down his face. People have long speculated about Alberts paternity, partly because he so strongly resembled his mother, not his father, and because of the fractured nature of his parents relationship, Julia Baird, author of Victoria: The Queen, tells RadioTimes.com. Albert was born into an extremely unhappy marriage. His father Duke Ernst married the young Princess Louise in 1817, and they quickly had two children: Ernst II and Albert. But, as we saw in the drama, Ernst could be cruel and promiscuous. He had plenty of affairs and fathered at least three illegitimate children. There have been rumours, especially about a Jewish Baron. But as Baird points out, Alberts biographer Hector Bolitho closely examined the divorce papers in the archives of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and found there was not even a hint in the documents that the Duchess had been unfaithful, with either Jew or Christian, until at least four years after Prince Albert was born. But yes there was a divorce. This was a painful episode for young Ernst Jr and Albert. After the couple separated, Louise was forced to leave court in 1824 and leave her two young sons behind. Two years later the marriage was dissolved, and Louise secretly married the Baron Alexander von Hanstein who has been at the centre of some speculation about Alberts paternity. ), this is a bit of a curveball. But its not the first time its been suggested. In 1972, the author David Duff argued that Leopold may have been Alberts father. After all, he did visit Coburg a few months before Albert was born, so the timelines could line up. But as Baird says, the evidence for this is only circumstantial. Duffs book, Victoria and Albert, was not well-received, with one review labelling it lots of startling-to-dubious speculation. Advertisement Still, no one will ever truly know what went on between Leopold and Louise or even if Albert knew something historians dont.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-01/was-prince-albert-really-the-illegitimate-son-of-prince-leopold/

When is ITVs Unforgotten series 3 on TV?

DCI Cassie Stuart (Nicola Walker) and DI Sunil Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) have another tricky case on their hands this time involving the high-profile disappearance of a teenage girl at the turn of the Millennium. Advertisement Four men were holidaying nearby when Hayley was murdered on her way home from a shift at the pub. The six-part drama returned for series three on Sunday 15th July on ITV at 9pm, with new episodes each Sunday. Screenwriter Chris Langs drama sees the two detectives (played by Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar) on a mission to solve decades-old crimes and find justice for the victims. They come into the picture when human remains are discovered that may be many years old. After identifying the victim, they start to piece together what happened and track down the people who could have been involved, from old friends to family members to lovers. In the process they uncover long-hidden secrets. In series three, four men are thrown under suspicion for the murder of a girl whose remains are found under the central reservation of the M1 motorway, and its up to Cassie and Sunny to figure out whether any of this group of friends had anything to do with her death. Aside from Walker and Bhaskar, series three puts the spotlight on a close-knit group of old school friends that have stood by one another through thick and thin. You may recognise Alex Jennings as King Leopold from Victoria, or the Duke of Windsor from The Crown. He stars as Dr Tim Finch, a successful GP in a country town. Jennings is joined by Pirates of the Caribbeans Kevin McNally, as James Hollis, a successful media personality with his own quiz show called Sixth Form Sense. The Vicar Of Dibleys James Fleet appears as the character Chris Lowe, who was initially one of the most successful of the four running his own advertising company. But his career took a nosedive when he began to suffer from mental health issues, and he now is homeless and living in a camper van. Neil Morrissey stars as Pete Carr, who he describes as a sad, bad businessman. After an unsuccessful stint in Hong Kong, hes back in the UK failing to make his fortune as an ISA salesman. The drama starts in London where the remains of Hayley Reid are found at a building site, buried under the central reservation of the M1 motorway. Hayley disappeared from the fictional little seaside town of Middenham on New Years Eve 1999, where our suspects were staying at the time in a holiday rental called The Spinney. The majority of the scenes set in Middenham were filmed in Lymington, and we also see some beautiful shots of Middenham estuary. When Cassie and Sunnys investigations take them to Middenham, they stay in the Angel and Blue pub in Lymington. In the years since the turn of the millennium, this group of childhood friends has dispersed around the country so Cassie and Sunny find themselves visiting various towns and cities in the south of England. Pete Carrs Norfolk scenes are shot in Kings Lynn and Hunstanton. Other filming locations include Harefield House in Uxbridge, Amersham Old Town, Victorian pub The Enterprise in Holborn, Clifton in Bristol and Ealing in London. The police station and lab scenes are filmed at an empty mansion at Bulstrode Park in Buckinghamshire. Not really! The great thing about Unforgotten is that each series focuses on a different murder case, so theres no backstory required. Although this is a fresh case for Cassie and Sunny, this is the first time weve seen the duo for the first time since the dramatic events of the series two finale when they chose to walk away from a case after discovering that their suspects had actually been victims of child sex abuse and worked together to murder their abusers. Writer Chris Lang previously told RadioTimes.com: I want to square various circles with Cassie and Sunny I dont think its something that they will wear lightly. Before Unforgotten had been recommissioned, he explained: Its a secret that they now have and they will have to carry with them through their job and if we do get a third series obviously one will attempt to explore the ramifications of what making such a profound decision will be. One thing that wont be coming back is any romantic storylines between the two cops. Confirming that Sunny was hoping to kiss Cassie in series two, Lang says: Im afraid he was. He got that one horribly wrong. It seems unusual for a flagship drama to go out in July and August, traditionally the quiet months for TV drama before the big hitters arrive in the autumn. But perhaps things are changing. It is unusual, says Walker. I think you go two ways with that: you can either think, oh thats unusual, or you think, OK theyve got so much confidence in it that they think its going to be able to handle the summer. I mean, if anything can handle it, I hope Chris Langs script can. And also people watch telly in a totally different way and weve all got to get used to it. Advertisement Chris Lang agrees, arguing, Summer used to I think have a connotation. I dont think it does anymore, is my honest answer. The way we watch TV now is so profoundly different. Plenty of shows have launched in the summer and done very well.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/unforgotten-series-3-itv-air-date-cast-plot-guide/

Will there be a series 3 of The Missing?

Advertisement UPDATE The dramas writers have confirmed that there will be a spin-off of The Missing with Julien Baptiste starring as Tcheky Karyo. Find out more here Well, the bad news is nothing is confirmedyet. The good news is that creators Harry and Jack Williams are open to another series if the idea is right. I think with the second one, we definitely didnt want to do it in a cynical way, Harry explained. It was only when we had that story to tell: wed done a story about losing someone; now were going to do a story about finding someone. It would have to be very different, it would have to not be cynical, and it would have to be saying something new, he added. Never say never. Executive producer Willow Grylls agrees: The one thing we can say for certain is that like series two, it would be very different from series one and two. As for the dogged French detective Julien Baptiste, actor Tchky Karyo is adamant that there is more to come from the character that has made him a UK hit. I hope there is still some skeleton in the closet for [series] 1, 2, 3 4, 5, 6, 7! he laughs. The guy, you know, went through so many stories; Im sure there are so many things to say, he added.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-01/will-there-be-a-series-3-of-the-missing/

When is The Marvelous Mrs Maisel season 2 released on Amazon Prime Video?

The Marvelous Mrs Maisel returns for its second season with five Emmy Awards and a couple of Golden Globes to its name. Advertisement Written by Gilmore Girls creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, the Amazon Prime Video original was one of the streaming services most impressive new shows in 2017. It stars Rachel Brosnahan as a Jewish housewife in 1950s New York who discovers her talent for stand-up comedy when her husband unexpectedly leaves her for his secretary. Amazon has confirmed that The Marvelous Mrs Maisel season two will be released on Prime Video on 5th December 2018. The date confirmation arrived complete with a full trailer, recapping the events of season one and taking viewers straight back into the stunning world of 1950s New York. Gilmore Girls showrunners Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino delivered this brilliantly funny series about a Jewish housewife in 1950s New York City who discovers she has a talent for stand-up comedy. Kicking things off, Mrs Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) gives a stunning drunken performance at The Gaslight Cafe after her husband Joel Maisel (Michael Zegan) leaves her for his secretary Penny Pann. The gig launches her secret life as a comedian with the help of her agent Susie Myerson (Alex Borstein). Together they go through the highs and lows of the New York comedy scene. In her private life, she is navigating her relationship with husband Joel as well as taking her kids and moving back in with dad Abe (Tony Shalhoub) and mum Rose (Marin Hinkle). The last time we met Midge Maisel she had just delivered a triumphant act at the Gaslight Cafe, with the help of her supporter and mentor Lenny Bruce. Its also not clear what her relationship with Joel will look like in season two. In the season one finale the couple reconnected and slept together but then Joel found out that she was secretly performing as a stand-up comic. Even worse, she was making jokes at his expense on stage. Certainly they will, Brosnahan told RadioTimes.com. And there will be tension between some of them, and some of them may end up fitting better together than anyone may have anticipated but you will definitely see the ripple effect of this giant upheaval in her life that is her stand-up comedy. Like season one, the second season of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel is set in New York but this time Midge and her familys universe is expanding. That involves a trip to the Catskills for an extended summer holiday, and a visit to Paris for Midge and her parents Rose and Abe Weissman as they try to save their marriage. Much to Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladinos surprise, they were actually able to fly to the actual city of Paris for filming, taking over a French square to create a 1950s market (with plenty of baguettes). Wen you work for Amazon and you say things like, and then were going to shoot in Paris! and they go, okay. Yes: the drama was renewed in May 2018, before the release of the second season. Brosnahan also revealed that showrunner Amy Sherman-Palladino had a three-season masterplan from day one. Before we started the first season she told me what she wanted the first three seasons to look like, so Ive always known approximately what her ideal first three seasons look like, she said. It turns out that Sherman-Palladino has it all mapped out. Amy once said something to me that I have held so closely because I think it informs so much about this character, Brosnahan explained. I suppose its a comment on that idea that in some ways, ignorance is bliss, Brosnahan said. Shes grown so much and changed so much and accomplished incredible things, but she will always look back on that moment, when everything was simple and perfect, as the happiest moment of her life. Advertisement And that doesnt mean that she wont be fulfilled in other ways but I thought that told me everything I needed to know before I shot the show.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2019-01-01/the-marvelous-mrs-maisel-season-2-amazon-prime-video-release-date-cast-plot-trailer/

Whats next for Endeavour after that shocking finale?

As well as being the usual head-scratching mystery for Shaun Evans troubled detective, the series five finale of Inspector Morse prequel Endeavour was also a massive gamechanger for the drama as a whole. Advertisement With the Cowley CID team facing a very uncertain future and key characters seeming to say goodbye to the series forever, you might have thought things couldnt get any worse but then, the unimaginable happened Warning spoilers ahead You see, the latest episode also included the shock death of Lewis Peeks DC George Fancy, a new character introduced this year who was apparently caught in the crossfire of a gang war in the latter half of the story. After his death, Cowley police station was shuttered and the team found themselves headed to separate postings, while WPC Trewlove (Dakota Blue Richards) went off to pastures new and DCI Fred Thursday (Roger Allam) was forced to put off his retirement. The new set of feature length films will be set in 1969, and will be be filmed later this year ready for a release in 2019. As our story reaches the last year of the 1960s, and mankind makes its giant leap, all at #TeamEndeavour look forward to exploring further early chapters in the casebook of Colin Dexters beloved creation, creator Russell Lewis teased. To find out more, we caught up with Endeavours executive producer Damien Timmer, who revealed that DC Fancy was doomed from the start, how real-life historical events influenced writer Russell Lewis finale, and exactly what we can expect for the newly-announced sixth series of the drama. Spoiler alert: the times, they are a-changin. Hi Damien theres a bit of a shake up at the end of this series, with characters moving to different places. Because of the real life change in 1968 with the birth of Thames Valley Police, it felt creatively like a good time to challenge our characters and have them leave their police home. More pragmatically, we have had to leave our production base in Beaconsfield, and this is a chance for a new studio build in a new home. Russell Lewis enjoyed the idea of shaking it up, as you put it, because the dynamic between Endeavour, Thursday, Bright, Strange, has been set since series one. Now, five series into it, we rather enjoyed the fact that history forced us into a change in the dynamic. In a very positive way, Russell takes our 1960s timeline very seriously, and since the pilot he has enjoyed locating particular Endeavour seasons and individual Endeavour stories very clearly in a particular time. So, for example, in series three, there was a story called Prey which was set in the time of the Six-Day War. In series five we have enjoyed glancing to real historical events the assassination of Martin Luther King, for example, kind of informs one of the stories. We think it just gives it another layer. Weve known for years, in truth, at some point that wed have to leave the world of Oxford City police. Weve rather enjoyed throwing things up in the air. Yes, I think it absolutely would. Youll have to wait and see! It throws everything up in the air. And I suppose things land, pieces land in strange situations. And it might take some time to sort things out, and its possible that things are never quite the same again. Weve really enjoyed spending quite a few years of the 1960s with that sort of police family, and seeing Endeavour develop in that, when in series one he is very much an outsider. Superintendent Bright, played by Anton Lesser, is incredibly suspicious of him. Hes a very isolated figure. And by the time you leave series five, hes much more accepted by that group, and they have become a real police family. It feels interesting to put them all under this new pressure. Thursday seems to be retiring for most of the series, which had me pessimistically assuming he was going to die! Well, part of his arc for the series was Thursday coming to a point where it feels to him that the old order is changing. And for Win, his wife, this sense of emotional retirement is quite appealing. And its set up pretty early on in the series that his neer-do-well brother borrows money from him, and it was always there in Russells mind that that wasnt going to work out, and be one of the factors that makes it difficult for Thursday to leave. And one of the things that the show has always been preoccupied with is the world changing around our heroes, and I think thats very appropriate when dealing with a character like Thursday who has spent a very long time, has grown up in that Oxford City police force, and feels that perhaps this is time for him to take his leave. But events conspire against him. I dont think thats tricking the audience. I think thats just, hopefully, a pleasing story. It was! Unfortunately for the very talented Lewis Peek, who plays him, yes, he was dead before he was written. Because we had six films this year, we knew we had a little bit more time to explore the different character dynamics. The feeling was wed spent a lot of time seeing Endeavour as Thursdays protg, but that in a way that perhaps prefigures Inspector Morse, it was interesting to see Endeavour, since his promotion, play the part of a mentor himself. We liked the idea of a relationship with a young protg that begins badly, then gets a little bit better but not very much better Endeavour and Fancy were never a great love match. But that ended in tragedy. That was always Russells design. Its certainly something that will preoccupy the characters, yes. She heads off to join Scotland Yard in the finale This is the end of Trewlove for now Dakota told us she wanted to leave at the beginning of last year, so we planned series five to give her the arc with Fancy and build to his demise and her leaving. But the door is always open for return appearances! Its a punishing thing, doing six films, because Russell Lewis writes every word. And writing 12 hours of new material is a really serious undertaking. It was never seen as becoming the norm, is my slightly obtuse answer. I noticed that people seemed to feel that in various films. Weve now made I think 23 films including the pilot, and across those weve wanted to show incrementally how the character could go from being this relatively fresh-faced young policeman to the character who we all know and love as John Thaws Inspector Morse. Were you to sit down and watch them all, I think youd see a subtle yet certain gentle transformation there. He has become more forthright, or the people around him listen to him slightly more. He has become a little bit more sure of himself, and is perhaps quicker to anger than he originally was. But I think thats been a creeping thing across the series. I think perhaps we felt it more this year because weve had six films instead of four. Well, we already know McNutts fate from the Inspector Morse story Masonic Mysteries. With DCI Thursday, only Russell Lewis knows what happens to him which I think raises the stakes in our Endeavour story. We know Morses fate, but we have to keep watching to find out Freds! Russell didnt want to have McNutt at the beginning, because he had a very strong sense of Fred Thursday and the Thursday family. We absolutely love Fred Thursday, we love Roger Allam as Fred Thursday, Roger Allam enjoys playing him and I think the audience would now be incredibly shortchanged if Fred were to go and McNutt were to enter. Thats not to say that we wont at some point meet Inspector McNutt he has been mentioned onscreen hitherto, but he has not yet appeared. Hathaway was an extremely popular character! But we have truly, genuinely found the world of Endeavour that Colin Dexter showed us and which Russell has taken so much ownership of, has really kept us very creatively fulfilled. And were so happy being in that world for now. 23 films in, were still finding that very stimulating and we have no plans for anything like that. Endeavour is where our focus is. Russ enjoys sneaking in pop culture refs into his scripts, ranging from Kate Bush lyrics to Terry Pratchett. Some of them we spot, others only become evident on transmission. I love Chinatown, but hadnt noticed where Thursdays Forget it sergeant, thats Summertown line came from until Twitter told me on transmission! Advertisement Endeavour will return for a sixth series

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/whats-next-for-endeavour-after-that-shocking-finale/

How was North Carolina filmed in Scotland for Outlander season 4?

Jamie and Claire Fraser may have travelled to North Carolina, but Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe stayed firmly in Scotland for the filming of Outlander season four. Advertisement Having washed ashore in colonial America, our time-travelling heroine and her 18th century Highlander husband have made the huge decision to settle in the New World, making a home for themselves in North Carolina. But despite the change in location, the majority of filming for season four actually took place in Scotland. Despite the new setting in the USA, Scotland was still the home of production for Outlander season four. I was initially surprised and a little like: its a shame we werent there, because I thought, thats going to bring something new to it, Sam Heughan said on the set of Outlander near Glasgow during filming for season four. But actually having said that now, I think Scotland is just ideal for it. The actor explained why: I went to North Carolina, I visited there, I spent a few days going around various locations, and it just looks the same! In a way we have this freedom [in Scotland]: we have this base, we can adapt a lot more because we have the studios here already, we have a crew that knows us and we know each other. So in a way it feels like we can build on the momentum of past seasons; if we were to go somewhere else it would be like starting again. Outlander is filmed in Scotland, primarily at the Wardpark Studios at Cumbernaud near Glasgow. Over the past four years the show has built an impressive base, with huge sets and a vast warehouse for costumes and props. Executive producer Matthew B Roberts said, We have our crew, our big studio here, so it was better to base here and remain here. And believe it or not, Scotland plays for North Carolina quite well. He added: This [the studio] is a rare thing to have because its ours. This is all ours. The production team makes good use of the Scottish landscape, which stands in for North Carolina as the story moves to colonial America. However, well also see stock footage from the USA and scenery shots from Eastern Europe to give the show the right look. Earlier this year I flew to North Carolina, rented a car and drove across the countryside, Roberts said. I wanted to see the Blue Ridge for myself, referring to the Blue Ridge Mountains, location for the fictional Frasers Ridge. He added: The big high and wides that you see, the scope of it: sometimes you use stock footage for that, sometimes the countryside actually just plays for it. But weve also found that when you get into the trees, you cant really tell. And many of our North Carolina fans will say youre absolutely in North Carolina, and Ill be somewhere in the Trossachs. It was important for the landscape to look right, not least because so much of Outlander takes place in the great outdoors. Were a roadshow, we get outside, we travel, so theres plenty of that in this season, from Wilmington up into the Ridge. Thats the challenge of our show, Roberts explained. We have a beautiful studio but, unfortunately, where the source material takes us we always have to be outside. A vital part of Outlander season four is Jamie and Claires encounters with the Native Americans, particularly the Cherokee and Mohawk Nations. The production team opted to answer that question by casting First Nation and Native American people and flying them over from North America. Roberts explained on set in March 2018: What well do is, were casting out of North America so First Nation which is Canadian and American Indians from America and well be casting solely from there, transferring everybody over here to do the scenes. The line in the sand is, every speaking part will be of First Nation and/or American Indian culture. Advertisement Outlander airs on Amazon Prime Video in the UK and Starz in the US

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2019-01-01/outlander-season-4-location-guide-north-carolina-scotland/

Where is the Call the Midwife Christmas special filmed?

It certainly isnt shot on the streets of 21st century Poplar, which have changed rapidly since the late 1950s and early 60s. Advertisement Instead, the production team has cleverly combined studio sets with location shoots and preserved historic exteriors to create the world of Call the Midwife, from Nonnatus House to the streets of east London. In the 2018 Call the Midwife Christmas special, Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) and the nuns of Nonnatus House are summoned to the Orders Mother House to elect a new Mother Superior, with Shelagh Turner (Laura Main) coming along for the ride. The Mother House is officially based near Chichester, so cast and crew took a trip to West Wittering in Sussex to film key scenes for the Christmas special. This quiet village is situated on the Manhood Peninsula, and is close to both the sandy West Wittering beach and the stony East Wittering beach. Call the Midwife has made its home at Longcross Film Studios in Surrey, close to Chertsey and not far from London. Here, the production team has created an extremely impressive exterior set which is left standing year-round. Stepping onto set is like being transported back in time and straight into the Call the Midwife universe. Taking pride of place is Nonnatus House, but the set also includes the Hendy Street allotments where Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi) spends his time, the famous bridge, Violets shop, the square outside Nonnatus, nearby houses, and local shopfronts. Interior scenes are also filmed at Longcross. The Manor Houses grand central staircase is a recognisable the midwives headquarters, while locations such as the Turners house and the nuns dining room are filmed using a closed studio set. See you soon! Behind the scenes on Call the Midwife Series 8: Nearly done!Today we bring you an exclusive video clip from behind the scenes at our film studios in Longcross, Surrey, UK, where the final episodes of Call the Midwife series 8 are now in progress! We take you on a quick walk through the working studio environment to our Turner set, where our trusty crew are setting up for a major scene :-)There is little more than a month of filming left in our long shooting season. After which.the countdown to Christmas begins! !We can't WAIT to be back in your living rooms. xxxxCall the MIdwife returns with a new Christmas Special, and Series 8 in 2019. Posted by Call the Midwife on Friday, September 7, 2018 Longcross Studios was once a Ministry of Defence site, but is now a major filming location having been used for movies including Thor: The Dark World, Guardians of the Galaxy, Skyfall, Fast & Furious 6, and Doctor Strange. Unfortunately for Call the Midwife fans, the studio is not open to the public. The BBC drama arrived at Longcross in 2013, when the production team was forced to leave Nonnatus Houses previous location at St Josephs Missionary College in Mill Hill, North London so it could be sold and converted into luxury flats. The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent has been used to film exteriors and outdoor scenes since the shows very beginning. In fact, it now runs an Official Call the Midwife Tour, which features a walk through key filming locations as well as an exhibition of props, sets and costumes. It may be 30 miles from Poplar, but the Dockyard doubles as Londons East End, with its old-fashioned cobbled streets and building exteriors that work perfectly for the show as it heads into the 1960s. For example, the entrance to Doctor Turners surgery is filmed at Chatham as are plenty of scenes where our midwives zoom through their streets on their bicycles. And, of course, if the storylines demand a ship, theres the nearby HMS Cavalier which has appeared multiple times in Call the Midwife throughout the years. Dating back to the mid-16th century and used by the Royal Navy for hundreds of years, the Dockyard closed in 1984. It is now run as a visitor attraction, but its 100 100 original Victorian and Georgian buildings also make it a popular filming location. Advertisement The Call the Midwife 2018 Christmas special will air on Tuesday 25 December at 7.45pm, with series eight following in the new year

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/where-is-the-call-the-midwife-christmas-special-filmed/

What does the real Norman Scott think of the BBCs A Very English Scandal?

There is a certain irony in the fact that, of all the figures involved in the Jeremy Thorpe scandal, one of the only people to outlive him is the very man he allegedly tried to kill: Norman Scott. Advertisement A Very English Scandal centres around disgraced Liberal Party leader Thorpe, who in 1979 was put on trial for conspiring to murder his secret gay lover, Scott. The assassination attempt failed spectacularly due to the hired hitmans phobia of dogs: he decided to kill Scotts Great Dane, Rinka, first then, as he turned the gun on Scott, it jammed. But Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder, while Scott was made a laughing stock by the judge presiding over the case who described him as a fraud, a sponger, a whiner and a parasite and the sensationalist 1970s British press. It has been suggested that A Very English Scandal will run almost as a second trial for Scott, four decades on, with a more sympathetic jury. Indeed, Scott who is now 78 and lives with eight dogs, no less has seen the drama and was apparently very moved by it. Russell T Davies, who penned the script, said: We did take it to Norman and show him. The BBC showed it not for his approval Norman Scott had no say in it and no right to change anything in the script but as a mark of respect and due diligence, it felt fair to show it to him. He loved it and was very moved by it. Director Stephen Frears added: He was very pleased, he laughed and cried. Ben Whishaw, who plays Scott, met with him to get a feel of his temperament and inform his performance. He would sit there in makeup texting back and forth with the man he was playing, said Hugh Grant, who stars as Thorpe. I think they got on quite well. On what he believes Scotts hopes were for the series, Whishaw said: I think this was a very big part of his life, so he just wanted it to be told properly. He was treated so badly by the press back in the day that public opinion seemed to be so strongly against him. [This series] is a chance to set the record straight to some degree and give his side of the story, perhaps. Whishaw said he felt the weight of doing justice to Scott, but that dramatic license was also important. I did feel a responsibility and at the same time I think any time you do something thats based on real events you have to accept that it becomes a kind of fiction Fortunately, we had this incredible script so youre just trying to do the script justice. You cant think much beyond that. But there is a responsibility and I felt a connection to Norman and I wanted for him to like it. Thankfully he does, were told. Advertisement This article was originally published on 27 May 2018

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/what-does-the-real-norman-scott-think-of-the-bbcs-a-very-english-scandal/

When are Outlander season four episodes released on Amazon?

Outlander season four airs on Starz in the USA on Sunday evenings, beginning on Sunday 4 November at 8pm EST. Advertisement The time difference means that it arrives on Amazon Prime Video in the UK on Monday morning. New episodes are released weekly. Season four will be 13 episodes long. Outlanders third season came to a soaking wet finale, as Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) found themselves floating in open water after the merciless tide battered the Artemis on its return journey from Jamaica to Scotland. They lost the boat and Claire very nearly lost her life before her highlander husband dove beneath the waves to save her. The pair were washed up on a mysterious shore, which they soon learned was actually Georgia, one of the original thirteen colonies of the United States. Outlanders fourth season will mostly be based on Diana Gabaldons fourth novel in the series, The Drums of Autumn. The book sees Claire and Jamie facing new challenges as they attempt to build a new life for themselves in the American colonies. Caitriona Balfe tells RadioTimes.com that this new setting is particularly interesting for Claire, who has already lived in the USA, but in the 20th century. When she left America it was at the height of the civil rights movement and so its a very interesting thing to have her come at the inception of the United States of America, as we know it today, she says. The country Claire and Jamie find themselves in is a very different place, where slavery still exists and the first settlers are interacting with the Native American tribes. Its very interesting to watch her wrap her mind around how to be a pioneer but also knowing what she knows and having the respect she does for the Native American culture, Balfe adds. It definitely isnt without its problems and issues and having her figure out how to be a respectful pioneer I suppose. So yeah its an interesting thing to play. She says season four, like each season before it, will offer viewers something different. Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe and the gang (or rather those of them who were still alive at the end of season three) have returned, but we have some fresh faces joining the cast to play new characters too. Irish actress Maria Doyle Kennedy (who you might remember as Catherine of Aragon in The Tudors or, more recently, Mrs S from Orphan Black) plays Jamies Aunt Jocasta, whose plantation Claire and Jamie arrive at in Drums of Autumn. Downton Abbeys Ed Speelers (who also played Eragon in, well, Eragon) stars as Stephen Bonnet, a villainous Irish-born pirate whose actions will have quite important consequences for many of the main characters. In other season four news, returning characters include: John Bell plays Young Ian plays Young Ian Csar Domboy plays Fergus plays Fergus Lauren Lyle plays Marsali plays Marsali Richard Rankin plays Roger Wakefield plays Roger Wakefield Sophie Skelton plays Brianna Randall Fraser Newcomers for season four include: Colin McFarlane plays Ulysses plays Ulysses Natalie Simpson plays Phaedre plays Phaedre Tim Downie plays Governor Tryon plays Governor Tryon Rainer Sellien plays Baron Penzler plays Baron Penzler Lee Boardman plays Lieutenant Wolff plays Lieutenant Wolff Jereme Holder plays Rufus plays Rufus Kyle Rees plays John Quincy Myers And to really up the cute levels on set, theyve also cast two very sweet little puppies to play Rollo, Young Ians wolf hybrid, who also becomes a much-loved member of the Fraser clan. Season three offered us a proper introduction to Claire and Jamies daughter, Brianna, and the Reverend Wakefields adopted son, Roger MacKenzie. The pair were only on our screens for a short time but managed to steal hearts with their will-they-wont-they romance. If season four stays true to The Drums of Autumn then fans are in for a real treat, because Brianna and Roger have a much bigger role to play in the story. They actually come into the story in a much bigger way in season four, executive producer Ron Moore told RadioTimes.com earlier this year, and thats something actors Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin told us theyre VERY excited about. The scope really widens in Drums of Autumn. Its a brilliant book and it just becomes much bigger; not just for us but as a whole, the story as a whole just becomes epic, said Rankin, who added that he had no idea how the writers would manage to fit the whole novel into one season. Theres a really great story for Roger and Brianna, and we may or may not go back in time in the books Skelton teased. Seasons three and four of the show were commissioned at the same time and Starz have followed that same pattern by confirming that yes, Outlander WILL return for seasons five and six!

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2019-01-01/outlander-season-4-cast-plot-air-date/

Who is Miriam Margoyles character Sister Mildred in Call the Midwife?

The formidable Sister Mildred will bustle into the Call the Midwife Christmas special as Miriam Margolyes makes her debut in her nuns habit and wimple. Described as a forthright and indefatigable sister from the Order, Sister Mildred makes her first appearance in the Call the Midwife Christmas special turning up at Nonnatus House with four Chinese child refugees in tow. Sister Mildred has just arrived from Hong Kong. The child refugees who accompany her were found abandoned there, and are being adopted in the UK as part of the World Refugee Project but first they must make their journey to the Mother House in time for Christmas. It is a particularly important time at the Mother House, as the Mother Superior is dying and the nuns must elect her successor. Margolyes is perhaps best known as Professor Sprout from the Harry Potter movies. Her other credits include The Age of Innocence, Bucket, Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries, Trollied, Rake, and Bottersnikes & Gumbles. On the stage, she starred in the acclaimed Ill Eat You Last, and will soon be taking on The Lady in the Van for a production in Melbourne. Yes! Series creator Heidi Thomas has revealed that Miriam Margolyes will appear at intervals throughout the new series. After arriving from Hong Kong with the Chinese orphans in tow, Sister Mildred returns to the Orders Mother House during the Christmas special which means shes perfectly placed for guest appearances when series eight airs in 2019. But Margolyes Call the Midwife role has actually been a long time coming, as she has been angling to appear on the show for years. In 2016, she revealed on ITVs This Morning: I love that programme, I think they are all majestically brilliant fine actresses so I want to be there. There is no end to what I would do to get on that programme. I love it, I love that show. She really was serious about it, Jenny Agutter says. And then when we were talking about this, she said, Yes but I didnt think they were going to cast me as a nun. ' On hearing that Marogolyes was joining the cast, Helen George says: We were really excited. I mean the woman eats raw onions for breakfast. She is a wonder, Helen George says. (Shes not joking, by the way: this is an actual fact.) She adds, Its health benefits. She swears by it, she has a whole raw onion every morning for breakfast. Jenny Agutter, who plays Sister Julienne, is also a Margolyes fan. Miriam was an absolute laugh, and wonderful, and very unpredictable, she reveals. After some particularly outrageous comments, she turned to me and said, I hope you know that Im known to be a little bit naughty. I said, yes, I have heard that. ' Sister Monica Joan actress Judy Parfitt adds: Shes absolutely brilliant. When a hardened crew gets shocked this is new territory for us, says Stephen McGann, who plays Dr Turner. And then the very next minute, what she does as we would all attest is she is one of the most focused [actresses]. She is a brilliant actress and everyone knows, but shes still in my view underrated. Because when those moments call for it, in typical Call the Midwife fashion, there are moments of such tenderness and perception Like the great Judy Parfitt, shes somebody capable of turning on a sixpence to the most beautiful observed and intelligent performance, and then she will come out with an expletive. But she is totally focused, she is very mischievous but a brilliant addition as far as Im concerned, an absolutely superb addition. Fits in like a glove. Advertisement The Call the Midwife 2018 Christmas special will air on Tuesday 25 December at 7.45pm, with series eight following in the New Year

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/miriam-margoyles-call-the-midwife-sister-mildred-character/

Where do babies on television come from?

When a Mummy and Daddy character on TV love each other very much, they might have a special off-screen hug. And, as if by magic, a tiny new baby actor may appear on the set of the shows next series. Strangely, not the same place as the parents. While most adult actors turn up to auditions, take direction and are (mostly) toilet trained, TV babies are a very different type of performer and need a very specialised route to our screens. And from the last-minute hirings, scrupulous filming rules, baby licensing laws and jelly impersonators, its a truly bizarre one. This world of pre-school performers is that of JAM2000, the agency thats provided newborns for the likes of Call the Midwife, The Crown, Sherlock, Doctor Foster, Goodbye Christopher Robin, The Durrells, Skyfall, Tracey Breaks the News, Holby City, Grantchester and many many more. Basically, see a baby on TV and its likely theyre the agency that arranged it all. We put these questions to Judy McPhee, the director of JAM2000 (and the former comedy partner to 80s presenter Gary Wilmot), to find out everything about babies on the box. Good news for all newborns reading: theres no minimum age required to get a TV role. Although children in many US states (including California) need to be at least 15 days old to gain a work permit, a baby just only hours old can get a child performance license in the UK. As long as the paperwork is filled out including a full medical declaration from the parents affirming their child is fit and healthy and the local council has checked it through, a baby could theoretically be whizzed straight from hospital to their first screen appearance. The youngest baby weve ever had working with us is four days old, but Ive heard of some productions that have used a two-day-old, says McPhee. As long as theyre discharged and fit, healthy and protected, they can perform. Often, though, productions look for babies that havent even been born yet. Well, babies born before well before their due date. If a show wants a birthing scene, they always want babies as small as they possibly can. Because on TV you can have an eight-pound baby that looks ten pounds, explains McPhee. What a show will say is were looking for newborns or twins. Because twins are more likely to be premature [on average by three weeks, with triplets seven weeks early]. Even though they may be two months old, they might only be four to six pounds in weight. And thats the perfect size for a birthing scene even if a baby appears a few pounds heavier on screen, theyll still look like your average 6-9lbs newborn. But theres another reason twins are so sought after: they double the period a show can have a baby in front of camera. Thats incredibly useful considering the short time one child is permitted on set (a maximum of five hours a day, with a two-hour limit on performing thats broken down further into slots of 30 minutes). So, to extend filming times with a child, shows often employ a twin tag-teaming strategy where multiple babies portray the same character, with the tots swapped between shots. And this will happen even if the babies arent the same sex. Often girls play boys and boys play girls, says McPhee. Sometimes if they cant get twins, theyll use a lookalike and get both of them to wear a hat. The reverse can also be true, with the same baby playing different characters. For instance, Aidan Barton, son of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith editor Roger Barton, played both Luke and Leia during the movie without the audience noticing anything out of place. MORE FAMILIAL FUN FACTS: I've never met my infant self. pic.twitter.com/8dueusnt4W Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) June 10, 2018 However, using the same baby is a rarity in movies, particularly those that shoot across different countries. Because, quite understandably, most productions and parents arent keen to jet premature babies around the world. Filmmakers task agencies like JAM2000 to find a doppelganger for their original baby who can be filmed on the foreign set. And, as McPhee knows too well, thats not always an easy job. There was one US production where we needed to find a double for a small baby boy. I was sent a photo and I thought Christ, hes got a lot of hair! Hes almost got a side-parting! she recalls. In fact, this baby had more hair than any boys McPhee could find in the UK. So, she improvised: I found a girl who was nine months who was quite small. And, fortunately, the mum was happy to have the little girls haircut! How TV shows deal with crying babies Not surprisingly, casting directors dont ask newborns to audition. But nor do they take into consideration how prone a child is to crying. Because, as any new parent will tell you, babies are unpredictable. I would never promise a client a quiet baby, says McPhee. You can have a kid that you think is really good, but then one day theyre really bad. Weve had a baby thats so placid and we thought theyre ideal for another part and she cried the whole time. And its no easier the other way round, when a show has a well-behaved baby they need to cry on camera. Production cant deliberately scare them the childs dedicated on-set chaperone will ensure they arent put in deliberate distress but there are ways around it. Maybe theyll wait until feeding time or when theyve pooed their nappy, says McPhee. But even then, she says, theres no guarantee a child will stick to the script: Until theyre four-years-old, its all a gamble! Yet, its a gamble productions take even it means theyre left with a baby who screams for their five hours on set. It is what it is, I tell them, says McPhee. Babies are babies and production cant tell babies to stop crying. Sometimes theyll say oh, we wont have a baby in that scene or well use a jelly baby. Thats right, a jelly baby. But one a lot more lifelike than the Bassetts variety: these silicone-based stand-ins are way beyond a simple toy model, weighing the same as a real baby and complete with a hand-coloured finish, custom-made eyes and individually-stitched hairs. All that combined makes for a model lifelike enough to fools the actors, never mind viewers. For example, Call the Midwifes Emerald Fennell (Nurse Patsy) told Radio Times last year: [The models] take a bit of getting used to because they look so real; you have that moment when you first see them and think its a real baby. You end up holding them like a real baby. Of course, as anyone who witnessed the baby in American Sniper will tell you (see below), these fake tots arent completely undetectable on screen. They might look lifelike, but theyre not able to move like a real baby. So, for the most part, theyre kept as covered as possible: If you see a shot with a blanket around a baby from behind, thatll be a jelly one, says McPhee. However, special effects companies are now developing animatronic infants, detailed model robots whose every move can be controlled remotely. And shows like Call the Midwife are already using them. That was 100% a robot baby. But despite advancements in these robotics, McPhee says she hasnt seen a slow-down in business. And the reason why becomes clear quickly. While it makes sense to hire out a jelly baby that can cost 400 a week (with real babies costing a bit extra more on that below), an animatronic baby can cost 2,000 per day. That doesnt even include the crew needed to control it. So, unless the cost of animatronics reduces or a generation of particularly wail-prone babies make them a necessity a legion of robot newborns wont be taking over our sets any time soon. At first, it makes little sense. The immediate answer some might get to is its all about money. But its not necessarily the right one. Because, as some parents say, they signed their baby up to a TV agency precisely because of their difficult experiences of childbirth. Take Jade Cooper, mother to six-month-old Raye, a baby girl whos now featured in four productions. Although born eight weeks before her due date, Raye first appeared on camera five weeks later, weighing just four pounds. She was just keen to get in this world very keen, says Jade. My water went and they tried to put her off until I was 36 weeks. But that didnt happen. Three days later I was told that I was 8cm dilated and going into labour. I pushed for a while, but had to have an emergency C-section. And then Raye was then taken away from me and I was left alone, numb from the spinal anaesthetic. Raye was moved to an intensive care unit, where she was unable to breathe without help. But she fought through and, after three days, was able to inhale by herself. Raye remained in intensive care for three weeks as Jade, recovering from another operation after complications with her C-section, had to watch on. I dont know why I was there every day solid. I couldnt do anything, she remembers. But I wanted to be there by Rayes side. Then, on Christmas Day, it all changed: doctors gave Raye the all clear. She was coming home. But not before Jade was taken aside by an intensive care nurse. Whatever Raye or you do in your lives, youve got to remember shes come into this world, she pleaded. Youre lucky. Cherish life. Our little Raye of sunshine, now weighing an amazing 5lbs 15ozs in just 5 weeks, holds her hands up to having a new bear Posted by The Windmill Studio Centre on Thursday, January 18, 2018 I think thats what I do with Raye, reflects Jade. What I saw in the NCU [neonatal care unit] with really poorly babies Im talking babies that are like 24 weeks old with no skin, with mums there thinking is my baby going to live? my experience has been nothing compared to others. When you have a premature baby, you go on a massive journey. You take every moment as it comes because you treasure what youve got. Everything Ive done with Raye like the TV stuff I think Ive got an experience with her and me together. They might be new to the business, but baby actors are often the most pampered on-screen talent. Not only will a hired car drive the child and parent to set, but the two will be escorted throughout the day by a licensed and trained chaperone (or two chaperones if there are twins, three for triplets). The chaperones make sure shows adhere to all licensing laws, that the baby and parent have everything they need and theyre well-provided for, explains McPhee. If the babys crying, they check with mother. If theyre hungry, theyre there to say its a mothers right to feed the child. Basically, they want to make sure baby and mum are happy. And although shoots are long and with delays, the parent and child are usually whisked straight to set, the producers anxious not to waste any of their rationed baby time. They checked what she was wearing and then she was on! explains Jade. It gets better. In between scenes, the parents are left with the actors, and, as Jade found out, theyre very eager to carry on holding the baby between takes. Shes not allowed to name talent while shows are still in production, but Jade said she was made to feel welcome by some really big stars at every set. I didnt realise famous people would speak to normal people! she laughs. Everyone wanted to know Rayes name and how old she was. They were so lovely! Lesson learned: if you want to befriend the stars of TV, placing a cute newborn in their arms certainly wont hurt. Strangely, theres no law stating the money has to be set aside for the child. Although parents in the US are required to safeguard a portion of these earnings due to the Coogan act named after Jackie Coogan, the child actor who earned millions performing next to Charlie Chaplin only to later find his parents had spent everything UK parents are free to do as they wish. But its good to hear that mums like Jade still save the money for Raye regardless. Its not my money, she says. All Rayes money will go into a little savings account. Not as much as youd think. Even though a baby can be the at the foreground of a scene and entire storylines, theyll only be hired as a background actor. No matter how much gurgling and babbling they improvise, a newborn can only ever claim a non-speaking role. And that means the money isnt amazing. True, expenses are often paid for and wages can vary widely between productions, but you still might only be looking at a few hundred pounds from a show at most. Were not an agency that will make people tons of money, to be honest, says McPhee. Im not here to make your child a star because I couldnt think of anything worse! Currently, JAM2000 hires 150 to 200 babies a year (three or four a week), with 500 babies currently on its books. But, fortunately for any unemployed newborns, theyre always in need of more. We never have enough! laughs McPhee. If I walk past somebody whos pregnant, I give them my card! As she explains, the agency always needs a large bank of babies on standby to manage the ever-hectic cycle of TV shows. Most productions give us 10 working days. But schedules change. Well get a new day. And then theyll cut the scene. And do another one elsewhere. That is just the way of the business. I worked with one ITV production where they asked can we have a newborn baby and a six-month-old this afternoon?. And I did it! Parents are normally given a bit longer Raye and Jade, for instance, were only given three days warning. But, at short notice or not, TV shows are always looking for babies. No matter their age, all you need to is email JAM2000 ([email protected]) with a photo of your baby. And you never know, in a few days time they could be enjoying a scene with one of TVs finest. Presuming they can out-act a silicone model, anyway.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/where-do-babies-on-television-come-from/

What Was The Most Popular Tour To Come Through Idaho In 2018?

2018 was a huge year for bands coming through Idaho. Maybe you went to a concert (or two) or maybe you missed out on all the great bands that come through. There was definitely one concert that was more popular than all the others though. When Journey and Def Leppard came to Boise in September, their tour made over $830,000 that night at the Ford Idaho Center. Billboard put together a list of the highest grossing concerts in each state along with attendance details. According to them, more than 8,000 people went to the Def Leppard/Journey show ...which actually seems like a low number. That's small peaches compared to some of our neighbor states though. When Justin Timberlake went to Utah he brought in almost 15,000 people and $2 Million. That seems small though compared to the numbers for the Taylor Swift show in Washington where she brought in $8.6 Million and over 56,000 people! You can check out the full list including each state at the Billboard site and I'll save you the trouble of searching - the biggest single day concert was Taylor Swift in New Jersey with $22 Million and 165,000 people. Let us know in the comments what concert you are excited for in 2019.

http://newsradio1310.com/what-was-the-most-popular-tour-to-come-through-idaho-in-2018/

Is Safeway Open on New Years Day 2019 Near Me?

Happy New Years 2019! Whether youre wanting to pick something up to celebrate at home or you need to get an appetizer or dessert for that football party at a friends house, you may need to stop by the grocery store for some last-minute purchases. Well, we have some good news for you. Yes, most Safeway stores are open on New Years Day 2019. In fact, the only day that most Safeway stores are closed during the year is Christmas Day. However, the hours may vary widely. To find the hours of the Safeway near you on New Years Day, locate your local Safeway at this link and check on their holiday hours. You may want to also call just to make sure the listed hours are accurate. By the way, if you happen to be reading this in Canada, Safeway stores are typically open on New Years Day there too. Here are a few examples of Safeway store hours on New Years Day. Remember, pharmacy hours may be different. If you search for your local store, you may get a different Safeway-owned store by a different name if Safeway isnt in your area: Many Denver locations: 6 a.m. to regular closing time (typically 11 p.m. or midnight) The above hours are frequently seen in many other Colorado locations too. Star Market in Massachusetts: Typically Regular open to 9 p.m., but may vary Acme Market in Connecticut: Typically 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Arizona: A Tucson location is 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., but a Phoenix Albertsons is 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., and one in Gilbert is 5 a.m. to midnight. Hours vary widely by location in this state. A Safeway in Aztec, New Mexico is open 6 a.m. to midnight. One in Gallup, NM is open 5 a.m. to midnight. A Farmington, New Mexico location is open 6 a.m. to midnight. (Safeway Inc. owns Randalls, Pak n Save, Tom Thumb. Albertsons acquired Safeway Inc. in 2015) If youre getting your groceries delivered to you from Safeway via Instacart, youll want to know if your store might have limited hours when youre placing your order on the app. Even if its operating regular hours, there will likely be fewer shoppers working because of the holiday, and there might be more people putting in last-minute orders so they dont have to go to the grocery store on New Years Eve or New Years Day. So get your order in as early as possible to make sure that you can get your delivery. You dont want to be logging into the app at the last minute, only to discover that no ones available and theres no way to get your order delivered before your local Safeway closes. And theres also always the possibility that theyll run out of whatever you want to order. The shelves can get pretty cleared out for New Years in some locations. Here are some tweets from previous years sharing what it was like: New Years aftermath in the Safeway produce section. pic.twitter.com/d8dJQsfoDf Meg (@Nat_Meg) January 4, 2016 You might want to arrive early just so you can avoid the crowd. If past years are any indication, some Safeways are going to get really busy for the New Years holiday. Have a great New Years and stay safe!

https://heavy.com/social/2019/01/safeway-new-years-day-2019/

What College Football Games Are on TV Today on New Years?

For decades, New Years Day has been the unofficial holiday of college football and this year is no different. There are five college football bowl games on TV today. Four of the five matchups feature two ranked opponents squaring off. Iowa and No. 18 Mississippi State kick off the days festivities in the Outback Bowl at noon Eastern on ESPN2. The Fiesta Bowl features No. 11 LSU taking on No. 8 UCF at 1 p.m. on ESPN. UCF has the longest winning streak in the country which LSU hopes to end in Arizona. LSU linebacker Devin White noted he respects UCF but takes issue with their 2017 national championship claim. I feel like you get a chance to play in the national championship and you win a national championship then youre the national champions, White told The Advocate. Until then, I feel like theyve got to continue gaining respect. I know who won the national championship. I played the team that won the national championship. They deserve the national championship and if Im not mistaken theyre about to go compete for another national championship today. No. 12 Penn State takes on No. 14 Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl at 1 p.m. on ABC. It will be the last college football game for Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen and Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley. Urban Meyer will have his grand finale in Pasadena as No. 6 Ohio State takes on No. 9 Washington in the Rose Bowl. It could also be the final game for Buckeyes quarterback Dwayne Haskins who is the favorite to be the top quarterback selected in the 2019 NFL draft. Meyer noted he felt like this was the right way to end his coaching career. I dreamed a lot about Ohio State, the rivalry game, the Rose Bowl, Meyer told the Associated Press. Seems like every year in the 70s, when I was at that age where everybody is watching it, the parade, the game, and then watching Archie Griffin score touchdowns in the Rose Bowl. This has been a bucket-list item for as long as Ive been coaching. New Years Day will conclude with the Sugar Bowl as No. 5 Georgia takes on No. 15 Texas at 8:45 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. There are no NFL games until Saturday, January 5 when the playoffs start. Heres a look at the college football bowl game schedule for New Years Day. College Football Bowl Schedule: New Years Day

https://heavy.com/sports/2019/01/college-football-bowl-games-nfl-new-years-schedule/

Is Costco Open or Closed on New Years Day 2019?

Its New Years Day 2019 and youre needing something at the last minute. Unfortunately, the answer is no. On New Years Day 2019, all Costco stores will be closed. These are chainwide hours to allow employees to celebrate the holiday with their loved ones. So of course, we should be glad for the employees and give Costco some praise for putting the holiday and their employees ahead of profit. Costco will resume its regular hours the day after New Years. Costco is typically closed on major holidays, including New Years Day, Christmas Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving. If youre looking for a place to shop on New Years Day because you forgot something for a meal, dont despair. There are still quite a few stores that you can visit, even though Costco is closed. Walmart is also open on New Years Day, as will Target and many other major retailers, even Best Buy. Costco is more the exception to the rule when it comes to stores being open on New Years Day. If nothings near you, then maybe instead of buying what you need at Costco (especially if youre looking for food), try some local restaurants. Many restaurants are open on New Years Day, and they may include Boston Market, Buca di Beppo, Burger King locations, Carls Jr., Checkers, Dennys, Golden Corral, IHOP, Jack in the Box, McDonalds, Panda Express, Starbucks, TGI Fridays, Waffle House, and local delivery services like Uber, Favor, DoorDash, Postmates, and Grubhub. Of course, exact store hours can vary depending on the individual location, so call the restaurant or fast food store youre thinking of visiting before you stop by. Despite being closed on New Years Day, Costco will be open the next day, running regular hours at most locations. Click here to find a Costco location near you. If youre looking for some good New Years deals at Costco for 2019, you can already find some on SlickDeals website here. These include getting Costco Cash Cards for Graber window fashions purchases, Lennox home comfort systems, and even $40 off certain Apple watches. Sheet masks, deodorant, and toothbrushes from certain brands will also be discounted. Youll also find options for $5 off select Keurig items, and even discounts on treadmills if youre wanting to get healthy for the new year. These will be valid starting January 2 through January 27, 2019, and of course some deals may vary by location.

https://heavy.com/social/2019/01/costco-new-years-2019-open-closed/

Are Banks Open or Closed on New Years Day 2018 Near Me?

New Years Day is January 1, 2019 and the banks are closed, just as any credit unions or government offices are today. On New Years Eve, most banks were open, but some operated on holiday hours, which means that their hours may have been shortened so that employees could close up early, to get ready for the holiday. Again, credit unions are also generally closed on for the holiday. Welcome Federal Credit Union and the Allegan Credit Union are two credit unions that will definitely be closed. Bank of America, Citibank, Capital One, Chase, SunTrust Bank, Wells Fargo, you name it, will all be closed on New Years Day 2019. All banks are closed today, though some have had in-store branches with limited hours open on New Years Day in previous years. The closed banks will resume their normal services the day after New Years Day, on January 2, 2019. Should you wish to check with your local bank branch, you can locate specific banks here by searching the bank tracker system. As far as bank transfers go, any transactions made on the New Year holiday will not be processed until the following business day. Check deposits will not clear until the next business day as well. Online banking, mobile banking and ATMs will still be in operation. There will be no mail delivery on New Years Day, as USPS branches will not be running. Some areas may still have priority express mail delivery going on. All federal offices will be shut down and courts will also be closed. All libraries should be closed, and trash collection should pick back up by Wednesday, the 2nd. As far as school closings go, schools may be getting back to their normal schedules as early as tomorrow. Some schools may make up snow or weather days during their holiday break, but most breaks are nearly over by now. Most pharmacies are closed for New Years Day as well, though the stores that some pharmacies are located in may still be open. Many liquor stores are also closed today. In many areas, parking meters may be free for patrons. There are also restaurant deals and store sales going on. State, local and federal offices are all closed for the holiday. This means that the stock market is closed as well. When it comes to TV shows airing, a lot of programs assume their regular schedules, while others are on hold for the holiday. There are also some specials airing, like the Doctor Who New Years Special. Many winter premieres air today as well. Shows like Married at First Sight, Lethal Weapon and I Am Jazz all return tonight. New Years Day is always held on the 1st of January. Additional federal holidays, where bank hours are affected include Christmas Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Presidents Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Labor Day, and Memorial Day. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is actually later this month, so another bank holiday will come into play this January 2019.

https://heavy.com/social/2019/01/banks-open-closed-on-new-years-day-2019/

Could exercising in frigid temperatures make us healthier?

Winter swimmers enjoyed an icy dip in Poland's Garczyn lake last February. Recorded air temperature was around 14 degrees Farenheit, and a large ice hole had to be cut to allow the lake bathing. When Scott Carney first saw the photo of a nearly naked man sitting comfortably on a glacier in the frigid cold, he was skeptical. The man Wim Hof is a Dutch athlete who claims to control his body temperature in extreme cold through sheer force of will. Exercising in the cold, Hof argues, makes people healthier. "I actually flew out there with the intention of debunking him as a fraud," says Carney, a Colorado-based journalist, author and senior fellow at Brandeis University's Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism. But after learning Hof's methodology a combination of meditation, breathing exercises and immersion in icy cold water Carney became a believer. "In a matter of a few days, I was meditating on the bank of a snowy river in Poland in ridiculous, freezing winter, and melting the snow around me with my body temperature," Carney says. Carney details that experience in his book, What Doesn't Kill Us, which was released in 2017 and recently came out in paperback. Carney points out that humans dealt with cold temperatures for much of their evolutionary history. Introducing a bit of chill into our daily life now, he says, stimulates muscles and tissue in a good way. "Our bodies need to be in constant variation," Carney says. "That's what keeps us healthy and fit." We asked some leading physiologists to weigh in. Burning extra calories Many of the purported benefits of cold hinge on brown fat, sometimes referred to as "good" fat. Long known to exist in human infants, brown fat burns calories and generates heat. Dr. C. Ronald Kahn, a researcher at the Joslin Diabetes Center at Harvard Medical School, was among the first scientists to document the existence of brown fat in very small amounts in adults in the mid-2000s. People can increase their levels of brown fat by being in mildly cold environments, Kahn says, though the effect on the number of calories they burn will be relatively small. "The average person will burn an extra 100 to 200 calories a day when brown fat is activated," Kahn says. "But if you go eat half a muffin, forget it." And that "100 to 200 calories" figure is for someone who's chilly all day long, he says. Most people experience cold for only short periods of time. "When you activate brown fat, it may stay active for a few hours," Kahn says. "Not permanently." Kahn also warns that Hof's call for exposure to the extreme cold could be overkill. "What it takes to activate brown fat is very mild degrees of cold," Kahn says. "If I put you in a room at 60 or 62 degrees Fahrenheit and you're dressed in very light clothing, that's enough to do it." A second way that people can burn extra calories when they're cold is through shivering. But Kahn doesn't suggest that strategy, either, because shivering makes most of us miserable. "It's a way to burn extra energy," Kahn says. "But I don't think there's any data to say that this is a good way to lose weight ... because it's not comfortable." Furthermore, people often warm up when they exercise, notes John Castellani, a research physiologist with the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. Since you have to feel cold to burn those extra calories, Castellani says, people who exercise outside might not actually be burning any more calories than those who are in a warm room. Exercising the blood vessels A side effect of exposure to the extreme cold that Hof calls for is vasoconstriction. When you're subjected to extreme cold, the muscles surrounding many of your blood vessels cause them to contract sending more blood to your core, where it can stay warm. Carney says that because modern humans live in temperature-controlled environments, "all of that musculature is weak." Exercising those muscles through cold exposure, he claims, has "a huge impact on circulation and arterial health." Castellani says the theory is interesting but still untested. "In terms of using [cold] as a way of ... 'training the blood vessels?' To my knowledge there's no data to support that claim," says Castellani. Additionally, Dr. Aaron Cypess, a researcher at the National Institutes of Health worries that cold-induced vasoconstriction could have negative consequences for some people, including spikes in blood pressure. "We were looking at someone in one of our mild cold studies, and his blood pressure went really high," Cypess says. "That's not a good thing." Training the immune system One of Wim Hof's more startling claims that he could consciously control his immune system drew the attention of Matthijs Kox, a researcher at Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands. "At first we were a little bit reluctant, but then we started to look up all the remarkable feats he had pulled off," explains Kox. "So we decided to give him a chance to prove his claim." To put Hof to the test, Kox and his team injected Hof with a solution containing pieces of E. coli bacteria. Since the injection didn't contain live bacteria, it couldn't actually make Hof sick. But in most people, these bacterial compounds would fool the body into believing it is being attacked, triggering a temporary immune response that includes fever and inflammation. If Hof could indeed suppress his immune system, then the injection would have no such effect. Sure enough, Hof's body showed little reaction to the injection. "He had virtually no symptoms which was remarkable," Kox says. Kox followed up, repeating the test on a group of individuals whom Hof had trained. Just as with Hof, people in the study who had received the training showed little reaction to the injection. But untrained control subjects experienced fevers, headaches and chills. Kox and his research team published their results in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, in 2014. Suppressing your own immune system may be possible, those results suggest but for many of us, this may seem counterproductive. Carney thinks that sort of suppression might benefit patients who are suffering from autoimmune disorders such as forms of arthritis that are linked to the body's immune system essentially attacking itself. If people could suppress their immune system as Hof does, Carney contends, some could potentially cure themselves of those diseases. Kox is cautiously optimistic that this could, indeed, someday be a treatment strategy. "We still have to test it, but it might be beneficial in conditions associated with an overactive immune response," Kox says. "But we need more work more proof to see whether this is really beneficial." Kox says he can't tell from his findings, but he is currently supervising an experiment to find out. He expects those results to be published within the next couple of years. Until then, the value of cold exposure as a treatment for autoimmune disease remains largely unproven, if promising. The bottom line is, there is little evidence so far to suggest that training in cold weather makes you healthier, or that you can burn significantly more calories. The physiologists Shots talked to all agreed on one thing: There simply hasn't been enough research to say one way or another. Cypess says he isn't ready to dismiss the potential benefits. But until he sees more compelling data, he's not likely to suggest it as a therapy. He has a bigger priority. "The most important thing is to get the person to exercise," Cypess says. "There is no obvious added benefit to exercising in the cold." Paul Chisholm is a freelance science writer in Rapid City, S.D. You can reach him on Twitter: @PaulJChisholm.

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/01/01/could-exercising-in-frigid-temperatures-make-us-healthier

Is Pentagon's Dana White's Decision to Leave Related to Resignation of Defence Secretary James Mattis?

Dana White may be resigning because James Mattis is quitting his job as Defense Secretary in February 2019 (Twitter) Follow > Disable alert for Dana White Disable alert for Pentagon Follow > Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said Monday she would be stepping down from her position in U.S. President Donald Trump's administration after just over a year and a half in the role. "I appreciate the opportunity afforded to me by this administration to serve alongside [Defense] Secretary [James] Mattis, our Service members and all the civilians who support them. It has been my honor and privilege. Stay safe and God bless," White said on Twitter. White's departure is the latest in a string of high-profile resignations from the Trump administration. Mattis announced his resignation earlier this month after Trump decided to withdraw American troops from Syria. Brett McGurk, the U.S. special envoy for the global coalition to defeat Daesh, announced his departure the next day. White was occasionally a source of controversy during her time as Pentagon spokeswoman. She came under investigation in August after reports surfaced that she had been using staff to run personal errands. The reasoning behind White's departure remains unclear, but the Pentagon announced that Charles Summers Jr. will assume the role in an acting capacity beginning Tuesday. Prior to this appointment, Summers served under White in the Pentagon's public affairs office.

https://www.albawaba.com/news/acquittal-pentagons-dana-white-related-resignation-defence-secretary-james-mattis-1232880

Why wont some birds share the feeders?

DEAR JOAN: We have two bird feeders in the backyard one for regular birds and one for hummingbirds. We sit and watch them feed on the suet I have hanging on a pole. Sometimes there could be four or five birds eating on it when another bird flies in and all of them take off. Sometimes there will be one feeding and another one flies in and is chased away by the one thats there. Then there will be several of them waiting on top of the pole for their turn. The hummingbirds are the same way. One will feed, and another will swoop down and chase it through the neighborhood at what seems like 100 miles per hour. I cant tell what species they are as they all look the same. Its been entertaining watching the fighting and seeing who gets to eat. Ed, San Diego DEAR ED: It can be a hard-knock life for birds. Fewer than half of many species survive their first year, most of them killed by predators or in accidents. So that can make them fairly wary. Birds of the same species have a hierarchy, or pecking order, that depends in part on size and sex. The males are usually at the top of the order in matters such as territory and first up at the feeder, but females generally rule the roost. There also is a hierarchy among different species. Smaller birds usually give way to larger species, but not always. Mourning doves are on the larger side, but they typically are meek and can be bullied by smaller birds. Hummingbirds can be very aggressive when it comes to defending their territory, which includes food sources they see as their own. This might be, in part, because hummingbirds are solitary. They do not form flocks, and pairs only get together to mate and then go their separate ways. Given that, its not surprising that hummers arent always keen on sharing. Birds also can be skittish when they are eating or bathing two things that put them at greater risk. When their attention is focused on their meal, predators can more easily sneak up on them or launch a surprise attack. Thats why the birds may suddenly fly when another bird approaches, even if that bird has no intention of harming others. Bath time is similar, but with the added burden that wet feathers can slow a birds escape. Id recommend getting an identification book for birds in the San Diego area. If you can name the birds and learn more about them, it will increase your enjoyment in watching them. DEAR JOAN: I used to have loads of birds at my feeders three seed feeders and two suet cake cages. Then when the weather was a bit smoky, the birds disappeared. I thought theyd be back when the weather cleared, but I havent had a single bird in weeks now and wonder if theyll ever return. Audrey Arana, Bay Area DEAR AUDREY: Theyll be back. They might have moved further away to avoid the smoke, but they should return to traditional breeding and feeding grounds. Hang tight. For more pets and animals coverage follow us on Flipboard.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/01/01/why-wont-some-birds-share-the-feeders/

Are Paul Knightley and Sam Faiers ENGAGED?

Following a number of romantic Instagram posts from Sam Faiers and Paul Knightley, fans have been convinced that the couple are getting hitched. In celebration of Sams 28th birthday, former estate agent Paul, 30, took to social media with an emotional outpouring about his long-term girlfriend. READ MORE CELEBRITY NEWS In the latest cute pic, the couple are seen embracing in front of the camera alongside Pauls heartfelt message: Happy birthday to the love of life [sic] I hope you have had the most fantastic birthday yet. We have made so many wonderful memories with our beautiful babies. I love you with all my heart xxxx. More: Sam Faiers takes a break to pump breast milk during sister Billies wild hen do Unsurprisingly, the image has racked up over 15,000 likes in less than 24 hours, with several fans wondering about a potential engagement ring. ? This isnt the first time fans of the couple have hinted at marriage. In another recent post, mum-of-two Sam shared a pic of the pair kissing on a private beach in the Maldives as part of her birthday celebrations. The couple share an alcoholic drink against a picturesque sunset in the background, with Sam writing alongside the image: Last night for my birthday eve was amazing. Thank you @paulknightley for making it so special #privateisland #beachbubble #sleepingunderthestars. Many of Sams 2.2 million Instagram followers noticed the former The Only Way Is Essex star hiding her ring finger from view, which only helped to fuel engagement rumours even further. We hope so!

https://www.celebsnow.co.uk/celebrity-news/are-paul-knightley-and-sam-faiers-engaged-774729

When is The Great New Year's Bake Off on TV?

Get daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Everyone's favourite baking show is back for its New Year's Day special. It's the second festive gift from the team behind The Great British Bake Off. We've already had The Great Christmas Bake Off which saw former contestants Liam Charles, Flo Atkins, Andrew Smyth and Jane Beedle battle it out once again. After three festively-themed rounds, the title of Christmas Star Baker went to Jane. The special also featured The Darkness performing a live version of their 2003 yuletide hit, Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End). Tonight, January 1, Channel 4 are giving us an extra present with The Great New Year's Bake Off. Winner of the 2016 series Candice Brown will be heading back to compete in the show alongside Steven Carter-Bailey, Kate Henry and Tamal Ray. The foursome must impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with their bakes, including a challenging New Years-themed showstopper. Presenters Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding will find much fun in lampooning one contestants phallic creation. Elsewhere, a series of perfect bakes will see one contestant crowned winner. The Great New Year's Bake Off airs on New Year's Day at 7.40pm. It is not known the exact date when The Great British Bake Off Christmas special was filmed - however the rest of the series was filmed for 10 weeks starting April. Each episode is filmed over the course of a weekend. It would make sense for logistical reasons that the Christmas and New Year specials were filmed during this time. Earlier in the year, Rahul Mandal was names the winner of The Great British Bake Off 2018 after 10 weeks of baking triumphs and even the odd disaster. (Image: Channel 4) The 30-year-old research scientist was left speechless after his win. He said: "This is probably the first time that I have got something like this, like a trophy. I talk so much, most of the time, and I just don't know what to say now."

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/great-new-years-bake-off-15615772

What time is the Doctor Who New Years Day special on?

Get daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email The wait is over for Doctor Who fans when the show returns to our television screens tonight for a New Year's Day one-off special. The 11th series of the BBC sci-fi hit, and Jodie Whittaker's first as the Time Lord, ended earlier in December and the programme will not be back for a full run until 2020. But to keep current fans happy, and in the hope to win over another generation, there's a festive special to enjoy. Traditionally, the show's festive special is on Christmas Day, but producers pushed it back to today (Tuesday, January 1). A brief preview clip on the show's official Twitter account shows the Doctor talking about the discovery of the DNA "of the most dangerous creature in the universe". And showrunner Chris Chibnall has previously said the episode will provide "big emotion for all the family". "There's an epic scale to this adventure, we're going across time and space," he said. "There's a lot of action, there's a lot of scares, some great new characters, it's another big cinematic slice of Doctor Who." (Image: PA) The Doctor Who special airs at 7pm on BBC One on New Year's Day. It takes pride of place in the schedules right before an hour-long episode of EastEnders at 8pm and the return of Luther at 9pm. For those that miss it first time around, the special is repeated on BBC Two at 3.40am on Saturday, January 5. And there's always the BBC iPlayer. The episode, called Resolution, will see The Doctor and her companions Ryan, Graham and Yaz, facing a terrifying evil from across the centuries of Earths history as the New Year kicks off. As the four return home, they have to try to overcome the threat to the planet. There has been no official explanation for the change but the show has undergone a big shake-up which saw the series moved to Sunday nights from its regular Saturday night home. As well as Whittaker, we will see appearances from the Doctors current companions: Ryan (Tosin Cole); Yaz (Mandip Gill) and Graham (Bradley Walsh). This time around they are joined by Call The Midwife star Charlotte Ritchie, playing a character called Lin, Nikesh Patel playing Mitch and Daniel Adegboyega as Aaron.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/what-time-doctor-who-2019-15615610

What will 2019 bring for Pensacola's downtown and waterfront?

Aerial photos of downtown Pensacola. (Photo: Courtesy of Brian Pierce) From parking apps to opening Bruce Beach, downtown Pensacola went through a transformation in 2018 that will continue well into 2019. Pensacola began the year with a legal battle underway over a planned fish hatchery at Bruce Beach, the last remaining publicly owned undeveloped waterfront in downtown Pensacola. By the end of the year, the lawsuit was gone, the site had been reopened to the public and plans to build a hatchery on that property were scrapped. The city has tasked philanthropist and business owner Quint Studer with developing a master plan for Community Maritime Park and the areas around it, which include Bruce Beach, in 2019. And Studer is bringing in a team of the best in the field that will, along with input from the public, develop a plan for the future of the site all on his own dime. Meanwhile, Pensacola's Downtown Improvement Board ran into trouble rolling out a new parking system with complaints from parkers over the changes, communication and technology. The DIB ended the year by giving its parking management company the boot and with plans to roll out a new parking app in early 2019. Buy Photo The Pensacola Pier Pelican sits in the median just in front of 850 S. Palafox St. (Photo: Brandon Girod/[email protected]) On the waterfront A lawsuit stopped a planned fish hatchery from being built on Bruce Beach near Pensacola's Community Maritime Park, and it became clear that the city needs a plan for its waterfront. CivicCon speaker Gena Wirth, a design principal at SCAPE Landscape Architecture DPC, came to Pensacola in August to speak through CivicCon and held a public workshop on how to make the city's waterfront more resilient. CivicCon is a partnership between the News Journal and the Studer Community Institute to foster civic conversations and share ideas that can make our community a better place to live, grow, work and invest. Year in review: CivicCon 2018 wrap up: Five concepts to carry into 2019 and beyond Local biologists, architects, conservationists and city and county staff joined Wirth and her team to come up with ideas to enhance and improve the waterfront. Many of the ideas have been proposed before, such as a "baywalk" along Bayfront Parkway, day-lighting the city's creeks covered by urban development and opening up public access to the water like at Bruce Beach. Buy Photo CivicCon speaker Gena Wirth, a design principal at SCAPE Landscape Architecture DPC, held a workshop in August on how to make the city's waterfront more resilient. (Photo: Brandon Girod/[email protected]) The question of what to do with Pensacola's waterfront was also a topic of much discussion as the future of the Port of Pensacola was debated. In July, Incoa Performance Minerals approached the city of Pensacola saying it wanted to use the city's port to build a $40 million facility to import and mill calcium carbonate, a common ingredient mined from limestone that is found in products from antacid tablets to plastics. The City Council voted to allow the mayor to begin negotiations, but those negotiations ultimately stalled. Meanwhile, Mayor Ashton Hayward announced the city had hired Moffatt & Nichol, an international infrastructure advisory firm, to chart the future of the port. Pensacola institutions like the University of West Florida and the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition urged the city to wait until the study was complete before moving forward with the Incoa proposal. After holding a series of community meetings and online surveys, Moffatt & Nichol listed three options the port could pursue in the future with different degrees of opening the port to more commercial, research and retail businesses. The firm was supposed to present a final presentation to the Pensacola City Council in October, but that presentation never happened. After taking office in November, Mayor Grover Robinson said the report was finalized and would be released after the new year. Since the debate over Incoa, the Port of Pensacola has increased its high-profile activity. Blue Origin, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' rocket company, located its 600-foot ship at the port, and the America's Cup professional sailing team, American Magic, is using the port as a base for winter training. Community Maritime Park One of the city's most prominent waterfront features is Community Maritime Park. Much of the park was planned to be developed with retail or restaurants, but the parcels had languished with debates over what should be built at the site, killing off many proposals before they could be finalized. In September, the Pensacola City Council tapped Studer Properties to develop a master plan for Community Maritime Park that would also tie in Bruce Beach and the currently vacant former Emerald Coast Utilities treatment site owned by Studer. Studer brought in CivicCon speaker and urban planning expert Jeff Speck, as well as the urban planning firm DPZ, to develop the master plan. Studer said they will begin a market study to see what is possible for the site. But while most companies keep market studies close to the vest, Studer will make the study public. He also plans to hold public sessions before the study begins in January to tell the public what goes into a study, and when the study is complete, the results will be publicly presented. "This whole process can be used to educate the community," Studer said. "... It also means that everyone in development is going to get to see this market research, which I think is good. Because they get to see what the demand is out there." Speck and DPZ will hold public input sessions in April, but before that happens, Studer plans to bring Wirth and SCAPE back to Pensacola in January to hold more public workshops to develop a vision for the entire waterfront from 17th Avenue to Joe Patti's Seafood. Studer is paying more than $190,000 to bring SCAPE back to Pensacola. Unlike past plans completed by the city that included visions and general ideas, SCAPE's plan will include price estimates from local experts to let people know what it will take to make the vision a reality. "What we're trying to do is bring in world-class experts using private dollars so you don't get slowed down, but to lay out a plan that is more comprehensive than we've been used to in the past," Studer said. "This will be part of the Center for Civic Engagement, so it's getting a lot of people around it and prioritizing it." SCAPE will be in Pensacola on Jan. 28 and 29. Growth and history In 2018, downtown Pensacola also saw the opening of Southtowne an upscale apartment complex and retail center developed by Studer Properties that occupies the former site of the Pensacola News Journal building. The new 258-unit complex brought more people to live downtown, and Andrew Rothfeder, president of Studer Properties, told the News Journal in June that project was part of Studer's broader goal to create a vibrant neighborhood in downtown Pensacola. "Our market research showed there was a huge demand for rentals downtown, and we wanted to provide that in a way that truly creates an urban neighborhood," Rothfeder said. Besides bringing people to live downtown, the project also had the benefit of transforming a property that used to pay about $70,000 in property taxes to one that pays more than $700,000. But more new development downtown has raised concerns, particularly when that development happens at buildings that some residents consider to be historic. A 280-unit project, similar to Southtowne, that is planned at the site of the old Escambia School District Administrative Office building on Garden Street raised concerns, with some members of the community wanting the building to be preserved. "There are certain things you can't replace," newly elected City Councilwoman Ann Hill told the News Journal in November. "It's in the heart of where everyone travels through, it's not like it's in some corner somewhere. It's very much a part of our fabric down there." After deadlocking on the issue in November, the city's Architectural Review Board voted to grant the building's demolition in December, but without taking public comment, which kicked off its own controversy during Mayor Robinson's first full week in office. Robinson wanted a re-vote at a meeting where the public would be heard. ARB Chairman Carter Quina refused, and the vote stood. Although the building, along with the former USO building on Spring Street, will be demolished once the ARB approves final plans for the project, the issue of what makes a building worth preserving will likely come up again in 2019 as downtown continues to grow. Buy Photo The former Escambia School District Administrative Office building at 215 W. Garden St. in Pensacola is pictured Dec. 28, 2017. (Photo: Gregg Pachkowski, Gregg Pachkowski/[email protected]) Parking downtown While people may come downtown to enjoy the waterfront in 2019, what they do with their car will also be changing. The DIB faced a rough year rolling out a new way for people to pay for parking via cellphone apps in March 2018. In February 2019, the DIB will roll out a new app from a new company that the board hopes will work better with the DIB's existing system, eliminating parking tickets issued by mistake and saving the system money. DIB was created in 1972 as a special district to promote downtown and remove blight, but in 2008, the city gave the DIB the responsibility of managing public parking in downtown. The rollout of the new parking system in 2018 faced several issues, with parkers complaining of misleading signs, changes in parking rates and hours, and getting tickets even though they paid. More: Pensacola parking pains: Pressure builds for DIB to get downtown parking right During his campaign for mayor, Robinson clashed with DIB board members over the issue. Robinson has also expressed his desire to see the city take back parking management. The DIB voted in October to end its contract with Premium Parking and hire Passport to build a new app for the city that would integrate with the DIB's existing parking software, allowing the DIB to take over management and enforcement of parking rather than Premium Parking's subcontractor Admiral Parking. DIB Executive Director Lissa Dees said the new software will enable the DIB to look at parking data to begin to look at ways to implement recommendations from CivicCon speaker and parking guru Donald Shoup. Shoup's three major recommendations for public parking in cities are removing off-street parking requirements, charging the right prices for on-street parking so that there are at least one or two spaces open on a block at all times, and spending the parking revenue to improve public services on the metered streets. WATCH: CivicCon: Donald Shoup explains how we can get parking right Charging the right price requires data about who is parking where so flexible prices can be set based on parking demand. Dees said this new parking system will allow the DIB to gather that data. "When are there not people there so that we can look at that flexible parking rate program instead of it being a flat rate across the board?" Dees said. "If there's nobody on the street at 8 or 9 o'clock in the morning, then why are we charging to park then?" The DIB will also be looking to hire a company for its downtown ambassadors program, which hires people to clean up trash and help people find their way in downtown. "Making some huge changes in parking and really cleaning up the streets and keeping them clean is where we want to go in 2019," Dees said. Jim Little can be reached at [email protected] and 850-208-9827. Read or Share this story: https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2019/01/01/pensacola-downtown-waterfront-2019-bring-even-more-changes/2393046002/

https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2019/01/01/pensacola-downtown-waterfront-2019-bring-even-more-changes/2393046002/

Why was a Muslim doctor who vowed to poison Jewish patients working at the famed Cleveland Clinic?

What doctors do not only requires significant brains, but requires professionalism, because patient trust is so critical. Trust is what makes the whole profession work. This is why this story out of Cleveland is so chilling. Medical resident at Cleveland Clinic Lara Kollab, who published antisemitic statements on Twitter regarding her Jewish patients at the hospital, was dismissed from the hospital, the Cleveland Clinic reported on Monday. ("Yahood" is a word that means Jewish.) That's an actual hate crime. She shouldn't have even been allowed to scrub toilets there. This suggests something awful going on. It's not just that the prestigious Cleveland Clinic should have vetted her before they hired her, or gotten some competent vetters who understand that a doctor who threatens to kill is not a doctor a patient will trust. It's also sign of decline in the medical profession. She has a long history of vile anti-Semitic tweets, loaded with homicidal ravings and musings, which are there for all to see on Twitter. This wasn't someone who just whispered her anti-Semitism, she broadcast it. This person shouldn't just be fired; she should be de-licensed, and maybe jailed for such vile threats, which not only bring great dishonor to the medical profession, but erode the trust that patients must have in doctors. After reading a story like this, Jewish patients (and Cleveland has 80,000 Jewish residents) will now have to start wondering if they've got another one like her, and that will extend to other patients, too. It's sad and shocking, because doctors are such amazing people. They not only cure the sick sometimes, the very, very sick, through medical miracles performed daily but they also are fanatical about their devotion to the Hippocratic Oath, which begins with "first, do no harm." They care for all people, even unworthy people, from injured bank-robbers to people who sponge off the system, putting the saving of human life above all other considerations. What's more, the heroism of doctors and other medical professionals was there for all to see during the Paradise fires, where we got stories such as this (Google, take note), with doctors racing through flames on all sides of them to save lives. Doctors are absolutely amazing people, showing every day that their work is a calling, not a job. So it's important to get answers on this, because Democrats are angling hard to have the government take over medical care, and with their "Medicare for All" plans, it's a certainty that patients will no longer be allowed to choose their doctors. You don't even have to be Jewish to start to worry about this one. This person threatened to poison medical patients because they are Jewish. What she did was poison medicine.

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/01/why_was_a_muslim_doctor_who_vowed_to_poison_jewish_patients_working_at_the_famed_cleveland_clinic.html

Whats Closed On New Years Day?

Portland, Oregon Happy New Year 2019! As you know, many things are closed for the holiday Tuesday. All Federal Government offices and courts are closed. As well as Oregon and Washington state offices and courts are closed. Same goes for local County and City offices, they are also closed. No need to check your mailbox. There is no mail delivery today, and the Post Office is closed. You wont be able to check out a book today at the Multnomah County Library. All branches are closed. If you have family or friends visiting from out of town, youll have to take them on the Tram another day. The Portland Aerial Tram is closed. Trying to get around on New Years Day 2019 Remember most public transit is running on Sunday schedule. Including Trimet, C-Tran, and the Portland Street Car. You can park for free in Portland today. All Portland parking meters are free Tuesday January 1st. Both the Oregon Zoo and OMSI the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry are open on New Years Day.

https://www.kxl.com/whats-closed-on-new-years-day/

Is Huawei set to become the worlds top smartphone maker in 2019?

Huawei claims it crossed the symbolic 200-million-unit mark in 2018, and is now aiming for 250 million units in 2019. Reuters pic BEIJING, Jan 1 Official figures have yet to be published, but the worlds second-biggest mobile phone producer, Chinese company Huawei, claims it has crossed the symbolic 200-million-unit mark in 2018, and is now aiming for 250 million units in 2019. If it achieves this goal, it may well steal the markets number one spot from Samsung. Huawei certainly has what it takes to succeed in its bid to overtake its South Korean rival. Along with a brand that is increasingly recognised around the world, the company has a demonstrated knack for cutting-edge innovation that is the envy of its competitors. In 2018 alone, the Chinese producer launched not one but two revolutionary smartphones: the P20 Pro, the first smartphone equipped with a triple camera and a 3x optical zoom (the P20 Pro still tops the DxOMark rankings for smartphone image quality), and the Mate 20 Pro, an ultra-powerful handset that can wirelessly charge other compatible smartphones. Both devices are every bit as good as their high-end counterparts sold by Apple and Samsung. Another of Huaweis strengths is its aggressive positioning in the mid-range market, via its subsidiary Honor. Honor products benefit from the same innovations as their high-end siblings just a few months later, and retail for less than 500 (RM2,387), overshadowing competing models from Chinese brands OnePlus and Xiaomi. In the medium term, another Chinese phone-maker, Xiaomi, could take the No. 1 spot in the market. With its extensive range of cheap handsets for all kinds of consumers, and an increasingly international marketing strategy, Xiaomi has everything it needs to be a key player in the years to come. In imitation of Huaweis strategy of developing a lower-end subsidiary, Xiaomi has also decided to develop a second more fashionable brand, which it has christened Poco. In addition, it is currently the worlds biggest producer of smart watches and bracelets. Given the power and dynamism of the Asian market, which have made it the worlds fastest-growing, its no surprise that Chinese phone manufacturers are reporting soaring sales. Its also likely that they will become increasingly dominant in Europe and America; the threat of a US boycott wont be enough to put the brakes on Huaweis international expansion. AFP-Relaxnews

https://www.malaymail.com/s/1708202/is-huawei-set-to-become-the-worlds-top-smartphone-maker-in-2019

What time is Mrs Browns Boys New Years Day special on tonight?

Mrs Browns Boys will return for another episode tonight following its Christmas Day special last week. Rylan Clark-Neal vows to bring back Big Brother in 2019: 'I'll do it' The BBC comedy was watched by 4.7 million people at Christmas but it was beaten by Michael McIntryes Big Christmas Show in the ratings which had 6.1 million viewers. Brendan Carrolls show will get another chance to top the viewing figures tonight with another special with more set to come over the next couple of years. In tonights episode another member of Brendans family will also be making an appearance for the first time with his grandson Blake taking on the role of a young lad named Blister. The New Year special of Mrs Browns Boys will be shown on BBC One at 10pm on Tuesday 1 January. In Mammys Motel we see Mrs Brown offer Winnie and Sharon a place to stay after a pipe bursts in their house but the decision soon leads to trouble. She also tries to host a 13th birthday party for Bono and is asked by Father Damian to do a eulogy, but it is for a neighbour that she never knew. MORE: Awkward moment woman rejects mans New Years kiss on live TV MORE: Joe Sugg goes in for New Years kiss with Dianne Buswell in adorable snap as theyre reunited

https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/01/time-mrs-browns-boys-new-years-day-special-tonight-8299485/

Will Apple finally release its lost AirPower gadget in 2019 or has it been scrapped?

Youd be hard-pushed to find any tech fan that gets excited about power supplies. That is, of course, until they beheld the majesty of Apples futuristic AirPower wireless charging device. This game-changing gadget was meant to revolutionise the tech industry, allowing owners to charge up everything from Airpods to iPhones by placing them on top of it. The AirPower is one of a growing number of wireless chargers which can transfer energy straight into other devices without requiring people to plug them in. Theres only one problem: the new gizmo has gone AWOL and no-one knows whats happened to it. We were expecting to see AirPower in 2018. Look for the AirPower charger next year, Apples Phil Schiller said whilst announcing it in 2017. We hope people love it, that it encourages others to create more advanced solutions based on technology like this. Advertisement Advertisement Some tech pickers fear the product has been cancelled altogether because Apple failed to mention it at all during the launch of the iPhone XS last year. There was some good news from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo at at the end of 2018, however. He said Apple would unleash AirPower at the same time as a new range of Airpods, according to 9to5Mac.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/01/will-apple-finally-release-lost-airpower-gadget-2019-scrapped-8299481/

What time is the PDC World Darts Championship final on?

Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith will contest the 2019 PDC World Championship final (Picture: Getty Images) The 2019 PDC World Championship comes to an end on the first day of the year as Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith battle it out to be crowned world champion. Both men were in sparkling form in their semi-finals and look set to put on a real show on the Alexandra Palace stage. The certainties, possibilities and long-shots Van Gerwen demolished Gary Anderson 6-1, while Smith had to fight hard to beat Nathan Aspinall 6-3, with both winners averaging very close to 105. MVG is the favourite having won the world title twice before, but Smith, in his first world final, will be confident of causing a big upset. Advertisement Advertisement The final is on New Years Day (1 January 2019) at 8pm at Alexandra Palace. Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Arena will be showing the match live with coverage starting at 8pm. Subscribers can watch the game on Sky Go or on the Sky Sports app, while non-subscribers can stream it with a Sky Sports Pass on Now TV. The winner will take home 500,000, while the runner-up will pick up 200,000. The pair have met 31 times and Van Gerwen has won 25 of them, Smith claiming victory just six times. (Courtesy of Betfair) 1/4 Michael van Gerwen vs Michael Smith 10/3 September 2011: PDC Youth Tour event final January 2019: World Championship final They've come a long way pic.twitter.com/FghvwgnBJn Live Darts (@livedarts) January 1, 2019 MORE: Michael van Gerwen pulverises Gary Anderson to reach PDC World Championship final MORE: Michael Smith holds off Nathan Aspinall to reach PDC World Championship final after superb semi

https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/01/time-pdc-world-darts-championship-final-schedule-prize-money-tv-channel-8299480/

When is Luther back on TV for series five? Whos in the cast? Whats the plot?

Its official: DCI John Luther is returning to BBC1 this Christmas. The BBC crime drama will be airing over the holiday period in 2018, with Idris Elba returning to the role for four more episodes. Advertisement Find out everything we know about Luther series five below. The drama will return on New Years Day (Tuesday 1st January) at 9pm. After a teaser trailer for series five, which shows the troubled detective breathing heavily and limping through a darkened corridor with the words This. Will. Hurt., the BBC has released a new trailer featuring a terrifying encounter that will put you off taking the night bus forever. Elba will return as near-genius murder detective Luther, the maverick cop whose passion always seems to set him on a collision course with dangerous violence. The actor also hinted to RadioTimes.com that Ruth Wilsons enigmatic killer Alice could return, last seen in the series three finale four years ago. Theres no point trying to make something unfamiliar, he said. Her reappearance has now been confirmed as the official trailer reveals a VERY brief glimpse of Alices bloodied face. Wunmi Mosaku joins the cast as new recruit DS Catherine Halliday which means the return of previous sidekick DS Emma Lane (played by Rose Leslie) seems unlikely. Cold Feet star Hermione Norris will play a psychiatrist named Dr Vivien Lake who is called on to help Luther get to the bottom of a swathe of brutal murders. Its classic Luther, Elba told RadioTimes.com as he prepared to film series five. Were not reinventing the wheel. Announcing the four-episode series, screenwriter Neil Cross also gave us some clues about whats to come. Its a question Idris and I get asked a lot, he said. Theres so much we dont know. So much unfinished business. The thing is, weve been asking ourselves the same question. Because we love John and wonder what hes up to. And as for me, Im scared of the monsters. The face at the window. The hand under the bed. The shadow at the end of the street. Whos going to stop them, if not John Luther. In the end, we picked up the phone to some old friends and asked if theyd like to find out what happens next. It turns out, they would. So thats what were going to do. Were going to find out what happens next. Luthers coming back. Thats what. Check out the official Luther series five synopsis from the BBC below: When the moonless shadows of London give birth to a new nightmare, DCI John Luther played by Idris Elba is once more called to immerse himself in the deepest depths of human depravity. While the monstrous and seemingly indiscriminate killings become ever more audacious and public, Luther and new recruit D.S. Catherine Halliday played by Wunmi Mosaku are confounded by a complex tangle of leads and misdirection that seems designed to protect an untouchable corruption. But even as the case brings him closer than ever to the true face of evil, a reluctant Luther is forced to confront the unburied demons of his own recent past. Striding back into the line of fire, he must choose who to protect and who to sacrifice. Whatever his next move, it will have devastating consequences for those around him and change John Luther forever. Production on the fifth series began back in January with Elba marking his first day back on set with a Twitter video. Advertisement Now with filming finished, its time to look ahead to the series release this Christmas

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/luther-series-5-air-date-time-channel-bbc1-cast-trailer-idris-elba/

Where Does Miami Turn In Their Head Coaching Search?

Adam Gase is gone, and the Dolphins are turning the page and starting over as 2019 is now upon us. The downfall of Adam Gase in Miami will be something that will be talked about for years to come and dissected in many ways. Just three years ago Gase was one of the hottest names on the market and in line to be a head coach somewhere. Mike Tannenbaum and Stephen Ross made their pitch and won Gase over and Gase selected Miami to be his home and where he wanted to be head coach. In year one everything was all rosy as Miami won 10 games and made the playoffs for the first time in what seemed forever. Even with a back-up quarterback starting they put up a spirited effort in their playoff loss to Pittsburgh and all Dolphins fans were confident they found the guy to lead the franchise moving forward and more success was on the way. Over time we saw a young head coach who had an ego the size of Hard Rock Stadium, who was stubborn to a fault, from reports leaking out he was someone who played favorites in the locker-room, ran off talented players he couldnt get along with, and was loyal to a marginal quarterback and unwilling to move on from him over time. All of those are ingredients in a recipe for disaster. Stephen Ross had no choice to let Adam go and look in a different direction and the Dolphins owner made the right call on December 31st, 2018. Well that is the million-dollar question and the one everyone is asking. The one name the Dolphins fan-base has fallen in love with early is Vic Fangio the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. The 60-year-old football lifer who began his professional coaching career in the USFL (if you are too young to know what that is, google it) and who has done it all and seen it all. If Adam Gase was an offensive guru it would safe to say Fangio is a defensive guru. Turning defensive units around in this league for many years. He has coached under both Harbaugh brothers and has had success at virtually every spot he has been to. And just look at the guy, he looks like a football coach. A no-nonsense old school football coach and after the Adam Gase experiment that failed, I think many Dolphins fans would be OK with an old-school type of head coach leading the team. Speaking to many Dolphins fans on social media and via e-mail I can tell he is the early fan favorite the Dolphins fan-base wants right now. To the point where if Miami doesnt land Fangio the natives will be upset and probably reject or look for flaws in whoever Miami does end up hiring. Now Fangio will have many suitors this offseason and numerous teams with openings like Denver, Cleveland, Tampa, and the Jets are knocking on his door already. It will be interesting to see if Fangio sees Miami as a good fit for him or if he would rather go to a more stable franchise with a better quarterback situation and stable front office. I believe I did and when speaking about them and one of them being the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins my answer is YES and YES. I would not be upset in any way if Miami landed Jim Harbaugh or John Harbaugh as their next head coach. I know landing John Harbaugh means Miami would have to part with some draft picks in some way which isnt ideal. But getting the right head coach in place is what is needed at this time and it may be a situation w here taking two steps back (parting with draft capital) before taking one giant leap forward (improving the franchise) is needed. Regarding Jim Harbaugh I would be more excited about landing him as our head coach. For one, Miami wouldnt have to part with any draft picks. Second, he fits the profile of what I am looking for in a head coach these days. He was a first time NFL head coach in San Francisco, left that job and his second stint at being a head coach would be with the Dolphins. I like guys who have been an NFL head coach once before and came up a little short. I believe those guys learn from their mistakes, are humbled a bit, and have much more success at their next stop. Examples are guys like Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll (yes Carroll was a head coach in the NFL twice before coming to Seattle but fits the mold), and Tom Coughlin are a few that come to mind. When Jim Harbaugh decides to come back to the NFL at some point, I think he will have huge success. I hope it is with the Dolphins. There are other candidates out there and some already have interviews lined up like Kris Richard, Brian Flores, Eric Bieniemy, Mike Munchak and I am sure we will hear of more names in the coming days. Honestly, I think when all is said and done if I had to place a $1 bet today someone like Richards or Flores might be the type of candidate that Miami ends up hiring. The Dolphins arent the most attractive job on the market now and all of the top candidates or hot candidates will be looking to land better jobs like Cleveland and New York. Which might leave Miami left having to take a flyer on a young rookie head coach like a Flores, Bieniemy, or Richard. Which in my opinion isnt ideal for the Dolphins at this point in time. With Gase Miami hired a 30-something assistant who everyone thought was the next big thing and it blew up in their face. Miami must be careful to not have history repeat itself. With Bieniemy its less about age as he is 49 years old right now and will be 50 when the season starts. Unless you are in that Kansas City locker-room or in the coachs meetings we dont really know. So, in my opinion its a little buyer beware with him. This is not going to be an easy hire for the Dolphins and this might last a few weeks here. Chris Grier and Stephen Ross must get this hire correct. Now usually when you fire one coach your next hire is the opposite of who you just fired. Miami fired a young offensive minded coach. Naturally you think they may be looking for an older defensive minded coach. In all professional sports thats usually how it works. You go in the opposite direction of what you just fired. In this case though I am not sure Miami will do that. The Dolphins are treating this like a total organizational reset from the sounds of the Dolphins press conference yesterday. I think Miami will look to find the best man for the job and not look at age or side of the ball the person has expertise in. My only warning to Chris Grier and Stephen Ross is with the hire of Adam Gase is blew up in the organizations face in grand fashion and it was an unmitigated disaster. Just make sure you dont hire Adam Gase 2.0 with this next hire.

https://dolphinstalk.com/2019/01/01/where-does-miami-turn-in-their-head-coaching-search/

Will Tractor Supply (TSCO) Beat Estimates Again in Its Next Earnings Report?

It is worth considering Tractor Supply (TSCO), which belongs to the Zacks Retail - Miscellaneous industry. This retailer for farmers and ranchers has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 7.72%. For the most recent quarter, Tractor Supply was expected to post earnings of $0.86 per share, but it reported $0.95 per share instead, representing a surprise of 10.47%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $1.61 per share, while it actually produced $1.69 per share, a surprise of 4.97%. Price and EPS Surprise For Tractor Supply, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Tractor Supply currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.54%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on January 30, 2019. With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

https://news.yahoo.com/tractor-supply-tsco-beat-estimates-151003628.html

How Many Members Did Netflix Add in Q1?

Slated to report fourth-quarter results on Jan. 17, streaming-TV company Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) will soon reveal how many streaming members it ended the year with. Ahead of the quarterly update, expectations are high for the key metric. Year to date, the company has seen significant momentum with member growth, adding more members in the first three quarters than it did during the same time last year. What to expect For its fourth quarter, Netflix guided for 9.4 million net member additions -- a figure that would come in ahead of the 8.33 million members the company added in the fourth quarter of 2017. That would put total members at the end of the year at an astounding 146.5 million, up from 109.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Netflix Originals More Image source: Netflix. Netflix said in its third-quarter shareholder letter it expects most of these new members to come from its international markets, where management is guiding for 7.6 million new members. Domestically, Netflix expects to add 1.8 million members. These figures compare with 6.36 and 1.98 million net member additions internationally and domestically in the fourth quarter of 2017, respectively. Highlighting the company's strong growth recently, Netflix added 19.5 million members during the first three quarters of 2018, up from 15.5 million in the first three quarters of 2017. With such significant momentum, it's no surprise that management is guiding for more member additions in the fourth quarter of 2018 than in the year-ago period. Importantly, investors should keep in mind that there's no guarantee Netflix will hit its guidance for the final quarter of 2018. Indeed, Netflix missed its guidance for net member additions by over a million members in its second quarter. The miss was a reminder of management's guidance method: The company doesn't intentionally try to undershoot its actual results but instead strives for accuracy with its forecasts. That means that "in some quarters we will be high and other quarters low relative to our guidance," management said in the company's second-quarter shareholder letter. Looking ahead Of course, just as important as Netflix member additions during fourth quarter will be its guidance for member additions in Q1. This metric will importantly give investors a glimpse into how management expects member growth to fare 2019. Starting with its January quarterly update, management is only guiding for its paid member additions. Looking to the first quarter of 2018 to inform how this January's forecast may look, investors should expect Netflix to guide for around 8 million paid member additions -- in line with the approximately 8 million paid members the company added in the first quarter of 2018. Guidance for this many paid members would mean the company is maintaining its strong pace of growth. More From The Motley Fool Daniel Sparks owns shares of Netflix. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

https://news.yahoo.com/many-members-did-netflix-add-154600789.html

Is it game on for Zynga now it's got the Xbox factor?

In the same week that the Xbox 360 was revealed to be the most popular console of its generation in the UK, the brand has lost its mentor, Don Mattrick, to social gaming giant Zynga. Given that Mattrick was instrumental in the success of the Xbox 360 and paved the way for innovations such as Kinect, this is a better deal for Zynga than Microsoft. Mattrick leaving Microsoft certainly doesn't feel like a push, even if it looks like one. Even with Mattrick's complete failure to paint the right picture when it came to the Xbox One's always-on, DRM policies, this isn't the same as Scott Forstall's ousting from Apple he is not being usurped so much-needed changes can be made. You only have to look at the figures to see this. During his seven-year tenure, Xbox Live members rose from 6 million to 48 million - a phenomenal amount. Even though the Xbox One's announcement was fumbled, pre-orders are looking strong. This is not a man who was ousted, but someone looking for a new challenge. And challenges don't get bigger than turning around Zynga's flagging fortunes. Redefining the industry Microsoft head Steve Ballmer in his email outlining Mattrick's transition said it best when he thanked Don "for setting [Microsoft] on a path to completely redefine the entertainment industry". Note that Ballmer said "entertainment" and not gaming. There is a real fear at the moment among both Sony and Microsoft that gaming just isn't enough to entice people to the next generation of consoles these devices have to become the centre of your living room's home entertainment needs to stay relevant. Interestingly, Mattrick signing on as CEO of Zynga means that relevance will still be the biggest challenge facing him. A damning Reddit post last month highlighted the problems Zynga is up against at the moment. In June Zynga laid off 18 per cent of its staff, some 520 employees. One of these took to Reddit to blow the whistle on the current goings-on at Zynga, highlighting a gaming culture of copying and a company burning through money while failing to adjust to a changing gaming market where social gaming has lost much of its lustre. Zynga needs to prove its relevance and Mattrick is well placed to achieve this. With a background at EA and having to deal with the Xbox One fallout he is no stranger to heading up companies that are successful but constantly at the centre of bad press. Given that, for many, Zynga puts the bile into mobile gaming he will need to rely on what he has learned from his past endeavours to get the company back on track. Microsoft has lost a key cog in its future gaming machine and Mattrick's leaving marks something of an end of an era to current console gaming. The Xbox One and the PS4 have a battle on their hands to keep the millions of gamers who currently use their devices within their ecosystem. Mattrick will now be at pastures new, tending to his virtual farm, hoping to prove to the world that there is still life in social gaming. Draw (something) from that what you will.

https://www.techradar.com/au/news/gaming/is-it-game-on-for-zynga-now-it-s-got-the-xbox-factor-1163150

Will General Dynamics (GD) Beat Estimates Again in Its Next Earnings Report?

General Dynamics (GD), which belongs to the Zacks Aerospace - Defense industry, could be a great candidate to consider. This defense contractor has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 9.36%. For the last reported quarter, General Dynamics came out with earnings of $2.89 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.74 per share, representing a surprise of 5.47%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $2.49 per share and it actually produced earnings of $2.82 per share, delivering a surprise of 13.25%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for General Dynamics lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. General Dynamics has an Earnings ESP of +1.35% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on January 23, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report General Dynamics Corporation (GD) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

https://news.yahoo.com/general-dynamics-gd-beat-estimates-151003345.html

Will eBay (EBAY) Beat Estimates Again in Its Next Earnings Report?

EBay (EBAY), which belongs to the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, could be a great candidate to consider. This e-commerce company has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 2.87%. For the last reported quarter, eBay came out with earnings of $0.56 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.55 per share, representing a surprise of 1.82%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $0.51 per share and it actually produced earnings of $0.53 per share, delivering a surprise of 3.92%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for eBay lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. EBay has an Earnings ESP of +1.47% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on January 30, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report eBay Inc. (EBAY) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

https://news.yahoo.com/ebay-ebay-beat-estimates-again-151003962.html

Can Honeywell (HON) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive?

Honeywell (HON), which belongs to the Zacks Diversified Operations industry, could be a great candidate to consider. When looking at the last two reports, this industrial conglomerate has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 3.74%, on average, in the last two quarters. For the last reported quarter, Honeywell came out with earnings of $2.03 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.99 per share, representing a surprise of 2.01%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $2.01 per share and it actually produced earnings of $2.12 per share, delivering a surprise of 5.47%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Honeywell lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Honeywell currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.03%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on January 31, 2019. Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Honeywell International Inc. (HON) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

https://news.yahoo.com/honeywell-hon-keep-earnings-surprise-151003549.html

Will Qualcomm (QCOM) Beat Estimates Again in Its Next Earnings Report?

Qualcomm (QCOM), which belongs to the Zacks Wireless Equipment industry, could be a great candidate to consider. This chipmaker has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 25.34%. For the most recent quarter, Qualcomm was expected to post earnings of $0.83 per share, but it reported $0.90 per share instead, representing a surprise of 8.43%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.71 per share, while it actually produced $1.01 per share, a surprise of 42.25%. Price and EPS Surprise For Qualcomm, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Qualcomm currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.45%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on January 30, 2019. With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

https://news.yahoo.com/qualcomm-qcom-beat-estimates-again-151003509.html

Can Valero Energy (VLO) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive?

It is worth considering Valero Energy (VLO), which belongs to the Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry. This oil refiner has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 5.29%. For the most recent quarter, Valero Energy was expected to post earnings of $1.95 per share, but it reported $2.01 per share instead, representing a surprise of 3.08%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $2 per share, while it actually produced $2.15 per share, a surprise of 7.50%. Price and EPS Surprise With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Valero Energy. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Valero Energy currently has an Earnings ESP of +10.44%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on January 31, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

https://news.yahoo.com/valero-energy-vlo-keep-earnings-151003763.html

When do children go back to school in January 2019?

With the Christmas and New Year celebrations now finished many of us are now slowly getting back into our normal routines. Bouncer and woman first London stabbing victims of 2019 This also means that kids will soon be returning back to school soon as the Christmas holiday period starts coming to an end. The exact holiday dates can vary between each school but we do have a rough idea of when they are likely to be due back at school. Here is everything you need to know to find out when your children will be heading back to the classroom this month. Most pupils broke up from school on Friday 21 December for the Christmas holidays. The festive break usually lasts for around two weeks which means that most schools are set to re-open from Monday 7 January, although some schools can open as soon as the 3 or 4 January so its worth checking if youre unsure. Advertisement Advertisement The exact start date can vary depending on what school your children go to and holiday periods can also vary slightly in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It is advised that you check with the school or your local council if you are unsure of holiday dates so that you can get the most accurate times. 2019 UK bank holidays Tuesday 1 January New Years Day Friday 19 April Good Friday Monday 22 April Easter Monday Monday 6 May May bank holiday Monday 27 May Spring bank holiday Monday 26 August Summer bank holiday Wednesday 25 December Christmas Day Thursday 26 December Boxing Day MORE: The best New Year fireworks from around the world MORE: New movies and series coming to Amazon Prime Video in January 2019

https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/01/children-go-back-school-january-2019-8299688/

Is Netflix in Nollywood for Good?

Global streaming service Netflix set its eyes a few years ago on Nigerias film industry, better known as Nollywood. Distribution of Nigerian movies on Netflix started around 2015. At the time the American giant bought the rights of blockbusters such as Kunle Afolayans October 1st, Biyi Bandeles Fifty and several others, after they had already been distributed in Nigerian cinemas. During the Toronto International Film Festival 2018, Netflix announced the acquisition of worldwide exclusive distribution rights for Nollywood star Genevieve Nnajis debut film as director, the comedy Lionheart. The film marked the first Netflix original film from Nigeria. Many saw this as the beginning of a new era in the relationship between one of the world largest streaming platforms and Africas most prolific film industry. Difficult questions These are not easy questions to answer. Nollywoods economy and modes of production are unlike those of most other film industries. Over the past 20 years Nigerian films have circulated mostly on videotapes and Video Compact Discs (VCDs). This distribution system made the industry widely popular across Africa and its diaspora. But it prevented Nollywood from consolidating its economy and raising the quality of film production. Piracy dramatically eroded distribution revenues and producers had trouble monetising the distribution of their films. Nollywood prioritised straight-to-video distribution because cinema theatres had almost disappeared in the country (as in most other parts of Africa) as a result of the catastrophic economic crisis that affected Nigeria in the 1980s. New multiplexes have emerged since the beginning of the 2000s. However, today there are only about 150 widescreens for a population of almost two hundred million people. The cinemas that exist are often too expensive for most of the population that used to buy and watch Nollywood films when they were distributed on tapes. Within this context, many in the industry thought that streaming could be the best solution to the industrys problems with distribution. However, a closer look to the history of what has been labelled the Nigerian Netflix (iROKO.tv, the leading streaming platform for Nigerian contents) shows that the reality is more complicated. When the company decided to move its headquarters from Manhattan to Lagos it encountered countless difficulties. They were mainly connected to the costs of infrastructure development in Nigeria and to the hostility of local distributors who controlled Nollywoods economy since its creation. Weak Internet Internet connection in Nigeria is still too weak and expensive to guarantee easy access to streaming platforms. As a result, Nollywood content distributed by iROKO.tv and Netflix circulates mostly in the diaspora. Netflix is aware of this problem and is investing in infrastructures to secure a better connection for its Nigerian audiences. But larger investments seem to be necessary to produce a significant impact on audiences behaviour. Accessing Nollywood films via piracy or local screening venues will continue to be, at least in my view, the key strategy adopted by the largest percentage of Nigerian viewers. Netflix could have better chances in penetrating the countrys elite market, as richer people in Nigeria and across Africa have easier access to reliable power supply and internet. This might be the reason why MultiChoice, the South African telecommunication giant controlling much of Nollywood distribution across Africa through its Africa Magic channels, has reacted nervously to Netflixs increased interest in African markets. MultiChoice wants Netflix to be more closely regulated. These two arent the only telecommunication superpowers in the field. Frances Canal Plus and the Chinese StarTimes have also made a few investments in Nollywood over the past few years. The competition among all these actors will probably have a positive impact for viewers across Nigeria and the continent. It could bring lower subscription fees for streaming and TV content packages. There are also likely to be new investments in content production and infrastructures. And theres larger continental and global exposure for Nollywood films in the offing. Foreign investments It remains to be seen how good these developments will be for Nollywood producers. Until now, foreign investments in Nollywood have mostly translated into more of the same content. Working conditions for crews and actors have remained the same basically, low budgets and quick shooting schedules. In fact, big investors seem to be mainly interested in Nollywoods already established popularity with African audiences. Making Nollywood more palatable for international audiences doesnt seem to feature. This means that in most cases they are not ready to invest bigger money in production budgets. Rather, they invest in better structuring distribution networks to extract as much profit as possible from the Nigerian industry. And most African audiences are indeed happy with how Nollywood is, even if they tend to complain regularly about the low quality and the repetition of film contents and aesthetics. The fact that Nollywood as it is keeps on attracting audiences makes investors reluctant to change the scale of their production budgets. There are a few bigger productions, with higher production standards, that have emerged over the past few years in Nollywood. But they have hardly been the result of investments made by foreign firms like Netflix, Canal Plus or MultiChoice. Nigerian producers are those who are mostly concerned about raising the quality of Nollywood films. They want to give better content to their audiences and reach global screens. In most cases, the people investing money in these kinds of projects have been independent producers or groups of investors related to the new business of multiplexes in Nigeria.

https://bizwatchnigeria.ng/is-netflix-in-nollywood-for-good/

Was a giant trolling EU flag hidden in London's New Year's Eve fireworks?

That's right, there was what some believe to be a giant reference to the European Union flag hidden in plain sight in the London Eye during the fireworks celebrations. Of course, it could be a coincidence, but the Eye just so happened to have 28 yellow lights - the exact same number as there are members of the European Union (well, until the UK leaves the EU in March). Some eagle-eyed viewers also suggested that the bottom light being distant from the others was also a representation of the UK's exit from the EU. It's not the first time that an indirect reference to the EU appeared to have been made in such public way. In 2017 the Queen opened Parliament in a blue dress and hat adorned with blue flowers with yellow centres, which some took as a pointed reference to Brexit. Vote in our poll and let us know what you think. -> The new laws coming into force in 2019 and how they will affect you

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/was-a-giant-trolling-eu-flag-hidden-in-london-s-new-year-s-eve-fireworks-1-9515510

Was denkt ein Organoid in der Petrischale?

Nicht ganz 1,5 Kilogramm schwer. Kaum grer als eine Pampelmuse. Und dennoch: Das Gehirn des Menschen gilt als grte Leistung der Evolution. Wahrnehmen. Denken, Fhlen. Sich erinnern. Alles mglich: mit Gehirn. "We like the idea of cells organize themselves." Menschen ohne Gehirn. Nicht vorstellbar. Aber menschliche Gehirne ohne Menschen, die gibt es wirklich. Zumindest etwas hnliches. "Mini-Gehirne" schreiben die Zeitungen. "Organoide" sagen die Wissenschaftler. "Eigentlich ist es nicht wirklich ein Gehirn" "Es ist absolut faszinierend zu sehen, wie der berlebenswille dieser Zellen sie dazu treibt, gewebehnliche Strukturen aufzubauen." Die kleinen Gehirne will ich kennen lernen. "Mein Name ist Michael Heide. Ich bin Wissenschaftler und ich bin sozusagen fr die cerebralen Organoide zustndig." Den Begriff Mini-Gehirne hrt man nicht so gerne - am Max-Planck-Institut fr molekulare Zellbiologie und Genetik in Dresden. Richtig heit es: "Cerebrale Organoide". "Man kann sie natrlich Mini-Gehirne nennen, aber eigentlich ist es nicht wirklich ein Gehirn. Es ist eher ein Gewebeverband, der neuronales Gewebe nachstellt." Um mir die Organoide aus der Nhe anzuschauen, begleite ich Michael Heide ins Labor. Autor: "Wir haben jetzt die Laborhandschuhe angezogen." Heide: "Genau, weil hier alles steril sein muss. Es ist Zellkultur, und die Zellen drfen nicht kontaminiert werden mit Bakterien oder hnlichem." Autor: "Wir gehen in einen kleinen Raum. Da eine sterile Werkbank und ein Mikroskop. Sie sprhen etwas auf die Handschuhe." Heide: "Genau, ich sprhe Ethanol auf die Handschuhe, damit die wirklich sauber sind." Autor: "Wo wachsen hier die cerebralen Organoide?" Heide: "Die cerebralen Organoide wachsen in Inkubatoren. Das sind kleine Rume, die 37 Grad Temperatur haben. Krpertemperatur. Und eine feuchte Umgebung, damit sie uns nicht eintrocknen." Autor: "Von auen sieht es aus wie ein Khlschrank und drinnen ein Schttler. Kleine Schalen, die werden hin und her geschttelt." Heide: "In diesen kleinen Schalen befinden sich die Organoide, und die schtteln, damit sie gut mit Nhrstoffen und Sauerstoff versorgt werden. Autor: "Knnen wir eine davon mal herausnehmen?" Heide: "Ja, natrlich." Menschliche Gehirne kenne ich nur von Bildern oder aus Filmen. Mein eigenes Gehirn habe ich noch nie gesehen. Autor: "Jetzt ffnen Sie eine Glastr. Und hinter der Glastr sind bestimmt ein Dutzend kleine Schlchen. Darin eine rtliche Flssigkeit." Heide: "Diese rtliche Flssigkeit ist ein Nhrmedium, das alle mglichen Komponenten beinhaltet, die die Organoide fr ihr Wachstum bentigen." Autor: "Was einige Mini-Gehirne nennen und Sie Organoide, sind eigentlich nur kleine weiliche Punkte. Die schwimmen in einer rtlichen Suppe." Heide: "Die mssen wir uns unter dem Mikroskop anschauen, damit wir die Feinstrukturen wirklich sehen knnen." Autor: "Durchmesser so etwa ein bis zwei Millimeter." Heide: "Genau, die sind noch relativ frh. Sie knnen aber bis zu einem halben Zentimeter im Durchmesser werden." Ein Modell fr die Evolution des menschlichen Hirns Ehrlich gesagt, ich habe mehr erwartet. Fnf Millimeter Durchmesser, das wre in etwa Erbsengre. Aus Zeitungsartikeln kenne ich den Begriff "Erbsengehirn." Die Exemplare, die Michael Heide in ihren Schlchen vorsichtig unter das Mikroskop legt, sind deutlich kleiner, eher wie Stecknadelkpfe. Weilich trb schwimmen sie in der rosa Flssigkeit. Ihre Schnheit entfalten sie erst unter dem Mikroskop. Da erscheinen sie unregelmig geformt, fast wie Wolken oder im Wasser treibende Flocken. "Das Organoid sieht aus wie ein kleiner Klumpen. Und in diesen kleinen Klumpen sehen Sie hellere Bereiche Das sind so genannte Ventrikel. Die Orte, an denen sich die neuronalen Stammzellen befinden." Schlielich sind es Gehirnstrukturen, wenn auch winzig klein. Groe Fragen, die von den Wissenschaftlern zunchst mit einem Kopfschtteln beantwortet werden. Ich werde sie zurckstellen. Zunchst die Fakten. Aus Stammzellen werden Gehirnzellen Die Organoide stammen aus einfachen Blut- oder Hautzellen. Die Forscher haben die Zellen zunchst verjngt. So entstanden aus reifen Krperzellen vielseitige Stammzellen. Die entwickelten sich weiter zu Gehirnzellen. Und aus denen bestehen die Organoide. Gehirnhnlich, menschlich und irgendwie aktiv. Fr den Leiter der Arbeitsgruppe Wieland Huttner geht es um die Urzeit des Denkens. Er will verstehen, wie die Evolution das menschliche Gehirn hervorgebracht hat. "Unsere Grohirnrinde ist etwa dreimal so gro wie die des Schimpansen. Und das ist eine Grundlage fr unsere geistigen Fhigkeiten, die uns vom Schimpansen unterscheiden." Wieland Huttner und sein Team vergleichen Organoide des Menschen mit denen seiner engsten Verwandten aus dem Leipziger Zoo. "Es werden ja in Zoos Schimpansen und Orang Utans regelmig bei Gesundheitschecks untersucht. Und dann kann man von dem Blut ein paar Zellen abzweigen, und die kann man reprogrammieren in der Regel zu pluripotenten Stammzellen wie wir sagen, aus denen man dann Organoide wachsen lassen kann." In den Organoiden verknpfen sich Nervenzellen und Synapsen In Dresden wachsen Mini-Affen-Hirne und Mini-Menschen-Hirne. Es beginnt mit den Stammzellen. Die vermehren sich als dnne Zellschicht auf dem Boden von Zellkulturschalen. Dort entwickeln sie sich Richtung Nervenzellen oder zu anderen Gehirnzellen. Und wenn sie sich lsen vom Boden, und es eine Gelegenheit gibt, tun sie sich zusammen und bilden kleine Flocken. Das sind die Organoide. "In den Organoiden, insbesondere in den Organoiden, die etwas lnger in Kultur sind und etwas mehr Nervenzellen gebildet haben, da verknpfen sich die Nervenzellen mit so genannten Synapsen. Und man kann elektrisch von diesen Nervenzellen ableiten und kann zeigen, dass die Nervenzellen elektrische Aktivitt haben." Zellen sind anscheinend kontaktfreudig. Sie kuscheln halt gerne - und wenn Nervenzellen auf andere Nervenzellen treffen, dann halten sie ein Schwtzchen. Natrlich formuliert das ein Wissenschaftler anders. Elektrische Signale jagen hin und her - wie im richtigen Gehirn. Aber der genauere Blick durch das Mikroskop zeigt auch etwas Anderes. "Die Nervenzellschichten sind nicht so geordnet, (in der so genannten Kortikalplatte), wie sie in einem normal sich entwickelnden Gehirn geordnet sind. Da hat unsere Grohirnrinde sechs Schichten mit verschiedenen Nervenzellen, und diese Schichtung ist bisher noch nicht ordentlich reproduziert in den Organoiden." Gene allein machen nichts Organoide sind keine Gehirne, aber gehirnhnlich. Fr die Forschung reicht das. Die Wissenschaftler in Dresden interessieren sich vor allem fr die Erbanlagen in den Organoiden. Sie suchen nach Genen, die das Gehirn aufbauen. "Wir haben interessante Gene identifizieren knnen, die nur der Mensch hat. Diese Gene knnen ein Gehirn, zum Beispiel, wenn man sie in eine Maus einbringt, grer werden lassen. Und ein offensichtlicher Ansatz ist es, in menschlichen Organoiden ein solches menschenspezifisches Gen auszuschalten, um zu sehen, was dann schlechter luft. Und andersherum: Ein solches menschenspezifisches Gen in ein Schimpansen-Organoid hineinzubringen, um zu gucken, was jetzt beim Schimpansen-Organoid besser luft." Die Gene allein machen nichts. Erst wenn sie aktiv sind, machen sie aus Stammzellen Gehirnzellen und schlielich gehirnartige Strukturen. Das lsst sich an den kleinen schwimmenden Gehirnen wunderbar erforschen. Genau das macht die Wissenschaftlerin Barbara Treutlein am Max-Planck-Institut fr Evolutionre Anthropologie in Leipzig. Sie benutzt eine ausgetftelte Methode, genannt Einzel-Zell-Genomik. Mit ihr erforscht sie das Innenleben der Mini-Gehirne im Detail. "Diese Methode erlaubt, in einzelnen Zellen zu schauen: Diese Gene sind im Moment eingeschaltet. Dann wei man: Was fr Typen von Zellen sind in dem Organoid zu finden. Man kann sehr viele Informationen diesen Experimenten entnehmen." Im Leipziger Brutschrank wachsen hnliche Gehirn-Organoide in kleinen Schalen, sogar ein wenig grer als in Dresden. Barbara Treutlein holt eines heraus und legt es unter das Mikroskop. "Also man kann jetzt diese Regionen sehen, die ein bisschen herauskommen aus dieser Kugel. Und wenn man ganz genau hinschaut, sieht man, dass es da drinnen einen Hohlraum gibt. Das ist dieser Ventrikel, den man auch im menschlichen Gehirn findet. Whrend ich ins Mikroskop blicke und die feinen Strukturen bewundere, sprechen wir ber die unsichtbaren Aktivitten im Innern des Organoids. Neuronalen Zellen testen ihre Mglichkeiten Treutlein: "Es gibt auf jeden Fall Wellen an Signalen, die dieses Organoid durchlaufen. Die neuronalen Zellen testen so ein wenig aus, was ihre Mglichkeiten sind, um mit anderen Zellen zu signalisieren." Autor: "Und das machen sie jetzt, whrend wir ihnen zuschauen?" Treutlein: "Whrend wir zuschauen, werden da jetzt zufllige Signale von einem Neuron zum anderen wandern." Die Nervenzellen sind also aktiv. Um zu denken, fehlt ihnen jedoch der Inhalt. "Die Zellen kommunizieren miteinander, aber das sind nicht die gleichen neuronalen Netzwerke, die sich ausbilden, wie im menschlichen Gehirn. Ich wrde nicht sagen, dass ein Gehirn-Organoid denkt." Ich wei: Das Philosophieren ber Gedanken der Mini-Gehirne ist reine Spekulation. Wissenschaftler beschrnken sich lieber auf Fakten. Und genau die sammeln die Evolutionsforscher in Leipzig. Und zwar massenhaft. Ein Heuhaufen aus Daten. Zurck zu den Neandertalern "Now we have a big stack of hay, and we are looking for the needles." Auch Gray Camp arbeitet als Wissenschaftler mit eigener Arbeitsgruppe am Leipziger Max-Planck-Institut. Er hat immerhin schon ein paar Nadeln im Heuhaufen entdeckt, wenn auch lngst nicht alle. Gray Camp interessiert sich fr unsere Verwandtschaft: Den Homo neandertalensis, den Neandertaler. Den Unterschied zu unseren Gehirnen will er mit Organoiden erforschen. "Wir verndern die Stammzellen, aus denen die Organoide entstehen. Mit einer Genschere manipulieren wir einzelne Positionen im Erbgut der Zellen - genau an den Stellen, wo sich Homo sapiens und Neandertaler unterscheiden. Und zwar so, dass einige Gene im Homo sapiens-Organoid hnlich aussehen wie bei Neandertalern. " Anders ausgedrckt: Gray Camp hat das Ziel, menschliche Gehirn-Organoide zu "neandertalisieren". Zellen von Neandertalern braucht er dazu nicht. Es reicht ihm zu wissen, wie bestimmte Neandertaler-Gene ausgesehen haben. Das ist gar nicht so schwierig, denn einige Gene haben berlebt. In jedem von uns. In der europischen Bevlkerung machen Neandertaler-Gene etwa zwei Prozent der Erbinformation aus. "Es gibt Bereiche in unserem menschlichen Erbgut, die bezeichnen wir als Neandertal-Wsten. Dort gibt es keine Gene, die von den Neandertalern stammen. Und genau dort liegen die Gene, die das menschliche Gehirn erzeugen. Keines der Gene, die fr den Aufbau des Gehirns zustndig sind, stammt vom Neandertaler." "Unser Gehirn anscheinend vom Homo sapiens, der aus Afrika kam" Ich schliee daraus. Unser wunderbares Gehirn haben wir anscheinend nicht von den Neandertalern, sondern von anderen Vorfahren. Wahrscheinlich vom Homo sapiens, der viel spter aus Afrika kam als der Neandertaler. Die Evolutionsforschung ist nur eine von vielen Mglichkeiten, winzige Gehirne zu untersuchen. Die meisten Organoid-Zchter arbeiten allerdings in der er medizinischen Forschung. 2013 begann die Erfolgsgeschichte der kleinen Gehirne. Wiener Forscher stellten sie in der Fachzeitschrift Nature vor, und mehr als hundert Arbeitsgruppen schienen auf diese Idee geradezu gewartet zu haben. Sie hatten gerade feststellen mssen: Einfach nur Stammzellen zu vermehren, reicht nicht. Wer wissen will, wie Organe im Krper funktionieren, muss aus Stammzellen Organe zchten, wenigstens Mini-Organe. Auch, wenn das nicht so leicht ist. "My name is Jay Gopalakrishnan, originally I come from India. Now I have accepted a full professorship in Dsseldorf at the medical faculty. " Wie die Wiener Kollegen befasste sich Jay Gopalakrishnan mit einer angeborenen Krankheit namens Mikrozephalie. Das Gehirn der betroffenen Menschen ist kleiner als blich, der Hinterkopf flacher. In ihren geistigen Fhigkeiten sind sie beeintrchtigt. In Deutschland kommen zwei bis drei Prozent aller Neugeborenen mit einer Mikrozephalie zur Welt. Ursache ist ein Schaden in der Erbinformation, und der fhrt zu einer Entwicklungsstrung. "Wir haben aus den Zellen der Betroffenen Gehirn-Organoide erzeugt. Im Vergleich mit Organoiden von Gesunden sahen wir, dass die Organoide bei Mikrozephalie kleiner waren. Wir untersuchten das genauer und fanden, dass die verantwortlichen Stammzellen sich weniger teilten." Zellkulturen, die sehen knnen Als sich Zika-Viren in Brasilien ausbreiteten, erforschte Jay Gopolakrishnan auch die Wirkung der Zika-Viren. Denn auch die schdigen das Gehirnwachstum vor der Geburt. Und wie erwartet entwickelten sich die Mini-Gehirne im Labor nicht gut. Die Zika-Viren strten den Aufbau der Organoide. Ob das nun eine bahnbrechende Erkenntnis war, ist unter den Fachkollegen umstritten. Spannender ist vielleicht eine Entdeckung, nach der Gopolakrishnan gar nicht gesucht hatte: Postdoktorandin Elke Gabriel zeigt mir die Organoide. Mir fllt auf: Statt der Schlchen auf dem Schttler verwendet sie Flaschen, etwa so gro wie ein Kaffeebecher, gefllt mit rosa Flssigkeit. Darin drehen sich Rhrstbe langsam hin und her. "In einer Rhrflasche kann man etwa 40 Organoide heranzchten und die sind alle etwa gleich gro. Das ist eine 3D-Kultur, und wenn man die langsam rhrt mit den Glaspendeln, dann ist das besser fr die Organoide, sie werden nicht so gestrt und die Scherkrfte sind nicht so stark." Klingt einleuchtend. Besser gerhrt als geschttelt. Das ist schonender. Dann holt Elke Gabriel die Rhrflasche aus dem Brutschrank hinber zu einer sterilen Werkbank. Autor: "Eine der Flaschenffnungen wird aufgemacht, dann kommt die Pipette." Gabriel: "Dann mssen wir die Spitze abschneiden, weil sie ja doch relativ gro sind, die Organoide." Autor: "Damit unten eine groe ffnung entsteht von ein bis zwei Millimetern. Da muss das Organoid jetzt durchpassen. Sie versuchen einen zu erwischen in der Flssigkeit. Und da sehe ich auch schon einige Punkte. Sie schwimmen jetzt in dem Schlchen drin. Jetzt ganz vorsichtig, das Schlchen unter das Mikropskop." Autor: "Also, das ist jetzt 40fache Vergrerung. Ich sehe ein kreisfrmiges Gebilde." Gabriel: "Moment. Vielleicht sieht man es hier besser. Das sind zwei dunkle Flecken." Autor: "Einer etwas grer als der andere. Es sieht fast so aus, weil es da auch noch so eine Ausstlpung gibt, als wren es zwei Augen und eine Nase." Gabriel: "Ja, genau." Gehirn-Organoide mit richtigen Augenbechern Die Nase ist natrlich nicht echt. Nur eine zufllige Ausstlpung im Organoid. Anders die Augen. Es handelt sich tatschlich um Netzhautgewebe, wie im menschlichen Auge, erklrt mir Jay Gopalakrishnan. Den Experten verwundert das nicht, denn Netzhautgewebe entwickelt sich beim Embryo aus dem Gehirn. Eigentlich wollte Jay Gopalakrishnan die gestrte Gehirnentwicklung bei Mikrozephalie und durch Einwirkung von Zika-Viren erforschen, machte er auch, aber dann erregten die augenhnlichen Strukturen sein Interesse. "Nach mehr als einem Jahr Forschung haben wir Gehirn-Organoide mit richtigen Augenbechern gezchtet. Manchmal zwei, manchmal einen Augenbecher. Wir untersuchten sie genauer und fanden viele Strukturen, die denen von sich entwickelnden Augen in einem Ftus entsprechen, mit einer Netzhaut und Fotorezeptoren. Und was noch wichtiger ist: Sie erkennen Licht." Man knnte sagen: Die Organoide sehen. Licht trifft auf die Netzhautzellen, und die Nervenzellen reagieren mit elektrischen Signalen. Nicht so kompliziert wie im Gehirn, aber das gleiche Prinzip. Was das bedeutet, darber knnen die Forscher nur spekulieren. Richtige Wahrnehmung ist es nicht. Schlielich ist das Gehirngewebe recht simpel, eher wie in einem Wurm. "Wir hoffen, dass wir irgendwann patienteneigene Gehirn-Organoide zchten knnen." Gopalakrishnan kommen stndig neue Ideen, was er mit Gehirn-Organoiden alles anstellen kann. Als frisch berufener Professor an der Universitt Dsseldorf will er Krebszellen erforschen, die in einem Gehirn-Organoid wachsen sollen. Es geht um das Glioblastom, einen bsartigen Gehirntumor. "Wir knnen Glioblastom-Zellen im Organoid heranzchten und sichtbar machen, wie die Tumorzellen sich vermehren und in das Gehirngewebe eindringen. Diese Forschung ist noch im Gange. Wir hoffen, dass wir irgendwann patienteneigene Gehirn-Organoide zchten knnen mit dem Glioblastom des Patienten. So lassen sich vor einer Therapie Wirkstoffe testen in einem patientenspezifischen Organoid." Klingt aufwndig. Aber auch spannend. Bevor ein Patient eine Chemotherapie erhlt, wird sein eigener Minitumor in einem Gehirn-Organoid gezchtet und probeweise behandelt. So lsst sich vorab testen, ob die Therapie anschlgt oder nur unntige Nebenwirkungen verursacht. Eine von vielen Ideen, die sich mit kleinen Gehirnen umsetzen lassen. Die meisten Organoid-Forscher konzentrieren sich auf Krankheiten oder Strungen beim Embryo. Das liegt in der Natur der Sache. Denn ein Gehirn-Organoid entspricht eher einem frhen, embryonalen Gewebe als einem ausgewachsenen Gehirn. Dabei muss es aber nicht bleiben. Kleine Gehirne in Fliebandproduktion Am Max-Planck-Institut fr Molekulare Biomedizin in Mnster interessieren sich Wissenschaftler hauptschlich fr Krankheiten des erwachsenen Gehirns. Ihre Organoide sollen altern. Und sie brauchen viele davon. Und besten sehen sie alle gleich aus. Der Stammzellenforscher Jan Bruder fhrt mich in einen kleinen Laborraum. Der Roboter ist schon bei der Arbeit. "Das sind Platten mit verschiedenen Vertiefungen. Darin aggregieren die Zellen zu Zellklumpen, die sich dann mit der Zeit zu Organoiden weiter entwickeln." Wie von Geisterhand gesteuert fhrt eine Pipette ber die kleinen Platten und spritzt winzige Mengen Flssigkeit in die Vertiefungen hinein. Darin schwimmen die Organoide. Bruder: "Der Roboter hat viele Vorteile fr uns. Einmal knnen wir damit verschiedene Organoide herstellen. Das sind mit jedem Schwung 96 Stck auf einmal. Und das viel Wichtigere dabei ist, dass der Roboter das sehr standardisiert macht. Das heit, er macht dieselben Bewegungen immer in der gleichen Geschwindigkeit auf die gleiche Art und setzt die Zellen immer der gleichen Bewegung aus." Autor: "Was wird denn hier hinein pipettiert?" Bruder: "Meist werden die Organoide damit gefttert. Das heit: Alle zwei Tage mssen wir die Nhrlsung austauschen, damit die Zellen frischen Nachschub an Nhrstoffen bekommen." Autor: "Und was ist der Vorteil, wenn man so einen Roboter verwendet im Vergleich zur Handarbeit." Bruder: "Sie mssen sich vorstellen, wenn man zum Beispiel sehr kleine Flssigkeitsmengen austauschen will. Dann nimmt man eine Spritze, und da kommt immer ein Strahl Flssigkeit heraus. Und dieser Strahl kann, wenn man nicht aufpasst mit der Hand, auch schon einmal sehr empfindliche Strukturen treffen. Wenn man das mit der Hand macht, ist es jedes Mal ein bisschen schneller oder langsamer. Wenn der Roboter es macht, macht er es immer gleich. Und wir knnen sicherstellen durch eine sorgfltige Programmierung, dass nie die Organoide getroffen werden." Kleine Gehirne in Massenproduktion wie am Flieband. Alle gleich. Mini-Gehirne knnten Tierversuche berflssig machen Auf der anderen Straenseite, im Hauptgebude des Instituts treffe ich Thomas Rauen. Er ist berzeugt, dass die Winzlinge schon bald viele Tierversuche berflssig machen knnen. "Es gibt halt Erkrankungen, die speziell fr das menschliche Gehirn sind. Dazu zhlen zum Beispiel Alzheimer oder auch die Parkinson-Erkrankung und andere neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, die man im Musegehirn nicht wieder findet. Kurz gesagt: Muse bekommen kein Alzheimer und kein Parkinson." Menschliche Organoide als Testsysteme fr Forschung, Medizin und Pharmazie. Gute Idee. Nur einen Haken hat das Ganze. Das Gewebe ist jung und bleibt jung. "Wir haben das Problem, dass wir als Startmaterial induzierte pluripotente Stammzellen benutzen. Diese Stammzellen wurden hergeleitet aus alten Hautzellen von Patienten, die ein Alter von 60 oder 70 Jahren haben. Und whrend des Reprogrammierungs-Prozesses werden die Zellen wieder verjngt. Sie sind dann auf der Ebene eines ftalen Gewebes einzuordnen, und wenn wir daraus Organoide bauen, haben wir es mit einem sehr jungen Gewebe zu tun. Und Ften oder Embryonen bekommen auch kein Alzheimer oder Parkinson." Die Organoide sollen grer und irgendwie lter werden. Dazu brauchen sie ein Gefsystem, das sie mit Nhrstoffen und Sauerstoff versorgt - so wie die Blutversorgung im Gehirn. Ohne Blut knnen Gehirne, nicht wachsen und Wachsen gehrt zum natrlichen lterwerden dazu. Auch ein Immunsystem besitzen die Organoide nicht. Ganz einfach fangen die Wissenschaftler in Mnster damit an, hnliche Strukturen nachzubilden. "Wir sehen auch schon, dass es ausreichend ist, wenn einfach Bereiche in den Organoiden frei bleiben, so dass Medien durchstrmen knnen. Ein einfaches Hilfsmittel ist zum Beispiel, dass Fden eingebracht werden, chirurgisches Nahtmaterial, das einfach die Diffusion befrdert von den Substanzen in das Organoid hinein. Das mgen die Zellen sehr gerne, weil dann die Nhrstoffversorgung viel besser ist, auch die Sauerstoffversorgung." Als nchstes sollen Endothelzellen hinzukommen. Das sind die Zellen, die Blutgefe innen auskleiden. Sie sind wichtig, denn sie liefern Wachstumsfaktoren, damit kleine Organoide grer werden. Noch gehirnhnlicher. Das Zchten grerer Gehirnstrukturen mit Blutgefen ist kompliziert. Deshalb haben Forscher vom Salk-Institut in Kalifornien eine Abkrzung gewhlt. Sie verpflanzten menschliche Gehirn-Organoide in Muse. Das Musegehirn trat in Kontakt mit den Organoiden, und das Blutsystem der Maus versorgte das Menschen-Organoid mit allem, was es braucht. Irgendwie beunruhigend, wenn Menschen- und Musegehirn gemeinsame Sache machen. "Sehr interessante Arbeit." Meint Jan Bruder vom Max-Planck-Institut in Mnster. "Das zeigt, dass die Organoid-Konstrukte, die wir im Labor herstellen knnen, kompatibel sind mit einem Organismus, dass ein Organismus diese Gewebe annehmen kann und weiterverwenden kann. Und im Maus-Gehirn sind diese Organoide tatschlich etwas weiter herangereift als wir das im Labor knnen." "Was trennt Mensch und Tier?" Die Transplantation von Gehirngewebe aus dem Labor ist also mglich. Vielleicht irgendwann auch fr Patienten, die an Gehirnkrankheiten leiden. Die Forscher nehmen an: Das Menschen-Organoid wird Teil des Musegehirns, ohne dass die Maus menschenhnlicher wird. Ich glaube, bei Organoiden ist man zurzeit sehr sicher. Ein Organoid hat sehr wenige Zellen. Beim Menschen sind es hundert Milliarden Zellen, sagt man immer. Unsere Organoide haben zwischen 100.000 und 200.000 Zellen. Da fehlt ein Haufen Nullen, um den Unterschied auszumachen." Die Wissenschaftler erklren es so: Genetisch gesehen handelt es sich um Zellen zweier verschiedener Spezies. Das Gehirn jedoch ist eine Einheit. Ein Netzwerk, das nach Muse-Regeln arbeitet, mit einem Muse-Bewusstsein. Die Mediziner warten ab. Die Verpflanzung von Gehirn-Organoiden zur Behandlung von Krankheiten wie Alzheimer oder Parkinson ist bislang nicht geplant. Vielleicht mssen wir uns verabschieden von der Vorstellung, dass hinter einem Gehirn immer ein eigenes Bewusstsein steckt, ein Individuum. So wie Herztransplantationen das Bild vom "Herzen des Menschen" verndert haben. Gehirnartige Strukturen oder Mini-Gehirne sind keine Menschen. Und dennoch bin ich berzeugt: Es gibt eine Grenze. Dinge, die wir mit Gehirnen nicht machen sollten.

https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/mini-gehirne-aus-stammzellen-was-denkt-ein-organoid-in-der.740.de.html?dram:article_id=436772

What could have wiped 3km of rock off the entire Earth?

Believe it or not, the geology at the bottom of the Grand Canyon is extraordinarily common. There, layers of sedimentary rock lie flat atop angled layers of significantly more ancient metamorphic rock. The gap there is enormousif Earths rocks constitute a book of the planets history, there are about a billion pages missing. The story only picks up again around 540 million years ago in the Cambrian period, with an evolutionary explosion of complex life just as remarkable as the sudden change in the rock. This gap can be found all around the world, and has picked up the name the Great Unconformity. Cambrian sedimentary rocks rarely rest on anything other than much older metamorphic or igneous rock, implying that whatever rock formed in the intervening time was scrubbed away by something. This erasure of a chunk of geologic history has long been an enticing mystery for geologists. A period of intensive global erosion doesnt seem sufficient to fully explain the pattern of change in the rock. An alternative, that the formation of new rock suddenly accelerated beginning in the Cambrian, doesnt quite fit the evidence, either. To dig into this, a team led by the University of California, Berkeleys C. Brenhin Keller turned to a database of almost 30,000 zircon crystals. Zircons are most commonly found in the igneous rocks of volcanic arcs along tectonic plate subduction zones, where one plate is sent diving beneath the other (think of the Pacific Ring of Fire). If a huge amount of continental rock was eroded away, it would have ended up in the ocean, where it could hitch a ride into the tectonic recycler at these subduction zonespossibly leaving a chemical mark in the magma fueling volcanoes. To look for that chemical mark, the researchers analyzed an isotope of the element hafnium. This isotope is produced by the (very slow) radioactive decay of element-you-also-forgot-existed lutetium, meaning it is slowly accumulating in the Earths mantle. But this is not happening in the Earths crust, which means crustal rocks are a little light in the hafnium isotope department. Imagine youre cooking down a stew, aiming for a slightly thicker and saltier broth. At some point, you worry youve gone too far, so you add a little water back in. If you took out a spoonful every few minutes and set them aside in a sort of stew timeline, you could figure out just by taste where in that sequence you added the water. The idea here is similar. If a lot of continental sedimentcontaining less of that interesting hafnium isotopewas being eroded and recycled back into the zone where mantle rock is melted, you ought to see a sudden drop in the hafnium numbers in zircons produced by the volcanoes above. Snowball-driven dump And thats exactly what the researchers found. The zircons in the database span nearly the entire history of the Earth, and by far the most noticeable wiggle lines up neatly with the Great Unconformity. When they ran the numbers to see how much erosion would be required to explain a wiggle of that size, they found that it would be something in the neighborhood of 3 kilometers (or 2 miles) of rock shaved off all the worlds continents and dumped on the ocean floor. Erosion alone can't explain all the details of this episode, and you need something that affects the entire globe. The authors propose that three periods of epic cold snaps in the 180 million years leading up to the start of the Cambriansometimes referred to as Snowball Earth periodscould be the key. The first two of these episodes, in particular, are thought to have seen huge ice sheets draped over every continent for millions of years. There are still big questions about how these events played out, but glaciers are often pretty potent agents of erosion. If temperatures drop low enough, glaciers will freeze to the ground like the tongue of an unfortunate child stuck on a flag pole. But it doesnt take much for normal geothermal warmth to keep that base thawed, and sliding ice will grind up a lot of bedrock. On top of that, the growth of ice sheets on land comes with a lowering of global sea level, exposing vast areas of former seafloor to erosion. That also lowers the base level that glaciers and streams flow to, giving them a little more downhill energy. Modeling erasure The researchers played with a simple numerical model to see how this might work. Using reasonable estimates of glacial erosion rates from modern times, the model has no problem eroding the right amount of rock. And with sea level lower, all that eroded material would get deposited on the deep seafloorready to ride the tectonic plate into the recycler. The really interesting result in the model is that all the glacial erosion creates low spots (especially along the coast) that are ready to hold a new blanket of sediment as the ice melts away. As sea level rises, more and more coastal sediment can accumulate there, eventually forming the sedimentary rocks that start the next intact chapter of Earths history book. So the snowball glaciation is not just a possible source of erosion, but also accounts for some additional rock formation afterwardsa neat little-of-column-A-little-of-column-B explanation. Because several remarkable eventsthe great glacial periods, the gap in the rock record, and the rise of multicellular lifehappened around the same time, researchers have long wondered about connections among them. The geological changes, for example, may well have produced chemical changes in the oceans that enabled interesting evolutionary responses. The huge swings in climate, too, may have had something to do with the timing of the evolutionary explosion. This new study builds up the idea that all three were linked. So the history book is not just missing pagessome of them were used to write the chapter that followed. PNAS, 2018. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.180435011 (About DOIs).

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/01/huge-break-in-geological-record-could-be-due-to-a-snowball-earth/

Is Urban Meyer Coaching in the Rose Bowl?

Urban Meyer will coach Ohio State in the Rose Bowl then will retire from coaching. Offensive coordinator Ryan Day will take over as head coach for next season. According to Cleveland.com, Meyer will have an assistant athletic director role with Ohio State after he retires. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith noted Meyers specific job description has yet to be determined. Im not that worried about it [being too close to the football program], but its something we have to pay attention to, Smith explained Cleveland.com. Im not that worried because of our relationship. Im very direct with him. If I see him step over, Ill say, Hey, buddy, lets talk about that. We have that relationship where I can say, Brother, youve got to be careful here. What are you doing?Thats the question. Hes passionate about staying here, and hes only 54. So I dont know. I told him he should take some time off after the bowl game, but I dont know if hes capable of doing that. But well help him. Urban Meyer Called Coaching in the Rose Bowl a Bucket List Item Despite all of his accomplishments, Meyer has never coached in the Rose Bowl. I had to ask to go in because Ive never been in to see it, Meyer said per 247 Sports. Back in the 90s, I cant remember what year, I drove by and stopped, and I used to recruit out here all the time. I stopped and I was going to try to sneak peek inside because Ive heard about it for so many years and watched it. I was told to leave. And the guy was really rude, too. I wasnt able to completely see the mountains, but Im sure well see that. I keep hearing that. Tomorrow. Meyer admitted that he grew up watching the Rose Bowl and has always wanted to coach in the game. Thats something that Ive always wanted to do, Meyer explained to 247 Sports. Came close a few times, and for whatever reason, we never got hereI grew up and watched every Rose Bowl. I watched every Rose Bowl parade. I saw Archie Griffin start four seasons in a row, the only player I think to ever do that. Ohio State Is Favored Over Washington in the Rose Bowl Ohio State was in the national championship conversation but could not overcome a blowout loss to Purdue. According to OddsShark, Ohio State is a 6.5-point favorite over Washington in the Rose Bowl. The over-under is set at 57 points. The OddsShark computer projects Washington to win 34.9-34.6 in an upset. Meyer cited growing health concerns as one of the main reasons he is retiring. He noted that having Day take over makes retiring a lot easier. [Bob Stoops] was the model; he handed it off, Meyer told ESPN.com. Support staff and everybody never lost their jobs, the program is extremely strong. And more than that, youre handing off to a guy that can make it stronger. And so Im very much at peace about that. READ NEXT: Urban Meyers Health: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

https://heavy.com/sports/2019/01/is-urban-meyer-coach-rose-bowl-ohio-state/

Does Antonio Brown want to play with George Kittle and the 49ers?

Monday was a busy day for the Steelers for all the wrong reasons. On Sunday, they missed the playoffs after a 7-2-1 start. And while they beat the Bengals in Week 17, it was a sluggish effort perhaps in part because one of their best players, Antonio Brown, was sidelined with a knee injury. At least that was what the Steelers told people before the game; turns out, thanks to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac, the team benched Brown after a midweek practice blowup with a teammate. CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora identified that teammate as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Brown then went missing and by Sunday, the Steelers decided to make him inactive. The altercation that led Antonio Brown's benching last week was with Ben Roethlisberger. Im told it was fairly ugly and the WR was totally in the wrong. He went AWOL essentially for the 3rd time this season dating back to training camp Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) December 31, 2018 As La Canfora notes, drama is nothing new with Brown; he's acted out this season and in previous seasons. Which brings us to this New Year's tweet from 49ers tight end George Kittle: Kittle is one of the best tight ends in football; he finished the season with 88 receptions for 1,377 yards and five touchdowns. Brown is apparently aware of Kittle's talents because he responded 25 minutes later with this: You can take this two ways. One, Brown respects Kittle's game, and that fully explains the starstruck emoji. Two, Brown respects Kittle's game and in light of recent events would love to play with him in San Francisco. Remember: Back in Week 2, cameras caught Brown in a heated discussion with offensive coordinator Randy Fitchtner. A day later, in response to a tweet from a former Steelers' PR staffer that said, "[Brown] needs to thank his lucky stars, because he was drafted by a team that had Ben," Brown responded "Trade me, let's find out." As you might imagine, that got people's attention. And so too did this: Brown didn't show up for work the Monday after the Chiefs' game and while his agent said it was a personal matter, coach Mike Tomlin sounded like he had no idea why Brown went missing during his weekly press conference. Maybe -- but here's the issue: As PFT points out, the Steelers would be on the hook for $21.1 million in dead money if they cut or trade Brown. The team has until the fifth day of the league year, which begins in March, to come to a decision, or Brown earns a $2.5 million roster bonus. It's hard to know if Brown wants out of Pittsburgh or if he's just blowing off steam. Either way, Tomlin's team melted down over the final six weeks of the season and this seems like a fitting end to a disappointing campaign. It's also worth noting: If Brown is frustrated with what's happening in Pittsburgh how long would he last in San Francisco, where the team lost Jimmy Garoppolo two weeks into the season and he was replaced by C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/does-antonio-brown-want-to-play-with-george-kittle-and-the-49ers/

Whats the economic impact of a government shutdown?

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Scott R. Baker, Northwestern University (THE CONVERSATION) President Donald Trump and Congress are once again on the verge of (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Scott R. Baker, Northwestern University (THE CONVERSATION) President Donald Trump and Congress are once again on the verge of a partial federal government shutdown. If they fail to reach an agreement, it would be the third shutdown in two years. The immediate and most visible impact of a shutdown is in the governments day-to-day operations. Some departments and offices, like the Internal Revenue Service, would be closed, and nonessential federal employees across the government would stay home. Constantine Yannelis, a business professor at New York University, and I examined data from the 2013 government shutdown to better understand its impact. An economic speed bump While a shutdown affects the economy in a number of ways from delaying business permits and visas to reducing service hours at innumerable agencies a primary channel through which a shutdown affects the economy is through withheld or foregone pay from federal employees who dont receive their paychecks. Since consumer spending makes up about 70 percent of economic activity in the United States, withholding pay from even some government workers could introduce a significant economic speed bump in the short run. And thats exactly what we saw in 2013. Similar to the situation today, a partisan standoff in Congress led to a partial shutdown of the government that lasted a little over two weeks beginning on Oct. 1 of that year. Well over a million federal employees were affected and didnt receive a paycheck during the shutdown. Some were furloughed sent home and told not to do anything related to their job. Those deemed essential or exempted such as security personnel screening passengers at airports or border patrol agents were required to continue working at their jobs, although they were not receiving paychecks. The government eventually paid both groups the money owed them, regardless of whether they worked, after Democrats and Republicans reached an agreement on Oct. 16. My colleague Yannelis and I sought to understand how households responded by tracking how they behaved in the days leading up to, during and following the shutdown using detailed financial data. We obtained this anonymized data from a personal finance website where people track their income, expenses, savings and debt. Using the paycheck transaction descriptions, we identified over 60,000 households that contained employees of federal agencies affected by the shutdown. These affected employees included both those who were asked to work without pay and those who were furloughed. As a comparison group, we also identified over 90,000 households with a member who worked for a state government. That would likely mean they have fairly similar levels of education, experience and financial security, yet their paychecks were unaffected by the shutdown. Short-term impact on spending Our study led to two primary findings. First, we found that the shutdown led to an immediate decline in average household spending of almost 10 percent. Surprisingly, despite the fact that most federal workers have stable jobs and income sources, they were quick to cut spending on pretty much everything, from restaurants to clothing to electronics, just days after their pay was delayed. While households with less money in the bank cut their spending by larger amounts, even those with significant resources and easy access to credit reduced their expenditures. Second, households with a member who was furloughed and required to stay home from work slashed their spending more dramatically by 15 percent to 20 percent, or almost twice as much as the average of those affected. This larger decline reflected the fact that these households suddenly had a lot more time on their hands. Rather than going out to eat or paying for child care for example, they were able to spend more time cooking and watching their own children. This behavior is what tends to spread the economic effects of a shutdown that affects a slice of the population to a wider group of businesses and individuals behind Washington, D.C. And in regions with substantial numbers of federal workers, these declines in spending can greatly hurt the health of the local economy in the short run. Whether or not a shutdown has a longer-term economic impact depends on whether employees are paid their foregone wages after its conclusion and how long the shutdown lasts. In 2013, the government repaid even furloughed workers what they would have earned had the shutdown not happened. This repayment, essentially increasing the size of their first post-shutdown paychecks, had significant and immediate effects on household spending. A sudden spike in spending occurred in the days after the paychecks were disbursed, largely erasing some of the most dramatic declines in spending during the previous two weeks. The government has usually paid all its employees, essential or not, back pay after other past shutdowns, such as those in the 1990s. While Congress is legally required to pay federal employees who worked during the shutdown, theres no law requiring the same treatment for nonessential workers. In addition, the longer the shutdown lasts, the worse its impact. Households might deplete savings or hit their credit card limits as the impasse stretches day after day, giving them additional time to adjust their spending in ways that they could not do with only a few days notice. For instance, in 2013, bills for health insurance or tuition payments were largely unaffected. Had that shutdown persisted, households may have started to cut back here as well. So if Congress refuses to offer furloughed workers back pay and the shutdown lasts weeks rather than days, the economic impact could be severe. However, if a shutdown is resolved in a relatively short amount of time, with workers being paid back their regular income, the damage would likely be fairly contained. This is an updated version of an article originally published on Jan. 19, 2018. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: http://theconversation.com/whats-the-economic-impact-of-a-government-shutdown-109182. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

https://wtop.com/government/2018/12/whats-the-economic-impact-of-a-government-shutdown/

Will NFL investigate Steelers for overt lying on injury report?

AP Violations of the rules regarding injury reporting usually happen when a team conceals a players health issue. Rarely does anyone get in trouble for reporting a fake injury, or for exaggerating a mild one. The Steelers land in that unusual category, if Mondays Antonio Brown bombshell is accurate (and theres no reason to think it isnt). So apart from the question of what the Steelers will do about Brown, its important to ask what the NFL will do about the Steelers. As one league source has observed, overt lying on the injury report is a much bigger problem than Browns antics, because shenanigans with the injury report speak to competitive issues, about which the league office should be very concerned. Its unknown whether the league office actually is concerned or will take action; the NFL has not responded to an inquiry from PFT regarding the situation. Whatever happens and however it plays out, the Keith Butler/Tyler Eifert coverup suddenly pales in comparison to what apparently was a deliberate decision to hide the dysfunction by brushing off Browns absence from practice and from Sundays game as the product of an injury, when in fact there was no injury or at a minimum no injury that would keep Brown from playing. The motive for hiding the truth is obvious. The Steelers didnt want yet another distraction or disruption as they faced a must-win game. And if word had emerged that Brown had: (1) thrown a football at Ben Roethlisberger; (2) stormed out of practice; and (3) not shown up for practice on Thursday or Friday, it would have been a HUGE distraction and disruption from preparations for Week 17. The huge distraction and disruption has now arrived, but the Steelers have nothing else to currently do. Coach Mike Tomlin will still have to address the situation, since his end-of-season press conference will happen on Wednesday. Unless he decides to not show up.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/01/01/will-nfl-investigate-steelers-for-overt-lying-on-injury-report/

Was bringt das neue Jahr?

Vergangenes Jahr hat sich in sterreich Einiges getan - vor allem auf politischer Ebene wurde umgebaut. Auswirkungen zeigen sich bereits, denn ab 1. Jnner gelten einige Gesetze und Neuerungen. Auerdem stehen 2019 einige Wahlen an. Eine der Neuerungen ist die Ehe fr alle. Ab sofort knnen auch gleichgeschlechtliche Paare in sterreich heiraten. Umgekehrt knnen auch Mann und Frau knftig in einer eingetragenen Partnerschaft leben. ORF Rauchen erst ab 18 erlaubt Rauchen ist in sterreich knftig erst ab 18 Jahren erlaubt. Die Altersgrenze wird von 16 auf 18 angehoben - das gilt auch fr den Kauf und Konsum von harten alkoholischen Getrnken. Im Burgenland gelten diese Bestimmungen - im Gegensatz zu anderen Bundeslndern - ab sofort - mehr dazu in Rauchen ab 18: Umstellung der Automaten. Voller Familienbonus erst ab 1.700 Euro Einkommen Neu ist auch der Familienbonus. Konkret handelt es sich dabei um eine Steuererleichterung fr Familien um bis zu 1.500 Euro pro Kind und Jahr. Voraussetzung ist aber, dass man genug verdient. Elternteile die 1.700 Euro brutto oder mehr verdienen, bekommen den vollen Familienbonus. Menschen, die weniger verdienen und damit weniger Steuern bezahlen, bekommen auch weniger Familienbonus. Einschnitte bei der Familienbeihilfe soll es knftig fr jene Menschen geben, die in sterreich arbeiten, deren Kinder aber im Ausland leben. Die Beihilfe soll an die Lebenserhaltungskosten jener Lnder angepasst werden, in denen die Kinder leben. Ob diese Regelung hlt, wird die EU entscheiden. ORF Neues Waffengesetz Auch ein neues Waffengesetz tritt heuer in Kraft. Magazine mit groer Kapazitt sind ab heute verboten, Schalldmpfer fr Jger erlaubt - mehr dazu in Jger wollen Schalldmpfer frs Gewehr. Zudem drfen Asylwerber keine Messer mehr bei sich haben. Das Jahr 2019 bringt auch Neuerungen fr Autofahrer: Automatisiertes Fahren soll ausgebaut werden, das Befahren der Rettungsgasse wird zum Vormerkdelikt und Schummeln bei der Fhrerscheinprfung wird knftig strenger geahndet. ORF Einheitliche Kriterien fr Schulreife Neuerungen gibt es auch im Schulbereich. In Form eines Pilotprojekts sollen erstmals einheitliche Kriterien dafr gelten, ob ein Kind als schulreif eingestuft wird. Neue Mittelschulen heien knftig nur mehr Mittelschulen und fr Volksschlerinnen und Volksschler gibt es ab Herbst 2019 ab der zweiten Klasse wieder Ziffernnoten. Nur mehr fnf Sozialversicherungstrger 2019 soll auch die viel diskutierte Krankenkassenreform umgesetzt werden. Aus 21 Sozialversicherungstrgern werden fnf. Der grte Umbau betrifft die Gebietskrankenkassen: Aus derzeit neun soll eine sterreichischen Gesundheitskasse werden. Gelten soll die neue Kassenstruktur ab 2020. Europa- und Arbeiterkammerwahl 2019 wird auch ein Wahljahr. Die Burgenlnderinnen und Burgenlnder knnen am 26. Mai bei der Europawahl und Ende Mrz bei der Arbeiterkammerwahl mitstimmen. Bei der Europawahl geht es fr sterreich um 19 Abgeordnetensitze. Bei der Wahl 2014 erreichte die VP 27 Prozent und fnf Mandate, die SP 24 Prozent und ebenso fnf Mandate. Die FP bekam 20 Prozent und vier Mandate, die Grnen kamen auf 15 Prozent und drei Sitze und die NEOS auf acht Prozent und einen Sitz. Der einzige burgenlndische Europa-Abgeordnete, Michel Reimon von den Grnen, kandidiert nicht mehr - mehr dazu in Reimon tritt nicht mehr bei EU-Wahl an. ORF Die Arbeiterkammerwahl findet im Burgenland von 20. Mrz bis 2. April statt. Bei der Wahl 2014 hatte die FSG im Burgenland die Mehrheit ausgebaut: Sie blieb mit 72 Prozent die mit Abstand strkste Kraft. Dahinter folgten der AAB/FCG mit rund 17 Prozent und die kleineren Fraktionen, die auch in der Vollversammlung sind: die Freiheitlichen Arbeitnehmer mit sieben und die Alternativen/Unabhngigen/Grnen mit rund drei Prozent. Studenten whlen ihre Vertretung Von 27. bis 29. Mai whlen knnen die Studentinnen und Studenten bei der Wahl der sterreichischen Hochschlerschaft mitstimmen. Im Bundesland Salzburg gibt es zuvor im Mrz Brgermeister- und Gemeinderatswahlen. Im Herbst finden in Vorarlberg Landtagswahlen statt - 2020 sind dann das Burgenland, die Steiermark und Wien mit Landtagswahlen an der Reihe. Doskozil wird zum Landeshauptmann gewhlt Im burgenlndischen Landtag soll am 28. Februar der Wechsel von Landesrat Hans Peter Doskozil (SP) zum Nachfolger von Landeshauptmann Hans Niessl (SP) ber die Bhne gehen. Doskozil soll mit den Stimmen der SP-Abgeordneten und der freiheitlichen Abgeordneten in diese neue Funktion gewhlt werden - mehr dazu in Landeshauptmannwechsel am 28. Februar 2019.

https://burgenland.orf.at/news/stories/2956129/

Is A3 the 'sweet spot' size for printed material?

Research by a top human behaviour psychologist found A3 prints were really more impactful than A4. But it wasn't just by a whisker the results of the study found images were up to 66 per cent more memorable. Professor Richard Wiseman, from the University of Hertfordshire, undertook controlled experiments to find out if print size has an impact on how people respond to adverts and material such as charts and spreadsheets and says he suspects A3 is probably the "sweet spot" size for prints. The findings showed that people find products and services 43% more likeable and 30% better value for money when viewing them in A3. Adverts become 66% more memorable and 47% more impactful if they were printed in A3 rather than A4. Data was rather less at 22 per cent, but data rarely looks fantastic at any size, after all. Psychological knock-on effects Professor Wiseman commented that "you would perhaps expect an advert to have more impact in A3 over A4, but the psychological knock-on effects are really interesting, and they are not trivial. What struck me most was the size of the effects. "I expect if you went to really large sizes the benefit may not be there. My gut feeling is that A3 would be a sweet spot, but I have no data for that." Pressed if it was just because A3 prints basically looked better, he added "it's certainly more persuasive. We don't know there hasn't been much research so this is one of the key pieces of work out there. "What's interesting is that visual impact translates to a psychological impact. The relatively small difference in size has a huge impact."

https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/computing-components/peripherals/is-a3-the-sweet-spot-size-for-printed-material-1076774

What's next for Northwestern after the 31-20 win against Utah in the Holiday Bowl?

Northwestern fans were feeling plenty of angst as Utah built a 20-3 lead in the Holiday Bowl. But that didnt compare to their level of freak-out regarding the possibility that the Packers would make a run at coach Pat Fitzgerald, potentially tearing the heart from the program. So given what transpired in the final hours of a wet and windy Monday night in San Diego, this was Northwestern nirvana. The Wildcats forced five second-half turnovers to flip the game, with Utah coach Kyle Whittingham describing it as a natural disaster: It was like a landslide. The floodgates opened. And then after his team completed its 31-20 victory to finish 9-5, Fitzgerald said this to the diehards that remained in SDCCU Stadium: Im not going anywhere. This is home forever. Home forever. Happy New Year, Northwestern fans. Here are three thoughts as the Wildcats transition to 2019: 1. The bar has been raised. Northwestern students were once so satisfied by a single victory, they would tear down the goalposts at Dyche Stadium. Gary Barnett took the Purple to Pasadena and won an additional Big Ten championship before flaming out. Randy Walker adopted a wildly entertaining no-huddle spread offense. Fitzgerald raised the floor, earning nine bowl trips in 11 years. And his 2018 team broke through to win the Big Ten West by three games and acquit itself well in Indianapolis. I feel we laid the groundwork for national titles in the future, quarterback Clayton Thorson told FS1s Jenny Taft on the field. READ MORE: Northwestern turns the tide with a 28-point 3rd quarter to beat Utah 31-20 in the Holiday Bowl Said receiver Riley Lees: A win like this, it motivates everybody. It makes us want more. We won the West and thats the bar now. We have to keep going. From Fitzgerald: Coach Barnett got this thing turned. Coach Walker had it going. You look back a handful of years ago, we were able to get that monkey off our back, getting the first bowl win. Now it's become a consistent theme of our program, becoming champions. 2. Coach Fitz is NUs ultimate ambassador. Duh. This is not new. But nights like this re-emphasize it. Asked if his statement on the field should put the kibosh on the NFL rumors, Fitzgerald replied he would rather talk about the players who completed one of the craziest comebacks in school history. Fitzgerald later said of Northwestern and himself: Weve made long-term commitments to each other now. We have miles to go. Were far from the finished product as a program. Thats my job. Im going to keep developing the best and brightest guys in the world. Those close to Fitzgerald would not have been surprised if he had opted to interview with Packers CEO Mark Murphy, the man who elevated him to head coach at Northwestern. To many, reporting to work on Lombardi Avenue and coaching Aaron Rodgers would be a dream job. But Fitzgerald has it pretty good in Evanston, too: His team just won the Big Ten West. NUs facilities are state of the art. He has a good relationship with his athletic director and school president. He makes, by some accounts, more than $4 million a year. Next years presumed starting quarterback, Hunter Johnson, is a former five-start recruit. He lives on the outskirts of Chicago, the city he adores. He loves saying, Go Cats! And he does not detest recruiting. Shoot, he might actually enjoy it. I was texting with our 2020 recruits earlier today, he said, telling them: Were on FS1, Happy New Year, make good choices. They said: Get the dub. There were emojis back and forth. Its a pathetic life we live as coaches. He laughed. Im sure they were all watching, he said. Guys want to be a part of this. Theres as much momentum as weve ever had. 3. NU cannot afford to start slow in 2019. The Wildcats open at Stanford on Aug. 31. After a week off and a visit from UNLV, Michigan State comes to Ryan Field. Then its at Wisconsin, at Nebraska and home for Ohio State on a Friday night. The Wildcats learned this season that anything is possible, including a Big Ten West title following a 1-3 start and a bowl victory over a solid Pac-12 team when down 20-3 at halftime. But they might want to go at it more conventionally next season. Start strong, finish strong. That will be the goal, anyway. [email protected] Twitter @TeddyGreenstein Packers reportedly will seek to interview Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald for head coach position Adam Cushing's new staff at Eastern Illinois will have a major Northwestern influence

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-northwestern-looking-ahead-20181231-story.html?src=rss

Why are state lawmakers convening in Harrisburg on New Year's Day?

HARRISBURG State lawmakers are convening in the Pennsylvania Capitol on New Year's Day to take the oath of office under a state constitutional mandate that they meet on the first Tuesday of the year. Forty-two new House members and seven new senators are being sworn in today after winning election in November. Both chambers will have smaller but still substantial Republican majorities in the coming two-year session, 110 to 93 in the House and 29 to 21 in the Senate. There are two vacancies among the 93 House Democratic seats. A Republican senator is expected to step down and be sworn in to Congress later this week. The biggest change in leadership is in the House, where Rep. Bryan Cutler is taking over as majority leader.

https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-pa-lawmakers-new-years-day-swearing-in-20190101-story.html

Are These The Best Live Albums Ever?

We love a live album - here are some of the very best gigs caught on vinyl. Oasis - Familiar To Millions Recorded on 21 July 2000 at Wembley Stadium, Familiar To Millions was the first live album from Oasis, and included huge performances of Champagne Supernova, Wonderwall and Don't Look Back In Anger. An immense sound. The Rolling Stones - Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! Released in 1970, this official Stones album was seen as a response to the famous bootleg, Liv'r Than You'll Ever Be and charts their acclaimed return to live performance in the US after a few years on hiatus. Best bit: the lengthy take on Midnight Rambler. "Charlie's good tonight, innee?" says Mick - and hes right. The Smiths - Rank Released a year after the legendary Mancunian band called it a day, this is a testament to their versatility on stage. Recorded at Londons Kilburn Ballroom on the Queen Is Dead tour, this LP opens with the title track, complete with Morrissey ad-libs and Marr and Joyce going crazy. Theres a sweet medley of Rusholme Ruffians and the soundalike Elvis song His Latest Flame, expert renditions of Ask, Panic and The Boy With The Thorn In His Side and a rare outing for the instrumental Draize Train. U2 - Under A Blood Red Sky The Irish bands 1983 release features three shows from their War Tour in Boston, Germany and their famous show at Colorado's Red Rocks ampitheatre. The recording - which features a powerful performance of Sunday Bloody Sunday - cemented their status as a huge live act and put them in the big league. Nirvana - MTV Unplugged In New York Kurt Cobain's suicide in 1994 sent this recording into the stratosphere. His performance of David Bowies The Man Who Sold The World flashed around the world soon after his death, making this an essential purchase for mourning fans. LCD Soundsystem - The Long Goodbye Live Album The album, which charts LCD Soundsystem's last gig at Madison Square Garden accompanied their documentary film Shut Up And Play The Hits: The Very Loud Ending Of LCD Soundsystem. And then they got back together. Doh! Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense Accompanied by Jonathan "Silence Of The Lambs" Demme's concert film, this classic kicks off with a David Byrne solo version of Psycho Killer, then just gets better and better, The album featured on the Billboard 200 for over two years and rightly so. The Who - Live At Leeds The Who's first live album still remains their most famous yet, and a plaque at the University of Leeds commemorates the date it was recorded at the Refectory on 14 February 1970, calling it "the most celebrated live album of its generation". Pretty loud. Muse - HAARP (Live at Wembley) Muse's HAARP album documents the first sold-out show at the then all-new Wembley Stadium in 2007. HAARP stands for High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, a US government-funded ionospheric research program in Gakona, Alaska. The band dressed their shows at Wembley to imitate the HAARP, suiting Matt Bellamy's interests in UFOs and and conspiracy theories. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live At Monterey The legendary rock guitarist plays the event that kick started the rock festival as we know it. Jimi smashes through the classics - Hey Joe, Foxy Lady, Purple Haze, Wild Thing - and sets his guitar on fire, literally, A ridiculously brilliant example of musicianship and showmanship. Joy Division - Preston 28 February 1980 Either the best live album ever recorded or the worst. Tony Wilson loved this live bootleg so much, he gave it an official release. A recording of bad night at a crappy Northern club where technical problems almost threaten to sink the whole gig, but once the amps are fixed, the band absolutely nail it. Interesting as a fly-on-the-wall document of one of Britains most enigmatic bands, and worth it for all the Ian Curtis chat. David Bowie - Stage Our man had a previous live album out in the early 70s (the wimpily-titled David Live), but this catches him in the classic, cool period of the Isolar World Tour of 1978. Originally available on fluorescent yellow vinyl, the two LP set kicks off with some hits, moves to the icy sounds of Station To Station on side 2, gets moody on Side 3 with some Low instrumentals and showcases the then-new Heroes album on side 4. So cool.

https://www.radiox.co.uk/features/best-live-albums-ever/

Whats the meaning behind these classic album titles?

Not always. Some titles have a deep significance. Queen - A Night At The Opera According to Brian May, the title of Queens fourth studio album was inspired by recording Freddie Mercurys operatic interlude on Bohemian Rhapsody, and then switching on the TV in the residential studio they were recording in and seeing The Marx Brothers classic 1935 comedy A Night At The Opera. As Brian says, the penny dropped and it seemed the obvious thing to call the new LP. When Queen finished their follow-up, A Day At The Races, it was immediately titled after the brothers 1937 movie. The Marx Brothers in A Night At The Opera. Picture: Movie Poster Image Art/Getty Images The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come There must be Smiths fans out there in the world that dont know that Strangeways is the commonly used name for Her Majestys Prison on Southall Street, Manchester M60. The jail was built on the grounds of Strangeways Park in 1868 and by 1980 was a destination for remand prisoners. After the controversy over The Smiths previous album title, The Queen Is Dead, Morrissey considered that he would ultimately end up behind bars for treason. Prisoners on the roof at Strangeways in 1990. Picture: Tom Stoddart/Getty Images Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, Thats What Im Not The classic debut takes its title from Alan Sillitoes 1958 novel Saturday Night And Sunday Morning. An example of the angry young man work of the era, the story features 21-year-old anti-hero Arthur Seaton and an evening in the pub that rapidly unravels thanks to his shenanigans with two married women. The themes of impetuous youth are similar to Alex Turners lyrics as Arthur (plyaed by Albert Finney) cries: Whatever people say I am, that's what I'm not because they don't know a bloody thing about me! God knows what I am. Albert Finney in Saturday Night, Sunday Morning. from a track with the same name on George Harrisons 1973 album Living In The Material World. American spiritual guru Ram Dass wrote a book called Remember, Be Here Now in 1971. The phrase essentially concerns the idea that thinking about the past or the future means the person loses focus on the only thing that is real: the here and now. Baba Ram Dass. Picture: Robert Altman/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Beatles - Rubber Soul According to Paul McCartney, plastic soul was a term used by black musicians in the early 1960s to describe the faux R&B music produced by white singers, such as himself, Mick Jagger and many more. According to Beatles chronicler Mark Lewisohn, he mentioned this on tape after the Fabs had recorded a take of their own plastic soul classic Im Down, in 1965. When the band were looking for a title for their next LP, they put a twist on this phrase. The Beatles - Rubber Soul cover. Picture: Apple/Universal The Killers - Sams Town Brandon Flowers quartet hails from Las Vegas, Nevada and Sams Town is a casino and hotel that resides at 5111 Boulder Highway. Opened in 1979, the casino was designed to attract local, rather than tourist, trade and the venues sign was visible through bassist Mark Stoermers childhood bedroom window. With the band huge Anglophiles, they liked the idea of creating their own mystique about their hometown, the same way New Order and The Smiths did with Manchester. Las Vegas casino. Picture: Getty Images David Bowie - Low After recording the epic Station To Station in late 1975, Bowie had grown weary of the unhealthy atmosphere of Los Angeles and sought to clean out his mind and body by keeping his head down in Berlin. The next album he made was a nod to the fact that hed effectively kept out of the public eye for the best part of a year. The cover forms a visual pun: the title, plus a shot of Bowie from the film The Man Who Fell To Earth, showing the musician in profile = Low Profile. David Bowie - Low cover. Picture: Amazon Suede - Dog Man Star Brett Anderson and cos 1994 album was titled in tribute to avant garde filmaker Stan Brakhages series of short films: Dog Star Man. Made between 1961 and 1964, the shorts feature abstract imagery with no soundtrack and appear to tell a story of birth, life and death, with the director himself appearing as a woodsman with an axe, climbing up a mountain. Suede - Dog Man Star cover. Picture: Amazon AC/DC - Back In Black On 19 February 1980, AC/DCs singer Bon Scott died from acute alcohol poisoning and asphyxiation after a night of heavy drinking while out on the town in London. The band had already started work on the follow-up to 1979s hugely popular album Highway To Hell. When it finally arrived in July 1980, Acca Dacca had a new singer, Brian Johnson, but the title and cover depicted a band in mourning for their lost comrade. AC/DC in 1980. Picture: Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Radiohead - OK Computer According to Thom Yorke, the title of the bands massive 1997 album came from a trip to Japan. On a visit to a record shop he heard a kid shout the phrase loudly at them. He then got the entire crowd to shout it with him, which Thom recorded on tape. The phrase reflected the records themes of modern life and accepting the presence of technology into your world. Radiohead - OK Computer. Picture: Amazon R.E.M. - Automatic For The People Much of R.E.M.s work is rooted in their hometown of Athens, Georgia and the title of their hugely-popular 1992 album is no exception. Weaver Ds Delicious Fine Foods had been serving soul food since 1986 and their slogan Automatic For The People inspired Michael Stipe. The shop looked like it was going to close at the end of 2013, but thankfully its celebrating it's still going. R.E.M. in 1993. Picture: Michel Linssen/Redferns/Getty Images Joy Division - Closer If you pronounce the title of the Manchester bands second album with a Z (ie Clozer), youd be forgiven that they knew it would be their final outing before the death of singer Ian Curtis. But its not pronounced like that. As guitarist Bernard Sumner has pointed out, the group werent overly happy with producer Martin Hannetts spacious and abstract work on their debut Unknown Pleasures. They felt the follow-up was CLOSER to the rockier sound they wanted. Joy Division - Closer. Picture: Amazon

https://www.radiox.co.uk/features/x-lists/meaning-behind-classic-album-titles/

Is the end of Netflix's golden age in sight?

Streaming pioneer Netflixs first mover advantage has taken it to nearly 150m global subscribers but serious competition is now coming as traditional media companies and Silicon Valley rivals fight back. Disney, with the might of its super franchises from Marvel to Pixar and Star Wars, is set to join the fray with its own streaming service, Disney+. The worlds largest entertainment group is banking on its content clout to help make its relatively late entry into the market a success. AT&T-owned WarnerMedia is also prepping a service that will include content from HBO, Turner and the Warner Bros film studio. WarnerMedia has not been as combative as Disney in pulling content from Netflix. But Netflixs willingness to pay $100m (78m) to keep Friends for one more year at which point WarnerMedia will have to decide whether to keep it exclusively for its own service highlights the value of crowd-pulling content and the problems Netflix could face if media companies reassess their content strategies. Netflix previously paid $30m a year for Friends, which has proven one of its biggest hits globally. Netflix is facing increased competition from some of its previous content suppliers, said Richard Broughton, an analyst at Ampere Analysis. Despite its major focus on original content the company is still hugely reliant on licensed content for subscribers and that carries risks. Ampere estimates that Netflix original productions in the US make up only about 8% of the hours of content available in its vast library, and 9% in the UK. A further 5% of hours is labelled as original by Netflix because it airs it first, but is actually acquired from content suppliers, such as Star Trek: Discovery. Individually any one of the big Hollywood studio groups does not make up a huge proportion of Netflixs catalogue, maybe 4% or 5% of total hours, says Broughton. If one or two pull their content Netflix can plug the gap. But if the market gets more aggressive against Netflix, it is going to get tougher. Netflix is already facing off against Amazons Prime Video, a global rival with ambitious plans including a Lord of The Rings extravaganza. A rattled Netflix upped its content budget by 50%, from $8bn to $12bn, when Amazon announced it would spend $5bn this year. But Amazon could easily outspend rivals: its market valueis six times bigger than Netflix and 4.5 times the size of Disney. Netflix will also be looking over its shoulder at Apple, which is widely expected to launch a global streaming service this year. The content arms race is costing Netflix dear. The company expects a negative free cash flow of $3bn-$4bn this year meaning the amount its spends on content, marketing and other costs in 2018 will exceed what it earns from subscribers by at least $3bn. Netflix keeps turning to debt markets to top up the funds it needs to continue to feed film and TV content to the binge-watching generation it helped create its net debt was $8.34bn at the end of September, up over 70% year-on-year. Netflix built its reputation and audiences from expensive dramas, such as The Crown. It has recently started to focus on cheaper, yet popular, unscripted shows snapping up Channel 4 reality show The Circle to make it in multiple markets with Netflix CEO Reed Hastings highlighting the value of such fare. Unscripted television has always been a hugely profitable sector, says Lucas Green, head of content at Banijay Group, maker of shows including Survivor, Temptation Island and Wife Swap. Drama has always got the headlines and red carpet treatment. Yet game shows, quiz, reality TV, dating, baking and talent shows are highly returnable, faster to produce, more cost efficient and therefore lower risk. Netflix is also facing pressure outside the US, which is increasingly nearing peak Netflix, for the next cycle of growth. Well over 80% of the new subscribers added by Netflix in the third quarter came from outside the US. Sign up to the daily Business Today email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk The company has been very bullish on the prospects of the Asia-Pacific region, particularly India. But Netflixs pricing makes it a premium service compared with pay-TV and streaming rivals in many of these new markets and it may have to cut prices meaning it will need more subscribers. Broughton reckons it is Amazon: If I had to put my money somewhere it would have to be on Amazon. Amazon has the deepest pockets. Its catalogue is by far the largest, even if a lot of the content is quite old, and it has been exploring sports rights and other areas other players arent.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jan/01/is-this-the-end-of-netflixs-golden-age

When does the January transfer window open and close in 2019?

Arsenal are likely to make some moves in the transfer window (Picture: Getty Images) We are into January and the transfer window is open once again for Premier League clubs. The window swung open on the morning of New Years Day and we are now set for a month of endless transfer rumours, and some actual deals being made. How Arsenal responded to Liverpool thrashing against Fulham There will be teams at both ends of the table looking to strengthen as some look to push on in their title challenge and others aim to bolster their squad in the relegation battle. Here are the dates for the January transfer window in the Premier League and across Europe. Deals can be completed from Tuesday 1 January at 12.01am. Advertisement Advertisement The transfer window closes at 11pm on Thursday 31 January 2019. Pep Guardiola will have money to spend at Manchester City (Picture: Getty Images) European transfer window dates France: 1 31 January Spain: 2 31 January Germany: 1 31 January Italy: 3 18 January Russia: 23 Jan 22 Feb Switzerland: 16 Jan 15 Feb Turkey: 4 31 January MORE: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer considering two up top for Manchester United following Romelu Lukaku return MORE: Sergio Aguero backs Manchester City to beat Liverpool in must-win clash

https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/01/january-transfer-window-open-close-2019-8299702/

Which Love Island couples are still together?

For some, Love Island was the answer to finding true love. For others, it was just a holiday romance. Find out what happened to all the Love Island contestants below. Love Island: 2018 Samira and Frankie SPLIT Although we didnt get to see much of their relationship on screen, Samira and Frankie were super loved up. So much so that she didnt want to continue her Love Island journey without him, and she walked once hed been voted out. The two made it boyfriend/girlfriend official but sadly, in August, they called time on their relationship. In a statement to RadioTimes.com, a representative for Samira said that she would be taking some time out from her relationship with Frankie to focus on herself and future work opportunities. They have spoken in depth about the recent events and Samira feels a break for now is the best thing for both of them so they can see what the future holds. Footage posted online appeared to show Frankie getting up close and personal with a girl at a nightclub in Kent during a personal appearance. However, neither Frankie or Samira have so far addressed the reports directly online. Jack and Dani TOGETHER Earlier in December, an Instagram post from Dani announced the Love Island 2018 winners had broken up. Jack & I have sadly decided to part ways, she said. Its been an incredible 6 months, and we will always have a place in our hearts for each other, but sadly weve come to the realisation that its not meant to be long term. We both plan to stay friends. I hope youll all understand. Love Dani x However, since then Danis dad Danny Dyer has come out with a different story, assuring Jonathan Ross on his ITV talk show Jon, theyve had a row. Theyve had a row, shes got a bit emotional and I think she has whacked that [message] up and immediately regretted it. You know what women are like Im just saying she got a little bit irate, screaming and shouting, the ultimate way to punish him maybe. I dont know what was going on but I can tell you now, theyre sweet Theyre sweet as. Theyve had a little argument as we all do, we all have tear ups. Dont declare nothing to the world, Ive told her this. That was my bit of fatherly advice. It is okay, it is all sweet. During the series, the pair made it official, said they loved each other and even decided to move in together. In August, they confirmed that they had taken the plunge by showing fans around their new home. On her Instagram stories, Dani shared a selfie with the caption: Finally moving into our new home. Shortly after they left the villa, Jack even went so far as to say that the pair even planned to MARRY in 2019. In an interview with The Sun, he said: Were getting married next year, 100 per cent. Like my mum said to me so many times, When you know about someone, you just know. And now I know what shes talking about. I just know thats what we want to do. However, the pair were soon reported to be on rocky ground after a source told The Sun that their relationship was under strain following a series of rows. Theyve been at each others necks for a few weeks now, the insider revealed. But the more projects Dani takes on, the less time she spends with Jack, so tensions between them are mounting. A lot is riding on them staying together as they continue to film their reality series but Dani may not have the patience to stay in the relationship for much longer. The rumour mill was fuelled when Dani wrote Thank u, next, in a now-deleted tweet, in reference to Ariana Grandes song about her exes. At the time the couple slapped down any split speculation by posting a series of loved-up snaps whilst holidaying in Rome. Laura and Paul SPLIT Laura and Paul finished second on Love Island, and since leaving the villa posted several loved-up pictures on Instagram with the not-so-catchy nickname Paura. However, the couple never made it girlfriend/boyfriend official, and eventually called time on the relationship. In an interview with OK! Magazine Laura revealed her regrets over the break-up, which occurred after Paul returned from Burning Man festival. I was hoping that when he came back [from holiday] wed spend more time together and build a proper relationship out of the villa. It didnt happen, she revealed. Paul told The Sun: We werent compatible for each other. I knew I had to be 100 per cent sure about it because you know the next person youre with could potentially be youre wife; you dont want to be unsure about it. He added: We arent friends now we havent spoken, it is a sore subject. But I told her I would be there for her if she needed me. Kaz and Josh TOGETHER Kaz and Josh, who placed third on Love Island, have also been busy on Instagram. Josh posted that finding love has never been so easy, while Kaz captioned the same image on her account with: 3rd place with my dreamy boyfriend I could not be more grateful. Ladies dont settle for less then you deserve there is someone out there who will look at you like this. Hilariously, she also tagged her pic #teamsmug. These two are made for each other! And five months on, theyre still going strong Megan and Wes TOGETHER After leaving the villa, fourth placed couple Megan and Wes or Wegan as theyre more affectionately known are also still going strong. Wes wrote that they were both so happy to be able to carry on this amazing love story outside in the real world, and that he was flying home from Mallorca with the most beautiful girlfriend by my side. And the two look very loved up in the Christmas special Jack and Laura SPLIT There were signs of trouble in paradise early on for New Jack and New Laura. Appearing on Lorraine a week or so after leaving Love Island, Jack said that although they are not in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, we are exclusively dating. The pair faced questions in August after Laura shared a quote on Instagram that led some fans to ask whether the pair were still together, and shortly after the couple confirmed the split in an interview with Metro.co.uk. Sadly Jack and I have both decided to go our separate ways due to such busy schedules right now and not having the time to spend together, Laura said. [I] feel truly blessed to have got to share my Love Island experience with him and to have made a friend for life. We will carry on supporting each other on this journey and I cant wait to see where it takes us. Georgia and Sam SPLIT These two had countless ups and downs during their time in the villa before eventually deciding to follow their hearts by refusing to recouple and instead leaving the show together. They made it official on Good Morning Britain (who said romance was dead?) and decided to move in together, sharing Instagram stories of their new little pad in recent days. Now thats loyalty for you. When you are so excited to move into the new pad Sam had to shut me up with the papers pic.twitter.com/IwODGxYxXD Georgia Steel (@georgia_steel) August 16, 2018 But the path to true love never did run smooth, with the pair abruptly splitting just hours after they put on a loved-up display at the ITV Palooza in October. Sam announced the sad news on Twitter that the couple had decided to go their separate ways, but did not give any further details. Im devastated to announce me and Georgia have split up for reasons I cant bring myself to comment on at the moment. As always I wish her all the best Sam Bird (@SamRobertBird) October 17, 2018 Georgia also confirmed the split on her Instagram story. But the couple have since been engaged in a war of words over exactly what happened. Sam claims Georgia was unfaithful with her ex, Georgia claims she went to a former boyfriends house and stayed over in the spare room. Now, Sam has elaborated on his side of the story, stating his Love Island girlfriend was leading a double life. Georgia told me she stayed with a friend after being at a PA, she said she came home and then went back out to a friends but that didnt seem plausible, he told The Sun. I looked at her phone and found messages she sent to her mates and one of them had a selfie of her in bed with her ex and she put the word oops and joked about it and I thought thats not right. My gut feeling was found to be true. Shes not the person I thought she was. Charlie and Ellie SPLIT It all started so well. Charlie and Ellie wasted no time in jetting off for a holiday. Just weeks after leaving the villa together, the pair were already enjoying alone time in Monaco on a fancy boat. Then a report on Mail Online alleged that the pair had a huge row at the filming of Love Island: the Reunion A source told the publication: Producers were forced to cut his microphone off after he threatened to embarrass her and walk off the show. He had been out drinking with Frankie Foster and they had a huge row. They looked incredibly frosty throughout the programme. Things were so bad that they went home in separate cars after the wrap party later that night. Things arent looking good. The couple have since confirmed their split, with Charlie writing on his Instagram Story: Just to inform you all, Ellie and I have decided to part ways. I wish her the best! In her own Instagram story, Ellie said that although she wasnt the perfect girlfriend, she adored Charlie from the bottom of my heart. She added: I know everybody is waiting for a comment from me on this whole situation but I really just dont know what to say. Adam and Zara TOGETHER Lets be honest it didnt seem likely that Adam was going to find love on Love Island. But thats exactly whats happened! Hes now happily coupled up with Zara after reuniting together on the outside, and the pair are still boyfriend and girlfriend. And looking very loved up Love Island: 2017 Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies SPLIT Aside from the odd recoupling drama, Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies seemed to be the perfect match. It was no surprise that the pair won the hearts of the nation and were voted Love Island winners, scooping (and then fairly splitting) the 50,000 prize money. But sadly in December the two announced they had parted ways. With sadness, weve decided to separate. Our schedules made it difficult. Well remain good friends, a statement said. Since then, Kem has joked it could be second time lucky and that he wouldnt mind another summer in the villa. Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Jewitt TOGETHER After a string of unsuccessful dates and a break up with Jonny Mitchell after that feminism row, it looked like Camilla was destined to be unlucky in love. And then a whole 31 days after she entered the villa, in came Jamie Jewitt. The pair quickly became a favourite with fans and ended up finishing the series as runners-up. Were pleased to say the pair are still as loved-up as ever, even going into business together: Jamilla is for keeps. Chris Hughes and Olivia Attwood SPLIT These two were on and off more than a light switch during their time in the villa, and since leaving Love Island things havent been all that dissimilar. The pair starred in their own ITVBe spin-off called Chris and Olivia: Crackin On in which they rowed, rowed and rowed again until they finally parted ways. Since confirming their split, Olivia hinted there could be a potential reconciliation some time down the line. I still protest that Chris and I is the greatest love story and there is yet to be more chapters, she has said. But any chance of that happening is pretty much dead and buried after the pair became embroiled in a bitter Twitter spat. After supporting Love Island series four pal Sam Bird following his break-up with Georgia Steel, Chris made a comment which Olivia saw as a dig. Calling him a bitter ex on social media, Chris quickly hit back plugging Olivias appearance on E4s Celebs Go Dating. Hard to work out So my ex has made digs at me every month since we split; I say ONE thing supporting a friend about deja vu and Im bitter apparently I think the comments on her tweet justifies it all. some people eyy. Anyway! Celebs go Dating on at 9pm. Tune in. Chris Hughes (@chrishughes_22) October 21, 2018 But Olivia chose to clap back to Chris and couldnt help labelling him as bitter once again, before claiming he was after a spot on the show. Also Thanks for the @CelebsGoDating shout out too, very big of you, when everyone knows you were in that office the day before me, asking for the job Olivia Jade Attwood (@oliviajade_att) October 21, 2018 Chris then retweeted a comment about ignoring toxic people. Seems the love between these two is very much lost. Marcel Somerville and Gabby Allen SPLIT After dating for nearly a year, the shock news came in May 2018 that Marcel and Gabby had broken up. And no, we cant believe it either. Sad face. After rumours of cheating, a rep for Marcel said: Sadly the rumours are true, Gabby and Marcel have split up. Marcel cant really defend his actions as he knows he did wrong and will regret it forever. Marcel is upset that he broke the heart of someone he loves and someone that he shared so many special moments with, but with all the good times there are difficult times, and sadly Marcel and Gabby had been in a bad place at this stage. Gabby was a special part of Marcels life, and he hopes one day she can find it in herself to forgive him. He knows what he did was wrong and is extremely sad about how he has hurt Gabby. Meanwhile, Gabby shared a tweet saying she was in shock at what had happened. Montana Brown and Alex Beattie SPLIT This one wasnt such a shock. About 3.7 seconds after leaving the villa, Montana Brown and Alex Beattie went their separate ways and it seems that Montana was the one who instigated it. Speaking to The Sun soon after their break up, Alex said: She made me single, so now I am. Ive got no pressure now and I can just focus on myself and do the best I can. He added: I had super strong feelings for her in the villa and when we came out. I was gutted when she ended it, I wasnt expecting it. It was more her, I was willing to fight. I was going to cancel PAs but shes a strong woman, she wanted to do her own thing. Jessica Shears and Dom Lever TOGETHER They mightve been the first to be kicked out of the villa, but Jess and Dom havent let that stop them. In fact, the pair created one of the naffest moments in TV history when they were married (sort of) by Richard Arnold live on Good Morning Britain on Valentines Day while wearing swimwear. And being heckled by Jeremy Kyle. As their GMB wedding wasnt legally binding (who knew?) the pair have now officially tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Mykonos, with a few guests and OK! magazine. Advertisement Turns out love isnt dead after all.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-01/which-love-island-couples-are-still-together/

Whats in store in the brave new 2019?

Thats one question to ponder as we put 2018 in the past on this New Years Day. But its not the question the Question of the Week, that is. The first QOTW of the new year. That question for you, our readers, here on Jan. 1, goes to your expectations along with your hopes and fears for the new year of 2019. And it doesnt have to be a prediction. Wishing wont make it so, of course. Here in our own country, a divided Washington, D.C,, with the Senate and the White House still in the control of the Republican Party and the House of Representatives run by the Democrats, will be the new normal in our nations capital. Over the years, everyday Americans and even some politicians have actually preferred to see divided rule, as a way of providing checks and balances of power. Related Articles Look forward to a bright 2019 filled with progress Droning in the New Year: Political Cartoons Rough times ahead, but liberty can still win A UTLA strike will accomplish nothing. Email your thoughts to [email protected]. Please include your full name and city or community of residence. Provide a daytime phone number (it will not be published).

https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2019/01/01/whats-in-store-in-the-brave-new-2019/

Could new waste policy stop garden waste charges in Ashbourne?

Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email A government plan to tighten up the way the nation deals with its waste could close the lid on controversial charges for garden waste collection planned for Ashbourne. Environment Secretary Michael Gove's new Resources and Waste Strategy for England, published last month, proposes telling councils to scrap the charge for disposing of garden waste. The policy document came out three weeks after Derbyshire Dales District Council voted for a plan to charge for its fortnightly green-bin collections ahead of a new waste contract next year. The Government disagrees with charges because of gases that can be given off if garden waste ends up in landfill. The 146-page document, which was published on Tuesday, December 18, also sets out a proposal to make recycling more consistent across the country, tackle waste crime and put more pressure on companies to make products easier to recycle. Another aspect of the strategy is to tighten up food-waste collection policies among local authorities, but Derbyshire Dales District Council has already agreed to retain its weekly caddy collections when the new contract begins in August 2020. (Image: Shared Content Unit) Environment secretary Mr Gove said: "Our strategy sets out how we will go further and faster, to reduce, reuse, and recycle. "Together we can move away from being a throw-away society, to one that looks at waste as a valuable resource. "We will cut our reliance on single-use plastics, end confusion over household recycling, tackle the problem of packaging by making polluters pay, and end the economic, environmental and moral scandal that is food waste. "Through this plan we will cement our place as a world leader in resource efficiency, leaving our environment in a better state than we inherited it." Towards the end of November, district councillors unanimously agreed to push ahead with plans to bring in charges for garden waste pickups The district council's current contract with Serco Limited, costing 1.9 million per year, runs out in August 2020 and the authority has been on the hunt for a replacement. It says that the current service cannot remain the same due to changes in the market, including the value of recyclable material and continued pressures on the council's finances. The authority said that the current contract would cost 2.5 million a year if it was awarded under current market pressures, which would be "unaffordable". The council's total annual budget is around 35 million a year. As a result, it put forward a series of potential changes, including changing to four-weekly waste pickups and a range of potential charges for garden waste pickups from 25 up to 55 per year. After a record response to its consultation, with more than 2,600 people sharing their views, the authority voted to ditch the four-weekly proposals but councillors decided to push forward with chargeable fortnightly pickups for garden waste. Details of the future waste contract were finalised at the meeting, so that it could send out a tender for companies to apply for. It is understood that eight companies are currently being courted by the authority.

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/gove-policy-halt-bin-charges-2377094

Was oudste vrouw wel 122 of eigenlijk maar 99?

De Franaise Jeanne Calment overleden toen ze 122 was staat in alle geschiedenisboeken als de oudste vrouw ooit. Maar dat blijkt een leugen te zijn, zeggen Russische onderzoekers. Ze was wereldberoemd, ze was de oudste mens ooit, ze noemden haar de grootmoeder van iedereen, en ze heeft Vincent van Gogh nog in levende lijve ontmoet: hij was lelijk en onbeleefd, zei ze over de schilder. Maar de legendarische Jeanne Calment blijkt zelf nu helemaal niet zo legendarisch te zijn. Een Russische onderzoeker stelt dat zij niet de oudste vrouw ter wereld was. Want de Jeanne Calment die in 1997 zou zijn overleden op de leeftijd van 122 jaar oud, blijkt helemaal niet Jeanne Calment te zijn. Het was haar dochter die toen overleed, pas 99 jaar oud: zij had zon 60 jaar daarvoor in het geheim de identiteit van haar moeder overgenomen. ,,Uit interviews, biografien, fotos en documenten komen allemaal tegenstrijdigheden naar boven over haar leven, aldus Nikolay Zak. Hij werkt bij het Wiskundig Centrum in Moskou (MCCME). Zak ontwikkelt een wiskundig model om meer te weten te komen over langlevenden, en stuitte bij dat onderzoek op het leven van de Franaise. Pers schreef niets toen ze 100 werd Jeanne Calment de chte werd in 1875 geboren in Arles in zuid-Frankrijk. Ze trouwde, kreeg een zoon en een dochter en was sportief: ze schaatste, maar ging ook graag mee met haar man als die op wild ging jagen. Beroemd werd ze toen ze als 110-jarige in een verzorgingshuis zat en opviel wegens haar hoge leeftijd. ,,Maar toen ze 100 werd, verscheen daar niets over in de lokale pers, aldus Zak. Dat was opmerkelijk omdat zon jubileum altijd aandacht kreeg in de regionale krant. ,,Maar Jeanne wilde geen publiciteit op haar 100ste. Quote Ze vernietigde documenten, het leek alsog ze iets te verbergen had Nicolay Zak, Onderzoeker Nicolay Zak ging op onderzoek uit en kwam erachter dat er nog meer losse eindjes waren. Calment sprak ooit over de winkel van haar vader maar die had geen winkel. Na haar verhuizing naar het verzorgingshuis vernietigde ze fotos en familiearchieven. ,,Dat leek alsof ze iets te verbergen had. Uiterlijke kenmerken die in haar paspoort stonden, zoals lengte en oogkleur, kwamen niet overeen met haar echte uiterlijk. In gesprekken haalde ze haar oma en haar moeder door elkaar, net als haar echtgenoot en haar vader. De Russische gerontoloog Valery Novoselov liet mensen een foto zien van de 117-jarige Jeanne en liet ze raden naar haar leeftijd. Het meest werd gezegd: 95 jaar. Dat was dus 22 jaar jonger dan de officile leeftijd van Jeanne, maar de exacte leeftijd van haar dochter Yvonne op dat moment. Die dochter Yvonne overleed, volgens officile stukken, in 1934. Yvonnes zoon werd daarna volgens documenten en getuigenissen opgevangen en opgevoed door oma Jeanne. Maar het jongetje noemde zijn oma opvallend genoeg mama. Nikolay Zak is ervan overtuigd dat net Yvonne in 1934 overleed, maar haar moeder Jeanne. Yvonne besloot de identiteit van haar moeder over te nemen en verder te leven als Jeanne. En niemand die het opviel, schrijft Zak. ,,Jeanne zag er altijd relatief jong uit en mensen die hen niet goed kenden, haalden Jeanne en Yvonne vaak door elkaar. Lees door onder de foto. Volledig scherm Jeanne Calment op haar 114e verjaardag AFP Erfenis Voor die gedaantewisseling zou er een financile reden zijn. Jeanne liet een flinke erfenis na, maar daarover moest een enorme belasting worden betaald. Yvonne wilde dat niet betalen en liet haar moeder daarom voortleven, stelt Zak. Onder betrokkenen en historici is een fel debat losgebarsten over het Russische onderzoek, met aanhangers en critici. In de Franse pers wordt gemeld dat het verzekeringsbedrijf van Jeanne Calment in de jaren 90 al eens aan de bel trok. De dame zou liegen over haar leeftijd, was destijds het vermoeden. ,,Maar Jeanne Clement was een levende legende en de autoriteiten wilden geen schandaal rond haar, aldus Jean-Pierre Daniel, die in een boek aandacht schonk aan de zaak. Een topambtenaar bevestigt dat in de krant Le Parisien: ,,We hebben het dossier destijds gezien. Maar we hebben het stil gehouden. Nabestaanden van Jeanne Calment wilden niet reageren op de nieuwe aantijgingen van de Russische onderzoeker Zak. Onder specialisten wordt nu de oproep gedaan om de stoffelijke overschotten van de grootmoeder van iedereen en van haar dochter op te graven. Nieuw onderzoek moet dan definitief duidelijk maken of Jeanne echt de oudste is, of dat Yvonne de boel belazerde.

https://www.gelderlander.nl/buitenland/was-oudste-vrouw-wel-122-of-eigenlijk-maar-99~a756b983/

What foods are banned in Europe but not banned in the US?

These dyes can be used in foods sold in Europe, but the products must carry a warning saying the colouring agents may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. No such warning is required in the United States, though the Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the FDA in 2008 to ban the dyes. Consumers can try to avoid the dyes by reading lists of ingredients on labels, but theyre used in so many things you wouldnt even think of, not just candy and icing and cereal, but things like mustard and ketchup, marshmallows, chocolate, and breakfast bars that appear to contain fruit, Lefferts, the food safety scientist, said.

https://gulfnews.com/world/americas/what-foods-are-banned-in-europe-but-not-banned-in-the-us-1.61198743

Will the fourth time be the charm for the Blackhawks in the Winter Classic?

SOUTH BEND, Ind. Its still a relatively new event, with the first being played just eleven years ago. But thanks to their success over the past decade, its become nearly a semi-annual tradition for the franchise. For the fourth time in eleven games, the Blackhawks will be taking to the ice on New Years Day or January 2nd to play in the elements as part of the NHLs Winter Classic. This time its a new venue for the team and the league iconic Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana for an Original Six match-up against the Bruins at Noon on Tuesday. Despite their frequent appearance on the big stage, there is one thing that is still eluding the team a victory in the event. Starting with their first game ten years ago on Tuesday till New Years Day 2019, the Blackhawks have yet to come away with a win in the event. Its a bit of an oddity considering the teams success in the decade, having won three Stanley Cups and making the Western Conference Finals twice, but victory has always escaped them. A more experienced Red Wings team rallied from a 3-1 first period deficit at Wrigley Field to beat the Blackhawks 6-4 in just the second-even Winter Classic. It was a little tighter in the teams second Winter Classic in 2015 at Nationals Park, but it was the Capitals that came out with a 3-2 victory. A January 2, 2017 game with the Blues was more lopsided, as St. Louis took advantage of the Busch Stadium elements to beat the Blackhawks 4-1. In fact, the Blackhawks only win in any outdoor game in this era came in the Stadium Series match-up with the Penguins at Soldier Field in 2014. Breaking through this year might seem unlikely if you look at the teams overall start to the season, which they sit in last place with a coaching change made in the first month. But Jeremy Collitons group rallied back at the end of 2018 and has won five of their last six games coming into their match-up with Boston. Perhaps Tuesday is finally the day the Blackhawks get a first in the great outdoors.

https://wgntv.com/2019/01/01/will-the-fourth-time-be-the-charm-for-the-blackhawks-in-the-winter-classic/

Where do Bengals rank among 8 coaching vacancies opened through Black Monday?

The Cincinnati Bengals are moving quickly through their head coaching search by sending out interview requests to guys like Josh McDaniels in large part because a quarter of the league has an opening at head coach, meaning competition is fierce. Through Black Monday, when the Bengals fired Marvin Lewis after 16 seasons, these are the coaches let go so far: Marvin Lewis Cincinnati Adam Gase Miami Vance Joseph Denver Steve Wilks Arizona Todd Bowles Jets Dirk Koetter Tampa Mike McCarthy Green Bay Hue Jackson Cleveland On paper, the Bengals might rank close to the top in terms of talent available to a coach. They have a passable veteran quarterback on a cheaper deal and bona fide stars on offense (A.J. Green) and defense (Geno Atkins), along with productive veterans like Clint Boling and Carlos Dunlap. And a budding young core of talent with Joe Mixon, John Ross, Sam Hubbard, William Jackson and Jessie Bates ensure at least playoff contention if the coaching is right. Dont forget, the Bengals will have the No. 11 overall pick this year. Elsewhere, Miami, Denver and Tampa Bay arguably have problems under center. Arizona has a stud developmental quarterback but is a few years of serious rebuilding away. One could say the same for New York. Green Bay has one of the best ever, but relationships there have been rocky lately. And Cleveland has Baker Mayfield and plenty of talent, likely topping the list. But other factors have to come into play. Cincinnati might have alluring job security given the leeway Lewis had for 16 years. But it also has owner Mike Brown overseeing things, and like it or not, that comes with a reputation of stinginess and the perception the front office might limit what a head coach has control over which would include perhaps something most important to a new head coach, a change at quarterback. The same freedom the Bengals offered Lewis after almost two decades of work might not be given to a new head coach. Working in the Brown factor, the rankings for openings boil down to something like this: Cleveland Browns Green Bay Packers Denver Broncos Cincinnati Bengals New York Jets Arizona Cardinals Miami Dolphins Tampa Bay Buccaneers There are only 32 NFL head coaching jobs, so candidates should have at least some interest in any opening. But the Bengals front office might have to work overtime convincing candidates the rumors and speculation surrounding the organization in terms of how things work compared to the rest of the league arent true.

https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2019/01/01/ranking-nfl-head-coach-vacancies-black-monday-bengals/

Is Holmes & Watson So Bad Its Good?

The opening of Holmes & Watson, the new comedy starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, involves a boy kissing a donkeys rear end. Believe it or not, the movie, directed by Etan Cohen, then goes even more lowbrow. Its script is replete with masturbation jokes, a lengthy vomit scene and a bizarrely sensual chess match. So the critical rejection of this film, which reimagines Sherlock Holmes (Ferrell) and his compadre, Dr. Watson (Reilly), from the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle books, as dundering fools, might have been expected. (It didnt have advance screenings for critics, which is usually Hollywood code for This isnt one of our finest.) The initial reviews were not kind. Neither were subsequent ones. As of Sunday, Rotten Tomatoes rated it at 9 percent fresh, up from 0 percent from the initial batch. Reviewing the film for The New York Times, Ben Kenigsberg wrote that smuggling in booze to dispel the sense of dull routine could only help. Released on Christmas, the film took in $7.3 million over the weekend for an estimated total of $19.7 million in ticket sales. The movies budget was $42 million.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/30/movies/holmes-watson-so-bad-its-good.html?partner=rss&emc=rss