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What is a flash freeze? | ROANOKE, Va. - You've heard the term, 'flash flood, ' but 'flash freeze' is less commonly used. Simply put, it doesn't happen as often. A flash freeze will occur when cold air moves over a wet road, and turns the water into ice. There's the possibility of that happening in our area late Sunday into Sunday night. After some pockets of freezing drizzle Saturday morning, widespread rain moves in late Saturday afternoon and evening. Half an inch to an inch of rain will fall over the area, meaning that flooding is not a huge threat. We'll be mainly dry Sunday morning, before the real push of cold air makes its presence felt. During daylight hours, we think the better chance for freezing on the roads will be on shaded roads, along with mountainous areas. With some sun around and a gusty wind, that may actually prevent a widespread flash freeze for main roads. Once the sun sets, however, we could see more slick spots develop at night and into Monday morning. The bigger impact will be the brutally cold air. It may actually feel like below zero in some locations late Sunday night and early Monday morning. Gusty wind and a saturated soil may lead to scattered power outages west of the Parkway too. Make sure you bundle up, if you plan on watching the lunar eclipse late Sunday night. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. | https://www.wsls.com/weather/what-is-a-flash-freeze |
Does Loneliness Add to Physician Burnout? | Like you, I've seen all the articles on physician burnout. And I've nodded my head at the disconnect in even the term "burnout." Some have argued that the word "burnout" implies that it's somehow the physicians' fault. That we are not strong enough. Not "resilient" enough. Simply, not enough. Sure, there are myriad reasons we are all maxed out: electronic medical records, burgeoning government mandates, patient satisfaction surveys that lack wisdom, insurance restrictions. But there's one reason that we don't often talk about: loneliness. The Harvard Business Review recently published a survey on over 1500 full-time employees, assessing their loneliness and sense of support. It turns out, the more education you have, the more lonely you are. As you and I would suspect, doctors were at the top of the heap (surprisingly, neck and neck with lawyers! ), reporting 25% higher loneliness scores than those with bachelor's degrees. We have all experienced the loneliness that comes with medical education -- it starts when we are labeled "gunners" in our pre-med years, and magnifies when we turn down vacations at spring break, or during the summer because of our educational commitments. The differences grow stronger as we see our friends in accounting, marketing, and sales finish their four years of college and start living. Our delayed gratification plays out ever-so-slowly, as we trudge through internship, residency, even fellowship. By the time we get out and start our "real lives," some of our old college buddies are a decade ahead of us! We never really catch up. When we start our first real jobs, and our non-medical colleagues want to meet for lunch, we realize just how large the gap is. We all know doctors don't do lunch. As our parents, neighbors, colleagues wonder why we are missing the ballet recitals, the soccer tournaments, the cookie sale, we try to explain, but ... it's like we have our own language. It would be OK if all physicians were banded together in solidarity, and we could meet once in a while to share notes and build each other up. But these days, when doctors' lounges are being closed down, when we're staying late at the office to finish our charting, when we barely can find time for our families, let alone ourselves -- the time for physician-to-physician camaraderie is cut short. Yeah. We're lonely. Well, here's the rub. There is research, including a 2015 meta-analysis of studies on loneliness, that tells us loneliness is not just a problem -- it's a life-threatening problem. Lack of social interaction is worse for our health than smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure. And, as mentioned in my TEDx talk, social isolation increases our risk of death from 35 to 45%, depending on which study you read. Isolation as a physician can increase our daily frustration, increase our risk of medical error, and increase our risk of suicide. Undoubtedly, this contributes to the fact that physicians have the highest suicide rate among all professions. In our hospital, the women physicians got together and formed a book club, called "Wine, Women, and Zen." We meet once a month, rotating to different members' homes for a potluck, book discussion, and fellowship. It has grown from 8 members to almost 80. Some of my physician coaching clients have recharged their batteries by forming a Journal Club. Journal Clubs are not just for academic settings. Many folks in private practice settings or hospitalists have found that a Journal Club allows for social interaction, sharing of patient cases, and bridge building among colleagues. In the glory days of medicine, many physicians had Wednesday afternoons off to play golf. Sadly, this was before my time. But in retrospect, it was a perfect opportunity for physicians to bond together, have a breather, and enjoy a bit of physical activity. Interestingly, a recent article in The Washington Post by David Cordani, president and CEO of Cigna, discussed the need for corporations to develop a "culture of connectivity" to combat loneliness. Suggestions such as offering a caregiver leave program, establishing employee resource groups, improving networking through mentorships, and coaching were all included. The article did not mention physicians. Some hospitals have begun to focus on the issues of physician isolation by working to change the culture. One of the main ways we can work toward improvement is by identifying the problem and owning it. So this week, reach out to a fellow physician. Offer a kind word. Meet for coffee. Or your favorite adult beverage. It starts with one. Starla Fitch is an ophthalmologist, speaker, and personal coach. She blogs at Love Medicine Again and is the author of Remedy for Burnout: 7 Prescriptions Doctors Use to Find Meaning in Medicine. She can also be reached on Twitter @StarlaFitchMD. 1969-12-31T19:00:00-0500 | https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/generalprofessionalissues/77476 |
Could quick-spreading weed bring flooding back to Croston? | The spread of a rapidly-growing plant in a Lancashire village could increase the risk of flooding and cause damage to historic buildings, councillors have warned. Japanese knotweed has taken root in various parts of Croston - including alongside the retaining walls of the River Yarrow, which burst its banks just over three years ago. Croston was badly hit by flooding on Boxing Day 2015. A meeting of Chorley Councils liaison committee heard that if the rapacious plant weakened the rivers retaining walls, it would make the Boxing Day floods of 2015 look like a tea party. We owe to it our residents to do something and we should take a lead on it, Cllr Alan Whittaker told a meeting of Chorley Councils liaison committee. He was speaking after Croston Parish Council presented a detailed plan which it had drawn up to tackle the problem. The strategy involves recruiting volunteers, first to map the areas where knotweed can be found and then to treat it - but that process requires specialist training. Parish cuoncillors want to map where the problem plant is found in the village Chemical injections directly into the stem of the plant are thought to be the most effective way to kill it, although that can still take up to four years. However, the cutting or digging up of knotweed can increase its spread by distributing parts of the plant which can grow elsewhere. Croston parish councillor Peter Fenemore appealed for help from the overarching councils at borough and county level to assist in clearing it from public areas in the village. He added that co-operation from landowners would also be required. There is real potential for damaging the infrastructure, Cllr Fenemore said. Knotweed cannot grow through modern concrete, but it can penetrate tarmac and masonry. The foundations of many buildings in Croston are stones stuck together with clay - and knotweed is present quite close to them. One councillor also said that local authority staff needed better training to be able to identify the plant. It took me three months to get an area of growth acknowledged as being knotweed, Astley parish councillor, Laura Lennox, told the meeting. In the end, I told them that if it was found not to be knotweed, Id eat it. Chorley Councils deputy chief executive, Chris Sinnott, pledged to contact other borough councils to discuss the possibility of developing a strategy to weed out the plant across Central Lancashire. Japanese knotweed is a perennial plant whose roots penetrate deeply into the ground. It has heart or shovel-shaped leaves, crimson pink buds in spring and a creamy white flower in late summer - but it can easily be confused with other plants. The weed can grow up to seven feet tall during the summer and dies back in winter. However, it is notoriously difficult to remove and spreads easily, which is why it is classed as controlled waste and has to be disposed off at licensed landfill sites - never in green waste or general household rubbish. Chemical controls can kill the plant and there are companies which specialise in knotweed removal. Cutting or strimming should be avoided, because the smallest fragments of the plant can take root elsewhere, worsening the problem. Whilst it is not illegal to have knotweed in your own garden, householders have a responsibility to control it so that it does not have a "detrimental impact" on a wider area. Anybody selling their home has to declare to a purchaser whether Japanese knotweed is present. Source: Royal Horticultural Society | https://www.chorley-guardian.co.uk/news/could-quick-spreading-weed-bring-flooding-back-to-croston-1-9543891 |
Is Little Mix's Jesy Nelson dating Love Island's Chris Hughes? | Say hello to a potential new power couple, after Love Island's Chris Hughes and Jesy Nelson from Little Mix reportedly went on a first date. Ship it! According to MailOnline, the singer and reality TV star "enjoyed a night mixing cocktails together" on Wednesday [16 January] at Harry Potter themed bar in London The Cauldron. How did we not know about this?! And second of all, ~great~ date idea. "This was a first date for Chris and Jesy," an insider said. "Someone slid into the other's Instagram DMs. It's very early days but there's definitely an attraction between them and they're getting on really well." Another insider added to The Sun, "Jesy is enjoying her newly single status and spending time with Chris they had fun mixing cocktails together at The Cauldron last night and couldn't resist posting some pictures on both their Instagram stories. "They are taking things slowly for now but it could become something more serious." Whether or not a future date is on the cards for the couple remains to be seen, but the potential new couple comes off the back of Jesy's split from Harry James in November 2018. At the time, she culled her Instagram of all pictures of him, and a source told The Sun the pair had "decided to call it a day" but "there are no hard feelings between them and they remain good friends just at the moment it makes sense for them to separate. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below "Jesy is in work mode ahead of the release of Little Mixs new album LM5 and shes happy focusing on performances with the girls and promoting their material." | https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a25945685/little-mixs-jesy-nelson-dating-love-islands-chris-hughes/ |
Is Khloe Kardashian's baby True about to become a beauty YouTuber? | It seems the beauty vlogger community keeps getting younger and younger. YouTube sensation James Charles landed his first major gig with CoverGirl at just 17, and every month it seems like there's another baby-faced blogger joining the clan. However, at just nine-months-old, Khloe Kardashian's baby True Thompson might be the youngest yet. Yup, the reality star sent her followers into a frenzy last night after uploading an Instagram of her baby daughter playing with her makeup. Teasing 'that there was a makeup tutorial on the way', Khlo captioned the picture: 'My little Becca Bff approves of mommies and aunties collab with @beccacosmetics. Trues Makeup tutorial will be uploaded shortly.' Advertisement - Continue Reading Below The four photos show nine-month-old baby True looking adorable (as always), sat in the sink, wrapped in a fluffy pink towel and surrounded by Khloe's new Becca makeup collection. The internet gushed at the adorable pic, with many of them commenting on just how cute little True looked. However, the feedback wasn't all positive, Khloe also received some backlash over 'True's upcoming YouTube video'. So a few hours later she decided to edit the caption, adding: "ok calm down, Im just kidding about the tutorial guys.' Phew! At the end of last year, Becca Cosmetics announced that Khloe and best friend Malika would be releasing a Limited Edition #BECCABFFs Collection. The range, which launched in the US last year but arrived here this month, features a Glow Letters Highlighter, two Bronze, Blush & Glow Palettes, and four Ultimate Lipstick Loves. Shop the collection at cultbeauty.co.uk. Becca BECCA X Khlo Kardashian & Malika Haqq Glow Letters BECCA cultbeauty.co.uk 15.00 Buy Now Becca BECCA X Khlo Kardashian Bronze, Blush & Glow Palette BECCA cultbeauty.co.uk 40.00 Buy Now | https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/beauty-hair/a25945528/khloe-kardashian-baby-true-beauty-youtuber/ |
What Shaped Kings Prophetic Vision? | [King] brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincolns Memorialto speak of his dream. Indeed, much of Kings legacy lives on in such arresting oral performances. They made him a global figure. Kings preaching used the power of language to interpret the gospel in the context of black misery and Christian hope. He directed people to life-giving resources and spoke provocatively of a present and active divine interventionist who summons preachers to name reality in places where pain, oppression and neglect abound. In other words, King used a prophetic voice in his preaching the hopeful voice that begins in prayer and attends to human tragedy. Indeed, the best of African-American preaching is three-dimensional it is priestly, it is sage, it is prophetic. In my book, The Journey and Promise of African American Preaching, I discuss the historical formation of the black preacher. My work on African-American prophetic preaching shows that Kings clarion calls for justice were offspring of earlier prophetic preaching that flowered as a consequence of the racism in the U.S. From slavery to the Great Migration First, lets look at some of the social, cultural and political challenges that gave birth to the black religious leader, specifically those who assumed political roles with the communitys blessing and beyond the church proper. In slave society, black preachers played an important role in the community: they acted as seers interpreting the significance of events; as pastors calling for unity and solidarity; and as messianic figures provoking the first stirrings of resentment against oppressors. The religious revivalism or the Great Awakening of the 18th century brought to America a Bible-centered brand of Christianity evangelicalism that dominated the religious landscape by the early 19th century. Evangelicals emphasized a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This new movement made Christianity more accessible, livelier, without overtaxing educational demands. Africans converted to Christianity in large numbers during the revivals and most became Baptists and Methodists. With fewer educational restrictions placed on them, black preachers emerged in the period as preachers and teachers, despite their slave status. Africans viewed the revivals as a way to reclaim some of the remnants of African culture in a strange new world. They incorporated and adopted religious symbols into a new cultural system with relative ease. Rise of the black cleric-politician Despite the development of black preachers and the significant social and religious advancements of blacks during this period of revival, Reconstruction the process of rebuilding the South soon after the Civil War posed numerous challenges for white slaveholders who resented the political advancement of newly freed Africans. As independent black churches proliferated in Reconstruction America, black ministers preached to their own. Some became bivocational. It was not out of the norm to find pastors who led congregations on Sunday and held jobs as school teachers and administrators during the work week. Others held important political positions. Altogether, 16 African-Americans served in the U.S. Congress during Reconstruction. For example, South Carolinas House of Representatives Richard Harvey Cain, who attended Wilberforce University, the first private black American university, served in the 43rd and 45th Congresses and as pastor of a series of African Methodist churches. Others, such as former slave and Methodist minister and educator Hiram Rhoades Revels and Henry McNeal Turner, shared similar profiles. Revels was a preacher who became Americas first African-American senator. Turner was appointed chaplain in the Union Army by President Abraham Lincoln. To address the myriad problems and concerns of blacks in this era, black preachers discovered that congregations expected them not only to guide worship but also to be the communitys lead informant in the public square. The cradle of Kings political and spiritual heritage Many other events converged as well impacting black life that would later influence Kings prophetic vision: President Woodrow Wilson declared entrance into World War I in 1914; as boll weevils ravaged crops in 1916 there was widespread agricultural depression ; and then there was the rise of Jim Crow laws that were to legally enforce racial segregation until 1965. Such tide-swelling events, in multiplier effect, ushered in the largest internal movement of people on American soil, the Great Black Migration. Between 1916 and 1918, an average of 500 southern migrants a day departed the South. More than 1.5 million relocated to northern communities between 1916 and 1940. The immense suffering brought on by the Great Migration and the racial hatred they had escaped drove many clergy to reflect more deeply on the meaning of freedom and oppression. Black preachers refused to believe that the Christian gospel and discrimination were compatible.A watershed, the Great Migration brought about contrasting expectations concerning the mission and identity of the African-American church. The infrastructure of Northern black churches were unprepared to deal with the migrations distressing effects. Its suddenness and size overwhelmed preexisting operations. However, black preachers seldom modified their preaching strategies. Rather than establishing centers for black self-improvement (e.g., job training, home economics classes and libraries), nearly all southern preachers who came North continued to offer priestly sermons that exalted the virtues of humility, good will and patience, as they had in the South. Setting the prophetic tradition Three clergy outliers one a woman initiated change. These three pastors were particularly inventive in the way they approached their preaching task. Baptist pastor Adam C. Powell Sr., the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ) pastor Florence S. Randolph and the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) bishop Reverdy C. Ransom spoke to human tragedy, both in and out of the black church. They brought a distinctive form of prophetic preaching that united spiritual transformation with social reform and confronted black dehumanization. Bishop Ransoms discontentment arose while preaching to Chicagos silk-stocking church Bethel A.M.E. the elite church which had no desire to welcome the poor and jobless masses that came to the North. He left and began the Institutional Church and Social Settlement, which combined worship and social services. Randolph and Powell synthesized their roles as preachers and social reformers. Randolph brought into her prophetic vision her tasks as preacher, missionary, organizer, suffragist and pastor. Powell became pastor at the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. In that role, he led the congregation to establish a community house and nursing home to meet the political, religious and social needs of blacks. Shaping of Kings vision The preaching tradition that these early clergy fashioned would have profound impact on Kings moral and ethical vision. They linked the vision of Jesus Christ as stated in the Bible of bringing good news to the poor, recovery of sight to the blind and proclaiming liberty to the captives, with the Hebrew prophets mandate of speaking truth to power. Similar to how they responded to the complex challenges brought on by the Great Migration of the early 20th century, King brought prophetic interpretation to brutal racism, Jim Crow segregation and poverty in the 1950s and 60s. Indeed, Kings prophetic vision ultimately invited his martyrdom. But through the prophetic preaching tradition already well established by his time, King brought people of every tribe, class and creed closer toward forming Gods beloved community an anchor of love and hope for humankind. | https://atlantadailyworld.com/2019/01/18/what-shaped-kings-prophetic-vision/ |
Which non-quarterbacks will have the biggest impact this weekend? | Getty Images Like many other weekdays, Fridays PFT Live featured a draft. Unlike many other days, Fridays PFT Live broke out a three-man weave, with Dan Katz a/k/a Big Cat joining Chris Simms and yours truly to select the most important non-quarterbacks (or, as Simms said at least once, the most non-important quarterbacks) for championship weekend. Big Cat won, for one important reason. He took the draft process to the next level, coming up with outside-the-box concepts and titles and potentially revolutionizing the manner in which we conduct these drafts. For now, have a look (Big Cat wore his new jacket) and a listen to the latest PFT Live draft. And chime in with your thoughts as to who won the draft, and as to whether we missed anyone. | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/01/18/which-non-quarterbacks-will-have-the-biggest-impact-this-weekend/ |
Why are people cheering for no deal? | Because theyre thinking about it the wrong way, says Anand Menon in the Guardian. There are moments in life when your heart sinks. I had one last night, right at the start of my terrifying debut on Question Time. Isabel Oakeshott had just said we should leave the EU with no deal. And the audience cheered. Not a subdued, start-of-the-evening, not-quite-warmed-up cheer. But a roar. A loud one. Professor Menon goes on to give his reasons. They are quite well expressed, and it is good to be aware of opinions contrary to ones own, so I do urge the generally Leave-supporting readers here to take a look. (Hat tip to Guido for the video clip.) | https://www.samizdata.net/2019/01/why-are-people-cheering-for-no-deal/ |
Can the Twins upend the Indians in the AL Central in 2019? | The AL Central should be baseballs easiest division to predict. The Cleveland Indians have captured three division titles in a row; last year, none of their competitors finished within a dozen games of first place. And so far, there hasnt been any seismic winter activity to change the divisional landscape. But there have been a few small tremorsmost of them coming out of Cleveland, though none have been particularly promising for the team. The Indians have let essentially all of their free agents walk (Michael Brantley, Andrew Miller, Lonnie Chisenhall), and executed trades primarily to cut costs (Yan Gomes, Yonder Alonso, Edwin Encarnacion). None of these deals was bad, and taken the team doesnt look dramatically worse. But it certainly doesnt look better. Clevelands cushion in the division is large enough to pull off this kind of lull: The team may not have improved, but itll almost certainly still win the AL Central. Its easy to imagine the potential for a different approach hereusing the security of a weak division as a green light to go all the way in and build a team designed to play not just in October, but through Octoberbut Clevelands front office and ownership apparently hasnt decided to play that way. After being swept out of the first round in 2018, the team hasnt done much to avoid a similar fate for 2019. DICKEY: Adam Ottavino Bolsters the Yankees' Incredible Bullpen Its still far more likely than not that Cleveland wins the AL Central. Its not probable, but its possible, and Cleveland certainly hasnt done much this winter to guard itself against any surprises. There arent enough miracles around to bring anything real out of the ongoing rebuilds Kansas City or Detroit. The White Sox are lined up to start making a splash in 2020 or 2021, but even if they manage to secure their dream of Manny Machado, its hard to imagine them competing 2019. This leaves the most likely potential challenger as the Twins, who finished in second place last yearand played in the wild card game in just 2017, although that was easy to forget with a 78-win 2018. It seems like it might! The Twins havent lost much this winter, but theyve added a little. Most notably, they signed a one-year deal with slugger Nelson Cruz; theyve also brought on pitcher Blake Parker, second baseman Jonathan Schoop, first baseman C.J. Cron and, of course, a new manager in Rocco Baldelli. Individually, none of these seems like a transformative upgrade, but collectively, they might end up feeling fairly significant. Minnesota isnt pushing all its chips in to go for something big, but its trying to do something. The 2019 Twins seem likely to be better than the 2018 Twins. The question is just by how much. First, heres what was working last year: Outfielder Eddie Rosario has had back-to-back seasons with a 115 OPS+ or above. Shortstop Jorge Polanco missed most of the first half with a PED suspension, but when he was on the field, he had his sharpest performance yet. Backstop Mitch Garver was quietly solid at the platejust above average, which put him in the top third of hitters among catchersand Jake Cave had a promising rookie season in centerfield, with a 113 OPS+. On the mound, Jose Berrios emerged as the staffs ace in his second full year in the big leagues; Kyle Gibson rebounded from abysmal performances in the two seasons prior to have the best year of his career with a 121 ERA+; and Taylor Rogers stepped forward as a bright spot in the bullpen. VERDUCCI: How Bryce Harper Could Change His Carrer in Philadelphia Obviously, taken together, this talent still wasnt enough for a winning team. But it was and is enough for a decent foundation, which should only be strengthened by the fact that most of the above players are developing young talents. And if the teams offseason additions perform roughly in line with what theyve done in the last few seasons, they stand to add a few more wins. (In particular, Cruz can still rake even as he approaches 40, and Parkers last two seasons have given him a quiet reputation as a steady bullpen talent.) With modest improvement from the aforementioned young players, along with a boost from winter acquisitions Minnesotas probably still not quite at the level of legitimate contention. It might be close, especially if injury and underperformance come for Clevelandespecially if the team doesnt do anything to acquire the outfield and bullpen help that it desperately needsbut Minnesota could likely use an extra boost. A Breakout or Two Some moderate improvement by a set of individual players could help bump Minnesota from 78 wins toward the even mark of 81. If a handful of guys can produce something more than moderate improvement, obviously, the teams picture might look considerably rosier. Two players who havent been mentioned so far are the two who were once expected to lead the team into the future: Byron Buxton and Miguel San, both of whom faced significant setbacks last year. Theyd each been on the rise in 2017; Buxton was a down-ballot candidate for MVP, and San was named an All-Star. But in 2018, Buxton spent much of the year injured and struggled even while healthy. San, meanwhile, was sent down to the minors after a miserable stretch at the plate that followed a hamstring problem. If either can bounce back and move forward, it could pay off in a big way for Minnesota. A Little Investment In Pitching The Twins have hardly any payroll committed beyond next yearwhich could make it a perfect time to invest in their pitching, a long-standing weak spot for the team. A splashy signing like Dallas Keuchel or Craig Kimbrel doesnt seem especially likely for this front office, but hey, with the way that the markets been shaken up, maybe its not so crazy! (A pair of more realistic options might be Wade Miley and Cody Allen.) At any rate, an upgrade of some sort is needed hereMinnesotas 98 ERA+ last year, 20th in baseball, shows thatand there are still several decent possibilities on the market. The Twins path to contention isnt clear; again, nor is it super likely. But Clevelands recent complacency means that, even if you have to squint to see it, the road is more visible than it was a few months ago. | https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/01/18/minnesota-twins-offseason-jose-berrios-byron-buxton |
How should conversations about toxic masculinity deal with the toxic women who also perpetuate it? | This image from Gillette's Twitter account shows a Gillette advertisement. The ad for men invoking the #MeToo movement has garnered millions of views on YouTube. (Gillette via AP) Columnist So, Gillette, the razor and shaving conglomerate, has released a commercial that is either Oscar-worthy or the devils own butthole, depending on your view of masculinity. This happened while I was home sick and by the time I dragged myself to a screen and actually watched the thing, it didnt seem as revolutionary or inspirational as it had been described. Mostly, it felt ad-spirational that weird sweet spot where a company wants to convince you that you can Mach-3 your way to gender equality. But still, Gillette was trying. Its time we acknowledge that brands, like ours, play a role in influencing culture, the company posted on its website, vowing to challenge gender expectations. Sure. Praise be. If you havent seen the commercial, heres a recap. In a series of vignettes, men harass women, and boys bully each other until a voice-over intones, We believe in the best in men. Then, suddenly, the vignettes have heroes: a man tells his friend that harassing is not cool, a father instructs two fighting boys, thats not how we treat each other. The heroes of the commercial are men, the villains are also men, and women are present mostly as set pieces. I appreciate why: the overarching message is that men can and should mentor other men. Its not a womans responsibility to avoid harassment; its the responsibility of men to not harass her. Women shouldnt have to educate men; men are capable of educating themselves. A few days before the Gillette ad came out, Id written a column about some new guidelines released by the American Psychological Association, whichsaid that an overreliance on traditionally masculine traits, like stoicism and dominance, could be harmful to men. Shortly after the column published, reader emails started pouring in. One wrote that it wasnt his father who told him that boys dont cry. It was his mother. A full childhood, the reader said, of being told to suck it up and brush it off, to take it all in but never let any of it out. Another man wrote about his wife. How he loved her. How she often cried in front of him. How the one time hed cried in front of her, shed uneasily left the room. How hed made sure to never cry again. How he didnt know if his tear ducts even worked anymore. How about your write a column with complete frankness on how women influence the men in their lives? a third man chided me. This is the ultimate I dare you. I dont know why he thought he had to dare me. I dont know why he thought I wouldnt agree with him. Of course I agree with him. Of course I dont believe most men, individually, are bad. I believe the system is bad, and the system includes a history of patriarchy, and its adherents have included both men and women. Some of us created the poison, but damned if there arent plenty of others whove volunteered to dole it out by the spoonful. One of the great things about the popularity of The Handmaids Tale last year was the arrival of a useful shorthand term: Aunt Lydias are women who willingly, harmfully participate in a terrible misogynistic society. Aunt Lydias are real. Aunt Lydias are why toxic masculinity is a societal problem, not just an XY chromosome problem. And I wonder if one or two of them should have been in the commercial. There could have been a woman chanting, Boys will be boys, right alongside the men. Boys will be boys is something some mothers say, too, when their sons attack other boys or lift up girls skirts. There could have been a woman intoning, Hes just pulling your hair because he likes you! because thats something female grade-school teachers have been repeating for years, and it harms girls by making them think unwanted attention is their fault, and it harms boys by making them think that harassment and affection are the same thing. There could have been women in the catcalling scene, because the first person to tell me I was asking for it wasnt a man, but the aunt of a friend. My friend and I were 11, wed gone for a walk, wed been followed by three grown men in military fatigues, catcalling us for several blocks. Back at home we were terrified, and her aunt was withering. she asked. Youre wearing shorts. Even at 11, I knew something was wrong with that statement. It didnt stop me from wearing long pants all through high school. She should have been in that Gillette ad. If the company if we all really want to challenge gender expectations, we have to figure out a way to deal with both the men and the women propping them up. Monica Hesse is a columnist writing about gender and its impact on society. For more visit wapo.st/hesse. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/how-should-conversations-about-toxic-masculinity-deal-with-the-toxic-women-who-also-perpetuate-it/2019/01/18/ef4fa976-1a69-11e9-8813-cb9dec761e73_story.html |
Who Are The UK Yellow Vest Protesters? | Despite the best efforts of more moderate groups to adopt the mantle of the Gilets Jaunes protests currently dividing France, it is clear that in the United Kingdom it has been the far right that has been most successful in rallying supporters to their side in hi-vis vests. Recently, many of us have seen footage from both outside the Houses of Parliament and bridges across London, where a band of protesters have been using live-streaming, blockades and harassment of pro-Brexit MPs to slowly grow supporters. The protesters are ostensibly in favour of a Hard Brexit, but also offer their support to a number of causes peddled by the far right, including: Islamist terrorism, migration levels, supposed protected pedophile gangs and high taxation. Tracy Blackwell has been a mainstay of the London Yellow Vests, bringing supporters with her via her Justice For Our Boys campaign, which focuses on a supposed cover-up surrounding the death of her son in a tragic drink-driving accident early in 2018. She has attempted to keep the movement in some sort of cohesion, as other activists bicker among themselves. James Goddard, who notably confronted Tory MP Anna Soubry, has existed for months at the periphery of the far right scene, slowly building a following using live-streamed confrontations and regular YouTube hangouts broadcast via a number of channels. A previous speaker at Tommy Robinsons rallies, his rhetoric now more resembles that of the American QAnon conspiracy theory, adopting their key phrases and hashtags in his social media postings. Following his arrest last weekend, Goddard has been banned from venturing inside the M25 as part of his bail conditions, although social media posts suggest that he may be planning to break these in appearing at a rally on Saturday, the 19th. Another figure gaining traction as a professional protester is Danny Tommo, real name Daniel Thomas. A convicted attempted kidnapper, over the past few months he has risen to prominence via his association as a close associate of Tommy Robinson during his travels. Thomas has regularly live streamed from Yellow Vest protests outside Parliament and at Trafalgar Square, and has confronted activists and journalists such as the Guardians Owen Jones. He too was arrested on the weekend, only to be released shortly afterwards. Hes been making claims of a conspiracy against him ever since. In the last few days, a site has also appeared called Wake Up UK that appears to be an attempt to start an alternative social media network for Far Right Yellow Vest supporters the sites logo even features a human figure in a Yellow Vest. A glimpse at the newest postings on the site shows a slew of extremist, far right propaganda, usually involving Islam, and notable recent sign-ups include former Britain First activist Jayda Fransen. Of most concern, however, may be co-opting of the Yellow Vests by the Identitarian movement. A proto-fascist network of national youth movements, that coordinate with one another, they are known by different names Generation Identity in the UK, Generation Identitaire in France, and Identitaeire Bewegung in Germany. Jan Moudrak, an activist who describes himself as New Right, and who has significant links to both UK Generation Identity and European equivalents, has been adopting the Yellow Vest and visiting the protests outside Parliament, handing out leaflets and attempting to interview various Pro-Brexit activists along with his compatriots. A cursory look at Moudraks leaflets reveals much of the same rhetoric for which the Identitarian movement is known. Reference is made to damage to the UKs ancestral homelands, an echo of the nativist view that is at the very heart of the Identitarian philosophy. More disturbing perhaps, is a positive reference to homogenic rule and homogeneous populations, coded language used by Identitarian groups to describe white, European societies free from migrant populations. Chillingly, the leaflet also makes reference to repatriation the removal of groups from Britain. This is policy that is mentioned on the Generation Identity UK site, although theyve been careful to qualify it with the term illegal migrants. The leaflet also describes Moudraks iteration of the Yellow Vest movement as being against degeneracy. This is a term with a long history among the Far Right, and indeed had its roots in Nazi Germany. It was used to describe anything that the Nazis felt was subverting German society art, music, literature, in addition to racial intermarriage, homosexuality, lesbianism and transgenderism. The term has had a dark renaissance of sorts, particularly among some of the more extreme white nationalist movements in the United States, and it is worrying to see it here. In the chaos of Brexit, it is both worrying and a possible harbinger of things to come that far right groups have been so eager and quick to capitalise on existing protest movements. It is clear that more needs to be done both to monitor and expose those who would use the recent political turmoil to recruit and increase their influence. The alternative allowing Far Right street movements the freedom to act that they havent enjoyed in decades is not one worth considering. | https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/yellow-vest-protesters-brexit-far-right_uk_5c41edb4e4b0bfa693c3054b |
What's behind the success of Netflix's latest releases? | Image copyright Netflix Image caption Sex Education, Bird Box and You have been a big success for Netflix If you've spent the last few weeks binge-watching endless hours of TV (and finishing off leftover Christmas Twiglets) then you're in very good company. On Thursday, Netflix published the figures for some of their biggest recent releases - Sex Education, You and Bird Box. And those numbers were pretty impressive, with the two series on course to be watched by 40 million accounts by the end of the month. Bird Box, which features Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock as the lead, has already passed more than 80 million views. Going viral on social media Image copyright Netflix Image caption You has been a huge success on Netflix You, which is based on Caroline Kepnes' best-selling novel of the same name, was initially made for the Lifetime Network in the US, but only averaged about 611,000 viewers. Its addictive format, which sees psychopath bookshop owner Joe Goldberg stalk love interest and college student Guinevere Beck, had Netflix viewers hooked - and more importantly, talking about it all over Twitter. The series sparked a huge debate online over whether it was acceptable to empathise with Joe, so much so that the actor who plays him, Penn Badgley, had to remind people he was a murderer. Buzzfeed's TV editor Scott Bryan tells the BBC the combination of "Netflix's international appeal and social media influence" helped spread You a lot further than the Lifetime Network could. "If you'd have told me about You six months ago, then I wouldn't have known where to find it, but with Netflix's good marketing and social media, I could," he says. Image copyright Netflix Image caption This picture of Sandra Bullock turned into a viral meme on Twitter Bird Box also enjoyed similar social media success, with its star-studded cast of Sandra Bullock and Sarah Paulson and thrilling plot drawing in viewers. TV critic Emma Bullimore references the "Bird Box memes and viral social media campaign" that flooded Twitter over Christmas. "Bird Box isn't Citizen Kane, but it has incredible talent and is based on an intriguing concept," she says. "I saw the blindfold pictures all over Twitter so thought 'let me check this out'." Sex Education was late to the party with its January release date, but it too is set to reach 40 million viewers by the end of the month. The show follows a British sixth-form student, who opens up a sex therapy clinic to help his clueless classmates. It's resonated with many of Netflix's younger subscribers, whilst some of its wittiest lines have become popular memes on Twitter. "With Sex Education, British comedy has always had international appeal and that has been a driver for this series, and the fact there aren't many shows like it at the moment," Bryan explains. "Also it's got Gillian Anderson in it and a universal youthful appeal - I've seen it shared so many times on social media. "Plus it's well-written, thought through and really inclusive on LGBT representation and serious subjects," he adds. The Christmas effect Image copyright Netflix Image caption Asa Butterfield and Gillian Anderson in Sex Education Another important factor is the time of year - these releases all came out in late December and early January. Bryan tells the BBC: "Christmas is when people start a lot of shows and catch up", and adds that these releases really capitalised on that. "For example, Netflix released Black Mirror's Bandersnatch just after Christmas and people were watching it with their families." Bullimore also thinks downtime has played a part in impressive viewing figures. "People have a lot of time over Christmas and want to find something new to binge watch, so bored Netflix subscribers want to find something to get obsessed with," she tells the BBC. "You is a thriller and it grabs you and forces to watch the next episode." Image copyright Netflix Image caption Sandra Bullock's character learns the significance of birds in Bird Box At the end of December, Netflix tweeted that more than 45 million Netflix accounts had watched Bird Box - the best first week ever for a film on the service. This was the first time that we were given any indication of how shows and films are received on the network, and Netflix were clearly proud of these figures. "I think it's a bit of publicity to further their own advantage," says Bullimore. "They're really interested in their industry status, on getting Emmys and being involved with the big players so they get Hollywood stars on the network." "[Releasing these figures] shows the global power Netflix has," says Bryan. "They make shows that can be watched in 195 countries at the same time and this is something rivals can't do." Image copyright Sam Taylor/Netflix Image caption Emma Mackey and Asa Butterfield are two of the stars of Sex Education Bryan thinks that while these figures appear impressive, it's difficult to really measure their relevancy. "What I'm trying to get clarity on is what counts as a viewer. In a shareholder letter yesterday they counted a viewer as watching 70% of one episode; you don't see who drops off [and doesn't watch the rest of series]. "But if you looked at BBC figures for Killing Eve and Bodyguard you could see how many people were watching each episode." Bullimore adds: "Netflix's viewing figures have always been shrouded in mystery, they won't tell us how many people are watching but the rest of the TV industry relies so heavily on these figures. "Now suddenly after saying no, they're very willing to, but they are calculated in a different way, therefore a straight comparison is very difficult." But Hollywood Reporter said Netflix's content chief Ted Sarandos said the decision beind revealing some of its viewing figures was to share "cultural metrics". He added that in his opinion, what was important was being "in the zeitgeist", adding Netflix will "ramp up" future information on viewing figures. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]. | https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-46920719 |
Should Businesses Be Considering Incorporating Facial Recognition? | In a lot of ways, its seemed like facial recognition technology was inevitable. As the surge in its popularity and usage has skyrocketed in the past couple of years, a lot of companies have started to take note. While the early adopters have been law enforcement and other security groups, more and more businesses have been wondering if its the right move for their company. However, thats why weve compiled a few notes on helping you answer the question if facial recognition is something you should investigate further. Check them out below: The Basics While a relatively new field, facial recognition has quickly taken both the tech and security worlds by storm. According to Variant Market Research, the facial recognition industry is estimated to be worth $15.4 billion by 2024, which is a pretty surprising figure considering how recent a development this is. The steady growth has come primarily in two industries. First, facial recognition was normalized when it became standard for unlocking phone screens; most people just viewed it as an upgraded security feature. The second use of identity verification has been the one thats left businesses wondering if this is something they should utilize. Where It Fits In Facial recognition software has a wide variety of use cases across a few different industries. The most basic one were used to is facial recognition to verify our identity on our phones and other third party sources; however, this software can be used when were not even aware. Face recognition in stadiums, for example, can help law enforcement and security identify whos attending an event quickly and if there are any potential threats. However, beyond just for protection, facial recognition has already started to creep into the commercial side of tech. As fast as the boom towards facial recognition has been happening, so has advertisers trying to capitalize off it. As noted by Fortune, facial recognition was used by a Chinese company to shame jaywalkers on a billboard across the street, which they hoped would one day be used for targeted ad campaigns. Similar to how youd see a targeted ad on Facebook or Instagram using your browsing data, facial recognition would identify the person an advertiser is trying to reach, review their profile, and then display an ad in real-time. While something weve seen quite a bit in Sci-Fi, ads showcasing yourself arent out of the realm of possibility. Even with how advance facial recognition can be on both ends of the use case spectrum, that doesnt necessarily mean its always worth the cost. What Businesses Should Consider Until advertising capabilities become more advanced, the biggest market for facial recognition software right now is security. This has already grown to be a massive industry primarily by law enforcement because as noted in a study by Georgetown University, over half of all Americans are in a Police Facial Recognition Database. Well note that for your average person attending a concert or traveling to the airport, this technology is relatively harmless. Its just another type of identification method, but one that can identify a threat quickly. And if your business is one that deals with crowds, then facial recognition might not be a bad idea. Depending on how much of an investment youre willing to take into the measure, facial recognition could be a wise choice for an array of large-scale business owners. This includes places for entertainment like casinos, shopping malls, or even stadiums, as well as transportation hubs like bus stations or airports. Furthermore, large outdoor areas can also serve a benefit from facial recognition, especially if youre in an area with high-traffic. All-in-all, facial recognition can be an excellent security tool, and with development on the commercial end getting better and better, expect a mass of interesting future uses too. Future Uses In the immediate future of facial recognition, expect more inclusion for security. On a consumer level, this will be useful for such measures as protecting card usage; for example, as noted by Credit Donkey, in 2017, 20 percent of data breaches occurred involved credit card numbers, which is why one of the first lines of authentication when making a purchase on your phone now is facial identity. From a b2b level, identity verification could be especially useful for enterprise-level companies, for example, in verifying Instagram followers accounts on your business profile. Our digital world is about to become much more secure, but its the commercial aspect that has people worried. The biggest hurdle that the tech world will have to overcome with facial recognition is going to boil down to privacy. Not just what your face looks like, but how your muscles move in certain situations, as well as if people can capture that data when youre simply just walking through the airport. Comment with your insights below! | http://cascadebusnews.com/businesses-considering-incorporating-facial-recognition/ |
How Much Can Apple Gain By Partnering With Insurers To Sell Apple Watch? | Apple is reportedly in talks with multiple insurers, discussing possible ways to subsidize the cost of the Apple Watch for seniors on Medicare Advantage plans. If the discussions come to fruition, it could prove to be a win-win, allowing Apple to bolster Watch sales while potentially helping insurers lower their healthcare costs. In this note, we try to size up the potential market for the Watch among seniors on Medicare Advantage plans. View our interactive dashboard analysis How Much Revenue Can Apple Watch Garner From Medicare Advantage Market By 2020?. You can make changes to our projections to arrive at your own estimates. Win-Win For Apple, Insurance Companies With the latest Apple Watch Series 4, Apple has added features such as fall detection and the ability to detect irregular heart rhythms, helping seniors better monitor their health and wellbeing. Moreover, as the watch collects real-time data relating to a users heart rates and movement, it could allow insurance companies to put together a more accurate picture of a patients health, enabling them to refer patients to requisite care in a timely fashion, reducing the chances of emergencies and lowering costs. The Apple Watch could also motivate users to lead more active lives. While these features could be very useful to many senior citizens, the price of the latest Apple Watch starts at about $400, making it unaffordable to many seniors. By working with insurance companies, Apple could figure out a way to get its wearable device onto the wrists of more senior citizens in a cost-effective manner. Medicare Advantage Is A Large, Fast Growing Market While some insurers such as UnitedHealthcare have worked with Apple in the past, offering free Apple Watches to customers who meet walking goals, deploying the Apple Watch in the Medicare market could add more value to both Apple and insurers. Medicare Advantage plans typically allow senior citizens to receive their Medicare benefits through a private, Medicare-approved insurance company. Moreover, Medicare members enrolled in private plans typically have lower churn levels, giving insurers more reason to invest upfront to leverage longer-term gains from these customers. There were 20.4 million people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans as of 2018. These plans accounted for 34% of Medicare beneficiaries as of 2018, up from 22% in 2008, and the number could expand further with major insurers announcing expansion plans. If we assume that there are 21 million enrollees on Medicare Advantage plans by 2020, and that Apple is able to sell watches to about 20% of them, it would translate into about 4.3 million incremental Apple Watches shipped. If we assume an ASP of about $350 per watch, it could imply additional revenue of about $1.5 billion for Apple. While this is a drop in the bucket compared to Apples $250 billion-plus in annual revenue, breaking into the market could potentially help Apple expand deeper into the healthcare space with new products and services. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/01/18/how-much-can-apple-gain-by-partnering-with-insurers-to-sell-apple-watch/ |
Is It Considered Unethical For Doctors To Profit From Pharmaceutical Companies? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by David Chan, MD from UCLA, Stanford Oncology Fellowship, on Quora: Many doctors work directly for biotech and pharmaceutical companies as well as medical device companies full time. They are doing research, product development or management. In fact, some of them are owners of the companies. Thats fine. They are not in the practice of medicine. For other doctors, they are sometimes consultants who are paid for their time in advising a company about drug or device development. I think that is fine too as long as the reimbursement is standard rates per hour of work. Its unethical for doctors who are paid as consultants to not reveal that relationship prior to presenting data at scientific meetings or education symposia. Doctors definitely should not be getting kickbacks or fees for using a medical device or for prescribing a drug. Doctors should also not be making money by withholding treating. There are small areas of the US in an HMO system where cancer drugs are completely capitated. That means the contracted oncology group is payed a global fee for care that is all inclusive including the cost for any cancer drug used. These drugs are incredibly expensive. Any given treatment is a direct cost to the cancer specialist and withholding a treatment is a direct financial benefit. Most people find that kind of arrangement disturbing. Probably the most ethical financial arrangement is salarying physicians. A large number of medical specialists are now affiliated with healthcare delivery systems and are salaried. This takes the financial incentive to treat or not treat out of the equation. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/18/is-it-considered-unethical-for-doctors-to-profit-from-pharmaceutical-companies/ |
What Is Netflix's Outlook For Q1 And 2019? | Netflixs Q4 earnings per share beat consensus estimates but revenues fell short of market expectations. The company reported net streaming additions of 8.86 million in the quarter. In Q4, the companys revenues grew a robust 27% year-over-year (y-o-y) to $4.2 billion, driven by growth in subscribers across both the U.S. and international streaming markets. The international subscriber base continued to increase at a rapid pace (40% y-o-y) once again, while the domestic subscriber base growth stabilized in the low double digits. Further, the streaming giants operating margin fell to 5.2% in Q4 from 7.5% from an year ago quarter, as higher marketing costs and more titles being introduced were absorbed. For the full-year 2018, Netflix recorded $7.5 billion in content amortization and expects this amount to grow further. The company also reported negative cash flow of $3 billion for 2018 and expects a similar level in 2019. Netflix saw its stock gain nearly 20% over the course of 2018. We have a $376 price estimate for Netflixs stock, which is almost 10% ahead of the current market price. We have created an interactive dashboard on what to expect from Netflixs Q1, which outlines our forecasts for the company in the next quarter. You can modify our forecasts to see the impact any changes would have on the companys earnings and valuation. Below we outline the key takeaways from Netflixs Q4 as well as its outlook going forward. Streaming Business Continues To Grow Streaming revenues increased 30% y-o-y to $4.1 billion as the companys subscriber base grew across both U.S. and international streaming services. U.S. Streaming revenues increased by 22% y-o-y to $2 billion. U.S. streaming memberships grew by 11% to 60.5 million (5.8 million addition y-o-y, 2 million sequentially), while the contribution margins for the U.S. Streaming business decreased to 29.6% from 30.9%. International Streaming revenues grew 36% y-o-y to 2.1 billion. In Q4, total memberships for international streaming services grew to 87.9 million (25 million addition y-o-y, 9.3 million sequentially), while paid subscribers grew to 80.8 million (22.9 million addition y-o-y, 7.3 million sequentially). Additionally, the contribution margins grew to 3.9% from a 2.5%, largely due to the timing of content deals that have been pushed back to later quarters. Overall, Netflixs paid memberships were 139.2 million at the end of the quarter, while its total memberships grew to 148.4 million. Q1 Expectations In Q1, Netflix expects 8.9 million global net additions (1.6 million net adds in the U.S. and 7.3 million internationally), compared to an 8.5 million consensus estimate. The company also expects an operating margin of 8.9% in Q1. Further, the company is also raising its prices in Q1 in the U.S. and some Latin American markets. We forecast Netflix to reach 62 million subscribers in the U.S. with an average monthly fee per subscriber of just over $11, translating into $2.1 billion in domestic streaming revenues for Q1. In addition, we also estimate close to 95 million subscribers in international markets with an average monthly fee per subscriber of $8.28, translating into about $2.4 billion in international streaming revenues in the same period. Netflix has been growing its subscribers by leveraging its original content slate, and we expect this to continue in the near term as well. On the other hand, Netflixs DVD business is expected to continue to lose steam, and its revenues will likely decline to just below $80 million. Overall, we expect the company to report revenues of around $4.5 billion, based on strong adoption in international markets. Furthermore, we anticipate that the total subscriber base for both international and U.S. streaming services could grow to over 157 million during the quarter. Netflixs new pricing in the U.S. will be phased in for existing members over Q1 and Q2, and its U.S. prices for new members are increasing across the board the Standard plan (two HD streams) is increasing from $10.99 to $12.99 per month; the Premium plan (up to four Ultra HD streams) is increasing from $13.99 to $15.99 per month; and the Basic plan (with a single non-HD stream) is increasing for the first time, from $7.99 to $8.99 per month. This will help boost the companys average revenue per customer over the coming quarters. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/01/18/what-is-netflixs-q1-outlook/ |
What Are The Most Common Mistakes First-Time Entrepreneurs Make? | originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Patrick Mathieson, software investor at Toba Capital, on Quora: The most common mistakes made by first time entrepreneurs: Over-weighting the opinions of investors/VCs. Raising money from investors you dont trust/raising money from investors who dont truly believe in the founding team. Not impacting the market frequently enough (for example, waiting to start selling until v1.0 is completely finished). Over-complicating their messaging (assuming that the average person will give them more than 0.1 seconds of their attention). Not thinking enough about sales velocity & whether their clients have the desire & ability to buy quickly. Not identifying the types of customers who will buy at a high enough price point to support the business model. Thinking that selling to one enormous client will solve all of their problems. Poor prioritization & working on way too many initiatives at once. Not spending enough time cultivating allies (its better to have 1 industry ally who is obsessed with your product/service than 10 who are merely aware of you). Over-obsessing about PR and looking like a hot startup in general. Waiting too long to fire people. Hiring risky or mediocre people among your first dozen hires. Working somewhere that is inherently distracting. Not getting any sleep. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/18/what-are-the-most-common-mistakes-first-time-entrepreneurs-make/ |
Whats Going on With Mariah Carey and Her Former Assistant? | Mariah Carey. Photo: Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock Earlier this week, news broke that Mariah Carey is suing her former assistant, Lianna Shakhnazaryan, accusing the woman of secretly filming and then blackmailing her. But as if that wasnt wild enough, Shakhnazaryan is filing a suit of her own against Carey and Careys former manager, alleging that she was subjected to verbal and physical abuse while on the job, including being peed on (though not by Carey). Heres a breakdown of what exactly is going on with both lawsuits. Carey claims that her former assistant extorted her. On January 16, Carey sued the former executive assistant, who worked for her from March 2015 to November 2017. Court documents obtained by People state that the singer is suing Shakhnazaryan, also known as Lianna Azarian, for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, extortion, and invasion of privacy. Careys lawsuit alleges that Azarian turned out to be a grifter, a Peeping Tom(asina) and an extortionist, according to People. It also claims that Azarian secretly filmed Carey without her knowledge, engaged in personal activities which, if revealed, Azarian knew would be personally embarrassing and professionally damaging to Mariah. According to the suit, Azarian threatened to use that footage to blackmail Carey if she fired her, which Carey did in 2017. Carey says that she had Azarian sign an NDA when she first started working for her, and that the secret recordings, plus the blackmail, violate that contract. But thats not all the lawsuit also says that Azarian showed the videos to friends and co-workers, and told a co-worker that if she was fired, she would sell the videos to buy herself a new home. Carey also said that she initially paid Azarian a salary of $250,000 but increased it to $327,000 when Azarian asserted that she required additional compensation because of the required hours. The suit also claims that the assistant regularly used credit cards meant for business purchases for her personal benefit. Carey is now suing Azarian for $3 million. This new year welcomes Mariahs continued efforts to clean the trash from her life, a rep for Carey told People. The assistants lawsuit alleges that she was assaulted at work. Azarian has also filed her own lawsuit against Carey and Careys former manager, Stella Bulochnikov. According to court documents obtained by BuzzFeed News, Azarians suit says that Bulochnikov held Azarian down and urinated on her multiple times, and allegedly lifted Azarians breasts and placed objects like iPhones, utensils, and remote controls beneath them. Bulochnikov also allegedly yelled at Azarian to Get that Armenian bitch! and Move your fat Armenian ass! Azarian said Carey was aware of the conduct and also joined in committing physical, emotional, and psychological attacks. Azarian is suing for lost wages and damages, and her lawyer told BuzzFeed that Careys suit is an attempt to get in front of the story and discredit her former assistant. My client never did anything she wasnt specifically asked to do while working in the course and scope of her job as a personal assistant, the attorney said. Her lawsuit is about holding her employer accountable for severely inappropriate behavior that caused tremendous stress and emotional turmoil. Last year, Bulochnikov sued Carey for sexual harassment, claiming that the singer was often nude in front of her in the nearly three years that she worked for Carey. The two settled that lawsuit earlier this month. | https://www.thecut.com/2019/01/mariah-carey-sues-assistant-who-fires-back-with-own-lawsuit.html?utm_source=nym&utm_medium=f1&utm_campaign=feed-part |
Did Hype Kill the Cat Person Book? | Photo: GlobalP/Getty Images/iStockphoto The economics of writing are so famously bad, and the economics of publishing so famously nonsensical, arbitrary, and opaque, that for any book arriving with significant fanfare and cash, the fanfare and cash become inexorably part of the story. We have thus been treated, or subjected, to an unusual degree of information about the events that brought Kristen Roupenians You Know You Want This the new host for the viral Cat Person to fruition. Among these is a disarming recent piece by Roupenian herself on The New Yorker website called, What It Felt Like When Cat Person Went Viral (the answer: not great). The experience of reading the book itself takes on a meta aspect that is at once inescapable, interesting, and tedious. The stories in You Know You Want This are weird, gross, and occasionally comic, the plots perverse and almost campy in their borrowings from horror. Although they vary significantly in setting, scenario, and even genre, they turn out to be surprisingly formulaic. A better title for this collection might have been Something Bad Is Going to Happen, a realization you come to only a couple of stories in. Still, theres a 1990s sensibility to some of the stories that I found perversely comforting, even though they are uniformly creepy. In The Boy in the Pool, a friend tries to make bachelorette-party magic by enlisting the reluctant services of a former B-movie cult teen heartthrob to come and romance the bride, her best friend. Other times the callbacks were more haunting. Look at Your Game, Girl name-drops Kurt Cobain, but the more relevant references are to the murder of Polly Klaas, which sets the mood for a story about a pubescent California girl who meets a weirdo at a local park. These 1990s evocations and my blurred memories, together with the Bad-Thing-Is-Going-to-Happen formula and the over-the-top supernatural elements of stories like Sardines and Scarred, weirdly reminded me of nothing so much as the iconic 90s series Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, books that might as well have been name-checked in this collection. Another consequence of virality and accompanying swirling discourse is that they invite the reader to place herself on a map of other readers reactions. I can well understand that for some reviewers, a Goosebumps-style aesthetic is not a selling point. But I found the stories mostly pleasurable. It feels like she did, at some point maybe he had three names, the way a lot of actors back then did Chad Michael Nickerson. Nick Bradley Chaderson. Brad Chad Daderson.) Im not the first reviewer to point out that Cat Person and The Good Guy a very long story which, as the title indicates, is about the middle- and high-school formation of a soi-disant Nice Guy are the standouts of the collection, and the ones that are least like the others. Theres nothing magical or horrifying about them, beyond the everyday horror of modern relationships. Roupenian has a coroners interest in describing contemporary courtship, gender dynamics, and sexual mores, and these are ultimately far more chilling than the gross-outs of her other work (even though the other work, it must be said, is also concerned in its bloodthirsty way with courtship, gender dynamics, and sexual mores). If most of the stories in You Know You Want This are stories about monsters, Cat Person in particular is a story about ghosts. I read Cat Person for the first time from a place of skin-crawling remembrance of unwanted sex, unwanted selves. It was strange to read Cat Person now in the context of the other stories. Mostly, I felt a sense of loss, that the nauseating electricity of reading it for the first time was gone. But also I sensed, knowing what I know now about Roupenians formula, that the storys something bad was slightly different from mine. Its peculiar when one of the reader reactions you can compare yours to is the writers own. A story of a nasty, brutish, and short courtship between a college student (Margot) and an older man (Robert), Cat Person famously documents the excruciating sex had by women who are not quite sure of the nicest, safest way to say no. Roupenian spoke with the storys editor about the loyalties the story is meant to engender. The now-famous final text from Robert to Margot, the epithet whore, becomes the defining thing, the thing that makes the encounter truly bad, and this for me, if I think about it too hard, robs the story of some of its finesse. A major part of my reading, and the storys power, I thought, was the self-loathing it catalogued, both the peculiar self-loathing and bewilderment you feel for doing something you patently dont want to do, and the subsequent unwelcome awareness of the ways that disgust leads you into cruelties of your own. This is not to say that I thought Robert was the true unsung hero of Cat Person; no, Robert sucks, an adult man who is probably about to be red-pilled by his joyless encounter with an obviously repulsed 20-year-old. But Margot doesnt have the vocabulary for desire or consent, and her own disgust (and the fear that undergirds it) cause her to conflate what she perceives as her own magnanimity with its abdication. That this turns out to be vindicated by the eventual behavior of Robert is something of a cop-out, I think now. What I thought was brilliant about the story is not that it reveals that men are secretly bad and dangerous all along, but the way it shows how harm is built into and amplified by modern sexual codes in a culture that is, paradoxically, incredibly libertine while also being close-mouthed about pleasure, attraction, desire, and consent. For me, the story illuminates how regrettable encounters can become formative because we dont know how to treat one another, and how the terrible ways we treat each other are mapped to gender and power and everything that is fucked up in our society. Robert could have been half as terrible and the story would still land, a needed addition to the relatively short literary canon by women about women behaving in ways that are directly contrary to their deepest preference (I thought of Edith Wharton, her hapless Lily Bart: She had been bored all the afternoon by Percy Gryce she must follow up her success, must submit to more boredom, must be ready with fresh compliances and adaptabilities, and all on the bare chance that he might ultimately decide to do her the honour of boring her for life). Robert was not the man for our putative heroine, whether he said whore or not; that he did only drags the encounter toward the worst-case scenario: a Polly Klaas scenario. Maybe whats really so brilliant about Cat Person is that it is a mirror held up to the reader; this oddly enough, is a conceit of the most batshit of Roupenians stories called wait for it, The Mirror, the Bucket, and the Old Thigh Bone. All this is to say that as a collection I found You Know You Want This engaging but uneven. Im wary of my judgments, though, because of all the unnecessary information I have about how this story, and this book, came to be. But I cant, in the end, blame Roupenian for the TMI. Its TMI, in any case, that makes her best work so good. | https://www.thecut.com/2019/01/review-you-know-you-want-this-by-kristen-roupenian.html?utm_source=nym&utm_medium=f1&utm_campaign=feed-part |
How quickly does Luton Borough Council fill in dangerous potholes? | Luton Borough Council aims to repair dangerous potholes within two hours of being alerted, data obtained by the RAC Foundation shows. That's the most common response time, with the slowest councils in the UK taking up to five days. Hitting a pothole, or even swerving to avoid one, can ruin a car's suspension, steering or tyres, according to the AA. In extreme cases they can cause serious accidents. In 2018, the AA estimated potholes cost drivers and insurance companies an eye-watering 12 million. It said: "The pothole epidemic has become nothing short of a national disgrace." A Freedom of Information request by the RAC found that Luton Borough Council uses a "risk-based" approach to fixing potholes. Not only will a pothole's size be considered, but also the potential impact on road users and volume of traffic. That means deeper potholes on quiet lanes will be less of a priority than minor defects on a major route. The local authority will only investigate potholes that are at least 5cm deep. That applies regardless of whether the pothole is on a quiet lane or a major route. RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: The total number of potholes being filled in might still be limited by a shortage of funding, but this approach at least means those that are most dangerous are fixed first. Those particularly vulnerable to potholes cyclists and motorcyclists might ask whether the speed of pothole investigation should be based solely on the risk to users. Repairs for the least troublesome potholes in Luton could take up to a month. The Local Government Association called for more funding for council-controlled local roads. Transport spokesman Councillor Martin Tett said: Keeping roads safe for all users is one of the most important jobs councils do. Thats reflected in the fact that local authorities are fixing a pothole every 21 seconds." He added that councils need "consistent and fairer government investment in local road maintenance". | https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/transport/how-quickly-does-luton-borough-council-fill-in-dangerous-potholes-1-8776065 |
How quickly does Central Bedfordshire Council fill in dangerous potholes? | Central Bedfordshire Council aims to repair dangerous potholes within two hours of being alerted, data obtained by the RAC Foundation shows. That's the most common response time, with the slowest councils in the UK taking up to five days. Hitting a pothole, or even swerving to avoid one, can ruin a car's suspension, steering or tyres, according to the AA. In extreme cases they can cause serious accidents. In 2018, the AA estimated potholes cost drivers and insurance companies an eye-watering 12 million. It said: "The pothole epidemic has become nothing short of a national disgrace." A Freedom of Information request by the RAC found that Central Bedfordshire Council uses a "risk-based" approach to fixing potholes. Not only will a pothole's size be considered, but also the potential impact on road users and volume of traffic. That means deeper potholes on quiet lanes will be less of a priority than minor defects on a major route. The local authority will only investigate potholes that are at least 5cm deep and 15cm wide. That applies regardless of whether the pothole is on a quiet lane or a major route. RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: The total number of potholes being filled in might still be limited by a shortage of funding, but this approach at least means those that are most dangerous are fixed first. Those particularly vulnerable to potholes cyclists and motorcyclists might ask whether the speed of pothole investigation should be based solely on the risk to users. The Local Government Association called for more funding for council-controlled local roads. Transport spokesman Councillor Martin Tett said: Keeping roads safe for all users is one of the most important jobs councils do. Thats reflected in the fact that local authorities are fixing a pothole every 21 seconds." He added that councils need "consistent and fairer government investment in local road maintenance". | https://www.dunstabletoday.co.uk/news/transport/how-quickly-does-central-bedfordshire-council-fill-in-dangerous-potholes-1-8776067 |
Was machen wir denn jetzt? | Kuscheln mit der groen Tochter: Am Ende muss Astrid (Julia Jentsch) die Entscheidung, ob sie ihr Baby abtreibt oder nicht, allein treffen. (ZDF/Friede Clausz) 24 Wochen ist ein Film, den man ertragen knnen muss. Die Filmemacherin Anne Zohra Berrached schaut mit khler Distanzlosigkeit einem Paar dabei zu, wie es eine Entscheidung treffen muss, vor der man hofft, nie selbst zu stehen. Das Baby, das Astrid (Julia Jentsch) und Markus (Bjarne Mdel) erwarten, wird aller Voraussicht nach mit Trisomie 21, dem Down-Syndrom, und einem schweren Herzfehler auf die Welt kommen. In Deutschland ist es rechtlich mglich, Kinder abzutreiben, die mit schweren Beeintrchtigungen auf die Welt kommen wrden. Auch noch nach 24 Wochen Schwangerschaft. Dabei weigert sich der Film, Antworten zu geben und bleibt in moralischer Hinsicht offen. Mit Sendungsbewusstsein will er sein Publikum fr ein Thema sensibilisieren, ber das man nicht redet. Ein Tabubruch, wie bisweilen unterstellt, ist 24 Wochen gleichwohl nicht. | https://www.weser-kurier.de/deutschland-welt/deutschland-welt-vermischtes_artikel,-was-machen-wir-denn-jetzt-_arid,1799829.html |
Does The National Assembly Have A Code Of Conduct And A Committee Of Ethics? | 7 SHARES Share Tweet QUESTION OF THE DAY: The National Assembly is an oversight institution. It has to have a code of conduct and a Committee on ethics. In many countries, Parliamentarians have immunity from arrest and could only be subjected to criminal proceedings if their immunity is set aside by the Committee on ethics. Foroyaa will try to interview the Majority and Minority leaders and the Clerk of the National Assembly, to find out whether a code of conduct exists for National Assembly members and whether a Committee on ethics exists to ensure compliance with any code. | https://foroyaa.gm/does-the-national-assembly-have-a-code-of-conduct-and-a-committee-of-ethics/ |
How Are Farmers To Be Protected From Promissory Notes? | 2 SHARES Share Tweet During the last trade season, many farmers delivered their nuts to cooperative buying centers, only to be given promissory notes instead of being paid their dues in cash upon delivery. They had to talk to National Assembly members, the media and even go to court to fight their cases. This cost farmers quantifiable sums of money, time and opportunity losses. Government should create a complaint Bureau to document all cases that led to the defrauding of hard working farmers and ensure that all those who engage in groundnut buying as agents, are licensed to do so based on their capacity to pay. The cooperative societies should be fully organised to prevent any defrauding of farmers. Those who live on seasonal income, should not be cheated and subjected to unnecessary hardships. All those who are defrauded and are still not paid, should notify Foroyaa for publication and follow up, on their cases. | https://foroyaa.gm/how-are-farmers-to-be-protected-from-promissory-notes/ |
Will court-approved deal clear the way for huge development along Route 15? | A just-approved deal has ended a nine-year federal court fight over a huge development proposed for a spot along Route 15 near Dillsburg. Whether that agreement will also end the 13-year battle between Dillsburg Ventures and Carroll Township supervisors over that proposal remains to be seen. The seeds of a resolution were at last planted when U.S. Middle District Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner approved the settlement of the court case this week. At issue is the fate of 45 acres at Route 15 and Logan Road, right across the street from Logan Park. Since 2006, Dillsburg Ventures has been proposing a high-density residential/commercial development on the northern York County site, to the dismay of many neighbors. Battles over the plan have erupted in several courts. The case before Conner began in 2010 when Dillsburg Ventures accused the supervisors of violating the terms of an earlier settlement. The newly sanctioned deal allows three options for developing the site. Dillsburg Ventures can proceed in the approval process either with its original 2006 plan or with a 2009 plan for 76 single-family homes, six multifamily residential buildings and two commercial buildings. The third option would allow the firm to present a new plan, with assurance that supervisors would cooperate in good faith to seek a mutually acceptable design. That option does not include any guarantee of approval, however. Nearby residents have voiced opposition to the development plan, including expressing fears that it will cause traffic problems. During a public comment period held amid the federal court proceeding, Dillsburg Borough officials cited concern that the development would have a significant impact on the towns streets, giving rise to safety issues. At the same time, Northern York School Board warned it would be hard-pressed to absorb the possible deluge of new students from the Dillsburg Venture project. | https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/will-court-approved-deal-clear-the-way-for-huge-development-along-route-15.html |
Will federal shutdown delay $1.3 million Covington lead project? | CLOSE Lead is a naturally occurring element in our environment. Its past and current use in several products mean we can be exposed to it from several sources. Lead is particularly dangerous for children under 6 years old. The Enquirer/Mike Nyerges Covington won a $1.37 million grant that will fund a program later this year to protect children from lead-based paint in older homes. That's the good news. The ongoing federal shutdown could delay the start of the project. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program, and Covington is the only local government in Kentucky to be awarded money under the grant. The city expects to receive the funds by March 31 and begin implementing a program later this summer, said Jeremy Wallace, the citys federal grants manager. But the program could hit a delay if the shutdown continues, according to city spokesman Dan Hassert. As soon as the government reopens, HUD will contact us to begin negotiating the final terms of the grant. That will take approximately three months, he said. There shouldn't be any risk of losing the grant unless the government never reopens. Covington has a large number of housing units at risk for lead poisoning, based on the age of the paint and the condition of the house. (Photo: Provided) Breathing the lead-paint dust or swallowing tiny chips of lead paint can cause health problems in young children, including damage to the brain and other vital organs. Factors such as the age of citys housing stock and the number of children under age 6 living in low-income households, helped the city qualify for the grant. HUD estimated that 1,760 housing units in Covington - or over 10 percent of those in the city - would be eligible for the program. SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Subscribe now and get access to all our coverage Its a big problem in Covington because we have so many older homes, because some of them are in bad condition, with the paint chipping and peeling, and because we have a large number of children in low-income households living in such homes, Wallace said. The cost for making any individual housing unit lead-safe is typically about $15,000 to $20,000, Wallace said. He said the city estimates the program will remove lead hazards at about 45 homes during the three-year program, he said. The city will work with outside partners to identify houses and rental units where children are already suffering from lead poisoning, based on elevated blood levels, and to assess other homes at high risk for the presence of lead-based paint. Outside partners working with the city are: Northern Kentucky Health Department Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission Kentucky Commission on Human Rights Children Inc. The Center for Great Neighborhoods Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky The Covington Neighborhood Collaborative Read or Share this story: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/01/18/federal-shutdown-delay-1-3-million-covington-lead-project-hud-grant-award-protect-children/2613922002/ | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/01/18/federal-shutdown-delay-1-3-million-covington-lead-project-hud-grant-award-protect-children/2613922002/ |
When does Baptiste start on BBC1? Whats The Missing spin-off about and whos in the cast? | Tchky Karyo won the hearts of viewers as Julien Baptiste during two nail-biting series of The Missing and now the French detective has his own spin-off show coming to BBC1. Baptiste is coming soon to BBC1. This article will be updated with an exact air date as soon as its confirmed. Baptiste is a drama revolving around the titular French detective who first appeared in The Missing series one and two. When we last saw Julien Baptiste at the end of The Missing series two, he was about to undergo an operation to remove a brain tumour. But in this new series, he is fit and healthy, and tracking down a sex worker in Amsterdam who was reported missing by her uncle Edward. Baptiste is dragged into the case after Amsterdams Chief of Police who also happens to be the detectives former girlfriend seeks out his help to solve it. This first series of Baptiste will allow us to discover more about Julien than ever before as he is parachuted into the centre of a shocking and wide-ranging crime story, says BBC drama controller Piers Wenger. French actor Tchky Karyo is back to reprise his role as Baptiste and is joined by The Night Managers Tom Hollander, who plays Edward, the missing girls uncle. Call the Midwifes Jessica Raine will also star as a character named Genevieve, and Anastasia Hille returns to play Baptistes wife Celia. Further cast members include Alec Secareanu, Clare Calbraith, Nicholas Woodeson and Talisa Garcia. Details of their characters have yet to be announced. As well as penning The Missing and Baptiste, the Williams brothers are known for writing ITVs Liar and BBC1s Rellik. Their next creation is the Kate Beckinsale drama The Widow. The duo also run a production company, Two Brothers Pictures, which has produced Fleabag and Strangers and also has the forthcoming series Cheat on its slate. Baptiste is set in the beautiful streets, canals and houses of Amsterdam as well as the murky underworld beneath the city. Its filming locations also include Deal in Kent and Antwerp in Belgium. Creators Harry and Jack Williams have previously said they would be open to doing a third series of The Missing, as long as the story is right. It would have to be very different [to the previous two], it would have to not be cynical, and it would have to be saying something new, said Harry. BBC1 has shared a very short teaser trailer, here you go | https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-18/missing-spin-off-baptiste-start-air-date-day-time-channel-bbc1-cast/ |
When is Liar back for series two on ITV? | The first series of Liar gripped viewers with its twisting and turning tale of serial rapist Andrew Earlham and Laura Nielsons fight to bring him down. Advertisement Now the psychological thriller is coming back to ITV for a second run. Liar will return to ITV for a second series in 2019. This article will be updated with an exact air date as soon as its confirmed. Just when it looked like serial rapist Andrew Earlham was headed for prison, Liar delivered one final surprise in the last moments of its finale. In the closing scene, Andrew was shown half-submerged in the muddy marshes, his throat slit and blood on his shirt. Andrew had been missing for weeks, having disappeared from his house on the night Laura Nielson finally discovered the evidence that would get him locked up: video footage of him raping 17 different women. But when the police rushed to arrest him, he had already vanished. (We have our suspicions.) Both Joanne Froggatt and Ioan Gruffudd are reprising their roles as Laura Nielson and Andrew Earlham for the second series, which will focus on who killed Andrew. Gruffudd will appear in flashback sequences chronicling the events leading up to his characters death. As well as penning Liar, the Williams brothers are also known for writing BBC1s The Missing and Rellik. Their next creation is Kate Beckinsale drama The Widow. They also run a production company, Two Brothers Pictures, which has produced Fleabag, Strangers and the forthcoming series Cheat. Not yet. But well be sure to pop it in here when it lands | https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-18/liar-series-two-return-date-cast-plot-joanne-froggatt-ioan-gruffudd/ |
When does Strictly Come Dancing 2019 start? Who are the contestants? | Strictly Come Dancing is set to take over Saturday nights in all its glittering glory once again this autumn. Advertisement And a whole new line-up of celebrities will be strutting their stuff in the Strictly ballroom in a bid to win the coveted Glitterball Trophy. Strictly Come Dancing is expected to return to BBC1 in September. Last year, the line-up was revealed at the end of August with the launch show airing at the beginning of September and the competition itself starting two weeks later. Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli, Darcey Bussell and Head Judge Shirley Ballas are all expected to be back in their seats on the panel this year. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are likely to return to the ballroom this autumn to present the show in their now classic double act. Yes. Strictly Come Dancing is broadcast live every Saturday night, but the Sunday night results show is pre-recorded. Strictly is filmed at Elstree Studios, apart from one week each year when the show is on location in Blackpool for a special episode at the famous Tower Ballroom. The Strictly live shows usually run for 13 weeks per series, which means the grand finale is likely to air in December a week or two before Christmas. Filmmaker Stacey Dooley and her pro partner Kevin Clifton lifted the coveted Glitterball Trophy last year. Zoe Balls spin-off show is indeed expected to be back once again this year. Strictly is infamous for spawning new relationships between celebrity contestants and pro dancers but sometimes this can lead to affairs and heartbreak, with Seann Walsh and Katya Joness kiss making headlines last year. Advertisement Have a look back at the history of the Strictly curse since the show began | https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-18/strictly-come-dancing-2019-start-date-contestants/ |
When is the 'Super Blood Wolf Moon' happening in Ireland? | Get daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Irish stargazers are in for a treat as a total lunar eclipse and a supermoon will be visible this month. People in North and South America, Africa, and parts of Western Europe will have the chance to see the Super Blood Wolf Moon. The next time people will be able to see this phenomenon will be 2022. (Image: Getty) Irish astronomy enthusiasts will be able to view the total eclipse shortly before sunrise on Monday. The full moon will be in the earths shadow from 3.34 am to 6.51 am, Breakingnews.ie reports. The eclipse will be lasting about an hour, starting at 4.41am. While the moon will be visible during the eclipse itll be in a shade of red, hence the name blood moon. According to the Old Farmers Almanac, the January full moon is often called the Wolf Moon which might date back to Native American tribes when wolves would howl outside villages. | https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/superwolf-bloodmoon-ireland-day-time-13873720 |
Why is a Meter missing from the Jazz Fest 2019 poster? | The 2019 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival poster is intended as a sort of family portrait of the New Orleans musical stars whove appeared at the fest, plus a few forefathers of jazz. I count 55 faces in the colorful crowd. From the start, the poster producer art4now acknowledged that there would be some omissions. Thats no surprise. But a colleague of mine pointed out a particularly head-scratching absence. Though four members of the legendary funk band The Meters are present (Art Neville, Cyril Neville, George Porter and Joseph Zigaboo Modeliste), the fifth member, guitar maestro Leo Nocentelli is missing. It was no accident. Nocentelli said that he was originally included among the musicians on the 2019 poster, but was later removed. Nocentelli declined to go into great detail about why he was erased, except to say: They took me off because what I stood for was self-respect and respect for all the other great artists. We werent going to receive that respect. Its not about me; I was fighting for all the great artists in New Orleans. Nocentelli believes that his omission makes the poster historically incorrect. You do not put the Meters in that setting incomplete, Nocentelli said. Just like you dont put in the Beatles without Paul McCartney. Leo Nocentelli performs with the Meters on the Gentilly Stage during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Sunday, May 7, 2017. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune) Worse yet, Nocentelli said, is the crucial absence of R&B pioneer David Louis Bartholomew. Nocentelli said that the original concept for the poster, as he understood it, was something similar to Art Kanes 1958 historic group photo, a Great Day in Harlem that gathered so many of the master musicians of the era. Nocentelli said he admires the artistry of the new poster, which was designed by Scott Guion, but the underlying concept went off the rails. In a peeved Instagram post, Nocentelli called the poster a fake and accused the artist of misrepresenting the reason he was removed. Im not telling anyone not to buy this poster, Nocentelli wrote, However you will be buying a disgrace to the musical heritage of my great city and the heritage of the great New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival." Nocentelli pointed out that his personal relationship with Jazz Fest goes back to before there was a Jazz Fest. Nocentelli said that festival producer Quint Davis discussed the concept of a jazz and heritage festival with him and Modeliste before helping found the event. NOLA.COM See every Jazz Fest poster from 1970 to 2019 Weve written to art4now for an explanation of the absence but havent heard back. NOLA.com readers who commented on the poster suggested that Deacon John, Bobby Blue Bland, members of the Batiste family, Marcia Ball and Bruce Brice (the artist who drew the very first Jazz Fest poster) should have been included. Others suggested that placing Jimmy Buffett in the New Orleans musical pantheon was a bit of a stretch. Id add that Big Freedia is representing a whole lot of New Orleans rap and bounce heritage all by herself. The 2019 Jazz Fest poster includes everyone from Buddy Bolden to Big Freedia Heres a list of all the stars on the 2019 poster, as provided by art4now. Left top: Philip Frazier, Kermit Ruffins, Joseph Pierre "Big Chief Monk" Boudreaux, Uncle Lionel Batiste, Big Chief Theodore Emile, Big Chief "Bo" Dollis and Matthew Fats Houston. Riding the streetcar: Ellis Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, Mahalia Jackson and Ernie K-Doe. Second line (left section): Charles Neville, Aaron Neville, Cyril Neville, Ivan Neville, George Porter, Jr. and Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste, with Art Poppa Funk Neville in front. Front line: Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, Antoine Fats Domino, Louis Armstrong, Henry Roeland Professor Longhair Byrd, Malcolm Dr. John Rebennack, and Harry Connick Jr. Line above front line: The Dixie Cups (Barbara Ann Hawkins, Rosa Lee Hawkins and Joan Marie Johnson), Ben Jaffe, Alois Maxwell Al Hirt, Louis Prima, Stanley Joseph Buckwheat Zydeco Dural Jr., and James Booker III. Second line (right section): Jon Batiste, Pierre Dewey Pete Fountain LaFontaine Jr., Troy Trombone Shorty Andrews, Freddie Big Freedia Ross, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, James William Jimmy Buffett, and Clifton Chenier. Balcony: Documentary photographers Jules Cahn and Michael P. Smith, festival progenitors Allison Miner, Quint Davis, Joyce Wein and George Wein. Statues: Buddy Bolden, Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe Jelly Roll Morton. The prints (an edition of 13,600) sell for $95 to $995 dollars, depending on the autographs included). The publisher art4now began accepting orders for the print at 12:01 a.m. Friday (Jan. 18). Doug MacCash has the best job in the world, covering art, music and culture in New Orleans. Contact him via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at Doug MacCash and on Facebook at Douglas James MacCash. As always, please add your point of view to the comment stream. | https://www.nola.com/entertainment/2019/01/why-is-a-meter-missing-from-the-jazz-fest-2019-poster.html |
Will Washington pass the "10 Year Challenge"? | A lot can happen in a decade. We compile and lose memories, plus we add 10 more birthday candles to the cake. But when we think about our lives a decade ago, there is more to ponder than simply how we used to look, and what we used to wear. Like many of you, I spent some time this week in January of 2009. I took the "10 Year Challenge." I posted a picture from 10 years ago and one from more recently. It's not really a challenge to post pictures of yourself on social media; you don't need grappling hooks. It's not that hard to climb Mount Vanity. A lot has changed in those 10 years. The t-shirt I'm wearing is for a band that no longer exists. The girl I'm holding my daughter was recently mistaken for my wife. Social media usually distracts us with the immediate, but this challenge injects perspective. My notebooks say that 10 years ago I was covering the inauguration of the first African-American president. A snapshot of January 18, 2009 shows that the most popular story on the internet said Republicans were giving the new guy the benefit of the doubt. President Bush called Obama's inauguration "a moment of hope and pride." That snapshot of good relations in Washington looks nothing like today. Though the story also quoted a congressman from Iowa who said Obama's inauguration meant "Al Qaeda ... (would be) dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on Sept. 11th." That congressman, Steve King, was sanctioned this week by his Republican colleagues for questioning why terms like "white supremacist" should be considered offensive. That's the challenge I see in those pictures and it's the challenge for Washington, too. If you took a snapshot of Washington today it would be grim. We hope that the picture in 10 years will be brighter, and that leaders will focus on that picture and not the next tweet or photo-op. Otherwise, they will have failed their challenge. | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-washington-pass-the-10-year-challenge-john-dickerson-reporters-notebook/ |
Is the stock market open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day? | Monday was a positive day for the broad U.S. markets. All of the major exchanges had a solid performance despite the Dow and the S&P 500 starting out negative. Crude oil made another solid gain in the session. The S&P 500 sectors were almost entirely positive. (Photo: xijian / Getty Images) U.S. stocks markets will be closed Monday, Jan. 21, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Foreign financial markets will be open. The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will resume normal trading hours on Tuesday, Jan. 22. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association also recommends that the U.S. bond market close on Monday. The next market holiday is Washington's Birthday, which falls on Monday, Feb. 18. CLOSE After 19 years covering the stock market for USA TODAY, Adam Shell gives his best advice on how to successfully invest in the market. USA TODAY Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/01/18/stock-market-mlk-day-closed-holiday/2613060002/ | https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/01/18/stock-market-mlk-day-closed-holiday/2613060002/ |
Did the Redskins give 43-year-old ESPN analyst Matt Hasselbeck a call this season? | Matt Hasselbeck hasnt played a down in the NFL since 2015. Hes also 43 years old and working for ESPN as an analyst. Yet per Hasselbeck himself, a contending team asked him about suiting up this season: 43-year-old ESPN analyst Matt Hasselbeck got a call from a contender THIS YEAR asking if he was in shape and could play QB, per @ringer pic.twitter.com/gaRz2nB2TD Bleacher Report NFL (@BR_NFL) January 17, 2019 The full interview is over at The Ringer, and contending is a broad term. The Redskins were technically NFC East leaders and playoff hopefuls until after Alex Smiths injury. They then quickly lost Colt McCoy and had to bring aboard Josh Johnson. Johnson, by the way, hadnt attempted an NFL pass since 2013 before this season. Hasselbeck, 85-75 as a starter who joined the league in 1999 as a sixth-round pick, would likely be a decent backup for a team making a playoff push. Its more of a funny story than anything, but given Johnsons track record before he landed in Washington, it wouldnt be too surprising if the contending team was the Redskins. | https://redskinswire.usatoday.com/2019/01/18/redskins-43-year-old-espn-analyst-matt-hasselbeck-call/ |
Why won't my friend put her phone away when we're out together? | The other night we went on a double date with another couple, but they brought along a fifth wheel. I am not exaggerating when I say the uninvited addition had almost no sense of decorum. She belched unexpectedly. She interrupted well-crafted, carefully thought-out anecdotes by yours truly. A few times, she sat on top of the dinner table. All this in an upscale restaurant, the kind where they dont bring you bread unless you beg. I had hired a sitter, painted my nails, put on pantyhose. But wouldnt you know it, the fifth wheel sucked the civility out of the entire event. Charmed, Im sure. Yet she must possess some degree of je ne sais quoi, as my friend, Jennifer, couldnt keep her eyes off her. This was not the first time Jennifers phone has pulled up a chair and made herself at home during an outing. Ive shared many a meal with this particular piece of technology. I am on more intimate terms with Jennifers cell than my own. I feel like we should start ordering for the poor thing, at least a salad or an appetizer. Shes only an iPhone 8; if she were an XS or an XS Max, then maybe an entree. Like placing our napkins on our laps, there used to be a code. From stuffed mushrooms to flourless chocolate cake, phones were put up, at least until it came time to calculate a tip. We were living in a society. We switched our cells to silent, unless we were expecting a call from our doctor with potentially life-threatening test results. In that case, we apologized at the outset for the potential interruption, and if the doc called we fled the scene, shivering in a cold, rainy parking lot or back alley to get the news. Slowly but surely, our phones crept their way to the tabletop face-down, mind you. I dont know when or how, exactly, they got promoted to sunny-side up, a fixture just east of the butter knife, due south of water glass. Survey shows Chicago's rude mobile manners Im going to have to hone my tale-telling skills, keeping stories to 45 seconds or less. Or stop telling stories, period. I suppose, in a real communication pinch, I could tweet Please pass the salt. #thanks. I fear theres no going back to the good old times of yore, when dialing while dining was taboo, or at any rate frowned upon. A mere cell-ward glance was about as sophisticated as parsley stuck in your teeth. But, like flip phones, those days are gone with the wind. Subtlety is useless Ive tried, when I initially sit down with somebody, to make a show of shutting my ringer off and shoving my phone into the depths of my pocketbook, using slow, exaggerated movements. Theres a finality to my little performance, like Im burying my 6S at sea. Alternatively, Ive tried saying, Sorry to keep the sound on, but Im anticipating a call from the oncologist/school principal/our senior state senator. To no avail. The other night at supper I took a slightly more direct approach, turning to Jennifer and screeching, Put away your freaking phone! Its dinner! It doesnt get more pointed than that, my friends. But Jennifer just laughed and updated us on her Facebook feed. Thats when I excused myself and went to the ladies room. It was a two-staller, and the woman perched next to me was, you guessed it, yapping away on her cellphone. On speaker. To a dude. There is no balm in Gilead. If you think men are the only victims of urinary stage fright, think again. I couldnt go. Not in front of the guy who was, in essence, 2 feet away, in earshot of every last tinkle, every echoing toilet paper tear. I wondered if my neighbor would put him on mute when it was time to flush. I didnt wait to find out. I rejoined our party at the table, where, worst-case scenario, at least Jennifer's phone could only listen to us chew. Laura Boggs is an Atlanta-based freelance writer. READ: Smartphone etiquette: When to put it away Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook. Submit a letter to the editor here or email [email protected]. | https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-cell-phone-annoying-rude-manners-put-it-away-0121-20190117-story.html |
What are the chances of a ratepayer's Rattler rebate? | The Mary Valley Rattler cuts a fine figure, and if it is making as much money as the RRC chairman has indicated it is, perhaps some of it could go back to the ratepayers, says this letter writer. The Mary Valley Rattler cuts a fine figure, and if it is making as much money as the RRC chairman has indicated it is, perhaps some of it could go back to the ratepayers, says this letter writer. CONTRIBUTED LETTER TO THE EDITOR I READ with mixed feelings the article, "Dagun dropped from Rattler trip as timetable changes (Gympie Times, January 9). My initial reaction was profound disappointment for the people of Dagun who had, no doubt, looked forward to the revival of the train and rightly hoped to share in the benefits brought to the Valley by the tourist icon. And I was puzzled, to say the least, by the claim by the Rattler Railway Company chairman, Ian McNicol, that the schedule changes were based on "mutual agreement. It implied that the Dagun community had agreed to a "Rattler bypass - a form of "tourism voluntary euthanasia. In the remainder of the article Mr Mc Nicol "explained the reasons for the decision to delete Dagun from the Rattler schedule, among them the attractions of Amamoor, including " watching the train turn, and managing the rosters of volunteer drivers. Then followed the story of the rattling success of the historic train since its re-launch, with "...the total number of passengers...more than 7000 since it fired up in October. My spirits lifted on that high. Perhaps a "Dagun Compensation Package - even a "Ratepayers' Rattler Rebate could be on the cards. When one door closes.... Merv Welch, The Palms | https://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/what-are-the-chances-of-a-ratepayers-rattler-rebat/3624866/ |
Why Do Days Start At 12 O'Clock? | Answers to all of your time questions with Andrew Novick of NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Loading... Time is such a big topic! In science, understanding time is essential to the study of physics, which is a branch of science that studies the nature and properties of matter and energy. But even if you don't understand those things, your day might be governed by the ticking of that clock. For example: what it's time for now, what day of the week it is, what year it is even! "Why do the days start at 12 o'clock in the morning?" - Charlotte, 6, Longwood, FL The reason a new day starts at 12:00 goes back to ancient Egypt when the day was measured using sundials. The shadow on the face of a sundial tells the time, and the shadow depends on where the sun is in the sky. "When the sun is highest overhead and the shadow goes straight up to the top of the sundial, that's noon. And as the sun goes overhead, the shadow moves until sunset when the shadow disappears," Novick explained. "Then we have 12 more hours when the sundial doesn't work and that's at night." When the Egyptians were developing their time system they had to account for the time when there was no shadow. Since the highest point of the day was noon, the opposite has to be midnight that was when the 12 started over again, so that's why the day starts at midnight. "Why do clocks have to go clockwise?" - Bentley, 8, Greeley, CO The reason that the hands on a clock travel the way they do, or "clockwise," also goes back to the invention of the sundial in ancient Egypt. Egypt is in the northern hemisphere. "In the northern hemisphere, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. So when the sun goes from the east to the west, the shadow goes from the left to the right," Novick said. "The idea of the shadow going from the left to top and then to the right derived the definition of clockwise." When clocks were invented, the mechanism's hands followed the same direction. Click listen to hear the entire episode. | http://digital.vpr.net/post/why-do-days-start-12-oclock |
What's the best Samsung laptop? | If you've settled on a Samsung, then you're probably wondering what the best Samsung laptop is for your budget. Here we've gathered together the top models for your delectation. But if you don't want to buy a Samsung, check our 20 best laptops in the world piece. If it's a netbook you want, look at our 15 best netbooks. 1. Samsung R730 Offering bags of style, great usability and stunning big-screen entertainment, the R730 is a fantastic laptop for the first-time buyer. This is still one of the best entry-level laptops you can buy in its price range and comes highly recommended. Read our full Samsung R730 review 2. Samsung Q330 The Samsung Q330 is a fantastic mid-range laptop and a strong ultra-portable. Its performance particularly impresses given the slim chassis and slimmer price, while the overall build quality is something we'd expect from a more expensive machine. We'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants a reliable machine for use on the go. Read our full Samsung Q330 review 3. Samsung N230 At the most fundamental level the N230 succeeds, in that the 628-minute battery life is awesome, and it's a very easy machine to use, with a fantastic screen and near-flawless typing experience. Read our full Samsung N230 review 4. Samsung R590 The R590 is the perfect evidence of the way Samsung has been creating some truly great laptops lately. The new design is great, as is the power, performance and usability on offer, making this laptop hard to ignore. Read our full Samsung R590 review 5. Samsung P580 The Samsung P580 has a fair amount to offer professional users, with a worthy specification and solid range of features. The TFT display is perfect for working on the move, and it has strong overall build quality. Read our full Samsung P580 review Don't forget to check out our 20 best laptops in the world piece. Or, if it's a netbook you want, our 15 best netbooks. The best Sony laptops The best Acer laptops The best HP laptops The best Dell laptops The best Packard Bell laptops The best Asus laptops The best Advent laptops The best MSI laptops The best Lenovo laptops The best Toshiba laptops | https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/mobile-computing/laptops/what-s-the-best-samsung-laptop-905287 |
What Next for Gabon? | by Giorgio Cafiero Gabon, an oil-rich Central African state located along the equator, is not typically on the international medias radar. The relative stability that has generally shaped Gabonese politics for decades largely explains the countrys low profile in the global press. Throughout 2019, however, the former French colony and OPEC member has experienced internal trouble that could make Gabon one of Africas new flashpoints of instability. Questions surrounding President Ali Bongos legitimacy and the state of his health have stirred up tensions in Gabon. In October, Bongo suffered a stroke while in Saudi Arabia and was transferred to Rabat, Morocco the following month. As last year ended, with rumors that he had died, Bongo made a televised New Years address from Morocco in order to assure Gabons citizens that he was in good health. But his speech was slurred, and his right arm seemed unable to move. On January 14, Bongo returned home to a country that had just experienced a major political crisis. One week before the wheelchair-bound leader returned to Gabon, a failed military coup plot shook Libreville. Despite the coup failing and the presidents return, footage of Bongo this month has shown him with a fixed facial expression and a motionless arm, fueling further uncertainty about his health, and, by extension, Gabons future. Opposition to the Bongo Family The Bongo family has ruled Gabon since 1967, often with iron-fisted tactics such as relying on state security forces to terrorize political opponents. Human rights organizations have documented how the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party maintains a monopoly on the countrys executive branch while the oppositions presence in the National Assembly remains too insignificant to influence politics. With tight control over the national economy, the Bongo family has become extremely wealthy and has used its resources to maintain networks of political patronage. As one of Central Africas richest families, the Bongos have been at the center of international controversy. From 2010 to 2017, French authorities investigated the familys substantial assets in France, including 33 properties, most of which were in expensive Parisian districts. As a result, the French state ordered the seizure of SCI Emeraude, a property company, and looked into potential connections between Bongo and Achimmob, a Swiss company. The investigation ended without enough evidence to charge members of the family with any crimes under French law. Despite the wealth of Gabons ruling family, male life expectancy in Gabon is only 62 years while youth unemployment is 35 percent. Furthermore, one-third of the Gabonese population lives below the poverty line. During the presidency of Bongos father, Omar Bongo, who ruled from 1967 to 2009, resentment grew among many citizens who saw their government as guilty of corruption and squandering the countrys wealth. Omar, who at the time of his death was one of the worlds longest serving leaders, remained close to France via the Franafrique system, a cozy and often incestuous relationship between France and its former colonies in Africa. Since Omars death a decade ago, his son has sought to distinguish his presidency from his fathers, for instance by decreasing the countrys reliance on the oil sector. Yet, Bongos presidency has faced major challenges since the last presidential vote in 2016. That years election received international criticism for its irregularities and fraud. Bongo secured another seven-year term by defeating his opponent Jean Ping by 49.8 to 48.23 percent with the results from the presidents home province of Haut-Ogoou almost certainly rigged. The electoral commission claimed that voter turnout was 99.93 percent in Haut-Ogoou (compared to 59 percent nationwide) and that Bongo won 95 percent of the votes cast. Following this controversial election, deadly violence plagued different parts of Gabon. The opposition blamed the Republican Guard, which closely serves the president, of targeting its headquarters in a bomb attack. Protestors reportedly set the countrys parliament building ablaze. In the aftermath of the disputed election, Amnesty International accused the Gabonese government of waging a brutal response with excessive force that violated protesters rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Against the backdrop of such political tensions, the countrys finances have suffered from the fall in oil output and prices, fueling greater unrest across Gabon. Oil workers strikes have become more frequent. Economic growth only reached two percent in 2018, compared to seven percent in 2011. Enter Ondo Obiang On January 7, gun shots rang out around the capital of Libreville as Lieutenant Kelly Ondo Obiang led several putschists in a military coup attempt. Identifying himself as deputy commander of the Republican Guard, Ondo Obiang and the other coupists briefly took control of the state-owned Gabonese National Radio to issue a post-coup statement. Ondo Obiang declared that the coup was justified, pointing to Bongos health and the high military hierarchy failing to protect the best interest of the nation. The coup ultimately failed hours later at the hands of state security, which decisively killed and arrested those involved, and also temporarily shut down the Internet. Soon after the government had retaken full control of the country, Gabonese officials became deeply concerned about how the attempted military takeover would play out. Fearing the possibility that instability would hit Gabon, officials in Libreville quickly closed the border with Cameroon despite Gabon depending on that border for food imports. On the political front, Bongo shored up domestic support for his presidency by naming Julien Nkoghe Bekale as the countrys new prime minister on January 12. Two days later, Bongo returned to Gabon. The government clearly expects that the presidents return will bring an end to political turbulence and to fears of an emerging power vacuum. Not clear, however, is whether Bongos return will suffice to cool tensions that built up during his months of absence, or whether he will need to return to Rabat for more treatment. Gabons Future Should more challenges to Bongo come later this year, Gabons president may look to France, which maintains a large military base in Libreville with 1,600 marines. Or he might appeal for support from the United States, which sent 80 troops to Gabon several days before the coup amid concerns about violence resulting from the Democratic Republic of the Congos latest election. But given that both Paris and Washington criticized Gabons election procedures in 2016, such support might not be forthcoming. This is where the deepening China-Gabon partnership comes into play. Throughout the first decade of this century, China made important inroads into Gabon. Largely drawn to the African country for its oil, plus other natural resources such as timber, iron ore, and manganese, Beijing signed two major deals with Libreville. One guaranteed China a minimum supply of Gabonese crude oil, while the other was for oil exploration between a Sinopec subsidiary and Total Gabon. The West mainly sees Beijing as exploiting African states such as Gabon through bribery, debt traps, and opaque contracts in order to advance Chinese global dominance. African countries often have a different perspective: that China is a trustworthy ally that has never pursued colonial aims on the continent. In contrast to Western states that criticized Bongos 2016 re-election, China is investing in Gabon with no political strings attached, which an autocratic government guilty of grave human rights abuses such as Bongos naturally welcomes. Nonetheless, Chinas presence in Gabon throughout this century has not been free of its own difficulties, highlighted by the Addax affair and the Blinga fiasco. Yet the keenness of Gabons government to prevent either episode from sparking major problems in Sino-Gabonese relations points to the extent to which Libreville sees China as important to Gabons future. In 2019, Gabons government may have to make difficult foreign policy decisions in the wake of growing signs of internal instability. If Bongos presidency faces further opposition from the public, Libreville might need to turn to external allies and partners for its own protection. The longstanding argument that Gabon could never substitute France with China as a top special ally may come under greater scrutiny should Paris abandon Bongo. Such a scenario may also prompt Gabon to consider moving closer to the Trump administration if France chooses to stop backing the Gabonese president. Most African countries face similar challenges when it comes to Sino-Western geopolitical competition. Beijing is always keen to find ways to capitalize on friction between African governments and their traditional Western allies, ultimately with the aim of bringing the African continent closer to Chinas sphere of geo-economic influence. Looking ahead, Gabon may well become a more serious flashpoint in Beijings rivalry with Western capitals for influence in Africa. | https://lobelog.com/what-next-for-gabon/ |
Is a Planned Monument to Womens Rights Racist? | Of the 22 women selected, seven are African-American. Some of them Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, Mary Church Terrell stand as towering figures in the history of American social activism, and yet none is set to receive a statue of her own, in this configuration. In effect, the monument, a maquette of which is on display in Albany, manages to recapitulate the marginalization black women experienced during the suffrage movement to begin with, when, to cite but one example, they were forced by white organizers to congregate in the back during a famous womens march, in Washington, in 1913, coinciding with Woodrow Wilsons inauguration. While you might think that Gloria Steinem, who has been appalled by the invisibility of women in New York Citys public art for decades, might be delighted by the arrival of a suffrage monument, her grievance has outweighed any enthusiasm. It is not only that it is not enough, she told me recently, its that it looks as if Anthony and Stanton are standing on the names of these other women. Other prominent women have raised the same issue. More literally, the inclusion of the scroll and the way that the women are positioned toward it suggests they are writing the history of suffrage, which is in itself problematic because Anthony and Stanton coedited a six volume compendium The History of Womens Suffrage that gave them ownership of a narrative that erased the participation of black women in the movement. Though many suffragists came to social justice through abolitionism, they maintained explicit prejudices. Arguing against the notion of black men receiving suffrage at the expense of white women, Stanton once said that it was better to be the slave of an educated white man than of a degraded black one. Ms. Steinem made her feelings known to those involved with the Statue Fund, she said, but was told essentially that things were too far along to change course. I do think we cannot have a statue of two white women representing the vote for all women, she told me. For its part, the Parks Department seems disinclined to mandate any major revisions. When I spoke with Jonathan Kuhn, the departments director of art and antiquities, he said that the statue, though still under review by a public design commission, could be altered only in terms of small detail. Adding another figure would be a different project, he said; changing things substantially would compromise the artists vision. | https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/nyregion/is-a-planned-monument-to-womens-rights-racist.html?partner=rss&emc=rss |
How Dangerous is it to Drive in Texas? | To start off this breakdown, the website Your Mechanic looked at the skill of drivers in each state, assigning values to things like the number of drunk drivers, drunk driving fatalities, and high speed fatalities. Texas ultimately ranked 5th among the most least-skilled drivers. Texas did not make the top 10 list for car thefts, but came in 4th for most aggressive drivers, with an average frequency of one aggressive driving event ever 8.3 minutes. Not surprisingly, Texas topped the list for speed limits, but avoided another top 10 finish for worst roads and most congested (which probably surprised everyone who has driven through Dallas). Let us know in the comments below! | http://newstalk1290.com/how-dangerous-is-it-to-drive-in-texas/ |
Why Aren't NBA's Ratings Declines Being Discussed in Media Like the NFL's Were? | Compared to this point last year, the NBA ratings have seen a decline. Andrew Marchand reported yesterday TNT is seeing a daunting 22 percent declined and ESPN is down at five percent. This may come as a surprise to some, or many, because unlike when the NFL ratings slipped, the mediaat least in terms of coverage on television and outside of media-focused reportershas largely ignored it. For nearly the entire 2016 and 2017 NFL season, the decline in viewership was a topic of conversation on sports and news platforms. It led to many media members using their platforms to bash professional football. It became open season on the NFL as to why it saw these declines. Political views and opinions often shaped which causes were blamed. Aside from the most discussed cause of the NFLs two-year declinerelated to Trumps comments and player protestswe also heard the sport had become soft, boring, tone-deaf, and a peaked product. Big name quarterbacks were injured and fallen stars diminish. Whether you agree with those accusations or not, I agreed with some of them it became the media vs. the NFL. Undoubtedly, the NBA has become the medias darling. It is covered the most positively and most frequently by the majority of general pundits and shows. Much of this has to do with so many sports shows featuring pro-NBA talents. The NBA faces major dilemmas going forward. The first of which is also their biggest gem, LeBron James. The NBA relies far too much on LeBron. With so many NBA fans only caring about a player as opposed to a league, city, or team the ratings have taken a hit this season. TNT has suffered from not having him on opening night, and both broadcast companies are feeling his recent injury as well as his move out west. His recent move to the Lakers has made it a major obstacle for those in the eastern time zone where nearly half the country lives in. At some point, the NBA will have to carry itself post-LeBron and the evidence is showing it is not promising. The Warriors dominance did not hit the ratings negatively in the past two seasons. However, the NBA Finals with LeBron are always going to be more appealing to the masses than the alternative. Now that he is in the West, it is almost a foregone conclusion it will be the Warriors stomping on some team in the East. In addition, unless one buys into Kevin Durant foolishly leaving, this Warriors run looks far from over and that is not a good thing when it comes to regular season interest going forward. Last season showed the world really nothing matters in the regular season, because the Warriors (and LeBron a year ago with the Cavs) can just turn it on. It would be a good bet part of the ratings decline is due to fans being turned off already knowing the result come this June. We are also entering a place where the non-stop NBA transactional rumors and moves are a detriment. Yes, they are so fun, but that doesnt mean it will always be great for the NBA. It has really taken away from the attention on the court and, at some point, fans are going to find more enjoyment talking about what is going to happen in July than the game on television. This season, Kevin Durants impending free agency was the topic in the NBA weeks after the season tipped off. All in all, the NBA is facing major issues going forward but, unlike the NFL, the media has mostly protected them. The season is still young, and ABCs numbers are up five percent very early in their showings. but gut feeling, most of the intrigue from now until seasons end will not be taking place on the court. | https://thebiglead.com/2019/01/18/nba-ratings-decline-nfl/ |
Is the Parkway heading for a dead end? | Plans for the controversial four-lane north-south artery have been on the books since the 1940s. In 1946, the city hired a Toronto planner to lay out a direct north-south route across the city of Peterborough. Land was appropriated and the cleared right of way has become a popular green space for residents who form one side of the controversy over construction. The other side wants the Parkway built to ease traffic congestion. A full provincial environmental assessment is required before construction of the Parkway proper can begin. WATCH: Peterborough mayor to meet premier to discuss Parkway plans (October 2017) Two years ago, the city decided to split the project into several parts and drop a contentious plan to build a bridge to carry the Parkway across Jackson Park. On Monday, city council asked staff to prepare a transportation plan that does not include the Parkway. But city Coun. Lesley Parnell wants to use part of the Parkway route to address a growing transportation crunch. We cant just ignore it, its not going to go away, and we do need to come up with a solution. And an easy solution for the southern part of the city and that is to do the connecting piece between Clonsilla and Sherbrooke. And I can tell you, Ive had very, very strong support to get at least that piece done. Even people who are opposed to the overall Parkway are in favour of that piece, says Parnell. READ MORE: Toronto ranked worst city for commuting in North America: study Parnell adds she has asked Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith to approach the province for permission to build this section of the Parkway without completing the environmental assessment for the entire route. | https://globalnews.ca/news/4862873/parkway-heading-dead-end/ |
How is Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week encouraging young green entrepreneurs? | This years Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) comes to an end on January 19th. Taking place in the UAEs capital, its an annual gathering of industry leaders and heads of state to discuss the latest advancements in sustainable development. During the event a statement delivered on behalf of Chinas President Xi Jingping announced that China and the UAE will work as natural allies to build a clean and beautiful world. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and chairman of Masdar, said that the emirates would continue to build upon the use and development of solar and wind power, encouraging more public-private cooperation in the field. As the worlds population grows to ten billion by 2050, and drives demand for energy and resources, the mission of sustainable development will become all the more critical, he said. This imperative is embedded in the UAEs vision 2071. THE NEXT GENERATION OF SUSTAINABILITY ENTREPRENEURS TAKE THE STAGE Prize givings are a key feature of the event each year, rewarding innovative, environmentally savvy millennials in the region. Platforms like ADSWs Youth 4 Sustainability Hub are empowering the next generation to become sustainability entrepreneurs. Shouq Bin Shemel is a previous winner and current member of the Think Science program, which connects aspiring scientists with industry leaders. Shouq Bin Shemel explains how are eco-friendly fire-fighting drone works at ADSW The seventeen-year-old has developed an environmentally friendly fire-fighting drone and her hope is to one day mass produce it. It can be automated and it can also fly for 24 hours by using its solar panel and the sensors, she explains. According to the UNs latest World Youth Report, 13 percent of those aged 15 to 24 are unemployed, and the rates in Northern Africa and Arab states are amongst the highest worldwide. Initiatives like the UAEs Zayed Sustainability Prize are looking to encourage young people to develop their renewable energy, healthcare and mobility projects, which have aided more than 300 million people to date. Millions of dollars have been distributed to such initiatives over the past decade. lafur Ragnar Grimsson, the former president of Iceland, is on this years jury and remains hopeful that new generations will continue to make a difference. lafur Ragnar Grimsson, the former president of Iceland and jury at 2019s ADSW When you see these young people coming from high schools in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas and you see their dedication and the innovation of what theyre doing it fills you with optimism, he says, Also the conviction that our common struggle against climate change is not a hopeless effort. This years Energy Category winner is BBOX, a company founded in the UK in 2010 which sells pay-as-you-go, energy-generating, solar panel systems to developing countries. The $600,000 prize money will fund their expansion. With the award, BBOX will be able to go into new countries that we have not been able to before the likes of Zambia, Angola, and the Philippines, says Anshul Patel, the companys chief commercial officer, Well be taking our business model into the future. BBOX sells pay-as-you-go solar panel system to developing countries | http://www.africanews.com/2019/01/18/how-is-abu-dhabi-sustainability-week-encouraging-young-green-entrepreneurs/ |
Could Tottenham's Season Implode Without Harry Kane? | In the final seconds of Manchester Uniteds 1-0 win over Tottenham at Wembley on Sunday evening the England defender managed to tread on Harry Kanes ankle. As the final whistle blew, Kane slumped to the turf and was quickly attended to by the Tottenham physio, but the striker could not help but wear an expression of weary resignation. He knew. It soon transpired Kane had damaged ligaments in his ankle and was ruled out for an estimated six weeks until at least the start of March. Kane will now be on the sidelines for a crucial phase in Tottenhams season, missing up to seven fixtures in the Premier League, both legs of their last sixteen tie against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, the fourth round FA Cup tie at Crystal Palace, and the second leg of their League Cup semi-final against Chelsea next week. Should Tottenham triumph at Stamford Bridge, Kane appears destined to miss the League Cup final against Manchester City at the end of February, which would represent the clubs best chance to win a trophy for over a decade. It is undeniably grim for Tottenham and Kane, who will now be on crutches when his club needed him on the pitch in these four competitions. The fear inside Tottenham is the inopportune timing of this injury could undermine their whole season, which until now had looked very promising. By the time Kane recovers from his injury Tottenham might be out of the FA Cup, Champions League, League Cup, and have even slipped out of the top four in the Premier League. Kanes absence really could make that big a difference. Since Mauricio Pochettino became Tottenham manager in 2014, Kane has scored 119 Premier League goals, more than a third of the clubs total of 333. To add insult to Kanes injury, Tottenham will also be denied the services of Son Heung-min, who is now at the Asian Cup with South Korea in the UAE, and could be there until the final at the beginning of February. Between them, Kane and Son have scored 22 goals in the Premier League for Tottenham this season, which equates to nearly half of the clubs goals. Tottenhams visit to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Sunday will have a strange feel to it for since Son joined the club in the summer of 2015, either he or Kane has featured in every Premier League game. The task of coping without these players, especially Kane, will severely test Pochettino over the coming weeks. After failing to spend any money in the transfer market last summer, Tottenham do not have a squad equipped to deal with such crucial absences. When Romelu Lukaku was out injured, and then out of form, Manchester United could turn to Alexis Sanchez and latterly Marcus Rashford, who scored the winner last Sunday, but Tottenham do not have that luxury. Instead Pochettino must decide between Tottenhams cast of back-up strikers Lucas Moura, Fernando Llorente and Vincent Janssen. The Tottenham manager has already dismissed the claims of Janssen, who has not played for the club since August 2017, and tersely announced that he was not in his plans. The forgotten man will stay forgotten. Spanish striker Llorente represents the most obvious stand-in for Kane, having scored 4 goals in 13 games so far this season, and scored a hat-trick for Tottenham against Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup two weeks ago. Llorente is a threat in the air, and can be clinical in front of goal, but simply lacks Kanes guile, work-rate and awareness around the penalty box. The Brazilian Lucas is another obvious option; he has already played through the middle as a striker this season, and has scored 8 goals, but he is currently unavailable and coming back form a knee injury at the moment. As we are now in January, Pochettino could enter the market to boost his options, but any striker knows they would only be handed a stand-in role until Kanes return, and this naturally limits the quality of any signing. Were always were open to improving our squad but I think Harrys injury is not going to put pressure on us to sign players, the Tottenham manager has said to dampen expectations. We know very well the market now is so difficult, and the circumstances that we have. It is clear Tottenham will not carry the same threat in Kane's absence, and now will be desperately hoping they can safeguard their season until his return. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/sampilger/2019/01/18/could-tottenhams-season-implode-without-harry-kane/ |
Is Kanye West Starting a Church? | Reverend Yeezy. Photo: Getty Images This week, The Christian Post reported that Kanye West, always getting into something new, has been conducting what hes calling Sunday Services, at his home. The services seem like religiously themed weekly concerts, where he appears to be performing gospel versions of old songs. These songs either already have a gospel vibe to them, or are reworked to fit the theme, and he invites others, like Kid Cudi, 070 Shake, and Tony Williams to perform alongside him. Oh, and theres also a very large choir that wears Yeezy sweats instead of traditional robes while they sing under blue and red lighting, creating an atmosphere closer to that of a nightclub than the Baptist church I was raised in. Songs on the Sunday Service set list include, Heard Em Say, Lift Yourself, Father Stretch My Hands, and I Wonder. I Wonder at Sunday Service @kanyewest pic.twitter.com/tgCAhevZRE Tracy Nguyen Romulus (@tracyromulus) January 7, 2019 Kanyes Sunday Services have been referred to as a concert series inspired by church, an inspiration catalyst, and a church service by the media and Kim Kardashian West, and I must admit: I am confused. The idea of Kanye starting a church is not so far-fetched, considering his mother-in-law Kristen Jenner is the co-owner of the California Community Church. She took the church under her wing in 2010, and it is still up and running (despite the KarJenners absence at services they prefer Hillsong or Tony Robbins). The legitimacy of the church has been questioned in the past some gossip sites have alleged that California Community is nothing more than a Kardashian tax haven, and have alluded to financial sketchiness and raised eyebrows at its $1,000-a-month membership fee. For now, Kanyes Sunday Services seem to be more a platform for remixes for the religious ear and less a place for him to proselytize, though he did appear to defend R. Kellys predatory ways in favor of his music during one session. (Kim told Andy Cohen that Kanye wasnt referring to R. Kelly he never even said R. Kellys name.) But Ill definitely be keeping an eye on how it evolves. Matthew 18:20 reads, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Which basically means that if you and your friends even bring God up in your small gathering or find a way to praise His name with one another, youve essentially stumbled your way into a church service. It only takes two to tango, and praise His name, okay! And Kanye may not even technically need any sort of permit to operate this sort of event out of his home. According to a Useful Community Development guide, just because someone is having a home Bible study or other spiritual discussion, complete with singing, the law may not consider that a church. Its not clear that beyond the gospel remixes, Kanye is praising Him, but if it walks like a church, quacks like a church, and co-owning churches is already a part of the family business, it very well may be a church. And, while I remain extremely skeptical about whether Kanye should qualify as anyones pastor, Im not mad at him for bringing a little Christ to the gram. | https://www.thecut.com/2019/01/is-kanye-west-starting-a-church-with-kim-kardashian-west.html?utm_source=nym&utm_medium=f1&utm_campaign=feed-part |
Is There Any Follow-up To Halifa Sallahs Response To Momat Cham? | 0 SHARES Share Tweet QUESTION OF THE DAY The following letter addressed to the Chairperson and copied to the media was received from Halifa Sallah: Chairman Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission Dunes Hotel Dear Sir, SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR CONFRONTATION WITH EX CAPTAIN MOMAT CHAM TO REBUT FABRICATION OF EVIDENCE Attached under the cover of this memorandum is a statement rebutting the evidence given by Ex- Captain Momat Cham. It is my conviction that if your Commission is to know the truth I should be confronted with Captain Momat Cham so that his evidence or its fabrication would be corroborated by facts rather than fiction. While anticipating your maximum cooperation, please accept dear members, the assurance of my highest consideration. Yours in the Service of the People, Halifa Sallah Cc: Media | https://foroyaa.gm/is-there-any-follow-up-to-halifa-sallahs-response-to-momat-cham/ |
Is Corbyn wrong to refuse Brexit talks until May rules out no deal? | Sign up to LabourLists morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning. Last night, the government survived Jeremy Corbyns no-confidence vote with a majority of 19. With every Conservative MP still holding out hope that their version of Brexit (or lack thereof) has a chance, and the DUP keen to highlight their usefulness in this exact situation, Theresa May didnt suffer any rebellions. She was also helped by ex-Labour MPs John Woodcock, Ivan Lewis and Fiona Onasanya, who abstained. After the result was announced, the Prime Minister invited the opposition party leaders for Brexit talks but Corbyn called on her first to rule out no deal. And this stand-off dominates the news today. As soon as the PM decided she was safe enough from the threat of a no-confidence vote, after being stubborn and unresponsive at PMQs, then having Michael Gove make personal attacks against the Labour leader during the confidence debate, she apparently extended an olive branch (without a hint of irony). But in calling for cross-party cooperation over the last few weeks, Labour has been consistent in its approach: stop blackmailing us with your no-deal threat, and relax your red lines so that we have something to talk about. As Richard Burgon confirmed this morning, Tory chair Brandon Lewis has told Labour that the government refuses to remove any red lines or rule out no deal. We are at a standstill. Corbyns team has presented a nuanced argument for its rule out no deal demand and the narrative will likely get lost in translation to the wider public, aided by coverage such as the Daily Mails Wrecker Corbyn splash. And despite supposedly speaking outside No10 last night as the Prime Minister, not a party political figure, May said she was disappointed by Corbyns decision and even had the cheek to ask others to put self-interest aside. So Labours no-deal demand as a starting point for substantive talks will be made to look unreasonable to voters. Well, for one, ruling out no deal could lose May her DUP backing and bring down the government. And though keenly aware of the fragility of the confidence-and-supply deal, May does have to act soon. Every option extending Article 50, conceding on customs union membership, no-deal risks resignations. She is faced with the same choice as ever: keep the gridlock, or drop hard Brexiteers and scrap some red lines to reach a compromise deal (at which point Labour could win a well-timed no-confidence vote). More than ever, Labour wants to show that it is ready for an election. After releasing a new party political broadcast last night, Corbyn will be making a speech in the very marginal Tory seat of Hastings this morning. On Amber Rudds turf, he is expected to set out Labours next steps for Brexit and flesh out his response to Mays talks invitation. Were unlikely to be surprised by the speech content no such luck, Peoples Vote campaigners but interest lies in whether Corbyn can convince the country he isnt contributing to the mess in Westminster. Sienna @siennamarla Sign up to LabourLists morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning. | https://labourlist.org/2019/01/is-corbyn-wrong-to-refuse-brexit-talks-until-may-rules-out-no-deal/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LabourListLatestPosts+%28LabourList%29 |
What are the records for most snowfall in Ohio history? | An approaching winter storm could blanket parts of Ohio with 24 to 30 inches of snow in parts of the state. Most snowfall in 24 hours - 30 inches This record has stood for more than a century. On April 20, the middle day of the three-day storm, 30 inches fell in Warren. That's two and a half feet of snow. Records show upwards of 42 inches of snow were measured in nearby Canton after three days of snowfall. It held the record for most snowfall from a snowstorm until the 1990s. Most snowfall from one storm - 69.5 inches A six-day snowstorm in 1996 dumped nearly six feet of snow in northeastern Ohio. Remembered as the Veteran's Day storm, the record-setting 69.5-inch snowfall was recorded in Chardon after snowfall between November 9-14. More than 20 years later, the city consistently ranks as one of the state's snowiest. See what Winter Storm Harper has in store for the state Most snowfall in one season - 161.5 inches Chardon also holds the record for most snowfall in a season. The winter of 1959-60 saw 161.5 inches of snow or 13 and a half feet, cover the city. Not including this current winter season, the past five winters have had more than 100 inches of snowfall in Chardon. Nate Chute is a producer with the USA Today Network. Follow him on Twitter at @nchute. Read or Share this story: https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2019/01/18/winter-storm-ohio-most-snowfall-record-blizzard-inches-snow/2607249002/ | https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2019/01/18/winter-storm-ohio-most-snowfall-record-blizzard-inches-snow/2607249002/ |
Whats the latest with breast pumps? | Some pumps are more powerful than others. You will want to set the suction on your pump to the lowest vacuum level that will help let down milk. Sometimes though that suction needs to be high, and some pumps might not have that ability. There are also pumps that focus on more than just suction power and will vary how fast or slow they move the nipple in and out of the flange or plastic nipple cover. This can help mimic the suck of an infant and some find it useful to have that variation in movement. Again if you crave efficiency, focusing on fewer parts to disassemble and wash may be the way to go. | http://www.philly.com/health/whats-latest-with-breast-pumps-20190118.html |
What was the Holocaust? | Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. The Holocaust was the state-sponsored mass murder of 12 million people 6 million of them Jews by Nazi Germany under Hitler over more than a decade leading up to and during World War II. Nearly seven out of 10 Jews living in Europe at the time were killed by death squads or in concentration camps, according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany in 1933 the year the Nazi state established the first concentration camps. Some of the first prisoners were political opponents, gay men and lesbians and anyone the German state deemed dangerous. German police confiscated Jewish property, designated ghettos and forced-labor camps, and required Jews to wear armbands and the Star of David on their clothes. Gas vans also began to appear in eastern Germany in late 1941. From 1933 to 1945, more than 42,500 concentration camps and other incarceration sites were built in Germany, according to the Holocaust Museum. The Holocaust ended in May 1945 with the defeat of the Nazis by the Allied powers of the U.S., the Soviet Union, China and Britain. Allies forces in Europe found thousands of concentration camps with prisoners starving and stricken with disease. ANNE FRANK'S STORY Born in 1929, Anne Frank became the face of the Holocaust after her diary, documenting the day-to-day life of many Jewish people during the war, was found after her death. In "The Diary of a Young Girl," she recorded the fear she and her family endured during two years hiding from the Nazis in concealed rooms in an office building in Amsterdam. The diary, which Frank received as a gift for her 13th birthday, helped her pass the time in the cramped annex. The family remained in hiding with the help of her father's colleagues until their arrest in August 1944. Frank and her parents were sent to Auschwitz, in southern Poland. A few months later, she was transported alone to another concentration camp in northern Germany, where she died of typhus, according to the Anne Frank House. Her father, Otto, survived and had the diary published in 1947. It remains one of the most widely read books in the world and has served as the inspiration for several critically acclaimed plays and films. CONCENTRATION CAMP FACTS In the 42,500 concentration camps and incarceration sites estimated by the Holocaust Museum, there were 30,000 slave labor camps, 1,150 Jewish ghetto and 980 concentration camps. The Nazis set up about 1,000 prisoners of war camps and had 500 brothels with dedicated sex slaves. There were also thousands of other camps used to euthanize the sick and elderly. NOTABLE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS Otto Frank (1889-1980) Anne Franks father was instrumental in the publishing of her diary and went on to create the Anne Frank House, a memorial museum in Amsterdam dedicated to her life. Miep Gies (1909-2010) Gies was one of the two Dutch citizens who helped hide the Franks in Amsterdam. She had previously been an employee of Otto Frank. Gies retrieved Annes diary from the annex and kept it safe until she was reunited with Otto in 1945. Yisrael Kristal (1903-2017) A year before he died, Kristal, a survivor of Auschwitz, was confirmed by the Guinness World Records as the worlds oldest living man, at 112. Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) Wiesel, who helped established the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, was a Nobel Laureate and Auschwitz survivor. Gena Turgel (1923-2018) Turgel, then 22, comforted a 15-year-old Anne Frank while both were at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp shortly before Franks death. Turgel also witnessed the horrors of the Nazi camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald. She died in June at 95. | https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/smart-facts/what-was-holocaust-n956741 |
Is Arctic Monkeys' When The Sun Goes Down their darkest track? | This week marked 13 years since Arctic Monkeys' single was released. Join us as we delve into the second cut from their debut album. It's been a whopping 13 years since Arctic Monkeys released their When the Sun Goes Down single on 16 January 2006. The second cut to be taken from the band's debut album - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - the track told the dark tale of prostitution in the Neepsend area of Sheffield. Watch the Paul Fraser directed video, which starred Lauren Socha (Misfits) and Stephen Graham (This Is England) above. If the 3:28 promo isn't enough to make you feel bad, then Scummy Man (the longer film which it was taken from) definitely will. Arctic Monkeys' When the Sun Goes Down artwork. Picture: Press Like the song, which is also known as Scummy Man, it tells the dismal story of a prostitute (Nina) and what appears to be her unscrupulous pimp. Told from the perspective of a concerned narrator, we're given a snapshot of the young woman's life as he wonders set of circumstances led to her unfortunate position". "So who's that girl there?I wonder what went wrong/So that she had to roam the streets/ She don't do major credit cards/I doubt she does receipts" Alex Turner doesn't stop there though, conjuring up images of the life of the opportunistic "scumbag" beside her who forces her out onto the streets, leaving her at risk to sexually transmitted diseases and probable acts of violence. Despite the lyrics packing a punch, Alex Turner didn't have to dig as deep for them as you might think. Like much of Arctic Monkeys debut album, the frontman evoked the sights and sounds of his surroundings and it is said the band would witness similar sights in Neepsend near their rehearsal rooms. The refrain: "They said it changes when the sun goes down," perfectly encapsulates how areas can completely transform at night, forcing you to see another side to the city. As reported by the NME, Alex Turner said of the area. "Youd see a bloke with a carrier bag or summat and its like, What the fuck is he doing here at this time of the night? Or youd be packing your guitars away and somebodyd walk past and be like How much is one of them worth?" Though he may have never met a "scummy man," as frightening as Stephen Graham's character in the short film, it wouldn't have been too difficult to use one of the real-life people he encountered and transform him into the frightful pimp we witness in their video. When The Sun Goes Down might have been fictional, but it's undoubtable that it came from a very real place and captured the reality of some of the povery-stricken desperation he witnessed in that area of the South Yorkshire city. It's hard to say whether it's Alex Turner's most dark and depressing track, but it's certainly one of his most raw and honest. And whether or not the frontman thinks much of the song now compared to his later works, we're just glad he never sold that guitar. Watch them play their Mardy Bum track in Sheffield: | https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/arctic-monkeys/when-the-sun-goes-down-scummy-man-meaning-lyrics/ |
What does Google get out of buying Fossils smartwatch tech? | First, we don't know exactly what smartwatch technology Fossil is selling to Google. Most of the fashion brand's connected devices are based on Google's own Wear OS platform already anyway, with minor differences like custom watch faces or apps. It's most likely stuff we haven't yet seen, especially since the press release said the purchase is of "intellectual property (IP) related to a smartwatch technology currently under development by Fossil Group." Fossil Group Executive Vice President Greg McKelvey said in a statement, "We've built and advanced a technology that has the potential to improve upon our existing platform of smartwatches." Meanwhile, the vice president of product management for Wear OS, Stacey Burr, said, "The addition of Fossil Group's technology and team to Google demonstrates our commitment to the wearables industry by enabling a diverse portfolio of smartwatches and supporting the ever-evolving needs of the vitality-seeking, on-the-go consumer." What all that means is unclear. Things we've seen from Fossil so far that differ from stock Wear OS mostly have to do with the watch face. The Michael Kors My Social app, for example, lets you use your Instagram pictures as your background while the Kate Spade Scallop 2 can read your heart rate whenever you tap an icon on the face. It's possible Fossil was looking into more ways to differentiate its watches' software, but without more evidence, we can't tell. For all we know, it could also have to do with hardware. Both Fossil and Google told Engadget they had nothing to share beyond what was in the news release. What this does mean is that whatever Fossil was working on, Google could potentially make it available to the rest of its partners. Fossil Group's clear advantage is the appeal of the brands under its massive umbrella. It owns and licenses 14 brands, including popular names like Kate Spade, Skagen, Michael Kors, Armani, DKNY, Diesel and, of course, Fossil itself. Each of these already has its own Wear OS watch in its own signature style, leading to a diverse array of smartwatches for Fossil's customers to choose from. That falls in line with Google's mission for Wear OS. The software giant has long believed in creating "a diverse set of devices" for its smartwatch platform. Fossil's ability to churn out model after model of what was essentially the same device except with different designer clothes makes it a great match for that vision. Of course, this acquisition brings to mind Google's previous purchases. Way back in 2011, it bought Motorola for $12.5 billion, pared down its device lineup and lost money for several years straight. It finally offloaded Motorola Mobility to Lenovo in 2014 for $2.5 billion, but not without holding on to "the vast majority" of Motorola's patents and its head, Rick Osterloh. Osterloh now leads Google's hardware team. In 2017, Google bought the part of HTC that was making its Pixel phones, bringing a team of almost 2,000 R&D workers in house. After that purchase, Google kept improving its flagship handsets and managed to integrate its excellent software into the Pixel 3 and 3 XL this year. For the better part of 2018, the industry feverishly speculated that Google might be working on its own Pixel-branded smartwatch. While that didn't end up being true last year, it's possible the Fossil IP handover could contribute to Google making its own watch. No matter how this purchase contributes to Google's platform, Wear OS could use the help. Despite a thoughtful redesign last year, it faces stiff competition from Apple, whose fourth-generation smartwatch has been well received. Fitbit and Samsung both also delivered strong alternatives to Wear OS watches in 2018 while the Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset wasn't the magic bullet the hype made it out to be. The battle for smartwatch dominance looks set to continue in 2019, and Google is kicking things off early with this acquisition. | https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/18/google-buy-fossil-smartwatch-tech-why/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Fengadget+%28Engadget%29 |
Do some organisations have unofficial LGBTQ quotas? | At the Inspirefest BTYSTE Leaders Lunch, three amazingly diverse figures revealed the challenges of navigating a not-so-diverse workplace. While students from across Ireland were leaving the public and judges amazed by their scientific prowess at BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BYSTE) 2019, three diversity champions were telling their story at the Inspirefest BTYSTE Leaders Lunch. The panel discussion focused on winning strategies for building an inclusive and equitable workplace, featuring those often discriminated against for their mental health, race or for being a member of the LGBTQ community. After an introduction by Inspirefest founder Ann ODea, computer science student (and soon-to-be graduate) Karla OBrien, who is also a former speaker at the main event, spoke of her recent attempts as a transgender woman to get a job. Incredibly, she spoke of her experience working with a recruiter who said that everything about OBriens CV was great, but speaking of internal company recruiters that sometimes [they] already have enough LGBT in their company. I couldnt believe that, OBrien said. [It was like] if we were a majority we were going to take over the company. It was at that point I realised that I need to get my degree so they have no reason not to hire me. Following OBrien was another inspirational voice, this time Ciara-Beth Griffin, founder of the app Mi Contact and someone who was diagnosed with high-functioning autism at the age of 14. Not long out of secondary school, the former BTYSTE award winner spoke of how she would experience crippling shyness when asked to speak in front of the class. When it comes to job interviews, she pointed out the difficulty someone with autism may have in maintaining eye conduct with the interviewer, something considered key to success. A lot of people hear the word autism and they panic In an attempt to alleviate the negative effects that minimal eye contact had on her life, and the lives of others on the autism spectrum, Griffin created an app called Mi Contact. There wasnt a chair at the table for me, so I decided I was going to drag my own chair and make a space for me, so I did this in the form of an app, Griffin said. A lot of people hear the word autism and they panic, for some reason, because they typically think of the worst-case scenario. Its how bad is it, as opposed to what does it allow you to do. The final panel member was PwC UKs director of client experience, Heather Melville, who spoke impressively about her own experiences breaking into the traditional British corporate world as a young single mother and a black woman. Emphasising that listening is actually the most important skill of them all, she proved that even the most traditional CEO can listen, be challenged and change. What we want to do around those boardroom tables is create an opportunity where you can have diverse thoughts and discussions because, ultimately, its what we need to survive [in the outside world], Melville said. Inspirefest is Silicon Republics international event celebrating the point where science, technology and the arts collide. Early Bird tickets for Inspirefest 2019 are available now. | https://www.siliconrepublic.com/advice/inspirefest-btyste-2019-diversity-workplace |
Does Resodded Field Help Chiefs Vs. Patriots In AFC Championship Game? | The New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs will be playing on some new grass Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium. Travis Hogan, head groundskeeper for the Chiefs, revealed Thursday night on Twitter that Arrowhead Stadium field was resodded this week ahead of the AFC Championship Game on Sunday. We werent planning on a resod this week, he said in the tweet, but Mother Nature had other plans. (Ten) inches of snow in the stadium being hauled out on the sidelines changed things. My crew did an unbelievable job. They are the BEST! Everyone is tired but we are ready. Lets roll! Heavy snow pounded Kansas City a week ago leading up to the Chiefs divisional-round matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. Another snowstorm was in the earlier forecasts this week, but it now seems that will miss Arrowhead. Rain is in the forecast Friday, but its nothing major, and the potential record-breaking cold thought to be on tap for Sundays game was a swing and a miss. Instead, the forecast now calls for temperatures in the 30s on Sunday. Hogan was good about answering questions from fans on Twitter, and among the things that stood out was his assurance footing will be sound, especially for just one more game. That has to be music to the Chiefs ears who have a ton of speed, especially on offense. Of course, the Patriots stand to benefit, too, as their precision passing game might take a hit if pass-catchers arent able to run clean routes because theyre slipping on the grass. If precipitation does come through Kansas City, Hogan noted the plan is to cover the field, which is typically what teams with grass fields typically do. He also said the sodding only took place between the numbers and on the sidelines, which you can tell by looking at the photos. Just one more thing to keep in mind when the Patriots and Chiefs battle Sunday for a spot in Super Bowl LIII. Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images | https://nesn.com/2019/01/does-resodded-field-helps-chiefs-vs-patriots-in-afc-championship-game/ |
What companies will implode old Duval County City Hall? | JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Sundays demolition of the old city hall building in Jacksonville is set to be a spectacular one. Its not an easy task to bring down such a large building, especially one thats surrounded by businesses and residences. The city of Jacksonville hired contractors Environmental Holdings Group and Controlled Demolition Incorporated for the job. Environmental Holdings Group, or EHG, has been contracted to perform more than 6,000 environmental and demolition jobs since the company was created in 2001. Its one of the fastest-growing companies in the field. According to the companys website, the contractors offer competitive value while adhering to strict safety compliance. EHG recently completed work at hotels, hospitals and factories all across the U.S. The company is licensed in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, Texas, Indiana, Florida and Virginia. Controlled Demolition Incorporated, or CDI, has been around for six decades. The company comments on the job on its website: A two thousand ton skyscraper collapses like a house of cards, crumbling in on itself - a waterfall of well-fractured steel and concrete debris. It lasts only seconds, and buildings within a few meters stand untouched. The very essence of Controlled Demolition, Inc. is in our name: Control. CDIs work has been featured in many Hollywood blockbusters, such as: "Atlantic City," "Telefon," "Wolfen," "Child's Play," "City Killer," "Lethal Weapon 3," "Demolition Man," "Mars Attacks!," "Enemy of the State" and, most recently, "Batman: The Dark Knight." It's also been used for commercials for clients ranging from from Miller Beer to Time Life Books. Video from CDI jobs has also been featured in music videos, notably Catapult by Counting Crows and Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie. The companys YouTube page shows dozens of successful jobs demolishing high-rises, bridges, silos and TV towers. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved. | https://www.news4jax.com/news/implosion/what-companies-will-implode-old-duval-county-city-hall- |
Will wind or rain interfere with the Bold City Blast? | JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville loves a good implosion. I have. And I've seen an implosion before, and I know a thing about that, it was AWESOME!" Kingston is looking forward to Sunday's implosion of city hall, but like many of us, he's a little worried about the weather. There are a few weather factors that could postpone implosions, but rain is not one of them. Even though the chances for rain are widespread Sunday morning, the implosion should go on. One weather factor that halts implosions is lightning. Think about it - explosive devices and electrical surges, that's a less than ideal combination. The CAPE, or Convective Available Potential Energy, which is a measure of the energy in the atmosphere and one indication of whether lightning is possible or not, is low. That means the implosion will most likely not be postponed by lightning. Another factor that could postpone the implosion is fog or very low clouds. If clouds covered the top of the building they were imploding, they would most likely wait for it to clear. Although we do expect clouds, I don't think they will be low enough to interfere. It will be windy, but not windy enough to postpone the implosion. Wind speeds would have to reach hurricane force to compromise the operation. We are expect sustained winds between 15-20 mph with gusts of wind around 30mph. What that could do is shift the cloud of debris after the implosion. Winds are expected out of the southwest, shifting to the west this morning. If there is any dust cloud after the implosion, it would most likely be pushed to the northeast and east of the building. That would be across Bay street at the intersection of market street, toward businesses like the restaurant Olio, The Berkman Plaza, and the the old courthouse building. At the implosion of the Superdome in Atlanta, we saw an example of winds pushing the dust cloud around, the clouds seems to wrap around the new Mercedes Benz Stadium, as upper level winds catch the cloud and swirl it around the stadium. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved. | https://www.news4jax.com/weather/will-wind-or-rain-interfere-with-the-bold-city-blast |
What if it is true? | Billy Holland (Photo: Submitted) Life is filled with thoughts and ideas. Many spend their time trying to keep busy because they do not want to think about what God expects from them. The strategy is to live in a state of distraction so their conscience will never have the occasion to pause and ponder about the true meaning of life. Everyone is unique, thats what makes life interesting, but I was thinking the other day about how many are always on the go and never sit still forced to stop. Somewhere down the line, there will come a time when we will not be able to run or hide behind distraction. On the other hand, there is another group that enjoys the quiet and peace of Gods presence and sincerely desires to listen and obey his voice simply because they love him. Whichever group you belong to, we only have one life and one chance to get it right, so whether we choose to live in denial or embrace our spiritual reality, one day truth will be revealed. I read a sign that compared two different philosophies of living. The quote is as follows: Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming Wow! What a ride! Of course, the phrase has been modified through the years but you get the general meaning. This declaration has been attributed to a man named Hunter S. Thompson and has been widely accepted as an enthusiastic motto to live by. For those who live on the edge and experience everything to the absolute maximum, this describes the attitude of a wild and carefree life. Instead of a sensitive, and peaceful journey, this philosophy encourages people to drain every drop of excitement, indulgence, thrill and pleasure they can with every chance they have. These pie in the sky ideas have been floating around since the beginning of time but its just another way our human nature tries to influence the conscience to not be concerned with what God wants. The Bible is clear about our destiny and the definition of true salvation, which includes surrendering our plans and being transformed into a completely different person. Sadly, most people do not take their spiritual life seriously. God is not obligated to give us unlimited windows of mercy to embrace his truth, but he does so because he is filled with patience and love. His intention all along has been for us to love him back but most of the human race simply ignores him. The masses are convinced that eternity and this God thing has no more than a slight chance of being true and they are perfectly content with rolling the dice. This is another one of those ideas that makes it easy to accept that it matters not what a person does or does not do because they are covered by that highly popular religious word called grace. In this way of thinking they can relax and trust that everything will all work out in the end. For those convinced they were given the gift of life to do whatever they want, they are living in a fantasy world. We were born to know, worship, and serve God. Most people want blessings and heaven, but have not really decided to seriously investigate their purpose or responsibility because they have no interest or intention of accomplishing it. I was behind a car the other day that had a bumper sticker which said, What if it is true? and it did exactly what it was meant to do; it caused me to think. I thought about the gospel of Jesus and prayed that everyone would believe it is true. Its a brand new year and he is inviting everyone to make a brand new start. God is waiting to forgive and deliver us but before we can embrace the cross as our ransom, we must humbly acknowledge that we were the reason he had to go there. Read more at: billyhollandministries.com Read or Share this story: https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/opinion/columnists/2019/01/18/column-billy-holland-salvation-and-grace/2607754002/ | https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/opinion/columnists/2019/01/18/column-billy-holland-salvation-and-grace/2607754002/ |
How do I charge Apple's Smart Battery Case? | Apple's has finally released battery cases for the 2018 iPhone models, including the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. You can charge these battery cases in several different ways, including fast charging and wirelessly with Qi-certified charging mats. You can also do this in a more traditional way using a regular Lightning to USB cable and charger. Here's how to do this. Note that we used an iPhone XS for this guide. If you have an iPhone XR or iPhone XS Max, you're going to need the Smart Battery Case for your specific model. Products used in this guide Apple: iPhone XS Smart Battery Case ($129) Apple: Lightning to USB Cable (2 m) ($29) Apple: Apple 5W USB Power Adapter ($19) How to charge your Apple Smart Battery Case Plug in the power adapter. Apple's 5W (mentioned above) or 12W USB Power Adapter will work. If you're unsure of what Apple adapter you have, you can easily check by taking a look at the bottom of the adapter. It will say the wattage number in a square. You can also use a third-party USB power adapter. Plug your Lightning to USB Cable into the port on the power adapter. Then plug in your Smart Battery Case on the Lightning end. If your phone is inside the Smart Battery Case, the iPhone will charge first, and once it reaches 80 percent, the Smart Battery Case starts charging. You can charge the Smart Battery Case on its own. The light on the inside of the Smart Battery Case is solid red color while it's charging and green when it's fully charged. Our top equipment picks To get the most out of your iPhone's battery, you're going to need the new Smart Battery Case. Extend that battery life iPhone XS Smart Battery Case Battery life to last all day The Smart Battery Case for iPhone XS gives you 33 more hours of talk time, 21 more hours of web browsing, and 25 extra hours for video watching. You'll be able to go all day without needing to plug in your phone. $129 at Apple The iPhone XS Smart Battery Case is a great battery case for those who want to get more life out of their smartphone throughout the day. The soft inner lining protects your device from scratches and scuffs, and the exterior has a silky, soft-touch finish silicone material that gives you more grip. The elastomer hinge makes it easy to get your phone in and out of the case, and the intelligent battery status display on iOS lets you know how much charge you have left. Best cable for most Lightning to USB Cable (2 m) The one cable you need Connect this 2-meter USB 2.0 cable to your iPhone, iPad, or iPad with Lightning connector to an adapter for charging. It will also work for syncing and charging with your computer's USB port. $29 at Apple Your iPhone XS already comes with a charging cable. Purchase one separately as needed. This traditional power adapter offers an ultracompact design. Use it at the home, office, or on the go. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. $19 at Apple | https://www.imore.com/how-do-i-charge-apples-smart-battery-case?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheIphoneBlog+%28iMore%29 |
Can States New Cyber Bureau Hack It? | The U.S. State Department is expected to stand up a new cybersecurity bureau this year as the government grapples with expanding foreign cybersecurity threats, according to current and former officials familiar with the plans. But the scope of that bodys work remains unclear amid squabbles with Capitol Hill over its responsibilities. At a time when the United States and its adversaries are making major investments in offensive hacking capabilities, current and former officials say the bureau would fill a gap in the U.S. governments diplomatic abilities. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan is expected to announce the creation of the new bureau in a speech on the Trump administrations cybersecurity strategy this spring, according to one official. The official added that plans are underway for the bureau to be run by a new assistant secretary of state but cautioned that nothing has been finalized. Without a unit inside the State Department devoted to the subject, current and former officials fear that Washington is neglecting a key issue that is expected to play a major role in international relations. It is the area where our adversaries are not only choosing to confront the United States the most, but also drawing the most blood, said Jason Healey, a former White House official on cybersecurity under President George W. Bush now at Columbia Universitys School of International and Public Affairs. The State Department did not respond to request for comment for this story. The departments press office sent an email saying communications with media are limited due to the ongoing government shutdown. President Donald Trumps administration has taken a hard line on cybersecurity issues, issuing indictments and imposing sanctions on hackers alleged to be working on behalf of the Chinese government and loosening Barack Obama-era rules on carrying out offensive cyberattacks. The White House has accused Beijing of stepping up its campaign of stealing American intellectual property in a bid to boost domestic firms, an issue that U.S. negotiators are attempting to address as part of talks aimed at ending a tit-for-tat trade war between the two countries. Amid this growing confrontation over issues in cyberspace, American diplomats working on cybersecurity have been hamstrung by a lack of authority and resources at a time when U.S. adversaries are stepping up their efforts in this space. China and Russia are increasingly using their diplomatic clout to dictate the direction of internet governance bodies, and critics of the Trump administration argue that it has been lagging in its diplomatic approach on the issue. As the administration has downplayed the importance of multilateral bodies, China, for example, has tried to use its growing clout in United Nations bodies to advance its vision of a more highly regulated internet, as Foreign Policy reported in 2017. Beijing views the open internet as a security threat and has tasked its diplomats with advancing efforts to regulate online speech. The State Department used to have an office that coordinated cybersecurity issues, but former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson shuttered it in 2017, in a move cybersecurity experts and former officials decried as short-sighted. In apparent response to the criticism, Tillerson reversed course shortly before his firing last March, telling lawmakers a year ago that he had plans to create a new bureau on cybersecurity. His successor, Mike Pompeo, signed a memo last summer that would have re-established the bureau under the undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, according to current and former officials. But since then, the officials say, the issue has been beset by delays as top diplomats and lawmakers debate where in the department to place the bureau and what exactly the bureaus mandate should entail. The ongoing government shutdown, now nearing its fourth week, could further delay the rollout. One State Department official said the bureau is still expected to be overseen by the undersecretary for arms control and international security, to emphasize its focus on national security issues. But others, including lawmakers, have pushed for the bureau to report to the undersecretary of political affairs, the departments third-ranking official, and focus more on political priorities relating to cybersecurity. In January 2017, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would have established the Office of Cyber Issues in the State Department, located that office under the undersecretary for political affairs, and consolidated all of the departments work on cybercrime, internet freedom, deterrence, and cyberdiplomacy. But that legislation stalled in the Senate, and Pompeo now appears to be moving toward establishing the bureau under the jurisdiction of his departments arms control experts. What appears as an internecine bureaucratic fight is in reality a conflict over the bureaus priorities and whether the coming cybersecurity body will address more than just the hard security issues in cyberspace, such as the launching of offensive cyberattacks. While the development of frameworks governing the use of offensive cyberattacks represents a key diplomatic issue, economic and human rights questions are also important. Policies governing the use of encryption have implications for online global commerce, which is made possible by the use of widespread encryption. The internet human rights agenda is another fraught area, as authoritarian states seek to clamp down on the open web as a tool of dissent and civic organizing. Regardless of where the bureau is placed, it is expected to also be tasked with building up the cybersecurity capacity of developing countries governments to improve internet security worldwide, according to one official. Placing the bureau under the departments arms control wing would place an emphasis on these hard security questions in cyberspace and possibly cause the department to neglect the economic and human rights dimensions of cyberdiplomacy, said Chris Painter, the State Departments former cyber coordinator. Still, Painter welcomed the move to re-establish a division within the department devoted to cybersecurity issues. The bureau is expected to employ roughly 80 people, the current and former officials say. About half will be current State Department employees recruited from other bureaus. The other half will be new hires. Until then, the vestiges of the cybersecurity coordinator office that Tillerson disbanded have been folded into the departments Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. Robert Strayer, a former Republican Senate aide, manages those efforts as a deputy assistant secretary. Officials said he is on the shortlist to run the new bureau. | https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/01/18/state-department-cyber-security-cyber-threats-russia-china-diplomacy-capitol-hill-lawmakers-pompeo/ |
What happens to the marijuana after Hamilton police raid illegal dispensaries? | "A whole lot more," Hamilton says. And with dispensary raids "it just doesn't end." When detectives seize illegal cannabis there is a detailed process that must be followed. It starts at the scene after police execute a warrant on average that takes two officers at least two 10-hour days to prepare and seven officers on scene. These are now led by the provincial team, but done in coordination with Hamilton police who seize the cannabis, says vice and drug unit Acting Det. Sgt. Cory Gurman. After a warrant has been executed police bag and tag everything in the store dried bud, oils, edibles, lotions. Everything is photographed and the seized product is placed in clear plastic bags with labels that include exactly where it was found. It's driven back to central station where the seized cannabis products are initially stored in a drying area a well-ventilated and secure room. It's the job of drug officers to collect samples of the products for testing and process the evidence, Gurman says. Officers wear gloves and weighs samples, placing a piece on a coffee filter to prevent residue on the scale. Samples are sent for testing to Health Canada, where it takes one or two months to get results. It can take up to three weeks to process all the products from one scene, he says. The remaining cannabis is sealed and taken down to the property branch, to a storage room lined on all sides with large evidence lockers. Once a detective locks the evidence bags in a locker the key goes into a safe. This is where Hamilton takes over. She takes the bags out of the locker and verifies the evidence at her computer. The bags are processed and given new tags, before she takes them to the cannabis dispensary drug storage room. Everything from one warrant is in one box ready to go to court if needed. Once a case is done the drugs go to another room "pending disposal." It too is "well ventilate" and Hamilton described it as looking like a cage or jail cell. Only three people have access to that room: Hamilton, her supervisor and one other colleague. When that room is about three-quarters full she will contact the vice and drug unit, who then contact an undisclosed company for incineration. Drug officers transport the evidence and make sure it's all destroyed. The company gives police a certificate that goes to Health Canada to confirm all drugs are gone. And then the cycle begins again. "As fast as drugs out, we're seizing more," Hamilton says. "Like a revolving door." [email protected] 905-526-3199 | @NicoleatTheSpec [email protected] 905-526-3199 | @NicoleatTheSpec | https://www.thespec.com/news-story/9131935-what-happens-to-the-marijuana-after-hamilton-police-raid-illegal-dispensaries-/ |
Can a Truly Great Airport Be Built Today? | Even at the dawn of the jet age, airlines had trouble moving people and bags through airportsand they still do. Emrah Gurel/AP Just because an amenity-filled terminal looks impressive doesnt mean it functions well. As massive new airports open across Asia and the Middle East, U.S. airports are enhancing security checkpoints with technological gadgets to screen passengers and luggage more quickly. All these projects are often touted as airports of the future, in which air travel will be faster, more efficient and more enjoyable than ever before. However, as a scholar of the history of U.S. airports, Im most interested to see that all these shiny improvements are still struggling to solve the problems that have vexed airport managers and passengers since at least the late 1950s. Even at the dawn of the jet age, airlines had trouble moving people and bags through airportsand they still do. Its unclear that bigger airports serving ever more passengers will have an easier time than their smaller, less crowded predecessors. A long way to walk When commercial jet airliners came to the U.S. in the late 1950s, they were larger and faster than previous planes, needing longer runways and more space to park and maneuver on the tarmac. They carried more passengers, which meant boarding gates had to be bigger. This led to the now-familiar design called pier-finger terminals, with a main terminal screening passengers and collecting checked luggage, beyond which lay long stretches of boarding gates, spaced far enough apart for planes to fit side by side. Atlanta, Chicago, and Miami airports all were criticized for making passengers walk nearly half a mile from ticketing to their gates. Eero Saarinen, designer of classic jet-age terminals at Dulles and John F. Kennedy airports, proposed two different answers. At Dulles, outside Washington, D.C., he called for large, bus-like vehicles to move passengers from the terminal directly to their airplanes. Called mobile lounges, theyre now being phased out in favor of another system billed as more future-oriented: an underground train. In his TWA terminal at JFK Airport outside New York City, Saarinan planned for moving sidewalks to help people cover the distance. The final construction didnt end up including them, but many large airports adopted the idea. Those approaches did reduce the number of steps passengers had to take. But as terminals grew in size and airline routes became more complex, passengers had to change planes more often. That has required trains or trams to help people travel longer distances within terminals, or even to other concourses. Checked luggage has to travel farther, too. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Denver officials thought they had the ultimate futuristic solution with an automatic bag handling system. After repeated failures, though, the machines were shut down and baggage handling was put back in human hands. After decades of attempts, the best way to ensure you and your bags arrive at the same place at the same time is carrying them on the plane yourself. Of course, that means you have to drag heavier bags even farther through sprawling airports. Planning for the unexpected After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, new security screenings created long lines and increased the amount of time people spent at the airport before flights. The need for additional security and waiting space challenged designs that had seemed forward-thinking even in the late 1990s. For instance, a terminal completed in 1997 at Reagan National Airport just outside Washington, D.C., included shops and restaurants, as well as a seamless link to the regions public transit system. That whole layout is being revamped now, at a cost of $1 billion, to enhance the travel experience and to accommodate growing passenger numbers. As more people fly more often, the pace of growth and unexpected events have often overwhelmed the best intended designs and plans. After more than 60 years of trying, its an open question whether the ultimate airport of the futureone where passengers and their bags move quickly through a space thats enjoyable to be incould ever exist at all. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. | https://www.citylab.com/design/2019/01/in-airports-of-the-future-everything-new-is-old-again/580747/ |
How Risky Is General Electric Company Stock? | General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) is an American icon that has fallen on hard times. Although the industrial giant faces significant difficulties today, it's likely to survive this storm -- and assuming it does, there will be material recovery potential in an investment here. Here are some issues you'll want to consider before you buy. Man with head on desk in front of stock chart going down More Image Source: Getty Images Decades in the making The current problems GE faces didn't crop up overnight, but built up over a long period of time before coming crashing down. The aftermath has lingered for more than a decade. The genesis of today's issues dates back to GE's former chairman and CEO Jack Welch. It was under Welch's watch that the finance division was allowed to grow and expand beyond its intended role (supporting sales of GE industrial products) into unrelated businesses (such as mortgage lending). These problematic seeds were sown by Welch before his successor Jeff Immelt took over in 2001. During the 2007 to 2009 recession, GE's finance arm caused the company severe financial strains, major asset sales, write offs, a dividend cut, and an embarrassing government bailout. Immelt took action to turn things around, including paring back the finance division. But he made some bold bets on struggling industries that didn't pan out, or at least not quickly enough. Expanding into the energy industry left GE with a debt-laden balance sheet and struggling operations. The board of directors brought in a new CEO in 2017, industry veteran John Flannery, who quickly announced restructuring plans, including asset sales, write offs, and a dividend cut. After roughly a year, however, the board wasn't pleased with the progress, and brought in outsider Lawrence Culp. Culp announced a new set of restructuring plans and asset sales, and brought the dividend down to a token $0.01 per share per quarter. Today, Culp has only been at the helm for a few months. There's a good chance 2018 will be a kitchen sink year, with Culp trying to push any big charge he can into the year to start 2019 with a relatively clean slate. In other words, there could be more painful news ahead when General Electric announces fourth quarter earnings. That's not a bad thing, per se, as it sets up a brighter future and this could end up being a turnaround investment story. But all of the charges being taken have dramatically changed the company's leverage profile. | https://news.yahoo.com/risky-general-electric-company-stock-182117528.html |
What's Behind the Rise in Soybean ETF? | Soybeans prices jumped double digits on Jan 17 after the production outlook for Brazil was tapered. Celeres, a Brazilian consultancy, lowered its soybean output forecast amid inclement weather conditions to 117.2 million metric tons. The USDA also pegged output for the country at 122 million tons last month. A Commodity Weather Group report shows that temperatures that have been hovering in the low- to mid-90s range in central and northeastern Brazil might worsen through Friday, making things worse for the crop. If that was not enough, cues of settlement of the U.S.-China trade dispute should support soybean prices. Agricultural products like yellow and black soybean faced a 25% retaliatory tariff from China. Notably, China purchases about half of the U.S. soybean and is the second-largest buyer of American cotton (read: US Farm Belt at Risk on China Tariffs: ETFs in Focus). Per the Wall Street Journal, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has been mulling over a proposal to lift some or all U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods in order to push trade talks between the United States and China a step ahead. Though the more hawkish members of President Donald Trump's trade team, including U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the lead negotiator with Beijing, is not supportive of such a move, President himself is reportedly asking for a benign approach to U.S.-Sino trade relations at the current level. Weak import data from the key consumer China is a threat to the price rally.Soybean shipments offloaded in China this year fell about 37% from the first two weeks of 2018, according to tanker-tracking firm ClipperData. China has reportedly turned to Brazil and other exporters for its supplies due to trade tensions with United States. The trade fear has weighed on prices, with soybean shedding more than a quarter of its value between the 2017 high in March and the low in September. While prices recovered a bit from easing trade tensions, any false alarms would correct the price. Against this backdrop, investors may be interested in keeping a close tab on the pure-play soybean ETF Teucrium Soybean ETF SOYB. Below we highlight the fund in detail. SOYB in Focus The underlying index looks to reflect the daily changes of a weighted average of the closing prices for three futures contracts for soybeans that are traded on the CBOT. The three contracts will be: (1) 2nd-to-expire contract, weighted 35%, (2) the 3rd-to-expire contract, weighted 30%, and (3) the contract expiring in the November following the expiration month of the 3rd-to-expire contract, weighted 35%. SOYB was designed to reduce the effects of rolling contracts (and contango and backwardation) by not investing in front-month (spot) futures contracts and thus limiting the number of contracts rolls each year. The expense ratio is 1.74%. The fund was up about 1.5% on Jan 17 and has gained about 1.9% in the year-to-date frame (as of Jan 17, 2019). Zacks free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report | https://news.yahoo.com/whats-behind-rise-soybean-etf-180006695.html |
Does the Texas anti-Israel boycott law pass constitutional muster? | Seeking to preserve a politically-charged state law that bars governmental entities from doing business with contractors who support a boycott of Israel, Texas officials are mobilizing this month at the courthouse and the Capitol. In legal filings and legislative proposals, they argue that the law should be applied to companies and not individuals. But some legal experts say the strategy may run afoul of recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that expand certain corporate speech rights, raising questions about whether shutting out companies that support the Israel boycott is constitutionally kosher. Supporters of the law, however, say it's in keeping with a tradition of political leaders deciding whether to do business with companies whose activity might conflict with public policy. The latest efforts to preserve the law, which state officials say protects the economy of Texas' No. 4 trading partner, come after government contractors alleged in a pair of lawsuits that language in their contracts violates their free speech rights. Elementary school speech pathologist Bahia Amawi sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the Pflugerville school district in federal court in December after the school district refused to renew her annual contract. She had declined to sign an oath saying she does not boycott Israel and will not boycott the nation during the term of the contract. The Pflugerville district included the oath in her contract following passage of the 2017 law that prohibits governmental entities from contracting with and investing in companies that boycott Israel. The law is a response to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement that seeks to change Israeli policy toward Palestinians. Texas ban on contracting with any boycotter of Israel constitutes viewpoint discrimination that chills constitutionally-protected political advocacy in support of Palestine, Amawi, who is Palestinian-American, said in her suit. Subsequently, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a similar lawsuit on behalf of four people against Paxton, two universities and two school districts. Among the four is Zachary Abdelhadi, a Palestinian-American student at Texas State University, who, according to the suit, has had to forgo opportunities to judge high school debate tournaments as well as potential income that he would have used to pay for college because he boycotts Israel. The plaintiffs seek to block the state from enforcing the law. In a brief filed this week in the Amawi case, Paxton argued that Texas law applies to companies, not individuals. These individuals personal economic decisions to avoid products made in or affiliated with Israel, or their right to express views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, do not constitute company action under the Texas government code, Paxton argued suggesting the law wasn't meant to be applied to Amawi. The argument echoes a bill filed by state Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, this month. That legislation proposes amending the original law that King authored to require the anti-Israel-boycott oath only in government contracts worth at least $100,000 with companies of at least 10 employees. In response to the Pflugerville case, King said, it is not unusual for there to be a misapplication of a new statute. The new bill is meant to alleviate any confusion to Texas anti-BDS law, King said, adding that the bill is meant to address companies involved in discriminatory commercial activity. But changing the target from a person to a company may not survive a legal challenge, according to Larry Sager, former dean of the University of Texas law school. The Supreme Court has made it clear that First Amendment speech and First Amendment religion rights do apply to at least closely-held corporations, companies whose stock is held by a small number of people, not publicly traded Sager said. In the 2010 Citizens United case, which applies to campaign contributions made by corporations, the Supreme Court treated corporations and individuals similarly under the First Amendment. And in the 2014 Hobby Lobby case, the court maintained that closely-held, for-profit corporations can be exempt from a regulation to which its owners religiously object in this case, the right to opt out of the contraceptive insurance mandate, again broadening the First Amendment rights of companies. People living, doing their business through a corporate structure theyre still people, and they still have rights, Sager said. Whether a speech pathologist is "simply a contract employee on her own, or doing business as an LLC," said Sager, "clearly shouldn't matter." Nor should it matter if the company is comprised of more than 10 people: "The partners who own and manage the group are constitutionally entitled to boycott Israel, and the partnership or limited corporation inherits their rights," he continued. "The instinct behind Hobby Lobby and Citizens United is not some fanciful vision of the abstract corporate entity having rights, but rather of flesh and blood members of the political community who carry their rights into mutual endeavors, some of which are commercial and some of which are undertaken in corporate legal structures." But Eugene Kontorovich, law professor at George Mason University who served as an advisor on the drafting of the Texas state law as well as similar ones in other states, said the oath is about conduct, not speech. And he suggested the boycott of Israeli products produced in the occupied West Bank amounted to discrimination against a group of people. Amawi, he told the American-Statesman, would be 100 percent eligible for the contract if she hung a sign on her office saying death to Israel, so long as her company did not engage in conduct that discriminates against Israelis. Businesses have speech rights, but not everything businesses do is speech, he continued. The fundamental bottom line is refusing to do business with people because they are members of some group one does not like Israelis, for example is not speech. It is commercial conduct and can be regulated. Furthermore, Kontorovich said the state can decide that a company that boycotts Israel puts politics ahead of business considerations in a way that "may not provide the best services" to the government. Bipartisan support The Israeli-Palestinian conflict dates to before the creation of Israel in 1948 and centers on disputed land and holy sites in the Middle East. Despite stated goals on both sides to create two states an independent Palestine alongside Israel, as envisioned in a series of accords Palestinian territory remains under Israeli control, leading to claims of rights violations. The Palestinian BDS National Committee calls for a boycott of all Israeli products, though its major campaigns are against Israeli companies that operate in the West Bank, land seized by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and home to 2.8 million Palestinians. Organizers say they were inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement to call for boycotts as a form of nonviolent pressure on Israel. In 2017, Texas lawmakers, as part of a national wave of legislation to undercut Israel boycotts, took up Kings anti-boycott measure. At a hearing that spring before the House State Affairs Committee, Sandra Hagee Parker of the Christians United for Israel Action Fund, said the BDS movement amounted to "economic anti-Semitism" and is a "manifesto devoid of any ideology other than hatred." The state Senate approved the bill 26-5, and no House member voted against the bill. Abbott signed the bill into law at the Jewish Community Center in Northwest Austin. "As Israel's No. 1 trading partner in the United States, Texas is proud to reaffirm its support for the people of Israel and we will continue to build on our historic partnership," Abbott said at the time. "Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies, and we will not tolerate such actions against an important ally." List of companies As part of the law, the Legislature instructed the Texas comptrollers office to keep a running list of companies that advocate for the boycott of Israel. There are three companies on the Texas list: Co-Operative Group Limited, a British supermarket chain; KLP, a Norwegian insurance company; and DNB ASA, a Norwegian financial services company. The companies did not return requests for comment. The Statesman has filed an open records request for the states contracts with the two companies, MSCI ESG and ISS, that maintain the list. The Texas comptrollers office has said it would not release the information because the contracts were marked confidential by vendors. The matter is under review by state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Neither MSCI ESG nor ISS returned requests for comment about how they determine whether companies sponsor the Israel boycott. The companies also provide similar services for other states with similar anti-boycott laws. Comptroller spokesman Chris Bryan said the contracts total less than $50,000 but he would not specify how much they cost. Boycotting boycotters Announcing his filing this week, Paxton said that Texas law simply provides that if you choose to engage in nationality-based discrimination, then you may be choosing to forgo the privilege of receiving taxpayer money. The state of Texas has the right to boycott boycotters in this instance. Doing so does not suppress protected speech or expression. The law supports a long-established principle of non-discrimination. That argument has not fared well with other federal judges who have ruled on similar state laws. In February 2018, for example, Paxton signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief in U.S. District Court in Arizona as the state faced a challenge to its version of the Texas law. The judge blocked the Arizona law. Paxtons argument that you have a right to free speech but not a right to be paid by the government is precisely what the public employee-public contractor cases reject, Sager said. And his argument that public entities have their own right to speak doesnt give on to the view that they may speak by silencing their employees or contractors. Pflugerville district spokeswoman Tamra Spence told the Statesman in December that the school district is committed to educating all students to be productive members of a diverse community, but like all governmental entities, is bound by state law to include the contract language. Unfortunately, Pflugerville ISD and all Texas school districts are at the mercy of the state and the regulations printed into law, she said. In situations such as this, we are forced to spend time on state political issues and not on our core mission, which is educating students. Although Pflugerville ISD is the focus of the lawsuit, this is a state issue that affects all Texas public school districts and should be addressed at the state level. John Pluecker, one of the plaintiffs in the ACLU case he refused to accede to an anti-BDS clause in a University of Houston contract to translate an essay for the university's art museum, thus missing out on $1,500, and had to forego a $250 honorarium to speak at a university event told the Statesman that since the lawsuit he has heard from many people who faced the same dilemma he had. "Many of these people have either lost work, because they refused to sign, or signed reluctantly because they could not afford to lose the work," he said. "All were very supportive and appreciative of the lawsuits recently filed in Texas to try to change this unjust law that restricts our First Amendment rights." Still, at the Capitol the anti-boycott laws have proven popular. After Amawi filed her suit, Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted: Texas stands with Israel. Period. | https://www.statesman.com/news/20190118/does-texas-anti-israel-boycott-law-pass-constitutional-muster |
Have losses from the shutdown equaled the cost of Trump's border wall demand? | Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. By Nigel Chiwaya When President Trump refused to sign a funding bill in late December, setting the country on the path to a partial government shutdown, he said he did so because the bill didnt include the $5.6 billion hed requested for a wall along the southern border. Four weeks later, the damage to the economy is almost equal to that figure. According to estimates from S&P Global Ratings, the countrys real gross domestic product is losing approximately $1.2 billion for every week the government is closed or about $1,984 for each second. The figure includes productivity losses from more than 800,000 federal employees who have been furloughed, earnings losses to contractors and companies that do business with the government, and indirect losses such as tourists who cancel vacations to national parks and monuments. Use the ticker below to get a real-time estimate on the damage the longest shutdown in U.S. history is causing. Follow the latest stories about the shutdown here. | https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/have-losses-shutdown-equaled-cost-trump-s-border-wall-demand-n960341?cid=public-rss_20190118 |
Will Justice Sikri represent CJI in PM-headed panel to appoint CBI chief? | After the ouster of CBI by a high-powered selection committee that included CJI-nominated A.K. Sikri, rumours are doing the rounds whether he would again be part of the panel which is to meet on January 24 to decide the fate of three or four General-level IPS officers for the agency's top post. Sources close with the happenings expressed apprehension that Sikri will again participate in the three-member panel in place of Justice of Justice that will decide the final name of 28th (CBI) which is selected based on the Central Vigilance Commission Act 2003, and has a two-year term. The panel, besides Modi, includes the of single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha and the CJI. An in the Law Ministry, requesting anonymity, said the current situation suggests that CJI will be present in the selection committee but he could not rule out the possibility of Justice Sikri's being again nominated for the task. Against the backdrop of floor Mallikarjun Kharge's demand for immediate convening of the meeting to choose a successor to Verma, the took the decision to hold the selection committee's meeting on January 24 to finalise the name of next Kharge, who dissented when it decided to remove Verma as CBI director, on Tuesday demanded the immediate appointment of a new and opposed the return of M. Nageswara Rao as Two days after he was conditionally reinstated by the as the CBI Director, Verma was on January 10 again removed from the agency by the high-powered selection committee. The date for the meeting of the selection committee also took shape when the (DoPT) completed its scrutiny of three-four names among a list of 12 (IPS) officers that included one from 1982 batch, four from 1983, six from 1984 and one from 1985 batch. Ten IPS officers are said to be in the list but two more names were added as probable candidates for the new CBI chief's post. The two new names included Gujarat DGP Shivanand Jha, a 1983-batch IPS of cadre, and J.K. Sharma, a 1982-batch AGMUT cadre officer, who has worked has DG Tihar. Sharma, who was facing probe for allegedly holding assets disproportionate to his income, was given a clean chit by a in November last year. The other IPS officers in the race are believed to be Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, a 1985-batch IPS officer; Uttar Pradesh of (NIA) Y.C. Modi, informed sources said. By seniority, 1983 batch IPS Rina Mitra, who is currently the (Internal Security) in the Union Home Ministry, and (CRPF) may get the chance to head the federal agency. Some prominent names from the 1984 batch, including (NSG) Sudeep Lakhtakia, and A.P. Maheshwari, Director of and Forensic Sciences S. Javeed Ahmed, (BSF) Director General and (ITBP) chief S.S. Deswal, are also in the running. (Rajnish Singh can be contacted at [email protected]) --IANS rak/vsc/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/will-justice-sikri-represent-cji-in-pm-headed-panel-to-appoint-cbi-chief-119011601280_1.html |
Is there hope for peace in Afghanistan? | The US wants to renew efforts to persuade the Taliban to have direct talks with the Afghan government. The United States is eager to end its nearly 18-year involvement in the war in Afghanistan, which has killed tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers and Taliban fighters. But Taliban leaders are refusing to sit at the same table as the Afghan government. A US special envoy is in Pakistan, hoping government leaders there can convince the Taliban commanders to change their mind. Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault Guests: Mushtaq Rahim - Regional security specialist Ahmed Rashid - Author of Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil & Fundamentalism in Central Asia Michael Semple - Former deputy EU special representative to Afghanistan Source: Al Jazeera News | https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2019/01/hope-peace-afghanistan-190118171234537.html |
Could Carmelo Anthony Make an NBA Return This Season? | The NBA Season has reached the midpoint and is headed to the All-Star break and for the most part, everything has been quiet on the Carmelo Anthony front. Many fans have thought it was a wrap for the legendary scoring machine, however, The Athletic is reporting Melo may have a new team by the February 7 trade deadline. The last time we were able to see Melo on an NBA Court was on November 8, but reportedly there is multiple options for who can add the all-star forward. Customary for Carmelo when he is away from the NBA hardwood, videos of him on the court at his gym of choice float online. Hopefully, he can put those skills into action again. Sources, w/ @joevardon, at @TheAthleticNBA: Carmelo Anthonys NBA career might not be over after all, as he has options and is expected to pick before the Feb. 7 trade deadline https://t.co/hIJFsyLGRg Sam Amick (@sam_amick) January 18, 2019 | http://thesource.com/2019/01/18/carmelo-nba-return/ |
How to watch Delta IV heavy rocket launch from Vandenberg CA? | The Delta IV heavy rocket is still on track to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Saturday. United Launch Alliance representatives said the launch was given a unanimous go on Friday after a Launch Readiness Review. The rocket is expected to take a top secret payload into space for the National Reconnaissance Office, dubbed the NROL-71 mission. It will launch at 11:05 a.m. Digital Access for only $0.99 For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today. The review was led by NROL-71 launch director Lou Mangieri and assessed all aspects of mission readiness, discussed the status of pre-flight processing work, heard technical overviews of the countdown and flight and previewed the weather forecast, according to the organization a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. We are proud to launch this critical payload in support of our nations national security mission, ULA Vice President of Government and Commercial Programs Gary Wentz said in a statement Friday. As the nations premiere launch provider, the teams have worked diligently to ensure continued mission success, delivering our customers payloads to the precise orbits requested. Weather forecasters predict a 70 percent chance of favorable conditions for the launch, according to ULA. The only weather concern will be wind. The Delta IV heavy rocket launch was delayed numerous times in December, most recently for a hydrogen leak in the last seconds before the anticipated launch. Live coverage of the countdown will begin on the ULA website at 2:15 a.m. Saturday. The live video webcast will be available 20 minutes before launch, at around 10:45 a.m. The launch will be visible from around the Central Coast. If you want an up close and personal view, Facebook page Vandenberg Launch News has compiled a list of viewing sites around Lompoc. These include the west end of Ocean Avenue, Surf Beach, Providence Landing Park and the Hawks Nest at Camellia Lane. Tribune reporter Gabby Ferreira contributed to this report. For live updates from the launch, follow Tribune reporter Kaytlyn Leslie on Twitter, @kaytyleslie. Shell be tweeting out photos and details from the launch Saturday from Vandenberg Air Force Base. | https://www.fresnobee.com/news/state/california/article224753100.html |
When will Sprouts grocery store open SLO CA location? | Sprouts Farmers Market has announced its opening date in San Luis Obispos Madonna Plaza and plans to hire 140 full-time and part-time employees. The new grocery store going in a 30,000-square-foot space at 313 Madonna Road, the former location of Forever 21, will open at 7 a.m. April 17. In preparation for the opening, the store has announced a job fair to interview prospective employees on March 5-6 at the nearby Embassy Suites Hotel at 333 Madonna Road. The job fair will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days for positions that include: department managers, assistant department managers clerks assigned to produce, meat and seafood, deli, grocery, bakery, vitamins and body care, cashiers, courtesy clerks and more. Digital Access for only $0.99 For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today. Applicants are encouraged to bring a copy of their resume and will have the opportunity to speak directly with the Sprouts hiring team about available positions. Sprouts focuses on local demand for fresh, natural and organic foods at great prices, according to its press release. Sprouts, which started 16 years ago as a company, has more than 300 stores in 19 states around the U.S., including 116 in California, the most of any other state. The store has more than 2,400 Sprouts brand products and 28,000 employees. Construction takes place on the new Sprouts in Madonna Plaza in the fall. Joe Johnston [email protected] Sprouts offers competitive pay, team member discounts, a fun and rewarding culture, and numerous career advancement opportunities, a press release reads. Sprouts continues to accelerate investments in team members, including enhanced pay, benefits, leadership development and recognition. Each store features an in-house butcher who prepares hand-crafted sausages daily; a wide selection of freshly baked goods, craft beer and wine; and more than 7,500 cutting-edge vitamin and body care products. To learn more about available career opportunities and benefits or to apply, go to sprouts.com/careers or call 1-866-925-2396 for non-managerial roles. | https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/business/article224755465.html |
Was geht wirklich zwischen Lisa Marie Koroll und Jona Selle? | Lisa-Marie Koroll und Jona Selle haben ihre Fans ganz schn in Aufruhr und die Gerchtekche zum Brodeln gebracht. Vor einigen Tagen postete die Schauspielerin ein ses Foto mit dem Snger, wo sie Arm in Arm auf einer Mauer sitzen. Die Sonne strahlt fast so sehr, wie das Lcheln der beiden. Wer mal aus dem Fenster geschaut hat, wird festgestellt haben, dass die Bilder nicht in Deutschland entstehen konnten. Die Kommentare explodierten und Fans stellten vor allem eine ganz besondere Frage: "Seid ihr zusammen?" Wir haben bei YouTuber Jona nachgefragt: "Lisa-Marie ist zweifelsohne ein sehr attraktives Mdel. Ich bin jedoch zurzeit nicht auf der Suche." Tatschlich sind diese Bilder nicht in einem Urlaub entstanden, sondern viel mehr auf der Arbeit! Denn Jona Selle hat in Barcelona, Spanien sein Musikvideo zu seiner neuen Single "Annalena" gedreht. "Es hat von Anfang an viel Spa gemacht", verrt der YouTuber weiter, "es ist unkompliziert und locker mit ihr zu drehen. Ich glaube, man kann im Video erkennen, wie viel Freude uns Barcelona bereitet hat." Wer sich das Video angeschaut hat, wird feststellen, dass die Chemie zwischen den beiden stimmt beim Dreh ist eine richtige Freundschaft entstanden! Schlielich lassen sie sich im Musikvideo sogar ein Partner-Tattoo stechen. "Das Tattoo 'rec', das wir uns whrend des Videodrehs haben stechen lassen, steht bei ihr als Schauspielerin fr ihre Leidenschaft des Filmens und bei mir fr die Musik 'recording", erklrt Jona weiter. Fakt ist: Auch wenn die beiden kein Paar sind, dieses Video solltet ihr nicht verpassen! "Ich habe sie auf einem Geburtstag kennengelernt", verrt der YouTuber, "Dann war ich mit Lisa-Marie und ein paar Freunden feiern. Als ich sie tanzen gesehen habe, war mir klar, dass sie das perfekte Girl fr das Video ist und ich hab mich dann sehr gefreut, als sie zugestimmt hat." S! Klingt fast so, als htten sich die beiden von der ersten Sekunde an verstanden. "Nachdem Lisa zugesagt hatte, gab es fr mich keinen Plan B mehr", verrt Jona auerdem. Wir finden die beiden harmonieren super in dem Musikvideo zu "Annalena" und wnschen Jona viel Erfolg mit diesem Ohrwurm. Kleiner Tipp: Video ansehen und beim zweiten Mal hren einfach mal die Augen zu machen. Ihr vergesst sofort, dass es drauen kalt ist und fhlt euch, als wrdet ihr selbst durch die sonnigen Straen von Barcelona laufen. #daydreaming Das knnte dich auch interessieren: | https://www.bravo.de/was-geht-wirklich-zwischen-lisa-marie-koroll-und-jona-selle-380449.html |
What's at stake for Manny Pacquiao and Adrien Broner? | Big fights equal big stakes and that will be the case Saturday night, when Manny Pacquiao defends his WBA (regular) welterweight title against Adrien Broner at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, live on Showtime pay-per-view. Much is at stake for both Pacquiao and Broner in this fight. At this stage of his life, many would've thought Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) would be on a legacy tour, riding off into the sunset. After all, he's the sport's only eight-division world champion. When you look at how the 40-year-old looked his time out, though, scoring a KO of Lucas Matthysse in July, one can say the old "Pac Man" is back and ready to make one more run to add to his already-legendary Hall of Fame career. Join DAZN and watch more than 100 fight nights a year Or, you can say that Matthysse was a stationary target and anyone could have done what Pacquiao did. But the KO happened and now the Filipino icon has put himself back in a prime position. Many are already lining up Pacquiao's next time out before he's even fought Broner. The growing sentiment is a win and Pacquiao will once again take on Floyd Mayweather Jr. later in 2019. The two pound-for-pound greats met in Tokyo in September. The speculation was they were discussing a possible rematch from their record-breaking bout in May 2015 that Mayweather won by unanimous decision. People criticized the fight for a lack of action, which Pacquiao blamed on a torn rotator of his right shoulder that forced him to have surgery afterwards. He has made it clear to anyone who will listen that he would like nothing more than to avenge the defeat. Mayweather keeps saying he's retired, but let's remember, "Money" already came of retirement twice before three times if you're counting his exhibition bout in Japan last month. So, it would be hard to believe that the soon-to-be 42-year-old would pass up another lucrative payday. But there's another big option out there for Pacquiao if he beats Broner and Mayweather decides to stay on the sidelines: Facing the winner of the March 16 pay-per-view clash between IBF welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr. and Mikey Garcia. Both are undefeated and have been deemed the future of boxing. Pacquiao could square off with the victor in the proverbial passing-of-the-torch bout. It's very reminiscent of when Pacquiao ran through Oscar De La Hoya in 2008, which catapulted "Pac Man" to another stratosphere and made him the mega star he is today. A loss to Broner and the hopes of a rematch against Mayweather or any other significant fight would be dashed. Being on the big stage is nothing new for Pacquiao. Broner, though, has been looking for this moment his entire career a PPV fight against one of the sport's biggest stars ever. Broner has been in important fights before against Marcos Maidana, Shawn Porter and Mikey Garcia and he lost all of those bouts. "You can say that Adrien Broner is my toughest opponent," Broner told Sporting News earlier in the week. He isn't wrong in that assessment either. But the 29-year-old can and has to change that narrative. A win over Pacquiao puts AB in the position that he could've been in a long time ago if he hadn't kept tripping over himself inside and outside of the ring. He'd become one of the biggest stars in the sport and maybe, just maybe, he could lure Mayweather out of retirement. (Just imagine the trash talk that would be spewed between the apprentice and teacher then). If Broner is victorious Saturday night, he could also face the winner of Spence-Garcia, WBA titleholder Keith Thurman, winner of Terence Crawford-Amir Khan or even have a rematch with Pacquiao. The options would be there. If he loses, though, his career as a marquee attraction is done and he'll be relegated to gatekeeper status. | http://www.sportingnews.com/us/boxing/news/manny-pacquiao-adrien-broner-fight-floyd-mayweather-jessie-vargas-boxing/h1bs71hy4h6v1i373e5w87zj4 |
Is it OK to eat groceries at the store before buying them? | Get the latest from TODAY Sign up for our newsletter / Source: TODAY By Erica Chayes Wida Sometimes it's hard to resist a little snack at the grocery store. While sampling is as integral to the shopping experience as carts are at places like Costco, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, not all stores promote munching in the aisle. The question divided TODAY anchors Friday morning and it's dividing those on Twitter, too. Craig Melvin was appalled by his co-anchors Sheinelle Jones' and Dylan Dreyer's pro-snacking stance, as if they were advocating eating soup directly from the ladle. "That's called stealing!" said Craig. "You can't wait until you get home to eat the food?" "Have you ever shopped hungry?" joked Sheinelle. "Or seen the line at Whole Foods?" asked Dylan. "I think that, I'm going to go out on a limb, that most of you would agree that as long as you pay for it," Sheinelle said. "And it's not something that needs to be weighed," like bananas or bulk foods, Dylan added. Getty Images TODAY polled Twitter and so far, the "No, never" category is ahead with 47 percent of votes. Only 18 percent of voters agree with Sheinelle and Dylan, and 35 percent say it depends on the item. A ton of tweeters are in agreement with in-store snacking said it's Survival 101 when grocery shopping with young children. Another Twitter user compared eating before paying at the store to eating before paying at a restaurant. Point taken. Others, however, deemed messy munching to be a "safety issue." Some people, particularly those who claim to be grocery store employees, supported Craig's stance that eating before paying is, in fact, stealing. Sheinelle learned this the hard way. Although the TODAY anchor is still an advocate of enjoying a granola bar as she shops, one attempt to refill her home grocery store's "free cookie" container led to a run-in with the cops. Sheinelle dished her dirty little secret to friends and followers. After school one day, Sheinelle who asserted to her co-anchors she was a "good kid" and an "A-student" popped into her hometown grocery store in Kansas with her boyfriend and friend. Familiar with which cookies the store used to stock its then-empty sample cookie container, Sheinelle took it upon herself to fill it up. Placing the cookie tin nearby "so it could be accounted for," Sheinelle gave a cookie to her pals, ate one herself and went on her merry way. But as she exited, Sheinelle said, the store management brought her back in to have her meet with the local police for her devious act. "I learned my lesson," Sheinelle said. "Clearly not!" Dylan exclaimed. "Clearly you didn't learn your lesson if you're still bee-boppin' around New York City, poppin' into Trader Joe's, eating half the produce." "Come on. You know you've done it," Sheinelle said. | https://www.today.com/food/it-ok-eat-groceries-store-buying-them-t147017 |
Have we made donating blood too difficult? | All the paperwork, needing to visit your doctor to get paperwork ratified and making appointments to donate. This is in my opinion making donating too difficult. I know people who have gone through the whole process and have waited for the Blood Bank to contact them with a time to come in. After waiting three weeks, they decided to call, only to be told, ah we must have misplaced your paperwork. Can you start again. Again! It's hard enough the first time. I've been a few times, just walked in off the street. An appointment, there is no one here ... sorry you need an appointment. When appointments are available they conflict with my schedule. I really want to donate, as does my friend, as blood is desperately needed. But, in this person's mind, they need to make it easier as they are so desperate for blood. I honestly think they need to review the system. RAYMOND PERN, Toowoomba | https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/have-we-made-donating-blood-too-difficult/3625361/ |
How good will Emiliano Sala and Oumar Niasse be for Cardiff? | Get rugby 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 Cardiff recently completed the signing of Everton striker Oumar Niasse, who has joined the club on loan until the end of the season. Meanwhile, the club have also been linked with the permanent signing of Nantes striker Emiliano Sala, as Neil Warnock looks to increase his attacking options. We used FIFA 19 to find out more about their attributes. Niasse vs. Sala comparison As you can see, there is a real mix of attributes between Niasse and Sala. Niasse has a clear pace advantage of Sala, with the Senegalese international rated 75 overall, and the Argentinian rated just 57 overall. However, Sala's shooting attribute (77) is higher than Niasse (75), as the Nantes striker has 79 finishing and 79 shot power, compared to the Everton loanee's 77 and 76. In terms of technical skill though, Niasse has the upper hand. The 28-year-old has higher dribbling (75) and ball control (73) attributes than Sala. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now But, in terms of passing ability, Sala has much better short passing (69), long passing (60) and curve (68) attributes than the former Hull City player. Also, what Sala lacks in pace, he more than makes up for with his physical attributes. His strength (84), stamina (92), jumping (77) and aggression (75) attributes are a lot better than Niasse's, as you can see from their overall physical rating. Comparison vs. Cardiff players According to FIFA 19, Cardiff's best striker is 74-rated Bobby Reid, followed by 72-rated Kenneth Zohore. On the face of it, Emiliano Sala (77) and Oumar Niasse (75) are then better than Cardiff's current striking options. Reid had the best finishing attribute (75) before Niasse's arrival, as the Senegalese striker has a finishing attribute of 77. Sala's finishing is even better, and is rated at 79. Overall, they are two very different players. Sala is very much a target man, who is very strong and can hold the ball up, whilst also providing a threat in the box. In contrast, Niasse is the type of striker who likes to stay on the last shoulder of defenders, trying to run in behind and create problems that way, as he is the more mobile of the two. There is no way of knowing which one will be more successful than the other at this stage, but they are an upgrade of Cardiff's current options. Time will tell if they can make the difference. | https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-good-emiliano-sala-oumar-15699805 |
Why Is Everyone Drinking Celery Juice Right Now? | Bright green and highly Instagrammable, celery juice is the latest influencer-driven wellness trend. Celery itself is not a very popular vegetable. Nutritionally unremarkable, with an insipid taste and a stringy texture, Im willing to bet that a lot of celery juice drinkers who jumped at this fad never actually eat raw celeryand honestly, I wouldnt blame them. The drink owes its popularity to a guy named Anthony William, who is also known as The Medical Medium. William, who has no nutrition or medical training, claims that he is able to converse with the Spirit of Compassion, who provides him with extraordinarily accurate health information thats often far ahead of its time. (I am not making this up.) His latest book is about detoxing the liver with food, and hes also a contributor to Gwyneth Paltrows Goop, which has this to say about him: William is a force with a devoted following, working well outside the bounds of conventional science and medicine. Hes become known for, as he explains it, being guided by Spirit to help people claim their health. (Funnily enough, Williams Goop article on celery juice is tagged Fascinating but Inexplicable.) Well outside the bounds of conventional science and medicine is really a thing now. Blame it on this Post-Truth Era, but it no longer seems to matter if something is based on science; the more elaborate the pseudoscience and the wackier the trend, the more people seem to flock to it. The Carnivore Diet, The Daniel Plan (dont ask), and celery juice are all great examples of this. William claims that compounds called undiscovered cluster salts give celery juicebut not raw, whole celeryits miraculous properties. The thing about undiscovered cluster salts is just thattheyre undiscovered, meaning they dont actually exist in evidence-based science. So its pretty unlikely that this green elixir will cure chronic and mystery illnesses and kill off unproductive bacteria in the gut like William says it does. (Fans of the juice also claim it can clear skin and reduce bloating.) Still, Im sure celery farmers dont mind this claim: one bunch of celery reportedly makes two 8-ounce cups of juice, and Williams recommends drinking up to double that amount on the dailyon an empty stomachto experience the purported benefits. William also tells us that celery juice is medicinal and that it clears the body of heavy metals and toxins. This adds to the juices mystique and does a great job of motivating people to want to get rid of poisons they never knew existed (and, frankly, arent an issue for most people). Trust me when I say that if you had heavy metal poisoning, youd know itand celery juice wouldnt even come close to curing this condition. Also, there is absolutely zero physiological connection between anything we eat and the strength of our bile. That William isnt well-versed in basic physiology isnt surprising, but what is shocking is the fact that people are still falling for Williams outrageous fad, even though it comes from the 5th dimension, not science. In a recent article, William claimed that celery juice helps the stomach gland, which doesnt even exist. Understanding why we fall for trends like celery juice means looking at how our society perceives food and eating. While most of us strive for optimal health, theres often a sinister side to the wellness industry; one that plays on our fears and insecurities to convince us that we need to take part in expensive, pseudoscientific trends. These fads make us feel as though were connected, special and part of a tribeto see what I mean, just check out the #celeryjuice hashtag on Instagrambut they rarely improve our health or our well-being, especially in the long term. All of this said, theres nothing harmful about celery juice. Its hydrating, just like water. Nothing more. Your liver doesnt need detoxing, and please: you wouldnt take legal advice from a ghost, so dont take nutrition advice from a guy who claims he can speak to spirits. Abby Langer is a Toronto-based registered dietitian. Related: How Acne Messed Up My Relationship With Food Coconut Oil Is the Latest Reason You Cant Believe Everything You Read in the Goop Era Activated Charcoal Is Probably Not the Wellness Cure-All You Think It Is | https://www.flare.com/health/celery-juice/ |
How Did Likability Become a Thing for Women in Politics? | Heading into the 2013 race for mayor of New York, there was quite a bit going in Chris Quinns favor: Millions of dollars in campaign cash. A powerful, high-profile job as speaker of the City Council. Celebrity supporters. Competitive poll numbers. Union endorsements. Chrisfull name Christinewas also the only woman on that years debate stage with four male rivals for the Democratic nomination. So she and her team made a choice: There was a conscious decision: I needed to not lean into the woman stuff; I needed to try to be less who I was. Less aggressive. Less loud. Less in people's face, Quinn recalls. Over the course of the campaign, the strategy backfired. People said I was inauthentic, she says. By then I was! To make me more likable, she says. That was five years after Hillary Clinton lost the Democratic nomination for president to Barack Obama, who once witheringly called her likable enough. In 2016, when Clinton did become the Democratic nominee, foes demonized her as a conniving, crooked harpy. She ultimately lost to Republican Donald Trump. Now Trump is facing a growing lineup of Democratic challengers who want to oust him from the White House in 2020. A Politico piece questioning, you guessed it, her likability. Warren instantly started raising money off the kerfuffle. News items both amplified and challenged the idea of women candidates' having to be likable. Clinton herself borderline mocked the whole episode. Other Democratic women are already jumping into the 2020 race for president and already the likability question isnt going to go away. Blame Reagan Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution, says it was Ronald Reagan who showed pollsters and prognosticators how powerful a factor likability can be in politics. He was seen as likable, even though he was more conservative than the country, he says. Since then, analysts have paid a lot of attention to likability. Reagan, a Republican, won the 1980 election in a landslide; then President Jimmy Carter carried only six states. Once in office Reagan used his likability to powerful effect. His folksy manner helped him sell trickle-down economics to the middle class, even though the bulk of the economic benefits went to the well-to-do, West says. If Reagan were less likable, he would not have been as successful with his tax-cut plan. The same argument applies to Reagan's boosting military spending when the rest of the budget was being held the same or cut. Pinning down when being liked or likable became a thing for women in public life isnt easy. Some accounts point to the lawmakers who praised the femininity and gentleness of Jeanette Rankin, first woman elected to Congress in 1917; University of Pennsylvania professor of political science Dawn Teele tells Glamour that likability issues are as old as the suffrage movement. Celinda Lake, a noted Democratic pollster, says likabilityfor women leaders at leastdates back much farther. Cleopatra, she says. Shes sort of kiddingand sort of not. For all the new science of measuring peoples views of their leaders, and for all the strides women have made in American public life (see the 2018 midterm elections), men and women are still judged by different standards in politics (and elsewhere). This is deeply about gender roles, and how we see gender roles, and how we process gender, Lake says. The first time the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, which works to study and advance womens representation in politics, studied likability was in 2010; their report found that being viewed favorably was the single most important predictor for whether a female candidate could win. What made a women likable varied a lot: Party affiliation mattered (people found female candidates in their own party more likable)but so did being seen as honest and ethical, a problem solver, and even just looking like a governor. All candidates have to be likable to some extent. But the Foundations research (and other studies) show that women have to be seen as qualified and likable. Men have to be seen as qualifiedits often assumed they have the chops just because theyre menand likability is a bonus. (Another thing: Even though people recognize that women are judged more for their appearance, they would still recommend a female candidate have a wardrobe, makeup, and appearance thats impeccable.) Womens record-breaking successes in midterm Congressional races may help begin to change these attitudes, but legislative roles are generally seen as more collaborative, while top executive roles are seen as requiring more authoritative behavior. Since the Foundation started looking at voters attitudes about women candidates more than 20 years ago, much has changed for the better, says founder Barbara Lee, but still, weve consistently found that voters are more comfortable seeing women serve as members of a legislature than they are electing them to executive offices like governor or presidentpositions where they will have sole decision-making authority. The Likability Gauntlet Whether we, um, like it or not, the emotional connections voters have with candidates is a factor in every race, especially a presidential one. So pollsters and consultants run a myriad of tests to try to reveal deep, almost ancient biases that voters may not want to admit they have or dont even realize are there. One experiment Lake describes includes two versions of a negative political ad, one recorded by a male candidate and the other by a female. Both ads used identical words and were played at the same decibel level. The verdict, Lake says: The woman came off to listeners as louder, more negative, and less likable. Silence can speak volumes as well: One of the things we do in our focus groups [is] test women with the sound off and see if people think the women are angry, happy, nice, not nice, Lake says. And people come to immediate conclusions, like, Shes yelling at me, shes not yelling at me, that kind of thing. Women get punished for aggressive gestures. Another thing they often hear about female candidates: "She should smile more." Says Lake, People dont say men should smile more. The importance of how differently candidates can come off in real life versus on TV explains in part why presidential hopefuls flock to Iowa and New Hampshire. Successes in those early-voting states can generate momentum (and free press coverage). Because women can be judged more harshly than men in the kind of screen testing Lake describes, those early person-to-person interactions can help shape public perception. So its not surprising to see women jumping in the race early and getting boots on the ground. (Early action can also drive fundraising, which is vital since, if the midterms are any guide, this presidential campaign could be among the most expensive in history.) Former Vermont governor Madeleine Kunin has experienced the difference between televised and real-life reactions: When people met me in person, when I was governor, they said, Oh, you're much nicer than you appear to be on television, she recalls. Madeleine Kunin served three terms as governor of Vermont. She was the first woman to hold the job. Terry Ashe After three terms as Vermonts first female governor, and its first Jewish one, Kunin chose not to run again. During her tenure, I had to make some decisions, obviously, and some of them were difficult. And my popularity waned, she says. I think I could have gotten reelected, but the interesting thing is, now the longer I'm away from public office, the more popular I am. Everybody likes me. Kunin, who recently published her fourth book, Coming of Age: My Journey to the Eighties, says in politics its almost impossible for women to thread the needle. Youre sort of damned if you're too feminine and nicethen you're considered weak and not capable of being commander-in-chief, she says. If youre tough enough to be commander-in-chief, you're not likable. You lose some of your femininity. So women have to walk a very fine line to be both, and usually they don't wear well over time. That also what Alice Eagly, a psychology professor and expert in the field of politics and gender at Northwestern University, has also found. Men, she says, are expected to be more agentic, or more competitive and assertive, while women is expected to be more communalkind, warm, friendly. When a woman or man violates these preferences, she or he can be penalized in terms of evaluation by the public, Eagly says. Women are disliked when they are cold and unfriendly, and men are disrespected when they are weak and fearful. Moving Past Likability Although these ideas are certainly not new or exclusively American, Eagly points out the U.S. is way down on the international list when it comes to the number of women in the federal legislature. And countries including Liberia, Pakistan, Israel, Germany, Sri Lanka, Ireland, South Korea, and Brazil have elected a female head of state. Eagly says there are some signs of change, such as a drop in the percentage of Americans who say they'd rather have a male boss and a rise in the percentage who think it would be good to have more women in public office. Still, she says, beliefs about mens greater agency have not changed much. Lake says shes also seeing early signs of a shiftthat more people are judging likability on whether a candidate can get the job done. Younger voters. We dont know if likability is going to be the same for millennials as it was for Baby Boomer women, Lake says. With a new wave of younger (and more diverse) women getting into politics, there will be more data to crunch. Pollster and strategist Jefrey Pollock, president of New York City's Global Strategy Group, says the best bet to the end of the likability question is seeing a woman get elected to president. But as for right now, he says, its vital to consider that 58% of women are paying more attention to politics since Trumps election. The midterms, Pollock says, showed that women are running and winning, but there were other signs of engagement and power as well, such as showing up at the polls and putting up money for their preferred candidates. Women made up a larger percentage of contributors to campaigns this year than any before, he says. As we are already in 2020 mode, Im seeing it alreadymajor blowback from articles that feel sexist or ask questions of women that are different than questions asked of men, continues Pollock, whose client list has included Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who just confirmed her plan to run for the Oval Office. The more the backlash is felt, the more we will get away from this and see that women can be tough, likable, warm, focused, determined, and caringall at the same time, and no one will blink an eye. | https://www.glamour.com/story/likability-for-women-in-politics?verso=true |
How Do I Create a Searchable Archive of PDFs? | Photo: Pexels (Pixabay) In this weeks tech-advice column at Lifehackerkeep your questions coming, folks!were helping out a reader who has way too many important papers that need to make a magical transition to the digital realm. At least, that sounds a lot more exciting than Optical Character Recognition, which doesnt really roll off the tongue. Lifehacker reader Phil writes: David, your columns are informative, helpful and well written. Thank you. Im copying (digitizing by scanning) a non-profits meeting minutes. The organization meets twice a month. Each set of minutes representing a meeting, usually just one or two typewritten pages, comprise a file. I have about 20 years worth of minutes to do. I will merge all the files of one years meetings into one year file, then merge 10 of those files into another, separate decade file. Too much information, I know. Anyway, I would like for these files to be searchable. Id very much like to retain the formatting of the original minutes. The minutes never contain photos. Im using Windows 10. Advertisement Thanks for the kind words, Phil! Im happy to helpnot because of the flattery, but because your question is one that a lot of readers have probably thought about (myself included). I have a whole stack of things that Id love to move from the physical world to the digital world, so I can then Marie Kondo the original documents and photos into oblivion. Stacks of paper do not bring me joy. You have a few options you can try. Id start with an obvious one: Google. Assuming youre creating PDFs, upload your file(s) to Google Drive. Right-click on any individual PDF, hover your mouse over Open With, and select Google Docs. Google will then attempt to run some OCR on your PDF, and you should be able to save the resulting file as a document. You can then search through this document (and any others you convert) via Drive itself. The more I think about it, though, that solution seems a little inelegant given how many files you have to work with. Instead, I might try a piece of software like TesseractStudio.Netor just Tesseract OCR, if you dont fear the command line. You should be able to use this to create OCR data from your files, and you can then search for them directly via Windows or macOS. OCRmyPDF is another option thats similar to Tesseract OCR, but, again, youll be playing with typed commands to apply OCR to your files. Theres no GUI, nor is there (direct) Windows support. Advertisement Theres also Paperwork, an open-source document cataloging tool that comes with OCR built right in, which I would definitely consider given that its designed to be an all-in-one piece of software for archiving, sorting, and searching documents. That sounds like it might be just what youre looking for. I havent used PDF-XChange Viewer, but others have recommended it as an option. The free version will drop watermarks into your PDFs, but it can create PDFs from images and, if Im correct, add OCR to these and any existing PDFs you have. Its worth exploring, even if its not the ideal (free) solution. Similarly, FreeOCR can take your images or PDFs, apply OCR, and export the results as plain text files or Word documents. If you dont mind searching through your archives that way, its an option. Advertisement As for paid solutions, theres always Adobe Acrobat Pro or Foxit PhantomPDF. Both will allow you to add OCR to PDFs, and you should be able to process all of your documents as a big batch (or create a script that does this with a folders worth of contents). You might even be able to get this all done during the apps free trials, if they dont put limitations on their OCR capabilities. Ive also seen others with your particular problem find success using an app like PDF OCR, which could be a cheaper alternative. Thats everything I can think of off the top of my head (and with a little research). Hopefully, one of those solutions works out for youwithout costing you a small fortune. Write back and let me know which app worked best for you! Advertisement | https://lifehacker.com/how-do-i-create-a-searchable-archive-of-pdfs-1831845468 |
Why did women turn up to the tennis in wedding dresses? | TV footage of two women in wedding dresses sitting side by side in Margaret Court Arena has caused quite an episode at the Australian Open. Many viewers on Friday night took to social media to applaud the display, interpreting their presence as a cunning takedown of Aussie tennis legend Court, who famously campaigned against the same-sex marriage postal vote and eventual marriage equality legislation change. However, it emerged soon after during Nine's coverage of Alex de Minaur's clash with Rafael Nadal that the two women were planted in the crowd in their wedding dresses as part of a Channel 9 promotion for upcoming series 'Married At First Sight'. A Channel 9 spokesman has since released a statement to confirm the entire episode of having two brides sit side by side inside Court's stadium was all a misunderstanding and that the promotion did not seek to make any form of political statement. Advertisement The two brides were spotted throughout various Melbourne Park venues during the Friday night session at the Australian Open including Margaret Court Arena. Tennis fans on social media earlier in the night quickly spread the Channel 9 footage of the two women, applauding them as social activists throwing shade at the Aussie tennis icon. Channel 9 has since shut that theory down. "To promote the upcoming series of Married at First Sight we had two promotional models dressed as brides at tonight's Australian Open, who were moved to various parts of the Melbourne Park precinct," a Channel 9 spokesman said in a statement. "Their seating at Margaret Court Arena was in no way meant to be interpreted as a political statement." Speculation surrounding the identities and the motives of the two young women sporting the pearly white threads in the stands briefly threatened to overshadow the action on court on Friday night. However, many were left deflated by the realisation that the whole scene was simply a misfiring TV promotion. Two women in wedding dresses sitting together in Margaret Court Arena, which bears the name of one of the loudest and most vitriolic voices on the losing side of Australia's gay marriage debate. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/i7oPQy9MAe Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 18, 2019 This is iconic! Margaret Court has been vocally homophobic and anti gay marriage. Two women in wedding dresses in this stadium is such a clapback ! #AusOpen https://t.co/QUOUwcer53 Asmita (@asmitaghosh18) January 18, 2019 Court's outspoken views on marriage equality continue to be one of the most prickly issues at the Open following calls from legends, including Martina Navratilova, for the iconic Melbourne Park stadium to be re-named. Court has for the second year stayed away from the Open, but said in an interview last week that she hopes the Australian public accepts the arena being named in her honour and continue to remember her legendary achievements on the court, including 24 grand slams. The honour awarded to Court remains an issue in the spotlight, especially while Aussie star Ash Barty remains so impacted by the discussion. Barty is good friends with Aussie great Casey Dellacqua, who revealed she was deeply hurt by Court's outspoken views towards marriage equality and gay players on the WTA Tour. Dellacqua - who has two children in an openly gay relationship, has previously rejected suggestions for players to boycott the No. 2 Australian Open venue to protest Court's views. While Dellacqua has been reticent to criticise the Aussie legend, Navratilova has been open with her criticism recently. In a letter, published by Fairfax Media, tennis royalty Martina Navratilova said while Court was entitled to free speech that didn't mean her words were free of consequence. She also said Court's views on linking the LGBTI community to Nazism were "sick and dangerous." "It is now clear exactly who Court is: an amazing tennis player, and a racist and a homophobe. Her vitriol is not just an opinion. She is actively trying to keep LGBT people from getting equal rights (note to Court: we are human beings, too). She is demonising trans kids and trans adults everywhere," Navratilova wrote. | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12192917 |
Could Marie Kondo Slow Down Fast-Fashion? | Netflix sparked joyas well as social media buzz, memes, and possibly sales trends with its recent debut of Tidying Up With Marie Kondo. Inspired by Kondos KonMari method for decluttering and organizing living spaces with an emphasis on sentimental value, the feel-good show is striking a connection with viewers, not only inspiring them to purge their closets, but perhaps rethink their spending habits beyond just New Years resolutions. The Kondo Effect is bringing minimalism to the forefront of consumerism from clothing and home dcor to books and nutrition. Searches related to Kondo, KonMari, and even folding shirts hit breakout levels in conjunction with the Netflix release, based on Google Trends data. Assuming the shows continued popularity (and Netflixs fondness for renewing many of its programs for subsequent seasons), theres a real possibility that Kondos influence could push consumers toward fewer, higher-quality investment pieces. While this might spark mental and financial relief for consumers, its not joyful for retailersespecially those in fast fashion, such as H&M, Zara, and Forever 21. Were now in a time of transformation, and we see the trend towards slow fashion away from fast fashion as much more powerful than a fad, says Jen Redding, a senior equity research analyst at Wedbush Securities. A still from the Netflix series "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" Denise CrewNetflix Kondo, of course, isnt the only change agent here. Fast fashion looks to have lost its luster, Redding says. Its being displaced as Millennials place growing value on experiences, environmental, and human rights issues than in recent generations before it. Fast fashion wreaked havoc in retail over the last decade, Redding explains, and consumers are now less interested in cheap, disposable clothing. Thats not to say all mid-market fashion retailers can expect declines in 2019. Redding cited direct-to-consumer wunderkind Everlane as one example of newer retailers promising better-made apparel fit for any season. And for all the purported benefits of downsizing, not everyone sees the Kondo effect as havinga sufficiently broad enough impact on the U.S. consumer base to materially affect retail sales over the long term. In the recent past, a cultural shift of this magnitude was usually the result of an extreme external event, such as global war, says Cullen Finnegan, an associate at Transwestern, a national commercial and retail real estate firm. And while Kondo, herself, might suggest rounding up old books for resale or donation, her first title, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, is experiencing a resurgence on the sales charts, returning to the New York Times bestseller list after being published five years ago. It has since sold over seven million copies in more than 40 languages. A version of this article appears in the February 2019 issue of Fortune with the headline The KonMari Economy. | http://fortune.com/2019/01/18/marie-kondo-konmari-retail/ |
What SUV for towing a small camper trailer should I buy? | The question My wife has a 10-year old Hyundai i30. We are thinking of updating but not sure which car to buy. We dont want anything too large as she mainly drives in suburban traffic but would like something that might be able to tow something light, such as a camper trailer. We have cars such as Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage in mind but we understand these cars might struggle towing. We would prefer petrol to diesel. Raymond Answer A mid-size SUV should have no problem towing a camper trailer, Raymond. Its always better to have a vehicle with a maximum towing limit that comfortably exceeds the weight of your trailer, because it results in less strain on the engine, transmission and suspension. So it might be a good idea to buy your camper first, then your SUV. An all-wheel drive variant, rather than a base model front-wheel drive, is also worth the extra spend if youre towing, because grip, steering, braking and overall handling will be better, especially on dirt and in slippery conditions. Choices Mazda CX-5 from $34,770. All-wheel drive CX-5 models open with the Maxx, which runs a 2.5-litre four with 140kW of power and 252 Nm of torque, matched with a six-speed automatic and on demand all-wheel drive. That means the front wheels get most of the engines torque under normal conditions, but some can be sent to the rear wheels when required. Maximum recommended towing weight is 1800kg (with trailer brakes; 750kg without). Driver assist safety is comprehensive and hill start assist is standard. Subaru Forester 2.5i from $33,490 The Subarus 136kW/239Nm 2.5-litre engine, continuously variable transmission and permanent all-wheel set-up will pull a lightweight camper trailer OK, with a maximum limit of 1500kg (braked; 750kg unbraked) specified by the manufacturer. The CVT transmission has shift paddles that allow you to operate it manually. Forester also has a faux low-range off-road mode, plus hill descent control and hill start assist. Toyota RAV4 from $34,490 This buys the RAV in GX specification, which is the cheapest of the all-wheel drive models. Bear in mind that this RAV4 will soon be a replaced by a new model, so a bit of arm twisting at the dealer should get a nice result. RAVs 132kW/233Nm 2.4-litre/six-speed auto/on demand all-wheel drive has a maximum recommended towing capacity of 1500kg. Wildcard Kia Sportage from $35,390 Diesel works best for towing, with much stronger performance due to greater torque produced at lower revs, and you get better fuel economy too. Kia Sportage Si has a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 400Nm of torque up to 70 per cent more than its petrol rivals above and 136kW, matched with an eight-speed automatic and on demand all-wheel drive. Maximum towing weight is 1900kg. Its a bargain. Verdict OK Raymond, I know you said you would prefer petrol to diesel, but if you hitch your camper up to the Kia and take a test drive after youve tried the others, you might change your mind. If its still got to be petrol, the RAV4 has a proven, reliable engine and transmission and servicing costs are low. | https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/car-advice/what-suv-for-towing-a-small-camper-trailer-should-i-buy/news-story/7024d68e5486a8e621eeb5c577c70502 |
Can the Rams' Andrew Whitworth win a 5th championship inside the Superdome? | THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. There might not be a football player with more championships won inside the Superdome than Andrew Whitworth. The product of West Monroe High School played in four Louisiana state championship games there and won three. While in college at LSU, the offensive lineman helped the Tigers win a BCS championship game against Oklahoma. Now deep into his 13th NFL season, the second-round selected Whitworth finally knows what it feels like to win a playoff game the Rams' win Saturday against the Cowboys was his first in eight postseason visits as he seeks a conference championship in the Dome against the New Orleans Saints. The Superdome is probably, to me, the place that Ill always have the best emotional ties just because of my athletic career there, he said. So, Im excited for this opportunity because its going to be a challenge. But man, thats why you play the game. The 37-year-old with specks of grey in his beard played his first 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and reached the playoffs six times without experiencing a victory. Three losses came at home. Then, following another home playoff loss while with the Rams last season, the 6-foot-7 left tackle finally experienced the joy of advancing in the postseason. Whitworth briefly celebrated on the field with his wife and four children letting each of them run into his arms as he crouched on the sideline at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before retreating to the team locker room to remind his team after that 30-22 victory they still had another two games to win. What a moment @awhitworth77 celebrates his first playoff win in eight trips. #FootballisFamily pic.twitter.com/j5xuNIDaCc Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 13, 2019 Whitworth has experienced more postseason disappointment than he would care to recollect. The focus here is on the future, toward what could come Sunday for the Rams if he and the rest of the offensive line continue with what they did last week against the Cowboys. In that game, the Rams became the first team with two 100-yard rushers in a single postseason game since 1997, and they did that with Whitworth at his best. He looked fresh, McVay said. He looked healthy. He was explosive, finishing blocks in the run game. He was patient and used his hands in protection. Its really incredible. If you look at the numbers ... theres only a few guys that have ever done it in the history of this league. For one, no active offensive lineman has more career starts than Whitworths 195. His next regular season game will be the 200th of his career. Another season of 16 starts would tie him with Pro Football Hall of Famer Jackie Slater for the 12th most among any lineman since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. Whitworth has been recognized as one of the best in the game over the last four seasons, reaching the Pro Bowl in three consecutive seasons before this one. He twice has earned first-team All-Pro recognition during that span, first in 2015 while still with the Bengals and then in 2017 with the Rams. The Rams signed him to a three-year deal worth a reported $33.75 million before the 2017 season. For as much as his skill level is appreciated hes played more than 12,000 career snaps, he says so is his expertise. I didnt play offensive line," said McVay, who at 32 is the youngest coach in the league. But some of the things tips, tells or just based on his overall vantage point and experience that hes able to give you that you dont have unless youre a player, make you more in-tune with some things as a coach. Rams defensive line coach Bill Johnson, a Monroe native like Whitworth, remembered Whitworth as a high school player because of how highly regarded he was as a college prospect. After winning those state titles with West Monroe in 1997, 1998 and 2000, Whitworth went to LSU and played on the 2003 team that won the national championship. He finished at LSU with a school-record 52 starts, missing only one practice in all that time so he could attend his graduation ceremony. All these years later, he shows no signs of slowing. Hes got the energy of a 25-year-old, Johnson said. The only player on the field Sunday with more playing experience is the 40-year-old Drew Brees. Whitworth is four years older than his next-oldest teammate, 33-year-old center John Sullivan. Rams starting center is the same one Vikings had for 2009 NFC title game vs. Saints More than most players, Whitworth can appreciate some of what has kept Brees at the top of his game for as long as he has. For Whitworth, continuing to play has meant staying active during the offseason, when hes not playing. Working out, walking, hiking, he said. Im finding every way possible to keep my body active, just finding different ways to keep yourself at a high level, in shape year-round instead of just in football season. He keeps an offseason home in Colorado with his family, he said, where he also does altitude training to enhance his conditioning. Quick enough? Whitworth said. Just being active. For this week, being active has meant continuing to play football. Should the Rams win Sunday, hell have another championship earned inside the Dome. Soon after that, his message will be the same as it was last week. Only that time, there will be only one game to win. | https://www.nola.com/saints/2019/01/can-the-rams-andrew-whitworth-win-a-5th-championship-inside-the-superdome.html |
Why do the Badgers struggle to get to the free throw line? | Weather Alert ...WINTER STORM TO AFFECT SOUTHERN WISCONSIN INTO SATURDAY... .SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD FROM SOUTH CENTRAL INTO EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE SNOW WILL THEN TAPER OFF OFF QUICKLY FROM WEST TO EAST OVER INLAND AREAS LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. HOWEVER, DUE TO LAKE EFFECT SNOWFALL KICKING IN, PERIODS OF SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS FAR SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY NIGHT. SNOW AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL, EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN, WITH HIGHEST AMOUNTS FARTHER SOUTH. MILWAUKEE, RACINE AND KENOSHA COUNTIES COULD SEE 6 TO 9 INCHES RIGHT NEAR THE LAKESHORE DUE TO THE LAKE EFFECT. BRISK NORTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL CAUSE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THE EVENING. ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST SATURDAY... * WHAT...SNOW WITH OCCASIONALLY HEAVY. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 7 INCHES ANTICIPATED. * WHERE...IOWA, DANE, LAFAYETTE, GREEN AND ROCK COUNTIES. * WHEN...FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...TRAVEL WILL BECOME DIFFICULT. PATCHY BLOWING SNOW COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY. THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS COULD IMPACT THE EVENING COMMUTE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL, KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT, FOOD AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS FOR THE STATE YOU ARE CALLING FROM CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING 5 1 1. && | https://madison.com/sports/college/basketball/men/why-do-the-badgers-struggle-to-get-to-the-free/article_7ac888f3-0da6-581d-ad9a-14f8818b40fc.html |
What will Sundays lunar eclipse will look like? | That lunar eclipse with that super-bad name takes center-stage Sunday evening. Rolling across the big screen, also known as nighttime across America, this curiously monikered natural phenomenon will entertain the nation from 6:36 to 9:31 p.m. PST. But dont be too scared by the name a super blood wolf moon is simply a lunar eclipse that takes place during the first full moon of the year. On the other hand, as the entertainment website Refinery29 puts it, its still a powerful, transformative time. The article features input from Laura Tempest Zakroff, a modern traditional witch and author of Weave the Liminal: Living Modern Traditional Witchcraft. She says the word super implies a relative proximity to Earth. This closeness makes the moon visually appear a little bigger for us in the sky than usual, though this can happen several times during a lunar year, she says. Blood refers to the reddish hue the earths shadow casts on the Moon during a lunar eclipse, she says. Mickie Mueller, author of The Voice of the Trees, tells the news site that wolf moon is typically the nickname given to the first full moon in January, possibly to represent wolves mating season in January and February. To give you a sense of what to expect Sunday, we scoured social media to find lunar eclipses in all their super-duper, blood-red, wolf-like splendor: | https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2019/01/18/what-will-sundays-lunar-eclipse-will-look-like/ |
Can Oregon Ducks complete weekend sweep at Arizona State? | TEMPE, Ariz. Oregon will try to continue its incredible week by capping it off with weekend sweep at Arizona State. The Ducks (11-6, 2-2 Pac-12) were able to steer out of what could have been a debilitating loss to UCLA and rebound with a dominant showing over USC on Sunday and then opened their weekend trip with a gritty, grinding 59-54 win at Arizona on Thursday. We took that (UCLA) loss out of our head; we took what we learned form it and we moved on from it, said Paul White, who is leading Oregon in scoring (15.8 points) over the last five games. To me, we were coming off a high going into (the Arizona) game and its really not going to be anything different. We understand we have to be a lot more focused going into Tempe, make sure we take care of the ball and that we stay together as a team, staying true to our principles. Always a strong defensive team under Dana Altman, Oregon has amplified its prowess on that end while also lengthening its offensive possession in order to maximize offensive efficiency and stay competitive despite being shorthanded. With Kenny Wooten back in the lineup the Ducks got a boost on the defensive end and add to their inside presence for offensive rebounds. Offense is where Altman was focused on improving after Oregon shot just 38.6 percent from the field, including 37.5 percent from 2-point range, against Arizona. You go on the road, you win guarding and rebounding, he said. If you hit a few more shots offensively we were not very smooth. We missed some good looks. We missed some looks right around the basket that I thought we would hit. Payton (Pritchard) got to the hole a couple of times, (Victor Bailey Jr.), we just didnt get them down. "It wasnt like offensively we were really sharp and we missed some key free throws. We made just enough plays and Payton hit those four free throws late which really sealed it for us. White has raised his level of play on offense while also taking five charges over the last three games on defense. Louis King has also become the major contributor he was expected to be and leading the Ducks in scoring in conference play. He had 10 points and nine rebounds against the Wildcats. Were living by our motto: Sometimes you, sometimes me, always us, White said. Lou has been huge in these last couple of games and even in (Thursday) nights game ... those rebounds that he had throughout the game was tremendous. It was huge for us. Arizona State (12-5, 3-2 Pac-12) will look to push the pace against Oregon tonight at Wells Fargo Arena (6:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network). The Sun Devils are coming off a 70-67 win over Oregon State and play at third-fastest tempo in the Pac-12, according to KenPom. We got to keep at it (with) the same energy, even more energy going into Arizona State, Bailey Jr. said. Their crowd is always a big factor too, so we got to keep our foot on the gas pedal. | https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2019/01/can-oregon-ducks-complete-weekend-sweep-at-arizona-state.html |
Will Amazon knftig selbst ber Produktbeschreibungen bestimmen? | Bisher gilt auf dem Amazon-Marktplatz eine Regel, die vielen Hndlern schon einige Nerven geraubt haben drfte: Doppelte Listings werden vermieden, Hndler mit gleichen Produkte mssen sich an das erste Produkt-Listing anhngen. Das ist insofern problematisch, da die Schreibrechte, um beispielsweise Produktbilder oder auch die Produktbeschreibung des Artikels zu ndern, bei dem Hndler liegen, der das Produkt als erstes eingestellt hat. Wie Revoic nun berichtet, hat Amazon die Darstellung und den Ablauf beim Anlegen eines neuen Produkts jetzt komplett berarbeitet. Ab sofort wartet ein 8-Schritte-Prozess auf die Hndler, wenn sie neue Produkte oder Artikel mit Produktvarianten anlegen wollen. Amazon mache so klarer, welche Informationen ntig sind und wie sie eingegeben werden mssen. Dabei ist die Aufteilung, beginnend mit der Auswahl der Produktkategorie, nun bersichtlicher und einfacher gestaltet, urteilen die Experten von Revoic. Auch beim Anlegen von Varianten habe Amazon eine einfachere und verstndlichere bersicht geschaffen. Die grte nderung betrifft aber die eingegebenen Inhalte selbst. Legten Hndler bislang fest, was in der Produktbeschreibung steht, spricht Amazon bei den eingestellten Inhalten jetzt nur noch von Empfehlungen oder Vorschlgen. ber alle Schritte hinweg zeigt das Unternehmen diese Meldung: Wenn mehrere Verkufer dasselbe Produkt ber eine Detailseite verkaufen, kombinieren und prsentieren wir die besten Produktdaten, um Kunden so das bestmgliche Einkaufserlebnis zu bieten. All das deutet darauf hin, dass Amazon die Schreibrechte an dem Inhalt eines Artikels nicht mehr alleine bei einem Hndler oder sogar dem Markeninhaber belassen mchte. Es scheint vielmehr so, als wolle Amazon nun selbst darber bestimmen, welche Inhalte fr Kufer angezeigt werden, deutet Revoic die nderung. Diese nderung wrde also mit sich bringen, dass jetzt alle Hndler Produktbeschreibungen und Produktbilder fr ihre Artikel einstellen knnen. Gleichzeitig nimmt Amazon damit den Anbietern offenbar aber die Gestaltungsfreiheit ber ihre Artikel. Die Produktbeschreibungen werden auf den Kufer zugeschnitten zusammengestellt. Damit hofft Amazon zweifellos, die Conversion Rate weiter nach oben zu treiben. Fr Hndler knnte damit aber auch ein weiterer wichtiger Aspekt unter den Tisch fallen, wie Revoic anmerkt: Denn mit der automatisierten Erstellung der Produktdetailseiten wre es nicht mehr mglich, Amazon-SEO zu betreiben zumindest in der Form, wie es bisher war. Vor allem das spezifische Platzieren von Keywords knnte damit hinfllig sein, schtzen die Experten. Amazon hat auf die Anfrage von OnlinehndlerNews zu dem Thema bislang nicht reagiert. | https://www.onlinehaendler-news.de/online-handel/marktplaetze/130367-amazon-kuenftig-selbst-produktbeschreibungen-bestimmen |
Can Ontario Place be saved from Doug Ford? | Expand Richard Longley When Ontario Place opened in 1971 as this provinces counterpoint to Expo 67, it seemed like something built by extraterrestrials. Architect Eb Zeidlers pods, bridges and Cinesphere soared over landscape architect Michael Houghs complex of artificial islands to create a dazzling example of the merger of nature and technology that cultural historian Leo Marx characterized as the machine in the garden. Canada was young in 1971. Crowded schools were overflowing into new colleges and universities, and the face of the nation was changing. It was the year Canada became officially multicultural. The already complicated notion of what it is to be Canadian was becoming much more interesting. Licence plates told us Ontario is Yours to Discover. Ontario Place helped us do that, in visions of this province's the present possible future. In todays more cynical political climate we have the vision of Jim Ginou, Premier Doug Fords recently appointed chair of Ontario Place: Its disgraceful. Everything is in complete disrepair, there is nothing that can be saved. Because it has to be rebuilt, it can be rebuilt in any way that Ford wants it to be rebuilt. That might require conjuring some legal tricks, but we know that in all things Premier Ford is determined to have his way. Speculation is he wants to turn Ontario Place into a casino. While there are barriers to that kind of abuse as set out in the province's Statement of Cultural Heritage Value Ontario Place (which seems now to have been scrubbed from the province's website) none of them is insurmountable. Expand Richard Longley That was the question put by Park People and Waterfront for All to the overflow crowd that gathered at Metro Hall Saturday, January 12, at a Rally Round Ontario Place. Planner Ken Greenberg led the charge. Great cities, he says, tell us that planning, architecture, parks, accessibility have economic value. They attract businesses, workers, innovators and their families and encourage them to stay. They raise property values and attract tourists. Beware of big bang proposals, Greenberg cautions, that create world-class attractions that are bound to fail. Greenberg described the Toronto that might have been if Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoes promise of "walks and gardens" along the waterfront of what was then the city of York had been honoured. Instead we have a city cut off from the lake by rail tracks, the Gardiner Expressway and a waterfront fragmented by development. Toronto can never be another Chicago with a continuous greenbelt between city and lake but that does not mean Toronto cannot have a combined park of connected recreational spaces along the waters edge. We already do at Sugar Beach, Harbourfront, Coronation Park and beneath the Gardiner with the Bentway, Greenberg's inversion of the New York High Line at Fort York. This year the Garrison Link bridge will connect Fort York to Stanley Park and beyond to Trinity Bellwoods Park. Greenberg envisions the Bentway extending east to CityPlace and Spadina, and west beneath Strachan into Exhibition Place, where seven enclosed cubicle bays of the Gardiner beg conversion into creative spaces for artists, makers and children. When the Bentway's SpadinaExhibition Place section is complete there will be a car-free, pedestrian and biking trail from Rogers Centre to Ontario Place where it will connect to the Martin Goodman Trail, east to the Beaches and west to the Humber River and Mimico. Expand Richard Longley That's the plan. But today Ontario Place still feels remote and, until recently, abandoned since it was closed in 2012 after annual attendance fell to 300,000 from a high of 2.5 million in its early. Rumours of its demise, however, are exaggerated. Ontario Place is rousing from its slumber. To the east Trillium Park, with its bent tree and moccasin way markers and William G. Davis Trail, was completed in 2017. A bleak swath of parking lot has been transformed into beaches, rolling grass, thickets of trees, climbing rocks and a fully accessible walking, biking and skiing trail that pours into the heart of Ontario Place with spectacular views of the lake. Its the perfect backyard for the thousand of Torontonians who live in the tiny apartments and condos within walking distance. In 2018, Trillium Park won the international Architizer A+ Popular Choice Award for Landscape Design. If hes given the go-ahead (and funding), Walter Kehm of LANDinc, creators of Trillium Park, will make more magic west of Ontario Place, on beaches and islands that extend to the Humber River. Trillium Park has brought new life to Ontario Place. The Cinesphere has been renovated. Re-launching with North of Superior, it's showing IMAX movies again along with big features. And until March 19, Ontario Place will be hosting a Winter Light exhibition of art and sculpture with skating (on melt-resistant polymer) and bonfires. Expand Richard Longley Ontario Place, however, will need more than a revived Cinesphere and public spaces to make it viable year-round. In 2012, the year Ontario Place closed and before he was mayor, John Tory was asked by then premier Dalton McGuinty to offer his vision for the park. Tory proposed turning Ontario Place into a new public backyard, an urban waterfront community... a live, work, play space with housing on the West Island, retail, an educational attraction similar to the Ontario Science Centre (another Canadian centennial project) and venues that amuse and delight. He also proposed reviving the beloved Forum that was buried in 1995 under the Molson Amphitheatre that's now the Budweiser Stage. But there would be no casino. Torys plan was widely derided, mainly for recommending condos an idea nixed by McGuinty's successor Kathleen Wynne and for what it would cost to provide TTC service if Ontario Place was occupied year-round. Ontario Place Corporation responded in 2017 with a request for "an anchor partner that will help realize the province's vision for the West Island of Ontario Place as a vibrant hub for culture, discovery and innovation." Since the election of the Ford government, thats all up in the air. At the Rally Round Ontario Place proposals were offered in abundance. Environmental lawyer Mark Mattson of Waterfront for All and Lake Ontario Waterkeeper would turn Ontario Place into Torontos best swimming hole. His model is the Gord Edgar Downie Pier in Kingston, a repurposed coal pier where people are free to jump, flip, swim, connect and enjoy themselves in Lake Ontario. There were calls for all kinds of attractions: more festivals (including Piknic Electronique), an open-air theatre, a nature focus, a family-friendly sauna (definition of family not provided) and turning the pods into artists residences or hydroponic vegetable gardens (grow ops?). Others suggested making it a space for First Nations, allowing people to live there in houseboats or an anchored cruise ship. There would be room for many ideas like this if Ontario Place became a centre of science, culture, nature and entertainment with people living as well as working in it, but individually they seem unlikely to turn the park into a self-sustaining money-maker. Expand Richard Longley Mentioned only by Greenberg is the reality that revitalization of Ontario Place needs to be matched by a re-imagining of Exhibition Place that is empty most days of the year. Its a long, dreary walk over a desert of parking lots from the Exhibition GO Station and streetcar loop to the bridge that crosses Lakeshore Boulevard to Ontario Place. These must be the most conspicuous and valuable pieces of under-used land in Canada. It seems unlikely. If the provincial governments desire for a casino at Ontario Place is to be snuffed out, options that were rejected in the past might deserve re-examination (that would please Mayor Tory) and the new options that are practical as well as imaginative will have to be invented and evaluated. Ontario Place will not be saved by nostalgia or by insisting that this machine in the garden must be nothing other than a park. Revitalizing Ontario Place in ways that will keep its structure and landscape essentially intact is going to be expensive which means it has to be worth investing in and self-sustaining. That is going to require imagination. None of that will be as easy as demolishing Ontario Place and building a casino on its grave. An enlightened provincial government would remember the stunning success of the process that gave Toronto its new City Hall and call an international design competition so long as we remember that, Ontario Place is ours to re-discover. Expand Raysonho Richard Longley is former president of Architectural Conservancy Ontario. @nowtoronto | https://nowtoronto.com/news/doug-ford-ontario-place-waterfront-toronto-casino/ |
Could swastika shock have killed Dr Legg in EastEnders anti-Semitism episode? | EastEnders ended with Dr Harold Legg seeming to succumb from the shock and heartache of seeing a swastika painted on his door. EastEnders ended with Dr Harold Legg seeming to succumb from the shock and heartache of seeing a swastika painted on his door. In an episode which dealt with the tragic past of the Jewish people, Dr Legg slumped weeping into his chair and appeared to lose consciousness. Dr Legg, played by Leonard Felton, had previously suffered the pain of seeing his mothers grave daubed with anti-Semitic graffiti, and the latest episode returned to the dark theme. The BBC account for EastEnders tweeted that the act was an example of: The destructive power of hate. After trying to reason with the youths responsible for the attack on the grave and accepting their apology, Dr Legg returned home to see the Nazi symbol painted on his front door. Even the villainous Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ) was seen desperately trying to wash away the symbol which provoked the potentially fatal shock for Dr Legg. The episode cut to the credits without revealing the fate of the retired GP, who has been a recurring character on the show since 1985. Press Association | https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/could-swastika-shock-have-killed-dr-legg-in-eastenders-antisemitism-episode-37726583.html |
What is the FDA? | Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. By Maggie Fox The Food and Drug Administration is the agency that approves new drugs, vaccines and other treatments and also keeps an eye on the safety of 80 percent of the countrys food supply. When you hear about the approval of a new drug, its almost certainly been through the FDA approval process, which general requires drugmakers to demonstrate that their product is safe, that it works as designed and, often, that is works as well as or better than products already on the market. The FDA also regulates biologics, which are treatments made using tissue or blood. They include insulin, stem cell therapies and immune therapies. The agency regulates some medical devices, also. It has more limited authority over cosmetics, supplements and vitamins and is barred by Congress from pre-approving them. FDA inspectors make sure drugs are made using Good Manufacturing Processes, and this authority extends to products made overseas for use on the U.S. market. The FDA helps recall products that are faulty, contaminated or otherwise unsafe. Since 2009, the FDA also has some authority to regulate tobacco products, although Congress continues to prevent FDA from banning tobacco outright. The FDA is the agency that watches for the safety of most food, with the exception of meat, poultry and some egg products, which come under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. FDA inspectors check food processing facilities and farms as part of its work making sure food is safe. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FDA monitors and investigates outbreaks of foodborne illness. The FDA falls under the authority of the Department of Health and Human Services. About 17,500 people work at the FDA, which has an annual budget of $5.4 billion. Just under half of this is paid for by user fees from the industry. The FDA is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. | https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/smart-facts/what-fda-n957886 |
What is affirmative action? | Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. By Farnoush Amiri A direct outcome of the Civil Rights Movement, affirmative action is a series of policies and procedures that an institution or organization, such as a college or university, puts into place in an effort to improve opportunities for groups of individuals who have been historically excluded in the United States. The policy is often associated with equity in educational institutions. In higher education, admission policies are regulated to provide "equal access" to education for historically underrepresented groups such as African-Americans or women, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan research organization. The policy has for decades been at the center of a heated political debate, with critics alleging that basing applicants' admissions on their race can be problematic and result in reverse discrimination. History of affirmative action President John F. Kennedy first used the term "affirmative action" in his 1961 executive action establishing the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee. Kennedy directed government contractors to take "affirmative action" in ensuring that all applicants are treated "without regard to their race, creed, color or national origin," when they are employed and throughout their employment. The policies initially focused on bettering education and employment opportunities for African-Americans. President Lyndon Johnson followed in his predecessor's footsteps by signing his own Executive Action in 1965, also requiring government contractors to implement affirmative action in their hiring process. Shortly after, colleges and universities followed suit and over time the enrollment rates for African-Americans and Latinos steadily increased, according to the National Center for Education statistics. Two sides of affirmative action Proponents of the policy, specifically the elite schools implementing them, have held the belief that affirmative action helps lead to a diverse student body, which contributes to open dialogue and a freer exchange of ideas. The objective for these policies is to give minority students a pathway to leadership and a chance at a higher income after graduation. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, "affirmative action programs have resulted in doubling or tripling the number of minority applications to colleges or universities" and, in doing so, have made these institutions a reflection of the communities they serve. Critics of the policy say it has resulted in reverse discrimination against individuals, mostly white, who do not fall into minority groups. Since a 1978 Supreme Court ruling against the policy, college applicants to a particular program have had to be pooled together and compete against one another. "The opinion made very clear that you cannot have segregated admissions processes so that some groups apply to one program and others to a different one," UCLA law professor and dean emerita, Rachel Moran, told NBC News. She added that the court found that while race could be taken into account, it could not be used as a "decisive factor in the sense that a certain number of students from a particular racial or ethnic background will be enrolled so no quota systems." Notable affirmative action controversies In 2003, the Supreme Court took on the use of race in admissions for the first time in 25 years in two separate but parallel cases. In Gratz v. Bollinger, the court ruled thatthe point system the University of Michigan used in their undergraduate admissions was unconstitutional. A prospective student's race was awarded 20 points while the topic of their essay was only worth up to three points, giving an almost automatic advantage to minority applicants, according to the court's decision. That same year, in Grutter v. Bollinger, the Supreme Court upheld the University of Michigan's law school admissions policy, maintaining that race could be considered as a major factor. In that case, a white student filed a suit after he was denied acceptance. In 2008, a woman denied admission to the University of Texas-Austin sued the university, alleging that the use of race as a consideration in the admission process violated the equal protection clause in the 14th Amendment. In that case, Fisher v. University of Texas, a federal district judge ruled that the school had complied with the requirements laid out in Grutter v. Bollinger. The Supreme Court allowed arguments on the case to be heard again in 2012. Four years later, the Court ruled that the university's race-based admission policy was constitutional. In 2014, Students for Fair Admissions, a nonprofit in Virginia, sued Harvard after plaintiffs alleged that school admissions rejected Asian-American applicants in favor of students from other racial backgrounds. Two years later, a coalition of more than 130 Asian-American groups filed a complaint in 2016 with the federal departments of Education and Justice, claiming that the Ivy League schools discriminated against Asian-Americans in their admissions processes. In 2018, President Donald Trump reversed Obama-era affirmative action protocols, encouraging schools to stop considering race as a factor in school admissions. | https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/smart-facts/what-affirmative-action-n956196 |
Is Khloe Kardashian filtering her face for Instagram? | It's hardly surprising that she would want to look her best on Instagram. But it seems Khloe Kardashian may have taken to altering the appearance of her face in the images she posts online. Comparing a recent update on the photo-sharing website with a professional photo taken at the same event, clear differences can be seen. Star's jawline appears sculpted as she posts flattering Instagram Spot the difference: Khloe can be seen on Instagram, left, and in a professional photo from the same event this week, right Natural beauty: Filtered or not, Khloe is a stunner; she is seen in another shot from the event The reality star's jawline looks more heart-shaped and sculpted, while her eyes appear and nose appear heavily filtered. The post-filter photo bares a striking similarity to a series of images shared by Khloe in recent weeks, which have had fans remarking on the similarities between the 34-year-old and her little sister Kylie Jenner. Unlike her sibling, Kylie has a naturally heart shaped face, with a jaw-line more like the one oval-faced Khloe has in her images. Fans have commented on the similarities on Khloe's posts. Fans have remarked on the similarities between the 34-year-old and her little sister Kylie Jenner in her Instagram shots Well, they are sisters: Fans think Khloe, left, looks more like Kylie Jenner in her recent Instagram snaps Quick to criticise: Khloe's Instagram followers attacked her on the photo-sharing site But while fans may think her pictures have been tweaked, Khloe has previously denied doing anything to alter them. In a video clip shared on her Instagram stories last month, she posted a behind-the-scenes glimpse at herself modeling at the Becca shoot for her new make-up line. 'Haters always say its Photoshopped,' she captioned the clip. That same month she received an online lashing after posting a black and white picture of her and her mom Kris. Hitting back: Khloe Kardashian, 34, put one in the eye for her critics last month as she sizzled on a photoshoot The new mother-of-one clapped back to a particular comment by Instagram user @ackermom.6. Lol' the user asked the reality star. Sometimes I wonder why people comment if it adds no value to one's life?' She continued to rant 'maybe I'm just different... but I don't care to be negative or passive aggressive. Our world is toxic enough as it is. It's sad people care to criticize something like an editing app.' Trouble brewing: The 34-year-old new mother-of-one responded to a particular comment by Instagram user @ackermom.6 | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6608615/Is-Khloe-Kardashian-filtering-face-Instagram.html |
Where does Putin stand on the Syria safe zone? | U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to create a safe zone in northern Syria continues to make headlines. Journalists and analysts have been debating who will keep the 20-mile area safe and from whom. Some U.S. media outlets claim that Washington has an obligation to protect the People's Protection Units (YPG), the terrorist organization PKK's Syrian affiliate, from Turkey. Opponents of the U.S. withdrawal act like they stumbled on an opportunity to shelter the YPG militants. They cite a recent Daesh attack in Manbij, which killed four U.S. servicemen, as proof that the terrorist group is alive and well. Yet, Trump is unlikely to change his mind due to that assault. Inevitably, the Manbij attack reminds observers of the YPG's threat of releasing the thousands of Daesh terrorists in their custody. Turkish media, in contrast, is concerned that Syria will follow in Iraq's footsteps to set up an autonomous region along its border with Turkey. That concern is fueled by the U.S. bureaucracy's unwillingness to lay the groundwork for Trump's plan, and the fresh memories of what Washington did in northern Iraq back in the day. For the Turks, everything is crystal clear. President Recep Tayyip Erdoan said recently that Turkey was going to control the proposed safe zone. Ankara won't settle for an internationally enforced safe zone designed to safeguard YPG militants. No international force can secure an area that the United States vacated. The question that needs answering now is what kind of plan Turkey and the U.S. will hatch over the next weeks and where Russia will stand on it. Turks want to form a consensus by simultaneously talking to both great powers. In this sense, Erdogan's upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin will set the tone for future talks. Without a doubt, some circles in Washington are busy coming up with ideas to stop Trump from cooperating with Turkey and to prevent Ankara from taking charge of the safe zone. If Trump stands his ground, however, the bureaucracy will have to do its job. When the time comes, U.S. policymakers could benefit from going back to Erdogan's op-ed essay for The New York Times, in which he promised to create local councils controlled by Arabs and Kurds in predominantly Arab and Kurdish areas, respectively. To address Turkey's security concerns, the safe zone must be clear of all YPG militants. The fate of the Syrian Democratic Forces' combatants outside the terror-free zone could be subject to additional negotiations. Turkey's immediate priority is to secure its border with Syria to the east of the Euphrates River and Manbij to create the necessary conditions for the return of Syrian refugees to their native country. Moscow's take on the proposed safe zone remains a mystery. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was the first Russian official to react to Trump's plan and called on the United States to surrender all relevant areas to the Bashar Assad regime. He also urged the YPG to reach an agreement with Damascus to return to life under a single Syrian government and no foreign intervention. Yet, there is no reason to believe that Russia opposes a Turkish-controlled safe zone in northern Syria. Lavrov's remarks reflect the Russian approach to diplomatic negotiations negotiating down rather than up. My sense is that Putin won't oppose the creation of a safe zone that would address Turkey's national security concerns. Instead, he will want to engage in more comprehensive negotiations, including in Idlib. Here's why: Putin knows that all plans that fall short of meeting Turkey's expectations are doomed to fail in Syria. It would make no sense for Moscow to lose its partner in the Astana process over the YPG. Moreover, the leader-to-leader diplomacy between Putin and Erdogan facilitated Turkish-Russian rapprochement. A disagreement over Syria could endanger Russian plans in the Middle East, the Black Sea, the eastern Mediterranean and Europe. Let us recall that Putin, in his New Year's message to Erdoan, stressed the importance of mutually beneficial relations to promote peace, security and stability in Eurasia. | https://www.dailysabah.com/columns/duran-burhanettin/2019/01/19/where-does-putin-stand-on-the-syria-safe-zone |
Who are the best NFL broadcasting teams of all time? | Tony Romo and Jim Nantz (AP Photo/Morry Gash) And you thought the political divide was nasty. If you really want to start a fight, check politics at the proverbial door, turn on the TV and watch an NFL game and listen to the broadcast teams. On Sunday, Jan. 20, the Fox team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will call the NFC Championship; on CBS, Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will call the AFC Championship. Everyone loves them. Except for all the people who hate them. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. (Photo: (Photo: Paul Hawthorne, Getty Images)) (As an aside, evidently being a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys is a good way to secure a spot in an NFL broadcast booth.) Thats how it goes with broadcast teams. Ask someone how they feel about Cris Collinsworth. The usual caveats apply. This is my list. Yours can, and should, differ substantially. Ill give brief explanations for each choice, but what I liked about, say, Hank Stram, you might despise. This is the nature of any list. The argument is part of the fun. Contemporary broadcasters are not well-represented here, because well, this is an all-time list. Staying power has a little to do with it. To each their own. But these are my favorites. 10. Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis Lets take a trip in the way-back machine. Gowdy was the voice of sports for a time in the 1960s matter-of-fact, play it as it lays. DeRogatis knew his stuff. But they have historical import: They not only called the infamous Heidi game, but Super Bowl III, in which Joe Namaths New York Jets defeated the mighty Baltimore Colts and basically established the AFL as a going concern. 9. Kevin Harlan and Sam Wyche Harlan is one of my favorite play-by-play announcers you can still hear him on radio. Wyche was the coach of the Cincinnati Bengals and led them to a Super Bowl appearance. He ticked off Cleveland fans (look it up). Which matters because, as an announcer, he was basically a crank. He wont be the last one on this list. I kind of loved to hear him complain about officiating, play calls, a quarterbacks decision, etc. And Harlan was a strong-enough lead to keep him in line. 8. Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen Oh, my! Lets get Enbergs signature call out of the way out front. He was one of those broadcasters who, truly, could call almost anything and did. But there was a comfort to hearing his football calls. As for Olsen, hes got to be one of the most-underrated color commentators, ever. He was a great football player, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And yes, he was an actor, appearing in Little House on the Prairie. But he was also a former player who really knew his stuff, bringing an analytical approach to his work. A smooth voice didnt hurt. 7. Jack Buck and Hank Stram Jack Buck giving his famous speech at Busch Stadium after Major League Baseball resumed play after the 9/11 terror attacks. (Photo: Flickr user majorvols) Buck is better known, of course, as a baseball announcer (I dont believe what I just saw!), and as Joe Buck's dad, but he was a terrific football play-by-play man. As for Stram, well, he was a Hall of Fame, Super Bowl-winning coach who made Wyche sound like Mr. Rogers. Cranky, you might say, with a nasal delivery that accentuated that aspect of his personality. (Personal aside: I called him at home once to get a quote, and while he was clearly not happy to be bothered during dinner, he gave me the information I needed. Points for that, in my book.) 6. Bob Costas and Bob Trumpy Costas has his detractors, but I think hes an all-time great. His exit from NBC has made some news this week; thats NBCs loss. He is whip-smart and clever, perhaps too much by half. He should probably be the commissioner of major-league baseball, but he was a sneaky-good football play-by-play announcer. Trumpy always sounded annoyed to be there, and mad at everyone on the field and, sometimes, Costas. Theres a kind of sick beauty to that. But its admittedly an acquired taste. 5. Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth Cris Collinsworth, left, with his broadcast partner Al Michaels. (Photo: NBC Photo: Justin Lubin) Michaels is probably the best play-by-play man, ever. And he knows it. Collinsworth is also confident in his abilities, you might say. Plus, since taking over the NBC Sunday night game, almost always the best game on the schedule for the week, hes become a lot more self-serious. There was a time when he was fun, and not afraid to rip players and coaches. That time has passed. But dang, are they professional. 4. Marv Albert and Paul Maguire Now this was fun booth. Albert is just great. Hes the best NBA play-by-play announcer, ever. But hes hugely underrated a football broadcaster. And that voice YESSS! Silk. A lot of people dont like Maguire, but I think he blended the bitterness of Wyche and Stram with a self-aware cynicism he knew he sounded cranky sometimes, and he laughed about it. Maybe the best thing you could say about this bunch is that if you were having a party, these two definitely would be on the guest list. Television personality Marv Albert looks on during a Premier Boxing Champions bout in the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 7, 2015 in Las Vegas. (Photo: Harry How, Getty Images) 3. Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier A big part of me wanted to make this the No. 1 pairing. Summerall was great, of course (at calling tennis, too) the rare former player who transitioned to play-by-play instead of color commentary. Smooth, a pros pro he said what he had to say and got out of the way. Brookshier also was a former player, and he sounded more like one. He brought a gruff realism to the equation. (He also had a quirk of, at least once a broadcast, referring to a player only by his jersey number, not by name, as if the player were a NASCAR car or something. No. 23 makes the kind of play wed expect.) These were the voices of football when football started to become an obsession, and theyre somewhat underrated because of the next pairing. 2. Pat Summerall and John Madden This Jan. 20, 2002, file photo shows Pat Summerall, left, and John Madden, right, in the FOX broadcast booth before the NFC divisional playoff in St. Louis. (Photo: The Associated Press) Weve talked about Summerall. Madden, in case you did not know, is not just someone for whom a video game is named. He was a brilliant coach and, yes, a terrific color commentator. His BAM! exclamations belied an unmatched knowledge of the game. Hes also more of a renaissance man than you might think. Hes a big fan of all sports, a big Springsteen fan. And theres almost no way to calculate the impact of Madden Football. They took opposite approaches, but blended perfectly. This is the best duo for NFL games, ever. 1. Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell The ABC Monday Night Football commentators, from left, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford. (Photo: STEVE FENN, AP) This isnt the original Monday Night Football crew they came together the second year. But they made it iconic. In a world in which you can watch some kind of sport every night, its simply impossible to appreciate the impact this broadcast and this crew had not just on sports, but on culture. They extended the weekend a day. They hosted John Lennon. Cosell told the world of Lennons death. It was the perfect mix in the booth. Gifford was a straightforward play-by-play man. Meredith was the sneaky savvy comic relief. (Both were terrific players.) Cosell was the love-him-or-hate-him lightning rod. They were the rare broadcast team that was bigger than the game. In a lot of ways, they made the game. This kind of crew, with this kind of impact, will never be repeated. Reach Goodykoontz at [email protected]. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Twitter: @goodyk. MORE FROM GOODYKOONTZ: WATCH: GOODYKOONTZ'S MEDIA WISHLIST FOR 2019 CLOSE azcentral film critic Bill Goodykoontz gives his top three wishes for the media in 2019. Brian Snyder, Arizona Republic Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/media/2019/01/18/best-nfl-broadcast-teams-all-time/2601082002/ | https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/media/2019/01/18/best-nfl-broadcast-teams-all-time/2601082002/ |
Isn't it time to stop talking about Kyrsten Sinema's inauguration dress? | Opinion: We're still talking about her inauguration dress weeks later, and that sends an annoying message about what we value most. Every inch of fabric has been dissected repeatedly, on both sides of the aisle, as if it were an extension of the woman. Some said it was inappropriate sleeveless! With fur! And all that pink! while others said it was a fierce statement of independence, a welcome middle finger to the D.C. establishment. Good grief, people. It was just a dress. Look, I know people are going to react (often negatively) to what women wear. Its human nature to judge a book by its cover, and no matter how evolved we think we are, we still tend to do this a lot more with women than men. I have been duly schooled about my frumpy blue sweaters). But it annoys me that we cant seem to let it go. When both sides assign this much value to a dress, were saying that what a woman wears matters as much as what she says or does. If only we were nearly as passionate about what Sinema thinks would end the shutdown as we were about the message she intended to send with that giant flower on her skirt. Reach Allhands at [email protected]. READ MORE: Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/joannaallhands/2019/01/18/kyrsten-sinema-dress-does-not-deserve-much-debate/2617831002/ | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/joannaallhands/2019/01/18/kyrsten-sinema-dress-does-not-deserve-much-debate/2617831002/ |
Did Trump order Michael Cohen to lie to Congress? Will it matter if he did? | Opinion: There is a good chance it won't bother his supporters or his enablers in the Senate. Michael Cohen and Donald Trump (Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP/Getty Images) A report in BuzzFeed says that President Donald Trump directed his then-attorney Michael Cohen to lie to Congress. The article reads in part: The special counsels office learned about Trumps directive for Cohen to lie to Congress through interviews with multiple witnesses from the Trump Organization and internal company emails, text messages, and a cache of other documents. Cohen then acknowledged those instructions during his interviews with that office. This revelation is not the first evidence to suggest the president may have attempted to obstruct the FBI and special counsel investigations into Russias interference in the 2016 election. But Cohen's testimony marks a significant new frontier: It is the first known example of Trump explicitly telling a subordinate to lie directly about his own dealings with Russia. It calls for up to five years in prison CLOSE The report by BuzzFeed, citing two unnamed law enforcement officials, says that Trump directed Cohen to lie to Congress and that Cohen regularly briefed Trump on the Moscow project. The Associated Press has not independently confirmed the report. (Jan. 18) AP Thats the heart of it, and the part that must have proof. If there is documentation, if there are multiple witnesses two VERY big ifs then Trump is in real trouble. With the law, anyway. According to federal law: "Whoever procures another to commit any perjury is guilty of subornation of perjury, and shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both." With Trump, impeachment would be the more likely course. But thats not the ultimate question. I dont think so. No. Trump is responding by smearing Cohen, of course, tweeting: Kevin Corke, @FoxNews Dont forget, Michael Cohen has already been convicted of perjury and fraud, and as recently as this week, the Wall Street Journal has suggested that he may have stolen tens of thousands of dollars.... Lying to reduce his jail time! Watch father-in-law! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2019 Its true that Cohen has admitted his crimes. But speak to prosecutors about most of their cases. They will tell you that individuals testifying against criminal defendants are not often the nicest people themselves. Just the opposite. Getting one participant in a criminal enterprise to turn on another participant is common practice. Sadly, not unprecedented It's how many criminals are brought to justice. Youd like to think, for our sake, for the sake of our children, that such things wouldnt happen among people at the White House. Then again, it has happened before so ... Reach Montini at [email protected]. MORE BY MONTINI: Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/01/18/donald-trump-michael-cohen-impeachment-buzzfeed/2617610002/ | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/01/18/donald-trump-michael-cohen-impeachment-buzzfeed/2617610002/ |
Did Donald Trump Actually Confuse Sicario 2 with Reality? | Left, Donald Trump hosts a Face-to-Face With Our Future event at the White House on June 27, 2018; Right, Benicio del Torro stars in 2018's Sicario 2: Soldado. On Friday, Donald Trump tweeted the headline to a recent Washington Examiner story, which read: Border rancher: Weve found prayer rugs out here. Its unreal. As the headline suggests, the story is about a New Mexico rancher who claims to have seen prayer rugstypically used by observers of Islamnear the U.S.-Mexico border. After the headline, Trump added this: People coming across the Southern Border from many countries, some of which would be a big surprise. His decision to amplify the Examiner piece has since come under scrutiny. Because the prayer-rug story sounds an awful lot like something that happens in Sicario: Day of the Soldado, as several people have pointed out on Twitter. The 2018 action film, which revolves around the drug war along the border, opens with border agents chasing after a group of migrantsone of whom turns out to be a Muslim suicide bomber. He kneels, prays, then detonates his bomb. After that, agents come across abandoned prayer rugs along the border; in the next scene, three suicide bombers walk into a store in Kansas City and kill innocent civilians. The rancher quoted in the Examiner piece does not give her name, or provide photos or evidence of any sort regarding the prayer rugs she allegedly saw. So I obviously dont have any proof of it, she states in a video interview that does not show her face. She does, however, say that she has had conversations with agents who have told her that the number of immigrants from countries besides Mexico has drastically increased. According to the Examiner piece, the residents in her remote town do not have a local police department; they rely, instead, on the county sheriffs department and U.S. Border Patrol. The rancher says that she has encountered Guatemalan and Honduran migrants, but Ive never seen any Middle Easterners. This tweet is not the first time Trump has apparently echoed plot points in the Sicario franchise while ostensibly speaking about real events at the U.S.-Mexico border. The president has also claimed that women are being taped up and trafficked via the southern border, a reality that has been disputed by immigration and human-trafficking experts. I think his statements are completely divorced from reality, said Ashley Huebner, associate director of legal services at the National Immigrant Justice Center, in an interview with The Washington Post. Thats not a fact pattern that we see. Other experts told the Post that it is possible women are being taped up and trafficked, and that they could not speak to information the president might have received from law-enforcement officials; that said, they agreed, this is not a frequent occurrence, as he seems to allege it is. However . . . what Trump describes is, once again, a plot point in the Sicario franchise. Vanity Fair has reached out to the White House for comment. Either way, one thing is clear: in the midst of all this talk, the longest government shutdown in history is still ongoing. Sign up for our daily Hollywood newsletter and never miss a story. Get Vanity Fairs HWD Newsletter Sign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood. E-mail Address Subscribe | https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/01/donald-trump-sicario |
What Does It Mean That Meghan and Harry Skipped Kates Birthday Party? | January is typically a quiet month on the royal news front, but 2019 is proving to be a bit of an outlier in this regard. Already this year, weve had a slew of appearances from the major players, as well as a stream of reports and stories, particularly concerning the dynamics between our Fab Four of Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle. On this weeks episode of Vanity Fairs pop-culture podcast In the Limelight, co-hosts Josh Duboff and Julie Miller break down two of the major reports out of London this past week: the news that Meghans bodyguard has given her notice after less than a year, as well as the reveal that Meghan and Harry did not attend Kates recent birthday party. Plus, the pair dig into a very amusing Kate Middleton engagement, where the duchess was grilled by a collection of young students as they, yes, made some pizzas. So head to your local grocery store to pick up ample bacon (no cucumbers, though, whatever you do! ), and queue up a documentary on space to watch later tonightbut first listen to this weeks episode of In the Limelight. Afterward, please share your thoughts, questions, and feedback with In the Limelight on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to In the Limelight on Apple Podcasts. Listeners can also call in to the In the Limelight hotline at (347) 790-0966 to leave tips or ask questions! | https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/01/meghan-markle-prince-harry-kate-middleton-birthday-in-the-limelight-podcast |
Does Fitbit Alta HR support Bluetooth headphones? | Best answer: The Fitbit Alta HR doesn't work with Bluetooth headphones. However, there are similar Fitbit products that do, including the ones mentioned below. No Bluetooth headphones support for a reason The Fitbit Alta HR can't store or receive audio files. It's for this reason that the fitness band doesn't support Bluetooth headphones of any style. If you want to listen to your tunes while exercising and you're invested in the Fitbit ecosystem, you're going to want to look elsewhere. Consider a Fitbit smartwatch instead If you're interested in sticking with the Fitbit system and want to buy a device that does support Bluetooth headphones, consider the Fitbit Versa or Fitbit Ionic smartwatch. Both allow you to download over 300 of your favorite songs, plus sync Deezer playlists or Pandora stations with ease. However, the Ionic is more expensive than the Versa due to built-in GPS that allows you to leave your smartphone at home when you go out on a run. Be sure to recognize the differences between the Versa and Ionic before making your purchase. Fly with Fitbit Although you can use a Fitbit Versa or Fitbit Ionic with any set of Bluetooth wireless headphones to listen to your audio, you should consider purchasing the Fitbit Flyer Wireless Headphones. Offering a secure and comfortable fit, these headphones provide up to six hours of playtime between charges, plus a quick charge for one hour of playtime when the battery is low. The Flyer is compatible with devices that support Bluetooth 4.3, and it remembers up to eight paired devices. As a bonus, it automatically pairs to Fitbit Ionic for phone-free calls in any environment. | https://www.imore.com/does-fitbit-alta-hr-support-bluetooth-headphones?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheIphoneBlog+%28iMore%29 |
Where did Saints QB Teddy Bridgewaters Choppa Style dance come from? | No team produces more signature dances than the New Orleans Saints. With one more win separating the team from its first trip to the Super Bowl in nine years, Drew Brees picked the perfect time to give the Saints another one. Brees turned 40 on Tuesday, but fortunately for the Saints, he doesnt have a lot of time to celebrate it. Preparations for an NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams meant Brees birthday was a work day. But his wife Brittany planned ahead with an elaborate surprise party Sunday night just a few hours after the Saints got a 20-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Among the guests was Choppa, a New Orleans-area rapper who has been a hit in the Saints locker room in 2018 and will be performing at halftime Sunday. Brees showed off his Beanie Weenie dance at the 40th birthday bash, but not before first doing Teddy Bridgewaters dance to a song that Choppa wrote just for the occasion: Teddy Bridgewaters Choppa Style dance took hold for the Saints The former Vikings quarterback signed with the Jets in the offseason and was traded to the Saints at the end of August. His only significant play time of the season came in Week 17 while Brees was getting rested for the playoffs, but Bridgewater still endeared himself to his teammates with his postgame dance moves. The best was his one-legged motorcycle dance to Choppas Choppa Style that he calls Bike Life. Heres the dances debut after a Week 14 win over the Buccaneers: And after a Monday Night Football win over the Panthers a week later: Teddy got me in tears pic.twitter.com/Oh3pRgLHOC angel. (@adotmariah) December 18, 2018 And again after a Week 16 win over the Steelers: Bridgewater later explained that he borrowed it from a pair of high schoolers from his alma mater: Saints backup QB Teddy Bridgewater is set to see significant time this weekend against the Panthers. Today I asked him the origin of his motorcycle "Choppa Style" dance move. Here it is... pic.twitter.com/Po8OwtmhKM Andrew Doak (@AndrewDoak_WWL) December 27, 2018 It made its way on to the field after a Michael Thomas touchdown in that win over the Steelers: And into Brees living room, where his kids did it during Christmas time: But now Brees has a dance of his own. Brees didnt invent the Beanie Weenie (or even do it well), but hes owning it At his birthday party Sunday night, Brees did the Beanie Weenie which dates back to 2010. Your quarterback aint got this much sauce! Happy birthday to my favorite QB of all time. Blessings on blessings. #GeauxSaints #WhoDat pic.twitter.com/ST2QK8Kx9R Annie Apple (@SurvivinAmerica) January 15, 2019 Its not his first time either. Here it is in the locker room a couple months ago: Six years ago, Ravens receiver Jacoby Jones who was born and raised in New Orleans busted out his version of the Beanie Weenie in Super Bowl 47: And if the Saints can win Sunday, theres a good chance itll make its return to the Super Bowl. This is nothing new for the Saints Earlier in the season, New Orleans musical artist Shamarr Allen released Hit the Sean Payton. That was a reference to Payton showing off his dance moves in a video shot by Alvin Kamara after the Saints playoff win over the Panthers a year ago: Sean Payton dancing in the locker room is perhaps the greatest thing you'll see this week pic.twitter.com/7QUse1rRCt Tiba (@HamoudyTiba) January 8, 2018 After the song by Allen was released, there was video from Ted Ginn Jr. of wait for it Sean Payton hitting the Sean Payton to Hit the Sean Payton. Ginn just posted from locker room. Payton was dancing was doing the Sean Payton to the Do The Sean Payton song pic.twitter.com/JItBgXiYk8 Robert Fouquet (@RobertFouquet) December 24, 2018 Theres also that team photo pose celebration youve probably seen every NFL team do. Theres some dispute about which team came up with it, but the Saints are adamant that its a black-and-gold original. Two more signature dances from a pair of quarterbacks is perfectly on brand for the Saints. Beware the trolling The problem with having a dance all your own is that opposing players love to take them. Heres Antonio Brown doing it after scoring a touchdown against the Saints in December: Allow him to reintroduce himself. His name is . pic.twitter.com/ySQuJzot4W Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 23, 2018 And Curtis Samuel after a 52-yard touchdown in Week 17: The latter said he meant no disrespect by it, he just thinks its a sweet dance. Panthers receiver Curtis Samuel on his Bike life dance after his TD against the Saints. pic.twitter.com/WWgbSv2PTX Amos Morale III (@Amos_MoraleIII) December 30, 2018 But dont be surprised if you see Bike Life or the Beanie Weenie during the NFC Championship whether its from the Saints or the Rams. | https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2019/1/18/18184169/drew-brees-teddy-bridgewater-dance-new-orleans-saints-motorcycle-bike-life |
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