Back in the summer of 35,071 BC when the Homo erectus couple Ogg and Tiffany entertained, there weren't a lot of options for food preparation: It was grilled or raw.
So while Ogg tied on his "Kiss the Chef" apron, Tiffany would whip up her legendary Charred Club-Beaten Fillet du Mastodon Kabobs avec Coulis of Forest-Fresh Fungi.
Today, when "The Hunt" has been reduced to searching for the car keys, Homo couchpotatus can pick up a T-bone steak by driving to the local market. But over the millennia, grilling has lost none of its spark. It is the most universal of cooking methods, and it's still a guy thing; "Where there's smoke, there's Dad."
In the United States, and our neighborhood in particular, grilling reached its architectural zenith in the 1950s.
Our block was a smoldering row of rather frightening towering infernos. Mr. Stepper (next door) built this monster altar to Prometheus that, in retrospect, could have served as a prototype for the first nuclear cooling tower. But his was better. It had hi-fi speakers.
I don't remember the Steppers actually using their grill that much - perhaps because it was a threat to his maple trees - but it had great sound.
Not to be outdone (although, come to think of it, he usually was), my father built a cement and fieldstone structure, that, until I visited Chartres Cathedral, was the most inspiring structure I had ever seen.
Fueled with wood, charred marshmallows (and a variety of meats that kept falling through the grate), it remained an object of awe and reverence for decades.
Although the actual grilling process hasn't changed since Ogg and Tiffany wowed their Neanderthal neighbors, grilling equipment and our style of entertaining have been in constant flux.
Starting around the 1930s, front porches in the US began being snipped from house blueprints, and entertaining gradually began its gradual shift from the front toward the back of the house. Cookbook author and caterer Sarah Chase observes: "Society has become more relaxed.... People are cooking for enjoyment.... Dinner parties aren't held in formal dining rooms anymore, they're moving toward the 'back -of-the-house' to the kitchen or patio."
"Our customers want a super-luxury product," says Mike Kempster, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Weber-Stephen Products, "like their luxury sport-utility vehicles or their commercial-quality kitchen appliances."
These new Godzilla grills don't just have a bell here and whistle there, they come with full timpani: high-output burners, range-style sideburners, food warming racks, individual cooking zones, stainless steel work tables, rotisseries, ice buckets, and condiment holders.
But say what you will about razzle-dazzle equipment and grills the size of the family Buick, or whether you prefer charcoal, or go for the gas. When the smoke clears, it's not so much the grill, but the griller.
Saving Money Charcoal or gas? Settling the great grill debate.


PROGRAMMING NOTE: The Morning Cybersecurity newsletter will not publish on Monday, Oct. 8. Morning Cybersecurity will resume publication on Tuesday, Oct. 9.
LET’S PLAY ‘BRAINSTORMING DETERRENCE’ — Some cybersecurity experts and lawmakers have long called for the U.S. to develop a deterrence strategy for cyberspace. But what would actually deter some of America’s top rivals?
CATEGORY: RUSSIA — Robert Johnston, who investigated the DNC hack during the 2016 campaign, told MC in a recent interview that the U.S. needs to do two things to back Russia off. First, pursue financial crimes charges against Russian oligarchs, who would respond to that pressure by lobbying President Vladimir Putin to tone it down. Johnston, now CEO of Adlumin, said the U.S. also needs to develop and use the kind of tools Russia exploits: moderately sophisticated attacks that maintain a patina of deniability if discovered. Most U.S. offensive cyber tools are kept ultra-secret and used for espionage, Johnston said.
Information operations could also work against Russia, said Dmitri Alperovitch, chief technology officer at CrowdStrike, who spoke Tuesday at The Washington Post Cybersecurity Summit 2018 (along with some of the other folks mentioned below). And Michele Flournoy, a former top Defense Department official, said the information ops didn’t need to be deceptive: Accurate information that undermined Putin’s legitimacy would do the trick.
CATEGORY: IRAN — Similar ideas that could deter Russia might do the same in Iran, said Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Spreading information about how much Tehran was spending on, say, Hamas rather than the poor would further foment sentiment on the streets of Iran against its rulers.
CATEGORY: NORTH KOREA — Trick category! Alperovitch said North Korea is, in fact, pretty well deterred by the U.S. Since the Sony hack in 2014, Alperovitch noted, Pyongyang has largely avoided targeting America, and some of the most damaging attacks from North Korea have been either elsewhere or buckshot that hit everyone, like WannaCry.
HAPPY WEDNESDAY and welcome to Morning Cybersecurity! Crochet Predator. It shouldn’t work, but it does. Send your thoughts, feedback and especially tips to our full team using the contact info below, and be sure to follow @POLITICOPro and @MorningCybersec.
MAYBE DON’T SPLIT ’EM — Former CIA Director David Petraeus, who also once led Central Command, isn’t sold on splitting Cyber Command and the NSA. “I'd want to see what the organizational architecture will look like after this, keeping in mind that Cyber Command, the four-star command, should be a headquarters,” he said. “Generally four-star commands aren't great operational entities.” That means it would be better to leave ops like Joint Task Force Ares, which was part of the cyber offensive against ISIS, to Army Cyber Command like it was when it was launched.
A separation from NSA would mean that Cyber Command could be split off from useful operational assets current dual-hatted chief Gen. Paul Nakasone has at his disposal. “For the time being I would still keep him dual-hatted, given that there's nothing equal to NSA when it comes to intelligence gathering, signals, cyber and some other domains,” Petraeus said.
ALL THE NOTIFICATIONS — Shockwaves from Facebook’s massive data breach that compromised the accounts of roughly 50 million users continues to reverberate around the globe.
The social media giant will brief lawmakers later this week about the incident and has begun warning business customers that their internal data may have been stolen. For now, Facebook says it sees no evidence that hackers have accessed third-party apps. Meanwhile, Ireland's Data Protection Commission said the company had informed it that less than 5 million of the accounts affected by the breach were based out of the European Union. Facebook faces a potential $1.63 billion fine in Europe if regulators determine the company violated the General Data Protection Regulation. In addition, India’s government has asked Facebook to provide an update about the breach’s impact on that country’s users.
RISKY BUSINESS — Risk management nerds rejoiced Tuesday as the technical standards agency NIST released the final draft of a major update to its Risk Management Framework. Among the major changes to the RMF in version 2.0 are incorporating privacy and supply chain concerns; demonstrating ways to align the document with NIST’s better-known Cybersecurity Framework; and connecting C-suite-level discussions of risk management to “the individuals, processes, and activities at the system and operational level.” The draft revision also modifies the document to make it easier for companies using the RMF to generate their own lists of security controls on top of the “baseline” controls. NIST is accepting public comments on the draft until Oct. 31.
CASH GRAB — DHS on Tuesday identified an ATM cash-out scheme being carried as part of North Korea’s digital warfare campaign, which the government has dubbed “Hidden Cobra.” “Since at least late 2016, HIDDEN COBRA actors have used FASTCash tactics to target banks in Africa and Asia,” DHS disclosed. “FASTCash schemes remotely compromise payment switch application servers within banks to facilitate fraudulent transactions.” The government said the people behind HIDDEN COBRA have gotten away with tens of millions of dollars, once simultaneously taking out cash from ATMs in 30 countries.
HALT, WHO GOES THERE? — California’s governor signed a bill into law late last week requiring bots to identify themselves when they interact with someone within the state online. The B.O.T. Act, SB. 1001, was introduced with the aim of fighting misinformation campaigns in elections or selling products. Bots can still interact, but their disclosure needs to be “clear, conspicuous, and reasonably designed.” Previous versions of the bill were more broad and drew criticism from the Electronic Frontier Foundation for violating the First Amendment. The bill goes into effect July 1, 2019.
RECENTLY ON PRO CYBERSECURITY — Voting integrity groups and security experts advised DHS and the Election Assistance Commission to tell states to remove wireless modems from voting systems. … DHS briefed voting vendors on the state of cyber threats.
— Nearly half of Americans don’t know whether their existing insurance plans cover risks associated with cyberattacks, according to a report released Tuesday. The survey by J.D. Power and the Insurance Information Institute found that only 15 percent of Americans knew that their property, home, or renters insurance policy covered cyber risks, while 43 percent said their policies didn’t cover cyber risk and 42 percent didn’t know either way. The vast majority of respondents (77 percent) said they wouldn’t be willing to pay more for a cyber “add-on” to their insurance policy. Meanwhile, nearly a third (32 percent) of respondents reported being the victim of identity theft.
TWEET OF THE DAY — We’re gonna need a bigger truck.
— Israel-based Morphisec won a DHS grant to develop technology to protect financial institutions from cyberattacks.
CORRECTION: A previous version of Morning Cybersecurity misidentified James Mulvenon. He is general manager of the special programs division at SOS International.


Antonio Blakeney play in the clutch helped the Chicago Bulls to a 111-110 victory over Memphis.
Former Oak Ridge standout Antonio Blakeney has never lacked confidence in his ability to score the basketball. That paid off big in a Chicago Bulls NBA victory on Thursday night.
With time running out and the Bulls down by a point to Memphis, Blakeney called for the ball and clear-out, and drew a foul on a 3-point shot with 1.8 seconds to go. The 6-foot-4 guard made two of three free throws for a 111-110 victory.
Blakeney, in his 16th NBA appearance, scored 10 points in 25 minutes in the victory. He was averaging 7.4 points in 14.8 minutes going into a Saturday night game vs. Cleveland.
Blakeney, who was undrafted out of LSU, is on a two-way NBA/G-League contract that limited his time with the Bulls. He played seven games with Chicago in November and was called back up on Jan. 31 after tearing up the G-League with averages of 32 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game for the Windy City Bulls.


The Wisconsin Supreme Court is deliberating over how the state's public records law applies to justices, judges and court officials.
MADISON - The state Supreme Court is deliberating over how the state's public records law applies to justices, judges and other court officials — setting off alarm bells with government transparency advocates.
It's unclear exactly what the justices are considering — the state's court system director said earlier this month the high court intended to decide whether the court system is subject to Wisconsin's public records law.
But on Monday, the Supreme Court spokesman indicated the court is weighing something narrower: whether email addresses for judges and justices should be released, potentially answering a long-debated question of whether unsolicited, direct communication from the public can disrupt the judicial process.
Supreme Court spokesman Tom Sheehan said publishing email addresses of judges and justices creates "a substantial risk" of opening the door for litigants to communicate with the judge overseeing their case outside the presence of an opposing attorney, which could lead to the disqualification of the judge.
"This could cause substantial disruption to the court system and the administration of justice," Sheehan said. Currently, traditional mail is screened by the clerk of courts to ensure judges do not receive direct communication by a litigant.
A records request filed June 12 by conservative radio show host Mark Belling seeking email addresses for judges, justices and other court officials prompted the review, Sheehan said.
The court's deliberations are troubling state government watchdogs who are worried the court could go further and end up matching an unsuccessful effort by the state Legislature three years ago to keep private nearly every record created by a lawmaker.
That's because until Monday, the only public explanation about the Supreme Court's week-long review was by state courts director Randy Koschnick, who told Belling the Supreme Court was weighing whether they are subject to the law, a message the Supreme Court has still not explained.
Sheehan's comments Monday followed days of unanswered questions and came after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published a story on the review.
The review also prompted at least two court officials — including Koschnick — to wait for a decision from the high court before responding to requests for records.
Gina Colletti, Waukesha County clerk of courts, told Belling last week she would wait to see what the Supreme Court decided before responding to a similar request he filed with her office for email addresses of county judges and court officials.
"I hope the scope of this review is as narrow as Sheehan now suggests, but that was not what Koschnick told Belling, or apparently, what he told Gina Colletti," said Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, who added he doesn't believe publishing email addresses will increase the danger of direct communication by litigants.
"If the courts are not transparent, it will be much harder for them to maintain, or even deserve, the public's trust," he said.
Lueders and other officers of the Freedom of Information Council sent a letter to Supreme Court justices last week seeking more information about the review and requesting a public hearing before the court makes a decision. The group has not received an answer.
significant public interest, and any decision on this issue will benefit from input by informed and interested parties."
Sheehan told the Journal Sentinel, Lueders and Belling separately Friday that Belling would be receiving a response to his request for records but didn't address the broader question of if the Supreme Court was considering whether the court system is subject to the records law.
Belling said he didn't believe the Supreme Court's explanation.
"Their email addresses are obviously available already to an almost unlimited number of people, including anyone any of them have already emailed," he said. "Most importantly, there are no rules prohibiting any judge or court official from releasing their emails. If (such communication) is such a problem, why are there no rules banning judges from giving their email addresses out?"
In recent years, justices have often released records sought by reporters but have noted at times in doing so that the Supreme Court has never determined whether the records law applies to itself.
And in 2004, then-Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager issued an opinion to the state courts saying the public interest in preventing such communication, and the difficulty of doing so if judges' direct email addresses are readily accessible to the general public, outweigh the "relatively slight public interest in releasing such information."
Rick Esenberg, president of the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, said it's unclear to him what the court is considering but that because the Constitution guarantees separation of powers, the court could look at whether the court system is subject to the records law because the law's requirements are issued by lawmakers.
He also said the court might decide that the public records law ought not to apply to documents "reflecting deliberation or those reflecting decisions or votes other than the released opinions and orders" because releasing such documents "might unduly interfere with the judicial function."
Gov. Scott Walker used a similar reason to explain why his office and Republican lawmakers wanted to keep records private in 2015.
"Another thing it might do is provide guidance on how the balancing test is to be applied to the courts," Esenberg said, referring to a test records custodians use to decide whether public interest in records outweighs any harm that might be done to the proper function of government or to privacy by releasing the records.
Lueders said court officials already may decide to keep such records private because the state public records law already allows courts to withhold records if it has a good reason for doing so.
"I am unaware of any situation in which having to comply with the open records law has interfered with judicial function. Why fix what isn't broke?" he said.


A scene from the Houston Street stroll event, part of the San Antonio Cocktail Conference event, on Jan. 17.
A scene from Waldorf on the Prairie, a San Antonio Cocktail Conference event, Jan. 16 at the St. Anthony Hotel.
Waldorf on the Prairie, a San Antonio Cocktail Conference event, provided a variety of libations and food Jan. 16 at the St. Anthony Hotel.
The San Antonio Cocktail Conference opening night event Jan. 15 at the Majestic Theater supplies an array of spirits and food to attendees. Musician Mayer Hawthorne provided the entertainment.
A scene from a Stroll on Houston Street, a San Antonio Cocktail Conference event, Jan. 17. Patrons enjoyed libations and fine dining samples, as well as live music, in the outdoor event.
Freetail Brewing Co., among other local and Texas craft breweries, provided samples of their products at the San Antonio Cocktail Conference craft beer break Jan. 17 at The Friendly Spot.
Nicole George with Saint Arnold Brewing Co. (left) pours a sample of the company's beer for a patron at the San Antonio Cocktail Conference craft beer break Jan. 17 at The Friendly Spot.
Danie Call of Ranger Creek Brewing and Distilling Co. pours a sample of the brewer's white whiskey in the San Antonio Cocktail Conference tasting room Jan. 17 at the Gunter Hotel.
A scene from the San Antonio Cocktail Conference opening night event Jan. 15 at the Majestic Theater.
The 60s/surf rock band Los Straitjackets perform during San Antonio Cocktail Conference afterparty Jan. 17 at the Empire Theater. The band was joined by musician Deke Dickerson.
Ray Tremblay prepares a Roca Patron cocktail during the San Antonio Cocktail Conference media kickoff party Jan. 14 at the St. Anthony Hotel.
The Granary `Cue and Brew provided pork belly samples during the San Antonio Cocktail Conference opening night event Jan. 15 at the Majestic Theater.
The Austin band The Nightowls perform during Waldorf on the Prairie, a San Antonio Cocktail Conference event, Jan. 16 at St. Anthony Hotel.
The Olmos Park-area restaurant Mixtli had a presence during the San Antonio Cocktail Conference opening night event Jan. 15 at the Majestic Theater.
The San Antonio Cocktail Conference's tasting room at the Gunter Hotel stayed busy and full during its five hours of operation on Jan. 17.
Chef Jason Dady talks with a San Antonio Cocktail Conference patron while passing out a sample of his team's market salad during the Waldorf on the Prairie event Jan. 16 at the St. Anthony Hotel.
Boyan Kalusevic prepares a cocktail based on rakia made at his business, Dorcol Distilling Co., in the San Antonio Cocktail Conference tasting room Jan. 17 at the Gunter Hotel.
Patrons sample Robert Earl Keen Honey Pils, from Pedernales Brewing Co., during the San Antonio Cocktail Conference craft beer break Jan. 17 at The Friendly Spot.
Bartenders representing Reyka Vodka serve up samples for patrons at Waldorf on the Prairie, a San Antonio Cocktail Conference event, Jan. 16 at the St. Anthony Hotel.


The probe by the Bengaluru police in coordination with the special cell of the Delhi police has revealed that the team of 10 persons from the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami and the Lashkar-e-Tayiba had split into two groups to carry out a series of operations in Karnataka. The police had busted the module earlier in the day.
The journalist, Muthiur Rehman, Ejaz Mirza, a research scientist at the Defence Research and Development Organisation and three others were assigned with the task of killing a few journalists in Bengaluru.
The other five who were arrested from Hubli were tasked with the job of killing politicians in Karnataka. A 9 mm pistol and a hard drive have been seized from the arrested.
The hard drive, which is still being examined by the police, is said to contain some important material and belongs to Rehman.
Sources say that the operation was being looked into by handlers in Saudi Arabia and these persons were in constant touch with them regarding the operation. Although their operation looks very Karnataka-specific at the moment, the police want to find out if this group had connections outside the state as well.
The Delhi police is likely to seek a transit remand of these persons and take them in for questioning.
Although the police have said that they have been arrested in connection with these assassination plots, they are also looking to find out if this group had planned more subversive activities in other parts of the state of Karnataka and the rest of the country.
The police say that they were targetting personalities including journalists who they perceived to be anti-Islamic.
"They were gathering material against these persons, and were monitoring their speeches and articles. Only after this a hit list was been drawn out," said an official.
The police will also look for clues with regard to the recent panic SMS campaign after the Assam riots. A police official said that this group has been in Karnataka for a long time.
But the fact that the arrested persons have a journalist and a research scientist among them, indicates that the perpetrators needed educated persons in the plot, as they wanted to ensure that the operation was foolproof and deadly.


The Supreme Court's definition of materiality could take precedence in the future, under a proposal by accounting rule makers.
The definition of what information companies have a duty to share with investors could be changing.
U.S. accounting rule makers are considering throwing out their concept of “materiality”, or the information companies deem important enough for investors to know about, according to a proposal released Thursday. The proposed to align their rule with the definition set by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board receives complaints from companies, investors and auditors stating that the materiality definition is sometimes confusing, or in conflict with the Supreme Court’s standard. Allegations that companies failed to disclose material information, are frequently at the center of securities fraud cases and class actions.
Under the FASB’s current rules, information is considered material if omitting or misstating it could influence investment decisions.
The FASB’s current rules are “inconsistent with the legal concept of materiality,” FASB Chairman Russell Golden said in a statement, adding that this led to uncertainty for companies trying to make decisions about what to disclose.
FASB is seeking comments from the public until Dec. 8.


Like vaping? If you’re a minor, this Pa. bill aims to make it harder for you to do it.
Minors who use vaping devices or bring them on school grounds soon may be violating state law.
House Bill 97 unanimously passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on March 25. The bill would make it illegal for people under 18 years old to purchase or use nicotine-based products, in addition to tobacco products.
It is already illegal for minors in the Commonwealth to buy or use tobacco products. The proposed bill, which still needs to be passed by the state Senate and signed by the governor before it becomes law, would add non-tobacco nicotine products to the listed of items illegal for minors to use.
It is currently illegal, under federal law, for stores to sell vaping products to minors. House Bill 97 would amend Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to make it illegal for electronic nicotine delivery systems, or ENDS, to be sold, consumed or given to minors in Pennsylvania.
ENDS include electronic cigarettes, known as e-cigarettes, vape pens, or any electronic device that delivers nicotine or other substances through vaporization and inhalation.
The bill defines a nicotine product as any product that contains or consists of nicotine in a form that can be ingested by chewing, smoking, inhaling or any other means.
The bill would also outlaw ENDS on public school grounds. Some school districts already have their own policies regarding vaping devices.
Easton Area School District considers any nicotine device as banned contraband, according to Easton Area School District Director of Safe Schools/Chief of Police John Remaley.
Though district policy bans nicotine products, having the state make it illegal, too, is a positive step, Remaley said.
The proposed bill would also make it illegal to furnish, by purchase, gift or other means, a nicotine product or ENDS to a minor in Pennsylvania.
Last month, Pennsylvania Sen. Mario Scavello, R-Monroe/Northampton, proposed Senate Bill 473, which would raise the age for sale and use of tobacco or other nicotine products in the state to 21 years old. That bill has been sent to the Judiciary Committee for review.


Published: May 14, 2014 12:00 am Updated: May 14, 2014 10:09 a.m.
This Aug. 19, 2013 file photo shows the New York Stock Exchange in New York. Stocks edged lower in early trading Wednesday, May 14, 2014, a day after the stock market closed at a record high.
NEW YORK — Stocks edged lower in early trading Wednesday, a day after the stock market closed at a record high.
KEEPING SCORE: The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell four points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,893 in the first hour of trading. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 50 points, or 0.3 percent, to 16,664. The Nasdaq composite fell nine points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,121.
TOUCHING A MILESTONE: The S&P 500 crossed 1,900 for the first time during trading Tuesday, but closed slightly below that level. Stocks have gained as most investors remain optimistic that the economy will start to accelerate this year following a cold winter that stymied growth.
FOSSIL FALL: Fossil Group fell $8.66, or 7.8 percent, to $102.69 after the watch, jewelry and accessories maker said late Tuesday that its first-quarter net income fell 8 percent, despite sales gains across all its business segments. The quarter's results beat market expectations, but the company gave a weak forecast.
TREASURYS AND COMMODITIES: Government bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.58 percent from 2.61 percent. The price of oil rose 54 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $102.14 a barrel.


RICHMOND, Va. -- A protest on Monument Avenue ended with no injuries and no arrests Sunday afternoon, according to Richmond Police, according to CBS 6.
The rally was organized by the Virginia Task Force III% – Dixie Defenders at the Jefferson Davis statue and scheduled for noon until four Sunday. They were supported by the CSA II: The New Confederate States of America group from Tennessee, who have another rally planned in Richmond in September.
Chelsea Rarrick with Richmond Police said there were no arrests or incidents and the pro-Confederate group left around 3 p.m.
There were about 16 protesters compared to the dozens of counter-protesters who arrived earlier to organize at the base of the Davis statue.
The Confederate group's leader, a man who identifies as Boogie Man and the group's president commander, said their counterparts were misinformed of their intentions.
"This has nothing to do with race. It’s all has to do with heritage and history," he said.
The protest was organized after Mayor Levar Stoney's Monument Avenue Commission recommended in July that the Davis statue be removed and signage to be added to the other monuments.
The commission was established by Stoney just days before a Unite the Right nationalist rally erupted in violence in Charlottesville killing one person and injuring dozens. After Charlottesville, Stoney expanded the scope of the commission to consider removal and/or relocation of monuments. He expressed his personal belief that the monuments should be removed and/or relocated.
CSA insists that these events are not hate events, and that acts of hatred won’t be tolerated.
The counter-protesters, who identified as a coalition of democratic socialists and other anti-Confederate groups, brought banners and chanted at the Pro-Confederate group.
"Go home nerd," one counter-protester yelled at a Pro-Confederate who walked across the street to engage their group.
Fan District resident Goad Gatsby, who said he was not part of any group, said he sees the Davis statue as a symbol of harmful ideals of years past.
"This statue is a symbol of not just the Confederacy, but also to Jim Crow and white supremacy," Gatsby explained.
A large number of officers kept their presence known as they were stationed with each group.
The CSA event planned for September 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be their fourth rally in Richmond. The group wrote on Facebook that they are honoring the one-year anniversary of their last event.
Neither group had a permit. The CSA group encouraged folks to bring flags but emphasized the flags on poles and signs on sticks are not allowed.
The display comes after the pedestal base of the Robert E. Lee monument was vandalized with spray paint early at some point early on Saturday, August 4.
The damage, police said, was extensive enough to warrant a felony charge. They said they are ramping up their presence around the monument to prevent further attacks.
Additionally, a $1,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people who vandalized the statue of the Confederate general.
The Department of General Services, who offered the reward, paid $4,400 to get clean the red paint off the west and southwest sides of the monument’s pedestal.
“Virginia Capitol Police believe a pressurized spraying device was used to spread the red paint-like substance,” a Department of General Services spokesperson said.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Capitol Police dispatch center at 804-786-2568 and ask to speak with the investigator on duty.


The most significant policy issue in the deal struck between the Australian Greens and the Australian Labor Party was that of climate policy.
Agreement between the parties that a carbon price is paramount to tackling carbon pollution signals a restoration of a significant climate policy agenda in Australia, since earlier efforts were so carelessly abandoned by Kevin Rudd last April. The agreement on a carbon price is well overdue; given the overwhelming recognition that a carbon price is central to effective emissions reductions.
This has been the case since Sir Nicholas Stern's landmark report in 2006, which identified a carbon price as a key element to cutting emissions. And despite independent MP Bob Katter's poor opinion of Sir Nicholas (describing him as ''a lightweight''), Stern remains a pre-eminent expert on the economics of climate change.
Nothing has changed since his report in terms of the need for a carbon price; only the urgency of its application has increased.
Achieving this in Australia, however, has been difficult to date – the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) was a miserable attempt at pricing carbon, and its flawed approach (rejected quite rightly by the Greens and others) with inadequate targets, excessive use of offsetting and unnecessary compensation to polluters, has contributed to the discrediting of emissions trading as the preferred option for pricing carbon internationally.
While Opposition Leader Tony Abbott remains vehement in his opposition to new taxes, he doesn't (yet) appear to understand that his policy of direct investment is just another way of putting a price on carbon. And while Abbott may be opposed to the idea of a specific carbon tax, the allocation of funds to reduce carbon emissions is using revenue collected through taxation.
To argue that we shouldn't have a carbon price because it will drive up electricity prices is nonsense – electricity prices are already going up and will go up even further without a carbon price, because there is no incentive to invest in energy generation infrastructure while there is uncertainty around a price on carbon. Capital expenditure on power generation in Australia is expected to decline $10 billion over the next five years unless there is a price on carbon.
It is to be hoped the discussion will soon turn from the rather nebulous concept of a carbon price to actual mechanisms – and for that the most appropriate tool is a carbon tax. Supported by most environmental economists (and others such as Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz and Jeremy Sachs), a carbon tax is already in place in many European jurisdictions where it has reduced emissions while maintaining, even improving in some instances, economic productivity.
Most arguments against a carbon tax incorrectly identify the misplaced allocation of funds as a flaw of the mechanism itself, rather than its faulty implementation. A carbon tax is a way of obtaining revenue (appropriately, by taxing polluters). What is done with that revenue determines what its impact will be on the community, whether it is supporting low income or vulnerable households or supporting the expansion of renewables — not the tax itself. Its popular appeal could also be enhanced by reducing other taxes, such as income taxes, while maintaining the pressure on polluters to find ways to cut emissions.
The ''anti-tax'' position adopted by Abbott is a very simplistic argument. A carbon tax will provide a revenue base that we can use to diversify our economy away from a ''quarry and dump'' to potentially manufacturing, operating and exporting renewable energy infrastructure — creating thousands of jobs and bringing wealth to our deprived regional areas. Now that's surely something the independents will support.
There will inevitably be squealing from the emissions intensive industries, and re-runs of the ''sky is falling'' argument by the big polluters. The reality, however, is that ongoing opposition to a price on carbon will mean we better steel ourselves for the ''brownouts'' that will result, not because of the carbon price, but because we lack one. The failure or unwillingness to invest in new power generation will inevitably lead to considerable economic disruption and societal dysfunction.
But while a carbon price is central, it is only one tool in the suite of policy options that are needed to bring down emissions, help make clean renewable energy cheaper, and discourage polluters from dumping their waste in the atmosphere. We need to move quickly to a suite of policy mechanisms that not only make clean renewable energy competitive with fossil fuels but will also reduce emissions from transport and building stock and agriculture.
To achieve this it is vital that we legislate a carbon price and move on from the argument about a carbon tax versus emissions trading. We must seek the establishment of a national plan to guide Australia's transition to a low carbon and then zero carbon economy. Other more responsible countries are investing in whole of society transition plans — recognising that transition is inevitable and, carefully managed, it will bring far more positive outcomes than ad hoc adaptation and emergency responses.
We've had enough of intermittent commitment to individual policy mechanisms – it is time for a considered framework that will guide our country's transition to the low and then zero emissions society that promotes and protects our economic, environmental and social wellbeing.
A carbon tax will provide a revenue base that we can use to diversify our economy away from a ''quarry and dump'' to potentially manufacturing, operating and exporting renewable energy infrastructure.
Of course, there is no guarantee yet that Prime Minister Julia Gillard will get to form government and the agreement will be enacted. How well the Greens and the ALP might work together in opposition remains to be seen. That seems increasingly unlikely however.
Climate change is bringing with it political change. We've all seen a lot more change in the Australian political system in the past couple of weeks than could have been imagined even a month ago.
Even if these changes are, as political scientist Ian Marsh has said, an ''unintended consequence of the rise of independents'', it's all very welcome. Let us now hope those unintended consequences will lead us on a path to a more sensible debate, more enlightened climate policy, and a safer climate future for all of us.
Fiona Armstrong is a public policy analyst and Fellow of the Centre for Policy Development. Her recent paper on climate policy, Shifting from Fear to Hope, is published in the new CPD ebook, More Than Luck: Ideas Australia Needs Now.


Making it harder to get opioids is cruel if we don't provide good alternatives.
Dustyn Thompson is a licensed massage therapist and advocate who sits on the Non-Opioid Pain Management Subcommittee of the Addiction Action Committee.
As Massage Therapy Awareness Week progresses, it is important Delawareans have a conversation on the management of chronic pain in the First State.
Approximately 8 out of 10 Americans will experience back pain at some point in their life. With the soaring rates of opioid addiction across the nation, it is vital now more than ever to know what your options are in your journey to find relief.
The number one thing you can do to help with pain is to avoid the issues that lead to back pain to begin with. This means always using proper lifting techniques, setting up an ergonomic workstation at home and work, spending less time on laptops and tablets, and being sure to stretch throughout the day and after any strenuous activities. However, for many Delawareans it may be too late to avoid the issue, so what can be done now to help manage the pain?
A proper stretching routine is paramount to chronic pain management. The muscles in your body are powerful and can easily pull and tug on the joints, causing postural problems that can be the primary cause of or exacerbate pain throughout the body.
A tight muscle in your upper leg, which in all likelihood will not be felt by the patient, can cause significant dysfunction in the pelvis leading to chronic and severe lower back pain. A stretching routine designed to stabilize the pelvis and release these tight leg muscles can often be very effective in treating chronic lower back pain.
Chiropractic care has also been found to be effective in treating lower back pain by increasing range of motion and decreasing inflammation.
Yet one effective treatment is still quite controversial and has an array of stigmas associated with it: massage therapy. Unfortunately, many individuals are uninformed about the medical validity of massage therapy as a treatment for chronic pain.
However, a growing body of knowledge is developing which shows the effectiveness of massage therapy as both a standalone treatment and in a combination of other modalities such as physical therapy, chiropractic, and traditional medical treatment.
Massage therapy should not just be treated as a luxury, for relaxation, or just for women. Massage therapy is a medical treatment that dates back to ancient Greece and has been used by athletic teams and sports professionals for decades. The manipulation of soft tissue via massage therapy has been proven to have a lasting effect on the body by helping improve circulation, decreasing pain, increasing range of motion, and improving quality of life.
Earlier this year, the Center for Medicare Services published new guidelines on medically-approved non-opioid pain management and recommended that massage therapy be covered for pain management by insurance. Last year, 37 U.S. attorneys general also called for the inclusion of massage therapy as a covered treatment option by all insurance companies.
Another area in need of study is the ability of massage therapy to relieve the pain associated with decreasing the usage of opioids in patients seeking to wean off pain medications.
Robert Rich Jr. suggests that massage therapy can help patients wean off long-term opioid regimens. As individuals decrease their opioid dosages, massage and other therapies can help provide pain relief and help improve compliance in reducing usage.
Still, more research is needed to show what frequency and types of massage work best for this purpose.
Opioid usage is a serious concern, but we have to understand that many individuals seek opioids to manage their pain because they do not understand or cannot afford the alternative options. While we must push for responsible prescribing, we also need to avoid over- "cracking down" without providing safe, effective, and affordable options for pain management patients.
Additionally, we must do our part to educate the public and physicians on the effectiveness of therapeutic massage for chronic and acute pain management.
While Delaware is working to expand treatment options for those suffering from chronic pain to include massage therapy, many clinics around the state will offer discounts for those needing routine services for pain management. For any clinic that does not do so already, our profession needs to step into this role by offering package services and treatment plan discounts to all clients dealing with chronic pain.


NILES — A 6-year-old boy who was struck by an SUV Sunday evening has died, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The patrol said Isaiah Issa, 6, of Niles, was struck by a GMC Envoy at 6:18 p.m. on state Route 169 near Higley Avenue. The patrol said Issa was chasing a dog when he ran into the street and was struck by the SUV driven by Jeffrey L. Fleck of Niles, who was heading west.
Isaiah was initially taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, but he was later flown to Akron Children’s Hospital, where he died Monday morning, the patrol said. Fleck was not injured, and he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to the patrol.
The crash is still under investigation and the patrol is asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call 330-898-2311. The patrol does not expect charges to be filed.
Niles Schools Superintendent Ann Marie Thigpen said Monday that Isaiah was not registered in the school district.
Candles and flowers already have been placed at the crash site.


Fork & Wrench in Canton calls itself a “boutique dive bar” on its website. But that description doesn’t really fit.
It’s much more of a restaurant after five years in operation. Even Andy Gruver, one of the owners with Jason Sanchez, agrees.
The restaurateurs, who also operate Modern Cook Shop in Fells Point, recently brought in a new executive chef, Corey Laub, to continue its food focus. Laub, a Columbia native, previously worked at Novo in Chicago and area restaurants like Aida Bistro & Wine Bar. He’s preparing creative New American fare that matches Fork & Wrench’s eclectic decor.
Fork & Wrench, the eclectic restaurant in Canton, has a new face at the head of its kitchen.
Corey Laub was named executive chef of the restaurant at 2322 Boston St.
The multilevel space, decked out in assorted knickknacks, drew applause for its quaint, retro look when it opened in 2012. But on a recent visit, I was struck by how the vintage books, typewriter and giant birdcage didn’t look as charming as they did years ago. The hodgepodge now seems fusty.
We were seated at a table in the lounge within shouting distance of the bar, near an iron bank door that had been scavenged from another building. Our attentive server, who was tending to drinks that night, was terrific.
Fork & Wrench still concocts an array of cocktails, like a Shift Kicker with Bluecoat gin, St-Germain, peach bitters and soda, and a classic Sazerac with rye, simple syrup, Peychaud’s Bitters and Herbsaint. Wines by the glass and bottle and a variety of beers, including Belgian ales, are also available.
The modest menu detailed 10 first plates (appetizers) and six second plates (entrees). Our dishes hit several high notes, though there were some rough patches.
The beef tartare delivered a delectable spread. A disk of rough-ground raw meat benefited from a simple quail yolk that broke like a tiny water balloon over the contents amid fried capers and a puddle of horseradish cream.
The beet and Burrata salad looked sloppy with a gob of creamy cheese and pickled beets placed haphazardly on a mound of local greens glazed with vincotto (a sweet cooked wine syrup). But the combination of mellow and piquant flavors was a standout along with a crunch of pine nuts.
The earthy roasted mushrooms saved the doughy potato gnocchi, which were also redeemed by a rich Parmesan broth and a brilliant pairing with salsa verde.
There was no saving the drab, tough shrimp and scallop ceviche. Maybe the temporarily closed Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark, can get away with serving a dish called “edible earth,” but I don’t think Baltimore is ready for “olive soil,” one of the ceviche’s ingredients.
Seared rockfish was advertised on the menu, but our waitress informed us that the chef was using tilefish that night. I appreciated being told about the switch. The mild fillet was a good substitute and worked well with the brown-butter cauliflower, silky carrot puree and sauteed kale.
We liked what the chef did with the seared scallops, enhancing the golden orbs with a nutty-tasting puree, a tangle of Asian greens and a sweet-tangy raisin agrodolce.
The burger was everything a beef patty should be — plump, juicy and flavorful. Smoked Gouda cheese and pickled shallots were strong partners, and the simply dressed side salad sparked the plate with greenery. Still, $20 is a lot for a pad of meat and a bun.
The corn risotto was a fail, despite its ambitions with corn puree, scallions, radish slices, chili oil and a bountiful shower of queso fresco. The undercooked rice was unpleasantly chewy.
The desserts, though, were clever and fun. We liked the kitchen’s play with traditional expectations.
The popcorn panna cotta gave new meaning to the movie-theater treat with a lime puree, caramel and a malted sorghum crumble. Don’t try to understand it. Just enjoy it.
The blonde budino was another inventive sweet with chocolate pop rocks, matcha sugar and ginger whipped cream. And the peach butter cake, nestled in a lemon-honey sauce, delivered blissful bites with whipped mascarpone and sangria sorbet.
Fork & Wrench is taking chances with its cuisine, and we’re optimistic it will hit its stride under the new chef. We’re not giving up on this Baltimore innovator.
Prices: Appetizers, $10-$14; entrees, $20-$28.
Noise/TVs: The restaurant was nearly empty on our midweek visit, creating a quiet atmosphere; three TVs (not turned on).
Service: Our waitress was cheerful and efficient.
Special diets: Can accommodate but would appreciate notice with reservations.
Handicap accessible: Yes, on the first floor, with staff assistance up a small front step.
Fork & Wrench is located at 2322 Boston St. in Canton.
A burger with bacon, smoked Gouda cheese and pickled shallot.


LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) - Kappa Alpha Order, a fraternity that traces its roots to southern heritage and Confederate General Robert E. Lee, is discontinuing the use of the name "Old South" for its annual formal and week-long celebration.
The formal traditionally came with an antebellum theme attached and was often held at a plantation. In the past, members wore confederate uniforms and their dates wore antebellum hoop-skirt dresses.
"The real meaning behind it is the southern culture, especially during Robert E. Lee's days, our spiritual founder, and ultimately just to celebrate as brothers for a whole week," said McNeese KA president, Aaron Myers.
The tradition has stood since 1939, but for the first time, this year the fraternity will no longer use the name "Old South" or any similar name for their functions. Earlier this month, National KA Executives announced they would prohibit the use of the name and anything attributed to it. A letter to chapters reads, "All functions and activities must be conducted with restraint and dignity and without trappings and symbols that might be misinterpreted and objectionable to the general public."
"I understand why they did it - just to take preventative steps that people could see as it being the wrong representation of who we are," said McNeese KA member, Garrett Benoit.
While the change came as a shock to many at first, McNeese KA members say "Old South" is just a name and they'll continue to honor what it represents.
"It's kind of a representation of how we were raised; the gentlemen qualities that our spiritual founder, Robert E. Lee, portrayed," Benoit said.
Members' dates will still be able to wear antebellum hoop-skirt dresses. The formal will now be referred to as the "Rose Ball."


LOS ANGELES � Beatrice Arthur, the tall, deep-voiced actress whose razor-sharp delivery of comedy lines made her a TV star in the hit shows �Maude� and �The Golden Girls� and who won a Tony Award for the musical �Mame,� died Saturday. She was 86.
Arthur died peacefully at her Los Angeles home with her family at her side, family spokesman Dan Watt said. She had cancer, Watt said, declining to give details.
Arthur first appeared in the landmark comedy series �All in the Family� as Edith Bunker�s outspoken, liberal cousin, Maude Finley. She proved a perfect foil for blue-collar bigot Archie Bunker (Carroll O�Connor), and their blistering exchanges were so entertaining that producer Norman Lear fashioned Arthur�s own series.
�I was already 50 years old. I had done so much off-Broadway, on Broadway, but they said, �Who is that girl? Let�s give her her own series,�� Arthur said.
�Maude� scored with television viewers immediately on its CBS debut in September 1972, and Arthur won an Emmy Award for the role in 1977.
The comedy flowed from Maude�s efforts to cast off the traditional restraints that women faced, but the series often had a serious base. Her husband Walter (Bill Macy) became an alcoholic, and she underwent an abortion, which drew a torrent of viewer protests. Maude became a standard bearer for the growing feminist movement in America.
�She was an incredible actress and a woman I will miss, and I think everyone else will,� said Bud Yorkin, producer of �Maude� with partner Lear.
The ratings of �Maude� in the early years approached those of its parent, �All in the Family,� but by 1977 the audience started to dwindle. A major format change was planned, but in early 1978 Arthur announced she was quitting the show.
�Golden Girls� (1985-1992) was another groundbreaking comedy, finding surprising success in a television market increasingly skewed toward a younger, product-buying audience.
The interplay among the four women and their relations with men fueled the comedy, and the show amassed a big audience and 10 Emmys, including two as best comedy series and individual awards for each of the stars.
�Bea liked to be the star of the show, she didn�t really like to do that ensemble playing,� McClanahan said.
McClanahan first worked with Arthur on �Maude,� playing her best friend, Vivian. The women quickly became close friends in real life. McClanahan recalled Arthur as a kind and caring person with a no-nonsense edge.
The three other stars returned in �The Golden Palace,� but it lasted only one season.
Arthur was born Bernice Frankel in New York City in 1922. When she was 11, her family moved to Cambridge, Md., where her father opened a clothing store. At 12 she had grown to full height, and she dreamed of being a petite blond movie star like June Allyson. There was one advantage of being tall and deep-voiced: She was chosen for the male roles in school plays.
Bernice � she hated the name and adopted her mother�s nickname of Bea � overcame shyness about her size by winning over her classmates with wisecracks. She was elected the wittiest girl in her class. After two years at a junior college in Virginia, she earned a degree as a medical lab technician, but she �loathed� doing lab work at a hospital.
Acting held more appeal, and she enrolled in a drama course at the New School of Social Research in New York City. To support herself, she sang in a night spot that required her to push drinks on customers.
During this time she had a brief marriage that provided her stage name of Beatrice Arthur. In 1950, she married again, to Broadway actor and future Tony-winning director Gene Saks.
In 2008, when Arthur was inducted in the TV Academy Hall of Fame, Arthur pointed to the role as the highlight of her long career.
�A lot of that had to do with the fact that I felt, �Ah, yes, I belong here,�� Arthur said.
More plays and musicals followed, and she also sang in nightclubs and played small roles in TV comedy shows.
In 1983, Arthur attempted another series, �Amanda�s,� an Americanized version of John Cleese�s hilarious �Fawlty Towers.� She was cast as owner of a small seaside hotel with a staff of eccentrics. It lasted a mere nine episodes.
Between series, Arthur remained active in films and theater. Among the movies: �That Kind of Woman� (1959), �Lovers and Other Strangers� (1970), Mel Brooks� �The History of the World: Part I� (1981), �For Better or Worse� (1995).
In recent years, Arthur made guest appearances on shows including �Curb Your Enthusiasm� and �Malcolm in the Middle.� She was chairwoman of the Art Attack Foundation, a non-profit performing arts scholarship organization.
Arthur is survived by her sons and two granddaughters. No funeral services are planned.


Punky (Soleil Moon Frye) learns her teacher Mike Fulton (T.K. Carter) was also abandoned by his mother, so the two unite in a dramatic hunt for their long-lost mothers. Peyton B. Rutledge, the real-life Punky Brewster, guest stars.


June 5, 2014 Mortgage Rates.
Mortgage rates inched up this week as investors try to make sense of mixed economic news in the United States while waiting for the European Central Bank’s next move.
The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.32 percent from 4.25 percent the previous week, according to the Bankrate.com national survey of large lenders. One year ago, that rate stood at 4.1 percent. Four weeks ago, it was 4.37 percent. The mortgages in this week’s survey had an average total of 0.34 discount and origination points.
The benchmark 15-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 3.41 percent from 3.35 percent last week.
The benchmark 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage rose to 3.31 percent from 3.24 percent. The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate jumbo rose to 4.35 percent from 4.29 percent.


In cooperation with the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, this four-year, interdisciplinary public policy program prepares students for careers in government, nonprofit and legal organizations, and research. After completing their first year of law school, students take one year of courses in Law and Public Policy (LPP) and then return to the regular course of law study. Students examine a full range of strategies for creating policy change, including legislation, litigation, the ballot box and civil action. Students engage in policy analysis and applied research that develops real-world solutions to public policy challenges.
Students pursuing dual degrees plan their schedules with the assistance of advisors from the law school and the LPP Program. Applicants to the School of Law interested in pursuing a concurrent degree do not need to duplicate each school’s request for letters of recommendation, transcripts and standardized test scores. Applicants should complete the law school application and note on it that they are applying to LPP and submit the LPP application form to LPP, noting on it that they are applying to the School of Law.
Ideally, students apply to the JD and the MS in Law and Public Policy (LPP) simultaneously. Those who apply and are admitted complete the MS in LPP after completing the first year in the School of Law. Applicants will also be considered once enrolled in the JD, provided the student applies for entry to the MS in LPP in the Fall of year 2 or the Fall of year 3 of the JD program. In these cases, permission of the School of Law is required.


San Diego students are invited to partake in the fourth annual Oceanside International Film Festival, Aug. 3-10.
Participants from kindergarten through college have an opportunity for their films to become Official Selections and shown on big screens during the festival.
Young filmmakers also have a shot at becoming winners of OIFF-2014 Jury’s Best Student Film Award in the K-to-Middle School or High School-College categories, and can contest for Audience Choice Awards in the same age groups.
The festival is accepting works of all genres including sports, live performance, fashion, and music videos. Deadline for submissions is June 16, 2014, however filmmakers will find it cost-advantageous to submit their films early, before March 17, 2014.


The Rams are hosting its first NFL playoff game in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the first time since the 1978-79 season.
The excitement around the Rams, who entered the NFC Wild Card game at 11-5 overall, has drawn several fans to the stadium including some famous faces.
Former Rams running backs Steven Jackson, left, and Eric Dickerson.
LA Rams fan and actor Danny Trejo is all smiles on the sideline.
Rapper Snoop Dogg is also in attendance. He is performing during halftime.
Snoop Dogg will perform at halftime of Saturday’s Rams-Falcons game. Still unconfirmed: Whether gin and juice will be served in the press box during the break.
Just saw Larry David at the Rams game, lol.


Financial advisors, where have you gone?
The next time financial advisors sing the blues about falling life insurance premiums, ask them when they last reached out to an African-American prospect. Chances are they probably haven’t. But they should.
Advisors ignore this market segment at their economic peril, according to the latest survey of the African-American Financial Experience released by Prudential.
It’s not so much that advisors are walking away from buying power that is expected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2015, according to some estimates — although that is a giant market to ignore. It’s that the African-American segment has a much higher predisposition for life and income protection products than the general population.
For advisors, this market segment practically has been handed to them. So why do African-Americans report that they lag behind the rest of the population when it comes to having been contacted by a financial advisor?
“They have been ignored. I think [the] reason for that is that there are these old myths playing in advisors’ minds on the return on what that would be,” Alexandra Galindez, Prudential vice president of multicultural marketing, said.
Only 19 percent of African-Americans surveyed report having a financial advisor, compared with 30 percent for the general population. The survey also showed that 48 percent of African-Americans report ever having been contacted by an advisor compared with 55 percent for the general population. The survey was conducted by GfK Public Affairs and Communications from March 7 to 19.
Galindez said advisors need to hang a shingle — metaphorically speaking — and walk the streets of minority neighborhoods, become part of the fabric of the African-American experience, plug into community networks and, most of all, remain committed to the long term.
The financial rewards, small at first, compound over time as word spreads at the local grocery, in the churches and on the basketball courts that there’s value to a visit with a financial advisor, and that a good adviser knows how to protect assets and provide safety first, and then see to it that those assets grow.
The survey, which included 1,153 African-Americans 25 to 70 years old, with household income of at least $25,000, found that while a higher percentage of the general population owns investment and retirement products compared with African-Americans, a higher percentage of African-Americans owns insurance products.
As many as 40 percent of African-Americans owned individual life insurance compared with 37 percent for the general population, the survey found. In addition, 16 percent of African-Americans owned long-term care insurance compared with 13 percent for the general population, and 18 percent of African-Americans owned disability insurance compared with 16 percent for the general population, the survey found.
Not only is the African-American market segment predisposed to buying insurance, it is also predisposed to buying income protection from advisors since “engagement with financial institutions — although improved since the financial crisis — remains low,” the report said in an introductory note.
More than half of the respondents (51 percent) said that a financial advisor could help them make a better financial decision, and 8 of 10 respondents said an advisor’s gender or ethnicity does not matter. “This is an opportunity, and regardless of your race, you should be pursuing this opportunity,” Galindez said.
The survey, Galindez said, underscores the shortcomings of the industry’s distribution network into a huge segment of the market. She said Prudential plans to distribute the survey results among its cross-functional teams of institutional and retail advisors to encourage them to engage African-American consumers.
“There’s a big gap between need and desire, and the availability of the product, which is really on the advisor. And we really just have to close this gap,” Galindez said.


MTV is challenging fans of supernatural drama Teen Wolf to unlock a trailer for part two of season three by completing a GIF puzzle. The network, which is aware that Teen Wolf has an active, engaging fan base on Tumblr, launched the challenge Wednesday.
Fans must go to TeenWolfTrailer.com and log in using Facebook to complete the puzzle, which consists of a series of GIFs that they must piece together in chronological order to view the trailer. GIFs will be released every hour within a four-hour span, starting at 3 p.m. ET.
Teen Wolf took a mid-season hiatus after episode 12 aired on Aug. 19. Season three returns Jan. 6. The trailer will also show up on TV and online Wednesday night, but this challenge allows fans to access it in advance. This is the first time MTV is releasing a trailer via a GIF challenge, and it likely won't be the last.
"The product itself was built to be extensible and reusable, so it'll definitely become a tool in our kit, but with each of our shows, we always look to build social campaigns that are native to that show's world and community to provide the best and deepest experience for our fans," Tom Fishman, MTV's vice president of fan engagement, told Mashable.
UPDATE: This is the trailer fans saw when they completed the GIF puzzle.
MTV previously engaged Teen Wolf fans with The Hunt, an eight-week scripted social game on Facebook that accompanied season two, Colin Helms, senior vice president of connected content, told Mashable. That engagement initiative helped grow the show's Facebook page Likes by 127%.


A day after the death of Sun-Times Media Chairman James Tyree, who led the effort to save the local media company from liquidation 17 months ago, the company's flagship Chicago Sun-Times on Thursday laid off several newsroom employees.
Sources said they believed the reduction affected at least four staff members, including media and marketing columnist and blogger Lewis Lazare.
"That was something that had been planned for a while. It certainly had nothing to do with yesterday's news," said Jeremy Halbreich, Sun-Times Media's chief executive officer.
Halbreich did not confirm an exact figure for the cuts, which he said were part of an ongoing effort to centralize certain operations among the company's many area publications.
"It's the continuation of our implementing our system and finding additional efficiencies in terms of being able to do things centrally rather than spread out in eight different directions," Halbreich said. "That's really the basis for it."
Tyree, 53, who was also chairman and CEO of Mesirow Financial, died Wednesday. He had battled health woes for decades, including two near-fatal bouts with diabetes that nearly left him blind, had been diagnosed with stomach cancer five months ago and most recently had suffered pneumonia.
Having gained major concessions from Sun-Times Media's unions on issues that included job security and severance, Tyree in October 2009 led a group of local investors to rescue the local media concern, enabling it to emerge from bankruptcy protection after seven months and Chicago to continue to have two major daily newspapers.
At the time, Tyree said he believed the parent of the Chicago Sun-Times, Pioneer Press suburban weeklies and other Chicago-area newspapers could be run as a viable business, although it had burned through an average of $20 million in cash per quarter from 2006 to 2008.
Halbreich said the investors, who include Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz and Mesirow President and Chief Operating Officer Richard Price, soon will choose a new chairman. And he stressed Tyree's absence will not affect the company's operations or its business strategy, of which this latest reduction is part.
"The plan is still the same," Halbreich said. "The investors are still solid. We don't need to go out and look for any extra money, and we're just going to continue to doing what we've been doing."


DINWIDDIE - Like the old adage says an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Well, in Petersburg's Frank Mason's case, draining a 3-pointer a game or more keeps the other team away.
Unlike the first half where Dinwiddie held the junior to four points, Mason unleashed and hit seven straight 3-pointers in the third quarter to guide the Crimson Wave to a 76-49 Central District victory over the Generals Tuesday.
This is Petersburg's fourth straight district win and its seventh consecutive overall.
"I've always told the guys that if a player is hot you better feed them. Frank is definitely special and you could see that he was getting emotional but what I thought was good was that Kevin Green was getting him the ball to set Frank up for the shot," said Petersburg coach Bill Lawson III. "I liked how [Green] got all of his teammates involved."
In the first quarter, Petersburg came out firing on all cylinders going on a 12-2 run with 4:58 before Dinwiddie went on to make a little run of its own.
Even though the Generals were only able to get within eight points of the Crimson Wave, the game was still manageable to go on a possible run. Lawson knew coming into the game that Dinwiddie was going to out-rebound his squad so the visitors had to make other adjustments.
"We really wanted to pack in the defense because we knew they were going to beat us on the boards. I thought that we came out strong and made a good run but then we went into a drought and we needed to start penetrating," Lawson said. "Once we made some key changes on defense in the second half where we were using our passing more and with Frank having a special moment it was hard for them to get back. Everything that Frank threw up dropped."
The Generals who started off the season going 5-0, battled in a tough Fort Lee tournament where they lost back-to-back games to Douglas Freeman and Clover Hill. But with the home-court advantage, the Crimson Wave knew it wasn't going to be easy.
With Generals maintaining a height advantage, Petersburg had to find other ways and that was just the trick as Mason ignited in the third quarter.
After a 33-24 lead at halftime, the junior guard didn't waste anytime as Mason threw up his first trey of the quarter. Then his second, then his third, then his fourth and so on.
Mason was hitting right on key. Plus his teammates were feeding and working together to get him the ball.
"I just started off attacking and believing in myself. I was out of control and was getting to the wrong spots on the court and confused with some of the plays," Mason said. "But I knew that I was a shooter and believed in my shot. Once I started hitting that second and third one I was on a roll and I was happy because my teammates were helping to make sure they got me the ball."
Before Mason had gone on his roll, Dinwiddie had gone on a run as Lamonte Fields went inside for the easy layup followed by another Fields basket and one by Terrill White.
The home team was within seven at 39-32, but after nailing his first trey of the quarter, that seven-point deficit went to a 19-point deficit at 53-34 in a matter of two minutes.
"Frank had a special night and I thought down the stretch we were able to play more as a team because they were able to get Frank the ball.
Plus Kenneth Barnes has been great off the bench as well as Marcus Hoosier who we've had doing different jobs on the court," Lawson said.
"I've always told them that when your number is called be ready because we need to come in and intensify us."
Despite that strong burst by Petersburg, one big positive for Dinwiddie was point guard Kisharn Gregory, who steadily over four quarters, tallied up 19 points with many trips to the foul line.
Both Michael Jones who hit two treys himself and Fields both finished with six points each.
For Petersburg, while Mason finished with 25 points, Marcus Hoosier, Edmund Maxwell, Quadree Walker and Kenneth Barnes combined for 32 points.


“Miami is the most international city in the entire United States,” Teresa King Kinney, CEO of the Miami Association of Realtors, told the gathering. Her proof: More than half the residents in Miami-Dade were born abroad.
If Miami-Dade doesn’t set another record year for residential sales in 2014, it will come close to doing so, buoyed by the strength of foreign demand, King Kinney told the meeting, which continues through Tuesday.
Despite tough economic conditions in much of Latin America and Europe, foreign buyers are continuing to invest in Miami, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors. Still, foreign sales accounted for a smaller share of sales than in 2013, when 35 percent of sales by Miami-Dade and Broward agents involved international clients.
South Florida’s foreign buyers tend to be big spenders: The mean price of a residence purchased by an international buyer was $444,052. That compared with a mean of $245,000 for all Florida home sales. Brazilians had the highest mean purchase price, $494,531, while Canadians had the lowest, $310,484, the report said.
“International buyers in Miami are more upscale, the NAR study found,” King Kinney said.
And that means big money for the Realtors who cater to them.
“We’re probably paying some of the highest commissions in the world — between 5 percent and 7 percent,” Alicia Cervera La Madrid, managing partner of Miami-based Cervera Real Estate, told the crowd.
Cervera’s firm specializes in sales and marketing of pre-construction condominiums and works through networks of agents locally and internationally.
Many South Florida real estate agents are multilingual or hail from a foreign country and thus understand the language and culture of their clients.
Mauricio Mohrer, a Realtor associate with Beachfront Realty Inc. in Aventura, is a Brazilian-American who travels several times a year to Brazil to nurture ties with clients and other agents there.
Mohrer said through training sessions put on by the Miami Association of Realtors, he has also polished his skills in understanding other cultures, including Asians.
While Asians currently make up a small share of buyers in Miami, many locals expect that to increase with the increased trade expected at PortMiami once the expansion of the Panama Canal is complete.
Philip Spiegelman, principal at Aventura-based International Sales Group, another big sales and marketing firm focused on pre-construction condos, said real estate brokers play a vital role in connecting foreign buyers to Miami projects.
“For the guy sitting in Caracas or Buenos Aires or Sao Paulo who doesn’t need shelter but who wants to make an investment or wants a vacation home, it’s our job to create that impetus,” Spiegelman said.
According to the NAR study, 81 percent of South Florida’s foreign buyers paid cash, and 72 percent purchased a condo or townhouse.
Kinney King said, “Cash continues to be king,” even though a growing number of lenders do offer the option of mortgage financing at some level. “The assumption is Miami is a very good place to put your money,” she said.


Silver is punishing investors amid diminishing trust in precious metals as a store of wealth and concern that growth is weakening, with $5.2 billion erased from the value of their near-record holdings this year.
Ben S. Bernanke, the world’s most- powerful central banker, says he doesn’t understand gold prices. If his peers had paid attention, they might have stopped expanding reserves that lost $545 billion in value since bullion peaked in 2011.
Palladium rose to the highest since August 2011 after mining companies and the main labor union failed to resolve a strike in South Africa.


The city Housing Authority has repeatedly violated the state Open Meeting Law over the last few years by voting behind closed doors to hire outside counsel to fight off allegations of mismanagement, race bias and cover-up, the Daily News has learned.
Those secret votes have approved payments of more than $27 million.
The Open Meeting Law allows public boards to hold non-public "executive sessions" to discuss topics such as labor negotiations and personnel issues, but requires that all votes to spend taxpayer money must take place in public.
Records obtained by The News reveal that since at least 2012, NYCHA's board has ignored that law a dozen times and voted during executive session to approve and then extend multi-million dollar contracts with four law firms: Wilmer Hale, Ballard Spahr, Jackson Lewis and Anderson Kill.
The firms have been paid to handle an in-depth federal probe into cover-up of its lead paint clean-up failures, to kill off a race bias case and to fend off a lawsuit by a private builder alleging NYCHA mismanagement fouled up a planned Brooklyn development.
This practice came to light after The News obtained data showing Wilmer Hale had billed NYCHA for $9.7 million — but there was no record of any public votes to pay the firm. Wilmer Hale was hired to represent the authority in the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's in-depth investigation of NYCHA's cover-ups and lies about lead paint and other problems.
Confronted by The News, NYCHA admitted the votes to appropriate millions of taxpayer dollars to Wilmer Hall all took place behind closed doors. They conceded that the votes violated the Open Meeting Law and promised to review executive session records going back several years for other illegal votes.
The authority quietly released the results of that search Friday, revealing that on 12 occasions from 2012 through September, NYCHA's board voted during executive session to approve hefty payments to the four law firms that total $27,687,080.
"As promised, we have publicly posted the votes on contracts with law firms from our executive sessions," Jasmine Blake, NYCHA spokeswoman said. "With an agency as large and complex as NYCHA, legal expenses are often a regular part of business."
This practice, it appears, has been going on for years. NYCHA has 60 in-house lawyers but often brings in outside counsel to handle personal injury cases and more complex litigation. Many – though not all – of the votes to pay these firms have taken place out of the public eye.
NYCHA deliberately chose to approve certain payments behind closed doors in the mistaken belief that making them public would somehow compromise their legal strategies.
Agency boards appointed by both Mayor Bloomberg and Mayor de Blasio adopted this illegal practice. Board chairs all participated in these votes, including Mayor Bloomberg's appointee, John Rhea, who did this at least twice in 2012 and 2013, and two chairpersons appointed by Mayor de Blasio: Shola Olatoye (nine times from 2016 through January) and Stanley Brezenoff (once on Sept. 25).
In all these cases, the secret votes extended and expanded the not-to-exceed amounts for these firms. Wilmer Hale's initial award was for $975,000, but in vote after secret vote, that amount grew by September to be $15,348,243.
*Jackson Lewis was hired for several cases, including swatting down a suit filed by black and Latino NYCHA workers who said they were paid less than white workers due to racial bias. The suit was thrown out in March 2017. Total approved for this firm: $2,157,722.
*Ballard Spahr was hired by NYCHA after The Michaels Development Co. sued the authority in 2008 over a development deal that went awry. The builder had been picked by NYCHA to renovate a deteriorating Brooklyn development named Prospect Plaza. But by 2012, the plan had collapsed, with NYCHA blaming the firm and the firm charging that NYCHA's dawdling had killed the deal. The suit was settled in September 2013, though the terms are not disclosed. Total approved for Ballard Spahr: $1,885,940.
*Anderson Kill was hired to help NYCHA battle insurance companies following the wreckage caused by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Total approved for Anderson Kill: $8,295,175.


As we begin to wind down to the end of Hassan Rouhani’s term as president of the regime in Iran, it is time to take a look back at the past four years. We all remember how the West joyfully welcomed his election -- read selection -- as a change of gear in Iran aimed at moderation. However, what the world witnessed ever since has been anything but. An atrocious rise in executions, continued public punishments and an escalating trend of oppression has been Rouhani’s report card during his tenure. With a new administration coming into town, Washington must make it crystal clear to Tehran that human rights violations will no longer be tolerated.
Despite pledging to hold the “key” to Iran’s problems, Rouhani has failed to provide even an iota of the freedoms the Iranian people crave and deserve. His record has revealed an unrelenting loyalty to the regime establishment in regards to social oppression and continued crackdowns. Iran sent 18 to the gallows last week alone, according to official reports.
As the international community continued its policy of appeasement, Rouhani and the entire regime used this opportunity to launch an execution rampage. Over 2,500 people have been sent to the gallows ever since Rouhani came to power, shattering all records held by this regime itself in over two decades.
In 2015 alone, Iran was executing an individual every eight hours, as reported by Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, former United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Iran.
Rouhani’s commitment to regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the ruling elite has rendered a wide-ranging, escalating crackdown. In addition to the executions mentioned above, state-sponsored social oppression has resulted in horrific scenes of public hangings, floggings, and even limb amputations.
The prisons are overwhelmed with inmates, leading to intolerable and inhumane conditions. Political prisoners, specifically, are subject to horrendous treatment by the authorities. Renowned human rights organization Amnesty International has recently issued an Urgent Action call expressing major concerns over the case of Maryam Akbari Monfared, a Green Movement organizer still in prison two years after her family put up her bail.
And this is merely a single example of the dreadful results of Rouhani’s domestic policies. The regime, with the West unfortunately falling in line, had claimed that the Iranian nation welcomed Rouhani’s presidency with open arms. While such assertions were politically motivated from the very beginning, the ordinary Iranian has been the first to pay the price of such a failed engagement policy.
The Iranian population is extremely fond of the Internet and millions are actively using social media. Despite its vast censorship efforts, the regime has failed to completely firewall the entire globe from the clever and highly motivated Iranian netizen. Various clips, images, and stories from inside Iran are leaking to the outside world as we speak, revealing ever more the regime’s atrocities.
One significant case involves the exposure of a controversial sound file shedding light on a private meeting between the late Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri and the main officials involved in the horrendous 1988 summer massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners across Iran. Montazeri was the successor to Iranian regime founder, mullah Ruhollah Khomeini, set aside by Khomeini himself considering his opposing perspectives.
This disclosure sent shockwaves amongst the Iranian people from all walks of life, and throughout the globe. As a result a global movement is demanding accountability from those responsible for the horrific massacre of thousands of innocent political prisoners. The victims of this carnage included members and supporters of the main Iranian opposition entity, People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, and other dissident groups and minorities. The PMOI, more commonly known as the MEK in the West, has also been the focus of a lobbying campaign launched by Iran. Tehran’s mullahs are terrified of MEK supporters such as former New York City mayor and ambassador John Bolton being considered for senior cabinet posts in a Donald Trump White House.
The entire regime in Iran, including the so-called “hardliners” and “moderates,” are shifting gear for the upcoming presidential elections in June 2017. Members of the Rouhani faction have described U.S. President Barack Obama’s tenure as a “golden era.” This signals how Tehran took full advantage of Obama’s rapprochement as a green light to escalate executions and further implement social crackdown.
With a new administration set to take the reins in Washington, the opportunity has arrived for America to raise the issue of Iran’s human rights violations. Such outrageous crimes have no place in the 21st century, and all eyes are on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. Supporting the call to hold all senior Iranian regime officials involved in the 1988 massacre accountable for their crimes is a good start.


Anticipating greater usage of Ubuntu within the enterprise, Canonical has released a significant update to its Landscape Ubuntu system management tool.
"We have really been cranking up the level of effort with Landscape over the past year or so," said Federico Lucifredi, Canonical's Landscape product manager. "Landscape is a very important piece of our enterprise strategy, and so Canonical's commitment has increased dramatically."
The new version of the software, Landscape 12.09, is designed to better manage systemwide software updates. It offers more compliance reporting. This version also exposes its API (application programming interface) so it can be connected with other system management tools, such as Puppet. Also, the for first time, the software allows administrators to install Ubuntu over a network, in a process called bare-metal provisioning.
Launched in 2008, Landscape is systems management software that administrators can use to centrally monitor and update a fleet of computers running either Canonical's desktop or server Linux distribution.
To better serve enterprise compliance efforts, Landscape offers a dashboard that shows which machines in a network have been updated. This can be handy for determining how many servers comply with an organization's security guidelines around patching. Also helping on the compliance front, the software now features role-based access control (RBAC), which can be used to specify which actions each Landscape user can take, as well as which machines they are allowed to manage.
Landscape's newly exposed API provides access to all of the functionality with Landscape itself. By writing scripts that call Landscape features through the API, administrators can assemble automated workflows, written in Python or some other shell-friendly programming language, that run across Landscape and other system management tools, such as Puppet or Nagios.
For instance, a script could be written so that Nagios, an open source infrastructure monitoring tool, sends alerts to Landscape whenever a server goes offline. Upon receiving this alert, Landscape can, in turn, alert the appropriate system administrators, or take some other corrective action.
"The API allows for quite a bit of integration of different popular tools in the enterprise. No single tool does everything, so you have to coexist with lots of other tools, particularly legacy," software, Lucifredi said.
The bare-metal provisioning allows an administrator to install a copy of the Ubuntu Linux distribution, along with associated software, on a server devoid of any software. Ubuntu's Metal-as-a-Service (MAAS) technology uses Intel's PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) protocol, which allows computers to be started up from over a network. An administrator could use this tool to quickly install hundreds or even thousands of copies of Ubuntu at remote locations, even over a WAN (wide area network).
The new software is also designed to easily manage software repositories. An organization may maintain their own repositories of the software they use, especially open source software. This allows them to test and modify the updates before they are installed on production machines.
Other new features: Machines can be assigned specific policies for when to update themselves, with options to update only security patches or to go through with all updates. Machines can also be instructed to do updates only during certain hours, so the updates won't slow the servers during times of heavy usage.
Landscape is proprietary software available only as part of the Ubuntu Advantage service package. It can run on either a dedicated server or be hosted by Canonical itself. With this edition, Landscape can now support up to 40,000 clients from a single console. Ubuntu Advantage starts at US$100 per desktop and $700 per server per year, with tiered discounts based on the number of computers being managed.


Three suspects will appear in court in Kenya next week after six elephants, including four juveniles, were found shot dead in a private reserve in one of the worst poaching incidents in several years.
A wildlife official said that it is thought that the killings were at least partly motivated by revenge against officials because the calves, not having tusks, had no value to poachers.
The poachers "would have no reason for killing juveniles. They are trying to hit back at the authorities," the official said.
The adult elephants had their tusks removed.
Kenya Wildlife Service said its rangers exchanged gunfire with poachers on Saturday evening.
Three suspects were arrested but others are thought to be still at large.
The wildlife service linked the killings to the recent arrest of poaching suspects.
"We arrested 15 poachers the previous week for killing an elephant in the same area," William Kiprono, the service's director was quoted as saying in the Daily Nation newspaper.
The animals were killed in a southwestern reserve on the edge of the Tsavo National Park.
Kenya is battling an upsurge in the slaughtering of elephants and rhino. Since the start of the year, 65 elephants have been lost to poaching in Kenya, according to figures from the wildlife service, which recorded 302 slayings for the whole of 2013.
The service has been battling accusations that poaching ringleaders have been allowed to act with impunity. Five of its officials were suspended this month in a probe into mismanagement.


Untitled from Bronx News Network on Vimeo.
The campaign that would require developers of retail projects receiving taxpayer subsidies to pay a living wage -- $10 with benefits and $11.50 without -- is heating up as advocates press for an April City Council hearing. Council Speaker Christine Quinn has said she would allow hearings on the bill, which has 29 supporters, including every Bronx member of the City Council except for James Vacca of the east Bronx. Vacca was very much on the minds and tongues of numerous speakers at a Living Wage NYC rally last week at the Bronx Pentecostal Deliverance Center on the anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death.
The legislation was introduced by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., (see the video above) who led the effort to defeat the city’s effort to build a mall at the Armory, mainly because the developer would not guarantee that retail workers be paid a living wage. Council Members Oliver Koppell (speaking in the video below) and Annabel Palma are leading the charge in the Council.
Oliver Koppell Speaks At Living Wage Rally from Bronx News Network on Vimeo.
Mayor Bloomberg is on record opposing the bill, but with five more backers, the Council would have enough votes to override his veto.


The United States continues to be a nation of immigrants. An estimated 11 million undocumented people live in the U.S., and thousands more migrate legally: Roughly 140,000 employment-based and 480,000 family-based visas are issued each year. Yet the tide of public opinion is turning against this swell of new residents. Nearly 70 percent of Americans say that immigrants are a taxpayer burden, 62 percent think they add to national crime and 59 percent believe they take jobs away from Americans, according a recent survey by CNN.
Amid calls to close the borders further, economist and journalist Philippe Legrain says the answer to immigration lies in more open borders and more people entering the U.S. legally: "Freedom of movement is a fundamental human right," he says, "and governments have no business telling us where we can live and where we can work."
According to Legrain, controls over freedom of movement violate the right to seek opportunity and employment, as well as to escape from circumstance of birth. Such controls also cost lives: "Each year thousands of people die because of border restrictions around the world, whether its Africans drowning trying to reach Europe, or Mexicans dying in the desert, or people being packed into containers, shipped, and dying as a result," he says.
Kevin Johnson, the dean at the UC Davis School of Law, also thinks we need to open up the borders, saying we have to think of immigration as a labor issue: "The economic studies show that in the aggregate the economy benefits from an infusion of labor into the marketplace," he says. One such study, concluded that the removal of labor mobility restrictions would raise aggregate output by about 10.5 percent in North America, gains similar in effect to reducing the capital income tax between 40 and 45 percent.
Both Legrain and Johnson cite as a model the the European Union, where goods and people move across 27 countries relatively freely. In the EU, countries as economically dissimilar as Romania (which is poorer than Mexico, based on GDP per capita) and wealthy Sweden are connected. "People move freely and it has not caused disaster," said Legrain. "On the contrary, it has been very good for the economy."
Coupled with this economic appeal is a pragmatic reason: The borders can't be thoroughly secured. "Even if you have your doubts about immigration," said Legrain, "immigration controls make things worse." Now, he said, "Building a border wall, ever more stringent checks, and whether people have a right to work somewhere -- they don't actually stop immigration, they drive it underground, and that has huge costs not just for the people, but also for the society as a whole." For example, the average cost of hiring an "coyote" to facilitate an illegal border crossing from Mexico has steadily increased from around $300 per person in the 1992 to near $1,500 now, fueling a shadow economy that would dissipate with more open borders.
Opening up borders brings immigration into the open, and would necessarily accompany a reorganization of priorities, according to Johnson. This would include a shift from policing and prosecuting migration violations to improving working conditions for new workers and targeting specific threats to the U.S.
Contrary to public perception, immigration has had a positive overall impact on the U.S. economy, according to a study which looked at data from 1990 to 2004. The impact of immigration increased the average wage of U.S.-born workers overall, both in the short term and in the long term. Open immigration would further augment this economic boon—and could result in over 10 percent growth in economic output in North America.
"The central reason open borders can't work is that mass immigration is in conflict with the goals and characteristics of a modern society," says Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. One hundred years ago, says Krikorian, immigration to the U.S. worked in a way approximating open borders, to great benefit for the nation. But in our post-industrial, high-tech, knowledge-based economy the potential influx of people, not just from neighboring countries but from across the globe, would be disastrous.
Proponents of more open borders, said Krikorian, "think the existing flow of mostly Mexican and Central American immigrants is pretty much what you would see with open borders—it's just that they would be able to come legally instead of illegally. And that is a fallacy." The concern, he says, is "not with Mexican levels of poverty being imported, but Bangladeshi and Indonesian levels of poverty," which would add undue stress on the U.S. economy.
— Profs. Paul Klein and Gustavo Ventura. "Productivity Differences and the Dynamic Effects of Labor Movements." On the economic benefits of a reduction in border restrictions.
— Gianmarco Ottaviano and Giovanni Peri. "Rethinking the Effects of Immigration on Wages." On the positive impact immigrants have had on U.S.-born workers' wages.
— "CNN Poll: 'Melting Pot' weakening country?" A July 16-21, 2010 survey of 1,018 adult Americans on their opinions on immigrants and immigration.


So long, farewell, auf wiedersehn goodbye . . .
The gold standard of health insurance studies is the 1982 RAND study, which was a randomized controlled study of health care usage. One of the surprising findings was that when you pushed the cost down, usage went up, but health didn't.
Of the 1,294 adult participants who were randomly assigned to the free plan, 5 participants (0.4 percent) left the experiment voluntarily during the observation period, while of the 2,664 who were assigned to any of the cost-sharing plans, 179 participants (6.7 percent) voluntarily left the experiment. This represented a greater than sixteenfold increase in the percentage of dropouts, a difference that was highly significant and a magnitude of response that was nowhere else duplicated in the experiment.
What explains this? The explanation that makes the most sense is that the dropouts were participants who had just been diagnosed with an illness that would require a costly hospital procedure. … If they dropped out, their coverage would automatically revert to their original insurance policies, which were likely to cover major medical expenses (such as hospitalizations) with no copayments.
Who drops out of your study is an important factor that is far too often overlooked, especially by journalists. Weight loss studies are particularly bad for this--the people who aren't losing weight are, naturally, the ones who tend to drop out, which vastly overstates the success figures. But all sorts of medical studies are prone, including, it seems, this one.


With 1,100 miniature cars speeding through, Chris Burden's magnificent Metropolis II has been installed at LACMA. The large-scale kinetic sculpture features a dense system of roadways and buildings, and is modeled after the fast-paced modern city.
The sculpture, which takes up a full gallery, will be on view from January 14, 2011.


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