Here is your chance to win 2 tickets to the Central PA Outdoor & Sports Show March 22-24, 2019 at the Clearfield County Fairgrounds, Expo II.
Click HERE to enter! No purchase necessary. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. See contest page for official rules.
New ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’ Film in the Works: Could It Launch a New Female Action Star?


Industry insiders share their retention recommendations.
Images provided by FBDC members.
It's hard to find good salespeople -- and it's even more difficult to keep them around. According to a CSO Insights report, the average annual turnover for sales teams is nearly 17%, which is an incredibly expensive hit when you think about the time and resources required to find, onboard and train replacements.
If you want to reduce turnover rates on your sales team, you need to give your people a reason to stay. Below, eight members of Forbes Business Development Council offer their advice for retaining your best sales reps.


ITV will offer viewers a second chance to see the daily schedules of ITV2 and ITV3.
ITV has announced that it is to launch two timeshifted channels later this month.
One hour delayed versions of female orientated station ITV2 and classic and contemporary drama channel ITV3 will be available free-to-air via digital satellite.
ITV2 +1 and ITV3 +1 are expected to begin on October 30.


SAN FRANCISCO – The law that bars the University of California from considering race in student admissions violates the civil rights of black, Latino and Native American students who are underrepresented at the state's most prestigious campuses and blocked from seeking redress through the school's governing board, a class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges.
The federal court suit was brought by the Michigan-based, pro-affirmative action group By Any Means Necessary. It challenges the constitutionality of Proposition 209, a ballot measure approved by California voters in 1996 that prohibited racial or gender preferences in public contracting, education and employment.
A federal appeals court and the California Supreme Court have rebuffed earlier efforts to overturn the 13-year-old law. But Shanta Driver, the group's lead counsel, said a renewed federal challenge is timely because the U.S. Supreme Court has since issued a pair of rulings upholding some school desegregation programs. The gap between Latino and black high school graduation rates and UC enrollment has grown since Proposition 209 was enacted.
"Thirteen years of a ban on affirmative action in the state of California has left, in particular UCLA and Berkeley, with just pitiably low numbers of black and Latino students," Driver said.
At the heart of the complaint is the claim that minority students and their parents are being uniquely disadvantaged in violation of their due process rights because Proposition 209 prevented the university's governing Board of Regents from setting admissions policies that include race, gender and ethnicity, but not other characteristics, as factors.
"You can't have a white majority create a situation in which the only people who are barred from going to their regents and saying, 'Adjust the admissions system so more of our sons and daughters can get in' are black, Latino and Native American," Driver said.
UC spokesman Ricardo Vasquez said university lawyers were examining the lawsuit but that it was too soon for officials to comment on it. President Mark Yudof has criticized Proposition 209 in the past.
According to the suit, Latino, black and Native American students make up one-quarter of the freshmen enrolled at UC's nine undergraduate campuses this year — a higher percentage than in 1996. But because underrepresented minorities also comprise a bigger share of all public high school graduates — 48 percent compared with 39 percent in 1996 — their presence at UC schools has not kept pace in the absence of affirmative action, the complaint claims.
Driver said that while a trial judge must first decide whether to hear or dismiss the case, her aim is to get the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to take another look at Proposition 209. In 1997, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit ruled unanimously to uphold the measure, which was passed by 54 percent of California voters.
Voters in Washington, Michigan and Nebraska have passed laws similar to Proposition 209. A 1996 court order in Texas and a 2000 vote by the Florida Legislature banned the use of race in school admissions in those states.


To run an advanced search, you must first select from one of four datasets: Investigations, Enforcement Actions, FCPA Matters and Entities.
You can only search within one dataset at any given time. Each dataset includes a number of different data fields. When you select more than one option within a single data field, the search will insert "or" between the options. For example, if you select both "Basic Materials" and "Oil & Gas" within the Industry search field in the Investigations dataset, the search will look for all Investigations that involve either the Basic Materials industry or the Oil and Gas industry. When you query two different data fields, by contrast, the search will insert "and" between the fields. For example, if you select "Basic Materials" as the Industry and "Africa" as the Region of Alleged Misconduct in the Investigations dataset, then the search will return all Investigations involving both the Basic Materials industry and misconduct in Africa.
If you have questions about search functionality on the Clearinghouse website, please contact fcpac@law.stanford.edu.
The entities search includes information about the parent entity and its subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures, as well as entities that are predecessors or successors to the misconduct.


Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today offered online shopping tips for consumers as retailers including Amazon and Walmart advertise extra online deals this week.
Thus far in 2015, the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section has received more than 300 complaints involving online shopping. Commonly cited problems include billing disputes, misrepresentation, and refund or cancellation issues. Complaints generally are handled through the office’s informal dispute resolution process, in which specialists work with consumers and businesses to resolve complaints.
Research deals. Compare prices among multiple retailers and websites. Also check reviews of products before making purchases.
Look for exclusions and limitations. Important exclusions and limitations of a deal should be posted clearly in close proximity to the offer. Also check the return policy, and determine if you will have to pay shipping costs to return an item.
Make sure you use a secure Internet connection. Before disclosing any financial or personal information online, look for the lock symbol and the “s” in “https” at the beginning of the website address. The “s” indicates a secure connection.
Don’t use public Wi-Fi to make purchases or to check your bank account. Assume everyone can see what you are doing when you use a public network, and do not disclose logins, passwords, or credit card numbers when using an unsecure connection.
Pay with credit, if possible. Using a credit card generally gives you stronger protections to dispute unauthorized charges. Other payment methods may not offer the same protections.
Keep receipts. Keep a screenshot or other record detailing what you purchased, when you purchased it, and how much you paid for it. Maintaining this kind of documentation will help you dispute unauthorized charges if something goes wrong.
If you are expecting a package delivery, check the shipping status. Find out when it will be delivered and pick it up promptly to ensure the package is not stolen from your doorstep.
Check your credit card and bank statements. Look for any errors or unauthorized charges. If you find any problems, file a dispute with the seller, your credit card provider, and/or your bank as soon as possible.
Consumers who need help resolving a dispute about a purchase they made or those who believe they have been treated unfairly should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.


The shocking, cold-blooded murder of two New York City police officers Saturday has raised fresh questions about whether prominent Democrats — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. in particular — have gone too far in their criticism of law enforcement and, at least in part, caused this weekend’s brutal slayings.
Former New York Gov. George Pataki, for example, tweeted that Mr. de Blasio and Mr. Holder have used “divisive anti-cop rhetoric” and, in turn, helped inspire Saturday’s shooter.
The gunman, 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley, wrote on social media that he intended to kill cops and was deeply angry about the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, who were killed by police officers in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York, respectively, earlier this year.
The incidents led to nationwide protests and personal interventions by both Mr. Holder and President Obama, both of whom have urged law enforcement to develop better relationships with the communities they serve and end any singling out of black Americans. Mr. Obama, among other things, recently created a high-level task force on “21st century policing” and charged the group with making recommendations on how law enforcement can better interact with citizens.
Brinsley, who later killed himself, murdered Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu on Saturday, approaching their marked patrol car and opening fire at point-blank range.
Republicans were careful to blame Brinsley alone for his horrific acts, but some suggested that Mr. Holder and others may have created an environment where anti-police attitudes can thrive.
“The tone they’re setting around the rhetoric regarding the cops incites crazy people. But I blame the shooter,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, during an appearance on “Face the Nation” on CBS on Sunday.
A Florida police officer also was killed in a shooting early on Sunday morning, according to Reuters and other media reports. A suspect reportedly is in custody, though a motive has not yet been given.
Meanwhile, Mr. de Blasio has found himself in a near war with his own police department over perceived anti-cop positions. Officers turned their backs on the mayor as he entered a press conference Saturday to address the murders of Mr. Ramos and Mr. Liu.
Others have criticized Mr. de Blasio for his mayoral campaign last year, which partly was centered on opposition to the New York City Police Department’s controversial stop-and-frisk program.
“Quite frankly, the mayor ran an anti-police campaign last year,” former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday.
But others say it’s wrong to try and connect the outrage and protests following the Brown and Garner deaths to any subsequent violence against police, including Saturday’s incident.


“What is Mini feeding these people?” I thought to myself. I had just pulled into a parking lot in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to join hundreds of Mini owners for a breakfast/raffle/mingle and already ten impressively chipper individuals had introduced themselves before scurrying off to join the festivities.
This was my first introduction to Mini Takes The States (MTTS) 2016, a road rally that takes Mini owners (and often their dogs) across the U.S. in two weeks. The event has been scheduled every two years for the last ten, and it has grown from just 30 cars to over 700. I would be joining the herd for a stint from South Dakota to Utah – that much I knew. What I didn’t know was that I’d quickly be inducted into one of the most eclectic and friendly groups of people on the planet.
So how does MTTS work, why does it work, and who can participate?
From the outside looking in, it would appear that MTTS is simply a large-scale brand building opportunity. Round up a bunch of owners, steer them across the U.S., stopping from town to town like a traveling circus, and let the on-brand conversations commence. While that’s undoubtedly a brilliant side effect of the rally, it’s only part of a larger story. For one, the owners have just as much or more to gain from this exercise as Mini.
I’d quickly be inducted into one of the most eclectic and friendly groups of people on the planet.
For a $75 registration fee, Mini provides meals, on-route events, parking, discounts, prizes, and even vehicle roadside maintenance for every car. That just leaves owners and their families with two week’s worth of hotel bills – and even those aren’t that pricey since Mini helps negotiate group rates. As long as you don’t run into trouble with any highway patrol officers, the whole trip is quite reasonable. To put it another way, Mini pays for a big chunk of your two-week vacation. Apparently, the event is so attractive, that one couple that had signed up for the rally chose to actually buy a Mini when they found out it was a requirement to participate. Sure, forfeiting the registration fee would have been easier, but who am I to judge?
Then there’s the charitable side to MTTS. Mini has partnered with Feeding America, an organization dedicated to fighting domestic hunger. Owners are encouraged to create their own fundraising pages through Feeding America® and receive badges based on how much is raised. By the time we’d hit Wyoming, Mini’s troop had already earned enough to sponsor over 1,000,000 meals.
Pickups, Land Rovers, and retired tanks: I saw each of these during my leg of MTTS, but not among the ranks of registered participants. Instead, there were all generations and models of Mini vehicles, decked out in every color combination imaginable. It may be difficult to believe, but besides the cars we journalists were driving, no two Minis were alike. What the average citizen may have seen as a form of transportation, this group of owners saw as a blank slate for personal expression.
My personal favorites included a first generation Clubman that had been converted into a pest control-mobile, a Countryman with a color-matching caravan, and a Star Wars-themed Cooper four-door. But beyond these standouts, there were graphics-wrapped Minis, race-ready Minis, and Minis that had converted their interiors into dog habitats. While some cars made my eyes hurt, all of them were extensions of their owners’ enthusiasm.
Rallying over 4,000 miles can be an absolute blast or a total nightmare – and it all depends on the company. In the case of MTTS, I didn’t find an unfriendly soul in the bunch of owners who posed with one another in front of Mount Rushmore, danced together at a saloon in Sturgis, SD, and swapped stories while watching a rodeo near Cheyenne, WY. Instead, I felt awful for not being as overtly warm as each individual who approached me with a smile during every “rise and shine” event. In my defense, the M.O. of the general populous in the two places I’ve spent most of my life: Boston and LA, is to be skeptical and tough, lest you be labeled an oddball.
But these people had no agenda, except to welcome and befriend every Mini owner they met. When I asked why they participated in MTTS, some owners said it was a great way to see the country, but almost all of them said they did it for the friendships.


Robbie Power could ride his first winner since returning from his shoulder injury when teaming up with course and distance winner Neverushacon at Killarney.
Jessica Harrington's versatile seven-year-old returns to hurdles after a somewhat disappointing effort in the Galway Plate last time out and he gets the nod over Galway flat winner Nessun Dorma in the At The Races Hurdle.
Neverushacon won a similar race to this back in May having ran well at the Punchestown Festival. This is his first hurdle assignment since then and his mark of 129 still looks favourable as opposed to Nessun Dorma, who has failed to show the same level of ability in handicap hurdles as he has in competitive flat handicaps.
Gordon Elliott would be a frequent winner of three-year-old hurdles and just the second of the season looks like going his way with Elysian Plains.
The former Ger Lyons-trained runner would have cost Gigginstown a nice few quid after his Fairyhouse win and he was third in the first juvenile hurdle of the season at Roscommon last month. Hooded for the first time, Elysian Plains is expected to put his experience to good use here.
Killarney's third day of their August meeting is a mixed card and could feature a couple of Joseph O'Brien-trained winners on the level.
Downdraft takes a notable drop in class for the John J. Galvin & Son Limited Rated Race which has been won by some decent sorts over the years, and with apprentice Shane Crosse's 7lbs claim this would look a good opportunity for the three-year-old who was fancied to run a big race at Royal Ascot.
The frustrating-to-follow National Wealth will be opposed by many but maybe in handicap company he could find his niche against plenty of exposed rivals and getting a three-year-old allowance.
Willie Mullins looks to have a strong hand at Kilbeggan later. Koroleva, Robin De Carlow and Shush is likely to be a popular opening race treble for many punters, while Solindian is an interesting newcomer in the bumper for the champion trainer and will carry the colours of Qatar Racing.
Koroleva was second at Cork but pulled well clear of the third horse and is tough to oppose, while the winner that night, Just Klass, has to take on Robin De Carlow in the following novice hurdle. A seven-length winner here last time, Robin De Carlow has stable companion Masons Daughter to beat but should do so.
Shush was an impressive bumper winner and it would be a surprise if she didn't make a winning start over hurdles with little other notable form in the race.
Davy Russell is due to ride Its All Guesswork in the beginners chase at the Westmeath venue and a repeat of his Galway effort should be enough for Its All Guesswork to open his account over fences.


Well before his gig as Fed Chairman, a young Randian economist named Alan Greenspan once postulated that the profit-seeking of big business “is the unexcelled protector of the consumer.” Of course, it’s worth noting that Greenspan’s essay, entitled “The Assault on Integrity,” was published decades before the present-day fracking boom, which might well be putting unwitting Americans at risk all around the nation as drilling companies continue their relentless pursuit of skyrocketing profits.
As previously reported by Inquisitr, the U.S. Geological study recently published a report indicating that the continued rise in hydraulic fracturing — better known by its colloquial name “fracking” — is “almost certainly” behind spates of earthquakes in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas.
CNN reports that the Dallas, Texas area alone has experienced “almost 40 small earthquakes” in 2015, including a two-day stretch in early January in which 11 earthquakes were logged over the course of 24 hours. According to the Dallas Morning News, a 4.0 earthquake rattled Johnson County on Thursday, May 7. Johnson County is just south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Bolstering the USGS report linking fracking to quakes are the findings of a new Southern Methodist University-led research team, which indicate that drilling in parts of Texas “most likely” caused a number of earthquakes in the area over the course of recent years.
State Column reports that SMU researchers are especially concerned that a small earthquake could lead to another, especially where fault-lines are involved. However, the Texas Railroad Commission, an organization that oversees oil and gas affairs in the state, has been hesitant to accept findings that link the fracking industry to seismic activity.
For his part, Texas Governor Greg Abbott appears ready to kick his state’s fracking industry into overdrive when he signs a bill that will loosen restrictions on fracking companies. HB40, a bill that has been nicknamed the “Denton Fracking Bill” after the Texas town that voted for a complete ban on the practice within its borders, will effectively prevent Texas cities from placing any major restrictions on fracking companies. According to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, the anticipated move was roundly condemned by Adam Briggle, President of the Denton Drilling Awareness Group.
Ever since the Mayan calendar came to its anticlimactic end a few years ago, the concept of a life-changing mega-disaster has more or less faded from the forefront of American imaginations. From box-office smashes like The Day After Tomorrow and 2012 to the Echo Bridge “mockbuster” 10.5: Apocalypse, audiences once flocked to screens in an effort to view Armageddon from a comfortable distance. But if the USGS and SMU reports are indeed accurate, some real-life action might soon be playing out at fracking sites all around the country. And much like the film moguls of Hollywood, those at the top echelons of the fracking industry appear to have the bankroll and the connections to make it happen.


Elections under what rules? Are all 50-plus candidates who were eligible to run the first time eligible again — implying another series of runoffs that prolong the installation of an elected government? If not, who gets to stay on the ballot? Will a new vote require re-registering potential voters? What authority does the interim government have to call for elections that extend well beyond its 120-day mandate?
And who’s going to pay for it?
The United States gave $33 million for last year’s legislative and presidential vote, which had a price tag of $80 million. Who can assure a tightfisted U.S. Congress that this time the money won’t be spent for naught?
The report now rests with the Provisional Electoral Council, which has the final say on electoral matters and wants to wait until June 6 to examine it and announce a new election calendar. That is not an unreasonable delay, given all that’s riding on its decision.
What is not reasonable is to go back to Square One, to start over again with new registration and a full slate of wannabe presidents. Most of them barely won a fistful of votes the first time around and have no hope of doing better. To start again is too expensive, too time-consuming — a dangerous waste of time and resources amid a political crisis.
Here’s a suggestion to avoid that: Set a reasonable bar for the number of votes won in the first round to decide who can run again and to eliminate candidates who have no following. Make the bar low enough to avoid eliminating anyone with some semblance of support.
Requiring candidates who obtained, say, 3 percent of the vote in October would ensure that all candidates with at least an outside chance of success could take part in the new election. That would include both Messrs. Moïse and Célestin and a candidate from the recognized Fanmi Lavalas party, as well as two others.
And by all means, get rid of any provision that opens the door to double voting, which is what led to this mess in the first place.
Meanwhile, the government must be alert for efforts to create chaos. The findings of the verification commission are unlikely to sit well with ex-president Michel Martelly and his followers, who sought to ensure a victory for Mr. Moïse at all costs. Expect an increase in violent street protests from that side.
The best way to get ahead of the problem is for Haitian authorities to accept the findings of the commission and set clear and fair rules to hold a new election this year. Time is not on their side. They should act quickly.


A 39-year-old woman has died in a house fire in Aberdeen.
Firefighters were called to a blaze on the first floor of a four storey building in Shapinsay Square at about 21:10 on Monday and extinguished the flames.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but it is not thought to have been suspicious.
No-one else was hurt in the incident.


While certain types of exercise increase bone density, the current debate is over the type of exercise that increases it most effectively. Several studies have demonstrated that five key exercises improve bone density in the hip and spine and therefore are effective in the battle against osteoporosis. These exercises are lunges, squats, chair raises, stepping and toe raises.
The phrase “weight-bearing exercise” has become an increasingly popular way to help people understand bone-building exercises, but it doesn't fully explain the type of stimulus bones need. To increase bone density, exercise must be different from and greater than daily activities. If you have been inactive and start a walking program or switch from walking to running, your bones will initially respond by improving density, but after a couple of weeks, the stimulus becomes normal and your bones no longer need to adapt. Bone density responds better to short bouts of increased mechanical loading. In other words, ongoing repetitive movements common to aerobic exercise are not effective at increasing bone density, even if they are weight-bearing activities. After the first minute or so of repetitive loading, the cellular response of bones switches off. On the other hand, lunges and squats are the kind of weight-bearing exercises that do build bone density.
To increase bone density, you have to surprise the skeletal system with diverse exercises that require unfamiliar loading patterns or changes in movements. Your bones will adapt to new and different forces from a variety of angles, but only the bones that are directly stressed will adapt. The two primary ways to add stress to bones are to increase force and add impact. Squats increase force by tugging on the muscles that attach to the bones. Forward, diagonal and side lunges increase force by tugging on the bones from different angles. They also add impact when you step down into the lunge.
Both squats and lunges are compound exercises, meaning they incorporate multiple movements and use more than one joint. Because of this, they are often difficult to perform correctly in the beginning, before your neuromuscular system is familiar with the motion. It's a good idea to have a personal trainer or physical therapist evaluate your form. Start simply and perfect your form before increasing the difficulty. To safely squat, keep your knees aligned over your ankles throughout the squat. The easiest way to do this is to squat with your calves against a chair. Squatting with your toes and knees facing forward and your feet greater than hip-width apart will increase balance during the squat, place less stress on your knees and improve strength in your hips. To lunge safely, keep the lunging knee aligned over the ankle. Lunging up onto a step will place less stress on your knees.
Once you can easily repeat three sets of 15 repetitions without pain, advance to more difficult variations, switch between exercises in a set and vary the tempo. You can also start adding weight in 1- to 2-pound increments. To add weight, hold dumbbells or wear a weighted belt or vest. For each new weight, start with one set of 10 to 15 repetitions and work up to three sets of 15.


Registered nurse Jessica Tierney tests Dottie Kaminsky's blood pressure during a previous Senior Health Fair.
Although the name seems misleading, the Jan. 22 senior health fair is open to anyone of any age.
Sponsored by The Douglas County Senior Center, the 15th annual health fair is 8 a.m.-noon at the Carson Valley Inn.
"It's a great opportunity to get to know some local businesses and have free/low cost services provided," said Sheri Karosich, recreation specialist.
Around 30 vendors are expected to attend, including the Carson Valley Medical Center and FISH.
One local dentist office will be providing a free mouth cancer screening, and FISH will be handing out free winter coats.
"(The event) is a good chance for seniors, and a good thing for the community to get involved with," said Karosich.
Transportation to the event from the senior center will be provided by DART.
Only cash fees will be charged for any services that are not free.
Various types of blood work will be available for a low cost, some of which require fasting prior to the test.
For more information, call Karosich at 783-6455.


One of the most popular wall paper applications among iOS users – Pimp Your Screen from Apalon – has been upgraded to be compatible with the Retina Display.
Remember how all the hell broke loose with app developers when Apple suddenly came out with the ground breaking display on its new iPad? They had no option but to give the necessary revamp to their app interfaces to make most of the high res display space.
Certain early birds had hit the App Store close to the iPad release making most of the hype around the Retina Display compatible apps, but some like Apalon have just touched the line now.
Touted to be the best customization tool in the App Store for iOS devices, Pimp Your Screen now supports the Retina Display of the new iPad giving you better display icons, skins and wall papers.
The professional designer team at Apalon has packed visually appealing high-quality images and wallpapers with this upgrade. In order to offer maximum customization options, the company claims to constantly update these contents.
In addition to offering a collection of App Shelves, Icon Skins, Neon Combos and Home Screens, the upgraded app also allows users to make their own designs with its unique Lock Screen Maker and Home Screen Maker.
With the help of this app, you may pick any image you want and add frames and skins to make it a classic wall paper. It also enables users to share their creations via email.
So if you think it’s time to Pimp Your Screen, head to App Store.


I Dance the Way You Make Me Dance How Is the Puppet to Blame?
“Know Bangladesh Better” is a big promise to deliver, but a promise that we find to be very compelling. In our mostly Dhaka-centric lives, all that lies beyond the urban periphery tend to be chronically under-reported; unless of course the reporters are covering floods, cyclones, or other disasters. It was our strong belief that if we were to look, we would find stories of individual and communal triumph, tales of a wonderful people and culture, accounts brilliant initiatives and their remarkable rewards. We were convinced that we would find these stories, and that these stories needed to be told.
Star Insight is a product of this conviction. It has been four years since the journey began, and we have just about scratched the surface of this vast land and the stories it holds. Despite the cynicism that prevails, and comes so easily in these troubled times, with the Star Insight we have tried to take our readers beyond the confines of the city and introduce them to the positivity that abounds in every corner of Bangladesh.
Thus far, what we have found amazing is the creativity and commitment of some people in serving their community, their perseverance and determination in achieving their end, and their ability to surmount tremendous odds. Star Insight has constantly sought out these patriots, whose deeds has always been louder then their words, and tell their stories. The accounts of these individuals not only inspires great hope, but also serves to reminds us that there is more to this nation than all the negatives that are constantly thrown around.
For this fourth anniversary issue of the Star Insight, we have chosen twenty individuals, twenty unsung heroes, that epitomizes our values: unwavering dedication to their patriotic causes, unflinching determination in the face immense adversities, and their ultimate achievements for their communities. We hope you will find these tales as inspiring as we did.
These stories need to be told, and the people heard, and the Star Insight will continue to be the platform that tries to make that possible.


“Someone who vaccinates, b/c I’d want our kids to survive,” tweeted Seth Mnookin, author of “The Panic Virus,” which debunks claims by McCarthy and others that vaccines cause autism.
Here are a few more replies.
A Q Score references public awareness of a celebrity, as well as his or her popularity. TheWrap recently published a widely-read report revealing “The Most and Least Liked Daytime Hosts,” which indicated that McCarthy’s popularity is actually not very high. The average celebrity scores a 15, and she has only a 7.


The party is over and the curtain has come down on the World Cup for another four years. ITer Scott Davidson is coming home along with the thousands of other fans who travelled to Japan and South Korea. But Davidson won't be returning to a mountain of debt and no annual leave for the next three years - he managed wangle a seven-week business trip to Japan, writes Nathalie Towner.
Davidson was seconded from his role as a technical support engineer in Scotland to take a seven-week contract providing first-line telephone support for the 20 World Cup stadia and two international media centres.
The opportunity came up because his employer Avaya was supplying the converged voice and data network that underpinned the competition. "I was approached by my boss and asked if I was interested. He knew of my keen interest in soccer. I support Glasgow Rangers and have followed them across Europe," says Davidson.
This was his first international assignment as well as his first trip to Japan and he has been making the most of it. "I went to Osaka for the day and had quite a few days out in Tokyo and have been trying to see as much of Japan as I can," he says.
the team was in the tournament. "Of course I would have liked to see Scotland at the tournament, but it makes sense to get behind any home team that makes it to the finals," he explains.
"The atmosphere here has really varied, some days you wouldn't know there was a World Cup going on but then suddenly absolutely everyone is wearing a Japan shirt. They close down shopping malls and put on big screens, the bars are crammed and TVs are all pointing out into the street."
Davidson has been working nine-and-a-half-hour shifts at the International Media Centre in Yokohama, where up to 2,000 journalists and broadcasters gather to work, file stories and attend press briefings. For the techies, the morning shift runs from 7am to 4.30pm and the late shift runs through to 2am.
"My responsibility has been to monitor the fault system that generates alarms in the system. I ensure that the telephony and data systems are fully operational and I am the first point of contact if anything goes wrong," says Davidson. "We are basically providing the data network for the media to use."
Each network team comprises six techies and a manager. They have been drawn from Avaya sites across six continents.
"About two thirds of the people here are from the US and the rest have come from from all over the world. There are people here from countries like Mexico, Argentina, Germany and Hungary," says Davidson.
The mix of nationalities in the workplace has ensured a healthy level of football rivalry. "The Spanish techies were really upset when their team didn't go through, and we have been giving the French techies lots of abuse, but it has all been just good fun," says Davidson.
He says going to Japan has also been a unique learning opportunity. "I have been able to learn about all the different parts of the network, we have all fields covered by the six people in the team and I have been able to learn from the best people in the company.
"We all have similar roles but cover specific products. One colleague just works on the links between the media centre and all the stadia. I have learned some valuable data networking skills, such as basic Cajun configuration and monitoring of Cajun devices."
Unsurprisingly, the pressure was really on when the matches were being played. "Suddenly there are lots of people standing behind you, but the real priority is that there are no problems," says Davidson.
It is going to be hard going back to the normal routine in Glasgow, but Davidson is hoping he will stand a good chance of being asked to cover the 2006 World Cup in Germany. "The whole thing has been tremendous and has totally surpassed my expectations. The whole experience of Japan is a real eye-opener, it is an incredible country," he says.


At his V-Day anniversary parade in Beijing last year, Xi Jinping announced that the People’s Liberation Army would shed some 300,000 personnel. The move was presented as a gesture of peace, but observers noted that it fit neatly into the ongoing program of streamlining and modernizing China’s bloated armed forces, which would still comprise around two million people. At the same time, Xi has moved to assert his authority over the PLA, garnering praise from U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton according to recently leaked speech excerpts.
The purpose of their demonstration was unclear. Protesters approached by The Associated Press declined to be interviewed, and censors blocked searches on social media about retired soldiers or the Chinese defense ministry.
Hundreds of police and plainclothes security officers surrounded the protesters, hemming them in with buses and police vehicles.
While Chinese authorities routinely suppress discussions about the military and soldiers’ issues, one human-rights activist, Huang Qi, told the AP that veterans have staged more than 50 protests this year alone. However, demonstrations on such a large scale are extremely rare in the center of the heavily policed capital.
Beijing has promised to improve its treatment of veterans. At an annual parliamentary meeting in March, the government pledged to spend 39.8 billion yuan ($5.9 billion) this year on allowances for demobilized troops, a 13% increase over 2015.
[…] The promise of increased aid this year, however, hasn’t assuaged participants at Tuesday’s protest. Several said they have been campaigning for years to seek the benefits they say the government had promised them upon leaving the armed forces.
“We’ve gotten nothing since retiring from service: no pensions, no social security,” said a 55-year-old protester from China’s northern Shanxi province, who didn’t give his name. A former army driver who served for 14 years, he said he has worked various odd jobs to make ends meet since leaving the PLA two decades ago.


This morning is filled with Iowa caucus questions: How will Donald Trump handle his first political loss? Does this mean there are actual humans out there who like Ted Cruz? But these pale in comparison to the biggest of them all: Who is sticker kid? Was he planted by the Sanders campaign? Is he having an allergic reaction to the adhesive? Did he have his mind swapped with a goldfish after some lab experiment gone horribly wrong? Discuss.


Handle Branding’s work with NSW Health WSLHD on the Womens & Newborns Health Brand was awarded two Silvers and a Bronze Award at last night’s Transform Awards Asia-Pacific; a Silver for the Best Creative Strategy and Best Visual Identity in Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals Sector, and a Bronze for Best use of Typography.
The awards consistently set a stronger benchmark for work in brand development while reflecting the growing significance of brand in strategic corporate communications. The corporate brand – and its implementation, positioning and creativity – has become one of the most valuable assets a business owns.
With shortlisted companies from Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Cambodia, countries all across the continent of Asia, this evening has proven there is much to be celebrated in Asia-Pacific. The awards, held at Harbour Grand Hotel, was hosted by Vivek Mahbubani.
Michael Schepis, creative director of Handle Branding, says the awards are a huge honour considering the infancy of the company.
“We are more than honoured to even be considered for the awards let alone win three in one night. Handle Branding is less then two years old based out of Parramatta, Western Sydney and to win these awards it’s a real encouragement,” he said.
The judges were impressed by the projects they reviewed and commented on the quality of the submissions and the award winning work which they found inspirational. They commended creative agencies for finding solutions to their clients’ challenges and approaching change from a variety of different angles. The collaboration between agencies and clients was often fundamental and well carried out, producing stunning results.


Yolanda Hadid raved to Access about her new love after a two-year battle with Lyme disease. "This amazing human showed up," the former model and mother to Bella and Gigi Hadid gushed. "It just magically fell into place," she said. "Making A Model with Yolanda Hadid" airs Thursdays at 10/9C on Lifetime.


Days before its exhibition debut, the Leopold Museum in Vienna, Austria covered up controversial posters that showcased soccer players exposing their more intimate parts after receiving numerous complaints from the public. The visual advertisements — along with a 13-foot full-frontal photo sculpture of a reclining naked man called Mr. Big — were part of a provocative campaign to tease the launch of the museum’s “Nackte Manner” (Naked Men) exhibition.
The exhibition, which features some 300 works showing diverse and changing depictions of naked men from 1800 to the present day, runs until January 28, 2013.


Wayward Pines is coming back soon. FOX recently released a new teaser for season two of the series.
The second season will star Jason Patric, Djimon Hounsou, and Hope Davis.
Season two of Wayward Pines premieres on May 25th at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
What do you think? Are you a fan of Wayward Pines? Will you watch season two?
Enjoyed season one and the end. Not sure season two will capture the imagination and interest though.
I love the first season, best TV in many years.
I’m happy it’s coming back, too. Really enjoyed this one.
So glad it was not canceled. Thank you, thank you!!!
I will ABSOLUTELY watch Season 2 !!!! I am THRILLED it is continuing….


Catherine Ballard is a partner at the law firm of Bricker & Eckler and vice-chair of its Health Care practice group. She works with clients in the areas of hospital/medical staff integration, medical staff and hospital-employed physician integration, quality assessment and performance improvement, and related peer review matters. She develops medical staff/advanced practice provider governing documents, and she provides advice on Medicare conditions of participation and private accreditation, provider scope of practice, physician recruitment/employment, and general patient care.
Catherine currently serves as the executive director for Bricker’s affiliated consulting company, The Quality Management Consulting Group, Ltd. (QMCG), which provides services in the areas of performance improvement, external peer review, community health needs assessments, and HIPAA compliance.
From 1985 to 1987, she served as a law clerk to Judge John D. Holschuh of the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and also as an adjunct assistant professor in legal writing at The Ohio State University Mortiz College of Law. Catherine is a regular speaker for the Ohio Hospital Association and American Health Lawyers Association on a variety of health care issues and speaks at national forums on topics such as health care quality management, credentialing and peer review, medical staff governance, fair hearings and ethics.


Has Bob Dylan run out of words? The man famous for putting them together in a way that has delighted millions of fans over the last 55 years is yet to offer any in recognition of his recent prize for literature. The Nobel Prize committee can’t even get a single syllable out of him.
Four days after the Swedish Academy awarded Dylan the prestigious prize “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition,” it said it’s given up trying to contact him about the accolade.
“Right now we are doing nothing. I have called and sent emails to his closest collaborator and received very friendly replies. For now, that is certainly enough,” the academy’s Sara Danius told Swedish radio this week.
Later the same day, Dylan played a live show in Las Vegas. Again, the singer-songwriter made no mention of the prize, though some commentators speculated as to whether his final song, a cover of Frank Sinatra’s Why Try To Change Me Now, may have been a supremely subtle nod to the news.
And on Friday, performing at the Desert Trip festival in California, the whole matter slipped Dylan’s mind again, the 75-year-old wordsmith opting to save his voice for his singing performance rather than risking it on any acknowledgement of the prize.
But his continued silence on the subject now has some people wondering if he’ll bother heading over to Sweden on December 10 to accept the award from King Carl XVI Gustaf. Danius, for one, doesn’t seem overly concerned.


Farewell to Sigtuna! A few last glimpses as I leave Sweden….
We’ve written about last week’s Sigtuna Literary Festival outside Stockholm. We’ve written about Syrian writer-in-residence Iman Al Ghafari and Danish poet Ulrikka Gernes and the Swedish poet (although he lives in Oslo) Håkan Sandell. Now it’s time – alas! – to say goodbye to the Sigtuna, where we were delighted to be a guest for a few days. What a better way than with a few random photos from the mansion where it all took place? Top to bottom (first photo provided by the festival; the rest by Humble Moi and cellphone).
1) I joined a panel on Eastern European poets and the poetry of exile with Swedish poet and novelist Malte Persson (left) and Prague-based Ukrainian poet and journalist Igor Pomerantsev (right). The lively and witty Ukrainian stole the show – a good thing, too; he had a lot to say. Please note the statuary on the bookshelves: on the left, a relief of the Russian poet Regina Derieva, who is greatly honored in Sweden, the place where she made her home after many peregrinations. And on the right bookshelf, Dante Alighieri, of course.
2), 3), 4), 5) The charming literary mansion that hosts the festival is a delightful place to roam and get lost in. Every room has delightful nooks and crannies where you want to curl up with a book – and there are plenty of those to peruse, too.
6) A memorial corner for Regina Derieva, with some of the seashells she loved and collected.
7) Last day in Stockholm, with award-winning Swedish writer Bengt Jangfeldt, author of acclaimed biographies on Vladimir Mayakovsky and Raoul Wallenberg, with Alexander Deriev and Igor Pomerantsev at right.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Farewell to Sigtuna! A few last glimpses as I leave Sweden….


From decrying illegal immigration to espousing an America First trade policy, from denouncing “angry mobs” to taking jabs at “Crazy Maxine” and “Pocahontas,” few would disagree that when it comes to triggering lefties, President Trump is the ultimate Zen master. And given the president’s almost superhuman ability to drive the Left insane with the push of a few buttons to his Twitter account, one might be forgiven for being surprised that one seemingly ubiquitous Saturday tweet topped all or most of the rest, not by calling someone “Horseface” (although yeah, that was hilarious) or taking another well-deserved jab at Robert Mueller’s “witch hunt,” but by bringing a key issue to light that the Left desperately wants to hide.
Now if you’re a normal person reading this, you might think - ‘What’s the big deal? Isn’t Trump basically saying law enforcement will be looking out for, uh, those who, you know … BREAK THE LAW?’ And you’d be entirely correct, but remember when it comes to liberals we aren’t talking about “normal” people, not on any intellectual or moral level. We’re talking about people whose entire lives revolve around obtaining power, retaining power, and using that power to pound the rest of us into submission. By any means necessary. So when Trump or anyone else to the right of center talks about an issue like voter fraud, liberals don’t hear ‘law and order’ or ‘fair elections,’ but instead they see it as mean-old-Trump trying to take away one of their primary tools for stealing elections.
And they go absolutely ballistic.
“Donald Trump and Republicans know that they have to lie about voter fraud—which is virtually nonexistent—to suppress and intimidate voters in order to win,” tweeted Bernie Sanders, because nobody would ever try any funny business to keep him from getting elected.
One cannot help but wonder if Acosta is aware that immigrants aren’t allowed to vote until they become citizens.
It’s a common theme, one that’s been repeated often since Trump first raised the issue after the 2016 election, and it still begs the question - If voter fraud is so “non-existent,” why are these geniuses so apoplectic that Trump is concerned about it?
The other tactic is to accuse Trump and others concerned about voter fraud of “voter suppression,” or trying to keep minorities from voting. But by some of the below reactions, you’d think Trump was planning to have hooded KKK members at polling places checking party affiliations and allowing only Republicans to enter.
“Shame on you, Mr. President, for trying to intimidate voters, especially while you yourself are under investigation for the most egregious electoral fraud this nation has ever experienced,” wrote former Clinton-era Labor Secretary Robert Reich.
“Normally this stuff is printed on anonymous, deniable flyers and thrust under minority voters' doors in the dead of night,” wailed David Frum.
Seriously, only Frum and his ilk would think eligible-to-vote minorities are so stupid that they would stay away from the polls simply because Trump said authorities would be making sure everyone is … eligible to vote.
I don’t know. Did Trump say citizens weren’t allowed to vote? Maybe I missed that part, Bette? Of course, there’s always the possibility that you and I define “citizen” differently.
But seriously, in what universe does insisting that one must be properly and legally registered to vote in order to vote amount to “voter suppression.” Sure, maybe it “suppresses” the votes of dead people, illegal immigrants and people who planned to “vote early and often” on election day, but other than that, on what level is insisting on law and order some sort of immoral act?
In other words, there is one logical reason and one logical reason alone why Democrats wail about voter fraud - because they know the practice exists and they expect to benefit from it. Even if the numbers aren’t in the millions that Trump alleged after 2016, a few thousand or even a few hundred well placed “votes” can turn the tide in key districts.
And things grow even more murky when Democrats won’t even allow investigations into the issue. Case in point, President Trump being forced to dissolve the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity in January because certain Blue States refused to cooperate or give the commission any data.
Might they have something to hide?
Even so, some instances have come to light, like here, and here and here, among others. And given the hysteria around the fact that Trump even brought it up, you can bet there are more out there if the issue could somehow achieve a full, comprehensive state-by-state investigation.
After all, if our president weren’t over the target, he wouldn’t be getting so much flak.


San Antonio’s “Central Park,” Brackenridge served as a Confederate tannery, stone quarry, and a key part of the city’s waterworks before the heart of it was deeded to the city by George Brackenridge in 1899. The park is home to lofty tree canopies, the San Antonio River’s headwaters, bicycle trails, bits and pieces of the old Spanish acequias, and an assortment of excellent day-trip options such as the San Antonio Zoo, the recently restored Japanese Tea Garden, a golf course, and playground, as well as being sited just downhill from the San Antonio Botanical Garden to the East. The Witte Museum, with its kid-friendly historic and hands-on exhibitions, is located adjacent to the park, too.


A villager who lives near one of the most dangerous roads in Britain has erected his own speed camera in a bid to slow motorists down.
Gordon Crosbie said he was so fed up with drivers who hurtle along the narrow country road at speeds of up to 70mph that he built the replica Gatso using a plastic board and some reflective tape.
The 63-year-old oil worker, from Glentham, Lincolnshire, said the "camera" was so effective at slowing cars down that the villagers could once again move around the tiny village without fear of being mown down.
"It has had a 100 per cent success rate so far," Mr Crosbie said.
"You can see it working and if it saves just one child's life then it's more than worth it."
The notorious A631 Gainsborough to Market Rasen road, which runs through Glentham, is 17th in the AA's survey of Britain's most dangerous A roads.
With the number of serious and fatal accidents on the stretch being three times the national average, it is hailed as the worst road in the East Midlands.
But despite this, Mr Crosbie claimed his campaign to have fixed speed cameras installed in the village had fallen on deaf ears.
He said: "I have lived in this village for 35 years and it really is one of the worst roads in the whole of Great Britain.
"It's been noted by the AA and the RAC as having more accidents than any other villages. I've spent 20 years complaining about the traffic to the Road Safety Partnership and the police.
"All they do is come out checking the road but nothing gets done."
Mr Crosbie said signs put up along the A631 warning that speed cameras were in the area were ineffective because motorists rarely slowed down until they actually see a camera.
"It's all well and good putting up signs, but the nearest camera is three miles away from the village. No one pays attention to them - at the end of the day if you see a sign warning about deep water and there's no lake you just ignore the sign.
"So I thought the only way to do something about it is to put my own camera up.
"End to end Glentham is only about 500 yards long and the road is so narrow two lorries cannot pass each other. But now at least when they see my camera they slow down enough to let vehicles pass safely."
Paige Mitchell, coordinator of the Slower Speed Initiative, said the lengths Mr Crosbie felt he had to go to showed more needed to be done to improve safety on rural roads.
She said: "It is a travesty. It is so sad that people have to do that.
"What we need is a system in which speed limits are enforced and the reasons for enforcing them are advertised - speed is the single biggest contributory factor in serious road accidents."
Dave Wain, of the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, said the road through Glentham was not eligible for a fixed camera under the present Government rules.
He said: "While we sympathise with Mr Crosbie, until the rules change we cannot put an enforcement camera in Glentham.
"We are continually monitoring all Lincolnshire rules but until things change we cannot do anything as Glentham doesn't meet the criteria and we cannot just go around operating speed cameras willy nilly."


The city name at Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport has adopted the bleu-blanc-rouge.
Since Saturday, the nameplate at the top of the terminal has seen its letters coloured red, white and blue, and the Canadiens logo put inside the O.
The Canadiens begin their first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers Wednesday at the Bell Centre.


CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - A fifth-grade Walterboro student was being treated in Charleston for injuries she received during a fight at her school.
The Forest Hills Elementary School student, whose name was not released, was airlifted to MUSC in Charleston, according to a post on the school district’s Facebook page.
Colleton County School District spokesman Sean Gruber confirmed one student has been suspended as the matter is being investigated but he could not comment on any injuries.
Colleton County Sheriff’s spokesperson Shalane Lowes said deputies are investigating an assault between two students.
“The district asks that the community keep this student and her family in their thoughts,” a Facebook post from the school district stated.
The fight occurred Monday at the school. District officials say school administrators promptly secured the scene, ended the fight and called emergency medical services to the school.
“This really, really has affected me as an individual,” said William Bowman Jr., a Colleton County School Board Member."Me as a father. Me as a righteous human being. It has negatively affected me emotionally, and I am deeply, deeply saddened by the occurrence that has happened.


"If there’s any emergency at the border, it’s the one he created, the crisis he created," he said in an interview with Fox News at the time, referring to President Donald Trump.
In a stunning but not unprecedented reversal, on Tuesday Democrat presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker finally admitted that a crisis exists along the southern U.S. border. He even urged his fellow..
CNN's Don Lemon tells Dem presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker "nice job" during commercial break.
At a CNN-hosted town hall event Wednesday, Democrat presidential candidate Sen. Cory "Spartacus" Booker vowed to wage war against the National Rifle Association if he's..
Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, said she is not running for president in the 2020 election. Clinton said she was still "going to keep..


Homepage Mobile Phones Asus ASUS ROG phone announced!
Gaming has been on a big rise recently, and the mobile industry is no stranger to that. We’ve already seen some tries from other companies regarding gaming. Some like OnePlus are making tweaks in the software to be better optimized when you’re gaming. Others are building fully fledged gaming smartphones. The Razer Phone is an example of that – a beefed up smartphone that was optimized for gaming. And now, ASUS wants to jump on the gaming train. Meet the ASUS Rog phone!
Starting with the design, you can see from miles away that this is a gaming phone. Part of it is sold by the bold curves and edges, while the other part is sold by the RGB logo on the back. It’s a look that is common across any gaming hardware, and it’s guaranteed to turn looks towards it. On the front, you will find the 6” AMOLED display with 2160 x 1080 resolution and HDR support. On the back, the regular package – a dual camera setup and the previously mentioned RGB logo. What’s different than other smartphones is found on the sides. Namely, aside from the main USB-C port on the bottom, there are two more merged into one on the side. In it, you can attach many of the accessories ASUS made for this device. What are those accessories? Read on.
Starting with the performance first, the ASUS ROG phone is probably one of the fastest smartphones available right now. Like most of the other flagship smartphones, the ROG also rocks the Snapdragon 845 processor. Unlike them, the one found here runs at 2.96GHz. That is possible thanks to a special redesign on the cooling system inside the device. With that, they had the opportunity to overclock it from the standard 2.7GHz. Aside from that, the device has 8GB of RAM and 128 or 512GB of internal storage. It has a dual 12MP + 8MP camera combo on the back and a single 8MP shooter on the front. And all of that is powered by the 4000mAh battery, which should last you through your long gaming sessions.
Returning to the accessories, ASUS will offer four different accessories that will be available for purchase aside from the device. The first one is a clip-on cooling fan, that should further on cool down your smartphone in those long gaming sessions. It also adds additional USB-C port and another headphone jack. The second one is a dock that will turn your smartphone into a PC, similar to the Samsung Dex. But this one is designed with gaming in mind, and with it, you’re getting a lot of ports to accompany it. One USB-C port, four USB-A ports, Ethernet, DisplayPort, HDMI, 3.5mm S/PDIF port and a 3.5mm microphone jack. This should take your gaming sessions to the next level.
Going on, the third one is a controller that attaches to your smartphone on the sides. You’re getting the standard package of buttons: dual analog sticks, four regular and four shoulder buttons and a D-pad. It’s made in collaboration with Gamevice, and they’re promising a special TV dock in the near future. Lastly, the TwinView Dock is a special clamshell controller with a screen on the bottom. That screen is also a 6” 2160 x 1080 AMOLED panel, and it is accompanied with two stereo speakers. The controller also features grips and shoulder buttons, as many others do. Finally, all of this is powered by the 6000mAh battery – a monster that should hold on through your long gaming sessions.
The ASUS ROG phone will be available for purchase this summer. Unfortunately, there are still no details about the price for now.
So, what are your thoughts on the ASUS ROG phone? Share them in the comments below.
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SYDNEY — There isn't much you can buy for one lousy dollar anymore. Even a paddle pop will cost you more.
What you can buy though, is a stake in an airline, albeit struggling, as Virgin has just done in Australia.
Virgin Australia announced it is buying the remaining 40% of low-cost airline Tiger Australia for some shrapnel, after the airline lost $77 million before tax last financial year ending June 30. This transaction will give Virgin 100% ownership and total control of Tigerair, in which the company already owns 60%, which was purchased for $35 million in 2012.
Fear not, Australia, Tigerair will remain flying under the same brand and continue as a low-cost carrier. Virgin has also secured the brand rights to fly Tigerair to a number of short-haul international destinations.
“Given the ongoing subdued consumer demand in the Australian domestic market, the growth of the Tigerair Australia domestic fleet is likely to be reduced," Virgin Australia Chief Executive Officer, John Borghetti, said in a statement. “We remain committed to maintaining the airline’s low cost business model and the separate Tigerair ensuring that we can continue to deliver the most competitive pricing in Australian budget travel."
That's great, John, but what we are really interested in is the one-buck bargain you just secured (granted, we are ignoring the fact you just took on $77 million last year alone in losses).
When McDonald's has a deal, like they did this August, you can get some bun-encased grease for one gold coin.
Sure, you may not have a drive to put it in, but you will sure look old-school cool with this on display in your apartment.
Show off your humorous side with this postcard that has been sitting on the newsagency shelf for a little too long. Shame you won't be able to afford the postage.
So in other words, there is not much you can buy for one dollar. Virgin has got themselves the bargain of the century.
To see Branson as happy as in 2004, priceless.


You have to feel a bit sorry for Epic’s Cliff Bleszinski. After getting robbed of a slot on Jimmy Fallon’s TV show by Justin Bieber, EA has just detailed Bulletstorm – the second ‘surprise’ game that Cliffy is thought to be announcing tonight.
As reported from Eurogamer, Bulletstorm is a first person shooter game that is being developed by Polish company People Can Fly – a company which Epic Games own a significant share in.
The game will revolve around a group of mercenaries who find themselves doing battle with mutants across wide-scale environments. Eurogamer states that we should expect ‘big weapons’ on this one.
EA has jotted in a release date sometime in 2011, for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC platforms. Let us know your thoughts on the upcoming game.
Next article Google Developing Android-based Tablet: Apple iPad Killer?
Google Developing Android-based Tablet: Apple iPad Killer?


Professional Wedding photographers covering Northampton, Milton Keynes and the rest of the UK and abroad. Over 80 years in the photography business with all work undertaken by Stuart Tippleston LBIPP, a qualified member of the British Institute of Professional Photography.
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Posted on Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 1:04 p.m.
Michigan football junior running back Fitz Toussaint firmly stamped his name on the starting halfback job a year ago.
In 2011, Toussaint became the first Wolverine running back to rush for at least 1,000 yards since Mike Hart eclipsed the number in 2007.
And, so far this spring, it appears Toussaint is picking up where he left off, as he ripped off a pair of lengthy runs Saturday during a closed team scrimmage at Al Glick Fieldhouse.
"I just give credit to my offensive line," Toussaint told MGoBlue.com after the closed scrimmage.
Other highlights from the scrimmage included a leaping catch and run by junior receiver Jeremy Gallon, a nice cutback scamper from sophomore running back Thomas Rawls and, of course, two dazzling downfield runs by senior quarterback Denard Robinson.
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 3:36 a.m.
Mon, Apr 2, 2012 : 7:06 p.m.
To be fair minded Ted and "informative" it's just as important to me to keep abreast with what other BTN teams like Whisky, Nebraska and others are doing. The Big 2 have their hands full with other BTN teams now and I'm sure our great coach will have Mich. up for every game and certainly not just ohio. Last year ohio was not prepared for one half of the BTN. ohio was up for Mich. and still lost. Uban Myer coaching comes with glitches and I believe he was hired on the basis that beating Mich. is the number one goal and that may well be fine but Urban better pay attention to each and every game cause there are some darn good coaches and teams in the BTN now and I'm assured that Brady Hoke and staff will be well prepared for each game.
Mon, Apr 2, 2012 : 4:48 p.m.
More bad recruiting news. It appears that some on here, because I seek to keep those who follow me and seek my opinion abreast of the recruiting scene, accuse me of being an OSU sympathizer. Rather lending what I feel is my expertise knowledge of the process, helps others on Mlive understand the recruiting world and it's implications on the Michigan program. Now that my intentions are cleared up, the recruiting news I wish to inform you of has to do with another OSU commit. Another 4 star. This time a safety. We have landed high-quality big men and OSU is getting quality skill players and have yet to focus on big men. But if the trend continues I'm certain the recruiting battle will be lost.
Mon, Apr 2, 2012 : 8:31 p.m.
Everybody listen to Teddy he is an expert recruiting analyst and Michigan Man! Never mind he is Urby's biggest fan and promotions leader. Hahahahahaha! I do have to say I love reading your posts.
Mon, Apr 2, 2012 : 6:39 p.m.
I would have to disagree with you umgoblue. Many here look at my posts to gain knowledge otherwise never addressed on here. I am the first to give analysis of very recently committed players from both our team and Ohio St. Sometimes the truth hurts, but as a Michigan Man integrity is what I always bring to the table.
Mon, Apr 2, 2012 : 6:03 p.m.
no body on here is following you, you are like and uninvited guest. but you are sure following MICHIGAN and it's great recruiting class it is bringing in!! your opinion's mean squat and it sure look's like your getting worried about how well MICHIGAN is doing in recruiting!! what's a matter mr expertise according to you ohio only is getting the top recruit's. . . a 5* trumps a 4*. . . i guess oscar myer must be slipping.. . . this sure sound's like bad recruiting new's for ohio!! you better hurry back to oscar meyer he seems to have lost his touch!! GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mon, Apr 2, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.
It's a simple deduction Wolves. fans, the ohio kids are frightened by all the positive things going on with the University of Michigan football program and they, (the ohio kids) are trying to bolster their nerves by coming on our sites and throwing meaningless insults. If I was an ohio fan I'd find it very unnerving, meaning that great Wolverine football program from, "up North". I just love the sound of, "That team up North". It just sounds like Christmas all year.
Mon, Apr 2, 2012 : 2:17 a.m.
This running back information is very interesting. However, I do have some discouraging news on the recruiting front. It seems that Ohio St. has landed a 4 star running back from St. Louis. His scouting report shows that he is a big back with great top end speed. This is the type of elite talent that we struck out on and landed a dud.
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 3:37 a.m.
Mon, Apr 2, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.
AAWOLV I wish that were true. Oh, how I wish that were true. But the quality at thier skill positions thus far has highlighted the failings of the Michigan football camp and its shortcommings when recruiting top-level RBs, WRs ect. It appears now that the RB we got from Ohio was never really up to par to start at Ohio St. Why is it that we have to settle for left-overs ?
Mon, Apr 2, 2012 : 6:25 a.m.
So now Michigan's now, what, only 10 spots ahead of them in the recruiting rankings?
Mon, Apr 2, 2012 : 5:10 a.m.
Sun, Apr 1, 2012 : 7:14 p.m.
What a treat...getting a glimpse of Michigan football at this time of year. Thanks Nick!


Walking into the Roundhouse last night for the public information session on Paragon Development LTD.’s proposed mega-casino, I expected to see a motley crew of concerned citizens, dissenters and zoning wonks. This would quickly prove to be a naïve assumption.
Hosted by Vancouver city officials, the meeting was the latest event held in the run up to the February 17th public hearing on the rezoning of 777 Pacific Boulevard. If approved, the proposal will allow Paragon to relocate its current operations at the Edgewater into a new complex to be built on the southwest side of BC Place Stadium.
The Las Vegas-based Paragon recently ran an eight-page ad in the Vancouver Sun, claiming that the city of Vancouver will (hypothetically) receive $23 million per year if the plan goes ahead.
A number of city officials were in attendance, including senior social planner Mario Lee, who told the crowd that in addition to the profits to be wrought from the proposed casino, Paragon has agreed to hire ten percent of its new workers from the Downtown Eastside.
This incentive was in line with the prevailing theme of the meeting – jobs. As the bulk of the crowd was pro-casino Edgewater employees, job security dominated the discussion.
Eventually it became a bit repetitive and I walked over to the food table for a coffee and while I was surveying the baked goods situation one of the Blueshirts began to deliver a rousing speech that a more cynical individual may have suspected to be something of a pre-scripted pantomime.
The speaker began by explaining how the new casino would attract tourists from around the world, allowing Vancouver to once again showcase its greatness on the global stage just as it did during the Olympics. Then his tone took a dour turn, arguing that the scope and size of the Edgewater was never fully realized, and without the proposed expansion, 800 hard-working people will lose their jobs and would no longer be able to support their families.
This prerogative is completely understandable; no one wants to lose his or her job. Nor do many of us aspire to be pariahs. But if the Edgewater was already losing money to begin with, is it in the best interest of the city of Vancouver to redefine an entire neighbourhood just to accommodate one failing business model?
The greater potential of Northeast False Creek was scantly mentioned, unless in reference to how amazingly entertaining and (hypothetically) profitable it will all be once home to Western Canada’s largest casino.
But no matter which way you spin it, building a large casino in the downtown core seems like an act of desperation. Hopefully tonight’s other casino-related event, Vancouver not Vegas, will produce a more lively debate that doesn’t hinge on former glory and flashing lights.


‘Pretty honest’, PM, but are you fair dinkum?
Well, Scott, as you like to say, ‘‘Well it’s just fundamental economics 101.’’ Your mantra of Coalition ‘‘tax cuts’’ (targeting highly paid full-time workers) and flipside on Labor’s ‘‘high taxing’’ agenda just does not compute. The OECD regularly publish their member countries rate of total taxation as a percentage of GDP.
It is interesting how expert politicians become even in areas in which they have no training or experience.
Peter Hartcher characterises Labor’s proposed tax changes as ‘‘redistributive in the interests of greater fairness’’ (‘‘Shorten shows true grit. He’ll need it’’, February 2-3). Quite to the contrary, these changes would reduce fairness.
If an income earner pays too much PAYG tax through the year, the government refunds the excess. But if a dividend earner has paid too much tax (in the form of a reduced payment, since the company has already paid the tax), no refund would be paid. Further, if an income earner receives franked dividends, the government would refund the franking credits to them in the form of a tax deduction. But if a person has no income other than dividends, no refund would be paid.
Teachers, hairdressers, nurses, paramedics, firefighters, aged, disability and early childcare workers are typical of those taxpayers who contribute to the yearly $5 billion cash payments for refundable franking credits. Labor believes that this largesse, provided by John Howard, is unfair and unsustainable in the future and plans to remove it.
Meanwhile, these same taxpayers are helping to fund hundreds of thousands of dollars to Scott Morrison and senior Liberals as they tour the country, not promoting policies of their own, but predicting fire and brimstone should Labor succeed.
It’s just as well the tree didn’t fall across tram lines (‘‘Extremely lucky to be alive’’, Sun-Herald, February 3).
‘‘Buses were diverted via Margaret Street, Kent Street and Erskine Street to return to York Street and were missing stops along York Street at Wynyard.’’ Where would the tram have gone? Nowhere.
Australia is an immigrant country and politicians are subjected to lobbying from community, business and political groups linked or not linked to a foreign government (‘‘Abbott rues dinner with China ‘influence pedlars’’’, February 2-3). Every country has an agenda and it is up to our government to remain independent despite lobbying. The media reporting is biased, sensational and discriminatory; and appeared polarised by geopolitics. Political donations are labelled sinister because of a polarised political view.
Both major parties accept donations in a level playing field where the law applies to all. The Foreign Interference Transparency Scheme Act 2018 applies to all. This only applies to lobbying. To be really transparent, the bill should be extended to cover the donor, the amount and to which political party.
There is one quite notable difference between the Bible and the Koran on the point of violence (Letters, February 2-3). The message of the Koran will never be changed. Unlike nearly all of the Old Testament verses of violence, the verses of violence in the Koran are mostly open ended, meaning that they are not restrained by the historical context of the surrounding text as in the Bible.
In the battle for Mosul, it is alleged 18 civilians were killed by Australian Defence Force Super Hornets ("PM says 'not clear' ADF killed civilians", Februrary 2-3). Were we at war? Yes? Do civilians get killed as collateral damage in wars? Yes. Then why is there always a fuss about such minimal deaths? I am proud of our ADF, and especially proud of the accuracy of our skilled pilots who risk their lives in strategic battles instigated by our politicians.
I am proud to be an Aussie when I read: "Officers negotiated with a man before firing beanbag rounds to resolve the situation" ("Man charged after 'emergency situation' at Brisbane International Airport", smh.com.au, February 3).


On Jan. 26, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, close companions of the Apostle Paul and bishops of the Catholic Church in its earliest days.
Both men received letters from St. Paul, which are included in the New Testament.
Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians also venerate the saints, but do not combine their commemorations. Instead, the Byzantine tradition remembers St. Titus on Aug. 25 and St. Timothy on Jan. 22.
The son of a Jewish mother and a non-Jewish father, Timothy came from Lystra in present-day Turkey. His mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, are known to have joined the Church, and Timothy himself is described as a student of Sacred Scripture from his youth.
After St. Paul’s visit to Timothy’s home region of Lycaonia, around the year 51, the young man joined the apostle and accompanied him in his travels. After religious strife forced Paul to leave the city of Berea, Timothy remained to help the local church. Paul later sent him to Thessalonica to help the Church during a period of persecution.
The two met up again in Corinth, and Timothy eventually journeyed to Macedonia on Paul’s behalf. Problems in the Corinthian Church brought Timothy back for a time, after which he joined Paul and accompanied the apostle in subsequent travels.
Like Paul, Timothy endured a period of imprisonment in the course of his missionary work. His release is mentioned in the New Testament Epistle to the Hebrews.
Around the year 64, Timothy became the first bishop of the Church of Ephesus. During that same year, he received the first of two surviving letters from St. Paul. The second, written the next year, urges Timothy to visit St. Paul in Rome, where he was imprisoned before his martyrdom.
Ancient sources state that St. Timothy followed his mentor in dying as a martyr for the faith. In the year 93, during his leadership of the Church in Ephesus, he took a stand against the worship of idols and was consequently killed by a mob. The pagan festival he was protesting was held Jan. 22, and this date was preserved as St. Timothy’s memorial in the Christian East.
In contrast with Timothy’s partial Jewish descent and early Biblical studies, St. Titus – who was born into a pagan family – is said to have studied Greek philosophy and poetry in his early years. But he pursued a life of virtue, and purportedly had a prophetic dream that caused him to begin reading the Hebrew Scriptures.
St. Paul was not only Titus’ spiritual father, but also depended on his convert as an assistant and interpreter. Titus accompanied Paul to the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem during the year 51, and was later sent to the Corinthian Church on two occasions. After the end of Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, the apostle ordained Titus as the Bishop of Crete.
Paul sent his only surviving letter to Titus around the year 64, giving instructions in pastoral ministry to his disciple as he prepared to meet up with him in the Greek city of Nicopolis. Titus evangelized the region of Dalmatia in modern Croatia before returning to Crete.
Titus is credited with leading the Church of Crete well into his 90s, overturning paganism and promoting the faith through his prayers and preaching. Unlike St. Timothy, St. Titus was not martyred, but died peacefully in old age.


Eli Harold, Eric Reid, Marquise Goodwin, Louis Murphy | Photo: AP.
NEW YORK (AP) - The NFL Players Association filed a grievance with the league on Tuesday challenging its national anthem policy.
The union says that the new policy, which the league imposed without consultation with the NFLPA, is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement and infringes on players' rights. The filing met a statute of limitations deadline and will be heard by an independent arbitrator, an NFLPA spokesman said.
In May, the NFL approved its national anthem policy at its owners meetings in Atlanta. The policy allows players to protest during the national anthem by staying in the locker room, but forbids them from sitting or taking a knee if they're on the field or the sidelines.
Teams will be subject to fines if players don't comply and will have the option of punishing players.
The NFL declined to comment about the union's action.
In 2016, then-49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick began protesting police brutality and social injustice by kneeling during the national anthem, and the demonstration spread to other players and teams. It became one of the most controversial and sensitive issues in the NFL, with players saying their messages last year were being misconstrued, while others - including President Donald Trump - called them unpatriotic. Trump even said NFL owners should fire any player who refused to stand during the anthem.
"We're here for a bigger platform," Raiders tight end Jared Cook said during the spring. "We're not just athletes. We're people that live this. It's people in our neighborhood, it's people that we grew up with, it's people that we know who are actually living through these circumstances. So when we speak on it, it's not like we're just speaking out of the side of our neck. It's things that actually touch home and things that we can actually relate to.
"All I have to say is, I just think it's sad that it's veered from something that stood for good and the whole narrative has changed into something that's negative when that was not what it was initially about in the first place."
The NFL started requiring players to be on the field for the anthem in 2009 - the year it signed a marketing deal with the military.
"We want people to be respectful of the national anthem. We want people to stand," Goodell said at the May meetings, when he dismissed concerns about the lack of union involvement by contending the league met with countless players over the past year.
"We've been very sensitive on making sure that we give players choices," the commissioner added, "but we do believe that moment is an important moment and one that we are going to focus on."


Martin O'Neill says the Republic of Ireland "may have to comply" with Euro 2016 games being played behind closed doors if the ongoing terror threat meant that was the only alternative.
Uefa has no plans to keep fans out of games at the finals in France in the wake of Tuesday's attacks in Brussels.
However O'Neill said it will be up to security chiefs to find a solution to guarantee the safety of those involved.
"Anything that is agreed upon, we will fall in line," the manager said.
A spokesman for the Football Association of Ireland confirmed the organisation is engaged in an ongoing security process and would be guided by the experts.
Martin O'Neill says the security the Republic of Ireland are being provided with for Euro 2016 is "really excellent"
O'Neill said: "If someone wants to make an attack as happened yesterday, it's very, very difficult to deal with that.
"Overall the security that we're being provided with is really excellent.
"There's talk about matches being played behind closed doors.
"If that is an alternative and it's the only alternative, then if we are going to have the competition, we may have to comply with it.
"The safety of people is of paramount importance."
Players to stay close to base?
Heightened security around the tournament is likely to have repercussions for both Ireland and their fans around their base in Versailles, with the atmosphere unlikely to be as relaxed as it was in Sopot, Poland, four years ago.
O'Neill said the team hotel was "actually very, very good".
"The possibility of players going into the town now might be a bit of an issue," he said.
"The town there, Versailles itself, is just really excellent, and it's only a three, four, five-minute walk as well, so all of those things looked pretty good.
"If, of course, security is tightened as it probably will be, then maybe the players might have to stay closer to the hotel.
"I don't think we want to turn away supporters, but at the same time, I think people will realise that it [security] might be very, very tight."
O'Neill refused to be drawn on his own future with talks over an extended deal expected to take place soon. His current contract expires after the finals.
"Loads of things can happen between now and then and there's no point in turning around and telling you that there's an absolute degree of certainty about anything," he said.
"What we want to do is not only try to enjoy the Euros if it's at all possible, but also try to make some sort of progress there as well, so we will see how things go. But who knows?"


WR Group, one of the country's leading global wellness companies, is pleased to announce that its innovative FOLIGAIN® hair care collection is now available in select H-E-B stores across San Antonio and Houston, Texas. FOLIGAIN is a next generation hair care line dedicated to providing high-performance formulas to the millions of men and women looking to improve their hair health. Fusing the latest science and industry trends with clinically proven ingredients, Foligain's mission is to develop effective, transformative solutions for younger-looking, fuller-looking hair.
is pleased to announce that its innovative FOLIGAIN® hair care collection is now available in select H-E-B stores across San Antonio and Houston, Texas.
FOLIGAIN is a next generation hair care line dedicated to providing high-performance formulas to the millions of men and women looking to improve their hair health. Fusing the latest science and industry trends with clinically proven ingredients, Foligain's mission is to develop effective, transformative solutions for younger-looking, fuller-looking hair.
"We're thrilled to bring the Foligain collection to H-E-B," says Renee Barch-Niles, EVP – Retail at WR Group. "Launching with a distinguished retailer like H-E-B allows Foligain to be more accessible to ingredient-savvy shoppers and will help further educate consumers on what really impacts the health of their hair."
Each product in the Foligain line is thoughtfully designed with the needs of consumers hair goals in mind, and the lightweight, refreshing formulas deliver trustworthy, visible results. "We strive to offer affordable hair care solutions to consumers looking to improve their hair & scalp health and want to make it as simple and convenient for them to do so," says Barch-Niles.
Recently named a 2019 delicious living award winner, FOLIGAIN contains a ground-breaking, new triple action hair health complex called TrioxidilTM, a hair care formula equipped with bioactive ingredients clinically shown to help revitalize hair and scalp health. Developed to infuse hair and scalp with key nutrients and botanicals for healthier-looking, thicker-looking hair, Trioxidil is enhanced with moisture-lock technology to seal in the formula's key ingredients and retain skin moisture.
The Foligain collection ranges in prices range from $19.99 - $49.99. For more information, please visit Foligain.com.
About H-E-B: H-E-B, with sales of $26 billion, operates 400 stores in Texas and Mexico. Known for its innovation and community service, H-E-B celebrates its 114th anniversary this year. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience and lowest prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs over 110,000 Partners in Texas and Mexico and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities. For more information, visit HEB.com and HEB.com/newsroom.


The U.S. recovery may be fragile, but more quantitative easing is unlikely. By contrast, Japanese growth is disappointing and more policy easing is needed. In the euro zone, the "peripherals" are still under pressure despite strong German growth, making ECB policy setting even more difficult.


Gates: Limited Damage From WikiLeaks Documents In an Aug. 16 letter, the defense secretary said an initial Pentagon review showed the documents did not reveal any significant national intelligence secrets. But he conceded that the disclosure of the names of Afghan civilians with possible ties to the U.S. could pose a risk.
The Pentagon says the documents leaked by the WikiLeaks website in July do not jeopardize any U.S. intelligence or sensitive military operations.
In an Aug. 16 letter released to NPR, Defense Secretary Robert Gates responded to questions about the WikiLeaks documents raised by Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Gates said an initial Pentagon review showed the documents focused mostly on day-to-day military operations and did not reveal any significant national intelligence secrets.
The letter confirmed that the documents name Afghan civilians who may have ties to the U.S. military operation, and the Taliban threats made against some of those named. That, Gates said, is something that could pose a risk to U.S. national security interests.
WikiLeaks, a self-described whistle-blower website, said it plans to release thousands of other documents. Gates, in the letter, said the Pentagon is developing a plan to deal with that possibility.
The website is believed to be preparing to release classified Pentagon documents on the Iraq war as early as Sunday.
Questions persist about whether the disclosure of nearly 77,000 secret documents undermined U.S. officials' ability to maintain the allegiance of allies and people from other countries who take risks to cooperate with the U.S.
"The mere fact of the disclosure erodes confidence in the ability of the military to keep secrets," said Steven Aftergood, whose Secrecy News blog tracks trends in government openness. "And that can have subtle but real effects on recruitment of sources and on maintenance of relationships with individuals and with other security services."
Military investigators say Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, who served as an intelligence specialist in Baghdad, is a person of interest in the investigation into who provided the Afghan war logs to WikiLeaks.


WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals go for their seventh straight win when they host the New Jersey Devils on Friday night at Capital One Arena.
New Jersey (9-10-4) is streaking in the opposite direction having dropped three in a row (0-1-2).
The Capitals (14-7-3) could get boost Friday with the return of forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, who missed the last six games with a concussion. Kuznetsov was Washington’s leading scorer (nine goals, five assists in 18 games) at the time of his injury. He was a full participant in Thursday’s practice.
Forward T.J. Oshie, who got a concussion in the same game as Kuznetsov, has yet to resume skating.
Alex Ovechkin missed Thursday’s practice, gut the team said it was a maintenance day for an upper body injury and Reirden expects him to play.
The Capitals have outscored teams 24-13 during their winning streak. One reason is their improved penalty kill. After allowing at least on power play goal in 15 of their first 20 games, the Capitals have allowed none in their last four, killing off 13 straight penalties.
The Devils may have an addition to their lineup Friday night. The team called up Michael McLeod, their 2016 first-round draft pick. He began his pro career in the AHL in 2018-19 and would be making his NHL debut. McLeod had three goals and seven assists in 21 games with Binghamton this season.
In addition, the Devils may get forward Marcus Johansson back against his former team. Johansson, who has three goals and five assists, missed the Devils’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on Monday due to a lower body injury.
The Devils placed forward Jean-Sebastien Dea on waivers and he was claimed by the Penguins. He was claimed off waivers from the Penguins before the season began and had three goals and two assists.
With both teams off since Monday, the game should feature goalies Keith Kincaid of New Jersey and Braden Holtby.
Kincaid is 3-3 with a 3.24 goals-against average (GAA) and .882 save percentage against the Capitals, while Holtby is 15-3-3 with a 1.98 GAA and a .925 save percentage versus the Devils.


Here we get our first look at the PCIe SSD. The card keeps everything under the shield other than the PCIe connector.
There is not much to see on the bottom of the card other than the label at the bottom right hand side that shows the model number and capacity information.
Air is pushed out of the case through the vents on this side.
On the other side we found a fan and two 4-pin Molex connectors that provide additional power.


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The Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon have qualified for the semi-final of the 2018 African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) after a 3-0 win over Algeria in their second Group A game on Tuesday.
After a 2-1 defeat of Mali, the Lionesses are top of the group with six points which has earned them a spot in the semis though with a match left against hosts, Ghana.
The Cameroonians were quick to see off their North African counterparts who had not scored a goal in two matches and obtaining zero shot on target at the Accra Sports Stadium.
With no player on either side booked, Gabrielle Onguene, who is the woman of the match, utilised one of the team's many chances, finding the back of the net 13 minutes after kick-off.
Team mate, Gaelle Enganamouit, made a double for the West Africans in the 54th minute and in quick succession, Ajara Nchout sealed the team's victory with a beautiful strike six minutes later.
It is the second goal for Nchout in the tournament after her first against Mali.
Meanwhile, Cameroon will take on Ghana, which has three points from two matches on Friday, while Algeria will be up against Mali same day.
The eight-team event which began on Saturday will see top three teams feature in the women's World Cup in France in 2019.


Bogus council and fire safety officials have been approaching home owners to fraudulently sell them fire safety services in light of the recent tragedy at Grenfell Tower.
The scammers have attempted to dupe home owners and housing organisations into buying services or goods that don’t exist or aren’t necessary, such as free or subsidised safety inspections.
Notably the fraudsters have been cold-calling or visiting properties with the Grenfell fire as a reason of contact.
Action Fraud UK is now urging homeowners to be wary of any alleged council or fire safety official who uses the Grenfell tragedy as a means of contact.
The warning comes after Action Fraud UK recently closed down a scam website which claimed to be raising money for the victims at Grenfell.
Action Fraud UK explains more: “Intelligence also suggests fraudsters may be trying to contact companies or organisations and claiming to offer contracts to provide services or goods to protect their home or building from a similar incident from happening.


ALBANY, N.Y. — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer says federal regulators are too slow getting bad food off the shelves.
The New York Democrat is calling for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to review its recall process from top to bottom to determine if it’s doing enough to prevent contamination-related food illnesses.
The action follows a preliminary report by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggesting the FDA has taken far too long to initiate food recalls.
Schumer notes that a 21-state E. coli outbreak linked to tainted flour began in December but the recall wasn’t issued until May.
According to the FDA, at least 57 products have been recalled since May 31 due to listeria, salmonella and other bacteria.


NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government says it has temporarily ceased all deportations to Haiti as a result of the political unrest in that French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
“The decision follows the temporary closure of The Bahamas Embassy in Port-au-Prince and the recall of all diplomatic and consular staff,” the government said in a statement.
It said in anticipation of a potential increase of illegal migration from Haiti, Bahamian security forces have been placed on high alert.
Bahamian officials have in the past called on Haitians not to undertake the dangerous voyage by sea to enter the country illegally. Earlier this month, 31 Haitians drowned when their vessel ran aground in waters off Abaco. The authorities said 18 others who had been rescued would be deported.
“The department’s policy in reference to the handling of the illegal migrants remains the same. There has been no change in regard to this policy,” the Department of Immigration said.
Opposition political parties in Haiti have been staging street demonstrations in support of their calls for President Moise to step down, after accusing him of not investigating allegations of corruption in the previous government over PetroCaribe, an oil alliance of many Caribbean states with Venezuela to purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment.
At least seven people have been killed in the protests so far. Several others have been injured in clashes with police.


The Raid, which had its Midnight Madness screening last night, is getting a soundtrack overhaul. Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda has been hired to create a new musical score for a film that was acquired by Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group based on partial footage shown during the Cannes Film Festival. SWAG’s plan was to find a hip musician to improve the film, and it’s the first film job for Shinoda. The martial arts movie played strongly at its first showing, and agents are courting director Gareth Evans and his leads, Iko Uwais and Joe Taslim.


“The company [Pixar] is evolving into a place where all kinds of movies, not just animated ones, can come out,” said Bird, who reveled that his next Pixar film will be live action.
You can read more about the possible John Carter of Mars project in our April Fools Day post (as most of the facts are actually true). I do wonder if Mars would really fit the family orientated Pixar brand. I seriously doubt that Bird’s live action project at Pixar would be the long rumored adaptation of 1906 (more information).