CAMBRIDGE, England – Where do you want to go tomorrow? Try peer-to-peer computing, self-organizing networks, 3-D holograms that tilt and roll on handheld devices, and picture-editing tools based on probability theory.
That's the map of the future provided by Microsoft researchers based at the company's British laboratory, tucked away in the centuries-old surroundings of Cambridge University.
The laboratory is preparing to celebrate a relatively youthful fifth anniversary, based at a university with science and technology credentials that include heavyweights such as Sir Isaac Newton, "father of computing" Sir Charles Babbage, DNA pioneers Crick and Watson, mathematician and cryptographer Alan Turing and professor Stephen Hawking.
"We're not working on this year's products. We're not working on next year's products. We're working on the technology that might help improve the technologies of the future," said professor Roger Needham, one-time Cambridge student, now professor and vice chancellor, who heads the lab.
Needham, an expert in computer security and encryption, has a job resume that includes top American research labs such as Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center and Digital's Palo Alto laboratory.
And despite a reputation for speaking his mind – which people say keeps the folks at Microsoft's Redmond, Washington, headquarters slightly nervous – he's managed the lab without the controversy and conflict many predicted at its launch.
Needham originally cringed at the expectations that might come out of the deal, heavily hyped in 1997. Prime Minister Tony Blair gushed, and Bill Gates helicoptered in to Cambridge. But as Needham noted, the initial funding deal was for a relatively modest £50 million ($72.5 million). Microsoft had spent $8 million just for the rights to use the Rolling Stones song Start Me Up, to promote Windows 95.
Since then, the Cambridge lab has grown from 13 researchers squashed in temporary quarters, using computers bought with assistant director Chris Bishop's personal credit card, to 65 researchers in a specially built facility in West Cambridge.
And while its researchers tend to spend a lot of time emphasizing to visitors how much they enjoy working for Microsoft – and to be fair, they get asked regularly whether they do – the atmosphere is distinctly different from Redmond.
Partly, that's due to the distance from the Microsoft mother ship, thousands of miles and an eight-hour time difference from England. Several researchers will admit on the sly that they like having several time zones between themselves and HQ.
And partly, the difference is due to the overwhelmingly European feel of the lab. Needham said that Microsoft head of research Rick Rashid told him not to forget that the lab was "a European enterprise, not a British one." Now, a large Gallic contingent means French is as likely to be spoken as English, along with dollops of Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and other European tongues.
The research focus at Cambridge has not developed around a deliberate agenda, Needham said, but incorporates whatever interests its incoming researchers have. At the moment, those include machine learning, distributed computing, computer vision, mobile computing and computer languages.
And according to Bishop, "Probability theory influences as much as half of all research here."
That translates into projects such as one called Pastry (researcher Andrew Herbert declined to explain the origin of the name), an algorithm that Herbert believes will help improve the way in which peer-to-peer networks manage and distribute content.
Rather than a P2P network having to ask all computers on its network if they have a given piece of information, Pastry relies on clusters of computers being able to route a query only to the most relevant machines, improving traffic efficiency by 60 percent.
"It's a very efficient algorithm – a funnel that comes in very, very quickly," Herbert said. He thinks Pastry could help very large networks to be self-managing, taking the tedium out of system administration. And, he adds, "It's something on the trajectory of where we see the .NET strategy going." However, Pastry will adhere to open standards and not be a proprietary technology, he said.
Another project incorporating probability theory teaches computers how to "see" a given object against a background. At the moment, such abilities could help a computer to accurately outline an object in a photo, cut and paste it and refill the gap with a correctly synthesized background, in seconds – a boon to users of photo-editing software.
But in the future, researcher Andrew Blake said, such innovations could help teach computers to really see, recognizing individuals against complex background environments.
Researcher Lyndsay Williams' Holosim project looks at ways of placing 3-D objects on handheld devices that are also equipped with tilt sensors. "By tilting, you can look around any part of a 3-D image," she said.
Tilting removes the need for a mouse, a button or a pen for scrolling, and is a more natural way to examine an object in the hand, she said. The same concept would also allow someone to view a flat image, such as a document – tilting would replace scrolling.
SmartView is another handheld innovation – a way of segmenting large Web pages into smaller, logical units so that they can be viewed on a device. SmartView, the project of researcher Ralph Sommerer, analyzes Web pages by their tables and cells, not by text, and clusters related elements together into smaller, easily viewed chunks, he said.
SmartView is one of the Cambridge lab projects that has a fairly obvious product application – it uses Internet Explorer 5 and may well go into future versions of handheld operating system Windows CE.
Other projects remain stubbornly obtuse. Still, the lab has applied for close to 50 patents, and researchers have published 93 papers and parts of five books. But even at Microsoft, not everything needs to end in a product.
"Some things we do just because it's good science to investigate," said Blake. "We don't really know how it's going to be used (in the future)."


A few weeks ago I was sat here writing about David Bowie’s new album Blackstar. Scratching my head trying to interpret his cryptic lyrics. The excitement of the new album release on his 69th birthday, filled with hope that this was the start of an exciting new era for Bowie fans.
The thing I can’t get my head around is the bizarre feeling of great sorrow I felt for someone I’ve never actually met. For a few hours after the news broke I just felt numb. It’s weird seeing all those scenes on the news of distraught fans who ,like me, didn’t know this man personally. Even though I’ve never met the great man, I can sort of track the significant events of my life through the Bowie songs I was listening to at the time. When I hear one of his albums it takes me right back to where I was when I first heard that record. I think that’s why the news has had a really strong impact on me.
I see his latest album as a thank you to us, his fans. The meaning of the Blackstar album has become a lot clearer from the poignant first line of his most recent single Lazarus, ”Look up here, I’m in heaven.” The music video featuring Bowie in a hospital bed and the interpretation of his spirit as an artist coming out of the closet for one last time before returning and the door closing is blatant in hindsight and haunting at the same time. How did none of us spot the meaning a week earlier?
I can’t imagine many people in his situation continuing to work up until the end and the fact Blackstar is one of his most creative albums is a true testament to the genius of David Bowie. Before any of us knew what was to come the reviews for the record were astonishing. After such a long and trailblazing career he was still breaking boundaries in his final days which just shows he is on another level.
David Bowie is the artist’s artist. He has been inspiring for decades and that will continue for years. I wasn’t around when Elvis died, I was too young to comprehend John Lennon but I’ll never forget the day we lost the greatest of all, Mr David Bowie. Things will never quite be the same again.


The Senator representing Kogi West at the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, was on Tuesday docked before an FCT High Court, Apo area of Abuja on a six-count bordering on attempted suicide and attempt to escape from custody.
The senator however, denied committing the offences preferred against him.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji said that he was aware that the court had granted bail to the defendant when he was arraigned before him on July 25, 2018 on the same charges.
Oriji said that the earlier bail conditions, which included the sum of N5 million and two sureties in like sum were still valid and should be sustained in the current charges.
The prosecuting counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences on April 24.
He said the defendant, while being conveyed in a police vehicle to Lokoja, allegedly forced his way out of the vehicle and attempted to escape.
Izinyon said that the defendant held a substance in his hand and threatened to drink it to kill himself so that he would put the police officers in trouble.
The prosecutor also said that the defendant broke the glass of the vehicle with his elbow and caused damage to police property.
He said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 148,153,173,231, 326 and 327 of the Penal Code.
The counsel to the defendant, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) was, however, not in court.
The judge adjourned the case until April 5, for hearing.


Health workers treat an unconfirmed Ebola patient, inside a MSF (Doctors Without Borders)-supported Ebola Treatment Centre on Nov. 3, 2018 in Butembo, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Butembo, with more than one million residents, is now reporting cases of the deadly hemorrhagic fever. That complicates Ebola containment work already challenged by rebel attacks elsewhere that have made tracking the virus almost impossible in some isolated villages.
“We are very concerned by the epidemiological situation in the Butembo area,” said John Johnson, project co-ordinator with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in the city. New cases are increasing quickly in the eastern suburbs and outlying, isolated districts, the medical charity said.
The outbreak declared on Aug. 1 is now second only to the devastating West Africa outbreak that killed more than 11,300 people a few years ago. There are currently 471 Ebola cases, of which 423 are confirmed, including 225 confirmed deaths, Congo’s health ministry said late Thursday.
Without the teams that have vaccinated more than 41,000 people so far, this outbreak could have already seen more than 10,000 Ebola cases, the health ministry said .
This is by far the largest deployment of the promising but still experimental Ebola vaccine , which is owned by Merck. The company keeps a stockpile of 300,000 doses, and preparing them takes months.
“We are extremely concerned about the size of the vaccine stockpile,” the World Health Organization’s emergencies director, Dr. Peter Salama, told the STAT media outlet in an interview this week, saying 300,000 doses is not sufficient as urban Ebola outbreaks become more common.
This Ebola outbreak is like no other, with deadly attacks by rebel groups forcing containment work to pause for days at a time. Some wary locals have resisted vaccinations or safe burials of Ebola victims as health workers battle misinformation in a region that has never encountered the virus before.
A “fringe population” has regularly destroyed medical equipment and attacked workers, Health Minister Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga told reporters on Wednesday.
The Ebola virus is spread via bodily fluids of those infected, including the dead.
The outbreak “remains serious and unpredictable,” the World Health Organization said in an assessment released Wednesday. Nine health zones have reported new cases in the last week, and some have been unrelated to known victims, meaning that gaps in tracking remain in a region with a dense, highly mobile population.
Thousands of people have been organized by Red Cross societies and others to go house-to-house dispelling rumours and checking on possible contacts of victims.
Dr. Fatoumata Nafo-Traore, Africa regional director for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, joined one awareness campaign in the outbreak’s epicentre, Beni, this week.
The head of one family thanked her for the face-to-face contact, saying he didn’t even have a radio and didn’t understand what was happening. “Ignorance is the enemy,” another resident said.
Given the years of conflict in eastern Congo, it’s essential that households trust why the health workers are there, Dr. Nafo-Traore said.


I was surprised that Washington, D.C. was crowned the top socially networking city. I guess politicians need to keep on top of their constituents and minute-minute-votes on Capitol Hill. Palo Alto, the home to Facebook headquarters, is nowhere to be found on the top 100 social networked cities.
Men’s Health came out with a study determining the top 100 socially networked cities. The magazine started by calculating the number of Facebook and LinkedIn users per capita, and then determined the overall Twitter usage. The study also included Myspace, Friendster, Reddit and Digg. As a final point, after factoring in the number of households that tend to use chat rooms and blogs, Men’s Health came up with the results.
I was surprised that Washington, D.C. was crowned the top socially networking city. I guess politicians need to be top of their constituents and minute-minute votes on Capitol Hill. Palo Alto, the home to Facebook headquarters, is nowhere to be found on the top 100 social networked cities.
Atlanta and Denver are next in line, which I find interesting because, although Atlanta is a large city, I would have guessed San Francisco (#6) or New York (#53). My city, Sacramento, place better than the two metropolitan cities, came in eighteenth place. Sacramento did even better than Los Angeles (#33) where I thought Hollywood deals were made on Facebook.
All kidding aside, the 100 socially networked cities list is worth looking over and contemplating “How so!” I’d love to hear your thoughts, especially, if your city is in the top ten, which I include in this post.


PALU, Indonesia (Reuters) - In a tent next to the crumpled ruins of the Roa Roa hotel in Indonesia’s quake-hit city of Palu, relatives and friends of guests believed to be under the rubble await news as a desperate rescue effort goes on in the intense heat.
Four days after a 7.5 magnitude quake and tsunami struck the coastal town on Sulawesi island, only three people have been pulled out alive from the ruined hotel, and nine bodies have been recovered.
About 50 people were believed to have been in the eight-storey building when the disaster struck.
A search and rescue team is using acoustic detectors to try to pick up any sounds from trapped survivors, as well as concrete and metal cutters, and saws.
“We’re using sound detectors that can pick up voices and knocking. All this takes time but it’s for safety reasons, for survivors and for our own team,” said rescue team head Agus Haryono.
An earth digger and crane arrived only on Monday because of difficult road access.
“We suspect there are still some survivors trapped inside. We are working with that in mind at the moment,” said Haryono, as he pored over blueprints of the building.
Among the group waiting for news, was Assegaf Umar, who was among a team of paragliders who had traveled to Palu to soar above its picturesque bay and steep green hillsides.
Umar, who escaped harm because he was staying at a different hotel, was clinging to hope that some of his fellow paragliders staying at the hotel might still be found alive.
“Even though by this time, after such an event, the body’s ability to endure is minimal ... we must remain optimistic,” Umar told Reuters.
The bodies of three of paragliders have been found, while another four, including a South Korean, were believed to missing beneath the rubble.
Rescuers on Tuesday retrieved the body of Ardi Kurniawan, who was well known among international paragliders.
Kurniawan had recently competed in the 2018 Asian Games held in Indonesia, and his team had won bronze medals at the 2017 and 2018 Paragliding World Accuracy Cup.
“We had gathered for a weekend festival and we were looking forward because this place is very beautiful and challenging. I am so sad that this happened,” said Umar.
The paragliders were in Palu for an annual festival in the capital of Central Sulawesi province, three days of arts, cultural events and sports.
One paraglider who lost his life, 20-year-old Gleen Mononutu, posted a photo on social media of himself soaring near cloud-topped hills on Sept. 28, the day the earthquake struck, along with a map of a flight path over Palu.
Another victim, Petra Mandagi, also posted a photograph of himself wearing an orange helmet and paragliding over Palu bay before disaster struck. It was unclear when the photo was taken.
“After bad weather and task stop yesterday, I can reach goal today,” he said in the caption accompanying the pictures on Instagram.
Mandagi’s friends and family replied in the comment section of the last photo, asking about his whereabouts after the disaster. Later, many posted condolence messages.
“RIP Petra, a skydive mate, a good friend,” said @ivykriyatavi.


Occupation and relevant experience: I am currently President of Johnson Murphy & Associates where I build legislative strategies for companies and nonprofits. I served as Associate Staff on Appropriations for Congressman Charlie Wilson and handled Defense and Foreign Affairs, served as Congressional Liaison for United States Agency for International Development, and was appointed Senior Advisor at the International Trade Administration in the US Department of Commerce.
Community involvement: I am a member of the McLean Citizens Association, the McLean Community Foundation, and serve on the fundraising board for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I served on the Human Services Council for Fairfax County and on the Fairfax County Health Care Task Force. I am the Democratic Party Precinct Co-Captain for Langley precinct.
I care about our community and felt that our priorities and values needed strong representation. I am committed to fighting for the issues important to our community including for more funding for our schools. I will be introducing a bill to reform the Local Composite Index in the next session of the House of Delegates.
I have the experience, commitment and the ability to work in a bipartisan way to achieve consensus. I have lived here and raised kids here. I know the issues, the values, and the priorities of this community. I have worked for them for nearly 25 years. I know the legislative process and will work hard to achieve positive and productive change for our community.
I have successfully worked across party lines and my legislative record demonstrates that. This past session I cosponsored, and voted for, important legislation introduced by Republicans and Democrats and didn’t let partisanship get in the way of doing what was right for our district.
The population of Northern Virginia has increased significantly over the last 10 years. New residents are drawn, to our district specifically, by our quality of life and excellent school system. The extension of the Silver Line and the growth of the Tysons Corner business community are also contributing factors. Simply, the 34th is a great place to live and we need to work to ensure we provide the quality services are growing community deserves.
Yes. With more than 460 car-title loan operations in Virginia and interest rates reaching as high as 300%, this abusive high-interest lending must be addressed.
Yes. I am very supportive of measures that protect and support our most vulnerable children who are aging out of foster care. Virginia has already made great strides in educational stability for children in foster care but there is more work to be done.
Yes. I support Medicaid expansion because it is morally right and fiscally responsible. I will vote for expansion and I will continue to advocate for it in Richmond and in the 34th district.


To borrow a line from Dennis Green, they are who we thought they were.
From his hospital bed, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has acknowledged his role in planting the explosives near the marathon finish line on April 15, the officials said. The first successful large-scale bombing in the post-Sept. 11, 2001, era, the Boston attack killed three people and wounded more than 250 others.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe an ongoing investigation, said Dzhokhar and his older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who was killed by police as the two attempted to avoid capture, do not appear to have been directed by a foreign terrorist organization.
Rather, the officials said, the evidence so far suggests they were “self-radicalized” through Internet sites and U.S. actions in the Muslim world. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has specifically cited the U.S. war in Iraq, which ended in December 2011 with the removal of the last American forces, and the war in Afghanistan, where President Obama plans to end combat operations by the end of 2014.
Obama has made repairing U.S. relations with the Islamic world a foreign policy priority, even as he has expanded drone operations in Pakistan and other countries, which has inflamed Muslim public opinion.
Bad news for liberal narratives in one sense, but good in another: They’ve been grasping for ways to say “it’s not them, it’s us” and now they’ve got an easy one, Obama’s stewardship of Afghanistan notwithstanding. Beats the current leading theory about Tamerlan Tsarnaev possibly having taken too many punches to the face, no?
As for how they learned to make the bombs, watch Pete Williams below. Truth, or a lie designed to throw the feds off the scent of whoever might have trained them? Well, go back to this post from last Tuesday, two days before the bombers were identified. Intelwire had already raised an eyebrow at the fact that pressure-cooker bombs were used, since there had been articles in “Inspire” on how to build that sort of device. The Jawa Report also noted that Naser Jason Abdo, the would-be Fort Hood bomber, got caught with pressure cookers and other bomb materials in his hotel room when he was pinched in 2011. Also found in the room: A copy of “Inspire.” I remember people giggling when the magazine debuted because the bomb-making instructions were entitled, “How to Make a Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom,” but it worked. The man responsible for it, Samir Khan, is long since dead in a U.S. airstrike — but not as the primary target. He was killed by the same missile that took out his pal, Anwar al-Awlaki, whom some think came up with the idea for “Inspire.” Bottom line: Yeah, it’s quite possible that Tsarnaev’s telling the truth about how they learned bombmaking. Abdo apparently took the same path. He just never made it as far as they did.
Exit question, in the spirit of lefty fingerpointing at tea partiers: Does this mean the anti-war movement’s guilty by association?
Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the elder brother suspected in the Boston Marathon bombings, bought two large pyrotechnic devices in February from a New Hampshire branch of a national fireworks chain, according to executives at the chain’s parent company.
William Weimer, a vice president of Phantom Fireworks, said the elder Mr. Tsarnaev on Feb. 6 purchased two “Lock and Load” reloadable mortar kits at the company’s Seabrook, N.H. store, just over the border from Massachusetts. Each kit contains a tube and 24 shells, he said. Mr. Tsarnaev paid cash for the kits, which cost $199.99 apiece.
Cops are wondering if they used the powder from the fireworks to power the bombs, but the manufacturer thinks there wasn’t enough of it in two kits to generate explosions that big. Even so, go read this Boston Globe report from late March about a mysterious series of explosions in Hanover, Massachusetts involving homemade devices and “flash powder.” Actual quote from a local cop: “It appears there is someone experimenting with making these devices.” The explosions happened on March 12 and 15; on March 20, a friend of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev tweeted to him that he’d heard he’d been “poppen fireworks.” Hmmmm.


Pop singer Chris Brown was recently denied entry into the United Kingdom and has been forced to postpone his upcoming UK Fan Appreciation Tour.
Due to unforeseen circumstances the Chris Brown UK tour starting tomorrow in Glasgow O2 Academy (9 June) and then subsequently at Birmingham O2 Academy (10 June), Manchester Apollo (11 June) and London HMV Hammersmith Apollo (13 June) has unfortunately been postponed. Ticket buyers should hold onto their tickets as there will be more news in the forthcoming days of possible rearranged dates.
Last year, Chris faced a judge on charges of assault and was sentenced to 5 years of probation and 6 months of community service for the beating of his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna.
The British government’s Home Office said Chris applied for his visa last week and was notified of its refusal Monday.


With less than two months to election day, Hillary Clinton's health is now front and center in the presidential campaign. Clinton's announcement that she has pneumonia and overheated at a 9/11 remembrance event has drawn calls for both presidential candidates to be more upfront about their medical histories. Neither Clinton nor Donald Trump have released detailed accounts of their health.
With Clinton, 68, and Trump, 70, running as the two of the oldest first-time candidates in presidential history, this obsession with the health of a potential President may seem new. But in the past, the health of candidates has been called into question, often through circulation of photos or videos by the media. And in some cases, a candidate's health has impacted their ability to sell themselves to voters.
Former US President Richard Nixon waves to photographers as he prepares to get in to his car at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris, May 20, 1987.
A little more than 56 years ago, then-Vice President Richard Nixon slammed his knee on a car door. With about two months to go until the election, Nixon was forced to spend the first half of September recovering and away from the 1960 presidential campaign. His knee became infected.
"To be out of the game for two weeks was Nixon's worst nightmare," Roger Stone wrote in his 2014 book Nixon's Secrets.
Nixon's overexertion following his knee surgery led to him looking thinner and ill during the first televised presidential debates. John F. Kennedy was widely seen as having won them. But an often overlooked reason for Nixon's poor debate performance was the substantial pain he was in. Nixon appeared more spry than Kennedy, even though the Republican was only four years older.
A poor debate performance and the injury's impact on keeping an aggressive campaign schedule were key to Nixon's narrow loss to Kennedy.
In late September 1979, President Carter went for a run on Catoctin Mountain in northern Maryland. Carter was known for his physical fitness, running 40 to 50 miles a week. But a photo of Carter nearly collapsing a little more than a year before election day did him no favors.
Carter's doctor said he suffered heat exhaustion while jogging, though the President's staff initially worried the 54-year-old had a heart attack. On October 1st, Carter's 55th birthday, Time Magazine said Carter appeared "ashen-faced" and "the incident raised questions about the President's exercise program and general wellbeing." People wrote that Carter's collapse triggered "a moment of fear" at the White House. While the New York Times said Carter was "pronounced fit" after his near-collapse, the article detailed how Carter's doctor treated him extensively for what amounted to dehydration and heat exhaustion.
Carter would go on to lose his reelection to Ronald Reagan after defeating Sen. Ted Kennedy in the Democratic primaries and attempting to resolve the Iran hostage crisis.
U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain.
With a challenged medical history including skin cancer, Senator John McCain faced pressure from the media to release records that would prove he was healthy enough to be President. As many as a third of voters in 2008 thought the then 72-year-old Republican presidential nominee was too old to be President.
McCain's campaign ultimately allowed reporters to review more than 1,100 pages of his medical records. They were heavily detailed in the media and, while they detailed an older American with medical challenges, McCain was given points for transparency. The Arizona senator's longtime doctor said he found no reason McCain could not serve as President.


I have long told President Obama’s most ardent supporters to read Charles Krauthammer. He’s a guaranteed angry read. But if you set aside his rhetorical rage and focus on the substance, Krauthammer does a good job of making the right’s case against the president. Think of him as Chris Christie to George Will’s Tim Pawlenty.
Thanks to a new book by Michael Grunwald, we know with certainty that what Krauthammer argues is a load of bunk. Republicans are complicit in the failures they rail against.
At first, we thought organized Republican recalcitrance against the president started in October 2010 after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) famously said, “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” Then came Robert Draper’s book, “Do Not Ask What Good We Do: Inside the U.S. House of Representatives,” this spring. As the Huffington Post’s Sam Stein reported in April, the book reports on a dinner of leading Republicans held the night of Obama’s inauguration.
For several hours in the Caucus Room (a high-end D.C. establishment), the book says they plotted out ways to not just win back political power, but to also put the brakes on Obama’s legislative platform.
Now Greg Sargent at The Plum Line is sounding the alarm over a revelation in “The New New Deal” by Grunwald. Vice President Joe Biden told the author that during the transition, “seven different Republican Senators” told him that “McConnell had demanded unified resistance.” This was after the 2008 election but before Obama and Biden took office.
“The way it was characterized to me was: `For the next two years, we can’t let you succeed in anything. That’s our ticket to coming back,’ ” Biden says.
Nevermind the nation was falling off the fiscal cliff. Nevermind the global economic system was hanging in the balance. Nevermind we were on the verge of another Great Depression. When the nation needed single-minded focus, the Republican political establishment put power over the national interest.
So, the next time you hear Republicans and conservatives bloviating about the “failures” of the Obama presidency, remember the role they played in them. And remember how their resistance hurt the country they are elected to help govern.


New Delhi: A day after a high intensity bomb exploded outside the Delhi high court, killing 12, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Delhi Police were struggling to make substantial progress in their probes.
Home-grown terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) on Thursday claimed responsibility for the blast in an email and said it will target a shopping mall next. On Wednesday, militant group Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) claimed it had triggered the explosion.
Investigations into HuJI’s email and the movement of a stolen car in the National Capital Region haven’t yielded results yet. Union home secretary R.K. Singh ruled out a connection between the stolen Hyundai Santro car with the blast.
“The NIA has announced a reward of ₹ 5 lakh for those providing any vital clue in the case," Singh said.
U.K. Bansal, secretary (internal security) in the Union home ministry, said NIA and the Delhi Police were pursuing various leads.
“Some information indicating towards a Kashmir connection with email received yesterday from HuJI is being pursued with the help of Jammu and Kashmir Police," he said.
The email was traced to Kishtwar district in Kashmir, and a joint team of NIA and the state police was questioning the owner of the cyber cafe and two other persons. A man resembling a police sketch of a suspect released on Wednesday was being questioned in Bihar.
The home ministry has summoned officials of the anti-terrorism squads (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Mumbai to discuss the security situation in the country. The officials are likely to aide NIA and the Delhi Police in their investigations.
Home ministry officials said forensic experts summoned from Gandhinagar in Gujarat and Hyderabad have found more material evidence from the site of the blast.
NIA was on Thursday also entrusted with investigating a 25 May blast outside another gate of the Delhi high court.
In both incidents, the nature of the explosives used were similar, said the home officials. No one died in the May blast.
Union home minister P. Chidambaram chaired a meeting with officials of the Intelligence Bureau, the Research and Analysis Wing and NIA on Thursday.
National security adviser Shivshankar Menon and some home ministry officials were present.


Here are some of the stories Newsday reporters are currently working on.
JEB BUSH ON LI. Newsday's Laura Figueroa was at the annual luncheon of the Long Island Association today, where former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a possible Republican candidate for president, spoke about challenges facing America and fielded questions. View her tweets by clicking through the gallery below.
Asked if Hillary Clinton deciding to run or not will factor in his decision to run for prez Jeb Bush responds "not at all."
Jeb Bush asked about signing FL's "Stand your Ground" Law. "Did you ever envision it would be used by George Zimmerman?"
"It was the coolest job in the world," Jeb Bush on his two terms as Florida Gov.
LIA president Kevin Law asks Jeb Bush about health of dad Pres. George H.W. Bush -- "he's doing much better"
LIA President: "Is there anything you like about Obamacare?" Bush: "Not really."
Q: "How do you think history will treat your brother?" Bush: "Over time there will be a readjustment...I think history will be kind to him"
LIA president Kevin Law asks Jeb Bush if he has timetable for deciding whether to run for President . Responds "end of the year."
MTA MEETING. Newsday's Alfonso Castillo covered a meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Committee this morning. Check newsday.com for the story.
New @MTA Metro North prez announces creation of new safety committee to review, improve safety procedures following 2 derailments in 2013.
CREDIT FOR ELDERLY CARE. Congressman Steve Israel (D-Huntington) held a press conference in Commack today to announce a plan to allow those caring for elderly relatives to receive up to a $1,200 tax credit for qualified elder care expenses. Newsday's David Schwartz was there. Check back for the story.
A look at today's top stories.
EX-DETECTIVE PLEADS GUILTY. A former Nassau County police supervisor who became ensnared in a corruption scandal tied to a 2009 burglary at a Bellmore high school pleaded guilty to official misconduct Monday as his trial was about to begin.
DEADLY LEAK. The cover story of today's Newsday looks at the deadly carbon monoxide leak inside a restaurant at the Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station that left one dead and several more sickened over the weekend.
FATAL CRASH. A Patchogue man died in a one-car crash after police said his vehicle veered off the road and hit a tree on Waverly Avenue Sunday night.
BURGLARY SPREE. A 38-year-old man faces charges in a string of commercial burglaries after police said he was stopped by officers as he attempted to flee the scene of his latest break-in Saturday in Islandia.
MADOFF EMPLOYEES ON TRIAL. Bernard Madoff's longtime secretary may testify on her own behalf at the New York City trial of five former employees of the Ponzi king.
ATTEMPTED ROBBERY ARREST. A Long Beach man is under arrest, charged with attempting to rob a gas station Sunday night in nearby Island Park, Nassau County police said.
GLEN COVE POET. The lead story of today's "Our Towns" section is a feature on Glen Cove poet laureate Victoria Crosby, who is celebrating a big milestone.
SNOW EMERGENCY RULES. After four years of trying to figure out how to get cars off town roads before a snowstorm, the Riverhead Town board has come up with a compromise that would let the supervisor or a designee declare a snow emergency before a storm arrives and ban parking on any town road from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
See what Newsday and its staff are tweeting about today.


Victor Marino, 87, husband of the late Helen (Cannata) Marino, of Johnson St., Middletown, died Sun., Oct. 8, 2006, at Middlesex Hospital. He was born Dec. 2, 1918, in Melilli, Sicily, son of the late Sebastian and Ann (Saraceno).
He served with the Italian Police prior to the Italian Army during World War II, where he had been a Prisoner of War in North Africa for four years. He came to the U.S. in 1949 and had been a Middletown resident. He worked for A.N. Pierson's Florists and part time at Wesleyan University. He retired after 25 years as a florist for the state of Connecticut.
He is survived by two daughters, Ann Frances Marino and her partner Joseph Martocci of Middletown and Mary Ellen Gosselin and her husband Dennis of Burlington; two grandchildren, Amanda and Myles Gosselin, and a great-granddaughter, Lexi Mia, all of Burlington. He was predeceased by a brother, Vincent Marino, and deceased siblings and relatives in Middletown and Italy. The family sends a special thanks to Danielle Salafia, who filled in on occasion as caregiver, for her warmth and affection. It was his desire that there be no calling hours, and a private service will be held. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 538 Preston Ave, Meriden. D'Angelo Funeral Home, 22 South Main St., is in charge of arrangements.


US markets are on a losing streak, while emerging markets get gutted, and Japan is crashing.
Suddenly markets are interesting again.
And for the first time this week, we actually have an interesting schedule of events coming up.
There are two interesting economic data releases.
• At 8:30 AM, The initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released. The consensus is for an increase to 350 thousand from 346 thousand last week.
• Also at 8:30 AM, Retail sales for May will be released. The consensus is for retail sales to increase 0.5% in May, and to increase 0.4% ex-autos.
And then at 1 PM ET, we'll get the result of a Treasury auction of $13 billion worth of 30-year bonds.
Given the latest bond selloff, this will be something to watch.


Imagine a social media debate on the Big Bang Theory or Higgs boson particle! Even literate Pakistanis who are not well-versed in English would fail to contribute to it, not because of some fault of their own but because no resource is available in Urdu or in any of our regional languages on the topic, not unlike almost all other academic disciplines that shape the modern world.
The inability of the people to access knowledge from the original source has been manipulated by different interest groups over the years, so much so that the chasm between the worldview of Pakistanis who read and write in English (or any of the languages in which modern information is available) and of those who do not is now manifest in all possible areas of life, none more than social media.
As a consequence, a large number of Pakistanis who do not read and write in English are now literally dodging information, lest it poses a threat to their worldview!
A social media debate on Charles Darwin’s ‘Theory of Evolution,’ for example, would inevitably never move beyond the relationship between humans and monkeys; so much so that even an occasional attempt to pass on real information, say about fossil records and DNA, would be smartly thwarted by the ‘information-dodging’ group through the use of invective.
The void created by the dearth of information in Urdu and regional languages is filled (in most cases, overfilled) by the propaganda on social media and in the vernacular press that adequately satiates this group’s desire to know the ‘reality,’ as well as further reinforces the worldview it ascribes to.
Debating with members of this group, mostly young men and women, on social media is not easy; one, on account of their sheer numbers; and two, because of their sheer ignorance. They would rather base their arguments on the venom spewed by phony media anchors than what has been actually written or said; though admittedly, reading or research may not be their cup of tea, as reflected in their poorly drafted comments regardless of the language.
The response to I am Malala presents a classic case study in this regard. The information-dodging group pounced on the world’s youngest Nobel Laureate based on what was being said about her book by those who had not read it themselves or did not have the capacity to do so rather than what it actually said, again because the truth represented a sizable threat to its worldview. The demand for the ban on the sale of the book in Pakistan should also be viewed as part of information-dodging group’s strategy to nip the ‘evil’ in the bud.
Filling this information gap is difficult if not impossible because the supposed beneficiaries are wary of credible information from first-hand sources. No wonder then that highlighting the significance of English is often misconstrued as an attempt to impose the language and belittle Urdu; and comments like “English is not the language of our forefathers like yours” are not uncommon on social media.
Nationalism aside, why aren’t science subjects taught in Urdu at college/university level in Pakistan? Why one cannot take the CSS examinations in Urdu? Why are the interviews for the ISSB conducted in English? Even mildly put, this is nothing but an admission by the state that Urdu is incapable of catering to the needs of the modern era.
For the sake of comparison, in the neighbouring Indian state of Punjab, one can pursue a degree in hard sciences in Punjabi. In short, the message is loud and clear: the information gap is here to stay, as do the two opposing worldviews that currently define our nation.
There are so many people who understand English better than the English People. As far as Malala is concerned, it is stated that it was she who preferred Democracy to Shaiah in a talk show with Javed Chodhri on Express News.


Donald Trump Archives - Freethought Now!
The United States seems determined nowadays to show its worst face to the world.
At the Freedom From Religion Foundation, we aren’t afraid to tackle the big guys.
Gaylor to Gillibrand: Your bible is even worse than Trump!
Trump panders — and delivers — to the extremist Christian Right; take action!
2017 has just gotten started — and we’re already in the thick of things.


NEWCASTLE have released a statement - as fans desperately wait for news on their next manager.
But, the announcement on Newcastle's club website this morning was no quite what fans had in mind.
As the Geordie nation wait for confirmation of Steve McClaren's sacking - and Rafa Benitez's potential appointment - the North East club have issued a ticket update.
In a move that will be considered brazen in the extreme by some supporters, Newcastle have released the following statement.
Given there is no certainty who will be managing Newcastle at the King Power Stadium, fans would be within their rights to demand clarity on that before purchasing a ticket for Monday night's trip to the Midlands.
The North East club have not posted from their Twitter or Facebook accounts since Wednesday lunchtime.
Express Sport understands Benitez's appointment as Newcastle boss is on hold as McClaren's exit is finalised.
Benitez can expect to earn £4million a year over three years with a £2m bonus if he keeps the Magpies in the Premier League.
But Newcastle are set to shell out £2m to dispense with McClaren and his backroom staff, as Benitez wants to bring in his own team.


Nine months have passed since the terrorist attacks against the U.S. on September 11, 2001. U.S. relations with the outside world have changed in many ways as a result. In what ways has 9.11 changed Sino-American relations? How should one explain the changes and continuities of the relationship? What does all this mean for the future development of the relationship? This paper represents a modest attempt to address these questions.
In retrospect, 9.11 has led to a significant improvement in Sino-American relations. The improvement is especially significant in light of the relationship prior to September 11.
The relationship between the two countries before 9.11 could be described as one of reduced differences and increasing conflicts. After 20 years of reform and openness, China has undergone some significant changes. As a result, the differences between China and the United States, be it economic, political, or cultural, have diminished over time. People traveling in China find that in major Chinese cities the streets are dotted with American fast food restaurants such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Chinese department stores are filled with many well-known American brand names such as Colgate, Proctor & Gamble, Nike and Microsoft. Chinese movie theatres show Hollywood movies such as Titanic, Antitrust, Moulin Rouge, A Beautiful Mind, etc. And Chinese youth are crazy about American atheletes like Michael Jordon, Andre Agassi, and Greg Louganis.
The reduction of differences not only takes place on a physical level, but also in terms of cultural and political values and economic, social and political practices. Twenty years ago, China rejected the free market, upheld the principle of self-reliance in its foreign economic relations, maintained an ambiguous attitude toward the rule of law, forbade any discussion of the human rights issues, and avoided the concept of democracy. Now it enthusiastically embraces free market economics, actively encourages integration with the world economy, promotes the rule of law, supports discussion on human rights and in its own way advocates democracy. Granted, the gap between China and the U.S. in various aspects is still wide, but it is much narrower than what it used to be. Indeed, China has never looked more like the U.S. today than at any other time in its five thousand year history.


I started barefoot walking. As simple as that.
I now try to walk barefoot as much as possible. Yes, I have found that donning my shoes as often as I can helps me with the release of stress and anxiety and also forces my mind to re-focus on the present moment.
If we think about it from a physiological standpoint the feet-brain connection makes complete sense.
-reduces my social anxiety by forcing me to engage with other people who are likely wondering why I am not wearing shoes in situations that others would.
BTW: Most people ignore it, some find it funny or odd, but mostly folks are simply interested into the why, and strike up an amiable conversation. (No, I am not going into BPD at that point but stick to the mediation and mindfulness part and may tell them about other physiological health benefits. That's all they need-and likely want--to know.
A second BTW: You might have heard of a related technique called "earthing" where your feet are supposed to connect with the ground to exchange positive and negative energies like a dowsing rod. To date, there is no scientific proof for this particular practice. The jury's still out on that one.
How I got started? Slow, by walking barefoot around the house and in the yard more often. Since those first steps I have taken more nature walks through the woods in my bare feet which greatly helped with mood improvement and energy levels.
Now I have a morning routine where take my meds, down a glass of water with fresh pressed lemon juice and walk barefoot from my work to my coffee shop. I do this, and I know that my day is off to a much better start.
I don't know whether anyone has tried this or will, but this has been working well for me. Maybe it will also work for someone else.
Feel free to ask me anything or let me know whether it helped you as well.
Thanks for sharing this. I'm "into" walking. But I don't walk barefoot outside. I live in a large metropolitan area & I don't think I'd want to walk barefoot around here. I do walk barefoot in the house when it's warm enough to do so.
I used to have some Vibram running shoes that had toes in them. They felt very much like you were walking barefoot. They didn't hold up well on the concrete & asphalt though. And they were expensive. I was fortunate to get the pair I had deeply discounted at the end of the season a few years ago. I doubt I'd buy another pair.


Noam Chomsky is an Institute Professor and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Linguistics at MIT.
Jonathan Lieberson (1949–1989) was a philosopher, editor and critic. Lieberson taught at Barnard and Columbia. His book of essays, Varieties, included reflections on personalities as diverse as Diana Vreeland, Paul Valery and Clifford Geertz.
Avishai Margalit is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His most recent book is On Betrayal.


In a bid to increase the volumes of their motor-car policy business, Oriental Insurance Company has tied-up with TVS & Sons care service business division to provide its insurance holders with a 24X7 emergency roadside assistance service.
In a bid to increase the volumes of their motor-car policy business, Oriental Insurance Company has tied-up with TVS & Sons care service business division, My TVS, to provide its insurance holders with a 24X7 emergency roadside assistance service.
“The introduction of such a service would give car owners a reason to extend their insurance and also provide more value for the premium that they pay as these services are provided absolutely free by us,” said M Ramadoss, chairman and managing director, Oriental Insurance Co Ltd. He unveiled the service in Mumbai on Monday along with R Srivatchan, president, MyTVS.
The tie-up was first launched in Chennai in June 2008 and after covering the Western region the public sector insurer plans to make it a nationwide service in 22 states.


Williams has more than 35 years of audit and public accounting experience with Ernst & Young, LLP, most recently as the Southwest Region Assurance Managing Partner where she had responsibility for a $500 million audit practice encompassing nine states, 14 offices and 1,200 employees. She retired from the firm in 2016.
Her experience at Ernst & Young included support for energy clients as she worked with oil and gas producers, midstream companies and large integrated firms with global operations.
In addition to her formal leadership roles, Williams served on the partner advisory council, inclusiveness council and diversity task force at Ernst & Young.
"For more than three decades, well-respected companies have looked to Valerie for advice, counsel and insight. WPX now joins the ranks of those who will benefit from her expertise as we continue to execute at a high level both operationally and financially," said Rick Muncrief, chairman and chief executive officer.
"The length of her tenure with a single firm speaks to her dedication, the quality of her leadership and the value she brings to the table. Her background in risk management and her understanding of global markets are integral to our business," Muncrief added.
Williams also serves as a director for Omnicom Group, Inc. She has a master's degree in business administration from the University of Houston and a bachelor's degree in medical technology from the University of North Texas.
Williams will serve on WPX's audit committee. She is WPX's eleventh independent director. The sole inside director is Rick Muncrief, WPX chairman and CEO.
Two members of the WPX board - William R. Granberry and George A. Lorch - are scheduled to retire at the time of the company's annual meeting in May. Both have served WPX since its start as an independent company in 2012.


credit: K Martinko -- OK, so my kids weren't terribly thrilled to get just one gift last Christmas, but they survived. We went to the beach instead!
Gift exchanges are fun and traditional, but they can also be expensive and wasteful, especially if you don’t like or can’t use what you have received. It fuels much of the consumerism that is so damaging to our planet and culture. The gift exchange goes against much of what we at TreeHugger strive for throughout the rest of the year – simple, small, green, and often frugal lifestyles. That’s why we need to take a step back to reassess the shopping madness. Here are some thoughts on how to spend less time and effort on it.
Kids don’t need to be showered in multiple presents from their parents. We like to keep it simple at our house – one gift from Santa and one from us. Tell visitors not to come laden with presents for the kids. As exciting as it is to rip off the paper and play with a new toy, inevitably it gets forgotten in the wild frenzy of having so many new toys to play with. By receiving fewer, a child will stay more focused on that particular gift.


Drake and Rihanna had the rumor mill buzzing once again when they were spotted partying at the same nightclub on Friday night. The Canadian rapper and Barbadian beauty stepped out to Hooray Henry’s in West Hollywood, fueling reports of a reignited romance.
Drizzy rocked black Timberlands and a red vintage Iceberg shirt from the Bart Simpson Collection (Oh yes, he did). Clad in all black, RiRi was joined by her BFF Melissa Forde.
With their burly bodyguards in tow, they exited separately through the back of the club moments after one another.
The night didn’t end there. According to The Mirror, the “What’s My Name?” collaborators hopped in the same taxi and headed to Bootsy Bellows in Hollywood. Drake shut down the club to host a private party, which reportedly lasted until 4:30 a.m.
See more pics from their night out below.


In 2008, Mother Jones blew the lid off corporate black ops against environmental groups. Now one of the targets is fighting back.
More than two years ago, Mother Jones exposed a private security firm run by former Secret Service agents that had spied on an array of environmental groups on behalf of corporate clients, in some cases infiltrating unsuspecting organizations with operatives posing as activists. Now, one of the targets of this corporate espionage is fighting back.
On Monday, Greenpeace filed suit in federal district court in Washington, DC, against the Dow Chemical Company and Sasol North America, charging that the two multinational chemical manufacturers sought to thwart its environmental campaigns against genetically engineered foods and chemical pollution through elaborate undercover operations. Also named in the suit are Dezenhall Resources and Ketchum, public relations firms hired by Sasol and Dow respectively, and four ex-employees of that now-defunct security firm, Beckett Brown International (BBI).
The suit charges that between 1998 and 2000 the chemical companies, the PR firms, and BBI “conspired to and did surveil, infiltrate and steal confidential information from Greenpeace with the intention of preempting, blunting or thwarting its environmental campaigns. These unlawful activities included trespassing on the property of Greenpeace, infiltrating its offices, meetings and electronic communications under false pretenses and/or by force, and by these means, stealing confidential documents, data and trade secrets from Greenpeace.” Greenpeace is seeking an injunction against further trespass and thefts of trade secrets, as well as compensatory and punitive damages.
The lawsuit stems from an April 2008 Mother Jones article that detailed a series of black ops carried out by BBI against Greenpeace and other environmental groups. The story was based largely on internal BBI records made available to the magazine by John Dodd, a principal investor and officer of BBI. At the time, Dodd said he decided to come forward after discovering that BBI’s employees had defrauded him and engaged in unscrupulous snooping on activist groups and other targets.
Mother Jones reporters sifted through thousands of pages of internal documents that included billing records, surveillance reports, and email correspondence from undercover operatives in Washington and Lake Charles, Louisiana. Contained in the trove were a variety of internal Greenpeace records, including strategy memos, campaign plans, donor lists, and documents that included credit card information and the social security numbers of Greenpeace employees. Also unearthed were similar records belonging to other organizations, including Friends of the Earth, GE Food Alert, the Center for Food Safety, and Fenton Communications, a PR firm that represents various environmental groups.
BBI’s operations included clandestine night-time dumpster diving sorties into Greenpeace’s trash and recycling bins in the alleys of downtown Washington. The firm’s operatives were assisted by at least one active duty Washington police officer, who may have used his badge to gain entrance into Greenpeace’s gated trash area, the environmental group alleges. Between July 1998 and October 2000, BBI operatives stole internal Greenpeace records on at least 100 occasions, the group claims.
According to the complaint, internal BBI documents show that “BBI employees or contractors tested multiple three- and four-digit codes and documented whether each code was successful in granting access” to Greenpeace’s Washington headquarters. The suit also charges that BBI “appears to have broken into the offices” of a Louisiana law firm engaged in litigation against the Condea Vista chemical company (now Sasol North America).
Undercover operatives employed by BBI organized an elaborate system to penetrate Greenpeace, sending at least one contractor posing volunteer to surveil Greenpeace’s Washington offices, the complaint states. Meanwhile, other BBI employees and contractors spied on Greenpeace employees and other activists in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where environmentalists were engaged in a fierce campaign against Condea Vista.
Meanwhile, BBI also launched a similar operation in Louisiana dubbed the “Lake Charles Project” to collect internal information on campaigns by Greenpeace and other environmental groups. For the Lake Charles operation, BBI relied heavily on a freelance “research consultant” named Mary Lou Sapone. She recruited a school teacher to infiltrate a local environmental groups, where he eventually become a board member. The Greenpeace complaint alleges that Sapone also “cased Greenpeace’s U Street Office while masquerading as a prospective campaign volunteer.” In July 2008, Mother Jones revealed that Sapone, using her maiden name, McFate, had for more than a decade infiltrated the gun control groups on behalf of the National Rifle Association.
While BBI was working for Condea Vista, it also targeted Greenpeace on behalf of Dow. At the time, Greenpeace was aggressively campaigning against the spread of genetic engineered foods and was pushing to get the federal government to impose strict regulations on the industry. (Dow is a major player in this field.) The suit alleges that Dow hired the public relations firm Ketchum to keep tabs on the plans of its critics; the PR firm in turn employed BBI to spy on Greenpeace.
The complaint describes a July 1999 meeting in which representative of BBI, Ketchum, and Dow convened at an Annapolis, Maryland, hotel “to discuss the surveillance of Greenpeace and other environmental organizations critical of, or likely to criticize Dow Chemical.” There, the BBI team “delivered a power-point presentation about Greenpeace which included confidential, prospective budget information and campaign plans.” According to the complaint, Ketchum paid BBI more than $125,000 for confidential information on Greenpeace.
Dow Chemical, Ketchum, and Dezenhall Resources did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Informed of the law suit by Mother Jones, a Sasol North America spokeswoman said, “Wow.” She then directed a reporter to a past statement by the company saying it had no comment on matters that occurred prior to Sasol taking ownership of Condea Vista in 2001.


WASHINGTON • Beijing's lengthy approval process for genetically modified (GM) crops remains a sticking point in talks to end the trade war between China and the United States, according to two sources with knowledge of the talks.
Beijing has taken years to approve new strains of GM crops, and US companies and farmers have complained that this stalls trade by restricting the sales of new products from companies such as DowDuPont Inc, Bayer AG and Syngenta AG.
The issue is one of a host of US complaints that the Trump administration is demanding China address if it wants to end the trade dispute that has cost both countries billions of dollars and slowed the global economy. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the two sides were getting very close to a deal that could be announced in about four weeks, though there were still differences to be bridged.
The issue has been a source of tension between the two countries for years. China is the biggest buyer of US soya beans, the bulk of which are genetically modified. If it does not approve new strains, then farmers in the US cannot plant them because China may reject shipments that include them. Seed companies cannot fully commercialise sales of new strains without those approvals.
The two sides had appeared to make some progress on the issue in January, when China approved a handful of GM crops for import. They were the first in about 18 months. The move did not address the core US concerns over delays to the process.
A spokesman for the Office of the US Trade Representative, who is leading the Washington team in the discussions, did not respond immediately to a request for confirmation or comment. China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs did not immediately respond to faxed questions yesterday, which was a public holiday in China.
It is unclear what differences on the issue remain. The US wants China to accelerate its approval process and make it more similar to Washington's.
Beijing allows imports of GM soya beans and corn for use in animal feed, even though it does not permit the planting of them.
China bought about 60 per cent of US soya exports, worth about US$12 billion (S$16.3 billion), before the ongoing US-China trade war, and could reject shipments of unapproved varieties.
Beijing promised to speed up its review of applications during previous trade talks with the US in 2017. In the past, Beijing has held back approvals of imported GM products amid concerns about anti-GM sentiment in China.
The trade deal, should it be agreed, is expected to include a six-year timeframe for the purchases of more than US$1 trillion worth of US goods, including commodity products.


Chip's Bar. In 2012 the transgender bartender known as Eli would promptly kick out by force anyone that was caught smoking or doing any drugs.
“I almost had a heart attack. I just witnessed gunshots at [Bar] Chip's,” my friend Amayrani posted on Facebook at around 1 am after the incident. I caught up with Amayrani the day after the shooting at her work in Mamut Brewery. She lives next to Chip's Bar and was still shaking from the altercation as she narrated to her coworkers what happened as she entered her home the previous night.
Two men and one woman were shot inside Chip's Bar in Calle Sexta on Wednesday, April 5, a few minutes after the clock struck midnight. This was the second shooting on Calle Sexta within the same week. The newspaper Zeta reported that the perpetrators escaped in a white Ford Explorer and identified the business as “Bar Cheese.” The victims were transported to Tijuana’s general hospital where they were reported in stable condition. One of the victims died later the same day.
Due to an eclectic and surprisingly great jukebox, Chip's Bar has been one of my favorite dive bars since before I moved to Tijuana in 2012. When I first started visiting Chip's, the establishment was a dirty after-hours dive bar frequented by metal and hard-rock musicians and underground artists, though the bar was originally a drinking hole for mechanics. Back then, the transgender bartender known as Eli would promptly kick out by force anyone that was caught smoking or doing any drugs.
The last time I drank a caguama at Chip's Bar was on a late night on a Saturday in November of last year. The place reeked of crystal meth and someone offered me heroin in the bathroom. The young dealer was burning a piece of tin foil that had a tan and black tar on the tip while he inhaled from a short distance and gestured me to try it. I shook my head and looked the other way. On the other side of the bathroom, a group of meth users piled near the toilet stall promptly told me “that they were not sharing with me,” when I was simply trying to use the urinal. I went back to my seat on the bar with a bad taste in my mouth and did not go to the bathroom or to the back of the establishment again and finished my beer while I observed the chaos.
The bar was a display of complete anarchy the likes of which I have not witnessed before. The bouncer and bartenders, including Eli, turned a blind eye to all the drug consumption and dealings, which were more than abundant in the back of the bar. They would only interfere if a fight broke loose or if drugs were used near the entrance.
This type of environment is common in bars inside Zona Norte, but it is increasingly becoming more common inside bars on Calle Sexta, a street that just a year ago acted as Tijuana’s friendly tourist party center but now acts as a war zone-disputed narco turf.
News and media outlets from outside of Tijuana like the L.A. Times, New York Times, and several other sources, have been publishing very similar stories praising Tijuana’s “revolution.” The headlines are along the lines of “discover the amazing things Tijuana has to offer!” Followed by a list of places that I have personally been covering for the Reader since late 2013. My very first story for the Reader mentions the street where Chip's Bar is situated.
On the other side of the coin, Tijuana news sources have been publishing the same story almost daily since the beginning of 2017. The articles are about nightly assaults, numerous car robberies, house break-ins, murders, and the return of narco violence all over the city. Los malandros andan con todo ahorita (the bad guys are hitting heavy right now) is a common phrase currently uttered amongst citizens. More and more each week my newsfeed has reports of friends who have witnessed or have fallen to Tijuana’s renewed crime surge.
More than ever before, I roam the streets of Tijuana with extra care. If uneasy or if I am carrying my camera, I resort to Uber to get home safely.
jnojr April 10, 2017 @ 4:05 p.m.
Why does Mexico allow the NRA to hold them hostage? Lax gun laws, gun shows, gun stores, CCWs, guns everywhere... oh, won't anyone PLEASE think of the children?


LIONS fought their way to a fourth league win from five starts with their most impressive performance this season.
Despite having two forwards sinbinned, Lions showed a cutting edge in the first half and then defended superbly with the wind and rain in their faces.
Chris Richards kicked Lions ahead in the first minute with a penalty, and the forwards then drove on before the ball was moved wide at pace for Pete Roberts to score on the right - Richards converting, his last success of the game, to give the home side a 10-0 lead on three minutes as they sought to establish the necessary first-half cushion.
Lions' tendency to concede penalties returned and three in a minute gave Manchester the field position for scrum-half Paul Thompson to score a fine blind side try on eight minutes.
But Rugby looked committed and inventive, and they even won Manchester line-outs against a very tall pack which was all in contrast to their performance against Exeter last time out.
Flanker Tristan Prosser-Shaw was harshly yellow-carded, but Lions still dominated up front and forward pressure produced a Sam Tovo try on 20 minutes.
A fine Richards break was carried on by Phil Reed and as Lions kept the pressure on Reed took an awkward pass superbly to crash over for a 25-5 interval lead.
As conditions deteriorated there was no let up in Rugby's aggressive display and they coped comfortably with the sin-binning of Tim Collier for deliberate offside.
Manchester could not score until the final quarter, when Marcus Barrow kicked a penalty as Lions' much-vaunted fitness paid big dividends.
Finally, former Lion Dave Muckalt did register a consolation try with five minutes remaining on the clock.
Lions coach Adrian Thompson commented: "I was really pleased with everyone's effort. We scored good tries out wide and the commitment was self-evident. This was a significant step forward."
Rugby Lions: Richards; Roberts, Potter, Newmarch, Reed; Davies, Walsh (Edwards); Greenbury (Shadbolt), Gladstone, Smith, Collier, Jones, Tovo, Stannard, Prosser-Shaw. Manchester: Barrow; Baker, Graham, Hughes, Leuila; Leyden, Thompson; Batt, Hewson, Bieniaze (Kelly), Norris, Bradshaw (Gunson), Muckalt, Lacey, White (Collins).


Obama’s surrender of internet oversight threatens free speech worldwide.
Recently, the Obama Administration announced that it would transfer its oversight of internet domain management to a yet-to-be-named international multi-stakeholder. Many are concerned that this will lead to the suppression of speech in capitulation to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other free speech tyrants. And though some on the left insist that these concerns amount to nothing more than alarmist folly, the concessions have already begun.
The internet originated in America, initially launched as a government experiment in networks. Over a period of two decades, it grew to include researchers and think tanks. In 1992, the “network of networks” opened its doors to the commercial world, and the internet as we know it today was birthed.
A global system of domain management was needed. Someone had to keep a list of domain names and assign them numbers for internet users worldwide. This had to be done by a central body in order to prevent multiple individuals, organizations or other entities from winding up with duplicative domain names, causing confusion.
Initially, domain management was conducted informally. Then, in 1998, the Department of Commerce (DoC) recognized ICANN, a California-based non-profit organization, to perform this function. In a cooperative arrangement, the DoC’s National Telecommunications Information Agency (NTIA) would retain some minor administrative tasks regarding internet management, but would also have a critical oversight function over ICANN to ensure that the internet is free, secure and stable.
NTIA’s contract with ICANN is set to expire in September of 2015. On March 14, 2014, the Obama Administration announced that it would decline its option to renew the contract and instead allow ICANN oversight to transfer to the “global multi-stake holder community”.
Despite some alarm on the right that ICANN will fall into the hands of China, Russia or the UN, both ICANN and the NTIA have been clear that they will not agree to transfer oversight responsibilities to any government entity or to the United Nations. What is not clear is what entity is qualified to assume this function or whether ICANN might wind up without an oversight body altogether.
Two legislative bills are now in the works to prevent the Obama Administration from moving oversight of ICANN out of US hands. The first is a bill sponsored by Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, which would stall the transfer until the Government Accountability Office could do a study on the transfer’s impact. The second bill, sponsored by Congressman Mike Kelly, would prohibit the administration from making the transfer without congressional approval.
Because ICANN has no control over website content, fraud or email spam, some on the left erroneously assume that this precludes the possibility of stifling free speech on the internet.
Others naively believe that if attempts at censorship through domain name assignments were to occur, it would be met by “stiff opposition” from domain registry operators and ISP’s…. as if this would be sufficient to stop the likes of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other tyrannical free speech oppressors.
In truth, ICANN has already started to crack under the OIC’s pressure.
In January 2012, ICANN announced that it would expand its gTLD program (top level domain suffixes) allowing potential approval of numerous additional suffixes, for example, .IBM, .Canon, .sports, .health, .church, or .bible.
Subsequently, Asia Green IT System, LTC (“AGIT”), a Turkey-based company, applied for two gTLDs: .Islam and .hahal.
The UAE, which sits on ICANN’s Government Advisory Committee (GAC), twice objected to AGIT’s applications and tried to prevent the sale of both domain names. Other countries including Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman and Kuwait also protested.
After AGIT responded, determinations were made in AGIT’s favor.
Then, in October, the OIC joined ICANN with Observer status. In November 2013 the OIC Secretary General wrote a letter to the GAC Chair demanding that AGIT’s application be denied. The Chair refused.
After each objection to AGIT’s applications, objectors were told that there was insufficient evidence that the Muslim community supported their objection or that the application approval would hurt their community’s interests.
that OIC Member States should become active in ICANN.
Then-Secretary General of the OIC, Ekmelledin Ihsanoglu followed this up with a letter to the Chairman of the ICANN Board of Directors, Steve Crocker, noting that the OIC is the “sole official representative of the Muslim world” and that it supports the UAE’s objection to the sale of the domain names .Islam and .halal. He argued that the resolution’s unanimous approval “nullifies” the GAC’s observation that the Muslim community doesn’t support the UAE’s objections and that the sale of these domain names won’t harm the Muslim community.
As a result, ICANN made a decision to “defer” action on the .Islam and .halal domain suffixes until AGIT resolves all conflicts with the objectors, namely the OIC and its member states. By requiring a private company to negotiate with speech-suppressing governments ICANN effectively punted on its responsibilities. Its “deferral” is tantamount to a denial of the applicant’s request.
This is a free speech battle. Though ICANN doesn’t directly control website content, it does control the sale of domain names, which consist of words that represent subjects. The OIC should not be permitted to bully ICANN into reserving Islam-related domain names for OIC Member States only.
First, there is no right to be free from offense in the sale or ownership of domain names, nor should there be. Second, the words Islam and halal are not inherently offensive to the Muslim community, therefore it’s obviously not the domain name itself to which the OIC objects. Rather, the OIC wants to ensure that these words are used with only positive connotations. To ensure that the domains suffixes are confined to OIC-approved content, only OIC Members States are to be trusted.
Even assurances by AGIT that it would not “misuse” the suffixes, failed to appease the OIC. The OIC wants ownership of the words, not just in the form of domain strings, but in common parlance as well.
The OIC has been calling for the equivalent of blasphemy codes for over a decade in the form of UN resolutions to combat “defamation” of Islam. It is on a perpetual quest to stifle criticism of Islam-related topics, ever seeking out new international legal instruments to achieve its goal.
Suppression of these suffixes is only the tip of the iceberg. Free speech advocates who fear internet freedom is at risk should be taken seriously. America has been doing an exceptional job of keeping the internet free, secure and stable, and should remain its trusted steward. If internet oversight leaves her hands, further concessions to free speech tyrants like the OIC can be expected.
Deborah Weiss, Esq. is a regular contributor to FrontPage Magazine and the Washington Times. She is a contributing author to “Saudi Arabia and the Global Islamic Terrorist Network” and the primary writer and researcher for “Council on American Islamic Relations: Its Use of Lawfare and Intimidation”.


Today you're feeling grounded and down-to-earth. You might not always, but for now you prefer it. After all, the high and mighty can fall much farther than you. And isn't telling the straight truth just so much more interesting? You could light a fire under someone without even trying! Which is always good for a few laughs. Don't do anything just for laughs now, though -- try to have a point, too. That's part of what being practical is all about.
Feeling and thinking will lead to doing and making. Even if your goals are new, the same method will probably work again. You've been here before, and by now you should be comfortable in your creative role as a new cycle begins. So kick-start the engine to power up your latest and greatest. See if you can get it online today. If the whole thing isn't ready to go, find the part you can live with and put that out for all the world to see. Whatever you're doing here, you're clearly an artist at work.
Restlessness won't serve you well today, but it could be hard to stay calm. Remember that curiosity could prove to be the proverbial last straw. Some project or problem will be resolved soon, but not just yet. Ask questions with caution, and don't expect to make any major strides toward a newer, better situation. Instead, try to be patient -- which, granted, isn't your strong suit. But that's what's required at the moment, and you can do it if you put your mind to it.
Be good for a while. Let your inner angel rule you today. Keep your smile real and steady, even if you can still see the dark side. Set an upstanding example for the world, if only to prove that you can still shine on command. Then, after you're all caught up on those karmic honey-do chores, you'll have a chance to kick off your goody two-shoes and get down and dirty -- if that kind of thing still appeals to you. Amazingly enough, it might not be as much fun by then.
Your vanity may triumph today if the wrong people keep saying you're beautiful, always right, or off the hook for something you did wrong. Things may be changing, and adapting to a new system won't be easy if you have to start from the bottom. Chilly silence at inappropriate jokes might be the first indication that you crossed the line. Stop fighting for what doesn't matter anymore. Make your peace now before the battle even begins. So what if someone laughs at you for surrendering? Don't let them drag you into their downward spiral. Rise up instead.
Watch and listen carefully. Create the quiet conditions and natural lighting you need. Don't like what your noisy neighbours are up to? Spread civilisation by acting civilised. They might laugh at first, but they'll change their tune once they hear all the cool stuff coming from your house. Today you'll work for harmony because you love the sound of it. But remember, you can't maintain this purity forever. You can let a little friendly noise creep back in once you're clear that everyone is getting along.
The easiest way to avoid a battle today is to keep to yourself. Don't say anything that's not absolutely necessary, which includes most of your current opinions -- your view of the world is a little screwy at the moment. Your energy is off, and it's better for everyone if you just sit back and take it easy. Of course, withdrawing completely won't do, either. Find a happy medium between 'lone wolf' and 'in your face aggression.' Spend time with people you love and trust.
A feeling of contentment settles over you today -- but take a moment to check yourself and see if it verges on smugness. It'd be bad to get lazy now, and your discriminating tastes might end up closing too many doors. Balance is critical now, so open up your mind and work with other people instead of shutting them out or just ignoring them. You'll find that they add a lot to your day, if you let them.
Fighting fire with fire might be tempting, but today it's not the best approach. If someone is being a blowhard, don't try to silence them with loud, impressive assertions of your own! In a room where everyone's shouting and no one's listening, how much really gets done? Sagittarius, instead of working at cross purposes, listen to the ideas of others and try to find common ground. That way, you won't strain your voice, your health, or your bank account, and you can actually accomplish something.
Your Inbox might be full and your to-do list may be pages long, but you're feeling energised, centred and in control. Any chaos that surrounds you at work or at home today will only serve to focus your own attention on the bottom line: What needs to be done, and what's the best way to make it happen? Your perspective is clear and you're able to be diplomatic with just about anyone. You're actually quite charming now, which will certainly help bring allies to your side.
Relationships can bring substantial risk. As soon as you let down your defences, all kinds of things can get in. But do you want to live in a vacuum? If not, be more approachable today. Make sure you're not working at cross-purposes with somebody who wants what's best for you. Even when your intentions are golden, one little slip could look really bad. Do your best, and if you screw up, at least you can say you tried. You'll have other chances to be perfect, especially if you find someone more sympathetic to your flaws.
If you're determined to get somewhere, go there without getting in people's faces. If you have to push against the crowd, make it feel like a massage or some other kind of pleasant physical encounter. They'll tolerate you if you tolerate them. Keep it real as you manifest gently today. By not pretending, you'll stir up a lot of healthy curiosity in this calm but irresistible force you're putting out. You'll grow a stronger team in the process, too, because once you have them hooked, they'll follow you anywhere.


YouTube (S GOOG) officially confirmed Tuesday that it is going to launch a paid music subscription tier to its service. However, the service may come with some collateral damage: YouTube is going to start blocking music videos from five percent of its label partners. Affected are indie labels that haven’t agreed to YouTube’s licensing terms, according to a Financial Times report.
The paper quoted YouTube content head Robert Kyncl saying that official music videos from labels that haven’t reached an agreement with YouTube will disappear from the service “in a matter of days.” YouTube already has agreements with all the major labels and some indies in place, but could take down videos from artists like Adele and the Arctic Monkeys, according to the Times.
However, it seems like these take-downs wouldn’t affect all of these artist’s videos. Vevo told Techcrunch that its Adele music videos will remain available, and the same will presumably be true for the Arctic Monkeys as well. Adding to the confusion are regional licensing disparities. A band may be on an indie label in the U.K., but distribute its music through a major label abroad, in which case U.S. users would continue to have access to these videos.
Also not affected are the countless lip dubs, parodies and vacation videos that have been borrowing music from indie and major label artists alike. User-generated content will continue to be available on the site, and musicians will continue to be able to monetize these videos through ads, regardless of whether they have signed on for YouTube’s music service or not.
Is YouTube evil — or just diligent?
Still, the takedowns won’t exactly help YouTube with its image, even if they only affect a small number of songs in a few countries. Which makes you wonder: why is the music service doing this? One could obviously make the case that YouTube is trying to strong-arm labels that are holding out for a better deal, threatening to cut them off from ad revenue if they don’t agree to be part of the paid service.
However, there’s also a flip side to this: One could also argue that YouTube just wants to avoid becoming Hulu. The TV catch-up service offers both free, ad-supported and subscription-only content, and subscribers to its paid Hulu Plus tier regularly run into confusing situations where a TV show episode may be available for free on the web, but not through the Hulu Plus app on mobile and connected devices.
The same could happen if YouTube was going to launch a paid service that coexists with free music videos with differing rights. YouTube hasn’t said yet exactly what its service is going to look like, but one of the features likely included is offline playback. Paying subscribers may run into an issue where they’re able to download one song, but not another, or bypass ads on one video, but not another. By blocking these disputed songs altogether, YouTube may be able to provide a more consistent experience for its paying users — albeit at a notable cost for everyone else.
I anxiously await Jack White’s typical toxic invective. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
Geeks, Google never cared Ha..Ha..
Just by launching a payed service Google is committing suicide, the extra nasty makes it just a bit worse.
I think you captured the nuance here. Music licensing is the most byzantine system I have ever experienced, and the end user isn’t going to care about those intricate details, so I think this is the right approach.
Oh…and love the use of Hulu to explain the problem. It is precisely why I dropped my subscription to Plus.


CANTON – On the day before his induction into the Hall of Fame, Lawrence Taylor retreated to his favorite place on earth: the golf course.
The golf course was LT’s detox center when he lived perilously on the edge and over the edge of the NFL’s drug policy, and the golf course was where he found peace and quiet on a sunny afternoon before his most glorious day in the sun.
Later in the evening, across the street from a Civic Center dinner honoring Taylor and fellow enshrinees Eric Dickerson, Ozzie Newsome, Tom Mack and Billy Shaw, Taylor wore the gold Hall of Fame jacket as he was escorted by bodyguards from room to room filled with worshippers.
At the bustling outdoor cocktail hour, LT’s mother Iris wore a radiant smile when asked about her son.
Iris Taylor was asked what her emotions might be today. “Crying all over the place,” she said.
Iris Taylor and Lawrence Taylor’s closest supporters hope and pray today is the first day of the rest of his life. Because today is the day the man we watched stagger and fall on the sidewalks of New York and finally crash off the cocaine edge gets his just due for being the greatest Giant and greatest linebacker of them all.
Today is the day his son T.J., a gentle, sweet kid who will turn 18 later this month, makes the speech that presents him to the Hall of Fame.
Taylor’s parents will be there and so will his ex-wife and his three daughters and so will ex-Giants Harry Carson and George Martin and so will former Giants GM George Young, the man who drafted him in 1981 out of North Carolina, and so will Giants co-owner Wellington Mara, who has always been there in times of need for one of the most troubled and controversial members of his football family.
Bill Parcells has a scrimmage to oversee today at Hofstra, and Phil Simms expects to be there with his old coach. It doesn’t mean Simms isn’t tickled for his old partner in crime.
Simms and Taylor were polar opposites off the field. On the field, however, they were very much alike. They would have played the game in a parking lot.
There was a great mutual respect between 11 and 56.
Simms always appreciated having Taylor on his side. If the fates weren’t as kind, that could have been him wincing under the chilling, relentless, bone-crunching assault that debilitated the Joe Theismanns and the Ron Jaworskis.
It was mostly because of LT, who played the game the same way he lived his life – on the edge.
Simms was asked what playing on the edge that way meant.
“It was just total disregard for the body,” Simms said. “Just as reckless as he could be, but still not hurting the team, helping the team because he was able to function even going at that tremendous speed.
Simms doesn’t care to discuss LT’s off-the-field woes. He will always feel a kinship with him.


At the risk of oversimplifying, there are two broad “Russian collusion” theories. One lacks credibility. The other just got a slight boost when Jerome Corsi provided to The Washington Post what appears to be a draft statement of offense from the special counsel’s office.
Let’s call them the James Bond theory and the Austin Powers theory. The James Bond theory is fading. The Austin Powers theory may well be true.
The heart of the James Bond theory is the unsupported Steele dossier. This is the tale of collusion that has long captivated elements of the left-wing media — involving alleged “kompromat,” clandestine meetings, financial leverage and all the stuff of a classic spy story.
I’m sorry. I don’t buy it. Not yet. Not without actual, substantial evidence. Indeed, the evidence is so thin that it’s in the Trump team’s interests to keep it in the news. The media’s eagerness to fall for anonymous sources and lurid stories hurts their credibility. And it helps Trump.
But there’s another version of the collusion tale.
This is the Austin Powers theory, and it’s supported by actual evidence. This is the picture that emerges from the emails and documents publicly revealed so far. Under the Austin Powers theory, the Trump campaign had in its orbit and near-orbit a collection of comically inept grifters who were looking to gain any advantage they could — without regard for morality, law or common sense.
James Bond doesn’t respond like Donald Trump Jr. did, with “if it’s what you say I love it” in an unsecured email communication to a man who offers “official documents” from Russia as part of “Russia and its government’s support for Mr. Trump.” That’s Austin Powers–level tradecraft.
He’s been a prolific contributor to Alex Jones’ Infowars site. And now it appears that he’s in Robert Mueller’s crosshairs — mainly because of his communications with Stone and his alleged efforts to reach out to WikiLeaks.
The special counsel’s office alleges that Corsi denied these communications and deleted his email correspondence. The statement of offense makes it clear that Corsi knew his efforts to reach WikiLeaks “could be subject to investigation,” yet he did it anyway.
Whether the person is George Papadopoulos finding out that the Russians had “dirt” on Clinton in the form of “thousands of emails,” or Donald Jr. eagerly taking a meeting with an alleged Russian representative (in Trump Tower, no less), or Corsi and Stone working together to try to get information from WikiLeaks, the picture is remarkably similar — of amateurish, inexperienced and/or incompetent individuals in or close to the campaign thirsting for negative information about Clinton and not caring where they got it.
Indeed, if you’re a Russian interested in disrupting American elections and igniting anger in American voters, it seems there is no shortage of gullible partisans. Do you want to paint a picture of a compromised American president and his closest advisers engaged in Machiavellian plotting with our nation’s geopolitical foes? Then some on the left (including perhaps even some in the FBI) are all-in.
Do you want to dangle “dirt” in front of eager, grasping grifters — even to the point where they’re willing to meet with known Russian operatives and assets? Then those grifters are all-in. Do you then want their apologists and allies to justify this recklessness as mere “opposition research”? Well, you’ll find no shortage of those partisans either.
What’s the common denominator? Americans who are eager to believe the absolute worst about their political opponents — to the point that they’ll sometimes even reach out to real enemies to help make their case. When it’s a “Flight 93” election, all bets are off. Even our foes become friends to defeat the Americans we despise.


Ontario is considering an “urgent” 22-per-cent increase to welfare over three years and a new housing benefit to begin as early as 2019 as part of a 10-year roadmap to overhaul the province’s antiquated and rule-bound income security system, the Star has learned.
The proposals are included in a 180-page report by a provincially-appointed panel of community activists and experts being released Thursday by Community and Social Services Minister Helena Jaczek.
Although the panel says it is impossible to provide a 10-year price tag for the reforms, early measures are expected to cost $3.2 billion annually by 2021, according to the report obtained by the Star.
Jaczek, who set up the panel in July 2016, said she wanted the group to tackle the province’s “confusing, complicated and intrusive” welfare rules and to consider a broader approach to income security that includes housing, child benefits, health benefits, training and employment supports.
At the time, Jaczek predicted there would be a commitment to help vulnerable Ontarians in the 2018 budget and said the Liberals are prepared to fight the next election on the issue.
The panel, headed by former Ontario provincial court judge George Thomson calls on the government to create a system that treats individuals with dignity and respect and helps them reach their full potential through a comprehensive system of income and in-kind support.
The plan includes simple and easy-to-access social assistance, seamless and integrated employment and training support, access to prescription drugs, dental, vision and hearing care services for all low-income Ontarians, affordable child care, a portable housing benefit and an “assured income” for people with disabilities.
“Failing to reform the income security system comes with a heavy price tag. Moreover, it is a cost that will lead to ever-worsening outcomes for low-income people and the economy as a whole,” the report argues.
As a first step, the panel says the government should adopt a minimum income standard “a floor below which no one should fall” to be achieved within 10 years based on the provincial poverty line of about $22,000 for a single person. The standard for people with disabilities would be 30 per cent higher.
It also recommends starting work immediately to define a “market basket measure” that includes a basket of goods with prices reflecting the true costs and adjusted for all regions of Ontario, including the north. The measure would be used to evaluate the adequacy of the minimum income, the report says.
“The combination of social assistance and other income supports, in the absence of earnings and private income, should provide enough resources to cover essential living costs such as housing, nutritious food, transportation, disability related costs and other necessities, so people can avoid poverty, protect wellbeing and focus on employment goals and social inclusion,” the report says.
In the short term, the working group suggests a 22-per-cent increase to Ontario Works by 2020 to $893 a month, up from $721.
It recommends a 15-per-cent hike to the Ontario Disability Support Program to $1,334, up from $1,151.
For those who may balk at the cost, the reports says the “urgent, yet modest” increases to social assistance over the next three years amount to only 63 per cent and 70 per cent of the amounts being provided to participants in the basic income pilot for non-disabled individuals and people with disabilities respectively.
But this is only a starting point, the report says. Over subsequent years the “minimum income standard” will be achieved through a combination of social assistance and other income security reforms, it says.
A housing benefit should be available to low-income households starting in 2019 and initially cover 25 per cent of the gap between the actual cost of housing and a person’s ability to pay. Coverage would increase in subsequent years to cover 75 per cent by 2027-28.
The report recommends boosting supports for families with children, particularly grandparents and other relatives raising kids in the care of children’s aid to align with payments received by foster parents.
The panel also wants the government to help all low-income people, including those living in First Nation communities, access benefits paid through the tax system, such as the national child benefit.
With Ottawa signaling improvements to the federal Working Income Tax Benefit, the panel calls on Ontario to ensure changes boost incomes for low-wage workers in this province.
The report recommends adding coverage for dentures for people on social assistance by 2018 and expanding health benefits to all low-income adults over the next 10 years, starting with prescription drug coverage and then following with dental, vision and hearing care coverage.
“No matter our background, our successes or our challenges, we all have a shared interest in supporting everyone’s ability to thrive and contribute to the social fabric of our communities and the economic well-being of our province,” the report says.
“These are not investments into the system as it exists today,” the panel notes. “Rather, these are investments that will create the system of tomorrow — one that reflects the fundamental changes necessary to help people achieve social and economic inclusion,” the report adds.