Datasets:

jmaciejowski

/

multi_news_tokenized_pegasus_large

like 0

These crawls are part of an effort to archive pages as they are created and archive the pages that they refer to. That way, as the pages that are referenced are changed or taken from the web, a link to the version that was live when the page was written will be preserved.Then the Internet Archive hopes that references to these archived pages will be put in place of a link that would be otherwise be broken, or a companion link to allow people to see what was originally intended by a page's authors.The goal is to fix all broken links on the web . Crawls of supported "No More 404" sites. ||||| DANA POINT, Calif. -- Outside of Hennessey's Tavern in Dana Point, a city south of Los Angeles, locals were surprised to hear about a Cinco de Mayo promotion-turned-controversy. On Friday, the bar put up an inflatable climbing wall, and those who scaled it received a "green card" for a free drink, CBS Los Angeles reports. Trump: "Mexico is going to pay" for the border wall On social media, the backlash was scathing. Comments blasted the promotion as insensitive, racist and catering to stereotypes. Comments also demanded that patrons boycott the bar. The tavern's owner, Paul Hennessey, responded on Facebook, saying it was a misunderstanding. "Our intentions were to create a dialogue and show how ridiculous that it is to spend tens of millions of dollars to build a wall and even infer that Mexico foot some or the entire bill and have their citizens build it," the post said. "This event obviously struck a chord with many of you out there and you and a number of you did not understand our intent," it said. "I encourage all of you to take the time that you have spent posting on social media to spend an equal or greater amount of time writing your congressman or the president himself to express your concerns just as I have." A message from Paul Hennessey: I would like to thank everyone for your comments about our climbing wall. Our intentions... Posted by Hennessey's Tavern on Saturday, May 6, 2017 One customer said that it sounded like a good idea to bring some extra money in for the bar but "was in poor taste." One employee who asked not to be identified questioned the statement, saying that the bar handed out mustaches and some customers chanted "build the wall." The promotion does have some defenders. Some comments online called it funny and accused critics as lacking a sense of humor.

– A bar in southern California is feeling the wrath of the internet over a Cinco de Mayo promotion that invited customers to climb an inflatable “border wall” in exchange for a free drink. The stunt at Hennessey’s Tavern in Dana Point, Calif., included handing out free drink "green cards" to customers who scaled the faux border wall, reports CBS News. Critics on social media are calling out the promotion as racist and offensive, but owner Paul Hennessey defended the ploy in a statement on Facebook. After thanking everyone for their comments, he writes, “Our intentions were to create a dialogue and show how ridiculous that it is to spend tens of millions of dollars to build a wall and even infer that Mexico foot some or the entire bill and have their citizens build it.” Hennessey adds that many have misunderstood his intent, and that he hopes people will spend equal time writing to Washington about President Trump's proposed border wall as they do criticizing him on social media, ending with, “let’s stop this wall from being built.” But an employee who asked to remain anonymous said the tone of the event wasn’t so politically reflective, claiming the bar handed out mustaches while some customers yelled "build the wall."

These popsicles are ready to take on the summer heat. Japan's Biotherapy Development Research Centre has created what could possibly change life as we know it — ice-cream that doesn't melt. And it wasn't even on purpose. The research centre in Kanazawa city had asked a pastry chef to make a dessert using polyphenol, a liquid extracted from strawberries. But the pastry chef was alarmed, complaining that the dairy cream he was using "solidified instantly" when the strawberry polyphenol was added to it. It was then that the research centre realised they had struck gold. "Polyphenol liquid has properties to make it difficult for water and oil to separate, so a popsicle containing it will be able to retain the original shape of the cream for a longer time than usual, and be hard to melt," Tomihisa Ota, a professor emeritus of pharmacy at Kanazawa University, who developed the popsicles, told the Asahi Shimbun. A reporter who held out a popsicle in 28°C weather (82°F), found that the icy treat "retained its original shape" even after five minutes in the sun — and still tasted cool, even. According to a report by SoraNews, the ice cream still pretty much kept their shape even after being left out for three hours. The research centre began manufacturing the popsicles to shops around the country who have begun selling the "non-melt" lollies. And it looks like they've been pretty well received. The popsicles appear to be selling for 500 yen each, or $4.5 dollars — a small price to pay for a big luxury. ||||| In Japan’s humid summers, some popsicles are staying cool even in the heat. An accidental discovery at Kanazawa-based Biotherapy Development Research Center helped create popsicles that reportedly don’t melt, and they’re available for sale in parts of Japan. Kanazawa Ice—also known as “not melting popsicles”—first hit stores in the northwestern city Kanazawa in April, reported Japanese daily newspaper Asahi Shimbun, before rolling out in Osaka and Tokyo. The secret ingredient that helps the popsicles keep their shape is polyphenol liquid extracted from strawberries. “Polyphenol liquid has properties to make it difficult for water and oil to separate so that a popsicle containing it will be able to retain the original shape of the cream for a longer time than usual and be hard to melt,” said Tomihisa Ota, the popsicle’s developer. The company didn’t set out to create popsicles that don’t melt. It came into the discovery by surprise when it tapped a pastry chef to try to use strawberry polyphenol to create a new kind of confectionary, an attempt to make use of strawberries, which were not in good enough shape to be sold, from Miyagi Prefecture, which is still recovering from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The pastry chef complained that cream would solidify when it came in contract with polyphenol. A reporter with Asahi Shimbun tested the popsicle in Kanazawa in July, when the temperature was around 28 degrees Celsius (82.4 degrees Fahrenheit), and found that a popsicle “retained its original shape” after five minutes in the heat. It’s unclear how long the popsicles can last in high temperatures, but it is expected to remain “almost the same even if exposed to the hot air from a dryer,” according to Takeshi Toyoda, president of the Biotherapy Development Research Center. ||||| A woman holds Kanazawa Ice, a popsicle that is billed as not melting easily, in Kanazawa on July 19. (Kenta Sujino) KANAZAWA--A popsicle, by conventional wisdom, starts melting around the edges soon after taken out in the hot summer sun. But one sold at a shop in this city’s Higashi-Chaya district, a popular tourist destination, won't make a sticky mess of things in the heat. The shop, Kanazawa Ice, touts its product of the same name as “not melting popsicles.” When an Asahi Shimbun reporter visited the shop recently, the temperature was a balmy 28 degrees. Some of the customers at the shop headed outside with popsicles in hand to test if the frozen snack indeed lived up to its marketing slogan. Staring at her popsicle for five minutes under the sun, a 30-year-old woman who was visiting from Chiba Prefecture, said, “No change in the appearance.” Her companion, a 40-year-old man, agreed. “If they were regular popsicles, drips would have started trickling down fast,” he marveled. The intriguing products are manufactured by Biotherapy Development Research Center Co. in Kanazawa. The company began marketing the popsicles in April, also retailing them at outlets in Osaka and Tokyo. The company’s president, Takeshi Toyoda, claims that its popsicles “will remain almost the same even if exposed to the hot air from a dryer.” When heat from a dryer was applied in an air-conditioned room, a vanilla popsicle that was purchased from a regular shop began melting around the edges almost instantly. But the Kanazawa Ice retained its original shape even after five minutes. It also tasted cool. The secret is the use of a polyphenol liquid extracted from strawberries, said Tomihisa Ota, professor emeritus of pharmacy at Kanazawa University, who developed the melt-resistant popsicles. “Polyphenol liquid has properties to make it difficult for water and oil to separate so that a popsicle containing it will be able to retain the original shape of the cream for a longer time than usual and be hard to melt," he said. The discovery of strawberry polyphenol’s unique property was made by accident. The Biotherapy Development Research Center asked a pastry chef in Miyagi Prefecture to make new confectionery by way of trial using polyphenol from strawberries. It was part of efforts by the company to help strawberry farmers in Miyagi Prefecture affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. After the disaster, the farmers began growing the fruit again, but their produce was not in good enough shape to be marketable. So the company decided to make the best use of strawberry polyphenol. Later the company received a complaint from the pastry chef, who said “dairy cream solidified instantly when strawberry polyphenol was added.” The chef was concerned that the polyphenol contained “something suspicious.” That led Ota to use the strawberry polyphenol to make popsicles that would not melt easily. Before he came up with the current version, he tried many variations, using a variety of milks and fresh creams from different producers as well as changing the combination, the amount of polyphenol and other conditions.

– Eating ice cream on a hot summer's day presents something of a challenge—one must tackle the meltiest spots fast enough, before the treat becomes a mess on the ground. But this summer in Japan, people are enjoying better living through chemistry with a new type of popsicle that basically doesn't melt, even in super hot August temperatures, reports Quartz. The secret, it turns out, is in strawberries, which contain polyphenol—a liquid extract that makes it harder for oil and water to separate, and in turn essentially solidifies dairy cream, a Kanazawa University professor who developed the next-gen popsicle tells Asahi Shimbun. No one set out to make this a reality; it was actually a happy accident. Kanazawa-based Biotherapy Development Research Center was trying to use instead of waste the sub-par strawberries coming out of Miyagi Prefecture, which is still recovering from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The pastry chef charged with using strawberry polyphenol in confections complained that it made dairy cream solidify instantly, which struck the professor as potentially useful. After playing with many variations of milks, creams, and amounts of polyphenol and other ingredients, Tomihisa Ota hit upon the winning recipe, which has been sold as Kanazawa Ice since April. At 500 yen, or $4.50 a pop, Mashable calls it a "small price to pay for a big luxury." (Hangover ice cream is a thing in South Korea.)

Deputy Pakistani Taliban leader Wali-ur-Rehman (C) is flanked by militants as he speaks to a group of reporters in Shawal town, which lies between North and South Waziristan region in the northwest bordering Afghanistan, in this July 28, 2011 file photo. PESHAWAR, Pakistan A U.S. drone strike killed the number two of the Pakistani Taliban in the North Waziristan region on Wednesday, three security officials said, in what would be a major blow in the fight against militancy. The drone strike killed seven people, Pakistani security officials said, including Taliban deputy commander Wali-ur-Rehman, in the first such attack since a May 11 general election in which the use of the unmanned aircraft was a major issue. Wali-ur-Rehman had been poised to succeed Hakimullah Mehsud as leader of the Pakistani Taliban, a senior army official based in the South Waziristan region, had said in December. "This is a huge blow to militants and a win in the fight against insurgents," one security official told Reuters, declining further comment. The Pakistani Taliban are a separate entity allied to the Afghan Taliban. Known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), they have launched devastating attacks against the Pakistani military and civilians. Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan told Reuters the group did not have "confirmed reports" that Wali-ur-Rehman had been killed. He declined further comment. Drone casualties are difficult to verify. Foreign journalists must have permission from the military to visit the Pashtun tribal areas along the Afghan border. Taliban fighters also often seal off the sites of drone strikes immediately so Pakistani journalists cannot see the victims. "That the Taliban are remaining silent and neither denying or confirming the news is itself peculiar," said Saleem Safi, a Pakistani expert on the Taliban. "But if this news is true, then the Pakistan army has the U.S. to thank." The security officials and Pashtun tribesmen in the northwestern region said the drone fired two missiles that struck a mud-built house at Chashma village, 3 km (2 miles) east of Miranshah, the region's administrative town. They said seven people were killed and four wounded. FOREIGN MINISTRY DENOUNCES DRONES "Tribesmen started rescue work an hour after the attack and recovered seven bodies," said resident Bashir Dawar. "The bodies were badly damaged and beyond recognition." The Pakistan government had yet to confirm Wali-ur-Rehman's death. A U.S. drone killed Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud in 2009. There had been several reports that his successor, Hakimullah Mehsud, was killed the same way but they turned out to be untrue. But the Foreign Ministry again denounced drones in general on Wednesday. "The government has consistently maintained that the drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives, have human rights and humanitarian implications and violate the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law," it said. U.S. President Barack Obama recently indicated he was scaling back the drone strike program, winning cautious approval from Pakistan, a key ally in the U.S. fight on militancy. North Waziristan is on the Afghan border and has long been a stronghold of militants including Afghan Taliban and their al Qaeda and Pakistani Taliban allies. Prime Minister-elect Nawaz Sharif said this month that drone strikes were a "challenge" to Pakistan's sovereignty. "We will sit with our American friends and talk to them about this issue," he said. Obama's announcement of scaling back drone strikes was widely welcomed by the people of North Waziristan, where drones armed with missiles have carried out the most strikes against militants over the past seven years, sometimes with heavy civilian casualties. The strike also coincided with the first session of the newly elected provincial assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the former Northwest Frontier Province. Former cricketer Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party won most seats in the assembly and denounced the strike, saying Obama had gone back on his word. (Additional reporting by Mehreen Zahra-Malik and Syed Raza Hassan in Islamabad, Saud Mehsud in Dera Ismail Khan; Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Robert Birsel) ||||| Pakistani intelligence officials say a pair of suspected U.S. missiles fired from an unmanned aerial vehicle has killed four alleged foreign militants near the Afghan border. They say an American drone fired the missiles Wednesday into a house in Miran Shah, the main town of Pakistan's tribal region of North Waziristan. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. The tribal region is home to a variety of local and Afghan militant outfits including al-Qaida-linked fighters. Washington's drone program is extremely unpopular in Pakistan, although the number of strikes has dropped dramatically since the height of the program in 2010. ||||| Story highlights Rehman was wanted by U.S. in connection with 2009 attack that killed CIA employees Seven killed, one wounded in drone strike, officials say Rehman was second in command to Hakimullah Mehsud It's the first drone strike since the Pakistani elections The Pakistan Taliban's No. 2 leader was killed in a drone strike Wednesday in the country's tribal region, a local tribal official and an intelligence official confirmed to CNN. He was Wali-Ur Rehman Mehsud -- second in command to Hakimullah Mehsud, the militant group's leader. The Pakistan Taliban's spokesman told CNN he could neither confirm nor deny the information. The sources said Rehman was killed along with his close aide, Fakhar-ul-Islam, and two Uzbek nationals whose identities the sources didn't know. This is the same strike reported earlier by intelligence officials in Pakistan, who said seven people were killed and one other was injured in the attack at a compound near the town of Miranshah in the North Waziristan district. Rehman was wanted by the United States on suspicion of being involved in the December 2009 suicide bomb attack that killed seven CIA employees at Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost, Afghanistan, according to a publication by the U.S. National Counterrorism Center The publication described him as the Pakistan Taliban's No. 2 leader and chief military strategist, and said he participated in cross-border attacks in Afghanistan against U.S. and NATO personnel. The United States has long conducted drone strikes in its fight against suspected Taliban and Pakistani jihadist groups in Pakistan near the Afghan border. This one is the first known hit since Pakistan held general elections on May 11 and since President Barack Obama announced his new counterterrorism policy last week. JUST WATCHED Pakistan's new PM faces big challenges Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Pakistan's new PM faces big challenges 02:57 JUST WATCHED Meet the new boss: Same as the old boss Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Meet the new boss: Same as the old boss 07:53 JUST WATCHED 2012: History of the Pakistani Taliban Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH 2012: History of the Pakistani Taliban 02:32 The last reported drone strike in Pakistan was in mid-April. White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Wednesday that he couldn't confirm reports of Rehman's death, but he said the militant was wanted for the Khost incident and mentioned his participation in attacks. "It's important to note who this individual is," he said. Carney read a portion of Obama's counterterrorism speech that laid out standards for taking action. "In the Afghan war theater, we must support our troops until the transition is complete at the end of 2014. That means we will continue to take strikes against high value al Qaeda targets, but also against forces that are massing to support attacks on coalition forces. However, by the end of 2014, we will no longer have the same need for force protection, and the progress we have made against core al Qaeda will reduce the need for unmanned strikes," Carney said, reciting the address. Core al Qaeda is a reference to the terror group along the Afghan-Pakistan border. Drone strikes have become controversial and unpopular because they have killed civilians, and Pakistan has said it has "serious concerns" over the latest attack. Pakistan, which describes itself as a front-line state in the fight against terrorism, said it has "consistently maintained that the drone strikes are counterproductive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives, have human rights and humanitarian implications and violate the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law." When Obama discussed drone strikes last week, he said they must be used with more temperance and caution, but they remain a necessary tool to take on terrorists. "It is a hard fact that U.S. strikes have resulted in civilian casualties, a risk that exists in all wars," Obama said. "As commander in chief, I must weigh these heartbreaking tragedies against the alternatives. To do nothing in the face of terrorist networks would invite far more civilian casualties." Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistani politician who is expected to serve as the next prime minister, has said he plans to address the unrest in his country. Talks with militants such as the Pakistan Taliban should be taken seriously, he has said. Taking on militants in Pakistan The United States, in its fight against terrorism, has been using drones to go after militants it calls high-value targets. The Long War Journal, a website that tracks, reports and analyzes the U.S. fight against terrorists, said the United States has launched 14 drone strikes so far this year. "The number of strikes in Pakistan has decreased since the peak in 2010, when 117 such attacks were recorded. In 2011, 64 strikes were launched in Pakistan, and in 2012 there were 46 strikes," the journal said. The strikes have been confined mostly to North and South Waziristan, the journal said, with 322 of the 339 strikes recorded since 2004 occurring in those two tribal regions. Obama and other U.S. officials have stressed that al Qaeda's core in Afghanistan and Pakistan is being degraded. In his speech, Obama said al Qaeda in that region is "on a path to defeat." Asked how many high-value targets like Rehman are left in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, Bill Roggio, the Long War Journal's editor, estimated the number is at least in the dozens, including members of the Pakistani Taliban. "Al Qaeda has replaced its top leadership, often using seasoned Pakistani jihadists from the cadre of Pakistani terror groups," Roggio said, citing such militant movements as Harakat ul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e Jhangvi, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami. Peter Bergen, CNN national security analyst, said it's hard to say how many high-value targets are left because people keep being added to the list. He also said many militants remain concentrated in the rugged North Waziristan region, where the army's lack of clearing operations makes it safe for jihadis to operate.

– A suspected US drone strike assassinated the Pakistani Taliban's No. 2 commander today, according to multiple reports sourced to Pakistani intelligence. Officials tell the AP that their informants on the ground saw Waliur Rehman's body firsthand, while others say intercepted Taliban communications confirmed the kill. But a spokesman for the Taliban said the report "appears to me to be false news; I don't have any such information." Rehman was considered the heir apparent to Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud. "This is a huge blow to militants and a win in the fight against insurgents," a security official tells Reuters. Earlier, Pakistani officials had condemned the strike, which is the first since President Obama announced that the program was being scaled back—and the first since Pakistan's elections, in which the unpopular attacks were a major issue. Reports vary on how many were killed; the AP and CNN have 4 dead, but a resident tells Reuters that rescue workers have pulled seven bodies from the rubble.

Advertisement Continue reading the main story HONG KONG — Somali pirates carried out a record number of attacks and hijackings in 2009, despite the deployment of international warships to thwart them and a United Nations Security Council resolution to bring the fight against them to shore. The Piracy Reporting Center of the International Maritime Bureau said Tuesday that pirates operating across the Gulf of Aden and along the coast of Somalia had attacked 214 vessels so far this year, resulting in 47 hijackings. Twelve of those ships, with a total of 263 crew members, are currently being held for ransom by the pirates. In 2008, according to the maritime bureau, 111 ships were attacked in the region, a figure that itself represented a 200 percent increase from 2007. The hijackings continued this week with the seizure of a Greek-owned cargo ship and a British-flagged chemical tanker, both of which were taken on Monday. The St. James Park, a chemical tanker bound from Spain to Thailand, issued a distress signal on Monday that it was being attacked in the Gulf of Aden. The owners confirmed Tuesday that the ship had been seized. The tanker was being monitored by the European Union Naval Force Somalia, which said Tuesday that the ship was being taken toward Somalia. Its crew of 26 was said to include Filipinos, Russians, Georgians, Romanians, Bulgarians, Ukrainians, Poles, Indians and Turks. The other hijacking on Monday, of a Greek-owned bulk carrier under the Panamanian flag, occurred off the coast of Somalia. An officer with the European Union force declined to provide details about the episode, which was confirmed by Noel Choong, an official with the piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The presence of warships from the European Union, the United States, China, Japan, Russia, India and other nations has managed to thwart attacks on merchant and leisure ships in the Gulf of Aden. As many as 30 ships are patrolling the gulf at any given time, naval officials said, and patrol missions were not being reduced over the holidays. “The success rate in taking ships has dropped dramatically in the gulf because of the large naval presence now,” Mr. Choong said. But the pirates have moved their focus to the southern and eastern coasts of Somalia, where patrols are virtually nonexistent. Using sophisticated electronics, heavy weapons, large oceangoing boats and speedier attack craft, the pirates are now able to operate far from land for weeks at a time. “Most ships are now being taken off the coast of Somalia, and the success rate is high,” Mr. Choong said. “The pirates have a free hand there. We’re very concerned. It’s our main worry. We’ve asked for protection there, but the coalition is busy in the gulf.” Pirates seized a Yemeni fishing boat in the Gulf of Aden on Dec. 18, after a lull in the gulf since a large merchant vessel was taken the first week of July. Mr. Choong said ship owners were taking more antipiracy precautions, but he had not heard reports of armed guards being used aboard vessels. “We are not encouraging armed guards,” he said. “The pirates have not been firing at the crews. They fire at the bridge to intimidate the captains into stopping their ships. “We’ve seen photographs of crew members taking pictures of pirates while they’re attacking. From a distance the pirates might not be able to tell if they have a camera and not a gun.” ||||| Pirates seized a British-flagged chemical tanker and a Panamanian-flagged carrier off Somalia's coast and were holding 45 crew members Tuesday, a maritime official said. The two hijackings late Monday showed that pirates are relentless in their pursuit of quick money from ransom and that ship owners need to take extra precaution when sailing in the Horn of Africa, said Noel Choong, who heads the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The waters off Somalia are teeming with pirates who have hijacked dozens of ships for multimillion-dollar ransoms in the past two years. An international naval force now patrols the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Choong said the U.K.-flagged tanker, St James Park, was the first merchant vessel to have been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden in nearly six months. He said the ship issued a distress message Monday, seeking help after it was attacked. The distress call was picked up by the Greek rescue and coordination center in Piraeus, which in turn relayed the message to the International Maritime Bureau and other agencies, he said. The maritime bureau could not establish communication with the vessel but was informed by the ship's owner early Tuesday that the tanker has been hijacked, Choong said. The spokesman for the European Union's anti-piracy force, Cmdr. John Harbour, said the St James Park was seized while in the Internationally Recognized Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden that is patrolled by the international naval coalition. The St James Park set sail from Tarragona, Spain, and was headed for Tha Phut, Thailand, he said. The tanker has 26 crew members from the Philippines, Russia, Georgia, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Poland, India and Turkey, Harbour said. The ship was last reported to be heading toward the northern coast of Somalia, and the E.U. Naval Force was monitoring the situation, he added. Choong said pirates last hijacked a Yemeni fishing boat in the Gulf of Aden on Dec. 18, but the St James Park was the first merchant vessel to have been taken in the busy waterway since July 8. He said three hours after the St James Park was hijacked that a Panamanian-flagged carrier with 19 crew members was also seized by pirates off the southern coast of Somalia on Monday. The ship is managed in Greece, he said. The International Maritime Bureau is still waiting for the official reports from both ship owners and couldn't give further details, Choong said. In another development, pirates released the Singapore-flagged container ship Kota Wajar on Monday, the E.U. Naval Force said. The vessel was hijacked in mid-October in the Indian Ocean north of the Seychelles islands with a crew of 21 on board. Choong said the latest incidents brought the number of attacks in the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia to 214 this year, with 47 vessels hijacked and 12 still in the hands of pirates with 263 crew, he added. Somalia has not had an effective central government since 1991 as regional warlords vie for power, and impoverished young men have increasingly taken to piracy in recent years in hopes of a big ransom payoff. ___ Associated Press reporter writer Malkhadir M. Muhumed in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed to this report.

– Somali pirates have seized a Greek cargo ship and a chemical tanker operating under a British flag, the New York Times reports. That puts 2009's Somali hijacking total at 47, with 214 vessels attacked in the Gulf of Aden and along the Somali coast. Twelve ships—carrying 263 people—are still being held for ransom. The tanker, the St James Park, sent a distress signal yesterday and is being taken toward Somalia with 26 crew members on board. No details were given about the cargo ship, which is carrying 19. In response to the increase in attacks, the US, EU, China, Japan, and other nations have upped their presence in the Gulf of Aden. "The success rate in taking ships has dropped dramatically in the gulf because of the large naval presence now," said an official from the piracy reporting center in Malaysia. The bad news: The pirates are turning their attention to the southern and eastern coasts of Somalia, where they have "a free hand." In other hijacking news, pirates have released a container ship from Singapore that was hijacked in October, the AP reports.

The beat-up pickup truck patrolled beat-up Pratt City, stopping at taped-off intersections as volunteers jumped out of the back to hand out water and groceries to residents of this Birmingham suburb ravaged by the second-deadliest day for a twister outbreak in U.S. history. A water tower stands amid the damage in Hackleburg, Al., Friday, April 29, 2011, following a tornado touchdown Wednesday afternoon that destroyed much of the small community and caused 27 deaths. (AP... (Associated Press) James Nicholas surveys the damage in Hackleburg, Ala., Friday, April 29, 2011, following a tornado touchdown Wednesday afternoon that destroyed much of the small community and caused 27 deaths. (AP Photo/Rogelio... (Associated Press) Residents of Hackleburg, Ala., recover and remove personal possessions Friday, April 29, 2011, following a tornado touchdown Wednesday afternoon that destroyed much of the small community and caused... (Associated Press) Residents left homeless by tornados come for a meal, water and clothes and other necessities at a makeshift care center set up in front of a destroyed housing project in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday, April... (Associated Press) Chad Brown and Terry Gardner clean up debris after a tornado struck Mr. Brown's home in Rainsville, Ala., Friday, April 29, 2011. A 25-mile path was cut by deadly tornadoes on Wednesday, leaving many... (Associated Press) Residents left homeless by tornados look at clothes and find a meal at a makeshift care center set up in front of a destroyed housing project in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday, April 29, 2011. Thousands are... (Associated Press) Gary Clements of Headland, Ala., Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief inspects tornado damage in Eoline, Ala., Friday, April 29, 2011. Three firefighters were injured Wednesday when a tornado struck... (Associated Press) Marjorie Witherspoon relaxes for a moment as her niece, Jacqeline Wilson, rear, picks through debris from a tornado, in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday, April 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) (Associated Press) Roger McKinney cleans up debris from his home in Rainsville, Ala. as his dog sleeps on what is left of his front porch Friday, April 29, 2011. A 25-mile path was cut by deadly tornadoes on Wednesday,... (Associated Press) Employees and students helped pull chairs, desks, notebooks and text books from the damage at Hackleburg Elementary School in Hackleburg, Ala., Friday, April 29, 2011. Wednesday's tornado destroyed all... (Associated Press) Residents left homeless by tornados look at clothes and find a meal at a makeshift care center set up in front of a destroyed housing project in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday, April 29, 2011. Thousands are... (Associated Press) University of Alabama student David Brock of Chattanooga, Tenn., loads up a pickup truck full of student donated supplies for tornado victims in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday, April 29, 2011. The university... (Associated Press) Down the road, dozens more volunteers transformed the local elementary school into a community pit stop. One room was devoted to storing bread, another to sorting donated clothing. A doctor set up shop in one part of the building, and volunteers staffed the grill in front while college students formed an assembly line to unload trucks stuffed with fresh supplies. "I'm from the community but my house wasn't damaged, so I had to help," said Elsie Bailey, who was working in a room doling out men's clothing. "We were so amazed at the destruction that I just wanted to help. People are really stepping up, coming through." Across the South, volunteers have been pitching in as the death toll from Wednesday's storms keeps rising. At least 339 people were killed across seven states, including at least 248 in Alabama, as the storm system spawned tornadoes through several states. There were 34 deaths in Mississippi, 34 in Tennessee, 15 in Georgia, five in Virginia, two in Louisiana and one in Kentucky. It was the largest death toll since March 18, 1925, when 747 people were killed in storms that raged through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. That was long before the days when Doppler radar could warn communities of severe weather. Forecasters have said residents were told these tornadoes were coming. But they were just too wide and powerful and in populated areas to avoid the horrifying body count. Storms can still defeat technology. This week's tornadoes devastated the infrastructure of emergency safety workers. Emergency buildings were wiped out, bodies were being stored in refrigerated trucks, and authorities were left to beg for such basics as flashlights. In one neighborhood, the storms even left firefighters to work without a truck. Volunteers stepped in to help almost as soon as the storms passed through. They ditched their jobs, shelled out their paychecks, donated blood and even sneaked past police blockades to get aid to some of the hardest-hit communities struck by the deadliest tornado disaster since 1925. "We're part of the community, and we're called to reach out and help people," said Ken Osvath of the Church of the Highlands, one of an untold number of volunteers who handed out supplies to victims in Alabama. Thousands of people were injured _ 990 in Tuscaloosa alone _ and thousands of properties were destroyed. As many as 1 million Alabama homes and businesses remained without power. The scale of the disaster astonished President Barack Obama when he arrived in the state Friday. "I've never seen devastation like this," he said, standing in sunshine amid the wreckage in Tuscaloosa, where entire neighborhoods were flattened. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has responded to all affected areas and has officials on the ground in Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia and Tennessee, Director Craig Fugate said. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox called it "a humanitarian crisis" for his city of more than 83,000, but he said the situation would have spiraled out of control if not for the volunteers who worked to quickly get supplies for people. Shamiya Clancy is one of those in desperate need of shelter after the homes where she and her family lived in the Alberta City neighborhood were wiped out. They're now pooling their resources _ clothes, money, food, whatever they can scrounge _ but none of them have anywhere else to go. A stuffed bear that her husband gave her on Valentine's Day this year was the sole belonging she recovered when she sifted through the rubble. She was hoping to find family photos. "If I could have found one picture, I'd be OK. I'd feel a little better," she said. In Rainsville, a northeast Alabama town devastated by the storms, people in cars stopped to offer bread, water and crackers to residents picking through what was left of their belongings. A radio station broadcast offers of help, a store gave away air mattresses and an Italian restaurant served free hot meals. A glass shop offered to replace shattered windows for free. Emergency services were stretched particularly thin about 90 miles to the north in the demolished town of Hackleburg, Ala., where officials were keeping the dead in a refrigerated truck because of a shortage of body bags. At least 27 people were killed there and the search for missing people continued, with FBI agents fanning out to local hospitals to help. Tuscaloosa's emergency management center was destroyed, so officials used space in one of the city's most prominent buildings _ the University of Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium _ as a substitute before moving operations to the Alabama Fire College. City employee Gene Hopkins was delivering loads of supplies to different parts of Tuscaloosa when he took a break to help Barbara Deerman, a restaurant owner at the strip mall, board up her shattered front door. "I appreciate this," Deerman said. "I'll give you a free meal when we get this back up." Other volunteers set up a makeshift relief station at a parking lot in Alberta City neighborhood, where scores of homes and businesses have been reduced to twisted piles of metal, glass and wood. It was staffed by a mix of city employees, church members, National Guard troops and supermarket workers, and residents lined up for water, food and other basic supplies. "We've got people who wanted to get in here and help, but they couldn't get in earlier," said relief station volunteer Doug Milligan, a Tuscaloosa native who is principal of a high school in nearby Woodstock, Ala. Milligan had to sneak past the police blockades cordoning off the neighborhood. He figures he got by because he wore a T-shirt that read: "Bibb County Red Cross." "I didn't tell them it's only because I ran a 5K," he said. ___ Kunzelman reported from Tuscaloosa. Associated Press writers Holbrook Mohr in Hackleburg, Jeffrey Collins and Chris Hawley in Rainsville, Michael Rubinkam in Pleasant Grove, John Christoffersen in Birmingham, Phillip Rawls in Montgomery and Kristi Eaton in Norman, Okla. contributed to this report. ||||| TUSCALOOSA | With the number of confirmed deaths now at 39 and hundreds more unaccounted for, the Wednesday tornado that ripped some of the city's busiest areas apart is already the deadliest in Tuscaloosa County history. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said Friday that the actual number of deaths should not rise much higher, but from where Gerald Ramsey stands, 39 seems like a conservative number. “When I was out on Cumberland Road, there was one house we pulled four people out from under and only one survived,” said Ramsey, a volunteer from Birmingham conducting search and rescue around the city. “One hundred yards away from that there was one more found dead, and then next door to that there were two more found dead. “So when you're on the ground and see that and then hear of several more accounts of people being found dead — three there, two here, four there — you just wonder how many more ... there have to be.” Bobbie Banks, an emergency medical technician for Northstar Ambulance Service working search and rescue, said she saw six bodies pulled from the rubble in Alberta. Chris Smith, a registered nurse from Birmingham that was volunteering in search and rescue, said, “When you come upon a mobile home park where 50 mobile homes once stood and now only one is left partially intact,” 39 seems like a very low number. Smith spent Thursday working through the rubble in Alberta. He worries that because of the area's geography, more bodies will be found in other places besides beneath homes. “There are gullies in that area and a few deep ravines along with a lake that's covered with debris,” he said. “I'm honestly afraid that they're going to find more people in the gullies.” Determining a clear number of how many University of Alabama students died in the storm has been difficult as well. Areas directly hit by the storm along 15th Street, including Forest Lake and the completely leveled Cedar Crest area, were neighborhoods where many UA students rented homes. The Crimson White, the UA campus newspaper, published a report on its website saying eight UA students had been confirmed dead. The paper published the names of some of those students, along with the name of a Stillman College student, before being asked by UA administrators to remove the article from the newspaper's website. Cathy Andreen, a UA spokeswoman, said she could confirm two student deaths, but would not release their names or confirm reports that more students have died. “The city of Tuscaloosa is really handling most of that,” she said. Meanwhile, Ramsey said rumors are circulating around the devastated areas that the two morgues being used to store the bodies are overflowing. The primary morgue is at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The other is at DCH Regional Medical Center, where those who died at the hospital are kept. However, VA Medical Center spokesman Damon Stevenson said its morgue is at less than one-third of its capacity. Stevenson said 36 bodies have come through the VA morgue and 17 have been identified by families and released to funeral homes. “That leaves us with 19 (six of which have not been identified, according to Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ted Sexton) here still. In the building here, we have a capacity of 20 and then we have two mobile morgues stationed outside. One of them holds 27 and the other holds 18, bringing us to a capacity of 65,” Stevenson said. “But we're continuing to receive bodies and it's been explained to us from Emergency Management Agency officials that now that they have sent cadaver dogs into the rubble, we should anticipate receiving more bodies.” DCH spokesman Brad Fisher said that the morgue there is holding six bodies and has a capacity of eight. Fisher said families of some of those victims have identified their bodies, but DCH is not currently able to release them. “They have come under the custody of the state medical examiner, and because of that we cannot release them,” he said. But Maddox said with the search and rescue effort nearing a close, he doesn't expect the number of confirmed deaths to climb much higher. “Our research and rescue teams, along with cadaver dogs, have pretty much finished going through the areas where we would expect to find victims,” he said. And in response to those who feel the number of deaths is being updated too slowly, Maddox explained that the state changed its protocol for official counts of deaths from disasters after casualties were overstated immediately following a 2007 tornado killed nine people in the south Alabama city of Enterprise. Maddox said confirmed deaths are now certified by the county coroner in order to avoid counting victims more than once, for instance, at the site where a body is recovered before being counted again at the morgue. He also stressed that the size and impact of Wednesday's storm have provided a whole new set of challenges to that protocol. “What we are trying to deal with is unprecedented,” Maddox said. ||||| Devastating storms ripped through the southern United States last week, leaving more than 340 people dead and communities crippled in its wake. Dozens of tornadoes swept across Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia and Kentucky. The hardest hit areas are in Alabama. President Obama visited the state on April 29 to assess the damage and offer support. Now, in neighboring Mississippi and Louisiana, residents are bracing for massive flooding that will put the region's levee system to the test. Across the country, Americans are asking how to help Southerners in need. Here at HuffPost Impact, we're assembling a list of information on how to take action, which we will keep updated as the crisis unfolds. HOW TO HELP:

– The tornado death toll keeps rising steadily. The seven-state total is now at 339, with nearly 250 of those in Alabama, reports AP. What's worse, rescuers in Tuscaloosa say the city's confirmed toll of 39 feels low, with scores of people still unaccounted for, notes the Tuscaloosa Times. The biggest death toll in US history came in 1925, long before the age of Doppler radar, when 747 were killed in Midwest storms. Emergency services in hard-hit areas are struggling to cope, and the Huffington Post provides provides a roundup of ways people can help with donations.

COPENHAGEN — Denmark plans to house the country’s most unwelcome foreigners in a most unwelcoming place: a tiny, hard-to-reach island that now holds the laboratories, stables and crematory of a center for researching contagious animal diseases. As if to make the message clearer, one of the two ferries that serve the island is called the Virus. “They are unwanted in Denmark, and they will feel that,” the immigration minister, Inger Stojberg, wrote on Facebook. On Friday, the center-right government and the right-wing Danish People’s Party announced an agreement to house as many as 100 people on Lindholm Island — foreigners who have been convicted of crimes but who cannot be returned to their home countries. Many would be rejected asylum seekers. ||||| The Danish Government has pledged to push its legal obligations to human rights to the limits in a new plan to force some migrants to live on an isolated island that is currently home to a facility researching infectious animal diseases. As part of its budget negotiations, the Danish government announced a plan to use Lindholm Island to house up to 100 migrants who had committed crimes or been rejected for asylum but couldn’t be returned to their home countries. Danish Immigration Minister Inger Stojberg, member of Denmark’s conservative Liberal Party, wrote on Facebook, “they are unwanted in Denmark, and they will feel that.” The right-wing populist Danish People’s Party, which supported the plan, tweeted an animated video of a brown-skinned man being dropped off on a barren rock outcropping with a caption that read, in part, “expelled, criminal aliens have nothing to do in Denmark. Until we can get rid of them, we now move them out on the island Lindholm in Stege Bay.” Danish Finance Minister Kristian Jensen emphasized that the migrants would not be in prison, though they will be required to report to officials daily and sleep on the island, or else they could be imprisoned. Over 90% of the country’s current population is of Danish descent, but that number is expected to decline to just under 87% by 2060, when the number of non-Western immigrants or their descendants is expected to nearly double from 493,468 today to 867,258, according to Danmarks Statistik. There are also rising anxieties about migrants missing language classes and negatively affecting the country’s welfare system. Some elected officials opposed the plan. Uffe Elbaek, the leader of the Alternative Party, said his party would never consider such a plan, adding, “inhuman politics are creating a completely different Denmark to the Denmark I love.” If the current plan goes forward—it hinges on a facility being built on the island and the idea surviving any possible legal challenge—migrants could move to Lindholm Island by 2021. ||||| Lindholm. Photo: Styrelsen for Dataforsyning og Effektivisering/Ritzau Scanpix Foreign nationals convicted of crimes and sentenced to deportation are to be accommodated on a deserted island, Denmark’s government announced on Friday. The provision was secured under the new budget agreement between Denmark’s conservative tripartite coalition government and anti-immigration ally the Danish People’s Party (DF). Foreign citizens convicted of crimes and slated for deportation under the terms of their sentences will be held at a facility on Lindholm, a seven-hectare island in Stege Bay between the islands of Møn and Zealand, Minister of Finance Kristian Jensen confirmed. “They will not be imprisoned,” Jensen said in quotes reported by news agency Ritzau. “There will be a ferry service to and from the island, but the ferry will not operate around the clock, and they must stay at the departure centre at night. That way we will be better able to monitor where they are,” he said. The facility will house convicted foreign nationals whom Denmark is unable to deport, for example due to being stateless or because no readmission arrangement exists between Denmark and their home country. Kærshovedgård Departure Centre in Jutland is currently used to accommodate such individuals as well as others who have not committed any crime but whose asylum applications have been rejected by Denmark. READ ALSO: The middle of nowhere: Inside Denmark’s Kærshovedgård deportation camp Kærshovedgård will not be closed and will remain in use for the accommodation of rejected asylum seekers awaiting deportation, Ritzau reports. The Lindholm facility will be used to house people with so-called ‘tolerated stay’ (tålt ophold) status, who do not have permission to reside in Denmark but cannot be deported, and rejected asylum seekers who have committed specific crimes. The Danish Prison and Probation Service (Kriminalforsorgen) will be responsible for the operation of the facility. Police will be present at all times and detention facilities will be provided for individuals placed under arrest to be held while they await further transportation. The centre will be brought into operation over several phases to be completed by 2021. “There are more limits to how much you can move around when you are on a deserted island. You are in principle obliged to remain on the island. So we will have more control over where they are,” Jensen said to Ritzau. “It is a problem for us that we can see that some foreigners who have in fact been sentenced to deportation are still committing crimes, and we have no way of monitoring them,” he added. Opposition politicians criticised the plan. The policy reflected a “humanitarian collapse” in Danish politics, Uffe Elbæk, political leader with the environmentalist Alternative party and a prime ministerial candidate, wrote on Twitter. “The green government I want to lead would never force people on to a deserted island,” Elbæk wrote. “Inhuman politics are creating a completely different Denmark to the Denmark I love,” he added. Den grønne regering, jeg ønsker at stå i spidsen for, kommer aldrig til at tvinge mennesker ud på en øde ø. Aldrig. Aldrig. Aldrig. Vi er vidne til et humanistisk kollaps, hvor menneskefjendsk politik skaber et helt andet Danmark, end det Danmark jeg elsker #dkpol #fl19 — Uffe Elbaek (@uffeelbaek) November 30, 2018 Morten Østergaard, leader of the Social Liberals (Radikale Venstre), cited concerns voiced by residents and the mayor and reported by broadcaster DR in Vordingborg, the administrative centre of the municipality in which Lindholm is located. The decision to place foreign convicted criminals on a deserted island was “symbolic politics without an end,” Østergaard tweeted. Først trodsede Støjberg og Thulesen alle advarsler og skabte problemerne på Kærhovedgaard og i Bording. Nu smides mennesker som kastebold videre. Og nye problemer skabes. Symbolpolitik uden ende. Med omkostninger for alle. Udlændinge. Danskere. Alle.https://t.co/XtlXMIsm8g — Morten Østergaard (@oestergaard) December 1, 2018 In contrast, the Danish People's Party celebrated the announcement by tweeting from its official account a graphic showing a dark-skinned man in apparently Islamic attire being transported to a deserted island in miserable weather. “Deported, criminal foreigners have NO reason to be in Denmark. Until we can get rid of them, we will move them to the island of Lindholm,” the tweet read. “They will be obliged to stay at the new deportation centre at night and there will be police around the clock. Great!”, the post continues. Udviste, kriminelle udlændinge har INTET at gøre i Danmark. Indtil vi kan komme af med dem, flytter vi dem nu ud på øen Lindholm i Stege Bugt, hvor de vil have pligt til at opholde sig på det nye udrejsecenter om natten. Og der vil være politi til stede døgnet rundt. Sådan!#dkpol pic.twitter.com/YybG4zkwQi — Dansk Folkeparti (@DanskDf1995) November 30, 2018 Lindholm is currently used by the Technical University of Denmark’s (DTU) Veterinary Institute, which carries out research into viruses affecting cattle and swine. The research is carried out on the uninhabited island due to precautions against potential contagion. DTU’s researchers will leave the island to make way for its new function, Jensen confirmed. READ ALSO: Danish mayors call for closure of asylum 'departure centres' ||||| Foreign criminals sentenced to deportation are to be banished to a remote island off the coast of Denmark, the country's government has announced. Finance minister Kristian Jensen said the criminals will be detained at a facility on Lindholm, an uninhabited seven-hectare island in the province of Vordingborg. The tough scheme was set up as part of an agreement between Denmark’s conservative coalition government and its anti-immigration ally, the Danish People’s Party (DF). The DF's official Twitter account celebrated the announcement by publishing an animated cartoon which shows a dark-skinned man being dumped by a ship on a desert island. A spokesman for the party said: "Foreign criminals have no reason to be in Denmark. Until we can get rid of them, we will move them to the island of Lindholm, where they will be obliged to stay at the new deportation centre at night. "There will be police there around the clock." The Lindholm facility will house rejected asylum seekers who have been convicted of crimes, as well as foreign citizens who do not have permission to stay but cannot be deported for legal reasons. For example, some of those due to be detained at the facility are stateless, while others come from countries which do not have a readmission agreement with Denmark.

– What's a country to do with migrants who are also criminals and rejected asylum seekers who can't be sent home? Banish them to an island, apparently. That's Denmark's plan, which its immigration minister sums up as making such foreigners feel "unwanted in Denmark." The New York Times highlights details that will serve that aim—like the fact the 17-acre Lindholm Island is currently used by scientists studying contagious animal diseases, houses a crematory, and is serviced by two ferries, one of which is named the Virus. The Local describes the island as "deserted." Deserted was the appearance given to the island in a cartoon video tweeted by the right-wing Danish People's Party, which pushed for the arrangement. The video shows a "dark-skinned man being dumped by ship" there, per the Telegraph. The immigrant facilities—slated to open in 2021 so long as legal challenges don't get in the way, per Fortune—will hold up to 100 people, and while the word "prison" isn't being used, those who are sent there will have to sleep there and submit to daily check-ins, and the plan is to whittle down the ferry service and "make it as cumbersome and expensive as possible." The Times has more on the political maneuverings behind the move, and critics of it, here.

Image copyright AP Image caption Breivik says his prison conditions have forced him to drop out of a University of Oslo political science course Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik has threatened to starve himself to death in protest at his treatment in prison, according to media reports. Breivik claims to have been kept in isolation since 2 September, with time outside his cell limited to an hour a day. Breivik killed 77 people in 2011 when he bombed central Oslo before going on a shooting spree at a youth camp. He was sentenced to 21 years in 2012. His claims about deteriorating prison conditions were made in a letter to media outlets in Norway and Sweden. 'Studying impossible' In his letter, Breivik, 36, says harsh prison conditions have forced him to drop out of a political science course at the University of Oslo. "Studying and corresponding is not humanly possible under such circumstances, and this applies to anyone who is isolated under such conditions," he wrote according to English news site The Local. Breivik said that if conditions remained unchanged he would continue the hunger strike until he died, Norwegian media reported. No one at Skien prison, where Breivik is held, is currently on hunger strike, prison director Ole Kristoffer Borhaug told the BBC. He declined to comment on the conditions of individual prisoners. Norwegian Justice Minister Anders Anundsen also declined to comment on Breivik's claims, according to the Dagbladet newspaper. The University of Oslo admitted Breivik as a full student in July, explaining that inmates had a right to higher education if they won entry to courses. Breivik has previously complained of "inhumane" prison conditions, including that his coffee was being served cold. ||||| Video Image Shot survivor wrote in blood 2:43 Norway massacre survivors, including a shot man who wrote in his own blood, speak at the trial of Anders Breivik. Rohan Smith news.com.au HE’S been jailed for just 21 years for slaughtering 77 people, but Anders Behring Breivik’s list of jailhouse complaints is long. Since committing Norway’s worst ever massacre in 2011, the 36-year-old gunman has whined to prison authorities about being unable to finish his university studies, being denied access to “a wider selection of activities” and — incredibly — only being allowed to play children’s video games in his cell. Threatening a hunger strike in a written list of 12 demands, Breivik wants a PlayStation 3 console and a comfortable sofa to sit on while playing it. He’s also demanded the doubling of his weekly prison allowance to $65, citing “exemplary” behaviour. “Other inmates have access to adult games while I only have the right to play less interesting kids games. One example is Rayman Revolution, a game aimed at three year olds,” the mass killer moans in letters obtained by the media. “You’ve put me in hell ... and I won’t manage to survive that long.” Breivik’s childish tantrum might seem like a joke, but Emma Martinovic, 22, who survived his July 2011 massacre, isn’t laughing. As Breivik stalked Utoya with a semiautomatic rifle and a twisted sense of justice, Ms Martinovic, then 18, was at the Norwegian island’s summer camp with friends. She received a text message from friends warning a gunman was nearby when she stripped off her clothes and jumped into the freezing water to escape. Around her, friends swam for their lives as they were picked off one-by-one. Ms Martinovic was shot, the bullet piercing her left arm. She remembers “the laughter of the bastard as he shot” and his taunts from shore: “You won’t get away,” he told her. Speaking to news.com.au, Ms Martinovic said she had a message for the man who tried to kill her: “You don’t know what it means to have a hard time. Shut the f*** up and take your punishment.” A MASS MURDERER’S DEMANDS NOT MET Breivik planted a bomb in Oslo before travelling to the tiny island where a Norwegian Labour Party-run youth summer camp was underway. The car bomb made partly with fertiliser was left outside the office of then-Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. It killed eight people and injured more than 200. On Utoya, dressed in a homemade police uniform, Breivik aimed to leave no survivors. He killed 69 people and injured 110 more. It was a massacre on a scale Norway had never seen. Breivik was arrested on Utoya and faced trial in April 2012. The self-styled extremist with a crusade against Islam and multiculturalism admitted his crimes but argued they were “necessary”. He was found to be of sane mind and sentenced to just 21 years in prison. He smiled when Judge Wenche Elisabeth Arntzen read the ruling. His sentence is the maximum allowed in Norway but it will likely be reviewed and extended. From a single cell where he is isolated 23 hours a day, Breivik is free to write. He has started a political science course at the University of Oslo. But he says conditions are deteriorating. In a letter obtained by Norwegian and Swedish media, Breivik said his tiny cell was too small for him to work. He complained about being given less time with prison staff and only communicating through a hole in the door. “Studying and corresponding is not humanly possible under such circumstances, and this applies to anyone who is isolated under such conditions,” he wrote in the letter. “Unless the (situation) is reversed, I will eventually continue the hunger strike until death. I cannot stand any more.” Breivik demanded a couch to sit on, a weekly allowance and said he wanted his typewriter to be upgraded to a PC. His victims say he deserves exactly what he’s got. ‘I HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR HIM’ In her blog in 2011, Ms Martinovic wrote about her ordeal. When chaos broke out and Breivik started shooting, she and three others were on the opposite side of the island. First she hid, then she fled, but not before stumbling upon the body of her friend at the water’s edge. “I dragged the boy’s body back to land and when I pulled back his jacket hood I saw it was a friend of mine, and I saw the wound to his head. There was no time to react. I kissed him on the cheek and returned to my rock face,” she wrote. She decided the only way to survive way to swim for her life. “It was cold, I felt the chill in my bones, but focused on keeping my head above water. Behind me some of the others were starting to panic, so I shouted to them: ‘Keep your head above water, get away from land.” It wasn’t long before Breivik spotted those trying to flee. She kept swimming. “It looked as if he was aiming at us. One of the other swimmers was shot, I saw the blood stream out, so I started to swim even faster. Then I turned on my back again and saw he was aiming at those who still hadn’t started swimming from land yet. “I saw one of my friends about to leap into the water, but in a second he was shot. Even at a distance I could see and hear the two shots, straight to the head. “Panic spread like wildfire among those on land. I wanted to be among them, urging them to get away, by land or water.” She escaped, but not without a very close call. “I looked down at my left arm, there was blood pouring from it,” she said. “I tried to shut it out, focus on swimming. Behind us we could still hear shooting, the screams, the laughter of the bastard as he shot, and his shout to us: “You won’t get away!” “I have so many questions. Why? What was he thinking? All these questions which will never be answered.” Ms Martinovic today told news.com.au she was still haunted by what she experienced that day. “It has it’s ups and downs but I can’t give up and let him win,” she said. “I just have to keep learning how to handle these hard days and take care of the good days that come. “It’s hard but I am working on it. The nights are often the worst but I hope that some day everything gets a little easier. My psychologist says: ‘You don’t move on, you just learn to live with it’ and that’s a very good point I think.” For Anders Behring Breivik, she has absolutely no sympathy, no matter how many letters he writes or how he describes his suffering. “I really don’t. I try to think that every person is a human and needs to be handled with respect but with him I think it’s very hard. I have no sympathy for him and that’s because he has taken so many people from me and because he has made my life so hard. “Shut the f*** up and take you’re punishment as the coward you are. You killed so many people and acted (like) God for some hours and now you are complaining that you are having a hard time in jail when you don’t even know what it means to have a hard time. Loser.” ||||| Norway killer Anders Breivik makes a fascist salute as he enters the courtroom during his trial in 2012. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen/Scanpix Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik has threatened to go on hunger strike until he dies of starvation in protest at what he claims has been a dramatic worsening of his prison conditions. In an open letter sent a Norwegian and Swedish media, Breivik complained that since the second of September, he had been confined in isolation in a single cell, which he was only allowed to leave for one hour a day. He also complained that he was being given less time with prison staff, and that communication was now limited to a small gap in the door. "Unless the 02/09/15 escalation [sic] is reversed, I will eventually continue the hunger strike until death. I can not stand any more," he wrote. Breivik is currently serving a 21-year jail sentence at Skien prison for a brutal twin terror attack in 2011, in which he detonated a bomb in the government quarters in Oslo, killing eight people, and then opened fire at a political youth camp, killing 69 more. In his letter he complained that his conditions meant he could no longer study his political science course at University of Oslo. "Studying and corresponding is not humanly possible under such circumstances, and this applies to anyone who is isolated under such conditions," he wrote in the letter. "The decision about the drastic deterioration of prison conditions forced me to drop out of my studies, which in turn means that I will lose my place at the University. The studies, which were made possible for only thirteen full days before the Minister of Justice put an end to them, were the only thing I had." Breivik's lawyer Øystein Storrvik, who is suing the Norwegian state for human rights violations on behalf of his client, confirms that Breivik's prison conditions have deteriorated. "I can confirm that there is less of the little that was," told Norway's Dagbladet. "Total isolation from other people has been maintained, while his movements are confined to a smaller space. He also has less time with officers." Storvik also confirms that Breivik is preparing to go on hunger strike. "He writes that he is going on hunger strike until death. He writes that he can not bear anymore."

– Anders Breivik, the Norwegian extremist serving a 21-year sentence for massacring 77 people, is complaining once again about getting a raw deal. He says he'll continue a hunger strike "until death" to protest a "drastic deterioration of prison conditions" since early September, the Local reports. The 36-year-old says he is being kept in isolation in a cell that he's allowed to leave for only an hour a day, and that he's been given less time with prison staff. He complains that he has had to drop out of his University of Oslo political science course because "studying and corresponding is not humanly possible under such circumstances." The prison director tells the BBC that he won't comment on individual prisoners but that nobody at the institution is currently on a hunger strike. Breivik has had plenty of complaints about prison in the past, including about the cold coffee and "sadistic" limitations on what kind of pen he can use. Last year he threatened a hunger strike unless his PS2 was upgraded to a PS3. Emma Martinovic, who saw her friends killed and swam for her life as Breivik slaughtered dozens of people at a youth summer camp, isn't overflowing with sympathy for him. She was shot in the arm and tells news.com.au that Breivik laughed and taunted her from the shore. She says she has a message for him: "You don't know what it means to have a hard time. Shut the f--- up and take your punishment."

Credit: NASA People who live and work along coasts and coastlines everywhere may be more likely to experience a super-charged lightning strike, according to new research from Florida Institute of Technology that shows lightning can be much more powerful over the ocean than land. Florida Tech's Amitabh Nag, assistant professor of physics and space sciences, and Kenneth L. Cummins, research professor at Florida Tech and the University of Arizona, recently published, "Negative First Stroke Leader Characteristics in Cloud to-Ground Lightning Over Land and Ocean" in the American Geophysical Union's Geophysical Research Letters. The scientists analyzed lightning over parts of Florida and its coasts using data provided by the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network. Some previous indirect observations led scientists and others to believe that strikes over sea water tend to be more powerful, but the Nag and Cummins study represents the first time that an independent measurement has validated those beliefs. Lightning scientists break down every cloud-to-ground strike into sub-processes to get a better understanding of the way it formed. Plenty of physics is packed into fractions of a second from when charged particles in thunderclouds form into downward channels of electricity that "attach" to electrical, charge-carrying channels rising from land or water to form that familiar zigzag bolt. In their study, which measured peak currents of various cloud-to-ground lightning strikes over land and ocean from 2013 to 2015, Nag and Cummins calculated the duration of the "negative stepped leader" – the electrical channel that moves down toward ground from a thundercloud. When this leader touches ground a surge of current, typically with a peak value of around 30 kilo amperes, flows upward to the cloud. The durations of negative stepped leaders over the ocean were significantly shorter than those over land, which indicates that they carry more charge in them. This leads to a higher following current surge from ground. Nag and Cummins found that with strikes over water in western Florida, the median stepped-leader duration was 17 percent shorter over ocean than over land, and in eastern Florida the median durations were 21 and 39 percent shorter over two oceanic regions than over land. Using a relationship between leader duration and lightning peak current derived in this study, the authors estimate that lightning with peak currents over 50 kilo amperes is twice as likely to occur in oceanic thunderstorms. These findings suggest that people living on or near the ocean may be at greater risk for lightning damage if storms develop over oceans and move on-shore. This new understanding of the nature of lightning could inform how off-shore infrastructure and vessels are to be built to minimize the risk of super-powerful lightning bolts from thunderstorms formed over the sea. Explore further: Satellite data finds peak in a daily lightning cycle More information: Amitabh Nag et al, Negative first stroke leader characteristics in cloud-to-ground lightning over land and ocean, Geophysical Research Letters (2017). DOI: 10.1002/2016GL072270 ||||| Access Eos Archive Issues Issues from 1997-2014 are freely available to the public. Older issues are available through AGU membership or through an institutional subscription. ||||| Florida often experiences the most lighting-related deaths than any other state, including in 2016 when nine people were killed. There are persistent myths about lightning that the National Weather Service has tried to dispel. Knowing the facts can save your life. Lightning is not attracted to metal. Metal is a good conductor of electricity, which is why lightning rods are used on top of tall buildings, but it is the height of the building, not the metal that meteorologists believe draws the lightning. That is why it’s dangerous to seek shelter under a tree during a lightning storm. Lighting will seek out the tallest object to strike. “Lightning is not attracted to anything,” said John Jensenius, an expert with the National Weather Service. “I’ve seen various articles about batteries and screwdrivers, none of which had any effect.” Check The Palm Beach Post radar map. A car with a metal roof is good shelter from lightning, but not because of the rubber tires. If lightning strikes the car, it will be conducted by the metal around and into the ground. A convertible does not offer the same protection. Lightning can strike from 10 miles away, meaning sunny skies when a storm is imminent are still dangerous. Lightning tends to strike the tallest object in an area, so trees are not safe places to seek shelter. Related: Watch amazing slow motion video of lightning striking Florida beach A person injured by lightning is not electrified. Victims typically die of cardiac arrest. People who can administer CPR will not be electrocuted if they do so. Lightning can strike the same place twice. People playing golf do not account for the majority of lightning deaths. Fishermen account for more than three times as many lightning deaths as golfers. Camping and boating each account for almost twice as many deaths. Download the Palm Beach Post WeatherPlus app here. “People get the idea that jewelry, headphones, golf clubs attracts lightning but that’s not the case at all,” said Matt Bragaw, a meteorologist and lightning safety specialist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne. “Metal conducts electricity very efficiently, but it does not draw electricity to it like a magnet.” If anything, Bragaw said, it’s the act of swinging a club that might draw lightning’s attention because it makes the gofer the tallest object in what is usually the mostly wide open terrain of a tee or fairway. “Anytime you increase your height, you increase your chances of getting hit,” Bragaw said. If you haven’t yet, join Kim on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

– It's a popular myth that golfers account for most deaths from lightning strikes. In fact, the Palm Beach Post reports more than three times as many fishermen die from lightning strikes than golfers. A study published in Geophysical Research Letters in February and recently getting some attention may explain why. Researchers from the Florida Institute of Technology found that lightning strikes over the ocean can be much more powerful than strikes over land. It's the first independent study to show what others have long believed, according to a press release. Researchers studied lightning over Florida and its coasts from 2013 to 2015, measuring the peak currents of the strikes. They found strikes over the ocean carried more charge than those over land. In fact, they estimated that lightning with peak currents of more than 50 kilo amperes is more than twice as likely to occur over the ocean. This could mean people living on or near the ocean may be at greater risk from lightning. Worth noting: Deaths from lightning strikes in Florida—a state with a whole lot of coastline—regularly outpace those in the rest of the country. Nine people were killed by lightning in 2016 in Florida. (Pain is only the beginning of a lightning strike.)

Heidi Klum was seen over the weekend at Hollywood’s Bootsy Bellows bar, locking lips with art playboy Vito Schnabel, and we’ve got all the details for you right here on RadarOnline.com. The America’s Got Talent stunner, who recently parted ways with bodyguard-turned-boyfriend Martin Kristen sat in a VIP booth with the 27-year-old hunk, who came on our Radar previously when he dated another show biz cougar in Demi Moore in 2012. PHOTOS: The New Flesh-Flash: Forget The Side Boob… Introducing The Hollywood Side Bum! An insider told X17 that the German stunner “was acting like a teenager” with the rich hunk. “I guess being with a younger guy was making her act like she was in high school. She was kissing his face all over as they enjoyed drinks with friends. They hardly left the booth — they just sat next to each other, touching from the shoulder down, laughing and flirting and making out.” PHOTOS: They’re Gorgeous, They’re Moms & They’re Models! The source said there was no shortage of passion — or lust — emanating from the sexy tandem. “This looks like a hot romance,” the insider said. “I don’t know if it’s going to last, but there is some serious chemistry between these two. They were both totally into each other.” PHOTOS: Golden Girls! Sports Illustrated’s 50th Anniversary Bash Draws Stunners From Past, Present Vito, the son of renowned painter Julian Schnabel, has also been romantically connected to Liv Tyler and Elle Macpherson. ||||| Anthony Harvey/Getty Images Katy Perry flaunts huge diamond ring at the Elle Style Awards 2014 on Feb. 18 in London. Katy Perry continues to let the engagement rumors roar. The 29-year-old starlet stepped out at the Elle Style Awards in London on Tuesday flashing a huge diamond ring on her left hand. The "Walking on Air" singer paired her sparkler with a printed Vivienne Westwood silk ensemble as she accepted the Woman of the Year honor from the fashion mag. This is the second time since Valentine's Day that Perry, who is in a serious relationship with fellow musician John Mayer, has been spotted with the suspicious bling. Anthony Harvey/Getty Images Katy Perry, wearing Vivian Westwood, was named Woman of the Year by Elle. Perry first rocked the ring on Friday when she spent the romantic holiday with her beau dining out at Sunset Towers in Los Angeles and clubbing at West Hollywood hot spot Bootsy Bellows. Despite the engagement buzz, sources have denied the couple are set to wed at the moment. "It's not true. They are not engaged," an insider told Us Weekly magazine. SPW/SPW Katy Perry hides her face but shows her ring beside beau John Mayer in West Hollywood. "It was a romantic Valentine's Day dinner for the two of them in a private spot but there was no proposal. … The dinner was sweet but low-key," a second source added. Perry is set to perform at Wednesday's Brit Awards. A rep for the star has yet to return the Daily News request for comment.

– If you were devastated by the 2012 demise of Heidi Klum and Seal's relationship because they always seemed like such a fun couple (see the gallery for photographic evidence), we have good news for you: There may be more matching Halloween costumes in their future. A source tells ninemsn that the divorced couple is getting close once again, following Klum's recent split from her bodyguard boyfriend. They started spending more time together with their kids late last year, "then in the last couple of weeks, that turned into long dinners at the house, longer stays with the kids and then sleepovers," the source says. "They’re even kissing in front of the kids now. It's very much back on." As for why Klum split with her last beau, the source says she found out he planned to propose on Valentine's Day, "and she knew that the time was now to cut it off in order to not hurt his feelings and have anything drag out that would be unpleasant. ... She still had feeling for Seal so couldn't let her relationship with Martin [Kirsten] go to the next step." But you may not want to get too excited: Klum was also recently linked to Demi Moore's 27-year-old ex. In other thinly-sourced celebrity romance news, Miley Cyrus is supposedly "hooking up" with Jared Leto, and rumors are flying that Katy Perry and John Mayer are engaged.

Death has this much to be said for it: You don’t have to get out of bed for it. Wherever you happen to be They bring it to you—free. —Kingsley Amis Pointed threats, they bluff with scorn Suicide remarks are torn From the fool’s gold mouthpiece the hollow horn Plays wasted words, proves to warn That he not busy being born is busy dying. —Bob Dylan, “It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” When it came to it, and old Kingsley suffered from a demoralizing and disorienting fall, he did take to his bed and eventually turned his face to the wall. It wasn’t all reclining and waiting for hospital room service after that—“Kill me, you fucking fool!” he once alarmingly exclaimed to his son Philip—but essentially he waited passively for the end. It duly came, without much fuss and with no charge. Mr. Robert Zimmerman of Hibbing, Minnesota, has had at least one very close encounter with death, more than one update and revision of his relationship with the Almighty and the Four Last Things, and looks set to go on demonstrating that there are many different ways of proving that one is alive. After all, considering the alternatives … Before I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer a year and a half ago, I rather jauntily told the readers of my memoirs that when faced with extinction I wanted to be fully conscious and awake, in order to “do” death in the active and not the passive sense. And I do, still, try to nurture that little flame of curiosity and defiance: willing to play out the string to the end and wishing to be spared nothing that properly belongs to a life span. However, one thing that grave illness does is to make you examine familiar principles and seemingly reliable sayings. And there’s one that I find I am not saying with quite the same conviction as I once used to: In particular, I have slightly stopped issuing the announcement that “Whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.” In fact, I now sometimes wonder why I ever thought it profound. It is usually attributed to Friedrich Nietzsche: Was mich nicht umbringt macht mich stärker. In German it reads and sounds more like poetry, which is why it seems probable to me that Nietzsche borrowed it from Goethe, who was writing a century earlier. But does the rhyme suggest a reason? Perhaps it does, or can, in matters of the emotions. I can remember thinking, of testing moments involving love and hate, that I had, so to speak, come out of them ahead, with some strength accrued from the experience that I couldn’t have acquired any other way. And then once or twice, walking away from a car wreck or a close encounter with mayhem while doing foreign reporting, I experienced a rather fatuous feeling of having been toughened by the encounter. But really, that’s to say no more than “There but for the grace of god go I,” which in turn is to say no more than “The grace of god has happily embraced me and skipped that unfortunate other man.” In the brute physical world, and the one encompassed by medicine, there are all too many things that could kill you, don’t kill you, and then leave you considerably weaker. Nietzsche was destined to find this out in the hardest possible way, which makes it additionally perplexing that he chose to include the maxim in his 1889 anthology Twilight of the Idols. (In German this is rendered as Götzen-Dämmerung, which contains a clear echo of Wagner’s epic. Possibly his great quarrel with the composer, in which he recoiled with horror from Wagner’s repudiation of the classics in favor of German blood myths and legends, was one of the things that did lend Nietzsche moral strength and fortitude. Certainly the book’s subtitle—“How to Philosophize with a Hammer”—has plenty of bravado.) In the remainder of his life, however, Nietzsche seems to have caught an early dose of syphilis, very probably during his first-ever sexual encounter, which gave him crushing migraine headaches and attacks of blindness and metastasized into dementia and paralysis. This, while it did not kill him right away, certainly contributed to his death and cannot possibly, in the meanwhile, be said to have made him stronger. In the course of his mental decline, he became convinced that the most important possible cultural feat would be to prove that the plays of Shakespeare had been written by Bacon. This is an unfailing sign of advanced intellectual and mental prostration. (I take a slight interest in this, because not long ago I was invited onto a Christian radio station in deepest Dixie to debate religion. My interviewer maintained a careful southern courtesy throughout, always allowing me enough time to make my points, and then surprised me by inquiring if I regarded myself as in any sense a Nietzschean. I replied in the negative, saying that I had agreed with some arguments put forward by the great man but didn’t owe any large insight to him and found his contempt for democracy to be somewhat off-putting. H. L. Mencken and others, I tried to add, had also used him to argue some crude social-Darwinist points about the pointlessness of aiding the “unfit.” And his frightful sister, Elisabeth, had exploited his decline to misuse his work as if it had been written in support of the German anti-Semitic nationalist movement. This had perhaps given Nietzsche an undeserved posthumous reputation as a fanatic. The questioner pressed on, asking if I knew that much of Nietzsche’s work had been produced while he was decaying from terminal syphilis. I again responded that I had heard this and knew of no reason to doubt it, though knew of no confirmation either. Just as it became too late, and I heard the strains of music and the words that this would be all we would have time for, my host stole a march and said he wondered how much of my own writing on god had perhaps been influenced by a similar malady! I should have seen this “gotcha” coming, but was left wordless.) Eventually, and in miserable circumstances in the Italian city of Turin, Nietzsche was overwhelmed at the sight of a horse being cruelly beaten in the street. Rushing to throw his arms around the animal’s neck, he suffered some terrible seizure and seems for the rest of his pain-racked and haunted life to have been under the care of his mother and sister. The date of the Turin trauma is potentially interesting. It occurred in 1889, and we know that in 1887 Nietzsche had been powerfully influenced by his discovery of the works of Dostoyevsky. There appears to be an almost eerie correspondence between the episode in the street and the awful graphic dream experienced by Raskolnikov on the night before he commits the decisive murders in Crime and Punishment. The nightmare, which is quite impossible to forget once you have read it, involves the terribly prolonged beating to death of a horse. Its owner scourges it across the eyes, smashes its spine with a pole, calls on bystanders to help with the flogging … we are spared nothing. If the gruesome coincidence was enough to bring about Nietzsche’s final unhingement, then he must have been tremendously weakened, or made appallingly vulnerable, by his other, unrelated sufferings. These, then, by no means served to make him stronger. The most he could have meant, I now think, is that he made the most of his few intervals from pain and madness to set down his collections of penetrating aphorism and paradox. This may have given him the euphoric impression that he was triumphing, and making use of the Will to Power. Twilight of the Idols was actually published almost simultaneously with the horror in Turin, so the coincidence was pushed as far as it could reasonably go. Or take an example from an altogether different and more temperate philosopher, nearer to our own time. The late Professor Sidney Hook was a famous materialist and pragmatist, who wrote sophisticated treatises that synthesized the work of John Dewey and Karl Marx. He too was an unrelenting atheist. Toward the end of his long life he became seriously ill and began to reflect on the paradox that—based as he was in the medical mecca of Stanford, California—he was able to avail himself of a historically unprecedented level of care, while at the same time being exposed to a degree of suffering that previous generations might not have been able to afford. Reasoning on this after one especially horrible experience from which he had eventually recovered, he decided that he would after all rather have died: I lay at the point of death. A congestive heart failure was treated for diagnostic purposes by an angiogram that triggered a stroke. Violent and painful hiccups, uninterrupted for several days and nights, prevented the ingestion of food. My left side and one of my vocal cords became paralyzed. Some form of pleurisy set in, and I felt I was drowning in a sea of slime In one of my lucid intervals during those days of agony, I asked my physician to discontinue all life-supporting services or show me how to do it. The physician denied this plea, rather loftily assuring Hook that “someday I would appreciate the unwisdom of my request.” But the stoic philosopher, from the vantage point of continued life, still insisted that he wished he had been permitted to expire. He gave three reasons. Another agonizing stroke could hit him, forcing him to suffer it all over again. His family was being put through a hellish experience. Medical resources were being pointlessly expended. In the course of his essay, he used a potent phrase to describe the position of others who suffer like this, referring to them as lying on “mattress graves.” ||||| A final memoir by the late author and polemicist Christopher Hitchens will be released early next year, his publisher said this morning. Hitchens, who died yesterday aged 62, wrote a series of columns for Vanity Fair about his battle with oesophageal cancer, chronicling how he moved "from the country of the well across the stark frontier that marks off the land of malady". The forthcoming memoir will be based on the essays, said Atlantic Books, and will be called Mortality. The book had been planned for some time, said a spokesperson. "Before I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer a year and a half ago, I rather jauntily told the readers of my memoirs that when faced with extinction I wanted to be fully conscious and awake, in order to 'do' death in the active and not the passive sense," Hitchens wrote in his final column for Vanity Fair. "However, one thing that grave illness does is to make you examine familiar principles and seemingly reliable sayings. And there's one that I find I am not saying with quite the same conviction as I once used to: In particular, I have slightly stopped issuing the announcement that 'Whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger'." Atlantic Books also publishes Hitchens' bestselling title God is Not Great, his memoir Hitch-22 and this autumn's comprehensive essay collection, Arguably. Toby Mundy, chief executive, called it "an honour" to have been Hitchens' publisher for the last seven years. "There is no-one like Christopher Hitchens. He was the most brilliant and versatile non-fiction writer of modern times, whose prodigious output was of stunningly high quality, a showcase for his vast range, deep knowledge and fierce wit. When he was diagnosed with cancer, he faced it with characteristic honesty, courage and rigour," said Mundy. "He is, quite simply, irreplaceable."

– For fans of Christopher Hitchens, one final book. A memoir entitled Mortality will be released in early 2012; it's based on a series of articles the journalist wrote for Vanity Fair describing his battle with esophageal cancer, reports the Guardian. A spokesman noted that the book had been in the works for some time. Hitchens asserted in his final column for Vanity Fair, "Before I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer a year and a half ago, I rather jauntily told the readers of my memoirs that when faced with extinction I wanted to be fully conscious and awake, in order to 'do' death in the active and not the passive sense."

Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsLawmakers to give bipartisanship a try on ObamaCare The Memo: Trump allies say he needs a GOP scalp Maine’s GOP governor: Collins �?unlikely’ to win gubernatorial primary MORE (R-Maine) will vote against confirming President Trump’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Collins is the only Senate Republican to come out against Scott Pruitt, the Oklahoma attorney general who sued the EPA 14 times during former President Obama’s administration. “I have significant concerns that Mr. Pruitt has actively opposed and sued the EPA on numerous issues that are of great importance to the state of Maine, including mercury controls for coal-fired power plants and efforts to reduce cross-state air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,” Collins said in a Wednesday statement first reported by Maine Public Radio. ADVERTISEMENT “His actions leave me with considerable doubts about whether his vision for the EPA is consistent with the agency’s critical mission to protect human health and the environment.” Senators could vote on confirming Pruitt as early as Friday and despite Collins’s defection, Pruitt is still likely to be confirmed. The GOP's other 51 senators are likely to vote for him, and Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinTrump playing active role in push to reform tax code Manchin leads Republican challengers by double-digits in new poll Poll: West Virginians approve of Dem senator more than Trump MORE (D-W.Va.) said he has “the right experience for the position.” The rest of the Democratic caucus is likely to vote against Pruitt, who needs a simple majority of 51 votes to be confirmed. Pruitt’s litigious history with the agency he wants to lead has been central to the campaign by Democrats and environmentalists against him. He has sued to stop regulations controlling mercury pollution from power plants, carbon dioxide from power plants, a cleanup program for the Chesapeake Bay, ground-level ozone pollution, Obama’s rule asserting federal power over small waterways and more. Pruitt and Republicans have defended the lawsuits as necessary to stop overreach by Obama’s EPA. Among the cases that have made it to a final court decision, Pruitt has been victorious just once. Collins is one of the most centrist Republicans in the Senate, having broken with her party numerous times to support environmental regulations and legislation. The Sierra Club applauded Collins Wednesday. “Today, Senator Collins took a stand for families across Maine by opposing this dangerous nomination that would be a threat to our clean air, clean water, and public health,” Glen Brand, director of the group’s Maine chapter, said in a statement. Collins's announcement came on the heels of a major blow for Trump's Cabinet slate, after Andy Puzder withdrew from consideration as Labor secretary one day before his confirmation hearing. She had expressed skepticism about his nomination, and also voted against final confirmation for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. ||||| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine said on Wednesday she would oppose Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s nomination to head the Environmental Protection Agency, citing his numerous lawsuits against the agency. Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt testifies before a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, U.S., January 18, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/Files Pruitt is scheduled to face a Senate confirmation vote on Friday. Unless more Republicans join Collins in opposing Pruitt, his nomination is likely to be approved. Republicans hold 52 of the 100 seats in the chamber and Vice President Mike Pence could cast the deciding vote in case of a tie. “Due to my concerns about Mr. Pruitt’s commitment to the mission of the EPA, I will cast my vote in opposition to his confirmation,” Collins said in a statement. President Donald Trump has vowed to cut regulation to revive the oil, gas and coal industries, and has said he can do so without compromising air and water quality. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved Pruitt’s nomination two weeks ago after Democrats boycotted the vote over concerns about Pruitt’s environmental record. As Oklahoma attorney general, Pruitt sued the EPA more than a dozen times on behalf of the oil-drilling state and he has cast doubts on the science of climate change. “His actions leave me with considerable doubts about whether his vision for the EPA is consistent with the agency’s critical mission to protect human health and the environment,” Collins said. She said Pruitt had sued the EPA on issues of importance to Maine, including mercury controls for coal-fired power plants and efforts to reduce cross-state air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Senator Tom Carper, the top Democrat on the energy committee, and several other Democrats have asked Senate Leader Mitch McConnell to delay a procedural vote on Pruitt scheduled for Thursday. They want the vote delayed until after the conclusion of an emergency hearing in Oklahoma to be held at 4 p.m. ET (2100 GMT) that will consider whether emails between Pruitt’s office and officials at oil and gas companies should be released. Access to those records was requested by the Center for Media and Democracy, a watchdog group, more than two years ago. Conservative group FreedomWorks blasted Collins, who also voted against the nomination last week of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Pence’s vote was needed to break a tie before DeVos was confirmed. FreedomWorks Chief Executive Adam Brandon said in a statement it was “a shame” that Collins was again aligning herself with “far-left Democrats and special interests.”

– One Republican senator is breaking ranks to vote against President Trump's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency, who has sued the EPA 14 times. Maine's Susan Collins says she "has significant concerns" about issues affecting her state that Scott Pruitt has opposed the EPA on, "including mercury controls for coal-fired power plants and efforts to reduce cross-state air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions," the Hill reports. She says the Oklahoma attorney general's actions have left her with "considerable doubts about whether his vision for the EPA is consistent with the agency's critical mission to protect human health and the environment." The Maine chapter of the Sierra Club praised Collins for "opposing this dangerous nomination that would be a threat to our clean air, clean water, and public health." Collins, who also voted against confirming Betsy DeVos, is the only Republican so far to come out against Pruitt, meaning he's likely to be confirmed in a Senate vote Friday. Reuters reports that Democrats have asked for a procedural vote on Pruitt scheduled for Thursday to be delayed until after an afternoon hearing in Oklahoma on whether to release emails between his office and execs at oil and gas firms. (Trump's nominee for labor secretary withdrew on Wednesday.)

The deadline for signing up for Obamacare has been effectively extended by another day, the Obama administration said Monday. The deadline had been Monday, Dec. 23 for people who want coverage by Jan. 1. People can now sign up through Tuesday, Dec. 24. The administration said the change was made for people who attempted to sign-up on Monday but encountered Web site delays. The administration reported record-high traffic to healthcare.gov on Monday. "Anticipating high demand and the fact that consumers may be enrolling from multiple time zones, we have taken steps to make sure that those who select a plan through tomorrow will get coverage for Jan 1," said Julie Bataille, spokeswoman with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is running the federal site, healthcare.gov. At least one insurer was surprised by the last-minute extension. An Aetna spokeswoman said she had no knowledge of it and no additional comment. Another insurer, Kaiser Permanente, said it did not think the one-day change would pose any "significant challenges" to getting people covered by Jan. 1. As it currently stands, if you miss the new deadline, the earliest you'd be able to get coverage is Feb. 1. There's been a lot of confusion surrounding the deadlines for applying for Obamacare -- and with good reason. Federal and state governments, as well as insurers, keep changing the dates, mainly to accommodate those blocked from completing enrollment due to technical problems. More than a million people have signed up for private insurance in the federal and state exchanges, President Obama said Friday. And exchanges are reporting heavy interest in recent days. Each consumer faces two deadlines: One by which to choose a plan and another for making a payment. Federal exchange: As of now, if you live in one of the 36 states serviced by the federal enrollment website, healthcare.gov, your best bet for getting hassle-free coverage in 2014 is to select a policy by end of the day on Tuesday and pay your first month's premium by Dec. 31. However, the insurance industry trade group said last week that folks who pay by Jan. 10 can have coverage retroactive to the start of the year. But the group stressed that coverage doesn't begin until the first payment is made. So people who wait until the 10th to pay might have to shell out for their initial medical care up front and file for reimbursement from their provider. State exchanges: If you are applying in one of the 14 states running its own exchange, you may have a different set of deadlines. New York followed the federal government's lead, pushing the deadline back to 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday. In Maryland and Oregon, residents have until Dec. 27 to pick a policy, with at least two Maryland insurers giving applicants until Dec. 31. Consumers in those states have until Jan. 15 to pay. Minnesota residents have until Dec. 31 to pick a plan and have coverage start the next day, exchange officials said Friday. They have until Jan. 10 to pay. Rhode Islanders also have until Dec. 31 to pick a plan and have coverage start the next day. But they have to pay their first premium by Jan. 6 and won't receive an ID card until they do. The change was made "to make sure more Rhode Islanders are able to have health care on January 1," said Dara Chadwick, spokeswoman for the Rhode Island exchange. "There's been a lot of confusion in the messaging." In Washington, residents who try to apply by Monday but run into problems have until Jan. 15 to pick and pay for a plan. Coverage will be retroactive to Jan. 1. Other states have extended the deadline to pay the premium. California is giving residents until Jan. 6, Vermont until Jan. 7 and Connecticut until Jan. 10. Share your story: Are you signing up for Obamacare? Regardless of where you live, you should call your insurer of choice to check its deadlines and, after you pay, check your enrollment status. For those who miss the deadline altogether, don't worry. You can still get coverage starting Feb. 1 if you pick a plan by January 15 and pay by the end of January. Open enrollment ends March 31. The uninsured must pick a plan by then to avoid a penalty. These procrastinators would see coverage start May 1. ||||| CHICAGO (AP) — Last-minute health insurance shoppers called help lines and attended enrollment events Monday as a key deadline in the nation's new health law arrived. While some states postponed the cutoff date, most Americans were required to sign up by Monday night to get coverage starting on Jan. 1. The HealthCare.gov website that had a disastrous, glitch-prone debut nearly three months ago ran smoothly in the morning despite the load, the government said on Twitter. With the deadline looming, more than 1 million people visited the refurbished federal enrollment website over the weekend, and a federal call center received more than 200,000 calls. Thirty-six states rely on the federal website for enrollment. The original deadline was pushed back a week because of the technical problems that plagued the federal marketplace for weeks after its October opening, but hundreds of upgrades to storage capacity and software have cut error rates and wait times. "It's just nonstop now. Everybody knows about it. Everybody wants it," said Florida enrollment counselor Madeleine Siegal. She said her organization in Fort Lauderdale was slammed with walk-ins and appointments Friday, had several weekend enrollment events and planned to open its doors earlier than usual on Monday. Ronald Bellingeri, a 59-year-old general contractor in Florida, signed up Friday in 90 minutes with help from an enrollment counselor. Bellingeri said he waited until the last minute because he didn't know what to do or where to go. On Friday, he chose a gold plan with a $156 monthly premium. The government is picking up $472 per month because of his income. "I just walk in the door and an hour and a half later, I have health insurance. It makes me feel great," he said. Others said they will let the date pass without making a decision. "I'm in no hurry, though it'd be nice to be able to visit a doctor without stress," said Kyle Eichenberger, an uninsured 34-year-old from Oak Park, Ill. Eichenberger said he hit a wall on the website when he first tried to enroll. More recently, the 34-year-old stay-at-home dad hasn't had time to get his questions answered. His family situation doesn't fit into a neat category: His children and their mother have health insurance through her job. But her employer doesn't offer coverage to opposite-sex domestic partners, and the couple are not married. "I'm an Obamacare supporter, though I think it is full of problems," Eichenberger said. "It's better than the system we had before and already helps my kids get free preventive care. I'd like to see the whole system streamlined to be more user-friendly. Keep the basic idea, but don't make me feel like I'm navigating a maze to get a simple checkup." Minnesota, one of the states running their own insurance exchanges, had long planned a Monday deadline to sign up for coverage starting Jan. 1. But amid problems with its website and extra-long hold times to reach its help center, the state last week postponed the deadline by eight days, letting people sign up through Dec. 31. Maryland has also extended its deadline, to Dec. 27. In Washington state, people who got up early on Monday to start their application for health insurance on the state's online marketplace may have been disappointed. The site was down for maintenance until nearly 9 a.m. ___ Associated Press writers Kelli Kennedy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Patrick Condon in St. Paul, Minn., Brian Witte in Annapolis, Md., and Donna Blankinship in Seattle contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/CarlaKJohnson

– Because people love nothing more than shopping on Christmas Eve, the Obama administration today extended by 24 hours the deadline to sign up for a health care plan that would kick in on the first of the year, CNN Money reports. The move is such a last-minute surprise that when CNN called insurance giant Aetna, a spokeswoman said she had no knowledge of the extension. A spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services explained that they were "anticipating high demand and the fact that consumers may be enrolling from multiple time zones." The original deadline was actually a week ago, the AP points out, but it was pushed back amidst the site's glitches. "It's just nonstop now. Everybody knows about it. Everybody wants it," a Florida enrollment counselor said. But if you miss the deadline don't panic; the government is trying to talk insurers into covering even the true procrastinators who sign up in the middle of January as though they'd been signed up since New Year's, and even if those companies refuse, you have until March 31 to sign up before facing a penalty.

Iran has arrested a number of people over videos that were posted on Instagram, including a young woman who filmed herself dancing to music. According to activists, Maedeh Hojabri was one of a number of users behind popular Instagram accounts who have been arrested. The identities of the other detainees have not been confirmed. Her account, which has been suspended, was reported to have had more than 600,000 followers. Hojabri has since appeared on a state television programme with other detainees, in which she and others made what activists say were forced confessions, a tactic often used by Iranian authorities. State TV showed a young woman, her face blurred, crying and shaking while describing her motivation for producing the videos. “It wasn’t for attracting attention,” she said. “I had some followers and these videos were for them. I did not have any intention to encourage others doing the same … I didn’t work with a team, I received no training. I only do gymnastics.” Little is known about Hojabri’s personal life, or which city in Iran she is from, but since her arrest her videos have been shared by hundreds of people, giving her a reach beyond her account. They appear to have often been taken using a camera in her bedroom while she danced to western pop and rap music without wearing a hijab, which is required in public. Negar (@NegarMortazavi) Teenage dancer, Maedeh Hojabri, was arrested in Iran. She used to record dance videos in her bedroom and upload them to her instagram with 600K followers.#مائده_هژبرى pic.twitter.com/3EDVR9veV3 In another video, she talked about the history of parkour, an outdoor sport popular in Iran, especially among women who practise it while wearing the headscarf. Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) Her name is Maeade Mahi. Recently she got arrested just because of uploading her dancing videos on her Instagram. If you are a woman in Iran and you dance or sing or show your hair then you are a criminal. If you want to enjoy your true self, you have to brake the laws every day. pic.twitter.com/0eIq5ld5x6 Hossein Ronaghi, a blogger, said: “People would laugh at you if you tell anyone in the world that [in Iran] they arrest 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds for dancing, being happy and being beautiful, for spreading indecency, and instead paedophiles are free.” Many people think authorities will ban Instagram, which remains one of the few unblocked western apps. Facebook and Twitter are filtered. The head of Tehran’s cyber-police, Touraj Kazemi, said his forces were identifying and would take action against popular accounts on Instagram. In 2012, Iran sacked the head of its cyber-police after the blogger Sattar Beheshti died in custody. In 2014, a group of Pharrell Williams fans arrested for filming themselves dancing to the song Happy on the rooftops of Tehran received suspended sentences of imprisonment and lashes. ||||| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| Teenage dancer, Maedeh Hojabri, was arrested in Iran. She used to record dance videos in her bedroom and upload them to her instagram with 600K followers.#مائده_هژبرى pic.twitter.com/3EDVR9veV3 — Negar (@NegarMortazavi) July 8, 2018 Iranian Instagram celebrity and dancer Maedeh Hojabri would have been just another teenager in most parts of the world: operating multiple social media accounts and uploading videos of herself dancing. But Hojabri's videos are suddenly at the center of the latest conflict between religious hard-liners and Iranian liberals seeking more liberties. Officials arrested the 17- or 18-year-old Hojabri after she shared with her tens of thousands of followers videos of herself dancing to Western and Iranian music at home. The tussle over social codes is nothing new in Iran. It has played out in many ways for decades: Iranian musicians tapping into Western influences, for example, or Iranian women challenging authorities by pushing back their headscarves to almost gravity-defying styles. The Internet age, however, has added a new dimension of dissent. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has often described websites as something akin to a Trojan horse of Western culture and values. Iranian media outlets reported that authorities were looking into banning more Instagram accounts or shutting down access to the site completely. Other individuals besides Hojabri also appear to have been detained on similar charges. Their identities are still unknown, and all of them were reportedly released on bail. In response to the arrest, some women took to social media in support of Hojabri to post videos of themselves dancing, using the Iranian version of the hashtag #dancing_isnt_a_crime. (Women in Iran are prohibited from dancing in front of men, except if those male observers are close family members.) “I'm dancing so that they [the authorities] see and know that they cannot take away our happiness and hope by arresting teenagers and [girls like] Maedeh,” the BBC translated the tweet of one supporter. Hojabri and others facing similar accusations previously appeared on Iranian state TV in a video in which the young gymnast — potentially speaking under duress — acknowledged producing the videos. “I had some followers, and these videos were for them. I did not have any intention to encourage others doing the same.... I didn’t work with a team; I received no training. I only do gymnastics,” the Guardian newspaper quoted her as saying in the clip of the broadcast on Iranian state TV. Hojabri's arrest bears similarities to a 2014 incident in which six young Iranians were arrested for producing a video based on the Pharrell Williams song “Happy.” The video quickly went viral but also provoked the dismay of conservative Iranian authorities. After their arrest, Iranian state television showed the detainees admitting that they were involved in the “Happy” production, even though they insisted that they had been tricked into participating. As in Hojabri's case, Iranian TV did not show the faces of the individuals making the confessions. Their sentence — one year in prison and 91 lashes — was later suspended. The arrests at the time highlighted the divides in the country's leadership. Even though President Hassan Rouhani has repeatedly indicated that he may favor opening up Iran's restrictive official Internet, enforcing laws online is ultimately up to the judiciary, which is controlled by religious hard-liners. With an increasing number of protests taking place across Iran amid economic woes, conservatives have adopted a more repressive approach in recent months. And while authorities sometimes turn a blind eye on some violations of the country's strict laws on female clothing or Western music, Iran still regularly punishes violations to set examples. Last year, for instance, four men and two women were detained for teaching the Colombian fitness routine Zumba and “Western” dances. Authorities became aware of the group after its members posted videos of themselves dancing on Instagram and other social media platforms. The group was later charged over seeking to “change lifestyles and promote a lack of hijab,” a reference to head coverings for women. More on WorldViews: Russia’s World Cup dream ends, on and off the field Unrest in Haiti leaves dozens from American church groups stranded and unable to leave No, Pompeo did not give Kim Jong Un a ‘Rocket Man’ CD, State Department says

– She filmed herself dancing and posted videos online—and now she's been arrested. The problem? Maedeh Hojabri lives in Iran. She filmed in her bedroom, not wearing a hijab. Through Hojabri's videos, in which she danced to Iranian as well as western pop and rap music, she gained more than 600,000 Instagram followers. Her account has since been suspended, but the BBC reports that many others are re-posting her videos on social media sites (see some examples here and here) as well as posting their own dancing videos in protest. "People would laugh at you if you tell anyone in the world that [in Iran] they arrest 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds for dancing, being happy and being beautiful, for spreading indecency, and instead pedophiles are free," a blogger tells the Guardian. Hojabri was one of a number of popular Instagram users arrested recently in Iran over the content of their videos; activists fear the country will ban the social media site, currently one of the few western apps that hasn't been blocked. She was shown on state TV giving what appeared to be a forced confession: "It wasn’t for attracting attention," she said of her videos, while crying. "I had some followers and these videos were for them. I did not have any intention to encourage others doing the same. … I didn’t work with a team, I received no training. I only do gymnastics." The Washington Post reports the detainees have since been freed on bail.

A Long Island Little League coach died after he was struck in the head with a baseball during warm-ups before a game Saturday night, authorities said. Richard Becher, 50, was on the mound during batting practice at a facility called at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, Suffolk County, when a 12-year-old batter smacked a ball right up the middle that plunked him in the head and knocked him unconscious, according to officials. “He was an amazing person, an amazing father, son, friend,” family friend Denise Volpicello told The Post. “It’s devastating for everyone. He was very active in the community. It’s a tremendous loss.” The young player hit the ball that struck Becher sometime around 5:30 p.m., authorities said. Becher’s brother-in-law said the devoted baseball dad — whose son played on the team he coached — was struck hard by a line drive. “He threw a pitch, the ball got hit. It was a line drive,” John Bree, 51, told Newsday. “He was hit in the head. He dropped to the ground.” Several bystanders attempted to revive the unconscious Becher with CPR while waiting for police and EMS to arrive. Becher, who lived in nearby Holbrook, was rushed to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue, where he was declared dead, police said. “It was obviously a tragic situation,” said Roger Pondel, a spokesman for Baseball Heaven. “Our hearts go out to the family.” Becher, a married father of two, was reportedly pitching from behind an L-screen, which is designed to protect players from this sort of injury, when he was struck. Michael Rubenstein, the president of Sachem Little League, said it was a freak accident. “It’s pretty rare [to get hit] if you’re behind the screen, but you can stick your head out for a second” and expose yourself, Rubenstein told Newsday. The team was preparing for a Tri-State Tournament game Saturday night. The game was canceled after the tragic incident. Becher was a board member of Sachem and the Ronkonkoma Youth Organization. His friends on Long Island were heartbroken by his death and mourned him on social media. “The Sachem community lost a great man last night,” Christopher Pierre wrote on Facebook. “Rich was always the life of the party, had the ability to make you laugh.” Pierre added that Becher was a constant presence on the field and was respected throughout the community. “His tragic passing was where Rich was usually found, on a baseball field with his son and his team,” he said. “His untimely passing is a constant reminder how in a split second, life is altered. It’s hard for me to believe this isn’t a nightmare.” Another friend remembered Becher for his enthusiasm for the game. “Always full of energy when he came into the academy,” Tom Downey wrote on Facebook. “Always reminded the kids that they were suppose to have fun. I’ll always remember that about him.” Becher was the owner of Bech Air Corp., a sheet-metal-installation company on Long Island. ||||| A devoted Holbrook father described as a passionate backer of youth sports died after being hit in the head by a baseball while pitching batting practice to his 12-year-old son's team, his family and Suffolk police said. Richard Becher, 50, was struck about 5:30 p.m. Saturday "during warm-ups" at Baseball Heaven, a popular youth sports complex on County Road 101 in Yaphank, police said. When paramedics arrived at the complex, bystanders were attempting CPR on Becher, according to police. He was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue and pronounced dead a short time later. A baseball hit by one his players struck Becher in the head during a pregame practice session, said John Bree, 51, Becher's brother-in-law. "He threw a pitch, the ball got hit. It was a line drive," Bree said yesterday. "He was hit in the head, he dropped to the ground." Bree said Becher was throwing from behind an L-screen, which is designed to protect a pitcher during batting practice. advertisement | advertise on newsday Members of Becher's son's team, the ELITE, in the 11-year-old division, were rushed off the field soon after he was hit, Bree said, adding that they were preparing for a Tri-State Tournament game Saturday night. The game was canceled. "It's pretty rare if you're behind the screen, but you can stick your head out for a second" and get hit, said Michael Rubenstein, president of Sachem Little League and the Ronkonkoma Youth Organization. Becher served as vice president of both groups. Rubenstein said he will consider putting more safety measures in place, such as having coaches wear masks and helmets while on the field. Officials with Baseball Heaven, a 30-acre multidiamond facility that hosts youth baseball games, were arranging counseling for any coaches or children who requested it, said Frank Zitaglio, the facility's general manager. "There was a tragic accident here. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family," Zitaglio said. Becher's youth sports commitment went beyond the green baseball diamonds, friends and family members said. The owner of Holbrook-based Bech Air Corp., a sheet-metal installation company, Becher also coached his son's youth basketball team, Bree said. He was married and also had a 14-year-old daughter. Bree, of Holbrook, described his brother-in-law as "the perfect father. He gave 100 percent of his time to his kids. He touched so many people." Christopher Pierre, past president of Sachem Little League and Becher's close friend, said Becher was always ready to step in and lend a hand. "Whatever you needed, Rich was . . . always looking to help," said Pierre, 49, also of Holbrook. advertisement | advertise on newsday Pierre said coaches get hit by batted balls in the shoulder or knees, but he called Becher's fatal injury a "freak accident." "It's hard to believe this is not a nightmare," Pierre said. "He passed away doing one of the things he loved doing, being on the baseball field coaching his son." His devotion was often seen when Becher's son stepped out of the batting cage, said Tom Downey, an instructor at the Long Island Baseball Academy in Ronkonkoma. " 'Did you have fun, bud?' That was always his thing," Downey said. Becher's death should serve as a reminder to coaches that baseball at any level can be a dangerous game, even during batting practice, Downey said. advertisement | advertise on newsday "All of my years doing this, I've never heard of a substantial injury or death while doing that," he said. "Everyone should be aware that the ball, when struck, is hit hard and can hurt you."

– A Long Island community is mourning the loss of a Little League coach after a freak accident during batting warm-ups over the weekend. Richard Becher, 50, was pitching at the Baseball Heaven facility in Suffolk County when a 12-year-old connected and sent a line drive straight to Becher's head. He was knocked unconscious, at which point several bystanders performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, reports the New York Post. "He threw a pitch, the ball got hit, it was a line drive," Becher's brother-in-law told Newsday. "He was hit in the head. He dropped to the ground." Becher had been taking standard precautions, throwing from behind a protective L-screen, but it's possible to stick your head out for a second and be hit, the president of Sachem Little League tells Newsday, adding that he'll consider requiring that coaches wear masks and helmets when they're on the field. "It's hard to believe this is not a nightmare," a friend says. "He passed away doing one of the things he loved doing, being on the baseball field coaching his son." (It's not the first time a Little League pitch has proved fatal.)

Almost two months to the day that Michael Cavallari was found dead in Utah, the Grand County Sheriff's Office has revealed his cause of death. E! News has learned that the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office ruled that Kristin Cavallari's brother's death was accidental, and caused by hypothermia from exposure to cold temperatures. While there was initial speculation over whether he committed suicide, law enforcement officials told E! News after he was found that he most likely died from prolonged exposure to the elements. ||||| SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A medical examiner has determined NFL quarterback Jay Cutler's brother-in-law's death was accidental, saying Michael Cavallari died of hypothermia after he crashed his car during a frigid temperatures while passing through a rocky and rural part of southern Utah. Grand County Sheriff officials announced the findings Tuesday in a news release. The 30-year-old Michael Cavallari is the brother of reality TV personality Kristin Cavallari. Grand County Sheriff Steven White said they are waiting on toxicology reports to find out if Michael Cavallari had any drugs in his system. White said the autopsy report closes the case, but questions may forever linger about what exactly happened. His body was found at the bottom of a steep hillside filled with boulders on Dec. 10, about two weeks after his abandoned car was found with the engine running and the air bag deployed about 200 miles south of Salt Lake City. Temperatures in the area were at or below freezing every night in the days after the car was found up against a small embankment. "I don't know if he thought he saw lights or something and started walking?" White said. "We just don't know." Investigators believed he was just passing through Utah, but they don't know where he was headed or what he was doing in Utah. Cavallari's family was notified earlier this week, White said. Kristin Cavallari declined comment through her publicist. Michael Cavallari had been arrested in California four days before his car was found on allegations that he acted threateningly toward a woman and had a gun. He bailed out of jail Nov. 25. Two days later, a rancher discovered the car near a dirt road about 5 miles from Interstate 70. He was single and had no children. Kristin Cavallari rose to fame in the mid-2000s when she appeared in the MTV reality series "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills." She is married to Cutler, who starred at Vanderbilt University and now plays for the Chicago Bears. The couple has three children together.

– The death of Michael Cavallari, brother to reality star Kristin Cavallari and brother-in-law to NFL quarterback Jay Cutler, was accidental, E! reports. Cavallari crashed his car in frigid weather while traveling through a remote part of Utah and died of hypothermia, a medical examiner has determined. He had left California days prior, after being arrested for allegedly threatening a woman with a gun. Toxicology reports are being done to determine whether he had drugs in his system when he died, the AP reports. Authorities still don't know why Cavallari was in Utah or where he was trying to go, and it's not clear exactly what happened when he died: The 30-year-old was found at the bottom of a steep, rocky hillside two weeks after his still-running car was found abandoned, with its air bag deployed, resting against a small embankment 3 miles away. "I don't know if he thought he saw lights or something and started walking?" the sheriff says. "We just don't know."

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) said in an interview broadcast Sunday that parts of Republican Party base are moved by racism. Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) (J. Scott Applewhite/ AP) Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union," Israel was asked by host Candy Crowley whether he thought his Republican colleagues were racist. She mentioned comments from last week by Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., who said Republicans have engaged in "ugly and divisive" attacks against President Obama and him; and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who said that Republican opposition to comprehensive immigration reform was motivated in part by race. "Not all of them, no, of course not," replied Israel. "But to a significant extent, the Republican base does have elements that are animated by racism. And that's unfortunate." Israel appeared with his GOP counterpart, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.), who rejected the notion that race has fueled opposition to Obama's agenda. "It's both wrong and unfortunate," he said. "You know, there have been a lot of executive overreaches by this administration. We see the latest with Lois Lerner and the whole IRS scandal." Israel and Walden debated the 2014 midterm landscape. Democratic hopes' for wining the House majority have been all but erased. Now, the big question is which party will pick up seats in the fall. Acknowledging the drop-off in Democratic turnout that has been typical in recent off-year elections, Israel said his party is waging a robust effort to get voters to participate. "We're using every tool in our toolbox, accelerating our investments in field, putting people on the ground. We've got 33 districts covered with staff in order to deal with that drop off," he said. Walden said Republicans are "focused on jobs and the economy, trying to grow both." Asked whether embattled Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.) should resign amid the release of video of him kissing a staffer, Walden declined to take a position. "It's bad. It's wrong. He needs to answer and be held accountable," said Walden. Walden also expressed confidence Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) would be reelected as House speaker, even as some House conservatives have plotted possibly forcing Boehner aside next year. ||||| "Not all" Republican lawmakers are racist, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel said Sunday, responding to a direct question from CNN's Candy Crowley on "State of the Union." But, the New York Democrat added, "To a significant extent, the Republican base does have elements that are animated by racism, and that's unfortunate." Israel's comments came after Crowley brought up remarks by Attorney General Eric Holder. At a speech to a civil-rights group, the attorney general complained about not being treated respectfully by lawmakers at a House Judiciary Committee hearing. Still, Holder said that progress has been made "even in the face of unprecedented, unwarranted, ugly and divisive adversity," citing the hearing as evidence. (Also on POLITICO: Donald Trump: Democrats playing the ‘race card’) While Holder did not explicitly say his treatment was rooted in racism, Crowley said that Holder believes "the treatment he has received in the House ... would not have happened if he were not African-American." Crowley also tied in recent comments by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who suggested that Republicans were avoiding an immigration vote because of racial issues. Democrats are ready to pass an immigration bill, Israel said. "We'd rather pass an immigration bill than worry about the election. We have 190 Democrats ready to vote on a comprehensive immigration bill today," he said. "We know not every Republican is going to agree with us on that. It passed the Senate with 67 bipartisan votes. All we need is 20 Republicans, just 20 to vote for that bill and it will be law, and we don't have to have this debate anymore." Rep. Greg Walden, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, called the comments "both wrong and unfortunate" and said Republicans are focusing on the "executive overreaches by this administration." "The American people just want to know the truth," the Oregon Republican said. "They want to know the truth about what really happened in the targeting of conservative truths by the IRS, they want to know what happened in Benghazi. They want to know answers, that's all we're trying to do." CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this article implied that Greg Walden was stating that the Republican base was motivated by racism. Read more about: Eric Holder, Republicans, Racism, Steve Israel, Greg Walden ||||| Duh! Not a month goes by without a GOP racial gaffe, racist vitriol fills conservative websites’ comment sections, and the party refuses to take on the issue. Of course Steve Israel’s right. Some time back, whenever a big racial controversy erupted, I trained myself into the habit of reading about it at FoxNews.com, just for the unbelievable comment threads. Let’s put it this way: If my friends and I went out to a bar and started playing a “let’s write the racist FoxNews.com comment thread” drinking game, our efforts couldn’t begin to approach what I read there. I wasn’t alone. Liberal websites started feasting on these threads. And so, a couple of years ago, Ailes & Co. got wise. Stories about race were, at least in my disheartened experience, closed to comments. Fox acted, I recall, back in February 2012, when the thread on Whitney Houston’s death made even many conservatives a little jumpy. Here’s a taste: “Whitney is just an inferior lo w life ni gg er that needed to go, no tragedy, no loss…” “Any death is a tragedy you heartless bastard…” “not nignogs their death is a plus…” Well, at least there was that person in the middle there! But these threads were poisonous, and they didn’t appear just on Fox. They’ve been all over conservative websites and have bled into some mainstream ones, too. Lord, the things I read in comment threads on North Carolina newspapers’ sites in their stories about the “Moral Monday” protests. Believe it or not, conservative readers, I don’t go flinging the r-word around loosely. But these comments, hundreds, thousands of them, were just thuggishly racist. Nothing else to call them. Beyond these, we have numerous instances of low-level (and sometimes not so low-level) Republican Party officials—Republican Party officials—making racist jokes about Obama. Here’s a little chrestomathy of some of them. If you follow the news closely, you know that hardly a…not quite a week, but let’s say hardly a fortnight goes by that some local GOPer doesn’t show up in the news explaining that he “didn’t mean any harm” in sending that email to friends showing watermelons piled up on the White House, and he’s sincerely sorry “if it offended anyone.” Often, of course, it’s something more malevolent than that. And now it’s supposed to be controversial when Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) says, as he did Sunday on CNN, that “to a significant extent, the Republican base does have elements that are animated by racism”? Please. You have to be living a life of willed ignorance and denial to take issue with what Israel said. (The link above, by the way, is to the FoxNews.com story; if you scroll down you will indeed see the inevitable and darkly amusing sentence “Comments are currently closed for this article.”) Now I don’t know if the people making these comments and the larger group they represent constitute 5 percent of this base or 15 or 50. It depends in part on how you define “base.” But look at the matter this way. Say you were a Republican political consultant. Would you ever in a jillion years suggest that your candidate take on racism within the GOP as a speech topic? You most certainly would not. Your candidate would be dead immediately. I mean metaphorically, but depending on the part of the country in which the speech was given, maybe literally, too. In other words, whether they’re 5 or 15 or 50, commenters like these are enough to prevent Republican politicians from ever addressing racism with any degree of candor. The cowardice on the GOP side on this issue is universal and always has been. We should not, then, even be debating whether what Israel said is true. Sadly, we shouldn’t even be debating why Republican politicians won’t discuss it. My little hypothetical above showed why. None of them has the stones to. Some, Rand Paul and others, talk a little in general terms about how the party needs to “change” and “modernize.” But to spell out what that change and modernization would involve, in racial terms? No one will confront that. And so the only question we’re left debating is when all this might change. For starters, it will change some when Barack Obama leaves office. All the Obama-related racial craziness will, obviously, end. But we shouldn’t count on that for much. True, the next president will apparently be a Caucasian one, but racial controversies will still occur, black celebrities will continue to die, juries will keep letting George Zimmermans off. We are going to be divided by the same things we always have.

– Does Democratic Rep. Steve Israel think his "Republican colleagues are racist"? His reply to Candy Crowley's question on CNN yesterday: "Not all of them, no. Of course not," said the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. But "to a significant extent, the Republican base does have elements that are animated by racism, and that's unfortunate," he said, per Politico. His comments came amid a discussion of Eric Holder's concerns about himself and President Obama facing "ugly and divisive" attacks; Nancy Pelosi has also suggested race plays a role in opposition to immigration reform, the Washington Post notes. National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Greg Walden, who also appeared on the program, said Israel's take was "wrong and unfortunate." Further reactions to the comments have already begun. Per Michael Tomasky at the Daily Beast: "You have to be living a life of willed ignorance and denial to take issue with what Israel said." (Also on yesterday's talk shows, Kathleen Sebelius told Meet the Press that staying on as HHS secretary "really wasn't an option.")

Читать Читаю Отмена В чёрном списке Убрать из чёрного списка Ещё не подтверждено Отмена ‏ @ drinkwaterevent Jet Blue just denied me to board the aircraft due to my social media coverage of tonight's events. The pilot and staff denied service to me. ||||| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| JetBlue has responded to a woman's allegations that her posts on Twitter got her booted from a flight on Tuesday night at Philadelphia International Airport.The passenger, Lisa Carter-Knight, told Action News that she tweeted about an incident that began with an apparent joke that caused passengers to be removed from a plane.In a statement responding to the incident, JetBlue officials said "It is not our practice to remove a customer for expressing criticism of their experience in any medium."It continued: "We will remove a customer if they are disruptive and the crew evaluates that there is a risk of escalation which could lead to an unsafe environment. The decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly.""If we feel a customer is not complying with safety instructions, exhibits objectionable behavior or causes conflict at the gate or on the aircraft, the customer will be asked to deplane or will be denied boarding especially if the crew feels the situation runs the risk of accelerating in the air. In this instance, the customer received a refund and chose to fly on another carrier."However, the airline did not specifically say how, or if, Carter-Knight was being disruptive.Carter-Knight says it all started what seemed to be a misunderstanding between the pilot and a joke by one of the passengers.The remark was overheard by the pilot as the plane was being boarded."We had been waiting an hour, so there was a joke by another passenger - it had been a long night and he hoped there was a fully stocked bar on the airplane. The pilot ran out and said 'that's it, everybody out by the gate.' I've been accused of being intoxicated," she said.The pilot told the more than 90 passengers he was now obligated by law to take a sobriety test. It came back negative, but delayed the flight more than three hours past its original departure time.So, Carter-Knight began tweeting the story and says that's what got her ticket revoked."They were not comfortable with me being on the flight because I shared my experience tonight with friends and followers on a Twitter page," she said on Tuesday night.She arrived at the airport early Wednesday morning to finally get a flight home to the Boston area, but on a different airline.She added "I never accused the pilot of being drunk. I simply was communicating with family that was concerned that I was still on the ground in Philadelphia."Overnight, JetBlue did refund her money.

– Apparently, airlines are watching what you tweet and are unamused by your antics: A woman says JetBlue gave her the boot from a flight out of Philly after she began tweeting about her delayed flight yesterday—which she says was further delayed by a passenger joke. "It had been a long night and (the passenger said) he hoped there was a fully stocked bar on the airplane," Lisa Carter-Knight tells WPVI. Har, har—except the pilot heard the comment. "The pilot ran out and said 'that's it, everybody out on by the gate. I've been accused of being intoxicated.'" An on-site sobriety test of the pilot ensued, further delaying the flight. Carter-Knight did what many of us are wont to do when faced with mundane miseries: Gripe about it on social media. As a result, she says JetBlue yanked her ticket. "They were not comfortable with me being on the flight because I shared my experience tonight with friends and followers on a Twitter page," she says. She says JetBlue did eventually issue a refund. All the airline will say officially is, "It is not our practice to remove a customer for expressing criticism of their experience in any medium." Southwest also recently kicked a family off a flight over a dad's critical tweet.

NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft flew by Uranus 30 years ago, but researchers are still making discoveries from the data it gathered then. A new study led by University of Idaho researchers suggests there could be two tiny, previously undiscovered moonlets orbiting near two of the planet's rings. Rob Chancia, a University of Idaho doctoral student, spotted key patterns in the rings while examining decades-old images of Uranus' icy rings taken by Voyager 2 in 1986. He noticed the amount of ring material on the edge of the alpha ring -- one of the brightest of Uranus' multiple rings -- varied periodically. A similar, even more promising pattern occurred in the same part of the neighboring beta ring. "When you look at this pattern in different places around the ring, the wavelength is different -- that points to something changing as you go around the ring. There's something breaking the symmetry," said Matt Hedman, an assistant professor of physics at the University of Idaho, who worked with Chancia to investigate the finding. Their results will be published in The Astronomical Journal and have been posted to the pre-press site arXiv. Chancia and Hedman are well-versed in the physics of planetary rings: both study Saturn's rings using data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which is currently orbiting Saturn. Data from Cassini have yielded new ideas about how rings behave, and a grant from NASA allowed Chancia and Hedman to examine Uranus data gathered by Voyager 2 in a new light. Specifically, they analyzed radio occultations -- made when Voyager 2 sent radio waves through the rings to be detected back on Earth -- and stellar occultations, made when the spacecraft measured the light of background stars shining through the rings, which helps reveal how much material they contain. They found the pattern in Uranus' rings was similar to moon-related structures in Saturn's rings called moonlet wakes. The researchers estimate the hypothesized moonlets in Uranus' rings would be 2 to 9 miles (4 to 14 kilometers) in diameter -- as small as some identified moons of Saturn, but smaller than any of Uranus' known moons. Uranian moons are especially hard to spot because their surfaces are covered in dark material. "We haven't seen the moons yet, but the idea is the size of the moons needed to make these features is quite small, and they could have easily been missed," Hedman said. "The Voyager images weren't sensitive enough to easily see these moons." Hedman said their findings could help explain some characteristics of Uranus' rings, which are strangely narrow compared to Saturn's. The moonlets, if they exist, may be acting as "shepherd" moons, helping to keep the rings from spreading out. Two of Uranus' 27 known moons, Ophelia and Cordelia, act as shepherds to Uranus' epsilon ring. "The problem of keeping rings narrow has been around since the discovery of the Uranian ring system in 1977 and has been worked on by many dynamicists over the years," Chancia said. "I would be very pleased if these proposed moonlets turn out to be real and we can use them to approach a solution." Confirming whether or not the moonlets actually exist using telescope or spacecraft images will be left to other researchers, Chancia and Hedman said. They will continue examining patterns and structures in Uranus' rings, helping uncover more of the planet's many secrets. "It's exciting to see Voyager 2's historic Uranus exploration still contributing new knowledge about the planets," said Ed Stone, project scientist for Voyager, based at Caltech, Pasadena, California. Voyager 2 and its twin, Voyager 1, were launched 16 days apart in 1977. Both spacecraft flew by Jupiter and Saturn, and Voyager 2 also flew by Uranus and Neptune. Voyager 2 is the longest continuously operated spacecraft. It is expected to enter interstellar space in a few years, joining Voyager 1, which crossed over in 2012. Though far past the planets, the mission continues to send back unprecedented observations of the space environment in the solar system, providing crucial information on the environment our spacecraft travel through as we explore farther and farther from home. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, built the twin Voyager spacecraft and operates them for the Heliophysics Division within NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. For more information about Voyager, visit: http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov ||||| After re-examining data acquired by the Voyager 2 spacecraft, astronomers have detected wavy patterns in two of Uranus’s dark system of rings—patterns that may be indicative of two undiscovered moons. Like the other gas giants in our solar system, Uranus features a ring system, though it’s not nearly as spectacular as the one around Saturn. And like the other gas giants, Uranus hosts a batch of natural satellites—27 to be exact. New research suggests this number might have to be revised; data collected by Voyager 2 during its historic 1986 flyby hints at two undiscovered moons lurking around a pair of Uranus’ rings. Uranus is almost 20 times farther from the sun than the Earth, making direct observations difficult. Voyager 2 found 10 moons when it visited the planet in 1986, tripling the number of moons known to orbit the gas giant. But it appears the probe’s satellite-hunting days aren’t over just yet. Planetary scientists Rob Chancia and Matthew Hedman from the University of Idaho recently revisited Voyager 2's old data, and they noticed something peculiar in two of Uranus’ 13 rings, Alpha and Beta. The two rings exhibit a series of wavy patterns consistent with the presence of two tiny moons. “These patterns may be wakes from small moonlets orbiting exterior to these rings,” write the researchers in their study. Advertisement Importantly, these observations are consistent with how Uranus’ other moons, such as Cordelia and Ophelia, are exerting gravitational pressure on the dust, rocks, and ice within the rings, herding the particles along a narrow formation. If these moons exist, they’re quite dark and very tiny, measuring a mere two to nine miles (four to 14 km) across. That would make them smaller than any other known moon to orbit the planet, which explains why Voyager 2 wasn’t able to detect them directly. Armed with this possibility, the researchers are planning to inspect Uranus with the Hubble Space Telescope. Failing that, we could always send a new space probe. It’s been three decades since our last visit to Uranus, after all. Advertisement [arXiv via New Scientist] ||||| These crawls are part of an effort to archive pages as they are created and archive the pages that they refer to. That way, as the pages that are referenced are changed or taken from the web, a link to the version that was live when the page was written will be preserved.Then the Internet Archive hopes that references to these archived pages will be put in place of a link that would be otherwise be broken, or a companion link to allow people to see what was originally intended by a page's authors.The goal is to fix all broken links on the web . Crawls of supported "No More 404" sites. ||||| Cornell researchers were surveying Uranus' rings when they found that the amount of material in its alpha ring varied periodically; He found the same when examining its beta ring. That asymmetry could be as-yet undiscovered moons within the rings, which Chancia and his partner estimate to be 2-9 miles in diameter, which are about the size of Saturn's moons. Voyager 2 measured the rings by firing radio signals through them back to earth as well as measuring light shined by background stars onto the orbiting matter, which helps reveal how much material is present. The potential satellites popping up in Uranus' data are similar to quasi-moon structures in Saturn's rings called moonlet wakes. The ice giant's rings are notably more narrow than Saturn's, but the new structures might explain that by acting as "shepherd" moons that keep the circular material from spreading out. Two of Uranus' 27 known satellites, Ophelia and Cordelia, do this for the planet's epsilon ring. The researchers didn't actually find the rings, just the data supporting their likely existence. Further study and visual confirmation awaits other scientists, as the Cornell team remains committed to studying Uranus' ring phenomena and whatever they reveal about their home planet.

– Scientists are taking a closer look at Uranus after strange patterns turned up in images from 30 years ago. Engadget reports that researchers looking at data from NASA's Voyager 2—which became the only spacecraft ever to fly by Uranus when it did so in 1986—noticed that the amount of material in some of the planet's rings varies from time time. This pattern of shifting material was present in two of the Uranus' 13 rings, according to Gizmodo. "There's something breaking the symmetry," researcher Matt Hedman says in a press release. He and fellow researcher Rob Chancia believe that something is two undiscovered moons. The idea is that the two new moons—which would bring Uranus' total up to 29—are orbiting outside the planet's rings, leaving wakes behind them, according to a study being published soon. Similar things called moonlet wakes occur in Saturn's rings. Researchers estimate the new moons circling Uranus are between 2 miles and 9 miles across—smaller than any of Uranus' other moons. "We haven't seen the moons yet, but the idea is the size of the moons needed to make these features is quite small, and they could have easily been missed," Hedman says in the press release. The new moons may also be responsible for keeping Uranus' rings in check, which would explain why they are narrower than those of Saturn. (Another study found Saturn's rings and moons are younger than dinosaurs.)

A supporter throws a teargas canister, which was earlier thrown by police, during clashes along a road which leads to the U.S. embassy in Islamabad September 20, 2012. ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan shut down Friday in a government-sanctioned protest over a film made in the United States that mocks the Prophet Mohammad, highlighting the power of religious parties to shape the political agenda. Protesters incensed by the film and inspired by influential Pakistani religious parties set fire to a motorway toll booth just outside the capital and a cinema in the northwestern city of Peshawar in images broadcast live on television. Pakistan's government, wary of widespread frustration over its failure to provide basic services, declared Friday a day of protest over the film in an apparent bid to exploit anger which has inspired violent protests in several Muslim countries. Critics say this approach is typical of a government that many describe as ineffective in the face of tough challenges; from a stubborn Taliban insurgency to chronic power cuts, which have frequently triggered protests. Others said calling for the "day of Love for the Prophet" was a shrewd political move for the embattled government. "Our heart is crying bloody tears. We can bear everything but disrespect to our Prophet and Koran," said Akbar Saeed Farooqi, spokesman for a religious organization that helped organise demonstrations. The government can use all the help it can get. Prime Minister Pervez Raja Ashraf is under pressure from an increasingly assertive Supreme Court to reopen corruption cases against the president. The court removed his predecessor for failing to do so. Political strife has often distracted civilian leaders and the military, which has ruled the country for more than half of its 65-year history, is seen as the most efficient and decisive institution in times of crisis. Many of the parties orchestrating the protests oppose Pakistan's alliance with the United States, which has only recently begun to recover from a number of setbacks. The government's critics condemned the national holiday as a capitulation to religious rabble-rousers in a young democracy still struggling to define the place of religion in public life. Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of 180 million people, is overwhelmingly Muslim. Pakistan was carved out of India as a land for Muslims in 1947. For decades, leaders invoked Islam to legitimize their rule and politics is often influenced by religious parties who don't score big votes in polls but can whip up anger on the streets. "All it takes is a couple hundred people and a pile of rocks and you're on TV," said Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States. "The religious parties hold the government hostage." "OBSESSED WITH POLITICS" The ruling Pakistan People's Party PPP.L was set up as a centre-left, progressive party with secular leanings but, like most political forces in Pakistan, it has played to the religious parties when under pressure. The PPP and its opponents have started jockeying for advantage ahead of a general election expected next year and that would appear to explain why it is tapping into anger fuelled by clerics over the film, instead of trying to calm it. "The Pakistan People's Party has become so obsessed with domestic politics and getting re-elected they have forgotten what kind of relationship they want with the outside world," said columnist Mehreen Zahra-Malik. Religious parties fared poorly in the last election. But orchestrating protests is an easy way for them to flex political muscle and ensure they can forge alliances with more powerful parties. Lawmaker Ayaz Amir said the government had proclaimed the holiday to undercut the religious parties, an attempt to show it too has Islamic credentials. "The government has stolen a march on them," he said. He said it made sense for the government to try to defuse protesters' anger by giving them an outlet instead of ordering police to shut down rallies and risk alienating people. Most demonstrations in the day's immediately following coverage of the film were small and peaceful. Few people had heard of the film. Then religious groups began running advertisements on television demanding Muslims sacrifice their lives for the Prophet's honour. Signs went up demanding the film-maker be shot. Once protests reach critical mass, it's dangerous for people to oppose them. In Hyderabad city, a cleric directed a mob to attack the house of a shopkeeper who had refused to join a protest, police said. On Thursday, protesters threw stones, smashed cars and burnt a police post in the heart of Islamabad as they tried to force a path to the U.S. embassy. Few protesters interviewed by Reuters had seen the film, yet the government seems to think it can capitalise on the mounting anger in a country where a perception the United States is out to get Muslims fuels anti-American feeling. In a speech to dignitaries marking the holiday, Ashraf appeared to play up those fears about the West. "This was a deliberate premeditated attack based on bias, hatred and prejudice," he said of the amateurish film. (Additional reporting by Imtiaz Shah in Karachi, Hamid Shaikh in Hyderabad and Aisha Chowdhry in Islamabad; Editing by Michael Georgy and Robert Birsel) ||||| Photo Advertisement Continue reading the main story ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Violent crowds furious over an anti-Islamic video made in the United States convulsed Pakistan’s largest cities on Friday, leaving up to 19 people dead and more than 160 injured in a day of government-sanctioned protests. It was the worst single day of violence in a Muslim country over the video, “Innocence of Muslims,” since protests began nearly two weeks ago in Egypt, before spreading to two dozen countries. Protesters have ignored the United States government’s denunciation of the video. Peaceful protests had been approved by Pakistan’s government, which declared Friday a national holiday, the Day of Love for the Prophet Muhammad. The move was part of an effort to either control or politically capitalize on rage against the inflammatory video, which depicts Muhammad, the founder of Islam, as a sexually perverted buffoon. Friday’s violence began with the fatal shooting of a television station employee during a protest in the northwestern city of Peshawar, and was amplified through armed protests in the southern port city of Karachi that left 12 to 14 people dead, Pakistani news media reported. Photo By nightfall Geo, the leading television station, was reporting 19 deaths around the country. Less violent protests occurred in other Muslim countries, exacerbated by the publication of cartoons depicting Muhammad in a French satirical weekly. In Bangladesh, several thousand Islamist activists took to the streets of the capital, Dhaka, waving banners and burning a symbolic coffin for President Obama that was covered with the American flag. “Death to the United States and death to French,” they chanted. Local television networks reported that a mob had ransacked and burned an Anglican church in Mardan in northwestern Pakistan. There were no reports that Christians had been killed or wounded. In Tunisia, the government invoked emergency powers to outlaw all demonstrations, and American diplomatic posts in India, Indonesia and elsewhere closed for the day. Advertisement Continue reading the main story France closed embassies and other institutions in 20 countries while, in Paris, some Muslim leaders urged their followers to heed a government ban on weekend demonstrations. In Pakistan, the streets started erupting early in Peshawar, where protesters burned two movie theaters. Two people, including the television employee, Muhammad Amir, were killed. Mr. Amir’s employer televised graphic footage of hospital staff members as they gave him emergency treatment shortly before he died, a broadcast that other Pakistani journalists condemned as insensitive and irresponsible. Some protesters tried to reach the city’s heavily guarded American Consulate, which has a strong Central Intelligence Agency component. By evening, hospital officials said, at least five people were dead and more than 50 wounded. After Friday Prayer, more severe violence erupted in Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi, where normally bustling streets were instead filled with clouds of tear gas and the sound of gunfire. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Protesters in Karachi burned effigies, stoned a KFC and engaged in armed clashes with the police that left 14 people dead and more than 80 wounded by evening. “An attack on the holy prophet is an attack on the core belief of 1.5 billion Muslims,” Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said in an address at a religious conference Friday morning in Islamabad. “Therefore, this is something that is unacceptable.” Mr. Ashraf called on the United Nations and the international community to formulate a law outlawing hate speech across the world. “Blasphemy of the kind witnessed in this case is nothing short of hate speech, equal to the worst kind of anti-Semitism or other kind of bigotry,” he said. But chaotic scenes in the streets outside suggested that if the government had aimed to harness public anger on the issue, it had failed. Photo In contrast, the day passed peacefully in neighboring Afghanistan, where officials had been preparing for the protests for days. Clerics at major mosques in the capital, Kabul, acceded to official requests that they preach peace, or another topic entirely. Police officers set checkpoints to search cars, and no street violence occurred. A senior American official in Kabul said his Afghan counterparts had worked hard to mute the impact of the video through the week. That was, in part, a product of their previous experience with what he called “a desecration or religious event.” In Pakistan, however, extremist groups, many banned by the government, were at the forefront of the upheavals. Marchers in Karachi included members of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, a banned Sunni sectarian group; Harkat-ul-Mujahedeen, which has fought India in Kashmir; and Tehrik-e-Ghalba Islami, a faction of another sectarian group. In Islamabad, activists with Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan led a march toward the heavily guarded diplomatic enclave, where Western missions had closed for the day. They clashed for hours with the police outside the Serena Hotel before being pushed back. In Lahore, activists from the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, whose leader, Hafiz Saeed, is subject to a $10 million United States government bounty, led protesters toward the American Consulate, where perimeter defenses were breached earlier in the week. The devastation caused by the protests belied their relatively small size. The largest street crowds were estimated to have 5,000 to 10,000 people, fewer than would typically attend a mainstream political rally. Instead most Pakistanis drifted home after Friday Prayer, apparently keen to avoid the trouble. Still, many analysts questioned the government’s decision to give free rein to the marchers. “Pakistan is a conservative but not a radicalized society,” said Cyril Almeida, a writer with the English-language newspaper Dawn. “But when the radical fringe is bold enough, it can hold society hostage. And that’s what happened today.” The government tried to control the momentum of unrest by cutting off cellphone coverage in large cities for most of the day, and in Islamabad, it sealed exits in the city after Friday Prayer. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Advertisement Continue reading the main story Imran Khan, the cricket star turned conservative politician, addressed one of the Islamabad protest rallies and condemned American drone strikes in the northwestern tribal belt. “There is no end to this war,” he said. The State Department spent $70,000 on Urdu-language advertisements that were broadcast on several television channels, dissociating the United States government from the video. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the American chargé d’affaires, Richard E. Hoagland, and requested that he have “Innocence of Muslims” removed from YouTube. YouTube had already been entirely blocked in Pakistan for several days. In a statement, Mr. Hoagland said he had told Pakistani officials that the video represented “a deeply insensitive decision by a single individual to disseminate hatred” and did not reflect American values. The protests largely abated by nightfall, allowing main roads in most cities to reopen. The government expressed some frustration at the day’s events. “What kind of a love for the prophet is this where people are burning and looting?” said Qamar Zaman Kaira, the information minister, in a television interview, before berating the news media for giving excessive coverage to the trouble. “You should stop giving live coverage of protests,” he said. ||||| Pakistani protesters hold a banner depicting US President Barack Obama and pastor Terry Jones during a rally in Peshawar, Pakistan as a part of widespread anger across the Muslim world about a film ridiculing Islam's Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. – Photo by AP ISLAMABAD: US Embassy advertisements condemning an anti-Islam video appeared on Pakistani television on Thursday in an attempt to undercut anger against the United States, where the film was produced. Hundreds of youths, however, clashed with security officials as they tried in vain to reach the embassy in Islamabad amid outrage in many countries over the film's vulgar depiction of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The ads reflected efforts by the US government to distance itself from the video in a country where anti-American sentiment already runs high. Violence linked to the movie has left at least 30 people in seven countries dead, including the American ambassador to Libya. Two people have died in protests in Pakistan. The television ads in Pakistan feature clips of President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during press appearances in Washington in which they condemned the video. Their words were subtitled in Urdu. ''We absolutely reject its content and message,'' said Clinton in the advertisement. The advertisements end with the seal of the American Embassy in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital. A caption on the ad reads: ''Paid Content.'' State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the ad was produced by the embassy, which spent $70,000 to air the 30-second spot on seven Pakistani television stations. Pakistan is the only country where the ads are running. The embassy wanted to run the ads because it determined that the messages of Obama and Clinton were not reaching enough of the Pakistani public through regular news reporting, Nuland said. ''As you know, after the (anti-Islam) video came out, there was concern in lots of bodies politic, including Pakistan, as to whether this represented the views of the US government. So, in order to be sure that we reached the largest number of Pakistanis, some 90 million as I understand it in this case with these spots, it was the judgment that this was the best way to do it,'' Nuland said. In an email, the embassy in Islamabad sent out a link to video of ordinary Americans condemning the anti-Islam film, which appeared on YouTube. The State Department compiled the clips to give foreign audiences an idea of what regular Americans and their religious leaders thought of the video, Nuland said. ||||| Pakistan’s officially declared “Day of Love for the Prophet Muhammad” devolved into deadly violence in major cities Friday as tens of thousands of Pakistanis angrily demonstrated against an Islam-mocking YouTube video, although calm generally prevailed in other predominantly Muslim countries. At least 20 people died and more than 150 were injured in the protests in Pakistan, authorities said — the highest one-day death toll since protests began over the video on Sept. 11. The demonstrations have spread to about 20 nations. The government’s announced effort to tamp down anger by providing a national holiday for peaceful protest clearly backfired, offering instead what seemed like an official sanction to violence. Critics called the holiday a pandering attempt to please hard-line Islamist parties, whose influence has been on the rise here in recent years. “This was a terrible idea,” said Mehreen Zahra-Malik, a columnist with the News, a national English-language daily. “It was time to calm people down and not give a stamp of approval to protesters, many of whom would just use it as an excuse for violence. . . . There was clearly going to be violence.” 1 of 35 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Anti-U.S. protests across the globe View Photos The protests that started outside the U.S. Embassy in Cairo have spread as far as India. Caption The protests that started outside the U.S. Embassy in Cairo have spread as far as India. Sept. 24, 2012 Muslim demonstrators hold their shoes up to a portrait of Florida pastor Terry Jones during a protest against the anti-Islamic You Tube video in Quetta, Pakistan. More than 50 people have died around the world in violence linked to the low-budget video, which mocks Islam and the prophet Muhammad, since the first demonstrations erupted in Cairo on Sept. 11. Banaras Khan/AFP/Getty Images Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue. Another commentator, Marvi Sirmed, said on Twitter: “It is sad, so very sad that we could never make a government realize that they don’t have to kneel before mullah,” a reference to Muslim clerics. Despite repeated U.S. disavowals of the privately made video and denunciations of its content, many Pakistanis remained unconvinced, seeing it as an intentional calumny against the prophet Muhammad. Most of the fatalities and destruction came in the southern port city of Karachi, where Saghir Ahmed, health minister for Sindh province, said 14 people died, including two policemen shot by rioters. At least 80 people were wounded, Roshan Ali Shaikh, the city’s police commissioner, said. In the northwestern city of Peshawar, rescue workers and other officials said six people were killed, including a policeman and a member of a television crew, in rampages that also left about 60 people wounded. Television journalists on the scene said police opened fire with live rounds as mobs torched two movie houses. Demonstrators also battled security forces for the second day in the usually calm capital, Islamabad, in the north. They blocked major highways there and in neighboring Rawalpindi and set a tollbooth and vehicles on fire. Fourteen police officers were injured in the chaos, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said. The Pakistani army was mobilized and successfully protected the U.S. Embassy, presidential residence and Parliament building. In the eastern city of Lahore, officials said 12 riot police officers and four protesters were injured during pitched battles involving thousands of demonstrators. The rioters in all four cities targeted U.S. diplomatic facilities but failed to reach them, thwarted by Pakistani police and paramilitary forces who had set up barbed-wire barricades and steel shipping containers to deter demonstrators. On Friday evening, as the death toll continued to climb, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf renewed his calls for peace. “Destroying property and resorting to violence negate the spirit of Islam and teachings of the prophet,” Ashraf said in a statement. Other countries that had previously seen violence connected to the YouTube video were largely calm Friday. In Kabul, where a suicide car bomber earlier this week killed 12 people in an attack linked to the video, Friday prayers passed without incident. As he had done the previous Friday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on clerics to discourage protests. In Cairo, the scene last week of an assault on the U.S. Embassy over the video, just a few dozen people stood in front of the shuttered French Embassy to protest cartoons showing a nude Muhammad that were published by the French satirical weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo. Egypt’s highest Islamic legal official said Thursday that Muslims should endure insults without resorting to violence. The country’s main Islamist parties did not call for embassy protests. But in Pakistan, where anti-American sentiment runs high, the protests gained momentum through the day. In Karachi, officials and journalists at the scene said marchers torched movie theaters, banks, American food franchises and police vehicles and pelted the Sheraton hotel with stones. Hard-line Islamist parties, including two banned factions, joined the throng, estimated to number 15,000. Abdul Ghani, a Karachi shopkeeper, said the security forces opened fire on the protesters and turned the demonstration violent. “We were completely peaceful and just wanted to register our protest in front of the U.S. Consulate,” he said. “That unwanted and uncalled-for action by the police got the mobs infuriated.” The chief mufti of Pakistan, Rafi Usmani, unavailingly urged the crowds to remain calm. “If you burn your property, vehicles, banks and police stations, whose purpose are you serving?” he said. “We all are with you to protest, but it must be peaceful.” Earlier, addressing a gathering of clerics, the prime minister said Muslim nations should press the United Nations and other international bodies to outlaw blasphemy. “Our demand is simple: Blasphemy of the kind witnessed in this case is nothing short of hate speech, equal to the worst kind of anti-Semitism or other kinds of bigotry,” Ashraf said, according to Pakistan’s state news agency. In anticipation of Friday’s protests, authorities closed gas stations and jammed cellphone service in at least 15 cities across the country. Earlier, Pakistan had blocked access to YouTube, where the incendiary video was posted. The Obama administration has purchased ads on a half- dozen Pakistani television stations to disavow the video. The $70,000 ad buy demonstrates the depth of U.S. concern about the volatility of Pakistan, where several militant jihadist groups, including the Taliban, are based in tribal areas and operate largely free of Islamabad’s authority. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires, Richard Hoagland, on Friday to demand that the United States take immediate measures to remove the video, purportedly a trailer for a film titled “Innocence of Muslims,” from YouTube. “This was an attack on 1.5 billion Muslims and a premeditated and a malicious act to spread hatred and violence among people of different faiths,” ministry officials told Hoagland, according to a statement. Leiby reported from Kabul. Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar, Nisar Mehdi and Aamir Latif in Karachi and William Booth in Cairo contributed to this report.

– Pakistan's government declared today a national holiday specifically so people could go out and protest The Innocence of Muslims—but that official sanction hasn't kept things calm. Demonstrations in Karachi and Peshawar left 20 dead and more than 100 injured as protesters torched movie houses, police cars, and American fast food restaurants, the Washington Post reports. Among the dead were two policemen in Karachi and a cable channel's employee in Peshawar. In Karachi, troops and police were able to stop the crowd—estimated by some at 15,000—from reaching the US consulate. Government critics tell Reuters this "day of Love for the Prophet" is an attempt to divert attention from its failure to provide services. "The religious parties hold the government hostage," ex-ambassador Hussain Haqqani says. The Obama administration, meanwhile, is trying to calm tensions, airing a 30-second ad throughout Pakistan that shows President Obama and Hillary Clinton denouncing the offending film, their words subtitled in Urdu, the Dawn reports. Pakistan isn't the only hot spot today, either; Tunisia has evoked emergency powers to ban all demonstrations, the New York Times reports, and US posts have closed in India, Indonesia, and elsewhere.

BEIRUT Two suicide car bombers killed 55 people and wounded 372 in Damascus on Thursday, state media said, the deadliest attacks in the Syrian capital since an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began 14 months ago. The blasts further shredded a ceasefire that was declared by international mediator Kofi Annan on April 12 but that has failed to halt bloodshed pitting Assad's security forces against peaceful demonstrators and an array of armed insurgents. Opposition leaders said Annan's peace plan was dead, while Western powers insisted it remained the best way forward. Annan condemned the "abhorrent" bombings and urged all parties to halt violence and protect civilians. "The Syrian people have already suffered too much," he said in a statement. The White House and the United Nations also condemned the attacks, for which there was no claim of responsibility. Syria's foreign ministry said the attacks were a sign that the major Arab state was facing foreign-backed terrorism and urged the U.N. Security Council to combat countries or groups supporting such violence. "Syria stresses the importance of the UNSC taking measures against countries, groups and news agencies that are practicing and encouraging terrorism," the state news agency SANA quoted the ministry as saying in a letter to the U.N. body. The near-simultaneous explosions hit the al-Qazaz district just before 8 a.m. (9.00 a.m. EDT), residents said. One punched a crater three metres (10 feet) deep in the city's southern ring road. Bloodied corpses and body parts could be seen on the road. State television also showed at least one overturned truck. Walls of buildings on each side of the avenue had collapsed. One resident reported limited damage to the facade of the nearby Palestine Branch Military Intelligence centre, one of the most feared of more than 20 Syrian secret police agencies. The huge walled complex was targeted by a 2008 bombing that killed 17 people and which authorities blamed on Islamist militants. The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll from the bombings at 59 and said most of them worked for the security forces. No group has claimed responsibility. The Interior Ministry vowed to "chase down the criminal killers and those who help or house them in their dens". It also appealed to citizens to pass on any information that might help. MOUNTING DEATH TOLL Rami Abdulrahman, head of the British-based Observatory, said 849 people - 628 civilians and 221 soldiers, of whom 31 were defectors - had been killed since the April 12 truce accord. The toll did not include Thursday's deaths. The attacks occurred a day after a bomb exploded near U.N. observers monitoring the ceasefire, which state forces and rebels have both violated, and two weeks after authorities said a suicide bomber killed at least nine people in Damascus. "This (Thursday's attacks) is yet another example of the suffering brought upon the people of Syria from acts of violence," said Major-General Robert Mood, leader of the U.N. monitors, who visited the scene. Opposition to Assad, which began with peaceful protests in March 2011 inspired by popular revolts against other Arab autocratic leaders, has grown increasingly militarised. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday there was only a narrow window of opportunity to avert full-scale civil war. Syrian television showed a man pointing to the wreckage. "Is this freedom? This is the work of the Saudis," he said. Saudi Arabia has advocated arming rebels seeking to oust Assad. Nadine Haddad, a candidate in Monday's parliamentary election which was boycotted by most opposition figures, blamed Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, who also says Syrian insurgents should get weapons. "I am addressing Sheikh Hamad and I tell him shame on you. You are now destroying the Syrian people, not the Syrian regime. You are killing children going to school," she said. Qatar condemned the blasts in Damascus and called on all sides to stop the bloodshed in Syria. The White House said it did not believe the attacks were representative of the opposition to Assad, contrary to what the Syrian authorities and state media have suggested. "There are clearly extremist elements in Syria, as we have said all along, who are trying to take advantage of the chaos in that country, chaos brought about by Assad's brutal assault on his own people," White House spokesman Jay Carney said. Samir Nashar, a member of the opposition Syrian National Council's executive board, blamed the state for the bombings, saying they were meant to deter protesters and U.N. monitoring, an argument echoed by rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) leaders. "These bombs are not the work of opposition fighters," said its chief, General Mustafa al-Sheikh, adding that the FSA lacked the capability to set off such big explosions. An increasing series of big bombings in Syria has generated various theories, including that some may be self-inflicted wounds by security agents out to discredit the rebels, or that they may show the rise of al Qaeda-linked Syrian Islamists with skills honed by years of activity across the border in Iraq. The U.N. Security Council condemned the "terrorist attacks" and urged all parties to comply with the U.N.-backed peace plan. The European Union also denounced the bombings as "pure terrorism", but said Annan's peace plan, backed by the EU, the United Nations and the Arab League, was still viable. "It is the best option to try and ensure peace in Syria," Michael Mann, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said in Brussels. "It is the best way forward." Annan's blueprint calls for a ceasefire, political dialogue between the government and opposition, and unfettered access for humanitarian aid and journalists to Syria. Western powers have shunned any Libya-style military intervention in Syria, while Russia and China have blocked any U.N. Security Council action against Damascus, although both have supported the U.N.-Arab League envoy's peace effort. Russia condemned the bombings, accusing unspecified foreign countries of encouraging such violence and saying Moscow would not yield to pressure to change its stance on Syria. "Some of our foreign partners are doing practical things so that the situation in Syria explodes in literal and figurative sense," state-run RIA quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying in Beijing, without naming any countries. Russia has been a strategic ally and major arms supplier to Syria during its four decades under Assad family rule. Moscow opposes Western calls for U.N. sanctions against Damascus and any foreign interference in Syria, saying there should be an end to violence by all sides and then dialogue without preconditions, such as Assad leaving power. France, among Assad's sternest critics, said Annan's plan was the "last chance" to end the crisis. "The regime carries full responsibility for the horrors in Syria," the Foreign Ministry said. "By choosing a blind and brutal repression, the regime has entered a spiral of violence with no way out." The U.S. Embassy in Beirut called the double bombing "reprehensible and unacceptable" but reiterated Washington's demand that the Syrian government implement Annan's plan. REBELS SET TO RESUME ATTACKS The United Nations says Syrian forces have killed 9,000 people during the revolt. Damascus blames foreign-backed "terrorists", saying they have killed 2,600 soldiers and police. Nashar said the government had stuck to violence and had not implemented any of Annan's six-point plan. "We want international intervention to stop this policy of killing," he added, without saying what form it should take. Riad al-Asaad, the FSA's commander of operations, said the rebels were ready to resume attacks on government forces as soon as Annan announced that his initiative had failed. In other violence, 10 rebels were killed overnight when tanks shelled the village of Ain Sheeb in the northwestern province of Idlib, opposition sources said. Tank fire also killed a civilian in the northwestern town of Ain Hamra. (Additional reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis in Amman, Dominic Evans in Beirut, Nicholas Vinocur in Paris, Steve Gutterman in Moscow, Sebastian Moffett in Brussels, Michelle Nichols in New York and Jeff Mason aboard Air Force One; Writing by Alistair Lyon; Editing by Mark Heinrich) ||||| In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian citizens help an injured man after two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday May 10, 2012. Two large... (Associated Press) Syria's health minister says 50 people have been killed in two strong explosions that ripped through the Syrian capital. That makes Thursday morning's bombings the deadliest attack on the capital since the country's uprising began 14 months ago. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The explosions heavily damaged a military intelligence building and left blood and human remains in the streets. The blasts happened at about 7:50 a.m., when employees are usually arriving at work. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) _ Two strong explosions ripped through the Syrian capital Thursday, killing more than 40 people and leaving scenes of carnage in the streets in an assault against a center of government power, officials said. Syria's state-run TV said 170 people were wounded in what one official said may have been the most powerful of a series of blasts that have hit the capital this year. There was no claim of responsibility for Thursday's attack on a military intelligence headquarters. But an al-Qaida-inspired group has claimed responsibility for several large explosions targeting mostly security facilities since December, raising fears that extremist groups are entering Syria's conflict and exploiting the chaos. The regime has used the bombings to support its claims that terrorists rather than a popular uprising are behind Syria's violence. The relentless violence by both sides of the conflict has brought a U.N.-brokered ceasefire plan to the brink of collapse. Thursday's explosions, which ripped the facade off the intelligence building, went off at about 7:50 a.m. when employees are usually arriving at work. The building is part of a broader military compound for a feared section of the intelligence services known as the Palestine Branch. An Associated Press reporter at the scene said paramedics wearing rubber gloves were collecting human remains from the pavement after the explosions. Heavily damaged cars and pickup trucks stood smoldering in the area. The outer wall of the headquarters collapsed and some walls crumbled, although the basic structure inside appeared intact. The Syrian government blamed "terrorists" and said dozens were killed or wounded, most of them civilians. Maj. Gen. Robert Mood, the Norwegian head of the U.N.'s cease-fire monitors in the country, toured the site and said the Syrian people do not deserve this "terrible violence." "It is not going to solve any problems," he said, when asked what his message was to those who are carrying out such attacks. "It is only going to create more suffering for women and children." Central Damascus is tightly under the control of forces loyal to President Bashar Assad but has been struck by several bomb attacks, often targeting security installations or convoys. The latest major explosion in the capital occurred on April 27 when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives belt near members of the security forces, killing at least nine people and wounding 26. Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi posted a message on his Facebook page urging people to go to hospitals to donate blood, saying that Thursday's blast "might be the strongest" of a wave of explosions that have hit Damascus since late December. The explosions left two craters at the gate of the military compound, one of them 3 meters (10 feet) deep and 6 meters (20 feet) wide. Residents said the two explosions quickly followed each other: first a smaller blast, then a massive one. "The house shook like it was an earthquake," said housewife Maha Hijazi, who appeared shaken as she stood outside her house across the street from the targeted compound. Thursday's bombings were among the deadliest since such spectacular attacks started in December 2011, with a double suicide bombing of a Damascus security building that killed at least 44 people. Fresh attacks have followed in other cities, including Idlib in the north and Aleppo, Syria's largest city and long considered an Assad stronghold. Most of the attacks target state security offices and occur early morning. The government blames the bombings on the terrorists it says are behind the anti-Assad uprising. Opposition leaders and activists routinely blame the regime for orchestrating the attacks, saying they help it demonize the opposition and maintain support among those who fear greater instability. A shadowy group called the Al-Nusra Front has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks in statements posted on military websites. Little is known about the group, though Western intelligence officials say it could be a front for al-Qaida's Iraq branch. International diplomacy has failed to stop the bloodshed, and the U.N. has ruled out military intervention of the type that helped bring down Libya's Moammar Gadhafi, in part out of fear that it could exacerbate the violence. Special envoy Kofi Annan brokered a peace plan last month, but the initiative has been troubled from the start, with government troops shelling opposition areas and rebels attacking military convoys and checkpoints after the cease-fire was supposed to begin on April 12. Many civilians have grown critical of the plan, saying it does not protect them from regime forces. Although the daily death toll has dropped in recent days, Annan said Tuesday that the level of violence is unacceptable and that the plan's failure could lead to civil war. A team of 70 U.N. military observers now in Syria should grow to more than 100 in the coming days. A full team of 300 is expected by the end of the month to oversee a cease-fire intended to allow for talks on a political solution to the conflict. On Wednesday, a roadside bomb hit a Syrian military truck in a southern province just seconds after the U.N.'s Maj. Gen. Mood was driving by in a convoy, demonstrating the fragility of the international plan to end the country's bloodshed. Syria's conflict started in March 2011 with mass protests calling for political reform. The government swiftly cracked down, dispatching tanks, troops, snipers and pro-government thugs to quash dissent, and many members of the opposition took up arms to defend themselves and attack government troops. Many soldiers also switched sides. The U.N said weeks ago that more than 9,000 people had been killed. Hundreds more have died since. ___ AP writer Ben Hubbard contributed to this report from Beirut.

– At least 50 people were killed and some 370 wounded in two huge, nearly simultaneous bomb blasts in Damascus today, targeting the headquarters of the feared "Palestinian Branch" intelligence services, Syrian officials said. The bombs hit the busy al-Qazaz district, and according to an AP reporter on the scene, one ripped the façade clear off of the building. The other blew a 10-foot-deep crater in the city's southern ring road, according to Reuters, leaving body parts strewn across the street. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which the Syrian government blamed on "terrorists," saying that most of the dead and wounded were civilians. The head of the UN monitoring team in Syria visited the scene, and decried the "terrible violence," saying, "It is not going to solve any problems. It is only going to create more suffering for women and children."

Photograph by Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images. I didn’t make a lot of friends in the retail and publishing industries last week when I suggested that independent bookstores were the spawn of Satan. I argued that by making it cheap and easy for people to buy a lot of books, Amazon has been a boon for the book industry and “literary culture” in a way that many bookstores can’t match. Many defenders of bookstores countered that by focusing on dollars and cents, I’d missed the whole point of these establishments. Bookstores, it turns out, don’t primarily exist to sell books—instead, they’re more like bars for readers. “Bookstores provide a space to meet friends, cruise for a date, and hide out when you have nothing to do on a Saturday night,” Will Doig wrote at Salon. I suspect that many bookstore lovers agree with Doig, which is exactly why many of these shops are going out of business. Bars can survive because alcohol is an extremely profitable good. Books aren’t—so if you think of your favorite bookstore as a comfortable spot to find well-read potential mates rather than as a place for commerce, you’re not helping its owner. If you want bookstores to stick around, you should root for them to improve the way they sell stuff. Booksellers won’t survive the Amazon onslaught by merely wagging their fingers at the retail giant. Their only hope is to match the commercial innovations Jeff Bezos has brought to shopping. Indeed, this applies to all retailers, not just bookstores. The Internet has revolutionized how we buy stuff, but the main beneficiaries of this revolution have been warehouse companies like Amazon rather than firms that maintain a physical presence in your neighborhood. But it doesn’t have to be this way. This month, Amazon offered customers a discount to purchase stuff online while they were shopping at local establishments. It’s time neighborhood retailers fought Kindle Fire with Kindle Fire. Indeed, tablets and smartphones could be store owners’ best weapons against Jeff Bezos—if only they’d embrace them. Advertisement Take reviews and recommendations. Pretty much everyone uses the Web to research products before they purchase them. Amazon has turned this fact into a competitive advantage; by collecting and curating reviews for more than a decade—and by creating an efficient recommendations engine based on millions of purchase decisions—the firm has become the first place many people look for product information. This database, which Bezos’ firm spent a huge amount of time and money to build, can just as easily be harvested by local retailers who invested nothing in its creation. If I ran a hardware store, I’d put up a sign encouraging in-store research: “Looking for a drill? People on Amazon love the Black & Decker 9099KC. We offer free Wi-Fi, so feel free to pull out your phone and browse online reviews!” Bookstores could do the same thing: “Confused about which baby sleep-training book is best? The No-Cry Sleep Solution gets nearly 5 stars on Amazon.” Of course, many stores are skittish about letting customers browse online. I often look up product reviews and prices when I’m shopping, and I’ve been busted several times by employees enforcing a strict no-barcode-scanning policy. I’m always offended by such policies—why shouldn’t I research the best gas grill before I purchase it?—but I can see the stores’ rationale. Prices online tend to be cheaper, so if I’m looking something up on my phone, there’s a good chance I’ll be attracted to the discount and walk out of the store empty-handed. Market research backs this up. One survey sponsored by Motorola found that in many retail categories—especially consumer electronics, sporting goods, and books—people use their phones primarily to compare prices; checking product reviews is usually a secondary use. But fighting the price checkers is a futile endeavor. People think of their phones as constant companions, so you’ll never convince them to keep them stuffed in their pockets. Plus, according to the same Motorola study, price isn’t always the primary reason that people decide to walk out without buying anything. Respondents said that the main reason they leave bookstores “without the item that you wanted” is that the store didn’t have the book they came looking for. That was true at toy stores, furniture shops, and drugstores, too. Other popular reasons for leaving a store without buying stuff? The customer couldn’t find the item, thought the lines were too long, or found the staff unable to answer questions. Smartphones could help stores address each of these problems. AisleBuyer, a startup based in Boston, has created a way for local stores to make their own smartphone apps. Among other features, these custom apps let customers make purchases from their phones—when you’re ready to buy that book, just press a button and walk out the door. AisleBuyer also collects and mines sales data from many of its clients, which means that over time, it will be able to build the sort of recommendations engine that powers Amazon. If your local record store uses an AisleBuyer app, then, it might suggest—based on your previous purchases—that you come in to get the new Adele album. Because the app tracks how often you’ve bought stuff, the store could even give you a discount for loyalty. Apple could also serve as a model for other retailers. Just before Thanksgiving, the company released an updated version of its retail app, which you can fire up when you enter an Apple Store. In addition to letting you buy products from your phone and pick up stuff you’ve purchased online, the app connects you to sales staff who can answer your questions. Say you go to an Apple Store to buy a laptop. You look at the various MacBooks, and you narrow your choice down to the 11- and 13-inch MacBook Air. Which should you buy? Just pull out your app and hit Get Help. This alerts an employee, who sees a map of the store on his iPod Touch; your location is highlighted on his map. So he walks over to make the sale. Anyone who’s ever tried to wrangle help in a busy electronics store—or a home improvement shop, a shoe store, a bookstore, anywhere—will recognize that this is a killer feature. ||||| Have you heard about nootropics? These brain enhancing medicines and supplements can improve your cognitive functions, memory, attention span, cognitive clarity and so many other brain functions. It is no wonder that because of all of these incredible effects, many people, such as professional gamers, athletes, and even ordinary people are beginning to use nootropics. And aside from their cognitive enhancing functions, they can also sometimes alleviate or even improve on existing mental illnesses. It is true, nootropics, as a class of drugs, have been proven to help people with mental illnesses, such as ADHD or anxiety. So if you want to alleviate your anxiety you can just get the best cognitive enhancers for social anxiety. Nootropics have been taken by a lot of people with varying degrees of mental problems. And these cognitive enhancers have been shown to have a positive impact on these people. Some people with ADHD have been prescribed medication, with the same natural substances that have been found in nootropics. These types of smart drugs can increase the level of concentration that people with the attention deficit disorder have, so if these people struggle from too little concentration, one way they can enhance that is through the use of nootropics. Smart drugs can also improve other people’s lives too, such as people with different kinds of anxieties. Nootropics can enhance brain functions through chemicals, which are often found in small amounts in food, such as L-Theanine and phenethylamine. These kinds of natural chemicals are found in chocolates and teas. And in small quantities, they do not do much. However, in concentrated and regular dosages, they will have a significant positive impact on your overall cognitive functions. These chemicals have been proven to increase people’s attention span, concentration and other types of brain functions. And not only can these smart drugs enhance brain functions, but they can also improve mood too. So for example, if you are someone suffering from social anxiety, you could gain a boost in your confidence and improve your mood by taking smart drugs. This is because these types of drugs can further enhance your brain chemistry, thus allowing it to function optimally. This will make your brain function and operate in a better order because your brain chemistry may be improved upon. And even if it does not affect your brain’s chemistry, you will be able to improve your mood, which can have a concrete impact on your anxiety. The best cognitive enhancers for social anxiety are also easy to get, because they are supplements, so you do not even need to have a prescription to get them. They are even easier to acquire because you can purchase them online. So if you want to alleviate your social anxiety, you should consider taking smart drugs. Not only will smart drugs make you feel more confident and improve your mood, but they could also greatly enhance your brain functions too. So there are very little downsides to taking nootropics, get them right now if you want to improve your life. Save Save

– After sparking a debate over the value independent bookstores, Farhad Manjoo is presenting a peace offering. Independent bookstores may be inefficient from a financial perspective, but that doesn't mean they're "doomed," he writes at Slate. If we want to keep such bookstores going, we can't just go and browse: We need to buy, and that means they need to sell better. It's time for them to start innovating the way Amazon has: "Tablets and smartphones could be store owners’ best weapons against Jeff Bezos—if only they’d embrace them." Many readers turn to the online retail giant for its well-crafted review system, which is free to use—why not co-opt it? Bookstores could highlight books that have gotten good reviews on Amazon, Manjoo suggests. And shops should try out AisleBuyer, which lets indie stores create their own apps. Customers can buy with their phones in-store; shops can track customer purchases to make recommendations. Apps could also help them connect staff to customers with matching interests. To store owners: "Amazon is stealing your customers. This is a way to fight back."

Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| If you had told me yesterday that today would involve Rupert Murdoch quoting the Koran I wouldn't have believed you — Sam Bailey (@entropymedia) May 26, 2013 Yes, Rupert Murdoch is tweeting the Quran. What could go wrong? Get real.Koran says(1) “whoever killed a human being…it shall be regarded as having killed all mankind… — Rupert Murdoch(@rupertmurdoch) May 26, 2013 Koran(2) “except as punishment for murder or other villainy” then defined as “those who wage war against Allah” punishable by beheading. — Rupert Murdoch(@rupertmurdoch) May 26, 2013 After two passages, he wasn’t finished. @rupertmurdoch So does the Old Testament. — Lisa Goldman (@lisang) May 26, 2013 @lisangso does the Old Testament.True, but we have had something called the Reformation.Remember? — Rupert Murdoch(@rupertmurdoch) May 26, 2013 For reference, he sent these two tweets yesterday: Many UK tweeters say no terror.Admirable, gutsy, but get real and go listen at some mosques. Admit most okay, but others really scary. — Rupert Murdoch(@rupertmurdoch) May 25, 2013 With UK on terror alert, Cameron off on holiday in Ibiza. Unbelievable. — Rupert Murdoch(@rupertmurdoch) May 25, 2013 We guess some things you have to read to believe. FYI: @rupertmurdoch is in the middle of unspooling some Koran quotes right now. — Ben Welsh (@palewire) May 26, 2013 Oh dear Rupert Murdoch and the Koran. This is not going to end well. — Liar MPs (@LiarMPs) May 26, 2013 Apparently Rupert Murdoch is tweeting the Koran today (really!!!). It could all go wrong when he gets to page 3. — Mr C (@robodog888) May 26, 2013 What the hell? @rupertmurdoch is tweeting the Koran today. — Jeff Jarvis (@jeffjarvis) May 26, 2013 @rupertmurdoch Have you been hacked? — Tigs (@Tigs30) May 26, 2013 What is @rupertmurdoch doing stirring trouble by quoting the Quran? You know the zealots will come crashing down on you.. — Hafizh Adinugraha (@hafizadinugraha) May 26, 2013 However you planned to start your Memorial Day weekend, you probably didn’t expect to read Rupert Murdoch tweeting the Quran. We didn’t either. Related: Twitter tries to decipher Rupert Murdoch’s cryptic ‘James’ Follow @twitchyteam ||||| Police on Monday arrested a 10th suspect in connection with the vicious killing of an off-duty British soldier on a London street in an apparent Islamic extremist attack. English Defence League's supporters protest outside Downing Street in London in support of the British armed forces, Monday, May 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Sang Tan) (Associated Press) The mother of killed Drummer Lee Rigby, Lyn Rigby, centre, holds onto a teddy bear as she joins his stepfather Ian, and other family members looking at floral tributes outside Woolwich Barracks as they... (Associated Press) FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2005 file photo, Muslim cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed gestures while talking to the media, in Beirut, Lebanon. The slaying of a British soldier in east London cast a spotlight on... (Associated Press) English Defence League supporters protest outside Downing Street in London in support of the British armed forces, after the brutal killing of an off-duty British soldier in a London street last week,... (Associated Press) English Defence League supporters protest outside Downing Street in London in support of the British armed forces, after the brutal killing of an off-duty British soldier in a London street last week,... (Associated Press) FILE - Members of Somalia's al- Shabab militant group patrol on foot on the outskirts of Mogadishu in this Monday, March, 5, 2012 file photo. The slaying of a British soldier in east London cast a spotlight... (Associated Press) George Groves of Britain, Commonwealth super middleweight champion, left, and Noe Gonzalez Alcoba of Uruguay pose for members of the media during a press conference at O2 Arena in London, Wednesday, May... (Associated Press) English Defence League supporters protest outside Downing Street in London in support of the British armed forces, after the brutal killing of an off-duty British soldier in a London street last week,... (Associated Press) Police officers drag two counter demonstrators, United Against Fascism's supporters, away from a confrontation with English Defence League's supporters at Whitehall, London Monday, May 27, 2013. EDL supporters... (Associated Press) The 50-year-old man was detained in Welling, east of London, on suspicion of conspiring to murder 25-year-old soldier Lee Rigby, Scotland Yard said. Police didn't provide further details about the suspect's identity. The latest arrest came as around 1,000 supporters of a far-right group marched through central London protesting the killing, clashing with a smaller group of anti-fascist demonstrators. Police have already taken nine other suspects into custody, including the two main ones who were shot and wounded by officers at the scene of Wednesday's killing. Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, remain under armed guard in separate London hospitals. Four other men remain in custody at a London police station. Witnesses say Rigby, who had served in Afghanistan, was walking near his barracks in southeast London's Woolwich area when he was run over by a vehicle and repeatedly stabbed with knives and meat cleavers. The gruesome scene was recorded on witnesses' cellphones, and a video picked up by British media showed one of the two main suspects, holding a bloody knife and cleaver, making political statements and warning of more violence. Hard-line Muslim leaders have identified the man in the video as Adebolajo. Kenyan officials have confirmed that Adebolajo was arrested in Kenya in 2010 with five others near the country's border with Somalia. Police believed Adebolajo was going to work with Somali militant group al-Shabab. The killing in London has fed a spike in anti-Muslim sentiment in Britain, with police and activists reporting a surge in hate crimes, including violence and vandalism. A mosque in the northern England town of Grimsby was firebombed Sunday night, according to the mosque's chairman, Diler Gharib, who told a local newspaper he was discussing how to thank his neighbors for the support they had shown his community in the past days when the building was hit with gasoline bombs. Police said they arrested two people in connection with the incident. The fire was extinguished, and no one was injured, they said.

– Rupert Murdoch and Twitter continue to make for an ... interesting combination. Yesterday the News Corp mogul randomly started quoting the Koran on his account, and Twitchy thinks it was in relation to a couple tweets he sent out the day before about the slaying of a UK soldier. Here are all the tweets, in order: "With UK on terror alert, Cameron off on holiday in Ibiza. Unbelievable." "Many UK tweeters say no terror. Admirable, gutsy, but get real and go listen at some mosques. Admit most okay, but others really scary." "Get real. Koran says(1) 'whoever killed a human being...it shall be regarded as having killed all mankind..." "Koran(2) 'except as punishment for murder or other villainy' then defined as 'those who wage war against Allah' punishable by beheading." No one seems to be quite sure what he was driving at. Meanwhile, a 10th suspect in the vicious murder of Lee Rigby was arrested today, the AP reports. The 50-year-old man, detained east of London, is suspected of conspiring to murder the off-duty soldier, but police have not released further details.

An active-duty member of the U.S. Army who went missing after a weather-related delay at O'Hare International Airport this week has been located, 'safe and unharmed,' in Texas, Chicago Police said today. Matthew Segur, 39, flew into the airport Monday on a British Airways flight and was scheduled to depart Wednesday for Dallas on an American Airlines flight, the Chicago Police Department announced in a release Thursday night. The lag time between his incoming and outgoing flights was due to weather, according to police. Police said Segur, who recently finished his second tour in Afghanistan, has not been seen since Monday. Twitter: @ChicagoBreaking ||||| Matthew Segur A soldier who was reported missing after a weather-related delay at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport was located Friday "safe and unharmed," police said. Officials offered no other details about Matthew Segur's condition or how or where he was ultimately located. Top News Photos of the Week Segur, 39, flew into Chicago on a British Airways flight on Monday after completing his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. His connecting flight to Dallas was canceled due to the severe winter weather that gripped the area, officials said in a statement. The U.S. Army soldier was supposed to board an American Airlines flight to Dallas on Wednesday but apparently never made that flight and had no contact with family or friends in the two days prior., police said. Cold Turns Lake Michigan Steamy Lake Michigan looked fairly spooky Monday as the freezing temperatures caused steam to form over the surface. Segur's girlfriend in Dallas is the one who reported him missing, authorities said, adding that he may have decided to drive to Texas. Segur is white, stands 5 feet, 10 inches tall and has green eyes, shaved hair and a warrior mask tattoo on his right arm.

– A happy but still somewhat vague ending to the story of a missing soldier. After finishing his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, Matthew Segur, 39, was headed home to Texas via Chicago. His British Airways flight arrived at O'Hare International Airport on Monday, but the flight he was to have taken to Dallas the same day was cancelled due to weather, NBC Chicago reports. Segur was rescheduled to fly on American Airlines on Wednesday, but it seems he didn't board that flight—and as of reports out this morning, friends and family hadn't heard from him since Monday, and his girlfriend had reported him missing. But the Chicago Tribune reports he has been found "safe and unharmed" in Texas. It's so far unclear how he got there, though officials had previously noted that Segur could have driven home.

Methodology Hollywood pays its biggest stars millions of dollar per film. Some are worth the money. Based on their last three projects, these 10 stars are not. We used data gathered from our Celebrity 100 research and Box Office Mojo to calculate how much, on average, each star's last three films earned at the box office per dollar of pay. Think of it like a star return on investment number. ||||| Poor Eddie Murphy desperately needs a comeback. Remember back in the day when he was so funny on Saturday Night Live and in movies like Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop? His voice work has helped make movies like Shrek and Mulan tolerable for adults, and even his family-friendly movies, like Norbit and Dr. Dolittle, were good for some chuckles. But lately, Murphy's career has just collapsed. Imagine That, A Thousand Words and Meet Dave were colossal flops. Last year's Tower Heist, which was supposed to be something of a return to form for the comedian, failed to wow at the box office, earning $153 million on an estimated budget of $75 million. (In order to even come close to turning a profit, a movie has to earn twice its production budget in ticket sales, plus the millions spent on marketing.) Murphy then backed out of hosting the Oscars, which didn't help his reputation. His string of flops lands Murphy at the top of our Most Overpaid Actors list for 2012. We estimate that for every $1 Murphy was paid for his last three films, they returned an average of $2.30 at the box office. To compile our list, we used data on actors' earnings gathered for our Celebrity 100 list. Box office grosses and budget estimates are from Box Office Mojo. We looked at the last three films each actor starred in over the last three years that opened in more than 2,000 theaters, calculating the return on investment for the studios who pay his (or her) salary. Ranking second behind Murphy is a newcomer to our list: Katherine Heigl. For every dollar she was paid on her last three movies, they earned an average of $3.40. After hits like Knocked-Up, 27 Dresses and The Ugly Truth, Heigl's quote shot up to the $12 million range. Unfortunately, the films she's made at that price point have failed to deliver. Her most recent film, One For The Money, earned only $37 million on an estimated $40 million budget. Heigl needs to step away from the expensive star vehicles and rebuild her career. Her next release is the ensemble pic The Big Wedding, which hits theaters in April. Featuring Robert DeNiro, Susan Sarandon and Amanda Seyfried, the movie could give Heigl a chance to show how funny she can be when the pressure is off. In past versions of our overpaid actors roundup, we looked at each actor's films over the last five years. This year, we cut back to the last three years to give the list a more contemporary focus. That dropped Drew Barrymore from the top 10, but not because she has anchored any smashes lately. Barrymore was our worst-performing actor last year -- her films earned only 40 cents for each $1 she was paid. However she hasn't starred in three big releases over the last three years. We don't count ensemble films where there is no clear star like Barrymore's 2009 film He's Just Not That Into You, which was actually a hit. Reese Witherspoon ranks third on our list with an average $3.90 return for every $1 she was paid. Witherspoon is one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood, but her choices lately have been questionable, like 2010's How Do You Know. With a ridiculously high budget of $120 million -- a big chunk of which went to salaries for Witherspoon and big-name co-stars Paul Rudd, Jack Nicholson and Owen Wilson -- the romantic comedy never had a chance of turning a profit. It grossed just $49 million at the box office, making it one of the worst-performing films of 2010. Her most recent film, This Means War, didn't help much. The $65 million action comedy did OK, earning $157 million worldwide, but it wasn't enough to get Witherspoon off of our most overpaid list. Sandra Bullock makes a surprise entry in fourth place with a $5 return for every $1 she was paid. In 2009 Bullock starred in one of the biggest films of the year, The Blind Side. Not only did it earn $310 million at the box office globally, it was made for just $30 million, making it one of the most profitable films of the year. It was also a big earner for Bullock, who had a profit-sharing deal on the project. But her two other films of the last three years were stinkers: All About Steve and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. [Bullock's representatives insist that Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close should not have been included in our calculations for the actress because she was not the star of the film. If you took that film out and added in The Proposal, her return on investment number would be much higher.] Rounding out the top five is Jack Black, whose films returned only $5.20 for every $1 he was paid. Last year's comedy The Big Year barely registered at the box office. Big-name stars like Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson couldn't overcome poor reviews and a less than sexy topic -- birdwatching. It earned only $7 million. Follow me on Twitter at DorothyatForbes. [newsincvid id="23907120"]

– Classics like Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop made Eddie Murphy a star. But he's been starring in flops lately, and now he lands atop Forbes' list of the most overpaid actors. The mag ranks them based on their last three movies, looking at the return studios received for every dollar earned by the star: Eddie Murphy: Imagine That, A Thousand Words, and Meet Dave all died. His bailing on the Oscars' hosting gig added a little extra tarnish. Box office: $2.30 per Murphy dollar. Katherine Heigl: One For the Money is the latest of her box office flops. Maybe the upcoming ensemble pic The Big Wedding with Robert DeNiro and Susan Sarandon will help rebuild her career. Box office: $3.40 per Heigl dollar. Reese Witherspoon: 2010's How Do You Know was a low point, with its crazy-high $120 million budget and $49 million return. This Means War fared better, but not enough for her to duck Forbes' list. Box office: $3.90 per Witherspoon dollar. Sandra Bullock: The Blind Side rocked in 2009, earning $310 million globally with just a $30 million budget. But All About Steve and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close did poorly. Box office: $5 per Bullock dollar. Jack Black: Last year's The Big Year earned just $7 mllion. Box office: $5 per Black dollar. Click for Forbes' full list.

Investigators say the co-pilot who intentionally brought down a Germanwings jetliner in March altered the altitude settings on an earlier flight. WSJ’s Robert Wall has details. Photo: Getty LONDON—The co-pilot who flew a Germanwings jetliner into a French mountainside appeared to have rehearsed the deadly descent on the plane’s previous flight that same morning, French authorities said. Andreas Lubitz, who investigators say deliberately crashed Flight 9525 after locking the pilot out of the cockpit, briefly set the plane’s altitude to as low as 100 feet several times during its outbound flight from Düsseldorf, Germany, to Barcelona on March 24, the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses, France’s air-safety agency,... ||||| PARIS (Reuters) - The Germanwings co-pilot suspected of deliberately crashing a jet in the French Alps rehearsed the fatal maneuver on the morning of the disaster, and had twice been refused medical papers needed to fly, investigators said on Wednesday. The French BEA accident investigation agency said the co-pilot had five times set the autopilot to take the Airbus down to just 100 feet while the captain was out of the cockpit on the outbound flight to Barcelona from Duesseldorf. But the brief twists of an altitude dial, mimicking those which crashed the A320 on its way back to the German city 2-3 hours later, would not have been noticed by passengers or controllers because they were quickly reversed and were masked by the fact that the jet had already started an authorized descent, the BEA said. A preliminary report on the return flight that crashed on March 24, killing all 150 people on board, confirmed a growing picture of painstaking preparations carried out by the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz. “I can’t speculate on what was happening inside his head; all I can say is that he changed this button to the minimum setting of 100 feet and he did it several times,” said Remi Jouty, director of the French BEA accident investigation agency. “These very brief actions on the previous flight were a sort of rehearsal of the maneuver,” he said. Digging into data and cockpit recordings recovered from the jet’s “black boxes”, the BEA gave the most detailed picture so far on what happened in the cockpit of return flight 9525. The 27-year-old co-pilot was in charge of flying the plane on the return leg, a routine practice that allows pilots to build up experience. Shortly after the A320 reached cruise height, the captain told Lubitz he was leaving the cockpit and asked him to take over the radio, the BEA said. No reason was given, but Jouty noted it is normal for pilots to leave the cockpit to go to the toilet, for example. Just over 30 seconds after the door closed, leaving Lubitz alone in the cockpit for the second time that day, he entered the instruction he had rehearsed. By turning a dial, he ordered the plane’s autopilot to descend to 100 feet, the BEA said. This was the lowest setting possible and enough to crash into mountains ahead. He then altered another dial to speed the jet up. The report listed numerous warnings that went unanswered as the jet sped lower. These included four attempts to reach him from outside the cockpit by interphone and a crescendo of calls and knocks that ended with “violent blows” on the door. As the jet steadily lost height, Marseille air traffic controllers tried 11 times to contact the Germanwings jet. Andreas Lubitz runs the Airportrace half marathon in Hamburg in this September 13, 2009 file photo. REUTERS/Foto-Team-Mueller/Files Just over two minutes before the crash the French military weighed in, trying three times to contact the crew on an emergency frequency, followed by a call from another plane. Finally the aircraft’s ground-proximity warning system kicked into life, urging the co-pilot to “pull up”. MEDICAL REBUFF Reviewing Lubitz’s training and career, the BEA said his professional level was judged to be “above standard”. However, it said the aeromedical center of Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, twice refused to renew his medical certificate in 2009 when he was undergoing treatment for depression. Lubitz broke off his pilot training from November 2008 to August 2009 due to his illness. After gaining a certificate in July 2009, Lubitz’s pilot’s license, which is always valid for one year only, contained a note requiring aeromedical doctors to contact licensing authorities before the certificate could be extended or renewed. Investigators in Germany have found torn-up sick notes, including for the day of the crash, indicating that Lubitz was concealing an illness from his employers. They also uncovered Internet searches made by Lubitz in the week before the tragedy on suicide methods and cockpit door security. The German government plans to name a former diplomat, Steffen Rudolph, as an ombudsman for relatives of the victims, government sources told Reuters. The BEA will issue a final report in about a year that may include recommendations on cockpit doors and the handling of pilots’ medical records by the airline industry. The French agency declined to speculate on any recommendations but said it would examine the balance to be struck between medical confidentiality and air safety. It promised also to look at where to draw the line between the need to prevent possible attacks by passengers and the need to prevent a repeat of incidents such as the Germanwings crash. Cockpit doors were specially strengthened to protect pilots after the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. The BEA said it had found six previous accidents since 1980 in which deliberate actions by crew may have played a part. Slideshow (2 Images) These included a remarkably similar crash of an Embraer 190 jet in Namibia in 2013 in which 33 people died after the co-pilot left the captain alone in the cockpit. The jet was ordered to the ground by changing autopilot altitude settings. On at least two other occasions, there were two pilots in the cockpit but one was not able to counter the other’s actions. Many airlines have recently made it compulsory to have two people in the cockpit to help prevent accidents, but Jouty said accident records suggested this would not be an automatic cure. ||||| PARIS (AP) — The co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 4525 tried a controlled descent on the previous flight that morning to Barcelona before the plane crashed into a mountainside in March on its way back to Germany, French air accident investigators said in a new report released Wednesday. Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz repeatedly set the plane into a descent, then brought it back up again on a flight on the same A320 jet from Duesseldorf to Barcelona, the BEA investigation agency said in the report. The report said the pilot appeared to have left the cockpit during that flight as well. Cockpit data shows that he put the plane into descent mode five times in a four and half-minute period during the Duesseldorf-Barcelona leg. The report is only an interim report. The BEA said it is continuing to look at the "systemic failings that may have led to this accident or similar events." The investigators said their main focus is on "the current balance between medical confidentiality and flight safety" and the "compromises" made on security after the Sept. 11 attacks in the U.S., notably on cockpit door locking systems. Lufthansa spokesman Helmut Tolksdorf said by phone from Frankfurt that the airline had not yet had time to analyze the new details released by French authorities and planned no immediate comment. Lufthansa is the parent company of Germanwings. Prosecutors have previously said Lubitz intentionally crashed the plane on its return flight from Barcelona to Duesseldorf in the French Alps on March 24, killing all 150 on board. ||||| NYTimes.com no longer supports Internet Explorer 9 or earlier. Please upgrade your browser.

– Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz tested what would be deadly descent settings on the flight that directly preceded the one investigators say he deliberately crashed into the French Alps. That detail comes from a 29-page interim report released today by France's BEA crash investigation agency; it describes how Lubitz, flying from Dusseldorf to Barcelona, put the plane in a "controlled descent that lasted for minutes and for which there was no aeronautical justification" on the same day that he brought the plane down on its return journey. The AP reports the pilot had left Lubitz alone in the cockpit, during which time he moved the plane into descent mode five times in less than five minutes. After each descent, he brought the plane back up to regular altitude. "I can't speculate on what was happening inside his head; all I can say is that he changed this button to the minimum setting of 100 feet and he did it several times," says BEA's director. The Wall Street Journal specifies that during a 4.5-minute period, Lubitz keyed in altitudes ranging from 1,000 feet to 49,000 feet. Investigators say the adjustments were made while the plane was descending from 37,000 feet to 35,000, so they apparently went undetected by the captain and others on the flight; air traffic controllers didn't notice them, per the New York Times. The new information comes via that flight's black box. Reuters notes the BEA's final report won't be finished for a year.

The hills are alive with a sound of Judice! On the Dec. 7 episode of Saturday Night Live, comedic veteran Kristen Wiig returned to the show that made her a household name to reprise the role of Judice -- the girl with the large forehead, tiny Barbie hands, and awkward sentiments. Judice made her appearance in the Sound of Music spoof that opened last night's episode. PHOTOS: Kristen Wiig's best SNL characters She played one of the Von Trapp children, who had some interesting incites into the musical's iconic songs. PHOTOS: Stars' funniest SNL moments The Sound of Music Live aired on NBC last Thursday, Dec. 5 to a large viewership but mixed reviews. Country singer Carrie Underwood starred in the main role as Maria Von Trapp, and after hearing some negative critiques, she tweeted on Dec. 6, "Plain and simple: Mean people need Jesus. They will be in my prayers tonight...1 Peter 2:1-25." But SNL had no problem spoofing the talked-about production. Though they didn't directly reference Underwood or the talk around her performance, SNL cast member Kate McKinnon stepped up to play her role as Maria Von Trapp. Taran Killiam took on the role of Captain Von Trapp (which True Blood's Stephen Moyer played in the live show), and SNL vet Fred Armisen returned at the end of the clip as the Von Trapp family friend Max Detweiler, and along with Wiig declared, "Live from New York, it's Saturday night!" PHOTOS: Carrie Underwood's style evolution Tell Us: Do you think SNL did a good job spoofing The Sound of Music? ||||| As Paul Rudd mentioned in his monologue, yes, his prior hosting efforts were upstaged a bit by the musical acts. Everyone remembers Bobby Moynihan, Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg dancing around to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” but not everyone remembers that Paul Rudd was the host that night. It wasn’t as bad the next time with Paul McCartney as the musical guest, but, still … Paul McCartney. This time, sure, One Direction appeared in a couple of sketches, but Rudd was the focal point of both. In other words: Finally, Paul Rudd was the centerpiece of his own show. And it was a good show, but probably not a great show. So, yes, off we go to this week’s Scorecard… Sketch of the Night ”Divorce Meeting” (Rudd, Thompson, Bayer, Pedrad) First, I will now have “I Don’t Want To Know” by Fleetwood Mac stuck in my head for the next week. (No that that’s a terrible thing.) Second, this was just a delight. I’m not sure anyone in the cast has the ability to go from “pissed off face” to “pure joy” face better than Vanessa Bayer. Everyone looked so happy when “I Don’t Want to Know” started to play that it’s impossible not to be happy while watching Bayer and Rudd dance. (Also, “SNL” has been killing it with the esoteric song references as of late.) (Which, of course, isn't online due to song rights issues.) Score: 8.0 The Good ”Bill Brasky” (Ferrell, Koechner, Rudd, Killam, Thompson) I used to love the Bill Brasky sketches. And, yes, I do often reference Bill Brasky in conversation and I am always amazed at the number of people who have no idea what I’m talking about. Anyway, I will admit, a lot of my score for this one comes from a sense of nostalgia. And, boy, it was fun seeing David Koechner back on the show after he was let go after the 1995-1996 season. (I had lunch with Koechner for an interview last week and this is a long and complicated story about what happened, which will publish later this week.) So, yes, it’s great to see that Bill Brasky seems to still be doing outlandish things. Score: 7.7 ”Weekend Update” (Meyers, Strong, Bayer, Killam) Well, we knew Jebidiah Atkinson would become a recurring “Update” character and they were wise to address that right off the bat. But, hey. If there’s any time to overuse him, it’s now. He’s still new! And he’s fun! So, yes, more Jebidiah! (The problems start when the audience cheers based on the fact that they recognize the character, not because the character still has anything to say. We are far from that point.) I’ve decided that my favorite part about Vanessa Bayer’s Jacob is that moment right after Seth Meyers tries to say something nice to him – really tries to relate – and Jacob just looks back down at his notes and moves on. Also, this was Cecily Strong’s best performance so far on “Update.” She moved on from just “being comfortable” to being more of a master of ceremonies. Score: 7.5 ”Memories” (Strong, Killam, Pharoah, Rudd, Wheelen, O’Brien, Moynihan, Pedrad) This wasn’t necessarily that funny, but it was interesting. At least the concept of using the memories of past loves (and this Victor fellow) was interesting. Actually, the more I think about it, the funnier it gets. A classy person, remembering all of the classy past loves of her life – then there’s Victor. A ghost in her past just as much as the other men in her life, only this one worked at an airport Papa John’s. Score: 7.0 ”One Direction Concert Line” (Rudd, One Direction) Paul Rudd plays Dan Charles, the biggest One Direction fan in the world. Honestly, there’s not a lot going on here in terms of actual jokes – but Rudd just looks to be having so much fun that it doesn’t matter. Rudd sells it, so the sketch works. Score: 7.0 ”Paul Rudd Monologue” (Rudd, Ferrell, Koechner, Carell, One Direction) Honestly, I think it was just nice to see Will Ferrell not in his Ron Burgundy costume. (Also not online due to song rights issues.) Score: 6.5 ”Michelangelo Unveils David” (Rudd, Strong, Killam, Pharoah, Moynihan) This was almost so obvious that I can’t believe that this hasn’t been a sketch before. I mean that as a compliment. You would think that at some point over the last 39 years someone in the writers room said, “You know, David has a small penis. What if we did a sketch about that?” Nope. Not until 2013. Score: 6.0 The Bad ”White Christmas” (Ridd, Pharoah, Strong, O’Brien, Thompson, Bryant, Moynihan, Bayer, Strong, Mooney, Wheelan) Hm. There was an interesting concept here (and, yes, most Christmas themed movies this year do have predominantly African American casts for whatever reason), but I’m not sure this sketch did much other than give us Paul Rudd’s version of Madea and a New Kids on the Block song. Which is fine, I guess. Score: 5.0 ”Cold Open: The Sound of Music” (Wiig, McKinnon, Killam, Bennett, Pedrad, Wells, Strong, Moynihan, Armisen) The stars were a bit aligned here: We had the of course parody sketch of the live “The Sound of Music” performance plus the return of Kristin Wiig and … well, they go with Denise. Anyway, this seems like a missed opportunity unless you really like Denise. Score: 4.0 ”Politics Nation” (Thompson, Rudd) I’m just not a fan of this sketch. Every time it airs, I honestly try my best to find some sort of subtlety that I’m missing in an effort to understand why this continues to be a recurring sketch. Instead, it grinds the show to a halt. And this week the show was ground to a halt in the prime spot right after the monologue. I just don’t get it. Score: 3.2 The Ugly ”Santa Meeting” (Rudd, Milhiser, McKinnon, Thompson, Ensemble) What a disappointment. I only write that because the concept is just so interesting. What if Santa got himself into shape? How would his personality change? There seemed to be a lot to explore here but the sketch went nowhere, unfortunately. Score: 3.0 Average Score for this Show: 5.90 · Lady Gaga 6.06 · Edward Norton 5.91 · Paul Rudd 5.90 · Josh Hutcherson 5.75 · Bruce Willis 5.68 · Kerry Washington 5.60 · Tina Fey 5.35 · Miley Cyrus 5.20 Mike Ryan is senior writer for Huffington Post Entertainment. You can contact him directly on Twitter. Click below for this week's "SNL," Not Ready For Primetime Podcast featuring Mike Ryan and Hitfix's Ryan McGee. If you would like to subscribe to the podcast, you can do that here.

– While critics were busily groaning over Thursday's The Sound of Music Live, a certain other live show was busily plotting its takedown. Kristen Wiig returned for last night's Cold Open on Saturday Night Live, reports US, and promptly stole the sketch as her recurring character Denise made for a rather unique von Trapp child in a "condensed version" of the three-hour behemoth. (Sound of Music star Carrie Underwood, meanwhile, tweeted this in response to the hate: "Plain and simple: Mean people need Jesus. They will be in my prayers tonight...1 Peter 2:1-25.") Over at Huffington Post, Mike Ryan has his scorecard of last night's show, which was hosted by Paul Rudd with musical guest One Direction.

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampThe Memo: Tide turns on Kavanaugh McCaskill to oppose Kavanaugh nomination Election Countdown: Trump confident about midterms in Hill.TV interview | Kavanaugh controversy tests candidates | Sanders, Warren ponder if both can run | Super PACs spending big | Two states open general election voting Friday | Latest Senate polls MORE (D-N.D.) said Thursday that she will support President Trump Donald John TrumpTrump rallies in Nevada amid Supreme Court flurry: 'We're gonna get Brett' Trump: 'Good news' that Obama is campaigning again Trump boosts Heller, hammers 'Wacky Jacky' opponent in Nevada MORE's nomination of CIA Director Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: Trump identifies first soldier remains from North Korea | New cyber strategy lets US go on offense | Army chief downplays talk of 'Fort Trump' Pompeo backed continued US support in Yemen war over objections from staff: report Pompeo’s staff cracks down on ‘correct use of commas’ at State Dept MORE as secretary of State, virtually guaranteeing he will win confirmation. Heitkamp, who faces a difficult reelection race this fall in a state Trump won by double-digits, becomes the first Senate Democrat to announce her support for Pompeo. “The role of the State Department is to support our diplomatic missions to avoid conflict, support American interests, and stand up for our allies, and having a leadership team in place is essential to carrying out those jobs,” she said in a statement. If he is confirmed, Heitkamp said that she would “hold Mr. Pompeo accountable to make sure he advances our country’s leadership in the world and supports our embassies.” ADVERTISEMENT Sen. Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulConservatives left frustrated as Congress passes big spending bills Senate approves 4B spending bill Some employees' personal data revealed in State Department email breach: report MORE (R-Ky.) opposes Pompeo's nomination and Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainArizona race becomes Senate GOP’s ‘firewall’ Trump administration weakens methane pollution standards for drilling on public lands Another recession could hit US in 2019, says credit union association chief MORE (R-Ariz.) has been absent, leaving Republicans with a maximum of 49 votes for his confirmation. Heitkamp's vote would get them to 50, the simple majority needed to be confirmed. Pompeo has been engaged in a flurry of 11th hour one-on-one meetings with Democrats as he’s searched for the crucial swing vote. Heitkamp met with him late last month but told reporters as recently as Wednesday that she remained undecided as she reviewed his record and the transcripts of his hearing before the Foreign Relations Committee, where she is not a member. It's possible Pompeo could lose another GOP vote. Sen. Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakePoll: More voters oppose Kavanaugh’s nomination than support it Ford opens door to testifying next week Police arrest nearly two dozen Kavanaugh protesters MORE (R-Ariz.) said Thursday that he remains undecided on Pompeo, but he did support him to be CIA director last year. But a few other Democrats facing tough reelection races in states won by Trump may also back Pompeo. With Heitkamp’s announcement, seven remain on the fence: Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Minority Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Mark Warner (Va.) and King. Pompeo may still get an unfavorable vote next week from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. No Democrats on the panel are backing Pompeo, and Paul is also an expected "no" vote. With Republicans holding a one-seat advantage on the panel, he would need to win over at least one Democrat to get a favorable vote. Sen. Chris Coons Christopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsJudiciary Democrat calls for additional witnesses to testify on Kavanaugh Kavanaugh allegations could be monster storm brewing for midterm elections Sunday shows preview: White House officials on offensive in wake of anonymous NY Times op-ed MORE (D-Del.) is the only Democrat who hasn't announced how he will vote. But he previously opposed Pompeo to be CIA director and has said he's leaning against supporting him for his current nomination. Heitkamp on Thursday said that she decided to vote for Pompeo after she showed that he is “committed to empowering” State Department diplomats after the agency’s morale took a hit as former secretary of State Rex Tillerson Rex Wayne TillersonPompeo working to rebuild ties with US diplomats: report NYT says it was unfair on Haley curtain story Rubio defends Haley over curtains story: Example of media pushing bias MORE tried to restructure and cut staffing at the department. “Pompeo demonstrated during this nomination process and during our meeting in March that he is committed to empowering the diplomats at the State Department so they can do their jobs in advancing American interests,” she said. Democrats are under a mountain of pressure from both sides as they weigh Pompeo's nomination. Nicole Brener-Schmitz, the political director for NARAL Pro-Choice America, said the group was "very disappointed." Progressive and liberal outside groups immediately panned Heitkamp's decision.Nicole Brener-Schmitz, the political director for NARAL Pro-Choice America, said the group was "very disappointed." "A vote in favor of Mike Pompeo is simply irreconcilable with being a true champion for women and girls," she added. MoveOn also sent its supporters an email urging them to tell Heitkamp to reconsider her decision and "stop Pompeo in order to stop a war." "Sen. Heitkamp is declaring her vote in favor of Pompeo even after over 20 Senate Democrats have already spoken out. ...Sen. Heitkamp should listen to her constituents and her colleagues who have serious concerns about this appointment," the group wrote in the email to its supporters. Updated at 6:34 p.m. ||||| In this April 12, 2018, photo, Secretary of State-designate Mike Pompeo speaks during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his confirmation on Capitol Hill in Washington. Pompeo, is facing... (Associated Press) In this April 12, 2018, photo, Secretary of State-designate Mike Pompeo speaks during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his confirmation on Capitol Hill in Washington. Pompeo, is facing so much opposition from Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the panel could be forced... (Associated Press) WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Pompeo's nomination for secretary of state received a boost Thursday with support from Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota as Republicans warned lawmakers not to reject President Donald Trump's choice for top diplomat ahead of North Korea talks. Just a handful of senators could determine Pompeo's confirmation. Republicans have a narrow 51-49 majority, but Pompeo faces opposition from Democrats and at least one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. Paul met with Pompeo on Thursday, at Trump's request, but had no change in his position, the senator's spokesman said. "We need the Senate to approve Mike ASAP," Trump tweeted Thursday. "He will be a great Secretary of State!" As Pompeo, the current CIA director, walked the Senate halls this week to shore up support, political pressure was mounting on senators on both sides of the aisle. White House allies are pushing the administration's view that Pompeo's recent high-stakes meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jung Un solidifies the diplomatic credentials of the West Point and Harvard Law graduate. They warned Democrats not to disrupt Trump's efforts at a denuclearization deal. "Obviously, he has the confidence of the president," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. "It's hard to imagine a better choice." At the same time, progressives are lighting up phone lines ahead of a crucial vote Monday at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Pompeo faces almost unified opposition from Democrats. He may not be able to secure a favorable recommendation from the panel. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, the last committee Democrat to disclose how he'll vote, said calls are coming in overwhelmingly opposed to Pompeo. "I'm leaning against," Coons said Wednesday. Heitkamp, Sen. Joe Manchin or West Virginia and Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana are among several Democratic senators up for re-election in Trump-won states that the administration and its allies have spotlighted. All had voted for him as CIA director last year. "I haven't made up my mind," Manchin said this week. As the nomination moves to the Senate floor, the GOP's slim majority, which slips with the absence of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who is battling cancer, puts Pompeo's confirmation in the hands of a few key senators. One Republican, Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, initially withheld his support this week for another Trump nominee, the new NASA administrator, as he pressed Pompeo about travel restrictions to Cuba, according to GOP leadership. The senator is an advocate for more open U.S.-Cuba relations. Heitkamp does not serve on the Foreign Relations Committee, but her vote helps tip the Senate tally toward Pompeo. Pompeo demonstrated during the nomination process and their meetings "that he is committed to empowering the diplomats at the State Department so they can do their jobs in advancing American interests," she said in a statement. "If he's confirmed, I'll hold Mr. Pompeo accountable to make sure he advances our country's leadership in the world and supports our embassies - including by filling critical jobs that have been vacant, like for the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea." The nominee to replace Pompeo at the CIA is Gina Haspel, now the deputy director. Her Senate hearing is scheduled for May 9, and she, too, faces resistance. ___ Associated Press writer Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow Mascaro on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LisaMascaro

– Mike Pompeo's nomination for secretary of state received a boost Thursday with support from Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota as Republicans warned lawmakers not to reject President Trump's choice for top diplomat ahead of North Korea talks. Just a handful of senators could determine Pompeo's confirmation. Republicans have a narrow 51-49 majority, but Pompeo faces opposition from Democrats and at least one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, the AP reports. Paul met with Pompeo on Thursday, at Trump's request, but had no change in his position, the senator's spokesman said. "We need the Senate to approve Mike ASAP," Trump tweeted Thursday. "He will be a great Secretary of State!" Heitkamp is the first Democrat to offer her support, the Hill reports. As Pompeo, the current CIA director, walked the Senate halls this week to shore up support, political pressure was mounting on senators on both sides of the aisle. White House allies are pushing the administration's view that Pompeo's recent high-stakes meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jung Un solidifies the diplomatic credentials of the West Point and Harvard Law graduate. They warned Democrats not to disrupt Trump's efforts at a denuclearization deal. At the same time, progressives are lighting up phone lines ahead of a crucial vote Monday at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Pompeo faces almost unified opposition from Democrats. He may not be able to secure a favorable recommendation from the panel.

A world away from cosmopolitan Stockholm lies a strange forested land with an ancient language and a singular sense of quiet desolation ©Maja Daniels The lakes may now be melting and the snowdrifts receding in the forests of the Swedish back country, but as the forests emerge into the clear cold light of summer and the pine needles brighten like green flames there is still a suffocating blanket of boredom over the people who have to live there, as there will be every year. One of the most telling of Maja Daniels’ pictures from Älvdalen, a river valley in central Sweden, shows two boys of about 16 seated on the rear window of an ancient Volvo hatchback canted over on a forest trail. One back wheel is buried in a pothole. Both are swathed in dirty smoke as the driver guns the engine till the tyres burn. He isn’t trying to free the vehicle. He’s just burning rubber for the hell of it. The smoke isn’t an obstacle. It’s the whole point of the burning rubber game, a popular one in all of deep rural Sweden. This is a world away from the sleek bright façade of Stockholm. In the cosmopolitan cities of the coast, you can live for years without speaking anything but English but in Älvdalen the longing for American culture, American cars and music is expressed in Swedish. In fact, there are still 3,000-4,000 people there who speak a language that isn’t even Swedish, but a descendant of Old Norse known as Elfdalian, which seems to have split off from Swedish in about 1300. Although the whole of rural Scandinavia is a patchwork of dialects, all being eroded by television, centralised schooling and emigration to the cities of the coast, Elfdalian looks to linguists like a proper language rather than a mere dialect since it has not only a vocabulary of its own but grammatical features that are not found in any other Scandinavian language. It’s perfectly incomprehensible to Swedish speakers, much more so than Norwegian or even Danish. But it has been preserved in this remote valley at the centre of the country. Maja Daniels’ photographs capture the mist of summer mornings and the thin, yearning light of summer evenings: the sense of emptiness and longing which seems to fill these forests. The people in them seem out of place almost anywhere. Apart from the farming family in traditional dress, whose little daughter jumps with delight as she is photographed, everyone else has a quality of frozen wrongness. Even some of the objects do: for me, the saddest of all these photographs is the withered cross covered in dried-out leaves because it is what remains of a midsummer maypole, around which everyone dances when it is new and covered in freshly cut wildflowers and garlands of leafy birch on the longest day of the year. For centuries this district, Dalarna, was the industrial heart of Sweden. Long before the industrial revolution there were mines here, for copper, lead and iron. By the rivers there were workshops where craftsmen worked with minerals such as porphyry – the township of Älvdalen has had a porphyry workshop for hundreds of years. In the Middle Ages, Dalarna had its own law as well as its own languages. Only in the 20th century did this sense of special value break down. Nowadays it is part of the vast “rust belt” which stretches 1,000 kilometres up the whole interior of Sweden, where every town once had a factory or a mill but all the jobs have now disappeared. ©Maja Daniels Early evening by the Älvdalen river ©Maja Daniels Joacim Alm (left), 20, and Johan Berglund, 33 ©Maja Daniels Sandra Gjervaldsaeter, 16 ©Maja Daniels Teenage friends drink beer and listen to music ©Maja Daniels Veronika Westerling and Patrik Andersson with their children ©Maja Daniels From left: Hampus Nyberg, 15, and Jens Persson, 16 ©Maja Daniels Sweden’s 17th-century witch trials began in Älvdalen; it has become a tradition for children to dress up as witches at Easter ©Maja Daniels An April bonfire marks a pagan tradition to scare off witches and ghosts ©Maja Daniels A dried-up maypole from midsummer celebration ©Maja Daniels Graffiti in a public lay-by Previous image Next image Next Thumbnails Previous Thumbnails The young people mostly leave, especially the women. Älvdalen district has the highest rate of unemployment in all Sweden. The mines and the factories can’t compete with cheap labour abroad. The farming and logging which used to keep the countryside alive have been devoured by machines. A giant logging machine can now harvest the forest as casually as a combine harvester mows down a field of wheat so that the work which once paid wages for 1,000 men now pays for five men tending the machinery. Some farmers have imported wives from Thailand: a policeman from these parts says they are among the loneliest people he knows. Yet the people who live there still love it. Once the quiet desolation gets into your soul nothing else is quite as satisfying. The combination of small communities with huge empty spaces around them makes for a flamboyance that cities would soon quench. The two Goths, solemnly dressed – could anyone with “suicidal” written under the visor of his baseball cap be happier? The hippy with long blond hair, a heavy metal T-shirt and a kilt can walk around like that all day if he chooses and no one will hassle him. And so these awkward, honest people have taken up their ancient language as a badge of honour. The grandparents spoke it as a still living dialect. The young people are trying to recover it as a gesture of local pride and identity. If the government in Stockholm were to recognise it as a real minority language, and not just a dialect, it would be obliged by law to encourage and subsidise its use. But that’s not going to happen, whatever the linguists say. For the rational economists in Stockholm or Berlin these valleys have no real use except for tourism. The ministries in Stockholm see them as a picturesque wilderness, where wolves should be encouraged to resettle. The farmers whose livestock wolves eat resent this bitterly. They have to live there. Actually, they don’t have to but there is nowhere else they would rather be, even if tourists could only see the boredom of their lives. It is still a far better life to be economically useless and unemployed in the forests than in a modern suburb and the final message of these photographs is one of struggle, and hope. ------------------------------------------- Maja Daniels is working on a film of this project, to be released in 2014 Andrew Brown’s book ‘Fishing in Utopia: Sweden and the Future that Disappeared’ (Granta) won The Orwell Prize in 2009 ||||| It might sound like something from Lord of The Rings or The Local's recent April Fool's Day prank but Elfdalian is a real language currently used by around 2500 people in central Sweden and is understood to date back to Viking times. Previously regarded as a Swedish dialect, leading linguistics experts now consider it a separate language and are battling to save it, after figures emerged that less than 60 children can currently speak it. "Often Norwegians, Danes and Swedes can understand each others' languages and dialects. But Elfdalian can't be understood by any Scandinavians apart from the ones that grow up with it, and that is why we consider it a separate language," Yair Sapir, a linguistics expert who lives in Copenhagen and teaches at Lund University in Sweden told The Local. The Israel-born professor has dedicated his career to studying the language after initially spending two weeks living in Älvdalan in 2002 and eventually teaching himself Elfdalian. "The people of Älvdalen are wonderful but they are different to the city folk I am used to. They are in general less educated but more connected to nature and each other than people in urban areas," he explained. Älvdalan is a remote forest community. Photo: TT On Thursday and Friday this week Sapir is hosting an international conference on Elfdalian at Copenhagen University, designed to raise awareness of the language. The event comes as the small isolated town where it is spoken, Älvdalan, prepares to start teaching it in one preschool from September. Pupils who begin learning it aged six are set to keep it as part of their curriculum until they turn eighteen. "It's a highly threatened language and so it is great that the municipality is going to experiment with teaching it to children in preschool," said Sapir. "In the past, children from this area didn't go far beyond the farms they lived on but now they go to school and consume so much other media that it is hard for them to keep Elfdalian as their main language," he added. "The language was suppressed for centuries by the authorities. They need more books on their language and more recognition and validation of their culture. Hopefully the lessons in preschools will be the start of that." Sapir admits that Elfdalian sounds like a mystical or other-worldly language but insists its name "isn't supposed to sound Tolkien-like" and has nothing to do with elves. It translates as 'river valley' in Swedish. "It was just a word designed to sound more English than Älvdalian to help with international recognition and writing about the language." Through studying Elfdalian experts have also increased their understanding of the Viking language Old Norse, with which it shares some words, features and expressions. "Elfdalian is a goldmine. It works almost like a linguistic deep freeze, where one can get a glimpse of Old Norse traits that have long since vanished in the other Nordic languages," language historian Bjarne Simmelkjær Sandsgaard Hansen, co-organizer of the Copenhagen University conference told Danish newspaper Politiken on Monday. "It has preserved many old features, which we may not even know existed if we didn't have Elfdalian," he added.

– Starting in September, preschoolers in a small community in central Sweden will start getting lessons in a dying language thought to date back to the time of the Vikings. It is called, awesomely, Elfdalian, reports the Local. Those hoping for a Tolkien-esque link will be disappointed to learn that it has nothing to do with elves but instead translates to "river valley." About 2,500 people are estimated to speak Elfdalian, but only about 60 kids— hence the push to teach it in preschool in Alvdalen. Linguists once thought Elfdalian was just another Swedish dialect, but they have since concluded that it's a distinct language, most likely a descendant of the Viking language Old Norse that broke off from Swedish around 1300, reports the Financial Times in a previous story. One reason: While Swedes can understand speakers of different dialects, they're clueless when it comes to Elfdalian, in part because it has grammatical characteristics not found in other Scandinavian languages. "Elfdalian is a a goldmine," says one historian. "It works almost like a linguistic deep freeze, where one can get a glimpse of Old Norse traits that have long since vanished in the other Nordic languages." A conference later this week at Copenhagen University will focus on Elfdalian, led by a professor at Lund University who taught himself how to speak it. He loves the preschool idea: "In the past, children from this area didn't go far beyond the farms they lived on, but now they go to school and consume so much other media that it is hard for them to keep Elfdalian as their main language."

(WXYZ) - Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr held a news conference Thursday evening to address the Detroit bankruptcy filing. Mayor Bing said it's not something that anyone wanted. "Now that we're here, we have to make the best of it," Mayor Bing said. Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr says Detroiters will continue to receive the necessary services. "Nothing changes from the standpoint of the average citizen's perspective," said Orr. The EM says they have a timetable on bankruptcy. "We are targeting to get through this late summer or fall of next year," Orr said. Bing and Orr both made a point of saying that things are going well in Downtown and Midtown, but the city's success relies on improvement and the ability to deliver services in the rest of Detroit's neighborhoods as well. ||||| Article Excerpt DETROIT—The city of Detroit filed for federal bankruptcy protection Thursday after decades of decline, a new low for a city that once defined industrial America's might but was hollowed out by the flight of residents and businesses to the suburbs. The filing by the automobile capital and onetime music powerhouse—which has liabilities of more than $18 billion—is the country's largest-ever municipal bankruptcy case. The move to restructure the debt is bound to set off months, if not years, of legal wrangling, asset sales and cuts to benefits for Detroit workers and retirees, including 20,000 on city pensions. Owners of the ... ||||| We never thought Kevyn Orr was crying wolf. And we suspect that residents and creditors who argue that the emergency manager has been exaggerating the severity of Detroit’s fiscal plight or poor-mouthing its capacity to satisfy their claims are about to get the rudest possible awakening. Thursday afternoon, acting with the authorization of Gov. Rick Snyder, Orr’s lawyers filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history on behalf of the City of Detroit. If a yet-to-be-assigned bankruptcy judge agrees that Detroit confronts imminent insolvency, then questions that have been swirling for years — How sacrosanct are a city’s promises to its workers? Who has a legitimate claim on the Detroit Institute of Arts’ treasures? How much suffering must residents endure to satisfy the claims of the city’s myriad creditors? — will soon get definitive answers in a federal courtroom. ■ Related: Detroit files for Chapter 9 bankruptcy amid staggering debts ■ PDF: Read the bankruptcy filing Everyone — Orr, and especially residents — has to be disappointed that it came to this. The settlement framework that the emergency manager presented last June is a sound one that treats creditors equitably. And it was reasonable to expect that those creditors would embrace its terms without a protracted court fight that promises to reward only professionals who charge by the hour. The hope, in short, was that Orr could expeditiously complete the relatively easy part of his assignment — restructuring Detroit’s long-term debt — and turn his focus, along with the city’s elected office-holders, to the infinitely tougher challenge of restoring the bare elements of municipal sustainability in a city that has ceased to work for its 700,000 residents. But now delusional creditors with dreams of wringing blood from the brick and mortar of Detroit’s devastated infrastructure have postponed that critical pivot by forcing the city to seek bankruptcy protection. Their foolishness is regretful, but it’s doubtful they will emerge from this unnecessary detour with a settlement significantly more generous than the one Orr has offered them. Municipal bankruptcy has been so rare that previous filings have generated relatively little precedent to guide Detroit’s soon-to-be-named judicial overseers. But some things are clear enough: Unlike judges appointed to preside over corporate bankruptcies, the judge appointed to supervise Detroit’s filing will not enjoy the authority to order the sale of municipal assets. It’s also hard to imagine any judge countenancing a settlement that sacrifices the safety and security of residents to satisfy the demands of banks, insurers and pension funds. That said, Detroiters who mourned the loss of municipal autonomy represented by Orr’s appointment now confront an even more profound loss of self-determination. The emergency manager, at least, was appointed by a governor who is elected; now the ultimate authority over their city’s future will pass to a federal judiciary even further insulated from voter accountability. Creditors still may have an opportunity to abort, or at least abbreviate, Detroit’s fiscal ordeal by rejoining their efforts to reach a reasonable settlement with Orr. Detroit could withdraw its bankruptcy petition if those who stand in the way of a settlement reset their expectations and begin negotiating in good faith. Either way, the pieces are finally in place for a definitive resolution of the disputes that have held Detroit hostage to its legacy of fiscal mismanagement. That’s something to look forward to on this rainiest of days in Detroit’s darkest summer. ■ Editorial: How Detroit came to betray its retirees ■ PDF: Read Kevyn Orr’s plan to creditors ■ PDF: Read Snyder’s bankruptcy letter ■ Full coverage: Detroit’s financial crisis

– The emergency manager who filed Detroit's historic bankruptcy today says residents don't have to worry about basic services getting cut in the interim, reports WXYZ. "Nothing changes from the standpoint of the average citizen's perspective," says Kevyn Orr. At a joint news conference, Mayor Dave Bing added, "Now that we're here, we have to make the best of it." Some other odds and ends: Close call: The bankruptcy was filed at 4:06pm, a mere 5 minutes before a judge convened an emergency hearing to consider a request from the city's pension boards to block such a filing, reports the Detroit News. "It was my intention to grant you your request completely," said the judge. Detroit Free Press editorial: It's too bad Orr and the city's creditors couldn't reach a deal. And, who knows, this may force one. "Either way, the pieces are finally in place for a definitive resolution of the disputes that have held Detroit hostage to its legacy of fiscal mismanagement. That’s something to look forward to on this rainiest of days in Detroit’s darkest summer." White House: The president will "closely monitor" developments, said a spokesman, whose statement also urged city and state leaders to keep working with creditors on a solution. The White House has previously made clear that the city won't be getting a federal bailout, reports the Detroit News. Now what? "The move is bound to set off months, if not years, of legal wrangling, asset sales and cuts to benefits for Detroit workers and retirees, including 20,000 on city pensions," says the Wall Street Journal's main story. "Owners of the city's bonds are expected to battle with retirees and others for pieces of the city's diminished wealth."

NASCAR CEO Brian France Busted for DUI & Oxycodone Don't You Know Who I Am?! NASCAR CEO Brian France Arrested for DUI and Oxycodone EXCLUSIVE 9:54 AM PT -- NASCAR has issued a statement to TMZ Sports saying ... "We are aware of an incident that occurred last night and are in the process of gathering information." "We take this as a serious matter and will issue a statement after we have all of the facts.” Brian France -- the CEO and Chairman of NASCAR -- was arrested for DUI on Sunday evening in The Hamptons and cops say he was also in possession of oxycodone .. TMZ Sports has learned. The 56-year-old -- one of the most powerful people in professional sports -- was initially stopped in Sag Harbor, NY while driving a 2017 Lexus. Cops say he blew through a stop sign at 7:30 PM. During the stop, we're told officers suspected France was intoxicated and conducted a field sobriety test ... which France bombed. We're told France's blood alcohol level was more than TWICE the legal limit. Cops say during the stop, they found oxycodone pills during a search of his person. France was arrested and hauled to a nearby station where he was booked for DUI and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree. France spent the night in jail and was released Monday morning after his arraignment. And sources tell us ... during the process, France was name-dropping all of the powerful people he knew and even mentioned his relationship with President Donald Trump. The France family is racing royalty -- Brian's grandfather Bill France Sr. (aka Big Bill) founded NASCAR back in 1948 and ran the organization. Brian's father took over the role from 1972 to 2000. Brian has been CEO since 2003. Sag Harbor is one of the most exclusive communities in the Hamptons -- where stars like Billy Joel have homes. And, as one local puts it, "It's so stupid to drive drunk in the Hamptons. They have police checkpoints everywhere and police are always looking for drunk drivers." Story developing ... ||||| Add this Tweet to your website by copying the code below. Saber máis Add this video to your website by copying the code below. Saber máis Vaites, produciuse un problema na conexión co servidor. Queres tentalo de novo? Incluír o chío pai Incluír multimedia Ao inserires contido de Twitter no teu sitio web ou na túa aplicación, aceptas o Acordo de programadores e a Normativa de programadores. Previsualizar ||||| Brian France faces DUI and drug-possession charges in New York. (Chuck Burton/AP) NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France was arrested on DUI and drug-possession charges Sunday evening in Sag Harbor, N.Y., the police department there announced Monday. France was pulled over after his 2017 Lexus went through a stop sign at 7:30 p.m. local time, according to a press release from the department. His blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, TMZ Sports reported. Police also found oxycodone pills during a search, according to the announcement. France, who turned 56 on Thursday, has been charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated — which in New York means his BAC was above 0.18 — and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was held overnight before his arraignment Monday morning, after which he was released on his own recognizance. “We are aware of an incident that occurred last night and are in the process of gathering information,” NASCAR said in a statement. “We take this as a serious matter and will issue a statement after we have all of the facts.” Here’s his mug shot, via Aaron Katersky of ABC News: NASCAR said "We take this as a serious matter" after chief executive Brian France was arrested for drunk driving, possession of oxycodone pic.twitter.com/nJBWQc52SG — Aaron Katersky (@AaronKatersky) August 6, 2018 Later Monday, NASCAR announced in a statement that France has taken an indefinite leave of absence and that, “effective immediately, NASCAR Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President Jim France has assumed the role of interim chairman and chief executive officer.” Jim France is Brian France’s uncle. NASCAR’s Road to Recovery drug-testing program mandates that random drivers, crew members and officials are tested at each week’s racetrack, with positive findings leading to suspensions. It’s unclear whether that program applies to NASCAR executives. France and his wife live in Manhattan, according to a 2016 Hamptons Sheet story, but spend time in the Hamptons when their schedule allows. The grandson of NASCAR founder William H.G. France and son of longtime CEO Bill France Jr., Brian France has been at the helm of NASCAR’s stock-car circuit since 2003, during which its fortunes have risen and then fallen. In a 2009 book called “Dirt Under the Asphalt,” longtime NASCAR writer Jack Flowers alleged that France had undergone treatment for substance abuse at the Betty Ford Center in California and also had been arrested on drug-possession charges in South Carolina before he ascended to his current role. France denied the allegations when asked about them in 2013 by ESPN’s Ed Hinton. “To this day, that still shows up, and I have no idea — obviously I’ve never been to Betty Ford,” France said. “There have been times where I probably apparently have needed to be. I’m kidding around on that, obviously. All of it is tongue-in-cheek. But I have no idea where he could have — he just made it up. You know? I don’t know what to tell you. “I’m not going to say I never inhaled, going back into my teenage days,” he continued. “But I have never checked into [a rehab clinic], or needed to, and have not had those issues.” France drew scrutiny for his odd behavior at the NASCAR Cup Series Awards ceremony last December in Las Vegas. At one point, he abruptly walked off the stage without a handshake after presenting the NASCAR Cup championship ring to Martin Truex Jr. Remember when I said yesterday that NASCAR executives fail at being authentic? Well, here’s Brian France proving my point last night at the Cup Awards banquet. What the hell. pic.twitter.com/dGmZS6yiTD — Nick Bromberg (@NickBromberg) December 1, 2017 Read more from The Post: ‘Keep pushing through’: Brian Dawkins gave a powerful Hall of Fame speech about depression ‘Save Urban Meyer’: Ohio State fans show support for coach with a petition and a planned rally ‘Poppycock’: Angels’ Mike Scioscia dismisses reports that he’ll step down after the season Alabama QB Jalen Hurts vents his frustration, but Nick Saban is unswayed ‘Poppycock’: Angels’ Mike Scioscia dismisses reports that he’ll step down after season When Trump attacked LeBron James, it had an unintended effect: Other athletes speaking out ||||| NASCAR CEO and chairman Brian France was arrested on charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated and criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to a Sag Harbor Village (New York) Police Department news release. According to the news release, France was arrested at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, held overnight and arraigned Monday morning at the Sag Harbor Village Justice Court, where he was released on his own recognizance. "Mr. France was observed operating a 2017 Lexus northbound on Main Street failing to stop at a duly posted stop sign," the news release said. "Upon traffic stop, it was determined that Mr. France was operating said vehicle in an intoxicated condition. Sag Harbor Village Police Department "Upon search of his person, due to a lawful arrest, Mr. France was in possession of oxycodone pills." Aggravated driving while intoxicated in New York is when someone registers a blood alcohol content of 0.18 percent or higher. The drug possession charge is a misdemeanor. No other information was immediately available. TMZ first reported the arrest of France in the Hamptons. "We are aware of an incident that occurred last night and are in the process of gathering information. We take this as a serious matter and will issue a statement after we have all of the facts," NASCAR said in a statement. France, 56, is the grandson of NASCAR founder William H.G. France and son of Bill France Jr. He has held the position of chairman and CEO of NASCAR since 2003. His sister, Lesa France Kennedy, runs the family's publicly traded track-operating company, International Speedway Corp. Jim France -- brother of Bill France Jr. -- and Lesa France Kennedy are believed to own the majority stake in NASCAR, according to public documents, but the family does not comment on its ownership structure. Under NASCAR's substance abuse policy, Brian France could be suspended and required to go through a recovery program, or he could be subjected to drug testing. ||||| Driving while intoxicated is a crime. Your judgment, coordination and ability to drive a vehicle change when you consume any amount of alcohol. The level of impairment depends on five conditions the amount of alcohol you drink the amount of food you eat before or while you drink alcohol the length of time you drink alcohol your body weight your gender There is no quick method to become sober. The best method is to wait until your body absorbs the alcohol. The average rate that your body processes alcohol is approximately one drink per hour. Types of alcohol and drug-related violations in New York State Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) or higher or other evidence of intoxication. For drivers of commercial motor vehicles: .04 BAC or other evidence of intoxication. .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) or higher or other evidence of intoxication. For drivers of commercial motor vehicles: .04 BAC or other evidence of intoxication. Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (Aggravated DWI) .18 BAC or higher .18 BAC or higher Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol (DWAI/Alcohol) More than .05 BAC but less than .07 BAC, or other evidence of impairment. More than .05 BAC but less than .07 BAC, or other evidence of impairment. Driving While Ability Impaired by a Single Drug other than Alcohol (DWAI/Drug) Driving While Ability Impaired by a Combined Influence of Drugs or Alcohol (DWAI/Combination) Chemical Test Refusal A driver who refuses to take a chemical test (normally a test of breath, blood or urine). A driver who refuses to take a chemical test (normally a test of breath, blood or urine). Zero Tolerance Law A driver who is less than 21 years of age and who drives with a .02 BAC to .07 BAC violates the Zero Tolerance Law. In New York State, the penalties for an alcohol or drug-related violation include the loss of driving privileges, fines, and a possible jail term. Penalties for alcohol or drug-related violations Violation Mandatory Fine Maximum Jail Term Mandatory Driver License Action Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (AGG DWI) $1,000 - $2,500 1 year Revoked for at least one year Second AGG DWI in 10 years (E felony) $1,000 - $5,000 4 years Revoked for at least 18 months Third AGG DWI in 10 years (D felony) $2,000 - $10,000 7 years Revoked for at least 18 months Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving While Impaired by a Drug (DWAI-Drug) $500 - $1,000 1 year DWI - Revoked for at least six months DWAI-Drugs - Suspended for at least six months Second DWI or DWAI-Drug violation in 10 years (E felony) $1,000 - $5,000 4 years Revoked for at least one year Third DWI or DWAI-Drug violation in 10 years (D felony) $2,000 - $10,000 7 years Revoked for at least one year Driving While Ability Impaired by a Combination of Alcohol/Drugs (DWAI-Combination) $500 - $1,000 1 year Revoked for at least six months Second DWAI-Combination in 10 years (E felony) $1,000 - $5,000 4 years Revoked for at least one year Third DWAI-Combination in 10 years (D felony) $2,000 - $10,000 7 years Revoked for at least one year Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol (DWAI) $300 - $500 15 days Suspended for 90 days Second DWAI violation in 5 years $500 - $750 30 days Revoked for at least six months Third or subsequent DWAI within 10 years (Misdemeanor) $750 - $1,500 180 days Revoked for at least six months Zero Tolerance Law $125 civil penalty and $100 fee to terminate suspension None Suspended for six months Second Zero Tolerance Law $125 civil penalty and $100 re-application fee None Revoked for one year or until age 21 Chemical Test Refusal $500 civil penalty ($550 for commercial drivers) None Revoked for at least one year, 18 months for commercial drivers. Chemical Test Refusal within five years of a previous DWI-related charge/Chemical Test Refusal $750 civil penalty None Revoked for at least 18 months, one-year or until age 21 for drivers under age 21, permanent CDL revocation for commercial drivers. Chemical Test Refusal - Zero Tolerance Law $300 civil penalty and $100 re-application fee None Revoked for at least one year. Chemical Test Refusal - Second or subsequent Zero Tolerance Law $750 civil penalty and $100 re-application fee None Revoked for at least one year. Driving Under the Influence (Out-of-State) N/A N/A Revoked for at least 90 days. If less than 21 years of age, revoked at least one year. Driving Under the Influence (Out-of State) with any previous alcohol-drug violation N/A N/A Revoked for at least 90 days (longer term with certain prior offenses). If less than 21 years of age, revoked at least one year or until age 21 (longest term). Additional penalties greater penalties can also apply for multiple alcohol or drug violations within a 25-year period surcharges are added to alcohol-related misdemeanors ($260) and felonies (generally $400, but varies slightly depending on court of conviction) three or more alcohol or drug-related convictions or refusals within 10 years can result in permanent revocation, with a waiver request permitted after at least 5 years a driver with an Aggravated DWI violation conviction within the prior 10 years will receive a minimum 18-month revocation if convicted of DWI, DWAI/Drugs or DWAI/Combination. Also, a driver with a prior DWI, Aggravated DWI, DWAI/Drugs or DWAI/Combination with the prior 10 years will receive a minimum 18-month revocation a driver convicted of an Aggravated DWI, DWI, DWAI/Drug, DWAI/combination, vehicular assault and aggravated vehicular assault, or vehicular manslaughter and vehicular homicide three or more times in the preceding 15 year period is guilty of a Class D felony For more information, see You and the Drinking Driving Laws.

– NASCAR CEO and chairman Brian France spent Monday morning being arraigned in the Hamptons after being pulled over Sunday night in Sag Harbor Village and allegedly found to be under the influence and in possession of oxycodone pills. ESPN reports he was charged with aggravated DWI and criminal possession, and cites a news release from the local police department that says he was driving a 2017 Lexus on Main Street when police allegedly observed him "failing to stop at a duly posted stop sign." After being "lawful[ly] arrested," a search of his person turned up the pills, per the release. TMZ first reported the arrest of the 56-year-old, whom it refers to as "one of the most powerful people in professional sports." It reports via sources that France's blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, and similarly relies on unnamed sources to claim France referenced the powerful friends he had, allegedly even mentioning the president, during the incident. The Washington Post suggests TMZ's BAC report is true, in that under New York state law, a DWI charge applies to BAC of .08 or higher, and Aggravated DWI applies to BAC of 0.18 or higher; France was charged with the latter.

McKayla Maroney, a two-time Olympic medalist, has alleged that she was abused as early as age 13 by former Michigan State and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, who already faces 22 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and could receive a sentence of life in prison. Maroney, now 21, helped the "Fierce Five" U.S. women's gymnastics team to the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Games in London. She spoke out early Wednesday as part of the "#MeToo" movement on social media, saying, "Silence has given the wrong people power for too long, and it's time to take our power back." Nassar was involved with USA Gymnastics for nearly three decades as a trainer and national medical coordinator, a role that led him to treat the country's elite gymnasts at four separate Olympic Games. Maroney said the abuse began when she was 13 and attending a U.S. National team training camp at the Karoyli Ranch in the Sam Houston Forest north of Houston, Texas. She did not detail Nassar's specific actions. "Dr. Nassar told me that I was receiving 'medically necessary treatment that he had been performing on patients for over 30 years,'" Maroney wrote. "It started when I was 13 years old, at one of my first National Team training camps, in Texas, and it didn't end until I left the sport. It seemed whenever and wherever this man could find the chance, I was 'treated.' "It happened in London before my team and I won the gold medal, and it happened before I won my silver [in vault in London]." Maroney also wrote that when she was 15, Nassar gave her a sleeping pill during the team's all-day flight to Tokyo for the 2011 world championships and that she woke up alone with him in his hotel room. "For me, the scariest night of my life happened when I was 15 years old," Maroney wrote in her Twitter post. "... He'd given me a sleeping pill for the flight, and the next thing I know, I was all alone with him in his hotel room getting a 'treatment.' I thought I was going to die that night." Attorneys for Nassar had no comment when reached by The Associated Press. USA Gymnastics praised Maroney's strength in a statement on Wednesday, adding it is "outraged and disgusted" by Nassar's alleged conduct. "We are strengthening and enhancing our policies and procedures regarding abuse, as well as expanding our educational efforts to increase awareness of signs to watch for and reporting suspicions of abuse, including the obligation to immediately report," USA Gymnastics wrote. "USA Gymnastics, its members and community are committed to working together to keep our athletes as safe as possible." Former "Fierce Five" teammates Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber and Kyla Ross also offered their support for Maroney on Twitter. 100% support you. SO proud of you and your strength. Love you like a sister!! https://t.co/1VHb79a7lx — Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) October 18, 2017 So sad and heartbreaking that this happened to you Mack. I'm here for you and I support you https://t.co/LXA1Yf04FC — Jordyn Wieber (@jordyn_wieber) October 18, 2017 Heartbreaking that things like this can happen in this world😭 My heart goes out to you mac & all those affected by such tragic events🙏🏽❤️ https://t.co/9KsKtC2a2y — Kyla Ross (@kyla_ross96) October 18, 2017 Attorneys representing 125 women who are suing Nassar agreed in August to take the cases to mediation, a step that could result in a settlement. The plaintiffs are also suing USA Gymnastics, Michigan State and other defendants. Attorneys have said that more women are expected to join the lawsuits. It is not known whether Maroney, who lives in California and officially retired in 2015, is part of those lawsuits. Nassar has already pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges and is in jail, awaiting a Nov. 27 sentencing in that case. He also faces charges in state court in Michigan, largely related to allegations that he digitally penetrated women during medical exams for his own sexual gratification. If convicted on any one of the 22 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, Nassar could be sentenced to life in prison. In the past, Nassar and his attorneys have defended the intra-vaginal and intra-rectal procedures as accepted medical practice. Maroney called for change, urging other victims of abuse to speak out and demanding organizations "be held accountable for their inappropriate actions and behavior." "This is happening everywhere," Maroney wrote. "Wherever there is a position of power, there is the potential for abuse. I had a dream to go to the Olympics, and the things I had to endure to get there, were unnecessary and disgusting." Maroney is the highest profile gymnast yet to come forward publicly claiming abuse by Nassar. Jamie Dantzscher, a bronze medalist on the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, was part of the initial wave of lawsuits filed against Nassar in 2016. Raisman, who won six medals while serving as the captain of the U.S. women's team in both 2012 and 2016, called for sweeping change at USA Gymnastics in August. USA Gymnastics launched an independent review of its policies in the wake of the allegations against Nassar in the summer of 2016 following reporting by the Indianapolis Star that highlighted chronic mishandling of abuse allegations against coaches and staff at some of its more than 3,500 clubs across the country. In June, the federation immediately adopted 70 recommendations proffered by Deborah Daniels, a former federal prosecutor who oversaw the review. The new guidelines require member gyms to go to authorities immediately, with Daniels suggesting USA Gymnastics consider withholding membership from clubs that decline to do so. The organization also named Toby Stark, a child welfare advocate, as its director of SafeSport. Part of Stark's mandate is educating members on rules, educational programs, reporting and adjudication services. The organization also fired president Steve Penny in March. A replacement has not been named. ESPN's John Barr and The Associated Press contributed to this report. ||||| CLOSE Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney released a statement on Twitter claiming that was sexually abused by former USA Gymnastics team physician Larry Nassar. USA TODAY Sports McKayla Maroney (Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports) Corrections & clarifications: A previous version of this story misstated the date that Maroney tweeted. She tweeted Wednesday morning. Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney said former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar sexually abused her over several years, beginning at the age of 13 when she was invited to a national team training camp. Maroney wrote on Twitter that Nassar, who has been accused of assaulting at least 140 girls and women, abused her under the guise of medical treatment. He is on trial in Michigan facing sexual assault charges and awaits sentencing on federal charges. The abuse continued until she left the sport, Maroney said. "It seemed whenever and wherever this man could find the chance, I was 'treated.'" Brennan: Maroney gives courageous voice to sexual abuse Related: Judge refuses to delay sex assault trial for Larry Nassar More: Aly Raisman criticizes USA Gymnastics, USOC for response to sex abuse More: Timeline: Former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar The 21-year-old from Long Beach, Calif., said she was abused before her U.S. team won gold at the 2012 London Olympics and before she won silver on the vault. "We are sickened that some of the abuse committed by Nasser may have occurred during the 2012 Olympic Games, and heartbroken that McKayla was one of his victims," U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Jones said. Maroney also described an incident that she said occurred at the 2011 world championships in Tokyo, when she was 15. She said Nassar had given her a sleeping pill "and the next thing I know I was all alone with him in his hotel room getting a 'treatment.' I thought I was going to die that night." She posted the tweet describing the abuse early Wednesday morning with the #MeToo hashtag. "People should know that this is not just happening in Hollywood," Maroney wrote. "This is happening everywhere. Wherever there is a position of power, there seems to be potential for abuse. I had a dream to go to the Olympics, and the things that I had to endure to get there were unnecessary and disgusting."' Maroney dreamed of becoming an Olympian while watching the 2004 Olympics. "From the outside looking in, it's an amazing story. I did it. I got there, but not without a price," she wrote. In July, Nassar pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges, and faces 22 to 27 years in prison when he’s sentenced Dec. 7. He still faces 33 charges of criminal sexual conduct in Michigan. Nassar was the USA Gymnastics team physician for nearly 20 years and worked with gymnasts at four Olympic Games. USA Gymnastics fired him after receiving a complaint in the summer 2015, but waited five weeks before alerting the FBI. The abuse did not become public until two former gymnasts told TheIndianapolis Star last year that they were abused by Nassar during the 1990s and early 2000s. They said he molested them during multiple treatments. The Indianapolis Star is part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. According to the Lansing State Journal, also part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, more than 140 women and girls have since said Nassar sexually abused them, with nearly all of them saying it happened during medical appointments. The abuse scandal led to the ouster of USA Gymnastics CEO Steve Penny, who resigned in March under pressure from the U.S. Olympic Committee. USA Gymnastics has not hired his replacement. It also prompted a far-reaching review of the federation’s practices by former federal prosecutor Deborah Daniels. In her report, Daniels said USA Gymnastics needed a “complete cultural change” so the safety and well-being of athletes is the priority rather than world and Olympic medals. "USA Gymnastics admires the courage of those, like McKayla Maroney, who have come forward to share their personal experiences with sexual abuse. Because of their strength in coming forward, predators can be held accountable for their actions," USA Gymnastics said in a statement. "We, like so many others, are outraged and disgusted by the conduct of which Larry Nassar is accused. We are sorry that any athlete has been harmed during her or his gymnastics career. "We are strengthening and enhancing our policies and procedures regarding abuse, as well as expanding our educational efforts to increase awareness of signs to watch for and reporting suspicions of abuse, including the obligation to immediately report." Aly Raisman, captain of the past two Olympic teams and Maroney’s teammate in London, has criticized USA Gymnastics and the USOC for their response to the sexual abuse crisis. During the national championships in August, she said she feels the governing body is more concerned about sweeping the abuse cases under the rug or protecting themselves legally than making sure it never happens again. The Indianapolis Star has reported more than 360 cases in which gymnasts have accused coaches of sexual transgressions over 20 years. “The people at the very top, that work at the office every single day at USA Gymnastics, they need to do better,” Raisman said. USA Gymnastics has adopted all 70 recommendations made by Daniels and is in the process of implementing them. Some have already been addressed with the opening of the U.S. Center for Safe Sport, an independent agency created by the USOC to handle sexual misconduct cases in the Olympic movement. "We’re grateful to McKayla and the many other athletes who have spoken out and added their voices to making sure this doesn’t happen again," Jones said. ||||| McKayla Maroney. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post) Inspired to speak out by the burgeoning #MeToo movement, 2012 Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney announced early Wednesday on Twitter that she had been molested by Larry Nassar, who pleaded guilty to federal child-pornography charges in June and has been accused by more than 100 women and girls of sexual assault during his time as USA gymnastics’ team doctor. Maroney, 21, alleges that Nassar began molesting her at the age of 13 at a U.S. national team training camp in Texas and continued the abuse until she left the sport. Maroney won a team gold medal as part of the Fierce Five as well as a silver in the vault at the 2012 Games in London where, she says, Nassar also abused her. She last competed at the 2013 world championships and announced her retirement in 2016. [Doctor at center of USA Gymnastics scandal left warning signs at Michigan State] Maroney’s allegations echo those made by other gymnasts who say they were abused by Nassar: that he molested her in the guise of medical “treatment” for hip and back pain. Nassar is scheduled to be sentenced on the federal child-pornography charges on Nov. 27 in Michigan. Prosecutors have recommended that he be given a prison sentence of between 22 and 27 years. Nassar still faces 22 state charges in Michigan over allegations that he sexually assaulted children, and convictions in those cases could result in a life sentence. His actions also are the subject of a class-action lawsuit filed by his alleged victims against both USA Gymnastics and Michigan State, where Nassar worked for a number of years. It’s unclear whether Maroney is a plaintiff in the lawsuit. Read more: Amid #MeToo, former Soviet gymnast Tatiana Gutsu accuses fellow Olympic gold medalist of rape Indiana stock car race ends with stun gun, arrests after driver causes intentional crash Welsh rugby star ‘lucky’ to still have his hand after lion bites him Curlers upset with American Airlines after agent allegedly denies curling is a sport Eagles fans declare war on NFL referee Pete Morelli with online petition Ahead of game against Astros, the Yankees sneak in win over Red Sox on Twitter

– The #MeToo spotlight has moved beyond Hollywood to focus on sexual abuse at large. Case in point: In a Twitter statement including the hashtag, Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney says she endured years of sexual abuse at the hands of USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, per ESPN. The former gymnast says the abuse, which Nassar allegedly described as "medically necessary treatment that he had been performing on patients for over 30 years," began at a national team training camp at age 13. She was then only a girl with a dream to go to the Olympics. But though her dream would be realized, it came at "a price," the 21-year-old says. "The things that I had to endure to get there were unnecessary and disgusting." Maroney describes one alleged assault in which Nassar gave her a sleeping pill during a flight to Tokyo for the 2011 World Championships. Maroney, then 15, says she awoke to find herself "all alone with him in his hotel room getting a 'treatment'" and "I thought I was going to die." Maroney says she was also abused at the London Olympics, where she was awarded gold and silver medals. "It seemed whenever and wherever this man could find the chance, I was 'treated,'" she adds, noting the abuse only ended when she left the sport. She last competed in 2013 but retired in 2016, per the Washington Post. Maroney is one of at least 140 females to accuse Nassar of abuse, reports USA Today. He faces 33 charges of criminal sexual conduct in Michigan and is awaiting sentencing for possession of child pornography.

The federal consumer watchdog began an unscheduled inspection of the plant, it was reported today. Picture: vk.com As if frolicking in a giant cheese fondue, the workers posed in the milk used to make stringed cheese. The images, which went viral on the web, apparently date to a 2014 corporate New Year Party. 'Yeah, our job is really boring,' says the caption on the online posting on the site of an Artem Romanov. The friends - four in two pictures and give in another - 'spent a good time cheerfully splashing in the bath with milk used for cheese processing', said one report. One man is seen holding up his shorts for the camera. The images are believed to have been taken on the premises of Omsk 'The Cheese' trade house, but a company spokesman refused to comment. The vat was used for the making of smoked or salted cheese. As The Moscow Times reported, the damage can be significant to the cheese industry in Omsk, a major Russian centre for food processing. 'If you plan to buy stringed-cheese the next time you go to the supermarket, you may want to check that it wasn't made in Omsk,' warned the newspaper. A clip also shows men wearing only shorts turning cheese curd in buckets. 'The results of the inspection will be made public as soon as possible'. Picture: vk.com The federal consumer watchdog began an unscheduled inspection of the plant, it was reported today. They were alerted by horrified consumers. 'We are verifying if indeed pictures were taken in this company's cheese processing premises, and whether the pictures of the men are linked to this company,' said Alexander Kriga, head of RosPotrebNadzor in Omsk region. 'There is a possibility that it was a provocation, we do not exclude it.' He promised: 'The results of the inspection will be made public as soon as possible’. ||||| The manager of a Swiss fondue restaurant has won a three-year legal battle over the smell of his cheese after a court decided he did not have to pay a £135 police fine. The fine was imposed on Florian Kurz after two boutique clothes shops either side of his Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten restaurant in Zurich complained that the smell of melted Swiss cheese was driving their customers away, contaminating their products and ruining their business. Kurz, 35, refused to pay the fine. His lawyer, Lorenz Erni, told the court in Zurich that the neighbouring business owners had used "underhand tactics" to retaliate against the restaurant, including bringing smelly fish on to the premises. "One of them brought a speciality smelly fish from Norway into the restaurant and started eating it in front of customers. It was really bad," Kurz told the Guardian. "They also talked badly to the customers and told them that our fondue is not as good as that in other Swiss fondue restaurants." The court ruled that the fine should be cancelled and ordered the two neighbouring businesses to pay Kurz £2,600 in costs and £100 in personal damages. Erni said the court had decided that the smell was not enough to uphold the complaints. "Sure, they are serving cheese fondue, but the smell is not excessive," he said. "The judge decided that it was normal, and that they have the permission to serve what they want." Kurz said the outcome was a victory for fondue. "It's definitely a good win for the Swiss cheese," he said. The neighbouring boutique shops were not available for comment.

– A judge has ruled that stinky-cheese smell isn't as bad as complaining about it in a rather mean way, the Guardian reports. Florian Kurz, the manager of a Swiss fondue restaurant, won't have to pay a $225 fine after two neighboring boutique clothing stores griped about the smell—but those stores must pay Kurz $4,300 in costs and $165 in damages. Why? They not only complained, but brought over "speciality smell fish from Norway" to drive customers away, Kurz said. "They also talked badly to the customers and told them that our fondue is not as good as that in other Swiss fondue restaurants." Kurz refused to pay a fine, and now the judge has sided with him. "Sure, they are serving cheese fondue, but the smell is not excessive," said Kurz's lawyer. "They have the permission to serve what they want." In other cheese news, a photo of naked male workers bathing in milk used to make string cheese has gone viral in Russia, the Siberian Times reports. "Yeah, our job is really boring," the caption read. The photo may damage the nation's string-cheese business, a Moscow newspaper warned, and a federal consumer watchdog is investigating. Click to see the pic, or read about the discovery of the world's most ancient cheese.

Rescue officials are hopeful that a surfer who was plucked from the sea after more than 30 hours adrift off the western coast of Scotland will make a full recovery despite severe hypothermia. Matthew Bryce was being treated at Belfast Hospital in Northern Ireland Tuesday after an intense search ended with him being winched into a Coast Guard helicopter shortly before the light faded. Coast Guard Operations Specialist Lawrence Cumming said the 22-year-old surfer is "making progress" after his ordeal. "He was conscious and breathing but severely hypothermic," Cumming said. "Lifting a hypothermic person from the water is hazardous, but it was done successfully, and he was then taken to the nearest big hospital, which was in Belfast." He said Bryce's survival was greatly aided by his use of a thick wetsuit that includes boots and a hood. The surfer also managed to remain atop his board, lessening his exposure to the cold water. The search was complicated because officials were only notified that Bryce was missing roughly 24 hours after the surfer entered the water, making it more difficult to predict his likely location. "That meant it was a very, very large search area," said Cumming. Lifeboats from Scotland and Northern Ireland scoured the waters as the helicopter searched from the air. Bryce was spotted by the helicopter crew at about 7:30 p.m. Monday shortly before the light started to give out. "We were moving toward twilight and then darkness," said Cumming. ||||| Matthew Bryce, 22, flown to hospital in Belfast after being found hypothermic but conscious 13 miles from land A surfer who had been missing for more than 32 hours in the sea has been traced safe and well. Matthew Bryce, 22, has been found by the Coastguard, 13 miles from the Argyll coast. He had been missing since he was last seen at around 9am on Sunday in the St Catherines area of Argyll, believed to be heading to Westport Beach near Campbeltown. Bryce, from Glasgow, was taken to Belfast hospital to be checked over. Ch Insp Paul Robertson said: “The response to our appeal to find Matthew has been outstanding. “It has been a real team effort and I would like to thank everyone who offered their assistance.” Coastguard rescue teams from Campbeltown, Southend, Gigha, Tarbert and Port Ellen – as well as the Coastguard rescue helicopter based at Prestwick – were involved in the search. Dawn Petrie at Belfast Coastguard operations centre, who co-ordinated the search on Monday, said: “Hope was fading of finding the surfer safe and well after such a long period in the water and with nightfall approaching we were gravely concerned, but at 7.30pm the crew on the Coastguard rescue helicopter were delighted when they located the man still with his surf board and 13 miles off the coast. “He was kitted out with all the right clothing, including a thick neoprene suit, and this must have helped him to survive for so long at sea. He is hypothermic but conscious and has been flown to hospital in Belfast.” ||||| Image copyright Geograph/Police Scotland Image caption Mathew Bryce was found 13 miles from the Scottish shore after setting off from Machrihanish beach An "extremely lucky" surfer has been found by a coastguard helicopter after 32 hours in the sea. Matthew Bryce, 22, from Glasgow, had not been seen since he set off to go surfing off the Argyll coast at 09:00 on Sunday. Belfast Coastguard said he had been in the water since 11:30 on Sunday and was found at 19:30 on Monday. A spokeswoman said Mr Bryce, who was wearing a wetsuit, was hypothermic and had been taken to hospital in Belfast. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Coastguard footage of the moment Matthew Bryce was winched to safety His condition was described as stable. Dawn Petrie, from the coastguard, said: "He was extremely lucky. "Hope was fading of finding the surfer safe and well after such a long period in the water and with nightfall approaching we were gravely concerned but at 7.30pm tonight, the crew on the coastguard rescue helicopter were delighted when they located the man still with his surf board and 13 miles off the coast. "He was kitted out with all the right clothing including a thick neoprene suit and this must have helped him to survive for so long at sea. He is hypothermic but conscious and has been flown to hospital in Belfast." 'Did the right thing' She told BBC Radio: "He did the right thing by staying with his surfboard and that certainly aided his survival." Belfast Coastguard co-ordinated the search for Mr Bryce who left to go surfing from Machrihanish beach near Campbeltown. A large area of sea and shore line was combed after the alarm was raised at lunchtime on Monday. It involved RNLI lifeboats from Campbeltown, Islay and Red Bay and Coastguard rescue teams from Campbeltown, Southend, Gigha, Tarbert and Port Ellen as well as the Coastguard rescue helicopter based at Prestwick. Mr Bryce had last been seen in the St Catherines area of Argyll. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning ||||| In January, we reported on the story of a Japanese surfer who was devilishly yanked by a rip current off Australia’s east coast and pulled three-and-a-half miles offshore. He spent more than 16 hours at sea, with little more than his trunks and his yellow board, which luckily was bright enough to be spotted by crew members of the marine unit of NSW police. It was a reminder of the unassuming dangers of rips, and how the maxims we were taught as young swimmers (“Don’t go out alone in a rippy area”; “Swim parallel to the shore,” etc.) seem so simple as to be commonsense, until you’re the one who’s cold and alone in open ocean, exhausted, drifting out to sea. On Monday, a Glasgow surfer was found alone and hypothermic nearly 13 miles (yes, 13) off Scotland’s western coast after he was dragged by a rip – those airport moving walkways from hell – and cast off for 32 hours (yes, 32) into the frigid North Atlantic according to the BBC. Matthew Bryce, 22, was surfing Scots Beach off the Argyll coast around 11:30 AM UTC on Sunday, presumably alone, before the rip carried him away. His family and friends began to worry as the day stretched on without a word from him, and a coastal search was soon issued. Bryce was found on his bright orange board by the Belfast Coast Guard at 7:30 PM UTC the following day, barely conscious but alive nonetheless. He was quickly airlifted to a Belfast hospital and is in recovery. A Coast Guard member said that Bryce was right to stay with his surfboard, and that the floatation likely saved his life. “He was [also] kitted out with all the right clothing, including a thick neoprene suit,” said the Coast Guard’s Dawn Petrie. [It] must have helped him to survive for so long at sea.”

– A Scottish man is "extremely lucky" to be alive after spending more than 32 hours at sea with only his surfboard. Matthew Bryce, 22, was spotted by a coast guard helicopter some 13 miles off the coast of Argyll, Scotland, around 7:30pm Monday after first jumping in the waves almost a day and a half earlier, reports the BBC. Bryce, from Glasgow, had told family members he was planning to surf at a beach off Argyll around 9am Sunday and hit the waves about 2.5 hours later. When he hadn't returned after several hours, family members alerted police, per ABC News. Coast guard rescue teams from several bases combed the shoreline and sea near the Argyll beach for hours, per the Guardian. But just as hope and daylight were fading Monday, a coast guard helicopter spotted Bryce with his bright orange surfboard some 13 miles off the coast, where a rip current had apparently carried him, reports Surfer. Hypothermic but conscious, he was airlifted to a hospital in Northern Ireland where he's now recovering. Says a coast guard rep: Bryce's ability to stay with his surfboard helped save him, along with "all the right clothing including a thick neoprene suit." (A wetsuit might've saved this shark attack survivor.)

Communications Decency Act (CDA), also called Title V of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, legislation enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1996 primarily in response to concerns about minors’ access to pornography via the Internet. In 1997 federal judges found that the indecency provisions abridged the freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; this decision was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court without comment. The CDA created a criminal cause of action against those who knowingly transmit “obscene” or “indecent” messages, as determined by local community standards, to a recipient under the age of 18 years. It also prohibited knowingly sending or displaying a “patently offensive” message containing sexual or excretory activities or organs to a minor. The CDA did, however, provide a defense to senders or displayers of online “indecent” materials if they took reasonable good-faith efforts to exclude children. This legislation had numerous problems that affected both Internet service providers (ISPs) and businesses. First, there was no way for senders or displayers to know if they were within the exception. At that time, it was difficult and cumbersome for a sender to screen out minors. The displayers could ask for a credit card number as validation, but this would not allow them to conduct business with those who did not have a credit card and were over the age of 18 years. In addition, the terms indecent and patently offensive were ambiguous, and the CDA as a whole placed an undue burden on free speech. Portions of the CDA, especially those regarding the phraseology, were quickly challenged in court by civil rights groups and free-speech advocates. The case was ultimately taken to the Supreme Court in 1997 in Reno v. ACLU. The provisions regarding indecent and patently offensive materials were found to violate the freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment and were removed from the CDA. In 2003 the portions of the CDA regarding obscene content were challenged in Nitke v. Ashcroft (later Nitke v. Gonzales). The plaintiff Barbara Nitke argued that the use of local community standards to determine whether content was obscene was an infringement on her First Amendment rights, as online content is shared with a global community with varying standards. However, she was unable to meet the burden of proof necessary to support her claim, as she could not demonstrate that she would actually be harmed by the CDA. In Section 230 the CDA created a federal immunity to any cause of action that would make ISPs liable for information originating with a third-party user of the service. That section, originally introduced as the Internet Freedom and Family Empowerment Act in 1995, was added to the CDA during a conference to reconcile differences between the Senate and the House of Representatives versions of the bill. Although it protects online forums and ISPs from most federal causes of action, it does not exempt providers from applicable state laws or criminal, communications-privacy, or intellectual-property claims. Though ISPs are protected by the “Good Samaritan” portions of this section, there have been individuals and groups who have sued Internet users and ISPs over libelous Web pages. Some parties maintain that users should be able to sue ISPs in cases where it is appropriate, including situations where an anonymous poster of questionable content in an online forum cannot be identified. Additionally, the courts have not clearly defined the line at which a blogger, who may be viewed as an information publisher and a user, becomes an information content provider. Editing a Web page or posting a comment so as to create a new, defamatory meaning for the existing content may cause that user to lose protection under Section 230. ||||| Amendments 2018—Pub. L. 115–141, div. V, § 103(a)(2), , 132 Stat. 1214, added item 2713. 2002—Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, § 4005(b), , 116 Stat. 1812, made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 107–56, title II, § 223(c)(2), , 115 Stat. 295, effective . See 2001 Amendment note below. 2001—Pub. L. 107–56, title II, §§ 223(c)(2), 224, , 115 Stat. 295, as amended by Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, § 4005(b), , 116 Stat. 1812, temporarily added item 2712. Pub. L. 107–56, title II, §§ 212(a)(2), (b)(2), 224, , 115 Stat. 285, 295, temporarily substituted “Voluntary disclosure of customer communications or records” for “Disclosure of contents” in item 2702 and “Required disclosure of customer communications or records” for “Requirements for governmental access” in item 2703. 1988—Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7067, , 102 Stat. 4405, which directed amendment of item 2710 by inserting “for chapter” after “Definitions” was executed by making the insertion in item 2711 to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the intervening redesignation of item 2710 as 2711 by Pub. L. 100–618, see below. Pub. L. 100–618, § 2(b), , 102 Stat. 3197, added item 2710 and redesignated former item 2710 as 2711. ||||| Airbnb is taking its beef with the city of San Francisco to court. The short-term rental company filed suit today over a new law that requires Airbnb to verify that its hosts have registered with the city before showing ads for their homes online. The suit aims to block the law from going into effect as scheduled on August 1. San Francisco legislators passed the law earlier this month in an effort to combat the housing crisis in the city, but Airbnb and technology advocacy groups argue that the new rules violate the Communications Decency Act. “This legislation ignores the reality that the system is not working and this new approach will harm thousands of everyday San Francisco residents who depend on Airbnb. It also violates federal law,” Airbnb said in a blog post announcing the suit. “This is an unprecedented step for Airbnb, and one we do not take lightly, but we believe it’s the best way to protect our community of hosts and guests.” This is an unprecedented step for Airbnb, and one we do not take lightly. Airbnb San Francisco already requires Airbnb hosts to go through a rigorous registration process that involves acquiring a business license, in-person registration, quarterly reports on when guests are sleeping in the home (as opposed to when the owners are), and a list of all the furnishings in the home that a guest might use, down to the sheets and towels. The process is intended to help the city weed out commercial renters who are taking their properties off the housing market and listing them exclusively on Airbnb. Doing so might earn a homeowner more money, but it also takes housing stock away from a city that desperately needs all the housing it can get. Understandably, many hosts opt not to go through the cumbersome registration process — and the new law puts Airbnb on the hook to make sure its hosts comply. The law requires Airbnb to make sure hosts register, and the company faces $1000 per day fines if it does not. Airbnb launched a campaign asking its hometown to streamline the registration process, but the company is taking its fight to federal court, too. In documents filed this afternoon, Airbnb argues that the new law violates Section 230 of the CDA, which protects websites from being held liable for content provided by their users. Airbnb argues that the city should hold hosts accountable for registering instead. “Instead of punishing Airbnb for publishing unlawful listings, the City could enforce its short-term rental law directly against hosts who violate it,” Airbnb’s filing suggests. “Removing these listings would cause a substantial disruption to Airbnb’s business and have a significant detrimental effect on Airbnb’s goodwill and reputation among both hosts and guests, thus threatening irreparable injury to Airbnb’s business.” It’s the same principle for online vendors of alcohol and cigarettes. City Attorney spokesperson Advocacy groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and The Center for Democracy and Technology have agreed with Airbnb’s legal analysis. The legislation “clearly goes against what Section 230 states,” CDT policy counsel Gautam Hans wrote in a blog post. However, the San Francisco City Attorney’s office argues that Airbnb is misinterpreting the CDA. “Nothing in San Francisco’s pending ordinance punishes hosting platforms for their users’ content. In fact, it’s not regulating user content at all — it’s regulating the business activity of the hosting platform itself,” City Attorney spokesperson Matt Dorsey said. “It’s simply a duty to verify information that’s already required of a regulated business activity.” The CDA protects YouTube from liability when users upload violent content and eBay when sellers use the platform to trade illegal goods, but the City Attorney argues that Airbnb is less of an online business and more of a physical one. “It’s the same principle for online vendors of alcohol and cigarettes. Businesses that sell those products have a legal duty to verify the age of their customers, whether it’s online or at the corner store, so they don’t sell alcohol and cigarettes to children. They, too, are required to verify information that’s already required for their regulated business activity,” Dorsey added. In addition to the alleged CDA Section 230 violation, Airbnb also claims that San Francisco shouldn’t require the company to turn over information about its users without a subpoena. Airbnb argues that the city’s requirement to disclose users’ registration data also violates the Stored Communications Act. ||||| SAN FRANCISCO — Airbnb has charmed and strong-armed lawmakers around the world to allow it to operate in their communities. But two cities, Airbnb’s hometown, San Francisco, and New York, the service’s largest United States market, have not been so compliant. On Monday, Airbnb sued San Francisco over a unanimous decision on June 7 by the city’s Board of Supervisors to fine the company $1,000 a day for every unregistered host on its service. If Airbnb does not comply, it could face misdemeanor charges. The suit follows a bipartisan move by New York lawmakers who voted this month to heavily fine anyone who uses Airbnb to rent a whole apartment for fewer than 30 days, a practice that has been illegal in the state since 2010. The actions show how Airbnb, despite aggressive lobbying efforts, has not been able to persuade some local legislators to play ball. And in the case of New York, the company has demonstrated a surprisingly tin ear for local politics. ||||| "If a clerk at 7-Eleven can be fined for selling alcohol to someone who does not have a proper ID, certainly a multibillion-dollar corporation can be fined for facilitating and profiting from an illegal advertisement," Bonin said in a statement Tuesday. "Instead of fighting tooth and nail to avoid responsibility, Airbnb should help make sure their site is not being abused in ways that threaten the character and quality of our neighborhoods." ||||| From the moment our founders launched Airbnb in 2008 during the middle of the Great Recession to help pay their rent, Airbnb has helped San Franciscans afford to stay in the City they love. Since then, thousands of City residents have avoided eviction or foreclosure and been able to stay in San Francisco because they share their space. Thousands more use Airbnb a few times a year to make extra money while on vacation or when big events come to town. While we are not always perfect, we have constantly sought to learn, get better, and work with the City. There is a need for policies that protect San Francisco’s housing stock and ensure the collection of hotel taxes but also enable residents who depend on Airbnb to make ends meet. For over five years, we have worked with City government to create fair rules for home sharing. Unfortunately, the rules do not work. There is broad agreement that the current registration process in the City is broken. Despite these challenges, we had ongoing conversations with policymakers in City Hall and sought to encourage hosts to register in order to make the process work. Over the last year, we have held eleven town hall meetings to explain the registration process, repeatedly emailed hosts to encourage them to register, and convened scores of meetings with individual hosts to help walk them through the required registration steps. But instead of fixing the process, the Board of Supervisors recently passed a hastily-crafted proposal requiring Airbnb to remove all unregistered hosts. This legislation ignores the reality that the system is not working and this new approach will harm thousands of everyday San Francisco residents who depend on Airbnb. It also violates federal law. In particular, the proposal: 1. Puts many San Franciscans at risk of eviction or foreclosure while doing nothing to fix the broken registration process. An estimated 1,200 San Franciscans avoided foreclosure or eviction by hosting on Airbnb. These hosts have been asked to register with the City, but the ever-changing and confusing process simply doesn’t work for many residents, particularly senior citizens, people who occasionally share their space, work several jobs, and have limited time for repeated in-person application meetings. We have proposed a wide range of improvements, both large and small, that would help fix the process, including: Creating a one-stop, online permit application process. Creating a grace period for new hosts to get registered. Creating flexibility for hosts who rent out their space fewer than 14 nights a year - particularly important for hosts offering space when the City plays hosts to big events. Do not require hosts who share their space via a Qualified Website Company like Airbnb to obtain a business license. Home sharers are already required to receive one license. A second license is duplicative and unnecessary. End the requirement that hosts inventory and pay taxes on items like their sheets, blankets, pots and pans. Despite the Board of Supervisors’ acknowledgement that the current process is broken, the proposal does nothing to address the problem. Instead, the new law doubles down on a broken system by threatening websites that don’t remove home sharers who can’t navigate a confusing, inefficient, and bureaucratic process that often takes months to complete. 2. Violates important federal laws that protect privacy and innovation on the internet. The new law does nothing to fix the registration process and it violates federal law. Since 1996, the Communications Decency Act -- an important federal law referred to as the “linchpin of the vibrant and successful Internet we know today” -- has prevented local governments from holding websites responsible for content published by their users as the city is attempting to do here. The new law also violates the federal Stored Communications Act, which creates uniform privacy protections for internet users and prevents cities from simply demanding that platforms turn over user information without a subpoena or other legal process. A range of experts like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have repeatedly noted that these types of misguided and unlawful rules “would create a chilling atmosphere for online commerce and speech.” The Center for Democracy and Technology agreed, describing the city’s new approach as “unlawful” and noting that “the internet wouldn’t work if it were subject to piecemeal regulations by every state and City within the US.” 3. Ignores better alternatives that could protect San Francisco’s housing stock while respecting federal law There are better ways to regulate home sharing and address the City’s concerns, ways that don’t violate important federal laws. While the CDA plainly prohibits local governments from following the approach taken by the City, it still allows platforms and municipalities to work together to craft rules that work for everyone. We are ready and willing to work with City government to find common ground on a legal, sensible approach to regulation that protects housing and simplifies the process, and we are hopeful this dialogue can continue as quickly as possible. We share the City's concern about unwelcome commercial operators converting affordable rental housing to illegal hotels. Within the last year, over 200 listings have been removed in San Francisco. In addition, the typical Airbnb listing in San Francisco is rented 48 nights per year, and in 2015 nearly a third of “entire home” listings rented on our site in San Francisco were rented out fewer than 14 nights total. San Francisco is our hometown. Airbnb employs over 1,000 people here, and we’ve spent years working with City officials and other advocates to develop sensible rules. Airbnb was the first hosting platform to begin collecting and remitting hotel taxes on behalf of our hosts, and we have collected over $25 million for the City since 2014. We recognize the need for platforms like Airbnb to play a bigger role in helping the City prevent the loss of affordable rental stock. While we have attempted to work with the City on sensible, lawful alternatives to this flawed new ordinance, we regret that we are forced to now ask a federal court to intervene in this matter. This is an unprecedented step for Airbnb, and one we do not take lightly, but we believe it’s the best way to protect our community of hosts and guests. We believe that creative approaches are still possible and hope that the City will reconsider its current path and work with us towards building a new system that is legal, workable, and fair to everyone involved.

– Airbnb has filed a lawsuit alleging its First Amendment rights have been violated and that rules surrounding a new city ordinance flout federal protection for internet companies, and its target is its own hometown, the Los Angeles Times reports. The ordinance in question was passed unanimously earlier this month by San Francisco's Board of Supervisors, and when it takes effect within the next month or so (the New York Times says July; TechCrunch says Aug. 1), Airbnb and other online rental marketplaces will have to ensure hosts renting out their homes are registered with the city. If the company doesn't comply, it can be fined $1,000 per unregistered host per day or be forced to scrub its site of those listings. But in a blog post, Airbnb says "unfortunately, the rules do not work," and CNNMoney notes a registration process that may "turn off" some hosts, including a $50 fee and a mandate that all paperwork be turned in in person. Specifically, the company claims the law will put some San Francisco residents at risk of eviction or foreclosure because of "confusing" registration rules, and that the ordinance would violate the 1996 Communications Decency Act and the Stored Communications Act, which, respectively, protect websites from liability due to user content and from having to hand over consumer info without appropriate legal measures. A rep for the San Francisco attorney's office tells the San Francisco Business Times the city's not regulating online content—it's regulating the hosts' business. "It's simply a duty to verify information that's already required of a regulated business activity," the rep says. (These Airbnb renters found a rotting corpse.)

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) said Tuesday that it could be time to retire the Ames Straw Poll. "I think the straw poll has outlived its usefulness," Branstad said of the early Republican presidential poll, according to The Wall Street Journal. "It has been a great fundraiser for the party but I think its days are over." ADVERTISEMENT Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) was the most recent winner of the August poll."You saw what happened the last time," Branstad continued, referring to Bachmann's push to win the poll before her eventual flame-out in the actual Iowa caucuses in January. The Minnesota congresswoman received only 5 percent of the primary vote.Even though the Ames Straw Poll has only picked the eventual Republican presidential nominee twice (Bob Dole in 1995 and George W. Bush in 1999) in its roughly 30-year history, presidential hopefuls still covet a win in the early survey.Other prominent Iowa Republicans disagreed with Branstad's comments."Gov. Branstad is wrong, and this is not a decision he will make anyway," Iowa Republican Party Chairman A.J. Spiker told the. "It is a decision the party and the candidates will make."Spiker added that he was "surprised any Iowan would ever talk [the poll] down." ||||| Buy Photo Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum; former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty; Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas; Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich.; businessman Herman Cain; Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn. pose for a group photo at the Republican Party's Straw Poll in Ames, Iowa, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011. (Photo: Register file photo)Buy Photo Dear candidates and potential candidates, As some of the most active and engaged Republicans in Iowa, we are writing to urge you to participate in the Iowa Straw Poll. The Straw Poll is a political tradition stretching back to 1979. Many of us remember attending as children, or bringing our own children along while we participated in this grassroots event. In the past, the Straw Poll has drawn more than 20,000 caucus-going Iowa activists, which would make it the largest political gathering in the country. It’s an incredible opportunity for us to meet the men and women running for president, but also an opportunity for you to meet a significant portion of eventual caucus attendees. RELATED: Straw Poll meeting offers clues on who will participate While in the past there have been allegations of “pay to play” at the event, the Republican Party of Iowa has taken the necessary steps to update and improve the event. Now the only cost you must incur to participate is the plane ticket to Iowa. Recently you might have seen some odd accusations leveled at the Straw Poll. Some say it’s an “establishment” ploy, while others say it’s an event dominated by only the most conservative. Neither accusation is accurate: The Iowa Straw Poll is a grassroots event beloved and revered by Iowa Republicans across the political spectrum. All who participate have a fair chance at victory. The Iowa Straw Poll is a tradition worth supporting and one grassroots activists will fight to preserve. Fortune favors the bold. We will be in Boone on Aug. 8 and hope to see you there as well. — Will Rogers, Polk County chairman, Cindy Golding, Linn County chairwoman, and 154 other Republican Party leaders from 92 counties Read or Share this story: http://dmreg.co/1HSMNkA ||||| DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican leaders in Iowa have agreed to end the state's straw poll because of waning interest from presidential hopefuls and questions about its relevancy. Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kauffman says state party officials voted during a Friday morning conference call to end the straw poll, which began in 1979 and has been held every summer before a contested presidential caucus. For years, the poll has been considered an early but unreliable test of campaigns' strength. Critics say it has become a costly sideshow, and many candidates fear the humiliation of a poor showing. Some 2016 GOP hopefuls recently said they would skip the event altogether. ||||| In this Aug. 13, 2011 file photo, Republicans enter the Hilton Coliseum before casting their ballots in the Iowa Republican Party's Straw Poll in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File) This post has been updated The Iowa straw poll, a political jamboree that has been a fixture in the Republican presidential nominating process for nearly four decades but has come under criticism in recent years, was cancelled Friday by state GOP leaders in a unanimous vote. The Republicans cited a lack of interest in the event from leading presidential candidates and they said their decision will help preserve the importance of the Iowa caucuses, which are slated to be held early next year before any other state gets to vote. "Many candidates are still concerned about participating in an event that carries significant media-driven expectations well ahead of our First in the Nation Caucuses," said Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann in a statement. "While we still deeply believe that the Straw Poll offers a fantastic opportunity for candidates, we need to focus on strengthening our First in the Nation status and putting a Republican back in the White House." The move marked the official abandonment of a non-binding poll weighed down by expensive costs and a growing belief among Republicans that it held little predictive value. It means an already-packed and wide open field of GOP hopefuls will be subject to one less major benchmark on the road to 2016. While representatives for seven candidates and probable contenders dropped by a straw poll planning session last month, no one from the top-tier campaigns was there. Jeb Bush and Mike Huckabee -- who won the 2008 Iowa caucuses -- were opting out. Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) had signaled that he would not participate. And Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, seen as an early front-runner in Iowa, had been non-committal. "I went to my first caucus in Dexter, Iowa when I was 13 years old, and I love the straw poll," Brenna Bird, a member of the GOP state central committee, in an e-mail. "But, every presidential election year is different, and this year, despite our best efforts, we did not have enough candidate participation for a successful straw poll." The straw poll is an Iowa political tradition that dates back to 1979 and served two basic purposes: raising money for the Iowa GOP and showcasing the presidential candidates and their relative strengths months ahead of the caucuses. But the summertime event faced an existential crisis as Republican strategists and officials questioned its utility in predicting how hopefuls will fare in Iowa and whether it's a worthwhile investment of candidate time and money. In 2011, then-congresswoman Michele Bachmann won the straw poll; she went on to finish last in the 2012 caucuses. It had also become expensive to compete in the poll. Candidates have had to pay for plum spots at the event, which has been likened to a county fair or a carnival. Hopefuls had to shell out big bucks to transport supporters and pay for food. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) has been one the poll's most prominent critics, once saying the gathering had "outlived its usefulness." The emerging crop of White House hopefuls also showed little interest in the event. The decision to cancel the straw poll could help Walker, an all-but-declared candidate whose Midwestern roots and conservative resume have made him popular among Iowa Republican activists. Participating in the event would have been a high-risk, low-reward proposition for him. A strong showing would have only validated his position at the front of the pack; a weak one would have set off concerns that he was in trouble. "He clearly didn't want to participate," said Craig Robinson, a former Iowa Republican Party political director. He added: "I expect him to really ramp things up in Iowa now in terms of on the ground stuff." Longer-shot candidates like Ben Carson and possible contender Donald Trump stand to lose the most from the absence of a straw poll, said Robinson, since they are looking for a platform to elevate them in the campaign. Even as the effort to scrap the straw poll picked up steam, many Republicans rallied to try to save the event. In May, 156 state Republican activists took to the pages of the Des Moines Register with an op-ed urging candidates to participate. And in January, the state GOP central committee voted 16 to 0 to begin planning a straw poll. This year's version had been slated to take place on Aug. 8 in Boone instead of Ames, where it has been held in past years. While Republicans see the cancellation of the straw poll as a necessary if difficult step, they contend that it won't stop them from getting to know the many candidates for president, since they will have plenty of chances as they barnstorm the state in the coming months. "I still look forward to meeting candidates as they campaign in my community," said Bird, the Republican activist. Jose A. DelReal and Jenna Johnson contributed

– For nearly 40 years, Iowa held its straw poll for Republican hopefuls every summer before the presidential caucuses—but the poll set for this summer is now dead, the AP reports. Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann tells the news agency that state GOP officials made the decision in a unanimous vote during a conference call this morning, with the AP noting the tradition is ending because some 2016 candidates have already said they won't show up and because it's become nothing more than a "costly sideshow." "I've said since December that we would only hold a straw poll if the candidates wanted one, and this year that is just not the case," Kaufmann says, per the Washington Post. "This step, while extremely distasteful for those of us who love the Straw Poll, is necessary to strengthen our First in the Nation status and ensure our future nominee has the best chance possible to take back the White House in 2016." Since 1979, the Post explains, the straw poll has served two main purposes: to bring money in for the Iowa GOP and show off the candidates. But critics say the event has become too expensive, resembles a carnival, and hasn't had a stellar success rate at predicting how well hopefuls will eventually do: The Post points out that Michele Bachmann emerged victorious in the 2011 poll held in Ames, then finished last in the 2012 caucuses; it's actually only been right about the GOP nominee twice. Some Republicans launched an 11th-hour campaign to try to save the poll (see: this late-May op-ed in the Des Moines Register), but their efforts weren't enough. One person who likely won't be upset about the poll's demise: Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who in 2012 proclaimed the poll had "outlived its usefulness," the Hill reported at the time.

The United Kingdom is a highly developed nation that exerts considerable international economic, political, scientific and cultural influence. Located off the northwest corner of Europe, the country includes the island of Great Britain – which contains England, Scotland and Wales – and the northern portion of the island of Ireland. The year 2017 ushered in anxiety about the country’s role on the global stage, due to the public voting in the summer of 2016 to leave the European Union. The vote raises questions about the European Union , as well as the policies supporting the eurozone . ||||| (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images) The mood on the international conference call at the beginning of this month was somber as Ian Bremmer, president of the political risk consulting firm Eurasia Group, prepared to list off top global dangers in the coming year. Bremmer began with a show-stopping line: "If we had to pick one year for a big unexpected crisis — the geopolitical equivalent of the 2008 financial meltdown — it feels like 2018." The reasons are many, Bremmer cited, but the most prominent causes for global insecurity stem from U.S. President Donald Trump's move away from global leadership, and China's eagerness to fill the perceived vacuum. Bremmer isn't alone. Donald Trump pledged to "Make America Great Again." The world thinks he is doing the opposite. The United States slips in this year's U.S. News Best Countries ranking, dropping to the No. 8 spot after falling one position from its 2017 ranking. Switzerland, an island of stable prosperity in a world of turmoil, remains the Best Country, according to a global survey of more than 21,000 persons. The reasons for America's drop – the second straight year its ranking dipped – are fueled by the world's perceptions of the country becoming less progressive and trustworthy, more politically unstable and a president who after just a year in office is far more unpopular than any other head of state or company CEO. As in 2017, Canada remains the No. 2 in the survey. Germany, as it was in 2016, is perceived as the most powerful country in Europe – surpassing the U.K. to place at No. 3 overall, while the U.K. drops to No. 4. Japan rounds out the top five, the highest finish for a nation in Asia, a region which survey respondents increasingly believe holds many of the keys to the world's future. At No. 6 is Sweden and Australia moves up to the No. 7 position, surpassing the U.S. The 2018 Best Countries rankings, formed in partnership with global marketing communications company Y&R's brand strategy firm, BAV Group, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, are based on a study that surveyed global citizens from four regions to assess perceptions of 80 countries on 75 different metrics. Trump Shocks, Divides the World The Best Countries rankings come just days after Trump celebrates his first year as U.S. president. The U.S. is still seen as the most powerful nation. In many ways, however, the results reflect 12 months of ongoing signs of the decline of America's standing in the world. In this sense, a noticeable "Trump Effect" is taking hold of the U.S. Just days after taking office, Trump fulfilled a campaign promise by pulling the U.S. out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. Weeks later a poll showed just 15 percent of Germans believed the new U.S. president to be competent. By last spring's NATO summit, European leaders had begun believing that the U.S. had abdicated its leadership role in the military alliance, as Trump shifted support for both NATO and the European Union. As summer unfolded, Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change. Days later, the nonpartisan Pew Research Center released a poll showing the unpopularity of Trump and his policies was sharply dragging down global opinion of the U.S. Meanwhile, Trump's statements further rattled world opinion. The president engaged in a war of words with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. By November, Trump had begun accumulating a sizeable trail of verbal gaffes to world leaders. By early January, the Washington, D.C.-based Freedom House warned that democracy was "in crisis" around the world, in no small part because of Trump's repeated attacks on the judiciary system and news media in the U.S., lack of seeking "meaningful input" from relevant agencies and "violations of basic ethical standards." In the Best Countries survey, the greatest drop by the U.S. in the rankings came in the perceptions of survey respondents for countries having open travel policies. The backlash against Trump's travel ban order in February 2017 and subsequent media attention are having a lasting impact on America's image, and challenging long-held perceptions of the country's reputation for openness. One piece of good news for the U.S.: The country is seen as the No. 2 country overall for education. Even so, U.S. higher education industry experts worry the country is becoming a less attractive destination for international students, partly because of U.S. immigration policies. Opportunities for Many Countries Among other key findings in the 2018 Best Countries survey: America's perceived retreat from its traditional global leadership role is creating opportunities for other countries, particularly in the areas of "soft power," arenas where economic and cultural influence drive opinions and policy-making. Switzerland's position as the No. 1 overall country is driven by its reputation for citizenship and being open for business. For the third year in a row, Canada is seen as offering the best quality of life, driven by high ratings for education, health care and public safety. In Asia, the U.S. withdrawal from the TPP hasn't slowed the advancing economic might of the region, particularly in China. Authorities in Beijing now see the U.S. foreign policy signals as mixed and an opportunity to work more closely with other countries, including American allies. "Trump's neo-isolationist and unilateralist inclinations have given China a golden opportunity to enhance its prestige, status, and international leadership," says Zhang Baohui, a professor of political science and director of the Centre for Asian Pacific Studies at Lingnan University in Hong Kong. The Best Countries survey findings on leadership and trust in governments and companies are particularly revealing. Approximately 82 percent of survey respondents believe there is a leadership crisis, and 61 percent say they trust private companies more than the government to take care of their needs. Additionally, corporate CEOs are more supported than government leaders. Only Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have approval ratings to rival the top ratings by CEOs such as Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg. And the people with the highest disapproval ratings? By far, Trump, followed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. For 10 interesting facts on the Best Countries survey, click here. For top 25 countries in the Best Countries ranking, click here. Data Editor Deidre McPhillips and BAV's Anna Blender contributed to this report.

– US News ranks everything from hospitals to diets—and now also countries. In a first, the publication has come out with a list of the best 10 countries in the world, based on the perceptions of more than 16,000 people, who were asked to score countries on things like leadership, military, economic strength, culture, and transparency. The US doesn't make the top three: Germany Canada United Kingdom United States Sweden Australia Japan France Netherlands Denmark At least the US fares better when it comes to the most popular leaders, according to Facebook.

Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. ||||| In this frame grab taken from video provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), a child sits in an ambulance after being pulled out or a building hit by an airstirke,... (Associated Press) In this frame grab taken from video provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), a child sits in an ambulance after being pulled out or a building hit by an airstirke,... (Associated Press) BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian opposition activists have released haunting footage showing a young boy rescued from the rubble in the aftermath of a devastating airstrike in Aleppo. The image of the stunned and weary looking boy, sitting in an orange chair inside an ambulance covered in dust and with blood on his face, encapsulates the horrors inflicted on the conflicted northern city and is being widely shared on social media. Doctor in Aleppo on Thursday identified the boy as 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh. Osama Abu al-Ezz confirmed he was brought to the hospital known as "M10" Wednesday night following an airstrike on the rebel-held district of Qaterji with head wounds, but no brain injury, and was later discharged. Doctors in Aleppo use code names for hospitals, which they say have been systematically targeted by government airstrikes. Abu al-Ezz said they do that "because we are afraid security forces will infiltrate their medical network and target ambulances as they transfer patients from one hospital to another." In the video posted late Wednesday by the Aleppo Media Center, a man is seen plucking the boy away from a chaotic nighttime scene and carrying him inside the ambulance, looking dazed and flat-eyed. The boy then runs his hand over his blood-covered face, looks at his hands and wipes them on the ambulance chair. Opposition activists said there were eight casualties overall from the air strike on Qaterji, among them five children. The image of Omran in the orange chair is reminiscent of the image of Aylan Kurdi, the drowned Syrian boy whose body was found on a beach in Turkey and came to encapsulate the horrific toll of Syria's civil war.

– Syrian opposition activists have released haunting footage showing a young boy rescued from the rubble in the aftermath of a devastating airstrike in Aleppo. The image of the stunned and weary-looking boy, sitting in an orange chair inside an ambulance covered in dust and with blood on his face, encapsulates the horrors inflicted on the conflicted northern city and is being widely shared on social media, the AP reports. On Thursday, a doctor in Aleppo identified the boy as 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh. The doctor confirmed he was brought to a hospital Wednesday night following an airstrike on the rebel-held district of Qaterji with head wounds, but no brain injury, and was later discharged. In a video posted late Wednesday by the Aleppo Media Center, a man is seen plucking the boy away from a chaotic nighttime scene and carrying him inside the ambulance, looking dazed and flat-eyed. The boy then runs his hand over his blood-covered face, looks at his hands, and wipes them on the ambulance chair. Opposition activists say there were eight casualties overall from the airstrike on Qaterji, among them five children. (The last 15 doctors in the city are begging for President Obama to help.)

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption "Medieval": Find out what Windsor makes of the royal wedding row Theresa May has entered into the debate about "aggressive begging" in Windsor ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The prime minister said she disagreed with council leader Simon Dudley, who urged police to tackle the issue before the St George's Chapel ceremony on 19 May. Mrs May said councils should "work with police" and ensure accommodation was provided for homeless people. Mr Dudley has been asked for comment. He had written that beggars could present the town in a "sadly unfavourable light" ahead of the royal wedding. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Royal wedding: Theresa May joins Windsor begging row debate Asked about his remarks during a visit to a hospital in nearby Camberley, Mrs May said: "I don't agree with the comments that the leader of the council has made." Mrs May, who is MP in the neighbouring constituency of Maidenhead, added: "Where there are issues of people who are aggressively begging on the streets then it's important that councils work with the police to deal with that aggressive begging." Lord Bird, founder of the street newspaper, The Big Issue, said criminalising or temporarily moving rough sleepers was "not the answer". "The young royals have a fantastic track record in addressing this issue," he said, "so I've no doubt that Harry and Meghan will be equally concerned that this issue is tackled in a way that creates real, and sustainable change in the lives of homeless people." Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption James lives on the streets of Windsor James, 35, who lives on the streets of Windsor, said: "[Mr Dudley] should come out and talk to the homeless and find out what their stories are before he makes those kind of accusations." He said he did not believe there were aggressive beggars in the town, and that ultimately deciding to give money or not was up to the individual. "It is not our choice to be homeless," he said. "Everyone has their own reasons, everyone has their own story." Image caption Murphy James, of the Windsor Homeless Project, said the views expressed by Windsor council leader Simon Dudley were "misinformed" Murphy James, of the Windsor Homeless Project, said the views expressed by Mr Dudley were "misinformed". "It was totally unwarranted to bring the royal wedding into this," he added. "This shouldn't be a situation that's hit the headlines because of a royal wedding. This is a situation that should have hit the headlines because there's people sleeping in bus shelters." Mr Dudley described street begging in the town as creating a "hostile atmosphere" for both residents and tourists in a letter to Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld. Mr Stansfeld said many of the people on the streets of Windsor were "very vulnerable and have mental health issues". "It's not as easy as putting them in a police van and dumping them in Southall or somewhere. It's much more complicated than that," he said. The Rev Louise Brown, a vicar in nearby Dedworth, said no beggars had ever been aggressive to her in Windsor when she had spoken to them. She said: "Yes some of them have got drink problems, but without support from the council to find real solutions I think the problem is going to be there. "You can't just sweep it away because it's a royal town." Image copyright PA Image caption The couple will marry at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in May Eight people were sleeping rough in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead at the last official count in 2016, according to government statistics. This was down from 35 in 2015. Resident Robert Colwell, 70, said he thought Mr Dudley's comments were "disproportionate". "Their wedding is going to be headline news and you don't want that underlined by something insensitive," he said. Jesse Grey, Mr Dudley's Conservative colleague on the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, said there were concerns about "persistent beggars". "People do get attracted to Windsor - we get seven million visitors a year and it's quite lucrative for some people," he said. "If the beggars are persistent it's not very nice for our residents and visitors to Windsor." ||||| FILE - This is a Monday, Dec. 25, 2017. file photo of Britain'sPrince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle as they arrive to attend the traditional Christmas Day service, at St. Mary Magdalene Church... (Associated Press) FILE - This is a Monday, Dec. 25, 2017. file photo of Britain'sPrince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle as they arrive to attend the traditional Christmas Day service, at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, England. A political storm is brewing ahead of Prince Harry’s and Meghan Markle’s May... (Associated Press) FILE - This is a Monday, Dec. 25, 2017. file photo of Britain'sPrince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle as they arrive to attend the traditional Christmas Day service, at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, England. A political storm is brewing ahead of Prince Harry’s and Meghan Markle’s May... (Associated Press) FILE - This is a Monday, Dec. 25, 2017. file photo of Britain'sPrince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle as they arrive to attend the traditional Christmas Day service, at St. Mary Magdalene Church... (Associated Press) LONDON (AP) — A political storm is brewing ahead of Prince Harry's and Meghan Markle's May 19 wedding over whether to crack down on homeless people and beggars in the well-to-do English town of Windsor. The wedding will be held at Windsor Castle, the town's most famous landmark and a favored residence of Queen Elizabeth II. It is expected to draw thousands of extra visitors to a picturesque riverside town 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of London that is already popular with international tourists. Borough council leader Simon Dudley kicked off the controversy by tweeting over the Christmas holidays about the need to clean up the town's streets. He then wrote to police and Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May suggesting action be taken to reduce the presence of beggars and the homeless. Dudley referred to an "epidemic" of homelessness and vagrancy in Windsor and suggested many of the people begging in the town are not really homeless. He said the situation presents a beautiful town in an unfavorable light. Homeless charities reacted angrily Thursday to his suggestion that homelessness should be treated as a police matter so that Windsor can make a positive impression on visitors drawn to the royal nuptials. They reject the assertion that the homeless in Windsor are living on the streets by choice. Greg Beales, a spokesman for Shelter, said people sleeping on the streets are in desperate need of help, particularly in winter, when the weather can be dangerously cold. "Stigmatizing or punishing them is totally counter-productive," he said. Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld said on his website that he was "somewhat surprised" that the letter addressed to him had been released publicly before it was sent to him. He said supporting the vulnerable, including the homeless, is a police priority. Harry and Markle will be wed on the closed-off castle grounds but have said they want the public to be involved to some degree. Harry has supported a number of charity events designed to help the homeless.

– A political storm is brewing ahead of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's May 19 wedding over whether to crack down on homeless people and beggars in the well-to-do English town of Windsor. The wedding will be held at Windsor Castle, the town's most famous landmark and a favored residence of Queen Elizabeth II. It is expected to draw thousands of extra visitors to the picturesque riverside town 20 miles west of London, and borough council leader Simon Dudley kicked off the controversy by tweeting over the Christmas holidays about the need to clean up the town's streets. He then wrote to police and Prime Minister Theresa May suggesting action be taken to reduce the presence of beggars and the homeless, reports the AP. Dudley referred to an "epidemic" of homelessness and vagrancy in Windsor and suggested many of the people begging in the town are not really homeless. He said the situation presents a beautiful town in an unfavorable light. Homeless charities reacted angrily Thursday to his suggestion. The BBC reports May was asked about Dudley's comments and replied, "I don't agree," though she did allow that "where there are issues of people who are aggressively begging on the streets then it's important that councils work with the police to deal with that." Harry and Markle will be wed on the closed-off castle grounds but have said they want the public to be involved to some degree. Harry has supported a number of charity events designed to help the homeless.

Speaker Paul Ryan said he will no longer "defend Trump" or campaign with him. | M. Scott Mahaskey/POLITICO Ryan abandons Trump The House speaker all but conceded that Clinton will win and said he plans to campaign only for a GOP Congress. Speaker Paul Ryan told House Republicans on a conference call Monday morning that he’s done defending Donald Trump and will focus on maintaining his party’s increasingly imperiled House majority, according to sources on the call. The message amounted to a concession by the highest-ranking elected Republican that his nominee for president can’t win — and lawmakers should save themselves and the Republican-controlled Congress to act as a check on Hillary Clinton. Story Continued Below Ryan stopped short of formally rescinding his endorsement of Trump — but just short. His move carries immense risk, and Ryan faced blowback from all sides: Trump and his surrogates warned Republican leaders they would pay a price for breaking from the nominee; some rank-and-file Republicans warned the strategy was a mistake; and immediately after the call, Clinton tweeted to her nearly 10 million followers that “Ryan is still endorsing Trump.” Trump tweeted after the call that "Paul Ryan should spend more time on balancing the budget, jobs and illegal immigration and not waste his time on fighting Republican nominee." And a Trump supporter in the House, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California, sharply criticized Republican leaders on the call for not doing enough to support Trump, sources said. The continued fallout set off alarms among Republicans about a potential down-ballot wave that imperils not only the Senate, which Democrats are already in a strong position to win, but the until-now seemingly impenetrable House majority. At this point, the imperative for vulnerable Republicans on the ballot is simply political survival. Ryan told his members that “you all need to do what’s best for you in your district," said a source on the call, giving rank-and-file lawmakers political cover to disavow Trump. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California urged the lawmakers to take a deep breath and focus on their own races. It was the biggest and most dramatic split between the highest-ranking Republican lawmaker on Capitol Hill and the party's presidential nominee. Ryan has pushed back repeatedly on Trump's most outrageous comments or positions, but until now, he has refused to openly break with the nominee. Ryan and House Republicans are cognizant they could face a backlash from Trump supporters. With less than a month to go in the campaign, an open rupture between the presidential nominee and down-ballot Republicans could turn off independent voters and depress turnout among base voters, compounding their problems from the top of the ticket. "The speaker is going to spend the next month focused entirely on protecting our congressional majorities," said AshLee Strong, Ryan's spokeswoman. Ryan will be campaigning in 17 states and 42 cities this month, with additional events planned, said GOP sources. The conference call came as GOP congressional leaders and rank-and-file members have grown increasingly tired of Trump's rhetoric, uneven public appearances and lewd language. On Friday, a 2005 videotape was released showing Trump making vulgar comments about women, including suggesting he could grab them against their will because he was a celebrity. The video spurred dozens of House and Senate GOP lawmakers to revoke their endorsements of Trump or say they will vote for vice presidential nominee Mike Pence. Trump apologized for his 2005 comments, but then tried to go on the offensive during Sunday's presidential debate by repeatedly invoking accusations from women of improper sexual advances by former President Bill Clinton. Trump accused Hillary Clinton of trying to destroy the credibility of these women. The move delighted some of the most hard-core conservatives but further alienated other Republicans, who see it as having nothing to do with beating Hillary Clinton. Other Trump supporters on the conference call said they wouldn't or couldn't concede the presidential race to Clinton. They included Reps. Billy Long of Missouri, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Trent Franks of Arizona and Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin, among others. "A lot of these guys feel like there is a moral imperative to beating Hillary Clinton," said a source on the call. "Having [Clinton] as commander in chief is something they just can't accept," added a GOP lawmaker. "It just strikes them as appalling." Yet National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Greg Walden of Oregon and GOP strategists are warning that Trump's poll numbers are tanking, and he could drag the House and Senate Republcian majorities down with him. To Ryan, McCarthy and other party leaders, acting as a check on Clinton if she wins is a more viable option — and a far more likely outcome — than a Trump victory. "We're in a terrible place," said a separate GOP lawmaker. "We're damned if we do [stick with Trump] and damned if we don't." ||||| We've detected that JavaScript is disabled in your browser. Would you like to proceed to legacy Twitter? Yes ||||| ST. LOUIS — House Speaker Paul Ryan has discussed withdrawing his endorsement of Donald Trump, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions within his inner circle. Ryan (R-Wis.) has publicly and privately grown dismayed by the tone and tenor of Trump's campaign, according to the sources. And Ryan has reviewed with close advisers whether to abandon the GOP nominee. The discussions occurred after the bombshell video Friday of Trump talking in predatory terms about his sexual exploits, but before the second presidential debate Sunday night. Story Continued Below Ryan is gathering House Republicans on a conference call Monday at 11 a.m. No decision has been made. But that the speaker of the House has even mulled abandoning his own party's presidential nominee is illustrative of the extraordinarily bizarre political climate in the Republican Party. "I think they all face the same dilemma, to varying degrees," a senior House Republican leadership aide said, echoing the sentiment of multiple high-level aides and lawmakers interviewed by POLITICO. "How to express displeasure in a meaningful way. ... How best to help members in tough races. ... How to try to rebuild the party post the anticipated apocalypse. I think they are all having individual and group discussions wrestling with this." Trump's performance during Sunday's ugly and oftentimes vicious debate may have been enough to stanch GOP support from bleeding further. Over the weekend, nearly three dozen Senate and House Republicans either said that they couldn't vote for Trump or urged him to leave the ticket, after the release of the video, in which he bragged about trying to lure a woman into an affair and claimed that he kisses and fondles women with impunity because he is famous. The scandal threatened to derail Trump's campaign. A number of Senate and House Republicans in tough races have already announced they won't back Trump, leaving their leaders to decide whether to follow suit. Trump, in turn, has lashed out at establishment Republicans who abandoned him. Capitol Hill GOP insiders are fretting about the political situation they're now in. If they criticize Trump, they could lose the support of the Republican base. If they don't, independents might flee. The Wall Street Journal editorial page, frequently sympathetic to Ryan, suggested Sunday that GOP congressional leaders withdraw their support for Trump if they need to do so to save their majorities. "They can’t be blamed for breaking from Mr. Trump if that is what their consciences demand or if that is the best path to political survival this year," the Journal's editorial board wrote. "At some point Republicans running for the House and Senate may have to mobilize voters with an argument that they need them as a check on Hillary Clinton." Ryan, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have all disavowed Trump's 2005 comments. Trump on Sunday night dismissed the video as "locker room talk" and tried to move beyond the controversy. "I apologized to my family, I apologized to the American people. Certainly I'm not proud of it, but this is locker room talk," Trump added. "Yes, I'm very embarrassed by it. I hate it. But it's locker room talk." An incident before the debate also alarmed Capitol Hill Republicans. Trump held an impromptu news event Sunday evening with three women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual assault. Many Republican elected officials were hoping Trump wouldn't go there, given that Bill Clinton has been out of office for nearly 17 years. Trump suggested Hillary Clinton enabled her husband's improper behavior by attacking the credibility of his accusers. The four women who attended the event, broadcast on Facebook, were Paula Jones, Kathy Shelton, Kathleen Willey and Juanita Broaddrick. Jones, Willey and Broaddrick have accused Bill Clinton of making improper sexual advances, while Shelton said Hillary Clinton undermined her credibility while defending a client during a 1970s rape case. "These four courageous women have asked to be here, and it was our honor to help them," Trump said. The Clinton campaign dismissed the event as part of Trump's "destructive race to the bottom." But elements in the GOP base pine for that confrontational style. And it indicated to some Republicans that Trump will fight on and keep the race close. That is one thing that helps congressional Republicans. ||||| Kellyanne Conway throws down the gauntlet to Paul Ryan Donald Trump’s campaign manager challenged House Speaker Paul Ryan on Monday not to dump her boss. “I certainly hope Speaker Ryan keeps his word and his endorsement of Donald Trump,” Kellyanne Conway said on “CBS This Morning” -- an aspiration she delivered with a veiled threat. Story Continued Below “Speaker Ryan, of course, took to the stage in Wisconsin in his event and faced some boos from the crowd because those who were [there] expected to see Donald Trump," Conway added. "But we’re happy the speaker of the House has endorsed the nominee Donald Trump.” Ryan, who will convene a call with House Republicans later Monday morning, has already discussed rescinding his lukewarm endorsement of the GOP nominee with his top advisers, though no decision has been made yet. Ryan disinvited Trump from a campaign event in Wisconsin last weekend after a bombshell tape leaked to The Washington Post on Friday, revealing a braggadocious Trump in 2005 talking about attempting adultery and getting away with sexual assault because he’s famous. The revelations of Trump’s extremely crude comments, caught on a video by a hot mic inside an “Access Hollywood” bus, has sparked an exodus from dozens of Republicans, many of whom have called for him to step down or pledged not to vote for him. Conway argued that the defections show “many of them don't wanna support him and we’re gonna to take the case directly to the voters.” But she was also hopeful that Trump’s performance in Sunday’s second presidential debate would put a bandage on a damaging weekend, noting that she would welcome back the defections with open arms. “I can tell you as the campaign manager, we certainly welcome them back, and we hope they saw on display last night somebody who’s willing to a take the case to Hillary Clinton,” she said. “If those members can live with giving the next three or four Supreme Court justices over to Hillary Clinton, they should think about that.” Trump himself, though, has been less genial and optimistic. Trump said in multiple tweets over the weekend that he “WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE” and boasted “[t]remendous support (except for some Republican ‘leadership’).” He later predicted that “many self-righteous hypocrites” who have abandoned him in the wake of his sexually aggressive comments would see their poll numbers go down and lose their reelection bids. ||||| Paul Ryan told a crowd at a fall festival in Wisconsin that there was a "troubling" "elephant in the room," after the Washington Post revealed a 2005 recording of Trump speaking in very lewd terms about women. (The Washington Post) A decision Monday by House Speaker Paul D. Ryan to not campaign with or defend Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump through the November election sparked a public feud with his party’s standard-bearer within a matter of hours, suggesting that a widening split within the GOP could reverberate long after the presidential race is decided. Ryan’s move — and a blunt assessment of the race that he and other congressional leaders delivered during a conference call with House GOP lawmakers Monday morning — underscored the perilous choice Republican officials now face in the wake of Friday’s release of a 2005 videotape in which Trump made lewd comments about women: They can remain in line with their nominee, which would please their base but could alienate swing voters critical to maintaining their hold on Congress. Or they could renounce Trump and offend Republicans eager for a direct confrontation with Hillary Clinton and her husband. For his part, the speaker — who canceled an appearance with Trump after the videotape surfaced Friday — did neither. He won’t publicly campaign with Trump, but he also did not rescind his endorsement of his party’s controversial nominee or back away from his pledge to vote for him. One GOP lawmaker said Ryan (R-Wis.) was confronted on the call by at least a half-dozen members from districts ranging from California to Ohio who bristled at any attempt to distance the party from Trump. “He got huge pushback like I’ve never seen before from members from across the country just saying that was the wrong move — and even if it cost them the House,” said one lawmaker on the call who spoke on the condition of anonymity to candidly describe the private discussion. Late in the call, after several members had criticized GOP leaders, Ryan got back on the line to assure them that he was not planning to rescind his endorsement. But that appeared to do little to assure the pro-Trump contingent. “A number of people said: You can’t have it both ways. You’ve either got to get out and be wholly supportive . . . or it really doesn’t matter,” the GOP lawmaker said. The lawmaker, who represents a safe Republican district where Trump is popular, told The Washington Post that he had heard much the same from his own constituents: “They’re just so fed up with Washington, D.C., that all the rest of this stuff is a side point. . . . They’re willing to overlook a whole lot to try to take back the country.” But Rep. Charlie Dent — a moderate who does not support Trump — also spoke up on the call, saying, “Our nominee should step aside, though I realize it is probably logistically impractical at this moment.” Dent said he warned his fellow Republicans: “Does anyone on the call not think there are worse revelations to come? I would be shocked if there were not more revelations, and what’s our plan when the next one hits?” Trump lashed out at Ryan on Monday, tweeting that the speaker “should spend more time on balancing the budget, jobs and illegal immigration and not waste his time on fighting Republican nominee.” Within a matter of minutes, more than 6,300 people had favorited the tweet. Paul Ryan should spend more time on balancing the budget, jobs and illegal immigration and not waste his time on fighting Republican nominee — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2016 The widening chasm between GOP establishment leaders and Trump, who is now emboldened given his assertive debate performance Sunday night, has moved the party into uncharted territory in the final weeks of an already volatile and unpredictable presidential contest. Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, and his campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, took to the airwaves Monday to make it clear that Trump intends to remain on the offensive for the duration of the campaign. And Trump’s senior communications adviser, Jason Miller, tweeted that “nothing’s changed” after the congressional call, because his candidate has always been a Washington outsider. Re: today’s Congressional call: Nothing’s changed. Mr. Trump’s campaign has always been powered by a grassroots movement, not Washington. — Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) October 10, 2016 And in an interview Monday, former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), a close ally of Trump’s, said his performance would make it more difficult for Republicans to abandon him. “They’ve really raised the ante on Republicans who want to cut and run,” he said. “How can you have watched that debate without knowing he won?” [After distancing himself from Trump, Pence returns to defending him] Some Republican lawmakers, such as Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.), questioned during the conference call Monday why GOP leaders hesitate to back Trump, citing Clinton’s weakness as a candidate. In an email Monday, Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong said that “there is no update on [the speaker’s] position at this time” in regards to endorsing Trump. But she added, “The speaker is going to spend the next month focused entirely on protecting our congressional majorities.” In withdrawing his public support from Trump, Ryan is essentially giving other Republican lawmakers license to do the same if they oppose Trump’s statements and are concerned about their reelection chances. After the 2005 video emerged, Ryan said he was “disgusted” by Trump’s comments but did not withdraw his support. “You all need to do what’s best for you and your district,” Ryan said on the conference call, according to two participants who spoke anonymously because of the private nature of the call. With this move, Ryan at least partially joined a growing group of high-profile Republican lawmakers who have renounced their support of Trump following the disclosure Friday by The Post of an 11-year-old videotape of the businessman talking casually about kissing and groping women. That group includes Sens. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.) and John McCain (Ariz.), both in tough reelection races, and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (Utah). Republicans who participated in the post-debate conference call Monday morning are becoming increasingly worried about their chances of holding on to their 30-seat House majority as Trump lags dangerously behind Clinton in the polls. One described the tone of the call as “nervous.” An NBC News-Wall Street Journal survey released Monday showed Trump taking a big dip after the release of the videotape, with Clinton leading Trump by double digits among likely voters, 46 percent to 35 percent, in a four-way contest. Democrats had a seven-point lead on the question of which party voters would like to see control Congress. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), chairman of the House GOP campaign arm, briefed lawmakers on the House battlegrounds, warning that the “ground is shifting,” according to a lawmaker on the call. Walden said that Republicans should continue to poll their races and that winning would be equivalent to “landing an airplane in a hurricane: You have to trust the instruments.” The speaker plans to spend the next month, he told lawmakers on the conference call, “only campaigning for House seats and not . . . to promote or defend Trump,” according to a GOP lawmaker. Ryan plans to campaign in 17 states and 42 cities in October to help preserve his majority. One member who spoke out during the call — Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), a low-key lawmaker who represents struggling industrial areas along the eastern Ohio River — issued a statement late Monday saying he would “continue to support the top of our Republican ticket” while also saying he would “continue to admire and support Speaker Ryan’s leadership in a very challenging time.” “I am a husband, father of two daughters, and I have four granddaughters,” he said. “And, while I find Donald Trump’s locker room comments from ten years ago offensive, indefensible and regrettable, they don’t change the fact that Hillary Clinton has proven she’ll put personal politics over our national security. [Ryan embarks on whirlwind tour to help save his majority] The House GOP call was an opportunity for members to check in after a chaotic weekend in which dozens of GOP lawmakers revoked their support for Trump after the release of the video. Lawmakers spent the weekend fielding a barrage of questions about their support for Trump, without any formal guidance from party leaders. Ryan typically holds weekly sessions for his members, referring to the confabs as “family meetings” where members are invited to speak their minds. The meetings have become a mainstay for a House GOP that has been plagued by infighting and crises for more than a year. Pence made his first campaign appearance since news of the videotape had broken, telling a group in Charlotte on Monday that it had been “an interesting few days.” He lauded Trump for apologizing during the debate for his vulgar remarks about forcing himself on women in 2005. “It takes a big man to know when he’s wrong and admit it,” said Pence, adding, “Donald Trump last night showed that he’s a big man.” The governor also brought up his Christian faith in his explanation of why he continues to stand by Trump, saying he believes in “grace” and “forgiveness.” Pence made a similar pitch Monday while speaking on Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends,” even as he made clear that his former colleagues in Congress should remember that voters, rather than elected officials, will determine who succeeds President Obama. “My hope is that people across the country, including elected officials, believe in redemption as much as I do,” he said. “I’m happy to talk to any of my friends in leadership. But really, this election is really in the hands of the American people.” Democrats suggested that any effort by Republicans to distance themselves from their nominee at this point in the race would not shield them from the repercussions of his candidacy this fall. “I understand why they’re doing that, but Paul Ryan and other leaders in the Republican Party — there was a time where they could have spoken out. That time was this summer. And obviously it’s too late now,” Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri told reporters aboard the campaign’s plane Monday while en route to Detroit. “Somewhat of a civil war is breaking out in the Republican Party, but I think that Donald Trump didn’t become the nominee of his party on his own. These leaders help legitimize him and I think they have a lot to answer for, and the voters, I imagine, will hold them accountable.” And even as the actions Trump described in the 2005 videotape continued to spark renewed controversy this week, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) told a reporter from the Weekly Standard that when it came to Trump’s allusions to forcibly kissing women and grabbing them by their genitals, ” I don’t characterize that as sexual assault.” After someone tweeted in response that Sessions’s comments were akin to when then-Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) torpedoed his 2012 Senate bid to unseat Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) by referring to “legitimate rape,” McCaskill said that was “not fair to Todd Akin.” That’s not fair to Todd Akin. No comparison. This much worse. https://t.co/3a9EYqkoKT — Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) October 10, 2016 Paul Kane in Washington, Philip Rucker in St. Louis, Sean Sullivan in Charlotte and John Wagner in Detroit contributed to this report.

– Sen. John McCain has dropped his endorsement for Donald Trump, as have several dozen other prominent GOPers, in the wake of Trump's "hot mic" 2005 tape that leaked Friday. But House Speaker Paul Ryan is still hanging in there, though he now says Trump can't count on him for much help through the rest of the election. Politico reports that in a Monday morning conference call, Ryan told fellow Republican lawmakers he "won't defend Trump" or show up at any campaign events with him leading up to Election Day. Instead, he's choosing to set his sights on other matters. "The speaker is going to spend the next month focused entirely on protecting our congressional majorities," his spokeswoman said in a statement, per the Washington Post. "You all need to do what's best for you and your district," the Post source says Ryan told lawmakers in his call. And it's a real concern: A national NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Monday shows Dems now have a 7-point lead on congressional preference, CNBC reports. But amid rumors that Ryan is thinking of pulling his endorsement entirely, Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway appeared on CBS This Morning on Monday, saying, "I certainly hope Speaker Ryan keeps his word and his endorsement of Donald Trump," per Politico. As for those lawmakers who've already withdrawn their support, Trump doesn't have much hope for them in their own races. "So many self-righteous hypocrites. Watch their poll numbers—and elections—go down!" he tweeted Sunday before the debate.

If the order comes, the B-52s will return to a ready-to-fly posture not seen since the Cold War. BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — The U.S. Air Force is preparing to put nuclear-armed bombers back on 24-hour ready alert, a status not seen since the Cold War ended in 1991. That means the long-dormant concrete pads at the ends of this base’s 11,000-foot runway — dubbed the “Christmas tree” for their angular markings — could once again find several B-52s parked on them, laden with nuclear weapons and set to take off at a moment’s notice. “This is yet one more step in ensuring that we’re prepared,” Gen. David Goldfein, Air Force chief of staff, said in an interview during his six-day tour of Barksdale and other U.S. Air Force bases that support the nuclear mission. “I look at it more as not planning for any specific event, but more for the reality of the global situation we find ourselves in and how we ensure we’re prepared going forward.” Goldfein and other senior defense officials stressed that the alert order had not been given, but that preparations were under way in anticipation that it might come. That decision would be made by Gen. John Hyten, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, or Gen. Lori Robinson, the head of U.S. Northern Command. STRATCOM is in charge of the military’s nuclear forces and NORTHCOM is in charge of defending North America. Putting the B-52s back on alert is just one of many decisions facing the Air Force as the U.S. military responds to a changing geopolitical environment that includes North Korea’s rapidly advancing nuclear arsenal, President Trump’s confrontational approach to Pyongyang, and Russia’s increasingly potent and active armed forces. Goldfein, who is the Air Force’s top officer and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is asking his force to think about new ways that nuclear weapons could be used for deterrence, or even combat. “The world is a dangerous place and we’ve got folks that are talking openly about use of nuclear weapons,” he said. “It’s no longer a bipolar world where it’s just us and the Soviet Union. We’ve got other players out there who have nuclear capability. It’s never been more important to make sure that we get this mission right.” During his trip across the country last week, Goldfein encouraged airmen to think beyond Cold War uses for ICBMs, bombers and nuclear cruise missiles. “I’ve challenged…Air Force Global Strike Command to help lead the dialog, help with this discussion about ‘What does conventional conflict look like with a nuclear element?’ and ‘Do we respond as a global force if that were to occur?’ and ‘What are the options?’” he said. “How do we think about it — how do we think about deterrence in that environment?” Asked if placing B-52s back on alert — as they were for decades — would help with deterrence, Goldfein said it’s hard to say. “Really it depends on who, what kind of behavior are we talking about, and whether they’re paying attention to our readiness status,” he said. Already, various improvements have been made to prepare Barksdale — home to the 2d Bomb Wing and Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees the service’s nuclear forces — to return B-52s to an alert posture. Near the alert pads, an old concrete building — where B-52 crews during the Cold War would sleep, ready to run to their aircraft and take off at a moment’s notice — is being renovated. Inside, beds are being installed for more than 100 crew members, more than enough room for the crews that would man bombers positioned on the nine alert pads outside. There’s a recreation room, with a pool table, TVs and a shuffleboard table. Large paintings of the patches for each squadron at Barksdale adorn the walls of a large stairway. One painting — a symbol of the Cold War — depicts a silhouette of a B-52 with the words “Peace The Old Fashioned Way,” written underneath. At the bottom of the stairwell, there is a Strategic Air Command logo, yet another reminder of the Cold War days when American B-52s sat at the ready on the runway outside. Those long-empty B-52 parking spaces will soon get visits by two nuclear command planes, the E-4B Nightwatch and E-6B Mercury, both which will occasionally sit alert there. During a nuclear war, the planes would become the flying command posts of the defense secretary and STRATCOM commander, respectively. If a strike order is given by the president, the planes would be used to transmit launch codes to bombers, ICBMs and submarines. At least one of the four nuclear-hardened E-4Bs — formally called the National Airborne Operations Center, but commonly known as the Doomsday Plane — is always on 24-hour alert. Barksdale and other bases with nuclear bombers are preparing to build storage facilities for a new nuclear cruise missile that is under development. During his trip, Goldfein received updates on the preliminary work for a proposed replacement for the 400-plus Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, and the new long-range cruise missile. “Our job is options,” Goldfein said. “We provide best military advice and options for the commander in chief and the secretary of defense. Should the STRATCOM commander require or the NORTHCOM commander require us to [be on] a higher state of readiness to defend the homeland, then we have to have a place to put those forces.” ||||| The U.S. is ruminating about putting nuclear bombers back on a 24-hour alert. Defense One reports the move is being considered by top Pentagon officials over national security concerns. “This is yet one more step in ensuring that we’re prepared,” Gen. David Goldfein, Air Force chief of staff, said in an interview during his six-day tour of Barksdale and other U.S. Air Force bases that support the nuclear mission. “I look at it more as not planning for any specific event, but more for the reality of the global situation we find ourselves in and how we ensure we’re prepared going forward.” Goldfein and other senior defense officials stressed that the alert order had not been given, but that preparations were under way in anticipation that it might come. That decision would be made by Gen. John Hyten, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, or Gen. Lori Robinson, the head of U.S. Northern Command. STRATCOM is in charge of the military’s nuclear forces and NORTHCOM is in charge of defending North America. It’s important to point out the Pentagon is only considering the option. It doesn’t mean this will happen, and it’s completely possible this is something they consider on a regular basis. After all, Great Britain reportedly has a plan in place to attack North Korea, something other countries probably have as well. That’s part of being in the military, making sure there’s a plan for almost everything. It just depends on whether something leaks out or not. But it’s pretty interesting the Air Force is going on the record and openly talking about the option. It’s not “unnamed sources,” but the Air Force chief of staff saying, “Hey…we’re thinking about it.” Goldfein did admit the strategy may or may not encourage so-called rogue regimes to chill out and back down, noting it depended on, “who, what kind of behavior are we talking about, and whether they’re paying attention to our readiness status.” The easy guess is North Korea, but other nations could include Iran, Russia, and China. The big question for me is why? It makes sense to be prepared, but there are ICBMs and cruise missiles which are available to military forces. Perhaps the Pentagon is considering using B-52’s to do some sort of attempted quiet strike against an enemy, like North Korea, and believe the bomber is a better option than the missiles. The military has yet to put the B-52 out to pasture, so this could just be going back to the well because it works. It also could be the Pentagon is confident a B-52 wouldn’t be detected by North Korea’s lone satellite and China or Russia wouldn’t let North Korea know what was going on. What doesn’t make sense is why the Goldfein would come right out and say, “Yeah this is an option.” Is he trying to send a message to China and Russia or just a message to the entire world that all options are being considered? It also goes against comments by President Donald Trump made during the 2016 campaign about the bombers and their usefulness (the entire, “second-generation B-52” statement). It could be a political move designated to send a message to North Korea, make Kim Jong-un realize the U.S. is taking his threats seriously, and hopefully get him to stop raging against the America. Or it’s Trump just trying to show how “big” his military is. Of course it could also complete backfire and cause Kim to issue even more threats against the U.S., and attempt to draw the nation, and possibly the world, into war. It’s a curious strategy, but one which is only being considered. At the moment.

– The security site Defense One reports that the Air Force is considering putting nuclear-armed bomber planes back on 24-hour notice, something that hasn't been in effect since the Cold War. The site emphasizes that no such order has yet been given, but it quotes Air Force chief of staff Gen. David Goldfein as saying the move is under consideration. "I look at it more as not planning for any specific event, but more for the reality of the global situation we find ourselves in and how we ensure we're prepared going forward," he says. Specifically, the order would result in B-52s armed with nuclear weapons being parked at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, with crews in nearby hangars ready to go at a moment's notice. A post at Hot Air adds a bit of caution about reading too much into the report. Just because it's being considered "doesn’t mean this will happen, and it's completely possible this is something they consider on a regular basis," writes Taylor Millard. After all, planning for all contingencies is what all militaries do, Millard notes. Still, at least one tangible sign of the potential move is in motion: The building where B-52 crews slept during the Cold War is being renovated, notes Defense One.

This article is about the 2016 railway tunnel. For other, see Gotthard Tunnel (disambiguation) The Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT; German: Gotthard-Basistunnel, Italian: Galleria di base del San Gottardo, Romansh: Tunnel da basa dal Son Gottard) is a railway tunnel through the Alps in Switzerland. It opened on 1 June 2016, and full service began on 11 December 2016.[6][7] With a route length of 57.09 km (35.5 mi),[4] it is the world's longest railway and deepest traffic tunnel[8][9][10][note 1] and the first flat, low-level route through the Alps.[11] It lies at the heart of the Gotthard axis and constitutes the third tunnel connecting the cantons of Uri and Ticino, after the Gotthard Tunnel and the Gotthard Road Tunnel. The link consists of two single-track tunnels connecting Erstfeld (Uri) with Bodio (Ticino) and passing below Sedrun (Graubünden). It is part of the New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA) project, which also includes the Ceneri Base Tunnel further south (scheduled to open late 2020) and the Lötschberg Base Tunnel on the other main north-south axis. It is referred to as a "base tunnel" since it bypasses most of the existing Gotthard railway line, a winding mountain route opened in 1882 across the Saint-Gotthard Massif, which was operating at its capacity before the opening of the GBT. The new base tunnel establishes a direct route usable by high-speed rail and heavy freight trains.[12] The main purpose of the Gotthard Base Tunnel is to increase local transport capacity through the Alpine barrier, especially for freight, notably on the Rotterdam–Basel–Genoa corridor, and more specifically to shift freight volumes from trucks to freight trains. This both significantly reduces the danger of fatal road crashes involving trucks, and reduces the environmental damage caused by heavy trucks. The tunnel provides a faster connection between the canton of Ticino and the rest of Switzerland, as well as between northern and southern Europe, cutting the Basel/Zürich–Lugano–Milan journey time for passenger trains by one hour (and from Lucerne to Bellinzona by 45 minutes).[13] After 64 percent of Swiss voters accepted the NRLA project in a 1992 referendum, first preparatory and exploratory work began in 1996. The official start of construction began on 4 November 1999 at Amsteg.[14] Drilling operations in the eastern tunnel were completed on 15 October 2010 in a breakthrough ceremony broadcast live on Swiss TV,[15] and in the western tunnel on 23 March 2011. The tunnel's constructor, AlpTransit Gotthard AG, originally planned to hand over the tunnel to Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS) in operating condition in December 2016[16] but, on 4 February 2014, the handover date was changed to 5 June 2016 with the start of an 850-day opening countdown calendar on the AlpTransit homepage.[3] As of 1998, the total projected cost of the project was CHF 6.323 billion; as of December 2015, the final cost is projected as CHF 9.560 billion.[17] Nine people died during construction.[18] Description [ edit ] The Gotthard Base Tunnel, with a length of 57.09 kilometres (35.47 mi) and a total of 151.84 km (94.3 mi) of tunnels, shafts and passages, is the longest railway tunnel in the world,[note 2] with a geodetic distance of 55.782 kilometres (34.661 mi) between the two portals.[4][9] It is also the first flat route through the Alps or any other major mountain range, with a maximum height of 549 metres (1,801 ft) above sea level,[4] corresponding to that of Berne. It is the deepest railway tunnel in the world, with a maximum depth of 2,450 metres (8,040 ft),[4] comparable to that of the deepest mines on Earth. Without ventilation, the temperature inside the mountain reaches 46 °C (115 °F).[4] Like the two other tunnels passing below the Gotthard, the Gotthard Base Tunnel connects two Alpine valleys across the Saint-Gotthard Massif: the Urner Reusstal in the canton of Uri, in which flows the river Reuss, and the Valle Leventina, the largest valley in the canton of Ticino, in which the river Ticino flows. Unlike most other tunnels, the Gotthard Base Tunnel passes under several distinct mountain massifs, two of them being major subranges of the Alps, the Glarus Alps and the Saint-Gotthard Massif, with the valley of the Anterior Rhine, the Surselva in the canton of Graubünden, between them. The tunnel passes under these two ranges more than 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) below the Chrüzlistock (2,709 m (8,888 ft)) and the Piz Vatgira (2,983 m (9,787 ft), near the Lukmanier Pass). While the cantons of Uri and Ticino are part of the German- and Italian-speaking areas of Switzerland respectively, the Surselva is mainly Romansh-speaking. The north and south portals on the same spring day. Note the prevalence of coniferous trees and snow at the north portal and the absence of them at the south portal. The Alps strongly influence the European climate – and that of Switzerland in particular – and there can be substantially different weather conditions at each end of the GBT, described by the Ticinese architect Mario Botta: "The light changes at the Gotthard: that of the Mediterranean Sea is not the same as that of the continent, that of the central lands, that of Europe far away from the sea."[19] On average, the temperature is 2 to 3 °C (4–5 °F) higher on the south side than the north side, but on some days, temperature differences are well over 10 °C (18 °F).[note 3] The north portal lies in the north of the municipality of Erstfeld at an elevation of 460 metres (1,510 ft), east of the Reuss. There, the tunnel penetrates the western slopes of the Bälmeten and Chli Windgällen (although only marginally) before passing below the valley of the Chärstelenbach, a creek in the Maderanertal. From there, the tunnel runs parallel to the small valley of Etzli, below the Witenalpstock. The main crest of the Glarus Alps, which is the watershed between the Reuss and the Anterior Rhine, is crossed below the Chrüzlistock, the crest having an elevation of about 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) at this point. From the crest and border, the tunnel runs parallel to the small valley of the river Strem (Val Strem) before passing below Sedrun and the Anterior Rhine. From the bottom of the valley, the tunnel proceeds towards the valley of the Rein da Nalps (Val Nalps) and passes east of Lai da Nalps, before crossing the Gannaretsch range below the western summit of Piz Vatgira (2,981 metres (9,780 ft)). This is the deepest point of the tunnel, with a rock layer of 2,450 metres (8,040 ft) above it. The tunnel then passes below the valley of the Rein da Medel (Val Medel) and west of Lai da Sontga Maria. After a few kilometres the tunnel crosses the watershed between the Anterior Rhine and the Ticino, just north of Pizzo dell'Uomo (2,525 metres (8,284 ft)). This point corresponds to the main chain of the Alps, and is the main drainage divide between the Rhine and the Po. For a few kilometres, the tunnel passes below two western tributaries of the Brenno in the Valle Santa Maria before crossing the last range, west of the Passo Predèlp (about 2,500 metres (8,200 ft)) and east of Faido. It then follows the eastern slopes of the large Valle Leventina, the valley of the Ticino, for about 18 kilometres (11 mi) to the south portal at Bodio, at an elevation of 312 metres (1,024 ft), just 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) before Biasca, where the Brenno converges with the Ticino.[note 4] The closest railway stations to the portals are Altdorf and Biasca. The first regularly served railway stations on the base line (as of 2016/17) are those of Arth-Goldau (Schwyz), a railway node with links to Lucerne and Zürich, and Bellinzona (the "Gate of Ticino"), with links to Locarno, Luino and Lugano (via the Monte Ceneri Rail Tunnel). The journey from Arth-Goldau to Bellinzona takes not more than an hour. The station of Altdorf is planned to be served by 2021. There also have been talks of using that of Biasca. The travel between Altdorf and Biasca would last less than 25 minutes. Accesses to the GBT complex Erstfeld, north portal, 460 m a.s.l. Amsteg portal (maintenance access), 507 m a.s.l. Sedrun portal (maintenance access, bridge over the Anterior Rhine), 1334 m a.s.l. Faido portal (maintenance access), 757 m a.s.l. Biasca, south portal, 312 m a.s.l. History [ edit ] Background [ edit ] Since the 13th century, the 2,106 metre-high Gotthard Pass has been an important trade route from northern to southern Europe. Control of its access routes led to the birth of the Swiss Confederacy. The Gotthard Pass is located halfway between Lake Lucerne and Lake Maggiore. It is the shortest link between the navigable Rhine and the Po. The traverse of the pass took days.[20] Quite late, compared to other pass routes through the Alps on a north-south axis (e.g. Simplon, San Bernardino, Brenner), namely in 1822, the first Saint-Gotthard Pass road was established after centuries-long usage of a bridle path. From 1842 onwards, a daily course by the Gotthard Post, a stagecoach drawn by five horses with ten seats, still took about 23 hours from Como to Flüelen. In 1882, with the inauguration of the Gotthard Railway Tunnel, the travel time between Altdorf and Biasca was reduced dramatically to only hours, though often accompanied with overnight stays in huge Fin de siècle-hotels, for example in Biasca. In those days, it was still an adventure and it was only affordable to the very rich. In the autumn of 1921, the final stagecoach traversed the pass. Electrification of the railway line in 1922 significally reduced travel time even more. Refilling water boilers of steam locomotives was no longer necessary. There were also the technical advantages of electrical engines and future technical improvements. It is said that the first car traversed the pass in 1895. The first reported surmounting of the pass in 1901 still took more than a day. From 1924, car transport on trains through the railway tunnel began. The sections between Göschenen and Andermatt, the Schöllenen ravine, and especially the Tremola, had countless hairpin turns and serpentine curves from the peak of the pass to Airolo on the southern side of the pass, dropping 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) in altitude, posing a huge challenge for automobiles. Cars transport on trains in the 1930s From 1953 onwards, the pass road was sequentially improved and expanded at several sections along the Gotthard route, finally ending in 1977 with the opening of an expressway fully circumventing the Tremola. Tremola The old pass road, the Transit time was further dramatically reduced with the opening of the Gotthard Road Tunnel and the finalization of the northern part of A2 motorway through the Urner Reusstal, with many additional tunnels (then leading from Basel to the Gotthard Road Tunnel), in 1980. With the completion in 1986 of the A2 motorway in the Valle Leventina, the huge valley leading from Airolo down to Bellinzona, and the surmounting of the Monte Ceneri between Bellinzona and Lugano in 1983, finally a continuous motorway was established from the northern border of Switzerland in Basel to the southern border in Chiasso, or the shortest motorway route from North-German Hamburg as far as South-Italian Sicilly, bringing down the competitiveness of the railway line.[21] Today, both the rail and the road routes are among the most important passages through the Alps on the north-south axis. After the opening of the auto tunnel, in 1980, traffic increased more than tenfold. The existing tunnel was at its capacity by 2013.[22] A second tunnel will be built next to the first, following a national referendum.[23][24] Construction is to start in 2020 and finish in 2027. Relative location and size of Gotthard Tunnel (1882) and Gotthard Base Tunnel (2016) both yellow. Red: open-air rail As early as 1947, engineer Eduard Gruner imagined a two-story base tunnel from Amsteg to Biasca, both rail and road, with a stop at Sedrun, to provide a faster and flatter passage through the Swiss Alps. Similarly to Gruner's idea, the GBT cuts through the Gotthard Massif some 600 m (2,000 ft) below the older tunnel. On the historic track the Gotthard Railway only trains up to 1,300 t (1,400 short tons; 1,300 long tons)[25] when using two locomotives or up to 1,500 t (1,700 short tons; 1,500 long tons) with an additional bank engine at the end of the train are able to pass through the narrow mountain valleys and through spiral tunnels climbing up to the portals of the old tunnel at a height of 1,151 m (3,776 ft) above sea level. Since the GBT is in full service, standard freight trains of up to 3,600 t (4,000 short tons; 3,500 long tons) are able to pass this natural barrier. Because of ever-increasing international truck traffic, Swiss voters chose a shift in transportation policy in September 1992 by accepting the NRLA proposal. A second law, the Alpine Protection Act of February 1994,[26] requires a shift of as much tonnage as possible from truck transport to train transport. The goal of both the laws is to transport trucks, trailers and freight containers through Switzerland, from Basel to Chiasso, and beyond by rail to relieve the overused roads, and that of the Gotthard in particular, by using intermodal freight transport and rolling highways (where the entire truck is transported). The GBT substantially contributes to the requirements of both laws and enables a direct flat route from the ports of the North Sea (notably Rotterdam) to those of the Mediterranean Sea (notably Genoa), via the Rhine corridor. Passenger trains can travel up to 250 km/h (155 mph) through the GBT, currently reducing travel times for trans-Alpine train journeys by about 40 minutes, and by one hour once the adjacent Zimmerberg and Ceneri Base Tunnels are completed. This is viewed as a revolution, especially in the isolated region of Ticino, which is separated from the rest of the country by the Alps and the Gotthard. The two stations of Bellinzona and Lugano (respectively named "Gate of Ticino" and "Terrace of Ticino") were entirely renovated for the opening of the GBT, among other improvements. As of 2016, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in the world. It is the third Swiss tunnel to bear this title, after the Gotthard Tunnel (15 km, 1882) and the Simplon Tunnel (19.8 km, 1905).[27] It is the third tunnel built under the Gotthard, after the Gotthard Tunnel and the Gotthard Road Tunnel. Construction [ edit ] 2004–2011 tunnel excavation[28][29] Year Month Total excavated (kilometres) (miles) Of planned (%) 2004 July 52.34 32.52 34.1 2005 June 74.59 46.35 48.6 2006 June 94.10 58.47 61.3 2007 June 103.67 64.42 67.6 2008 March 108.02 67.12 70.4 April 109.00 67.73 71.0 July 113.20 70.34 73.8 August 115.20 71.58 75.1 October 118.40 73.57 77.2 2009 January 124.00 77.05 81.6 March 127.30 79.10 83.9 May 131.00 81.40 86.3 June 133.00 82.64 87.6 July 134.80 83.76 87.9 August 136.60 84.88 90.0 September 137.30 85.31 90.4 October 138.60 86.12 91.3 November 140.00 86.99 92.2 December 141.38 87.85 93.0 2010 January 141.82 88.12 93.4 February 142.48 88.53 93.8 March 143.80 89.35 94.7 April 144.80 89.97 95.4 May 145.40 90.35 95.8 June 146.10 90.78 96.2 July 146.60 91.09 96.6 August 147.33 91.55 97.0 September 147.98 91.95 97.5 October 149.10 92.65 98.2 November 149.90 93.14 98.7 December 150.40 93.45 99.0 2011 January 150.49 93.51 99.1 February 150.77 93.68 99.3 March 151.26 93.99 99.6 April 151.70 94.26 99.91 May 151.75 94.29 99.94 June 151.82 94.34 99.99 July 151.82 94.34 100[30] AlpTransit Gotthard AG was responsible for construction. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS). To cut construction time in half, four access tunnels were built so that construction could start at four different sites simultaneously: Erstfeld, Amsteg, Sedrun, and Faido. A fifth at Bodio was added later. The two tunnels are joined approximately every 325 m (1,066 ft) by connecting galleries. Trains can move between the tunnels in the two multifunction stations at Sedrun and Faido. These stations house ventilation equipment and technical infrastructure and serve as emergency stops and evacuation routes.[12] Access to the Sedrun station site is by a level access tunnel 1 km (0.6 mi) long from the valley floor near Sedrun. At the end of the access tunnel, two vertical shafts lead 800 m (2,625 ft) down to the base tunnel level. A proposal to construct a functioning railway station, called Porta Alpina (from Romansh, "Alpine Gate"), at this site was evaluated, but the project was put on hold in 2007 and definitively cancelled by the federal authorities in 2012 as uneconomical.[31] The final breakthrough in the east tube occurred on 15 October 2010 at 14:17 +02:00.[32] The final breakthrough in the west tube occurred on 23 March 2011 at 12:20.[33][34] On 30 August 2013, the tunnel was entirely traversed for the first time from Bodio to Erstfeld in six hours, by diesel train, buses and by foot.[35] On 16 December 2013, the operational test phase started on a 13-kilometre (8.1 mi) stretch in the southern section of the west tube between Faido and Bodio. Its purpose was to test the infrastructure and any ancillary systems.[36] On 31 October 2014, the railway track installation was completed. A gold sleeper on the very last part of the track was installed during the event to mark this milestone of progress.[37][38] On 1 October 2015, following the permission by the Federal Office of Transport, the first tests on the entire length of the GBT were performed, with steadily increasing speed. On 8 November, a train reached the top speed of 275 km/h.[39] → excavation direction). Gotthard Base Tunnel diagram, the new railway link through the Alps NRLA (green:excavation direction). Allocation of work [ edit ] Aerial view of the Erstfeld area (north portal) in 2009 The contracts were awarded in sections: Erstfeld (the 7.7 km (4.8 mi) section from Erstfeld to Amsteg), with two tunnel boring machines (TBM) boring the two tubes. The break-through of the east tube between Erstfeld and Amsteg took place on 15 June 2009. The portal area was surface-mined. Amsteg (the 11.3 km (7.0 mi) section from Amsteg to north of Sedrun), ARGE AGN (Strabag and Züblin Murer) received the contract for work in this sector. [40] On 9 December 2009, the Amsteg section was officially delivered to the owner for fitting-out, [41] with civil engineering, construction, concrete and lining work completed in early 2010. [42] On 9 December 2009, the Amsteg section was officially delivered to the owner for fitting-out, with civil engineering, construction, concrete and lining work completed in early 2010. Sedrun (the 8.6 km (5.3 mi) East tube and 8.7 km (5.4 mi) West tube in the section immediately north and south of Sedrun), along with work performed by Transco (Bilfinger SE, Implenia, Frutiger and Impresa Pizzarotti). [43] [44] The final breakthrough in the west tube occurred in March 2011. [45] The northbound tubes from Amsteg to the Sedrun multifunction station (north) were handed over to the railway systems contractor Transtec Gotthard on 15 September 2011, the date specified in the construction schedule. [46] The final breakthrough in the west tube occurred in March 2011. The northbound tubes from Amsteg to the Sedrun multifunction station (north) were handed over to the railway systems contractor Transtec Gotthard on 15 September 2011, the date specified in the construction schedule. Faido (13.4 km (8.3 mi) East tube and 13.6 km (8.5 mi) West tube in the section from south of Sedrun to Faido), with Consorzio TAT (Alpine Mayreder Bau, CSC Impresa costruzioni, Hochtief and Implenia and Impregilo). [47] Bodio (15.9 km (9.9 mi) East tube and 15.6 km (9.7 mi) West tube in the section from Faido to Bodio), with work performed by Consorzio TAT (Alpine Mayreder Bau, CSC Impresa costruzioni, Hochtief, Implenia and Impregilo).[47] Civil engineering construction, concrete and lining works were completed in early 2010.[42] Deaths during construction [ edit ] Nine workers lost their lives during construction; one in the Amsteg section, two in the Sedrun section, and three each in the southernmost Faido and Bodio sections.[18] They were: Date Nationality Details 8 June 2000 German Hit by a boring bar that fell 700 metres (2,300 ft).[48] 12 March 2002 South African Buried by excavation material.[49] 3 April 2003 German Hit by a rock.[50] 11 September 2003 Austrian Crushed by a toppling cable drum.[51][52] 21 January 2005 Italian (1) Swiss (1) Hit in a mine train collision.[53][54] 23 November 2006 German Crushed by a mine train.[55] 24 June 2010 German Catapulted from an inspection train.[56] 16 July 2012 Italian Fell from a scaffold.[57] Inauguration and commissioning [ edit ] Inauguration days, where the public was allowed to experience high-speed travel below the Alps for the first time, and to move quickly between the exhibitions held in Erstfeld and Bodio. In 2016, several events, including festivities and special exhibitions, were held around the Gotthard, culminating in the inaugurations in early June, dubbed Gottardo 2016. Public institutions joined the celebrations: Swiss Post issued a special stamp commemorating the Gotthard Base Tunnel,[58][59] and Swissmint issued gold and silver coins dedicated to the opening. On 31 May 2016, a day before the inauguration, the nine people who died during construction were commemorated in a ceremony at the north portal in Erstfeld that was led by a Catholic vicar general, a vicar of the Evangelical-Reformed Church of Uri, a Jewish rabbi, and a Muslim imam. A bronze memorial plaque with their names — four coming from Germany, three from Italy, and one from each of South Africa and Austria – was unveiled by AlpTransit Gotthard AG CEO Renzo Simoni.[18] A Catholic shrine to Saint Barbara, the patron of miners, stands inside the tunnel as a memorial.[60] Sedrun multifunction station viewed from the control cab of a Gottardino train. The tunnel was officially inaugurated on 1 June 2016.[60] At the northern entrance in Erstfeld, President of the Confederation Johann Schneider-Ammann spoke of a "giant step for Switzerland but equally for our neighbours and the rest of the continent", while a live relay carried a speech given by Transport Minister Doris Leuthard at the southern entrance in Bodio. The first journey carried hundreds of Swiss citizens who had won tickets in a draw, while the assembled guests in Erstfeld, including the Federal Council in corpore, heads of state and government from neighbouring countries and transport ministers from European countries, attended the opening show Sacre del Gottardo by Volker Hesse featuring 600 dancers, acrobats, singers and musicians celebrating Alpine culture and myths around the Gotthard.[60] On the following weekend, popular festivities and special exhibitions, attended by more than 100,000 visitors, were held. From 2 August to 27 November 2016, the Swiss Federal Railways ran a special train service through the tunnel called "Gottardino" which was open to the public. It was a once-daily service from Flüelen railway station to Biasca railway station and in reverse. The trains made a stop inside the tunnel, to allow passengers to visit an exhibition inside the underground multifunction station in Sedrun which would normally be used in emergency only.[61] Regular services [ edit ] During 2016, the GBT was tested extensively[62][63] before its integration into the regular schedule on 11 December.[64] On 5 December, the Swiss Federal Railways were granted permission from the Federal Transport Office to use the new base line. While the base tunnel is used for InterCity trains (ICN) and EuroCity trains (EC), the summit line remains in use for regional trains.[62] From 2019 onwards, the Gotthard axis will be served by the Stadler EC250 (Giruno), high-speed train and future flagship of the SBB fleet. From the Amsteg portal, guided tours are organised inside the Gotthard Base Tunnel complex. A window allows visitors to watch the trains running in the tunnel. Politics [ edit ] [65] The Porta Alpina project, of which a window remains in sight in the Sedrun station, was largely accepted in a referendum, despite being later abandoned. The realization of the GBT, as the centrepiece of the NRLA, is also a prototypical example of direct democracy in Switzerland. In order to accomplish this mega-project the political institutions also had to overcome many parliamentary sessions and several major popular votes, including the following:[66] 27 September 1992, NRLA proposal (mandatory referendum): The final proposal by the Federal Council was accepted by 63.6% yes votes (declined by 1+2/2 cantons, turnout 45.9%) [67] [68] (mandatory referendum): The final proposal by the Federal Council was accepted by 63.6% yes votes (declined by 1+2/2 cantons, turnout 45.9%) 20 February 1994, Alps Initiative (federal popular initiative): Initiated by a few private people with the goal to protect the Alpine environment from the negative impact of traffic was accepted [69] by 51.9% yes votes (declined by 7 cantons, turnout 41%). [70] [71] The initiative was accepted despite the recommendation by the Federal Council from 12 February 1992 to decline the initiative without any counterproposal, [71] [72] and despite the parliamentary recommendation (both chambers) from 18 June 1993 to decline the initiative. [71] [73] (federal popular initiative): Initiated by a few private people with the goal to protect the Alpine environment from the negative impact of traffic was accepted by 51.9% yes votes (declined by 7 cantons, turnout 41%). The initiative was accepted despite the recommendation by the Federal Council from 12 February 1992 to decline the initiative without any counterproposal, and despite the parliamentary recommendation (both chambers) from 18 June 1993 to decline the initiative. 29 November 1998, Public Transport Funding (mandatory referendum): A total budget of CHF 30 billion for several public transport projects was accepted by 63.5% yes votes (declined by 1+3/2 cantons, turnout 38.3%); "the NRLA is to receive CHF 13.6 billion" [74] [75] (mandatory referendum): A total budget of CHF 30 billion for several public transport projects was accepted by 63.5% yes votes (declined by 1+3/2 cantons, turnout 38.3%); "the NRLA is to receive CHF 13.6 billion" 21 May 2000, Bilateral EU Agreements / 40-tonne Trucks / Heavy Traffic Fee (optional referendum): As part of a whole package of several bilateral agreements with the EU the Swiss also accepted by 67.2% yes votes (declined by 2 cantons, turnout 48.3%) the shift of an upper limit for trucks from 28 tonnes to 40 tonnes, but at the same time the EU agreed to a new heavy-traffic fee, which will also be used to finance the NRLA [76] [77] (optional referendum): As part of a whole package of several bilateral agreements with the EU the Swiss also accepted by 67.2% yes votes (declined by 2 cantons, turnout 48.3%) the shift of an upper limit for trucks from 28 tonnes to 40 tonnes, but at the same time the EU agreed to a new heavy-traffic fee, which will also be used to finance the NRLA 17 December 2003, Ceneri Base Tunnel (parliamentary session): The controversial funding of the Ceneri Base Tunnel was finally passed by parliamentary approval only; the possibility for an optional referendum was not raised by any political groups, nor by the public. The then-in-charge transport minister, Federal Councilor Moritz Leuenberger, was quoted as saying "This is the only way to make the railway [the Gotthard axis] a flat line between Basel and Chiasso."[78] Figures [ edit ] Route overview Legend km to Luzern, Zürich & northern Europe 0 Altdorf 4.4 North portal Erstfeld Gotthard railway 12.2 Erstfeld section 23.5 Amsteg section Sedrun (MGB) 32 .0 Sedrun multifunction station 45.5 Faido multifunction station Gotthard railway Bodio 61.4 South portal Biasca 69.2 to Italy (Bellinzona, Locarno & Lugano) Integration of the portals into the landscape. The new 4 km long open-air section from Rynächt to the north portal. Start of the new 7 km long open-air section from Giustizia to the south portal. The Pollegio Control Centre (near the south portal) with one of the four used TBM cutter heads on display Operation [ edit ] Reduced travel times [ edit ] Reduced travel times by train through the tunnel[81] Shortest journey time by train Approx. time saved (minutes) before after Milan-Zurich 4:03 3:26 35 Lugano-Zurich 2:41 2:08 30 Safety [ edit ] The safety requirements on the rolling stock will be similar to those of other long Swiss tunnels, including the ability for the emergency brake to be overridden. Traffic [ edit ] Projections [ edit ] The number of projected trains per day were 180–260 freight trains and 50 (65 from 2020) passenger trains[5] Passengers [ edit ] After the opening of the tunnel there was an increase of passenger crossing the trans-alpine line, with 2.3 million passengers in the first 8 months, an increase of 30% over the previous year.[82] As of August 2017, an average of 10,400 people cross the tunnel daily. Train services from Italy to Switzerland through the line are expected to become faster from 2020, with the opening of the Ceneri Base Tunnel, with an expected further increase in passenger numbers.[83] There are plans for a train service between Zurich and Milan with a journey time of 2:45 hours, down from 3:50 hours.[82] Freight [ edit ] 67,000 tons on 120 trains crossed the tunnel each day during the first half year of operation.[84] See also [ edit ] Notes [ edit ] References [ edit ] ||||| If you stand in what will be the longest and deepest railway tunnel in the world – the new Gotthard Base Tunnel under the Swiss Alps – you feel a current of air on your cheek and a hum in your ears. Peer down the dimly lit hole into the distant future, and for a moment you think a train is coming. But the thought does not last long; after all, with trains scheduled to rocket through at 150mph, how could it? In fact, you won’t be able to catch a train through the tunnel for another three-and-a-half years. “That sound is the air conditioning,” my guide, Maurus, said. “Swiss labour law says that the temperature must not exceed 28 degrees [82F]. Without the air con, it would be as hot as 45 degrees [113F] down here.” Once work on the 35-mile tunnel is complete, you will be able to hurtle in air-conditioned comfort from Zürich to Milan in just two hours 50 minutes – a saving of 50 minutes on the current travel time. Along the way, you can enjoy the novelty of burrowing 8,000 feet, or one-and-a-half vertical miles, below the surface of the earth – at double motorway speed limits. For now you can join a group tour of the tunnels. These are organised by the visitor centres, where you can see a model of the machine that did most of the work: a mechanical mole nearly 500 yards long, weighing more than 300 tons, and guzzling as much electricity as 4,000 family homes. In good conditions, it chewed through more than 125ft of rock a day. The tunnelling machines finished their work in March 2011, but engineers still have to complete installation of the track, power supply, and telecommunications equipment. The first trains are expected to thunder through towards the end of 2016 – 20 years after engineers dug the first shafts, and a year ahead of schedule. More remarkable still is the effect the project will have on the emotional map of the continent. The new railway route will be 25 miles shorter than the existing one, as well as much faster. Not only will the Alps shrink in significance as a barrier, but the Latin and Teutonic realms will find themselves within commuting distance of each other. Europe is being redefined. Which is why I had embarked on my journey. I wanted to explore a mountain barrier that has also been gateway between north and south for nearly a millennium. Starting deep underground and years in the future, I wanted to travel up and over this mass of rock as well as through the various tunnels that pierce it, threading backwards and forwards through a century and a half of railway history. The Gotthard massif has an additional resonance for me. When I was a child, we would cross it every summer on our way to visit family in the Italian-speaking south of Switzerland, where my mother grew up. We would drive over in our 1961 Volkswagen Caravette, and as we climbed over Gotthard, I imagined our dormobile had shrunk to take on a guest role in a giant train set. I had a similar sensation as I set off from the visitor centre at Erstfeld at the northern end of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, heading south on the existing railway route. At first the line climbs gently along the banks of the River Reuss. Soon the valley steepens, and to gain height the train throws a couple of balletic tricks. Beyond Gurtnellen, it disappears into the mountain to perform a dainty underground pirouette before re-emerging higher up; and near Wassen, it spirals into the mountain, and re-emerges pointing in the opposite direction, back down the valley – before repeating the move, tracing an elegant zig-zag up the mountainside. From our family Caravette, I would watch the trains as they played hide-and-seek with us. Now, from the vantage point of my train seat, I felt as though the whole outdoor train set were laying on a show. Three times the whitewashed, onion-domed church of Wassen glided past on its craggy outcrop: once high above, then level with us, heading in the opposite direction, and a third time far below. It was as if the scenery were giving encores – including once backwards, just to show off. The train finished its climb at Göschenen, where I alighted, before watching it vanish into the funereal gloom of the first Gotthard railway tunnel. This, too, was a pioneering feat of engineering in its time: drilled, dynamited and dug between 1872 and 1882, the nine-mile tunnel provided the first modern link between northern and southern Europe – and cost the lives of 199 labourers. To continue my climb on to the massif, I switched platform and boarded a train of the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway. The narrow-gauge cog train grinds up the wild and rocky Schöllenen Gorge, passing the giddying stone “Devil’s Bridge” atmospherically painted by JMW Turner 200 years ago. It was the construction of the first bridge here eight centuries ago that first made the Gotthard into an important Alpine crossing. Suddenly the walls of the gorge recede, and you emerge in a long, wide valley lined with high peaks, popular with hikers and cross-country skiers: the Urseren valley. Seconds later you pull into a small station, Andermatt, at the junction with another line running east-west. This historic town, with its pretty shingled houses and converted coaching inns, is a good place to get your bearings. Leading away from Andermatt are four great river valleys, echoing the cross on the Swiss flag. Follow the Rhône to the west, and you eventually reach Marseille and the Mediterranean; hike to the source of the Rhine just to the east and head downstream, and you would reach Rotterdam. Leading north is the valley of the Reuss, which empties into the Rhine; flowing south is the Ticino – which gives its name to Switzerland’s only Italian-speaking canton – into the Po and finally the Adriatic. In each valley, a different language predominates. The Swiss to the west speak French, those to the south, Italian, and those to the north, German; while to the east live the 35,000-odd souls for whom Romansh, Switzerland’s fourth national language, is their first. The Gotthard massif is not just a barrier and a junction, then, but a watershed, physical and linguistic, at the heart of Europe: a manifestation in rock of the divisions that lie at the core of this continent, as well as a meeting-point of peoples, and the centre of gravity of this curious little country of four languages and cultures. It is also an intriguingly three-dimensional crossroads. Lowest of all is the new railway tunnel, at an altitude of about 1,800ft above sea level. The existing rail link is about 2,000ft higher – roughly level with the 10.5-mile motorway tunnel which, when it opened in 1980, was the longest road tunnel in the world. Another 1,000ft up floats the town of Andermatt, while the original road over the St. Gotthard Pass lies another 2,000ft higher still: a millennium of transport routes, laid under, through and over roughly a vertical mile of mountain that is as perforated as an Emmental cheese. Some of the tunnels in the massif were excavated by Switzerland’s army, for whom this was both a stronghold and line of defence. A former subterranean fortress has been restored and reopened last summer – home to the new Sasso San Gottardo exhibition, devoted to environmental, strategic and other themes relating to the Gotthard. My railway journey, by contrast, took me west up the Urseren Valley to Realp. A tunnel leading from here to the Rhone valley opened in 1981, providing the first year-round link between the two valleys. However, its opening spelt the death of the Furka line that from June to October every year carried passengers over the pass, 2,000 vertical feet higher up. Just two years after the new tunnel opened, railway enthusiasts formed an association dedicated to the resurrection of the summit line. Nine years later they reopened the first stretch, and 18 years after that – in August 2010 – they completed the final link, and were able to run trains on the full 11-mile route for the first time in a quarter of a century. At Realp I met one of the thousands of volunteers who have helped restore the line: Paul Güdel, retired owner of an electrical goods business in Lucerne. He showed me the railway’s workshops, and the line’s two prize steam locos, built in 1913 and sold to Vietnam in 1947 after the line was electrified. Enthusiasts traced them to a jungle depot where they had stood rusting since 1975, and in 1990 shipped them home and restored them. We boarded a waiting train and within seconds were puffing up towards the pass. As we climbed, Paul told me about some of the challenges the restoration team had faced. We soon reached one of them: the Steffenbach Bridge, which spans a ravine scoured every winter by avalanches powerful enough to sweep away everything in their path. The solution devised by the engineers who created the line was ingenious, and remains unique worldwide: a folding bridge that can be dismantled every autumn. The restorers retained the original design – but whereas in former days a team of 20 men needed eight hours to erect or fold away the 32-ton bridge, now a team of 10 can do the job in six hours, with the help of hydraulic winches. After about 45 minutes of climbing through the thin Alpine air, the wheezing loco had reached the highest point of the line: the Furka station, 7,100ft above sea level. We shut the windows for the smoky ride through the one-mile summit tunnel, before a long glide down into the Rhone valley – starting with a glimpse of the glacier that is the river’s source. At the village of Gletsch we embarked on the last sector to be reopened, with a renovated spiral tunnel through the rock and a steep descent through fragrant glades of pine. Just before we pulled in to the little station of Oberwald, where the old and new lines rejoin, Paul pointed out the ingenious new level crossing – automated so that the toothed rack disappears below the tarmac as soon as the train has passed. Not for the first time on this trip I had the impression that there’s nothing the Swiss like better than solving a challenge – especially if it involves mountains and trains. This seems equally true whether they are working with steam locos designed to crawl up mountains at 15mph or their electrically driven descendants hurtling underneath the Alps 10 times faster. I wondered what my great-grandfather would have made of all this. He, too, was a railway man, who helped build a branch running from the main Gotthard line to Locarno. He used to tell how the construction workers, when they were laying track through the marshes north of Lake Maggiore, would receive a daily tot of rum to ward off malaria. Three generations on, his successors are once again redefining the way the country sees itself. But by tunnelling under the great physical barrier at the heart of Europe, are they not undermining Switzerland’s raison d’être? After all, without the Alps, this quirky little country would not make sense. Perhaps. But I am more than happy for busy folk to rocket underneath the mountains, clear of the spectacular scenery that is the best reason for lingering in this part of the world. And I am delighted that the line will divert much of the freight that currently crosses the Alps at higher altitude, and so reduce pollution – the main reason for building the line in the first place. The mountains will be fresher and quieter as a result. I shall continue to catch the clanky old trains to get there, travelling at speeds with which my great-grandfather would have been familiar. And I like to think that, however far I travel from the childhood in which I first fell in love with this part of the world, I will never tire of playing with the world’s best train set. Rail Europe (0844 848 4070; www.raileurope.co.uk) sells through tickets to major Swiss cities. For travel within the country, the Swiss Travel System (www.swisstravelsystem.co.uk) offers a range of rail passes. For timetables – including connections with boats, buses, cable cars, etc. – see www.sbb.ch. For general tourist information, contact the Switzerland Travel Centre (00800 100 200 30; www.MySwitzerland.com). Admission to the three visitor centres of the Gotthard Base Tunnel (www.alptransit.ch) is free. A charge is made for site tours; reservations essential. Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway: www.dfb.ch; Sasso San Gottardo: www.sasso-sangottardo.ch. Favourite Swiss train trips A combination of glorious scenery and a faultless railway system ensures that train journeys in Switzerland are invariably a pleasure. Here are some of my favourites: Full prices and timetable information – complete with details of connections with boats, buses and cog railways – can be found at www.sbb.ch. Prices given are for second class. Lausanne to Martigny The whole ride from Geneva airport towards the mountain resorts of the Valais fills me with happy anticipation. The most scenic stretch, perhaps, leads from Lausanne through the terraced vineyards of the Lavaux with their pretty winemaking villages – a World Heritage Site. The line then passes the medieval Château de Chillon, on the shores of Lake Geneva, before climbing up the Rhone valley, with ever more impressive Alpine views along the way. CHF 24 single, approx. 50 minutes (www.sbb.ch). Golden Pass Line – Montreux to Lucerne The train climbs steeply from the palm-lined shores of Lake Geneva up to the chic mountain resorts of Chateau d’Oex and, across the border in German-speaking Switzerland, Gstaad. The route then leads down the lush valley of the Simmental before threading along the shores of six mountain lakes to historic Lucerne. CHF 73 single, approx. 5 hrs 20 min (www.goldenpass.ch). Bernina Express – St. Moritz to Tirano Less famous than the Glacier Express to Zermatt (www.glacierexpress.ch), this ride is nonetheless spectacular, incorporating the highest railway crossing in the Alps, at the foot of the glaciers of the Bernina massif. With the Albula Line from Chur to St. Moritz, all soaring viaducts and twisting tunnels, the Bernina line was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2008. CHF 30 single, approx. 2 hours 30 min (www.rhb.ch). Pilatus cog railway The steepest rack railway in the world carries you from the shores of Lake Lucerne up a vertical mile to the summit of Mt. Pilatus, and spectacular views, in just 30 minutes. But it’s worth spending at least half a day on the trip – and heading down the mountain on the other side, via a cable car and then a gondola. CHF 68 return, or CHF 97.20 for the “Golden Round Trip”, which completes the circuit with a boat ride on Lake Lucerne (www.pilatus.ch). Follow your nose A series of rail passes, available to non-residents only, offers total freedom – and good value. The Swiss Pass enables free travel on 12,500 miles of rail, boat and bus routes, as well as admission to 400 museums; from £194 for four days to £434 for one month. The Swiss Flexi Pass grants the same benefits on freely chosen days within a calendar month: from £186 for three days to £296 for six days. Two or more people travelling together at all times get a 15 per cent discount; children under 16 travel free when accompanied by at least one parent (020 7420 4900; www.stc.co.uk). ||||| Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters The Swiss Alps are an unforgiving landscape of rugged, rocky peaks and lush, green valleys. Connecting communities that would be otherwise isolated by the vast mountain range — including cultural and economic hubs such as Zurich, Milan, and Turin — is no easy task. Tunneling and track-laying for the 35-mile NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel has been completed, making it officially the longest tunnel in the world, surpassing Japan's 14-1/2-mile Seikan Tunnel. Swiss authorities held a media day inside the tunnel on Monday to announce that most of the technical work for the tunnel had been completed, the Swiss newspaper TDG reports. Testing will begin October 1 in anticipation of the first passenger and freight trains in June 2016. ||||| Workers in the Gotthard Base Tunnel install steel to stabilize the tunnel walls, in Sedrun, Switzerland, July 26, 2007. Crossing the Alps, the world's longest train tunnel should become operational at the end of 2016, consisting of two parallel single track tunnels, each of... Reuters/Siggi Bucher

– Switzerland is now officially home to the longest railway tunnel in the world: the 35-mile-long NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel, Business Insider reports. Construction has wrapped up, and passengers will soon be able to travel from Zurich to Milan in just under three hours—an hour less than the previous travel time, according to a previous feature in the Telegraph. They'll do so while riding at 150mph under the Swiss Alps. The tunnel is more than twice the length of the world's previous longest tunnel: the 14.5-mile Seikan Tunnel in Japan, Business Insider notes. Construction on the $10.3 billion project started in 1996, according to the tunnel's Wikipedia page. In addition to more than 2,000 workers, drilling machines named "Gaby" and "Sissy" churned through the earth while a statue of Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners, watched over all, according to Reuters (which presents a photo gallery). Safety testing is scheduled to start Oct. 1, with passenger and freight trains beginning operations in June. Authorities will pick 1,000 people for the maiden voyage, reports the French-language Tribune de Genève. Let's hope none of them try to hold their breath.

Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| Pfizer previously said the rollback would give Trump an opportunity to work on his administration's drug price plan. | Mario Tama/Getty Images Pfizer raises drug prices again, rebuking Trump Drug giant Pfizer announced on Friday it will increase the list prices of 41 medicines in January, just months after it agreed to temporarily roll back price hikes under pressure from President Donald Trump. Pfizer's new price increases, which take effect Jan. 15, will apply to 10 percent of its portfolio, the company said. Most of those drugs will see 5 percent increases. Story Continued Below Trump attacked Pfizer in July after the company raised prices, just weeks after he announced a drug pricing plan he claimed would result in "historic" price cuts. Trump accused the company of "taking advantage of the poor & others unable to defend themselves," and Pfizer a day later agreed to cancel the price increases. Pfizer at the time said the rollback would give Trump an opportunity to work on his administration's drug price plan. The company said it would reinstate price increases at the end of the year if the administration's drug pricing plan didn't take effect. A spokesperson for HHS Secretary Alex Azar criticized Pfizer’s latest price hikes, saying they “further illustrate the perverse incentives of America’s drug pricing system.” Prescription Pulse A weekly briefing on pharmaceutical policy news — in your inbox. Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. Trump's criticism of Pfizer earlier this year also prompted nine other drugmakers to roll back or freeze prices. But the gestures were largely seen as symbolic, with some companies agreeing to freeze prices just weeks after they already took what is usually their last price increases of the year — companies typically raise prices in January and July. Health policy experts have expected the industry would resume regular price increases starting in January. “The drug price pledges made earlier this year were just for show — it was obvious at the time, and it's obvious now,” said Walid Gellad, director of the Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing at the University of Pittsburgh. “The bully pulpit doesn't work, and even if it did, we don't want a system in which the only way to bring down drug prices is for the president to publicly berate a company — that's not a healthy market and not good policy.” But some health policy experts said they think Trump’s tendency to lash out at drug companies will keep price hikes lower next year, even it doesn’t completely eliminate them. “I think it’s less likely we’ll see the same manner of price increases of previous years (double digit) that the market had grown accustomed to, but I don’t think that entails a wholesale stop to price increases,” John Leppard, an analyst at the research firm Washington Analysis, said in an email. Pfizer said the new price increases are expected to be offset by higher rebates and discounts given to insurance companies and pharmacy benefits managers, and it doesn’t expect the hikes will increase its 2019 revenue. Azar spokesperson Caitlin Oakley pointed out the company’s discounts won’t help consumers who must pay list price or a set percentage of it. Trump's drug pricing plan from May, a 44-page outline of proposals, largely remains unimplemented. Drug pricing is one area where the new Democratic House majority could find common ground with Trump. Some Wall Street analysts said drug companies were holding down price increases this summer to avoid provoking more aggressive action from the Trump administration. But just before the elections, the administration offered proposals the industry doesn't like, including one tying Medicare payments for some expensive drugs to lower prices set by European countries. Drug companies, "don't need to play nice anymore (or not 'as nice')," Bernstein investment analyst Ronny Gal said in an email. ||||| These two "quality" stocks look like a buy in a volatile market 2:35 PM ET Mon, 12 Nov 2018 | 03:24 List prices are the advertised price of a drug, not necessarily the price insurers pay after discounts, known as rebates. The news was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. "We believe the best means to address affordability of medicines is to reduce the growing out-of-pocket costs that consumers are facing due to high deductibles and co-insurance, and ensure that patients receive the benefit of rebates at the pharmacy counter," Pfizer's outgoing CEO Ian Read said in a statement. Trump criticized Pfizer this summer when the company said it would raise prices on about 40 drugs. He tweeted that Pfizer and other drugmakers "should be ashamed" for increasing drug prices. Pfizer reversed course and said it would hold off on making these increases until the end of the year or until Trump's blueprint to lower drug prices went into effect. On an earnings call with Wall Street analysts last month, Read said by the end of the year, the company's strategy on price increases would be back to "business as normal." ||||| Pfizer Inc, which is planning a merger of $160 billion with Allergen based in Ireland to cut its annual tax bill, raised the prices in the U.S. on January 1 of over 100 drugs, of which some were hiked by 20%, according to a global information company online that compiled the statistics. Pfizer confirmed an increase of 9.4% for Lyrica its pain drug that is heavily advertised, which generated over $2.3 billion in U.S. sales during 2014; an increase of 12.9% for Viagra its erectile dysfunction pill, which has sales in the U.S. during 2014 of $1.1 billion; and an increase of 5% in Ibrance, a drug for breast cancer launched in 2015 at an annual price of $118,200. A spokesperson for the company said he could not confirm the price increases, which had been compiled by the statistical company. Lawmakers in the U.S. and candidates for president have recently stepped up their criticism of drug prices in the U.S. driven partly by the price hikes of incredible proportion from companies that recently acquired the rights to generic drugs. Medicines are amongst the most efficient and effective use of public and private healthcare dollars said Pfizer in a statement that was emailed. Pfizer, said an industry analyst, increased prices by up to 20% for Menest its hormone therapy, Dilantin its anticonvulsant, Nitrostat for angina, Tykosyn for a heartbeat that is irregular and Tygacil an antibiotic. The report by the analyst said prices in the U.S. were increased on 105 drugs at Pfizer, with no reported prices reductions. Pfizer by no means is the only drug makers that increased its prices. On online research firm found that prices of prescription drugs in the U.S. were increased 10.9% during 2014, including by 15% for products that were brand name. The planned deal between Pfizer and Allergen would create the largest drug maker in the world and shift the headquarters of Pfizer to Ireland. It would also be the one instance that was the biggest ever of a company in the U.S. re-incorporating overseas as a way to lower its own taxes.

– Give it to Pfizer—they waited a while. The pharmaceutical giant is raising the price of 41 prescription drugs after hitting the pause button this summer when President Trump opposed a price hike, reports CNBC. Most prices are slated to rise 5%, while Stocks Beat says the pain drug Lyrica will go up 9% and Viagra nearly 13%. These are advertised prices, which may differ from what insurers fork out after discounts. "We believe the best means to address affordability of medicines is to reduce the growing out-of-pocket costs that consumers are facing due to high deductibles and co-insurance, and ensure that patients receive the benefit of rebates at the pharmacy counter," says outgoing Pfizer CEO Ian Read. About 10% of Pfizer's drug prices are slated to rise. Pfizer initially rolled out a price-hike plan in July and ran headlong into a Trump tweet: "Pfizer & others should be ashamed that they have raised drug prices for no reason. They are merely taking advantage of the poor & others unable to defend themselves. ... We will respond!" Pfizer quickly backtracked, saying it shared "the President's concern for patients" and would hold off until Trump enacted a plan to curb drug prices, or the year ended—whichever came first, per the Wall Street Journal. Trump has announced a plan, and Pfizer's hike is slated for Jan. 15. Mostly unimplemented, Trump's plan is one thing he and Democrats may just agree on, notes Politico. (A $96 billion deal may reshape health care as we know it.)

FILE - In this Wednesday, March 18, 2015 file photo, Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab speaks at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. The young son of a Kansas state lawmaker died on a water slide that is billed... (Associated Press) KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The 10-year-old boy killed during a ride on the world's tallest waterslide was decapitated in the accident, a person familiar with the investigation said Wednesday. Authorities have yet to explain how it happened. The person was speaking on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about the death of Caleb Schwab Sunday on the "Verruckt" raft ride at the Schlitterbahn WaterPark in Kansas City, Kansas. Two women who are not family members were also in the raft at the time and were treated for facial injuries. The boy's parents — Republican state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife, Michele — have not spoken publicly since the death. His funeral is scheduled for Friday. Verruckt —which in German means "insane" — featured multi-person rafts that make a 168-foot drop at speeds of up to 70 mph, followed by a surge up a hump and a 50-foot descent to a finishing pool. Since the accident, investigators have removed netting that was held in place by supports above the 50-foot section from the hump to the finishing pool. Riders, who must be at least 54 inches tall, were harnessed with two nylon seatbelt-like straps — one that crossed the rider's lap, the other stretching diagonally like a car shoulder seatbelt. Each strap was held in place by long Velcro-style straps, not by buckles. Riders would hold ropes inside the raft. The park reopened Wednesday except for a large section that includes the waterslide, although its towering profile greeted visitors when they drove through the entrance. Access to the Verruckt was blocked by a 7-foot-high wooden fence. On a hot, midweek day, the park was doing a steady business although there were no lines for other rides. Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Winter Prosapio told The Associated Press outside the park's entrance Wednesday that the company was not discussing Sunday's tragedy out of respect for the family. She also said that she could not offer immediate perspective about how Wednesday's turnout compared with typical attendance. "We didn't know if we'd get five people, 15 people. But this is affirming," she said. Pulling a cooler behind her, 42-year-old Sara Craig said she was a bit uneasy bringing her 14-year-old son, Cale, and one of his 13-year-old friends to the park Wednesday. "I feel guilty having fun when a family is hurting so badly," she said. She said the family rode Verruckt twice in one day a couple of weeks ago. She remembered a short video they were required to watch, though she didn't recall that it included any caveats about peril. Craig said that during her first trip down the ride with her son and one of his friends, her shoulder restraint came off, something she opted not to report to park workers. "I didn't think much about it," she said. "You don't think you're gonna die." So they rode it again, only to see the restraint on her son's friend also come loose by the time it was over. She said the ride's operators sent them down the slide even though their combined weight was 393 pounds — shy of the 400 weight minimum the park advertises as a requirement. Craig described the ride as "very, very rough," so much so that "when I got off, my head hurt." The water park passed a private inspection in June that included Verruckt, according to a document released by a Kansas state agency. The Kansas Department of Labor provided to The Associated Press on Wednesday a copy of an insurance company inspector's June 7 letter saying inspections had been completed. The letter said all rides met guidelines for being insured with "no disqualifying conditions noted." But it added: "this survey reflects the conditions observed or found at the time of the inspection only, and does not certify safety or integrity of the rides and attractions, physical operations or management practices at any time in the future." The inspector did not immediately reply to email and telephone messages seeking additional details. Kansas law requires rides to be inspected annually by the parks, and the state randomly audits the records. The last records audit for Schlitterbahn was June 2012. Ken Martin, a Richmond, Virginia-based amusement park safety consultant, questioned whether the straps were appropriate, suggesting that a more solid restraint system that fits over the body — similar to those used in roller coasters — may have been better. In early tests, rafts carrying sandbags flew off the slide, prompting engineers to tear down half the ride and reconfigure some angles. A promotional video about building the slide includes footage of two men riding a raft down a half size test model and going slightly airborne as it crests the top of the first big hill. Jon Rust, a professor of textile engineering at North Carolina State University, said the material used on the straps, commonly called hook and loop, isn't designed to keep a person in the seat. It also can degrade with use. ___ Associated Press writers Bill Draper and Margaret Stafford in Kansas City and John Hanna in Topeka contributed to this report. ||||| Another family has come forward saying their raft went airborne on a Schlitterbahn water slide in the days before an Olathe boy died on the ride. Dawn Gentry of Wichita said she and her daughter Olivia rode the Verrückt water slide in Kansas City, Kan., on July 28. As they approached the slide’s second drop, Gentry said, their raft flew into the air. “Our boat, 100 percent, went off the tracks,” Gentry told The Star on Wednesday, three days after Caleb Thomas Schwab was killed on the slide. “The boat was airborne and then boom, we landed.” Workers at the end of the ride were concerned. They rushed to see whether Gentry and her daughter, as well as a man riding with them, were OK. Digital Access For Only $0.99 For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today. Her account echoed that of Jon Powell of Hutchinson, Kan., who earlier told The Star about his family’s raft going airborne about three weeks ago. “The lifeguards were freaking out,” Gentry said. “They were like, ‘Are you sure you are OK? Seriously, are you OK?’ ... They asked me so many times, it registered to me, ‘Uh, this isn’t the first time this has happened.’ ” The question is, how many times has it happened? And why? Schlitterbahn declined to respond Wednesday when asked whether top park management knew of the concerns or whether the ride was inspected or adjusted after the rafts went airborne. Other riders have reported that they told workers their harnesses came loose or snapped off as they zoomed down Verrückt, at 17 stories the world’s tallest water slide. Kansas City, Kan., police continued to investigate the Sunday death of Caleb, 10, son of Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab. A spokeswoman said no information would be released until the investigation was complete. Much of what is known has come from people at the park that day. Some witnesses, like Melanie Gocke and Jess Sanford, both 16 and from Lincoln, Neb., didn’t see what initially happened, but heard a loud noise and turned to look. “It sounded like something derailed,” Sanford told The Star on Wednesday. The two friends saw a boy’s body coming down the slide — midway down the ride’s second hill — behind a raft with two women inside. They could see a trail of blood in the water behind him. Both said they saw the boy’s body in the water at the bottom, and could tell his neck was broken. “I didn’t believe what I was seeing until his friend started screaming for help,” Gocke said. Sanford said that young boy cried as medics rushed to help the two women who rode the raft with Caleb. Both reportedly suffered facial injuries, one in the eye and the other in the jaw. The boy talked about how he and Caleb enjoyed sports together. “He was saying, ‘We played whiffle ball together. We played kickball together,’ ” Sanford said. “He was sobbing.” Gocke and Sanford wait to hear more about what happened during the ride. Both struggle with the images they saw. “It’s hard to deal with,” Gocke said. “I can’t stop seeing it in my head sometimes.”

– The death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab on the world's tallest waterslide was even more horrific than early reports indicated, a source tells the AP. The source says the boy, son of Kansas lawmaker Scott Schwab, was decapitated in the accident, which is being investigated but hasn't been explained by authorities yet. Police initially said Caleb died from a "fatal neck injury." Riders on the 168-foot "Verruckt" slide at the Schlitterbang park in Kansas City, Kansas, are strapped onto rafts. After the tragic death, park visitors came forward to say that they had experienced problems on the slide ranging from restraints coming loose to rafts actually flying into the air, the Kansas City Star reports. Dawn Gentry says she was on the slide with her daughter on July 27 when the raft flew off the tracks on the ride's second drop. "The lifeguards were freaking out," she tells the Star, adding that she got the impression it had happened before. Sara Craig, a visitor who returned when the park reopened Wednesday, tells the AP that she went down the ride twice a few weeks ago with her son and one of his friends. She says it was "very, very rough" and her Velcro shoulder restraint came off during her first trip. Craig also says operators allowed her group to go down the slide with a combined weight of 393 pounds, below the 400 minimum.

Malik Taylor, the rapper known as Phife Dawg whose nimble, clever rhymes helped launch A Tribe Called Quest to both commercial and critical success, died Tuesday at the age of 45 from complications resulting from diabetes. Rolling Stone has confirmed the rapper's death. Related PHOTOS: A Tribe Called Quest: 20 Essential Songs R.I.P. Phife Dawg: Revisit pioneering New York rap crew's best tracks Taylor had had health issues for years, undergoing a kidney transplant in 2008 to deal with a longtime battle with diabetes. "It's really a sickness," Taylor said in Beats, Rhymes & Life, Michael Rapaport's candid 2011 documentary on the group. "Like straight-up drugs. I'm just addicted to sugar." "Malik was our loving husband, father, brother and friend," his family said in a statement. "We love him dearly. How he impacted all our lives will never be forgotten. His love for music and sports was only surpassed by his love of God and family." "Family, my heart is shattered at the loss of my beautiful son," Taylor's mom Cheryl Boyce-Taylor wrote on Facebook. "Thank you for your love and good wishes. Malik made me so proud, and he was a good and humble son. What holds me is that he brought joy through his music and sports, and that he lived a magical life. He is with his beloved grandmother and his twin brother Mikal today. God bless you Malik Boyce Taylor. Please send prayers to my daughter-in-law Deisha." Related Watch A Tribe Called Quest Reunite for 'Can I Kick It?' Q-Tip and company make first television appearance together in 15 years to celebrate debut LP reissue Taylor appeared on all five of the group's studio albums, most notably 1991's The Low End Theory and 1993's Midnight Marauders, acting as the high-pitched, gruff vocal counterpoint to Q-Tip's smooth, mellow flow. The group broke up and reunited multiple times since the release of their last album, 1998's the Love Movement. As documented in Beats, Rhymes & Life, the group would sporadically reunite for live shows, but stopped short at recording new material. Health problems deterred Taylor from recording much solo material, though the rapper released his only solo album Ventilation: Da LP in 2000. Speaking to Rolling Stone last November, Taylor was tentatively optimistic about both his health and future recording plans. "I am in a good spot, but I have my good days and I have my bad days," he said at the time. "But I'm more or less in a good spot, so I can't really complain." In the same interview, Taylor revealed plans to release the J Dilla-produced "Nutshell," the first single off a planned EP titled Give Thanks. The rapper released a video preview of the song, though a full version has yet to be released. Prior to his death, Taylor had also been at work on Muttymorphosis, his new LP that would have functioned as "basically my life story" that he hoped to have released later this year. Taylor was born November 20th, 1970 in the Jamaica area of Queens, NY. Living in the same area as Q-Tip, he would meet his future groupmate at the age of 2, with the duo attending the same school and playing little league baseball together. "We were best friends," Q-Tip said in Beats, Rhymes & Life. As recounted in the film, the rapper would visit his grandmother, a strict Seventh-day Adventist, on weekends and sneak in episodes of Soul Train for his early musical education. "When it came to block parties and hip-hop, once I saw them grab the mics and getting busy, I risked my livelihood getting kicked out of the house and everything just to be a part of it," Taylor said in the film. At the age of 19, Taylor contributed verses to four songs on A Tribe Called Quest's 1990 debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, including an iconic verse on the group's third single, "Can I Kick It?" Despite the song's enduring appeal, Taylor himself was not happy with his contribution. "It's hard for me to get into 'Can I Kick It?' ... for the simple fact that I hated my voice back then," he told Rolling Stone. "It was high-pitched and [speaks in high-pitched voice] 'Mr. Dinkins' and I couldn't stand it. It's hard to listen to that album because of my voice. It's almost like, thank God I was only on four records." Taylor and fellow Tribe member Jarobi had planned to start their own group, but the two would join Q-Tip and producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad officially on 1991's Low End Theory. Buoyed by exuberant songs like "Buggin' Out," "Check the Rhime" and "Scenario," Low End Theory's landmark fusion of hip-hop and jazz remains a benchmark for the genre, influencing countless rappers and producers and providing the blueprint for a strain of rap as indebted to Grover Washington, Jr. and Ron Carter as James Brown. "He brought the street to A Tribe Called Quest," said the group's former manager Chris Lighty in Beats, Rhymes & Life. "If Q-Tip was esoteric and on Pluto, Phife would bring them back to the moon so that it was in the realm of human understanding." The album would eventually earn a spot on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, with hip-hop fans flocking to the vocal interplay between Tip and Phife. "I like the fact that we bounce off of each other like yin and yang, nice and smooth, you know?" Phife told Rolling Stone last year. Midnight Marauders would appear two years later, equalling its predecessor in lyrical dexterity and organic, layered production. The album would spawn hits like "Award Tour" and "Electric Relaxation" and is often ranked as one of the best hip-hop albums of all-time. Related Hear Pharrell Remix Tribe Called Quest's 'Bonita Applebum' J. Cole, Cee Lo Green also set to appear on previously unreleased remixes for group's debut album reissue next month Taylor moved to Atlanta from New York following the release of Marauders, a shift he claimed exacerbated the infighting that had been increasing in the group. Two more albums would follow — 1996's Dilla-co-produced Beats, Rhymes & Life and 1998's The Love Movement — though neither achieved the same success as previous efforts. Following the group's dissolution, Taylor continued to battle diabetes, reuniting with the group for live shows, in part, to help defray medical costs. "Even though I knew I had [diabetes], I was in denial," Taylor said in the documentary. "I had to have my sugar. You have to accept it. If you don't accept it, it's going to kick your ass." Last November, the group reissued People's Instinctive as the first of a massive reissue campaign. A Tribe Called Quest's Tonight Show performance of "Can I Kick It?" — their first televised performance in 15 years — would end up being the group's last. ||||| Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore CollegeArchive-It Partner Since: Sep, 2005Organization Type: Colleges & UniversitiesOrganization URL: http://www.haverford.edu Three of the finest liberal arts schools in the country, Swarthmore College, Bryn Mawr College, and Haverford College offer their students a passionate learning community that prepares them for full, balanced lives and effective citizenship through rigorous academic study coupled with an emphasis on social responsibility. ||||| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| Published on Dec 5, 2012 A Tribe Called Quest's official music video for 'Scenario'. Click to listen to A Tribe Called Quest on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/TCQSpot?IQid=TCQS As featured on The Anthology. Click to buy the track or album via iTunes: http://smarturl.it/TCQTAiTunes?IQid=TCQS Google Play: http://smarturl.it/TCQSPlay?IQid=TCQS Amazon: http://smarturl.it/TCQTAAm?IQid=TCQS More From A Tribe Called Quest Award Tour: https://youtu.be/P800UWoE9xs Electric Relaxation: https://youtu.be/WHRnvjCkTsw More great Classic Hip Hop Videos here: http://smarturl.it/CHHPlaylist?IQid=TCQS Follow A Tribe Called Quest Website: http://atribecalledquest.com/html/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ATribeCalled... Twitter: https://twitter.com/ATCQ Myspace: https://myspace.com/atribecalledquest Subscribe to A Tribe Called Quest on YouTube: http://smarturl.it/TCQSub?IQid=TCQS --------- Lyrics: Here we go yo, here we go yo So what so what so what's the scenario Here we go yo, here we go yo So what so what so what's the scenario Aiyyo Bo knows this (what?) and Bo knows that (what?) But Bo don't know jack, cause Bo can't rap Well whaddya know, the Di-Dawg, is first up to bat No batteries included, and no strings attached No holds barred, no time for move fakin Gots to get the loot so I can bring home the bacon Brothers front, they say the Tribe can't flow But we've been known to do the impossible like Broadway Joe so Sleep if you want, like we'll help you get your Z's troop But here's the real scoop

– Malik Taylor, the rapper also known as Phife Dawg who helped catapult A Tribe Called Quest to success with such hits as "Can I Kick It?" and "Scenario," has died at the age of 45, Rolling Stone reports. Taylor was known for his rhyming skills and his status as what the magazine calls the "high-pitched, gruff vocal counterpoint to [bandmate] Q-Tip's smooth, mellow flow." Although an official cause of death has yet to be announced, the magazine notes that Taylor had suffered from various health issues, including diabetes that spurred a 2008 kidney transplant. "It's really a sickness," Taylor said in an interview for an ATCQ rap documentary by actor/director Michael Rapaport. "Like straight-up drugs. I'm just addicted to sugar." Taylor helped found A Tribe Called Quest with best friend Q-Tip (whom he grew up with in Queens, NY), Jarobi White, and producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and the group put out five studio albums in total, starting with 1990's People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm and ending with 1998's The Love Movement. He also released one solo album, Ventilation: Da LP, in 2000 and had been working on a new album, Give Thanks, due out this year. The group performed "Can I Kick It?" live on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show in November, which was their first TV performance in 15 years. E! Online has compiled social media tributes to the late rapper from fans, friends, and industry icons, including hip-hop magnate Russell Simmons, who tweeted, "Damn. #RIPPhife one of the greatest to bless the mic," and Public Enemy rapper Chuck D, who posted, "Rest In Beats PHIFE ATCQ Forever."

He spoke of his service to his country, his remorse for breaking the law, and the humiliation he has suffered because of it. Then the former congressman, Michael G. Grimm, asked for mercy from the court. Leniency, it turned out, did not come easily. “Your moral compass, Mr. Grimm, needs some reorientation,” Judge Pamela K. Chen said on Friday, before sentencing him to eight months in prison for tax fraud. A federal investigation that initially focused on Mr. Grimm’s campaign fund-raising turned into a 20-count indictment related to his running of a restaurant in Manhattan called Healthalicious. Prosecutors said he underreported wages and revenue to the government and filed false tax documents as a result. Mr. Grimm pleaded guilty in December to one count of tax fraud, a felony. On Friday, Mr. Grimm told Judge Chen that he was afraid of failure, and that led him to commit the crime. “All my life I have scraped and I have clawed and I have killed myself to better myself,” he said in the proceeding in Federal District Court in Brooklyn. Referring to his military service, he said, “A Marine is taught not to fail.” ||||| Former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) was sentenced Friday to 8 months in prison for federal tax fraud by a federal judge in New York. Grimm apologized to the judge and said that his decision to pay workers off the books, avoiding tax payments, was "absolutely wrong," according to The New York Times. ADVERTISEMENT “All my life I have scraped and I have clawed and I have killed myself to better myself,” he said. “A Marine is taught not to fail... give me the opportunity to redeem myself.” But Judge Pamela Chen ignored his pleas to avoid jail time. "That this type of crime is common does not lessen its significance,” she said, according to the Times. “Your moral compass, Mr. Grimm, needs some reorientation.” Federal prosecutors hit Grimm with a 20-count indictment earlier this year on a slew of fraud allegations related to a restaurant he managed. He pleaded guilty on one count in a deal to keep the rest of the case from going to trial. Grimm initially panned the indictment as a “political witch hunt” and vowed to fight to clear his name. Even after he pleaded guilty, he bucked calls to resign but eventually reversed course and stepped down from office. Federal prosecutors had sought a jail sentence of between 2 and 2 1/2 years, slightly less than the maximum of 3 years that Grimm faced. Grimm’s lawyers pushed back against the “caricature of the typical politician who gets in trouble with the law” in a sentencing memo filed with the court earlier this year. “Michael Grimm’s offense is an aberration in an otherwise remarkable life lived in selfless service of his country and dedicated towards helping his family, friends, and community,” the memo says. Grimm is apparently a primary caretaker of former Rep. Guy Molinari (R-N.Y.), who served in Congress until 2001. Molinari wrote to the court to ask it to be lenient on Grimm since he is helping him. Noting Grimm’s service as a Marine, FBI special agent, lawmaker and a “caretaker and caring friend,” his lawyers called on the court to spare him jail time and give him only probation. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Chief Richard Weber lauded the sentencing in a statement and blasted Grimm for making the "conscious decision" to break the law. “Tax crimes are not victimless crimes and Grimm’s actions harmed the very citizens he was elected to serve," he said. "We expect all taxpayers to follow the law—whether you are a business owner, individual, or elected official—we all must play by the same rules.” This story was updated at 2:10 p.m. ||||| Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, former United States Congressman Michael Grimm was sentenced to a term of incarceration of eight months of incarceration in connection with his conviction for aiding and assisting the preparation of a false tax return. Grimm served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing New York’s 11th Congressional District, which includes the borough of Staten Island and parts of the borough of Brooklyn, from January 2011 to January 2015. Grimm was sentenced by the Honorable Pamela K. Chen, United States District Judge, Eastern District of New York. The Court also sentenced the defendant to 200 hours of community service. [1] The sentence was announced by Kelly T. Currie, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Diego Rodriguez, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York Field Office, and Richard Weber, Chief, IRS- Criminal Investigation. “This prosecution and sentence should be a reminder to those in positions of trust that we and our partners in the FBI and IRS will vigorously pursue whomever commits fraud,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Currie. Mr. Currie expressed his grateful appreciation to the Public Integrity Section of Department of Justice, the Northern Criminal Enforcement Section of the Tax Division of the Department of Justice, the New York State Insurance Fund, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, and the New York State Department of Labor for their assistance in the investigation. FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Rodriguez stated, “Grimm didn’t serve his community with honor; he instead engaged in criminal activity to the detriment of the public trust. Today’s sentence should send a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated, especially when public officials break the law. The FBI and our partners at the IRS will continue our efforts to identify fraudulent practices carried out by elected representatives and free the system from the consequences of their actions.” “Former Congressman Grimm made a conscious decision to break the law and benefit personally by underreporting $900,000 in restaurant gross receipts and lowering payroll taxes through 'off-the-book' payments, then lying under oath to conceal his criminal activity,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Chief Weber. “Tax crimes are not victimless crimes and Grimm’s actions harmed the very citizens he was elected to serve. We expect all taxpayers to follow the law—whether you are a business owner, individual, or elected official—we all must play by the same rules.” In connection with his guilty plea on December 23, 2014, Grimm entered into a stipulation of facts acknowledging the scope of his criminal conduct. As part of that stipulation of facts, Grimm admitted that: From 2007 through 2009, Grimm was a member in Healthalicious, a Manhattan restaurant. During that time period, Grimm oversaw the day-to-day operations of the restaurant, which included the reporting and distribution of the restaurant’s payroll. Grimm under-reported the true amount that Healthalicious earned, using a portion of those unreported receipts to pay the restaurant’s workers “off the books” in cash. With Grimm’s knowledge, the restaurant employed those who were not lawfully admitted to the United States and who were not authorized to work in this country. In total, Grimm concealed over $900,000 in Healthalicious’ gross receipts from the accountant who prepared and filed the restaurant’s tax returns. That accountant used the false information provided by Grimm to prepare and file false federal and state tax returns for Healthalicious. Grimm also failed to report the “off the books” cash wages he was paying to Healthalicious workers, which resulted in the restaurant paying lower federal and state payroll taxes. Some Healthalicious employees received at least half of their wages in cash, while other workers were paid entirely in cash. Grimm tracked these payments in electronic spreadsheets, but failed to provide accurate information about the restaurant’s payroll to the payroll processing companies employed by the restaurant. As a result, Grimm caused the payroll processing companies to report to the IRS and the NYS Tax Department less than half of the wages Healthalicious actually paid its employees. Additionally, Grimm under-reported Healthalicious’ payroll to the New York State Insurance Fund (“NYSIF”), lowering the monthly workers’ compensation premium the restaurant paid to NYSIF. As part of his scheme, Grimm caused numerous false documents to be filed with federal and state tax authorities between 2007 and 2010. In total, Grimm’s conduct caused federal and New York State tax and NYSIF premium losses between $80,000 and $200,000. While a Member of Congress in January 2013, Grimm was deposed under oath by the attorney of a former employee in connection with a civil lawsuit relating to the labor practices at Healthalicious in which Grimm was a defendant. The lawsuit was pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Grimm admitted to testifying during the deposition to things that, at the time, he knew to be false. Specifically, Grimm testified during the deposition that Healthalicious employees had not been paid in cash, when he knew that restaurant employees had in fact been paid “off the books” in cash. Similarly, Grimm testified that, to the extent he used email in operating Healthalicious, he used a Yahoo account to which he no longer had access. Grimm also admitted that, at the time of the deposition, he in fact had access to an AOL account which he had used for Healthalicious related business and which contained many emails related to the restaurant. The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys James Gatta and Nathan Reilly are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : MICHAEL GRIMM Age: 45 Staten Island, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 14-CR-248 (PKC)

– Michael Grimm, the former Republican New York congressman who once threatened to throw a reporter off a balcony, was sentenced today to eight months in prison for federal tax fraud, the Hill reports; prosecutors had sought between two and two-and-a-half years—slightly less than the three-year maximum. While Grimm asked Judge Pamela Chen to "give me the opportunity to redeem myself," per the New York Times, Chen laid into him for charges that he paid restaurant workers off the books, saying, "That this type of crime is common does not lessen its significance. Your moral compass, Mr. Grimm, needs some reorientation." New York Rep. Guy Molinari, a friend of Grimm's, and Grimm's lawyers had pleaded he lived "an otherwise remarkable life lived in selfless service of his country," per a sentencing memo filed earlier this year, the Hill notes. But the IRS criminal investigation chief disagreed, praising the sentence in a DOJ statement today in which he noted, "Tax crimes are not victimless crimes and Grimm's actions harmed the very citizens he was elected to serve. … We all must play by the same rules." (Grimm has quite the "fiery" reputation.)

Attention all gold diggers: grab your shovels! Minnesota matchmaker and author of “Real Love, Right Now,” Kailen Rosenberg has announced she’s kicking off her nationwide search next month in San Francisco to find a mate for a mystery millionaire. Ladies, do you have what it takes to land this allegedly “noble man in search of his Cinderella?” Here are some words from the (anonymous but financially disclosed) noble man himself: “When I imagine my dream girl/passionate partner for life/child at heart/muse/best friend, I imagine a woman who may or may not be thought of as ‘beautiful’ according to conventional standards, BUT she is naturally beautiful. She is between the ages of 32 and 52 (give or take a year or two). Got that? Even if you’re not thought of as a beauty, be naturally beautiful. Work on it. Also, be both a child at heart and a muse, so if you’re some kind of mythical Peter Pan/Grecian spirit of the arts combination, move to the front of the line! She is cute in her own way, without spending a lot of time in the bathroom, camouflaging herself from….herself. On second thought, cute will suffice, but no putting on jungle paint in the bathroom allowed. If you put on so much camouflage you can’t see yourself, you’re not the right woman for him; we’ll send a search party to find you, if you haven’t completely blended into your surroundings. I imagine a woman who is either petite, or somewhat taller than me; she might be slender, but she is not anorexic (in other words, she has a healthy relationship with food). He’s very specific. You can either be petite or taller than him, and whilst you may be skinny, the eating disordered need not apply. If you’re able to recognize your unhealthy relationship with food and are neither taller than him nor petite, NEXT! I imagine a woman who is blonde, brunette, red-headed, or dark haired and her hair might be long or not. Again, this man has a type. If I close my eyes I can just picture this muse/eternal child, red/blonde/brunette-headed woman with long, or not, hair who is either petite or taller than the millionaire! It’s like he’s painting a picture with words! But it’s not just about looks. It really doesn’t matter as much as energy, fire, sparkle-in-the-eyes, and a loving heart. I imagine a woman who is quietly seductive, freely passionate with her man, and uninhibited as their connection grows and strengthens. The woman I imagine looks young in her face and in her eyes, no matter what her age – and by the way, freckles are okay! All I could process there was “freckles are okay!” What a relief. Rosenberg’s website describes her client as a “gentleman is in his early 50’s, generously philanthropic, well educated, a wine lover, in great shape, outdoorsy, down to earth, sharp witted and passionate about sustainable living.” What are you waiting for, ladies? There’s a millionaire out there with a glass slipper waiting for his Cinderella! Indulge his dated use of dependent fairy tale tropes and make everything he’s imagined come true! h/t SFist ||||| Kailen Rosenberg and her love design team are launching a nation-wide search to find an incredible woman for a loving, passionate and noble client. This gentleman is in his early 50’s, generously philanthropic, well educated, a wine lover, in great shape, outdoorsy, down to earth, sharp witted and passionate about sustainable living. Here are his own words describing his soul mate: “When I imagine my dream girl/passionate partner for life/child at heart/muse/best friend, I imagine a woman who may or may not be thought of as “beautiful” according to conventional standards, BUT she is naturally beautiful. She is between the ages of 32 and 52 (give or take a year or two). She is cute in her own way, without spending a lot of time in the bathroom, camouflaging herself from....herself. I imagine a woman who is either petite, or somewhat taller than me; she might be slender, but she is not anorexic (in other words, she has a healthy relationship with food). I imagine a woman who is blonde, brunette, red-headed, or dark haired and her hair might be long or not. It really doesn’t matter as much as energy, fire, sparkle-in-the-eyes, and a loving heart. I imagine a woman who is quietly seductive, freely passionate with her man, and uninhibited as their connection grows and strengthens. The woman I imagine looks young in her face and in her eyes, no matter what her age – and by the way, freckles are okay! I imagine her as knowing full well that she is sexy and desirable. I imagine a woman who is old enough to know better, to have wisdom and insight from living and learning about herself, about relationships, and about the world, who is filled with joy at the magic in the world on a very regular basis. She may be intellectual, or she may be highly intuitive and have strong emotional intelligence. Hopefully she is a bit of both! I imagine a woman who recognizes and shares her partner’s passions for life and learning. She cherishes our shared chemistry, grounded in love, respect, and yes, desire. In other words, desire in the service of the greater good, in unity as a couple together facing the world. I imagine a woman who loves nature, feels at home outdoors, in wild places – walking, hiking, swimming and doing yoga. She might like or love to visit big cities and see beautiful things, like art or architecture or cultural attractions, BUT she is also happy doing simple things in beautiful natural settings. She knows the meaning and value of inner peace.” If you believe you might be our client’s soul mate or the soul mate for someone you love and adore, please fill out the confidential questionnaire below. You have nothing to lose except potentially meeting the love of your life!!! Make the decision to experience the love life you deserve. We do not only offer Minneapolis matchmaking services, but we operate nationally as well! 952-544-5683 or 877-930-5683, and complete the information below.

– Attention, short, white, Jewish or Buddhist women in the Bay Area of California: Your Prince Charming is calling. Or not calling so much as hiring a national matchmaker to find his soul mate, reports SFist.com. The anonymous gent—early 50s, "generously philanthropic, well educated, a wine lover ..."—has enlisted a matchmaker of some renown as these things go, Kailen Rosenberg, who is taking applications online and will visit San Francisco after Labor Day to interview applicants in person. "When I imagine my dream girl/passionate partner for life/child at heart/muse/best friend, I imagine a woman who may or may not be thought of as 'beautiful' according to conventional standards, BUT she is naturally beautiful," reads the suitor's description. If that's a little too fuzzy, know that he's shooting for women between 32 and 52 who are 5-7 or shorter. Get moving, ladies, urges Tony Bravo at SFGate. "There’s a millionaire out there with a glass slipper waiting for his Cinderella! Indulge his dated use of dependent fairy tale tropes and make everything he’s imagined come true!"

LOS ANGELES — FXX has got your holiday binge watching covered. The network said Thursday it will run a marathon of The Simpsons — the "longest marathon in TV history" — beginning on Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving Day) and ending on Dec. 6. That's 600 episodes, or 300 hours over 13 days. In 2014, FXX had a similar marathon for the popular animated show, airing 552 episodes over a 12-day period. That marathon helped boost FXX to cable’s No. 1 ranked network primetime in the coveted 18-to-49-year-old demographic and 18-to-34-year-old demographic for 12 days straight, according to Nielsen ratings. "The first ‘Every. Simpsons. Ever.’ Marathon was truly so special and landmark in its cultural relevance and impact," FX Networks President and COO Chuck Saftler said in a statement. "The unprecedented feat of reaching 600 episodes deserves something of that caliber to mark it and celebrate it." The news the marathon comes a few days ahead of the Fox show's season 28 premiere on Sunday. The series, from creator Matt Groening, has won 32 Emmy Awards since debuting in 1990. ||||| + READ ARTICLE For Simpsons fanatics,it sounds like a dream come true: From noon on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 24) until Dec. 6, the FXX network will be airing all 600 episodes of The Simpsons in chronological order, spanning over 300 hours (13 days). According to IGN, FXX currently holds the record for the longest TV marathon, when the network broadcast 552 episodes of the same animated series in a 12-day marathon in 2014. The new, 27-season marathon will begin with the 1989 Simpsons Christmas special, also known as Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire. The episode was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 1990. The 28th season of The Simpsons premieres on Sunday, Sept. 25 on FXX’s parent network, Fox. The 600th episode, Treehouse of Horror XXVII, involving Frank Grimes, is set to air on Oct. 19.

– Don't settle down for a long winter's nap after Thankgiving dinner is over—turn on your television for what FXX is calling the "longest marathon in TV history." Mashable reports that the network will air all 600 episodes of The Simpsons for 300 hours of Homer and the Springfield gang over the holidays, kicking off on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26) and ending Dec. 4. The network did the same thing in 2014, when there were only 552 episodes. The new marathon will begin with the show's Emmy-nominated 1989 Christmas special, per Time. "The unprecedented feat of reaching 600 episodes deserves something of that caliber to mark it and celebrate it," FX Networks President and COO Chuck Saftler says in a statement.

Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images (Updates 12th paragraph to clarify net reservations.) More than two years after Tesla started taking $1,000 deposits for the Model 3, it’s increasingly unclear whether it can actually afford to sell the much-touted $35,000 version to fulfill CEO Elon Musk’s long-held vision of electric cars for the masses. That’s because doing so right now could be fatal to Tesla’s finances. Musk, who’s camped out at Tesla’s Fremont, California, plant for weeks to oversee assembly-line fixes for the small sedan, took to Twitter over the weekend to crow about the merits of a $78,000 all-wheel-drive Model 3 that’s on the way, joining the long-range battery version already being delivered that costs more than $50,000 with options. The company simply can’t build the cheaper version until late this year, ideally well after achieving a 5,000-unit/week rate, he said in a tweet. “With production, 1st you need achieve target rate & then smooth out flow to achieve target cost,” Musk tweeted May 20. “Shipping min cost Model 3 right away wd cause Tesla to lose money & die. Need 3 to 6 months after 5k/wk to ship $35k Tesla & live.” That concession, while stating the obvious for a company that racked up back-to-back record losses in the past two quarters, is a further reminder of just how unprepared Tesla was to move from a niche maker of electric vehicles often selling for more than $100,000 each to one able to make cars priced close to the industry average for new vehicles. At best, $35,000 cars could get to customers at the end of 2018; at worst, Tesla opts not to build it. Twitter “I’m not sure there will ever be any $35,000 cars,” said Kelly Blue Book analyst Rebecca Lindland, who canceled her own Model 3 order this year owing to numerous production delays. “I think there’s a chance the company will eventually say they’re canceling that version because there wasn’t as much customer interest, that nobody wanted it.” There’s certainly a precedent for that outcome. In 2013, basking in the Model S sedan’s successful launch, Tesla unexpectedly dropped a $49,900 base version (or rather $57,400, before the company baked in a $7,500 federal tax credit), citing little demand. It was a surprise move since Musk had promoted the $50,000 price point starting with his “Secret Master Plan.” Separately, Consumer Reports said on Monday that it couldn’t currently recommend the Model 3 owing to flaws it found in the car’s braking and controls that were deemed difficult to use. “The Tesla’s stopping distance of 152 feet from 60 mph was far worse than any contemporary car we’ve tested and about 7 feet longer than the stopping distance of a Ford F-150 full-sized pickup,” Consumer Reports said. Tesla disputes that and told the publication that its own testing found the stopping distance to be 133 feet. Focusing on higher-end versions definitely keeps margins closer to Tesla’s target and fulfills demand from some customers, said Jeffrey Osborne, an analyst with Cowen & Co. who rates Tesla shares “underperform.” “It's not a surprise that they’re coming out with a $70,000-plus vehicle because there are some options people do want, but the risk is that you cannibalize the Model S buyer at the price point,” Osborne told Forbes. “And what we also don't know is the makeup of that group.” Twitter Tesla this month said it still had more than 450,000 net reservations for the Model 3 without providing details on cancellations versus new orders. It also hasn't disclosed the percentage of reservations that are for the base version of the car. For now, Tesla’s sole focus is to produce as many of the higher-cost versions as possible and unsnarl a torturous rollout. “In the near term they certainly would die if they were to offer” the $35,000 car, he said. “They need to iron out all their manufacturing kinks and get beyond those issues in a big way.” An unusually passionate fan base probably also limits the number of order cancellations, Osborne said. “If you’ve waited two years, you can probably wait six more months at this point.” ||||| - A driver of a Tesla Model S drove into a pond and his body ended up being recovered early Monday morning in a fatal accident that closed a portion of Crow Canyon Road in Castro Valley, according to the California Highway Patrol. Alameda County Sheriff's Sgt. Ray Kelly identified the driver as Keith Leung, 34, of Danville. It is unknown at this time if the Tesla was in autopilot mode or not. A property owner found what appeared to be damage from the crash on Crow Canyon Road just before 8 p.m. on Sunday, according to CHP Officer Daniel Jacowitz. He called 911 and when he came outside he saw damage to his fence and tire tracks leading up to the pond. Nine members of the Alameda County Sheriff’s rescue team went into the pond about 10 p.m. and found the driver, still sitting upright in the driver's seat, Jacowitz said. He was pulled out and declared dead at the scene about 5:30 a.m. "It's really tragic," Jacowitz said. Tesla did not immediately respond for comment on Monday. However, CHP officers did acknowledge that this stretch of road is a problem area and they conduct enforcement there on a regular basis. The speed limit ranges from 35 mph to 55 mph and officers say they have cited people for going as fast as 75 mph. Neighbors have regularly complained that they can’t get out of their drive ways because vehicle are driving so fast. Jacowitz added that Leung would have had to have been driving more than posted speed limit of 35 mph to have gone airborne and fly the distance it did. One man is dead after he crashes his Tesla Model S through a fence off Crow Canyon Road and it submerged in a pond. No other vehicles suspected as being involved. - CHP Castro Valley. .@KTVU pic.twitter.com/udpgBio3D4 — Leigh Martinez (@LeighMartinezTV) May 21, 2018 “The vehicle was submerged...trees in the water made it difficult to tow it out,” said CHP Sgt. Michael Novosel. ||||| Welcome to Consumer Reports. We’re so glad to have you as a member. You now have access to benefits that can help you choose right, be safe and stay informed. ||||| FILE- In this April 15, 2018, file photo unsold 2018 Model 3 Long Range versions sit on a Tesla dealer's lot in the south Denver suburb of Littleton, Colo. Long emergency stopping distances, difficult-to-use... (Associated Press) FILE- In this April 15, 2018, file photo unsold 2018 Model 3 Long Range versions sit on a Tesla dealer's lot in the south Denver suburb of Littleton, Colo. Long emergency stopping distances, difficult-to-use controls and a harsh ride stopped Tesla’s Model 3 electric car from getting a recommended buy... (Associated Press) DETROIT (AP) — Long emergency stopping distances, difficult-to-use controls and a harsh ride stopped Tesla's Model 3 electric car from getting a recommended buy rating from Consumer Reports. While the magazine said the car has exhilarating acceleration and handling, testers were troubled by its 152-foot average stopping distance from 60 miles per hour in emergency braking tests. The magazine said the distance was worse than any modern car it has tested, and is about 7 feet longer than a Ford F-150, a full-size pickup truck that weighs about twice as much as a Model 3. Tesla said its own tests found 60-to-zero braking distances averaging 133 feet. It says stopping distances are affected by road surface, weather, tire temperature, brake conditioning and other factors. "Tesla is uniquely positioned to address more corner cases over time through over-the-air software updates, and it continually does so to improve factors such as stopping distance," the company said in a statement. The Model 3 is Tesla's first attempt to appeal to mass-market buyers. The car that starts at $35,000 but can run as high as $78,000 has been plagued by production delays. Consumer Reports said it tested the car at its track on pavement monitored for consistent surface friction, using industry standard test procedures. The car was tested with the same 18-inch Michelin tires that were used in Tesla's test, the magazine said. On the first Consumer Reports test, the Model 3 stopped in about 130 feet, similar to Tesla's findings, according to the magazine. But testers could not repeat that distance even after letting the brakes cool overnight, it said. Because of the inconsistency, the testers borrowed a second Model 3 and got results similar to longer distances in testing the first one. The Tesla's stopping distance was 21 feet longer than the class average for luxury compact sedans, the magazine said. Jake Fisher, director of auto testing for Consumer Reports, said the first test shows him that the Model 3 has the mechanical ability to stop in 130 feet and that a software change may bring consistently shorter stopping distances. If that happens, Consumer Reports would re-evaluate the car, he said. Consumer Reports also said that Car and Driver magazine experienced inconsistent and sometimes long stopping distances when it tested a Model 3, including one stop from 70 mph that took 196 feet. Although it doesn't happen often, Consumer Reports in the past has decided not to recommend vehicles based largely on long braking distances. Last year the magazine decided not to recommend the Hyundai Ioniq gas-electric hybrid car because of below average braking. It took the car 144 feet to fully stop from 60 mph on dry pavement. The magazine also said nearly all of the Model 3's controls are on a center touch screen direction with no gauges on the dashboard and few buttons inside the car. This forces drivers to take several steps to do simple tasks and can cause driver distraction, the magazine said. The car also had a stiff ride and excessive wind noise at highway speeds, unlike competitors, Consumer Reports said. Consumer Reports also said it got a record 350 miles of range per charge with a long-range version of the Model 3 when it's set on a high mode to recharge batteries with energy from braking. Consumer Reports recommends Tesla's Model S, ranking it No. 1 in the ultra-luxury car category. But its other model currently on sale, the Model X SUV, is not recommended due to low reliability. ||||| LISTEN TO ARTICLE 4:39 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Elon Musk’s Model 3, once touted as Tesla’s $35,000 car for the masses, can now set a buyer back almost $80,000. Musk unveiled specifications for a faster and more powerful version of the Model 3 in a series of tweets over the weekend. It will cost $78,000, more than double the $35,000 base-model starting price discussed into the run-up before the electric car’s deliveries started last year. And that doesn’t include the Autopilot driver-assist feature. The increasingly expensive configurations for the Model 3 are planned steps, if somewhat counterintuitive ones, toward Musk’s vision of Tesla Inc. as a mass-production player with vehicles affordable to a broader swath of buyers. The $78,000 sticker puts the electric sedan beyond reach of many consumers, and, by Musk’s own estimations, brings it closer to the realm of luxury cars. Cost of all options, wheels, paint, etc is included (apart from Autopilot). Cost is $78k. About same as BMW M3, but 15% quicker & with better handling. Will beat anything in its class on the track. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 20, 2018 “A Model 3 with a $35,000 price will be the rarest of the rare,” said Kevin Tynan, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst. “Perhaps the second most collectible Tesla ever, behind the one floating around in space.” Musk’s latest tweets build the hype around a car that’s faced repeated production delays and manufacturing bottlenecks, which the company is just starting to clear. Tesla delivered 8,180 of the sedans in the first quarter, making it the best-selling electric car in America, and almost a half-million people have put down $1,000 deposits for Model 3s. Original Vision When Model 3 deliveries started in July, Tesla described the $35,000 price for a Model 3 with a standard battery with a 220-mile range before options or incentives. But its focus was on fulfilling orders for customers who wanted longer-range battery packs with faster charging, pushing the price up to about $44,000. Tesla said in February a dual motor version would come at midyear and a standard battery pack would be available in late 2018. In a letter to shareholders earlier this month, Musk said that the company would begin offering new options such as all-wheel drive -- and a base model with a standard-sized battery pack -- once his factory in Fremont, California, reaches a production rate of 5,000 cars a week. Only the expensive performance model was mentioned in Musk’s tweets this weekend. The company’s current business model and financial position -- it’s operating at a loss and has negative operating cash flow -- mean “that this is not the time for a $35,000 Model 3,” Tynan said in emailed comments. Newest Model 3 The new dual-motor, all-wheel-drive performance version of the Model 3 will have a top speed of 155 miles per hour, a 310-mile range and acceleration from standstill to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, Musk wrote. The latest performance Model 3 will cost “about same as BMW M3, but 15% quicker & with better handling,” Musk tweeted. The car “will beat anything in its class on the track,” he said. It will also be available with black and white interiors. According to BMW’s website, a BMW M3 sedan has a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price of about $66,500. With production, 1st you need achieve target rate & then smooth out flow to achieve target cost. Shipping min cost Model 3 right away wd cause Tesla to lose money & die. Need 3 to 6 months after 5k/wk to ship $35k Tesla & live. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 21, 2018 The pricey version of the Model 3 is in keeping with Musk’s earlier practices with the Model S luxury sedan and Model X sport utility vehicle -- adding options and higher specifications to help generate cash that can be used to eventually build vehicles for mainstream buyers. Shipping a minimum-cost Model 3 right away “would cause Tesla to lose money and die,” Musk said on Twitter. The company needs three to six months after achieving production of 5,000 units a week before it can ship a $35,000 Model 3 and survive, he said. Burning Cash The company burned through more than $1 billion of cash in the first quarter and may need to tap capital markets for more than $10 billion by 2020 to fund its car-making operations, new products and expected expansion into China, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts said last week. Mounting liquidity pressures and challenges with Model 3 production prompted Moody’s Investors Service to cut the carmaker’s credit rating further into junk status in March, adding fuel to a sell off of the company’s bonds to all-time lows. For every additional thousand dollars that ends up being added to the price of Model 3, the size of the U.S. auto market that buys cars that are that expensive shrinks by 1 percent to 2 percent, according to Kelley Blue Book. That’s a trade off the company is willing to make. The profit is in the higher trims, Ivan Drury, senior manager of industry analysis at Edmunds.com, said by phone. “The idea that it’s supposed to be a car for everyone is kind of laughable,” Drury said. “Anyone who wanted a base model may have to wait years out.” — With assistance by Dana Hull

– Long emergency stopping distances, difficult-to-use controls, and a harsh ride stopped Tesla's Model 3 electric car from getting a recommended buy rating from Consumer Reports, the AP reports. While the magazine said the car has exhilarating acceleration and handling, testers found "big flaws" including its 152-foot average stopping distance from 60 miles per hour in emergency braking tests. The magazine said the distance was worse than any modern car it has tested, and is about 7 feet longer than a Ford F-150, a full-size pickup truck that weighs about twice as much as a Model 3. That was just one of a few unfortunate headlines for Tesla Monday: Forbes reported that the Model 3, which is supposed to range in price from $35,000 to $78,000, may never actually cost just $35,000; a Bloomberg analyst had noted Sunday that a $35,000 Model 3 "will be the rarest of the rare. Perhaps the second most collectible Tesla ever, behind the one floating around in space." Meanwhile, in California, a driver was found dead early Monday after his Tesla Model S veered into a pond in Castro Valley, KTVU reports. It's not clear what caused the accident or whether the car was in Autopilot mode at the time.

Published on Jun 6, 2018 Multiple police officers in Mesa, Arizona have been placed on administrative leave after a video surfaced of the officers beating an unarmed man. An investigation has been launched into the officers’ actions. » Subscribe to NBC News: http://nbcnews.to/SubscribeToNBC » Watch more NBC video: http://bit.ly/MoreNBCNews NBC News is a leading source of global news and information. Here you will find clips from NBC Nightly News, Meet The Press, and original digital videos. Subscribe to our channel for news stories, technology, politics, health, entertainment, science, business, and exclusive NBC investigations. Connect with NBC News Online! Visit NBCNews.Com: http://nbcnews.to/ReadNBC Find NBC News on Facebook: http://nbcnews.to/LikeNBC Follow NBC News on Twitter: http://nbcnews.to/FollowNBC Follow NBC News on Google+: http://nbcnews.to/PlusNBC Follow NBC News on Instagram: http://nbcnews.to/InstaNBC Follow NBC News on Pinterest: http://nbcnews.to/PinNBC Police Beating Unarmed Man In Mesa, Arizona | NBC News ||||| (CNN) The police chief in Mesa, Arizona, says he was "disappointed" by a video that shows officers punching and kneeing an unarmed man. A police sergeant and three officers have been placed on administrative leave after the May 23 incident at an apartment complex. While an attorney for Robert Johnson, 33, said he provided no reason for officers to strike him, the Mesa Police Association said Johnson "was not compliant and physically resisted what we feel was a lawful detention." Police Chief Ramon Batista acted after a community member showed him a surveillance video of the beating a week after the incident, said Detective Nik Rasheta. The officers are the subject of an internal investigation. 'He was unarmed and then they just attacked' Johnson was with a friend who police say was trying to enter an ex-girlfriend's apartment, prompting a 911 call, Batista told CNN affiliate KNXV . The responding officer was told of a possible weapon at the apartment. Johnson lives in the building and was not trespassing, according to his attorney, Benjamin Taylor. Officers approached Johnson and his friend, searched Johnson, found he had no weapons and asked him to sit by the wall, police said. In the video, Johnson is seen leaning against the wall and looking at his cell phone before being surrounded by officers and punched multiple times in the head and struck with a knee. He slumps to the ground. Three officers landed blows, police said. "He wasn't resisting," Taylor told CNN. "He was unarmed and then they just attacked." Batista said the department will put out a special directive that says officers will not strike anyone in the head who isn't trying to harm them. CNN was unable Wednesday to speak with the police chief. Authorities were expected to release an incident report and bodycam footage. Union: Released video doesn't tell the whole story The chief told CNN affiliates KPHO and KTVK that Johnson's leaning against the wall and what he said to them made the officers feel as though they needed to have him sit down. He did not elaborate on what might have been said. Taylor said Johnson was being cooperative. "I am disappointed in what I saw," he said of the video, which police released to media on Tuesday. It did not appear to have audio. The Mesa Police Association, which represents several of the officers involved in the incident, said in a statement that officers were sent to a dangerous domestic situation, and that officers acted to end the confrontation quickly and prevent anyone from falling over a short guardrail. "We feel it was grossly inappropriate to release a portion of video with no audio that does not include the full context of the encounter. Furthermore, we do not understand why video is being released when an internal investigation has not been completed." Taylor said Wednesday that his client, who was charged with disorderly conduct, was knocked out and is still in pain two weeks later. "This is going to affect him for the rest of his life." Taylor said he will ask for charges to be dismissed, given the video. "For them to exert that force on him is unconscionable," said Taylor. "No matter what age, race and gender you are, police should not be attacking and hurting people when they're there to serve and protect."

– Robert Johnson was leaning against the wall, looking at his cell phone, when it happened: Police officers surrounded the unarmed man and, in a scene caught on surveillance video May 23 in Mesa, Ariz., started punching and kneeing him until he fell to the ground. Now the Mesa Police Department has placed a police sergeant and three officers on administrative leave while the incident is investigated, CNN reports. Even so, the Mesa Police Association says Johnson "was not compliant and physically resisted what we feel was a lawful detention." Johnson, 33, was at the apartment building where he lives, but he was accompanying a friend who, police say, was attempting to get into an ex-girlfriend's apartment just before midnight. Police responded to the scene after someone called 911 and said there was possibly a weapon at the apartment. The officers approached Johnson and the friend, searched Johnson and found him unarmed, then asked him to sit down by the wall. Instead, he leaned against the wall. In bodycam video released by the police department, police can be heard telling Johnson to sit down before starting to hit him, AZFamily.com reports. Police Chief Ramon Batista says the fact that Johnson was leaning against the wall and what he said to the officers made them feel he needed to sit down, though Batista didn't reveal what Johnson allegedly said. And the police union says the surveillance video that was released "does not include the full context of the encounter." But Johnson's lawyer insists his client "wasn't resisting. He was unarmed and then they just attacked." Batista says he's "disappointed" by what the video shows and that the department will instruct officers not to hit anyone in the head if the person isn't attempting to harm them. Johnson's lawyer wants the disorderly conduct charges that were filed against his client dropped.

See more of Bright Beginnings, Inc. on Facebook ||||| Every once in a while, you meet someone who greatly affects your life. For those of us who were lucky enough to know her, that person was Miyah. Miyah, born Damiyah Telemaque-Nelson, was a young D.C. resident battling Burkitt's Lymphoma. Unfortunately, Miyah succumbed to her battle with cancer on Monday, December 8, 2014. She was just five years old. “It’s just another angel that God put behind me.” Those are the words of Wizards star John Wall, who opened up about his friendship with Miyah following her passing. John was introduced to Miyah through a mutual friend. Soon after, John got word that Miyah wanted to meet megastar, Nicki Minaj and receive one of her infamous pink wigs. John wanted to help so he created a social media campaign, where he encouraged his fan and followers to use the hashtag #PinkWig4Miyah to get Nicki Minaj's attention. A few days later Nicki reached out to John and arrangements were made to grant Miyah's wish. Miyah wasn't on this earth for long, but her story was no less amazing. Cancer is a struggle at any age, but for a young child to deal with it, and keep a smile on her face during the process, speaks measures to her strength and spirit. To honor Miyah, The John Wall Family Foundation is sponsoring “Miyah’s Troupe” at the 2015 Washington, DC Light The Night Walk. The Light The Night Walk brings together families and communities to honor blood cancer survivors, as well as those lost to the diseases, and our team is helping to shine a light on the importance of finding cures and providing access to treatments for blood cancer patients. Funds raised from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Light The Night Walk help support the research of blood cancer treatments that save lives. Please join our team's effort today by registering to walk or by making a donation. Your participation in the Light The Night Walk will save lives not someday, but today. ||||| John Wall is one of the best point guards in the NBA, but his impact on society stretches beyond the basketball court. The 25-year-old is extremely generous with both his time and money. One might remember when Wall broke down after a Wizards win last season, upon hearing a 6-year old cancer patient whom he’d met and befriended had died. Wall cares. The Washington Wizards guard’s philanthropy continued Friday, when Bright Beginnings, a child development center in Washington D.C., revealed a $400,000 donation from Wall, to help ongoing efforts to fight homelessness. More information can be found on Bright Beginnings’ Facebook page. And here’s an official statement from the organization’s Executive Director Dr. Betty Jo Gaines: “Support from individuals like Mr. Wall, gives Bright Beginnings the encouragement to continue to provide comprehensive services for homeless children in the District of Columbia. It is evident that John Wall is sensitive and concerned about the plight of homeless children in DC and he wants these children to succeed.” (h/t: Bleacher Report) ||||| We already knew that John Wall was motivated to help the less fortunate. After all, this is a man who pledged $1 million to local charities in 2013, just after signing a lucrative contract extension. [Best and worst of Wizards Media Day 2015] But it’s always nice to get fresh news of generous acts, and Wall committed another one on Friday, when he made a surprise appearance at a D.C. organization that helps homeless children. Oh, and the Wizards guard brought with him a donation of $400,000. Thank you @JohnWall for your generous donation to BBI's second child development center in SE DC! #JWFF pic.twitter.com/LfNnARk37J — Bright Beginnings (@sunnystarts) September 25, 2015 A Facebook post by Bright Beginnings, Inc., thanked Wall for his contribution. Here is what the group, which describes itself as “nationally accredited child and family development center that offers a bright start for homeless infants, toddlers and preschoolers and their families,” had to say: “This morning, Washington Wizards point guard John Wall surprised our organization and BBI Executive Director Dr. Betty Jo Gaines with a generous donation of $400,000. This phenomenal contribution will significantly impact the development of Bright Beginnings’ second child development center at 3418 4th Street SE in Ward 8. “‘Support from individuals like Mr. Wall gives Bright Beginnings the encouragement to continue to provide comprehensive services for homeless children in the District of Columbia. It is evident that John Wall is sensitive and concerned about the plight of homeless children in DC and he wants these children to succeed.’ – Bright Beginnings Executive Director, Dr. Betty Jo Gaines. “Proudly displayed at the new BBI center will be the John Wall, Wall of Achievement, highlighting the everyday moments of greatness Bright Beginnings students accomplish, in addition to the legacies left behind by high school and college graduates who were once BBI toddlers and preschoolers. Bright Beginnings will also name a classroom in Mr. Wall’s honor. The new Bright Beginnings child development center is scheduled to open its doors in 2017.” It’s clear that Wall is particularly concerned about the plight of children in need. Last year, he was visibly upset after a Wizards game by news that a 6-year-old girl he had befriended, Miyah Telemaque-Nelson, had lost her battle with cancer. The Wizards are about to kick off training camp, and Wall is hoping to lead his team deeper into the playoffs than last season, when Washington was eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals by Atlanta. Wall was hobbled by an injury he suffered at the start of that series, and if he’s hoping for better luck going forward, well, one would have to think that all the good karma he’s creating can’t hurt.

– John Wall is only 25 years old and he's already achieved great success with the Washington Wizards, including being called by Fox Sports "one of the best point guards in the NBA." He can also check "philanthropist" off his list after his surprise visit Friday to a DC child-development center for homeless kids, where he visited with the children and donated $400,000 to the organization. The staff at Bright Beginnings Inc. was stunned by his move. "It is evident that John Wall is sensitive and concerned about the plight of homeless children in DC and he wants these children to succeed," the executive director says on the group's Facebook page, where heartwarming pictures of Wall interacting with the BBI kids are also displayed. It's not the first time Wall has shown his soft spot for kids: He still raises funds in honor of a 6-year-old cancer patient he befriended who passed away last year, the Washington Post notes. (Here are some everyday items you can donate to make a difference.)

Blue Is the Warmest Color has been mired in controversy from the beginning. Even before winning the Palme d’Or, the three-hour French lesbian love story was Cannes’ most buzzed-about film, largely owing to its graphic, seven-minute-long sex scene. Still, critics were quick to praise the film as a masterpiece, which, despite its NC-17 rating, looked well poised to become the indie darling of this year’s awards season. But soon a much less sexy controversy began to emerge. Beginning with claims of poor working conditions by the crew and allegations of anti-feminism against director Abdellatif Kechiche, the merde really hit the fan after stars Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos criticized the director’s exploitative shooting practices in an interview with the Daily Beast. Kechiche shot back angrily, precipitating an ugly back-and-forth media brawl between Kechiche and Seydoux that shows no signs of simmering. Here’s a timeline of how it’s all gone down so far: May 23 Blue Is the Warmest Color premieres at Cannes, receiving largely rave reviews (and a few audience walkouts). Yet early on there was criticism of the film’s anti-feminist tone. In a review that day, Manohla Dargis of the New York Times argued that the film’s sex scenes weren’t so much art as voyeuristic exertions of the male gaze, writing that Kechiche “registers as oblivious to real women” and that “the movie feels far more about Mr. Kechiche’s desires than anything else.” That same day, French film union Spiac-CGT released a statement to the French press leveling complaints against the director and his team regarding the conditions on set. They alleged that Kechiche and his team had violated the Labor Code with “workdays of 16 hours reported as 8,” an “anarchic” schedule, and a “bullying” atmosphere. May 26 The film wins the Palme d’Or. In an unusual move, the festival jury — blown away by the two main performances — decides to split the award between the director and the lead actresses. The three are all hugs and smiles, and for a brief moment it seems that all is well. May 27 While Dargis’s critiques were mostly unshared by fellow critics who saw the film at Cannes, Julie Maroh, author of the comic-book novel that the movie was based on, took to her blog to level complaints at its sex scenes, arguing that it was “a brutal and surgical display, exuberant and cold, of so-called lesbian sex, which turned into porn.” She also took issue with the fact that none of the actresses in the film were lesbians in real life. As she wrote on an English translation on her blog: “This was what was missing on the set: lesbians.” August 20 In an unsurprising move, Sundance Selects announces that the movie will be released in the U.S. with an NC-17 rating. Meanwhile, in France, where they are a little more lackadaisical when it comes to onscreen scissoring, the film is rated “12.” September 1 War begins. In an interview with the Daily Beast during Telluride, the two lead actresses speak out about the demanding and “horrible” shooting conditions that Kechiche subjected them to, particularly when it came to the sex scene, which Seydoux said took ten days to film. “Once we were on the shoot, I realized that he really wanted us to give him everything,” said Exarchopoulos. “Most people don’t even dare to ask the things that he did, and they’re more respectful — you get reassured during sex scenes, and they’re choreographed, which desexualizes the act.” Both actresses agreed they never wanted to work with the director again. “Thank god we won the Palme d’Or, because it was so horrible,” added Seydoux. September 5 At an L.A. press event for the film, Kechiche railed back at his stars, reportedly leaving Seydoux in tears. “How indecent to talk about pain when doing one of the best jobs in the world!” Kechiche told reporters, in an angry diatribe translated from French by the Hollywood Reporter. “The orderlies suffer, the unemployed suffer, construction workers could talk about suffering. How, when you are adored, when you go up on red carpet, when we receive awards, how we can speak of suffering?” A weepy Seydoux allegedly responded, “I have given a year of my life to this film. I had no life during this shoot. I gave everything. I have not criticised the director. I’m just complaining about the technique. It was my dream to work with him because, in France, he is one of the best directors.” September 24 Despite the overwhelmingly positive reviews, Kechiche then decided he hated the film so much it should never even have been released. “It has been soiled too much,” he told French magazine Telerama. “The Palme d’Or had been a brief moment of happiness; then I’ve felt humiliated, dishonored, I felt rejected, I live it like I’m cursed.” In the same interview, he revealed that during shooting he had considered replacing Seydoux with another actress. October 4 With each subsequent interview, the allegations from Seydoux intensified. Speaking with British newspaper the Independent, Seydoux claimed that the sex scenes were humiliating and left her “feeling like a prostitute.” In response, Kechiche spat back, “If Seydoux lived such a bad experience, why did she come to Cannes, try on robes and jewelery all day? Is she an actress or an artist of the red carpet?” October 11 In an interview with Indiewire, Kechiche — in an uncharacteristic display of clear-headedness — revoked his claims that the film shouldn’t have been released. “It was a remark that was blurted out at that moment, but it’s not what I really think,” he said. “I was just afraid that was what was going on around the film would prevent people from seeing it for what it really was.” In the same interview, he said that he thought that Seydoux had been influenced or manipulated into making her remarks. October 20 The war of words continued in a piece about the two stars by our own Jada Yuan. According to Exarchopoulos, filming lasted much longer than planned because “Abdell loves to take his time. He doesn’t like fabrication. He doesn’t want to see you act — he wants to take your soul.” October 23 Yesterday, taking a page from the Sinead O’Connor media playbook, Kechiche published a scathing, long-winded open letter in French publication Rue89. After criticizing Le Monde and journalist Aureliano Tonet for her negative takes on the film, he went on to rip Seydoux a new one, calling her an “arrogant, spoiled child” and an opportunist who made “slanderous” remarks about him. THR translates the director’s screed, which alleges that, “Miss Seydoux, who after having repeatedly thanked me publicly and privately and having wept in my arms at Cannes for allowing her to take on this noble role… has, against all odds and all personal coherence, radically changed her attitude toward me.” Kechiche then seemingly went on to threaten legal action against Seydoux, writing, “I will come back. It is for her to explain in court.” ||||| Abdellatif Kechiche. Four years ago, director Abdellatif Kechiche won the Palme d’Or at Cannes for his film Blue Is the Warmest Color. Now, he’s auctioning off that very coveted prize in order to complete work on his current film, Mektoub, My Love, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Mektoub was in postproduction when its financing bank suddenly halted its line of credit, causing the distribution company to set up a sale for “film memorabilia related to Kechiche’s work.” In addition to the Palme, the company, Quat’Sous, will also be auctioning off oil paintings from Blue. An NDA between parties prevents the actual amount of funds required to finish Kechiche’s next movie from being released, and the director has not yet made a statement about why he’s decided to sell his vaunted Palme, though given the long controversy that film was embroiled in at Cannes in 2013 and the director’s own comments about wishing Blue was never released, perhaps he’s quite ready to move on. The money raised in the auction will go toward the two-part feature film, which tells the story of a man named Amin, who — somewhat humorously given this situation — gets involved in a love triangle during a summer vacation, and one of the women involved is the wife of a producer who agrees to finance his first film. Amin, a screenwriter, must then choose between love and his career. So, just maybe Kechiche is going super method and sacrificing his prized possessions to pay for his art? If he’s also currently in a love triangle, we may have all the proof we need.

– If you've ever wanted to own a Palme d'Or, now's your chance. Abdellatif Kechiche, who won the top prize at the 2013 Cannes film festival for Blue Is the Warmest Color, is now auctioning it off in order to finance his next film, which has been put on hold after the bank that was backing him suddenly cut off its line of credit. Kechiche now needs funds to finish postproduction on Mektoub, My Love, per the Hollywood Reporter. In order to raise them, the French production/distribution company behind the sale will also sell off other film memorabilia related to his work, including the oil paintings that were featured in Blue Is the Warmest Color. THR calls the move a "drastic" step, but Vulture notes that Blue Is the Warmest Color was the subject of quite a bit of controversy at Cannes (having to do with allegations of poor working conditions, anti-feminism, and exploitative shooting practices—detailed timeline here) and Kechiche himself has said he wished it was never released. "Perhaps he’s quite ready to move on," writes Jordan Crucchiola.

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of Tribune Media are surging before the opening bell on reports that 21st Century Fox and Blackstone may make a joint takeover bid for the Chicago TV station operator. The bid would apparently be an attempt to keep Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., which is also rumored to be pursuing Tribune, from snatching up Tribune's stakes in Food Network, WGN cable network and some local TV stations. Blackstone, a private equity firm, is said to be putting cash toward the offer, while Fox would contribute some of its stations, according to the reports. Tribune and 21st Century Fox Inc. both declined to comment Monday. Blackstone didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Shares of Tribune Media Co. jumped $1.94, or 5.3 percent, to $38.50 before the market opened. ||||| Tribune Media Co. , which is in the midst of a merger with Sinclair, said Thursday it had net income of $141.2 million, or $1.60 a share, in the first quarter, after a loss of $85.6 million, or 99 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Adjusted per-share earnings came to 51 cents, ahead of the 11 cents FactSet consensus. revenue rose to $443.6 million from $439.9 million, below the FactSet consensus of $457 million. Chief Executive Peter Kern said growth in re-transmission and carriage fee revenues offset headwinds in advertising and the company's limited exposure to Olympics and Super Bowl advertising. "While we expect to generate the majority of our political advertising revenue in the second half of the year, the momentum of political spending we saw in the first quarter is very encouraging," he said. Shares were not yet active premarket, but are down 10% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained 12%. by Ciara Linnane ||||| 21st Century Fox Inc., the media conglomerate controlled by Rupert Murdoch, is teaming with Blackstone Group LP to make an offer to acquire TV-station owner Tribune Media Co., rivaling a planned bid by Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., people familiar with the situation said. The all-cash bid would be funded by Blackstone while Fox would contribute its TV stations to the joint venture that would acquire Tribune, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The two sides are in talks about a deal ahead of a deadline this week for final bids. No agreement has been reached and talks may still fall apart. Fox has been approached in recent weeks about backing an alternative to a takeover by Sinclair, which has been looking to acquire Chicago-based Tribune for a price said to be in the high-$30s a share. Shares of Tribune rose as much as 9 percent to $39.86 in New York, the biggest intraday advance in two months. Sinclair fell as much as 1.3 percent, while Fox slipped 0.4 percent. A combination of Tribune and Sinclair, two of the country’s biggest TV station owners, would give Sinclair a stronger negotiating hand with Fox about how to split fees from cable providers. Yet Fox has a say in Tribune’s destiny because it has to consent to the transfer of the company’s affiliate agreements to a new owner, people familiar with the situation said previously. Fox Said Approached to Thwart Possible Tribune-Sinclair Deal Sinclair has been looking to finalize a deal by the time Tribune reports first-quarter earnings, which it’s slated to do during the week of May 8. Tribune Media has a market capitalization of about $3.2 billion. Mergers of TV-station owners like Sinclair, Tribune and Fox was made easier last month when the FCC restored a rule that allows TV station groups to count just half of their coverage area for UHF (Ultra High Frequency) stations to comply with a 39 percent nationwide cap set by Congress. The FCC’s vote reversed a 2016 decision by the agency during the Obama administration. New Chairman Ajit Pai, a Republican, criticized the earlier action because it effectively tightened ownership limits without considering whether to raise the national cap. The issue is a relic of days when UHF stations -- broadcasting on channels 14 and higher -- used signals that didn’t reach as far as stations assigned lower-numbered channels. That disappeared with the switch to digital TV in 2009. Tribune said April 20 that the action was “a welcome step towards creating a more level playing field for all local broadcasters in their relationships with television networks, satellite operators, cable providers, and streaming video services.”

– One of the nation's largest television broadcasting companies may have competing suitors: Today's media scuttlebutt centers around Tribune Media and its 42 TV stations. Reports say Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox and the private equity firm Blackstone are readying a bid for the company, with Blackstone ponying up cash and Fox kicking some of its own stations into the joint venture. The AP reports the bid would apparently be an attempt to keep Sinclair Broadcast Group, which is also rumored to be pursuing Tribune, from snatching up Tribune's stakes in Food Network, WGN cable network, and the local stations. Bloomberg reports Sinclair had been looking at offering something in the neighborhood of the high-$30s per share. Sinclair has 173 local television stations in 81 markets, and CNN Money notes that if its bid is successful it would be in violation of current FCC rules in that it would reach more than 40% of the US television market. But Variety sets the stage: Sinclair's move is "part of another wave of broadcast TV station mergers expected now that the FCC is on a course to loosen ownership restrictions." It also calls Fox's rumored move an "offensive" one, as if Sinclair were to be successful, its control over Fox affiliates would swell to 28%. Tribune shares were up 9% to nearly $40 at the open.

New evidence emerged Friday that the oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico was spreading more broadly than previously thought as BP continued its fitful efforts to stop the worst oil spill in U.S. history and President Obama returned to the Gulf Coast to assess the damage. A day after a research team reported finding a huge "plume" of oil extending miles east of the leaking BP well, another university scientist said his crew had located another vast plume of oily globs in the opposite direction, in a section of the gulf 75 miles northwest of where the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20. James H. Cowan Jr., a professor at Louisiana State University, said his crew sent a remotely controlled submarine into the water, a section already closed to fishing, and found it full of oily globules, ranging from the size of a thumbnail to the size of a golf ball -- "like big, wet snowflakes, but they're brown and black and oily." Unlike the plume found east of the leak -- in which the oil was so dissolved that contaminated water appeared clear -- Cowan said the oil at this site was so thick that it covered the lights on the submarine, which returned to the surface entirely black. The submarine traveled about 400 feet down, close to the sea floor, and found oil all the way down. Trying to find the edges of the plume, he said, the submarine traveled miles from side to side. "We really never found either end of it," Cowan said. BP continued its attempt to stop the leak with the "top kill" procedure -- pumping heavy drilling "mud" into the damaged well shaft -- amid questions about whether it was being forthcoming about the process. In interviews Friday morning, BP officials apologized for not disclosing earlier that they had stopped the pumping procedure much of Thursday out of concern about the mud that was leaking back out. But they said the process was again showing signs of success along with "junk shot" injections into the wellhead of heavier material, such as rubber. But later Friday, it emerged that BP stopped the pumping operation again at 2:30 local time on Friday morning. The pumping resumed after 3 p.m., Energy Secretary Steven Chu said. On Friday evening, BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles said that the operation was "basically going according to plan" and that it was "not unusual" for pumping periods to alternate with pauses for monitoring. The pumping will continue for another day or two, he said. If the operation is successful, BP can then cap the well with cement. If it is not, BP will turn to other options, starting with a second attempt to place a containment cap that could collect oil while BP continues to dig a second well to relieve the leak. "The key element here is to exercise patience," Suttles said. He said the attempt to skim oil from the water was going well, with 1,300 vessels at work and another million feet of boom on the way. Obama's visit to the Gulf Coast -- a detour from his Memorial Day weekend visit home to Chicago -- was part of a concerted White House effort to push back against critics who have called the administration's response lacking. He visited a beach in Port Fourchon on Louisiana's southeastern coast, where tar balls are washing up, and attended a briefing at a Coast Guard station in Grand Isle, a small barrier island town south of New Orleans. ||||| HOUSTON — BP engineers struggled Friday to plug a gushing oil well a mile under the sea, but as of late in the day they had made little headway in stemming the flow. Amid mixed messages about problems and progress, the effort — called a “top kill” — continued for a third day, with engineers describing a painstaking process of trying to plug the hole, using different weights of mud and sizes of debris like golf balls and tires, and then watching and waiting. They cannot use brute force because they risk making the leak worse if they damage the pipes leading down to the well. Despite an apparent lack of progress, officials said they would continue with the process for another 48 hours, into Sunday, before giving up and considering other options, including another containment dome to try to capture the oil. President Obama, who visited the Gulf Coast on Friday, spoke broadly about the government’s response to the environmental disaster, saying that “not every judgment we make will be right the first time out.” He also added, seemingly capturing the mood of engineers working to plug the well: “There are going to be a lot of judgment calls here. There are not going to be silver bullets or perfect answers.” Nor were there perfect answers Friday about the status of the top kill effort. For the second day, public statements early in the day from BP and government officials seemed to suggest progress. Later in the day, they acknowledged that the effort was no closer to succeeding than when they started. “We’re going to stay with this as long as we need to,” Doug Suttles, BP’s chief operating officer for exploration and production, said late Friday afternoon. “We’re not going to rush.” BP suspended pumping operations at 2:30 a.m. Friday after two “junk shot” attempts to plug the leak with rubber and other materials, said a technician working on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about it. The technician said that engineers had come up with a variety of theories about why efforts have failed so far, and they were trying different sizes of objects. He said the process required trial and error — and sifting through various theories among engineers in the operation’s control room — about the best way to clog the “internal geometry” of the damaged equipment. BP said pumping operations resumed around 3:45 p.m. Friday. The technician said that despite all the injections, at various pressure levels, engineers had been able to keep less than 10 percent of the injection fluids inside the stack of pipes above the well. He said that was barely an improvement on the results Wednesday, when the operation began and was suspended after about 10 hours. “I won’t say progress was zero, but I don’t know if we can round up enough mud to make it work,” said another technician on the project. “Everyone is disappointed at this time.” The technician also said that there were disagreements among engineers about why efforts had been unsuccessful so far, but that those disagreements were based on a lack of a clear understanding of what was happening inside the pipes on the sea floor. Some public statements Friday suggested more certainty. Adm. Thad W. Allen of the Coast Guard, the leader of the government effort, said on ABC’s “Good Morning America”: “They’ve been able to push the hydrocarbons and the oil down with the mud.” Tony Hayward, BP’s chief executive, told CNN on Friday morning: “We have some indications of partial bridging, which is good news.” In the afternoon, Mr. Suttles gave a more cautious view. “We’re doing things that are very difficult to do,” he said. “Many of the things we have done have never been done before.” But he said the effort would continue for “as long as necessary until we are successful or convinced it will not succeed.”

– BP resumed its "top kill" operation late this afternoon after the second straight day of an unannounced suspension and mixed messages. They continue to say they will need 24 to 48 hours for a final verdict. Energy Secretary Steven Chu tells the Washington Post there's "some evidence" that the first so-called junk shots made progress. Chu said officials were cautiously optimistic that "some of the junk took." BP shut down the operation overnight after failing to stop the oil flow, reports the New York Times. But that information didn't become public until this afternoon, despite another day of positive assessments on the morning talk shows. Says a spokesman: "The operation is by definition a series of phases of pumping mud and shooting bridging materials and junk and reading pressure gauges. It is going to keep going, perhaps 48 more hours.”

ink-stained wretches Did the Times Take a Sympathetic Stance in Story About Texas Child Rapists? In a disturbing story in yesterday's Times, writer James McKinley recounted the tale of the alleged rape (caught on film) of an 11-year-old girl in Cleveland, Texas, and the eighteen young men and teenagers implicated in the crime. But some of McKinley's flourishes disturbed the women bloggers at Slate XX and Jezebel. Like this, for example: "It's just destroyed our community," said Sheila Harrison, 48, a hospital worker who says she knows several of the defendants. "These boys have to live with this the rest of their lives." That's the first quote in the story, one that expresses sympathy for the alleged child rapists. The basics of the crime are this: The child was lured to a friend's home by a 19-year-old, where several boys forced her to take her clothes off and sexually assaulted her, threatening to beat her if she resisted. When a relative turned up, the group dragged her through a back window and took her to a mobile home in a rough neighborhood called the Quarters where the assaults continued. Portions were recorded on cell phones, which the perpetrators later showed off at school. When a classmate told a teacher about what she saw, law enforcement became involved. Here's the next quote from the Times story, also from Harrison: "Where was her mother? What was her mother thinking?" said Ms. Harrison, one of a handful of neighbors who would speak on the record. "How can you have an 11-year-old child missing down in the Quarters?" "Residents in the neighborhood where the abandoned trailer stands ... said the victim had been visiting various friends there for months," explains McKinley. "They said she dressed older than her age, wearing makeup and fashions more appropriate to a woman in her 20s." These quotes disturbed some readers, especially when combined with a portion of the writer's intro where he noted: The case has rocked this East Texas community to its core and left many residents in the working-class neighborhood where the attack took place with unanswered questions. Among them is, if the allegations are proved, how could their young men have been drawn into such an act? "As if they were tricked into gang raping a child," Jezebel's Margaret Hartman seethed. "Any attempt to gain emotional distance on rape by transferring just a tiny portion, just one percent, of the blame onto the victim is an absolute moral wrong," wrote Slate's Libby Copeland. "We are very aware of and sensitive to the concerns that arise in reporting about sexual assault," a Times spokeswoman told us by e-mail. "This story is still developing and there is much to be learned about how something so horrific could have occurred. But nothing in our story was in any way intended to imply that the victim was to blame. Neighbors' comments about the girl, which we reported in the story, seemed to reflect concern about what they saw as a lack of supervision that may have left her at risk." "As for residents' references to the accused having to 'live with this for the rest of their lives,' those are views we found in our reporting. They are not our reporter's reactions, but the reactions of disbelief by townspeople over the news of a mass assault on a defenseless 11-year-old." Go and read the piece. What do you think? Was the Times playing into the community's feeling of protection for all of its young people, not just the victim? Vicious Assault Shakes Texas Town [NYT] Reporting on a Gang Rape in East Texas [Slate XX] Media Blows It With Pathetic Gang Rape Coverage [Jezebel] ||||| CLEVELAND, Texas — A meeting Thursday night that was billed as a way to discuss concerns some have about the investigation into a series of alleged sexual assaults on an 11-year-old girl turned into a forum that many used to blame the girl police contend is the victim of heinous attacks. Many who attended the meeting said they supported the group of men and boys who have been charged in the case. Supporters didn't claim that the men and boys did not have sex with the young girl; instead they blamed the girl for the way she dressed or claimed she must have lied about her age — accusations that have drawn strong responses from those who note an 11-year-old cannot consent to sex and that it doesn't matter how she was dressed. Other people in this small town about 40 miles northeast of Houston said earlier this week they were outraged by the attacks. The age of consent in Texas is 17 and ignorance of a girl's age is not a legal defense. "She's 11 years old. It shouldn't have happened. That's a child," Oscar Carter, 56, who is related to an uncle of one 16-year-old charged in the case, said in an interview earlier in the week. "Somebody should have said what we are doing is wrong." Police say the girl was sexually assaulted during several attacks last year. Authorities have arrested 18 people, including two of Cleveland's star high school athletes and adults with criminal records. They face assault and abuse charges. Authorities began investigating in December after a friend of the girl told a teacher he had seen a lurid cell phone video that showed the girl being raped. Police investigators determined it was recorded inside an abandoned mobile home on the city's northern outskirts. The girl told investigators she was raped on Nov. 28, first at a house near the mobile home and then at the trailer. Indictments in the case allege that before the Nov. 28 attack, the girl also was assaulted on Sept. 15 and Oct. 25. Each of those times, at least two individuals were involved. Thursday's meeting was led by Quanell X, an activist prominent in Houston's black community. He told the audience of more than 130 people who had packed a small community center that the gathering's goal was not to criticize the girl but to question the investigation by police, although he did question why she didn't report the attack to authorities herself. "I did not come here this evening to jump on an 11-year-old girl," he said. The activist, who was invited to speak by a local pastor, said he was concerned that only young black men had been arrested. He said he believed some of those arrested were guilty but that others were not. He told those in attendance that if they were questioned by police about the case that they should only talk to police with a lawyer present. During the meeting, Quanell X also asked people to donate money to the defense funds for two of those arrested in the case. After the meeting, many in attendance told reporters that the girl had consented to the sex. "She lied about her age. Them boys didn't rape her. She wanted this to happen. I'm not taking nobody's side, but if she hadn't put herself in that predicament, this would have never happened," said Angie Woods, who lives in Houston but grew up in Cleveland. The AP was unable to locate the family this week, but her mother has told The Houston Chronicle that Child Protective Services placed the girl in a foster home with restricted access to her family. ||||| T he paper of record has come under fire for a story about the alleged gang rape of an 11-year-old girl by 18 young men in Cleveland, Texas. A feature on the gruesome tale notes the victim's clothes and makeup, and includes quotes from some local residents who seem to blame the victim while worrying about the well-being of the alleged attackers. The Times' coverage is being called "sloppy, slanted," and "pathetic." Is the Gray Lady to blame? Yes, this is bad journalism: The Times piece is "sloppy journalism," says Mary Elizabeth Williams at Salon. It focuses on what the 11-year-old victim "must have done to provoke" her assailants rather than "what her multiple assailants apparently did." That's "outrageous" and "sickening." The Times aspires to "balanced journalism," but with this story, the vast majority of the quotes offer an unbalanced, unsympathetic perspective. "The New York Times' sloppy, slanted child rape story" The Times seems to sympathize with the suspects: "It's hard to believe that anyone's first concern would be about how the men will live with what they did," says Margaret Hartmann at Jezebel. But the article includes a quote about how the alleged rapists will "have to live with this the rest of their lives." Who cares about them? "Media blows it with pathetic gang rape coverage" No, the Times accurately reflected the community's reaction: The story, and the controversial quotes, are simply portraying the community response to the crime, says Francisca Ortega at the Houston Chronicle. Journalists just report the facts, regardless of whether they agree or disagree. While I personally wouldn't blame the victim, it seems some in the community do, and that's what the story reflected. The Times merely quoted them. It didn't endorse their view. "This is the world we live in," and "we shouldn't sugarcoat the fact that this world exists." "The appropriate place to rant about rape in a news story"

– Ever since 18 men and boys were busted in the gang rape of an 11-year-old girl, there have been hints of a “blame the victim” mentality emerging—and last night, some residents crossed from hints to explicitly blaming the 11-year-old girl. “She lied about her age. Them boys didn't rape her. She wanted this to happen. I'm not taking nobody's side, but if she hadn't put herself in that predicament, this would have never happened,” said one resident. Many others who attended a town meeting also told reporters the 11-year-old had consented to sex with those accused, the AP reports via the Houston Chronicle. The meeting was supposedly held to discuss concerns about the investigation, but many in attendance used it to voice claims that the 11-year-old was to blame because of the way she dressed, or to hypothesize that she lied about her age. Others opposed those views, noting that Texas’s age of consent is 17, and that even if the girl did claim to be older, an 11-year-old simply cannot legally give consent. Quanell X, the Houston activist who led the meeting, said he “did not come here this evening to jump on an 11-year-old girl,” but also questioned why the girl didn’t report the attack herself. Earlier, a New York Times story on the attack sparked controversy—click for more on that here and here.

Story highlights Barbara Bush, a daughter of former President George W. Bush, appeared at a Hillary Clinton fundraiser She's the latest in her famous family to tip her hand toward the Democratic nominee White Plains, New York (CNN) Barbara Bush, a daughter of former President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush, attended a Hillary Clinton fundraiser in Paris Saturday night, according a source familiar with the event. Bush posed for a picture with Huma Abedin, the longtime Clinton aide who was hosting the fundraiser with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. The photo was then posted by multiple event attendees, including Lauren Santo Domingo, co-founder of the online fashion website Moda Operandi, who included the hashtag "#imwithher." Hillblazing at home in paris #imwithher A photo posted by Lauren Santo Domingo (@thelsd) on Oct 1, 2016 at 3:48pm PDT A spokesman for the former president did not respond to request for comment. Clinton aides also did not immediately respond to requests. Barbara Bush is the latest member of Republican family to tip their hand toward Clinton over Republican nominee Donald Trump. Read More ||||| Barbara Pierce Bush appeared in a photo with Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin. | Getty Barbara Bush poses with Huma Abedin in #werewithher photo Barbara Pierce Bush appeared alongside Hillary Clinton's longtime aide Huma Abedin in a photo posted Saturday evening by a prominent fashion-industry insider, branded with a #werewithher hashtag. Lauren Santo Domingo, contributing editor at Vogue, and actress Dakota Fanning, who has donated to Clinton in the past, were also pictured in a selfie taken with Derek Blasberg, Vanity Fair's "Man on the Street" and a well-known New York socialite with an Instagram feed that has more than half a million followers. Story Continued Below Blasberg is also a self-declared Democrat. Bush's grandfather, George H.W. Bush, is voting for the Democratic nominee, Kathleen Hartington Kennedy Townsend revealed last month in a photo on Facebook. Blasberg later deleted the tweet and reposted it, without the #werewithher hashtag. The same photo was also posted on Instagram, along with the #werewithher hashtag. The post was later edited with the hashtag removed. This is the original post as it appeared on David Blasberg's Instagram. | POLITICO screen grab Annie Karni contributed to this report.

– The latest member of the Bush dynasty to unsubtly diss Donald Trump is former first daughter Barbara Pierce Bush, the daughter of George W. and namesake of his mother: The younger Bush appeared at a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton in Paris on Saturday, reports CNN. Bush wasn't exactly coy about her appearance, making the rounds on social media, including appearing in a photo with Clinton's right-hand woman, Huma Abedin, along with the hashtag #imwithher and #werewithher. Politico notes that those photos were later scrubbed of the hashtags and reposted. No comment from the Clinton or Bush camps. (Bush's uncle Jeb won't be voting for his former rival.)

In this undated product image provided by Starbucks, the company's new 40-year anniversary logo is seen on a cup at right. Other cups bearing the company's logo from over the years, from left, 1971,... (Associated Press) The world's largest coffee company unveiled a new logo Wednesday that drops the words encircling its iconic sea nymph and gives her a few subtle updates. Starbucks says the changes amount to more than nips and tucks to its favorite lady. The fresh look goes with a new direction for the company as it makes its way back from its toughest times in its 40-year history. Prior versions of the logo helped build Starbucks into one of the world's best recognized brands, and the company felt it no longer needed to reinforce its name at every turn. The new wordless logo also is better suited to the company's expansion beyond coffee into a wider array of business lines and into more international markets. Starbucks revealed the logo Wednesday to a cheering crowd of employees in its Seattle offices and on a webcast and plans to bring it to stores in March to coincide with the company's 40th anniversary. "What is really important here is an evolutionary refinement of the logo, which is a mirror image of the strategy," said Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks. "This is not just, let's wake up one day and change our logo." This is the fourth version of Starbucks' logo since the company's beginnings as a small coffee, tea and spice shop in Seattle in 1971. The first update came in 1987, taking the original bare-breasted siren in brown to a more stylized _ and modest _ version in green as the company began to expand. The image was further refined in the 1990s as the company went public and its growth soared. Starbucks eventually suffered from its own success. It grew too far, too fast and began drawing criticism that it had become the Wal-Mart of coffee. Its luster further faded as the recession hit and consumers drank coffee at home or went to lower-priced competitors like McDonald's Corp., which had upped their coffee offerings. The coffee's giant's sales and stock price both fell. Starbucks brought back founder Schultz to lead daily operations in 2008, closed hundreds of stores and cut jobs. It reemphasized training for employees, allowed customers to customize drinks more, opened stores with more local flavor, increased its Wi-Fi offerings and launched a rewards program. Its sales have rebounded, and its fiscal 2010 profit was more than double what it earned in 2009. "We learned the hard way two and a half years ago that we have to earn it every day," Schultz told employees Wednesday. The company also expanded its product lines _ introducing Via, its first instant coffee. It increased its emphasis on beans, ice cream and other packaged goods sold in grocery stores. And it put a big push on its other business lines like Tazo tea and Seattle's Best Coffee. Starbucks ramped up its plans for international markets, like China, where it now has 400 stores on the mainland and plans to open hundreds more in coming years. "We're sitting today with record revenue, record profit; the stock price is at a five-year high. This isn't an accident," Schultz said. Starbucks leaders say the changes to the logo are in some ways a metaphor for the company dropping the boundaries of its own business and growing into new areas. Marketing experts agree. "The brand is now evolving to a point where the coffee association is too confining and restrictive," said John Quelch, a marketing professor at Harvard Business School. "Starbucks is fundamentally selling an experience, but by no means is coffee the only part of the experience. It is important that they not have a logo that is too confining." Starbucks looked to companies like Nike Inc. and Apple Inc., which had earned the clout with consumers to drop the words from their logos. And it closely watched the missteps of others, such as Gap Inc., which launched a new logo in October only to withdraw it after harsh criticism by customers and others. Starbucks sees other changes ahead under its new banner: it's testing a system for customers to order and pay for coffee by mobile phone. It's seeking a way for rewards card holders to earn points buying Starbucks products at grocers or other stores. And it's considering offering beer and wine at night in some of its cafes. Starbucks also suggested it is looking at new food business opportunities, though company officials would not disclose details. "I've never been more excited about the future of the company, I'll tell you that," Schultz said. ____ Retail writer Michael A. Lee contributed reporting from New York. ||||| SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Starbucks unveiled a new corporate logo Wednesday, dropping the words “Starbucks” and “coffee” that had been wrapped around the twin-tailed mermaid seen on its coffee cups. It’s the fourth modification of the Starbucks SBUX, +0.02% logo since it was created in 1971 and the first significant tweak since the company went public in 1992. The switch marks a new chapter in Starbucks’s history, according to the company. The company, which has turned around its business since stumbling badly at the outset of the economic downturn, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and is making a push to become a worldwide consumer-products company, moves that include selling more of its products through grocery stores and serving beer and wine in some of its remodeled stores. “We’ve given [the logo] a small but meaningful update to ensure that the Starbucks brand continues to embrace our heritage,” Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz said in a statement. The first siren logo in 1971 was brown and included the words “coffee,” “tea” and “spices.” In 1987, when Starbucks began serving espresso beverages, the logo turned mainly green, and the tea and spices references were dropped. In 1992, the image of the siren was changed. The company also re-embraced the retro brown logo for some cups when it reintroduced its Pike Place coffee blend in 2008. Starbucks shares were down 4 cents at $32.42 in afternoon trading Wednesday. More from MarketWatch ||||| * Starbucks unveils new, simplified logo * Last change was in 1992, when company went public * Brand experts mixed on logo change (Adds details from brand experts, details on logo history, byline; updates stock activity) By Lisa Baertlein LOS ANGELES, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O), the world's biggest coffee chain, dropped both its name and the word "coffee" from its 40-year old logo, prompting cries of outrage from people who said they were loyal customers. The new green logo amplifies the company's female siren symbol -- representing half-human mythical temptresses who led sailors to their deaths -- as Starbucks tries to build new billion-dollar brands sold outside its network of cafes. "Even though we have been, and always will be, a coffee company and retailer, it's possible we'll have other products with our name on it and no coffee in it," Chief Executive Howard Schultz said on a webcast to explain the change. (For a photo of the new logo, click link.reuters.com/veq84r) Self-described Starbucks fanatics were not impressed, and many of the 156 comments on the company's website called for the well-known Seattle company name to be reinstated. "Who's the bonehead in your marketing department that removed the world-famous name of Starbucks Coffee from your new logo? This gold card user isn't impressed!" wrote one customer who identified herself as MimiKatz. Another wrote: "I have been a big supporter of (Starbucks) since the early days, taken expensive rides in taxis to get my morning coffee, even waded through two feet of snow in my business suit ... but I do not see the logic of your Business Development folks for the removal of the Starbucks name." Executives said the logo, which was designed by an in-house team, would appear first on paper products like cups and napkins in March and then be phased in over time. The company declined to say how much it would spend swapping out the logos. The world's biggest coffee chain has not changed its logo since it went public in 1992. "IT'S NUTS" Some brand experts questioned whether the change was a smart move, and even likened it to a recent ill-fated attempt by clothing chain Gap Inc (GPS.N) to change its well-known brand image. [ID:nN11138046]

– Starbucks is making its mermaid a little more prominent. A new corporate logo unveiled today to celebrate the company's 40th anniversary drops the words "coffee" and "Starbucks" and lets the green mermaid stand on her own, reports MarketWatch. The dropping of "coffee" comes as the company expands its product line, notes Reuters. "Even though we have been and always will be a coffee company and retailer, it's possible we'll have other products with our name on it and no coffee in it," says Chief Executive Howard Schultz. A marketing expert tells AP the move is wise because it's "important that they not have a logo that is too confining." Starbucks follows the lead of Nike and Apple in removing words from its logo, which probably won't start showing up on cups until March.

General McMaster forgot to say that the results of the 2016 election were not impacted or changed by the Russians and that the only Collusion was between Russia and Crooked H, the DNC and the Dems. Remember the Dirty Dossier, Uranium, Speeches, Emails and the Podesta Company! ||||| Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign - there is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud! ||||| President Donald Trump, left, accompanied by Florida Gov. Rick Scott, right, speaks as they meet with law enforcement officers at Broward County Sheriff's Office in Pompano Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 16,... (Associated Press) President Donald Trump, left, accompanied by Florida Gov. Rick Scott, right, speaks as they meet with law enforcement officers at Broward County Sheriff's Office in Pompano Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, following Wednesday's shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla. (AP... (Associated Press) President Donald Trump, left, accompanied by Florida Gov. Rick Scott, right, speaks as they meet with law enforcement officers at Broward County Sheriff's Office in Pompano Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, following Wednesday's shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla. (AP... (Associated Press) President Donald Trump, left, accompanied by Florida Gov. Rick Scott, right, speaks as they meet with law enforcement officers at Broward County Sheriff's Office in Pompano Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 16,... (Associated Press) WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump lashed out at the FBI Saturday night, saying the agency "missed all of the many signals" sent by the suspect in the Florida school shooting and arguing they are "spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign." Trump said on Twitter: "This is not acceptable. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign - there is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud!" The FBI received a tip last month that the suspect in the Florida school shooting had a "desire to kill" and access to guns and could be plotting an attack. But the agency said Friday that agents failed to investigate. The FBI's acknowledgment that it mishandled the tip prompted a sharp rebuke from its boss, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and a call from Florida's Republican Gov. Rick Scott, a Trump ally, for FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign. Trump and other Republicans have heavily criticized the FBI. They are still dissatisfied with its decision not to charge Hillary Clinton with crimes related to her use of a private email server, and they see signs of bias in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe of possible Trump campaign ties to Russia.

– President Trump lashed out at the FBI on Saturday night, saying the agency "missed all of the many signals" sent by the suspect in the Florida school shooting and arguing they are "spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign." Trump tweeted: "This is not acceptable. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign - there is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud!" He later added that "the results of the 2016 election were not impacted or changed by the Russians and that the only Collusion was between Russia and Crooked H, the DNC and the Dems." The FBI received a tip last month that the suspect in the Florida school shooting had a "desire to kill" and access to guns and could be plotting an attack, reports the AP. But the agency said Friday that agents failed to investigate. The FBI's acknowledgment that it mishandled the tip prompted a sharp rebuke from its boss, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and a call from Florida's Republican Gov. Rick Scott, a Trump ally, for FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign. Trump and other Republicans have heavily criticized the FBI. They are still dissatisfied with its decision not to charge Hillary Clinton with crimes related to her use of a private email server, and they see signs of bias in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe of possible Trump campaign ties to Russia.

Infamous for its stance against homosexuality and protests at military funerals, Westboro Baptist Church members will reportedly picket at a Federal Way area church on Sunday. Westboro members will picket at Mars Hill megachurch, 3425 S. 360th St., Auburn. The first service starts at 9 a.m. Sunday, June 18. Westboro is targeting Mars Hill and Pastor Mark Driscoll "to picket the false prophet and blind lemmings at Mars Hill Whore House where they teach the lies that God love [sic] everyone and Jesus died for the sins of all of mankind," according to Westboro's website at www.godhatesfags.com. "You have caused the people to trust in lies to their destruction, and to your damnation. Shame on you for calling yourself the Mars Hill Church!" In return, Mars Hill has offered to serve doughnuts to the protesters. In his blog, Driscoll writes: "If you make it, we'll also give you free copies of my book, Doctrine, so you can learn what the Bible says about who God actually is, and we'll also provide fresh donuts and free coffee, along with smiles and chuckles. Sadly, I won't be able to make the party. This false prophet will be at his son's baseball tournament, enjoying time with his wife and five kids. Happy Father's Day!" Check out a report in Christianpost.com as well as USA Today on the protest. Related Stories Mars Hill Church opens in Federal Way This article was originally published in the Federal Way Mirror on June 17, 2011. ||||| This Sunday, the infamous Westboro “Baptist” “Church” (WBC) is scheduled to picket our Federal Way campus in Auburn. You can find more about WBC from their very loving and gracious website, affectionately titled, godhatesfags.com. More of a dysfunctional family of religious lawyers than a church, WBC is led by Fred Phelps, who founded the church in 1955. The “church” comprises mostly his family of roughly 70 people. Jon Stewart once said, “The Westboro Baptist Church is no more a church than Church’s Fried Chicken is a church.” Instead, they’re more of a political hate group who use the name of God to advance their agenda. For the most part, they are self-funded, but they also receive funding from lawsuits. Doctrinally, they are extreme five-point Calvinists, or what I like to call Crazy Calvinists. They basically believe the underlying message of the Bible is one of God’s hatred and wrath against humankind, and that the Bible is properly interpreted through that filter. Therefore, they believe all mentions of God’s love in the Bible are in reference to God’s Christian elect and not applicable in any way to others outside God’s elect—pretty much a cosmic game of Duck, Duck, Damned. They also believe that, as they wrote in a memo from 2002, that, “Wherever you find organized Christianity in the New Testament, you find it in the form of a visible, local church…with a pastor who preaches the five points of Calvinism as the only gospel,” which is curious since John Calvin wasn’t born until some 1,500 years after Jesus and the formation of the Christian church. The “church” pickets up to six locations per day, and up to 15 locations on Sundays. By their own account, they’ve conducted over 45,000 pickets in 50 states and 500 cities including the funerals of dead soldiers. It is estimated they spend around $250,000 per year on picketing. Explaining their pickets, they say, “We display large, colorful signs containing Bible words and sentiments, including: GOD HATES FAGS, FAGS HATE GOD, AIDS CURES FAGS, THANK GOD FOR AIDS, FAGS BURN IN HELL, GOD IS NOT MOCKED, FAGS ARE NATURE FREAKS, GOD GAVE FAGS UP, NO SPECIAL LAWS FOR FAGS, FAGS DOOM NATIONS, THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS, FAG TROOPS, GOD BLEW UP THE TROOPS, GOD HATES AMERICA, AMERICA IS DOOMED, THE WORLD IS DOOMED, etc.” Oh, and while we’re at it, they think that President Obama is likely the beast from Revelation. You cannot make this stuff up. For people who likely do not drink, they hide it well. WBC says the reason they’ll be at Mars Hill Church is, “To picket the false prophet and blind lemmings at Mars Hill Whore House where they teach the lies that God love [sic] everyone and Jesus died for the sins of all of mankind. You have caused the people to trust in lies to their destruction, and to your damnation. Shame on you for calling yourself the Mars Hill Church! False advertising doesn’t come close! Paul would turn over in his grave at your God-hating, Christ-rejecting lies! You have a form of godliness, but you deny the power thereof…WBC will speak the truth to you in love—as God defines ‘love’. We will tell you that, in fact, there is a standard God has set in this earth that He commands you obey. Your disobedient sin is taking you to hell, and you must repent and mourn for your sins. God does not love everyone—in fact, He hates the majority of mankind, and has purposed to send them to hell when they die. You would know these things if you would pick up a Bible and actually READ THE WORDS!” The whole ”read-the-words” of the Bible thingy is actually pretty good advice. And in reading the Bible, we see that it says everyone is loved by God, and though not everyone is saved, anyone who turns from sin and trusts in Jesus will receive eternal life. Additionally, we know that it’s not God’s hatred that leads people to repentance but instead his kindness (Romans 2:4). Here are some Scriptures that speak plainly about God’s love for people: John 1:29: “John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” John 3:16–17: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” 1 Tim. 2:3–6: “God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men…” 2 Peter 3:9: “He [God] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Jesus Christ also said we should “love our neighbors” and even “love our enemies.” So, Fred and WBC, on Jesus’s behalf, this false prophet and the blind lemmings at our “Whore House” welcome you in love. The sermon next Sunday will be from Luke’s Gospel on how God saved a really bad man named Zacchaeus and how the self-righteous, holier-than-thou religious folks who saw Jesus lovingly befriend him stood around complaining and grumbling—or basically picketing the love of God. In the providence of God, we call that a funny coincidence. If you make it, we’ll also give you free copies of my book, Doctrine, so you can learn what the Bible says about who God actually is, and we’ll also provide fresh donuts and free coffee, along with smiles and chuckles. Sadly, I won’t be able to make the party. This false prophet will be at his son’s baseball tournament, enjoying time with his wife and five kids. Happy Father’s Day! Pastor Mark Driscoll Mars Hill Church [Photo via Pastor Mark's Facebook page]

– After learning that Westboro was planning on picketing his megachurch today, Pastor Mark Driscoll decided to fight fire with ... donuts. Westboro wrote on its website that it decided to target the Seattle-area Mars Hill "to picket the false prophet and blind lemmings at Mars Hill Whore House where they teach the lies that God love [sic] everyone and Jesus died for the sins of all of mankind." So Driscoll also took to the web, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, writing a blog post titled, "Westboro Baptist Church, This False Prophet and His Blind Lemmings Welcome You to Our Whore House for God’s Grace and Free Donuts." "If you make it," he writes, "we'll give you free copies of my book, Doctrine, so you can learn what the Bible says about who God actually is, and we'll also provide fresh donuts and free coffee, along with smiles and chuckles." Driscoll, however, wouldn't be around to hand out the goodies. "This false prophet will be at his son's baseball tournament, enjoying time with his wife and five kids. Happy Father's Day!"

Tiny as a sparrow, fierce as an eagle, Lisbeth Salander is one of the great Scandinavian avengers of our time, an angry bird catapulting into the fortresses of power and wiping smiles off the faces of smug, predatory pigs. The animating force in Stieg Larsson ’s “Millennium” trilogy — incarnated on screen first by Noomi Rapace and now, in David Fincher ’s adaptation of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” by Rooney Mara — Lisbeth is an outlaw feminist fantasy-heroine, and also an avatar of digital antiauthoritarianism. Her appeal arises from a combination of vulnerability and ruthless competence. Lisbeth can hack any machine, crack any code and, when necessary, mete out righteous punitive violence, but she is also (to an extent fully revealed in subsequent episodes) a lost and abused child. And Ms. Mara captures her volatile and fascinating essence beautifully. Hurt, fury and calculation play on her pierced and shadowed face. The black bangs across her forehead are as sharp and severe as an obsidian blade, but her eyebrows are as downy and pale as a baby’s. Lisbeth inspires fear and awe and also — on the part of Larsson and his fictional alter ego, the crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist (played in Mr. Fincher’s film by Daniel Craig) — a measure of chivalrous protectiveness. She is a marvelous pop-culture character, stranger and more complex than the average superhero and more intriguing than the usual boy wizards and vampire brides. It has been her fate, unfortunately, to make her furious, inspiring way through a series of plodding and ungainly stories. The Swedish screen version of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” directed by Niels Arden Oplev, often felt like the very long pilot episode of a television crime show, partly because of Larsson’s heavy-footed clumsiness as a storyteller. Despite the slick intensity of Mr. Fincher’s style, his movie is not immune to the same lumbering proceduralism. There are waves of brilliantly orchestrated anxiety and confusion but also long stretches of drab, hackneyed exposition that flatten the atmosphere. We might be watching “Cold Case” or “Criminal Minds,” but with better sound design and more expressive visual techniques. Hold your breath, it’s a time for a high-speed Internet search! Listen closely, because the chief bad guy is about to explain everything right before he kills you! It must be said that Mr. Fincher and the screenwriter, Steven Zaillian, manage to hold on to the vivid and passionate essence of the book while remaining true enough to its busy plot to prevent literal-minded readers from rioting. (There are a few significant changes, but these show only how arbitrary some of Larsson’s narrative contrivances were in the first place.) Using harsh and spooky soundtrack music (by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) to unnerving and powerful effect, Mr. Fincher creates a persuasive ambience of political menace and moral despair. He has always excelled at evoking invisible, nonspecific terrors lurking just beyond the realm of the visible. The San Francisco of “Zodiac” was haunted not so much by an elusive serial killer as by a spectral principle of violence that was everywhere and nowhere, a sign of the times and an element of the climate. And the Harvard of “The Social Network,” with its darkened wood and moody brick, seemed less a preserve of gentlemen and scholars than a seething hive of paranoia and alienation. Mr. Fincher honors Larsson’s muckraking legacy by envisioning a Sweden that is corrupt not merely in its ruling institutions but in the depths of its soul. Lisbeth and Mikael — whose first meeting comes around the midpoint of the movie’s 158-minutes — swim in a sea of rottenness. They are not quite the only decent people in the country, but their enemies are so numerous, so powerful and so deeply entrenched that the odds of defeating them seem overwhelming. Mikael, his career in ruins and his gadfly magazine in jeopardy after a libel judgment, is hired by a wealthy industrialist, Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), to investigate a decades-old crime. Dysfunction would be a step up for the Vanger clan, who live on a secluded island and whose family tree includes Nazis, rapists, alcoholics, murderers and also, just to prevent you from getting the wrong impression, Stellan Skarsgard, the very epitome of Nordic nastiness. The Vangers are monstrous, with a few exceptions, but far from anomalous. The gruesome pattern of criminality that Lisbeth and Mikael uncover is a manifestation of general evil that spreads throughout the upper echelons of the nation’s economy and government. The bad apples in that family are just one face of a cruel, misogynist ruling order that also includes Bjurman (Yorick van Wageningen), the sadistic state bureaucrat who is Lisbeth’s legal guardian. And everywhere she and Mikael turn there are more bullying, unprincipled and abusive men. ||||| You can’t take your eyes off Rooney Mara as the notorious Lisbeth Salander, in the American movie version of Stieg Larsson’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (opening December 21st). Slender, sheathed in black leather, with short ebony hair standing up in a tuft, her fingers poking out of black woollen gloves as they skitter across a laptop keyboard, Mara (who played Mark Zuckerberg’s girlfriend at the beginning of “The Social Network”) cuts through scene after scene like a swift, dark blade. Salander is a twenty-four-year-old hacker with many piercings, of herself and of others. She’s both antisocial and intensely sexual—vulnerable and often abused but overequipped to take revenge. She lives in an aura of violence. Salander obviously accounts for a big part of the success of Larsson’s crime novels—both men and women are turned on by her—and Mara makes every scene that she appears in jump. She strips off and climbs right onto Daniel Craig, as Mikael Blomkvist, the investigative journalist who takes Salander on as a partner, and whom she makes her lover. Craig looks a little surprised. In this movie, he is modest, quiet, even rather recessive. It’s Mara’s shot at stardom, and he lets her have it. Much of the movie is set on a private island controlled by the Vanger clan, a wealthy Swedish industrial family peopled with criminals, perverts, solitaries, exiles, dead Nazis, and a grieving old man, Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), who has never got over the disappearance of his grandniece, forty years earlier. In one last attempt to find her, he hires Blomkvist, who has been temporarily discredited in a libel suit, and sets him up as an investigator on the island, a place that no American one-per-cent family would ever dream of owning. It’s way up north, windy, snowy, and treacherously beautiful; once you cross the bridge to this enclave, you enter an icy hell. Blomkvist and Salander, warming each other, conduct their investigation from the island, hacking into whatever files they need; they leave only when they have to, with Mara, head down in the wind, tearing around Sweden on a motorcycle like—well, like a bat out of hell. The movie zips ahead, in short, spiky scenes punctuated by skillfully edited montages of digitized photographs and newspaper articles. David Fincher, who directed the picture (working with Steven Zaillian’s screenplay), moves at a much faster pace than he did in “Zodiac,” his 2007 movie about a murder investigation. In “Zodiac,” every time a piece of evidence trembles into view, it quickly recedes again. That movie is an expression of philosophical despair: the truth can never be known. “Dragon Tattoo” says the opposite: it celebrates deduction, high-end detective work—what Edgar Allan Poe called “ratiocination.” Everything can be known if you look long and hard enough, especially if you have no scruples about hacking into people’s bank accounts, e-mails, and business records. Salander is a criminal, but she’s our criminal. At heart, of course, the material is pulpy and sensational. The Vanger men committed atrocious crimes against women in the past, and Salander, who is a ward of the state, is twice brutalized by a smarmy social worker who controls her money. There are certainly lurid moments, but I wouldn’t say that Fincher exploits the material. When Salander is raped, the scene registers as a horror; it’s prolonged and discomforting. And her revenge, however justified, and however much it may amuse the audience, is another horror. This is a bleak but mesmerizing piece of filmmaking; it offers a glancing, chilled view of a world in which brief moments of loyalty flicker between repeated acts of betrayal. In “The Adventures of Tintin,” Steven Spielberg, working with 3-D animation and motion-capture techniques, produces the cohesion of a superbly made real-life movie (also opening December 21st). There are closeups, overheads, point-of-view sequences, a moving camera within the frame, and the shots—if that’s what you call them—flow smoothly from one to the next. Visually, the movie has ease and speed and lift, and, for about an hour, it’s an exhilarating ride. The screenwriters, Steven Moffat and the team of Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, pulled the story together from three of the classic Tintin books, written by the Belgian comic-book artist Hergé: “The Crab with the Golden Claws,” “The Secret of the Unicorn,” and “Red Rackham’s Treasure.” The plot is standard boy’s-book adventure stuff. Tintin (Jamie Bell), the young reporter with an orange-brown quiff and insatiable curiosity, pursues a buried treasure, journeying to the far corners by ship, plane, and motorcycle. He’s accompanied by the bearded, alcoholic sea captain Haddock (Andy Serkis), and both of them are menaced by the vicious Sakharine (Daniel Craig, again). The opera diva Bianca Castafiore, a coiffed and generously bosomed regular feature of the books, makes a guest appearance and warbles Rossini, shattering every wineglass, fish tank, and chandelier in sight—which is special fun in 3-D. These characters have enough temperament to keep the story scurrying. “The Adventures of Tintin” is a virtual non-stop scramble of running, jumping, swinging, dangling, plunging, and flying. All the characters have smooth skin that looks like brushed rubber; they’re halfway between puppets and humans in appearance. As they move, they seem to float slightly, as if, like ballet dancers, their momentum carried them past ordinary human ability. Yet they aren’t completely unfettered, like the hand-drawn characters in an old cartoon or the digitally enhanced, real-life figures in a schlock spectacle like “Green Lantern.” Tintin doesn’t possess supernatural powers: the ground exists, though he doesn’t stay on it for long; the walls remain impenetrable. The play between fantasy and realism is what gives the film its special look. Spielberg and his collaborators (Peter Jackson was the producer) have come up with the equivalent of Hergé’s clean-limbed, lean-forward manner (the characters in Hergé’s comic books seem always to be moving into the next panel). The animators labored for two years establishing settings—a street, a ship, a Moroccan city—and then the actors worked in a featureless room with reflectors attached to their bodies while dozens of digital cameras all around them picked up their movements. The animators used the movements—shrugs, strains, thrusts—to build the animated version of the characters, and added the completed figures to the preset backgrounds. The technique is similar to the one that James Cameron used for “Avatar,” but the look is drier, plainer, airier. ||||| Still © 2011 Columbia TriStar Marketing Group. All rights reserved. Stieg Larsson’s global best-seller The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was, to this reader, an insurmountable ziggurat of featureless prose, a run-of-the-mill serial-killer whodunit spiked with generous doses of nasty sexual violence. But if the book’s massive success remains perplexing, its appeal to director David Fincher—who has remade the workmanlike 2009 Swedish adaptation as a slick and somber Hollywood entertainment—is perfectly understandable. Fincher’s earlier serial-killer films, Se7en and Zodiac, evince a scholarly fascination with the infinite varieties of human depravity, along with an unapologetically sick imagination (remember Brad Pitt’s FedEx delivery at the end of Se7en?). Dana Stevens Dana Stevens is Slate’s movie critic. But even Fincher’s elegantly gruesome style can’t turn this Swedish noir into the meditation on evil and corruption that it fancies itself to be. The villains—aged Nazi partisans, unscrupulous industrialists, and slaveringly lecherous state-appointed guardians—are just too villainous, and the heroes—a muckraking journalist and an emotionally disturbed computer genius—too heroic. Fincher is a master of mood and atmosphere, but this chilly, efficient movie never transcends the shallowness of its source material. Fans of the Larsson franchise often explain the books’ success by pointing to the intriguingly bizarre heroine Lisbeth Salander (here played by Rooney Mara, last seen wearing a Fair Isle sweater as Mark Zuckerberg's disenchanted ex in Fincher's The Social Network.) A bisexual hacker with multiple piercings, a dyed-black Mohawk, and a sullen, almost autistic lack of visible affect, Lisbeth is a feminist revenge fantasy personified, a perfect victim turned perfect executioner. A ward of the state for reasons that remain vague until late in the film, she’s forced by the man who controls her financial disbursements (Yorick van Wageningen) to perform humiliating sex acts in exchange for the money. When she takes her revenge on him, it’s swift, sudden, and seriously hard-core. This early scene sets the tone for what’s to come: Fincher wants us to be horrified by people who treat other people like pieces of meat, but he’s not above taking us on a guided tour of the abattoir. Advertisement The film’s other main thread, which takes a while to join up with Lisbeth’s, concerns Mikael Blomkvist (an even-more-muted-than-usual Daniel Craig), a reporter who’s gone on leave after being publicly disgraced in a libel suit. (Thankfully, this dull legal subplot has been whittled way down—the aftermath of the lawsuit played a large role in the book and always felt suspiciously like autobiographical score-settling on the part of the author, a former reporter himself.) Get Slate in your inbox. Because of his mad research skills (in Larsson’s world, crusading journalists enjoy a James Bond level of notoriety), Blomkvist is called in by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), the wealthy patriarch of a Northern Swedish family, to investigate a 40-year-old cold case. After a family gathering in 1966, Vanger’s teenage great-niece Harriet abruptly vanished, never to be seen again. Vanger offers Blomkvist the use of a rustic cottage on his property and pays him handsomely to sort through old files, trying to find something the police may have missed. The Vangers are an unpleasant lot—dour, unforthcoming, and, at least in the older generation, disturbingly prone to neo-Nazi affiliations. Blomkvist spends a long winter in mostly fruitless conversation with Harriet’s brother Martin (Stellan Skarsgård) and her cousin Anita (Joely Richardson), who’s moved to London with a secret of her own. But the investigation starts to pick up when Lisbeth, who was initially contracted by the Vangers to investigate Blomkvist’s background, joins him in his frigid cabin for some inspired Internet research and grimly unfun-looking sex. The film’s strongest section centers on a series of photographs taken a few hours before Harriet’s disappearance. There’s some nifty Blow-Up-style business here as Blomkvist strings together these images, reconstructing the events of her last known day on earth. But these scenes hint at a satisfyingly moody procedural that this movie never quite becomes. When the truth about Harriet’s disappearance does emerge, it’s lurid without being particularly surprising, and the last quarter of the movie goes by in a blur of sensationally icky flashbacks and ickier comeuppances. Advertisement Noomi Rapace, who played Lisbeth in the 2009 Swedish version, was wiry but sturdily athletic; Mara’s Lisbeth is wraithlike and skeletal, with invisible bleached-out eyebrows and livid-white skin. It’s hard to tell whether Mara is really good in the role, or just looks good. Her Lisbeth is a triumph of freaky-Goth styling and attitude, but when, for example, she unsmilingly mounts the diffident Blomkvist, we have no idea why she suddenly wants to jump his bones (or why he lets her; given the wretched treatment this woman has received at the hands of men her whole life, wouldn’t the kindest reaction be one of polite deferral?). To Fincher’s credit, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo does look and sound stunning, with its stark Scandinavian snowscapes crisscrossed by sleek black motorcycles (Lisbeth’s preferred mode of transportation), and a tense, discordant score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails. The opening credit sequence, with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O growling a Led Zeppelin song over the repeated image of thick black oil pouring over naked bodies, could stand alone as a killer music video. Fincher’s decision to have his actors speak with faint Scandinavian accents adds to the subtle sense of displacement—this is a universe where no one is at home, where something is slightly, unsettlingly off.

– David Fincher's adaptation of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a mostly faithful retelling of Stieg Larsson's novel: A young hacker and a journalist team up to solve the mystery of a girl's disappearance. The film is visually impressive, and Rooney Mara is compelling—but the movie as a whole isn't particularly profound. In Slate, Dana Stevens calls the film an "insurmountable ziggurat of featureless prose, a run-of-the-mill serial-killer whodunit spiked with generous doses of nasty sexual violence." Sure, "Fincher is a master of mood and atmosphere, but this chilly, efficient movie never transcends the shallowness of its source material." Peter Travers sees the film as a "letdown"—"a faithful adaptation that brings the dazzle but shortchanges on the daring." It may be "gloriously rendered," but it's "too impersonal to leave a mark." Still, "Mara is astonishing," he writes in Rolling Stone. "There are waves of brilliantly orchestrated anxiety and confusion but also long stretches of drab, hackneyed exposition that flatten the atmosphere," notes AO Scott in the New York Times. "We might be watching Cold Case or Criminal Minds, but with better sound design and more expressive visual techniques." The New Yorker is less down on the film (though the review itself sparked controversy). David Denby calls the movie "a bleak but mesmerizing piece of filmmaking; it offers a glancing, chilled view of a world in which brief moments of loyalty flicker between repeated acts of betrayal."

Television news now feasts on fame, the gaudier the better, with journalistic credentials a mere afterthought. Thus it was that Sarah Palin wound up co-hosting the Today show last week, giving the disastrous VP nominee a chance to poke fun at her know-nothing image while sprinkling some celebrity stardust on Matt Lauer and the gang. Palin seemed out of place, naturally, but showed flashes of on-camera charisma. The stunt was a finger-in-the-eye response to Good Morning America for using Katie Couric, once the morning-show queen at Today, as a weeklong substitute. The promotional hype didn’t thrill the vacationing Robin Roberts, but Couric helped GMA win one of the mornings. Adding to the intrigue, Lauer chatted up Ryan Seacrest, of American Idol renown, about rumors that the pop-culture sensation might succeed him at the top-rated morning show. But after vacillating over his grinding schedule, Lauer decided he would be crazy to spurn the huge sums NBC was dangling to retain its morning star. Brand-name hosts are often bigger than the network platforms they occupy. Couric’s Today success provided a springboard, after a detour as CBS anchor, for her forthcoming daytime show. CBS This Morning, launched in January with Charlie Rose and Gayle King, has won good reviews for emphasizing news over tabloid tales. But with 2.5 million viewers, ratings are down 10 percent from last season. (Today is averaging 5.4 million and GMA 4.9 million.) Journalistic heavyweights once worked the early shift: Tom Brokaw, Charlie Gibson, Diane Sawyer. Now such experience is almost a disadvantage. Today’s Ann Curry excelled as a globe-trotting correspondent, but insiders say Lauer is frustrated by their lack of chemistry. GMA’s George Stephanopoulos seems more at ease on his Sunday political show. Howard Kurtz on the morning show wars But even outsize personalities can shrink when they lose their megaphone. Keith Olbermann was a liberal phenomenon on MSNBC, but his 10-month stint on Current TV became a morass of feuding and failures that led to his firing—and bitter litigation. Olbermann isn’t alone. Conservative crusader Glenn Beck once delivered huge ratings for Fox News, but even with a successful website, his impact is minimized. Former daytime diva Rosie O’Donnell was just dumped by Oprah Winfrey’s cable channel. Opinionated talent rules in cable land. Many MSNBC hosts—from Joe Scarborough to Rachel Maddow to Al Sharpton—have no journalistic experience. As ratings decline, stations increasingly rely on stunts like Katie Couric’s recent appearance as guest host on Good Morning America. (From left: Lou Rocco / ABC-Getty Images; Heather Wines / CBS-Getty Images; Peter Kramer / NBC NewsWire-Getty Images) The star-making machinery has changed. When Today tapped Jane Pauley in 1976, she says, “I was 25 years old, four years out of college. I was extremely unknown.” Today alumnus Bryant Gumbel, who says he was “embarrassed” by the Palin stint, believes hosts “used to be judged not just on their popularity level but the extent to which they were capable of interviewing someone or reporting on a situation, or able to have a degree of gravitas. Now that is secondary to being popular.” ||||| [This post has been corrected. Please see note at bottom for details.] To heck with Sarah Palin — Katie Couric may have earned her keep in the morning-show battle after all. On Friday, ABC's "Good Morning America" — the longtime No. 2 show in the mornings — pulled even with NBC's usual No. 1 "Today" in a ratings tie, averaging 4.7 million total viewers apiece, according to Nielsen. "GMA" had narrowly won on Wednesday as well, although "Today" still won the week, by an average of just more than 200,000 viewers. But the close shaves were news because the "GMA" guest host last week was none other than Couric, the former "Today" show anchor. The stunt drew a lot of attention, partly because NBC was so "desperate" (in the words of former co-host Meredith Vieira) to blunt the Couric invasion that producers brought Sarah Palin aboard Tuesday as guest host. Technically, NBC was still ahead for Friday, with 4.719 million viewers compared with ABC's 4.694 million. But The Times and many other publications typically round to the nearest tenth, so the ratings were essentially the same. Overall, "GMA" has been closing the gap with "Today" this year. Season to date, "Today" has been winning by the smallest margins in 16 years. What did you think of Couric on "GMA"? [For the record, 3:19 p.m. April 9: An earlier version of this post misstated the Friday averages for "Today" and "Good Morning America" as the averages for the week, not just that day.] RELATED: "Good Morning America" takes rare ratings win Katie Couric comes up short in Monday faceoff against "Today" Katie Couric to guest host on "GMA" Sarah Palin's "Today" gig gets unflattering reviews —Scott Collins (twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT) Photo: Katie Couric with George Stephanopoulos, left, and Emeril Lagasse on "Good Morning America" last week. Credit: Ida Mae Astute/Associated Press. ||||| The showdown this week between the “Today” show and “Good Morning America” tilted in ABC’s favor for the first time on Wednesday, when “Good Morning America” beat its NBC rival in the ratings by 87,000 viewers. The news of that victory came on the same day that the final national ratings from last week arrived, showing the two shows closer than they have been in seven years. “Today” won last week by 119,000 viewers, closer than the 137,000 disparity the week before, and perhaps confirming that momentum in the morning seems to be shifting toward “Good Morning America.” “Good Morning America,” which has become more driven than ever to try to break the more than 16-year weekly winning streak of “Today,” the longest in television history, won two mornings last week, Tuesday and Friday. While the show has yet to pull out a weekly ratings win, it has been winning more individual days in recent weeks than at any time in recent years. In the last two weeks, “Today” won six mornings and “Good Morning America” won four. This week the ABC show brought in the former “Today” star Katie Couric as a guest host, a move that “Today” countered with a widely publicized appearance by Sarah Palin as guest host on Tuesday. “Today” managed to stay comfortably ahead on the first two mornings this week, winning by more than 300,000 viewers. But on Wednesday, “Good Morning America” bolted ahead. NBC’s margin of victory for the first two mornings means the end of the “Today” streak may yet be put off — at least for another week. For the first time in seven years, however, the possibility that the streak could end soon seems to have increased appreciably.

– Former Today show anchor Bryant Gumbel was "embarrassed" when NBC named Sarah Palin co-host for a day last week. Hosts “used to be judged not just on their popularity, but the extent to which they were capable of interviewing someone or reporting on a situation, or able to have a degree of gravitas," Gumbel grumbled to Newsweek media critic Howard Kurtz. "Now that's secondary to being popular.” Kurtz characterized the choice of the "disastrous VP nominee" as a way to "poke fun at her know-nothing image while sprinkling some celebrity stardust on Matt Lauer and the gang" at Today. It seemed to work. The show held its lead in its ratings war with Good Morning America the day Palin went head-to-head with arch nemesis Katie Couric, who was guest hosting for ABC. But GMA finally pulled ahead the following day and tied last Friday with Couric still at the helm.

A September 2008 photo released by the Ocean Conservancy on March 10, 2009, shows a trash-covered beach in Manilla, Philippines. (Tamara Thoreson Pierce/Ocean Conservancy/AP) There is a lot of plastic in the world’s oceans. It coagulates into great floating “garbage patches” that cover large swaths of the Pacific. It washes up on urban beaches and remote islands, tossed about in the waves and transported across incredible distances before arriving, unwanted, back on land. It has wound up in the stomachs of more than half the world’s sea turtles and nearly all of its marine birds, studies say. And if it was bagged up and arranged across all of the world’s shorelines, we could build a veritable plastic barricade between ourselves and the sea. But that quantity pales in comparison with the amount that the World Economic Forum expects will be floating into the oceans by the middle of the century. If we keep producing (and failing to properly dispose of) plastics at predicted rates, plastics in the ocean will outweigh fish pound for pound in 2050, the nonprofit foundation said in a report Tuesday. According to the report, worldwide use of plastic has increased 20-fold in the past 50 years, and it is expected to double again in the next 20 years. By 2050, we’ll be making more than three times as much plastic stuff as we did in 2014. [Nearly all of the world’s seabirds have eaten plastic, study estimates] Meanwhile, humans do a terrible job of making sure those products are reused or otherwise disposed of: About a third of all plastics produced escape collection systems, only to wind up floating in the sea or the stomach of some unsuspecting bird. That amounts to about 8 million metric tons a year — or, as Jenna Jambeck of the University of Georgia put it to The Washington Post in February, “Five bags filled with plastic for every foot of coastline in the world.” The report came a day before the start of the glitzy annual meeting arranged by the World Economic Forum to discuss the global economy. This year’s meeting in Davos, Switzerland, is centered on what the WEF terms “the fourth industrial revolution” — the boom in high-tech areas like robotics and biotechnology — and its effect on the widening gulf between the wealthy and the world’s poor. But the plastic situation — fairly low-tech and more than a century old at this point — is a reminder that we still haven’t quite gotten the better of some of the problems left over from the first few “industrial revolutions.” [‘Microbeads’ soon will be banned from toothpaste and soaps] According to the report, more than 70 percent of the plastic we produce is either put in a landfill or lost to the world’s waterways and other infrastructure. Plastic production accounts for 6 percent of global oil consumption (a number that will hit 20 percent in 2050) and 1 percent of the global carbon budget (the maximum amount of emissions the world can produce to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius). In 2050, the report says, we’ll be spending 15 percent of our carbon budget on soda bottles, plastic grocery bags and the like. Once it gets washed into waterways, the damage caused by plastics’ presence costs about $13 billion annually in losses for the tourism, shipping and fishing industries. It disrupts marine ecosystems and threatens food security for people who depend on subsistence fishing. Besides which, all that plastic in the water isn’t too great for the animals trying to live there. The data in the report comes from interviews with more than 180 experts and analysis of some 200 studies on “the plastic economy.” 1 of 12 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × The plastic-laden stomachs of Midway Island’s albatrosses View Photos Artist Chris Jordan has been documenting the impact of The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Caption Artist Chris Jordan has been documenting the impact of The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Laysan albatrosses mistake floating debris for food, feeding cigarette lighters and fishing hooks to their chicks. The debris can obstruct the esophagus, tear the digestive system, or linger in the stomach, giving a false sense of satiation and leading to death by malnutrition and psychological stress. Copyright © Chris Jordan Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue. The report was published on the same day that a study came out in the journal Nature Communications asserting that the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization is drastically underestimating the overfishing of the oceans. The study, from researchers Daniel Pauly and Dirk Zeller of the University of British Columbia’s Sea Around Us project, found that global catches between 1950 and 2010 were probably 50 percent higher than previously thought — meaning that damage to the world’s fish stocks was also much worse. Overall, it was not a good news day for anyone with fins. But both reports gave some signs for optimism. Pauly and Zeller told The Washington Post that the underestimation of how much humans were fishing means the U.N. also underestimated how much fish the oceans can provide. “If we rebuild stocks, we can rebuild to more than we thought before,” Pauly said. “Basically, the oceans are more productive than we thought before.” And the World Economic Forum report, though not quite so sunny, suggests that there are ways to offset all this plastic we’re making and discarding. Countries can implement incentives to collect waste and recycle it, use more efficient or reusable packaging and improve infrastructure so that less trash slips through the system and into the seas. ||||| One refuse truck’s-worth of plastic is dumped into the sea every minute, and the situation is getting worse More plastic than fish in the sea by 2050, says Ellen MacArthur As a record-breaking sailor, Dame Ellen MacArthur has seen more of the world’s oceans than almost anyone else. Now she is warning that there will be more waste plastic in the sea than fish by 2050, unless the industry cleans up its act. According to a new Ellen MacArthur Foundation report launched at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, new plastics will consume 20% of all oil production within 35 years, up from an estimated 5% today. Plastics production has increased twentyfold since 1964, reaching 311m tonnes in 2014, the report says. It is expected to double again in the next 20 years and almost quadruple by 2050. Despite the growing demand, just 5% of plastics are recycled effectively, while 40% end up in landfill and a third in fragile ecosystems such as the world’s oceans. Much of the remainder is burned, generating energy, but causing more fossil fuels to be consumed in order to make new plastic bags, cups, tubs and consumer devices demanded by the economy. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Illustration: Ellen MacArthur Foundation Decades of plastic production have already caused environmental problems. The report says that every year “at least 8m tonnes of plastics leak into the ocean – which is equivalent to dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute. If no action is taken, this is expected to increase to two per minute by 2030 and four per minute by 2050 “In a business-as-usual scenario, the ocean is expected to contain one tonne of plastic for every three tonnes of fish by 2025, and by 2050, more plastics than fish [by weight].” Facebook Twitter Pinterest Illustration: Ellen MacArthur Foundation A carelessly discarded plastic bag can break down in the sea, especially in warmer waters, but the process releases toxic chemicals that may be digested by fish and end up in the human food chain. Research released a year ago found there were more than 5tn pieces of plastic floating in the seas, many just 5mm across. Larger items can be a threat to sea life such as turtles and seals, which swallow them. Scientists have also found that countless tiny fragments drift to the bottom of the oceans, carpeting the sea bed. The environmental and health impact of this is unknown. The report concludes that the plastics industry is comprehensively failing to address these issues. Dr Martin R Stuchtey of the McKinsey Center for Business and Environment, who helped produce the report, said a wave of innovation could be transformative. “Plastics are the workhorse material of the modern economy, with unbeaten properties,” he said. “However they are also the ultimate single-use material. Growing volumes of end-of-use plastics are generating costs and destroying value to the industry. After-use plastics could, with circular economy thinking, be turned into valuable feedstock.” The plastics recycling industry is also reeling from the recent plunge in the price of oil. At $30 (£21) a barrel, it is more expensive to recover plastics and process their hydrocarbons to recycle them than to use virgin crude. Solving the problem will not be easy, especially as the industry is under pressure to produce more to meet growing demand from emerging markets. Bioplastics are currently more expensive to make than the petro-alternative, and recycling systems are inefficient. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ellen MacArthur has become an advocate for ‘circular economy’. Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian MacArthur, who broke the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe in 2005, says fundamental reform is needed. Her vision is for a “new plastics economy” in which the industry, governments and citizens work together to ensure that plastics never become waste and cut the leakage into natural systems. “Linear models of production and consumption are increasingly challenged by the context within which they operate, and this is particularly true for high-volume, low-value materials such as plastic packaging,” she said. One part of the solution is to rethink the way goods are packaged, cutting the demand for plastic. Water-soluble film, for example, can be used to wrap small items. Hard-to-recycle plastics such as PVC and expandable polystyrene could be phased out. Manufacturers could redesign plastic items so they can be reused better, and rethink their production methods to make recycling easier. More products could be made out of plastics which can be composted on an industrial scale, including rubbish bags for organic waste and food packaging for outdoor events, canteens and fast food outlets. The report admits, however, that a “moonshot” approach is also needed, to create plastics that can be both recycled and composted. Currently it is one or the other. Other options are to develop “bio-benign” plastics, or chemical tagging to stop used plastics slipping through the system and into the sea. ||||| The world is flooded with plastic garbage. There will be more plastic than fish in terms of weight in the world's oceans by 2050, the World Economic Forum warned Tuesday. Plastic has become one of the world's most popular materials, combining amazing functionality and very low production costs. Its use has increased 20-fold in the past 50 years and is expected to double again in the next 20 years. Almost everybody in the world comes into contact with it -- over a quarter of all plastic is used for packaging, the most popular use of the material. But only 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling. The reuse rate is terrible compared to other materials -- 58% of paper and up to 90% of iron and steel gets recycled. Related: World is facing the worst risk in a generation It gets worse. Almost a third of all plastic packaging escapes collection systems and ends up in nature or clogging up infrastructure. "After a short first-use cycle, 95% of plastic packaging material value, or $80 billion to $120 billion annually, is lost to the economy," the WEF said in a report. The report is based on interviews with over 180 experts and on analysis of over 200 reports. They estimate that by 2050, the amount of plastics produced globally will increase three times to 1,124 million tons. By then, the "plastic economy" will take up 15% of the world's global carbon budget, compared to just 1% today. The so-called carbon budget is the total amount of carbon dioxide the world can pump into the atmosphere while still having a chance of stopping short of 2 degrees of global warming. The forum said the only way to avoid a disaster is to massively improve the economics and uptake of recycling. That means giving people incentives to collect plastic garbage and recycle, use reusable packaging, and encourage countries to drastically improve their waste collection infrastructure, to avoid plastic garbage leaking into the nature. ||||| The circular economy provides multiple value creation mechanisms that are decoupled from the consumption of finite resources. In a true circular economy, consumption happens only in effective biocycles; elsewhere use replaces consumption. Resources are regenerated in the bio-cycle or recovered and restored in the technical cycle. In the biocycle, life processes regenerate disordered materials, despite or without human intervention. In the technical cycle, with sufficient energy available, human intervention recovers materials and recreates order, on any timescale considered. Maintaining or increasing capital has different characteristics in the two cycles. The circular economy rests on three principles, each addressing several of the resource and system challenges that industrial economies faces.

– Use of plastic has increased 20-fold in the past half-century; production of the ubiquitous material is expected to double again in the next 20 years (and nearly quadruple over the next 50). And, CNN Money reports, nearly a third of all plastic packaging "escapes collection systems." As for where the rest goes, more than 8 million tons of plastics end up entering our oceans each year, where the pieces can survive for hundreds of years. There are believed to be 165 million tons of it in the ocean right now. We're dumping the equivalent of one garbage truck's worth into the ocean per minute; that's projected to jump to four per minute by 2050, according to a report released Tuesday by the World Economic Forum and Ellen MacArthur Foundation. And that report has an ominous warning: We're on track to have more plastic than fish, by weight, in the world's oceans by 2050. (Right now, the ratio is about 1:5, plastics to fish.) And the discarded plastic that doesn't end up in the ocean is likely be put in a landfill; those two resting places end up holding about 70% of our plastic, the Washington Post reports. Just 5% of plastics are effectively recycled, according to the Guardian. It's not just a problem of pollution. "After a short first-use cycle, 95% of plastic packaging material value, or $80 to $120 billion annually, is lost to the economy," the report says. The solution? A "new plastics economy," per the report, that includes more recycling, reusable packaging, and compostable plastic packaging. "After-use plastics could, with circular economy thinking, be turned into valuable feedstock,” Martin R. Stuchtey, who helped produce the report, tells the Guardian. (This tiny animal may solve a big pollution problem.)

Patrice Braut. Among the hundreds of nameless who repose next to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, there is now a name. Remains of Mr. Braut, the only Belgian citizen to die at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, have been positively identified by the office of the chief medical examiner of New York City. It is the first such identification since May, when 7,930 unidentified human remains were transferred to a repository adjoining the museum at bedrock, behind a wall bearing an inscription from Virgil: “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.” In perfect theory, the repository will be empty one day, given future advances in forensic science. All of the remains will be connected to individuals, and the victims’ families will at least have the cold comfort of certainty. ||||| At a company Christmas party four years go, Patrice Braut danced with a girl named Lupe. She fled into the night before he could learn her last name. The next day, Lupe Mendez found a note on her desk in Midtown, saying, "You left without saying goodbye." She felt like Cinderella. Mr. Braut, 31, loved to travel, to play soccer and to take pictures, especially of the twin towers. He took Lupe to Brussels, Belgium, his hometown, to meet his parents. He excelled in his M.B.A. courses at Pace University. The first week of September, Lupe and Patrice, who lived in Riverdale, in the Bronx, went house-hunting in the suburbs. Mr. Braut was an only child, born after three failed pregnancies. "He was the little god of the family, adored by everybody," said his mother, Paola. "We lost everything through him." His colleagues in technology at Marsh & McLennan have endowed a scholarship in his name at the Lycee Theodore Bracops, his childhood school. It is not for the best student, but for the most tenacious. ||||| The remains of a 31-year-old Belgian man who died in the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center were identified through additional DNA testing, the city medical examiner announced Tuesday. Patrice Braut, a native of Anderlecht, a community on the outskirts of the Belgian capital Brussels, was working on the 97th floor of the North Tower when he was killed. Braut was employed in the technology section of the firm Marsh & McLennan. He was the only Belgian national killed in the attacks. advertisement | advertise on newsday Braut's remains were among those recovered between 2001 and 2002. A spokeswoman for the medical examiner said additional DNA testing of samples helped make the latest identification, which represents the 1,639th victim identified. A total of 2,753 people are known to have lost their lives at the trade center site. Remains for 1,114 people or about 40 percent have yet to be identified from nearly 22,000 body parts and fragments recovered. Braut's parents were featured in news stories when they arrived back in New York in 2002 to take part in the Sept. 11 memorial services at Ground Zero. Braut was their only child. ||||| NEW YORK (AP) — The New York City medical examiner's office says an ongoing retesting of remains recovered from the World Trade Center site has resulted in the identification of 31-year-old Belgian man killed in the Sept. 11 attacks. Authorities on Tuesday identified the man as Patrice Braut. He had been working for professional services firm Marsh & McLennan Companies. Braut, of Brussels, was only person from Belgium killed in the attacks. The medical examiner's office said his remains were found in the original recovery effort between 2001 and 2002. Braut is the 1,639th person identified by the medical examiner's office. A total of 2,753 people were reported killed at the trade center. Braut's mother, Paola, was among those marking the anniversary at the site earlier this month.

– Of the 2,753 people who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center, 1,639 have now been identified. New York City's medical examiner's office yesterday announced that retesting of remains had led to another positive ID: that of Patrice Braut. The 31-year-old was the only Belgian citizen to die at the World Trade Center site, reports the New York Times. He was working on the North Tower's 97th floor as an employee in Marsh & McLennan's tech section, reports Newsday. The AP adds that Braut's remains were found in the original recovery effort between 2001 and 2002. His marks the first identification made since 7,930 unidentified human remains were moved in May from the medical examiner's office to a Ground Zero repository. The Times describes a photo taken at this year's ceremony marking the anniversary of the attacks—of Braut's mother holding a photo of her only child—as one of the "most emblematic, touching, and well-circulated images" from the event. In the Times' profile of Braut, published a few months after his death, the paper shares the story of a Christmas party four years prior, where Braut danced the night away with a girl who told him her name was Lupe—no last name given. "The next day, Lupe Mendez found a note on her desk in midtown, saying, 'You left without saying goodbye,'" recounts the Times. "She felt like Cinderella." (It was recently revealed that on Sept. 10, 2001, Bill Clinton spoke openly about having passed up a chance to kill Osama bin Laden.)

“Kill him. Cut off his penis. That’s fine. Cut off his feet, then hit him over the head. Then give him life in prison.” That’s what should be done to the pervert who viciously raped and pummeled an elderly birdwatcher in Central Park yesterday, the scrappy victim told The Post last night. “This guy knew what he wanted to do,” the woman said at her Upper West Side home. “He wanted to beat the s–t out of me. I think he’s beaten women before. “I’m a little jittery. I get the shakes. But I’m more angry. I hope he goes to jail for a long time, and he gets raped, over and over again.” Despite a broken eye socket, a badly blackened eye and other bruises and scrapes, the professional photographer spoke just hours after the brutal attack at the hands of the same sicko she saw “in the Ramble a week or 10 days ago . . . and he was masturbating.” “He turned around and I took his picture. He followed me and I thought, ‘Oh, I’m in trouble,’ ” she recalled. “He said to me, ‘Why you take my picture?’ . . . He was either Russian or Slavic,” the woman said. She refused his demand to give her the “film,” noting, “It’s all digital.” Yesterday morning in the park, the same “guy comes over to me and says, ‘You remember me?’ “And I said ‘no.’ But of course I did. “He pounced on me. He jumped on my back . . . I started screaming. And he said, ‘You don’t scream!’ And he grabbed my throat. “I still screamed. ‘He said, ‘I’ll cut your jugular!’ I stopped screaming.” Then “he raped me — vaginally and rectally. Brutally,” she said. Afterward, he repeated, “I’ll cut your jugular. He mashed my head into the dirt. He said, ‘You stay there and count to 100.’ I counted to 100.” The woman vowed not to let the fiend — or his crime — keep her from returning to the park. “I’m not scared. I don’t want to lose that pleasure. I won’t let anything keep me from enjoying the park,” she said. “I’m not going back looking like this, but of course I’ll go back. It’s my park. “I look like hell, but it will heal. I can see I’m alive,” she said. “Do I forgive him? Absolutely not. “I know tonight, I will have a little trouble. I’ll feel the weight of him pushing me to the ground, and pummel, pummel, pummel,” she said, as she punched the air around her. Additional reporting by Larry Celona ||||| Photo A 42-year-old drifter with a long prison record, David Albert Mitchell, was arrested Sept. 13 for the daylight rape and beating of a 73-year-old woman in Central Park the day before, the police said. Read the full article about Mr. Mitchell and his arrest here. Below is the original Sept. 12 article about the attack. A 73-year-old woman was raped and beaten in Central Park just before noon on Wednesday, the police said, and the attacker’s assault was preceded by a chilling question: “Do you remember me?” The woman, a bird-watcher who goes to the park every day, had indeed encountered the man before. About a week and a half ago, she had seen him masturbating in the Ramble area and taken a photograph of him. The man demanded that the woman delete the photo at the time, and when she refused, he tried unsuccessfully to take her camera, the Police Department’s chief spokesman, Paul J. Browne, said. Late Wednesday, the police said investigators were questioning of person of interest. Photo Around 11:50 a.m., the woman was birding along a wooded path near West 74th Street and Strawberry Fields when the man, whom she described as white, stocky and clean shaven, with a Russian or Ukrainian accent and in his 40s or 50s, appeared again. After asking her if she remembered him, the suspect threw the woman to the ground, raped her and stole her backpack, which contained a digital camera with a professional lens. He also broke her wristwatch while attempting to steal it. It was not clear if the camera was the one that she had used earlier or if she had kept the photos from the earlier encounter, which she never reported to the police, Mr. Browne said. The woman was taken to a hospital, where she was interviewed by investigators with the Special Victims Unit, as police officers spread out across the park in search of the suspect. Mr. Mitchell was charged with rape, assault, predatory sex act, criminal sex act, robbery and criminal possess of stolen property. Photo Eric Ozawa, a writing instructor at New York University, said that he had been bird-watching in the park when he saw a person’s legs sticking out onto the wood-chip path, and at first thought the person was sleeping. Then he saw the woman sit up on the path, which is lined with shrubs and trees. The woman had mulch sticking to parts of her face, which was badly bruised, Mr. Ozawa said. Her forehead was swollen; the area around her right eye was turning blue. She waved him over and told him that she had been raped, he said. Mr. Ozawa said he called 911 and handed her the phone. “She was very lucid, given the circumstances,” Mr. Ozawa said. “She was able to describe what had happened.” But she struggled to provide the dispatcher with her exact park location, so she handed the phone back to Mr. Ozawa, who then guided uniformed officers to the victim, he said. “I went and got them and brought them over,” Mr. Ozawa said. “They were in a different part of Strawberry Fields.” Mr. Ozawa said that the area was crowded at the time. Just before reaching the path where he encountered the victim, he had threaded through a cluster of tourists at the nearby “Imagine” memorial, to John Lennon, he said. “For something like this to happen in broad daylight is particularly horrifying, and to someone of her age,” Mr. Ozawa said. “It took me a while, I think, to really register what had happened. It was such a shock. The park has seemed so safe for so long.” Mr. Ozawa said he had arrived on the path just moments after the attack. “I wish I had been able to do something to stop it, if only I had come a little earlier.” Police officials released two blurry images of the suspect, captured by surveillance cameras; he appeared to be wearing a dark-colored polo shirt and light-colored sneakers, and was carrying two knapsacks. Andres Fontanez, a maintenance operator for the park who often works around Strawberry Fields, said detectives showed him a photo of a white man, possibly in his 30s or 40s with longish, dark hair. He said he thought he recognized the man as a Strawberry Fields regular, but could not be certain. Mr. Fontanez said he also believed that he knew the victim, based on the police’s description of her. He described her as a frequent Strawberry Fields visitor and bird-watcher who had a favorite bench, and often pestered him to clean up more litter. He said he always addressed her as “Moms.” “She’s a nice, old lady, she don’t bother no one,” he said. “She’s always in there, sitting down on the same bench, trying to make sure the park is as nice as it should be.” Nate Schweber and Mosi Secret contributed reporting.

– "Do you remember me?" That's what a man asked a 73-year-old bird watcher in Central Park yesterday before allegedly beating and raping her, the New York Times reports. And indeed, the woman did remember him: She'd spotted the man masturbating in the park a week and a half ago, and snapped a photo. He had spotted her, demanded she delete the photo, and tried to take the camera without success. But after yesterday's attack, he made off with her backpack, which contained a camera. Surveillance cameras caught a glimpse of the suspect, whom the woman described as a stocky Ukranian or Russian man in his 40s or 50s, and police have already detained a person of interest. The New York Post talked to the woman just hours later, and asked what should be done to her attacker. "Kill him," she replied. "Cut off his penis. That's fine. Cut off his feet, then hit him over the head. Then give him life in prison. This guy knew what he wanted to do."

Lori Doyle of Rochelle, Ill., is charged with DUI first offense following a golf cart accident in Gallatin Saturday that claimed the life of her husband. (Photo: Submitted) An Illinois woman faces vehicular assault and DUI charges following a golf cart accident in Gallatin on Saturday that claimed the life of her husband. Timothy Doyle, 60, was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center via medical helicopter after falling off of a golf cart and hitting his head in Foxland Harbor, a golf community along Old Hickory Lake. Doyle died at the hospital just after 8 p.m. on Monday, according to a Vanderbilt spokesperson. Lori Doyle, 55, was charged with vehicular assault, DUI first offense and implied consent, according to a police affidavit. Sumner County District Attorney General Ray Whitley said Wednesday the case is still under investigation and that his office could bring additional charges against Doyle. Gallatin police responded to the intersection of Albatross Way and Reynard Drive at around 9 p.m. Saturday, according to the affidavit. When police arrived, an officer observed three open beer cans in the golf cart and one on the roof, the affidavit said. As Lori Doyle spoke, the officer said he smelled alcohol on her breath and noticed her eyes were bloodshot and watery, according to court documents. When asked how much alcohol she had to drink, Lori Doyle told the officer that she, her husband and another couple had all been "downtown" and hired an Uber taxi to get home, the affidavit said. The woman said that everyone drank around 10 beers each. The Doyles were in town to visit family, Lori Doyle told police. She said she was driving the golf cart, another female was in the front passenger seat, and that her husband and another male were standing on the rear of the golf cart holding on to the roof, according to the affidavit. Lori Doyle stated she was driving the group to the Foxland club house to get food, and that she turned too fast, causing her husband and the other man to be thrown from the golf cart. When Timothy Doyle fell, he struck his head on the pavement, his wife told police. The other man sustained abrasions and scrapes to his arms, according to the affidavit. The document also states that Lori Doyle denied performing field sobriety tests as well as providing a blood sample. She was taken to Sumner Regional Medical Center where a search warrant was executed for a blood draw, according to the affidavit. Lori Doyle was then taken to the Sumner County Jail, and was released Sunday on a $10,000 composite bond. She is scheduled to appear in Sumner County General Sessions Court at 9 a.m. on Nov. 15. Vehicular assault, a charge for causing serious injury to another person by a DUI driver, is a Class D felony in Tennessee with a possible sentence of two to four years in jail for a first-time offender. Vehicular homicide, a Class B felony, involves a fatal crash caused by a DUI driver and carries a possible sentence of 8-12 years in jail. At least one other golf cart death has occurred in Middle Tennessee in the last five years. In May 2015, a Williamson County teen died after the golf cart he was riding in struck a large brick mailbox. A few weeks prior, three Franklin teens were transported to an area hospital after a golf cart they were riding in overturned in a subdivision near Battle Ground Academy. Reach Tena Lee at 615-575-7116. Follow her on Twitter @tenalee1.     <!--iframe-->   Read or Share this story: http://tnne.ws/29UG2zH ||||| 06:51:29 AM Feels Like: Today Mainly clear. Low 33F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 33F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 46F. Winds light and variable.

– Timothy and Lori Doyle of Illinois were visiting family in Gallatin, Tenn., when a night out at a golf community along a lake turned tragic Saturday. Timothy, 60, was standing up riding on the back of a golf cart while his wife, 55, drove them and another couple to the club house to get food. She turned too fast and both men were thrown from the cart; Timothy hit his head on the pavement and died at a hospital Monday—and Lori was charged with vehicular assault, DUI, and more, the Tennessean reports. Police say that when they arrived at the scene, Lori's eyes were bloodshot and they could smell alcohol on her breath; they also saw three open beer cans in the golf cart and one on its roof. Lori allegedly told police the group had been downtown, had each had about 10 beers, and had hired an Uber to get back home. Once in the golf cart, "Lori began to turn left at the intersection at which time (he) told her to turn right. Lori turned right at the intersection in an abrupt movement, causing Timothy and (him) to be thrown from the rear of the golf cart," an affidavit states, per the Gallatin News. Police say she would not give a blood sample or do a field sobriety test, so a search warrant was executed for a blood draw at a local medical center. The other man suffered only scrapes and abrasions on his arms.

Andrew Puzder, center with President Trump and Vice President Pence, has faced weeks of intense criticism from Democrats and liberal groups over workplace violations at Puzde restaurants, sexually suggestive ads, and his opposition to wage regulations. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Andrew Puzder, the fast-food executive whom President Trump nominated to be labor secretary, emerged Monday as Democrats’ last, best hope of defeating one of Trump’s Cabinet choices as four key Republicans are on the fence about his nomination. The unenthusiastic reception from the Republican lawmakers comes after weeks of intense criticism from Democrats and liberal groups over workplace violations at Puzder’s restaurants Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr., sexually suggestive ads featuring bikini-clad models eating burgers, and his opposition to wage regulations. Puzder has also been accused of domestic abuse — an accusation that was later recanted — and has acknowledged hiring an undocumented worker for his home. Puzder, 66, has faced the most early skepticism of any nominee besides Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who won confirmation. The Republican senators who were noncommittal about Puzder’s nomination on Monday — Susan Collins (Maine), Johnny Isakson (Ga.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Tim Scott (S.C.) — sit on the committee that will hold his confirmation hearing Thursday. If they oppose him, his nomination is all but certainly dead. Even if Puzder makes it out of committee, his final status may come down to a tiebreaker vote from Vice President Mike Pence similar to what happened last week for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. It is the latest reminder of the paradox of Trump’s Cabinet nominees — they have struggled for confirmation more than the nominees of any other administration in recent history, but criticism that might have in the past doomed a candidate’s chances may no longer prove decisive. Some Republicans say they are willing to overlook issues related to undocumented workers or unpaid taxes for the opportunity to have a business-minded leader in the Labor Department. But the racy ads and domestic violence allegations may test some conservatives and women’s groups. Collins said Monday that she has reviewed footage of an “Oprah Winfrey Show” interview with Puzder’s ex-wife, Lisa Fierstein, who once appeared in disguise on the program to discuss the multiple times, she says, that Puzder physically assaulted her in the 1980s. Fierstein retracted the allegations, and he has always denied that he abused her. “I’m going to wait until the issues that have arisen are fully explored at his hearing,” Collins told reporters. “I am reviewing the other information that has come to light, and I’m sure all of this will be explored thoroughly,” she added, without specifying what information is of concern. Collins’s revelation that senators have seen footage of Fierstein’s interview with Winfrey is notable, because Democrats and other organizations have been desperately seeking the footage for weeks in hopes of airing it and derailing Puzder’s nomination. Sen. Lamar Alexander ­(R-Tenn.), who chairs the health committee, told reporters Monday that he worked with Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), the committee’s top Democrat, to arrange for senators to view a tape of the episode. Alexander said he has not seen the segment himself but he does plan to vote to approve Puzder’s nomination. “His former wife has said it was all not true,” Alexander said. “She has reiterated that in a heartfelt letter to members of the committee and has been willing to talk to members of the committee, so I don’t think that’s an issue.” Puzder’s personal wealth has also earned scrutiny that has delayed his nomination for several weeks. Federal disclosure forms delivered to the Senate last week show that most of his wealth is tied to CKE Restaurants and that he plans to divest those holdings within six months if he is confirmed to lead the Labor Department. The White House is standing by Puzder, declaring last week that he would be confirmed. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters that he is “enthusiastically” supporting the nominee. Some business groups are also joining top Republicans in fighting the criticism by urging senators to back the nomination. A coalition of trade groups, including the International Franchise Association, the National Restaurant Association and the National Retail Federation, sent a letter to senators Monday praising Puzder’s “business experience and policy acumen.” Statewide restaurant associations in Maine and Alaska sent separate letters to Collins and Murkowski asking for their support. If confirmed, Puzder would be the first labor secretary since the Reagan era to come to the role without any public-service experience. Puzder got his start in the fast-food industry working as a personal attorney for Carl Karcher, the founder of the Carl’s Jr. restaurant chain. He helped Karcher avoid bankruptcy and in 1997 became executive vice president and general counsel for CKE. He then became president and chief executive of CKE in 2000, and he currently oversees 75,000 workers in 3,750 locations. Puzder has spent much of his career promoting the idea that businesses thrive better when the government doesn’t interfere. In interviews, speeches and op-eds, he has long argued that rules substantially increasing the minimum wage or expanding the number of people who qualify for overtime pay, for example, could drive up the cost of labor and decrease the number of jobs. In an opinion piece for Forbes, he said that the Obama administration’s overtime rule would force employers to cut costs elsewhere and limit some workers’ schedules. During a Business Insider interview last year, Puzder said that because of rising labor costs, he would consider investing in machines to replace some workers, because “they never take a vacation, they never show up late, there’s never a slip-and-fall, or an age, sex, or race discrimination case.” Labor groups and other critics say they are concerned about Puzder’s pure capitalist mind-set, noting that if confirmed, he may end up tilting the scales in favor of corporations. But George Thompson, a spokesman for Puzder, said that if confirmed, Puzder would recuse himself from any business related to CKE and would remain impartial when it comes to rulemaking and enforcement. Opponents also cite stories from employees at Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. who allege they have had to work through breaks, not been paid for sick leave or been harassed on the job. “He’s going to be essentially responsible for enforcing the same laws that he’s been breaking for years,” said Kendall Fells, national organizing director of the Fight for $15, a group advocating for a higher minimum wage that organized lunchtime protests Monday at CKE offices in St. Louis and Anaheim, Calif., as well as restaurant locations throughout the country. Women’s groups, such as the National Women’s Law Center, and labor advocates question whether he will defend female workers, citing what they say are demeaning ads that feature models eating burgers in skimpy outfits. Puzder, however, has defended the campaign as “American” and characterized it as a strategy for luring “young, hungry guys.” On Tuesday, the Campaign for Accountability, a nonprofit watchdog, will head to a Missouri state court for a status update on its efforts to unseal Puzder’s divorce records, arguing that the domestic violence allegations “raise serious concerns about his fitness” to be labor secretary. Yet some businesses and Republicans say they look forward to having someone in the Labor Department who understands that regulations can force businesses to make tough calls. “We don’t want our workers to feel like they’re not being paid a fair wage, but we want people to understand the ramifications of it,” said Peter Riggs, president of Pita Pit USA, a quick-service sandwich chain with about 600 locations in the United States and Canada. “He understands what we’re going through.” Puzder’s fate will ultimately depend on whether his opponents can sway more than two Senate Republicans to vote against him. The Republicans hesitating to publicly support him said they will make up their minds after the hearing. “No real story here,” said a spokeswoman for Scott, noting that the senator hasn’t been commenting on nominees “until their confirmation hearing,” with the exception of fellow South Carolina Republicans Nikki Haley, nominated to serve as United Nations ambassador, and Rep. Mick Mulvaney, nominated to lead the Office of Management and Budget. Consistent with his policy on other nominees, “Senator Isakson will make a final decision after Mr. Puzder’s confirmation hearing on Thursday,” a spokeswoman said via email. Murkowski said she “will be working to learn more about Mr. Puzder leading up to and during the upcoming hearing, as well as through additional one-on-one conversations with him,” a spokeswoman said. Kelsey Snell contributed to this report. ||||| The ex-wife of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be labor secretary, Andrew Puzder, appeared in disguise on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” as a victim of domestic violence, after having accused him multiple times of physically assaulting her in the 1980s, according to two friends of hers and a spokesman for the former couple. Additionally, a 1988 petition obtained by POLITICO from the Circuit Court of St. Louis County provides previously unreported details of the alleged abuse: Puzder’s ex-wife, Lisa Fierstein, accused him of having "assaulted and battered [her] by striking her violently about the face, chest, back, shoulders, and neck, without provocation or cause," and that as a consequence she “suffered severe and permanent injuries.” Story Continued Below Fierstein’s accusations first surfaced in local news reports around the time of their divorce. She has retracted the allegations in the weeks leading up to Puzder’s confirmation hearing, suggesting she made them up to bolster her divorce settlement. Puzder has always denied that he abused her. But women’s groups are using the charges as ammunition in their fight to oppose his nomination. And Fierstein’s appearance on “Oprah,” when she was known as Lisa Henning, raises new questions, showing that she went beyond divorce-settlement tactics to portray herself on national television as an anonymous victim of domestic violence. Fierstein appeared on the show in a wig and glasses, and was identified only by the made-up name of Ann. Multiple sources, including George Thompson, a spokesman for Puzder and Fierstein, confirmed the appearance. Fierstein did not mention Puzder by name, but a friend of hers who previously worked for her told POLITICO that Fierstein made clear to her that the allegations she made on the program concerned Puzder. Winfrey’s company said it could not locate a tape of the episode. Puzder, CEO of fast-food company CKE Restaurants, declined to comment for this story. A spokeswoman for the Trump transition dismissed the latest revelations. “This is part of a desperate smear campaign to distract from President-elect Trump’s agenda of creating jobs and opportunities for American workers,” spokeswoman Liz Johnson said in an email. “As both Mr. Puzder and Ms. Fierstein have made clear, these were false allegations that were made 30 years ago, and in fact, they are good friends.” Puzder’s confirmation hearing, originally scheduled to take place next week, has been delayed as the Senate confronts a crowded nominations calendar, and may not take place until February, a Senate aide said Tuesday. Puzder’s support in the Senate seems solid among Republicans so far, but Democrats and women’s groups plan to make his confirmation uncomfortable, even if it’s a losing cause. “I can’t imagine a single organization that cares about women that would not vigorously oppose him,” said Terry O’Neill, president of the National Organization for Women. Puzder and Fierstein claim amicable relations today, and Fierstein says they have even shared Thanksgiving dinner. But after they divorced in 1987, Fierstein sued Puzder, alleging that he had committed assault and battery the year before. In an email to Puzder last November, disclosed by him, Fierstein wrote: “You know how deeply I regret many of the rash decisions I made at that time, and I sincerely hope that none of those decisions will become an issue for you. … You were not abusive.” In a brief interview with POLITICO this week, Fierstein called her ex-husband “a terrific guy with a wonderful character.” Court documents show that both agreed to drop abuse charges as part of a 1990 child-custody agreement. That same year, Fierstein wrote Puzder: “All allegations of abuse of any kind were made in the context of divorce proceedings. I fully withdraw these allegations.” In a follow-up letter the following year, Fierstein wrote: “Our marital relationship deteriorated and events leading to the public humiliation we both endured ensued.” Court records show that between 1986 and 1988 Fierstein filed at least three legal documents accusing Puzder of assaulting her in May 1986. One petition obtained by POLITICO described her injuries: “bruises and contusions to the chest, back, shoulders and neck” and “two ruptured discs and two bulging discs,” and “all of the muscles, bones, ligaments and soft tissue of [Fierstein's] face, chest, back, shoulders, and neck were violently wrenched, strained, swollen, contused and otherwise injured.” The judge in the case dismissed the petition, in which Fierstein sought $350,000 in damages, on the grounds that Puzder's divorce agreement had already settled all Fierstein's prior claims against him. But Fierstein's allegations of abuse weren’t confined to filings related to a divorce agreement. Court documents indicate that Fierstein filed an abuse claim against Puzder before the divorce — within a couple of weeks of the alleged May 1986 domestic violence incident. Fierstein also sought a protective court order against Puzder, documents show. The couple formally separated in June 1986. The claim was settled through a consent order that suggests that Puzder had been barred from the house, because the order allowed him to move back into the family home, provided he stayed away from the floors occupied by his wife and children. Except for the consent order, none of the 1986 documents was made available by the St. Louis County court to POLITICO, even though the 1988 petition cited them as exhibits. An undated order from the court said the exhibits were “sealed, and shall not be included in the copies of this case file provided to the public.” The abuse allegations come on top of Puzder’s history of comments about women and his anti-abortion activism, both of which have also stirred opposition from feminist groups. In his capacity running CKE — parent company of Carl's Jr., Hardee's, Green Burrito and Red Burrito — Puzder approved a series of Carl's Jr. ads targeted at young males in which scantily clad models mimicked sexual arousal as they sank their teeth into juicy hamburgers. A 2011 CKE press release said, "We believe in putting hot models in our commercials, because ugly ones don’t sell burgers." "I like our ads," Puzder told Entrepreneur magazine in 2015. "I like beautiful women eating burgers in bikinis. I think it's very American. I used to hear, brands take on the personality of the CEO. And I rarely thought that was true. But I think this one, in this case, it kind of did take on my personality.” For many women's groups, another strike against Puzder is his previous career as an anti-abortion lawyer in Missouri. The 1986 state law that Puzder helped write restricted women’s access to abortion by requiring, among other things, that physicians determine whether a fetus was "viable" before they abort, and by prohibiting in most cases use of public funds for “encouraging or counseling” a woman to have an abortion. The law, whose text asserted that “the life of each human being begins at conception” and that “unborn children have protectable interests in life, health, and well-being,” was upheld in the 1989 Supreme Court decision Webster v. Reproductive Health Services. Thompson provided testimonials from women employed at CKE, praising Puzder. “Andy is always very respectful to women,” said Cheryl Soper, vice president of benefits at CKE, in a written statement. “I have been in many meetings with him, and he doesn’t treat anyone differently, man or woman.” ||||| Washington (CNN) Four Republican senators have told GOP leadership they are withholding support for President Donald Trump's choice for labor secretary, setting off an intense effort by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and business groups to bring at least two back into the fold so that the nomination does not fail, several sources involved in the effort tell CNN. The four, these sources say, are GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Tim Scott of South Carolina and Johnny Isakson of Georgia. Fast food executive Andrew Puzder is the President's choice, and among the last Cabinet picks to get a confirmation hearing because of controversies that include an admission he employed an undocumented housekeeper. His hearing, delayed several times, is now scheduled for Thursday. Republicans are not counting on any Democratic votes for Puzder. So, with a 52-48 majority, they would need to hold at least 50 Republicans, as was the case last week when Vice President Mike Pence was called on to break the tie and advance the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as education secretary. Murkowski and Collins were the two GOP defections on the DeVos vote, and of the four who have voiced reservations about Puzder are viewed as the most difficult to get back in the fold. Read More ||||| The decades-old video has been provided by the Oprah Winfrey Network. | AP Photo Oprah gives tape with Puzder abuse allegations to Senate Senators in both parties have viewed an episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in which President Donald Trump's Labor Secretary nominee Andrew Puzder's former wife leveled allegations of physical abuse against him, according to sources familiar with the matter. The decades-old video, which is not easily found, has been provided by the Oprah Winfrey Network, those sources said. The video has been provided to senators in a Capitol Hill office building, according to people who have seen it. Story Continued Below "I’ve arranged for senators on the committee to see that ... I thought that was a reasonable request. No reason not to see it," said HELP Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). "That happened 27 years ago. His former wife has said it was all not true. She has reiterated that in a heartfelt letter to members of the committee and has been willing to talk to members of the committee so I don’t think that’s an issue. “ The episode is called "High-Class Battered Women," according to a source familiar with the matter. It aired in March, 1990. Alexander said he supports Puzder's nomination. But Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the HELP Committee that will vote on Puzder's nomination, said she was "deeply troubled" by the video. "It was important for us to know all of the information about any candidate that comes before us," Murray said in an interview. Last month POLITICO reported that Puzder's former wife, Lisa Fierstein, appeared in disguise on Oprah to discuss her abuse allegations, which she has since retracted, most recently in a letter to the Senate HELP Committee. The HELP Committee asked OWN for all episodes about domestic violence between 1985 and 1990, OWN said in a written statement, and OWN turned over 20 “for the committee members to review in confidence.” OWN "did not provide copies or transcript of the episodes and has not provided information about the identities of anyone who appeared,” it said. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has reviewed the episode, as well. Collins is among at least four GOP senators undecided on Puzder, whose confirmation hearing has been scheduled for Thursday. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Johnny Isakson of Georgia and Tim Scott of South Carolina are also not decided on his nomination. All serve on the HELP Committee. Puzder can only lose two GOP votes if all Democrats oppose his nomination on the Senate floor. It could take just one GOP defection to tag his nomination as "unfavorable" in a committee vote, though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could still bring the nomination to the floor. The abuse allegations are only one of the controversies dogging Puzder. His nomination was rocked last week after his spokesman said he had employed an undocumented immigrant for years. The fast-food executive also apprenticed to a Mafia-connected lawyer early in his career, drew criticism for conditions for workers at his CKE restaurant chain and faced accusations of sexism over advertisements showing bikini-clad women eating his company's hamburgers. Scott bristled at reports that indicated he opposed Puzder. Still, he said it was "concerning" that it took Puzder five years to pay back taxes on the undocumented immigrant who once worked for him. "I have not come out with a position," Scott said. "I've never said I was opposed to him, at all." Collins did not say whether the video swayed her. The Maine senator also said she'd inquired about making the video public but was told it was merely being provided so senators could come to their own decisions. "I was told that it's owned by the Oprah Network and they will not share it. I couldn't even have my staff view it," she said. Not all senators on the HELP Committee have seen it. Both Democratic Sens. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Tim Kaine of Virginia said they had not. GOP leaders said that they were confident Puzder would prevail regardless of the swirl of controversy around him. Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has called on Trump to withdraw Puzder's nomination, which is now Democrats' top target as Republican leaders fight to get their 52-member caucus behind him. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) said the nomination was "all good." "Full speed ahead. I've talked to a number of [undecided senators] and I'm confident he'll be confirmed. He's a good nominee," Cornyn said. Collins said nothing about what Fierstein said on the tape. Another senator who has viewed the video also declined to describe it. Fierstein’s accusations first surfaced in local news reports around the time of her divorce from Puzder. She has since suggested she made them up to bolster her divorce settlement. Puzder has always denied that he abused her. Fierstein appeared on the Oprah show in a wig and glasses, and was identified only by the made-up name of Ann. View Puzder 'vowed revenge,' wife told Oprah An excerpt of 1990 interview of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' with Lisa Fierstein, ex-wife of Andrew Puzder. POLITICO obtained the tape from Charlotte Fedders, a fellow guest on the Winfrey show. The Campaign For Accountability, a left-leaning nonprofit, will appear Tuesday in court in St. Louis County to try to unseal divorce-related documents concerning the abuse charges that were sealed the day after President Donald Trump tapped Puzder for the job. One document that wasn't sealed, a 1988 petition, shows Fierstein accused Puzderof having "assaulted and battered [her] by striking her violently about the face, chest, back, shoulders, and neck, without provocation or cause," and that as a consequence she “suffered severe and permanent injuries.” The judge in the case dismissed the petition, in which Fierstein sought $350,000 in damages, on the grounds that Puzder's divorce agreement had already settled all Fierstein's prior claims against him. But Fierstein's allegations of abuse weren’t confined to filings related to a divorce agreement. Court documents indicate that Fierstein filed an abuse claim against Puzder before the divorce — within a couple of weeks of the alleged May 1986 domestic violence incident. Fierstein also sought a protective court order against Puzder, documents show. The couple formally separated in June,1986.

– Fast-food executive Andrew Puzder's chances of becoming the next labor secretary appear to be in real jeopardy, and one reason is a tape of an Oprah Winfrey show from the 1990s. Senators have viewed the episode, called "High-Class Battered Women," in which Puzder's ex-wife appears in disguise and accuses him of physical abuse, reports Politico. His ex, Lisa Fierstein, later rescinded the allegations as part of a child-custody agreement, per a previous story in Politico. More recently, she wrote a letter to the Senate HELP Committee saying she regrets appearing on the show. "I was hesitant, but encouraged by friends and became caught up in the notion of a free trip to Chicago and being a champion of women and women’s issues." Winfrey's network turned over the tape to the Senate. "I have gone to review the Oprah show for an hour on which his former wife appeared and I'm reviewing the other information that has come to light," says GOP Sen. Susan Collins, per CNN. "I'm sure all of this will be explored fully." The network reports that Collins and three other Republican senators—Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Tim Scott of South Carolina, and Johnny Isakson of Georgia—were withholding support for Puzder, raising the prospect that he will be the first nominee of President Trump to fail to gain confirmation. The Washington Post reports that the abuse allegations as well as the racy ads he uses to sell burgers at Hardee's and Carl's Jr. might be enough to doom him. He also has faced criticism over the hiring of an undocumented worker for his home. Republicans would need to get two of the four Republican senators against him to change their minds in order to confirm.

Brock Turner in an undated Facebook photo. Facebook In the few days since ex–Stanford swimmer Brock Turner was given a six-month jail sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, much of the internet’s chatter has converged on a heart-wrenching, beautifully argued, deeply felt statement the woman read to him in court. It’s a devastating account of the survivor’s revictimization during her trial, a powerful indictment of the lighter sentences imposed on white, wealthy sex criminals, and a haunting depiction of how rape culture exerts its influence on college campuses and in courts of law. The victim provided her statement to BuzzFeed News; the page been viewed more than 4 million times since Friday afternoon. Now, the internet has an opposing letter to read: a defense of Turner reportedly written by his father, Dan. Posted early Sunday morning by Michele Dauber, a Stanford law professor and sociologist who led the school’s revision of its sexual assault policies in recent years, the letter appears to have been written prior to Brock’s sentencing to advocate for probation only, in lieu of any jail time. The sentence Brock got—six months in county jail and three years of probation—was extraordinarily light; he could have served up to 14 years in state prison. The judge opted for just a few months in jail (the Santa Clara County district attorney predicts he’ll only serve three of the six) because, the judge argued, a prison sentence would “have a severe impact on [Turner].” Turner will also have to register as a sex offender. That generous decision is an echo of Dan Turner’s letter, which essentially argues that Brock has already suffered enough for his crimes. This piece is a near-perfect complement to the victim’s gripping 7,200-word essay—Dan Turner defends his son with nearly every thin excuse his son’s victim demolishes in her letter; he elevates all the rape-apologist, victim-diminishing tropes she exposes as misogynist garbage. #brockturner father: son not "violent" only got "20 mins of action" shouldn't have to go to prison. @thehuntinground pic.twitter.com/IFECJs687b — Michele Dauber (@mldauber) June 5, 2016 Dan’s letter begins by describing how his son’s life has been thrown off track by his sexual assault, but never assigns responsibility to Brock, who repeatedly defended himself by saying that the victim enjoyed the assault and even had an orgasm. It’s not “Brock’s sexual assault” or “Brock’s actions” that occurred in January 2015, according to Dan; it’s “the events.” He spends five full sentences discussing Brock’s loss of appetite, as if that’s plenty punishment for his deeds. Perhaps he was trying to avoid the tone-deaf protests put forth by so many other Brock defenders, including the probation officer who helped determine his sentence, who’ve argued that the loss of his swimming scholarship is a major retribution that should figure into his sentence. In her essay, the survivor of Brock’s assault eloquently explains why that’s another symptom of a justice system sick with racial and socioeconomic inequity: The probation officer weighed the fact that he has surrendered a hard earned swimming scholarship. How fast Brock swims does not lessen the severity of what happened to me, and should not lessen the severity of his punishment. If a first time offender from an underprivileged background was accused of three felonies and displayed no accountability for his actions other than drinking, what would his sentence be? Later in his letter, Dan Turner writes that jail time is “not the appropriate punishment” for Brock because “he has no prior criminal history and has never been violent to anyone including his actions on the night of Jan 17th 2015.” That is patently untrue. A jury convicted Brock of three violent offenses: assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated person; sexually penetrating an intoxicated person with a foreign object; and sexually penetrating an unconscious person with a foreign object. Brock’s victim made a persuasive argument for why Brock’s lack of criminal history is no reason to let him off with a slap on the wrist: As a society, we cannot forgive everyone’s first sexual assault or digital rape. It doesn’t make sense. The seriousness of rape has to be communicated clearly, we should not create a culture that suggests we learn that rape is wrong through trial and error. The consequences of sexual assault needs to be severe enough that people feel enough fear to exercise good judgment even if they are drunk, severe enough to be preventative. Dan also furthers the tired, insulting, victim-blaming narrative that holds drunk women responsible for their own sexual assaults when he discusses Brock’s possible future as an anti-drinking activist. “By having people like Brock educate others on college campuses is how society can begin to break the cycle of binge drinking and its unfortunate results,” he writes. The unfortunate results of binge drinking are manifold, but they do not include sexual assault. Brock’s victim writes: Alcohol is not an excuse. Is it a factor? Yes. But alcohol was not the one who stripped me, fingered me, had my head dragging against the ground, with me almost fully naked. Having too much to drink was an amateur mistake that I admit to, but it is not criminal. … Regretting drinking is not the same as regretting sexual assault. We were both drunk, the difference is I did not take off your pants and underwear, touch you inappropriately, and run away. Starting an anti-drinking foundation and becoming an anti-drinking activist is something celebrities do to manage their reputations after they incur a DUI; no sane person would expect Brock to devote the rest of his life to fighting teen alcoholism, much less be any good at it. But his father claims that a sole sentence of probation would allow Brock to “give back to society in a net positive way.” Net positive: as in, when the sum of negative consequences of Brock’s sexual assault are combined with the sum of whatever positive influence he could affect with his anti-drinking lectures, the positives outweigh the negatives. Dan Turner is saying that the harm Brock caused by sexually assaulting an unconscious woman and antagonizing her for a year on trial is so minimal, he could more than make up for it by lecturing students about keggers. But the worst parts of Dan’s letter are his grave mischaracterizations of rape as sex. “[Brock’s] life will never be the one that he dreamed about and worked so hard to achieve. That is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life,” Dan writes, as if Brock should get special credit for not raping anyone during the first 19 years of his life. Committing sexual assault is not getting “action,” and 20 minutes may have been short for Brock, but it is not a short time for a victim enduring a sexual assault. Brock’s assault was not over when 20 minutes were up—his victim will forever contend with its persistent, damaging consequences. She will pay for his actions for the rest of her life. Dan, like Brock and his lawyer, deny the very existence of sexual assault by equating it with the kind of casual sex other college students enjoy: “Brock can do so many positive things as a contributor to society and is totally committed to educating other college age students about the dangers of alcohol consumption and sexual promiscuity.” Alcohol did not sexually assault Brock’s victim, and hook-up culture did not threaten her dignity and self-worth. Anonymous, drunken sex did not land Brock in jail. In her letter, Brock’s victim explains the willful ignorance someone must employ in order to conflate sexual assault with casual sex. “It is deeply offensive that [Brock] would try and dilute rape with a suggestion of ‘promiscuity.’ By definition rape is not the absence of promiscuity; rape is the absence of consent,” she writes. “It perturbs me deeply that he can’t even see that distinction.” ||||| Court statement by father of Brock Turner adds to concern over ‘lenient’ six-month sentence he received for intent to rape an unconscious woman The father of a former Stanford University athlete convicted on multiple charges of sexual assault has said his son should not have to go to prison for “20 minutes of action”. Brock Turner, a former swimmer at Stanford University, was on Thursday sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and probation for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. The 20-year-old from Dayton, Ohio – who was convicted of three felonies, including assault with intent to rape – faced a maximum of 14 years in prison. But Turner was expected to spend only three months of a six-month sentence in county jail after the judge, Aaron Persky, said positive character references and lack of a criminal record had persuaded him to be more lenient. Prison would have a “severe impact on him”, the judge said. Stanford sexual assault case: victim impact statement in full Read more The decision sparked anger on social media, with many quoting from the victim’s impact statement, which went viral after being published by international media. Joe Brown (@joemfbrown) One of the most powerful things I’ve read in a long, long time. Brock Turner should be forced to read it every day. https://t.co/M3yjOloXqE Leslie Grossman (@MissLeslieG) Brock Turner's victim has lit a fire. It is up to all of us to fan the flames. The 23-year-old victim gave an emotional speech at the hearing, an abbreviated version of a 12-page impact statement submitted to Judge Persky before the sentencing hearing. She recounted going to a party on the evening of 17 January 2015 and waking up the next morning in hospital with no memory of the night before. She also told of the invasive exam she underwent to collect evidence and the “excruciating” interrogation of the court trial. “I thought there’s no way this is going to trial; there were witnesses, there was dirt in my body, he ran but was caught ... Instead, I was told he hired a powerful attorney, expert witnesses, private investigators ... That he was going to go to any length to convince the world he had simply been confused. ... “I was pummeled with narrowed, pointed questions that dissected my personal life, love life, past life, family life, inane questions, accumulating trivial details to try and find an excuse for this guy who had me half naked before even bothering to ask for my name.” Her victim impact statement – released by the district attorney’s office and published in full by Palo Alto Online, among others – has received global attention for shedding light on what advocates say is an epidemic of violence on college campuses. On BuzzFeed, it has been viewed more than 4m times since being published on Saturday. Turner’s father had called on the judge to grant his son probation, saying that he had already paid “a steep price ... for 20 minutes of action”. Michele Dauber, a professor of law at Stanford University, tweeted an excerpt from the probation pre-sentencing report in which Dan Turner said his son’s life had “been deeply altered forever”. “He will never be his happy go lucky self with that easy going personality and welcoming smile,” he wrote of his son. “His every waking minute is consumed with worry, anxiety, fear, and depression. You can see this in his face, the way he walks, his weakened voice, his lack of appetite.” His statement was met with fury on social media, with many condemning its tone. Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) RAPE CULTURE: Brock Turner's dad is sad he only got "20 minutes of action" & doesn't even like eating steaks anymore pic.twitter.com/eQswM8Lb11 John Hodgman (@hodgman) It's the utter lack of self awareness and context that makes Brock Turner's dad's statement so chilling. Purest dumb dad privilege Nick Davis (@NicksFlickPicks) I understand that this father's pain must be excruciating and I sympathize. But this statement is itself an outrage. https://t.co/KR8Mq9jsHE Responding to questions over the statement’s validity, Dauber said it was “all too real” and that Dan Turner had read it aloud in open court at sentencing. She has been contacted for comment. Dan Turner said imprisonment was not the “appropriate punishment” for his son, who was “totally committed to educating other college age students about the dangers of alcohol consumption and sexual promiscuity”. “By having people like Brock educate others on college campuses is how society can begin to break the cycle of binge drinking and its unfortunate results.” This echoed Turner’s own statement, in which he said he was in the process of establishing a program for high school and college students so that he could “speak out against the college campus drinking culture and the sexual promiscuity that goes along with that”. The victim was scathing on this point in her address at Thursday’s hearing, noting that Turner had said he wanted to “show people that one night of drinking can ruin a life”. “Let me rephrase for you, I want to show people that one night of drinking can ruin two lives. You and me. You are the cause, I am the effect. ... “Your damage was concrete; stripped of titles, degrees, enrolment. My damage was internal, unseen, I carry it with me. You took away my worth, my privacy, my energy, my time, my safety, my intimacy, my confidence, my own voice, until today.” Victoria Aveyard (@VictoriaAveyard) Students, if your school is ever stupid enough to allow Brock Turner to "educate" you on drinking, I hope you boo him off the stage. Prosecutors had asked for Judge Persky, a Stanford alumnus, to sentence Turner to six years in a state prison. The maximum for the three felony charges – assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated woman, sexually penetrating an intoxicated person with a foreign object, and sexually penetrating an unconscious person with a foreign object – was 14 years. In justifying the six-month sentence, Judge Persky said positive character references written on Turner’s behalf, such as that given by his father, had factored into his decision. His age, his lack of a criminal history, and the role that alcohol played in the assault were also mitigating factors. “A prison sentence would have a severe impact on him,” said the judge. “I think he will not be a danger to others.” Judge Persky is running unopposed for re-election in the Santa Clara county election on Tuesday. A Change.org petition calling for him to be recalled from his judicial position had received more than 15,500 signatures at time of writing. siobhan vivian (@siobhanvivian) Outraged by the laughable punishment in the Stanford rape case? JUDGE AARON PERSKY is up for reelection. RT his name! Get him off the bench! Colin Dickey (@colindickey) Just texted my mom, who's a lawyer in Santa Clara County, to try to get her to run against the judge who sentenced Brock Turner. The Santa Clara county district attorney, Jeff Rosen, criticised the “unjust” sentence on Thursday, which he said did not fit the crime. “Ultimately, the fact that the defendant preyed upon an intoxicated stranger on a college campus should not be viewed as less serious than if he assaulted an intoxicated stranger in downtown Palo Alto,” he said. “Campus rape is no different than off-campus rape. Rape is rape. We will prosecute it the same.” Rosen also praised the victim’s statement as “the most eloquent, powerful and compelling piece of victim advocacy that I’ve seen in my 20 years as a prosecutor”. Palo Alto Online reported that Turner plans to appeal his conviction and will be represented by Dennis Riordan, a well-known San Francisco appellate attorney. ||||| The father of former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner, who was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman near a dumpster, urged the judge not to put his son in prison over "20 minutes of action." Dan A. Turner, Brock Turner's dad, wrote a letter to Judge Aaron Persky before his son's sentencing Thursday. He said that since his son was found guilty of sexual assault, he isn't eating much and is full of worry and anxiety. It's "a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life," he argued. You can read Dan Turner's full letter here. Brock Turner, 22, was sentenced Thursday to six months in county jail, and could be released sooner for good behavior. In March, Turner was found guilty of three felony sexual assault charges for violating a recent Stanford graduate outside a fraternity party. Two male graduate students who were passing by the party around 1 a.m. on Jan. 18, 2015, interrupted Turner when they saw him on top of a woman. The grad students chased Turner -- who left his victim behind in the dirt -- and then held him down as a third person called police. Turner admitted to having sexual contact, but insisted during the criminal trial that the woman had given consent and that he was too drunk himself to realize she passed out, according to the Palo Alto Weekly. The woman testified she had no memory of her assault. A Stanford public safety officer said in court that after he found her lying unconscious behind a dumpster, she did not wake up for several hours. A jury found Turner guilty of assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated woman, sexually penetrating an intoxicated person with a foreign object and sexually penetrating an unconscious person with a foreign object. Prosecutors recommended six years in state prison, noting that he'd lied about his alcohol history, had been previously accused of aggression toward women and has refused to admit he committed assault. At the sentencing, Turner's victim read a 13-page letter about how the assault affected her. The statement was widely shared online over the weekend, with many calling it "powerful." Persky determined that six months in jail followed by three years of probation was the best punishment for Turner, stating that he had to ask himself, "Is incarceration in prison the right answer for the poisoning of (the woman's) life?" Perksy also cited Turner's lack of a criminal record as a factor in a more lenient sentence. Dan Turner noted in his letter that his son plans to develop a program for high school and college students to educate them about the "dangers of alcohol consumption and sexual promiscuity." However, the tone of his letter -- which does not acknowledge that Brock committed an assault, instead describing the crime as "20 minutes of action" and insisting that Brock "has never been violent to anyone including the night of the Jan 17th 2015" -- offended many people. Dan Turner offered a brief response to his critics Monday morning. "My words have been misinterpreted by people," he said in a statement to The Huffington Post, submitted through his son's defense attorney. "What I meant with that comment is a 20 minute period of time. I was not referring to sexual activity by the word 'action.' It was an unfortunate choice of words and I did not mean to be disrespectful or offensive to anyone." Still, many people are frustrated with the light sanction for Brock Turner's assault of an unconscious woman, a sanction that came despite several other letters to the court arguing for a more robust punishment. Under California statutes, Turner should have faced a minimum of two to three years of incarceration for the crimes, noted Stanford University Law Professor Michele Dauber in a letter to the court. A less severe punishment can be given if the case is "unusual" in that it is "substantially less serious than the circumstances typically present in other cases," and the offender is young and has no criminal record, Dauber wrote, but she insisted Turner's case was far from unusual: Dauber went on to add that Turner was privileged, suggesting that he should be fully aware he was committing a crime which has no justification. A letter signed by more than 250 Stanford students and a handful of alumni, parents and professors also pointed out Turner should have known he was committing a horrific crime due to the programming he received as a freshman that dealt with sexual assault, consent and alcohol usage. A third letter, submitted by a dozen student leaders, including Greek life and student government members, echoed that point: This is not a case of someone who just didn’t know what he was doing and made a mistake. ... His crime was serious, and his sentence should also be serious. As people who have suffered fear as a result of his crime, we ask that you consider the impact on our community of the sentence you impose in his case. District Attorney Jeff Rosen was also displeased by the light sentence for Turner, saying in a statement that the "punishment does not fit the crime." "The predatory offender has failed to take responsibility, failed to show remorse and failed to tell the truth," Rosen said. "The sentence does not factor in the true seriousness of this sexual assault, or the victim’s ongoing trauma. Campus rape is no different than off-campus rape. Rape is rape. And I will prosecute it as such." Read the impact statement from Brock Turner's victim below: _______

– A rape case at Stanford continues to make headlines, first because of the defendant's sentence and the victim's powerful statement, and now because of another statement made by the 20-year-old assailant's father. Swimmer Brock Turner received a sentence of six months in jail—he could have gotten 14 years—after being convicted of raping a passed-out young woman. In a letter written to the judge before sentencing, his father argued for just such leniency, reports the Guardian. Brock Turner shouldn't have his life ruined over "20 minutes of action," wrote Dan Turner, adding that his son had suffered enough already. “He will never be his happy go lucky self with that easy going personality and welcoming smile,” he wrote. “His every waking minute is consumed with worry, anxiety, fear, and depression. You can see this in his face, the way he walks, his weakened voice, his lack of appetite.” The letter was made public Sunday in a tweet by Stanford law professor Michele Dauber, who helped shape the school's new sexual assault policies, and it's being met with a barrage of criticism online. "Tone-deaf," says a post at the Huffington Post. It's a "near-perfect complement" to the victim's statement, writes Christina Cauterucci at Slate. "Dan Turner defends his son with nearly every thin excuse his son's victim demolishes in her letter; he elevates all the rape-apologist, victim-diminishing tropes she exposes as misogynist garbage."

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan intelligence agents arrested on Monday a U.S. special forces interpreter accused of torturing and killing civilians - allegations that have worsened already strained relations between the government and NATO-led coalition forces. The detained man was identified by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) as Zakeria Kandahari, who has spent years working with U.S. forces who have been fighting Islamist Taliban insurgents for more than a decade. The Afghan government has in the past said that Kandahari is Afghan-American, although his exact background remains unclear. “A person named Zakeria Kandahari..., an interpreter with U.S. Special Forces accused of committing multiple crimes, was arrested,” the NDS said in a brief statement. The statement said Kandahari was taken into custody in the southern province of Kandahar with three pistols in his possession, as well as a computer, two fake birth certificates and seven fraudulent identification cards. The abuse allegations prompted President Hamid Karzai in March to bar U.S. special forces from Wardak province, flanking Kabul - a potentially risky move because it could give Taliban insurgents more room to operate in a strategically vital area. Karzai later agreed to a compromise with NATO forces entailing a more limited and gradual pullout from Wardak than he had initially demanded. Atrocities against civilians have been a particular flashpoint in government-coalition relations since an American soldier was accused of murdering 16 civilians in Kandahar province in March last year, complicating negotiations on a U.S. military presence in the country beyond NATO’s 2014 combat exit. Both Kandahari, who was based in the restive Nerkh district of Wardak where the allegations surfaced earlier this year, and U.S. troops linked to him were accused by the government of committing human rights abuses, or at least having complicity. But a U.S. defense official in Washington said a review in cooperation with Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry and the NDS found no foreign forces involvement in atrocities. ||||| Afghan authorities have arrested a man who served as a translator for U.S. Special Forces and was wanted on allegations he tortured and killed civilians, the country's intelligence service said Monday. Zakaria Kandahari was picked up "recently" in the southern city of Kandahar for "various crimes," in a special operation conducted by the Afghan National Directorate for Security, the intelligence agency said in a statement. It did not elaborate, but the Defense Ministry has said Kandahari was wanted on charges of murder and torture in connection with the disappearances of nine boys and men who turned up dead. The U.S.-led coalition has denied any involvement in the disappearances, but the case has further strained Washington's relations with President Hamid Karzai, and could complicate plans to leave special operations forces in Afghanistan after combat troops complete their withdrawal next year. American officials have suggested keeping a special operations presence in Afghanistan in a counter-terrorism role against al-Qaida even after all other combat troops leave at the end of 2014. When the allegations about Kandahari surfaced, Karzai ordered U.S. special forces out of the Narkh district of Wardak province, where the disappearances occurred. Karzai had originally ordered them out of the whole province but Gen. Joseph Dunford, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, said such a move would threaten the security of Kabul, 45 kilometers (less than 30 miles) south. When he was arrested, Kandahari had three pistols, two fake Afghan National ID cards and seven other false IDs on him, the intelligence service said. It added that it would release further details about the case later, and that its investigation of Kandahari is ongoing.

– Afghanistan authorities have arrested a former translator for US special forces over "multiple crimes," officials said today, without elaboration. The AP fills in a few of the blanks, reporting that the Defense Ministry had said Zakeria Kandahari was wanted on charges of murder and torture in connection with the disappearances of nine boys and men who turned up dead. Kandahari, whom the Afghan government has previously identified as being Afghan-American, had three pistols, a computer, a pair of fake birth certificates, and seven fake IDs with him when arrested, per a statement by Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security. Kandahari had been based in Wardak province, Reuters reports; Afghanistan accused him along with US troops of involvement in human rights violations. But a US defense official says a review by both countries found the claims that foreign troops were involved to be false. Still, the allegations led Karzai to order US special forces out of Wardak province, which sits fewer than 30 miles from Kabul; that was later dialed down to just the Narkh district of the province, where the disappearances occurred.

Video (02:23) : Danny Heinrich admitted in court to abducting, molesting, killing and burying Jacob Wetterling, so why isn't he being charged with murder? Finally, Minnesota knows. The question haunting a family and a state for nearly 27 years — what happened to Jacob Wetterling — was solved Tuesday when his murderer stood in federal court and recounted in horrific detail how he kidnapped the sandy-haired boy on a dead-end rural road, drove him into the dark countryside and sexually assaulted, then executed him. “What did I do wrong?” Jacob asked his kidnapper, Danny Heinrich, after Heinrich snatched the boy at gunpoint and sent Jacob’s little brother and best friend running away scared. The answers came after federal prosecutors cut a deal with Heinrich, who after years of denying involvement in Wetterling’s disappearance led authorities to the boy’s shallow grave in a rural pasture outside the central Minnesota town of Paynesville, some 30 miles from the site of the abduction that brought excruciating pain to the Wetterling family and nightmares to parents across the state. Heinrich, 53, pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography, a crime for which he is expected to spend 20 years behind bars. Though he will not be prosecuted for Jacob’s kidnapping and murder, Heinrich could remain in state custody under Minnesota’s civil sex offender commitment. The unusual deal was struck, officials said, with the approval of Patty and Jerry Wetterling, who have advocated nationally for missing and exploited children while keeping hope that somehow their son would be found alive. Video (03:03): How Heinrich was convinced to lead authorities to Jacob Video (03:03): How Heinrich was convinced to lead authorities to Jacob “I want to say ‘Jacob, I’m so sorry.’ It’s incredibly painful to know his … last hours, last minutes,” Patty Wetterling said, fighting tears as she spoke to reporters after Heinrich’s plea hearing. “Our hearts are hurting. For us, Jacob was alive until we found him.” Exchanging a possible murder prosecution for a single child pornography charge — one of 25 Heinrich was facing — was simply the only way to get the volatile Heinrich to lead authorities to the grave that no one had been able to find after almost three decades of intensive searching, U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger explained. “He’s not getting away with anything,” Luger said. “We got the truth. The Wetterling family can bring [Jacob] home.” That October night Standing in court, with Wetterling’s parents sitting in the gallery behind him, Heinrich described Jacob’s final hours in agonizing detail: “I was driving on a road, a dead-end road. I noticed three children on their bicycles with a flashlight,” Heinrich started, at times struggling to get his words out between sharp breaths. After Heinrich and the boys passed each other that night, he said, he pulled his car into a driveway and faced the direction of the road that they’d be coming back on. Then he waited. As the boys returned about 20 minutes later, Heinrich got out of his car and, with a mask on, reached for his revolver, a snub-nosed .38 Smith & Wesson Special. He confronted the boys, told them to get into the ditch with their bicycles, then asked their names and ages. The boys offered Heinrich the videotape that they had just rented from the convenience store, but Heinrich knocked it down. They shined their flashlight in his face, and he told them “no, don’t do that,” he testified. He told Trevor Wetterling and Aaron Larson to run away, warning them not to look back or he’d shoot. He took Jacob back to his car, handcuffed him behind his back and placed him in the passenger seat. Heinrich then drove from St. Joseph with a police scanner crackling with activity inside the car. He told Jacob to duck down as he decided to drive back toward his hometown of Paynesville. The car went on a circuitous route: west on Hwy. 75, then on Interstate 94, exiting at Albany and cruising onto another county road toward the town of Roscoe before hitting Hwy. 23 to Paynesville. On the outskirts of town, Heinrich pulled the car onto a country road that he knew well, one with a field approach about 100 yards ahead. Next to a row of trees, not far from a gravel pit, Heinrich opened Jacob’s door and uncuffed him. He took him near the trees, where they both undressed. Heinrich groped the boy and forced the boy to touch him. After about 20 minutes, Jacob told Heinrich he was cold, Heinrich recalled. He told Jacob he could get dressed. Video (03:29): Patty Wetterling: 'Jacob was alive until we found him' Video (03:29): Patty Wetterling: 'Jacob was alive until we found him' “Take me home,” the boy asked, but Heinrich said he couldn’t take him all the way home, and Jacob started to cry. When Heinrich saw a police car go by, he got scared. “I panicked and pulled the revolver out of my pocket,” Heinrich said. “It was never loaded until that point. I loaded it with two rounds and told the victim to turn around, I had to go to the bathroom. He didn’t know what I was doing.” Then, Heinrich said, with Jacob turned away, he raised the revolver to the boy’s head, turned his own head away, and pulled the trigger. The gun clicked once, but didn’t go off. He pulled the trigger again, and it fired. When he looked back, the boy was still standing, so he shot once more. Jacob fell to the ground. The execution over, Heinrich drove back to his apartment in downtown Paynesville and waited a couple of hours before returning to the scene after midnight to hide Jacob’s body. He dragged it about 100 yards, then decided the shovel he brought wasn’t big enough to do the job quickly. He walked to a nearby construction company and found a Bobcat. “I placed Jacob in the grave and I covered him back up,” Heinrich said. He returned the equipment, covered the grave with grass and brush, then threw Wetterling’s tennis shoes into a ravine as he walked back home. Heinrich returned a year later under the cover of darkness to find Jacob’s red jacket sticking out of the shallow grave. Gallery: Photos: Danny Heinrich confesses to Jacob Wetterling's killing Gallery: Photos: Danny Heinrich confesses to Jacob Wetterling's killing He gathered as much as he could into a bag — the boy’s jacket, bones and skull — and carried it all across the highway. He dug another grave about 2 feet deep, this time with an Army entrenching tool. He put Jacob’s bones in the grave, placed the jacket on top and covered him a final time. For almost 27 years, Heinrich guarded his secret from authorities. ‘Stole our innocence’ “Finally, we know,” Luger said Tuesday. “We know the truth. Danny Heinrich … is the confessed killer of Jacob Wetterling.” The day Jacob was abducted “stole our innocence,” Luger said. Authorities had interviewed Heinrich about Jacob shortly after he disappeared. They reinterviewed him at least twice in 1990, also searching his father’s house, where he then lived. They found six photos of children, including one showing a boy wrapped in a towel exiting a shower, and another of a boy in his underwear. No charges resulted. Patty Wetterling was consoled by son Trevor during a news conference after Danny Heinrich admitted killing her son Jacob. Trevor was with Jacob on the night he was abducted. In February 1990, Heinrich was arrested on probable cause in the kidnapping and sexual assault of a Cold Spring boy, Jared Scheierl. Heinrich said he was innocent and was released without being charged. Authorities had long believed Wetterling’s and Scheierl’s cases were connected. In 2015, using new technology, authorities tested DNA from Scheierl’s sweatshirt and found that it matched Heinrich. That led them to search Heinrich’s house, where they discovered more than 150 graphic images. They arrested him a final time, charging him with 25 counts of child pornography. Ten days ago, Luger said, Heinrich’s defense team reached out with an offer — a full confession, detailed directions to Jacob’s grave — but only if he wouldn’t be prosecuted for Jacob’s killing, or an earlier assault on Scheierl. “This was not an opportunity we could pass up,” said Luger, who described a “volatile and unpredictable” Heinrich as someone who might change his mind at any time. “We have to grab the moment.” What followed were several tense days as investigators worried that Heinrich might back out of the deal. None of them, Luger said, will forget the moment when searchers discovered the first fragments of Jacob’s red St. Cloud hockey jacket. They later found the bones and teeth of a child, then a T-shirt printed with the name: Wetterling. Heinrich faces the maximum 20-year sentence on the single federal child pornography charge. All other child pornography charges were dropped. At the end of his prison sentence, Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall said, Heinrich could be committed to the state’s sex offender program and “may never be released again.” Door finally opens Jacob Wetterling was 11 when he was kidnapped and killed in rural Minnesota. Friends and supporters began arriving at the courthouse Tuesday wearing buttons printed with Jacob’s photo. “We have been banging on this door forever and now it is opening,” said Alison Feigh, program manager for the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center and one of Jacob’s middle school classmates. When first announcing the federal child porn charges against Heinrich last year, federal authorities named him a “person of interest” in Wetterling’s abduction. Court documents also raised questions about whether Heinrich was responsible for a series of disturbing attacks on young boys in Paynesville months before Jacob was taken. All of the attacks took place within blocks of Heinrich’s apartment. Nine months before Jacob hopped on his bike for a quick trip to the video store, Heinrich abducted Scheierl as he walked home from a cafe in Cold Spring on a January night. He confessed in court Tuesday to forcing Scheierl into the back seat of his car and sexually assaulting him. After he was molested, Scheierl told police his attacker wore camouflage and Army boots and had a “walkie-talkie” type of device in the car. Three days later, a Stearns County deputy identified Heinrich, who was in the National Guard at the time, as a possible suspect, according to court records. A year of change Documents depict 1989 as a year of change for Heinrich. His car was repossessed in March. His mother remarried in May. His last day of work at Fingerhut Corp. was Oct. 8, leaving him unemployed. This undated photo provided by the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office shows Danny Heinrich, of Minnesota. Heinrich, who is expected to appear in federal court Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in a child pornography case, was named last year by authorities as a person of interest in the 1989 abduction of Jacob Wetterling near his home in St. Joseph, Minn. He was never charged in that case. But he led authorities to the boy's remains last week, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing case. (Sherburne County Sheriff's Office via AP) Two weeks later, he abducted Wetterling. It was a case with frustratingly little physical evidence and a frustratingly large pool of suspects, one of whom was Heinrich, who was in his late 20s at the time. Acquaintances would later describe the quiet, awkward man with thick glasses and a pudgy build as “kind of an oddball.” Nearly 30 years later, Heinrich still wore thick glasses as he stood in court, throngs of reporters watching, as he finally told the world what he had done. Afterward, Patty Wetterling thanked everyone involved in the effort to bring her son home, but added that her family wasn’t ready to talk much yet. “We need to heal,” she said. “There’s a lot of lessons learned and there’s a lot of work to do to protect all our world’s children.” She spoke not about how Jacob died, but how he lived. “He’s taught us all how to live, how to love, how to be fair, how to be kind,” she said. “He speaks to the world that he knew, that we all believe in. It is a world worth fighting for. His legacy will go on.” Staff writers Stephen Montemayor, Jenna Ross and Paul Walsh contributed to this report. Patty Wetterling was consoled by son Trevor during a press conference after Danny Heinrich admitted killing Trevor’s brother, Jacob, on an autumn night in 1989. pam.louwagie@startribune.com 612-673-7102 jennifer.brooks@startribune.com 612-673-4008 ||||| FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2009, file photo, Patty and Jerry Wetterling show a photo of their son Jacob Wetterling, who was abducted in October of 1989 in St. Joseph, Minn and is still missing, in Minneapolis.... (Associated Press) FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2009, file photo, Patty and Jerry Wetterling show a photo of their son Jacob Wetterling, who was abducted in October of 1989 in St. Joseph, Minn and is still missing, in Minneapolis. Patty Wetterling said Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 that his remains have been found. Daniel Heinrich,... (Associated Press) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota man confessed Tuesday to abducting and killing 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling nearly 27 years ago, putting to rest a mystery that had haunted the state and led to changes in national sex offender laws. Danny Heinrich made the admission as he pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges that could put him behind bars for decades. Asked whether he abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered Jacob, Heinrich said: "Yes I did." Heinrich, 53, of Annandale, led authorities to Jacob's buried remains in a central Minnesota field last week, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing case. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office said Jacob's remains were identified Saturday. Appearing in court, he admitted abducting Jacob from a road near the boy's home in the central Minnesota community of St. Joseph on Oct. 22, 1989. Authorities named him as a person of interest in Jacob's disappearance last October when they announced the child pornography charges. Heinrich had long been under investigators' scrutiny. They first questioned him shortly after Jacob's abduction, but he maintained his innocence and they never had enough evidence to charge him. They turned a renewed spotlight on him as part of a fresh look into Jacob's abduction around its 25th anniversary. As part of that effort, investigators took another look at the sexual assault of 12-year-old Jared Scheierl, of Cold Spring, nine months before Jacob's disappearance. Investigators had long suspected the two cases were connected. Using technology that wasn't available in 1989, investigators found Heinrich's DNA on Scheierl's sweatshirt, and used that evidence to get a search warrant for Heinrich's home, where they found a large collection of child pornography. The statute of limitations had expired for charging him in the assault on Scheierl, but a grand jury indicted him on 25 child pornography counts. The AP typically doesn't identify victims of sexual assault, but Scheierl has spoken publicly for years about his case, saying it helped him cope with the trauma and that he hoped it could help investigators find his attacker and Jacob's kidnapper. Jacob's abduction shattered childhood innocence for many rural Minnesotans, changing the way parents let their kids roam. His smiling face was burned into Minnesota's psyche, appearing on countless posters and billboards over the years. His mother, Patty Wetterling, always kept hope her son would be found alive. She became a national advocate for missing children, and with her husband, Jerry Wetterling, founded the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, which works to help communities and families prevent child exploitation. In 1994, Congress passed a law named after Jacob that requires states to establish sex offender registries. ___ Follow Amy Forliti on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amyforliti . More of her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/amy-forliti

– Last week, the parents of a Minnesota boy murdered 27 years ago finally learned the whereabouts of their son's remains. On Tuesday, they learned for sure who killed him. Danny Heinrich, a 53-year-old resident of Annandale, Minn., admitted in court that he kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling, reports AP. It was Heinrich who had finally led authorities to Jacob's body, and on Tuesday he recounted the wrenching details of the 1989 abduction, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. While driving on a dead-end street, he came across three boys on their bikes, and forced two of them—Jacob's brother and a friend—to run away. Then he put Jacob in the front seat and handcuffed him. "What did I do wrong?" he said the boy asked. Heinrich made Jacob duck down in the seat because he had a police scanner and could hear reports coming in about the abduction. He drove to an area near a gravel pit, molested the boy, then told Jacob he would drive him part of the way home. When Jacob started crying, “I panicked," said Heinrich. "I pulled the revolver out of my pocket. ... I loaded it with two rounds. I told Jacob to turn around,” Heinrich said. He shot the boy twice and left, but returned later to dispose of his body. He actually buried the boy twice—Heinrich said the first location wasn't hidden enough, so he removed the remains and reburied them on a farm. The break in the case came when a review of DNA evidence with new technology linked Heinrich to another old assault. That led to a search warrant and the discovery of child pornography, and Heinrich eventually confessed.

Panic shot through the small Tinley Park restaurant as quickly as the stream of determined, black-clad assailants marched in, clubs and hammers in hand.The wide-eyed hostess frantically dialed 911. Old men leapt from their tables and grabbed chairs to fend off the surprise attack.Several of the masked attackers targeted the bystanders, but authorities say the majority homed in on a long table — filled with who the attackers believed were about a dozen white supremacists meeting for lunch.Instantly batons and fists were flying, launching food, plates and chaos. In less than two minutes, the attackers headed for the doors, fighting off customers and restaurant staff into the parking lot.Ten people were injured, at least three of them needing staples to close bloody head wounds.An unpublished restaurant security video viewed by the Tribune of the bizarre Saturday afternoon melee had no sound — but it screams with images of fear and aggression. It was an attack that spilled from Internet chat rooms to the floor of the small Ashford House restaurant, bringing to the forefront an underground and nationwide battle between violent anti-racism groups and white supremacists.Authorities announced charges Monday against five Indiana men in the attacks and said they still sought about 13 who escaped arrest.Those charged include three brothers, Jason W. Sutherlin, 33, Cody L. Sutherlin, 23, and Dylan J. Sutherlin, 20. Also charged were Alex R. Stuck, 22, and John S. Tucker, 26. All five live near Bloomington, Ind.The men are connected to the Hoosier Anti-Racist Movement, which is part of the Anti-Racist Action Network that formed in Minneapolis in 1987 to address discrimination, according to a leader in the organization, Jacob Domke.Prosecutors say authorities apprehended the men about four miles from the restaurant shortly after the melee and found dark hoodies, scarves, a knife and batons in their car. The five were being held on bail Monday and face felony counts of mob action, aggravated battery and criminal damage to property.The Sutherlin brothers became interested in combating fascism while growing up in diverse family in Bloomington, a predominantly white city that is home to Indiana University, Domke said. Though they are white, their half sister's father is black, he said."When you grow up in a multiracial family in Indiana, I think that can open your eyes to the problem of racism in this country," Domke said.Jason Sutherlin, the oldest of the three tightknitbrothers, shaped his social philosophies as a teen at the Bloomington's Peoples Park, a decades-old popular spot for protests. The site has been a haven for the anti-establishment movement since 1968, when two members of the local Ku Klux Klan burned a black-owned store there."We knew the history, but because we were growing up in a different time, we thought we'd be shielded from that kind of hate," Domke said.That illusion was shattered for Jason Sutherlin in July 1999, Domke said, when a white supremacist named Benjamin Smith went on a deadly shooting spree in Indiana and Illinois. Smith, a Wilmette native, targeted minorities, including an Indiana University student."Looking back on it, that was one the defining moments in our lives," Domke said.The Indiana group has several initiatives in the area, including raising money for hate crime victims and providing security for gay and lesbian events, Domke said. Stuck teaches English to immigrants while Jason Sutherlin and Tucker teach self-defense classes, he said.Tucker's father, John, said his son was planning to return to college while working as a bouncer at a Bloomington bar. He said his son could get passionate about political issues, depending "on the friends he is around."Mark Potok, an investigator with the anti-discrimination Southern Poverty Law Center, said using violence against racist organizations is not uncommon but is bad for the cause."This kind of thing happens far more often than people realize," Potok said. "The difference here is it doesn't happen in family restaurants."The Saturday melee has lit up Internet sites on both sides for days. The Anti-Racist Action movement posted a note boasting of the attack.Prosecutors said the targeted diners claimed to be part of an Illinois European heritage association that was affiliated with White News Now and Storm Front — Web sites that tout white supremacy, according to the law center.But one victim, Beckie Williams, told the Tribune the group isn't racist, calling the accusation "ridiculous." She said they were meeting in person from across the country for the first time, having met on the Internet discussing economic hardships.Ashford House owner Mike Winston said he would not release the video of the attack and blamed both groups for the altercation.Stacy St. Clair contributed. ||||| An Anti-Racist Action group has taken credit for a bizarre attack on a suburban Chicagoland eatery Saturday afternoon. At least ten people meeting inside the Ashford House Restaurant on W. 159th St. in Tinley Park were injured when a group of up to 18 attackers wearing black hoodies and carrying hammers and bats entered and assaulted them. On AntiRacistAction.org, the group stated the alleged motivation behind the incident: On Saturday, May 19th a group of 30 anti-fascists descended upon Ashford House restaurant in the Chicago suburb of Tinley Park where the 5th annual White Nationalist Economic Summit and Illinois White Nationalist Meet-and-Greet was taking place. The White Nationalists were targeted inside the restaurant and physically attacked, causing several injuries and completely shutting down their meeting. The anti-fascist group was privy to anonymous inside information. This fascist event had been in secret planning for six months. The attendees have attempted to cover up the true intent of the event with mainstream media reports initially reporting the white nationalist conference as a wedding party and then as an Irish heritage meeting. The event was advertised on http://www.stormfront.org, an established white nationalist fascist internet forum. The apparent other side of this story developed in the comments section of an article by the Tinley Park Patch, one of AOL’s subsidiary websites devoted to “hyper-local” news. The attack was reported there (and elsewhere) as a strange, random incident possibly linked to the Occupy-associated anti-N.A.T.O. protests that have been revving up in downtown Chicago since mid-week. A message thread at Stormfront.org dating back to April matches Anti-Racist Action’s statements regarding the date and nature of the meeting. User “Sgathaich” posted about the event on April 3 and added, “If you are a business owner/self employed bring your info. All ideas are welcome. White’s working for White’s [sic]. White’s supporting White’s [sic]. We are taking back what is ours.” Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki told the Chicago Tribune late Saturday that authorities were not certain about connections between the groups or the attackers’ motivations. The Tribune reported three of the injured were taken to the hospital. Others refused medical attention. The Chicago paper also reported that one of the three vehicles that fled the scene was pulled over on W. 159th and five people were taken into custody. Tinley Park’s Patch quoted an employee inside Ashford House when the attack took place. “Tables were being thrown and chairs were broken,” said the employee. Unknown words were also spray-painted on a wall during the melee. The same unnamed employee told Patch that the woman who made reservations for the group that was attacked claimed they travel the country touring ‘Irish festivals.’ ||||| We are a community of racial realists and idealists. We are White Nationalists who support true diversity and a homeland for all peoples, including ours. We are the voice of the new, embattled White minority! The truth is "hate" to those who hate the truth! If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the Introduction to Stormfront. You are also welcome to browse our other ten million posts, but you must register before you can post anywhere except the Open Forums. ||||| Taken from threewayfight: “Fascism” means different things to different people. To help explain how we use the term, here is a a set of quotes from Three Way Fight contributors and people who have influenced us. The quotes don’t all agree with each other, and none of them should be considered an “official” position. Rather, they are intended to sketch out a general perspective and set of issues we consider important. Definitions Fascism is a revolutionary movement of the right against both the bourgeoisie and the left, of middle class and declassed men, that arises in zones of protracted crisis. (J. Sakai, “The Shock of Recognition”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Fascism is a revolutionary form of right-wing populism, inspired by a totalitarian vision of collective rebirth, that challenges capitalist political and cultural power while promoting economic and social hierarchy. (Matthew Lyons, “Two Ways of Looking at Fascism”) Competing with the Left Fascism is not a danger because it is ruling class policy or is about to be adopted as policy. Not even because it could have major influences on this policy. Nor is it a danger because of the “rahowa,” racial holy war, that is advocated by some fascist factions. The policies of official capitalism carried out through the schools and the criminal justice and welfare systems are both a far greater and a more immediate threat to the health and welfare of people of color than fascist instigated racial attacks and their promotion of racialist genocide. The real danger presented by the emerging fascist movements and organizations is that they might gain a mass following among potentially insurgent workers and declassed strata through an historic default of the left. This default is more than a possibility, it is a probability, and if it happens it will cause massive damage to the potential for a liberatory anti-capitalist insurgency. (Don Hamerquist, “Fascism & Anti-Fascism”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + The left had better begin to deal with the fact that issues that are regarded a part of our movement; “globalization,” working class economic demands, “green” questions, resistance to police repression etc. are now being organized by explicit fascists and others who might as well be. Nor do we have a patent on decentralized direct action. That is exactly what the fascist debate around “leaderless resistance” is about. Finally, the question of who and what, exactly, is anti-capitalist remains very much unsettled. Some of the fascists take positions that at least appear to be much more categorically oppositional than those of most of the left. (Hamerquist, “Fascism & Anti-Fascism”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + The assumption that in fighting fascism we would automatically enjoy majority support has crashed — just look at India or Austria right now. As has the delusion that fascism built its movements solely on bigotry and violence. Even the Nazi movement not only strongly manipulated themes of social justice and restoring civic order, but built its mass base by a grassroots network of fighting squads, self-help groups and social services. What fascists did crudely in 1930 is being done in a much more sophisticated way today — as we can see in the Muslim world. In place after place, the far right is drawing on the energy of “anti-colonialism” and anti-Western imperialism. (Sakai, “Shock of Recognition”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + We forget that fascism has always been mainly a movement of the young. That many youth in 1930s Germany viewed the Nazis as liberatory. As opposed to the German social-democrats, for example, who preached the dutiful authority of parents over children, the Hitler Youth gave rebellious children the power to keep their own hours, have an active sex and political life, smoke, drink and have groups of their own. Wilhelm Reich pointed out long ago that fascism in practice exposed every hypocrisy and internal cultural repression of the old left. (Sakai, “The Shock of Recognition”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + While it intensifies oppression and murderously attacks the left, fascism also appropriates leftist anti-elitism in distorted form. In place of a structural analysis that focuses on dismantling systems of power, fascists portray evil elites as an insidious cultural or racial threat to be purged. For example, fascism attacks bourgeois values and “parasitic” business elements (sometimes, but not always, defined as Jewish) while defending the underlying institutions of private property and class exploitation. Historically, this approach has enabled fascism to tap into real social grievances, such as those of some middle-class groups who resent the power of big business but also have a stake in class privilege and feel threatened by working-class movements or oppressed communities below. (Lyons, “Is the Bush Administration Fascist?”) Totalitarian mass politics Fascism doesn’t just terrorize and repress. It also inspires and mobilizes large masses of people around a vision of collective rebirth in a time of crisis. Building a mass movement outside traditional channels is central to fascism’s bid to win state power. As a regime, fascism uses mass organizations and rituals to create a sense of participation and direct identification with the state. Fascism celebrates the nation, race, or cultural group as an organic community to which all other loyalties must be subordinated. In place of individual liberties or social justice, fascism offers its followers a culture of action, virility, heroic sacrifice, cathartic public spectacle, and being part of a vast social organism. (Lyons, “Is the Bush Administration Fascist?”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + I think many people look at fascism and say, “What a load of crap. How could anyone really believe that stuff?” Even many antifascists look at the fascist movement as a joke, violent, but a joke. No doubt the fascist movements have their share of the knuckle-draggers, idiots, and the politically inept, but don’t all movements have these types? I would actually say that in a real fascist movement, the more inept and foolish would be eliminated from the ranks. Fascism prides itself on ability, commitment, and sacrifice. Fascist movements of the past were popular because they offered a total ideology with accompanying programs for action. Millions embraced fascism not because these people were stupid but because fascism provided a vision for social transformation amidst a time of international crisis. Fascism was able to mobilize masses of people. I think this is important. The perspective I hold essentially sees fascism as a real movement of ideas that can draw people in and motivate them. It is an ideology and world view we are gonna have to compete with on more than a physical or military level. (Interview from Beating Fascism: Anarchist anti-fascism in theory and practice) Revolution [B]y “revolutionary” the left has always meant overthrowing capitalism and building a socialist or communal or anarchist society. Fascism is not revolutionary in that sense, although it may use those words. Fascism is revolutionary in a simpler use of the word. It intends to seize State power for itself. Not simply to sit atop the old pile, but in order to violently reorder society in a new class rule. One cannot read “The Turner Diaries” seriously or understand Timothy McVeigh’s politics (he was slaughtering the federal government not the Black Radical Caucus) without facing this. The old left propaganda that fascism is “a tool of the ruling class” is today just a quaint idea. (Sakai, “Shock of Recognition”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Fascism overthrows old political elites and sweeps away established forms of political rule. It posits society as an organic hierarchy and rejects the Enlightenment principles of pluralism, equality, and individual rights. In the name of a fascist cultural revolution, it tries to reshape all institutions to embody a unified ideology imposed from above. Some kinds of fascism go further and revolutionize the socioeconomic order, too, as when German Nazism restructured the industrial heart of Europe with a system of exploitation based largely on plunder, slave labor, and genocidally working people to death. (Lyons, “Is the Bush Administration Fascist?”) People of color and the global south Two points: First, there is a real potential for working relationships and alliances between white fascist movements and various nationalist and religious tendencies among oppressed peoples. In no way does this potential involve the denial of the reality of white supremacy and racial and national oppression. It only means that the left cannot count on the responses to this pattern of oppression, privilege and domination fitting into its neat and comfortable categories. Second, there is no reason to view fascism as necessarily white just because there are white supremacist fascists. To the contrary there is every reason to believe that fascist potentials exist throughout the global capitalist system. African, Asian, and Latin American fascist organizations can develop that are independent of, and to some extent competitive with Euro-American “white” fascism. (Hamerquist, “Fascism & Anti-Fascism”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + [T]he critical turning point now for fascism is not just in Europe. With the failure of State socialism and national liberation parties in the capitalist periphery, in the Third World, the far right including fascism is grasping at the leadership of mass anti-colonialism. (Sakai, “Shock of Recognition”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Mass movements based in religious fundamentalism and various types of warlordism exist everywhere in the third world. They often have anti-capitalist features and frequently these have a quasi-fascist aspect. This should not be surprising. The crumbling structures of the national liberation states and the fragmented and demoralized elements of the communist movements in these areas are more likely to be fertile grounds for fascist development rather than a force against it. The foreign control of capital, labor, and commodity markets distorts the development of parliamentary and trade union traditions. The form of global capitalism that dominates in the periphery of the world capitalist system is not healthy terrain for the reformist leftism that predominates in capital’s historic center. (Hamerquist “Fascism & Anti-Fascism”) Men and women [Fascism] exults in the violent military experience that is said to be “natural” for men, while scorning the soft cowardly life of the bourgeois businessmen and intellectuals and politicians…. It was early 18th century euro-capitalism itself that first redefined women not as free citizens and “not as patriarchal property of individual men, but as a natural resource of the nation-State”. Fascism exalts this, and makes of women a semi-slave resource of the State restricted to the margins of an essentially male society. One part of this discussion is whether political movements or social phenomenon can be said to have gender. Yes, fascism appeals to women as well as men. Yes, Nazism owed much to German women, no matter how unwilling feminists now are to admit that. But we have said “men” so often when discussing fascism because we are being literal. It is a male movement, both in its composition and most importantly in its inner worldview. This is beyond discrimination or sexism, really. Fascism is nakedly a world of men. This is one of the sources of its cultural appeal. (Sakai, “Shock of Recognition”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In an emerging fascist culture, the traditional forms of oppressing women become exaggerated beyond the point of recognition. The patriarchal nature of fascism places women in a particular class, or sub-class. Women become mere property, dominated and exploited by a male authority. But herein lies the contradiction…. A fascist movement will draw its strength from both men and women. Hitler’s rise to power wasn’t merely the work of stormtroopers in the streets, it was made possible by the mass support of women. Hitler promised the creation of a cultural value system in which the contributions of “Aryan” women to the fascist German society would simply be child rearing and care of the home and hearth. A new proletarian slave class of gypsies, Jews and North Africans — made up of men, women and children — would handle the work previously done by “Aryan” women. All sexual elements outside of conceiving for the master race would be handled by state-promoted brothels. (Xtn, “Introduction” to Confronting Fascism: Discussion Documents for a Militant Movement) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + While all far-right movements are male supremacist, they embody a range of doctrines and policies on women and gender issues — including some drawn from the left and even feminism. (Lyons, “Notes on Women and Right-Wing Movements”) Capitalism Fascism grows out of the masses of men from classes that are abandoned on the sidelines of history. By transforming men from these classes and criminal elements into a distorted type of radical force, fascism changes the balance of power. It intervenes to try and seize capitalist State power — not to save the old bourgeois order or even the generals, but to gut and violently reorganize society for itself as new parasitic State classes. Capitalism is restabilized but the bourgeoisie pays the price of temporarily no longer ruling the capitalist State. That is, there is a capitalist state but bourgeois rule is interrupted. (Sakai, “Shock of Recognition”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + The new fascism is, in effect, “anti-imperialist” right now. It is opposed to the big imperialist bourgeoisie (unlike Mussolini and Hitler earlier, who wanted even stronger, bigger Western imperialism), to the transnational corporations and banks, and their world-spanning “multicultural” bourgeois culture. Fascism really wants to bring down the World Bank, WTO and NATO, and even America the Superpower. As in destroy. That is, it is anti-bourgeois but not anti-capitalist. Because it is based on fundamentally pro-capitalist classes. Fascism, in this slowly accelerating global crisis of transformation, believes in what we might call basic capitalism, o.g. capitalism. It is the would-be champion of local male classes vs. the new transnational classes. Enemy of emigrant Third World labor and the modern supra-imperialist State alike, fascism draws on the old weakening national classes of the lower-middle strata, local capitalists and the layers of declassed men. To the increasing mass of rootless men fallen or ripped out of productive classes — whether it be the peasantry or the salariat — it offers not mere working class jobs but the vision of payback. Of a land for real men, where they and not the bourgeois will be the one’s giving orders at gunpoint and living off of others. (Sakai, “Shock of Recognition”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In or out of power, fascism is not a capitalist puppet but an autonomous force, whose agenda sometimes clashes with capitalist interests in important ways. Business support was crucial to both Italian and German fascists in their drives for power, and they in turn aided big business by smashing the labor movement, imposing top-down stability, and promoting centralization of capital. But as these fascist regimes consolidated themselves, big business increasingly lost political control: it lost the power to determine the main direction of state policy. In Germany, the Nazi program of conquest and genocide simply overrode capitalist priorities — such as exploiting scarce skilled workers instead of slaughtering them — even if big industrialists made millions along the way. (Lyons, “Is the Bush Administration Fascist?”) Transforming class society While usual classes are engaged in economic production and distribution, fascism to support its heightened parasitism is driven to develop a lumpen-capitalist economy more focused on criminality, war, looting and enslavement. In its highest development, as in Nazi Germany, fascism eliminates the dangerous class contradiction of the old working class by socially dispersing & wiping it out as a class, replacing its labor with a new unfree proletariat of women, colonial prisoners and slaves. The “extraordinary” culture of the developed fascist State is like a nightmare vision of extreme capitalism, but the big bourgeoisie themselves do not have it under control. That is its unique characteristic. (Sakai, “Shock of Recognition”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Fascism de-proletarianized Aryan society. Or to put it more precisely: it created an Aryan society that had never existed before by de-proletarianizing and genociding the former German society. The Nazis pursued Adolf Hitler’s evolving strategy, which was to simultaneously promote both techno-industrial development and the Aryan re-organization of classes. If it is the superior race man’s destiny to be both a fierce soldier and ruler over others — as the Nazis held in a core belief — then how can this superior race man at the same time be packing groceries for housewives at the supermarket or bucking production on the assembly line?…. By the millions, newly Aryanized men were shifted into military & police service and into being supervisors, office workers, foremen, straw bosses and minor bureaucrats of every sort. The new proletariat that started emerging was heavily made up of involuntary foreign & slave laborers, retirees, and — despite Nazi ideology about women’s “natural” place in the kitchen and nursery — women. (Sakai, “Shock of Recognition”) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + The German left communist, Alfred Sohn-Rethel… thought that the German fascist state and society were developing features that foreshadowed a new “transcapitalist” exploitative social order. The most important of these features was fascist labor policy where, in significant areas of the economy the distinctively capitalist difference between labor and other factors of production was obliterated. Labor, not just labor power, was consumed in the process of production just like raw materials and fixed capital. The implications are barbaric and genocidal and genocide was what occurred. But this was not the genocidal aspect of continuing primitive accumulation that is a part of “normal” capitalist development. That type of genocide is directed mainly against pre-capitalist populations and against the social formations that obstruct the creation of a modern working class and the development of a reservoir of surplus labor. The German policy was the genocidal obliteration of already developed sections of the European working classes and the deliberate disruption of the social reproduction of labor in those sectors — all in the interests of a racialist demand for “living space.” (Hamerquist, “Fascism & Anti-Fascism”) Classical versus neo-fascism Classical fascism took shape in an era of European industrialization and nation-building, competing colonial empires, and an international Communist movement inspired by the recent Bolshevik Revolution. Now both old-style colonialism and state socialism have almost vanished, while corporate globalization is shifting industries across the world and reshaping nation-states. Far-right movements are responding to these changes in various ways. They promote nostalgia for old empires but also right-wing anti-imperialism, old-style nationalisms but also internationalist and decentralized versions of authoritarian politics. They tap into a backlash against the left but also grow where the left’s weakness has opened space for other kinds of insurgent movements. And they promote different versions of anti-elitism, often targeting U.S. or multinational capital but sometimes focusing more on local elites. (Lyons, “Two Ways of Looking at Fascism”)

– A hammer-wielding "anti-racist" gang in masks and hoods attacked suspected white supremacists dining at a suburban Chicago restaurant, injuring ten and sending three to a local hospital to close head wounds. Authorities suspect the 18 attackers who stormed the Tinley Park Irish-American eatery were "spillover" radicals protesting the NATO summit in Chicago. “This was a real riot,” Tinley Park Mayor Edward Zabrocki tells MSNBC. “These guys started beating the crap out of the other group. Tables were knocked over, dishes were broken and there was food all over the walls. It was terrible.” Five Indiana men were arrested in the attack and charged with mob action and aggravated battery, reports the Chicago Tribune. Police are seeking the others. The Anti-Racist Action organization claimed responsibility for the attack on the "white nationalists," which members claimed were holding an economic summit at the restaurant under the guise of a wedding party. Targeted diners told officials they belong to an Illinois European heritage association reportedly affiliated with White News Now and Storm Front, whose web sites tout white supremacy.

Judges noted that the prosecution had not objected to the delay, which lawyers for Kenyatta and his co-defendant Francis Muthaura requested, saying the prosecution had been late disclosing evidence that they needed to build a defence. The trial had been due to start on April 11, potentially coinciding with campaigning for a second round of Kenya's presidential election. In the first round on Monday, Kenyatta emerged ahead of his rival Raila Odinga on the basis of a partial count, which is being challenged in Kenyan courts. Kenya election 'rigged' - candidate Kenya’s elections have been rigged and the ballot count should be stopped, says Kalonzo Musyoka, the running mate of Prime Minister Raila Odinga. As of Thursday morning, Odinga`s rival, Uhuru Kenyatta, is in the lead with 2.4 million votes, while Odinga is said to have won 1.9 million votes. Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta leading in Kenya’s presidential election After the counting of one third of the votes, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, who has been charged by the International Criminal Court with crimes against humanity, is leading in Kenya’s presidential election. According to the election commission, he has won 54 percent of the votes, while his main rival Prime Minister Raila Odinga has won 41 percent. To win the election, a candidate should win over 50 percent of the votes. On Monday, Kenya held presidential and parliamentary elections. Deputy Kenyan PM leads in Monday’s presidential election In Kenya, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta is said to be leading in Monday’s presidential election. He has polled 54% of the vote, according to preliminary data, and has 13% more votes to his credit than his main rival, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who has polled 41% of the vote thus far. The 70% turnout at the presidential, parliamentary and local elections in the East African country with a population of 42 million is seen as a record high. Kenyans have managed to avoid interethnic clashes similar to those of the previous election of 2007, when more than 1,500 died in scuffles. This time, it all boiled down to several cases of violence, including attacks on police and a blast outside a polling station. A total of 15 people have died as a result. Voice of Russia, TASS, RIA, Reuters ||||| Kenya's election commission announced early Saturday that Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta prevailed in the country's presidential elections by the slimmest of margins, winning 50.03 percent of the vote. Member of presidential candidate Raila Odinga's campaign team and current Assistant Minister for Education Prof. Ayiecho Olweny interrupts a press conference by the election commission chairman to make... (Associated Press) An armed policeman stands guard, right, as unidentified Kenyans peer through the window of the media centre to watch constituency results being announced live on a television inside, at the National Election... (Associated Press) Riot police patrol a street in Nairobi, Kenya Friday, March 8, 2013. The leading candidate in the race for Kenya's president is hovering around the 50 percent mark as ballots are counted on what officials... (Associated Press) Security and bodyguards of the election commission chairman stand as he delivers a statement to the media, at the National Election Center in Nairobi, Kenya Friday, March 8, 2013. Kenya's drawn-out race... (Associated Press) On International Women's day a Kenyan woman transfers corn as men walk by election posters- covered tin walls in the street of the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, March 8, 2013. Kenyans on Monday... (Associated Press) Torn election posters litter the streets of the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, March 8, 2013. Kenyans on Monday held their first presidential vote since the nation's disputed election in 2007... (Associated Press) One of presidential candidate Raila Odinga's campaign team makes a phone call after another member of his team made allegations of electoral improprieties at a press conference held by the election commission... (Associated Press) Riot police patrol a street in Nairobi, Kenya Friday, March 8, 2013. The leading candidate in the race for Kenya's president is hovering around the 50 percent mark as ballots are counted on what officials... (Associated Press) That result is likely to bring controversy in Kenya and an almost certain legal challenge from Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Kenyatta needed to break the 50 percent barrier to avoid a run-off with Odinga, but he did so by only 4,099 votes out of more than 12.3 million cast. Monday's vote was the first since Kenya's 2007 election sparked two months of tribe-on-tribe violence after a disputed election win was claimed by President Mwai Kibaki. More than 1,000 people were killed in attacks that included machetes, bows and arrows and police firearms. A win by Kenyatta could greatly affect Kenya's relations with the West. Kenyatta faces charges at the International Criminal Court for his alleged role in directing some of Kenya's 2007 postelection violence. His running mate, William Ruto, faces similar charges. The U.S. has warned of "consequences" if Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's founding father, wins, as have several European countries. Britain, which ruled Kenya up until the early 1960s, has said they would have only essential contact with the Kenyan government if Kenyatta is president. Odinga's camp has indicated legal challenges could be filed. Monday's presidential vote proceeded mostly peacefully, but the counting process has been stymied by a myriad of break-downs and errors. That the winner was quietly revealed overnight _ at about 2:35 a.m. local time _ came as somewhat of a surprise. Around midnight the electoral commission said it would give a formal announcement of the winner at 11 a.m. Kenya time (3 a.m. EST) Saturday. There was a belief among observers that the decision was made in part not to make a night-time announcement that could stir suspicions and put security forces at a disadvantage if rioting broke out. Diplomats said they believed Odinga was not likely to protest the vote in a manner that would increase the chances of violence, but rather honor his pledge to respect the result and petition the courts with any grievances. Odinga scheduled a news conference for later Saturday morning. The Kenyan capital has been sleepy since Monday's vote for president, the country's first election since its 2007 vote sparked tribe-on-tribe violence that killed more than 1,000 people. But security forces in riot gear took to the streets Friday in regions of the city that could turn tumultuous after results are announced. The prime minister's supporters took to the streets in 2007 after Odinga said he had been cheated. In Kibera, Nairobi's largest slum and a bastion of Odinga support, many believe this year's results have been rigged as well. "If you look at the way the tallying is being done there is rigging," said Isiah Omondi, 27. "If Uhuru wins and wins fairly, we don't have a problem with him. He can be our president. But not like this." ||||| Supporters of Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga watch election results on television in the Mathare slum in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, March 8, 2013. NAIROBI (Reuters) - The son of Kenya's founding president, Uhuru Kenyatta, won a presidential election with a slim margin of 50.03 percent of votes cast, provisional figures displayed by the election commission on a screen showed on Saturday. Kenyatta, who faces international charges of crimes against humanity, secured 6,173,433 votes out of a total of 12,338,667 ballots cast, indicating that he had secured the more than 50 percent of votes needed for a first round win. (Reporting by George Obulutsa and James Macharia; Writing by Edmund Blair)

– Uhuru Kenyatta has been declared the winner of Kenya's presidential election, and he appears to have avoided a runoff by the slimmest of margins, reports Reuters. He needed to get 50% of the vote, and the nation's election commission says he got 50.03%. That translates to 4,099 votes out of 12.3 million cast, reports AP. If the decision stands—it's still unclear whether opponent Raila Odinga will challenge the results—Kenyatta will simultaneously have to govern the country and work on his defense on charges of crimes against humanity. He is due to face trial in July at the International Criminal Court in the Hague, reports the Voice of Russia. Those charges stem from violence that erupted after the last presidential election in 2007. Kenyatta is among those accused of orchestrating mass killings and rapes that left more than 1,000 people dead after the disputed election. His running mate in this year's election, William Ruto, faces similar charges at the ICC.

-What she's learned about marriage. -The reason she's rocking a sexy red hair hue. -Why she's more confident at 27 than she was at 19. -Plus, she opens up about Hollywood rumors and sets the record straight. -Also in the January issue: Ways to touch him that will make him fall...hard; glittery beauty looks for ringing in the New Year; how to solve any sex issue; your 2012 Bedside Astrologer; and much more! Get the scoop only in the January issue of Cosmo—Buy your copy today! ||||| Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Just as Scarlett Johansson says that her marriage to actor Ryan Reynolds was “the best thing I ever did,” reports say that she is “pissed” Reynolds has moved on to “Gossip Girl” actress Blake Lively. Page Six sources say that Lively and Reynolds are looking for an apartment together. And a source tells Us Weekly that Johansson is not happy that Reynolds’ relationship with Lively, his co-star in “Green Lantern,” appears to be progressing so quickly. BLAKE AND RYAN PLAY HOUSE “Scarlett is pissed that he’s not under her spell anymore,” the source squeals. “Ryan would have gotten back with her. He was so totally in love, but then she flaunted Sean right after their split, and he was done.” The fact that Johansson and Reynolds were still married while he filmed “Green Lantern” with Lively in New Orleans probably doesn’t help. The film wrapped in August 2010, while Johansson and Reynolds didn’t announce their split until December of the same year. Their divorce was finalized last July. Johansson certainly sounds wistful about her defunct marriage in the new issue of Cosmopolitan, calling it “the best thing I ever did.” “I’m a big believer that when something feels right, you should do it,” the blonde bombshell shares. “I’m a big believer in instinct. Getting married was the right thing to do because it was natural. It grew out of a romance and love and a desire to have a future with somebody and I was very fortunate that I married somebody who turned out to be the person I thought he would be.” But she also shares what went wrong. “Relationships are complicated and being married is a living, breathing process,” she says. “I think I was not fully aware of the peaks and valleys. I wasn’t prepared to hunker down and do the work … Both of us were extremely busy. We spent so much time apart.” The actress, who is rumored to be casually dating Joseph Gordon-Levitt, puts a happy face on life after Reynolds. “I’ve never been single for a chunk of time before,” she says. “You miss having a partner and a confidant, but I have to say, I’m appreciating having the time to get to know myself.”

– Apparently all it took for Scarlett Johansson to start regretting her divorce was for ex-hubby Ryan Reynolds to start dating another blonde bombshell. ScarJo "is pissed that he's not under her spell anymore," and equally unhappy that he has started dating Blake Lively, a source tells Us. "She realized what a great catch Ryan was." Reynolds would have happily reunited with Scarlett after she initiated their divorce, the source continues—until Scarlett "flaunted Sean [Penn] right after their split, and he was done." The New York Post points out that Scarlett herself sounds regretful while discussing her marriage in the new issue of Cosmopolitan. She calls it "the best thing I ever did," continuing, "getting married was the right thing to do because it was natural. It grew out of a romance and love and a desire to have a future with somebody and I was very fortunate that I married somebody who turned out to be the person I thought he would be." As for why it failed, "I wasn't prepared to hunker down and do the work."

Country A musician and actor whose often sordid private life tended to overshadow his career as an entertainer, Spade Cooley was the self-proclaimed King of Western Swing, an innovator who at his peak led the largest band ever assembled in the annals of country music. The product of a multi-generational family of fiddle players, Donnell Clyde Cooley was born in Oklahoma in 1910, and at the age of four, his family moved to Oregon. Despite his impoverished background, Cooley was a classically trained fiddler, and by the time he was eight years old, he was performing professionally at square dances with his father John. In 1930, Cooley (who received his nickname thanks to his poker skills) moved to Los Angeles, playing with a number of western-oriented acts. By the mid-'30s, he was working as an actor, with bit parts in several Westerns; for Republic Studios, he served as Roy Rogers' stand-in. He also toured with Rogers as a fiddle player, and handled vocal duties with the Riders of the Purple Sage. Cooley did not begin a recording career until 1941, when he entered the studio while a member of Cal Shrum's band. A year later, he took control of bandleader Jimmy Wakely's group, the house band at Santa Monica, CA's Venice Pier Ballroom, and their Western swing music began attracting thousands of fans each Saturday night. The densely populated band, home to as many as three vocalists and fiddlers at a time, featured singer Tex Williams and guitarists Joaquin Murphey and John O. Weis. In 1945, Spade Cooley & His Orchestra's first single, "Shame on You," lasted nine weeks atop Billboard's country charts. The first in an unbroken string of six Top Ten singles (including "Detour" and "You Can't Break My Heart"), "Shame on You" would remain Cooley's theme song for years to come. Also in 1945, he married his second wife, Orchestra backup singer Ella Mae Evans. Ultimately, the Orchestra's success led to the dissolution of its most popular lineup; by 1946, Williams, the vocalist on all of the group's hits, was demanding more money, and Cooley refused to pay it. As a result, Williams quit, taking much of the Orchestra with him to form the Western Caravan. In 1947, Cooley began a career in television, hosting a program in Los Angeles titled The Hoffman Hayride. The show's popularity grew quickly, and within months an estimated 75 percent of all televisions in the L.A. area tuned into the show each Saturday night. He also resumed his film career, this time with much higher visibility; in addition to significant roles in a number of Westerns, he also starred in two 1949 short subjects, King of Western Swing and Spade Cooley & His Orchestra. Throughout the early '50s, Cooley continued to record, but the group's popularity waned as public tastes changed; after a time, he even fired the Orchestra to replace its members with an all-female band. A heavy drinker, Cooley descended into alcoholism as his career declined, and he suffered a series of minor heart attacks. Furthermore, he was facing financial ruin as a result of problems with a planned water theme park to be located in the Mojave Desert. In 1961, his wife Ella Mae left him; after an argument on April 3, he stomped her to death while the couple's 14-year-old daughter Melody looked on in horror. The resulting trial, a media circus during which Cooley suffered another heart attack, culminated in a sentence of life imprisonment. Throughout his term, he was a model prisoner, and thus was allowed to perform at a sheriff's benefit in Oakland, CA, on November 23, 1969. After playing in front of a crowd of over 3,000, Cooley returned to his dressing room, suffered yet another heart attack, and died. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi ||||| WASHINGTON (AP) — Over the past seven months, as sexual misconduct allegations against Bill Cosby mounted, a top Smithsonian official met privately with museum directors across the sprawling complex on the National Mall to decide what to do about an exhibit showcasing Cosby's private art collection. FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2014, file photo, quilts from the Bill and Camille Cosby collection hang at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art in Washington. The Smithsonian Institution stands firmly... (Associated Press) FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2014, file photo, members of the media tour the Bill and Camille Cosby collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art in Washington. The Smithsonian Institution... (Associated Press) FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2014, file photo, entertainer Bill Cosby gestures during an interview about the upcoming exhibit, "Conversations: African and African-American Artworks in Dialogue, " at the Smithsonian's... (Associated Press) While many companies and universities were distancing themselves from the comedian, Smithsonian officials ultimately concluded the exhibit should continue. "First and fundamentally, this is an art exhibit," Richard Kurin, the Smithsonian's undersecretary for art, history and culture told The Associated Press. "So it's not about the life and career of Bill Cosby. It's about the artists." About a third of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art's 50th anniversary exhibition came from Bill and Camille Cosby's extensive African-American art collection, and two-thirds came from the museum's own collection. Most of the Cosby collection had never before been seen by the public. It includes paintings by one-time slaves, pieces commissioned for the Cosbys, a piece by Cosby's daughter and quilts made in tribute to Cosby and his slain son, Ennis. The exhibit also includes images of Cosby and quotations from him. Even without the assault allegations, the exhibit raised concerns. Some critics frown on showcasing a private collection in a prominent museum because it can enhance the artwork's market value. Also, Camille Cosby sits on the museum's board and initiated the loan, which raises questions about conflicts of interest. Now the Smithsonian has revealed to The Associated Press that the Cosbys also funded the exhibition with a $716,000 gift, which virtually covers the entire cost. Museum industry guidelines call for museums to make public the source of funding when an art lender funds an exhibit. The Cosbys' financial donation was not disclosed in press materials issued by the Smithsonian to publicize the exhibit, nor mentioned on the museum's website. The exhibit opened in November. The Smithsonian said the information was available to anyone who specifically requested it. Noah Kupferman, an art market expert at Shapiro Auctions who has taught about the economics of fine art, said such financial arrangements are not unprecedented, but museums must be transparent about them. "It just raises a little eyebrow that a trustee of a museum is lending (her) own collection, funding part of the exhibition and the exhibition is highlighting works ... by less well-known artists whose work is considered by some to be undervalued," he said. "Repositioning these artists' works as suddenly important could have significant positive effect on their economic value." The exhibit has drawn 150,000 visitors so far, according to the Smithsonian. A promotion for the exhibit is prominently displayed on Cosby's website even as his reputation has collapsed in recent months amid accusations of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women. Many of the woman alleged that he drugged and raped them. Cosby, who turns 78 on Sunday, has never been charged with a crime. He has denied some accusations, while declining to comment or respond to others. Court documents obtained by The Associated Press revealed Cosby admitted under oath that he obtained quaaludes to give to women with whom he wanted to have sex. In response to the admission, Walt Disney World removed a statue of Cosby. Bounce TV and Centric networks stopped re-running "The Cosby Show," and some civil rights leaders called for Cosby's star to be removed from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A sexual assault awareness group has petitioned the White House to revoke Cosby's Presidential Medal of Freedom. Some art critics have called for the Smithsonian to stop showcasing Cosby's art collection. The museum director, Johnnetta Cole, declined to discuss the exhibit. Cole, who is also the president of the Association of Art Museum Directors, is close with the Cosbys. At a preview for the exhibition, the Cosbys talked warmly of Cole and recalled how Camille Cosby wrote a $20 million check to Spelman College when Cole was president of the Atlanta school. In December, Spelman suspended its program funded by the Cosbys. The Smithsonian defended the exhibit on its artistic merits. "We certainly don't condone his behavior," Kurin said. "We're just as deeply disturbed and disappointed as I think everybody else. But it's not about Mr. Cosby. This is an art exhibit." The Smithsonian is sensitive about changing exhibits. In the past, it has removed some controversial pieces of exhibits under pressure, but "we've never taken an exhibit down," said Kurin, who has worked at the museum complex for decades. In 2010, the Smithsonian was accused of censorship when it removed a video from the National Portrait Gallery exhibit about how sexual orientation and gender identity have shaped American art after complaints from a Catholic group and members of Congress. An outside review concluded that unless there is an error, changes should not be made to an exhibit once it's opened without a full consultation with curators, museum directors and the Smithsonian's governing board. For many museum experts and scholars, removing the Cosby exhibit would set a dangerous precedent. "You'd be sort of stomping all over the curatorial integrity of what you've put up," said Jack Rasmussen, director of the American University Museum. "I think if museums had to investigate the morals of every lender, that would be kind of a new and very difficult situation. Really, it's about the art." Museums have displayed privately held art collections for decades because they can complement a museum's own collection, said Martha Morris, assistant director of museum studies at George Washington University. "The only thing that could possibly be a criticism is that once a private collection is on display in an art museum ... it begins to add to its status," Morris said. "That could potentially add to its value if the collector wanted to sell something, for example, or even give it away to a nonprofit for a tax benefit." But an art loan could also lead to a donation of artwork to a museum, Morris said. Smithsonian lawyers reviewed the Cosby loan and determined any increase in the artworks' value was a non-issue, in part because the Cosbys did not intend to sell the art, Kurin said. ___ National Museum of African Art: http://africa.si.edu/ American Alliance of Museums Standards: http://www.aam-us.org/resources/ethics-standards-and-best-practices/education-and-interpretation ___ Follow Brett Zongker on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DCArtBeat. ||||| Gubler noted in a statement that the Walk of Fame is a registered historic landmark, and "once a star has been added to the Walk, it is considered a part of the historic fabric of the Hollywood Walk of Fame." Other institutions haven't been so lenient. Disney last week removed Cosby's statue from Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, and his bust from its Hollywood Studios theme park. Several colleges and universities that either have awarded him honorary doctorates or have been the recipient of his fundraising have cut ties with him. And several members of Congress are supporting a petition to revoke the Presidential Medal of Freedom that Cosby was awarded in 2002. But the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is standing firm. Gubler quoted the late Johnny Grant, the famous chairman of the chamber's Walk of Fame Committee for decades, who once said: "Stars are awarded for professional achievement to the world of entertainment and contributions to the community. A celebrity's politics, philosophy, irrational behavior, outrageous remarks or anything like that have never been cause to remove a Walk of Fame star." NBC Washington: Bill Cosby's Art Collection to Remain on View at Smithsonian Another of the more than 2,500 stars on the Walk of Fame honors Errol Flynn, a notorious lover of underage girls. The movie hero who buckled more swashes than any real-life pirate was tried for and acquitted of statutory rape in 1942 — and then fled to Mexico to marry his 17-year-old girlfriend, whom he later divorced in favor of his 15-year-old mistress. (Did you know that's where the expression "in like Flynn" really came from?) And then there's Spade Cooley, one of the first country and western superstars, who was convicted in 1961 of murdering his wife by yanking her out of the shower, banging her head against the floor, stomping on her stomach and burning her with a cigarette — while forcing their 14-year-old daughter to watch. His star is in the same block as Trump's.

– Once a star, always a star—at least when it comes to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Under pressure to remove Bill Cosby’s star in the face of rape allegations and his recently revealed testimony about giving women Quaaludes, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce confirms that the 38-year-old plaque is not going anywhere. "The answer is no," president and CEO Leron Gubler declares, according to NBC News. "Once a star has been added to the Walk, it is considered a part of the historic fabric of the Hollywood Walk of Fame." Indeed, the iconic sidewalk would feature a few holes if stars were removed after a celebrity’s fall from grace. Musician, actor, and convicted murderer Spade Cooley has a star on Hollywood Boulevard, for instance. Another organization that will not cut ties with Cosby is the Smithsonian Institution. Its National Museum of African Art has been showcasing the Cosbys' considerable collection since November and a museum official tells the AP the exhibition will not be pulled. "First and fundamentally, this is an art exhibit," says Richard Kurin, the Smithsonian's art, history, and culture undersecretary. "So it's not about the life and career of Bill Cosby. It's about the artists." The AP notes that Camille Cosby sits on the museum's advisory board and facilitated the loan of the art pieces, and that the Cosbys donated $716,000 toward the exhibition—essentially funding the project. Kurin, who has worked for the Smithsonian for decades, says the Smithsonian has never taken down a full exhibit. (Cosby's "pound cake" speech came back to bite him.)

An organization that assists survivors of officers killed in the line of duty now wants its donation back from the family of Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz. Joe Ahern, CEO of the 100 Club of Chicago, said this is the first time that the nearly 50-year-old organization has requested the return of a donation. The day Gliniewicz was found dead on Sept. 1, Ahern attended a vigil in Fox Lake and presented a check to the officer's widow for $15,000. He said the group's "normal procedure" in a line-of-duty death is to provide a $15,000 emergency gift, followed by another $35,000. The group also provides financial assistance for educational expenses of the children of slain officers. Gliniewicz's family had received only the initial $15,000, he said. "In this case it was not a line-of-duty death. That is clear," he said. "We will ask the family for the money back." Ahern said the decision was made to seek repayment after authorities announced Wednesday they concluded Gliniewicz took his own life amid fears that his criminal activities were about to come to light. Also on Wednesday, organizers of a fundraiser planned for Friday at Antioch High School, Gliniewicz's alma mater, announced the event had been canceled. Other community members have taken to social media to vent about their feelings of betrayal after having given money toward fundraisers or otherwise demonstrated their support for Gliniewicz and his family after his death. One sign that had been placed in front of the Fox Lake police station, honoring Gliniewicz as a hero, had been defaced with the words "lied, stole, disgraced." Lauren Zumbach / Chicago Tribune A sign that had been placed in front of the Fox Lake police station, honoring Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz as a hero, had been defaced with the words "lied, stole, disgraced" Nov. 4, 2015. A sign that had been placed in front of the Fox Lake police station, honoring Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz as a hero, had been defaced with the words "lied, stole, disgraced" Nov. 4, 2015. (Lauren Zumbach / Chicago Tribune) (Lauren Zumbach / Chicago Tribune) But some groups said they still intend to donate the money they raised for Gliniewicz's family. A quartet of preteen girls known as The Lemonade Brigade solicits donations for children's causes, and the group raised between $5,000 and $6,000 for Gliniewicz's children through the sale of lemonade and homemade charm bracelets. A parent of one of the girls expressed "shock and sadness" over the news of Gliniewicz's alleged betrayal but said the group still planned to give the money to the family. "When people donated their money to the family, that's where their donations were (intended) to go, and it's not for us to decide to send this elsewhere," the parent said. "None of this is the children's fault." The Volo Auto Museum auctioned a Camaro police car on eBay in September, raising $10,100 for Gliniewicz's children. On Tuesday, museum director Brian Grams said he was "shocked and disappointed" by the announcement that Gliniewicz had committed suicide. "However, I am not disappointed in the auction. The actions of Joe were not the actions of his children, for whom the benefit took place," Grams said. "If anything, his children need more support after today's news. We have no intention of requesting any of the money back." Revelations that Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz committed suicide and allegedly stole money from the Explorer program are a big blow for those who looked up to him. Nov. 4, 2015. (CBS Chicago) Revelations that Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz committed suicide and allegedly stole money from the Explorer program are a big blow for those who looked up to him. Nov. 4, 2015. (CBS Chicago) SEE MORE VIDEOS Tim Potoczny, owner of Hillside-based Sparrow Express Transport, said his company bought the car at auction to help Gliniewicz's children. "I feel bad for the family regardless of the situation. I feel bad for the kids, the wife, the Police Department, the community. But I'm not necessarily ashamed for what I did," he said of his intentions when he bid for the car. "Our motivation was to help the family of an officer and the family still needs help. We are disappointed and we are sad with the outcome of the investigation. But the family still needs help, probably more so now than ever." Potoczny said the car — which features a lieutenant's badge, an American flag and Gliniewicz's name — is sitting in a warehouse. "I drove it with great pride over the last two months supporting an officer that was a hero," he said. As for the future of the car, Potoczny is considering several options, including putting it back up for auction with proceeds potentially benefiting the Explorer youth police training program. The organizer of the canceled Antioch High School fundraiser, retired LaGrange Officer Jack Kielczynski, said he planned the event to benefit Gliniewicz's family because policing is "a brotherhood" but canceled it in light of Wednesday's events. Now, he said, he's started to return the donations that had already come in. "Right now I feel sorry for the family," he said. Motorola Solutions, which had announced in September it would put up a $50,000 reward toward information leading to the arrest of Gliniewicz's killer, said Wednesday it would instead donate the money to the Fox Lake Explorer post to "help replace funds that were lost" because of the officer's alleged theft. Lisa Black and John Keilman are Chicago Tribune reporters; Frank Abderholden is a News-Sun reporter. lblack@tribpub.com jkeilman@tribpub.com fabderholden@tribpub.com ||||| He shot pepper spray into the woods at no one, dropped his expandable baton and tossed his eyeglasses in the dirt — all to suggest a struggle had ensued, but the bogus crime scene he was manufacturing needed one last thing: a body. So Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz aimed his gun at his chest and fired — the bullet hitting his cellphone and bulletproof vest. He fired again, this time sticking the barrel of the gun beneath his vest, hitting the major artery that connects the heart and lungs. The wound allowed for, at most, two more minutes of life, during which Gliniewicz, 52, dropped facedown in the dirt, which is where his fellow Fox Lake police officers found his body minutes later. In his last minutes on earth, Gliniewicz, who led a secret double life, left behind his final lie. On the surface, he was a beloved officer and family man who proudly led a police youth group before he was supposedly killed in the line of duty by three mystery men. In reality, he was a crooked cop who was looting money from the youth group to pay for porn, vacations, a gym membership and other personal expenses. And the dedicated family man was complaining to his wife and son by texts about an ongoing investigation into the group’s finances, apparently roping them into and revealing details about his scheme, authorities indicated. The wife, Mel, and son, D.J., are under investigation, sources said. Facing mounting pressure, he staged his suicide to look like a murder, which sparked a massive manhunt, sent fear through the community and resulted in a hero’s memorial for Gliniewicz, drawing cops across the country as well as Gov. Bruce Rauner. The shocking new details came Wednesday at a news conference by Cmdr. George Filenko, who heads up the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force charged with probing Gliniewicz’s death, and Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd. The news cleared up a mystery that left the public under the impression that, since Gliniewicz’s death on Sept. 1, three men once thought responsible for the crime were still at large, and that Gliniewicz was a hero who died in the line of duty. Just before his death, Gliniewicz had radioed in that he was investigating an isolated area in town after seeing three suspicious men there. Gliniewicz’s mental state began to unravel six months earlier, when Anne Marrin, the new village administrator in Fox Lake began an audit to account for all of Fox Lake’s assets. Gliniewicz began to sweat because he feared the audit would uncover financial misdeeds that would not only shatter his image as a beloved community figure known as “GI Joe” but possibly lead to prison time, authorities said. For seven years, Gliniewicz had been stealing money from a program he ran that trained children who have an interest in law enforcement. The Explorer program, which is chartered by the Boy Scouts of America and sponsored by the Fox Lake Police Department, teaches kids how to do police activities, such as processing mock crime scenes. So when Gliniewicz staged his own death scene in an isolated area where the Explorers practiced, he had plenty of practice. Authorities on Wednesday provided reporters with several pages of transcripts of deleted text messages discussing his scheme that investigators recovered from Gliniewicz’s cellphone. The conversations were between him and “Individual 1″ and “Individual 2.” While authorities did not identify them at the news conference, a source close to the investigation said Individual 1 was Gliniewicz’s wife, Mel, and Individual 2 was his son, Donald “D.J.” Gliniewicz, who serves in the Army. In one text exchange, Gliniewicz’s son said he hopes that Marrin, the village administrator gets a DUI, according to the transcript. In the same exchange from May 13, Joe Gliniewicz took it farther and hinted at final resting places for her, including the Volo Bog — a nearby state parkland: “I’ve thought through MANY SCENARIOS from planting things to the Volo Bog.” Filenko acknowledged in another text — that has not been made public — that Gliniewicz hinted at hiring a hit man to kill Marrin. “One [text] in particular was bothersome about possibly hiring somebody to take care of the problem,” Filenko said. Gliniewicz also warns his son on June 25: “You are borrowing money from that ‘other’ account, when you get back you’ll have to start dumping money into that account or you will be visiting me in JAIL!!” On April 14, around the time investigators say Gliniewicz began to stress out about the impending audit, his wife, apparently concerned about losing control of the Explorer bank account, said: “Maybe, seeing as we are on 503C [a reference to tax a designation assigned to charities] she can’t touch the money.” Subpoenaed bank records reveal that Gliniewicz, who had sole discretion on how money for the Explorers program was spent, frequently used the account as his personal piggy bank. Marrin said at the news conference that the community is “the real victim here.” “The village fully supports the prosecution of each and every individual who conspired with Lt. Gliniewicz,” Marrin said, though, like Filenko, she did not elaborate on who that might be. She said Gliniewicz’s antagonism when questioned about his handling of the Explorer money “only confirmed to me that asking the tough questions was the absolute right thing to do.” Filenko said the stolen money totaled more than $50,000. Gliniewicz, a 32 year-veteran, earned a salary of about $96,000. He had sought to retire at the end of September. His pension is undetermined, according to Fox Lake spokesman David Bayless. Police pension board attorney Laura Goodloe did not return messages Wednesday. But pension experts said his wife might be entitled to his pension, at least for now, because state law is clear that a pension can only be stripped if an officer is convicted of a felony in the line of duty. Since he is dead, Gliniewicz can be charged with nothing, much less convicted. In a statement through their attorneys Wednesday, the Gliniewicz family members said: “Today has been another day of deep sorrow for the Gliniewicz family. The family has cooperated with the Task Force’s investigation and will not comment at this time.” The staged death was perhaps a twisted attempt to salvage his legacy as a police officer, Filenko said. “I believe he thought in his mind, and again, I can’t speculate for him, that if he were shot and killed in the line of duty, that would deflect in some way from all of these other things that were going to come to fruition,” Filenko said. The illusion began to crumble in earnest about two weeks ago, when subpoenaed bank records arrived that pointed to wrongdoing, which was around the same time the FBI recovered Gliniewicz’s deleted text messages. But there were other clues that the crime scene was not kosher that investigators readdressed with a new perspective. Gliniewicz’s uniform was not disheveled. His police radio was still attached to his shoulder — although the gadgets routinely become dislodged during day-to-day activity, much less a fight-for-your life struggle, Filenko said. Filenko said he and his fellow officers were duped. Filenko attended Gliniewicz’s funeral and said he shed tears as bagpipers played “Amazing Grace.” He denied allegations that police mishandled the case by not informing the public earlier that investigators began to suspect that Gliniewicz committed suicide. “Our intention was never to mislead the public,” he said. “We completely believed from Day One that this was a homicide.” The length of the investigative process was not unnecessarily drawn out, Filenko said. Leads came in daily and investigators had to sift through reams of evidence, including 6,500 texts and 32,000 emails. “I would hope at some point, that once people come to the realization that we were out there performing our jobs as police officers that that anger and frustration shouldn’t be directed at us,” Filenko said. “It should be directed at Lt. Gliniewicz and his betrayal of the community.” Filenko said the episode will unfortunately contribute to a negative climate surrounding police officers all over the country. “This is just another black eye,” he said, adding that Gliniewicz’s actions brought shame to him and all police. “We’re police officers, we’re human beings. You know, we come into this job with only one thing, our integrity and our reputation, and we want to leave with that intact.” ||||| Melodie and D.J. Gliniewicz, the widow and a son of veteran Fox Lake, Illinois, police officer Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz, are under criminal investigation, a source confirmed to NBC 5. Phil Rogers reports. (Published Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015) The wife and son of veteran Fox Lake, Illinois, police Lt. Joe Gliniewicz, whose highly publicized death has been ruled a "carefully staged suicide," are under investigation, a source close to the investigation told NBC5 News. Melodie and D.J. Gliniewicz have not been charged with any crime. At a press conference Wednesday, Lake County Major Crimes Task Force commander George Filenko called Gliniewicz’s Sept. 1 death a "carefully staged suicide." Filenko said Gliniewicz faked his own killing to help conceal "extensive criminal acts." Specifically, he said, Gliniewicz had been "stealing and laundering money" from the Fox Lake Police Explorer post for seven years, using the funds for personal purchases, mortgages, travel expenses, even adult websites. Filenko said the probe is not over. "Our investigation strongly indicates criminal activity on the part of at least two other individuals," he said. The task force indicated in its report that Gliniewicz staged an elaborate ruse, forcing a massive manhunt for suspects who never existed. Lieutenant's Suicide Was 'Ultimate Betrayal': Officials Lake County Major Crimes Task Force Commander George Filenko said in a press conference Wednesday that the death of veteran Fox Lake police officer Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz in September was a "carefully staged suicide," adding that it was the "ultimate betrayal." (Published Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015) "Our investigation has determined conclusively that Gliniewicz intentionally left a staged trail of police equipment at the crime scene," Filenko said. "It was learned through investigation that Gliniewicz had significant experience staging mock crime scenes for police explorer training." The officer’s family released a statement Wednesday, just hours after the official announcement. "Today has been another day of deep sorrow for the Gliniewicz family," the family said in the statement released by their attorney. "The family has cooperated with the Task Force's investigation and will not comment at this time. The Gliniewicz family requests that their privacy be respected as they continue to cope with the loss of the beloved husband and father." Gliniewicz was last heard from the morning of Sept. 1 when he called for backup while on duty, reporting on his radio he was pursuing three suspicious men. Three men were found by investigators, but police quickly discounted them as suspects. However, because of their proximity to the area, Filenko said he could not rule out the possibility that Gliniewicz might have actually seen the men, incorporating their descriptions into his scheme. Commander: First Time I've Felt 'Ashamed' of Another Officer Lake County Major Crimes Task Force Commander George Filenko said Wednesday that Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz's "staged suicide" was the first time in his career that he has "felt ashamed of another police officer." (Published Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015) During the hour-long briefing, officials released text and facebook messages said to be key in revealing the officer’s motives. Among the messages are statements from Gliniewicz claiming he used money from the Explorer account to pay for a $624.70 flight. Another one claims that if the Fox Lake village administrator "gets ahold of the checking account I'm pretty well (expletive)." The administrator, Anne Marrin, conceded Wednesday she was pressing Gliniewicz for details on the Explorer program, up to the day before his death. "When I heard that he was concerned that I was asking tough questions about the Explorer’s program, it only confirmed that my questions were the right thing to do," she said. The text messages reveal that Marrin loomed large in Gliniewicz’s fears. Lieutenant's Crimes Would Have Been Discovered 'Eventually' Lake County Major Crimes Task Force Commander George Filenko said in a press conference Wednesday that Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz's criminal acts would have been discovered "eventually," even if there had not been an investigation into his death. (Published Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015) "She hates me," he texted someone identified only as "Individual 2," who suggested, "Hopefully she decides to get a couple of drinks in her and she gets a DUI." "Trust me," Gliniewicz replied. "I’ve thought it through. Many scenarios, from planting things, to the Volo bog." Citing a source close to the investigation, the Chicago Sun-Times identified "Individual 2" as Gliniewicz’s son D.J. In other texts, the officer communicates with "Individual 1," whom the paper identified as Gliniewicz's wife, Melodie. On June 25, the officer warned Individual 2, "You’re borrowing from that other account. When you get back, you’ll have to start dumping money into that account, or you will be visiting me in jail!" Messages Shed Light on Lieutenant's Criminal Activity: Officials A series of text and Facebook messages indicating Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz was under stress, possibly due to his criminal activity, was recovered during the investigation into his death, Lake County Major Crimes Task Force Commander George Filenko said. (Published Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015) Then, the next day, Gliniewicz again lamented the village administrator’s scrutiny. "This situation right here would give her the means to crucify me if it were discovered," he said. He cautioned his chief on Aug. 31, "She has now demanded a complete inventory of explorer central, and a financial report." Investigators said Gliniewicz faked his own slaying the following day. Officials Expected to Declare Officer's Death a Suicide At a Wednesday press conference investigators are expected to announce that they believe veteran Fox Lake police officer Lieutenant Joseph Gliniewicz committed suicide, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the findings. NBC 5's Natalie Martinez reports. (Published Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015) "He’s betrayed the trust of police," Filenko said. "He’s betrayed the trust of his community. It’s the ultimate betrayal."

– Illinois police on Wednesday confirmed police officer Charles "Joe" Gliniewicz orchestrated a "carefully staged suicide" after stealing money from the Fox Lake Police Department's Explorer program over seven years. Lake County Major Crimes Task Force commander George Filenko says the probe points to "criminal activity on the part of at least two other individuals," and a source tells NBC Chicago that Gliniewicz's wife, Mel, and son, DJ, are under investigation. Their names surface again in a Sun-Times report, which identifies them, via a source, as the "Individual 1" and "Individual 2," respectively, who exchanged revealing texts with Gliniewicz. New Village Administrator Anne Marrin had been pressing Gliniewicz about the Explorer program up until the day before his death, and texts allegedly make reference to her. "This situation right here would give her the means to crucify me if it were discovered," Gliniewicz wrote. When Individual 2 expressed hope that Marrin "decides to get a couple of drinks in her and she gets a DUI," Gliniewicz replied, "Trust me, I've thought it through. Many scenarios, from planting things, to the Volo bog"—the latter being local parkland, per the Sun-Times. Meanwhile, the 100 Club of Chicago, which offers money to the families of officers killed in the line of duty, has for the first time in its history asked for its $15,000 back. "In this case it was not a line-of-duty death. That is clear," the charity's CEO says, per the Chicago Tribune. However, four girls who raised at least $5,000 for Gliniewicz's children say the money will still go to the intended recipients. "None of this is the children's fault," a parent says.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has yet to endorse a Democratic candidate in the race for the White House, but she made it abundantly clear Tuesday night that she’s for whoever Donald Trump is against. As Trump emerged Tuesday night as the winner of Indiana’s Republican primary—all but clinching the party’s nomination for president—Warren took to her Facebook page to verbally assail the billionaire businessman and urge people of all party affiliations to stop him from winning the general election. As Warren, a Democrat, began her tirade, it seems as if Trump’s victory in the Republican nominating process was still sinking in. “Donald Trump is now the leader of the Republican Party. It’s real – he is one step away from the White House,” she wrote, before letting loose on the GOP frontrunner. Here’s what else is real: Trump has built his campaign on racism, sexism, and xenophobia. There’s more enthusiasm for him among leaders of the KKK than leaders of the political party he now controls. He incites supporters to violence, praises Putin, and, according to a columnist who recently interviewed him, is “cool with being called an authoritarian” and doesn’t mind associations with history’s worst dictators. He attacks veterans like John McCain who were captured and puts our service members at risk by cheerleading illegal torture. In a world with ISIS militants and leaders like North Korean strongman Kim Jong-Un conducting nuclear tests, he surrounds himself with a foreign policy team that has been called a “collection of charlatans,” and puts out contradictory and nonsensical national security ideas one expert recently called “incoherent” and “truly bizarre.” She then issued a call to action, pleading with Americans to oppose his candidacy and casting a Trump presidency as a doomsday scenario. What happens next will test the character for all of us – Republican, Democrat, and Independent. It will determine whether we move forward as one nation or splinter at the hands of one man’s narcissism and divisiveness. I know which side I’m on, and I’m going to fight my heart out to make sure Donald Trump’s toxic stew of hatred and insecurity never reaches the White House. Last year, Warren dismissed calls within her party to run for the Democratic nomination, and she’s now being mentioned as a possible running mate for Hillary Clinton. She’s become increasingly vocal about the presidential contest in recent weeks but has directed her comments primarily at GOP candidates. In April, Warren launched a fiery Tweetstorm against Texas Senator Ted Cruz, blasting him for a fundraising email that portrayed him as a victim. “Are you kidding me, Ted Cruz? We’re supposed to pity you because trying to be the leader of the free world is hard?! 2 words: Boo hoo,” she wrote. Cruz suspended his campaign Tuesday night after a poor showing in Indiana, all but crowning Trump as the Republican party’s nominee. Fortune asked the Trump campaign for a comment on Warren’s remarks and will update this post if his camp replies. ||||| Donald Trump is now the leader of the Republican Party. It's real – he is one step away from the White House. Here's what else is real: Trump has built his campaign on racism, sexism, and xenophobia. There's more enthusiasm for him among leaders of the KKK than leaders of the political party he now controls. He incites supporters to violence, praises Putin, and, according to a columnist who recently interviewed him, is "cool with being called an authoritarian" and doesn't mind associations with history's worst dictators. He attacks veterans like John McCain who were captured and puts our servicemembers at risk by cheerleading illegal torture. In a world with ISIS militants and leaders like North Korean strongman Kim Jong-Un conducting nuclear tests, he surrounds himself with a foreign policy team that has been called a "collection of charlatans," and puts out contradictory and nonsensical national security ideas one expert recently called "incoherent" and "truly bizarre." What happens next will test the character for all of us – Republican, Democrat, and Independent. It will determine whether we move forward as one nation or splinter at the hands of one man's narcissism and divisiveness. I know which side I'm on, and I’m going to fight my heart out to make sure Donald Trump’s toxic stew of hatred and insecurity never reaches the White House.

– Donald Trump is now the GOP's presumptive nominee, and that has some moving straight into "defeat Trump" mode. Count Elizabeth Warren among their number with what Fortune calls an "epic" social-media rant Tuesday night following Trump's big win in Indiana. In her Facebook diatribe against the Donald (as well as in condensed bullet points on Twitter), the Massachusetts senator first states the fairly obvious: "Donald Trump is now the leader of the Republican Party. It's real—he is one step away from the White House." Warren then proceeds to point out "what else is real": namely, that Trump "has built his campaign on racism, sexism, and xenophobia"; "incites supporters to violence, praises Putin, and … is 'cool with being called an authoritarian'"; and "puts out contradictory and nonsensical national security ideas one expert recently called 'incoherent' and 'truly bizarre.'" She also warns that "what happens next will test the character for all of us … It will determine whether we move forward as one nation or splinter at the hands of one man's narcissism and divisiveness." And, in case you're still not clear which side she's on: "I'm going to fight my heart out to make sure Donald Trump's toxic stew of hatred and insecurity never reaches the White House." (So what do #NeverTrump folks do now?)

This article was published in the March 2013 issue. Phil Bronstein is the former editor of the San Francisco Chronicle and currently serves as executive chairman of the Center for Investigative Reporting. This piece was reported in cooperation with CIR. Note: A correction is appended to the end of this story. The man who shot and killed Osama bin Laden sat in a wicker chair in my backyard, wondering how he was going to feed his wife and kids or pay for their medical care. It was a mild spring day, April 2012, and our small group, including a few of his friends and family, was shielded from the sun by the patchwork shadows of maple trees. But the Shooter was sweating as he talked about his uncertain future, his plans to leave the Navy and SEAL Team 6. He stood up several times with an apologetic gripe about the heat, leaving a perspiration stain on the seat-back cushion. He paced. I didn't know him well enough then to tell whether a glass of his favorite single malt, Lagavulin, was making him less or more edgy. We would end up intimately familiar with each other's lives. We'd have dinners, lots of Scotch. He's played with my kids and my dogs and been a hilarious, engaging gentleman around my wife. In my yard, the Shooter told his story about joining the Navy at nineteen, after a girl broke his heart. To escape, he almost by accident found himself in a Navy recruiter's office. "He asked me what I was going to do with my life. I told him I wanted to be a sniper. "He said, 'Hey, we have snipers.' "I said, 'Seriously, dude. You do not have snipers in the Navy.' But he brought me into his office and it was a pretty sweet deal. I signed up on a whim." "That's the reason Al Qaeda has been decimated," he joked, "because she broke my fucking heart." I would come to know about the Shooter's hundreds of combat missions, his twelve long-term SEAL-team deployments, his thirty-plus kills of enemy combatants, often eyeball to eyeball. And we would talk for hours about the mission to get bin Laden and about how, over the celebrated corpse in front of them on a tarp in a hangar in Jalalabad, he had given the magazine from his rifle with all but three lethally spent bullets left in it to the female CIA analyst whose dogged intel work and intuition led the fighters into that night. When I was first around him, as he talked I would always try to imagine the Shooter geared up and a foot away from bin Laden, whose life ended in the next moment with three shots to the center of his forehead. But my mind insisted on rendering the picture like a bad Photoshop job — Mao's head superimposed on the Yangtze, or tourists taking photos with cardboard presidents outside the White House. Bin Laden was, after all, the man CIA director Leon Panetta called "the most infamous terrorist in our time," who devoured inordinate amounts of our collective cultural imagery for more than a decade. The number-one celebrity of evil. And the man in my backyard blew his lights out. ST6 in particular is an enterprise requiring extraordinary teamwork, combined with more kinds of support in the field than any other unit in the history of the U.S. military. Similarly, NASA marshaled thousands of people to put a man on the moon, and history records that Neil Armstrong first set his foot there, not the equally talented Buzz Aldrin. Enough people connected to the SEALs and the bin Laden mission have confirmed for me that the Shooter was the "number two" behind the raid's point man going up the stairs to bin Laden's third-floor residence, and that he is the one who rolled through the bedroom door solo and confronted the surprisingly tall terrorist pushing his youngest wife, Amal, in front of him through the pitch-black room. The Shooter had to raise his gun higher than he expected. The point man is the only one besides the Shooter who could verify the kill shots firsthand, and he did just that to another SEAL I spoke with. But even the point man was not in the room then, having tackled two women into the hallway, a crucial and heroic decision given that everyone living in the house was presumed to be wearing a suicide vest. But a series of confidential conversations, detailed descriptions of mission debriefs, and other evidence make it clear: The Shooter's is the most definitive account of those crucial few seconds, and his account, corroborated by multiple sources, establishes him as the last man to see Osama bin Laden alive. Not in dispute is the fact that others have claimed that they shot bin Laden when he was already dead, and a number of team members apparently did just that. What is much harder to understand is that a man with hundreds of successful war missions, one of the most decorated combat veterans of our age, who capped his career by terminating bin Laden, has no landing pad in civilian life. Back in April, he and some of his SEAL Team 6 colleagues had formed the skeleton of a company to help them transition out of the service. In my yard, he showed everyone his business-card mock-ups. There was only a subtle inside joke reference to their team in the company name. Unlike former SEAL Team 6 member Matt Bissonnette (No Easy Day), they do not rush to write books or step forward publicly, because that violates the code of the "quiet professional." Someone suggested they might sell customized sunglasses and other accessories special operators often invent and use in the field. It strains credulity that for a commando team leader who never got a single one of his men hurt on a mission, sunglasses would be his best option. And it's a simple truth that those who have been most exposed to harrowing danger for the longest time during our recent unending wars now find themselves adrift in civilian life, trying desperately to adjust, often scrambling just to make ends meet. At the time, the Shooter's uncle had reached out to an executive at Electronic Arts, hoping that the company might need help with video-game scenarios once the Shooter retired. But the uncle cannot mention his nephew's distinguishing feature as the one who put down bin Laden. Secrecy is a thick blanket over our Special Forces that inelegantly covers them, technically forever. The twenty-three SEALs who flew into Pakistan that night were directed by their command the day they got back stateside about acting and speaking as though it had never happened. "Right now we are pretty stacked with consultants," the video-game man responded. "Thirty active and recently retired guys" for one game: Medal of Honor Warfighter. In fact, seven active-duty Team 6 SEALs would later be punished for advising EA while still in the Navy and supposedly revealing classified information. (One retired SEAL, a participant in the bin Laden raid, was also involved.) With the focus and precision he's learned, the Shooter waits and watches for the right way to exit, and adapt. Despite his foggy future, his past is deeply impressive. This is a man who is very pleased about his record of service to his country and has earned the respect of his peers. "He's taken monumental risks," says the Shooter's dad, struggling to contain the frustration that roughs the edges of his deep pride in his son. "But he's unable to reap any reward." It's not that there isn't one. The U.S. government put a $25 million bounty on bin Laden that no one is likely to collect. Certainly not the SEALs who went on the mission nor the support and intelligence experts who helped make it all possible. Technology is the key to success in this case more than people, Washington officials have said. The Shooter doesn't care about that. "I'm not religious, but I always felt I was put on the earth to do something specific. After that mission, I knew what it was." Others also knew, from the commander-in-chief on down. The bin Laden shooting was a staple of presidential-campaign brags. One big-budget movie, several books, and a whole drawerful of documentaries and TV films have fortified the brave images of the Shooter and his ST6 Red Squadron members. There is commerce attached to the mission, and people are capitalizing. Just not the triggerman. While others collect, he is cautious and careful not to dishonor anyone. His manners come at his own expense. "No one who fights for this country overseas should ever have to fight for a job," Barack Obama said last Veterans' Day, "or a roof over their head, or the care that they have earned when they come home." But the Shooter will discover soon enough that when he leaves after sixteen years in the Navy, his body filled with scar tissue, arthritis, tendonitis, eye damage, and blown disks, here is what he gets from his employer and a grateful nation: Nothing. No pension, no healthcare for his wife and kids, no protection for himself or his family. Since Abbottabad, he has trained his children to hide in their bathtub at the first sign of a problem as the safest, most fortified place in their house. His wife is familiar enough with the shotgun on their armoire to use it. She knows to sit on the bed, the weapon's butt braced against the wall, and precisely what angle to shoot out through the bedroom door, if necessary. A knife is also on the dresser should she need a backup. Then there is the "bolt" bag of clothes, food, and other provisions for the family meant to last them two weeks in hiding. "Personally," his wife told me recently, "I feel more threatened by a potential retaliatory terror attack on our community than I did eight years ago," when her husband joined ST6. When the White House identified SEAL Team 6 as those responsible, camera crews swarmed into their Virginia Beach neighborhood, taking shots of the SEALs' homes. After bin Laden's face appeared on their TV in the days after the killing, the Shooter cautioned his older child not to mention the Al Qaeda leader's name ever again "to anybody. It's a bad name, a curse name." His kid started referring to him instead as "Poopyface." It's a story he told affectionately on that April afternoon visit to my home. He loves his kids and tears up only when he talks about saying goodbye to them before each and every deployment. "It's so much easier when they're asleep," he says, "and I can just kiss them, wondering if this is the last time." He's thrilled to show video of his oldest in kick-boxing class. And he calls his wife "the perfect mother." In fact, the couple is officially separated, a common occurrence in ST6. SEAL marriages can be perilous. Husbands and fathers have been mostly away from their families since 9/11. But the Shooter and his wife continue to share a house on very friendly, even loving terms, largely to save money. "We're actually looking into changing my name," the wife says. "Changing the kids' names, taking my husband's name off the house, paying off our cars. Essentially deleting him from our lives, but for safety reasons. We still love each other." When the family asked about any kind of government protection should the Shooter's name come out, they were advised that they could go into a witness-protection-like program. Just as soon as the Department of Defense creates one. "They [SEAL command] told me they could get me a job driving a beer truck in Milwaukee" under an assumed identity. Like Mafia snitches, they would not be able to contact their families or friends. "We'd lose everything." "These guys have millions of dollars' worth of knowledge and training in their heads," says one of the group at my house, a former SEAL and mentor to the Shooter and others looking to make the transition out of what's officially called the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. "All sorts of executive function skills. That shouldn't go to waste." The mentor himself took a familiar route — through Blackwater, then to the CIA, in both organizations as a paramilitary operator in Afghanistan. Private security still seems like the smoothest job path, though many of these guys, including the Shooter, do not want to carry a gun ever again for professional use. The deaths of two contractors in Benghazi, both former SEALs the mentor knew, remind him that the battlefield risks do not go away. By the time the Shooter visited me that first time in April, I had come to know more of the human face of what's called Tier One Special Operations, in addition to the extraordinary skill and icy resolve. It is a privileged, consuming, and concerning look inside one of the most insular clubs on earth. And I understood that he would face a world very different from the supportive one President Obama described at Arlington National Cemetery a few months before. As I watched the Shooter navigate obstacles very different from the ones he faced so expertly in four war zones around the globe, I wondered: Is this how America treats its heroes? The ones President Obama called "the best of the best"? The ones Vice-President Biden called "the finest warriors in the history of the world"? The Shooter's gear. 1 APRIL 2011: THE MISSION The reason we knew this was a special mission, the Shooter said as our interviews about the bin Laden operation began, is because we'd just finished an Afghanistan deployment and were on a training trip, diving in Miami, when a few of us got recalled to the Command in Virginia Beach. Another ST6 team was on official standby — normally that's the team that blows out for a contingency operation. But they were not chosen, to better cloak what was going to happen. There was so much going on — the Libya thing, the Arab Spring. We knew something good was going to go down. We didn't know how good. The first day's briefing, they actually kind of lied to us, being very vague. They mentioned underwater cables because of the earthquake in Japan or some craziness. They hinted at Libya. They said it was a compound somewhere in a bowl and we were going to have two aircraft get us there and we don't know how many are inside but we have to get something out. You won't have any air support. I assumed it was WMD, a nuke, because why else are they sending us to Libya? Every question the Red Squadron ST6 members asked was answered with, "Well, we can't tell you that." Or: "We don't know." It was also weird that the entire Red Squadron was in town, but they kicked everyone out of the briefing except those guys who were going, twenty-three and four backups. We'd leave the room to get coffee and stuff, and the other guys were like, "Well, what are you guys doing?" We were telling them, "I have no idea." The Shooter was a mission team leader. Almost everyone chosen had a one or two ranking in the squadron, the most experienced guys. The group was split into four tactical teams, with the Shooter as leader of the external-security group — the dog, Cairo, two snipers, and a CIA interpreter to keep whoever might show up in the area out of the internal action. The group left Virginia on a Sunday morning, April 10, to drive to the CIA's Harvey Point, North Carolina, center for another briefing and the start of training. The Master Chief was saying JSOC [Joint Special Operations Command] would be there, the Secretary of Defense might be there, the Pak/Afghan CIA desk, too. That's when the wheels started spinning for me: This is big. I've had some close calls with death, bullets flying past my head. Even just driving, weird stuff. Every time, I would tell my mother, "There's no way I'm going to die, because I'm here to do something." I've been saying that for twenty years. I don't know what it is, but it's something important. By Monday the team was assembled in a big classroom inside a one-story building. They actually had security sitting outside. No one else was allowed in. A JSOC general, Pak/Afghan and other D.C. officials, and the ST6 commanding officer were there. The SEAL commander, cool as ever, said, "Okay, we're as close as we've ever been to UBL." And that was it. He kind of looked at us and we looked at him and nodded. There was none of that cheering bullshit. We were thinking, Yeah, okay, good. It's about time that we kill this motherfucker. It was simple. This is what I came for. Jealousies aside, one of us is going to have the best chance of killing this guy. During the daylong briefing, the SEALs heard how the government found the compound in Abbottabad, how they were watching it, analyzing it, why they believed bin Laden might be there. He, UBL, had become known as the Pacer, the tall guy in satellite imagery who neither left nor mixed with the others. It was the CIA woman, now immortalized in books and movies, who gave the briefing. "Yeah," she told us. "We got him. This is him. This is my life's work. I'm positive." By then, government and military officials had been considering four options. They were either going to bomb the piss out of the compound with two-thousand-pound ordnance, they were going to send us in, do some kind of joint thing with the Pakis, or try what was called a "hammer throw," where a drone flies by and chucks one fucking bomb at the guy. But they didn't want any collateral damage. And they wanted to make sure he was dead and not in a cave or a safe room. After the group settled into "motel-like" rooms, with common areas that had TVs and a kitchen, the team started strategizing with a model of the compound on a large table. Then they drove to a full-scale mock-up for a walk-through. The next day the helos came and we started doing iteration training based on how we wanted to hit it. Once I realized what was going on, I actually moved myself to one of the assault teams, even if I was no longer a team leader. We didn't need that many guys on the exterior team, and I'll go fast-rope on the roof with what I started calling the Martyrs Brigade, because as soon as we landed, I figured the house was going to blow up. But we were also going to be the guys in there first to kill him. One sniper would also be on the roof to lean over and try to take a shot upside down. The rest of the team would rope again down to the third-floor windows and get your gun up fast because he's probably standing there with his gun. If you fell, it would suck. If the group made it inside, there were other issues. I've been in houses before with IEDs in them designed to blow everything up. They'd hang them in the middle of the room so it's a bigger explosion. I was usually the guy to joke around when we were planning these things — we all dick around a lot. But I was like, "Hey guys, we have to take this fucking serious. There's a 90 percent chance this is a one-way mission. We're gonna die, so let's do this right." The discussions went on, almost a luxury. We're used to going on the fly, five, six nights a week on deployment. Here's your target, we're leaving in twenty minutes. Come up with a plan. This compound was pretty easy, though we had no clue about the inside layout. The group reviewed contingencies: How do we handle cars? What if a helo went down? What do we do if the helo doors don't open? Shit like that. The first helicopter was going to land in front of the house. We were going to put our external security out and our bird was going to go back up and we'd fast-rope onto the roof. So we'd have one assault team from the other chopper coming up the stairs, and we'd be going down. It was March 2012, a blossoming time of year in the capital of the free world. The intimate dinner party was already under way at a stylish split-level apartment one block from the Washington Hilton. The hostess was a military contractor, and there was a lobbyist there, along with another young woman, a Capitol Hill veteran. The Shooter's mentor was behind the kitchen counter, putting a final grill-sauce flair on some huge slabs of red meat when four men, all of them imposing and fit, came through the front door. The Shooter is thick, like a power lifter, with an audacious set of tattoos. He can be curt and dismissive as his default, but also wickedly funny. It's instantly easy to see why he's considered both a rebellious, pushy pain in the ass by his command and even some of his colleagues, but also a natural leader. An outgoing, charismatic, and determined alpha male in the ultimate alpha crowd. He and his three friends were all active ST6 members that night, though none of the others present had been on the bin Laden mission. This was my first face-to-face meeting with the Shooter, following several phone conversations and much checking on my journalism background, especially in war zones. In a corner, pouring drinks, he and I established some rules. He would consider talking to me only after his last, upcoming four-month deployment to Afghanistan had ended and he had exited the Navy. And he would not go public; he would not be named. That would be counter to the team's code, and it would also put a huge "kill me" target on his back. During the dinner, he told mostly personal stories and took care not to talk in terms of operational security: the deal about the gun magazine and the CIA analyst, the experience of eyeballing bin Laden. "Three of us were driving to our first briefing on the mission," he said. "We were thinking maybe it was Libya, but we knew there would be very high-level brass there. One of my guys says, 'I bet it's bin Laden.'" Another guy told the Shooter, "If it's Osama bin Laden, dude, I will suck yo' dick." "So after I shoot UBL, I bring him over to see his body. 'Okay,' I told him, 'now is as good a time as any.'" The group talked about hairy moments during other missions, stories soldiers and foreign correspondents enjoy swapping. But from the start something was obvious, not just about the Shooter but about his fellow SEALs, too: These men who had heroically faced death and exercised extraordinary violence in almost continuous battle for years on end were fearful of life after war. This is a problem that is becoming more critical as the "best of the best" start leaving the most extended wartime careers in the history of the United States. And it is a problem not just for these men and their families but for the American government, which has come to rely heavily on a steady stream of Tier One special operators (including the Army's Delta Force and the Air Force's 24th Special Tactics Squadron) — men of rarefied toughness and training like these — to maintain a sense of international security in an asymmetrical battlefield. The American way of war has changed radically in the past decade, so that in the future, "boots on the ground" will more and more mean special operators. Which means that there will be increasing numbers of vets in the Shooter's circumstance: abandoned, with limited choices. That night, one of the Shooter's comrades, lantern-jawed, articulate, with a serious academic pedigree, told me: "I've seen a lot of combat, been in some pretty grisly circumstances. But the thing that scares me the most after fifteen years in the SEALs? "Civilian life." 2. "100 PERCENT, HE'S ON THE THIRD FLOOR." The Shooter and the rest of the team made one last night run on the mock-up of the compound in North Carolina, then drove back to their homes and headquarters in Virginia for a brief break. There were goodbyes to his wife and sleeping children. Normally she'd say, 'I'm fine, just go.' This time there was nothing fine about her. Like this would be the last time we'd see each other. Saying goodbye is just horrible. I don't even want to talk about it... this is the last time I'm going to see these children. The Shooter had bought himself $350 Prada sunglasses over the weekend, and much less expensive gifts for his kids. Which makes me a horrible father. But really, he just figured he'd die with some style on. And think of the ad campaign: "If you only have one day to live..." When we got to Nevada a few days later, where the team trained on another full-scale compound model, but this one crudely fashioned from shipping containers, we turned the corner, saw the helos we'd actually use, and I started laughing. I told the guys, "The odds just changed. There's a 90 percent chance we'll survive." They asked why. I said, "I didn't know they were sending us to war on a fucking Decepticon." For the mission, they'd be slipping through the night in the latest model of stealth Black Hawk helicopters. There were days more training, run after run, punctuated by briefings by military brass. They asked us if we were ready. We told them, "Yeah, absolutely. This is going to be easy." This was ultimately an assault mission like hundreds he'd been on, different in only one respect. A critical moment for the mission came when the tireless SEAL Red Team Squadron leader briefed chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen and Pentagon undersecretary Mike Vickers. He was going to sell it right then. Not just to his superiors but, through them, to the president. We're all in uniform to look professional, and our CO, working on no sleep for days, hit it out of the park. There's no doubt in my mind we're going to go because of his presentation. The group discussed what would happen if they were surrounded by Pakistani troops. We would surrender. The original plan was to have Vice-President Biden fly to Islamabad and negotiate our release with Pakistan's president. This is hearsay, but I understand Obama said, Hell no. My guys are not surrendering. What do we need to rain hell on the Pakistani military? That was the one time in my life I was thinking, I am fucking voting for this guy. I had a picture of him lying in bed at night, thinking, You're not fucking with my guys. Like, he's thinking about us. We got word that we'd be scrambling jets on the border to back us up. An Ambien, a C-17 cargo-plane ride, a short stop in Germany, and they were in Afghanistan. At Jalalabad, the Shooter saw the CIA analyst pacing. She asked me why I was so calm. I told her, We do this every night. We go to a house, we fuck with some people, and we leave. This is just a longer flight. She looked at me and said, "One hundred percent he's on the third floor. So get to there if you can." She was probably 90 percent sure, and her emotion pushed that to 100. Another SEAL squadron, which was already in Afghanistan and would have normally been the assaulters, were very welcoming to us. They would form the Quick Reaction Force flying in behind, on the 47's. The Red Team visitors stayed in "transient" housing. During the day, the group would work with our gear, work out. Nighttime was poker and refreshments, or what is called "fellowship," while they waited for a go from Obama himself. On the treadmill, the Shooter listened to "Red Nation" by the rapper Game. It's about leaving blood on the ground. We were the Red Team and we were going to leave some blood. Other guys ginned up some mixed-martial-arts practice or stretched over foam rollers to keep their joints in good shape. We all wrote letters. I had my shitty little room and I'm sitting on my Pelican case with all my gear, a manila envelope on my bed, and I'm writing letters to my kids. They were to be delivered in case of my death, something for them to read when they're thirty-five. I have no idea what I said except I'm explaining everything, that it was a noble mission and I hope we got him. I'm saying I wish I could be there for them. And the tears are hitting the page, because we all knew that none of us were coming back alive. It was either death or a Pakistani prison, where we'd be raped for the rest of our lives. He gave the letters to an intel guy not on the mission, with instructions. He would shred them if he made it back. You write it, it's horrible, you hand it off, and it's like, Okay, that part's over. And I'm back, ready to roll. By early September of last year, the Shooter was out, officially. Retired. He had survived his last deployment, and there was a barbecue near his house to celebrate with about thirty close friends from "the community." The Redskins were on, his favorite team, and there was lots of Commando ale, brewed by a former SEAL. "I left SEALs on Friday," he said the next time I saw him. It was a little more than thirty-six months before the official retirement requirement of twenty years of service. "My health care for me and my family stopped at midnight Friday night. I asked if there was some transition from my Tricare to Blue Cross Blue Shield. They said no. You're out of the service, your coverage is over. Thanks for your sixteen years. Go fuck yourself." The government does provide 180 days of transitional health-care benefits, but the Shooter is eligible only if he agrees to remain on active duty "in a support role," or become a reservist. Either way, his life would not be his own. Instead, he'll buy private insurance for $486 a month, but some treatments that relieve his wartime pains, like $120 for weekly chiropractic care, are out-of-pocket. Like many vets, he will have to wait at least eight months to have his disability claims adjudicated. Or even longer. The average wait time nationally is more than nine months, according to the Center for Investigative Reporting. The Center for Investigative Reporting's interactive map of U.S. veterans still waiting for help due to backlogged disability claims. Anyone who leaves early also gets no pension, so he is without income. Even if he had stayed in for the full twenty, his pension would have been half his base pay: $2,197 a month. The same as a member of the Navy choir. Still, on this early fall weekend, he does not want to commit to publishing any information from or about him. The book by a friend and fellow ST6 member, Matt Bissonnette, who claims to have shot bin Laden in the chest when the Al Qaeda leader was already down and bleeding profusely, will go on sale in a few days. The Department of Defense was threatening legal action over breach of confidentiality agreements and revelation of supposedly classified material. And the Shooter refuses to identify Bissonnette by name or confirm that he is the colleague who wrote the book. "I still want him and his family to be safe no matter what," he says. "If he didn't want [his name] out, I shouldn't either. That is my thinking, anyway." Many in the community are also infuriated, the Shooter says. "There's a shitstorm around this." It has also come to his attention that Bissonnette's account tends to gloss over — if not erase — the Shooter's central role in bin Laden's death. "I don't know why he'd do that," the Shooter says. Almost since the mission was done, the Shooter himself was suspected by the SEAL command and other team members of being the one who was writing a book, the one who would be first to market, spinning gold off Abbottabad. CIA and FBI officials called to ask whether he was going to appear with Bissonnette on 60 Minutes. When it became clear that he wasn't the opportunist, there was an official effort at apology from his superiors and some individual SEALs. The Shooter had long ago decided not to write a book out of the gate, though he is keenly aware that Bissonnette's book will make millions. There is still loyalty and safety to consider. He also wanted to see how Bissonnette fared with his colleagues, the U.S. government, and others. Bissonnette's pseudonym — Mark Owen — lasted about a day before his real name surfaced and was promptly posted on a jihadi Web site. But it was his official separation from the Navy that convinced the Shooter that he should get his story down somewhere, both for history and for a potential "greater good," to both humanize his warrior friends as something more complex than Jason Bourne cartoon superheroes, and call attention to what retiring SEALs don't get in their complex bargain with their country. The White House/Flickr The scene in the Situation Room on May 1, 2011. 3."HEY, MAN, I JUST SHOT A WOMAN." Waiting in Jalalabad, the teams were getting feedback from Washington. Gates didn't want to do this, Hillary didn't want to do that. The Shooter still thought, We'd train, spin up, then spin down. They'd eventually tank the op and just bomb it. But then the word came to Vice Admiral William McRaven, head of Joint Special Operations Command. The mission was on, originally for April 30, the night of the White House Correspondents' dinner in Washington. McRaven figured it would look bad if all sorts of officials got up and left the dinner in front of the press. So he came up with a cover story about the weather so we could launch on Sunday, May 1, instead. There was one last briefing and an awesome speech from McRaven comparing the looming raid and its fighters to the movie Hoosiers. Then they're gathered by a fire pit, suiting up. Just before he got on the chopper to leave for Abbottabad, the Shooter called his dad. I didn't know where he was, but I found out later he was in a Walmart parking lot. I said, "Hey, it's time to go to work," and I'm thinking, I'm calling for the last time. I thought there was a good chance of dying. He knew something significant was up, though he didn't know what. The Shooter could hear him start to tear up. He told me later that he sat in his pickup in that parking lot for an hour and couldn't get out of the car. The Red Team and members of the other squad hugged one another instead of the usual handshakes before they boarded their separate aircraft. The hangars had huge stadium lights pointing outward so no one from the outside could see what was going on. I took one last piss on the bushes. Ninety minutes in the chopper to get from Jalalabad to Abbottabad. The Shooter noted when the bird turned right, into Pakistani airspace. I was sitting next to the commanding officer, and he's relaying everything to McRaven. I was counting back and forth to a thousand to pass the time. It's a long flight, but we brought these collapsible camping chairs, so we're not uncomfortable. But it's getting old and you're ready to go and you don't want your legs falling asleep. Every fifteen minutes they'd tell us we hadn't been painted [made by Pakistani radar]. I remember banking to the south, which meant we were getting ready to hit. We had about another fifteen minutes. Instead of counting, for some reason I said to myself the George Bush 9/11 quote: Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward, and freedom will be defended. I could just hear his voice, and that was neat. I started saying it again and again to myself. Then I started to get pumped up. I'm like: This is so on. I was concerned for the two [MH-47 Chinook] big-boat choppers crossing the Pakistani border forty-five minutes after we did, both full of my guys from the other squadron, the backup and extraction group. The 47's have some awesome antiradar shit on them, too. But it's still a school bus flying into a sovereign nation. If the Pakistanis don't like it, they can send a jet in to shoot them down. Flying in, we were all just sort of in our own world. My biggest concern was having to piss really bad and then having to get off in a fight needing to pee. We actually had these things made for us, like a combination collapsible dog bowl and diaper. I still have mine; I never used it. I used one of my water bottles instead. I forgot until later that when I shot bin Laden in the face, I had a bottle of piss in my pocket. I would have pissed my pants rather than trying to fight with a full bladder. Above the compound, the Shooter could hear only his helo pilot in the flight noise. "Dash 1 going around" meant the other chopper was circling back around. I thought they'd taken fire and were just moving. I didn't realize they crashed right then. But our pilot did. He put our five perimeter guys out, went up, and went right back down outside the compound, so we knew something was wrong. We weren't sure what the fuck it was. We opened the doors, and I looked out. The area looked different than where we trained because we're in Pakistan now. There are the lights, the city. There's a golf course. And we're, This is some serious Navy SEAL shit we're going to do. This is so badass. My foot hit the ground and I was still running [the Bush quote] in my head. I don't care if I die right now. This is so awesome. There was concern, but no fear. I was carrying a big-ass sledgehammer to blow through a wall if we had to. There was a gate on the northeast corner and we went right to that. We put a breaching charge on it, clacked it, and the door peeled like a tin can. But it was a fake gate with a wall behind it. That was good, because we knew that someone was defending themselves. There's something good here. We walked down the main long wall to get to the driveway to breach the door there. We were about to blow that next door on the north end when one of the guys from the bird that crashed came around the other side and opened it. So we were moving down the driveway and I looked to the left. The compound was exactly the same. The mock-up had been dead-on. To actually be there and see the house with the three stories, the blacked-out windows, high walls, and barbed wire — and I'm actually in that security driveway with the carport, just like the satellite photos. I was like, This is really cool I'm here. While we were in the carport, I heard gunfire from two different places nearby. In one flurry, a SEAL shot Abrar al-Kuwaiti, the brother of bin Laden's courier, and his wife, Bushra. One of our guys involved told me, "Jesus, these women are jumping in front of these guys. They're trying to martyr themselves. Another sign that this is a serious place. Even if bin Laden isn't here, someone important is." We crossed to the south side of the main building. There the Shooter ran into another team member, who told him, "Hey, man, I just shot a woman." He was worried. I told him not to be. "We should be thinking about the mission, not about going to jail." For the Shooter personally, bin Laden was one bookend in a black-ops career that was coming to an end. But the road to Abbottabad was long, starting with the guys who tried and failed to make it into the SEALs in the first place. Up to 80 percent of applicants wash out, and some almost die trying. In fact, during the Shooter's Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in the mid-nineties, the torture-chamber menu of physical and emotional resistance and resolve required to get into the SEALs, there was actually a death and resurrection. "One of the tests is they make you dive to the bottom of a pool and tie five knots," the Shooter says. "One guy got to the fifth knot and blacked out underwater. We pulled him up and he was, like, dead. They made the class face the fence while they tried to resuscitate him. The first words as he spit out water were 'Did I pass? Did I tie the fifth knot?' The instructor told him, 'We didn't want to find out if you could tie the knots, you asshole, we wanted to know how hard you'd push yourself. You killed yourself. You passed.'" "I've been drown-proofed once, and it does suck," the Shooter says. Then there is Green Team, the lead-heavy door of entry for SEAL Team 6. Half of the men who are already hardened SEALs don't make it through. "They get in your mind and make you think fast and make decisions during high stress." There have been SEAL teams since the Kennedy years, when they got their first real workout against the Vietcong around Da Nang and in the Mekong Delta, and even during periods of relative peace since Vietnam, SEAL teams have been deployed around the world. But at no time have they been more active than in the period since 2001, in the longest war ever fought by Americans. If the surge in Iraq ordered by President Bush in 2007 was at all successful, that success is owed significantly to the night-shift work done by SEAL Team 6. "We would go kill high-value targets every night," the Shooter tells me. He and other ST6 members who would later be on the Abbottabad trip lived in rough huts with mud floors and cots. "But we were completely disrupting Al Qaeda and other Iraqi networks. If we only killed five or six guys a night, we were wasting our time. We knew this was the greatest moment of our operational lives." From Al Asad to Ramadi to Baghdad to Baquba — Al Qaeda central at the time — the SEALs had latitude to go after "everyone we thought we had to kill. That's really a major reason the surge was going so well, because terrorists were dying strategically." During one raid, accompanied by two dogs, the Shooter says that he and his team wiped out "an entire spiderweb network." Villagers told Iraqi newspapers the next day that "Ninjas came with lions." It is important to him to stress that no women or children were killed in that raid. He also insists that when it came to interrogation, repetitive questioning and leveraging fear was as aggressive as he'd go. "When we first started the war in Iraq, we were using Metallica music to soften people up before we interrogated them," the Shooter says. "Metallica got wind of this and they said, 'Hey, please don't use our music because we don't want to promote violence.' I thought, Dude, you have an album called Kill 'Em All. "But we stopped using their music, and then a band called Demon Hunter got in touch and said, 'We're all about promoting what you do.' They sent us CDs and patches. I wore my Demon Hunter patch on every mission. I wore it when I blasted bin Laden." On deployment in Afghanistan or Iraq, they would "eat, work out, play Xbox, study languages, do schoolwork." And watch the biker series Sons of Anarchy, Entourage, and three or four seasons of The Shield. They were rural high school football stars, backwoods game hunters, and Ivy League graduates thrown together by a serious devotion to the cause, and to the action. Accessories, upbringing, and cultural tastes were just preamble, though, to the real work. As for the Shooter, he jokes that his choice in life was to "go to the SEALs or go to jail." Not that he would have ever found himself behind bars, but he points out traits that all SEALs seem to have in common: the willingness to live beyond the edge, and to do anything, and the resolve to never quit. The bin Laden mission was far from the most dangerous of his career. Once, he was pinned down near Asadabad, Afghanistan, while the SEALs were trying to disrupt Al Qaeda supply lines used to ambush Americans. "Bullets flew between my gun and my face," he says, just as he was inserting some of his favorite Copenhagen chew and then open-field sprinting to retrieve some special equipment he had dropped. That fight ended when he called in air strikes along the eastern Afghan border to light up the enemy. Opening a closet door once, team members found a boy inside. "The natural response was 'C'mon kid.' Then, boom, he blows himself up. Suicide bombers are fast. Other rooms and other places, "we'd go in and a guy would be sleeping. Up against the wall were his cologne, deodorant, soap, suicide vest, AK-47, and grenades." He's also had to collect body parts of his close friends, most notably when a SEAL team chopper was shot down in Afghanistan's Kunar province in June 2005, killing eight SEALs. "We go to a lot of funerals." But for all the big battle boasts that become a sort of currency among SEALs, the Shooter has a deep fondness for the comedy that comes from being around the bunch of guys who are the only people in the world with whom you have so much in common and the only people in the world who can know exactly what you do for a living. "I realized when I joined I had to be a better shot and step up my humor. These guys were hilarious." There are the now-famous pranks with a giant dildo — they called it the Staff of Power — discovered during training in an abandoned Miami building. SEALs would find photos of it inserted into their gas masks or at the bottom of a barrel of animal crackers they were eating. Goats were put in their personal cages at ST6 headquarters. Uniforms were borrowed and dyed pink. Boots were glued to the floor. Flash-bang grenades went off in their gear. The area near the Shooter's cage was such a target for outlandish stunts that it was called the Gaza Strip. Even in action, with all their high state of expertise and readiness, "we're normal people. We fall off ladders, land on the wrong roof, get bitten by dogs." In Iraq, a breacher was putting a charge on a door to blow it off its hinges when he mistakenly leaned against the doorbell. He quickly took off the charge and the target opened the door. We were like, "You rang the fucking doorbell?!" Maybe we should try that more often, the Shooter thought to himself. The dead can also be funny, as long as it's not your guys. "In Afghanistan we were cutting away the clothes on this dead dude to see if he had a suicide vest on, only to find that he had a huge dick, down to his knees. From then on, we called him Abu Dujan Holmes. And then there was the time that the Shooter shit himself on a tandem jump with a huge SEAL who outweighed him by sixty pounds. "The goddamn main chute yanked so hard he slipped two disks in his neck and I filled my socks with human feces. I told him, 'Hey, dude, this is a horrible day.' He said if I went to our reserve chute, 'you're gonna fucking kill me.' He was that convinced his head was going to rip off his body. "Okay, so I'm flying this broken chute, shitting my pants with this near-dead guy connected to me. And we eat shit on the landing. We're lying there and the chute is dragging us across the ground. I hear him go, 'Yeah, that's my last jump for today.' And I said, 'That's cool. Can I borrow your boxers?' "We jumped the next day." The Shooter's willingness to endure comes from a deep personal well of confidence and drive that seems to also describe every one of his peers. But his odyssey through countless outposts in Afghanistan and Iraq to skydives into the Indian Ocean — situations that are always strewn with violence and with his own death always imminent — is grounded by a sense of deep confederacy. "I'm lucky to be with these guys. I'm not going to let them down. I was going to go in for a few years, but then I met these other guys and stuck around because of them." He and one buddy made their first kills at exactly the same time, in Ramadi. Shared bloodletting is as much a bonding agent as shared blood. After Team 6 SEAL Adam Brown was killed in March 2010, Brown's squadron members approached the dead man's kids at the funeral. They were screaming and inconsolable. "You may have lost a father," one of them said, "but you've gained twenty fathers." Most of those SEALs would be killed the next year when their helicopter was shot down in eastern Wardak province. The Shooter feels both the losses and connections no less keenly now that he's out. "One of my closest friends in the world I've been with in SEAL Team 6 the whole time," he says. The Shooter's friend is also looking for a viable exit from the Navy. As he prepared to deploy again, he agreed to talk with me on the condition that I not identify him. "My wife doesn't want me to stay in one more minute than I have to," he says. But he's several years away from official retirement. "I agree that civilian life is scary. And I've got a family to take care of. Most of us have nothing to offer the public. We can track down and kill the enemy really well, but that's it. "If I get killed on this next deployment, I know my family will be taken care of." (The Navy does offer decent life-insurance policies at low rates.) "College will be paid for, they'll be fine. "But if I come back alive and retire, I won't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out for the rest of my life. Sad to say, it's better if I get killed." 4."IS THIS THE BEST THING I'VE EVER DONE, OR THE WORST?" When we entered the main building, there was a hallway with rooms off to the side. Dead ahead is the door to go upstairs. There were women screaming downstairs. They saw the others get shot, so they were upset. I saw a girl, about five, crying in the corner, first room on the right as we were going in. I went, picked her up, and brought her to another woman in the room on the left so she didn't have to be just with us. She seemed too out of it to be scared. There had to be fifteen people downstairs, all sleeping together in that one room. Two dead bodies were also in there. Normally, the SEALs have a support or communications guy who watches the women and children. But this was a pared-down mission intended strictly for an assault, without that extra help. We didn't really have anyone that could stay back. So we're looking down the hallway at the door to the stairwell. I figured this was the only door to get upstairs, which means the people upstairs can't get down. If there had been another way up, we would have found it by then. We were at a standstill on the ground floor, waiting for the breacher to do his work. We'd always assumed we'd be surrounded at some point. You see the videos of him walking around and he's got all those jihadis. But they weren't prepared. They got all complacent. The guys that could shoot shot, but we were on top of them so fast. Right then, I heard one of the guys talking about something, blah, blah, blah, the helo crashed. I asked, What helo crashed? He said it was in the yard. And I said, Bullshit! We're never getting out of here now. We have to kill this guy. I thought we'd have to steal cars and drive to Islamabad. Because the other option was to stick around and wait for the Pakistani military to show up. Hopefully, we don't shoot it out with them. We're going to end up in prison here, with someone negotiating for us, and that's just bad. That's when I got concerned. I've thought about death before, when I've been pinned down for an hour getting shot at. And I wondered what it was going to feel like taking one of those in the face. How long was it going to hurt? But I didn't think about that here. One of the snipers who'd seen the disabled helo approached just before they went into the main building. He said, "Hey, dude, they've got an awesome mock-up of our helo in their yard." I said, "No, dude. They shot one of ours down." He said, "Okay, that makes more sense than the shit I was saying." The breacher had to blast the door twice for it to open. We started rolling up. Team members didn't need much communication, or any orders, once they were on line. We're reading each other every second. We've gotten so good at war, we didn't need anything more. I was about five guys back on the stairway when I saw the point man holding up. He'd seen Khalid, bin Laden's [twenty-three-year-old] son. I heard him whisper, "Khalid... come here..." in Arabic, then in Pashto. He used his name. That confused Khalid. He's probably thinking, "I just heard shitty Arabic and shitty Pashto. Who the fuck is this?" He leaned out, armed with an AK, and he got blasted by the point man. That call-out was one of the best combat moves I've ever seen. Khalid had on a white T-shirt and, like, white pajama pants. He was the last line of security. I remember thinking then: I wish we could live through this night, because this is amazing. I was still expecting all kinds of funky shit like escape slides or safe rooms. The point man moved past doors on the second floor and the four or five guys in front of me started to peel off to clear those rooms, which is always how the flow works. We're just clearing as we go, watching our backs. They step over and past Khalid, who's dead on the stairs. The point man, at that time, saw a guy on the third floor, peeking around a curtain in front of the hallway. Bin Laden was the only adult male left to find. The point man took a shot, maybe two, and the man upstairs disappeared back into a room. I didn't see that because I was looking back. I don't think he hit him. He thinks he might have. So there's the point man on the stairs, waiting for someone to move into the number-two position. Originally I was five or six man, but the train flowed off to clear the second floor. So I roll up behind him. He told me later, "I knew I had some ass," meaning somebody to back him up. I turn around and look. There's nobody else coming up. On the third floor, there were two chicks yelling at us and the point man was yelling at them and he said to me, "Hey, we need to get moving. These bitches is getting truculent." I remember saying to myself, Truculent? Really? Love that word. I kept looking behind us, and there was still no one else there. By then we realized we weren't getting more guys. We had to move, because bin Laden is now going to be grabbing some weapon because he's getting shot at. I had my hand on the point man's shoulder and squeezed, a signal to go. The two of us went up. On the third floor, he tackled the two women in the hallway right outside the first door on the right, moving them past it just enough. He thought he was going to absorb the blast of suicide vests; he was going to kill himself so I could get the shot. It was the most heroic thing I've ever seen. I rolled past him into the room, just inside the doorway. There was bin Laden standing there. He had his hands on a woman's shoulders, pushing her ahead, not exactly toward me but by me, in the direction of the hallway commotion. It was his youngest wife, Amal. The SEALs had nightscopes, but it was coal-black for bin Laden and the other residents. He can hear but he can't see. He looked confused. And way taller than I was expecting. He had a cap on and didn't appear to be hit. I can't tell you 100 percent, but he was standing and moving. He was holding her in front of him. Maybe as a shield, I don't know. For me, it was a snapshot of a target ID, definitely him. Even in our kill houses where we train, there are targets with his face on them. This was repetition and muscle memory. That's him, boom, done. I thought in that first instant how skinny he was, how tall and how short his beard was, all at once. He was wearing one of those white hats, but he had, like, an almost shaved head. Like a crew cut. I remember all that registering. I was amazed how tall he was, taller than all of us, and it didn't seem like he would be, because all those guys were always smaller than you think. I'm just looking at him from right here [he moves his hand out from his face about ten inches]. He's got a gun on a shelf right there, the short AK he's famous for. And he's moving forward. I don't know if she's got a vest and she's being pushed to martyr them both. He's got a gun within reach. He's a threat. I need to get a head shot so he won't have a chance to clack himself off [blow himself up]. In that second, I shot him, two times in the forehead. Bap! Bap! The second time as he's going down. He crumpled onto the floor in front of his bed and I hit him again, Bap! same place. That time I used my EOTech red-dot holo sight. He was dead. Not moving. His tongue was out. I watched him take his last breaths, just a reflex breath. And I remember as I watched him breathe out the last part of air, I thought: Is this the best thing I've ever done, or the worst thing I've ever done? This is real and that's him. Holy shit. Everybody wanted him dead, but nobody wanted to say, Hey, you're going to kill this guy. It was just sort of understood that's what we wanted to do. His forehead was gruesome. It was split open in the shape of a V. I could see his brains spilling out over his face. The American public doesn't want to know what that looks like. Amal turned back, and she was screaming, first at bin Laden and then at me. She came at me like she wanted to fight me, or that she wanted to die instead of him. So I put her on the bed, bound with zip ties. Then I realized that bin Laden's youngest son, who is about two or three, was standing there on the other side of the bed. I didn't want to hurt him, because I'm not a savage. There was a lot of screaming, he was crying, just in shock. I didn't like that he was scared. He's a kid, and had nothing to do with this. I picked him up and put him next to his mother. I put some water on his face. The point man came in and zip-tied the other two women he'd grabbed. The third-floor action and killing took maybe fifteen seconds. The Shooter's oldest child calls the place his dad worked "Crapghanistan," maybe because his deployments meant he regularly missed Christmases, birthdays, and other holidays. "Our marriage was definitely a casualty of his career," says the Shooter's wife. They are officially split but still live together. Separate bedrooms, low overhead. "Somewhere along the line we lost track of each other." She holds his priorities partially responsible: SEAL first, father second, husband third. This part of the Shooter's story is, as his wife puts it, "unique to us but unfortunately not unique in the community." SEAL operators are gone up to three hundred days a year. And when they're not in theater, they're training or soaking in the company of their buds in the absorbing clubhouse atmosphere of ST6 headquarters. "We can't talk with anyone else about what we do," the Shooter says, "or about anything else other than maybe skydiving and broken spleens. When it comes to socializing, it's really tight." His wife understands that "so much of their survival is dependent on the fact that their friends and their jobs are so intertwined." And that "we lived our lives under a veil of secrecy." SEAL Team 6 spouses are nicknamed the Pink Squadron, because the women also rely on their hermetic connections to other wives. When you have no idea where your husband is or what he's doing, other than that it's mortally dangerous, and you can't discuss it — not even with your own mother — your world can feel desperately small. But his wife's concerns, and her own narrative, convey a faithfulness that extends beyond marital fidelity. She has comforted him when he was "inconsolable" after a mission in which he shot the parents of a boy in a crossfire. "He was reliving it, as a dad himself, when he was telling me." Not long after, she tended to him when she found him heavily sedated with an open bottle of Ambien and his pistol nearby. The command had mandatory psych evaluations. During one of those, the Shooter told the psychologist, "I was having suicidal thoughts and drinking too much." The doctor's response? "He told me this was normal for SEALs after combat deployment. He told me I should just drink less and not hurt anybody." The Shooter's wife is indignant. "That's not normal!" Though she knows that "every time you send your husband off to war, you get a slightly different person back." The alone times are deeply trying. Several years ago, a SEAL friend had died in a helicopter crash. The Shooter's wife had just been to his funeral, consoling his widow. The Shooter was on the same deployment, and she had not heard anything about his status. "I came home and was inside holding our infant child. Our front door is all glass, and I see a man in a khaki uniform coming up the steps. All I could do was think, I'd better put the baby down because I'm going to faint. So I set the baby on the floor and answered the door. It was a neighbor with a baby bib I'd dropped outside. I swore at him and slammed the door in his face." It was four days more before she heard that her husband was safe. Given all of that, she has a surprising equanimity about her life. Talking with them separately, the couple's love for each other is evident and deep. "We've grown so much together," she says. "We'll always be best friends. I'll love him till the day I die." She remains in awe of "the level of brilliance these men have. To be surrounded by that caliber of people is something I'll always be grateful for." Her husband's retirement has been no less jarring for her. "He gave so much to his country, and now it seems he's left in the dust. I feel there's no support, not just for my family but for other families in the community. I honestly have nobody I can go to or talk to. Nor do I feel my husband has gotten much for what he's accomplished in his career." Exactly what, if any, responsibility should the government have to her family? The loss of income and insurance and no pension aside, she can no longer walk onto the local base if she feels a threat to her family. They've surrendered their military IDs. If something were to happen, the Shooter has instructed her to take the kids to the base gate anyway and demand to see the commanding officer, or someone from the SEAL team. "He said someone will come get us." Because of the mission, she says that "my family is always going to be at risk. It's just a matter of finding coping strategies." The Shooter still dips his hand in his pocket when they're in a store, checking for a knife in case there's an emergency. He also keeps his eyes on the exits. He's lost some vision, he can't get his neck straight for any period of time. Right now, she's just waiting to see what he creates for himself in this new life. And she's waiting to see how he replaces even the $60,000 a year he was making (with special pay bonuses for different activities). Or how they can afford private health insurance that covers spinal injections she needs for her own sports injuries. "This is new to us, not having the team." 5."WE ALL DID IT." Within another fifteen seconds, other team members started coming in the room. Here, the Shooter demurs about whether subsequent SEALs also fired into bin Laden's body. He's not feeding raw meat to what is an increasingly strict government focus on the etiquette of these missions. But I would have done it if I'd come in the room later. I knew I was going to shoot him if I saw him, regardless. I even joked about that with the guys before we were there. "I don't give a shit if you kill him — if I come in the room, I'm shooting his ass. I don't care if he's deader than fried chicken." In the compound, I thought about getting my camera, and I knew we needed to take pictures and ID him. We had a saying, "You kill him, you clean him." But I was just in a little bit of a zone. I had to actually ask one of my friends who came into the room, "Hey, what do we do now?" He said, "Now we go find the computers." And I remember saying, "Yes! I'm back! Got it!" Because I was almost stunned. Then I just wanted to go get out of the house. We all had a DNA test kit, but I knew another team would be in there to do all that. So I went down to the second floor where the offices were, the media center. We started breaking apart the computer hard drives, cracking the towers. We were looking for thumb drives and disks, throwing them into our net bags. In each computer room, there was a bed. Under the beds were these huge duffel bags, and I'm pulling them out, looking for whatever. At first I thought they were filled with vacuum-sealed rib-eye steaks. I thought, They're in this for the long haul. They've got all this food. Then, wait a minute. This is raw opium. These drugs are everywhere. It was pretty funny to see that. Altogether, he helped clean three rooms on the second floor. The Shooter did not see bin Laden's body again until he and the point man helped two others carry it, already bagged, down the building's hallways and out into the courtyard by the front gate. I saw a sniper buddy of mine down there and I told him, "That's our guy. Hold on to him." Others took the corpse to the surviving Black Hawk. With one helo down, the Shooter was relieved to hear the sound of the 47 Chinook transports arriving. His exfil (extraction) flight out was on one of the 47's, which had almost been blown out of the sky by the SEALs' own explosive charges, set to destroy the downed Black Hawk. One backup SEAL Team 6 member on the flight asked who'd killed UBL. I said I fucking killed him. He's from New York and says, "No shit. On behalf of my family, thank you." And I thought: Wow, I've got a Navy SEAL telling me thanks? "You probably thought you'd never hear this," someone piped through the intercom system over an hour into the return flight, "but welcome back to Afghanistan." Back at the Jalalabad base, we pulled bin Laden out of the bag to show McRaven and the CIA. That's when McRaven had a tall SEAL lie down next to bin Laden to assess his height, along with other, slightly more scientific identity tests. With the body laid out and under inspection, you could see more gunshot wounds to bin Laden's chest and legs. While they were still checking the body, I brought the agency woman over. I still had all my stuff on. We looked down and I asked, "Is that your guy?" She was crying. That's when I took my magazine out of my gun and gave it to her as a souvenir. Twenty-seven bullets left in it. "I hope you have room in your backpack for this." That was the last time I saw her. From there, the team accompanied the body to nearby Bagram Airfield. During the next few hours, the thought that hit me was "This is awesome. This is great. We lived. This is perfect. We just did it all." The moment truly struck at Bagram when I'm eating a breakfast sandwich, standing near bin Laden's body, looking at a big-screen TV with the president announcing the raid. I'm sitting there watching him, looking at the body, looking at the president, eating a sausage-egg-cheese-and-extra-bacon sandwich thinking, "How the fuck did I get here? This is too much." I still didn't know if it would be good or bad. The good was having done something great for my country, for the guys, for the people of New York. It was closure. An honor to be there. I never expected people to be screaming "U.S.A.!" with Geraldo outside the White House. The bad part was security. He was their prophet, basically. Now we killed him and I have to worry about this forever. Al Qaeda, especially these days, is 99 percent talk. But that 1 percent of the time they do shit, it's bad. They're capable of horrific things. We listened to the Al Qaeda phone calls where one guy is saying, "We gotta find out who ratted on bin Laden." The other guy says, "I heard he did it to himself. He was locked up in that house with three wives." Funny terrorists. At Bagram, the point man asked, "Hey, was he hit when you went into the room? I thought I shot him in the head and his cap flew off." I said I didn't know, but he was still walking and he had his hat on. The point man was like "Okay. No big deal." By then we had showered and were having some refreshments. We weren't comparing dicks. I've been in a lot of battles with this guy. He's a fucking amazing warrior, the most honorable, truthful dude I know. I trust him with my life. The Shooter said he and the point man participated in a shooters-only debrief with military officials around a trash can in Jalalabad and then a long session at Bagram Airfield, but they left some details ambiguous. The point man said he took two shots and thought one may have hit bin Laden. He said his number two went into the room "and finished him off as he was circling the drain." This was not exactly as it had gone down, but everyone seemed satisfied. Early government versions of the shooting talked about bin Laden using his wife as protection and being shot by a SEAL inside the room. But subsequent accounts, from officials and others like Bissonnette, further muddied the story and obscured the facts. What the two SEALs did discuss after the action was why there'd been a short gap before more assaulters joined them on the third floor. "Where was everybody else?" the point man asked. I told him we just ran thin. Guys went left and right on the second floor and it was just us. Everything happened really fast. Everybody did their jobs. Any team member would have done exactly what I did. At Jalalabad, as we got off the plane there was an air crew there, guys who fix helicopters. They hugged me and knew I'd killed him. I don't know how the hell word spread that fast. McRaven himself came over to me, very emotional. He grabbed me across the back of my neck like a proud father and gave me a hug. He knew what had happened, too. Not long after, a senior government official had an unofficial phone call with the mentor. "Your boy was the one," the mentor says he was told. The Shooter was alternately shocked and pleased to know that word got back to the States before I did. "Who killed bin Laden?" was the first question, and then the name just flies. And it was the Shooter who, when an Obama administration official asked for details during the president's private visit with the bin Laden team at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, said "We all did it." The SEAL standing next to the Shooter would say later, "Man, I was dying to tell him it was you." From the moment reporters started getting urgent texts hours before President Obama's official announcement on May 1, 2011, the bin Laden mission exploded into public view. Suddenly, a brilliant spotlight was shining where shadows had ruled for decades. TV trucks descended on the SEAL Team 6 community in Virginia Beach, showing their homes and hangouts. "The big mission changed a lot of attitudes around the command," the Shooter says. "There were suspicions about whether anyone was selling out." It had begun "when we were still in the Jalalabad hangar with our shit on. There was a lot of 'Don't let this go to your head, don't talk to anyone,' not even our own Red Team guys who hadn't gone with us." The assaulters "were immediately put in a box, like a time-out," says the Shooter's close friend, who was not on the mission. "'Don't open your mouth.' I would have flown them to Tahoe for a week." But even with the SEALs' strong history of institutional modesty, there was no unringing this bell. The potential for public fame was too great, and suspicion was high inside SEAL Team 6. The Shooter was among those reprimanded for going out to a bar to celebrate the night they got back home. And he was supposed to report for work the next morning, but instead took the day off to spend with his kids. Twenty-four hours later came the offer of witness protection, driving the beer truck in Milwaukee. "That was the best idea on the table for security." "Maybe some courtesy eyes-on checks" of his home, he thought. "Send some Seabees over to put in a heavier, metal-reinforced front door. Install some sensors or something. But there was literally nothing." He considered whether to get a gun permit for life outside the perimeter. The SEALs are proud of being ready for "anything and everything." But when it came to his family's safety? "I don't have the resources." With gossip and finger-pointing continuing over the mission, the Shooter made a decision "to show I wasn't a douchebag, that I'm still part of this team and believe in what we're doing." He re-upped for another four-month deployment. It would be in the brutal cold of Afghanistan's winter. But he had already decided this would be his last deployment, his SEAL Team 6 sayonara. "I wanted to see my children graduate and get married." He hoped to be able to sleep through the night for the first time in years. "I was burned out," he says. "And I realized that when I stopped getting an adrenaline rush from gunfights, it was time to go." May 1, 2012, the first anniversary of the bin Laden mission. The Shooter is getting ready to go play with his kids at a water park. He's watching CNN. "They were saying, 'So now we're taking viewer e-mails. Do you remember where you were when you found out Osama bin Laden was dead?' And I was thinking: Of course I remember. I was in his bedroom looking down at his body." The standing ovation of a country in love with its secret warriors had devolved into a news quiz, even as new generations of SEALs are preparing for sacrifice in the Horn of Africa, Iran, perhaps Mexico. The Shooter himself, an essential part of the team helping keep us safe since 9/11, is now on his own. He is enjoying his family, finally, and won't be kissing his kids goodbye as though it were the last time and suiting up for the battlefield ever again. But when he officially separates from the Navy three months later, where do his sixteen years of training and preparedness go on his résumé? Who in the outside world understands the executive skills and keen psychological fortitude he and his First Tier colleagues have absorbed into their DNA? Who is even allowed to know? And where can he go to get any of these questions answered? There is a Transition Assistance Program in the military, but it's largely remedial level, rote advice of marginal value: Wear a tie to interviews, not your Corfam (black shiny service) shoes. Try not to sneeze in anyone's coffee. There is also a program at MacDill Air Force Base designed to help Special Ops vets navigate various bureaucracies. And the VA does offer five years of health care benefits—through VA physicians and hospitals—for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but it offers nothing for the shooter's family. "It's criminal to me that these guys walk out the door naked," says retired Marine major general Mike Myatt. "They're the greatest of their generation; they know how to get things done. If I were a Fortune 500 company, I'd try to get my hands on any one of them." The general is standing in the mezzanine of the Marines Memorial building he runs in San Francisco. He's had to expand the memorial around the corner due to so many deaths over the past eleven years of war. He is furious about the high unemployment rate among returning infantrymen, as well as homelessness, PTSD, and the other plagues of new veterans. General Myatt believes "the U.S. military is the best in the world at transitioning from civilian to military life and the worst in the world at transitioning back." And that, he acknowledges, doesn't even begin to consider the separate and distinct travesty visited on the Shooter and his comrades. The Special Operations men are special beyond their operations. "These guys are self-actualizers," says a retired rear admiral and former SEAL I spoke with. "Top of the pyramid. If they wanted to build companies, they could. They can do anything they put their minds to. That's how smart they are." But what's available to these superskilled retiring public servants? "Pretty much nothing," says the admiral. "It's 'Thank you for your service, good luck.'" One third-generation military man who has worked both inside and outside government, and who has fought for vets for decades, is sympathetic to the problem. But he notes that the Pentagon is dealing with two hundred thousand new veterans a year, compared with perhaps a few dozen SEALs. "Can and should the DOD spend the extra effort it would take to help the superelite guys get with exactly the kind of employers they should have? Investment bankers, say, value that competition, drive, and discipline, not to mention people with security clearances. They [Tier One vets] should be plugged in at executive levels. Any employers who think about it would want to hire these people." For officials, however, everyone signing out of war is a hero, and even for the masses of retirees, programs are sporadic and often ineffectual. Michelle Obama and Jill Biden have both made transitioning vets a personal cause, though these efforts are largely gestural and don't reach nearly high enough for the skill sets of a member of SEAL Team 6. The Virginia-based Navy SEAL Foundation has a variety of supportive programs for the families of SEALs, and the foundation spends $3.2 million a year maintaining them. But as yet they have no real method or programs for upper-level job placement of their most practiced constituency. A businessman associated with the foundation says he understands that there is a need the foundation does not fill. "This is an ongoing thing where lots of people seem to want to help but no one has ever really done it effectively because our community is so small. No one's ever cracked it. And there real-ly needs to be an education effort well before they separate [from the service] to tell them, 'The world you're about to enter is very different than the one you've been operating in the last fifteen or twenty years.'" One former SEAL I spoke with is a Harvard MBA and now a very successful Wall Street trader whose career path is precisely the kind of example that should be evangelized to outgoing SEALs. His own life reflects that "SpecOps guys could be hugely value-added" to civilian companies, though he says business schools — degrees in general — might be an important step. "It would be great to get a panel of CEOs together who are ready to help these guys get hired." Some big companies do have veteran-outreach specialists — former SEAL Harry Wingo fills that role at Google. But these individual and scattered shots still do not provide what is needed: a comprehensive battle plan. In San Francisco recently, I talked about the Special Ops issue with Twitter CEO Dick Costolo and venture capitalist and Orbitz chairman Jeff Clarke. Both are very interested in offering a business luminary hand to help clandestine operators make their final jump. There is enthusiastic consensus among the business and military people I have canvassed that this kind of outside help is required, perhaps a new nonprofit financed and driven by the Costolos and Clarkes of the world. Even before he retired, the Shooter's new business plan dissolved when the SEAL Team 6 members who formed it decided to go in different directions, each casting for a civilian professional life that's challenging and rewarding. The stark realities of post-SEAL life can make even the blood of brothers turn a little cold. "I still have the same bills I had in the Navy," the Shooter tells me when we talk in September 2012. But no money at all coming in, from anywhere. "I just want to be able to pay all those bills, take care of my kids, and work from there," he says. "I'd like to take the things I learned and help other people in any way I can." In the last few months, the Shooter has put together some work that involves a kind of discreet consulting for select audiences. But it's a per-event deal, and he's not sure how secure or long-term it will be. And he wants to be much more involved in making the post — SEAL Team 6 transition for others less uncertain. The December suicide of one SEAL commander in Afghanistan and the combat death of another — a friend — while rescuing an American doctor from the Taliban underscore his urgent desire to make a difference on behalf of his friends. He imagines traveling back to other parts of the world for a few days at a time to do dynamic surveys for businesses looking to put offices in countries that are not entirely safe, or to protect employees they already have in place. But he is emphatic: He does not want to carry a gun. "I've fought all the fights. I don't have a need for excitement anymore. Honestly." After all, when you've killed the world's most wanted man, not everything should have to be a battle. "They torture the shit out of people in this movie, don't they? Everyone is chained to something." The Shooter is sitting next to me at a local movie theater in January, watching Zero Dark Thirty for the first time. He laughs at the beginning of the film about the bin Laden hunt when the screen reads, "Based on firsthand accounts of actual events." His uncle, who is also with us, along with the mentor and the Shooter's wife, had asked him earlier whether he'd seen the film already. "I saw the original," the Shooter said. As the action moves toward the mission itself, I ask the Shooter whether his heart is beating faster. "No," he says matter-of-factly. But when a SEAL Team 6 movie character yells, "Breacher!" for someone to blow one of the doors of the Abbottabad compound, the Shooter says loudly, "Are you fucking kidding me? Shut up!" He explains afterward that no one would ever yell, "Breacher!" during an assault. Deadly silence is standard practice, a fist to the helmet sufficient signal for a SEAL with explosive packets to go to work. During the shooting sequence, which passes, like the real one, in a flash, his fingers form a steeple under his chin and his focus is intense. But his criticisms at dinner afterward are minor. "The tattoo scene was horrible," he says about a moment in the film when the ST6 assault group is lounging in Afghanistan waiting to go. "Those guys had little skulls or something instead of having some real ink that goes up to here." He points to his shoulder blade. "It was fun to watch. There was just little stuff. The helos turned the wrong way [toward the target], and they talked way, way too much [during the assault itself]. If someone was waiting for you, they could track your movements that way." The tactics on the screen "sucked," he says, and "the mission in the damn movie took way too long" compared with the actual event. The stairs inside bin Laden's building were configured inaccurately. A dog in the film was a German shepherd; the real one was a Belgian Malinois who'd previously been shot in the chest and survived. And there's no talking on the choppers in real life. There was also no whispered calling out of bin Laden as the SEALs stared up the third-floor stairwell toward his bedroom. "When Osama went down, it was chaos, people screaming. No one called his name." "They Hollywooded it up some." The portrayal of the chief CIA human bloodhound, "Maya," based on a real woman whose iron-willed assurance about the compound and its residents moved a government to action, was "awesome" says the Shooter. "They made her a tough woman, which she is." The Shooter and the mentor joke with each other about the latest thermal/night-vision eyewear used in the movie, which didn't exist when the older man was a SEAL. "Dude, what the fuck? How come I never got my four-eye goggles?" "We have those." "Are you kidding me?" "SEAL Team 6, baby." They laugh, at themselves as much as at each other. The Shooter seems smoothed out, untroubled, as relaxed as I've seen him. But the conversation turns dark when they discuss the portrayal of the other CIA operative, Jennifer Matthews, who was among seven people killed in 2009 when a suicide bomber was allowed into one of their black-ops stations in Afghanistan. They both knew at least one of the paramilitary contractors who perished with her. The supper table is suddenly flooded with the surge of strong emotions. Anguish, really, though they both hide it well. This is not a movie. It's real life, where death is final and threats last forever. The blood is your own, not fake splatter and explosive squibs. Movies, books, lore — we all helped make these men brilliant assassins in the name of liberty, lifted them up on our shoulders as unique and exquisitely trained heroes, then left them alone in the shadows of their past. Uncertainty will never be far away for the Shooter. His government may have shut the door on him, but he is required to live inside the consequences of his former career. One line from the film kept resonating in my head. An actor playing a CIA station chief warns Maya about jihadi vengeance. "Once you're on their list," he says, "you never get off." Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the extent of the five-year health care benefits offered to cover veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers comprehensive health care to eligible veterans during that period, though not to their families. In light of this change, we have also revised an earlier passage in the story referring to the shooter’s post-service benefits. Also, the original version of this story did not include a few sentences that ran in the issue printed last week. They have now been restored. PLUS: David Granger on 'The Shooter' in D.C. ||||| Fox News Channel will debut The Man Who Killed Usama Bin Laden, on November 11 and 12, described as an exclusive interview with the Navy SEAL who fired the shots that killed the terrorist leader. In the special, the man’s identity will be revealed, and he will describe the events leading up to and during the raid that took place on May 1st, 2011. FNC says the Navy SEAL, known as “The Shooter,” will share his story of training to be a member of America’s elite fighting force, his involvement in Operation Neptune Spear, the mission that killed Bin Laden, Bin Laden’s final moments, his last breath, and “touch upon what was taking place inside the terrorist compound while President Obama and his cabinet watched from the White House.” The network’s Washington correspondent Peter Doocy will host on Tuesday, November 11th and Wednesday, November 12th from 10-11 PM/ET. Last month, the Navy SEAL made headlines when he gave an interview to Esquire that ran as: “The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden…Is Screwed.” In the interview, he spoke about the raid and the three shots that killed Bin Laden but also “about the personal aftermath for himself and his family…and, the startling failure of the United States government to help its most experienced and skilled warriors carry on with their lives,” as the magazine described it. Because “the Shooter,” as he is referred to in the story, was never identified, some questioned its accuracy. And, in a follow-up article in NavyTimes, Rear Adm. Sean Pybus, the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, insisted the SEAL “knew full-well he was leaving the service short of a retirement and without benefits.” The Esquire piece had asserted the former SEAL was “screwed” by losing his military health insurance benefits when he left service in September 2012. But, in a statement, Pybus said the SEAL in the article knew what he was giving up in leaving service with 16 years, shy of the 20-year retirement mark. ||||| The exclusive talk with the Navy SEAL will be part of a two-part documentary set to air next month Fox News has landed the first interview with the man who killed Osama bin Laden, which will be part of a two-night documentary airing on Nov. 11-12. In the special, titled The Man Who Killed Usama Bin Laden, the Navy SEAL who says he fired the shots that killed Bin Laden, also known as "The Shooter," will reveal his identity and speak out publicly for the first time. See more Inside Roger Ailes' Fox News Suite The shooter will describe the events leading up to and during the raid that took place in May 2011, including his elite training and involvement in Operation Neptune Spear, the mission that killed bin Laden. He'll also offer his first-hand account of what happened during the SEAL Team 6 raid. Fox News promises that the documentary will include never-before-shared details. The Navy SEAL will recall confronting bin Laden, the leader's final moments and what happened when he took his last breath. The documentary will also include a behind-the-scenes look at the secret ceremony where bin Laden's killer donated the shirt he was wearing during the mission to the 9/11 museum in New York. See more 9/11 in Film: Hollywood Interprets America's Darkest Day The raid that led to the death of the Al Qaeda mastermind has already been the subject of the films Zero Dark Thirty and SEAL Team 6 and the book No Easy Day, written by a former Navy SEAL, under the pseudonym of Mark Owen. Fox News' special is set to air from 10-11 p.m. ET on both nights and will be hosted by the network's Washington correspondent Peter Doocy. See more Hollywood's Special Forces

– The Navy SEAL who shot Osama bin Laden dead in a 2011 raid is planning to reveal his identity to the world—starting with Fox News. The man known as "The Shooter" will be interviewed by the network for a two-part special airing on Nov. 11 and 12 called The Man Who Killed Usama Bin Laden. He will describe his training and the events that led up to the raid where he fired the deadly shots, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Fox says the interview will include details never shared before and that the SEAL will describe things like the al-Qaeda leader's last breath, Deadline reports. In an Esquire article last year called "The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden ... Is Screwed," the shooter spoke of a lack of support and benefits after he left the military in September 2012, before he qualified for a pension. The Navy, however, countered that he knew what he was giving up by leaving the service after 16 years instead of 20.

Spinning isn’t just for surrogates. President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney moved quickly out of Hempstead, N.Y., and out on the trail Wednesday, each trying to wring a post-game win from their bitter second debate that many saw as — at most — a slight victory for the incumbent. Text Size - + reset POLITICO LIVE ‘Driving the Day’ (Also on POLITICO: Liberals relieved by Obama’s performance So without a knock-out punch or TKO to boast about, both candidates spent the day replaying their own highlight reels. For Obama, that meant talking about himself — instead of the litany of might-have-saids, could-have-saids, should-have-saids and Big Bird jokes that he blasted Romney with after an uninspired performance in Denver reshaped the race. This time, instead of trying to calm an anxious base, Obama delighted them. (Also on POLITICO: Fact-checking the Hofstra debate) Romney’s campaign kept its focus on base voters, too — revving up the Republican nominee’s own with a barrage of criticism against Hofstra debate moderator Candy Crowley. Romney also tried to mute a key part of Obama’s support by pressing his point that the president failed to deliver the immigration reform he promised. That, Romney said, was the clearest evidence that Obama has nothing to deliver in a second term. Behind the scenes, the post-debate spin machine kicked into high gear on both sides. But while Obama’s campaign quickly moved on several fronts, Romney’s spent much of the day on defense. (PHOTOS: The in-your-face debate) The theme of the day: the War for Women. After the first debate, the pro-Obama gender gap among women all but disappeared in some polls. In the quest to win them back, the president seized on Romney’s comment at Hofstra that he’d gone through “binders full of women” in recruiting his gubernatorial staff. “I tell you what,” Obama, tie askew, told a crowd of 2,000 in Mount Vernon, Iowa. “We don’t have to collect a bunch of binders to find qualified, talented, driven young women ready to work and teach in these fields right now.” (PHOTOS: Stars react to the presidential debate) As he did Tuesday night, he linked his appeal to women to other campaign themes that he seemed to have forgotten in Denver, including women’s health, reproductive choice and equal pay. Even Planned Parenthood funding got a mention. Romney’s campaign responded by emphasizing his original, and fundamental core, argument: Obama has failed to heal the economy. Romney’s not just someone who understands and respects women, they said, he’s got a record of working with them — and now he wants to use that experience to set the nation on better fiscal footing. (PHOTOS: 10 memorable town hall moments) “Why is it that there are 3.6 million more women in poverty today than when the president took office?” Romney asked at a rally in Chesapeake, Va., Wednesday. “This president has failed America’s women.” Romney’s former lieutenant governor in Massachusetts, Kerry Healy, echoed that line. “People are hurting in this country, and women especially have been suffering,” Healy said. “Five-and-a-half million women are unemployed. Under President Obama, the number of women living in poverty has climbed to a record high of nearly 26 million.” ||||| Republican nominee Mitt Romney’s awkward comment during the second presidential debate that he had received “binders full of women” as Massachusetts governor when he requested more female job candidates went fully viral Wednesday, drawing snickers from voters but also fueling a broader fight between the two campaigns over the key support of women. Romney’s remark was just a sliver of the discussion Tuesday night about issues relevant to women, with the candidates tussling over subjects such as contraception and unequal pay. The battle escalated on Wednesday, as President Obama worked to reclaim his advantage among women — and as the Romney campaign returned to its core argument that the Republican is better suited to manage women’s top concern, the economy. Campaigning in Iowa, Obama ridiculed his opponent. “I’ve got to tell you, we don’t have to collect a bunch of binders to find qualified, talented, driven young women, ready to learn and teach in these fields right now,” he said. Romney, at a stop in Chesapeake, Va., revisited a question from the debate about the gender pay gap, saying that answers women want to hear about the economy are coming from him, not Obama. “This is a presidency that has not helped America’s women, and as I go across the country and ask women, ‘What can I do to help?’ what they speak about day in and day out is, ‘Help me find a good job, or a good job for my spouse,’ ” Romney said. “That’s what the women of America are concerned about. And the answers are coming from us and not from Barack Obama.” Although the candidates have courted female voters all year, they are renewing their attention to the demographic as polls show the race tightening, and as some surveys indicate that Obama’s once-sizable advantage among women has slipped. Romney shifted his emphasis Tuesday night on at least one issue relevant to women, asserting that “every woman in America should have access to contraceptives.” He objects to the president’s policy that requires employers to pay for contraception as part of health insurance coverage, an issue important to conservatives who consider it an infringement on the rights of religious institutions. But he did not mention that, and instead focused on the undisputed issue of access, as he appeared to be trying to present a more moderate face in the closing weeks before the election. The Romney campaign also debuted a new ad this week that tries to soften his image. The spot, called “Sarah,” features a young woman who says Obama’s ads accusing Romney of wanting to ban all abortions and contraception “concerned” her. “So I looked into it,” she says. “Turns out, Romney doesn’t oppose contraception at all. In fact, he thinks abortion should be an option in cases of rape, incest or to save a mother’s life.” “This issue is important to me,” she says. “But I’m more concerned about the debt our children could be left with.” The ad is a direct play for undecided voters such as Paula Fultz, 59, who is from a Cleveland suburb. She supports abortion rights and backed Obama four years ago but gave Romney a closer look after the first debate. “He seemed more credible than what I’d seen before,” Fultz said of Romney. “So I’ve been leaning more to looking at the jobs discussion.” After Tuesday’s debate, Fultz said she is still leaning toward Romney, even though she said she thought Obama performed better the second time around. The Obama campaign is working to blunt similar shifts among women in swing states. White House senior adviser David Plouffe, traveling to Iowa after the debate, previewed the team’s plan to argue that Romney is on the wrong side of women’s issues, such as his support for the Blunt Amendment, which allows employers not to pay for birth control if they have a moral objection to doing so. “Mitt Romney: Wrong for American Women,” read a press release from the campaign late Wednesday. During his stops that day, Obama wore a pink bracelet for breast cancer awareness. In the Tuesday night face-off, Romney said he had a strong record of hiring women, saying one key to doing so for top jobs was allowing family-friendly work hours. “I recognized that if you’re going to have women in the workforce, that sometimes you need to be more flexible,” he said, recalling that his gubernatorial chief of staff had two school-age children. “She said, ‘I can’t be here until 7 or 8 o’clock at night. I need to be able to get home at 5 o’clock so I can be there for making dinner for my kids and being with them when they get home from school.’ So we said, ‘Fine. Let’s have a flexible schedule so you can have hours that work for you.’ ” Obama spoke about growing up with a single, working mother and a working grandmother who trained men for jobs that paid more than hers. He also talked about signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 — which made it easier for women to file lawsuits alleging pay discrimination — as one of his first actions in office. Vice President Biden, campaigning in Colorado on Wednesday, picked up on the issue of whether Romney had sought female employees. “You heard the debate last night. When Governor Romney was asked a direct question about equal pay, he started talking about binders,” Biden said. “Whoa! The idea that he had to go and ask where a qualified woman was, he just should have come to my house. He didn’t need a binder.” Polling about where women stand in the race has been a point of controversy, with seemingly contradictory data pouring in each day. Two recent surveys — a national Pew poll after the first debate and a more recent USA Today-Gallup survey in 12 battleground states — had Obama and Romney tied among female voters, something that would be a historic shift away from a gender gap that has helped Democrats in recent elections. A Quinnipiac University poll in Pennsylvania released Tuesday had Romney closing in on Obama there but had the president with an 18-point advantage among women who are likely to vote. But a new poll from Marquette University Law School shows Romney making big gains in Wisconsin, entirely by winning over women. In the new Washington Post-ABC News national poll, 51 percent of women back Obama and 44 percent support Romney, with the seven-point margin a numerical, but not statistically significant, advantage for the president. Amy Gardner in Iowa and Ohio and Jon Cohen in Washington contributed to this report. ||||| Barack Obama stepped up his attacks on Mitt Romney in the battle to appeal to female voters as he sought to exploit the Republican's clumsy and odd responses during their second presidential debate. Women's issues were prominent in Tuesday night's debate as Obama and Romney clashed over gender equality and contraception. Obama is widely judged to have won the debate, undoing at least some of the damage caused by his painfully poor showing in the first one a fortnight ago. On the campaign trail in Iowa on Wednesday, Obama latched on to some of the remarks made by Romney, in particular a bizarre one about being offered "whole binders full of women" when searching for female recruits to his cabinet when he was governor of Massachusetts. The comment went viral on the internet, with some complaining that Romney was being patronising towards women, and others expressing puzzlement over what he was talking about. Obama poked fun of him at a rally in Iowa. "I tell you what: we don't have to collect a bunch of binders to find qualified talented women," Obama said. The president, wearing a pink wristband to promote breast cancer awareness, hammered home the point just in case anyone thought he was just making a stray remark. "You can choose to turn back the clock 50 years for women, gays and immigrants – or you can move us forward," Obama said. The Obama campaign has repeatedly challenged Romney on his views on contraception and abortion, and accused him of wanting a return to the 1950s. In Iowa, Obama, who favours ready access to contraception and supports abortion, said: "I certainly don't think politicians should control the healthcare that you get." He made the point that equal pay was not just a matter of principle, but a personal affair, too. As father of two daughters, he wanted them to be paid the same as other parents' sons. Female voters have jumped to top priority for both Obama and Romney. Until recently, Obama had enjoyed a double-digit lead among women over Romney, more than enough to compensate for Romney's lead among white males. But Romney's team claims Obama's lead among women has gone, though the Obama team disputes this. A Gallup seven-day poll tracking poll puts Romney ahead of Obama, 51% to 45%, among likely voters, though this was taken before Tuesday night's debate. Romney has also reduced Obama's lead in Wisconsin, a state that initially was not included as a swing state on the assumption it was going to Obama. A new Marquette University poll puts Obama on 49% to Romney's 48%. Over the past few weeks, Romney has been repositioning himself in the centre and has softened his position on women's issues. His campaign put out an ad on Monday insisting that women's right to contraception and abortion would not be harmed if he was president. His running mate, Paul Ryan, Wednesday attempted to explain away the "binders" remark. "All he simply meant was that he went out of his way to try to recruit qualified women to serve in his administration when he was governor," Ryan, who also said that Romney had an exceptional record in recruiting women, told CBS. "That's really what he was saying." Romney has shifted ground during his political career, from relatively moderate while governor of Democratic-leaning Massachusetts to strongly conservative on social issues during the Republican primaries and caucuses when he said he would appoint to the supreme court judges who would overturn abortion rights. During the debate, Romney accused Obama of misrepresenting his position on contraception, insisting he was in favour of it being widely available. In the debate, Obama came across as the more sympathetic to women's rights. In exchanges on equal pay, the president said: "This is not just a women's issue. This is a family issue. This is a middle-class issue. And that's why we've got to fight for it." The comment about "binders full of women" came during exchanges on equal rights. Romney said that as governor of Massachusetts he was concerned about the shortage of women in his cabinet. "I said: 'Well, gosh, can't we find some women that are also qualified?' And so we took a concerted effort to go out and find women who had backgrounds that could be qualified to become members of our cabinet," Romney said. The remarks went a long way to calming the sense of panic that had begun to enter Democratic ranks. Obama, transformed from the listless, unfocused candidate who lost badly to Romney in the first presidential debate in Denver a fortnight ago, landed damaging blows on his Republican rival in telling exchanges over women's rights, the Benghazi consulate attack and tax proposals. ||||| WASHINGTON — President Obama charged that Mitt Romney ’s policies are economically threatening to women, as the candidates in their second presidential debate on Tuesday night clashed repeatedly over who would best serve the interests of the country’s largest and most critical constituency. With some polls offering sporadic evidence that Mr. Romney is gaining support among women in the final weeks of the campaign, the president seized every opportunity during their face-off at Hofstra University on Long Island to assert that Mr. Romney, the Republican candidate, would eliminate financing for women’s health services, block access to contraceptives, oppose equal pay and undermine the economic recovery for families in which women are the breadwinners. “This is not just a women’s issue,” Mr. Obama said during an exchange about equal pay for women in the workplace. “This is a family issue. This is a middle-class issue. And that’s why we’ve got to fight for it.” Mr. Romney sought to defend his policies as better for women, denying Mr. Obama’s accusations about contraception and insisting that his record as Massachusetts governor is one of inclusion and equality. Even as the debate concluded, Mr. Romney’s campaign released a television ad stressing that he does not oppose contraception and believes abortion should be legal in some cases. “Turns out, Romney doesn’t oppose contraception at all,” a woman in the ad says. “In fact, he thinks abortion should be an option in cases of rape, incest or to save a mother’s life.” But Mr. Romney’s rambling description of his efforts to hire women into his administration as governor of Massachusetts became an instant Internet sensation when he said he had “whole binders full of women” that he considered for jobs in his cabinet and agencies. “I said, ‘Well, gosh, can’t we find some women that are also qualified?’ ” Mr. Romney said during the debate. “And so we took a concerted effort to go out and find women who had backgrounds that could be qualified to become members of our cabinet.” The “binders full” comment was a hit on Twitter, quickly becoming a “meme” that generated a mocking Tumblr page and prompted a Democratic group to buy up the Web site www.bindersfullofwomen.com. The group, American Bridge 21st Century, used it to list actions by Mr. Romney that the group said were contrary to women’s interests. The appeals to women came during a debate in which Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney also sought to energize their bases. Mr. Obama, in particular, delivered an aggressive performance that advisers hope will give his core supporters fresh evidence that the president is ready to fight for a second term. Mr. Romney pressed his case for tax cuts, a favorite topic of conservatives, and remained critical of the administration’s account of the deadly attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, an issue that Republicans believe gives them an advantage. And Mr. Romney repeated his campaign mantra that the country cannot afford another four years like the ones Mr. Obama has presided over. But there was no mistaking the focus by the candidates on women. That focus has increased dramatically in the final weeks of the campaign, as the overall race has tightened nationally and in many of the most important battleground states. Mr. Obama has long maintained a double-digit lead among women in most surveys, helping him to overcome a deficit among men. A Gallup poll this week suggested that Mr. Obama’s advantage had evaporated, though other surveys — and Mr. Obama’s top strategists — disputed that finding. As the debate on Tuesday made clear, neither campaign is taking the support of women for granted. Mr. Obama, in particular, seemed eager to make the case for his policies — and to criticize Mr. Romney’s — after having been criticized by many high-profile women for not doing so in the debate two weeks ago in Denver. The president went out of his way several times to mention Mr. Romney’s pledge to eliminate financing for Planned Parenthood. Mr. Obama argued that that would not only affect women’s health services but would be an economic burden on families during tough times. “Millions of women all across the country who rely on Planned Parenthood for not just contraceptive care,” Mr. Obama said. “They rely on it for mammograms, for cervical cancer screenings. That’s a pocketbook issue for women and families all across the country.” On the question of contraception, Mr. Obama said that Mr. Romney would allow employers to decide whether to provide contraception coverage in their insurance plans, an option foreclosed by the president’s health care law. Mr. Romney denied that. “I don’t believe that bureaucrats in Washington should tell someone whether they can use contraceptives or not, and I don’t believe employers should tell someone whether they could have contraceptive care or not,” Mr. Romney said, using time from another question to try to rebut the president. “Every woman in America should have access to contraceptives.” Mr. Romney sought to connect the interests of women to the broader issue of the economy’s sluggish recovery, suggesting repeatedly that he could do better for struggling families — and especially women — if he is in the White House. “There are three and a half million more women living in poverty today than when the president took office,” Mr. Romney said. “We don’t have to live like this. We can get this economy going again.” But it was a question about equal pay for women that elicited the most memorable exchange of the debate. Mr. Obama focused on passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act — the first bill he signed as president — which makes it easier for women to sue if they suspect they are not being paid fairly. “So we fixed that,” Mr. Obama said. “And that’s an example of the kind of advocacy that we need because women are increasingly the breadwinners in the family.” When it was Mr. Romney’s turn, he described the efforts he made after being elected governor to make sure that women were well represented in his administration. He said the early recommendations were mostly men, and that he pushed harder to search for qualified women to serve. That led to the “binders full” comment and to a description of his willingness to be flexible about the hours that his chief of staff — a woman named Beth Myers, who is now a top adviser to his campaign — worked while raising children. “She said, I can’t be here until 7 or 8 at night. I need to be able to get home at 5, so I can be there for — making dinner for my kids and being with them when they get home from school,” Mr. Romney explained. “So we said, fine, let’s have a flexible schedule so you can have hours that work for you.”

– You didn't think Mitt Romney's "binders full of women" comment at the debate was going to just disappear, right? President Obama couldn't resist taking a dig today in Iowa, reports Politico: “I tell you what,” said the president. “We don’t have to collect a bunch of binders to find qualified, talented, driven young women ready to work and teach in these fields right now.” But the Romney camp responded that the White House is simply trying to distract from the fact that women have been hit hard in the recession. “Why is it that there are 3.6 million more women in poverty today than when the president took office?” Romney himself asked in Virginia. “This president has failed America’s women.” Even if the "binders" line manages to fade away, the debate made clear that the push for the women's vote is on, report the New York Times, the Guardian, and the Washington Post in similar stories. Expect to hear a lot in coming days about issues such as women's health services, equal pay, and flexible work hours for working moms. A Gallup poll after the first debate suggested that Romney had all but wiped out Obama's lead among women, leading in part to the new emphasis. It will take a few days to get a better sense on whether Obama bounced back on that front.

SiriusXM satellite radio said Tuesday that it has suspended Glenn Beck's morning show for at least a week and may not bring it back after Beck agreed with a guest who made comments widely interpreted as supporting the assassination of GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump. "SiriusXM encourages a diversity of discourse and opinion on our talk programs," the company said in a statement. "However, comments recently made by a guest on the independently produced Glenn Beck Program, in our judgement, may be reasonably construed by some to have been advocating harm against an individual currently running for office, which we cannot and will not condone," it said. Glenn Beck speaks at a Tea Party rally in September on the West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Jacquelyn Martin / AP Brad Thor, author of numerous best-selling thrillers — including one titled "Path of the Assassin" — likened Trump to a South American dictator on Beck's show May 25 and said that if Trump were to become president and turn out to be a tyrant, illegal means might be required to remove him from office. "With the feckless, spineless Congress we have, who will stand in the way of Donald Trump overstepping his constitutional authority as president?" Thor asked in the 15-minute interview, the full audio of which was obtained by NBC News. "If Congress won't remove him from office, what patriot will step up and do that if he oversteps his mandate as president, his constitutional-granted authority, I should say, as president. If he oversteps that, how do we get him out of office?" Thor continued, adding: "And I don't think there is a legal means available. I think it will be a terrible, terrible position the American people will be in to get Trump out of office, because you won't be able to do it through Congress." Beck responded: "I would agree with you on that, and I don't think you actually have the voices — we've been talking about, we've been talking about this off-air for a while." Thor's comments drew harsh criticism on social media and conservative news sites, where he was widely accused of having called for Trump's assassination. How to get 15 minutes of fame: > Call yourself Thor. > Make death threats on Donald Trump w/Glenn Beck. Sad! #MAGA https://t.co/fgRIAiXEPy — Elizabeth ® (@MissLizzyNJ) May 26, 2016 Unhinged idiots Glenn Beck & Brad Thor call for the assassination of Trump on air today. pic.twitter.com/Kp1stx46FN — John Q. Public (@JohnQPu43054918) May 25, 2016 Later that day, Beck posted on Facebook: "That is NOT what he meant, nor is it what we thought. How evil do you have to be to think this?" Tuesday, Beck's website, The Blaze, quoted Thor as denying that he was referring to assassination and saying he was simply discussing a "hypothetical America under a dictator." It said he added: "If we had to unseat a president without the backing of the Congress, we would need a patriot along the lines of George Washington to lead the country from tyranny back to liberty." ||||| On Media Blog Archives Select Date… December, 2015 November, 2015 October, 2015 September, 2015 August, 2015 July, 2015 June, 2015 May, 2015 April, 2015 March, 2015 February, 2015 January, 2015 Glenn Beck. | AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley SiriusXM suspends Glenn Beck over Trump conversation Satellite radio company SiriusXM has suspended Glenn Beck's syndicated show this week and is "evaluating" the program's place over comments made last week by one of Beck's guests. Last week, fiction writer Brad Thor appeared on Beck's program and suggested presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump is a danger to America and that citizens would have to take means that may not be legal in order to get Trump out of office. Beck did not immediately admonish or distance himself from the comments, leading to the suspension by SiriusXM. "SiriusXM encourages a diversity of discourse and opinion on our talk programs. However, comments recently made by a guest on the independently produced Glenn Beck Program, in our judgement, may be reasonably construed by some to have been advocating harm against an individual currently running for office, which we cannot and will not condone. For that reason, we have suspended The Glenn Beck Program from our Patriot channel for the coming week and are evaluating its place in our lineup going forward. SiriusXM is committed to a spirited, robust, yet responsible political conversation and believes this action reflects those values," the network said in a statement. A spokesperson for Beck said the host had a previously scheduled vacation this week. Beck's slot was filled on the Patriot channel by David Webb on Tuesday. His slot on his own network's SiriusXM channel "The Blaze" was filled by Doc Thompson and Skip LaCombe. Later on Tuesday, Thor told "The Blaze" host Dana Loesch that there was "no threat." "Hell no, I wasn't talking about assassination," Thor said. This post has been updated with comments from Thor and a spokesperson for Beck. UPDATE 10:50p.m.: In a lengthy statement on Tuesday evening, Dom Theodore, general manager of the Glenn Beck Radio Show, said Beck has never advocated violence and that they are under the impression that Beck will back on the air Monday. "Glenn is on vacation so I wanted to respond on his behalf so that the unfortunate fabrications surrounding his interview with Brad Thor don’t spread any further. As every listener of the show knows, Glenn has never — and will never — advocate violence. It wasn’t long ago that he was criticized by some for advocating peace during the Bundy Ranch saga," Theodore said, calling the reaction to the Thor interview a "viral hatchet job." "Glenn is on the record, repeatedly, expressing concern for all people, especially the President of the United States. With every scandal at the Secret Service, Glenn has implored his audience to pray for the safety of the President and for the restoration of the Secret Service’s judgement [sic] and abilities. And to answer the question before it has been asked: No one from any governmental agency, Secret Service, police force, etc., has been in contact with our company about this story in any way, shape, or form," Theodore said. Theodore then encouraged listeners to reach out to Sirius XM "to let them know that the voices in support [of] our shared principles and values are louder than those who would attempt to suppress them."

– Glenn Beck's show may be off SiriusXM for good because a guest made some ill-judged comments about Donald Trump—and Beck agreed with them. The satellite radio company says the Glenn Beck Program has been suspended for a week and may not return because of the remarks by thriller writer Brad Thor on the May 25 program, NBC News reports. If Donald Trump oversteps his constitutional authority and the "feckless, spineless Congress we have" won't remove him, "what patriot will step up and do that if he oversteps his mandate as president?" Thor asked. "I don't think there is a legal means available," he added. Beck—who endorsed Ted Cruz earlier this year—told Thor he agreed with the comments, which were widely seen as advocating Trump's assassination. In a statement, SiriusXM said Thor's remarks "may be reasonably construed by some to have been advocating harm against an individual currently running for office, which we cannot and will not condone." After the suspension was announced, Thor said there had been "no threat" to Trump implied during the Beck interview, Politico reports. "Hell no, I wasn't talking about assassination," he said. A Beck spokesman said the host was already on vacation when he was suspended and that he expects to be back on the air Monday. The spokesman said Beck has never advocated violence—and nobody from the Secret Service has "been in contact with our company about this story in any way, shape, or form."

We've detected that JavaScript is disabled in your browser. Would you like to proceed to legacy Twitter? Yes ||||| Rebel Wilson is both a star and co-producer of the new film, “Isn’t It Romantic,” but the actress barely resembled a rom-com heroine in her appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” this week. The “Pitch Perfect” star arrived on the “Ellen” set dressed for Halloween as Wilson, Tom Hanks’ volleyball companion from the 2000 film, “Cast Away.” Fortunately, DeGeneres also was in a spooky mood, done up as a parody of a contestant on “The Bachelor” known as dental assistant Kelllly D from New Jersey. Costumes aside, Wilson was on hand to debut the trailer for “Isn’t It Romantic.” She plays Natalie, a down-on-her-luck New Yorker who wakes up to find herself trapped inside a romantic comedy and caught between two love interests (played by Adam DeVine and Liam Hemsworth). Watch the “Isn’t It Romantic” trailer above. “I had such a ball filming that,” Wilson told DeGeneres of the film, due out on Valentine’s Day 2019. Moreover, the Aussie-born actress said she’s excited by the way the film breaks away from Hollywood tropes for plus-size characters. “I’m proud to be the first-ever plus-sized girl to be the star of a romantic comedy,” she said. While it’s possible Wilson misspoke, as actresses such as Queen Latifah have starred in romantic comedies before, there’s definitely a shortage of them cast in those roles. DeGeneres also asked whether a September photo that appeared on Wilson’s Instagram was intended as confirmation that a fourth “Pitch Perfect” film was in the works. The image showed Wilson with “Pitch Perfect” co-stars Anna Camp, Brittany Snow and Chrissie Fit, each holding up four fingers. “Definitely I’ll be filming another musical film in the next 12 months, I can say that,” Wilson coyly answered. “You’ll see me singing a bit more.” UPDATE Nov. 2: Wilson clarified her remarks on Twitter Thursday. Hey girl! Yeah I of course know of these movies but it was questionable as to whether: 1. Technically those actresses were plus size when filming those movies or 2. Technically those films are catorgorized/billed as a studio rom-com with a sole lead. So there’s a slight grey area — Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) November 1, 2018 I fully take all the comments onboard though so thank you ❤️ — Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) November 1, 2018 ||||| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| Rebel Wilson has apologised for incorrectly claiming that she was the first-ever "plus-sized girl" to have a lead role in a romantic comedy. The Australian actor made the comments while promoting her upcoming film Isn't It Romantic. The backlash was swift, with people pointing out on Twitter that Wilson had seemingly forgotten about Queen Latifah and Mo'Nique's respective starring roles in 2006 movies Last Holiday and Phat Girlz. The Pitch Perfect star initially stuck to her guns, arguing there was a "grey area" around how films were categorised. The comments even earned a rebuke from Mo'Nique herself, who told the Australian to "take a moment and know the history". On Tuesday, Wilson finally issued a mea culpa. ||||| acknowledge. I blocked people on Twitter because I was hurting from the criticism, but those are the people I actually need to hear from more, not less. Again, I am deeply sorry. ||||| BTW Last week, Rebel Wilson incorrectly claimed to be the first plus-sized actress to star in a rom-com, and she keeps blocking people on Twitter who point out the Black actresses who came before her. On the Ellen Degeneres Show on Halloween, Wilson said she was the “first-ever plus-sized girl to be the star of a romantic comedy.” People quickly took to Twitter to make sure that Wilson was aware of the works of Queen Latifah and Mo’Nique, two plus-sized Black women who starred in romantic comedies over a decade ago. Wilson mostly didn’t interact with these critiques—though she did reply to one person saying she thought those movies were in a “grey area.” Hey girl! Yeah I of course know of these movies but it was questionable as to whether: 1. Technically those actresses were plus size when filming those movies or 2. Technically those films are catorgorized/billed as a studio rom-com with a sole lead. So there’s a slight grey area — Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) November 1, 2018 What Wilson appears to mostly be doing in response to these critiques is blocking people. She’s hit the block button on enough people that there’s even a hashtag, #RebelWilsonBlockedMe. A perusal of the hashtag shows what Wilson found offending enough to deserve a block—and her threshold doesn’t seem very high. ::grin:: #RebelWilsonBlockedMe (I didn't even say anything super harsh) Where's the party? pic.twitter.com/piTogG707E — Geek Ghoul Diva 👻 (@geekgirldiva) November 4, 2018 I shared my honest & respectful thoughts on Rebel Wilson’s erasure of iconic plus sized women before her. Her blocking a fellow plus woman in this industry is a reminder that she doesn’t want to acknowledge her plus peers but rather ignore them entirely. pic.twitter.com/icUvY9QrCR — Nabela (@Nabela) November 3, 2018 I was joined in blockage. For this. She's quite fragile. pic.twitter.com/7QePMtbden — Aisha Saeed (@aishacs) November 3, 2018 So many people were blocked by Wilson that one person made a thread of folks who had been blocked, saying they were all a part of the party. Several dozen people have been blocked, many of them Twitter-verified Black people and plus-sized people in the entertainment industry. *Monique has joined The Winner’s chat* 💀💀💀https://t.co/QnNkV9Qq8O — Clarkisha “Technically Plus-Sized” Kent (@IWriteAllDay_) November 4, 2018 Ha ha! We serving mimosas at the #RebelWilsonBlockedMe meeting this morning? pic.twitter.com/xgXekYNUVD — ReBecca “Rebel Wilson Blocked Me” Theodore-Vachon (@FilmFatale_NYC) November 4, 2018 Some people even jokingly talked about the #RebelWilsonBlockedMe hashtag as if it was a club or networking event for Black Twitter. Going through the #RebelWilsonBlockedMe list has led me to discover at least a couple dozen great accounts to start following. https://t.co/57JEv6Qafh — Spam Turkey (@samaboutspace) November 5, 2018 Rebel Wilson’s block list is the closest we’re ever going to get to an official roster for black Twitter — Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) November 5, 2018 Wilson did respond to Mo’Nique when she directly reached out, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped her from blocking people for saying exactly what Mo’Nique is saying. Hi Monique, it was never my intention to erase anyone else’s achievements and I adore you and Queen Latifah so so much x I support all plus size ladies and everything positive we are doing together ❤️ — Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) November 3, 2018 All jokes aside, Wilson’s erasure is damaging and blocking plus-sized women of color for pointing that out only makes it worse. Film critic ReBecca Theodore-Vachon summed up the deeper problem of Wilson’s claim and behavior succinctly, saying, “Black women’s bodies don’t matter when it comes to White women like Rebel Wilson. They will always value their representation more while erasing ours.” ||||| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| Photo: Rich Fury (Getty Images) Before this weekend, I never really paid very much attention to Rebel Wilson. I knew she existed and had caught glimpses of her in a few things. I knew enough to know that her usual schtick is playing the funny, goofy or dorky fat girl in white comedies, but in my mind, she wasn’t as funny as Melissa McCarthy, so I didn’t pay much attention to her. Last week, she popped up on my radar again when I saw a tweet that quoted her proclaiming herself to be the first plus-sized woman to play the lead in a romantic comedy. Wilson will star in Isn’t It Romantic, a film slated for release on Valentine’s Day 2019 that has been billed in some places as a rom-com parody. “I’m proud to be the first-ever plus-sized girl to be the star of a romantic comedy,” Wilson told Ellen during a visit to her show last week. Advertisement *needle scratch* You can imagine my surprise. We’ve all seen Last Holiday, Just Wright, Beauty Shop and all the episodes of Living Single episodes in which Queen Latifah—as Khadijah James—was the object of affection for men like Morris Chestnut, Cress Williams and Bumper Robinson. She been there and done that. Advertisement Mo’Nique has also already been there. One of her funnier and sweeter movies was called Phat Girlz, and the entire premise was a larger woman looking for love. None of these movies were straight to video. Even if Rebel Wilson hasn’t watched them, she should know about them, so why she would make the statement she did is anyone’s guess—but she did. When the tweet quoting her surfaced, a number of black women offered corrections and pointed out that Latifah and Mo’Nique had been there first. Rebel Wilson ignored every single one of them. Advertisement When she did finally respond to the nudge, it was to a white woman. A white woman, I might add, who is one of my followers and basically said the exact same thing I said minus the part where I said it was an example of the erasure of the work done by black women. Same message. Same tone. “I love @RebelWilson as much as the next girl, but she isn’t the first plus sized woman to play the lead in a romantic comedy. Queen Latifah and Mo’Nique have both played romcom leads,” user @Halfapintdoll wrote. Advertisement Wilson responded to her tweet and she doubled down saying, “Hey girl! Yeah I of course know of these movies but it was questionable as to whether: 1. Technically those actresses were plus size when filming those movies or 2. Technically those films are catorgorized/billed as a studio rom-com with a sole lead. So there’s a slight grey area.” Advertisement When was there ever a question as to whether or not Queen Latifah and Mo’Nique were considered plus-sized? They both identify as plus-sized women. Mo’Nique’s entire comedy career, in the beginning, was based on her size. How was there any question, and more importantly, who was questioning it? As for whether or not their films were billed as studio rom-coms is an issue about race and the way films with predominantly black casts are categorized in Hollywood in general—and that’s a topic for a different rant. Suffice it to say that the only “grey area” is the one in Rebel’s mind and the minds of any other white person who basically believes that the work of black women doesn’t count in Hollywood—because that is exactly what it boils down to. Advertisement After Rebel doubled down on her bullshit, black women continued to try and educate her on where she was going wrong. It would have been so easy to just say “You know what, my bad. I misspoke.” That would have been too much like right though. Instead, Rebel chose to continue to erase the voices of black women—at least from her mentions and her timeline—by blocking them if they dared speak to her about her comments. It was her way of putting them in their place. This continued throughout the weekend. Black women reached out to her and she promptly blocked them. When white women reached out saying basically the same thing, she responded politely, if at all, but she didn’t block them. Advertisement Playwright Claire Willett wrote an impassioned thread on Twitter lovingly explaining to Rebel where she went wrong. “So. You are frustrated that it feels like women of color are trying to diminish your achievement and how big a deal this role is for you, and you’re shutting down their attempts to explain why, which is Not a Good Look for someone trying to build solidarity among plus-size women,” Willett wrote. Advertisement “I think it’s splitting hairs a bit to talk about the way the films are billed/categorized, because that’s a very industry-insider standard that doesn’t necessarily have any connection to the way AUDIENCES view or mentally categorize different types of movies, so let’s skip it,” Willett continued. Wilson responded to Willett and said “Great points honey, thank you x will address when promoting the film in proper forums. I’m all about supporting plus size women and I work so hard to do so. I never want to disrespect anyone.” Advertisement It’s weird because Wilson says she doesn’t want to disrespect anyone, but she continued to block black women who said the same things to her in the same tone. She blocked black women except for Mo’Nique, who reached out to her on Twitter as well. “Hey my sweet sister. Let’s please not allow this business to erase our talent with giving grey areas and technicalities. Take a moment and know the history. DON’T BE A PART OF ERASING IT. I wish you the best,” Mo’Nique wrote. Advertisement “Hi Monique, it was never my intention to erase anyone else’s achievements and I adore you and Queen Latifah so so much x I support all plus size ladies and everything positive we are doing together,” Wilson responded. Her words and her actions don’t match up. By early Monday morning, she had blocked so many black and brown people, it became a huge game to see who she would block next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Rebel Wilson were truly about the uplifting of all plus-sized women, she wouldn’t be doing her best to shut down the voices of those who don’t have the same skin color as she does. Blocking all the black and brown voices that tried to reason with her on Twitter shows the true intention behind her first comment on Ellen and her subsequent comments on Twitter. Rebel Wilson doesn’t think black and brown plus-sized women count. They are not in the same category as her. They are different, and in her eyes, they should be treated as such. Advertisement And that is exactly what she is doing. It’s hard to understand how she can think this will bode well for her new film. She is destroying all goodwill towards it with her disgusting actions right now. It has turned into an incredibly dramatic 72 hours for her, and it is only getting worse because she is continuing to make it worse. She’s doing all of this and building up a bad name and reputation for herself in the process. Advertisement All because apologizing to black women was too damn much. For shame. Updated: Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, 11:30 a.m. EST: It appears that Rebel Wilson’s team has finally wrestled her phone away from her and taken over her Twitter account. Advertisement In a series of tweets sent out early Monday evening, the Australian actress apologized for her faux pas using words that were a lot more eloquent and understanding than all of her previous tweets, leading one to believe that the “apology” was crafted by someone else attempting to mitigate the damage caused by her insolent and puerile Twitter rampage in the days prior. In a tweet containing a lot more awareness than we have seen her evidence, Wilson allegedly wrote, “In a couple of well-intentioned moments, hoping to lift my fellow plus sized women up, I neglected to show the proper respect to those who climbed this mountain before me like Mo’Nique, Queen Latifah, Melissa McCarthy, Ricki Lake and likely many others.” “She” continued: “With the help of some very compassionate and well-thought out responses from others on social media, I now realize what I said was not only wrong but also incredibly hurtful. To be part of a problem I was hoping I was helping makes it that much more embarrassing & hard to- Advertisement “acknowledge. I blocked people on Twitter because I was hurting from the criticism, but those are the people I actually need to hear from more, not less. Again, I am deeply sorry.” Advertisement I don’t believe Rebel Wilson wrote these tweets, and I don’t think she is at all apologetic. I truly believe this is a public relations move to save her film—and her career—from tanking. This is not the first time Wilson has shown that she has racist thoughts and tendencies when it comes to people of color. Check out this clip of her on Ellen in 2013 when she started to make some awful jokes about Aboriginals. Wilson also seemingly unblocked everyone she had blocked in her fit of angst over the last few days. I discovered this morning that my account had been unblocked by her. Advertisement It doesn’t matter. It’s too little, too late. If you had done this from the beginning, it would be a lot more believable, and we would be more likely to accept it. Now we can tell you are just pandering to make sure your bag is secure. In the words of Ira Madison III, “Keep it.” ||||| In a couple of well-intentioned moments, hoping to lift my fellow plus sized women up, I neglected to show the proper respect to those who climbed this mountain before me like Mo’Nique, Queen Latifah, Melissa McCarthy, Ricki Lake and likely many others. ||||| We've detected that JavaScript is disabled in your browser. Would you like to proceed to legacy Twitter? Yes

– Rebel Wilson is making the rounds to promote her upcoming rom-com Isn't It Romantic, but she had less than perfect pitch on Ellen DeGeneres' show last week. Per HuffPost, the Australian actress told DeGeneres she's glad Hollywood is starting to see less-stereotypical roles for plus-size actors, and that "I'm proud to be the first-ever [plus-size] girl to be the star of a romantic comedy." Which may have been a simple bit of self-promotion, except for the fact there have actually been other plus-size women to star in such movies, including Mo'Nique and Queen Latifah, as one Twitter user pointed out. Yet Wilson tweeted back that it was somewhat of a "grey area," splitting hairs on whether the movies those actresses had starred in fell under the "studio rom-com with sole lead" category, and whether the actresses had actually been plus-size during filming. Making things worse, per Monique Judge on the Root: Wilson seemed to only respond to white women who corrected her on Twitter, while blocking black women who did so (the Daily Dot notes a #RebelWilsonBlockedMe hashtag emerged). Mo'Nique herself responded, tweeting: "Take a moment and know the history. DON'T BE A PART OF ERASING IT." Wilson issued an apology, per the Sydney Morning Herald, noting that "in a couple of well-intentioned moments ... I neglected to show the proper respect to those who climbed this mountain before me like Mo'Nique, Queen Latifah, Melissa McCarthy, Ricki Lake, and likely many others." As for the Twitter blocking, she said it was "because I was hurting from the criticism, but those are the people I actually need to hear from more, not less. Again, I am deeply sorry." (Wilson had a record defamation payout—and then didn't.)

A woman was killed and five other people wounded in a shooting in the University Village neighborhood Monday morning and one of the wounded was initially presumed dead, Chicago police said.The shooting took place in the 1300-block of South Loomis Street at about 4:45 a.m. and stemmed from a party, police said. Two vehicles were driving around the block several times when someone started shooting, police said.One of the shooting victims appeared to be still alive when his body was covered in a sheet. The 17-year-old boy was shot several times in the head and presumed dead by Chicago Fire Department paramedics.ABC7 Eyewitness News's cameras were on scene for at least 15 minutes before paramedics removed the sheet and began administering CPR. How long the teen actually lay there, still breathing is unknown. He was transported to Stroger Hospital in very critical condition.Witnesses at the scene were telling officers that the man was still alive."That individual has a catastrophic injury," said Chicago Police First Deputy Superintendent Anthony Riccio. "He was shot in the head and the prognosis is not good. I do understand that paramedics looked at him, believed him to be deceased, covered him with that sheet and moved on to another individual who was nearby who was also shot. They saw motion, movement underneath the sheet. Officers who were present notified paramedics, this man is still alive."According to Chicago EMS protocols, it is paramedics who triage patients when responding to a 911 call. Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago said they still don't know how the teenager was mistaken for dead."We're looking into it right now. We're trying to piece everything together. We're looking at the computers where they put down all that information. Paramedics put down that information," Santiago said.A woman between 20-25 years old was pronounced dead at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds. Police said she was found in the 1400-block of West Washburne Avenue. The Cook County Medical Examiner identified her as 22-year-old Shalonza E. McToy.A 21-year-old man was shot in the leg and 23-year-old man was shot in the arm. Both were transported to Stroger Hospital in stable condition, police said.A 25-year-old man shot multiple times in the abdomen and was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital by his girlfriend and is in stable condition, police said. A sixth victim, a 21-year-old man, was discovered at Rush Hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg. He was treated and released.Area Central detectives are investigating and a weapon, possibly a Mac-10, was recovered from the scene. Police said there are several surveillance cameras in the area.Police said none of the surviving shooting victims are cooperating with investigators and the shooting is believed to be related to an ongoing gang dispute in the area. ||||| A teenage boy died early Tuesday, more than 20 hours after he was shot in the head at a party on the Near West Side and his body covered with a sheet as paramedics treated others who were hit by gunfire. Erin Carey, 17, was among six people who were shot after two cars circled the party around 4:50 a.m. Monday in the 1200 block of South Loomis Street in the University Village neighborhood, Chicago police said. A woman, 22, was also killed and four men were injured. Carey’s body was covered by a white sheet for at least an hour as paramedics tended to other victims. People at the edge of the crime scene began yelling as his arms and legs twitched. “He ain’t dead,�? a woman cried, as others shouted at the boy to get up. Paramedics began performing chest compressions and lifted him into an ambulance. He was taken in "very critical condition" Stroger Hospital on full life support, according to police and fire officials. Evanston Township High School Erin Carey, 2018 graduate of Evanston Township High School. Erin Carey, 2018 graduate of Evanston Township High School. (Evanston Township High School) (Evanston Township High School) Carey was pronounced dead at 1:14 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He lived in the 200 block of South Lockwood Street. Fire officials said they were looking into the response of the paramedics, who triage patients when responding to a 911 call and decide which ones to treat first. Chicago police First Deputy Superintendent Anthony Riccio said the teen had suffered a "catastrophic" wound. "He was shot in the head and the prognosis is not good," Riccio told reporters Monday. "I do understand that paramedics looked at him, believed him to be deceased, covered him with that sheet and moved on to another individual who was nearby who was also shot. "They saw motion, movement underneath the sheet," he added. "Officers who were present notified paramedics." MORE COVERAGE: Crowd yells at paramedics as body covered by sheet begins to move: 'He ain't dead' » 'Unacceptable and frustrating': Chicago sees most violent weekend of the year » ||||| Please enable Javascript to watch this video CHICAGO -- A 17-year-old boy has died a day after being shot several times at a party on the Near West Side. The shooting happened just before 5 a.m. Monday on the 1300 block of South Loomis Street in the city's University Village neighborhood. Police said people were attending a party when shots were fired during a gang dispute. Police say Erin Carey was shot several times in the head. Carey was originally mistaken for dead and covered with a sheet until bystanders noticed him moving and told paramedics. Paramedics administered CPR to the boy, who was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition. It was at least 30 minutes before he was taken away by ambulance. The Chicago Fire Department is investigating whether paramedics followed proper protocol in treating Carey. Police say a woman was pronounced dead at the scene. She has been identified as 22-year-old Shalonza McToy. Four other people were shot. No one is in custody. Carey had just graduated from Evanston Township High School. The school released the following statement regarding his death: The Evanston Township High School family is deeply saddened by the loss of a member of our Class of 2018, Erin Carey, who passed away on June 19, according to the Chicago Police Department. An investigation is ongoing. Many of our students and staff will have a difficult time dealing with the loss of a fellow Wildkit. A list of community resources is available on the ETHS website: http://www.eths.k12.il.us/Page/799. The ETHS Student Services Department will provide drop-in grief counseling during Summer School hours for Summer School students seeking support. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Erin’s family and friends, our students, and staff. Additional information regarding services may be available according to the family’s wishes. ||||| The weekend began with seven people shot in just an hour on the South Side. It ended with 10 people shot in two attacks on the West Side. By Monday morning, at least 56 people had been hit by gunfire in Chicago over the weekend. At least nine of them died, according to data kept by the Tribune. It was the worst weekend for violence in the city this year. But more troubling, it was close to comparable weekends in 2016 and 2017, when gun violence hit levels not seen in Chicago in more than a decade. "Most of Chicago celebrated and enjoyed this weekend," Chicago police First Deputy Superintendent Anthony Riccio told reporters, referring to Pride Fest on the North Side and various Father’s Day celebrations. "However, we saw an unacceptable and frustrating level of gun violence in several communities. “There’s too many illegal guns on the street,” he added, echoing a constant theme of his boss, Superintendent Eddie Johnson. “They’re too easy to get.” READ MORE: A hot, violent weekend in Chicago: 9 killed, 46 wounded by gunfire » As bad as shootings have been in some parts of the city this year, overall they have been down substantially from the previous two years. But not last weekend, an analysis of Tribune data shows. At least 59 people were shot in Chicago during the weekend of June 16 last year and again during the weekend of June 17 in 2016. Weather was no doubt a factor. Temperatures climbed into the middle 90s both days, drawing more people into the street later into the night. According to police, that usually increases the odds of rivals running into each other or arguments escalating into gunfire. Two of the city's most violent police districts bore the brunt of the weekend gunfire: 10 shot in Harrison, nine in bordering Ogden, the data show. The next highest was the Near West Side District: seven shot in two attacks. The Englewood District to the south also recorded seven shot. About half the victims were in their 20s. Thirteen were in their teens. Seven were girls and young women. The worst attack occurred as the weekend was winding down. Two cars circled a block where a party was being held in the 1300 block of South Loomis Street in University Village on the Near West Side and then at least two people opened fire. Six people were hit, including a women in her 20s who was shot in the chest, left arm and head and died at the scene, police said. A 17-year-old boy was shot several times in the head. He was covered in a white sheet, but his bare arms, jean cuffs and boots were left exposed. People gathered at the edge of the crime scene saw his arm and leg twitch slightly. “Get up,” people yelled. “He ain’t dead,” a woman cried. READ MORE: Bystanders beg police to take sheet off teen seen twitching after shooting: ‘He ain’t dead’ » Paramedics performed chest compressions on the 17-year-old as some in the crowd begged police to take the sheet off. Others spoke to the teen, encouraging him to pull through. The teen was carried into an ambulance and taken to Stroger Hospital in "very critical condition," according to police. Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said he was trying to gather more information about the ambulance response. Riccio said the 17-year-old suffered a “catastrophic” wound to the head. “This is a tragedy," Riccio said. "We are working through profiles and backgrounds to get an idea as to what could have prompted the shooting." Another multiple shooting occurred hours earlier, about three miles away in Little Village. Three men and a woman were standing on the street in the 2200 block of South Sacramento Avenue about 9:30 p.m. Sunday when a gunman walked up and began firing, police said. Their conditions ranged from critical to good. Two children stood outside a home and watched as police shined flashlights across the sidewalk and placed evidence markers near shell casings. The children caught Annette Hernandez’s eye as she walked past. “You see, there are kids running around,” she said. “Every night, it’s the same stuff.” One of the weekend shootings occurred in a place that doesn't see a lot of violence: along the lake near Buckingham Fountain. A 28-year-old man was with a group on the Lakefront Trail near Balbo Drive about 1:40 a.m. Sunday when there was an argument and shots were fired, according to police. Travis Perry, 24, of Oak Forest, said he was sitting on a ledge with several friends when he heard four or five gunshots and felt a bullet whiz past his face. He grabbed his girlfriend and got on the ground. He noticed a man lying facedown. “There was blood coming out of his back.” He took off his black shirt and used it to put pressure against the wound. Paramedics placed the man on a stretcher and moved him from the paved trail into an ambulance. He was taken in critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “It feels really good to have been able to help someone,” Perry said. “It’s crazy. You never think it’s going to happen right there next to Michigan Avenue and the lake and everything.” mabuckley@chicagotribune.com hleone@chicagotribune.com jgorner@chicagotribune.com ||||| Update: The teen, later identified as 17-year-old Erin Carey, died early Tuesday morning. CHICAGO -- A 17-year-old Chicago boy shot several times in the head was mistaken for dead and covered with a sheet until bystanders noticed him moving and told paramedics. Chicago Fire Department officials are trying to determine how the mix-up happened after the early Monday shooting that left one dead and five wounded. Paramedics administered CPR to the boy, who was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition. Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago said investigators are trying to piece together the decision making leading to the teenager being mistaken for dead. Police say a woman whose name hasn't been released was pronounced dead at the scene. They say the gunfire erupted after two cars circled a party near the University of Illinois-Chicago campus, at the ABLA Brooks Homes public housing complex, reports CBS Chicago. Police First Deputy Supt. Anthony Riccio told reporters none of the surviving victims were cooperating with police, but evidence at the scene suggested there was an exchange of gunfire among several people. Riccio said there's ongoing gang conflict in the area, and the shooting appeared to stem from some sort of dispute. Riccio said the 17 year old was on full life support, and his family was deciding how to proceed. "That individual has a catastrophic injury. He was shot in the head, and the prognosis is not good," he said. Riccio said he didn't know how long the teen lay under the sheet before paramedics began CPR. Police said a weapon, possibly a MAC-10 submachine gun, was recovered near the body of the 17-year-old. Detectives also were reviewing video from several cameras in the area. The wounds to the other four victims were considered non-life-threatening, authorities said. ||||| Teen covered with sheet by paramedics, later found breathing, has died Five people were shot, one of them fatally, minutes after the sun rose Monday morning at a party in the University Village neighborhood on the Near West Side. The shooting happened about 4:50 a.m. in the 1300 block of South Loomis, outside the ABLA/Brooks Homes, a CTA housing facility, according to Chicago Police. | Mitch Dudek/Sun-Times A teenager who was shot multiple times in the head and had a sheet placed over him by paramedics — who realized minutes later that he was still breathing — has died. Erin Carey, 17, of the Austin neighborhood was pronounced dead at 1:14 a.m. Tuesday at Stroger Hospital. He was shot about 4:45 a.m. Monday in the 1300 block of South Loomis outside the ABLA/Brooks Homes, a CTA housing facility, in the University Village neighborhood. Four others were also shot — one of them fatally. Authorities are trying to determine how paramedics mistakenly thought Carey was dead. On Tuesday, CFD spokesman Larry Langford said officials were investigating why Carey wasn’t treated in “a more timely manner.” “We are reviewing dispatch recordings, phone calls and our paramedics to determine what did led to the patient being left under a sheet when he had not been pronounced dead, and in fact had life signs despite a traumatic wound from which he could not recover,” Langford said. At a Monday news conference, CPD Deputy Supt. Anthony Riccio said he didn’t know “the length of time [he was under the sheet] but from what my understanding of the incident is — that individual has a catastrophic injury.” WLS-TV (Channel 7) recorded video of the teen moving under the sheet and reported he was covered for several minutes before a paramedic uncovered him and began performing chest compressions. “He was shot in the head and the prognosis is not good. I do understand that paramedics looked at him, believed him to be deceased, covered him with that sheet and moved on to another individual who was nearby who was also shot,” Riccio said. “(Officers) saw a motion, movement, underneath the sheet. Officers who were present notified the paramedics ‘this man is still alive’ and treatment began on him as well,” Riccio said. “Again, his injuries are catastrophic, that is something I think definitely has to be looked at to find out exactly what happened,” Riccio said. “He’s on full life support. … I understand the family is there with him and they’ll have to make a decision on how to proceed.” Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Jose Santiago said Monday after an unrelated news conference that he was unaware of specifics and couldn’t immediately comment. “We’re looking into it right now,” he said, briefly noting that paramedics consider several factors when assessing gunshot victims. “There’s also something going on that a lot of people forget, it’s known as triage,” Santiago said, referring to the practice of first responders sorting victims by medical priority in order to increase the number of survivors. “When the first ambulance gets on the scene they’ll take a look at the victims and they will concentrate on the ones they know they can save, right away. That’s the first thing that takes place,” Santiago said. Riccio said multiple shell casings found at the scene suggest an exchange of gunfire from multiple shooters. A woman in her early 20s, shot multiple times in her head and arm, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 21-year-old man was shot in his leg, a 23-year-old man was shot in his arm and another 23-year-old man was shot multiple times in his abdomen. The shooting stemmed from an argument at a party, police said. “At least four of the victims are known to the Chicago police department,” Riccio said, adding that there is an ongoing gang conflict in that area. “We’re working to find out why exactly these individuals were targeted and what caused the shooting … at this time none of the non-fatal victims are cooperating with the police,” he said. The shooting occurred adjacent to the CTA housing facility and about a block west of the Chicago Police Department’s 12th district police station, also known as the Near West District. The shooting also occurred about right outside the front entrance of the Jane Addams Family Resource Center, less than a block from Urban Prep Academy’s West Campus and three blocks south of Taylor Street — the main drag of Little Italy. Contributing: Sun-Times Wire

– A 17-year-old male shot multiple times in the head began moving under a sheet in Chicago, triggering a failed attempt to save him. Paramedics had arrived early Monday on the scene of a shooting after two vehicles were seen circling a party at a housing complex near the University of Illinois-Chicago campus around 4:45am, per CBS News. A 22-year-old woman identified as Shalonza E. McToy was one of what was initially thought to be two deceased victims, per WLS. But teenager Erin Carey, covered with a sheet for at least an hour as paramedics moved on to other victims, suddenly began moving his arms and legs, reports the Chicago Tribune. Following CPR, he was taken to a hospital on full life support, but he died shortly after 1am Tuesday, reports WGN. Four males ages 21 to 25 were also injured in the shooting, which helped make up Chicago's most violent weekend so far this year, reports the Tribune. At least 56 people had been shot by Monday morning, at least nine of whom died. The Tribune reports 13 victims were in their teens. It's "unacceptable and frustrating," says Chicago Police First Deputy Supt. Anthony Riccio. "There's too many illegal guns on the street. They're too easy to get." Pointing to ongoing gang conflict in the area of Monday's shooting in University Village, Riccio adds "at least four of the victims are known to the Chicago Police Department," but no survivors are cooperating with investigators, per the Chicago Sun-Times.

Prince Rushed to Hospital After Emergency Landing Prince Rushed to Hospital After Emergency Landing EXCLUSIVE 3:30 PM PST -- A rep for Prince tells TMZ, the singer has been fighting the flu for several weeks. He canceled 2 shows on April 7th but wanted to make Thursday night's performance in Atlanta, even though he was still not feeling well. After the show, he got on a plane and felt considerably worse, so his plane made an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois, where he was taken to the hospital and treated. He was released 3 hours later, got back on the plane and is now back home. Prince was rushed to a hospital early Friday morning after his jet made an emergency landing in Illinois ... TMZ has learned. According to our sources, Prince's private plane made an unscheduled landing at Quad City International Airport in Moline just after 1 AM. The singer was immediately transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. A source close to the 57-year-old singer tells us he's been released and is doing okay. The nature of the medical emergency is unclear. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had performed Thursday night in Atlanta ... and he was in the air for only a short time before things went south. ||||| Minnesota music superstar Prince was rushed to a hospital early Friday after his private plane made an emergency landing in ­Illinois. The pop star’s jet landed at Quad City International Airport in Moline, where Prince was taken to a nearby hospital, according to the online entertainment site TMZ. Two sources close to Prince told the Star Tribune that he was at home in Chanhassen Friday evening. One said he had been suffering from “bad dehydration” but that “all’s good.” TMZ said a Prince rep told the site that he has been fighting the flu for several weeks. He had canceled two April 7 shows in Atlanta, but wanted to make Thursday night’s performance there, though he was still not feeling well. After his plane took off, TMZ said, he felt considerably worse, so his jet made an emergency landing. He got back on the plane three hours later to return home. Prince’s Twitter account was continuing to operate normally Friday with no mention of any incident. The latest tweet: A reference to the song “Controversy,” which starts “I just can’t believe all the things people say.” The tweet ended with two smiley face emoticons. According to flight records, a private jet operated by Executive Jet Management left the Atlanta airport at 11:51 p.m. CDT, but more than an hour after takeoff, the plane was diverted and it landed six minutes later in Moline at 1:12 a.m. Prince performed Thursday night in Atlanta, and he was in the air for only a short time before he began feeling poorly.

– Musical superstar Prince was rushed to the hospital early Friday morning after his private jet made an emergency landing in Illinois, TMZ reports. The 57-year-old musician had been suffering from the flu for weeks and had canceled two shows earlier this month but performed Thursday night in Atlanta despite still feeling under the weather. He was flying home to Minnesota after the show when his plane was forced to stop in Illinois, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Prince was taken to the hospital and released three hours later. A source tells the Star Tribune that Prince had "bad dehydration" but is "all good" at home now. (Prince appeared to be in better health—possibly better than any 57-year-old in history—earlier this year when the internet lost it over his passport photo.)

They came from all corners of the region and screamed louder with each strike and every out in the bottom of the 10th inning as the San Francisco Giants closed in on a second championship in three years Sunday. San Francisco Giants fans celebrate outside PacBell Park on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in San Francisco after the Giants swept baseball's World Series against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (Associated Press) San Francisco Giants fans celebrate outside PacBell Park on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in San Francisco after the Giants swept baseball's World Series against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (Associated Press) San Francisco Giants fan David Zweig celebrates outside PacBell Park on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in San Francisco after the Giants swept baseball's World Series against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/Noah... (Associated Press) San Francisco Giants fans celebrate outside PacBell Park on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in San Francisco after the Giants swept baseball's World Series against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (Associated Press) San Francisco Giants fans celebrate outside PacBell Park on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in San Francisco after the Giants swept baseball's World Series against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (Associated Press) San Francisco Giants fans climb on a bus while celebrating outside PacBell Park on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in San Francisco after the Giants swept baseball's World Series against the Detroit Tigers. (AP... (Associated Press) The 2,000 fans assembled to watch the game on a Jumbotron a park across from City Hall grew in numbers and volume throughout the chilly and foggy night, exploding in unison with a roar with the final out. Fans across the city left their televisions and raced into the streets, where they were greeted by diners and bar patrons who raced outside to celebrate as well. Car horns blared long into the night and revelers blocked traffic in front of popular watering holes around town. At Polk and Bush streets in the city's Polk Gulch neighborhood, hundreds of fans sprayed champagne, set of off firecrackers and blocked traffic for at least two hours after the game. Several blocks away, police clad in riot gear looked on as revelers danced around Civic Center plaza where they watched the game on the Jumbotron. Anthony Yos, 10, hugged his brother Luciano Yos, 15 and the two danced in an embrace with their parents. "This is the greatest thing," Anthony said with a smile that could go no wider. "The Giants are my favorite team." Someone in the crowd launched fireworks a few minutes after the game and the park was awash with revelers, strangers hugging strangers and wine bottles and marijuana cigarettes being freely passed through the crowd despite a heavy police presence. "This is San Francisco, "said Laura Chu. "We know how to party." Sara Vivas brought her 6-year-old daughter Briana Cepeda from Oakland to view the game and join the celebration. They were both clad head-to-toe in Giants garb. "This is something she will remember forever," Sara said. Bars of all stripes, from the Castro to Chinatown were packed with supporters of the beloved Giants. So-called pedicabs whisked fans down roads blocked to traffic and revelers enjoyed a New Year's Eve-like freedom to roam up and down streets usually clogged with traffic. Small fires broke out in trash cans here and there, but the violence and vandalism appeared to have been kept to a minimum a few hours after the last pitch. Shortly before midnight, police said the street celebration was still going. "We're watching out for any major flareups and fires," said police spokesman officer Carlos Manfredi. "We want to maintain public safety at all times, and don't want to put first responders in any danger." He said police were responding to certain hot spots but had no reports of serious problems. No arrest figures were available. Mayor Edwin Lee announced the ticker-tape parade would be held Wednesday at 11 a.m., down Market Street to Civic Center Plaza "The rain in Detroit couldn't dampen the drive, talent and determination of the San Francisco Giants team tonight. Once again, the Giants brought our City together as we all cheered on our hometown heroes to another remarkable World Series victory," he said. The 2010 parade drew hundreds of thousands fans, who lined the streets of downtown San Francisco. The parade ends at City Hall. The party started early in Civic Center park, with many showing up hours before the 5 p.m. game on a nice Indian Summer day in San Francisco, wearing shorts and t-shirts. The blankets and sweaters came out when the sun went down and the fog rolled in, but the chill didn't damper the enthusiasm. Many in the crowd were carrying brooms in hope of the series sweep that came to be. "We they were going to sweep," said Elizabeth Choy-Lau, 32, of San Francisco. She and her husband were carrying brooms. "There was no doubt," said Steve Lau, 30. The city's ubiquitous food trucks did a brisk business and drummers of all types beat their instruments throughout the game. "Where else in the world do you want to be tonight," replied Dave Wormald of Toronto. Wormald and two other colleagues were in town for a business meeting and were watching the game at their hotel when they decided to embark for City Hall. "This is the place to be," said Jim Vliet, Wormald's colleague. ||||| S.F. Giants fans delirious with joy GIANTS SWEEP! They agonized through the cliff-hanger playoffs. They held their breath as their heroes crushed the Detroit Tigers in the first three games. And then, after 10 nail-biting innings on Sunday, as the final pitch sealed the Giants' World Series win - San Francisco fans exploded with joy. By the thousands, they screamed their happiness to the sky and to each other. They took over whole streets from the Mission District to North Beach to the Civic Center to outside AT&T Park. They sprayed beer all over each other and danced in conga lines. A few of the rowdier ones set off fireworks, lit bonfires and climbed atop Muni buses or any car that happened to be at hand. "Oh man, it's so exciting," Brandon Mandap, 27, of Vallejo yelled as fireworks exploded over Civic Center Plaza, where thousands of people spent more than 3 1/2 hours watching on the big screen as the Giants finished off the Detroit Tigers. "It's amazing to be here. I love this city!" All around him, people blew horns, drummed in a mosh pit and hugged each other. In North Beach, celebrators sprayed Champagne and danced in the street, waving brooms and chanting, "Sweep, sweep, sweep." Photo: Alex Washburn, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 52 Caption Close Image 1 of 52 People party at the intersection of Mission and 19th Streets in San Francisco Calif. celebrating the San Francisco Giants second World Series win in three years on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. People party at the intersection of Mission and 19th Streets in San Francisco Calif. celebrating the San Francisco Giants second World Series win in three years on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. Photo: Alex Washburn, Special To The Chronicle Image 2 of 52 People party at the intersection of Mission and 19th Streets in San Francisco Calif. celebrating the San Francisco Giants second World Series win in three years on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. People party at the intersection of Mission and 19th Streets in San Francisco Calif. celebrating the San Francisco Giants second World Series win in three years on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. Photo: Alex Washburn, Special To The Chronicle Image 3 of 52 Police hold a line as the San Francisco Fire Department attempts to put out a fire at 24th and Mission Streets in San Francisco Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. The fire was set as people took to the streets to riot and celebrate the San Francisco Giants' second World Series win in three years. less Police hold a line as the San Francisco Fire Department attempts to put out a fire at 24th and Mission Streets in San Francisco Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. The fire was set as people took to the streets to ... more Photo: Alex Washburn, Special To The Chronicle Image 4 of 52 Leo Funaki stands in front of a car that was turned over on Market St. in San Francisco after the Giants won the World Series on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. Leo Funaki stands in front of a car that was turned over on Market St. in San Francisco after the Giants won the World Series on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. Photo: Mathew Sumner, Special To The Chronicle Image 5 of 52 Fireworks erupted over North Beach after the Giants victory. Giants fans in North Beach went wild as their baseball team won their second World Series title in three years Sunday October 28, 2012. Fireworks erupted over North Beach after the Giants victory. Giants fans in North Beach went wild as their baseball team won their second World Series title in three years Sunday October 28, 2012. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle Image 6 of 52 On Grant Avenue, smoke from fireworks and fans in the middle of the street. Giants fans in North Beach went wild as their baseball team won their second World Series title in three years Sunday October 28, 2012. less On Grant Avenue, smoke from fireworks and fans in the middle of the street. Giants fans in North Beach went wild as their baseball team won their second World Series title in three years Sunday October 28, ... more Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle Image 7 of 52 Giants fans revel in the streets in San Francisco after the Giants won the World Series on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. Giants fans revel in the streets in San Francisco after the Giants won the World Series on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. Photo: Mathew Sumner, Special To The Chronicle Image 8 of 52 Police hold a line as the San Francisco Fire Department attempts to put out a fire at 24th and Mission Streets in San Francisco Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. The fire was set as people took to the streets to riot and celebrate the San Francisco Giants' second World Series win in three years. less Police hold a line as the San Francisco Fire Department attempts to put out a fire at 24th and Mission Streets in San Francisco Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. The fire was set as people took to the streets to ... more Photo: Alex Washburn, Special To The Chronicle Image 9 of 52 Everyone was running through the street after the victory. Giants fans in North Beach went wild as their baseball team won their second World Series title in three years Sunday October 28, 2012. Everyone was running through the street after the victory. Giants fans in North Beach went wild as their baseball team won their second World Series title in three years Sunday October 28, 2012. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle Image 10 of 52 Giants fan Ronnie Gonsalvez along with others celebrate their team winning the World Series on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza will host a viewing party for Giants fans hoping to see their team win a third World Series title in five years. Mayor Ed Lee’s office said Major League Baseball has granted permission to the city to show Game 6 on a Jumbotron in front of City Hall. First pitch is scheduled for 5:07 p.m. Tuesday. Admission is free. Alcohol will not be sold or permitted in the plaza and the San Francisco police and Recreation and Park departments said they will enforce a zero-tolerance policy. The plaza is expected to fill up quickly and city officials urge attendees to use BART, Muni or other public transit options. less Giants fan Ronnie Gonsalvez along with others celebrate their team winning the World Series on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza will host a viewing party for Giants fans hoping to ... more Photo: Mathew Sumner / Special To The Chronicle Image 11 of 52 Giants fans Tim Pedersen, left, and John Gioseffi along with others celebrate Buster Posey's two-run homer at Left O'Douls on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. Giants fans Tim Pedersen, left, and John Gioseffi along with others celebrate Buster Posey's two-run homer at Left O'Douls on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. Photo: Mathew Sumner, Special To The Chronicle Image 12 of 52 Fans react to a Tigers home run at a World Series viewing party at Civic Center in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Fans react to a Tigers home run at a World Series viewing party at Civic Center in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Photo: Jason Henry, Special To The Chronicle Image 13 of 52 Gevo Lopez, 29, center, and thousands of other fans react to a Giants run at a World Series viewing party at Civic Center in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Gevo Lopez, 29, center, and thousands of other fans react to a Giants run at a World Series viewing party at Civic Center in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Photo: Jason Henry, Special To The Chronicle Image 14 of 52 Tigers fan, Cheryl Gilliam admires Jamie Awad's of San Francisco outfit as the San Francisco Giants prepare to take on the Detroit Tigers in game four of the World Series on Sunday Oct. 28, 2012 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. less Tigers fan, Cheryl Gilliam admires Jamie Awad's of San Francisco outfit as the San Francisco Giants prepare to take on the Detroit Tigers in game four of the World Series on Sunday Oct. 28, 2012 at Comerica ... more Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 15 of 52 Thousands of other fans react to a Giants run at a World Series viewing party at Civic Center in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Thousands of other fans react to a Giants run at a World Series viewing party at Civic Center in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Photo: Jason Henry, Special To The Chronicle Image 16 of 52 May Calceta watching the World Series along with other Giants fans at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. May Calceta watching the World Series along with other Giants fans at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. Photo: Mathew Sumner, Special To The Chronicle Image 17 of 52 Giants fan, Jackson Allen, 12, from Texas who used to live in the Bay Area gathers around the Giants' dugout during batting practice as the San Francisco Giants prepare to take on the Detroit Tigers in game four of the World Series on Sunday Oct. 28, 2012 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. less Giants fan, Jackson Allen, 12, from Texas who used to live in the Bay Area gathers around the Giants' dugout during batting practice as the San Francisco Giants prepare to take on the Detroit Tigers in game ... more Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 18 of 52 The Giants celebrate their World Series win at Comerica Park on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012 in Detroit, MI. The Giants celebrate their World Series win at Comerica Park on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012 in Detroit, MI. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 19 of 52 Brothers Elson and Gerardo Orantes sweep third street in front of AT&T park after the San Francisco Giants win the World Series in a four game sweep again the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday Oct. 28, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif. less Brothers Elson and Gerardo Orantes sweep third street in front of AT&T park after the San Francisco Giants win the World Series in a four game sweep again the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday Oct. 28, 2012 in ... more Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Image 20 of 52 Sergio Romo, Buster Posey and Series MVP Pablo Sandoval celebrate the Giants' 10th-inning triumph over the Detroit Tigers in Game 4. Sergio Romo, Buster Posey and Series MVP Pablo Sandoval celebrate the Giants' 10th-inning triumph over the Detroit Tigers in Game 4. Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle Image 21 of 52 Fan celebrate after the San Francisco Giants won the World Series on October 28, 2012. Fan celebrate after the San Francisco Giants won the World Series on October 28, 2012. Photo: Sean Culligan, Special To The Chronicle Image 22 of 52 Fan dance around a small trash fire in the street near AT&T park after the San Francisco Giants win the World Series in a four game sweep against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday Oct. 28, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif. less Fan dance around a small trash fire in the street near AT&T park after the San Francisco Giants win the World Series in a four game sweep against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday Oct. 28, 2012 in San ... more Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Image 23 of 52 Giants fans burn a couch and trash as they celebrate on Mission and 19th streets in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Giants fans burn a couch and trash as they celebrate on Mission and 19th streets in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Photo: Jason Henry, Special To The Chronicle Image 24 of 52 Giants fans celebrate on Mission and 19th streets in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Giants fans celebrate on Mission and 19th streets in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Photo: Jason Henry, Special To The Chronicle Image 25 of 52 Giants fans celebrate on Mission and 19th streets in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Giants fans celebrate on Mission and 19th streets in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Photo: Jason Henry, Special To The Chronicle Image 26 of 52 SFPD advanced up Mission street dispersing crowd so SFFD could extinguish the fires during Giants World Series celebrations in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. SFPD advanced up Mission street dispersing crowd so SFFD could extinguish the fires during Giants World Series celebrations in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Photo: Jason Henry, Special To The Chronicle Image 27 of 52 A fan celebrated by jumping over the fire during Giants World Series celebrations on Mission Street in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. A fan celebrated by jumping over the fire during Giants World Series celebrations on Mission Street in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Photo: Jason Henry, Special To The Chronicle Image 28 of 52 Fans celebrate the Giants sweeping the 2012 World Series championship win on Mission Street in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Fans celebrate the Giants sweeping the 2012 World Series championship win on Mission Street in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Photo: Jason Henry, Special To The Chronicle Image 29 of 52 In the midst of the rioting a masked person lights trash cans on fire as Giants fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning their second World Series in three years in the Mission District of San Francisco Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. less In the midst of the rioting a masked person lights trash cans on fire as Giants fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning their second World Series in three years in the Mission District of San Francisco ... more Photo: Alex Washburn, Special To The Chronicle Image 30 of 52 A San Francisco Giants fan gets help from police officers and friends after sustaining injuries during celebrations early Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in San Francisco's Mission district after the Giants defeated the Detroit Tigers to win baseball's World Series on Sunday, Oct. 28. less A San Francisco Giants fan gets help from police officers and friends after sustaining injuries during celebrations early Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in San Francisco's Mission district after the Giants defeated the ... more Photo: Noah Berger, Associated Press Image 31 of 52 Fans celebrate on top of buses after the San Francisco Giants won the World Series on Sunday, October 28, 2012. Fans celebrate on top of buses after the San Francisco Giants won the World Series on Sunday, October 28, 2012. Photo: Sean Culligan, Special To The Chronicle Image 32 of 52 Giants fans celebrate at Civic Center at a World Series viewing party at Civic Center in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Giants fans celebrate at Civic Center at a World Series viewing party at Civic Center in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Photo: Jason Henry, Special To The Chronicle Image 33 of 52 Giants fans celebrate at Civic Center at a World Series viewing party at Civic Center in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Giants fans celebrate at Civic Center at a World Series viewing party at Civic Center in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Photo: Jason Henry, Special To The Chronicle Image 34 of 52 A woman attempts to provoke a Police Officer as the San Francisco Fire Department attempts to put out a fire at 24th and Mission Streets in San Francisco Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. The fire was set as people took to the streets to riot and celebrate the San Francisco Giants' second World Series win in three years. less A woman attempts to provoke a Police Officer as the San Francisco Fire Department attempts to put out a fire at 24th and Mission Streets in San Francisco Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. The fire was set as ... more Photo: Alex Washburn, Special To The Chronicle Image 35 of 52 Fans on Market Street in downtown San Francisco celebrate following the Giants World Series win over the Detroit Tigers. Fans on Market Street in downtown San Francisco celebrate following the Giants World Series win over the Detroit Tigers. Photo: Luanne Dietz, The Chronicle Image 36 of 52 Fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Image 37 of 52 Fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Image 38 of 52 Fans celebrate in San Francisco after the Giants won the World Series on October 28, 2012. Fans celebrate in San Francisco after the Giants won the World Series on October 28, 2012. Photo: Susana Bates, Special To The Chronicle Image 39 of 52 Fans on Grant Avenue came out of the bars to celebrate. Giants fans in North Beach went wild as their baseball team won their second World Series title in three years Sunday October 28, 2012. Fans on Grant Avenue came out of the bars to celebrate. Giants fans in North Beach went wild as their baseball team won their second World Series title in three years Sunday October 28, 2012. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle Image 40 of 52 Bernardo Nabarro(center) of Pittsburg, CA holds a burning broom as he and other fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. less Bernardo Nabarro(center) of Pittsburg, CA holds a burning broom as he and other fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October ... more Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Image 41 of 52 Giants fans celebrate on the corner of Market Street and 7th Avenue in downtown San Francisco following the Giants World Series win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday October, 28. Giants fans celebrate on the corner of Market Street and 7th Avenue in downtown San Francisco following the Giants World Series win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday October, 28. Photo: Luanne Dietz, Special To The Chronicle Image 42 of 52 Giants fans celebrate on Mission and 19th streets in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Giants fans celebrate on Mission and 19th streets in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Photo: Jason Henry, Special To The Chronicle Image 43 of 52 Fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Image 44 of 52 Fans light a sign on fire and dance around it as they celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Fans light a sign on fire and dance around it as they celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Image 45 of 52 Fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Image 46 of 52 Sean Egensis of Santa Cruz throws up his arms as he and other fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T; park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Sean Egensis of Santa Cruz throws up his arms as he and other fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T; park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Image 47 of 52 Fans at Giordano Bros on Columbus Avenue celebrate the Giants victory. Giants fans in North Beach went wild as their baseball team won their second World Series title in three years Sunday October 28, 2012. Fans at Giordano Bros on Columbus Avenue celebrate the Giants victory. Giants fans in North Beach went wild as their baseball team won their second World Series title in three years Sunday October 28, 2012. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle Image 48 of 52 Linda Shak and Avital Ungar celebrate at Pheonix Bar in the Mission District of San Francisco Calif. as the San Francisco Giants take the lead in the top of the 10th inning as they play game four of the world series on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. less Linda Shak and Avital Ungar celebrate at Pheonix Bar in the Mission District of San Francisco Calif. as the San Francisco Giants take the lead in the top of the 10th inning as they play game four of the world ... more Photo: Alex Washburn, Special To The Chronicle Image 49 of 52 Fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Fans celebrate the San Francisco Giants winning the 2012 World Series outside of AT&T park in San Francisco, Sunday October 28th, 2012. Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle Image 50 of 52 Fans on Grant Avenue took to the street to celebrate. Giants fans in North Beach went wild as their baseball team won their second World Series title in three years Sunday October 28, 2012. Fans on Grant Avenue took to the street to celebrate. Giants fans in North Beach went wild as their baseball team won their second World Series title in three years Sunday October 28, 2012. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle Image 51 of 52 Jeremy Manongdo celebrates in San Francisco after the Giants won the World Series on October 28, 2012. Jeremy Manongdo celebrates in San Francisco after the Giants won the World Series on October 28, 2012. Photo: Susana Bates, Special To The Chronicle Image 52 of 52 S.F. Giants fans delirious with joy 1 / 52 Back to Gallery "We swept them," said Frank Orrell, 29. "You can't do anything better than that." Noel Salcedo, a 29-year-old banker from Walnut Creek, poured out of Lucky Strike bar near the Giants ballpark to join the on-the-spot, open-air party. "We already made history, and here we are sweeping the Detroit Tigers after everybody counted us out!" he yelled. Inside the bar, moments after the Giants scored their game-winning run in the 10th inning, hundreds broke into chants of, "Mar-co Scut-aro," and poured beer and Champagne on each other. With the championship came the garb to prove it. Marjorie Anicete, 23, of San Bruno watched the entire game inside the Giants Dugout store at the ballpark. She was among the first to purchase a World Championship T-shirt for $32. "Once they started wheeling in the boxes, everyone started going crazy," Anicete said. "There's so much adrenaline running through my veins - I can't believe this is happening." "I knew we'd go deep into the playoffs but now - I'm out of my mind right now!" Jon Comeaux, 23, of San Leandro yelled over the crowd noise in Civic Center Plaza. "The Giants run in our blood," beamed Sam Jordan III at the bar that bears his forebear's name, Sam Jordan in the Bayview. "It's all we've known all our life." Behind him, the game shone from every TV in the place. Hip-hop music was also pounding the walls, but for the whole game, everyone's attention was on the men in orange and black up on the screens. "They thought Detroit was going to run over us. It was Verlander this, Verlander that," said Jordan, referring to the Tigers' ace pitcher, Justin Verlander. "But Giants fans knew we could win." Fans were decked out all over the city in the team colors, some combining them with Halloween costumes. In Civic Center, one man pasted a Giants logo over the chest of his Superman costume, and a woman wrapped her witch's hat in orange ribbons. Eddie Mueller, 26, of San Francisco was wearing an orange jumpsuit issued by an Alameda County jail. He wouldn't say how he got it, but he said it did more than just communicate his team pride. "It's a two-for-one kind of outfit," he said. "If they win and I get good and crazy tonight, I'm all ready to go to jail. They don't even need to change my clothes." Police said they were ready for just such behavior, having called in extra officers. The last time the Giants won the World Series, two years ago, fights and fires broke out amid the celebrating, particularly near the ballpark and in the Mission. Sunday night, some officers and firefighters carried portable fire extinguishers, because in 2010 the crowds were so huge that fire trucks had trouble getting through. "We're going to help the partiers party," said police Sgt. Tad Yamaguchi. "As long as they're lawful and having fun, we're all for it." At Mission and 22th streets, fans lit bonfires and danced around the flames. At 11:30 p.m., police finally had enough, and after revelers threw beer bottles at them they charged the crowd and cleared it from the blaze. Flames also flickered from a street bonfire outside the ballpark, but there, police kept their distance. "It's a street party - how often do we get a chance to party like this?" Sara Schillings, 24, of Antioch said as she threw an empty Champagne bottle with one hand and drank a beer with the other. "Nobody wants to hurt anybody." Tom "Catman" Wolfe sat off to the side in his wheelchair at Third and King streets, soaking it all in. He's 58 and has been a Giants fan since he was growing up in New Jersey. "Two championships in three years, oh my God, I don't believe it," Wolfe said. "But tonight, I have to believe it." Chronicle staff writers Demian Bulwa, Vivian Ho and Will Kane contributed to this report.

– Giants fans went crazy last night in San Francisco after their team trounced the Detroit Tigers in a clean sweep to grab their second World Series title in three years. Bar crowds near the ballpark and across the city poured into the streets, and thousands watching the big game on a Jumbotron across from City Hall cheered around small fires lit in trash cans, guzzled beer, and smoked lots of pot. "I'm out of my mind right now," screamed one fan over the street noise to the San Francisco Chronicle. Cops were prepared just in case as the crowds got more boisterous as the night wore on. The last time the Giants won the Series in 2010, fights and fires broke out, and the streets were so jammed that fire trucks couldn't get through; so last night some cops and firefighters were carrying portable extinguishers as they patrolled the crowds. "We're going to help the partiers party," said a police sergeant. "As long as they're lawful and having fun, we're all for it." A ticker-tape parade is planned for the team Halloween morning, reports AP.

Their skin hasn't always been so flawless. GALLERY. » ||||| See more of Ariel Desiree McRae on Facebook ||||| When it comes to love, it's not about the money. Quinn and Ariel McRae dated for two years before tying the knot. But a saleswoman where the couple bought Ariel's rings tried to put a damper on the festivities by calling the jewelry "pathetic." "My husband doesn't have a lot, neither of us do," McRae explained in a Facebook post about the encounter. "We scrape and scrape to pay bills and put food in our bellies, but after almost 2 years of dating we decided that we couldn't wait anymore, so we didn't." "I wasn't even thinking about rings, I just wanted to marry my best friend," she continued, "But he wouldn't have it. He scraped up just enough money to buy me two matching rings from Pandora." The two headed to the store and picked out a pair of rings they could afford — two rings for $130. McRae was was thrilled to get her rings, and then, the couple encountered a saleswoman. "While we were purchasing my rings... another lady that was working there came over to help the lady selling them to us," she wrote. "She said, 'Y'all, can you believe that some men get these as engagement rings? How pathetic.'" "I watched my now husband's face fall," she continued. Quinn was already upset that he couldn't get his fiancé a more expensive ring, so the saleswoman's words crushed him. "He was so upset at the idea of not making me happy enough and of me not wanting to marry him because my rings didn't cost enough money or weren't flashy enough," she explained. "Y'all I would have gotten married to this man if it had been a 25¢ gum ball machine ring" she proudly posted. "When did our nation fall so far to think the only way a man can truly love a woman is if he buys her $3,000+ jewelry and makes a public decree of his affection with said flashy ring?" McRae quickly shot down the pretentious saleswoman, calmly saying, "It isn't the ring that matters, it is the love that goes into buying one that is." "My husband was so afraid of me not wanting him because he couldn't afford a piece of jewelry," she posted. "But here I am though, courthouse married, $130 ring set, the love of my life by my side and happier than I could ever imagine." Looks like this marriage is off to a pretty perfect start. Mashable reached out to McRae for a comment, and will update the story when she replies.

– Quinn and Ariel McRae don't have a lot of money. They say they "scrape and scrape to pay bills and put food in our bellies." What they do have is love, lots of it, and they decided it was high time after two years of dating to tie the knot, reports Mashable. So they pulled together $130, marched to a store in Martin, Tenn., and found a ring set from Pandora they could afford. Then a saleswoman interjected, telling the person they'd been working with, "Y'all, can you believe that some men get these as engagement rings? How pathetic." Taking to Facebook to recount their story, McRae says she watched her now-husband's face fall. But she stayed calm and replied, "It isn't the ring that matters, it is the love that goes into buying one." McRae doesn't stop there. "Y'all I would have gotten married to this man if it had been a 25¢ gum ball machine ring," she writes. "When did our nation fall so far to think the only way a man can truly love a woman is if he buys her $3,000+ jewelry and makes a public decree of his affection with said flashy ring?" Her post has amassed more than 55,000 shares and 75,000 likes, and Yahoo7 Be reports that many comments applaud her response. "My ring is CZ too!" one person writes. "I'm still just as much married as I would've been with a real [diamond]!" McRae, meanwhile, reports that she's now "courthouse-married" with a $130 ring set and "happier than I could ever imagine." (This $125,000 engagement ring is now being fought over in court.)

It was like something out of a seaside horror movie. Sea stars, once familiar and beautiful and iconic, suddenly had lesions covering their bodies; a sign that something was horribly wrong. Within a day, the stars with lesions started to melt, turning into globs of goo. And, soon after, any sea stars near them suffered the same gruesome fate. In all, from 2013 to 2014, millions of sea stars died, the largest known Sea Star Wasting Syndrome incident on record. The die-off spanned from British Columbia to the shores of Southern California down to Mexico. It was, and is, a mystery. But now, marine scientists are looking in Southern California tidepools and seeing hope — in the form of new, palm-sized sea stars. Colorful starfish cling to the seafloor of a kelp forest in Monterey Bay, California. Kelp forests throughout California harbor extraordinary marine biodiversity. A healthy sea star clings onto a rock at Crystal Cove a few weeks ago. Photo courtesy of Crystal Cove Conservancy. Sound The gallery will resume in seconds This undated photo released by the Rocky Intertidal Lab at the University of California-Santa Cruz shows a starfish suffering from “sea star wasting disease” – it’s missing one arm and has tissue damage to another. Marine scientists are finding a large number of dead starfish along the West Coast stricken with the disease that causes the creatures to lose their arms and disintegrate. The affliction causes white lesions to develop, which can spread and turn the animals into “goo”, and has killed up to 95 percent of a particular species of sea star in some tide pool populations. “They essentially melt in front of you,” said Pete Raimondi, chairman of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of California, Santa Cruz’s Long Marine Lab. (AP Photo/Laura Anderson, Rocky Intertidal Lab UC Santa Cruz) A healthy sea star clings onto a rock at Crystal Cove a few weeks ago. Photo courtesy of Crystal Cove Conservancy. A healthy sea star clings onto a rock at Crystal Cove a few weeks ago. Photo courtesy of Crystal Cove Conservancy. Starfish or sea stars on pier pilings. (Photo Courtesy Joe Katchka) Starfish or sea stars on pier pilings. (Photo Courtesy Joe Katchka) “They are coming back, big time,” said Darryl Deleske, aquarist for the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro. “It’s a huge difference… A couple of years ago, you wouldn’t find any. I dove all the way as far as Canada, specifically looking for sea stars, and found not a single one.” And the same signs are being seen around Southern California, in places like the rocky outcroppings off Crystal Cove State Beach and the breakwalls in Long Beach and the coves of Palos Verdes. A team at the University of Santa Cruz are believed to be the foremost expert son the latest Sea Star Wasting Disease, documenting early die offs and charting where the disease spread. According to the researchers, it’s not the first time the mysterious wasting syndrome has hit the West Coast.There were similar die offs in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, “but never before at this magnitude, and over such a wide geographic area,” reads a report by University of Santa Cruz’ Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department. It was first seen in a group of ochre stars during a monitoring survey in June 2013 along the coast of Washington state. Over the next few months it spread. After the ochre stars, other species started melting — the mottled star, leather stars, sunflower stars, rainbows and six-armed stars. In August 2013, divers saw a massive die off of sunflower stars north of Vancouver, British Columbia. In October and November that year, a similar mass death occurred in Monterrey, California, then in Seattle, Washington. By December 2013, the wasting disease hit Southern California. “When it did (arrive), you just started to see them melt everywhere,” said Deleske. “You’d see an arm here, an arm there.” By 2014, the wasting had spread to Mexico and Oregon, according to the University of Santa Cruz research paper. Researchers have spent years trying to figure out what caused the Sea Star Wasting Syndrome. Was it warmer-than-normal water temperatures? A team from Cornell University attempted to identify possible viruses and bacteria that might be responsible. It also could have been caused by an infectious agent, such as a pathogen, the report reads. “I believe it’s a virus, but it’s unknown where it started,” Deleske said. Kaitlin Magliano, education coordinator at the Crystal Cove Conservancy, said winter low tides have offered a good look at hand-size stars emerging recently in local tidepools. “It’s a treasure we always hope to find,’ she said. During an outing in early December, just south of the historic cottages at Crystal Cove State Park, Magliano spotted four stars; “huge, adult ones” she said, about 7 to 8 inches long. They’re the biggest stars she’s seen since before the wasting syndrome hit. “Post sea star wasting, we lost all of them,” she said. “It’s good to see we have some surviving and thriving… “Maybe the next generation will be more resilient,” she added. On an average dive along the Long Beach or Los Angeles break walls, Deleske will see anywhere from 20 to 25 sea stars, most in the 10- to 12-inch range. He’s seeing mostly ochre stars; the nobby stars, and the bat stars, also are coming back, but he’s not yet seen any sign of the pink stars or sunflower stars. The wasting also hit Cabrillo Aquarium’s sea star exhibit. Stars that had reached a size of more than 20 inches — after growing for 25 years or longer — died. Now, there are six small, young stars in the aquarium’s touch tank. “We had to start over,’ Deleske said. “That was really unfortunate… Now it’s just going to take another 15 years to get really big like they once were.” Deleske and researchers say traces of the Sea Star Wasting Syndrome remain in nature, and the stars aren’t completely out of danger. A Nov. 29 update by the University of Santa Cruz documented reports from areas in the Salish Sea region of Washington that the Sea Star Wasting Syndrome had re-emerged and is again impacting ochre and mottled stars. Elsewhere, including in waters of British Columbia and north and central California, the disease has persisted at a low level, according to the report. Two months ago, researchers at the Cabrillo Aquarium started to experiment with treating some sick stars with antibiotics, leaving others to fight disease naturally. The treated stars seemed to fare better, offering some hope. “They don’t seem to be dying like they used to,” Deleske said. “We’ve seen some good results.” Want to try and see stars? Winter months offer the lowest tides of the year and low crowds, a good time to explore tide pools. But don’t forget tide pool etiquette and never pick up, move, poke or prode organisms in tidepools. Nothing can be taken, including animals, rocks and shells, from Marine Protected Areas like Crystal Cove or Laguna Beach. The Crystal Cove Conservancy will be offering a tidepool walk with a guide to Pelican Point at 1 p.m. on December 30, when there will be a low -0.8 tide. Meet at the Pelican Point parking lot #2, at the top of the boardwalk near the parking lot. Parking is $15. More info: crystalcove.org. ||||| FILE - This July 31, 2010 file photo, shows a starfish clings to a rock near Haystack Rock during low tide in Cannon Beach, Ore. Starfish are making a comeback on the West Coast, four years after a mysterious... (Associated Press) FILE - This July 31, 2010 file photo, shows a starfish clings to a rock near Haystack Rock during low tide in Cannon Beach, Ore. Starfish are making a comeback on the West Coast, four years after a mysterious syndrome killed millions of them. From 2013 to 2014, Sea Star Wasting Syndrome hit sea stars... (Associated Press) FILE - This July 31, 2010 file photo, shows a starfish clings to a rock near Haystack Rock during low tide in Cannon Beach, Ore. Starfish are making a comeback on the West Coast, four years after a mysterious syndrome killed millions of them. From 2013 to 2014, Sea Star Wasting Syndrome hit sea stars... (Associated Press) FILE - This July 31, 2010 file photo, shows a starfish clings to a rock near Haystack Rock during low tide in Cannon Beach, Ore. Starfish are making a comeback on the West Coast, four years after a mysterious... (Associated Press) NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Starfish are making a comeback on the West Coast, four years after a mysterious syndrome killed millions of them. From 2013 to 2014, Sea Star Wasting Syndrome hit sea stars from British Columbia to Mexico. The starfish would develop lesions and then disintegrate, their arms turning into blobs of goo. The cause is unclear but researchers say it may be a virus. But now, the species is rebounding. Sea stars are being spotted in Southern California tide pools and elsewhere, the Orange County Register reported Tuesday. "They are coming back, big time," Darryl Deleske, aquarist for the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in Los Angeles, told the newspaper. "It's a huge difference," Deleske said. "A couple of years ago, you wouldn't find any. I dove all the way as far as Canada, specifically looking for sea stars, and found not a single one." Similar die-offs of starfish on the West Coast were reported in the 1970s, '80s and '90s, but the latest outbreak was far larger and more widespread, according to a report by researchers at the University of Santa Cruz. Beginning with ochre stars off Washington state, the disease spread, killing off mottled stars, leather stars, sunflower stars, rainbows and six-armed stars. It hit Southern California by December 2013. "When it did (arrive), you just started to see them melt everywhere," said Deleske. "You'd see an arm here, an arm there." The recovery has been promising. Four adult sea stars, each about 7 to 8 inches long, were spotted this month at Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach. "It's a treasure we always hope to find,' said Kaitlin Magliano, education coordinator at the Crystal Cove Conservancy. "We lost all of them," she said. "It's good to see we have some surviving and thriving . Maybe the next generation will be more resilient." The stars aren't out of danger yet. The wasting syndrome never completely disappeared in Northern and Central California and it has reappeared in the Salish Sea region of Washington state, according to a November report by the University of Santa Cruz.

– Starfish are making a comeback on the West Coast, four years after a mysterious syndrome killed millions of them. From 2013 to 2014, Sea Star Wasting Syndrome hit sea stars from British Columbia to Mexico. The starfish would develop lesions, then disintegrate, their arms turning into blobs of goo. The cause is unclear, but researchers say it may be a virus, per the AP. Now, however, the species is rebounding. Sea stars are being spotted in Southern California tide pools and elsewhere, the Orange County Register reports. "They are coming back, big time," says Darryl Deleske, an aquarist for LA's Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. "It's a huge difference. A couple of years ago, you wouldn't find any." Similar die-offs of starfish on the West Coast were reported in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, but the latest outbreak was far larger and more widespread, per a report by University of California-Santa Cruz researchers. Beginning with ochre stars off Washington state, the disease spread, killing off mottled stars, leather stars, sunflower stars, rainbows, and six-armed stars. It hit Southern California by December 2013. "When it did [arrive], you just started to see them melt everywhere," says Deleske. "You'd see an arm here, an arm there." The recovery has been promising. Four adult sea stars, each about 7 to 8 inches long, were spotted this month at Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach. The stars aren't out of danger yet, though. The wasting syndrome never completely disappeared in Northern and central California, and it's reappeared in the Salish Sea region of Washington, per a recent report. Still, "it's good to see we have some surviving and thriving," an educator at Crystal Cove Conservancy says. "Maybe the next generation will be more resilient."

Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more

– A Washington man tried to use his Halloween decor in an innovative way Tuesday morning, but it didn't work out so well for him. "A trooper stopped this #HOV lane violator this morning near #Tacoma...At least he's in the [Halloween] spirit. #TrickOrTicket," tweeted the Washington State Police's public information officer alongside a picture of a car with a zombie baby decoration sitting in the passenger seat. The guy was allegedly attempting to use the carpool lane but, as there was no other actual person in the car, the driver was given a $136 ticket for the HOV lane violation, the officer followed up in a subsequent tweet—but "We gave him a break for not having a car seat" for the zombie baby, he added.

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — A Los Angeles judge has ordered the release of a man who spent more than three decades in prison for murder after prosecutors conceded he did not get a fair trial. The district attorney’s office said during a hearing Wednesday in Superior Court that there were errors in the case against 62-year-old Andrew Wilson. Judge Laura Priver granted a motion to dismiss the case. Wilson quietly said “Thank you” to the judge, who replied, “You are welcome Mr. Wilson.” Outside the courthouse, Wilson’s attorney’s were jubilant. “I’m so happy!” Paula Mitchell with the Loyola Law School Innocence Project said. “I believe strongly in Mr. Wilson’s innocence and I know we’re going to help him get the rest of the way with the innocence finding. He did not do this crime and I’ll do everything I can to help the LAPD find who did it.” He has maintained his innocence since his arrest in 1984 for the fatal stabbing of 21-year-old Christopher Hanson in Los Angeles. A bailiff released Wilson immediately from handcuffs, but he’s not expected to be processed out of custody until later Wednesday or Thursday. Another hearing will be held to determine whether he is factually innocent. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has said it will not re-try Wilson. Wilson says he plans to return to St. Louis to spend time with his mother, Margie Davis, who will turn 97 on May 1. (© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.) ||||| When help didn't come, she wasn't surprised. At 96, she said, she's learned that living in a country built on the idea of justice for all doesn't always lead to justice for everyone. So she was shocked — ecstatic — Wednesday afternoon when her son's lawyer called to tell her a Los Angeles County judge had just thrown out the murder conviction. ||||| A man who spent 32 years behind bars for murder was ordered released on Wednesday after the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office acknowledged there were mistakes made that denied him a fair trial.Andrew Wilson, now 62, was convicted of murder in 1986 for the stabbing death of a 21-year-old man who was sleeping in a truck in Los Angeles.Wilson has always maintained his innocence and eventually his case was taken up by students and Loyola Law School's Project for the Innocent. "Mr. Wilson is elated," said Paula Mitchell, legal director with Project for the Innocent. "He is so glad this is finally over. When he first contacted our office, one of the things he said to us was this whole ordeal has been a nightmare for my entire family."Project officials said there were multiple due-process errors in his case and he never received a fair trial. For example, they say investigators never disclosed that the sole witness filed a false police report in another case just before Wilson's trial. They also said there was evidence that the victim's best friend told prosecutors before trial that the victim's girlfriend had stabbed him in the past.The DA's office recently conceded that its own investigation found that errors were made depriving him of a fair trial and the office does not intend to retry him.Attorneys say Wilson could potentially file a civil lawsuit in this case, but for now, he wants to hop on a direct flight to St. Louis to see his mother, who turns 97 on May 1.

– After 32 years behind bars, Andrew Wilson had his murder conviction thrown out Wednesday by a Los Angeles County judge. His first plan as a newly free man? Fly to St. Louis to visit his 96-year-old mother, who never doubted his innocence. Wilson, now 62, was convicted in 1986 of stabbing a man sleeping in a truck in Los Angeles, KABC reports. According to the Los Angeles Times, the victim had a disorder that kept his blood from clotting. For the past three decades, Wilson has maintained that he didn't do it. And while his actual innocence is still up in the air, it's now official that he didn't receive a fair trial. The DA's office has admitted that "cumulative errors" added up to an unfair trial for Wilson. Those errors include allegedly withholding evidence that the victim's girlfriend—the only witness to the crime—had previously filed a false police report regarding kidnapping and rape. Also allegedly withheld: evidence that an LAPD detective directed the girlfriend to a photo of Wilson and that a friend suspected the victim's girlfriend, as she had stabbed the victim in the past. The prosecutor in the murder case denies withholding evidence, and the DA's office maintains that Wilson murdered the victim (though it doesn't plan to retry him). CBS Los Angeles reports a separate hearing will be held to determine if Wilson is factually innocent.

OCALA, Fla. (AP) — Relatives say a Florida girl who swallowed a thumbtack at her preschool remains hospitalized. Aundreaa Thompson tells the Ocala Star-Banner (http://bit.ly/1NFAjxk ) that her 3-year-old cousin, Honesty Eads, is in critical condition at a Gainesville hospital. Thompson says the family has gathered around Honesty's hospital bed to pray for her recovery. Police say Honesty swallowed a yellow thumbtack Monday at her Ocala preschool. According to police reports, another child alerted a teacher on the other side of the classroom that Honesty looked "like a vampire." The teacher found Honesty gasping for air and bleeding from her mouth. Emergency room doctors initially couldn't insert a breathing tube down Honesty's throat because of the thumbtack. Police and the Department of Children and Families are investigating. ___ Information from: Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner, http://www.starbanner.com/ ||||| A toddler remains hospitalized three days after swallowing a thumbtack at an Ocala preschool. A toddler remains hospitalized three days after swallowing a thumbtack at an Ocala preschool. On Thursday, 3-year-old Honesty Eads remained in critical condition at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, according to her cousin Aundreaa Thompson. Since the incident on Monday, Honesty has had good and bad days, Thompson said. She said the doctors are carefully monitoring her cousin's condition, and as a family they're hoping and praying she will make a full recovery. Honesty’s guardian and aunt has been by her bedside ever since the girl was transferred from Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala to Shands for further treatment, Thompson said. Honesty’s siblings — a brother and sister, ages 5 and 6, who were inside the building when their sister somehow swallowed the thumbtack — were not injured, according to Ocala Police Department officials. Thompson said the children are worried about Honesty. The Department of Children and Families is conducting an investigation, as is OPD. According to a police report, officers went to Kingdom Christian Academy, at 519 SW 10th St., Suite No. 200, about a child not breathing. A teacher told police she was on the west side of the classroom giving her children breakfast when she heard a child say Honesty "looks like a vampire.” Honesty, the report noted, was lying on the floor gasping for air and bleeding from her mouth. The teacher called for help. A second teacher who was nearby, rushed over and gave Honesty CPR. She told others to call 911. Medical officials rushed Honesty to Munroe Regional, where a doctor in the emergency room was at first unable to insert a tube down her throat, according to the OPD report. The doctor then removed a yellow thumbtack. Honesty was stabilized and flown to Shands. Officials at Kingdom Christian Academy said it is a 501(c) organization. Kathryn Crowell is a volunteer and is principal at Kingdom Christian Academy, they said. The academy has been closed for the Christmas holidays since school is out, the officials said, and Brenda Osgood, a supervisor, was the only teacher on duty at the time. According to OPD reports, Osgood was the person who performed CPR on Honesty. The officials said Suite 200 consists of Kingdom Christian Academy, Precious Children Pre-School and Kingdom Community Education Center, and Honesty was injured in the preschool. She is in the pre-kindergarten program, her sister in the VPK program and her brother in the first grade. Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118, austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb.

– A little girl who swallowed a thumbtack Monday at her Florida preschool remained hospitalized on Christmas, the AP reports. According to the Ocala Star-Banner, a preschool instructor was on the other side of the classroom when she heard a child say 3-year-old Honesty Eads "looks like a vampire." The instructor found Honesty on the ground, bleeding from the mouth and struggling to breathe. A teacher administered CPR, and Honesty was rushed to the hospital. Before doctors could insert a breathing tube down Honesty's throat, they had to remove a yellow thumbtack, the Star-Banner reports. The girl is still in critical condition, and her cousin says she is being monitored by doctors while her family is "hoping and praying" for a full recovery. Both police and child services are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

When they’re not relentlessly promoting Donald Trump‘s presidential candidacy, MSNBC spends much of the rest of their time slashing at the tendons of Hillary Clinton‘s bid. That second hobby was on not-so-brilliant display Friday night on the network’s primetime All In with Chris Hayes broadcast. All day Friday, the anti-Hillary internet was abuzz over former President Bill Clinton‘s slam on President Obama at a rally in Memphis Thursday night, a damaging narrative given the herculean effort the Clintons have made to repair the rift with Obama coalition voters, particularly black voters, that was created during the 2008 campaign. Holding the president close has also become particularly important in view of the upcoming South Carolina Democratic primary. What was this heinous slam against President Obama? Here’s how Chris Hayes reported it Friday night: Hayes: If that’s Clinton’s winning strategy, she might want to make sure her husband is in the loop. Bill seemed to go a bit off-message last night in Tennessee while campaigning for his wife. Clinton: She’s always making something good happen. She’s the best change maker I’ve ever known. A lot of people say, you don’t understand. It’s different now. It’s rigged. Yeah, it’s rigged because you don’t have a president who is a change maker. Hayes: (knowing glance) The “slam,” in case you missed it, is that by extension, President Clinton must be saying that Barack Obama is not a change-maker. He must be. Mustn’t he be? I mean, it can’t be that MSNBC cut him off in mid-sentence right before he was about to get the crowd to deliver a huge ovation for President Obama, could it? Not in mid sentence! She’s always making something good happen. She’s the best change maker I’ve ever known. A lot of people say, you don’t understand. It’s different now. It’s rigged. Yeah, it’s rigged because you don’t have a president who is a change maker with a Congress who will work with him. But the president has done a better job than he has gotten credit for. And don’t you forget it! (Applause so huge Bill has to wait for it to die down, then continue talking because it won’t) Don’t you forget it! Don’t you forget it! I’ve been there, and we shared the same feeling. We only had a Democratic Congress for two years. And then we lost it. And yet some of the loudest voices in my party said, it’s unbelievable, said “Well the only reason we had it for two years is that President Obama isn’t liberal enough!” Is there one soul in this crowd that believes that? Wow, what a monster! This is an edit so egregious, it rivals the worst in dishonest political ads, and surpasses them. I have nothing but affection and respect for Chris Hayes, so I’m happy to assume that this was the work of some overly-zealous producer, and Hayes was too busy to check it. Whatever the case, though, MSNBC’s treatment of this clip has made Chris Hayes an instant star on the Repubican National Committee’s official Youtube channel, where his reporting of this incident is featured with the title Bill Clinton Slams Obama As Not A “Change Maker.” It also places him in the company of Politico, which also ran the shortened quote and linked to the RNC’s video of Hayes, and The Daily Caller, who actually included more context than either of the others, but still reported it as a slam. Liberal blog DailyKos, meanwhile, has had the presence of mind to delete their “slam” story. When you are getting outclassed by the Dailies Kos and Caller, it’s time to think about your life, MSNBC. At a minimum, the reporting needs to be corrected, but really, someone needs to look up the food chain at how things like this happen, and fix it. This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author. ||||| February 11, 2016 - Former President Bill Clinton delivers a speech Thursday at Whitehaven High School in support of his wife, Hillary Clinton, who is running for President of the United States. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE February 11, 2016 - Kinslee Miller, 7, naps as former President Bill Clinton delivers a speech at Whitehaven High School in support of his wife, Hillary Clinton, who is running for President of the United States. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal) February 10, 2016 - Whitehaven High School government teacher Brian Davis holds a copy of Bill Clinton's book, "My Life," while standing in line at his school with daughter, Elizabeth Davis, 10, as they wait to see former President Bill Clinton speak. Clinton is in Memphis to campaign for his wife, Hillary Clinton, who is running for president of the United States. "I just thought it would be a really cool opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share with my students. How many times do you get to hear a former president talk in person?" (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal) By Ryan Poe of The Commercial Appeal This story has been changed to clarify a quote in the 10th and 11th paragraphs. Hundreds packed into the Whitehaven High School gymnasium Thursday to hear former President Bill Clinton stump for his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Bill Clinton, a giant state flag behind him, spoke largely on issues that plague Memphis, including high unemployment, violent crime and poverty, and said Hillary would help America "grow together." "Without an economy that works for everybody, we can't be one America, and we can't go forward together," Clinton said. Clinton also hit on several campaign issues, including the need to improve the economy, create more jobs, lower health care co-payments, and free college tuition for people with lower incomes. He even acknowledged the anger at the status quo that has boosted the campaigns of his wife's Democratic rival, Bernie Sanders, and Republican candidate Donald Trump. "Why is everyone so mad and full of anxiety? Because we got jobs back but not income, but not enough jobs," he said. The former president said science has shown that people are genetically 99.5 percent the same, but some people are "fixated" on the 0.5 percent that makes people different. "So what we need now is to say: 'How can we act like we're all 99.5 percent the same?'" Clinton came to Memphis as his wife's campaign ramps up its effort to reach voters in the state after the start of early voting Wednesday in the state and before the March 1 "Super Tuesday" primary election. Clinton paid homage to Memphis' good qualities as well, singling out St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for not requiring patients to pay, and said that's how health care should work. "We need health care plans to induce doctors to do what they do at St. Jude, where nobody pays," he said. But in talking about the struggles of middle- and lower-class America, Clinton said the country's financial system is "rigged." "Yeah, it's rigged, because you don't have a president who's a change-maker, who, with a Congress who will work with him. But the president has done a better job than he has gotten credit for." He wrapped up at about the same time the sixth Democratic debate started in Wisconsin. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen introduced Clinton, and said Hillary would continue her husband's legacy of creating economic prosperity for all. "She's helping out the women, she's helping out the children, she's ready to go into the White House on Day One," said state Rep. Raumesh Akbari, who with Rep. Joe Towns warmed up the standing-room-only crowd before Clinton's arrival. The crowd of more than 650 was diverse in age, race, gender, and where they lived in the area, as well as the reasons why they were there. Marietta Bridgeforth, wrapped in a black coat and wearing a toboggan to ward off the cold, sat on the steps outside the event while her son held her place in line. Bridgeforth, a Whitehaven resident, said she hadn't decided whether Hillary Clinton would get her vote. She said she wanted to hear more about what Clinton would do to make college education more affordable, which she said could help ease some of Memphis' problems, including high poverty and violent crime rates. But is Clinton the best one to tackle that problem? "I really don't know. I just don't know," she said. Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dorsey Hopson said Clinton's words on poverty stuck out to him the most. "All of it goes back to education," he said. Several students were also in attendance. Adrena Nelson, a 17-year-old junior, said the event was exciting for her as she narrows down her choices of whom to vote for when she turns 18. "It's neat for a school like Whitehaven," she said. Nelson said the words that resonated with her the most were about lowering the cost of college tuition. Kyrohbi Jones, a 15-year-old member of the Whitehaven marching band that played before Clinton's speech, said he was glad to hear Clinton talk about racial issues. "It's good to hear... somebody as big as Bill Clinton say 'Black Lives Matter,' " he said. Waiting in the long line before the event, LaMesa Cole of Southaven said she hopes 10-year-old daughter Leah Cole will be inspired by Hillary Clinton's campaign. "I want my daughter to see anything is possible," she said. Cole said she is an aspiring business owner, and hoped to hear Bill Clinton speak to what Hillary Clinton would do to help black, female entrepreneurs. Clinton was the pick of 47 percent of self-described Democrats in the state in a recent poll by Middle Tennessee State University, compared to the 15 percent who picked her rival for the Democratic nomination, Bernie Sanders, and 26 percent who were still undecided. Clinton's next challenge will be in the Nevada primaries, which could settle the question about whether Sanders will lose the steam he built from a narrow loss in Iowa and a nearly 22-point victory in New Hampshire. Nevada could also show how the candidates do in a state that's more racially diverse than the largely white states of Iowa and New Hampshire. In New Hampshire, Sanders won almost every demographic, including women and young voters. Clinton's team announced the rally this week, and state Republicans were quick to seize on the late notice as a sign that Clinton's campaign was "scrambling in response to the surging of a Socialist (Bernie Sanders)." "But parachuting in Bill Clinton, hastily opening offices at the last minute and trying to out-flank a Socialist aren't going to be enough," TNGOP Executive Director Brent Leatherwood said in a prepared statement. "It looks increasingly likely that Tennessee is poised to deliver another loss to the Clinton campaign." Sanders' office is already operational, with seven staff members and a grand opening set for Saturday. Staff reporter Jennifer Pignolet contributed to this story. ||||| Want to know what the NBC News Embeds saw? Follow their daily journey to the inside of the 2016 presidential campaign here: MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- "President Clinton, you were not the first black president," Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen said while introducing Bill Clinton here on Thursday. "It's true!" the visibly amused former president said to laughs and applause. "But," Cohen, who is white, added, "he was a heck of a stand in, wasn't he?" While a lighthearted moment on the trail, it played into the change in focus seen on the road by both candidates as they court African-American voters, which make up a larger share of the electorate than Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada. Dr. Robert J. Smith and Dorothy Jean Smith came to see President Clinton as he visited their hometown. Shaq Brewster/NBC News Smith, an African-American surgeon who is "over 80," but not fully retired, says he worked to register black voters with Clinton's last gubernatorial campaign. "The whites in Jefferson County didn't support him because he was really liberal," Smith said. He added that he thinks Hillary Clinton is more liberal than the former president, and he likes that. Dorothy, his wife, agreed and said the former president was helping his wife. "He's going to help her a lot and I think they're going to get a lot of support from black voters, just as they did in Arkansas," she said. This couple wasn't alone, and that highlights the advantage Hillary Clinton has as she fights for her party's nomination. There is a love for the Clintons among black voters-- and although it's not insurmountable, it is a challenge for the senator competing against them, Bernie Sanders. -- Shaquille Brewster

– "We're all mixed race," Bill Clinton told Hillary supporters in Memphis a few days ago in remarks that are getting some belated attention from the media. The human genome has revealed that "unless your ancestors, every one of you, are 100%, 100% percent from sub-Saharan Africa, we are all mixed-race people," is specifically what he said, per the New York Post, which calls the remarks an attempt to "downplay President Obama's historic presidency." NBC News, however, notes that the remarks came after Rep. Steve Cohen introduced Clinton to the mixed crowd as somebody who wasn't the first black president but made "a heck of a stand-in." Clinton told the Thursday night rally that science has shown that people are genetically 99.5% the same, but people are "fixated" on the 0.5% that's different, the Commercial Appeal reports. "So what we need now is to say: 'How can we act like we're all 99.5% the same?'" he asked. Clinton got a huge ovation for praising both Obama's performance and Hillary's "change-making" prowess. "She's always making something good happen. She's the best change-maker I've ever known," he said, per Mediaite. "A lot of people say, you don't understand. It's different now. It's rigged. Yeah, it's rigged because you don't have a president who is a change-maker with a Congress who will work with him. But the president has done a better job than he has gotten credit for. And don't you forget it!"

Palace of Rao Ram Baksh Singh in Unnao's Daundi Khera village. At the stroke of the eleventh hour on Friday, October 18, a hit of the humble vermillion-smeared rugged spade in a nondescript village in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh has put the curiosity of the nation on a furnace. The smoke billowing out of a miracle-loving, gold-hungry nation's anxiety has put the global media on round-the-clock vigil.This is bigger than a boy-falling-into-a-pit story, or another illiterate boy waking up one day and speaking incoherently with an American roll of the tongue. It is not even India's Pipli Live moment. It is something else here. It is lust at least in the eyes of the locals here and elsewhere in the country a silent prayer for the fulfillment of our inherent desire - of a triumph of faith over reason.Early this month, a local priest, Swami Shobhan Sarkar, had claimed that the 19th century local king Rao Ram Baksh Singh had appeared in his dream and told him about 1,000 tonnes of gold lying buried near a 180-year-old Shiva temple in Daundia Khera village of Unnao. The king was hanged to death by the British rulers during the revolt of 1857 and his palace, situated near the temple, was destroyed.The seer convinced a Union Minister, Charan Das Mahant, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industry, who in turn convinced the ASI and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to inspect the place. A team of experts visited the area on October 12 and drilled two holes at a point shown by Swami Shobhan Sarkar. About 20 metres deep, the drilling machine hit something that seemed different from earth. The excavation has begun today.But it has now emerged that it might take months, or maybe years, before we see the prophesied mounds of gold. The ASI experts have made it clear that they would go extremely slow on digging. They have advised the workforce, a total of ten, not to dig more than three feet in eight hours.And the thousands who have gathered near the cordoned site are just waiting for a go-ahead. It will not take them more than a few hours even with their bare hands to go home with their handsome share of the yellow metal. Imagine. Forget.On Thursday, the ASI team earmarked 80 metres of area from east to west and 40 metres from south to north around the palace. The equipment brought for the purpose suggest the ASI officials are in no hurry to dig out the treasure if at all it is buried there.According to the officials, the ASI will neither use terrascoop nor terrax for digging. Terrascoop is used to quickly scoop out soil and debris and the terrax is used for easily cutting through concretes and other obstructions. They will not even use simple earth augers, which could help in digging the earth quickly. Other than this, grub hoe, pick mattock with 40-inch handle and fork cultivators will also be used. These equipment are insufficient to dig deep into the earth.ASI's superintendent archaeologist PK Mishra has told reporters that the diggers would employ the most basic way for excavation. Shovels, spades and extensive brushing of the chunks of the earth dug. "Workers have been instructed to go slow in excavation as the ASI doesn't want to damage any historical artefacts it might hit upon in the process," he said.Now everybody would ask Mishraji, 'are we digging for artefacts?' Where is the bloody gold? But then, there has to be some difference between trained archaeologists and tomb raiders! Maybe, in a way, the ASI teams darned slow-moving brush on the chunks of earth dug before they gently scoop the next tiny piece of earth might pour logical water on a nation's mindless curiosity on fire.The seer didn't want the digging to go this way. But the central government ignored the demand of Swami Shobhan Sarkar to deploy Indian Army and finish the digging work within a few hours.Meanwhile, Sarkar has reportedly shot off yet another letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India claiming that besides 1,000 tonnes of gold in Daundia Khera, there is a stock of 2,500 tonnes of gold buried in Adampur village of Fatehpur district.While the gold-dreaming seer has maintained his composure and is avoiding media glare, not all his disciples are like him. One of his disciples, Swami Om Baba, has said it was not a dream but the seer spoke to the dead king. "The 19th century local king Rao Ram Baksh Singh had appeared to Swami Shobhan Sarkar in person and told him about the gold," he had told the Aaj Tak reporter.Swami Om, who seemed to have a grip on the economic matters of the country, sounded overconfident about the prowess of the seer. "Swami Shobhan Sarkar can dig out gold from wherever he wills. The government should come upfront and tell us precisely how much gold is required to bring the depleting rupee on a par with the US dollar," he said, without looking funny.When questioned if the seer had really seen the 19th century king and dreamt about him as he contended, Swami Om half-smiled and said matter-of-factly that everyone here used to see the king astride a white horse near the ruins of the palace until five years ago. He also said that locals attempted to dig out the gold on their own even earlier also, but all that was found later were the corpses of the adventurers.Meanwhile, the seer, Swami Shobhan Sarkar, is on a dreaming spree. In another surprise for the authorities, Sarkar claimed he had seen another dream of a far bigger gold haul buried around the ancient remains of temples in Fatehpur, 80 km south of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.According to a report in Hindustan Times, the seer sent his emissary, our one and only Swami Om, to Fatehpur district magistrate Abhay Kumar to commission digging at Adampur, another site of the 1857 mutiny. Adampur, a small village on the banks of the Ganga, has many ancient temples close to the riverbed.Swami Om claimed no less than 2,500 tonnes of gold was hidden in those ruins.Meanwhile, many of the descendants of the former king have come forward and staked their claim to the expected gold haul. Rao Chandi Pratap Singh who claims to be the fifth in line of the king told reporters that he was confident about the presence of gold at the said location. He also said an attempt was made even earlier to dig out gold, but a fierce attack by hornets forced the diggers away. Singh appealed to the government that a portion of the excavated gold should also be given to the direct descendants of the king to help them restore his fort.Daundia Khera is undoubtedly an ancient place. Sir Alexander Cunningham, the father of Archaeological Survey of India, identified the ancient place Hayamukha with Daundia Khera. Hayamukha was visited by the famous Chinese pilgrim Hieun-tsang in the 7th century, who described this place as having five Buddhist monasteries with over a thousand brethren of the Sammatiya school, one of the four main Buddhist sects of that time (Ancient Geography, p387, Cunningham).Afterwards, Cunningham asserts Daundia Khera became the capital of Bais Rajputs which gave their name to Baiswara in Raebareli, UP. Bais Rajputs, an ancient Hindu warrior caste, were known at the time of the Mughals as Bhale Sultan (Lords of the spear) in recognition of their warlike and brave nature. Bais Rajputs were famous for their wealth and were known to be the "best dressed and housed people" in the areas where they lived (Rulers, Townsmen and Bazaars: North Indian Society in the Age of British Expansion, 1770-1870, by CA Bayly). Their king, Raja Trilok Chand who ruled this place in the 16th century was known for his wealth. Sir C. Elliott in his 'Chronicle of Unnao' notes that the Bais rulers here traced their origin to Raja Jaichand of Kannauj.While the formal procedure that precedes an archaeological excavation was not followed in this case, immense public curiosity and the resultant media frenzy have drowned all voices of reason. As thousands in the village and millions elsewhere wait anxiously to catch a glimpse of the promised mountains of the shining yellow metal, rumour mills are working overtime to churn out stories, like the one from Swami Om, which are as precious as the treasure itself.The treasure hunting has generated a lot of curiosity in the area where social life is raucously disturbed. Everyone is talking about the gold and natives employed outside the village have begun returning to their houses to claim their share in the gold not dug yet. The seer has promised the locals that a share of the treasure will be used for the development of the area. The seer has become the talk of the town and everybody, right from the man in the street to those in glass towers, are waiting for the fruits the ASI spades might yield. The atmosphere that has gripped the area reminds us of the one portrayed in the RK Narayan's 1958 classic The Guide where guide-turned-saint Raju sits on a fast-unto-death invoking rain in the parched village. Raju's fast riding on a wave of ardent believers draws the attention of the national as well as the global media. That was 65 years go when our erstwhile image of being a 'land of sadhus and serpents' was fresh in people's minds. Are we any different today either? ||||| Aug 15, 2011 12:21 IST Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz says she would like to work in Bollywood but finds it too tough for herself. While the 36-year-old star does know some typical Bollywood moves, she said that she would not be able to work in India's tinsel town, reported MTV online. ...read more ||||| First Published: 12:31 IST(18/10/2013) | Last Updated: 12:37 IST(18/10/2013) Three months ago, a seer, Shobhan Sarkar, had written a letter to the Union government to inform that he seen in his dream that a treasure (1000 tonnes of gold) was lying buried in the fort of Raja Ram Bux Singh situated in Buxur area of Dandiyakhera Village in the Bighapur sub-division (tehsil). Advertisement He dreamt that Raja Ram Bux Singh, who gave his life for the country fighting the British in 1857, and told him to take care of the gold buried in the remains of his fort. Consequently, the central government directed the district magistrate of Unnao on September 3 to find out the truth. On the directives of the district administration and the government, a team of the ASI officials surveyed the area indicated by the saint and found the traces of hidden gold pertaining to 19th century under 15-20 (60-65 feet) metres underground. If Sarker's claim turns out to be true, the consequences will be as follows. How much is the gold worth? • The cost of 1000 tonnes of gold will be around Rs. 3,00,000 crore (based on current gold price) Shobhan’s claim • 20% percent of the total cost of the gold, which would be around Rs. 60,000 crore, would be spent on the development of the area, according to Sarkar If found what all can be done? • It will help construct about 22,220 kilometers of road for the state. The estimated cost of one kilometre road is Rs. 27 lakh • 10,000 hospitals could be constructed as the cost of one hospital is Rs. 40 crore • 20,000 schools could be constructed. The estimated cost of each school is Rs. 35 crore • Metro trains in Lucknow could be run with a total outlay of Rs. 2,600 crore • An international-level university could be constructed with a total outlay of Rs. 400 crore • Power houses with six mega-watt capacity could be set up to run the industries in the state • High-tech modern dairy could be constructed with a total outlay of Rs. 400 crore • If Unnao is rehabilitated with the hidden treasure, the district would turn out to be better than Chandigarh. According to an estimate, 20 % of the total treasure would be more than that of the budget of the Union government for rural development • The total budget of the Union government was of Rs. 12 lakh crore, while 20% of the hidden treasure would provide one fourth of the funds for the whole budget • It can provide budget of Rs. 10,000 crore for Food Security Scheme, Rs. 15,260 crore for potable water scheme, Rs. 15,184 crore for Indira Awas yojana, Rs. 21,7000 for Prime Minister’s rural road project and Rs. 33,000 crore for MANREGA project ||||| Archaeologists began excavating an abandoned palace in northern India on Friday after a popular Hindu holy man said he dreamt 1,000 tonnes of gold were buried underneath. The dig at the fort of Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh in Daudiakala village, Uttar Pradesh state, started after Swami Shobhan Sarkar relayed his vision of the treasure to a federal government minister three months ago. Barricades have been erected to control the crowd gathered at the site where a 12-member team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is conducting the excavation, led by ASI deputy director P.K. Mishra. Mishra told reporters that the team began excavating on the basis of findings from the Geological Survey of India that suggested gold or silver could be buried. Deepak Chaudhary, a supervisor at the dig, said "drilling machines had hit something that seemed different from earth" about 20 metres (66 feet) under the soil. "We can establish it's the treasure only after we dig that deep," Chaudhary told news magazine India Today. The guru told India media that he was worried about the "collapsing economy of India" and so also wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Reserve Bank of India about the "hidden treasure". The nation's economy has been slowing sharply under the weight of high interest rates and weakening consumer demand. "I cried the day I realised that India is going to collapse economically. I talked to my gurus, Late Bhaskaranandji and Late Satsaganandji Maharaj, in my dream," he told India's Mail Today tabloid. "I told the spirit of the king still roams around the palace and has pleaded to me to liberate it by digging out 1,000 tonnes of gold buried beneath his palace." "It is a hidden treasure for the country," he said. The seer performed prayers on Friday and marked out the points to be excavated by the archaeological team, the Press Trust of India news agency said. Local district magistrate Vijay Kiran Anand said the excavation work would take at least a month to complete. pmc/pj ||||| Gold hunt in Unnao: 1,000 tonnes of gold will not be found at one place, says Sarkar PTI Unnao, October 18, 2013 | UPDATED 16:45 IST A team from Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Friday began excavation work at the fort of Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh in northern Indian state Uttar Pradesh to dig out a gold treasure, which a seer dreamt as buried there.Amidst tight security, the 12 member team led by P K Mishra, Deputy Director ASI, would carry out excavation work at the fort in Daudiakala village, which was formally started by District Magistrate Vijay Kiran Anand.Seer Shobhan Sarkar, who apparently had a dream that 1,000 tonnes of gold was buried in the remains of the fort, Friday performed "bhoomi pujan" (prayers) and marked the points to be excavated by the ASI team.When asked about how much time it would take to dig out the treasure, Sarkar said Geological Survey of India (GSI) would be able to answer that accurately, adding the treasure would not be found concentrated at one place."1,000 tonnes of gold will not be found at one place but deep digging would have to be done at several points," Sarkar said.Heavy police force has been deployed around the fort, where huge crowds have gathered for a glimpse of the excavation work happening there.Barricades have been erected to control the crowd and media gathered at the spot.Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh, who was martyred during 1857 fight with the British, appeared in the dream of the seer and asked him to take care of the gold treasure buried in the remains of his fort, said Swami Omji, a follower of Sarkar.Sarkar reportedly convinced Union Minister Charandas Mahant about his dream, following which a team of ASI and GSI officials surveyed the area.Mahant, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, had visited Sarkar's ashram -- hermitage -- here on September 22 and October 7 and assured him of appropriate action in this regard. For more news from India Today, follow us on Twitter @indiatoday and on Facebook at facebook.com/IndiaToday For news and videos in Hindi, go to AajTak.in. ताज़ातरीन ख़बरों और वीडियो के लिए आजतक.इन पर आएं. ||||| First Published: 09:22 IST(18/10/2013) | Last Updated: 09:59 IST(19/10/2013) The hunt for about a 1,000 tonnes of gold a seer told officials lies buried at a nineteenth century fort in an Uttar Pradesh village started on Friday. People gather near the fort of Raja Ram Baksh Singh in Daundia Kheda village of Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district. (PTI Photo) A 12-member team comprising archaeologists, geologists and workers began digging a mound in the ruins of the fort built by Raja Rao Ram Baksh Singh, in Duandia Kheda village in Unnao district, 100km from Lucknow, after a meeting with local officials. The hunt has created curiosity after reports that highly-revered local seer Shobhan Sarkar told Union minister Charan Das Mahant that the country’s financial troubles will ease to a great extent if the gold was excavated and spent on public welfare. But Unnao district magistrate Vijay Kiran Anand sought to downplay the seer’s prophesy angle, saying the excavation was planned after the Geological Survey of India had noted the presence of some valuable metals beneath the earth at the fort. Superintending archeologist, Archeological Survey of India’s Lucknow circle, PK Mishra echoed Anand’s sentiment. “For us even an earthen pot is of immense importance. We are least bothered about gold and we do not work on dreams. We are just following the orders from Delhi,” Mishra said. He said the presence of a non-rocky substance at the depth of 20-metres noticed during the geological survey was the only “proof” that prompted the excavation. Media at Raja Rao Ram Bux fort where ASI began excavation work in Unnao to trace hidden gold. (PTI Photo) But Swami Om, Sarkar’s disciple, said his guru has a handwritten map of the GSI, which clearly mentions the presence of a treasure. And the man behind it all, Sarkar, feels he may have put himself in trouble by prophesying something many will find hard to digest. “I have written more letters about the presence of gold in Kanpur and Fatehpur districts. But the one in the neighborhood (Unnao) is enough to save our economy,” said the seer. “I have even asked them to send me behind bars if I am proven wrong,” he said. His followers are equally firm. “We know that baba’s dream will come true. He has performed many such miracles before,” said Virendra Tiwari, one of the seer’s followers from Barabanki district. The excavation, expected to take a month, will be filmed, the district magistrate said. Hundreds of local villagers and the seer’s followers in neighbouring districts thronged the site when the digging started. Dream and Digging Sarkar had dreamt that Raja Rao Ram Baksh Singh, who gave his life for the country fighting the British in 1857, told him to take care of the gold buried in the remains of his fort. The seer shared his dream with one and all, including Mahant who did not dismiss it as joke. Instead, Mahant visited the village and this is how the ASI and GSI got active. People stand near the fort of King Rao Ram Baksh Singh in Unnao. (AP Photo) Consequently, the central government directed the district magistrate of Unnao on September 3 to make arrangements for the excavation. On the directives of the district administration and the government, a team of the ASI officials surveyed the area indicated by the saint and found the signs of the presence of the precious metal 15-20 metres deep. The ASI experts have made it clear that they will go extremely slow when it comes to digging. They have advised the workforce not to dig more than three feet in eight hours. "Workers have been instructed to go slow and remain a bit gentle; they should not generate extra-force when hitting the surface. ASI doesn't want to damage any historic artifact it might hit upon in the process,” Mishra said. The ASI has not opted for the technologically driven non-destructive technique it normally applies in such works because of the terrain where dense forest cover pose a problem. The ASI experts reached Unnao on Thursday and met the district magistrate before the taking up the excavation. The administration, on its part, has sanitized the points marked for digging and banned the entry of general public. On Friday, a havan was conducted by Shobhan Sarkar, who appeared to his disciples for the first time. When the ASI officials reached the site on Thursday, they fell at the seer’s feet and asked for his blessing. “Baba, hamari madad karo (Baba, please help us).” The seer then promised to conduct a havan just before the digging started. In view of massive public build-up, the Unnao police have barricaded the excavation points and deployed armed police personnel. "All measures are in place to check the public entry," said Sonia Singh, SP Unnao. Other than 16 Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel, one sub-inspector and four armed constables will remain at the site round-the-clock. "The situation is being monitored on a day-to-day basis. No one will be allowed to get even close to the excavation site," she said. Who was Raja Rao Ram Baksh Singh? People gather at Raja Rao Ram Bux fort where ASI began excavation work in Unnao to trace hidden gold. (PTI Photo) According to local historians, Raja Rao Ram Baksh Singh was defeated by the British in the first war of Indian independence in 1857. He was hanged to death. Unaware of the treasure, the British demolished his palace and the whole treasure remained buried in the campus. Since then, no one knows what happened to the treasure. Who is Shobhan Sarkar? Shobhan Sarkar was born in Shakulnapurva village, Maitha block in UP's Kanpur (Dehat) district. He studied at the BPMG Inter-College in Mandhana town in Kanpur Nagar district. According to some people in Mandhana, in his free time, Sarkar used to study Gita and Ramcharitmanas sitting under trees. Ten years after completing high school, he left home and became the follower of Swami Satsanganand. People associated with the ashram of Swami Satsanganand say that Swamiji was used to known as "Bade Swami" Sarkar learnt meditation under the guidance of Swamiji for about eight years. Bade Swamiji had come to Doodhi Kagar Forest from Sahmilpur village in block Amauli Bindaki Fatehpur around 70 years ago. He worshipped under a tree and later build a "kutia" (hut) to live there. Swami Parmanand of Mawai Bindaki was very close to Bade SwamiJi. Shobhan Sarkar used to treat him as guru. With the consent of Guruji and the Bade Swami, Shobhan Sarkar built his ashram first at Baghpur in Kanpur Dehat and later in Shobhan. Bade Swamiji passed away in 1977. In order to connect the Shobhan temple with the villages, roads were constructed and several villages, including Pandunagar, Nigoha, Baghpur, Singhpur and Pratarpur were connected with Shobhan temple. The temple is surrounded by pond water. The water from Pandu river also flows into the pond. There are submersible pumps installed in the temple campus. The overflowing water reaches to the fields. Thousands of devotees enjoy community feast every day at the temple. Sarkar has constructed temples in Chaubepur, Sunauraha, Singhpur, Maitha, Sarsaul and in Doodhi Ghat. Following disputes over tax on temples, he got the ashram registered. He also made ashrams at Buxur in Unnao and at Doodhi Kagar in Fatehpur.

– That archaeologists are exploring what was buried in the ground where a palace once stood in northern India is fairly mundane news—except that they're on the hunt for more than 1,100 tons of gold ... that a guru dreamed is located there. The dig began yesterday at the fort of Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh in Uttar Pradesh state, three months after Swami Shobhan Sarkar passed along news of his dream to officials, reports the AFP. He says he was told by Raja Rao, who was hanged by the British in 1857, that the gold was there and should be given to the government. And there might actually be something there. The Hindustan Times reports that a team of officials with the Archaeological Survey of India was dispatched to investigate last month. What they found, in the words of the Times: "traces of hidden gold pertaining to 19th century" some 65 feet underground. India Today reports that drilling machines that made two holes there last week had hit something that seemed "different" at that level. The team intends to dig slowly, so it could take as many as five weeks for it to hit that depth. And according to Sarkar, it could take some work. The gold "will not be found at one place but deep digging would have to be done at several points," he says. Of course, if he's right, here's more tempting news: He reportedly also told officials there is roughly 2,750 tons of gold buried in the village of Adampur as well. (Click for an equally unusual story involving gold.)

Wedding photographer Andrea Polito has been awarded $1.08 million by a jury in her defamation lawsuit against a couple who launched a public campaign against Polito over her $150 album cover charge. It all began back in January 2015, when the local Dallas, Texas-based news station NBC 5 aired an investigative report into one couple’s accusations against Polito. Newlyweds Andrew and Neely Moldovan accused Polito of demanding an extra $150 for an album cover after the couple had already purportedly paid $6,000 for the wedding photography. The Moldovans say they expected the album to come with a free cover, and NBC 5 reported that Polito was refusing to provide a CD of photos until the album cover was paid for. After an enormous online backlash against Polito, the photographer published an open letter explaining her side of the story. She explained that she offered the couple a free album cover before any mention of a news interview had come up, and said that the couple instead decided to go ahead with smearing Polito and her business publicly. She also says NBC5 didn’t provide her sufficient time to respond before airing its story. “We had taken action to make things right, and instead this bride went directly to the media, bragging about the upcoming news story on all of her social media accounts and creating a very large following, which was boosted by her business as a professional social media expert,” Polito wrote. “If this story were truly based how upset and hurt she was, she would not post statements to humiliate me or harm my business. “Statements like, ‘I’m pretty sure her business is ruined,’ ‘I hope this goes viral,’ ‘feeling excited,’ and ‘justice has been served’ are not the actions of a concerned and hurt bride; they are actions of an individual trying to take someone down and instigate a lynch mob of negativity across the nation.” In April 2015, Polito filed a $1 million defamation lawsuit against the Moldovans, accusing the couple of defamation, business disparagement, tortious interference with prospective contracts, and civil conspiracy. Last Friday, a jury awarded Polito $1.08 million, finding that the couple “wrongfully attacked” Polito and that their public campaign against the photographer was “false and malicious.” The Moldovans can appeal the ruling. Here’s a court document provided to PetaPixel by Polito: “Proud to say that after a week long, hard fought trial, the jury returned a verdict of over $1 Million, including punitives, for Andrea Polito, who was defamed by two terrible, shameful people,” Polito’s attorney, Dave Wishnew, writes. “As I told the jury: ‘freedom of speech is not freedom from consequence.’ There are real world consequences for maliciously attacking a business online with venom and lies. “The jury agreed and made a statement that publicly lying, shaming, and online bullying is unacceptable. Now justice is served.” Polito tells PetaPixel that in the 10 years prior to the NBC 5 story, her photography business was generating in the “high six figures” on average from shooting photos alone (i.e. no coaching or seminars). She says her photo business was destroyed in a matter of days after the Moldovans went public with their false accusations. The photographer says she’s planning to rebuild her business but will be shifting her focus toward helping other photographers grow their businesses. She has also established a new non-profit foundation called SASS (Surviving After Social Shaming) to help people who have had their reputations torn down by online mobs. ||||| Wedding photographer Andrea Polito (Photo: WFAA) DALLAS - A Dallas wedding photographer has won a $1 million defamation lawsuit after it was determined that a couple who hired her "pursued an extensive social media campaign against her that a jury found was false and malicious." The case was settled on Monday after the jury found that Neely and Andrew Moldovan "wrongfully attacked" Andrea Polito and her company, Andrea Polito Photography, Inc., according to her attorney David Wishnew. "This was a targeted campaign," Wishnew said. "It was online bullying." Polito on Tuesday told WFAA the two and a half year ordeal has been difficult to handle. "I was completely humiliated," Polito said. "I just buried myself in my house. I didn't know what to do." The couple claimed on social media that there were "unreasonable fees" with their wedding photos when they were delivered by Polito after their October 2014 wedding, according to the lawsuit. "The focus of the dispute was the couple’s objection to the contract’s stipulation for selecting a $125 photo album cover before the images of the rehearsal dinner and wedding were provided," the release said. In a 2014 TV interview, the Moldovans said Polito was “holding their pictures hostage.” They also said Polito "cheated" and "scammed" them -- comments that went viral on social media and on Neely Moldovan's beauty and lifestyle blog, the lawsuit states. A Dallas County jury deliberated for two hours Friday and saw evidence in court that "affirmed that Ms. Polito followed the terms of the contract signed by the couple and even sought to further explain the contract and satisfy their demands," the release said. The Moldovan’s not only spread false information but did so for monetary reasons, according to Wishnew, to try and boost traffic on the upset bride’s beauty blog. The Moldovans were found liable for disparagement, defamation, and civil conspiracy. They must now pay Polito $1.08 million in damages. "When you lash out at someone with false statements, with lies and you encourage other people to do it too – you can not only hurt a business – you can rip apart someone’s life,” Wishnew said. Polito says her 13-year reputation as a leading wedding photographer was destroyed by the ordeal. She says she is doing branding work for corporate clients but hopes to slowly return to the work she loves. "Just because you had a bad day or a bad experience doesn’t give you the right to go online and say lies and attack a business," Polito said. "As a small business owner you have two choices – you can either give in every time a client threatens you or you can fight back and that’s what I did. I feel good about it, it’s what’s right.” © 2017 WFAA-TV ||||| Polito's company reminded the couple that, as stated in the contract they signed, the photos would be released once the album was completed. The couple was required to submit an order form and select a cover photo before the album could be completed, but had not done so, according to the suit. After several weeks of back and forth and the couple's objection to paying $125 for the cover, Polito said she planned to absorb the cost to satisfy her customers. Two days after she emailed the couple, Polito learned they had contacted several local television stations and told KXAS-TV (NBC5) that Polito was "holding their photos hostage," according to the suit.

– A Texas wedding photographer says her business dropped from 75 to 100 bookings a year to just two after a newlywed couple trashed her online and on TV, the Dallas Morning News reports. On Friday, a jury ordered the couple to pay Andrea Polito $1.08 million. Andrew and Neely Moldovan accused Polito of "holding their photos hostage" following their 2014 wedding. They claimed Polito was demanding an extra $125 for a wedding album cover before she would give them digital copies of their photos. According to WFAA, the Moldovans claimed Polito was demanding "unreasonable fees"—despite it being included in the contract they signed. Polito says she was prepared to absorb the $125 charge to keep the couple happy; instead they went public. On local news and online, the Moldovans claimed Polito "cheated" and "scammed" them. Neely Moldovan used her position as a blogger to amplify the story, Polito says. "Statements like, 'I'm pretty sure her business is ruined,' 'I hope this goes viral,' 'feeling excited,' and 'justice has been served' are not the actions of a concerned and hurt bride," PetaPixel quotes Polito as saying. "They are actions of an individual trying to take someone down." Polito filed a $1 million defamation lawsuit in 2015, and a jury ruled in her favor Friday, awarding her $1.08 million. The jury determined that not only was Polito attempting to follow the contract but also tried to work with the Moldovans further to "satisfy their demands." "There are real world consequences for maliciously attacking a business online with venom and lies," Polito's lawyer says. (This epic photo featured mystery newlyweds.)

An injured woman is carried to an ambulance in Clovis, N.M., Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, as authorities respond to reports of a shooting inside a public library. A city official says police have taken a person... (Associated Press) An injured woman is carried to an ambulance in Clovis, N.M., Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, as authorities respond to reports of a shooting inside a public library. A city official says police have taken a person... (Associated Press) CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — A shooting inside a public library that killed two people and wounded four has deeply shaken an eastern New Mexico community. The gunman surrendered after the shooting Monday and was taken into custody without incident after police entered the downtown building, authorities and elected officials with the city of Clovis said during a news conference. Warrants for his arrest were being prepared, but it's wasn't immediately clear what charges he would face. Clovis Mayor David Lansford said things could have been much worse had it not been for the quick response, training and courage of police. He called the shooting tragic and senseless. "This is a big blow to our community," he said. "Our community is a community that places a high value on life and the sanctity of life. And each life that lives in this community is precious. So we're all hurting right now as a result of what took place this afternoon." Clovis, a city of about 40,000, is about 200 miles east of Albuquerque, near the Texas state line. The area is home to Cannon Air Force Base. The nearby community of Portales is home to Eastern New Mexico University. The injured included two men and two women, authorities said. Some were taken to a hospital across the state line in Lubbock, Texas. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known. One woman was seen being helped into an ambulance while a call for air ambulances could be heard over police radio traffic. The names of the victims and the gunman were not released. Police said they were still working to process the crime scene and piece together what happened. Police Chief Douglas Ford could not immediately say what kind of gun was used in the attack. Top elected officials from across New Mexico issued their condolences for the victims and their support for the community. Gov. Susana Martinez called it a "horrific attack." "In the coming hours and days we will learn more information about this despicable act, but for now I ask all New Mexicans to pray for the victims and their families, and for the entire Clovis community," said Martinez, a former prosecutor. Attorney General Hector Balderas said his office has reached out to the local district attorney to offer its help. Sojung Her, a 26-year-old cashier at the Shogun Japanese Steakhouse within view of the library lawn, said the shooting left behind a sense of fear and vulnerability. "It's kind of a freak thing," she said. "What if he just walked into our restaurant and started shooting?" Police cars and tactical officers crowded the streets outside as she arrived to work at the restaurant late Monday afternoon. "This kind of thing never happens here," she said. Vanessa Aguirre told The Eastern New Mexico News that she was in the library with her son when a man came in and started to shoot into the air. "It all happened so fast," she said. "We took off fast." ||||| CLOVIS, N.M. (KRQE) – Two people are dead and four others are injured after a gunman opened fire after 4 p.m. at the Clovis-Carver Public Library Monday. Police say the young man they have in custody surrendered without a fight. “Immediately went into the building, made contact with the suspect who immediately gave up, was taken into custody as we continued to clear the building,” Clovis Police Chief Douglas Ford said. Police are not releasing the suspect’s name or his age, and they have not indicated a motive, saying they still need to talk to the suspect. Witnesses say they saw a young man walk into the library with what appeared to be a handgun and say he started firing rounds. Police say six people in total were hit. Two women were killed. The four injured — two males and two females — were immediately rushed to area hospitals. At least three were airlifted. Clovis Police and Fire Department emergency responders were on scene quickly after the active shooter call came in. Once police confronted the shooter though, they say he gave up without a fight. Investigators are not releasing the victims’ ages or identities until they notify family members. “This is a big blow to our community. Our community places a high value on life and the sanctity of life, and each life that lives in this community is precious,” Clovis Mayor David Lansford said. Investigators are combing through the scene and gathering evidence. They have not said how many people were inside the library when the shooting happened. The closest trauma center to Clovis is located in Lubbock, Texas. Officials there say they have a total of four patients from the shooting in Clovis, with two being in critical condition. KRQE News 13 is also hearing from people who were inside the library when the shooting happened. Witnesses describe a terrifying scene when the young man opened fire in what everyone thought was a safe, quiet place. “He just started unloading, pretty much the whole clip. I just kept my head down. I threw the table against the door to barricade myself in there. I thought he was coming my way but by then the cops got there,” witness Sam Nathavong said. Nathavong said he’s not sure how long the gunman was inside the library, but it felt like forever. Throughout the evening, the tight-knit Clovis community has flocked to social media. People are sending well wishes to the victims and sharing information about the suspect. The picture of the suspect got out and people on Facebook immediately started sharing information, describing the teen they believe is the shooter. Police have not confirmed his identity, but people in the community describe him as a 16-year-old Clovis High School sophomore. KRQE News 13 also heard from a family who says their aunt was one of the two women killed, but police have not confirmed those details. The Clovis-Carver Library is closed until further notice. Witness Video Courtesy: Liza Southard ||||| SANTA FE, N.M. (Reuters) - A teenager who killed two people and wounded four others in a shooting at a small-town New Mexico library had a troubled past but appeared to have turned his life around after joining a local church, his pastor said Tuesday. Sixteen-year-old Nathaniel Jouett had been baptized this summer and was helping the church raise money to send teen members to youth camp just days before he opened fire Monday afternoon at the Clovis-Carver Public Library, Pastor David Stevens said in a telephone interview. “Before Christ came into his heart, he was just crying, broken,” said Stevens of the Living Word Church of God in Clovis. “He said, ‘Now I got something to smile about.’ We had no indication of anything wrong with him.” Two library employees, Krissie Carter, 48, and Wanda Walters, 61, were killed in the shooting, in which Jouett used two handguns, Clovis police Chief Douglas Ford said Tuesday. Among the wounded was at least one child, a 10-year-old boy, Noah Molina, who was airlifted along with three other people to a hospital in Lubbock, Texas and was in satisfactory condition on Tuesday, said Eric Finley, spokesman for University Medical Center in Lubbock. Also wounded were Noah’s sister, Alexis Molina, 21, and Howard Jones, 53. Alexis Molina and Jones were in serious condition Tuesday, Finley said. The fourth surviving victim was identified by Ford as Jessica Thron, 30. All are expected to recover, Ford said in a news release. Authorities plan to initially charge Jouett as a juvenile with two counts of first degree murder, four counts of assault, four counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of child abuse, the news release said. Prosecutors would then seek to try Jouett as an adult, Ford said. Stevens said Jouett was being held in seclusion since his arrest at the library on Monday. He said his daughter, who had been dating the teen for the past three-and-a-half months, received a text message from friends Monday saying there had been a shooting and that Nathan, as he was called by friends, was there. Jouett was on suspension from Clovis high school for fighting at the time of the shooting, Stevens said. “My daughter thought Nathan had been shot,” Stevens said. “So my wife and daughter went downtown to the library, and he had been arrested. He was the shooter.” Clovis, with a population of about 40,000, is around 190 miles (300 km) east of Albuquerque.

– A shooting inside a public library in New Mexico Monday afternoon left two people dead and four injured—and local police with more questions than answers. Reuters reports that a male opened fire inside the library at around 4pm local time, killing two women and injuring two women and two men. The alleged shooter was arrested after police surrounded the building and he surrendered. Authorities have not released the suspect's name, age, or motive, and while they say they are preparing warrants, there is no word yet as to what he will be charged with, the AP reports. Clovis, a city of 40,000 located about 200 miles from Albuquerque, is home to Cannon Air Force Base. The city is situated near the state border with Texas, and the injured victims were taken to a hospital in Lubbock, Texas. Two were said to be in critical condition Monday night. Per KRQE, some in the local community have identified the alleged shooter as a 16-year-old high school sophomore.

Web wide crawl with initial seedlist and crawler configuration from March 2011. This uses the new HQ software for distributed crawling by Kenji Nagahashi. What’s in the data set: Crawl start date: 09 March, 2011 Crawl end date: 23 December, 2011 Number of captures: 2,713,676,341 Number of unique URLs: 2,273,840,159 Number of hosts: 29,032,069 The seed list for this crawl was a list of Alexa’s top 1 million web sites, retrieved close to the crawl start date. We used Heritrix (3.1.1-SNAPSHOT) crawler software and respected robots.txt directives. The scope of the crawl was not limited except for a few manually excluded sites. However this was a somewhat experimental crawl for us, as we were using newly minted software to feed URLs to the crawlers, and we know there were some operational issues with it. For example, in many cases we may not have crawled all of the embedded and linked objects in a page since the URLs for these resources were added into queues that quickly grew bigger than the intended size of the crawl (and therefore we never got to them). We also included repeated crawls of some Argentinian government sites, so looking at results by country will be somewhat skewed. We have made many changes to how we do these wide crawls since this particular example, but we wanted to make the data available “warts and all” for people to experiment with. We have also done some further analysis of the content. If you would like access to this set of crawl data, please contact us at info at archive dot org and let us know who you are and what you’re hoping to do with it. We may not be able to say “yes” to all requests, since we’re just figuring out whether this is a good idea, but everyone will be considered. ||||| Jennifer Lopez is now in the enviable position of having people not care about her personal life. Lopez began as a dancer on In Living Color, became an actress, then a movie star, then a pop star, then a brand, then a tabloid fixture, first as half of Dilopez and then Bennifer, then a punchline and now as something of a has-been. The public overdosed on Lopez sometime around the 2003 release of Gigli so she is in the perfect position to reinvent herself as an actress instead of a global corporation the way her former beau Ben Affleck washed away the filth of tabloid infamy and established himself as a promising filmmaker with Gone Baby Gone and a gifted character actor with memorable supporting roles in Hollywoodland and Extract. Affleck is doing the best work of his often checkered and spotty career; Lopez was on Saturday Night Live last night pimping a terrible-looking romantic comedy pairing her with mega-star Alex O’ Laughlin and what appears to be yet another slick, forgettable pop album. Don’t call it a comeback cause it probably isn’t one. Lopez hasn’t captured the imagination of the public or the tabloids for a while so references to her personal life were refreshingly few and far between. Lopez’s opening monologue riffed on the gulf between the J. Lo of 2000 and the cut-rate recession version by having Kenan Thompson appear in the audience as a downsized former member of her entourage who had fallen upon hard times since his one skill in life— holding a glass of orange juice for a superstar—does not prove terribly useful outside life inside the hermetic world of an entourage. Like the rest of the show, it was both mildly amusing and utterly predictable. Saturday Night Live is all about going after the low-hanging fruit. Last night the venerable comic institution attacked all the most obvious satirical targets from all the most obvious angles. Hey, that “We Are The World” remake sure is pointless, huh? Saturday Night Live artfully satirized the pointlessness of this newfangled twist on a hoary old chestnut by having the “We Are The World” gang sing about the pointlessness of remaking a song that was pretty terrible in the first place. And how about that David Patterson? Is his administration going down in flames or what? And what about that curling? How fucking nutty is that? Is that even a sport? Doesn’t it seem more like some sort of strange performance art piece? And what’s the deal with Youtube? Isn’t it irritating when a friend insists you watch some inane homemade clip of George C. Scott getting hit in the nuts with a football, then it takes forever to get the damned thing to work? And what about those Telenovelas? Are those insane or what? Last and almost certainly least, how goofy is that Undercover Boss show? All of the above pop-culture ephemera got skewered last night in a manner that suggests no first ideas got rejected in the SNL writer’s room. Throw in a smattering of recurring characters doing their recurring character’s shtick—Kristin Wiig and Bill Hader getting all rubber-faced in shock and mock-horror as hosts of an Entertainment Tonight-like celebrity gossip show, Kenan Thompson crooning up a storm as a loverman who narrates the courtship of a painfully awkward would-be couple, the aforementioned Patterson as a hacky open mic insult comedian and a repeat visit from the round the way girl shilling for a line of perversely casual car horns—and you have an episode almost wholly devoid of originality. The funniest sketch was also, perhaps not coincidentally, the only one that bordered on original. It revolved around the band Smash Mouth appearing in a little girl’s room the minute her mother steps out and performing their late nineties hit “All Star”. I’ve been listening to an awful lot of Smash Mouth as of late for my That’s What They Called Music THEN! project and then also because I love the music of the band Smash Mouth so I was a little biased but I liked the idea of a song that was so ubiquitous (during J.Lo’s heyday, incidentally) at one point reappearing in such a bizarre context and the notion of Smash Mouth as magical musical elves. The sketch got all the details right—the soul patches, someone mistaking Smash Mouth for Third Eye Blind, the little girl using “All Star” on her soccer video—and had a nice ending where Lopez, as the mother, reminds the little girl of all the positive associations she has with “All Star”. A commenter has pointed out that almost all of Fred Armisen’s recurring characters are bad comedians. That’s true but I’m a sucker for his Patterson all the same and “Weekend Update” was pretty sharp tonight. I especially liked the line about Gatorade dropping Tiger Woods as spokesman because his thirst can never be quenched. I was less enamored of the Bobby Moynihan Youtube bit, which was about five years too late and five times too hacky. Otherwise tonight’s episode was very much adequate. It was an episode of creamy middles; there was nothing too brilliant and nothing too egregiously awful, just a bunch of affable mediocrity. Lopez proved a game host and a predictably forgettable musical guest. She really threw herself into playing a woman whose attractiveness is severely compromised by her unfortunate predilection for ventriloquism and seemed right at home in the doorbell sketch. Episodes like last night sometimes make me feel like reviewing Saturday Night Live on a weekly basis is a pointless endeavor (almost as pointless as that "We Are The World" remake and living in New Jersey, am I right people?) At this point in the season, the show is on autopilot. I don’t know whether that’s a matter of finding a comfortable groove or falling into a rut. It’s not great. It’s not terrible. It just is. ||||| I think we can safely say that nobody really had high expectations for the Jennifer Lopez-hosted episode of SNL last night, which was good, because the show was a bit of a clunker. Still, there were a few highlights: The show opened with a parody of the "We Are The World" remake, which gave the cast an opportunity to do their most ridiculous celebrity impressions. Kristen Wiig's Gwen Stefani was particularly impressive: Though the cold open was pretty funny (and, mercifully, a break from the drag-on-forever political openings that have been dominating this season), most of the commenters in our live thread felt it was already pretty dated, what with the Olympics dominating most of the news coverage over the past two weeks of the show's hiatus. The show did cover the Olympics later, however, but we'll get to that in a second. For now, let's talk about J-Lo. Her monologue was painful, and set up the tone of the rest of the show: whenever she appeared, things got awkward and strained and decidedly unfunny. She spent half of the show playing herself, and the other half playing a Latina stereotype, which seemed to be the only thing the writers knew what to do with her. Her appearance on the show—bizarro Hallmark lyric songs included—was a very obvious attempt at rebranding herself as a down-to-earth, un-diva-like sweetheart, but it just came across as weird and overly acted. It was almost as if she was sitting down with the cast of The View as opposed to performing on a sketch comedy show: One of the highlights of the show came quite early though: a digital short called "Flags of the World," starring Andy Samberg and Abby Elliott and a cast of wacky flags, including the "Neo-Nazi Potsie Flag." The difference in tone between the digital shorts and the rest of the show gets more and more noticeable each week, and one wonders why Lorne Michaels just doesn't give The Lonely Island its own show ala The Kids in the Hall (though I guess the obvious answer is that SNL would be in even more trouble without them): Also, in case you missed it, there were two noticeable shout outs during that flag sketch—one to Betty White, who is currently being supported by a Facebook campaign to host the show: Advertisement And one to John Mayer, who represented the "jags" of the world on the "Jag Flag." Ouch! Lopez's main skits were all focused around stereotypes; she appeared in this Telemundo Olympics sketch (where her accent was worse than Fred Armisen's, btw): She was also in a telenovela sketch that is apparently not working on either NBC.com or Hulu right now, so I'll keep you posted. And she also showed up to help Jenny Slate promote car horns in a return of Slate's "doorbell" character: Weirdly enough, the most shocking parts of the evening were Lopez' musical performances, where she sang what sounded like country songs discarded by Faith Hill and hit about 50% of the notes. The songs haven't been released by NBC or Hulu yet, so either there's a licensing issue or Lopez doesn't want the fairly terrible singing available to the good people of the internet. The best sketch of the evening, wherein a young girl is being haunted by the band Smashmouth (it's kind of hard to explain) isn't available either, and music licenses are probably to blame, as Smashmouth's "All-Star" was a centerpiece of the skit. Overall, it was a pretty craptacular show. You almost felt bad for Lopez, who was clearly there to kickstart her slumping career and, instead, most likely succeeded in killing any chance she had to revive her musical career and didn't do much in the way of proving her comedic talents, either. Of course, the material wasn't great either: it would have been nice if the show had focused on something other than stereotypes and had Lopez do something that didn't involve Telemundo and telenovelas, but maybe that's all she gave the writers room to work with. Sponsored In true SNL fashion, however, I expect this dud of a show to be followed by a great one next week. How could it not be, with Zach Galifianakis hosting?

– The Jennifer Lopez image-rehab train pulled into Saturday Night Live station last night, to mixed reviews. "Her appearance on the show—bizarro Hallmark lyric songs included—was a very obvious attempt at rebranding herself as a down-to-earth, un-diva-like sweetheart, but it just came across as weird and overly acted," Hortense writes for Jezebel. Although there were some high points, "overall, it was a pretty craptacular show." Ken Tucker couldn't disagree more. "Lopez came with the right SNL attitude: Ready to poke fun at herself and to engage enthusiastically with anything the show offered her," he writes for Entertainment Weekly. "Fortunately, much of her material was good stuff." Lopez was "a game host and a predictably forgettable musical guest," writes Nathan Rabin of the Onion A.V. Club. Rabin blames the writing staff for a "mildly amusing and utterly predictable" effort: "There was nothing too brilliant and nothing too egregiously awful, just a bunch of affable mediocrity."

These crawls are part of an effort to archive pages as they are created and archive the pages that they refer to. That way, as the pages that are referenced are changed or taken from the web, a link to the version that was live when the page was written will be preserved.Then the Internet Archive hopes that references to these archived pages will be put in place of a link that would be otherwise be broken, or a companion link to allow people to see what was originally intended by a page's authors.The goal is to fix all broken links on the web . Crawls of supported "No More 404" sites. ||||| Thank you to Chairman Kim Jong Un for keeping your word & starting the process of sending home the remains of our great and beloved missing fallen! I am not at all surprised that you took this kind action. Also, thank you for your nice letter - l look forward to seeing you soon! ||||| WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Donald Trump received a new letter from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (kim jawng oon) Wednesday following up on their Singapore summit. Trump tweeted early Thursday his thanks to Kim "for your nice letter — I look forward to seeing you soon!" White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders says the correspondence is "aimed at following up on their meeting in Singapore" and "advancing the commitments made" in the leaders' joint statement there. The White House is not addressing whether Trump and Kim may again meet. Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. military leaders in Hawaii on Wednesday received the remains of missing U.S. soldiers from the Korean War. The letter comes amid concerns over North Korea's ballistic missile program and commitment to denuclearization.

– President Trump teased an upcoming meeting with Kim Jong Un on Thursday as the White House confirmed the North Korean leader sent him a letter "aimed at following up on their meeting in Singapore." In a tweet, Trump thanked Kim for the "nice letter" and for keeping his promise of returning what's believed to be the remains of US soldiers who fought in the Korean War, which arrived in Hawaii on Wednesday, per the AP. "I look forward to seeing you soon!" he added. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders didn't comment on when the two leaders might meet again, but she said Kim's letter spoke of "advancing the commitments made" at their June summit, spoofed in a K-pop artist's latest music video, per CNN.

Donald Trump's campaign is fighting back against a New York Times story published Sunday night that told of handwritten ledgers indicating that Trump's campaign chairman received $12.7 million in undisclosed cash payments from a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine. The report -- showing even closer ties between Trump's inner circle and Russia than were previously known -- threatens to further damage Trump's campaign on the same day the candidate is scheduled to deliver a major speech on national security. Campaign chairman Paul Manafort's consulting work for former Ukraine President Viktor F. Yanukovych was already public. But the Times reported records of cash payments between 2007 to 2012 that were not previously disclosed. It said the ledgers were discovered by an anticorruption bureau as "part of an illegal off-the-books system whose recipients also included election officials." The Times report said criminal investigators are separately looking into a network of "offshore shell companies that helped members of Mr. Yanukovych’s inner circle finance their lavish lifestyles." One such transaction, the Times reported, involved an $18-million cable television deal put together by Manafort. The newspaper reported that Manafort is not the target of the probe. Trump's supportive comments of Russian President Vladimir Putin had already drawn scrutiny. Manafort drew particular scrutiny after the GOP platform, approved last month, eliminated a call to arm Ukraine in its fight with Russia, which seized the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and has supported separatists in eastern Ukraine. ||||| This collection contains content included in or referenced by the Georgia Institute of Technology's web presence. The materials in the collection document the teaching, research, cultures, and communities of Georgia Tech.

– Donald Trump's campaign chief accuses the New York Times of a hatchet job against him in a Monday story that alleges he received shady payments out of Ukraine, reports Politico. “Once again, the New York Times has chosen to purposefully ignore facts and professional journalism to fit their political agenda, choosing to attack my character and reputation rather than present an honest report,” says Paul Manafort said in a statement. “The suggestion that I accepted cash payments is unfounded, silly and nonsensical.” According to the Times report, handwritten ledgers uncovered in Ukraine suggest that Manafort received $12.7 million in previously undisclosed, illegal payments for his work on behalf of a pro-Russia political party there. The allegations are dicey ones for Trump, who has previously taken flak for statements supportive of Vladimir Putin. As the LA Times notes, the issue surfaced anew last month when the GOP platform ditched a provision calling for arms for Ukraine to help in its border dispute with Russia. Manafort, however, denies getting the money or of ever working directly for the governments of Ukraine or Russia. “My work in Ukraine ceased following the country’s parliamentary elections in October 2014,” he says. “In addition, as the article points out hesitantly, every government official interviewed states I have done nothing wrong.”

A week before Christmas 2013 Christine, a sexual assault forensic nurse from suburban Chicago, went out for a night of dinner and drinks with friends. It was a night that forever changed her life. "I don't remember anything after leaving the dinner portion," Christine told CBS News. "I woke up naked and I don't remember anything else after that." She says she was a victim of sexual assault, and would feel victimized again by the hospital where she received a forensic medical exam, commonly known as a rape kit. At her request, CBS News is withholding Christine's last name because she was the victim of a violent crime. "The next day I got my first bill for my copay," Christine said through tears. "The bills just kept coming after that." The bills should have never come. Illinois has a voucher system that pays for medical expenses not covered by insurance incurred up to 90 days following a sexual assault. Since 2005, the federal Violence Against Women Act has prohibited sexual assault survivors from being billed for the forensic collection of evidence, including copays. VAWA requires that the exam, at a minimum, include assessing physical trauma, determination of penetration or force, a patient interview and the collection of evidence. But, sexual assault victim advocates say, the medical guidelines for the rape exam goes beyond what the law provides for. Who pays for that treatment varies by state and at times, county by county. We contacted Victim Advocates in all 50 states. Thirteen reported survivors getting billed for medical services related to a sexual assault forensic exam in their state. Stretching coast to coast, those advocates described a hodgepodge of laws that for some victims means a rape kit and the associated medical treatment come at a price. "When you keep getting revictimized once a month you get a reminder in the mail, hey you were raped, hey this happened, you know, it's hard to move on," said Christine. For Christine, the horror of her assault was made worse by the medical bills that kept coming. She was unable to get out of bed for months. The hospital threatening to send her to collections if she didn't pay was the very same hospital where she'd worked on crafting a sexual assault response protocol. "It becomes extremely devastating for them and oftentimes triggers reliving the assault itself or the forensic-medical exam," said Sarah Layden, Director of Advocacy Services at Rape Victim Advocates in Chicago. RVA says it receives as many as six calls a month from survivors of sexual assault who wrongly receive bills. The organization says the errant billing happens at hospitals across the state and at some with regularity. "It is very common for a survivor to get a bill," Layden said during an interview with CBS News Correspondent Kris Van Cleave. "We have a full time staff advocate who spends the bulk of their time helping clients resolve bills." The Illinois Department of Public Health it infrequently receives complaints regarding billing. In a statement to CBS News IDPH investigates complaints of patient billing. It requires hospitals found to be out of compliance to provide "evidence of its billing policy and how the hospital will make its system better moving forward." Earlier this year, reports surfaced of rape victims in Louisiana receiving large medical bills after seeking a rape kit at state-owned LSU Hospitals. Operations of those hospitals had recently been turned over to a private company that ended the state's practice of writing off those related charges. "For two nights in a row, I was raped and sexually assaulted, most of which I don't remember," a college student, whose name was withheld, told a Louisiana Senate committee during the legislature's first hearing on the billing issue. "It was around $2,000 of which my insurance covered none of it at all." Hours after her testimony, Governor Bobby Jindal issued an executive order calling for changes to medical billing practices in the state and pledging to work with legislators to change the law. "I believe that the victim should never be charged," said Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Kathy Kliebert. "The next part of this is that we would work with legislators for next session to make sure providers could bill directly to fund to assure that victims were not billed and that there are statutes in place to make sure the victims are not billed." The Louisiana Hospital Association acknowledged to state lawmakers during the Oct. 20 hearing that there are a number of inconsistencies across the state and that reimbursement policies vary by hospital. "We are committed to working through this and try to figure out how to make this as painless for the victim as possible," Sean Prados, Executive Vice President of the Louisiana Hospital Association, told the state Senate Select Committee on Women and Children. Advocates in Arizona, California, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin all expressed concern about victims receiving bills in their states. The laws are different and the reasons for the charges vary. Quantifying the scope of the billing issue is challenging. The Department of Justice estimates more than 237,000 sexual assaults occur annually in the United States, but only 40 percent are reported--and other studies put that number even lower. In at least 34 states, a survivor who reports the attack and cooperates with law enforcement may be eligible to have medical bills reimbursed by state run crime victim compensation funds, according to a 2014 Urban Institute case study. Survivors who choose not to report their attack, such as Christine and the college student who testified in Louisiana, are blocked from accessing that money. A 2012 AEquitas study found 33 states cover specific 'collateral' services to victim care, 15 states will pay for tests for sexually transmitted infections, 15 states cover medications prescribed during the forensic exam, 10 states pay for emergency room and hospital fees, 13 states cover the cost of a pregnancy test, six will pay for emergency contraception and at least two will pay for victims' counseling related to the sexual assault. According to the study, only five states will pay for treatment of injuries caused by the attack, another four states provide payment for reasonable medical care related to the assault. Several states allow the victim's insurance to be billed for uncovered medical expenses. Delaware does not allow a survivor to be billed. And just last summer Colorado passed a law creating a state fund to pay the entire bill for the forensic medical exam and related charges regardless of reporting after survivors received medical bills for thousands of dollars. In the majority of cases victims are not billed says Janine Zweig, the lead researcher on the Urban Institute study, "but that left a substantial minority" who, in some fashion were billed. Her report finds, while victims typically are not billed for the costs associated directly with the forensic collection of evidence, "they might be billed for other services that are not covered by the public payer in state statutes. This distinction may be lost on victims--a bill is a bill." In six states the payment is left up to the individual counties. Advocates in all six--Minnesota, Kansas, Arizona, South Dakota, Nevada and Louisiana--told CBS News about reports of survivors receiving bills for medical care. In Minnesota that means 87 counties with their own individual policies about what gets paid for and by whom. The Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault Executive Director Donna Dunn says the system results in inconsistency across the state and "a lot of confusion." The Urban Institute report concludes "victims in some portions of the states may have more services paid for...than do victims in other portions of the states." "We have heard anecdotally that this is a significant issue," says Allie Bones, the CEO of Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. Her office just hired someone to study the hospital billing practices in the state. "The choice to go to the hospital to get the exam is not theirs to make. It's the only place to get it," she said. Advocates in Nebraska cited several examples of victims receiving bills in the last six months alone. Similar story in South Dakota and Kansas where some survivors may be billed for medical treatment associated with the forensic exam and can languish in a system advocates say can be hard for survivors to navigate. In Nevada, the county is required to pay for all medical care in the first 72 hours, but in rural counties there have been reports of victims being billed anyway. While the numbers are likely small, so is the population in smaller Nevada counties and advocates admit a small number of people could still be a big problem. In essence, while the medical treatment a sexual assault survivor receives during a forensic medical exam is similar nationwide, who pays for that care varies widely. The end result is a patient may end up being billed for a service that a patient in another state may not. For victims in California, the bill for the exam goes to law enforcement, but the state law does not require medical care beyond the scope of the federal requirements to be paid by that agency. Those who choose not to report to law enforcement may ultimately find they themselves, or their insurance, billed for those costs. "It's not something that people expect at all," says Sandra Henriquez, the Executive Director of the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault. She believes the state's victim compensation fund should cover rape kit related medical costs for all survivors, "it's a matter of prioritization, I think they should have to pay for it and not have survivors revicitimized by getting a bill." Maryland hospitals are not supposed to bill for related medical costs, but there remains confusion over what's covered, says Lisae Jordan, Executive Director of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault. She's received complaints from victims who were hit with costs like ambulance fees, and follow up testing. "There is not consistent application of the law," said Jordan. The state has formed a panel to study access to forensic exams. The panel's first meeting is Thursday. Katie Hanna, the Executive Director of Ohio Alliance to end Sexual Violence would like to see changes in her state as well. In Ohio the state pays $532 dollars for an exam, the excess can be passed on to the survivor. "It varies county to county and hospital to hospital, and needs to change," said Hanna. "The level of care and the amount of charges a survivor incurs should not depend on the zip code in which they live or the hospital that just so happens to be nearest to them after being raped." The Texas coalition against sexual assault hears about survivors surprised by medical bills "with frequency." "Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault is receiving fewer reports of victims receiving bills associated with the forensic exam," Executive Director Pennie Meyers told CBS News in an email, "However, there is more work to be done." Officials from the Wisconsin Department of Justice acknowledged receiving complaints, but say the agency is working on preventing similar problems in the future. State officials in Minnesota, Texas, Nevada, Kansas, Ohio, and Maryland said they have not received billing complaints. In South Dakota complaints would be handled at the county level. Government agencies in Arizona, California and Nebraska have not offered comment. "Across the United States, victims are being victimized by the very system that is set up to help and protect them after they've been a victim of this crime," said Kellie Greene, the Founder and Director of Speak Out Against Rape, or SOAR. For Greene, the billing issue is a very personal one. On January 18th, 1994 Greene was brutally raped by a stranger who broke into her Florida home. After being taken to the hospital for the forensic exam and medical treatment, she began receiving bills for the entire procedure, from the rape kit to the towel used on her bleeding head in the ambulance. "It's like being punched in the gut when you open that mailbox and you see that bill." Greene refused to pay and the hospital sent her bills to collections. She worked with the state attorney general to change Florida's law a year later. Now through her Washington, D.C. non-profit she tries to help other survivors by speaking about her experiences. In the last few months she says SOAR has been contacted by at least a half dozen survivors across the country looking for help with medical bills. Her group pays some of the bills itself. Greene believes the change needs to come on a national level. Senator Al Franken introduced legislation in 2009 and 2011 to address the issue, but both bills died in committee. In response to our investigation, Senator Franken told CBS News, "I'm committed to making sure that survivors of sexual assault never see the bill for their rape kit exam, and we made significant progress with my provision in the Violence Against Women Act. But I'm very troubled that some women are still being charged for services related to their rape kits. That's unacceptable, and I'll be looking into options to fix this problem." In a statement the American Hospital Association says "it is every hospitals' goal to treat and care for sexual assault victims in a safe and compassionate manner. While fees related to their care vary by state, we encourage all hospitals to review their policies on charges related to sexual assault victims." "Would we like to see a standardized best practice response across the country? Of course," says Dr. Kimberly Lonsway, Ph.D., the Research Director for End Violence against Women International, "we are working very hard to get there but we aren't there yet." In Christine's case, her bills were due to hospital error, she had been marked as self-pay; a simple coding error that took more than 10 agonizing months to resolve. "We regret that this happened," Highland Park Hospital officials said in a statement. "We have implemented a new series of protocols and procedures in our billing system to ensure this does not happen again." Later this year, Christine will complete her master's program to become a nurse practitioner. She and her husband are considering a move west and away from the memories of her attack. CBS News Producers Polly Leider and Laura Strickler and researcher Bianca Brosh contributed to this report ||||| CHICAGO (CBS) — A sexual assault forensic nurse from suburban Chicago was thinking of moving away from Illinois, to get away from memories of her own rape, and the nightmare she experienced afterwards when the hospital demanded she pay for her rape kit. WBBM Newsradio’s Veronica Carter reports Illinois is one of 13 states where rape victims often have to pay for their medical bills after they’ve been attacked, including the rape kits used to collect physical evidence of the assault. Christine went to the hospital in 2013 after she was raped in Chicago. She had gone out for a night of dinner and drinks with friends, and said she does not remember the attack itself. “I don’t remember anything after leaving the dinner portion,” Christine told CBS News. “I woke up naked and I don’t remember anything else after that.” She went to the hospital for a forensic medical exam, commonly known as a rape kit, and was mortified when she started getting bills from the hospital — the very same hospital where she’d worked on crafting a sexual assault response protocol. “Lots of them, and for thousands of dollars,” she said. Christine said she felt victimized again by being billed for her treatment. “Once a month, you get a reminder in the mail ‘Hey, you were raped. Hey, this happened.’ It’s hard to move on,” she said. Rape kits are instrumental in helping police and prosecutors convict rapists, but an investigation by CBS News found, in some states, the cost of rape kits is not completely covered by state law, leaving the victim to foot the bill. Congress twice has rejected legislation that would have prevented victims from having to pay for their rape kits. In Christine’s case, she was billed as the result of an error. Illinois has a voucher system that pays for medical expenses not covered by insurance for up to 90 days after a sexual assault; but Christine mistakenly had been marked as self-pay, due to a simple coding error that took 10 months to correct. She was unable to get out of bed for months after her attack. The hospital threatened to send her to collections if she didn’t pay.

– Christine is a sexual assault forensic nurse from suburban Chicago; helping to put together Highland Park Hospital's sexual assault response protocol was one of her duties. So it was a particularly unwelcome surprise when, after she went to that same hospital in 2013 after being raped, she received a bill from the hospital for the cost of her rape kit. A state voucher system is supposed to pick up whatever part of the tab insurance doesn't regarding expenses incurred within 90 days of a sexual assault. But Christine had incorrectly been coded as "self-pay," CBS Chicago reports, and that mislabeling took 10 months to correct. During that time, the bills kept on coming: "Lots of them, and for thousands of dollars," she says. The hospital even threatened to send her account to collections, she says. Her story highlights what victims face when state law doesn't cover the cost of rape kits, which are integral in getting rapists convicted. "Once a month, you get a reminder in the mail, 'Hey, you were raped. Hey, this happened,'" Christine says. "It's hard to move on." The 2005 federal Violence Against Women Act bars sexual assault victims from being charged for their exam, which includes collecting forensic evidence; but a CBS News investigation found 13 states in which victim advocates relayed stories of victims being billed. Rape Victim Advocates in Chicago says it gets up to half a dozen calls about billing issues a month. Sen. Al Franken has twice introduced legislation that would address the issue, but both times the bills didn't make it out of committee. (Out of New Orleans this week: an explosive report on how police handled sex-assault cases.)

Image copyright Getty Images/reuters Image caption Dame Judi said Spacey "is, and was, a most wonderful actor" Dame Judi Dench has said it was wrong to remove her "good friend" Kevin Spacey's performance in a recent film. "I can't approve, in any way, of the fact - whatever he has done - that you then start to cut him out of films," she said at a film festival in Spain. She said Spacey was "an inestimable comfort" when they worked on a film shortly after her husband's death. A number of allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against the Oscar-winning actor, which he denies. The scandal prompted Sir Ridley Scott to excise his performance as oil tycoon Jean Paul Getty from All the Money in the World and reshoot his scenes with Christopher Plummer. Plummer went on to be nominated for an Oscar, a Bafta and a Golden Globe for his contribution to the film. Image copyright Getty Images/Miramax Image caption The actress appeared with Spacey in 2001 film The Shipping News Speaking at the San Sebastian Film Festival on Tuesday, Dame Judi suggested that the decision to erase Spacey's appearance set a troubling precedent. "Are we to go back throughout history now and anyone who has misbehaved in any way, or has broken the law, or has committed some kind of offence, are they always going to be cut out?" she told reporters. "Are we going to exclude them from our history? I don't know about any of the conditions of it, but nevertheless I think he is, and was, a most wonderful actor... and a good friend." The 83-year-old said she "couldn't imagine" what Spacey - with whom she worked on 2001 film The Shipping News - was doing now. A spokeswoman for the actor said last November that he was "taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment." Image copyright Reuters Image caption Dame Judi received a lifetime achievement award in San Sebastian on Tuesday Following the allegations made against him, the actor was written out of the final series of Netflix drama House of Cards. Billionaire Boys Club, a film in which he had a supporting role, performed poorly at the US box office when it was released in July. Dame Judi's comments about her former co-star have drawn a mixture of censure and praise on social media. Jean-Pierre Leduc praised her for "speaking her mind" and that people "should be given second chances". Other Twitter users, though, said she had "crossed a line" and that her support for Spacey was "sickening". Dame Judi travelled to Spain this week to promote her new film, espionage thriller Red Joan, and receive a lifetime achievement award. The Oscar, Bafta and Olivier winning actress described herself "a jobbing actor", adding: "I can't bear to turn a part down because I think I might not be asked again." Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. ||||| While Judi Dench was in Spain to receive the San Sebastian Intl. Film Festival’s highest award for an individual and to promote her latest feature, “Red Joan,” the Dame didn’t shy away from bringing up a name that many now prefer to avoid. Asked at a packed press conference on Tuesday if there were any particularly memorable moments in her career that she looked back on fondly, she recalled an experience just after her husband had died. “I went to do ‘The Shipping News’ with Kevin Spacey, and Kevin was an inestimable comfort and never mentioned he knew I was in a bad way,” Dench told reporters ahead of the evening ceremony at which she was to receive the prestigious Donostia Award. “He cheered me up and kept me going.” In the current industry climate, it was obvious such a name drop wouldn’t go unnoticed, and it wasn’t long before the Oscar-winning actress was asked about her current feelings toward Spacey and the fallout the actor has faced in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct against him. “I can’t approve, in any way, of the fact that — whatever he has done — that you then start to cut him out of the films,” she said. “Are we to do what happened when he was replaced with Christopher Plummer? Are we to do that throughout history? Are we to go back throughout history and anyone who has misbehaved in any way, or who has broken the law, or who has committed some kind of offense, are they always going to be cut out? Are we going to extrude them from our history? I don’t know….” Related Kenneth Branagh on Laughable Moments With Judi Dench in 'All Is True' Kevin Spacey to Plead Not Guilty to Sexual Assault Charge She continued, “I don’t know about the conditions of it, but nevertheless he is, and was, a most wonderful actor. I can’t imagine what he is doing now.” She paused, then added firmly: “And a good friend.” Dench was also asked about her opinion on the Time’s Up and #MeToo movements. “I think there are many things to be redressed and made right,” she said. “It is an extraordinary moment of change, a sea change at the moment. And there are many more parts for women, which is very good indeed, and long may that go on.” The actress was given ample opportunity to address lighter topics as well. She told an anecdote, which received a solid laugh from the crowd, from her years as James Bond’s superior M. “I did eight Bond films, and after about four or five I asked: ‘How is it that I never get to go anywhere?’” she recalled. “So the very next time we filmed was in a public school in Britain, and they put me in a trailer that said Innsbruck on the side, and they said ‘There, now you can never complain again.’” Another takeaway from the press conference is that Dench is an exceedingly and honestly humble superstar. “I don’t consider myself powerful at all,” she replied quickly when asked about her sway in the industry. “I wait for someone to ask me to do a job and I do it. I have no power to instigate that job, or a film. I have always called myself a jobbing actor, and I think 61 years after beginning, I still am. I can’t bear to turn a part down because I think I might not be asked again.” That was a message she emphasized more than once: that she, or any actor, for that matter, should never turn down a job. The sentiment was reiterated by “Red Joan” director Trevor Nunn when he joined her on stage about halfway through. “The advice I always give is never, never turn anything down,” he said to an aspiring young actress in the crowd. “If it’s tiny, if it’s in a small theater, an attic or cellar, if that job is offered, do it. One thing can lead to another. Nothing leads to nothing.” “At the Edinburgh Festival, people were performing everywhere,” Dench said, adding: “Two people went and did a play in the car. They sat in the front and the audience, all two or three of them, in the back seat. It was exciting and innovative.”

– Count Dame Judi Dench as a Kevin Spacey supporter, despite the sexual misconduct allegations against the actor. Ridley Scott cut Spacey's scenes out of All the Money in the World after the scandal broke, replacing Spacey with Christopher Plummer, and on Tuesday, Dench said she "can't approve, in any way," of the move, which she suggested set a bad precedent. "Are we to go back throughout history now and anyone who has misbehaved in any way, or has broken the law, or has committed some kind of offense, are they always going to be cut out? Are we going to exclude them from our history?" she asked at the San Sebastian Film Festival, per the BBC. The 83-year-old also addressed #MeToo in general, acknowledging "there are many things to be redressed and made right," Variety reports. (Dench has Harvey Weinstein on her butt.)

A visitor takes a picture of the artwork entitled ''Travesty'' by Konstantin Altunin at an exhibition at the Muzei Vlasti (Museum of Authorities) in St. Petersburg August 15, 2013. Overnight on August 26 several art installations, including the ''Travesty'' that depicts... ST PETERSBURG, Russia Police seized a painting of Russia's president and prime minister in women's underwear from a gallery in St Petersburg, saying the satirical display had broken unspecified laws. The officers also removed a picture of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, his torso covered in tattoos, and two others poking fun at lawmakers who have backed legislation banning so-called gay propaganda, gallery staff said. The police service said it had taken paintings from the "Museum of Power" gallery - based in two rooms of a flat - late on Monday after receiving reports they were illegal. It gave no further detail but Russia does have a law against insulting authorities - an offence that carries a maximum one-year prison term. One painting showed president Vladimir Putin wearing a tight-fitting slip and brushing the hair of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who is wearing knickers and a bra. St Petersburg deputy Vitaly Mironov, whose face was combined with the gay rights movement's rainbow flag in one of the paintings, told Reuters the images were inappropriate and "of a distinctly pornographic character". St Petersburg, which next week hosts world leaders at a G20 summit, was one of the first Russian cities to introduce a law banning the spread of "gay propaganda". The Russian parliament has also adopted similar legislation, prompting protests from abroad and calls for a boycott of the Winter Olympics which Russia will host in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in February. Gallery owner Alexander Donskoy said the officers had also shut down his establishment and have him no explanation for the removal of paintings from the exhibition, titled 'Leaders'. "This is an (illegal) seizure," he told Reuters. "We have been given no formal documents banning us from operating and no receipt confirming our petty cash was seized." (Reporting By Liza Dobkina, Writing by Alexei Anishchuk; Editing by Andrew Heavens) ||||| The Museum of Authority. Painting by Konstantin Altunin of Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev in womens underwear. A painting depicting politicians Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev in women’s underwear was one of the items Russian authorities confiscated Monday upon raiding a newly-opened St. Petersburg art gallery that had shown solidarity with Russia’s gay-rights movement. The off-beat gallery, known as the Museum of Authority, opened on August 15 with an inaugural exhibit called “The Rulers” that featured paintings by artist Konstantin Altunin of public figures such as President Barack Obama, former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and Mr. Putin. The idea of the museum had been to put on exhibits relating to various authorities, said founder Alexander Donskoi. Much of the inaugural exhibit was raunchy or politically-charged. One painting depicted St. Petersburg politician Vitaly Milonov – who spearheaded a local “gay propaganda” law that became inspiration for similar national legislation – against a rainbow background. The law bans people from expressing support for “non-traditional” lifestyles in front of minors. A national version of it was signed into law in June.

– Looks like Russian authorities will no longer allow mockery to be used as a weapon by those opposed to the country's anti-gay law. Police swooped on a newly opened art gallery in St. Petersburg yesterday and removed several paintings, including one depicting Vladimir Putin wearing a nightie as he brushes the hair of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who is clad in a bra and panties, Reuters reports. Paintings poking fun at the anti-gay law and at the head of the Russian Orthodox church were also seized. The owner of the "Museum of Authority" says police officers shut down his gallery and didn't give him an explanation for the seizure—or a receipt for the petty cash they took. "I'm very afraid in this situation," he tells the Wall Street Journal. "Because today the authorities can do whatever they want." The police say they raided the gallery after receiving complaints about illegal paintings. It's not clear what laws were broken, although insulting the authorities is a crime that carries up to a one-year sentence in Russia.

MANILA (Reuters) - When the image of Jennelyn Olaires weeping as she cradled the body of her slain husband went viral in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte called it melodramatic. Jennelyn Olaires, 26, cradles the body of her partner, who was killed on a street by a vigilante group, according to police, in a spate of drug related killings in Pasay city, Metro Manila, Philippines July 23, 2016. REUTERS/Czar Dancel There’s not much Duterte hasn’t said when it comes to his war on drugs, his only real election platform and his big promise to the 16 million Filipinos who swept him to power in May by a massive margin. And “the punisher”, as he is known, has been true to his word. Hundreds of suspected drug dealers have been killed since Duterte took office just one month ago. Six were assassinated in a single night in Manila, among them Michael Siaron, Olaires’s 29-year-old husband who was shot dead by unknown assailants on motorcycles. “A friend called out that Michael was shot. I ran out to see him,” Olaires, 26, said in a rundown part of the capital’s Pasay area, with its ubiquitous slums, squatters and thieves. “Thoughts were running in my mind. It can’t be you. You don’t deserve this. There are others who deserve this more than you,” she said, recalling the moment she discovered his body. “If I only have wings, I will quickly fly to his side.” (For a Wider Image photo series of Jennelyn Olaires, see reut.rs/2anBCTt) Photographers surrounded her behind a police cordon as she held his body. A piece of cardboard was left next to his corpse with the word “pusher” written on it. Dozens of similar killings have taken place almost daily in the Philippines, but with drugs and crime so deep-rooted, there is barely any public outrage. Some 316 suspected drug dealers were killed from July 1-27, 195 of which were vigilante killings, according to police. Human rights groups estimate the body count to be at least double the official number. ‘KILL DRUGS, NOT PEOPLE’ Duterte has not condemned vigilante killings. He has previously promoted them. The tough-talking former mayor of Davao City mentioned the image of Olaires holding her husband in his state of the union address on Monday and said media had tried to portray it as being like the Michelangelo’s Pieta, the sculpture of Mary holding the body of Jesus. Olaires will bury her husband on Sunday. She concedes he was a drug user but says it is impossible he was a dealer because they were too poor and could barely pay for their next meal. Siaron made money by riding a pedicab - a bicycle with a sidecar - and did odd jobs. He even voted for Duterte in the May 9 election. “They must kill the ones who don’t deserve to live anymore, the ones who are a menace to society. Because they cause harm to others. But not the innocent people,” she said. Slideshow (7 Images) “I don’t need the public’s sympathy. I don’t need the president to notice us. “I know that he doesn’t like this kind of people. But for me, I just hope that they get the true offenders.” Asked if she had a message to tell Duterte, she said: “kill drugs, not people.” ||||| It was the third extrajudicial killing of suspected drug pushers that I covered on the graveyard shift last week. Around 1:30 a.m. on July 23, upon arriving on Edsa Taft-Pasay Rotunda from another crime scene, I could already see the picture. ADVERTISEMENT I knew this was different. In the middle of the police line in which photographers and bystanders are not allowed to cross was the lifeless body of suspected drug pusher Michael Siaron, cradled by partner Jennilyn Olayres. A cardboard sign that read “Drug pusher huwag tularan” (I am a drug pusher, don’t emulate) was left near the body. An hour had passed after the shooting, according to witnesses. A gunman on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice fired on Siaron and left the cardboard sign beside him. Another person was wounded. TV floodlights and news cameras popped and flashed as Olayres wept for Siaron while cradling him in her arms like Michelangelo’s world-famous sculpture “Pieta,” a depiction of the Virgin Mary mourning over the body of the dead Christ. I took many shots from a distance supported by the light from cameras illuminating Siaron and Olayres, which appeared very much like lighting from a theater stage. Hearing her pleading for help was gut-wrenching. I could do nothing but take more shots. I saw no need to use a flash, as I needed to capture the dark-at-dawn atmosphere. “That’s enough! And help us!” she cried out to media workers, authorities and onlookers. I stopped taking pictures and looked for a policeman. I asked him, “What are you waiting for?” The policeman replied: “We can’t do anything as he is already dead. Let’s wait for the Soco (Scene of the Crime Operatives).” ADVERTISEMENT The members of the Soco team came several minutes late because they came from the same crime scene we covered earlier outside the Senate Building in Pasay City. What could I do? It was heartbreaking but I knew I had to do my job. The crime scene still had to be processed. Evidence had to be gathered. I climbed the overpass and took more shots: an overview of the scene with cars passing along Edsa, with a few motorists stopping and looking at the commotion, a crowd gathering around the body and Olayres laying Siaron down on the pavement and weeping. Another report came—a body was found in Leveriza, Pasay City, the fourth on that shift. Many of my colleagues and I hurried off but we all had a heavy heart. We were not able to take pictures of the male victim—the fourth in “Patay City” (a play on Pasay City, meaning city of the dead), as a radio reporter jokingly said—as the body had been removed from the crime scene. The victim, a mute, was shot and killed by a motorcycle-riding gunman, who also left a cardboard message near his body. We were quiet as we went back to the Manila Police District, the office of graveyard-shift media workers. I lighted a cigarette to calm my nerves. Another photographer took deep breaths. Together, we recounted moments from the scene at Pasay Rotunda. Another veteran photographer said, while shaking his head, “I no longer want to be a photographer.” We all had the same feeling of guilt. We were unsure whether to submit the pictures for publication because we felt guilty for not being able to help the victim and his partner. We only took photographs. I remember shaking my head, wiping off my sweat and processing what had just transpired in my head. I told my colleagues: “Let’s file this. It’s our work.” We may not have helped the victim and his partner but it is our job to show these pictures. We have to show reality as it is and perhaps, get people to react and even take action. Read Next ||||| Human rights groups call on UN to denounce killings of suspected users and dealers since Rodrigo Duterte won presidential election in May More than 700 suspected drug users or dealers have been killed by police or vigilantes in the Philippines in less than three months, say human rights campaigners, who are calling on the UN to denounce the violence. Human Rights Watch, Stop Aids and International HIV/Aids Alliance are among more than 300 civil society groups that have signed joint letters to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), calling on them to break their silence over the crackdown. “We are calling on the UN drug control bodies to publicly condemn these atrocities in the Philippines. This senseless killing cannot be justified as a drug control measure,” said Ann Fordham, executive director of the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), which coordinated the letter. Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte urges people to kill drug addicts Read more “Their silence is unacceptable, while people are being killed on the streets day after day.” Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines, won an electoral landslide in May after pledging to fill funeral parlours with drug dealers. He told Filipinos on the day of his inauguration last month: “If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful.” Since 10 May – the day Duterte was announced the winner of the presidential poll – at least 704 people have been killed because they were suspected to have been involved with drugs, according to monitoring by journalists at ABS CBN News, a Filipino news network. One influential Philippine senator has called for an investigation into the killings. In a speech before the senate, Leila de Lima, a former justice minister, said: “We cannot wage the war against drugs with blood. We will only be trading drug addiction with another more malevolent kind of addiction. This is the compulsion for more killing.” De Lima, who has also headed the Philippines’ national human rights body, said police were summarily killing even innocent people, using the anti-drugs campaign as an excuse. A statement issued last week by the citizens’ council for human rights accused Duterte and his officials of abandoning due process and human rights in their zeal to fight the war on drugs. “Units of the Philippine national police, under the command of his close associate General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, have turned many low-income neighbourhoods in the country into free-fire zones,” it said. “The bloody encounters taking place daily have polarised the country between those who support the president’s quick and dirty methods of dealing with drugs and crime, and those who regard them as illegal, immoral, and self-defeating.” The killings appear to have been carried out by police, who attribute the violence to suspects who “resisted arrest and shot at police officers”, and vigilante groups emboldened by Duterte’s promises of impunity. In one case last month, eight suspected “drug personalities”, including a woman, were shot dead by police in a pre-dawn raid in the town of Matalam, about 900km (559 miles) south of Manila. On the same day in Manila, police said they found a man lying dead with his head wrapped in packaging tape and his torso covered with a cardboard sign reading: “I Am A Pusher.” Facebook Twitter Pinterest Jennelyn Olaires, 26, cradles the body of her husband, Michael Siaron, who police said was killed on a street by a vigilante group in Pasay city, Metro Manila. The cardboard sign near his body reads: “Pusher Ako”, which translates to “I am a drug pusher.” Photograph: Czar Dancel/Reuters On another night in the capital, six people were killed by gunmen on motorcycles. One of the victims’ wives was photographed cradling his dead body in an image that has become emblematic of the Filipino drugs war. Jennelyn Olaires, the wife of Michael Siaron whom police said was killed by a vigilante group, told Reuters her husband had not been a drug dealer but that he was addicted to drugs. She said the 29-year-old made money by riding a pedicab – a bicycle with a sidecar – and did odd jobs. He even voted for Duterte in the 9 May election. “I don’t need the public’s sympathy. I don’t need the president to notice us,” Olaires said. “I know that he doesn’t like this kind of people. But for me, I just hope that they get the true offenders.” The IDPC’s letters ask the UNODC and the INCB to call on Duterte to immediately end all his incitements to kill people suspected of dealing drugs and act to fulfil all international human rights obligations, including rights to life, health, due process and a fair trial. Philippines' 'Duterte Harry': the would-be president accused of using vigilante squads Read more Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said: “International drug control agencies need to make clear to Philippines’ president Roderigo Duterte that the surge in killings of suspected drug dealers and users is not acceptable ‘crime control’, but instead a government failure to protect people’s most fundamental human rights. “President Duterte should understand that passive or active government complicity with those killings would contradict his pledge to respect human rights and uphold the rule of law.” A spokesman for the INCB said that a response to the IDPC’s open letter would be considered over the next few days. The UNODC said that it had received the letter and that it would be reviewed. The most widely abused drugs in the Philippines are methamphetamine hydrochloride, known locally as shabu, and cannabis, which can easily be grown in the country’s rural areas. In 2014, 89% of drug seizures involved shabu while 8.9% involved cannabis, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Before he was elected president, Duterte was a lawyer who earned a reputation as an authoritarian figure while he mayor of the southern city of Davao. His campaign pledges included the reintroduction of the death penalty by hanging, as well as offering bounties for the bodies of drug dealers. During the campaign, Duterte said 100,000 people would die in his crackdown, with so many dead bodies dumped in Manila Bay that fish there would grow fat from feeding on them. After his election win, Duterte also launched a seemingly unprovoked attack against the UN. “Fuck you UN, you can’t even solve the Middle East carnage ... couldn’t even lift a finger in Africa [with the] butchering [of] the black people. Shut up all of you,” he said.

– Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte appears to be making progress in the war on crime he promised when he took office a month ago—as long as murder isn't considered a crime. The Guardian reports that more than 700 people suspected of dealing or using drugs have been killed since Duterte, nicknamed "the Punisher," was elected after vowing to kill tens of thousands of criminals. Critics including Sen. Leila de Lima, a former justice minister, say police and vigilantes are using an anti-drugs campaign as an excuse to kill innocent people. "We cannot wage the war against drugs with blood. We will only be trading drug addiction with another more malevolent kind of addiction," she told lawmakers recently. "This is the compulsion for more killing." Rights groups believe the rate of killing has reached dozens a day. A group of Filipino human rights advocates issued a statement last week condemning the killings and accusing police of "turning low-income neighborhoods in the country into free-fire zones." "The bloody encounters taking place daily have polarized the country between those who support the president's quick and dirty methods of dealing with drugs and crime, and those who regard them as illegal, immoral, and self-defeating," the statement said. Reuters reports that one recent victim was Michael Siaron, a 29-year-old pedicab driver shot dead in Manila by men on motorcycles. After photos of Siaron being cradled by his widow went viral, Duterte said the pictures were "melodramatic." The widow admitted that Siaron used drugs but said he was far too poor to have been a dealer—and that he voted for Duterte.

« 'Elect the Jury' is electing jury you expected | Main | Humane Society won't eat breakfast at IHOP » Anti-violence site urges you to 'hit the bitch' Posted on Nov 16 2009 Tweet There are subtle ways to raise awareness about relationship violence. And then there's "Hit the Bitch," a Web campaign by a Danish advocacy group. Setting up an interface where you're encouraged to slap and punch a woman seems pretty extreme. It's almost like an advergame, except you're delivering an adverbeating! (You can use the mouse, or connect with your Webcam and swing at the girl with your hand.) Getting called a "100% idiot" at the end doesn't feel like much of a rebuke. Perhaps you're supposed to feel guilty, like a real-life abuser might, for continuing to hit the woman just to see what happens next? Who knows. Maybe something's getting lost in translation from the Danish. Via Adverblog. —Posted by Tim Nudd Filed under Domestic violence, Europe, Nudd, PSAs Permalink | Comments (62) Comments No no no no no. Posted by: caroline | Nov 16, 2009 11:57:32 PM WOW. Maybe pushed the boundaries a little too far? This campaign catches people's attention for all the wrong reasons. Abusers would actually enjoy this and people who don't abuse women wouldn't want to play this game in the first place. Their message is all-too-clear and scares people instead of informing them. Posted by: M. Ralston | Nov 17, 2009 12:58:12 AM I hear the arguements against this ad and I believe them to be valid. however, in a way I support this is I feel like it is a way of reaching people who would never look to recieve a straightforward message about ending men's violence against women. I believe it can reach people who otherwise might never get to look a different perspective on the consequences of such violence. I thought it was well thought out, and the message that what some think to be cool"gangsta" behavior is in actuality not cool at all, was well receieved. It hurt to me to see the floating arm hit her. I literally felt sick to my stomach. Maybe it was too graphic for some but in my opinion again, message recieved. Posted by: Marlon | Nov 17, 2009 5:18:09 PM Hmm, interesting. Strong, and inappropriate. But I do appreciate a completely unique approach to the issue, at least they tried. Posted by: JC | Nov 17, 2009 5:34:38 PM EPIC FAIL Posted by: ana_au_ | Nov 17, 2009 10:21:17 PM Violence against women isn't subtle, and awareness of the issue shouldn't be subtle. Often talking about issues of violence can be uncomfortable, so people avoid it. This in your face ad forces the issue to be noticed and discussed. For that, I commend it. Posted by: Kelsey | Nov 17, 2009 10:34:36 PM This is 99% about slapping a woman, with a 1% 'oh it's bad' message and this goes out way beyond the land of the Danishes. They should pull it, NOW. Super epic fail. Posted by: UGH | Nov 18, 2009 10:11:05 AM what the hell would Danish people know about being gangsta? Posted by: pooty poot | Nov 18, 2009 2:25:32 PM No backhand slap. But otherwise pretty good. I always wanted to make sure bitches know their place when they talk to me. Now I know what to do if they don;t listen to me. Posted by: Bush | Nov 19, 2009 3:03:57 AM Bush, you really are an idiot. Posted by: Terry31415 | Nov 19, 2009 4:17:03 AM Maybe they should of had "pie the *itch" You throw a pie at her in the face where she is forced to eat. Each pie however is more laden with calories than the next. After a few pies she starts to get fatter. Or there is "tickle the *itch" After she drinks a copious amount of water you tickler her until, well she pees on herself. This ad is dumb, why how many people watch movies were they get shot, stabbed, tortured, or eaten by zombies, and that is called entertainment. Posted by: Jonathan | Nov 19, 2009 7:12:56 AM (I'm Danish) The ad is quite on the edge of what is appropriate IMHO. It is cruel and gruesome in a whole lot of ways (real spousal violence usually is) It makes a clear statement (in danish, the intended audience, so anyone misinterpreting it due to languagebarriers should stop berating it. It isn't the ad's fault that people don't speak or understand danish.) I can see alot of merit and most arguments against the ad, but IMO it's better the ad was made and put more focus on spousal violence/teen violence, than if it wasn't and the issue was kept away from the public eye. People should compare the ad to the many many movies glorifying violence and criminal endeavours. I'd say it's not as graphic and explicit as some of the more realistic depictions of gangs and criminals coming from Hollywood. @Terry31415: According to you, the ad would be LESS dumb if you threw pies at the girl???? Or if you tickled her???????????? Are you sure? Cuz I'm pretty darned certain both alternatives would detract from the main issue the Ad was created to adress. And yes people watch all kinds of horrific stuff on film and call it entertainment... Mainly due to the fact that it IS. (Fiction is per definition created to entertain and all movies are more or less fictional) Posted by: Tim | Nov 19, 2009 12:12:35 PM They shut it down from users outside Denmark. I guess I'll have to go out and hit a bitch in the real world. Posted by: The Jam | Nov 19, 2009 2:11:41 PM to caroline | Nov 16, 2009 11:57:32 PM: "Abusers would actually enjoy this and people who don't abuse women wouldn't want to play this game in the first place" What? I wanted to try the game after reading about it, and I would never abused a female... I never have and never will hit a woman (Well maybe if she went all psyko on me and hit me first, then I guess I would hit her back... and there would be nothing wrong with that, its called self defence) Posted by: Mike | Nov 19, 2009 2:12:53 PM This game is total dope. I feel much more like a man after playing this. I wish there were more bitches to smack, maybe of other ethnicities. I can't wait till they make the equally graphic "Rape the Bitch" sequel. I'm sure that will really help us be more aware of the issue and also discourage rape... Posted by: Sky | Nov 21, 2009 10:08:07 AM How about another game called "hit the Dick?" or "Chop the prick?" All things being equal--as usual. Posted by: PO-ED | Nov 21, 2009 6:10:29 PM This campaign sounds terrible to me. Firstly a game with a name like "hit the bitch" it is clear they are trying to be funny rather than actually send a message. If anything this makes abusing women fun and promotes abusing women. I tried to check out website but since i'm not from Denmark they wouldn't let me. Posted by: dannymalt | Nov 26, 2009 4:14:39 PM yea! lets hit the biches ou there Posted by: yea | Nov 28, 2009 1:51:19 PM @Yea and Bush: Dudes, I'm willing to bet that if either of you got in a fight with a so called "bitch", she'd win. Don't be such misogynists! As for the game, it's really gross! No one who plays the game will be affected by the "Oh yeah, DON't do this", they'll be affected by long process of beating the crap out of a virtual woman! Eww eww ewity EWW! Posted by: Pow | Dec 2, 2009 3:31:41 PM ja das ist ein richtiger gratis Sexchat und dort sind 560 chatter online ohne Registrierung einfach mit Nick rein unter www.coldtube.com Posted by: girl | Dec 19, 2009 8:40:11 PM I do not like this kind of game. Posted by: tales of pirates gold | Mar 12, 2010 3:53:14 AM Awareness of the issue anna au? How would you react if it was a game called "Lynch the Nigger", would you say its helping to combat racism? Probably not. Posted by: BabyGotFlak | Mar 17, 2010 9:16:59 PM @ tales of pirates gold THANK YOU!!!! How does playing a game like that 'help' solve the problem!? Sheesh... Posted by: Laughingandcryingatthisad | May 19, 2010 7:45:37 PM Eine interessante Sache. Posted by: auspuffschelle | May 22, 2010 10:52:15 AM Hi, ich bin gerade auf einer kleinen Reise quer durchs web. Nun bin ich also auf dieser tollen Homepage gelandet und muss sagen: Der Besuch hat sich gelohnt! Ich werde deine Seite auf jeden Fall wieder mal besuchen! Wenn du Lust hast, kannst du ja auch mal auf meiner Homepage vorbei schauen. Ich würde mich sehr freuen. Nun wünsche ich eine tolle Zeit! Posted by: Volker from Germany | Jun 22, 2010 11:45:17 PM I think she can`t sing and should not do this. Posted by: Haarentfernung | Sep 29, 2010 2:05:04 AM hahahahhhahahhahahhahahahahaa Posted by: larry johnson | Oct 7, 2010 3:44:04 PM hahahah u got yo *** whoped Posted by: larry johnson | Oct 7, 2010 3:45:41 PM YEA MY FRIEND FACE LOOK LYKE DAHT LAST YEAR!!!!!YUH SO UGLIIIIIII Posted by: mESA CREASA | Oct 8, 2010 3:38:50 PM hay gurl Posted by: larry johnson | Oct 12, 2010 3:45:54 PM After she drinks a copious amount of water you tickler her until, well she pees on herself. Posted by: vivienne westwood | Oct 18, 2010 10:59:37 PM The orginal site is only available for users from denmark. Posted by: Flirt | Nov 1, 2010 10:07:18 AM The site http://www.hitthebitch.dk/ does not work for non-danmarks. I'm sad now :( Posted by: Catering | Nov 24, 2010 5:52:42 PM ich bin gerade auf einer kleinen Reise quer durchs web. Nun bin ich also auf dieser tollen Homepage gelandet und muss sagen Posted by: thomas sabo | Dec 9, 2010 1:55:00 AM It is true, this site only works for people in danmark. And i was so happy to slap this bitch ... Posted by: Aquarium komplett | Dec 24, 2010 5:43:43 PM Tolle Seite hier, ich würde mich über einen Gegenbesuch auf meiner Seite sehr freuen. Liebe Grüße Elena Nice page here, please take a look at my website too. Greetings from russian girl Elena Posted by: Russian Girl Elena | Jan 12, 2011 5:22:29 AM I am so impressed. I believe you have immense knowledge on the matter. I think you are too good? Keep working and keep it up!! Posted by: custom football jersey | Jan 18, 2011 9:59:49 PM Bin über Google hier auf diese Seite gestoßen, finde sie schön und interessant. Liebe Grüße aus Abilene! Posted by: Docven | Jan 24, 2011 4:05:32 PM Hello from Nastya I like this website very much, very interesting and very good webdesign. If you like, you can take a look at my website too. Best regards from Nastya Posted by: Nastya | Jan 28, 2011 5:34:29 PM Hello !!! I like this very interesting website. If you like, you can visit my website too. Ich finde diese interessante Webseite sehr toll. Wer mag darf gerne auch meine Seite besuchen. Gruesse von Marina - Greetings from Marina Posted by: movies free | Feb 7, 2011 4:47:51 PM Hi from Ludmilla ! This site is very interesting for me, if you like you can take a look at my site too. Tolle und informative Seite ist das hier, wer mag darf sich gerne auch auf meiner Seite umschauen. Gruss von Ludmilla Best regards Ludmilla Posted by: escort russia | Feb 8, 2011 9:34:45 AM it can reach people who otherwise might never get to look a different perspective on the consequences of such violence. I thought it was well thought out, and the message that what some think to be cool"gangsta" behavior is in actuality not cool at all, was well receieved. It hurt to me to see the floating arm hit her. I literally felt sick to my stomach. Maybe it was too graphic for some but in my opinion again, message recieved. Posted by: football customized jerseys | Feb 11, 2011 4:31:30 AM Hi from student Anastasia! Hallo von Studentin Anastasia! Nice website here, take a look at mine please! Schoene Webseite ist das hier, schaut doch auch auf meiner vorbei! Gruesse von Anastasia. Best Regards Anastasia. Posted by: Anastasia | Feb 11, 2011 9:04:16 PM Coole Site. Nice Posted by: Papiertragetaschen | Feb 17, 2011 4:14:40 PM Hallo, tolle WebSeite, viel Spam ;-) Posted by: Wärmepumpe | Feb 17, 2011 4:18:55 PM Aber echt tolle Seite Posted by: Hundefutter | Feb 17, 2011 6:25:48 PM Tolle Homepage und genialer Aufbau, gefällt mir sehr gut!! Vielleicht schauen sie mal auf meiner Homepage vorbei! Schöne Grüße aus Bayern Posted by: Manuel | Feb 23, 2011 3:48:25 PM Tolle Homepage und genialer Aufbau, gefällt mir sehr gut!! Vielleicht schauen sie mal auf meiner Homepage vorbei! Schöne Grüße aus Bayern Posted by: Manuel | Feb 23, 2011 3:48:25 PM Tolle Homepage und genialer Aufbau, gefällt mir sehr gut!! Vielleicht schauen sie mal auf meiner Homepage vorbei! Schöne Grüße aus Bayern Posted by: Manuel | Feb 23, 2011 3:48:25 PM Tolle Homepage und genialer Aufbau, gefällt mir sehr gut!! Vielleicht schauen sie mal auf meiner Homepage vorbei! Schöne Grüße aus Bayern Posted by: Manuel | Feb 23, 2011 3:48:25 PM Post a comment The opinions expressed in comments are those of the individual poster. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Adweek or E5 Global Media. Comments of a promotional nature or comments that are otherwise inappropriate may be removed. ||||| The seed for this crawl was a list of every host in the Wayback Machine This crawl was run at a level 1 (URLs including their embeds, plus the URLs of all outbound links including their embeds) The WARC files associated with this crawl are not currently available to the general public.

– It’s supposed to be a PSA against domestic violence, but ‘Hit the Bitch’—a webgame from a Danish advocacy group—takes things to a disturbing level. Users manipulate a big onscreen hand to beat a model, with their score advancing from “100% pussy” to “100% gangsta” with every new bruise. But when one reaches “100% gangsta,” the screen in fact changes to “100% idiot”—the only indication it is indeed anti-violence, AdFreak reports. That "doesn't feel like much of a rebuke," blogs Tim Nudd. "Perhaps you're supposed to feel guilty, like a real-life abuser might, for continuing to hit the woman just to see what happens next? Who knows. Maybe something's getting lost in translation."

In the equation over short-term profits versus longer-term employee retention and loyalty, one company is upending the norm. Telecommunications giant Vodafone said it will become one of the first organizations in the world to offer a mandatory minimum maternity benefits standard, providing at least 16 weeks of fully paid maternity leave and full pay for a 30-hour week for the first six months after a new mother returns to work. The company will extend the policy to its global workforce, including women who work in the U.S., Africa, the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. For American workers, the program may seem shockingly progressive, given the U.S. is the only developed country that doesn't guarantee paid maternity leave. While the Family and Medical Leave Act allows some workers to take 12 weeks off from work to cope with a new birth or a family medical issue, that is on an unpaid basis, although some corporations offer several weeks of paid leave. That leaves American families with threadbare coverage, with only 12 percent of U.S. workers having access to paid leave. "What we found is there are hidden costs for women who don't come back" after having a baby, such as recruitment and training expenses and lost talent and knowledge, Sharon Doherty, the human resources executive at Vodafone who worked on the policy, told CBS MoneyWatch. "Because it's a hidden cost, some companies don't factor that into the equation. It's a short-term investment but a medium-term gain." Globally, businesses lose $47 billion when women don't stay in the workforce after having a baby, given the costs of recruiting and training new employees, Vodafone said, citing research from KPMG. Of course, offering paid maternity leave would add to businesses' expenses, which KPMG pegged at $28 billion annually. Even so, companies would see net annual savings of $19 billion, given the businesses would retain valued employees through such programs, Vodafone noted. The track record for U.S. companies retaining women after they have a baby isn't good: About 43 percent of highly qualified women either stop working or scale back after having children. In the U.S., there's been a rise in stay-at-home moms from a modern-era low in 2009, and while other developed countries are seeing increased rates of employment for women, the U.S. is one of the few where the rate has declined since 2000. Doherty stressed that an important part of the policy is the six-month transition when women return to work after maternity leave, given that it's a time when moms are bonding with their babies and trying to figure out how to handle both the demands of a new family and a career. "That's the moment when companies need to think about how they can support women," she said. "The transition back is a real value to working women who want to stay employed but are trying to figure out how to be both a successful mother and a successful employee." In the U.S., Vodafone has about 500 employees, but Doherty said the company believes its new policy will be a key differentiator in maintaining its current staff and when it recruits. "Our expectation is that this is the beginning of a big future in the U.S.," she said. "For our women in the U.S. it's good news, and clearly it will be a differentiator for us when we go to recruit." The policy may also help more women reach the upper management ranks, Vodafone said. While women make up 35 percent of its employee base, only 21 percent of its international senior leadership team is comprised of women, the company said. In a statement, chief executive Vittorio Colao said, "We believe our new maternity policy will play an important role in helping to bridge that gap." ||||| Vodafone to become one of the first organisations in the world to define a mandatory minimum maternity benefits standard KPMG analysis reveals up to $19 billion annual boost to businesses worldwide through maternity leave Vodafone announced today that it will become one of the first organisations in the world to introduce a mandatory minimum global maternity policy. By the end of 2015, women working at all levels across Vodafone’s 30 operating companies in Africa, the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the US will be offered at least 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave, as well as full pay for a 30-hour week for the first six months after their return to work. Other than the United Nations, very few global organisations - and even fewer multinational corporations - have adopted minimum maternity policies of this kind. While a number of Vodafone subsidiaries already offer substantial maternity care terms which will continue as before, the new mandatory minimum global maternity policy will make a significant difference to the lives of thousands of Vodafone women employees in countries where there is little or no legislative requirement to provide maternity support. Vodafone also announced today the outcome of analysis commissioned from KPMG* which indicates that global businesses could save up to an estimated $19 billion annually through the provision of 16 weeks of fully paid maternity leave. KPMG estimated that: recruiting and training new employees to replace women who do not stay in the workforce after having a baby costs global businesses $47 billion every year; offering women 16 weeks of fully paid maternity leave rather than the statutory minimum would cost businesses an additional $28 billion a year; and if businesses were able to retain more women in the workforce after their maternity leave, they could save up to $19 billion a year and would retain the knowledge and experience of these women with positive consequences for productivity and effectiveness. Additionally, KPMG estimated that: offering mothers a global return-to-work policy equivalent to a four-day week at full pay for their first six months back to work after maternity leave could save working mothers a cumulative $14 billion in childcare for their new babies; and a four-day week would enable mothers to spend a cumulative 608 million additional days with their newborn babies. Vodafone Group Chief Executive Vittorio Colao, said: "Too many talented women leave working life because they face a difficult choice between either caring for a newborn baby or maintaining their careers. Our new mandatory minimum global maternity policy will support over 1,000 Vodafone women employees every year in countries with little or no statutory maternity care." "Women account for 35% of our employees worldwide but only 21% of our international senior leadership team. We believe our new maternity policy will play an important role in helping to bridge that gap. Supporting working mothers at all levels of our organisation will ultimately result in better decisions, a better culture and a deeper understanding of our customers’ needs." ||||| Women’s labor force participation has surged in recent decades, driven largely by increases in labor force participation among women with young children, according to a new Pew Research Center report. At the same time, fathers—virtually all of whom are in the labor force—are also taking on more child care responsibilities, as fatherhood has grown to encompass far more than just bringing home the bacon. Despite these transformations, the U.S. government support for working parents remains very limited, compared with 37 other nations, according to data compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The chart shows the number of weeks of federally-protected time off, as well as the amount of time off that is paid in full, available to employed new mothers in each country. The bars combine both maternity leave and parental leave (which is available to either a new mother or a new father). The data do not address paid leave or other accommodations that individual employers make available to employees or guarantees provided by a few individual states. Of the 38 countries represented, the U.S. is the only one that does not mandate any paid leave for new mothers. In comparison, Estonia offers about two years of paid leave, and Hungary and Lithuania offer one-and-a-half years or more of fully-paid leave. The median amount of fully-paid time off available to a mom for the birth of a child is about five-to-six months. In the vast majority of countries offering paid time off, the government is footing the bill, though in some cases employers are required to pony up, as well. Then, there’s also protected leave, which essentially allows new parents to be away from their job to care for their baby, without fear of losing that job. Along with Mexico, the U.S. offers the smallest amount of leave protection related to the birth of a child among these 38 countries—12 weeks. In the U.S., this is a result of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) which was enacted in 1993, and guarantees job security for those who have been employed for at least a year, and who work for an organization with 50 or more employees. At the other end of the spectrum, Poland, Estonia, Spain, Lithuania, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Hungary, France and Finland offer three years or more of protection for leave related to motherhood. The median amount of protected leave for new mothers among these countries is about 13 months. While not represented in this graphic, 25 of these countries also offer guaranteed paternity leave—leave that is specifically available for new fathers. Norway, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, Sweden and Germany all offer eight weeks or more of protected paternity leave, and with the exception of Ireland these countries also mandate that a portion of this time off be paid. For the most part, though, paternity leave, where available, is more modest—in Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, Austria and Hungary paternity leave is guaranteed for one week or less. Topics: Gender, Work and Employment ||||| Vodafone has announced a new policy to ease new mothers’ transitions back to work. Getty Images Any woman coming back to work after maternity leave can tell you it’s a mixed bag. Adult company can be invigorating after the isolation of weeks at home with an infant. On the other hand, most new mothers are sleep-deprived, adjusting to a new life and deeply attached to the babies they are now leaving in someone else’s hands. And, as employers are beginning to realize, the arrival of a new baby prompts plenty of women to wonder whether their careers are worth the tradeoffs. At Vodafone Group PLC, 65% of women who left after a maternity leave were quitting in the first year back at the office. So the U.K. telecommunications provider decided to make some changes. Today, it announced a global policy intended to ease new mothers’ transition back to work, paying them full-time salaries for 30-hour workweeks for up to six months after their return.

– The US is the only country out of 38 that doesn't require paid maternity leave, according to a 2013 Pew Research Center study. And while the US Family and Medical Leave Act does provide for up to 12 weeks of leave for some employees with a new baby or other qualifying family situation, it's unpaid leave. A global telecom company, however, has decided it's not waiting for mandates from each of its affiliate nations, including the US: Vodafone will offer 16 paid weeks of maternity leave, covering new moms in the US, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region, and Europe, CBS News reports. And once moms are back behind the desk, the company takes its progressive policy one step further, paying a mother's full salary for a 30-hour workweek for the first six months. The changes will be implemented by the end of 2015, the Wall Street Journal reports. KPMG research commissioned by Vodafone estimated that businesses offering 16 paid weeks would dole out $28 billion a year globally for the benefits. But it also found that by saving $47 billion by not having to recruit and train new employees taking over for moms opting out of the workforce, companies would save $19 billion a year collectively. Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao also thinks that since fewer moms will permanently off-ramp, his company can boost more women who work there (35% of its employees) into upper-management roles—only 21% of its international upper ranks are currently made up of women. (President Obama is on board with paid family leave.)

Early on the morning of Nov. 9, 2016, Republican President-elect Donald Trump addressed supporters in New York, declaring victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Here are key moments from that speech. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) Donald J. Trump will be the 45th president of the United States. Let that sink in for a minute. Donald Trump, a man who has never run for any elected office before. Donald Trump, who made his name nationally as a flamboyant billionaire turned reality TV star. Donald Trump, who built a primary campaign on a pledge to build a wall along our southern border and make Mexico pay for it. Donald Trump, who, in the wake of terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino in late 2015, proposed a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country. Donald Trump, who faced allegations of sexual assault from a dozen different women in the closing weeks of this campaign. Donald Trump, who said and did 1,000 things in this campaign that would have lost any other candidate the race. Yes, that Donald Trump is going to be the most powerful person in the United States — and maybe the world — for the next four years. What Donald Trump has done is nothing short of cataclysmic. He has fundamentally reshaped the political map. He has broken the Republican Party into pieces — and its shards still remain scattered everywhere. He has proven that the political polling and punditry industries need a deep re-examination. But, even more than all that, Trump's victory reveals that many of the assumptions that people have long made about who we are as a country and what we want out of our politicians, our political system and each other are, frankly, wrong. Trump's candidacy was premised on the idea that everyone — politicians, reporters, corporations — is lying to you, and lying to you to to feather their own nests. It was a Holden Caulfield campaign: Everyone, except Trump and his supporters, were phonies. In short: Trump played on the deep alienation and anxiety coursing through the country. Globalism, immigration, a growing chasm between the haves and the have nots, a rejection of political correctness in all its forms. A prevailing sense that things were so screwed up that radical change — and make no mistake that is what Trump cast himself as in this contest — was the only option left. Consider this: Just 38 percent of voters in the national exit poll said that Trump was qualified to be president. (52 percent said the same of Clinton.) And yet, he won the White House on Tuesday night. That disconnect can only be explained by a desire to blow up the whole system. And I don't just mean the political system. I mean every elite and establishment institution that's ever assumed they know best — the media very much included. Trump is the collective middle finger from all the people who think the elites have laughed them off and dismissed them for too long. It is the average man's revenge — made all the more remarkable by the fact that the vessel of this rage against elites and the establishment is a billionaire who tells anyone who asks how smart and rich he is. How Trump happened then, while remarkable, can be understood and analyzed. What Trump will do as president is a far more difficult question to answer. Donald Trump (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Trump's policy positions were loosely defined, at best. His lone consistent position throughout his life is on trade, where he has long favored a more protectionist view, suspicious of broad trade deals like NAFTA or the Trans-Pacific Partnership. His immigration stance — build a wall and make Mexico pay for it — seems far-fetched. His plans on taxes, on education, on energy are all sketches of ideas as opposed to specific policy proposals. How does Trump relate to the GOP congressional majorities he is going to enjoy? He ran against the Republican establishment — in the primary and general election campaigns. He vilified them as tone-deaf to the changes happening not only within their party but also in the country. What now? Trump sits in the catbird's seat. Republican leaders need to come to him — but is he willing to accept them into the new Republican Party he has forged? And what of the Democratic Party? Hillary Clinton began the 2016 campaign as the strongest non-incumbent front-runner in the history of modern politics. Her presumed strength glossed over the fact that a) a significant amount of liberal unrest — represented in the primary by Bernie Sanders — remained toward her and b) the Democratic bench is remarkably thin. What does it mean for world markets, that plunged as the likelihood of a Trump victory shaped up? Or the U.S. relationship with foreign countries? Or our involvement in foreign conflicts? There are many questions that Trump's victory creates. And more I can't even think of. Here's what I do know: Trump's victory is the single most stunning political development I have ever witnessed. And it's not close. This is the equivalent of dropping a refrigerator — or maybe 10 refrigerators — into a smallish pond. There are obvious, giant waves. But there are 1,000 other ripples that we might not even see today — or might not even exist today. Cataclysm. Plain and simple. ||||| Anger trumped hope. Donald Trump’s astonishing victory over a heavily favored Hillary Clinton on Tuesday is the greatest upset in the modern history of American elections – convulsing the nation’s political order in ways so profound and disruptive its impact can’t even be guessed at. Story Continued Below Trump was too crass, too much of a brazen sexist, too much a blustery orange-maned joke, too ill-informed about the operations of a country he wanted to run, too much of a threat to markets and the security establishment – too pessimistic -- to ever win the White House. Underestimated at every turn, spurned by his own party, the former reality-show star was able to defeat a better-funded better-organized Clinton by surfing a tsunami of working-class white rage that her army of numbers crunchers somehow missed. Clinton had fully expected to make history when her motorcade sped from Chappaqua to Manhattan, had planned fireworks to celebrate her being elected the first female president in the 240-year history of the republic. Instead her legacy is one of tragedy, futility and squandered opportunities – proof that a conventional candidate can do practically everything by the numbers (win debates, raise the most cash, assemble the greatest data and voter outreach effort in history) and still fall to a movement impelled by raw emotion, not calculation. When you wake up on Wednesday morning the United States will be a different place. The markets will tank, but they will recover. World leaders will shudder, but they will adjust as they always do. Half of the country that viewed him as a dangerous demagogue, even a neo-fascist, before the election will wonder, probably for the first time in their lives, if their country is the same one they were born in. His tens of millions of inspired supporters will awake to a hopeful new dawn, content in having finally torn the rotten establishment they had long loathed, and wondering how he plans to make their America great again. And in about two months Donald John Trump – the man who has said he’s smarter than any of the men who will now be his generals – will be wrapping his fingers around the nation’s nuclear football. As a French diplomat said Tuesday, reflecting on Trump, the stunning Brexit vote and the rise of right-wing parties in Western Europe: “This is a world we do not know anymore.” Can he do anything to bring a divided, terrified country together? Will he try? There is real fear in many parts of the country tonight. Trump’s remarkable victory was gained by waging total war on his enemies, lukewarm allies, the “dishonest” media and the very idea that he had to be civil or respect the norms of American politics. Trump himself had trouble believing he could actually pull the thing off (an aide told CNN early Tuesday that he would need a “miracle” to win). So his final rallies had a screw-it quality, returning to a provocative pattern of his underdog days – calling out the “rigged game” he seemed certain to lose and goading his supporters into a state of fury that made dissenters and reporters feel endangered. There was a time, earlier in the campaign, when he refused to join his backers in chanting “Lock her up!” Toward the end, he was joining them in that chant. Democratic consultant Stephanie Cutter, who worked on President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign, described how many Clinton supporters feel: “He’s about rejecting immigrants, he’s about keeping your foot down on people, women.” Clinton, in her upbeat closing message had emphasized that she would be a president for all Americans, and would try to reach out to Trump’s voters; he never reciprocated and the demographic groups that backed her overwhelmingly rejected him with fewer than 7 percent of blacks backing his candidacy, under 25 percent of Latinos earning his vote and a gender gap that led women to support Clinton in 10 to 20 percent greater numbers. The question now is whether he will do anything meaningful to reach out to them – to assure Democrats, women, blacks and Hispanics that he views them as co-equal members of the American family. And will they believe him? Hillary Clinton is a footnote in history. As Tuesday night dragged into Wednesday morning, as the thousands of would-be revelers turned into marble-eyed mourners, some of the younger women in the crowd looked up at the roof of the joyless Javits Center, its glass ceiling very much intact. The shocking result ended a lot of dreams, and one of the most extraordinary and extraordinarily polarizing careers in American politics. At 69 – having suffered the most humbling upset imaginable to a deeply, nearly fatally flawed opponent believed to be the only Republican contender she could actually defeat – is spent as a political force. Clinton will forever be known as one of the worst closers in political history, a woman who was never capable of selling a wary public on herself, on account of her own shortcomings and paranoia or perhaps as a result of a sexism so ingrained in American culture that women as well as men suffered from it. The good news for Democrats: Clinton is now out of the way, clearing the road for a new generation of leadership with far less baggage. Despite her loss, the Democratic Party’s ideas remain more popular than the Republican platform on global warming, social issues, infrastructure spending, taxes and even immigration, Trump’s signature issue. The bad news: What would have happened if the party had nominated Bernie Sanders – the 74-year-old socialist who Clinton dismissed as unelectable? White voters finally found someone who spoke their language. The most telling comment of the entire election came when a pollster buttonholed an early Trump supporter, and asked her how she could possibly believe in a novice rabble-rouser with no distinct plans other than a slogan on a red hat. “We know his goal is to make America great again,” she said. “It’s on his hat.” That wasn’t a small thing. Clinton had the whiff of Ivy League arrogance and spoke with the technocratic complexity of the Federal Register, coming across as a liberal given to lecturing Americans not inspiring them. For all his flaws, Trump speaks with gut-punch directness and an earthy, sledgehammer humor that succinctly channeled their anger. Trump made his fame as a reality TV star but, in reality, he speaks the language of right-wing talk radio, which reflects the raw rage of working-class whites (who still make up about a third of the country’s population) who feel squeezed by globalization, left out of the Starbucks-and-Snapchat prosperity of the coastal elites and really, truly need to have America be great again. It’s noteworthy that Clinton and her staff circulated academic studies documenting the life-span decline of poorer whites – and Clinton’s communications director Jennifer Palmieri, pointing to a map of the country in her office, ran a sympathetic finger over Appalachia and promised that Clinton would work hard on behalf of them after the election. But Clinton, opting for the Obama strategy of focusing on maximizing turnout among her core constituencies, never made a serious pitch to working-class white men (who backed Trump by a record 48 percent margin) and she paid a terrible, terrible price. The Clinton campaign got its numbers wrong. Forget the public polling of the election – which was all over the map, but backed an aggregated surmise that Clinton had a 70 to 85 percent chance of winning the presidency on the eve of the election. When I emailed a senior Clinton strategist for their internal polling data on Tuesday morning, I was told her lead was in the 4-to-5 percent range and that the campaign was feeling “very good” about its prospects. There were, I was told, internal tensions within the campaign over the dissemination of polling data and voter-file analytics, but there appears to have been some major miscalculation that blinded her team to the massive turnout of white voters in exurbs and rural areas in the Midwest and Florida. Clinton’s vaunted ground game was supposed to give her a one-to-two point advantage, and while it helped boost turnout in Hispanic areas (and brought some underperforming African American neighborhoods up to a respectable level), Brooklyn failed to account for the wave of Trump-stoked anger that rendered its painstakingly created model of the electorate so off-base. James Comey is Public Enemy No. 1 (To Democrats). The evidence is mixed, but Clinton staffers and many Democrats blame the FBI director’s unprecedented announcement, 11 days before the election, for throwing the race to a man they deem unfit to serve in the nation’s highest office. Clinton’s internal numbers tanked in the days after the director announced he would examine thousands of new emails found on the laptop of Anthony Weiner, the husband of Clinton’s aide-de-camp Huma Abedin. “He f---d us, and he f----ed the country,” a senior Clinton campaign official told me late Tuesday. The incident – to Trump’s delight – rekindled doubts about Clinton's character and trustworthiness. And even Comey's announcement, on the Sunday before Election Day, that the emails were deemed innocuous, couldn’t save her. ||||| Americans have no choice but to hope for the best from the president-elect—and to prepare for the worst by reviving the constitutional system’s checks and balances. When Donald Trump takes office on January 20, 2017, he will arguably present more unknowns than anyone who has ever been elected to lead the executive branch and serve as commander in chief of the United States military. He has no previous experience in government. His relationship to the Republican Party is complicated, his stated positions on any number of policy issues are extremely vague, and he has shown over the course of this election that he is unconstrained by many norms that every major-party nominee in my lifetime have accepted as a matter of course. His most fervent supporters believe this makes him uniquely positioned to “Make America Great Again,” a message emblazoned on the red hats of his supporters early Wednesday as Trump took the stage to deliver his victory speech. “I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans,” he said, adding that he would reach out to Americans who opposed him for their advice and help. The speech was pitch-perfect––easily the classiest moment of his campaign. Hopefully, Trump will surprise his detractors and behave better in the White House than he has in the 2016 campaign, his business career, and his personal life. For the sake of the nation and the world, I hope he rises to the occasion, and that he respects the civil liberties of every American regardless of their identity. In any project that benefits the nation while safeguarding civil rights and liberal norms, I wish him success. And for my part, as a frequent critic of the president elect, any new criticism of Trump will spring from what he does going forward, not backward-looking resentment at a campaign I hated. I want Trump to have every incentive to serve honorably. Still, I worry that the worst sides of Trump will resurface. For critics, the risk he represents to the United States was summed up months ago by Josh Barro, who described Trump as a tail-risk candidate. "The most likely outcome is that Trump would be neither good nor disastrous as president, but simply bad," Barro wrote. "For example, he might mismanage the country's finances, needlessly inflame racial tensions, undermine the rule of law, confuse and antagonize our allies, and hurt the economy through erratic policies that punish and reward investors based on his political whims. This is the most likely outcome, and an undesirable one, but not the most important one to consider. America has survived bad presidents before, and we could survive a bad Trump presidency along these lines." Though unlikely, tail-risk scenarios scared him more. What if President Trump starts behaving like one of the several authoritarian leaders who he has repeatedly praised, or starts using federal law enforcement to target Hispanics, Muslims, or any other group he dislikes, or even starts a nuclear war? The Constitution is meant to provide protections even if a man unfit for the presidency wins it. Congress and the Supreme Court are co-equal branches, even if they're not always treated that way by the Washington establishment and the media. The American system vests significant power in the states and the people, though less today than at the time of the Founders, for better in some ways and worse in others. And the character of the employees who staff the bureaucracy matters, too. Would the American republic stand up to a stress test? For years, I have been urging President Obama and Congress to tyrant-proof the executive branch as best they can, before it’s too late. With an unknown quantity headed for the Oval Office, that project is more vital than ever. Current precedents give Trump the ability to wage war under an Authorization to Use Military Force that’s been stretched to cover half the globe; to order drone killings in a dozen countries; to preside over mass surveillance on American citizens; to indefinitely detain human beings without trail at Guantanamo Bay; and much more. ||||| Donald Trump's unpredicted and unprecedented victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election has launched the nation’s capital into a zone of uncertainty. WSJ's Gerald F. Seib discusses the political shakeup and what needs to happen next. Photo: AP The deplorables rose up and shook the world. “Deplorables” was, of course, the disparaging term Hillary Clinton at one point applied to some supporters of Donald Trump. Many of his loyal followers proudly embraced the insult and used it as a motivating tool. Wearing such establishment disdain as a badge of honor, the Trump army cut a...

– Donald Trump is now America's president-elect and many commentators are calling it "unthinkable"—but they also admit it is a possibility they should have probably thought a lot more about. Some early reactions to the historic victory: Trump's "astonishing" victory "is the greatest upset in the modern history of American elections—convulsing the nation’s political order in ways so profound and disruptive its impact can’t even be guessed at," writes Glenn Thrush at Politico. He was able to defeat "a better-funded, better-organized Hillary Clinton by surfing a tsunami of working-class white rage that her army of numbers crunchers somehow missed," Thrush writes. What Trump "has done is nothing short of cataclysmic," writes Chris Cillizza at the Washington Post. "He has fundamentally reshaped the political map. He has broken the Republican Party into pieces—and its shards still remain scattered everywhere. He has proven that the political polling and punditry industries need a deep re-examination." But beyond that, Cillizza writes, the victory shows that "many of the assumptions that people have long made about who we are as a country and what we want out of our politicians, our political system and each other are, frankly, wrong." Conor Friedersdorf at the Atlantic says that he hopes Trump will "rise to the occasion"—but to be on the safe side, people should start thinking now about how to thwart Trump "misbehavior." "The most important project in American politics for the next four years is safeguarding the rights conferred by the Constitution and the norms of a liberal society," he writes. "The effort expended by ordinary citizens will determine the odds of that project’s success." Jim Rutenberg at the New York Times sees the media's failure to see what was happening leading up to the Trump win as not just a failure of polling, but a failure "to capture the boiling anger of a large portion of the American electorate that feels left behind by a selective recovery, betrayed by trade deals that they see as threats to their jobs and disrespected by establishment Washington, Wall Street and the mainstream media." Trump didn't just "vanquish" Clinton, writes Gerald F. Seib at the Wall Street Journal. He "instantly remade the Republican party in his own image. He rewrote some of the GOP’s most dearly held policy and philosophical positions." Trump has sent the capital into a "zone of uncertainty the likes of which it hasn’t experienced at least since Ronald Reagan’s conservative revolution in 1980," and is about to become "the most unconventional president in modern American history," Seib writes.