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http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/cast/carla-hall | Carla Hall Co - host of ABC ' s " The Chew " Follow @ carlahall Co - Host Biography Carla Hall is an Emmy - winning co - host of ABC ' s Emmy Award - winning popular lifestyle series " The Chew , " seated alongside restaurateur and " Iron Chef America " star Michael Symon , as well as entertaining expert Clinton Kelly . WATCH : Fan Favorite Carla Hall Moments > > Carla Hall is best known as a competitor on Bravo ' s " Top Chef " and " Top Chef : All Stars " where she won over audiences with her fun catch phrase , " Hootie hoo , " and her philosophy to always cook with love . Carla ' s approach to cooking blends her classic French training and Southern upbringing for a twist on traditional favorites . She is committed to health and balance in everyday living . Her cookbooks are " Carla ' s Comfort Food : Favorite Dishes from Around the World " and " A native of Nashville , Hall received a degree in Accounting from Howard University , but traveling through Europe awakened her passion for food and inspired a new career path . She attended L ' Academie de Cuisine in Maryland where she completed her culinary training , going on to work as a Sous Chef at the Henley Park Hotel in Washington , D.C. She also served as executive chef at both The State Plaza Hotel and The Washington Club , and has taught classes at CulinAerie , Sur la Table and her alma mater , L ' Academie de Carla is also active with a number of charities and not - for - profit organizations that reflect her passion for causes close to her heart . She serves as a Board Member for the Pajama Program and GenYouth . Carla also actively works with Chef Jose Andres ' World Central Kitchen Chef Network , DC Central Kitchen , The USO , St . Jude Children ' s Research Hospital , Feeding America , WCR ( Women Chefs and Restaurateurs ) , and she serves on the advisory boards for the Edible Academy for the New York Botanical Gardens and You can visit Carla ' s official website here You can visit Carla ' s official Facebook page here You can follow Carla on Twitter @ carlahall You can visit Carla ' s on Instagram @ CarlaPHall | [
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http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/ham-and-swiss-stuffed-chicken-thighs-michael-symon | Ham and Swiss Stuffed Chicken Thighs Michael Symon | Servings : 4 | moderate 15 to 30 min Back Part 1 of 2 Next Chicken , ham , cheese , and Dijon make for a recipe you wo n ' t want to miss ! Ingredients Ham and Swiss Stuffed Chicken Thighs 4 Chicken Thighs ( Boneless , Skin - on ) 4 slices Deli Ham 4 slices Swiss Cheese 1 bunch Sage 1 / 4 cup Dijon Mustard ( Plus 2 Tablespoons For the Sauce ) 2 cloves Garlic 4 tablespoons Butter 1 Red Onion ( Sliced ) 8 ounces New Potatoes 4 sprigs Thyme 1 / 4 cup White Wine Extra Virgin Olive Oil Juice Half a Lemon ( To Serve ) Directions Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides . With the skin side down , spread about a tablespoon of Dijon mustard onto each piece and layer the ham , a few sage leaves , and a slice of Swiss cheese . Starting from the side nearest you , tightly roll up each piece and secure with toothpicks . In a large cast iron skillet , heat the butter and a couple tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat and add the chicken thighs . While the roll - ups begin to brown , add the garlic , red onions , new potatoes , thyme sprigs and sage leaves . When the chicken is golden brown on one side , turn the rolls and use the butter herb sauce in the pan to baste . Cook for about 10 minutes , or until the chicken is fully cooked , stirring the onions and potatoes occasionally . When the chicken With the potatoes , onions and herbs still in the pan , use the white wine and Dijon mustard to deglaze . Serve by pouring the sauce over the chicken and adding a drizzle of olive oil and the juice of half a lemon . Similar categories : Ingredients Chicken & Poultry Courses & Meals Dinner Chicken Cuisine French rate this recipe | [
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http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/roasted-potatoes-carrots-carla-hall | Roasted Potatoes and Carrots Carla Hall | Servings : 4 | easy 30 to 60 min A simple squeeze of lemon adds brightness to a hearty side . Ingredients Roasted Potatoes and Carrots 6 Baby Carrots ( scrubbed clean ) 1 pound Fingerling Potatoes ( scrubbed clean ) Olive Oil Salt freshly cracked Black Pepper 1 Lemon ( zest and juice ) Directions Preheat oven to 425F . Cut the carrots to match the length of the potatoes . Halve the potatoes lengthwise . Toss carrots and potatoes in a bowl with olive oil and season with salt and pepper . Spread the mixture evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 30 to 40 minutes , until potatoes are fork tender and lightly charred . Remove from oven and squeeze fresh lemon juice over the warm vegetables . Serve with a sprinkling of salt and lemon zest . Similar categories : Ingredients Vegetables Carrots Courses & Meals Dinner Other Side Dishes rate this recipe | [
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http://abc2.org/contact | Contact Start Complete Email Subject Message CAPTCHA This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions Math question 5 0 Solve this simple math problem and enter the result Eg for 13 enter 4 | [
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http://abc27.com/2015/07/13/milton-hershey-school-house-parent-arrested-for-child-molestation/ | Milton Hershey School house parent arrested for child molestation By Myles Snyder , ABC27 News Published : July 13 , 2015 , 11 : 57 am Updated : July 14 , 2015 , 8 : 37 am HERSHEY , Pa . ( WHTM ) – A Milton Hershey School houseparent has been arrested on allegations he had indecent contact with a student . Fernando Zagaceta , 41 , was charged Saturday with felony counts of indecent assault , unlawful contact with a minor , and corruption of minors , as well as a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of children , according to Derry Township police and court records . Police said the charges stem from allegations involving an elementary student . According to charging documents , the 8 - year - old girl told police Zagaceta touched her while she was sleeping away from her house . Zagaceta , who was not the girl ’ s houseparent , admitted he was in her room while she was sleeping . He said he touched her arm or hand to see if she was asleep , the criminal complaint states . He initially told officers he could n ’ t remember if he touched the girl elsewhere or removed her blankets . The girl reported the incident to her houseparent . Zagaceta was arraigned and released on $ 50,000 unsecured bail . A preliminary hearing is scheduled July 21 . Milton Hershey School spokeswoman Lisa Scullin said the school learned of the allegations over the weekend and immediately contacted authorities . “ Such behavior is reprehensible and unacceptable , and we are taking this matter very seriously . The employee has been removed from campus and arrested . We are cooperating fully with law enforcement , ” Scullin said in a statement . “ The safety of the children in our care is our highest priority , and we are focused on providing all the care and support that this student needs right now . We do not have any information that would suggest that more children in the house have been affected . ” “ At Milton Hershey School we hold our employees to the highest possible standards and are committed to sustaining a welcoming and safe environment for our students , ” the statement concludes . Zagaceta has been a houseparent at the school since at least 2013 , where he and his wife would have been responsible for between eight and 12 kids , according to the school ’ s website . That ’ s after passing a slew of background checks during a months - long hiring process . MHS spokesperson Lisa Scullin told abc27 in an email the school performs a state police criminal check , a child abuse history check , and FBI fingerprinting for all employees . Houseparents also go through online assessments “ to evaluate their motivations , ” Scullin wrote , along with phone and in - person interviews , home checks , and even social media checks . “ Offenders are going to look for places where they have opportunities , ” said Kristen Houser , spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape . She added all the research in the world will only turn up what ’ s reported . “ It ’ s why it ’ s so important that institutions have additional training in place , ” she said , “ that they are doing some environmental scans . ” Scullin said they do that , too : Houseparents go through weeks of safety training , she said , “ not to mention childhood behavior , crisis intervention , relationship development , creating a safe environment for children , and many other issues related to child safety . ” “ In the end , ” Houser said , “ it ’ s impossible to predict human behavior . ” Share this : Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Google+ ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Pinterest ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Tumblr ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on LinkedIn ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Reddit ( Opens in new window ) Click to email ( Opens in new window ) Click to print ( Opens in new window ) More Loading . . . Show Comments Advertisement Advertisement | [
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http://abc7chicago.com/about/newsteam/phil-schwarz/ | Phil Schwarz Phil Schwarz has been a meteorologist for ABC 7 since 1995 . He presents the weather primarily on weekends and fills in during the week . When not covering the weather , Schwarz reports on environmental and weather - related stories . Schwarz is one of the ABC 7 meteorologists who has received an Emmy Award for his severe weather coverage . Previously , Schwarz was the primary meteorologist at WNYW - TV in New York , N.Y. , where he reported the weather for their 10 p.m. newscast . Before that , he served as weekend meteorologist at KSTP - TV , the ABC affiliate in the Twin Cities . Schwarz began his on - air career in his hometown of Flint , Michigan , where he was the weekend meteorologist for WJRT - TV , the local ABC affiliate . During this time , he also owned and operated a private weather forecasting service with several clients throughout the Midwest . Schwarz earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Meteorology from Pennsylvania State University in 1983 . He holds the American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval , and earned the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal as well . A participant in numerous volunteer activities , he is a board member of the Les Turner ALS Foundation . This charitable group raises money to help those afflicted with ALS and also contributes to the research being conducted at Northwestern University . All of the money raised by this charity stays in the Chicago area . Each year Schwarz emcees the ALS Walk for Life which is held in late September . Schwarz resides in the suburbs of Chicago with his wife and has two grown children . ARCHIVES Historic cold in Chicago produces ' diamond dust ' and other weather phenomena This is the kind of weather that many of us will be telling our grandchildren about years from now . But there is also some pretty fascinating meteorological phenomena being produced by this historic cold . How to prevent frostbite , stay safe while wind chill warnings , advisories are in effect Temperatures are expected to fall dangerously low Tuesday through Friday , with wind chill advisories and wind chill warnings in effect . ALS researchers meet in Chicago as patients remain hopeful As researchers studying ALS met Monday in Chicago , patients are hopeful that their work will lead to a cure . Fall colors 2018 : When will foliage peak in the Chicago area ? Fall colors are approaching peak across much of the Chicago area . Near the lake , the foliage wo n ' t hit their pinnacle for about another week . Group seeks improved beach safety after 13 - year - old Darihanne Torres drowns at North Side beach The drowning of a 13 - year - old Chicago girl earlier this month has some community members hoping to improve water safety along Lake Michigan . | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/airport-security-rules-shoes-belt-shampoo/story?id=15540380 | New Airport Security Rules : Keep Your Shoes , Belt and Shampoo TSA expands Pre - Check prorgram to 35 of nation ' s busiest airports . By JASON RYAN Feb . 8 , 2012 & # 151 ; — Feb 8 , 2012 10 : 47 AM Select travelers at 35 of the nation ' s busiest airports will soon be able to keep their shoes on and their computers in their bags when they go through security . The federal government announced today that it will expand an expedited check - in program called Pre - Check , now used by 310,000 travelers at seven major airports , to 28 more sites , including JFK , O ' Hare and D.C. ' s Reagan National , by the end of 2012 . Passengers who enroll in Pre - Check , run by the Transportation Security Administration , do not have to remove shoes or belts , can keep their computers in their bags , may keep three - ounce containers of gel or shampoo in their carry - on luggage , and may wear a light jacket . Pre - Check will be operating at Reagan National by the end of March , said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano , who called the expansion of the program " part of a fundamental shift in how we approach aviation security . " " Immediately after the attacks of 9 / 11 , we simply did not have the information and analytic capability to identify travelers who posed the greatest potential risk and so we had to take a one - size - fits - all approach . " Napolitano said during a press conference this morning at Reagan National . " Our experience over the past several years has made us smarter about the evolving threats we face and how best to deal with them . " Pre - Check prescreens passengers before they arrive at the security checkpoint . Members of the program will be identified via the bar code on their boarding passes . They will be steered to a dedicated line - - a sort of E - ZPass lane for fliers - - for quicker passage through security . The Pre - Check program is already being used by American Airlines frequent flyers at the Dallas , Miami , Las Vegas , Minneapolis and Los Angeles airports , and by Delta passengers in Atlanta , Detroit , Las Vegas and Minneapolis . The 28 additional airports expected to be part of the Pre - Check program by 2012 include all three D.C. area airports , all three New York City airports , O ' Hare , Boston Logan , Seattle - Tacoma , Phoenix , San Francisco , New Orleans , San Juan , Pittsburgh , Philadelphia , Portland ( PDX ) , Tampa , Salt Lake City , Honolulu , San Juan , Anchorage , Orlando , St . Louis , Houston ( IAH ) , Indianapolis , Charlotte , Cincinnati , Denver , Ft . Lauderdale and St . Louis Click Here for the Blotter Homepage . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/nsa-releases-snowden-email-nbc-truth/story?id=23918598 | NSA Releases Snowden Email , Did He Tell NBC the Truth ? Snowden says he tried to report " real problems , " NSA says emails say otherwise . ( The Guardian / Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras / File / AP Photo ) FILE - This June 9 , 2013 file photo provided by The Guardian Newspaper in London shows National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden , in Hong Kong . By LEE FERRAN May 29 , 2014 & # 151 ; — May 29 , 2014 1 : 41 PM ET Edward Snowden said in a recent interview he tried to go through internal channels to raise his concerns about the National Security Agency ’ s surveillance programs before he slipped out of the country with a trove of secret documents . The NSA disagrees and says it has the email exchange to prove it . “ I actually did go through channels , and that is documented . The NSA has records , they have copies of emails right now to their Office of General Counsel , to their oversight and compliance folks from me raising concerns about the NSA ’ s interpretations of it – legal authorities , ” Snowden told NBC News in a wide - ranging interview . “ I reported that there were real problems with the way the NSA was interpreting its legal authorities . And I went even further in this , to say that they could be unconstitutional , that they were sort of abrogating our model of government in a way that empowered presidents to override our statutory laws . And this was made very clear . And the response was , more or less , in bureaucratic language , was , ‘ You should stop asking questions . ’ ” In the interview , Snowden called on Congress to verify that the communications exist . NSA Finds 1 Email From Snowden Raising Question Today the NSA posted online the email exchange to which the government agency says it believes Snowden is referring . The exchange released by the NSA took place in early April , months after Snowden reportedly contacted journalists in preparation to expose the secret programs . According to the documents posted online , Snowden wrote to the NSA ’ s Office of General Counsel on Friday , April 5 , 2013 asking for legal clarification about whether Presidential executive orders can supersede federal statute , and whether Department of Defense ( DOD ) or Office of the Director of National Intelligence ( ODNI ) regulations get “ greater precedence . ” The response from the General Counsel ’ s office , dated Monday , April 8 , says that while executive orders have the “ force and effect of law , ” they can not override a statute . The response also said that DOD and ODNI regulations are afforded “ similar precedence ” and one may have more depending on subject matter or date . The respondent invites Snowden to “ give [ him or her ] a call if [ he ] would like to discuss further . ” The NSA said in statement that Snowden ’ s email “ did not raise allegations or concerns about wrongdoing or abuse , but posed a legal question that the Office of General Counsel addressed . ” “ There was no additional follow - up noted , ” the NSA said . “ There are numerous avenues that Mr . Snowden could have used to raise other concerns or whistleblower allegations . We have searched for additional indications of outreach from him in those areas and to date have not discovered any engagements related to his claims . ” Snowden told NBC News that he also raised his concerns with his co - workers and superiors , many of whom he said were “ shocked ” at the programs he described . In December 2013 , Snowden similarly told The Washington Post he brought his misgivings to four supervisors in two departments . “ I asked these people , ‘ What do you think the public would do if this was on the front page ? ’ ” Snowden told the Post . “ How is that not reporting it ? How is that not raising it ? ” In the Washington Post report , an NSA spokesperson said the agency had not found “ any evidence ” to support Snowden ’ s claims about raising concerns internally . Then , the NSA did not note the email it published online today . Late today , The Washington Post reported that Snowden sent the paper an email saying the NSA ' s release was " incomplete " and did not include correspondence with NSA compliance officials and concerns he had raised about " indefensible collection activities . " " If the White House is interested in the whole truth , rather than the NSA ' s clearly tailored and incomplete leak today for political advantage , it will require the NSA to ask my former colleagues , management , and senior leadership team about whether I , at any time , raised concerns about the NSA ' s improper and at times unconstitutional surveillance activities , " Snowden said , according to the Post . " It will not take long to receive and answer . " Ben Wizner , director of the ACLU Speech , Privacy and Technology Project and legal adviser to Snowden , dismissed the controversy over Snowden ’ s internal efforts as a “ red herring ” to the larger issue of mass surveillance . “ The core , the main substance of Snowden ’ s complaint was not some instance of fraud or misconduct that he stumbled upon that was unknown to inspectors general or Congress . It was an entire system that had been deemed legal by the … oversight mechanisms , ” Wizner told ABC News . “ The problem was the failure of democratic consent – that an entire system of mass surveillance had been constructed and deployed without [ the ] consultation of the American people . So , what was he supposed to do ? . . . There Wizner also said the NSA has chosen to release a “ single part of a single exchange ” and said since the NSA did n ’ t have much credibility in his mind – noting the agency left the email exchange posted online today out of its statement to the Post in 2013 - - he would take Snowden ’ s word over the NSA ’ s if Snowden said he did more to raise the issue internally . Elsewhere in the NBC News interview , Snowden , who has been living in Russia under temporary asylum , denied that he had any relationship with the Russian government , as some critics have alleged , and said that he would most like to come home . He would n ’ t do it without a deal , though . “ I do n ’ t think there ’ s ever been any question that I ’ d like to go home . I mean , I ’ ve from day one said that I ’ m doing this to serve my country … [ But ] what has been lain against me are not normal charges . They ’ re extraordinary charges , ” Snowden said , referring to his charges under the Espionage Act and the restrictions that he says would be put on a possible legal defense against them . “ And so when people say ‘ Snowden said he would not “ walk into a jail cell to serve as a bad example for other people in government who see something happening , some violation of the Constitution and think they need to say something about it . ” READ : We Promise Not to Torture , Kill Edward Snowden , Holder Says CLICK HERE to return to the ABC News Investigative Unit homepage . Comments 665 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Retirement/collect-social-security/story?id=7672119 | When Should You Collect Social Security ? Many Americans begin collecting benefits too early , costing them dearly . By Column DAVID McPHERSON May 26 , 2009 & # 151 ; — Mar 16 , 2009 3 : 08 PM Forget about your investments for a moment . Yes , I know , your portfolio has lost more than 30 percent in a year , but chances are there ' s another critical financial issue that you ' ve spent a whole lot less time thinking about . That is when and how you will collect Social Security retirement benefits . Make the wrong choice , and you could lock yourself into 30 years of reduced income . Make the right choice , and you could more than make up for what you ' ve lost in the past year ' s market turmoil . Looking for financial advice ? Click here to send David your questions and they might be used as a topic for his next column . The simple fact is most Americans start collecting Social Security retirement benefits at far too young an age . The typical American begins collecting within one of year of turning 62 , the earliest age possible . By doing so , these early retirees settle for a monthly benefit that right now is 25 percent less than what they would receive at their full retirement age ( currently 66 ) . For today ' s recipient eligible for the maximum monthly benefit , that ' s the difference between $ 19,665 and $ 26,220 a year . Wait until age 70 , and the difference is even greater : $ 19,665 at 62 and $ 35,672 at age 70 . ( All figures are in today ' s dollars . ) The cynics rightly point out that recent projections show the Social Security Trust Fund will be exhausted in 2037 . But even without any changes in the system before then , current Social Security tax payments will be able to fund benefits at reduced levels . I happen to believe that by 2037 there will be some type of fix in place even if the political courage to do so now is lacking . In general , the longer you can wait to collect Social Security , the better off you will be , particularly if you are in good health and stand a decent chance of living into your 90s . That said Social Security is not a one - size - fits - all program . When and how you should begin collecting will differ with your circumstances , including your health , income , net worth , marital status and spouse ' s age and work history . Retirement and Social Security Factoring in all of these issues can make for a complicated decision as you approach your retirement years . That ' s why I say anyone in their 50s or older should learn more about how Social Security works and start thinking about what ' s the best way to maximize their retirement income . In recent years , academic studies have highlighted several ways for eligible recipients to maximize benefits . One strategy involves paying back to the Social Security administration what someone began collecting at age 62 to qualify for a higher monthly benefit based on an older starting age . A second strategy for married couples suggests maximizing the couple ' s joint benefits by claiming a wife ' s Social Security benefits at an early age and then delaying the husband ' s collection of benefits until beyond his full retirement age . The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College outlined another strategy in a recently published paper entitled " Strange But True : Claim Social Security Now , Claim More Later . " It explains how married individuals can benefit from provisions that allow them to collect either a " retired worker benefit " based on their own earnings and / or a " spousal benefit " equal to one half of their spouse full retirement age benefit . Before full retirement age - - now between ages 62 and 66 - - the Social Security Administration awards an individual whichever benefit is higher . But upon reaching full retirement age , individuals can choose which to receive . This means married individuals can claim a spousal benefit at age 66 and then switch to their own retired worker benefit at a later date . " This approach allows a worker to begin claiming one type of benefit while still building up delayed retirement credits , which will result in a higher benefit later , " explains the paper , which was published in April . Its authors are Alicia M . Munnell , Alex Golub - Sass and Nadia Karamcheva . Those likely to benefit most from this approach are husbands in two - earner couples . In most cases , the paper explains , the optimal strategy is for a wife to begin collecting Social Security at age 62 as the first step . Spouses Benefit The second step would have the husband claim the spousal benefit based on his wife ' s earnings when he turns 66 . Then , in a third step at age 69 , he would claim a higher retired worker benefit due to the delayed retirement credits for waiting beyond age 66 , and stop receiving the spousal benefit he had been collecting . If the woman is the higher earner within the couple , the roles would be reversed . The paper ' s authors explain that for this strategy to work the individuals must be married , at least one of them healthy enough delay claiming until 66 and both spouses must have an earnings history . " The higher and the more equal the earnings records , the more to gain , " the authors note . This is only a quick summary of the " Claim Now , Claim More Later " strategy . I offer it only as example of why it ' s a good idea to learn more about how Social Security benefits work and to think carefully before you begin collecting . To learn more , visit the Center for Retirement Research at http : / / crr . bc . edu / . Also , be sure to visit early and often the Social Security Administration Web site , www . socialsecurity . gov This work is the opinion of the columnist and in no way reflects the opinion of ABC News . David McPherson is founder and principal of Four Ponds Financial Planning in Falmouth , Mass . He previously worked as a financial writer and editor for The Providence Journal in Rhode Island . He is a member of the Garrett Planning Network , whose members provide financial advice to clients on an hourly , as - needed basis . Contact McPherson at david @ fourpondsfinancial . com Comments 1 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Business/goldman-sachs-republican-campaign-money-gop-democrats/story?id=11626575 | Goldman Sachs Goes Republican Bank spreads its bets , gives money to both parties . By RAY SANCHEZ Sept . 14 , 2010& # 151 ; — Sep 13 , 2010 12 : 31 PM If you needed a reminder that Wall Street and Washington make the strangest of bedfellows , new research shows that Goldman Sachs donated more money to Republicans than Democrats for the first time in decades . The latest data from the Washington D.C. - based Center for Responsive Politics shows that Goldman has doled out roughly $ 914,000 to Republican candidates compared to about $ 776,000 to Democrats in this year ' s election cycle . " I think that Wall Street and other large donors have become not too much unlike the electorate at large – sort of willing to change , " said Jennifer Duffy , senior editor of the Cook Political Report , one of the nation ' s leading non - partisan political handicappers . The shift is all the more striking considering that in a 20 - year period covering 11 election cycles , Goldman donated nearly $ 21 million to Democrats , almost double the $ 12 million it gave Republicans , according to data released by the Center for Responsive Poltics last week . " They ' re shorting the Obama administration , " said Nell Minow , co - founder and editor of the Corporate Library , a governance research firm . " It is quite clear that the best friends of Wall Street are in the Republican Party , particularly in this midterm election . One thing that Goldman knows is which way to bet . " A Goldman spokeswoman declined comment . The pro - Republican tide is not surprising , considering how the industry saw the Democrats ' financial reform legislation as heavy - handed and anti - Wall Street . As recently as 2008 , about 3 out of every 4 dollars in political donations from financial industry members and political action committees went to Democrats . The financial industry will surely side with Republicans in the latest skirmish with the White House over Bush - era tax cuts . Senate Republicans this week vowed to block any effort to renew Bush administration tax cuts if upper income taxpayers are excluded from the reductions . Obama would renew the tax cuts for most people , but let the top income tax rate rise back to almost 40 percent on family or small business income over $ 250,000 . Goldman Sachs Gives More Campaign Money to Republicans " Wall Street and related industries are hedging their bets with Republicans so that if Republicans do take power , they ' re going to be at least partially on that winning team , " said Dave Levinthal , editor of the Open Secrets blog for the Center for Responsive Politics , which analyzes political contributions . " Republicans , certainly in their rhetoric and action , are offering an attractive alternative to folks in the financial industry . Clearly , those people on Wall Street are speaking with their pocket books . " According to the Center , nearly two - thirds of the top 25 recipients of Wall Street contributions were Republicans . Among the top ten , only two Democrats made the list – New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand Goldman is the largest political donor on Wall Street , with donations of $ 1.6 million among various candidates during the 2010 election cycle . The Cook Political Report has predicted Republican gains of at least 40 seats in the House this November . The GOP must gain 39 seats to retake the majority . " It ' s about sort of growing apart with the party they had supported over the years and looking to Republicans for a little bit more agreement on the issues that affect them the most , " Duffy said . " I ' m sure that they ' ve been unhappy about being so demonized in the financial meltdown , not that I ' m convinced that they have a right to be unhappy about it . " Last month , an ABCNews . com / Center for Responsive Politics analysis of financial industry contributions to senatorial campaign fundraising arms and to candidates in a dozen key races revealed a distinct fiscal alliance between Wall Street and Republicans . During the first six months of the year , bankers , brokers and money managers - - individually and via Political Action Committees - - have contributed twice as much to GOP Senate candidates than to Democratic ones . Through June 30 , roughly $ 7 million in campaign contributions travelled from the pockets of financial industry members into the National Republican Senatorial Committee , the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee , and to the candidates in pivotal Senate races in Arkansas , California , Colorado , Delaware , Illinois , Indiana , Kentucky , Missouri , Nevada , North Dakota , Ohio and Pennsylvania . More than two - thirds of that cash went to Republicans . Among the 10 individual Senatorial candidates who got the most cash from Wall Street , seven were Republicans . " What ' s happening with Goldman is indicative of what ' s happening with the broader financial industry , " Levinthal said . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=6986271&page=1 | Viacom , Lionsgate , MGM to launch Epix , a new channel By DAVID LIEBERMAN USA TODAY NEW YORK Email The economy is in tatters . People are losing their jobs by the hundreds of thousands . The No . 4 cable operator , Charter Communications , has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection . And television service providers across the board continue to grapple with the national transition to digital and high - definition TV . In other words , this is a lousy time to launch a cable channel . But that does n ' t seem to bother Hollywood powers Viacom via ( which owns Paramount ) , Lionsgate lgf and Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer . They ' re defying all odds to launch a bold service , called Epix , that hopes to break into the premium TV business long dominated by HBO , Showtime and Starz . If you think it sounds crazy , you ' ve got lots of company . Epix is a " mistake " that " will fail to get off the ground , " says one of the channel ' s fiercest critics , Pali Research analyst Richard Greenfield . No one has agreed yet to carry it , and Credit Suisse analyst Spencer Wang said in a recent report that he found " little interest " among the cable , satellite and phone video operators with whom he spoke . Yet Epix President Mark Greenberg says the skeptics will be in for a surprise in May , when the service begins to offer some video features on the Internet and then in October when the TV channel makes its debut . " We have great entertainment " from the three studios , which accounted for about 25 % of all ticket sales in 2008 , he says . " It ' s Indiana Jones . It ' s Iron Man . It ' s Cloverfield . " Epix also will be the place to go for marathons featuring James Bond , Saw and the Pink Panther . Greenberg hopes to attract lots of young adults by injecting marketing pizazz and some up - to - date technology tricks on an otherwise familiar programming package . The commercial - free service will include original TV series , concerts and movies that will air about nine months after they first appear in theaters — slightly earlier than other studios provide their films to premium channels . Greenberg ' s efforts have already stunned some people who thought that the studios ' talk about Epix was just a ploy to gain leverage in a bitter contract dispute with CBS - owned Showtime . Few imagined that billionaire Sumner Redstone would let two companies that he controls , Viacom and CBS , go to war with each other . Yet Showtime ' s priorities have changed . It wants to boost the airtime it devotes to new series such as Dexter and Weeds and said last year that it would slash the $ 350 million a year it paid for the studios ' movies beginning in 2009 . Parent CBS has been under pressure , with its stock price down about 81 % from its 52 - week high , as it grapples with the soft ad market . The studios said that they ' d rather go it alone . " The wholesaler was taking his ( cut ) , and the manufacturers were n ' t sure how their content was being used , " Greenberg says . His backers have pledged to invest $ 150 million to launch Epix . Viacom owns about 42.8 % of the venture ; the other two partners each have 28.6 % . That could jolt Showtime . It has deals to show films from The Weinstein Co . , Summit Entertainment and the newly created CBS Films . But these are relatively small production companies that do n ' t have deep libraries . What would Showtime do ? Showtime ' s challenge , then , is to find ways to pack its schedule — as well as its 10 related services , including The Movie Channel and Flix — with shows that can approach the popularity of the 15,000 films in the libraries of Paramount , Lionsgate and MGM . It wo n ' t be able to show Paramount , Lionsgate and MGM films released after Jan . 1 , including the upcoming Star Trek , G.I. Joe and an updated version of Fame . The network will continue to have its original series Weeds , which is produced by Lionsgate . Showtime declined to discuss its plans , or Epix . Greenberg says there ' s no chance of a reconciliation . " That opportunity has moved on , " he says . The studios " are committed to doing this . Epix will launch . " MTV Networks , Viacom ' s basic cable division , is already out trying to strike deals with cable , satellite and phone video providers . Greenberg wants operators to include Epix in their packages of digital , movie or HD channels — it would n ' t appear as a separate charge on customers ' bills the way premium services usually do . He ' ll sweeten the deal by making the channel ' s movies and shows available to their video - on - demand services . He ' s asking companies to pay $ 1.50 a month for every subscriber who can see Epix . That ' s about 50 cents more than operators typically pay for ad - supported basic channels such as TNT , but far less than they provide to sports services such as ESPN , which costs about $ 3.65 . But Epix may have to settle for less than it wants . " It ' s a difficult environment these days , and everyone ' s looking at their costs , " says Derek Chang , DirecTV ' s executive vice president for content , strategy and development . " We continue to have conversations with these guys . We ' re always willing to listen to what they say . They appear to be flexible . " Greenberg says deals will start to come as people learn more about what Epix has to offer . " We ' re in some meaningful discussions right now , " he says . " I ' m hoping that we ' ll be able to announce something in the spring . " The big question is how low he can go on the price . It may be difficult for Epix to accept a lot less . Impact of cable channel payments Payments from premium cable channels can have a big impact on a film ' s bottom line — and that ' s critically important to A - list actors and directors who often collect a share of a film ' s profits . " If the payments ( films receive from Epix ) are lower than other networks ' , it might lead profit participants to take their films to other studios " that have deals with HBO , Showtime or Starz , says Deana Myers , analyst at research firm SNL Kagan . Viacom and Lionsgate investors also might rebel if Epix drains too much cash . Viacom shares have fallen about 65 % from their 52 - week high as the company has grappled with the soft ad market , weakening DVD sales and disappointing ratings at MTV . Lionsgate is down about 59 % . Greenberg says he expects Epix to break even in about four years , but , " We keep re - evaluating that depending on the economy . " Beyond discussions about price , Epix will have to show that its movies will still seem special to viewers who have growing opportunities to see them on DVD and TV or Internet video - on - demand services before they make it to premium channels . " The day of pay services suffering from missing big movies is over , " says former HBO chief Michael Fuchs . Others , though , say audiences will still find films exciting , if they ' re properly promoted . " There ' s a difference between availability and usage , " says Media Valuation Partners principal Larry Gerbrandt . " Box office admissions are flat and have been for 10 years , so movies are n ' t overexposed there . DVD sales are flat to down . VOD is n ' t growing — and iTunes is in that window . You do n ' t see studios jumping up and down when they get their iTunes checks . " Greenberg adds that " movies repeat with high ratings — they ' ll perform over and over and over again , whereas originals ( sitcoms and dramas such as Big Love and The L Word ) have a great first play , and sometimes a second play , but then they significantly fall off in ratings . " Building buzz Indeed , the studios hope that they can do a better job than premium channels do of galvanizing fans , for example by offering outtakes , interviews and clips from actor auditions . The holy grail is to transform a single movie into a durable franchise that can generate a bonanza from sequels , DVDs , digital downloads and licensed merchandise . Epix ' s backers think that they can use the Internet to help build buzz , especially among young viewers . People who get the channel from a cable , satellite or phone company will also be able to watch some films and programs online . There ' ll also be opportunities to buy merchandise and purchase or rent movies — with some revenue possibly going to the distributor . " Feature films are special , and ( most networks and providers ) have turned it into a commodity , " says Emil Rensing , Epix ' s head of digital media . " Because we ' re owned by the studios putting the titles out , we enjoy a unique relationship with the franchises , " for example to develop social networks or offer unusual items such as movie ads that were rejected . " We want to always be treating our fans like fanatics , " he says . Epix wo n ' t just rely on theatrical movies , though . The channel recently approved its first original series for 2010 , Tough Trade — a one - hour drama about a Nashville music dynasty — that the executive producer of Weeds will make for Lionsgate . Greenberg says that MTV Networks , which includes MTV , VH1 and Comedy Central , will help with comedy and music specials . He ' s also talking with an unnamed live - event company about a possible deal . " We would like to have a live event as part of the launch , " he says . " You want to find someone in the next six months who will stage one last event as part of the end of their tour . " It could be interesting , but only if Greenberg can persuade someone to show Epix . " I do n ' t think it ' s going to be easy , " says Dennis Miller , general manager of Spark Capital , who used to work at Lionsgate . " The early days will be bleak . But over time , their ( movies and shows ) have real value . " | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Business/top-14-best-jobs-college-degree/story?id=19216976 | Top 14 Jobs That Do n ' t Require a College Degree Web developer leads the list of best jobs without a college degree . By SUSANNA KIM May 21 , 2013 — May 21 , 2013 5 : 10 AM intro : While one ' s earning potential increases with a college degree , you do n ' t necessarily need to spend $ 40,000 a year for a diploma for a job that pays as much . Jobs search site CareerCast . com released a list of 14 of the best jobs without a college degree . Tony Lee , publisher of CareerCast . com , said opportunities for high school grads and post - high school training are increasing . CareerCast . com pulled the 14 jobs from its 200 Jobs Rated Report , which uses data from the Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics . CareerCast judged the jobs on aspects including environment , income , stress and outlook , or expected employment growth through 2020 , as forecast by the Labor Department . The highest - paid job by median salary in this year ' s list is web developer , which has median salary of $ 75,660 . " Web developer has really taken off as a career for computer - savvy job seekers who either are self - taught or took a few college - level courses but did n ' t graduate , and who are comfortable enough with their skills to make a meaningful contribution , " Lee said . " Demand is so great in this field that not having a college degree is n ' t a huge turn - off to many employers , especially the smaller start - up firms . " Who knows ? Maybe you could be the next David Karp , 26 , the founder of website Tumblr ? Search engine company Yahoo just bought Tumblr for $ 1.1 billion . Instead of finishing high school , Karp was home - schooled . " The trend continues to be that college graduates will experience a lifetime of higher earnings than non - graduates , but we also still see that non - college grads can have a bright job future in a wide range of fields , " Lee said . Here is a list of CareerCast . com ' s best jobs that do n ' t require a college degree , in order of median salary . quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 75,660 media : 19217694 title : Web developer text : Outlook : + 22 % quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 54,710 media : title : Communications equipment mechanic text : Outlook : + 15 % quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 48,250 media : title : Electrician text : Outlook : + 23 % quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 46,680 media : title : Paralegal assistant text : Outlook : + 18 % quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 46,660 media : title : Plumber text : Outlook : + 26 % quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 44,160 media : title : Industrial machine repairer text : Outlook : + 19 % quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 36,640 media : title : Glazier text : Outlook : + 42 % quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 34,660 media : title : Automobile body repairer text : Outlook : + 17 % quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 34,660 media : title : Administrative / executive assistant text : Outlook : + 12 % quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 34,040 media : title : Bookkeeper text : Outlook : + 14 % quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 30,340 media : title : Pest control worker text : Outlook : + 24 % quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 28,920 media : title : Skincare specialist text : Outlook : + 25 % quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 25,240 media : title : Receptionist text : Outlook : + 24 % quicklist : category : Median Salary : $ 22,500 media : title : Hair stylist text : Outlook : + 14 % Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Business/top-things-email-hacked/story?id=19715483 | 9 Things You Need to Do When Your Email is Hacked Have a hacked email account ? Do these nine things now . ( Getty Images ) There are things you can do to minimize the risk of having your email hacked . By Column by < a href = " http : / / www . credit . com " target = " external " > ADAM LEVIN < / a > , Credit . com July 21 , 2013 — Jul 21 , 2013 5 : 17 AM intro : For many people , the first sign that their email has been hacked comes when a friend shoots them a text or an email saying , " Hey there . Uh … I think your email was hacked … unless you meant to send me that link to the Viagra store . " Or you might figure it out because you can no longer log in to your account , or your smartphone ca n ' t retrieve your messages . Or maybe you can log in to your email , but find that your inbox is suddenly empty and The fact is , despite Twitter , Facebook and texting , we still rely on email for most business and personal interactions . So it can be pretty disquieting when inexplicable things start to happen to our email accounts , or our access to email is blocked . When these things happen , we ca n ' t just will them away or delude ourselves into thinking that our computer is simply having a bad day . They could well be manifestations of email hijacking , which often is the prelude to identity theft . So your response should not There are plenty of things you can do to minimize the risk of having your email hacked , as we ' ve covered in the past . And if you ' re worried about how to spot suspicious emails in your inbox , there are plenty of telltale signs . Nevertheless , these days nothing is foolproof and nobody is perfect , so the likelihood that you will be exposed to a phishing scam at some point is relatively high . The question is what do you do when it does eventually happen , to keep both you and your friends safe . With that in mind , we offer these tips : quicklist : title : Change your password . text : If the wizards who hacked into your account forgot to change your password and you can still log in – do it immediately and change that password . Oh , and make it stronger , stranger and less " you . " That means no birthdays , addresses , kids ' names , dogs ' names , maiden names , favorite movie names , favorite band names , or anything else that you might otherwise feature on your Facebook page . Can You Really Get Your Credit Score for Free ? quicklist : title : Recapture your account . text : If your access is blocked , follow the directions on the email site help center . Once you again become the master of your email kingdom , invent a very sophisticated password , change your security questions and get creative in your answers because the hacker may well have nailed those questions correctly in the first place . Trust me - - you want them out of your life and not as permanent pen pals . quicklist : title : Report the incident to the email site . text : Your email provider has seen this type of thing before and may be able to provide you with further details about the nature and source of the attack , as well as any tools they may have available to protect your information and get you back up and running . ( You may also have access to identity protection services through your insurance company , bank , credit union or employer ) . The Ultimate Guide to Credit Scores quicklist : title : Speak to your peeps . text : Notify everyone on your contact list that you have been compromised and they should look at any communication from you with suspicion for the time being . Further , they should double down on their computer protection . If they have already been victimized , offer your condolences and support , and make sure they are following these steps , too . ( Hey , maybe forward them THIS article ! ) quicklist : title : Scan your computer with an updated anti - virus program . text : Do n ' t think that sophisticated email hackers are in it for the fun of grabbing your email and then doing a spam conga line . Often their goal is much more insidious . Why crawl into a life unless you can truly monetize it ? Therefore , beware of the Trojan . ( As a Stanford guy , that has always been my motto when dealing with people from USC . ) In this case however , they may have inserted it into your system so that it can conduct recon and report back to them with all of your passwords or a treasure trove of your information . Get that program running and eliminate any and all viruses , spyware or malware that it discovers . If you do n ' t have a new and sophisticated security software program now is not the time to cheap out . It ' s a reasonable investment that will ultimately show a serious return by keeping your information yours . quicklist : title : Do n ' t fail to review your personal email settings . text : Make sure the cyber ninjas have n ' t created forwarding email addresses and if you find any delete them immediately . Also , look carefully at the signature block and make sure it ' s really yours . The hackers may have included some malicious links there too . quicklist : title : Change passwords or security questions for other sites . text : In the event you shared your email passwords or security questions with any other site , change them , too . Too often consumers opt for convenience ( or simplicity ) over security and use a single password for multiple websites - - including financial services , social media , retail or secondary email sites . Not a good idea . In fact it ' s a very bad idea . Change all of them and use different passwords for each . 5 Credit Rules Everyone Should Follow quicklist : title : Check your email folders . text : Folks have a tendency to send financial or personally identifiable information to others via email and then archive the offending email in a file in their system . If so , immediately go to whatever account is identified and change the user ID and password . quicklist : title : Monitor ! text : Assuming that the hacker in question was able to find either your Social Security number or other valuable pieces of personally identifiable information , it will become important for you to monitor your credit and various financial accounts for suspicious activity . You can get a copy of each of your three major credit reports for free once a year at AnnualCreditReport . com , and you can use tools like Credit . com ' s free Credit Report Card for an easy to understand overview of your credit history , along with your credit scores . Finally , you might also wish to contact the fraud department of one of the big three credit reporting agencies and have a fraud alert put on your file , or you may even want to ask them to " freeze " your credit . Your email is an important component of your identity portfolio . You must manage it like an investment . That means you minimize your risk of exposure by being smart , discrete and sophisticated in your security approach ; keep a watchful eye for things that seem a bit " off , " and know what your damage control options are before you need to control the damage . This work is the opinion of the columnist and in no way reflects the opinion of ABC News . Adam Levin is chairman and cofounder of Credit . com and Identity Theft 911 . His experience as former director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs gives him unique insight into consumer privacy , legislation and financial advocacy . He is a nationally recognized expert on identity theft and credit . Comments 29 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Business/volkswagen-scandal-defeat-device-trick-car-emissions-tests/story?id=33920373 | Volkswagen Scandal : How a Defeat Device Can Trick Car Emission Tests Car experts say car technology makes it easy to cheat on emission tests . By SUSANNA KIM Sep 21 , 2015 1 : 20 PM Volkswagen is accused by U.S. regulators of using illegal defeat device software so that about 500,000 of its diesel cars could cheat on emission standards tests . And it turns out it ' s easier than some people may think for manufacturers to cheat , according to car experts . Though Kelley Blue Book senior analyst Karl Brauer is n ' t familiar with a car company other than Volkswagen being accused of using software to cheat on emission standards tests , he said it ' s " easy to do . " " It ' s totally feasible because cars are so high tech today , " Brauer said . " It ' s fairly easy to make drastic changes to engine tuning in a split second due to the capabilities of computers in cars . It ' s not only possible but it ' s easier to do with today ' s high - tech cars than before . " VW Chief Under Fire After Emission Scandal and Stock Slide VW Chief " Sorry " After EPA Says Firm Skirted Clean Air Law For emission tests , the tester , such as a dealership or car mechanic , places a sensor in the vehicle ' s exhaust pipe that measures pollutants while the car is idle and while it is in simulated driving mode during various engine RPMs . A defeat device , as it is called unofficially , is computer code in a car ' s electronic control unit that is triggered during emission tests , Brauer said . This software can then temporarily cut emissions , so the engine appears to be much cleaner that it is during normal operation . Volkswagen Beetles are offered for sale at a dealership on Sept . 18 , 2015 in Chicago . The defeat device software programming is forbidden in the U.S. and also in Europe , where diesel cars are much more prevalent . They can come in many forms , but are essentially an algorithm in the electronics or the car ' s computer system that detects when the car is being tested and switches on full emission controls , explained Christian Stadler , Warwick Business School professor of strategic management , in the U.K . " But once it is on the road , these controls are switched off , " Stadler said . Volkswagen announced on Friday that it received a notice from the U.S . Environmental Protection Agency Department of Justice and the California Air Resources Board of an investigation " related to certain emissions compliance matters . " " As environmental protection and sustainability are among Volkswagen ' s strategic corporate objectives , the company takes this matter very seriously and is cooperating with the investigation , " the company said in a statement on Friday . " Volkswagen is committed to fixing this issue as soon as possible . We want to assure customers and owners of these models that their automobiles are safe to drive , and we are working to develop a remedy that meets emissions standards and satisfies our loyal and valued customers . Owners of these vehicles do not need to take any However , Volkswagen told dealers to halt sales of both new vehicles and certified preowned cars equipped with the four - cylinder 2.0 TDI engine . Audi implemented a stop - sale for its only model with that engine , the A3 2.0 TDI . On Sunday , the company said it launched an external investigation . Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn said in a statement on Sunday , " I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers . " Diesel cars are less popular in the U.S. than traditional gas engines , which use a spark plug . But in Europe , they account for more than 50 percent of cars on the road . But in the last 10 years , diesel cars have been growing in popularity in the U.S. , beyond the buses and trucks that rely on diesel ' s greater torque and fuel efficiency , Brauer said . That ' s due to advances in car technology and performance . Mercedes Benz , BMW , as well as Dodge Ram offer diesel options . But the latest news about Volkswagen is " unfortunate for diesel technology , " Brauer said . " It ' s already seen by a lot of Americans as dirty compared to traditional gasoline - powered cars , but it is n ' t , " Brauer said . " With modern technology , it ' s extremely clean . " Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/ashley-judd-claims-incest-abuse-memoir-trauma-judd/story?id=13268661 | Ashley Judd ' s Story of Abuse Echoes Family ' s Sad Narrative Actress says she survived incest and depression . Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By SUSAN DONALDSON JAMES April 1 , 2011& # 151 ; — Mar 31 , 2011 1 : 49 PM Ashley Judd , one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood and a crusader for AIDS awareness , reveals in a new memoir , " All That Is Bitter and Sweet , " that she was the victim of incest and abuse . Judd , 42 , writes about her traumatic childhood , attending 13 schools before she was 18 . She says she struggled with depression and loneliness as her mother , Naomi , and her half - sister , Wynonna , traveled as successful country singers - - the Judds . Not a singer , she was left with her father during the school year . Judd , the star of " Double Jeopardy , " writes of abuse at the hands of numerous men , including an unnamed family member . She also writes that she was exposed early and inappropriately to sex because of her mother ' s affairs with men . " This does n ' t surprise me , " said Amy Palmer , senior editor of In Touch magazine , about the memoir , which comes out April 5 . Coincidentally , she said , Naomi and Wynonna Judd go on tour again in 30 cities on April 10 . " When you are trying to make it in show business , everything else falls by the wayside . She was left alone so much with her mother and sister touring the country to make it . Something suffers and it was Ashley ' s childhood . " Judd ' s admission is one chapter in her family ' s traumatic narrative . " You could n ' t script this , " said Palmer . " It could be a mini - series of the week . This family has had so much tragedy , one by one . It ' s an amazing kind of cautionary tale about when you chase fame . All of America thinks I want to be famous . They have it all . But there are pitfalls to super stardom . " Ashley ' s mother struggled to raise two girls on her nurse ' s salary before she took up a career as a singer . She and Wynonna reportedly wore second - hand clothes and occasionally lived without electricity or indoor plumbing in poor , rural Kentucky . Naomi Judd , now 65 , was the daughter of a Kentucky gas station owner and a riverboat cook . She was abandoned by her boyfriend Charles Jordan , the father of her first daughter , Wynonna , who was born in 1964 . Naomi was only 18 at the time . She then rushed to marry Michael Ciminella and gave birth to Ashley in 1968 , but the troubled relationship only lasted four years . She ended up raising both daughters as a single parent . With her daughter Wynonna , Naomi signed a contract with RCA Records in 1983 as a mother - daughter duo . The Judds charted 23 hit singles and won five Grammy Awards in less than a decade . The duo was successful but the mother - daughter relationship was tumultuous . Naomi Judd was forced into retirement in 1991 after she was felled by chronic Hepatitis C . Wynonna continued as a solo artist . Wynonna , 46 , has had her share of trauma . Her marriage to Arch Kelley III ended after two years in 1998 . They had a son and a daughter . She remarried her former bodyguard , D . R . Roach , in 2003 , but three years later , he was arrested for sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 . Wynonna Judd Battles Weight , Money Problems Wynonna Judd also struggled publicly with her weight , telling Oprah Winfrey in 2004 that she had a " severe " dependency on food . She found herself in need of help handling money after moving from a childhood of poverty to international stardom . " I literally went from the outhouse to the White House , " she told " Good Morning America " last year . " I traveled , I took friends , I rented jets . I loved the great rock star lifestyle . " Her financial woes became so bad that Judd turned to a one - of - a - kind residential treatment center , called Onsite , that treats money disorders . As for her sister , Ashley Judd , she said her abuse started as pre - teen when she was growing up in Kentucky . An old man lured her into an empty storeroom by telling her he would give her a quarter to play a pinball machine , and then molested her . She writes she was traumatized again when her family and other adults would n ' t believe her . Later , Judd said she was a victim of attempted rape while she was working as a model in Japan . Ashley says she only learned to fight her demons after entering rehab for depression at Shades of Hope in Texas . Therapy sessions there exposed memories of childhood incest . Judd said she still has bouts of depression . The stunning actress , who has three times appeared in People magazine ' s list of " The 50 Most Beautiful People in the World , " said she wrote her book to help others with the shame . Judd left Hollywood after her marriage to Dario Franchitti in 2001 and now spends her time in her husband ' s home in Scotland and on a Tennessee farm that she now shares with her mother and sister . She will return to the screen in the film " Tooth Fairy " this year . Celebrity watcher Palmer said writing the book and working as an advocate for those living with AIDS also helped Judd exorcize her painful childhood . " She has put all her energy into philanthropy , " she said . " She felt like she had a connection because she felt like a victim herself . " " Her story is so appealing and that ' s why we are interested in it , " said Palmer . " It ' s her way of healing . " Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/dancing-stars-2017-fun-facts-celebrity-cast/story?id=45702098 | ‘ Dancing With the Stars ’ 2017 : Fun facts about the new celebrity cast Simone Biles , Nancy Kerrigan and Mr . T are part of this season ' s ' Dancing ' cast . Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By CATHERINE THORBECKE Mar 1 , 2017 5 : 27 AM The cast of season 24 of the hit reality TV show " Dancing With the Stars " was announced live on ABC News ' " Good Morning America " today . Olympic gymnast Simone Biles , figure skater Nancy Kerrigan and actor Mr . T are among the stars who will be battling for the coveted mirror ball trophy this season . Here is a roundup of the stars who will learn to salsa in the upcoming season . ' Dancing ' stars Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd to return to next season of the show ' Dancing ' stars Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd debut baby son , Shai Nancy Kerrigan Figure Skater Nancy Kerrigan attends the 14th Annual BNP Paribas Taste Of Tennis at W New York Hotel , Aug . 22 , 2013 , in New York . Kerrigan , 47 , is a former figure skater who took home a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympic Games and a silver at the 1994 Olympics . She was ensnared in one of the U.S. figure skating world ' s most notorious scandals when she was attacked with a baton after a practice session on Jan . 6 , 1994 . It was later revealed that the mastermind behind her attack was the ex - husband of her rival American figure skater Tonya Harding , who eventually pleaded guilty to charges related to the attack . Kerrigan is executive - producing an upcoming documentary , " Why Do n ' t You Lose 5 Pounds ? " which looks at the epidemic of eating disorders in sports . Fun fact : The Kerrigan - Harding saga was made into a stage musical , " Tonya and Nancy : The Rock Opera " in 2015 . Simone Biles Simone Biles attends the 2017 Weinstein Company and Netflix Golden Globes after party , Jan . 8 , 2017 , in Los Angeles , Calif . Biles , 19 , is a gymnast who became America ' s sweetheart during her stint at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro , where she took home four gold medals and one bronze . Her teammate Laurie Hernandez took home the mirror ball trophy last season on " DWTS . " Biles stands 4 foot 8 and is an Ohio native . Fun fact : Biles said in an interview with " GMA " that she has a crush on Zac Efron . Charo Charo arrives for Latina Magazine ' s 20th Anniversary Event Celebrating " Hollywood Hot List " Honorees at STK Los Angeles , Nov . 2 , 2016 , in Los Angeles , Calif . Charo is a Spanish - American actress and musician who rose to fame during the 1970s . Recently she has been performing a solo show , " Charo in Concert : A Musical Sensation , " in Las Vegas . A native of Murcia , Spain , she is known worldwide by just Charo , though her given name is Maria Rosario Pilar Martinez Molina Baeza . She learned guitar at a young age from the world - famous flamenco guitarist Andres Segovia . She is an animal - rights activist and a member of PETA . Charo ' s catchphrase is " Chuchi - chuchi , " which , she said in an interview that aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network , came from a nickname she had for her dog Chuchillo . Mr . T Mr . T is seen , May 17 , 2016 , in New York . Lawrence Tureaud , who goes by Mr . T , is a former professional wrestler and an actor . He appeared in the movie " Rocky III , " the TV show " The A - Team " and starred in his own reality TV show , " I Pity the Fool . " Mr . T grew up in Chicago as the youngest of 12 children . During his time as a professional wrestler , he was at one point the partner of Hulk Hogan in " WrestleMania I . " In 2015 , Mr . T was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame . He released a music album that encourages young people to make good decisions . Mr . T was the star of an animated show , " Mister T , " during the 1980s . Bonner Bolton Bonner Bolton attends Stuart Weitzman ' s Launch Of The Gigi Boot , Oct . 26 , 2016 in New York . Bolton , 29 , is a professional bull rider turned model . A Texas native , he made headlines in 2016 when he was thrown from a bull during a competition and landed on his head . He broke his C - 2 vertebra and was temporarily paralyzed . He made a remarkable recovery and soon after signed a contract with IMG Models . Bolton worked as the stunt double for Scott Eastwood in the film " The Longest Ride . " Heather Morris Heather Morris attends the World Of Dance Industry Awards , Feb . 7 , 2017 , in Los Angeles , Calif . Morris , 30 , is best known for her role as Brittany Pierce in the musical TV series " Glee " and for her role in the film " Spring Breakers . " She is a veteran of dancing competitions and rose to fame on season 2 of " So You Think You Can Dance . " She lives in Los Angeles and has two young sons . Morris previously worked as a backup dancer for Beyonce David Ross David Ross of the Chicago Cubs runs the bases at Game Seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field , Nov . 2 , 2016 , in Cleveland , Ohio . Ross , 39 , is a former professional baseball player who most recently was a catcher for the Chicago Cubs . He won two World Series titles in stints with two teams . He will be the first baseball player to compete on " DWTS . " His book , " Teammate : My Journey in Baseball and a World Series for the Ages , " is being published in May . The major league veteran has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Pittsburgh Pirates , San Diego Padres , Cincinnati Reds , Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves Normani Kordei Singer Normani Kordei of Fifth Harmony attends Vanity Fair and L ' Oreal Paris Toast to Young Hollywood hosted by Dakota Johnson and Krista Smith at Delilah , Feb . 21 , 2017 , in West Hollywood , Calif . Kordei is one of the singers from the American Music Award – winning girl band Fifth Harmony . The group ' s triple - platinum single , " Work From Home , " was a Billboard top 10 hit . She was born in Atlanta and was raised mostly in New Orleans . When she is not performing , she spends some of her time as a global ambassador for the American Cancer Society ; she cites her mother ' s fight against breast cancer as her inspiration for getting involved in with the organization . " I kind of have an alter ego , " Kordei said in an interview with KTLA - TV . " Beyonce has Sasha Fierce . For me , it ' s Beyonce . " Rashad Jennings Football running back Rashad Jennings attends the Saks Downtown Men ' s opening at Saks Downtown Men ' s , Feb . 22 , 2017 , in New York . Jennings is an NFL running back who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars , the Oakland Raiders and most recently the New York Giants . He is the founder of the Rashad Jennings Foundation , which helps make education fun for young people , provides mentoring programs and promotes health and fitness . Last year 30,000 children read over 167,000 books as a part of the Rashad Jennings Foundation ' s reading challenge . Chris Kattan Chris Kattan arrives for the premiere of BondIt ' s " American Violence " at the Egyptian Theatre on Jan . 25 , 2017 , in Hollywood , Calif . Kattan , 46 , rose to fame as a cast member on " Saturday Night Live " and for his role on the hit TV show " The Middle . " Kattan joined the cast of " SNL " in March 1996 . He appeared in the movies " The Last Film Festival , " " Hollywood and Wine " and the animated " Foodfight ! " Kattan ' s recurring skits with Will Ferrell as head - bobbing brothers on " SNL " were the basis for the movie " A Night at the Roxbury . " Erika Jayne Erika Jayne arrives at the 59th GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center , Feb . 12 , 2017 in Los Angeles , Calif . Jayne is a dance club musician and reality TV star who has had nine No . 1s on the U.S. Billboard dance club chart . Her first No . 1 , " Rollercoaster , " debuted in 2007 . Most recently , she was the fan favorite in season 6 of " The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills . " Jayne is No . 42 on Billboard ' s 100 greatest dance club artists of all time . Nick Viall ( Phillippe Bosse / ABC ) Nick Viall on " The Bachelor . " Viall , 36 , has been searching for true love on this season of " The Bachelor , " after being rejected by Bachelorette Andi Dorfman . A Wisconsin native , he is one of 11 siblings and is close with his family . He enjoys beach volleyball and is a big Green Bay Packers fan . Viall told ABC News that the one thing he always keeps in his fridge is Cholula hot sauce . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/friends-star-lisa-kudrow-loses-16-million-lawsuit/story?id=22681593 | ' Friends ' Star Lisa Kudrow Loses $ 1.6 Million Lawsuit A jury decides in favor of the actress ' former manager . By MICHAEL ROTHMAN Feb . 26 , 2014 & # 151 ; — Feb 26 , 2014 8 : 51 AM A verdict has been reached in the civil lawsuit filed against Lisa Kudrow by her former manager , who claims he is owed residuals from her days on " Friends . " A 10 - 2 decision was reached in favor of Scott Howard , who was Kudrow ' s manager from 1991 to 2007 , saying the actress was liable for breach of contract , KABC reports . The jury awarded the plaintiff $ 1.6 million for past and future economic losses . The legal dispute began in 2008 , a year after they parted ways , when Howard , sued Kudrow for refusing to pay him more than $ 50,000 in fees from her earnings . Howard claimed in court last week that in 1991 , the two made an oral agreement that Howard would receive a 10 percent cut of Kudrow ' s income she obtained or performed while he was her manager . Read : Lisa Kudrow to Testify in Court Battle with Ex - Manager He added that when he and Kudrow split after 16 years of working together , the actress stopped paying him . He argued that Kudrow owes him a percentage of what she earns on " Friends " reruns and other projects . In a statement , Kudrow ’ s attorney Gerald Sauer said , " The jury ’ s verdict is merely one step in the legal process . This case ultimately will be resolved at the appellate level . Ms . Kudrow has faith in the judicial system , and she believes that the eventual outcome of this contractual dispute will be in her favor . " In a statement of his own , Scott Howard ’ s attorney Mark Baute countered , " What generally happens now with unsophisticated actress clients is they overpay for filing a frivolous appeal that has no chance for success . The verdict is rock solid , and we look forward to collecting 10 percent , 16,000 dollars a month , in post - judgment interest while their frivolous appeal is pending . We will collect that interest for two years , which is how long it will take for the Court of Appeal to affirm this jury ' s righteous In court documents , Kudrow had claimed she had " no obligation to pay Howard " a commission after the two ended their professional partnership . Attorneys for Kudrow countered that Howard was the actress ' s manager , not her agent , and thus is not entitled to a commission . Kudrow , 50 , starred from 1994 through 2004 as Phoebe on " Friends . " She began the show as one of the lowest - paid actresses among the show ' s six stars – earning $ 13,500 per episode . Starting in 2004 , Kudrow earned over $ 1 million for each of the show ' s final 18 episodes . ABC News ' Susanna Kim and Vania Stuelp contributed to this report . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/house-prairie-alison-arngrim-cast-now/story?id=10953217 | ' Nellie ' Gives Lowdown on ' Little House on the Prairie ' Alison Arngrim , who played Nellie , and the cast of " Little House " then and now . By LUCHINA FISHER June 21 , 2010& # 151 ; — Jun 18 , 2010 9 : 30 AM " Little House on the Prairie " is loved the world over for its quaint family drama . Alison Arngrim , who played Nellie Oleson during the series ' original seven - year run , still gets e - mails from " Prairie " fans who say the show became their substitute family during their " horrible childhoods . " " Well , it was the same for me , " Arngrim , now 48 , told ABCNews . com In her new book , " Confessions Of A Prairie Bitch : How I Survived Nellie Oleson And Learned To Love Being Hated , " Arngrim reveals how she was sexually abused as a child , and how the role of bad girl Nellie helped her to heal . She also shares behind - the - scenes tales of one of the world ' s most beloved series . Arngrim writes that she was abused by a family member for nearly three years starting at age 6 . The abuse made her , an already diminutive girl , even more shy and withdrawn . That changed when Arngrim got the part of scheming brat Nellie Oleson at age 11 . " People were suddenly intimidated by me , " Anrgrim said . Other times , she was reviled like her character . Since age 11 , Angrim has been called " bitch . " She ' s been spat on , pelted with garbage and beaten up . Alison Arngrim as Nellie and now . But thanks to Nellie , Arngrim found an outlet for the rage that had been building since her abuse - - a secret she kept from her parents until her twenties . " When you ' re sexually abused you have a lot of anger , " she said . " Usually victims turn the pain and rage on themselves . So to have an outlet where one could express this anger outwardly and openly was a fantastic opportunity . " Arngrim is grateful for Nellie . " Instead of her ruining my life , she gave me my life . " Coming from a show business family - - her father , Thor Arngrim , managed Liberace and her mother , Norma Macmillan , provided the voice for Casper the Friendly Ghost and Gumby - - Arngrim got to experience " normal family life " on the " Little House " set . Michael Landon , who played Charles " Pa " Wilder and produced the series , was very much the set ' s father figure . Michael Landon Less Than Angelic " He saw to it that the rules were obeyed , " Arngrim said . " We said ' yes , sir ' and ' yes , ma ' am . ' We had to know our lines . We were held to a higher standard . " At the same time , Landon was nothing like the prairie dad he played . " He was divorced and married several times , " Arngrim said . " He lived in Bel Air and Malibu , attended the Playboy Jazz Festival , drove a Ferrari , smoked and drank . He had this wild sense of humor on set that really shocked people . " For one thing , he had an " unsaintly " habit of showing up without underwear on the set . Nellie and her nemesis Laura Wilder may have scrapped on screen , but off camera Arngrim was best friends with Melissa Gilbert , who played Laura . " I had an intense , wonderful friendship with Melissa , who became a sister to me , " Arngrim said . Melissa Sue Anderson , however , who played Gilbert ' s on - screen sister Mary , wanted nothing to do with Gilbert and Arngrim . " Melissa and I were wild and fun loving , " Arngrim said . " Melissa Sue just looked at us and shook her head . " Arngrim ' s other best friend on the set was Steve Tracy , who played her on - screen husband , Percival Dalton , toward the end of the series . When Tracy contracted AIDS and went public with his diagnosis in the mid - 1980s , Arngrim stood by him . She began volunteering for AIDS Project Los Angeles and speaking about the disease . " Back then , people were even terrifed to have a presentation about the disease , but they ' d say , ' Oh , it ' s the lady from " Little House . " ' I got into places and talked about HIV and AIDS where they would never have someone speak , " Arngrim said . Tracy died in 1986 , but Arngrim continued to be an activist . Through AIDS Project , she met her husband Robert Paul Schoonover , who plays in the Southern California band Catahoula , and they ' ve been married 17 years . She also got involved with the National Association to Protect Children . While fighting to change a California law that allowed incest offenders to leave jail early , Arngrim decided to go public with her own childhood sexual abuse in a 2004 interview with Larry King . " I remembered Steve going public , " she said , " and thought the shoe is on the other foot now . " That opened the floodgates for Arngrim , who began touring her comedic one - woman show " Confessions of a Prairie Bitch , " in which she talks about her years playing Nellie . Find out what happened to some of Arngrim ' s fellow cast members since the series ended . Melissa Gilbert / Laura Ingalls Melissa Gilbert as Laura and now . Adopted soon after her birth , Gilbert grew up in a Hollywood family . After starring in dozens of television commercials , she landed the role of Laura Ingalls on " Little House " at age 8 . Michael Landon became a surrogate dad to her when her own father died . By her late teens , Gilbert rebelled against her perfect prairie girl image . She describes her battles with drug and alcohol abuse and co - dependence on men in her 2009 memoir " Prairie Tale . " Gilbert , who was once engaged to Rob Lowe , also dated John Cusack , Billy Idol and Tom Cruise . In 1998 , she married actor Bo Brinkman and they had a son , Dakota . The marriage ended after four years . Since 1995 , she ' s been married to actor Bruce Boxleitner and they have a son , Michael , named after Landon . Known as the " Queen of television movies and mini - series , " Gilbert , now 46 , has starred in over 45 of them since the mid - ' 70s . The president of the Screen Actors Guild for two years , she can also be seen touting hair care products on late - night infomercials . Michael Landon / Charles Ingalls Landon was a fixture on the small screen . In 28 years , he starred in three successful television series : " Bonanza " in the ' 60s and early ' 70s , " Little House " in the ' 70s and early ' 80s , and " Highway to Heaven " in the ' 80s . Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls and in 1990 . He married three times and was father to nine children and stepchildren . In April 1991 , he was diagnosed with an inoperable form of pancreatic cancer . Appearing on " The Tonight Show " with Johnny Carson , he asked his fans to pray for him . He died July 1 , 1991 at age 54 . Melissa Sue Anderson / Mary Ingalls Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary and now . Anderson won the role of Mary at age 11 after appearing in several television commercials and guest starring on " The Brady Bunch . " She left " Little House " in 1982 and appeared in a few television series , including " The Equalizer " and " Murder , She Wrote . " After a short romance with Lorenzo Lamas and Frank Sinatra , Jr . , Anderson , now 47 , married television writer and producer Michael Sloan . They have two children and live in Canada . Anderson has continued to act occasionally , mostly in television movies . Her most recent role was playing the first lady in the 2006 NBC miniseries " 10.5 : Apocalypse . " Katherine MacGregor / Mrs . Oleson Katherine MacGregor , who played Mrs . Oleson . MacGregor is still beloved for her comedic role as Mrs . Oleson on " Little House . " " That woman ' s a genius , " Arngrim told ABCNews . com . " She ' s absolutely hilarious . " Now 85 , she retired from acting after the series ended . Arngrim said she still takes in stray animals and people and " she ' s still bossing everyone around . " Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/jennifer-lopez-casper-smart-split/story?id=24024815 | Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart Split By Lesley Messer June 6 , 2014 WATCH Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart Call it Quits Email Jennifer Lopez is back on the market . The singer and her boyfriend of more than two years , Casper Smart , split nearly two months ago , ABC News confirmed . Why Jennifer Lopez Went Vegan Lopez , 44 , began dating the back - up dancer , 27 , in 2011 , shortly after her split from ex - husband Marc Anthony . However , Lopez said earlier this year that she did n ' t necessarily think that she and Smart were headed for marriage " In the past , love for me has always meant forever , and sure , you still nurse some of those fantasies , but I do n ' t try to force it anymore , " she explained . " I hung on to my fairytale ideals for a long time . But where I am now , what I ' ve been through , there are no rules . There are just lots of ways it can turn out . " This relationship simply ran its course , it seems . Though reports had been circulating that Smart had been texting provocative photos to people other than Lopez , a source said that was not the cause of the breakup . J - Lo on Marriage : ' Not Anytime Soon ' " Any texting or online activity [ of Smart ' s ] was done as a single guy , " a source told ABC News . " They are friendly . " Lately , she ' s seemed focused on her career . Earlier this week , the " American Idol " judge opened up about her new album , " A.K.A. , " which will be released on June 17 , and her new , healthy lifestyle . A few days later , she hung out with Khloe Kardashian and French Montana after her show in the New York City | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/jerry-oconnell-told-kids-wife-rebecca-romijn-married/story?id=30527888 | Why Jerry O ' Connell Told His Kids Wife Rebecca Romijn Was Married to Uncle Jesse By Luchina Fisher Apr 23 , 2015 , 12 : 15 PM ET Rebecca Romijn and husband Jerry O ' Connell attend The Opening Night for " Living On Love " at The Longacre Theatre , April 20 , 2015 , in New York City . Email Things got a little awkward in Jerry O ' Connell and Rebecca Romijn ' s household recently . Turns out their 6 - year - old twin girls , Dolly and Charlie , are huge fans of the ' 90s sitcom " Full House , " specifically because of one of its stars , John Stamos , who played Uncle Jesse . " ' Full House ' is on a continual loop , " O ' Connell told host Andy Cohen on Wednesday ' s " Watch What Happens Live . " " Because they expressed , like , real feelings for the character of Uncle Jesse , I said , ' You know , girls , I gotta tell you something . This is gonna be crazy . ' " The crazy thing was Stamos was once married to Romijn . ' Full House ' Reboot Is Officially Happening , and Here Are the Details Lori Loughlin May Not Be on Board for the ' Full House ' Reboot " You know , I showed them photos on the Internet of [ Stamos and Romijn ' s ] wedding , " O ' Connell said . " And it was a beautiful ceremony . And my kids really want to know why mom is n ' t still with him . " O ' Connell was appearing on " Watch What Happens Live " with Lori Loughlin , who also has a connection to Stamos . She played his wife Becky on " Full House . " Netflix announced a spin - off of " Full House " earlier this week . Premiering in 2016 , " Fuller House " will star original cast members Candace Cameron - Bure , Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber , with guest appearances by Stamos . Loughlin , Bob Saget and Dave Coulier are still in negotiations , and twins Mary - Kate and Ashley Olsen , who played the role of Michelle , said they only learned about the reboot a few hours after it was announced . | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/meghan-trainor-survived-throat-surgery/story?id=33479590 | Meghan Trainor ' Survived ' Throat Surgery The singer shared before and after photos . By ANDREA DRESDALE Sep 2 , 2015 7 : 41 AM After canceling her M Train tour due to a hemorrhage on her vocal cord , Meghan Trainor has now made it through surgery just fine . The singer posted " before " and " after " pictures on Instagram on Tuesday . " I look so hurt haha I survived tho ! , " she wrote . " Thank you Dr . Nasseri for being my hero . Now just napping all day long on the couch with mama and getting free head rubs . any movie suggestions ? " 5 Things You Did n ' t Know About ' All About That Bass ' Singer Meghan Trainor Meghan Trainor Postpones Concerts Due to Vocal Cord Hemorrhage How ' All About That Bass ' Helped Give Meghan Trainor Confidence Trainor , 21 , will now have to recover for about six weeks before she returns to the stage . " I miss touring and seeing you all , " she wrote to her fans on Tuesday . My before and after pics . I look so hurt haha I survived tho ! ? ? thank you Dr . Nasseri for being my hero . Now just napping all day long on the couch with mama and getting free head rubs ? ? any movie suggestions ? A photo posted by Meghan Trainor ( @ meghan_trainor ) on Sep 1 , 2015 at 12 : 05pm PDT Comments 4 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/mildred-baena-mother-arnold-schwarzeneggers-love-child-forward/story?id=13838366 | Mother of Arnold Schwarzenegger ' s Love Child Speaks Out for First Time Hopes former governor and first lady of California will reconcile . By HELEN ZHANG June 14 , 2011 — Jun 14 , 2011 10 : 32 AM Mildred Baena , the housekeeper with whom Arnold Schwarzenegger fathered a child , spoke out for the first time today to Hello ! magazine , saying she cried together with the former governor ' s wife after revealing the news . She was joined for the interview by her son Joseph , who she said began to increasingly resemble his governor / actor father as he grew older . What ' s most surprising about Baena ' s tell - all interview is the high regard in which she holds Schwarzenegger ' s wife and former first lady of California , Maria Shriver . She told Hello ! that Shriver had an inkling of her husband ' s secret as she heard talk of Joseph ' s physical similarity to his father around the house . When Shriver asked Baena about her son ' s paternity , she admitted that the governor was indeed the father . Shriver then hugged Baena and cried with her , telling her to " get off [ her ] knees . " While Shriver has separated from Schwarzenegger and moved out of their Brentwood home , Baena also expressed hope for their reconciliation . She acknowledged that the former governor " is suffering . " She added , " He loves Maria . I hope in time they work things out . " When his grandmother sat him down one year ago to explain that Arnold Schwarzenegger was his father , he exclaimed : " Cool ! " , Hello reported . His mother said the young boy is looking forward to building a relationship with his father . Schwarzenegger fathered a son with Baena about 14 years ago . Birth records show Schwarzenegger ' s son Christopher and his newly revealed child were born less than a week apart . Known as Patty , Baena reportedly worked in the famliy home as a housekeeper and assistant for more than 20 years , until January . After the scandal broke two of Shriver and Schwarzenegger ' s children took to the Internet with reaction to their dad ' s admission that he fathered a child with one of their household staff members and hid the secret for years , shattering their 25 - year marriage . " I love my family till death do us apart , " Patrick Arnold Schwarzenegger , 17 , tweeted . He also quoted lyrics to a song by hip - hop group Fort Minor that read : " Some days you feel like s * * * … some days you want to quit and just be normal for a bit . " Pointedly , he recently changed his Twitter name to Patrick Shriver . His older sister Katherine Eunice Schwarzenegger , 21 , also tweeted ( as KSchwarzenegger ) : " This is definitely not easy but I appreciate your love and support as i begin to heal and move forward in life . I will always love my family ! " They are two of the four kids that Shriver and Schwarzenegger have together . Shriver also appealed for compassion and privacy in breaking her silence on her estranged husband ' s admission . " This is a painful and heartbreaking time , " Shriver said in a statement . " As a mother , my concern is for the children . I ask for compassion , respect and privacy as my children and I try to rebuild our lives and heal . I will have no further comment . " Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/ricki-flash-movie-review-meryl-streeps-movie-special/story?id=32946030 | ' Ricki and the Flash ' Movie Review : Meryl Streep ' s New Movie Is ' Nothing Special ' The Oscar winner stars alongside Kevin Kline and Audra McDonald . By DAVID BLAUSTEIN Aug 7 , 2015 8 : 38 AM Starring Meryl Streep Kevin Kline Audra McDonald and Mamie Gummer Rated PG - 13 Three out of five stars Meryl Streep is the world ’ s greatest actress . If she were n ’ t , " Ricki and the Flash " would be just another disappointing , pedestrian , predictable August release . The movie ’ s marketing and trailer are a bit misleading . They give the impression Streep ’ s Ricki is a fading rock star who ’ s estranged from her family . Turns out she ’ s not fading , because she was never a rock star at all . What she did , essentially , was abandon her family to chase her rock - star dreams . Nowadays , Ricki and her band , The Flash , play bar gigs before a crowd of maybe 30 people , catering to the five or six 20 - somethings in the crowd by doing Lady Gaga covers . Rick Springfield plays Greg , Ricki ’ s lead guitarist and boyfriend , who wants a deeper commitment from Ricki and alludes to their relationship on stage between songs - - something Ricki deems unprofessional , never mind the fact they ’ re a cover band barely anyone has ever heard of . When Ricki ’ s not spending her nights playing in small bars to smaller crowds , she spends her days working as a cashier in a Whole Foods - type market , where her much younger manager chides her for not making the costumers feel happy . Then her ex - husband , Pete ( Kevin Kline ) , calls to tell Ricki their daughter Julie - - played by Streep ’ s real - life daughter , Mamie Gummer - - has fallen into a deep depression because her husband left her for another woman . When Ricki shows up , Julie does n ’ t exactly welcome her with open arms . Neither do the rest of Rikki ’ s kids . A bit clichéd , but if you have n ’ t seen Mamie Gummer act , well , she ’ s her mother ’ s daughter . Watching these two together , regardless of the scene they ’ re playing , is thoroughly satisfying . And of course , it ’ s their relationship that ’ s at the heart of the movie . Meryl Streep and Mamie Gummer Discuss ' Ricki and the Flash , ' Look Even More Alike Than You Realized All ABC News Movie Reviews Here ' Mission Impossible : Rogue Nation ' Movie Review : How Good Is Tom Cruise ' s Latest Film ? One of the best parts of this story is that it flips the script , so to speak , on the idea it ’ s mostly men who abandon their families to chase their dreams . Kudos to Oscar - winning screenwriter Diablo Cody ( 2007 ’ s " Juno " ) for constructing a story that deconstructs a tired cliché . The same goes for Rikki ’ s relationship with Greg - - this time , it ’ s the man who wants more . Unfortunately , Cody succumbs to quite a few other predictable clichés , as well as some mediocre dialogue ( and mind you , I ’ m a Diablo Cody fan ) . Fortunately , Streep ’ s performance is so strong , she makes it work . It also helps that she ’ s surrounded by world - class actors , including Kline ( " Sophie ’ s Choice , " anyone ? ) , and also goes toe - to - toe with one of the world ’ s greatest stage actresses , Audra McDonald , who plays Kline ’ s current wife and de facto mom to Ricki ’ s children . While it ’ s a pleasure to see Streep and McDonald together , McDonald ’ s character is so perfect , it ’ s hard to believe . Indeed , “ Ricki and the Flash ” is so predictable , the story itself is hard to believe . Never mind Streep ’ s brilliance - - she also does her own singing and guitar - playing - - or the terrific performances by the rest of the cast . There was a real opportunity here to make a profound piece of art . Instead , we ’ re left with a perfunctory piece of filmmaking that does n ’ t go much beyond that . " Ricki and the Flash " is a nice movie but it ’ s also nothing special . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/rob-thomas-remembers-friend-george-michael/story?id=44430802 | Rob Thomas Remembers His Friend George Michael Knowing him was " a true gift , " he said . By ANDREA DRESDALE Dec 28 , 2016 7 : 23 AM Imagine growing up idolizing someone and then becoming friends with them later in life . That ' s what happened with Rob Thomas and George Michael Thomas met the late British superstar through their manager . " To be able to have that kind of insight . . . not just [ into ] someone that you admire , but someone that you admire that does what you want to do , at a level that you can only hope that you would ever be able to do it . . . I think it ' s a gift to be able to know somebody like that , " Thomas told ABC News . Read : George Michael ' s Former Partner ' Heartbroken ' Over Singer ' s Death He added , " I would sit at his house with him in Texas and we ' d sit up late at night having many , many wines and . . . just talking about what I was on track about , and maybe what I could change , and how to not be so self - conscious . " Thomas says Michael was even OK with how much he ' d actually " ripped off " from him , from album covers to song titles to the video for his top - 10 hit " Lonely No More , " which Thomas admits he " took straight from the ' Faith ' [ play ] - book . " The former Matchbox 20 frontman also admired Michael as a songwriter . " I think that ' s why everybody over the last few days since Christmas has just been going through [ his ] entire catalog , and just going , ' Oh , I forgot about that one ! . . . Oh , and that one ! ' " he continued . " It ' s just . . . your entire life - - not just your childhood , but your entire life - - just kinda coming back before your eyes . " Michael , 53 , was found dead in his home on Christmas Day . Comments 1 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/robin-williams-apparently-committed-suicide-hanging/story?id=24947586 | Robin Williams Died in an Apparent Suicide by Hanging The actor was found dead in his home with " superficial cuts " on his wrist . By LESLEY MESSER Aug 12 , 2014 11 : 39 AM Robin Williams died in an apparent suicide by hanging , according to Lt . Keith Boyd , chief deputy coroner for Marin County Sheriff ' s Office . Williams ' personal assistant found the 63 - year - old actor clothed , with a belt around his neck in the bedroom of his home in an unincorporated part of Tiburon , California , Boyd said . Williams also had recent " superficial cuts " on his wrist and a closed pocket knife with possible blood on it was found near his body . The actor ' s publicist , Mara Buxbaum , told ABC News that the actor had been battling " severe depression of late . " Boyd added that Williams had also been seeking treatment for depression . Actor Robin Williams Is Dead at 63 of Suspected Suicide Jeff Bridges , Sarah Michelle Gellar and Other Stars Reflect on Working with Robin Williams Robin Williams ' Death : The Status of Upcoming Films Like ' Night at the Museum ' and ' Mrs . Doubtfire ' Williams was last seen alive by his wife , Susan Schneider , at 10 : 30 p.m. on Sunday , in their home , Boyd said . " Mr . Williams ' wife retired prior to Mr . Williams into a room in the home , " he said . " It is not known exactly at this time when Mr . Williams retired for the evening but he went to a different room of the home . " The next morning , Schneider left the house , believing Williams was still asleep , Boyd added . When the actor did not respond to knocks on his door , his assistant gained entry into the room , where Williams was discovered " suspended from the belt which was wedged between the door and the door frame in a seated position slightly suspended off the ground , " Boyd said . On a subsequent 911 call , Boyd added , " The caller was distraught and indicated at that time that it was an apparent suicide due to a hanging had taken place . " Williams was pronounced dead at 12 : 02 p.m. on Monday . " Preliminary results of the forensic examination revealed supporting physical signs that Mr . Williams ' life ended from asphyxia due to hanging , " Boyd said . Toxicology reports were pending . Williams had long battled demons . In the early 1980s , he confronted his alcoholism and cocaine abuse by going cold turkey . " The one thing that cleaned me up from that was having a kid , " he told Nightline in 2011 . " That ' s immediate . I did n ' t have any rehabs or groups . I just kind of took my mother ' s advice of vitamins and exercise . You realize , OK , now you have this responsibility , and [ I ] dealt with it . " In 2006 , after he began drinking again , Williams went to rehab . He made another visit this past July , though a source told ABC News at the time that he had not relapsed . " After working back - to - back projects , Robin is simply taking the opportunity to fine - tune and focus on his continued commitment , of which he remains extremely proud , " his publicist said at the time . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/royal-family-burned-money/story?id=22266021 | Bad Financial Advice ? How Queen Elizabeth , the Royal Family Spent Their Money Why the royal family is down to its last million pounds . By SUSANNA KIM Jan . 28 , 2014& # 151 ; — Jan 28 , 2014 9 : 18 AM How did the spending of Queen Elizabeth and the royal family get so out of control that they are down to their last million ? Blame her people , at least according to a report published today . The British House of Commons ' public accounts committee released a 35 - page report that said the queen received 31 million pounds , or about $ 50 million , from taxpayers for 2012 - 2013 , but overspending had whittled down the royal Reserve Fund to 1 million pounds at the end of that period . The report criticizes the queen ' s household and the treasury for its financial planning and management . " It is not clear to us that the Treasury is sufficiently challenging in its scrutiny of the Household ' s financial affairs , or that the new funding arrangements sufficiently incentivise the Household to find greater efficiency savings , " the report states . It ' s not the first time the royal family has been told to tighten its belt . Last October , the public accounts committee lectured the queen ' s treasurer , Sir Alan Reid , about why the royals exceeded their budget of 31 million pounds and spent 33.3 million . Before 2012 , Parliament did n ' t have the authority to pry into the details of royal spending . But a law passed that year gave Parliament ' s public accounts committee oversight and also changed the way the royal family gets its funding . Buckingham Palace now gets a single yearly payment called a Sovereign Grant , based on a percentage of the income generated by so - called Crown Estates - - properties including farmland , mines and retail establishments . The money pays for royal travel , entertaining , home maintenance and other family expenses . On what kind of things are the Queen , Prince William Kate Middleton and the rest of the royals spending money ? The royal train service cost 200,000 pounds last year , but royal travel spending did fall to 4.5 million pounds in 2012 - 2013 from 5 million pounds in 2007 - 2008 . The royals have lower helicopter maintenance to thank for that , which was most recently 2.7 million , compared to 3 million in the previous year . The royals are spending more on their utilities : 9.9 million pounds in 2012 - 2013 , compared with 8.2 million in 2007 - 2008 . The report details increases in electricity and gas for Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews . Of note , the Queen is worth an estimated $ 660 million , according to Wealth - X , a firm that researches ultra - high net worth individuals . " A significant financial priority for the Royal Household is to reduce the backlog in essential maintenance across the Occupied Royal Palaces , " Buckingham Palace said in a statement . " Recent examples of work include the renewal of a lead roof over the Royal Library at Windsor and the removal of asbestos from the basement of Buckingham Palace . The need for property maintenance is continually assessed . " A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace explained that the 1 million pounds left in the reserve was all planned and approved by the Treasury . " In 2012 - 13 the Household generated £ 11.6 million in comparison with £ 6.7 million in 2007 - 8 . Work on income generation continues , " the palace said in a statement . Comments 388 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/singer-lolo-working-panic-disco-broadway-album/story?id=41745665 | Singer LOLO on Working with Panic at the Disco ! , Broadway and New Album Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By RACHEL SCOTT Aug 30 , 2016 12 : 11 PM ET Best known for her featured vocals on Panic ! At the Disco ’ s album " Death of a Bachelor , " singer and songwriter LOLO is preparing to release her second album . In the forthcoming album titled " In Loving Memory of When I Gave a S - - - , " LOLO deeply reflects on her journey thus far , painting a picture of a woman who is finding herself in the midst of challenges and adversity . In 2013 , LOLO made the Billboard 100 charts with Panic ! At the Disco ’ s single ' Miss Jackson , ' Not only were her vocals featured on the album , she also helped write the track ' Death of a Bachelor ' which she based on lead singer Brendon Urie ’ s marriage . “ I really wrote that song about him and his wife Sarah , ” she admits . “ Here you ’ ve got this guy that ’ s an alternative rock icon and he ’ s got girls throwing themselves at him all Billy Ray Cyrus Performs ' Amazing Grace ' Interview With the Band Magic ! The 28 - year - old Tennessee native is n ’ t new to performing . LOLO , then going by her given name Lauren Pritchard was part of the original cast of Broadway ’ s “ Spring Awakening , ” before signing to Universal / Island Records in the UK to debut her first album . Now back in the United States , LOLO says she ’ s excited to share her new album and personal journey with her fans . “ To be able to have a physical sonic representation of my own personal growth and attempt at For this album , LOLO says she tried something different , taking a reverse approach to producing by concentrating more on the songwriting and less on the beat . “ I wanted to have the focus be on the words and the melodies that were supporting those words . ” The record , which was recorded with a live band , will be released September 9th . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/sofia-vergara-husband-joe-manganiello-kids/story?id=36715499 | Sofia Vergara Says Husband Joe Manganiello ' Wants Kids ' The " Modern Family " actress said she ' s thinking of expanding her family . Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By JOI - MARIE MCKENZIE Feb 4 , 2016 10 : 19 AM Sofia Vergara only wed Joe Manganiello two months ago , but the " Modern Family " actress said she ' s already thinking of expanding her family . " My husband is younger than me and he wants kids so we ' re trying to figure out what we ' re going to do , " Vergara , 43 , said in Net - A - Porter ' s The Edit . " The idea of doing it all again does n ' t scare me but , hey , it ' s not like it ' s going to happen naturally , is it ? " Vergara and Manganiello , 39 , had a fairytale wedding last November in Palm Beach , Florida . Inside Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello ' s Wedding Weekend Sofia Vergara Open to Babies With Joe Manganiello The actress has been open about using in vitro fertilization in the past . In fact , Vergara was caught in a nasty legal battle with ex - fiancé Nick Loeb , who fought to keep the embryos they froze . The two split in May 2014 . Vergara said unlike her husband , who does n ' t have kids of his own , she ' s not in a rush to have children because she ' s already mom to her son , Manolo , from a previous marriage . " I became a mother very young - - at 20 - - so I feel like I ' ve been a mother my whole life , but I love that , " she said . The Colombia - born actress also weighed in on how motherhood is different in the U.S . " Now that I ' m 43 and my son is 23 , it ' s funny to see some of my girlfriends raising young kids . In the U.S. , women postpone motherhood , but in Latin America most of my friends have kids my son ' s age . " Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/things-eagles-hotel-california/story?id=36375155 | 5 Things You Might Not Know About The Eagles ' ' Hotel California ' The Eagles hit song won the 1977 Grammy for Record of the Year . By VANESSA WILKINS Jan 19 , 2016 9 : 49 AM " Hotel California " is arguably the Eagles ' most iconic song . The hit tune was a billboard chart - topper ; it sold over 16 million copies in the U.S. alone and was on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 19 weeks , peaking at No . 1 . In 1978 , the song won a Grammy award for Record of the Year . Here are five facts that you might not know about The Eagles ' " Hotel California . " 1 . Glenn Frey was the mastermind behind the song ' s lyrics The late Glenn Frey penned the lyrics for the hit song along with band members Don Henley and Don Felder . 2 . The song is about " excess in America " While there have been many theories that contemplate what the song represents , the Eagles ' band members have revealed in multiple interviews that the true meaning behind " Hotel California " is a commentary on the hedonism and self - indulgence of America . “ It ’ s basically a song about the dark underbelly of the American dream and about excess in America , which is something we knew a lot about , ” Henley said in a 2002 interview with " 60 Minutes . " In 2005 , Henley further explained the meaning of the song to Rolling Stone magazine , which placed " Hotel California " at no . 49 on its list of the 500 greatest songs of all time . “ We were all middle class kids from the Midwest , " Henley said . " ' Hotel California ' was our interpretation of the high life in L.A. ” 3 . " Hotel California " originally had a different name According to journalist - turned - director Cameron Crowe , " Hotel California " was almost named something entirely different . In 2003 , Crowe revealed in " Conversations with Don Henley and Glenn Frey , " which was part of the liner notes for the Eagles ' compilation album " The Very Best Of , " that " Hotel California " was originally going to be titled " Mexican Reggae . " Glenn Frey , Eagles Founding Member , Dies in New York City Remembering Eagles Co - Founder Glenn Frey A Look at Some of Glenn Frey ' s Top Songs With the Eagles 4 . " Hotel California " was declared a song that shaped rock and roll The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland , Ohio , named " Hotel California " as one of the songs that shaped rock and roll . The Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 , and all seven former and present members of the group performed " Hotel California " together on stage . 5 . There is a playful nod to the band Steely Dan in the song The line " They stab it with their steely knives , but they just ca n ' t kill the beast , " is a playful jab to rock band Steely Dan . Frey revealed in the liner notes of " The Very Best Of " that they alluded to the " Do it Again " rock band in " Hotel California " after Steely Dan made an Eagles reference in their song " Everything You Did . " Comments 17 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/timeline-whitney-houstons-final-days-leading-death/story?id=15567254 | A Timeline of Whitney Houston ' s Final Days The singer had planned to attend Clive Davis ' pre - Grammy party on Saturday . Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By CHRISTINA NG and CECILIA VEGA Feb . 12 , 2012 & # 151 ; — Feb 12 , 2012 5 : 59 AM The sudden death of singing icon Whitney Houston has left family , friends and fans reeling as they piece together the singer ' s last days and look for clues as to what may have happened . Thursday , Feb . 9 : Houston was a guest at Grammy nominee Kelly Price ' s party , " Kelly Price and Friends Unplugged : For the Love of R&B Grammy Party " at the nightclub , Tru Hollywood . Houston was there with her 19 - year - old daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown and performed a duet with Price in the early hours of Friday morning , in what would become her last performance . At the party , Houston reportedly clashed with singer and former " X Factor " finalist Stacy Francis , who had credited Houston as her inspiration and had been pulled onstage to sing with her in 1999 during a concert , according to The Hollywood Reporter . Houston and Francis were re - introduced at the party and all seemed fine until R&B star Ray J , who had dated Houston on - and - off for several years , entered the conversation . " Whitney just got belligerent , " a witness told The Hollywood Reporter . " Ray was trying to defend Stacy , telling Whitney , ' Stacy ' s family ! ' , but Whitney was feeling crowded out and hands were raised . " The witness said that no punches were ultimately thrown , but that it was a tense exchange . Photos taken later that night showed Houston disheveled , agitated and bloated as she left . She reportedly had to be escorted from the club with blood dripping down her leg and scratches on her wrist . Friends said she was simply sweating from the performance . " There was nothing wrong . She was singing , she was dancing , she was laughing , she was playing , " Price said . " I ' m going to remember her just like that because that ' s the Whitney I always had the pleasure of being around . " Friday , Feb . 10 : Houston reportedly spent Friday night at the bar of the Beverly Hilton hotel with a group of friends . She was at the bar for a long time , drinking and being very loud , according to TMZ . Houston was staying at the hotel to attend music industry executive Clive Davis ' annual pre - Grammy bash . It is the same event where she was introduced to the record industry and the world nearly three decades ago . Saturday , Feb . 11 : Houston had been planning to attend friend and mentor Clive Davis ' annual pre - Grammy party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday night . At some point in the morning or early afternoon , Houston ' s cousin , the singer Dionne Warwick , spoke to Houston over the phone to make sure they were seated at the same table at Davis ' party . At this point , there were no signs of trouble , according to TMZ . Around 3 : 15 p.m. , Houston spoke to her mother , Cissy Houston , and everything still seemed to be fine . Less than 30 minute later , at 3 : 43 p.m. , someone from Houston ' s entourage called hotel security when they found an unresponsive Houston in her hotel room bathtub . Police , who were already on the scene in preparation for the event later in the evening , arrived at Houston ' s room two minute later . Officials tried to resuscitate the 48 - year - old singer with CPR but were unable to revive her . Houston was pronounced dead at 3 : 55 p.m . Beverly Hills police Lt . Mark Rosen said she was pronounced dead at 3 : 55 p.m. He said there were " no obvious signs of foul play and no obvious signs of a cause of death . " Los Angeles coroner ' s office officials left with Houston ' s body around 1 : 50 a.m. The coroner ' s office declined to speculate how Houston died when asked about reports that she may have drowned . The Clive Davis party went on as planned , with Davis saying that is what Houston would have wanted . But it was a surreal scene as celebrities reacted to the death on the red carpet with the Beverly Hills crime lab van parked outside , and as paparazzi camped out waiting for Houston ' s body to emerge . An autopsy is expected to be conducted today or Monday , according to ABC News ' Los Angeles station KABC . ABC News ' Sheila Marikar contributed to this report . Comments 3 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/david-schwimmer-feed-beast-sings-back-jackson-40044021 | David Schwimmer of ' Feed the Beast ' Sings ' I Want You Back ' by the Jackson 5 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/sara-haines-birthday-surprises-ladies-view-42143566 | Sara Haines Gets A Few Birthday Surprises from the Ladies at ' The View ' | [
"Sara Haines Gets"
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http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/ConsumerNews/counterfeit-perfumes/story?id=9670448 | Fake Fragrances : What Is Really in Them ? Counterfeit perfumes may contain urine , bacteria and antifreeze . By ELISABETH LEAMY and VANESSA WEBER via Jan . 27 , 2010& # 151 ; — Jan 26 , 2010 4 : 56 PM For most shoppers , getting fancy - looking goods at low prices is a good enough reason to buy counterfeit products . But a knockoff is not always a great deal , especially when it comes to counterfeit perfume , because a fake fragrance gets absorbed into the skin . " Active ingredients found in counterfeit fragrance include things like urine , bacteria , antifreeze , " Valerie Salembier , senior vice president and publisher of Harper ' s Bazaar , said . Salembier and her staff have dedicated themselves to exposing counterfeits for more than six years . In the January issue of Harper ' s Bazaar , they target fake fragrances . They brought the issue of counterfeit perfume to " GMA ' s " attention . " You ' re putting something on your face , on your neck , on your wrists . Those are sensitive parts of the body , so , to have active ingredients that could endanger your life is a very serious health risk , " Salembier said . Authorities in Britain and Ireland tested fake fragrances they ' d seized and detected urine . Experts speculate it ' s used as a ph balance stabilizer and for its color Dermatologist Jeannette Graf , of Great Neck , N.Y. , said she had never seen a reaction from real perfumes , but fake ones can cause contact dermatitis , or an inflammation of the skin . " They will invariably say that they felt different as soon as they put it on . They felt burning . They saw redness . It felt uncomfortable , it did n ' t smell right . And that ' s almost immediate , " Graf said . Click here for more information on how you can spot a fake perfume . Graf said she is beginning to see more cases , because counterfeit perfumes are easy to buy on the streets and the Internet . " People have access to things . . . they would not have necessarily had before , " Graf said . Police are stepping up their raids to get the merchandise off the streets and off the market . But just as one shop is shut down , another one pops up . ABC News ' undercover cameras documented shelves upon shelves of fragrances that experts said contain the telltale signs of counterfeits . " We see it happening every day . I mean , whether it ' s vendors [ selling ] out of their trunk at athletic events , whether it ' s kiosk - type people at flea markets , sometimes , they actually get into the shopping centers , " Elaine Marshall , North Carolina ' s secretary of state , said . Attempt to Drive Down Demand for Fake Fragrances Earlier this month , Marshall ' s team and other federal and county agencies conducted a raid at a liquidation sale in downtown Durham . The team seized $ 3.6 million worth of counterfeits , including fake perfume . " We want to drive down demand . We want people to realize that it ' s not a bargain . It ' s not a bargain because they ' re dealing with some bad folks , " Marshall said . So the next time you reach for a fake another word should come to mind : fraud . Click here for more information on how you can spot a fake perfume . " It is not a victimless crime . The money spent on counterfeit goods supports terrorism , child labor , drug cartels , " Salembier said . Click here to read a statement from the Personal Care Products Council . Click here to return to the " Good Morning America " Web site . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Media/fergie-duchess-york-scandal-queen-crisis-talks-prince/story?id=10731971 | Duchess of York Scandal : Queen in Crisis Talks With Prince Andrew Royal watchers keeping eye on Sarah Ferguson ' s " fragile " mental state . By NICK WATT , SARAH NETTER and LEE FERRAN via May 25 , 2010 & # 151 ; — May 23 , 2010 4 : 54 PM Royal watchers are keeping a close eye on the Duchess of York ' s mental state as Britain ' s royal family launches into damage - control mode after the bribery scandal involving Prince Andrew . Sarah Ferguson remains in the United States while Prince Andrew has begun crisis talks with his mother , the Queen . " Just lay low . That ' s what she should do , " Daily Beast editor - in - chief Tina Brown told " Good Morning America . " But that may be difficult for Britian ' s mouthiest ex - royal . " It ' s hard for her , " Brown said . Plus , " she genuinely has to earn a living somehow . " Ferguson , who was married to Andrew for 10 years , was caught on tape by British tabloid News of the World , offering access - - " open doors , " she called it - - to the prince for more than $ 700,000 . She has apologized for her " lapse in judgment " and admitted that she was once again deep in debt . " She will make it through this , unless she does something really stupid , " Majesty magazine ' s Ingrid Seward told " Good Morning America . " " She ' s got her children . It ' s just that when you start thinking maybe your children are better off without you , " she said , trailing off . " I ' m just suggesting that Fergie is a very emotional , fragile girl . " Her offer to provide access to Prince Andrew , a scandal some are calling the worst for the royal family in years , has earned her the ire of many in her home country . " I do n ' t have enough money , I do n ' t know if you have enough money , no one has enough money , " one U.K. resident said . " So , no , I have no sympathy for her whatsoever . " Seward said , " It ' s just unbelievable that someone of Fergie ' s intelligence could even consider getting involved in taking money from somebody . " Some observers are questioning whether Andrew truly had nothing to do with the plan , as both Ferguson ' s and Andrew ' s spokespeople have claimed . " So many of those , quote , ' minor royals , ' end up selling their access or their name , " Brown said . But Brown called Ferguson , 50 , " hopeless " with money and noted the difference between her and her close friend Princess Diana . The two divorced their princes the same year , but " Princess Diana was canny and sharp . . . . She played that marital game like poker . " By contrast , Ferguson seemed to be " intimidated " by royal lawyers , Brown said , and settled for a tiny sum in the hopes of staying in the family ' s good graces . Sarah Ferguson : The ' Duchess of Debt ' ? Ferguson , once considered a lively addition to the royal family , has long been a thorn in the Queen ' s side . During her marriage to Prince Andrew , a union that produced two princesses , Ferguson was photographed sunbathing topless , another man sucking on her toes . The couple divorced in 1996 and Ferguson became mired in debt , eventually reinventing her financial and public image by becoming a children ' s book author and spokeswoman for Weight Watchers . Ferguson collected a charity award in Los Angeles Sunday and will be in New York today for a book event . Ferguson admitted last year to being roughly $ 889,000 in debt after the collapse of her U.S. - based lifestyle company , Hartmoor . The loss led some in the British press to dub her the " Duchess of Debt . " Royal historian Robert Lacey said Ferguson only gets about $ 20,000 a year from her divorce settlement with Prince Andrew , compared to the $ 20 million settlement Princess Diana got when she divorced Prince Charles . " I think she should have had different divorce lawyers and she ' s had to struggle with that ever since , " he said . While Ferguson was caught red - handed , Lacey said he doubts it will irreperably harm her in the long run . " She ' s been a wonderful mother and she ' s also been a great source of delight to us royal watchers , " he said . " I think she ' s going to be back . " In her 1996 memoir , Ferguson wrote about what she perceived as her shortcomings as a royal . " Even at my dizzy height of popularity , I knew the clock would strike 12 and I ' d be seen for what I was : unworthy , unattractive , unaccomplished . And finally , logically , undone , " she wrote . The same year her memoir was released , as she was divorcing Prince Andrew , British tabloids were abuzz with the news that she owed more than $ 4 million to British bankers Coutts and Co . and that the royal family , specifically Queen Elizabeth II , was fed up with Ferguson ' s free - spending ways and refused to pay her bills . Comments 0 | [
"Duchess of York Scandal"
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AsthmaTreatment/story?id=4864150 | What Kind Of Test Do I Do To Find Out Whether I Have Exercise - Induced Asthma ? Dr . Hagaman answers the question : ' Diagnosing Exercise - Induced Asthma ? ' By David Hagaman , M.D. , Medical Director , Vanderbilt Asthma , Sinus and Allergy Program Question : What kind of test do I do to find out whether I have exercise - induced asthma ? Answer : To find out whether or not a patient has exercise - induced asthma , first of all we will often be very aggressive of our diagnosis to make sure that they have asthma . Once we find that out , then we would expect that they would exacerbate with exercise . And we do have some specific tests that we can do to really find out if they have exercise - induced asthma . And some of those tests involve in the office , putting folks on a treadmill or a bicycle , and having them exercise for about six minutes , and then checking their lung function up until 20 - 30 minutes after the exercise to see if there ' s a drop in their lung function . And that ' s a great way to find out if they have exercise - induced asthma . Sometimes we ' ll actually take patients out and have them perform the sport that they ' re having trouble with . For example , a football player - - we take him out to the field have him do six minutes of drills , and then test his lung function . Or have somebody actually outside running and doing those things , and then test them . There are other ways to do it in a laboratory . One is called eucapnic hyperventilation where we actually have the patient breathe very quickly some cool dry air , and that will trigger bronchoconstriction or it ' ll drop their lung function . Another way is to breathe in hypertonic saline or real salty water and that ' s also a trigger that ' s real specific for exercise - induced asthma . Next : How Do I Treat Exercise - Induced Asthma ? Previous : How Can I Tell The Difference Between A Heart Condition And Asthma ? Comments 0 | [
"Asthma"
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AutismSymptomsDiagnosis/story?id=5428011 | What Is The Difference Between A Screening And A Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation ? Dr . Wiznitzer answers the question : ' Screening vs . Comprehensive Evaluation ? ' By Max Wiznitzer , M.D. , Pediatric Neurologist , Rainbow Babies and Children ' s Hospital ; Assoc . Prof . , Case Western Reserve Univ . Oct . 23 , 2008 — Oct 15 , 2008 8 : 57 AM Question : What is the difference between a screening and a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation ? Answer : A screening is a survey of a general population or an at risk group to look for a specific condition . A screening by definition has to be relatively quick , easy to implement and have to have relative good sensitivity and specificity to try to identify those individuals who are potentially at risk for the problem . The diagnostic evaluation then looks at those individuals and says , " Is the problem there or not ? " And the diagnostic evaluation has multiple components . It has a physical examination , history that ' s obtained , evaluations in multiple areas such as cognition , speech and language , and motor skills , testing to look for any kind specific causes for that condition , as well as looking for other associated problems that sometimes will occur with that condition . In other words , it ' s an in depth look to get down to the Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/DiabetesOverview/story?id=3843485 | What Causes High Blood Sugar And What Harm Can It Do To My Body ? Dr . Edelman answers the question : ' What Causes High Blood Sugar ? ' By Steven Edelman , M.D. , Professor of Medicine , Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes , University of California , San Diego Question : What causes high blood sugar and what harm can it do to my body ? Answer : Diabetes is a condition where the glucose or sugar levels are too high in the blood . Now , there are many reasons why the blood sugar levels get too high in people with diabetes , but I will only mention the two main defects now . The first is that the pancreas which is an important endocrine organ in our bodies does not secrete enough insulin . Insulin is the hormone that helps glucose go from the bloodstream into the cells of our body to be used for energy . A complicated condition called insulin - resistance is the second main cause of diabetes . Insulin - resistance , which occurs primarily in type 2 diabetes , is when the cells of our body are resistant to the glucose - lowering effects of insulin . If an individual has either not enough insulin and / or insulin - resistance , then high blood sugar levels or diabetes will be present . High blood sugar levels if untreated will cause short - term effects and long - term complications . High blood sugar levels over the short term do not cause any damage to the organs of your body , however they will cause you to feel tired and weak , be thirsty , and urinate a lot , be susceptible to infections and have blurry vision . In fact in the elderly , high blood sugar levels can lead to dehydration , electrolyte imbalance , and lead to falls and of course we know getting a broken hip as an elderly Now high blood sugar levels over the long term , lets just say years , that can lead to the classic chronic complications of diabetes , eye disease or what we call retinopathy that leads to blindness , kidney disease or nephropathy leading to kidney failure necessitating either dialysis or transplantation , and nerve disease or neuropathy which commonly leads to amputations . In addition , poorly controlled diabetes over the long term can also contribute to heart disease , along with inadequately controlled cholesterol and blood pressure levels . Next : What Are The Symptoms Of High Blood Sugar That Might Indicate I Have Diabetes ? Previous : What Is Glucose ( Sugar In The Blood ) And What Purpose Does It Serve ? Comments 9 | [
"High Blood Sugar"
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4508016&page=1 | Low - Carb Diets Combat Metabolic Syndrome By < b > Kathleen Doheny < / b > < br > < i > HealthDay Reporter < / i > FRIDAY , July 20 ( HealthDay News ) - - A low - carbohydrate diet helps people with a condition called metabolic syndrome , a collection of serious risk factors found in some obese individuals . Now , a new study confirms the diet is effective against the syndrome , and the researchers think they ' ve discovered how it works . Eating a low - carb diet improves the hormonal signaling involved in obesity and improves the sense of fullness , allowing weight loss , according to study leader Matthew R . Hayes , a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania . " There is this strong interest in the field in carb - restricted diets in the treatment of obesity , " said Hayes , who conducted the research while a doctoral student at Pennsylvania State University . " That [ interest ] comes from a number of controlled clinical trials that demonstrate overweight or obese people , maintained on low - carb diets , are successful if they adhere to the diet . " " It ' s definitely a hot debate in the field , " Hayes added , whether the diets work . " We wanted to look at not only if it worked but how . " People with metabolic syndrome struggle with excessive abdominal fat ; low levels of HDL - - good - - cholesterol ; and insulin resistance or glucose intolerance , in which the body does n ' t properly use insulin or blood sugar . Metabolic syndrome raises the risk of heart disease , type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems , according to the American Heart Association . Hayes and his colleagues studied 20 men and women with metabolic syndrome , instructing them to follow a low - carb diet similar to the popular South Beach Diet . For phase one , which lasted two weeks , the study participants were told to get 10 percent of their calories from carbohydrates . For phase 2 , which lasted the remaining 10 weeks of the study , they were told to eat up to 27 percent carbs . " The subjects did lose weight , and they lost total body fat . Their weight was a little over 200 pounds when the study started . By the end of the study , the subjects weighed about 193 , 194 . They lost close to 10 pounds during the three - month study . " And , Hayes said , " By the end of the study , about 50 percent no longer had metabolic syndrome . " The study participants did n ' t follow the diets strictly , he found . " Phase one intake was 25 percent [ carbohydrates ] , on average , " he said , rather than the 10 percent recommended . " Phase two carb intake was 35 percent , " he said , although 27 percent was recommended . But it was a reduction from the participants ' pre - study diet , which included 47 percent of calories from carbohydrates , he said . To find out why the weight declined , Hayes ' team did hormone assays , measuring fasting and post - meal blood levels of hormones associated with appetite and food intake , such as insulin , leptin and cholecystokinin ( CCK ) . " We found some changes in hormone levels , " he said . " We saw a decrease in insulin , a decrease in leptin levels by the end of phase one . It was fast . " " By the end of phase 2 , the insulin levels had crept up toward baseline ; the leptin levels also rose , but it did not come back to the levels at baseline , " Hayes said . " These alternations in hormone levels acting together help reduce the amount of food consumed , " he said . " There ' s a synergy . Based on the literature already out there , we are speculating that this synergy of hormones may be the mechanism explaining why people are satisfied with less food and [ the low - carb diet ] results in weight loss . " However , Hayes emphasized that the study , published in the August issue of The Journal of Nutrition , was small and preliminary , and more research is needed . Connie Diekman , director of university nutrition at Washington University in St . Louis and president of the American Dietetic Association , also urged caution when interpreting the study findings . " The study is small in size , and the population is not extremely diverse , " she said , although she thinks the study design was good . " The study was focused on metabolic syndrome , so the outcomes may not be transferable to people who are overweight but do not have the syndrome , since the cause of the syndrome is still not clear , " Diekman said . More information To learn more about metabolic syndrome , visit the American Heart Association SOURCES : Matthew R . Hayes , Ph . D . , postdoctoral fellow , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia ; Connie Diekman , M . Ed . , R.D. , director of university nutrition , Washington University , St . Louis , and president , American Dietetic Association ; August 2007 , The Journal of Nutrition Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/LivingLonger/king-tut-died-revealed-study/story?id=9853119 | How King Tut Died Revealed in New Study Research blasts myths about teenage pharaoh , indicates malaria may be to blame . By LAMA HASAN and CRYSTAL PHEND Feb . 16 , 2010& # 151 ; — Feb 16 , 2010 9 : 57 AM Years of DNA tests and CT scans on Egypt ' s famous pharaoh , King Tutankhamun , and his family have yielded surprising results revealing how he died at the young age of 19 , and solving the centuries old mystery of his lineage . Ancient Egypt ' s most famous pharaoh likely died of a leg injury which was complicated by bone disease and bout of malaria , according to the comprehensive analysis of mummies in his royal family . The study , conducted by Zahi Hawass of the Secretary - General of Egypt ' s Supreme Council of Antiquities ( SCA ) , took two years to finish and shows that because of multiple disorders , the boy King was likely a " frail king who needed canes to walk . " Their research showed the young king had a club foot and a cleft palate and his parents were probably siblings ; a brother and sister . But , contrary to long - standing speculation , no signs of gynecomastia ( breast development in males ) or Marfan syndrome were found by the research team led by Carsten Pusch , of the University of Tübingen , Germany . Ever since British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered his tomb in 1922 beneath the shifting sands of the Valley of the Kings , King Tut has mesmerized Egyptologists and the public alike . It was the treasures that were found in his tomb 90 years ago - - including a solid gold death mask with lapis and other semi precious stones - - that first piqued people ' s interest . But little had been known about how he died and his family until this new study was published today . Tutankhamun died at age 19 without an heir and after reigning only nine years . His early death , sparked historians ' suspicions of murder and familial disease , the researchers wrote in the Feb . 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association . There had been theories that he had been murdered because of a hole that was found in his skull but this was ruled out in 2005 after CT scans suggested the hole was most likely the result of the mummification process . Taken together , the new research findings suggest that his death was not attributable to foul play but rather a constitutionally weakened condition caused by the combination of a leg fracture and infection with malaria . The Discovery Channel will air a two day documentary on the new findings about King Tutankhamun Sunday Feb . 21 and Monday Feb . 22 This investigation was unique in its unfettered access to royal mummies and its use of radiography , DNA technology , and other modern scientific tools , Dr . Howard Markel , of the Center for the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor wrote in an editorial released with the JAMA paper . But Markel cautioned about the ethical considerations of DNA research . While DNA was the key to solving part of the puzzle , Markel questioned whether major historical figures have a right to privacy after death just as private citizens do . For Pusch ' s group , the chance to make such an accurate guess on King Tutankhamun ' s death was made possible , at least in part , because of developments in DNA technology . Rather than make inferences from artifacts and paintings , the researchers conducted detailed anthropological , radiological , and genetic studies of royal mummies as part of the King Tutankhamun Family Project . A False Idea of the Feminized King ? Statues , sculptures , and reliefs from the Armana period around 1353 to 1323 B.C. when King Tut and his father - - the controversial King Akhenaten , who tried to radically transform religion in the New Kingdom - - ruled suggested an androgynous appearance in the royal family . Statues of the time showed the King Tut with an elongated head and feminized features . Although no chest wall was available for Tutankhamen to determine whether he had gynecomastia , the researchers noted " well developed " genitalia . He also had a relatively flat head ( brachycephaly ) contrasting with the elongated skull ( dolichocephaly ) expected as one of the obvious features of Marfan syndrome . Thus , the feminine physique seen in art from the period likely reflected a royally - decreed idealized style , not a bizarre appearance of the family , Pusch and colleagues concluded . The researchers also excluded Antley - Bixler syndrome , but detailed radiological examination of the king ' s feet revealed a low arch and deformed structure with areas of bone density indicating bone necrosis . A foot disorder ( Köhler disease II ) or a bone disorder ( Freiberg - Köhler syndrome ) was apparently active at the time of death and may have caused walking disability for some time . The disorders may explain the 130 canes and walking sticks - - some with traces of wear - - found in the boy king ' s tomb as well as the depictions of him seated for activities like hunting for which he normally should have been standing . Among the 10 possibly or definitely closely related mummies examined , Pusch ' s group also found bone malformation - - including cleft palate , clubfeet , and flat feet - - along with indications of bone degeneration , neoplastic changes , and trauma . Several of the mummies , like Tutankhamun , had DNA of the malaria parasite , although none had evidence of tuberculosis , leprosy , leishmaniasis , or pandemic bubonic plague . The researchers also discovered the identity of several of the mummies , whereas only three had identities known for sure before the two - year project : Thuya , maternal grandmother or great grandmother of Tutankhamun Yuya , maternal grandfather or great grandfather of Tutankhamun Amenhotep III , father of Akhenaten Genetic testing of Y chromosomes and blood groups helped scientists identify which mummy was King Tut ' s father . Genetic testing of Y chromosome alleles showed identical allele patterns in Amenhotep III , Tutankhamun , and a third mummy but not other unrelated mummies , a result that was replicated by a second laboratory . This , along with identical blood group results with Tutankhamun , further supported that the third mummy ( KV55 ) is Akhenaten , the researchers said . Using the genetic information on allele sharing among the mummies , the researchers put together the most plausible family tree as Yuya and Thuya as parents of the newly identified Tiye , who with Amenhotep III had Akhenaten and his sister , the as - yet unidentified mummy KV35YL . The genetic information also showed Tutankhamun was the father of two mummified fetuses , and that his mother and father - - Akhenaten - - were also sister and brother . The mother of the two stillbirths was suggested to be the mummy KV21A , although the little data available did not statistically significantly define her as Ankhensenamun . Comments 1 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/PainArthritis/story?id=4567992 | What Is The American College Of Rheumatology ( ACR ) Scoring System For Rheumatoid Arthritis And How Does It Work ? Dr . Lewis Rosenbaum answers the question : ' What Is The ACR Scoring System ? ' By Lewis Rosenbaum , M.D. , Vice - Chief , Internal Medicine , Beaumont Hospitals Question : What is the American College of Rheumatology ( ACR ) scoring system for rheumatoid arthritis and how does it work ? Answer : Well , the scoring system was promulgated because researchers needed to know exactly what was an improvement in the disease when they were treating patients with various medications . And so they came up with , initially , the ACR 20 , which is a 20 percent improvement based on a certain scale . And this scale would include a number of tender and painful joints - - usually it goes as 28 designated joints . At this time it ' s the best scale . And then there ' s a number of other factors that are looked at : a laboratory test , either the sedimentation rate or C - reactive protein , which are markers of inflammation . There ' s a scale that ' s done with a physician ' s assessment of the patient ' s progress , the patient ' s assessment of the patient ' s progress , a pain scale , and a disability scale . And three of the five are usually used in any study , along with the tender and painful joint count . And Next : What Is Remission Of Rheumatoid Arthritis And Can I Do Anything To Make Sure My Symptoms Do n ' t Come Back ? Previous : Why Does My Doctor Have To Repeat Blood Tests During My Drug Treatment For Rheumatoid Arthritis ? Comments 0 | [
"American College of Rheumatology",
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/washing-machines-loaded-bacteria-dirty-clothes/story?id=10751420 | Dirty Laundry ? How Nasty Germs Survive in Your Washer Your laundry is probably not as clean as you think , even after you wash it . By KIM CAROLLO < br > ABC News Medical Unit May 27 , 2010 — May 26 , 2010 12 : 26 PM Your dirty laundry may actually be even dirtier after you wash it . That ' s because experts say washing machines are teeming with bacteria that find their way onto your clothes - - and then onto you . Our smallest items - - our undergarments - - are the biggest culprits because of the presence of fecal matter and the different types of bacteria it can carry . Charles Gerba , a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona , has done extensive research on the germs that fester in our washing machines . " If you wash a load of just underwear , there will be about 100 million E . coli in the wash water , and they can be transmitted to the next load of laundry , " Gerba said . " There ' s about a tenth of a gram of poop in the average pair of underwear , " he added . Fecal matter can carry a number of different germs , including the hepatitis A virus , norovirus , rotavirus , salmonella and E . coli . Philip Tierno , a professor of microbiology and pathology at the New York University School of Medicine and author of the book , " The Secret Life of Germs , " said bacteria from the skin , such as staphylococcus , can be found on clothing and towels . Detergents Are Not The Answer You may have been relying on your detergent to get rid of all the dirt and germs , but if you ' re not using bleach or very hot water , you ' re not killing the bacteria - - they ' re getting on your hands and staying in the washing machine . " Most of the hot water people use is not hot enough . You need water that ' s between 140 and 150 degrees to kill germs , " said Tierno . If you ' re using cold water , Gerba recommends washing your hands after you handle wet clothes , especially if you ' re washing children ' s clothes . Getting Rid of Germs in Laundry " Children ' s clothes , especially their undergarments , tend to carry a lot more things , " he said . Using the right concentration of bleach will kill the bacteria , but using bleach is n ' t always appropriate , such as when you wash lingerie or colored clothing . " If you ca n ' t use chlorine bleach , you may want to resort to something like Clorox 2 because it has peroxide , " said Tierno . Another option is to periodically clean your washing machine with bleach and water without any clothing in it - - just let the machine go through its regular cycle . One of the most effective germ - killers is the sun , so scientists say avoid the dryer altogether and let your clothes dry in the sun . " The ultraviolet radiation kills germs , " said Tierno . " It ' s just as effective as bleach , " he added . Germs Are All Around But a washing machine is just one of many germ - laden objects that you may encounter in a given day . Handrails , ATM ' s , refrigerator handles and telephone handsets are among the others . Gerba added that day care centers and young children ' s classrooms are also full of germs , as are airplane toilets . " You ' ve got about 50 people using the same toilet , and it ' s sometimes hard for people to wash their hands because they do n ' t fit in the sink , " he said . Airplane water also got a thumbs - down from Gerba and Tierno . " Plane water is very contaminated , " said Tierno . " Things are n ' t cleaned properly , so there ' s a biofilm on the water . " Despite the huge number of germs you may come into contact with during the day , most of what the ones you ' ll encounter are harmless . " Of the more than 60,000 kinds of germs , only one to two percent of them are potentially pathogenic , " Tierno said . Clean Hands and Common Sense Are Key And unless you have open wounds , as long as you wash your hands , you wo n ' t get sick . But the key is to wash your hands the right way . According to health experts , that means wetting your hands with water , washing all surfaces of the hands – including between the fingers and underneath the nails – rinsing and then repeating the cycle all over again . If you use a public bathroom to wash your hands , Tierno recommends you avoid touching faucets or door handles . " Use paper towels to open or close faucets and doors , then use the towel to open the door , and then throw the towel in the trash outside the bathroom , " he said . Gerba agrees that faucets are probably the dirtiest part of public bathrooms , but says door knobs are n ' t as dirty because people tend to wash their hands and then open the door . In the event you ca n ' t get to a sink , you should use gel hand sanitizer that ' s at least 62 percent alcohol . Rub it all over your hands for about 15 to 20 seconds and then let it dry . As long as you use common sense and are aware of all the bacteria that could be around you , can easily avoid getting sick . " You do n ' t have to live in a bubble . These are just easy ways to prevent unnecessary illnesses , " said Tierno . Comments 5 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/best-worst-foods-eat-sick/story?id=29283969 | Best and Worst Foods To Eat When You ' re Sick The last thing you want is to eat something that makes you feel worse . ( Getty Images ) The best and worst foods to eat when you are sick . By LINDA MELONE , Health . com Feb 28 , 2015 11 : 38 PM intro : When you ' re under the weather the last thing you want is to eat something that makes you feel worse . But what if the last thing you want is chicken soup or crackers , and you ' re craving ice cream or a glass of wine ? It depends on what ' s wrong with you , experts say . Here are common symptoms and expert suggestions on foods that help — and hinder — relief . quicklist : 1 category : Best and Worst Foods To Eat When You ' re Sick title : You ' ve got the runs url : text : For diarrhea caused by a stomach virus or a meal that did n ' t agree with you , try the BRAT diet , says James Lee , MD , gastroenterologist with St . Joseph Hospital in Orange , Calif . " Many different things can cause diarrhea , such as Crohn ' s disease or colitis , " so see your doctor if symptoms continue for longer than two weeks or sooner if signs of dehydration appear , or if diarrhea is accompanied by fever , blood , severe pain , or severe nausea and vomiting . Best foods : The BRAT diet : bananas , rice , applesauce and toast . Also oatmeal , boiled potatoes , saltine crackers , and baked chicken or turkey without skin are safe bets . Worst foods : Sugarless candy and gum containing sorbitol or other artificial sweeteners , which are n ' t digestible and can trigger diarrhea . Other foods that can cause gas and bloating include onions , apples , broccoli , cabbages , and beans . Dairy may also aggravate diarrhea , as well as alcohol and caffeine . 27 Mistakes Healthy People Make quicklist : 2 category : Best and Worst Foods To Eat When You ' re Sick title : You ' re constipated url : text : Constipation can occur when not eating enough fiber - rich whole grains , fruits , and veggies , which stimulate digestion . " Adults need between 25 and 30 grams of fiber a day , " says Dr . Lee . Best foods : High - fiber whole grain breads , nuts , beans , prunes , oatmeal , flaxseed , broccoli , pears , and apples . ( Here are the 20 best foods for fiber . ) Drinking six to eight glasses of water per day also helps get things moving , says Dr . Lee . Worst foods : Chocolate , dairy products , iron supplements , narcotics ( pain medications ) and some blood and anti depression medications may worsen constipation . 13 Things You Should Know About the Stomach Flu quicklist : 3 category : Best and Worst Foods To Eat When You ' re Sick title : You ' re feeling nauseous url : text : Feeling queasy makes all foods sound unappealing , but the right ones can ease symptoms by calming stomach acids , says Dr . Lee . " In general , keep food portions small and odors to a minimum . " Best foods : Saltine crackers or pretzels can help , says Dr . Lee , as does small quantities of dry toast or cereal . Ginger or lemon tea , fresh or frozen lemon slices , and peppermint also work . Worst foods : Greasy , spicy , or oily foods , caffeine , alcohol , and carbonated drinks can make nausea worse . quicklist : 4 category : Best and Worst Foods To Eat When You ' re Sick title : It hurts to swallow url : text : When you have a sore throat , several foods can coat your throat and soothe the pain , says Lauren Slayton , RD , founder ofFoodtrainers . com and author of The Little Book of Thin ( Perigee 2014 ) . Best foods : Combine peppermint tea ( lukewarm , not hot ) — which has analgesic and anesthetic effects — and Manuka honey , which is known for its wound - healing properties . Soft , creamy foods such as cream soups , mashed potatoes , yogurt , scrambled eggs , and custards are also soothing . Worst foods : Avoid hot liquids and hard , scratchy foods such as potato chips , nuts , and granola . The acidic juices from raw fruits and vegetables , as well as orange juice , grape juice , and lemonade can also irritate a sore throat . 10 Ways to Soothe a Sore Throat quicklist : 5 category : Best and Worst Foods To Eat When You ' re Sick title : Your entire body aches url : text : Foods that ease muscle aches depend on the specific reason for the body aches , says Kristine Arthur , MD , internist at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley , Calif . " For general muscle aches , food containing magnesium or calcium may help ease soreness , " she says . Best foods : Magnesium - containing foods include nuts , bananas , beans , leafy greens , and avocados . Foods high in calcium such as canned salmon , yogurt , dark - green leafy greens , and orange juice fortified with calcium also lessen muscle cramping and pain . Worst foods : Anything that dehydrates you can worsen muscle aches , says Dr . Arthur , particularly alcohol and caffeine . 14 Reasons You ' re Always Tired quicklist : 6 category : Best and Worst Foods To Eat When You ' re Sick title : Your head hurts url : text : Dehydration is one of the leading causes of headaches , says Dr . Arthur , so it ' s best to treat that cause first and see if it relieves your pain . Best foods : Water and other fluids are your best bet . " Drink a bottle of water and wait 20 minutes to see if you feel better , " says Dr . Arthur . Caffeine is known for drying you out , but ironically , it can help in small doses . " But for each cup of tea or coffee , drink an equal amount of water to avoid dehydration , " Dr . Arthur says . Worst foods : Headache - triggering foods include artificial sweeteners , MSG ( found in sauces and soy sauce ) , aged cheeses ( blue , stilton ) that contain tyramine , plus chocolate , red wine , hot dogs , deli meats , and dried fruit . MSG is metabolized to glutamate , an excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain , says Dr . Arthur . Tyramine links to increased blood pressure , which can trigger headaches . quicklist : 7 category : Best and Worst Foods To Eat When You ' re Sick title : You have an earache url : text : Earaches typically accompany other symptoms , says Dr . Arthur . " So they ' re not correlated with any food in general . " Since they occur most often with upper respiratory infections , however , foods that clear up congestion can help earaches as well . Best foods : Clear fluids and chicken soup ease congestion by loosening up mucous in nasal passages . Omega - 3s found in salmon and nuts decrease inflammation , and vitamin C found in dark leafy greens , berries , and citrus boost the immune system , says Dr . Arthur . Worst foods : Dairy can thicken phlegm and worsen congestion , with the exception of yogurt , which contains probiotics , says Dr . Arthur . " Stay away from processed and packaged foods , too , which increase inflammation and lengthen the recovery process . " quicklist : 8 category : Best and Worst Foods To Eat When You ' re Sick title : You ' re red and itchy url : text : A rash could be a symptom of an allergy , says Dr . Arthur . " Keep a detailed food journal to look for links to foods that seem to trigger a rash . " Best foods : Omega - 3 containing foods such as fatty fish ( salmon , sardines ) and walnut and flax seed oils , as well as foods high in protein are all important for skin health , says Dr . Arthur . " Skin is made up of proteins , so a diet adequate in protein is necessary for skin protein synthesis . " Worst foods : The most common foods that cause itching are nuts , chocolate , fish , tomatoes , eggs , berries , soy , wheat , and milk , says Debra Jaliman , MD , dermatologist and author of Skin Rules : Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist ( $ 9 , amazon . com ) . 15 Diseases Doctors Often Get Wrong quicklist : 9 category : Best and Worst Foods To Eat When You ' re Sick title : You have a runny nose url : text : When you have a cold , the worst symptom might be a nose that just wo n ' t stop running . Aside from taking a steamy shower , Slayton suggests drinking warm tea — it may not slow down the drip , but a soothing tea will make you feel better . Best foods : Try Wakaya ginger tea , suggests Slayton . Ginger contains antioxidant and anti - inflammatory properties that may help clear up a cold faster than just waiting it out . " Apple cider and lemon in water works well , too , " she says . Worst foods : Spicy foods can cause an immediate runny nose ( which then turns into congestion ) , as may alcohol . quicklist : 9 category : Best and Worst Foods To Eat When You ' re Sick title : You ' re stuffed up url : text : A cold , flu or sinus infection can irritate and inflame blood vessels in your nose , making it hard to breathe . Aside from inhaling steam from a hot shower or using a humidifier , if you ' re stopped up due to mucous , some foods can help . Best foods : Slayton recommends " golden milk , " which includes turmeric , a spice known for its anti - inflammatory properties . Place 2 cups of coconut or almond milk in a saucepan with 1 tsp dried turmeric , 1 tsp dried ginger , a dash of black pepper and honey to taste . Bring to a simmer , allow to sit for 10 minutes and serve warm . Worst foods : Skip dairy , spicy foods , and sugar , all of which can aggravate symptoms , says Slayton . This article originally appeared on Health . com . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/edgar-hoover-sex-men-homosexual/story?id=14948447 | J . Edgar Hoover : Gay or Just a Man Who Has Sex With Men ? Clint Eastwood film leaves question of homosexuality ambiguous . By SUSAN DONALDSON JAMES Nov . 16 , 2011& # 151 ; — Nov 14 , 2011 8 : 22 AM J . Edgar Hoover led a deeply repressed sexual life , living with his mother until he was 40 , awkwardly rejecting the attention of women and pouring his emotional , and at times , physical attention on his handsome deputy at the FBI , according to the new movie , " J . Edgar , " directed by Clint Eastwood . Filmgoers never see the decades - long romance between the former FBI director , and his number two , Clyde Tolson , consummated , but there ' s plenty of loving glances , hand - holding and one scene with an aggressive , long , deep kiss . So was the most powerful man in America , who died in 1972 - - three years after the Stonewall riots marked the modern gay civil rights movement - - homosexual ? Eastwood admits the relationship between Hoover , played by Leonardo DiCaprio , and Clyde Tolson , played by Armie Hammer , is ambiguous . " He was a man of mystery , " he told ABC ' s " Good Morning America " last week . " He might have been [ gay ] . I am agnostic about it . I do n ' t really know and nobody really knew . " In public , Hoover waged a vendetta against homosexuals and kept " confidential and secret " files on the sex lives of congressmen and presidents . But privately , according to some biographers , he had numerous trysts with men , including a lifelong affair with Tolson . Dissociation - - denying homosexuality , but displaying sexual behavior - - is " not uncommon , " according to Dr . Jack Drescher , a New York City psychiatrist who is an expert in gender and sexuality . Men with strong attractions to other men can have different degrees of acceptance from being fully closeted to being openly gay . And even if they are homosexually self - aware , they can embrace it or reject it publicly . " We confuse sexual orientation with sexual identity , " said Drescher . " Some men do not publicly identify as gay , regardless of their sexual behavior . " Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) tracks a group that is not labeled " gay " but " men who have sex with men . Roy Cohn , the lawyer who served as chief counsel to Sen . Joseph McCarthy in his anti - communist campaign of the 1950s and who successfully convicted Julius and Ethel Rosenberg of espionage , denied he was gay , despite an attraction to men . Cohn , who died of AIDS in 1986 , was a contemporary of Hoover and according to one biography , the two attended sex parties together in New York in the 1950s . Cohn was characterized in a scene from Tony Kuschner ' s play , " Angels in America , " speaking to his doctor : " . . .you are hung up on words , on labels , that you believe they mean what they seem to mean . AIDS . Homosexual . Gay . Lesbian . You think these are names that tell you who someone sleeps with , but they do n ' t tell you that . . . Roy Cohn is a heterosexual man , Henry , who f * * * * s around with guys . " Hoover ' s degree of self - awareness may have been the same as Cohn ' s . Despite his same - sex dalliances , he occasionally sought a " Mrs . Hoover " and even courted - - albeit uncomfortably - - actress Ginger Rogers ' mother and actress Dorothy Lamour . Hoover ' s neuroses were likely rooted in childhood : He was ashamed of his mentally ill father and was dependent on his morally righteous mother , Annie , well into middle age . Until her death in 1938 , Hoover had no social life outside the office . In the film , Annie chastises her powerful son as he wilted before some of his FBI critics , telling him , " I ' d rather have a dead son than a daffodil for a son . " In a 2004 biography by Richard Hack , " Puppetmaster , " which was culled from the notes of Truman Capote , who had begun interviews on Hoover and Tolson ' s relationship , the author says Hoover was not gay , but suggests the man was vicariously turned on by the smut he collected on others . One 200 - page secret document was on the extracurricular activities of Capote himself , who was openly gay . But Anthony Summers , who exposed the secret sex life of Hoover in his 1993 book , " Official and Confidential : The Secret Life of J . Edgar Hoover , " said there was no ambiguity about the FBI director ' s sexual proclivities . " What does Clint Eastwood know about it ? " he asked ABCNews . com . Summers collaborated with historians and conducted 800 interviews for the book , including nieces and those who were young enough at the time to have known the man personally . " We were able to get a close view of the man as an individual and as a human being - - as close as anybody who had not been afraid of him since he died , " said Summers . With interest in the Eastwood film , publishers in the U.S. and in Britain are issuing a remake of the book . One medical expert told Summers that Hoover was " strongly predominant homosexual orientation " and another categorized him as a " bisexual with failed heterosexuality . " Hoover often suppressed his urges , but would break out in lapses that could have destroyed him - - alleged orgies in New York City hotels and affairs with teenage boys in a limousine , according to interviews conducted by Summers . " He was a sadly repressed individual , but most people , even J . Edgar Hoover , let go on occasion , " he said . Hoover as a Cross - Dresser Is Controversial One short scene in the film showed the FBI director in anguish over his mother ' s death , putting on her dress and beads , a nod to Summers expose that Hoover had been a cross - dresser . The Washington Post recently dismissed that account because of a discredited source , but Summers maintains he had two other independent sources from different periods in Hoover ' s life . Hoover often frequented New York City ' s Stork Club and one observer - - soap model Luisa Stuart , who was 18 or 19 at the time - - told Summers she saw Hoover holding hands with Tolson as they all rode in a limo uptown to the Cotton Club in 1936 . " I did n ' t really understand anything about homosexuality at the time , " said Stuart . " But I ' d never seen two men holding hands . And I remember asking Art [ Arthur ] about it in the car on the way home that night . And he just said , ' Oh , come on . You know , ' or something like that . And he told me they were queers or fairies - - - the sort of terms they used in those days . " Hoover promoted men inclined to homosexual indiscretions , including Tolson , who had barely 18 months experience with the FBI when he became Hoover ' s deputy . The pair used to make " saucy jokes " about some of the other agents , like Melvin Purvis , who was a hero for arresting John Dillinger , according to Summers . Purvis ' s son shared his father ' s 500 - letter correspondence with Hoover , who teased the good - looking , blond - haired agent as " the Clark Gable of the FBI , " even though he was heterosexual . Many were intimate and one was highly charged with innuendo , as Hoover referred to himself as the " Chairman of the Moral Uplift Squad . " Ethel Merman , who had known Hoover since 1938 , knew his sexual orientation , according to Summers . In 1978 when the actress was asked to comment on Anita Bryant ' s anti - gay campaign , Merman told the reporter , " Some of my best friends are homosexual . Everybody knew about J . Edgar Hoover , but he was the best chief the FBI ever had . " Harry Hay , founder of the Mattachine Society , one of the first gay rights organizations , confirmed that Hoover and Tolson sat in boxes owned by and used exclusively by gay men at their racing haunt Del Mar in California . " They were nodded together as lovers , " he told Summers . Another FBI agent who had gone on fishing trips with Hoover and Tolson revealed that the director liked to " sunbathe all day in the nude . " Even novelist William Styron told Summers that he once spotted Hoover and Tolson in a California beach house - - the director painting his friends toenails . But , according to Summers , " Nobody dared say anything , he was so powerful . " The author interviewed the widow of respected Washington , D.C. psychiatrist Dr . Marshall de G . Ruffin , who treated Hoover in 1946 after his general practitioner had been " puzzled by a strange malaise in his patient . " Monteen Ruffin told Summers that Hoover was " very paranoid " about anyone finding out , and he eventually stopped seeing the psychiatrist . She said her husband burned the evidence . " He was definitely troubled by homosexuality , " she said in 1990 , " and my husband ' s notes would have proved that . . . I might stir a kettle of worms by making that statement , but everybody then understood that he was a homosexual , not just the doctors . " As the movie depicts , after Hoover ' s death , his loyal secretary Helen Gandy destroys the " official and confidential " files . When Hoover died in 1972 , President Richard Nixon ordered his " dirty tricks man " Gordon Liddy to scour the FBI director ' s office for files . But when they arrived , someone had taken " drastic action , " said Summers . Nothing but tables and chairs remained . Summers said he is often asked , but rarely answers the question about what he personally thought of Hoover as a human being . " Yes , I had sympathy for somebody who has to bury their real preferences through a long life in the public eye , " he said . " But not sympathy for the way in which he was dictatorial , the way he behaved politically and personally to people right from the beginning in his late teens and early 20s . " He was totally self - serving and the way in which he was a repressed homosexual did n ' t require him to abuse individual rights and human liberties the way he did , " said Summers . " It does not begin to justify his behavior toward blacks and concoct an anonymous letter to Martin Luther King and suggest he end it all and kill himself . " Psychiatrists have concluded that Hoover " no doubt " had a narcissistic personality disorder , perhaps because of his dependency on a forceful mother who had " great expectations for her son , " he said . " Studies suggest that people with such backgrounds block their feelings and cut meaningful relationships , " according to Summers , who said Hoover would have been a " perfect high - level Nazi . " However , Eastwood , who is a Republican , contends that J . Edgar Hoover was " probably good for the country , " and whether he was homosexual or not makes no difference . " I do n ' t really know and nobody really knew , " he told ABC . " It ' s definitely a love story . You can love a person and whether it goes into the realm of being gay or not , is here nor there . " A younger generation of gays was moved by the film precisely because it portrayed such an iconic figure ' s struggle with his sexuality . " The audience I was in clearly rooted for Hoover to be gay and to have happiness in his sex and love life , " said Ben Ryan , a 33 - year - old novelist from New York City . " In a pivotal scene between DiCaprio and Hammer in which the two men engage in the classic brawl - leads - to - furious - kiss , everyone got so excited when they finally locked lips . " " Anyone in their right mind would see this movie and say , ' Oh , well , of course Hoover was gay , ' " he said . " The more suspicious among us might think that the filmmakers were still afraid of Hoover ' s ghost suing them for libel if they just put it right out there that he was gay . " Still , he said , the film is a " tragic story that should hopefully teach society lessons about how dangerous sexual repression is . " Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/fda-cautions-long-term-bone-drugs-osteoporosis/story?id=16321946 | FDA Still Cautious About Bone Drugs FDA reports taking bone drugs after five years may up risk of rare side effects By CARRIE GANN , ABC News Medical Unit May 10 , 2012& # 151 ; — May 10 , 2012 12 : 34 PM The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says doctors need to reassess which women are likely to benefit from popular bone - building drugs , given the lack of evidence showing that taking them for the long term really helps and the possibility that they put some women at risk for rare but serious side effects . In a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration raised concerns about the potential for some serious side effects in women taking bone - building drugs called bisphosphonates , specifically Fosamax , Actonel and Reclast . The published findings are not new . In 2011 , the agency voiced concerns that taking the drugs long - term may actually make bones weaker and increase the risk of rare but serious side effects such as atypical fractures of the thigh bone , esophageal cancer and osteonecrosis of the jaw , a rare but painful condition in which the jaw bone crumbles . To investigate , the FDA reviewed data from women who had taken the drugs for six to 10 years . In Wednesday ' s report , the agency repeated its 2011 conclusions : Women without osteoporosis seem to get few to no benefits to their bones from taking the drugs beyond five years . In light of the concerns about the potential side effects , the authors said some patients should be able to safely stop taking the drugs after that time , particularly if they are younger and at low risk of fractures . They suggested that women who continue to have very low bone density , measured by a " T score " lower than minus 2.5 , are the ones who may benefit the most from taking the drugs after five years . A commentary accompanying the FDA ' s report said it is older women who have a history of fractures or are at an increased fracture risk , particularly of spine fractures , who stand to benefit from taking the drugs for longer than five years . Dennis Black , a professor of epidemiology at the University of California , San Francisco and the lead author of the commentary , said the drugs appear to be safe and helpful for women taking them for a just few years at a time . " These drugs in general have very strong proven benefits for the first five years , " Black said . " I would want a patient with osteoporosis to not let the worry about these very rare side effects overwhelm the very strong benefits they would get . " The reports reflect overall uncertainty about the optimal length of time a patient should take these drugs . Clinical trials of bisphosphonates have studied large numbers of women for up to five years and have shown that the drugs are effective for that length of time . But the trials looking at the effects after five years have included a much smaller number of patients , meaning their results are less certain . " The problem is we do n ' t really know when to start or stop these drugs , and we do n ' t know how common those serious adverse events are , " said Dr . Rita Redberg , a professor of medicine at UCSF . " We think they ' re uncommon , but we do n ' t really have strong data . " According to the FDA , doctors wrote more than 150 million prescriptions for bisphosphonates between 2005 and 2009 . The drugs work by targeting the body ' s process of breaking down and regenerating bone cells . After age 30 or so , a woman ' s bones start to break down faster than the body can rebuild them , which can lead to the brittle , vulnerable bones of osteoporosis . The drugs work to slow down the bone - dissolving process , letting the cells that work to build bone mass catch up . The drugs are incorporated into the newly formed bone and can stay there for years , even after a woman stops taking them . It ' s not clear how many women are affected by the FDA ' s recommendations , but the researchers estimated that as many as 70 percent of women currently taking bisphosphonates could be candidates for stopping the drugs after five years . A number of women stop taking the drugs after only one or two years anyway , because of several inconvenient aspects of the prescriptions , such as needing to remain upright for several hours after taking the drug . Doctors emphasize that the risk of atypical fractures associated with bisphosphonates is very low and appears to account for less than 1 percent of leg and hip fractures overall . Dr . Beatrice Edwards , an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , said she thinks the drugs are generally safe for as long as five years , but still keeps a close eye on her patients who take them . " We usually have a discussion about the benefits and risks and look at their bone density , " Edwards said . " We may give them a five - year treatment , and then take them off for one or two years . " The FDA ' s report said additional research is needed before doctors can determine if interruption of treatments is helpful . For now , the FDA and other experts say women should be mindful of how long they have been taking the drugs and talk to their doctors about whether continuing to use the drugs is best for them . The FDA already placed a statement on the drugs ' labels saying patients should be reevaluated periodically . For patients at low risk of osteoporosis , experts recommend regular exercise and diets rich in calcium and vitamin D for staving off the disease . ABC News ' Dr . C . Michael Minder contributed to this report . Comments 5 | [
"Bone Drugs",
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/kids-stop-eating-life-prader-willi-syndrome/story?id=24985106 | Why This Teen Ca n ’ t Stop Eating : Life With Prader - Willi Syndrome Every waking minute of Hannah Wilkinson ’ s day is filled with intense hunger . Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By MARC DORIAN , JONATHAN BALTHASER and ALEXA VALIENTE Aug 15 , 2014 7 : 06 AM Every waking minute of Hannah Wilkinson ’ s day is filled with intense hunger . “ Even if she ' s just eaten , we can … sit down , have dinner , finish , I can take her plate away , and she ' ll look at me and say , ‘ Mom , I ' m hungry , ’ " Wilkinson ’ s mother Tonya Wilkinson told ABC News ’ “ 20 / 20 . ” When Your Daughter Ca n ’ t Stop Eating : Raising a Child with Prader - Willi Syndrome After Brain Tumor Removed , Girl Is Always Hungry Texas Girl , 12 , Who Is Always Hungry , to Get Gastric Bypass The 14 - year - old ’ s hunger rules her family ’ s lives . At their home in Phoenix , Arizona , the kitchen is on full lockdown , with a padlock on the refrigerator , no food in the cabinets , and a constantly locked pantry door . “ When we got a dog , I did not even think about dog food . It did n ' t even cross my mind that I had to lock up the dog food , ” Tonya Wilkinson said . “ I have caught her . . . eating dog food . ” Hannah Wilkinson was born with a rare condition called Prader - Willi syndrome , caused by a chromosomal flaw . Prader - Willi syndrome , which strikes only one in 15,000 people , can cause learning issues , muscles weakness and a slow metabolism . But the condition mostly creates an insatiable appetite , which has pushed Hannah Wilkinson to almost 350 pounds , her heaviest weight ever . “ The hypothalamus , the part of our brain that controls our hunger , with children or adults with Prader - Willi Syndrome , is pretty much shut off , so they do n ' t know that they ' re not hungry , ” Tonya Wilkinson said . For Hannah Wilkinson ’ s mom , this means constant vigilance . Tonya Wilkinson recalled a time when she was cleaning the kitchen after dinner and her daughter shoved a huge piece of pot roast into her mouth . “ I turned around , and she was choking . They do not chew . They swallow . And a lot of deaths , unfortunately , with Prader - Willi , you know , is the choking , ” said Tonya Wilkinson . Like Hannah Wilkinson , 12 - year - old Alexis Shapiro from Cibolo , Texas , also suffers from an intense desire to eat . After a surgery to remove a rare brain tumor in 2011 , Shapiro developed hypothalamic obesity when she was 9 years old , unlike Hannah Wilkinson , who was born with the syndrome . “ As soon as she woke up from surgery , she immediately started asking for food , ” Ian Shapiro , Alexis Shapiro ’ s father told “ 20 / 20 . ” Even before she was released from the hospital , Alexis Shapiro gained eight pounds . Once they got home , things only got worse . “ She was 52 pounds at surgery , and then it went up to 75 , and a 100 , ” Alexis Shapiro ’ s mother Jenny Shapiro told “ 20 / 20 . ” “ She ' d wear something twice and then she would outgrow it . ” It turned out Alexis Shapiro ’ s surgery had altered the part of her brain that regulates appetite , giving her similar symptoms to Hannah Wilkinson . The 12 - year - old topped out at 203 pounds . Obesity experts , like Dr . Robert Lustig , are looking at cases like Alexis Shapiro ’ s to better understand weight gain in the rest of the population . They say the key is the hypothalamus , the part of the brain that , when damaged , releases insulin causing an insatiable appetite . Controlling that insulin might be a solution to fighting obesity . “ The same thing occurs in people without brain tumors , ” Lustig told “ 20 / 20 . ” “ When we get the insulin down , they feel better . They lose weight , and their lives turn around , so the target is not calories . The target is insulin . ” But Lustig ’ s work is still in the experimental phase . Desperate to stop Alexis Shapiro ’ s weight gain right away , her parents turned to surgery . “ After doing lots and lots of research , I found that some patients have had success with gastric bypass surgery , and after the very first consultation , I felt like I had hope , ” said Jenny Shapiro . Since the surgery , Alexis Shapiro ’ s appetite has returned to normal . She is more active and has lost 50 pounds . For Hannah Wilkinson and others born with abnormal chromosomes causing Prader - Willi , these kinds of surgeries are not an option because they do little to suppress appetites . Tonya Wilkinson says her only hope now is to get her daughter to a specialized facility that offers around the clock monitoring and meal planning . But for now , even that is a fight because Tonya Wilkinson said she ca n ’ t get her insurance company to cover it . “ Insurers consider it to be your own fault . They consider it to be a matter of gluttony and sloth , ” Lustig said . “ And Prader - Willi patients are the proof that that is not true . So because insurers still view obesity as a behavior , Prader - Willi sometimes gets swept under the rug . ” “ It is a life or death issue , ” Tonya Wilkinson said . " And if I do n ' t get help , I will lose her . ” For more information on Prader - Willi syndrome , click here or call the Prader - Willi Syndrome Association national hotline at 1 - 800 - 926 - 4797 . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/survey-half-americans-require-brides-grooms/story?id=14883869 | Law Should Require Bride To Take Groom ' s Name - - Really ? Young brides fall back on tradition and drop their maiden name for sake of kids . By SUSAN DONALDSON JAMES Nov . 7 , 2011 — Nov 4 , 2011 1 : 14 PM Julia Levine Rogers thinks of herself as a " strong modern woman , " who at 27 has worked in health clinics in Africa and started her own travel business for students . But when she married Tom Rogers last August in Stowe , Vt . , she took his name , even though her own mother had refused to change hers in 1977 . " Choosing to take Tom ' s name was not a decision I came to lightly , " said Rogers , who founded EnRoute Consulting . " I thought a lot about the implications of changing my name , especially since my mother chose to keep her maiden name . I wondered for a while if I was wrongly giving up my identity for an archaic tradition . " According to a variety of surveys , more young women are agreeable to taking a new identity at the altar , though their reasons have nothing to do with subservience . " In its purist form , marriage is about starting a family , and I wanted to start that family with the same name , " she said . " Eventually it came down to practicality and what felt right . " Like Rogers , an overwhelming majority of all brides drop their surnames , according to the Lucy Stone League , named for a woman who refused to take her husband ' s name in 1855 . Another survey , published last spring in the journal Gender and Society , finds that at least half of those queried said they would agree that a name change should be a requirement for marriage . " It absolutely shocked us , " said co - author Brian Powell , who is a professor of sociology at Indiana University . Powell surveyed 815 Americans of all genders and educational and economic backgrounds , asking them if they " agreed " or " did not agree " with certain statements on views of family . More than 70 percent of women said they agreed that a woman should change her name at marriage . And half said " yes " when asked whether making the name change a state law was a good idea . " Who are these 50 percent - - men ? " asked Leslie Gately , a 28 - year - old who lives in New York City and is engaged to be married next year . " I think that laws should have little to do with marriage , and the less government involvement the better . " Her fiance , Mike , has urged her to take his name , but she said it " feels a bit weird giving up a name I have had for so long ? [ It ] seems almost like giving up my family - - and it sort of make me feel like someone else ' s property . " Then she realizes her surname came from her father , and wonders , is she his property ? Still , taking her fiance ' s name , another common Irish surname , would n ' t be so " drastic , " she said . It would be Gately - Crowley . Her own mother never legally changed her name . In some ways women like Rogers , and perhaps Gately , have " reverted back , " after their mothers ' generation pioneered retaining their own names . " Baby boomers are more likely to define themselves as feminists than young adults , even if their children share more liberal views , " said researcher Powell . An examination of The New York Times wedding announcements from 1971 to 2005 revealed that about 18 percent of brides kept their own names . Only 1 percent did in the 1980s , according to the 2009 study published in Social Behavior and Personality . Catholics are less likely to keep their maiden names , followed by Protestants and Jews , according to a March 2011 survey in Names : A Journal of Onomastics . The ultimate decision is really tied up in how women perceive their identity . " One woman said I did change my name when I married my husband and I was sorry , because I lost my original identity as a person , " said Powell . " But many focus on the collective identity of a family or their identity as the spouse of a husband . " Gay Men Tend to Keep Own Names About half of the participants in his survey said they would approve of a man taking his wife ' s name , but others thought that was laughable . Powell , who included this survey in his book , " Counted Out : Same - Sex Relations and Americans ' Definition of Family , " also noted that gay couples - - at least men - - seemed to prefer keeping their given names . Such is the case with Matt Thompson , a 31 - year - old asset manager from Virginia . He and his fiance , Dan , are " unlikely " to change their names . " There is enough confusion to be recognized as a couple , let alone getting the rest of our social life on board with a name change . " But taking on a new name is n ' t always about identity , according to Michelle Almeyda - Wiedemuth , a Long Island wedding planner who owns Unforgettable Hamptons Events . " Some women just do n ' t like their husband ' s last name or they do n ' t want to go though the hassle of changing all their documents , " she said . " And some keep their name for financial reasons ; their new husband may have bad credit and they do n ' t want to be tied to that . " One Greek - American bride was so tired of telling people how to pronounce her name that she took her husband ' s . " She said she was looking forward to her new five - letter last name and her first name fitting on the same line of her license , " said Almeyda - Wiedemuth . A second woman came from a dysfunctional family and thought a new name would mean a new beginning - - " like she had grown out a bad perm and was chopping off and discarding the ugly remains , " she said . " The third was a foreigner , and she did n ' t want there to be any issues with her obtaining a green card . " As for Almeyda - Wiedemuth , who is 36 , she hyphenated . " Marriage is the union of two families , " she said . " I am a product of the family that raised me and the family I choose to become a part of . " And sometimes , taking on a new name restores an old one . Jenn Berman , a psychologist who hosts Sirius XM radio ' s " Love and Sex Show with Dr . Jenn , " said she was thrilled to take her husband ' s name , because her own father had changed the family ' s name from Imberman to Mann . " My father had a made - up family name , but his original name had been Berman , " she said . " My mom used her maiden name personally and her married name professionally . I found it really complicated for me and I did n ' t want my kids to have the same confusion . " Berman gets calls from couples trying to decide what to do when they marry . " It ' s something most women struggle with today , " she said . " Identity is huge and this generation of women , especially those who have careers and are more educated , understand the history and what it means . They do n ' t want to give it up . " Such was the case - - at least initially - - with Jordan von Trapp , a photojournalist from Moretown , Vt . , who thought she would never take her husband ' s name . " Throughout my life , whenever the topic would come up , I would answer with a ' no way , ' " said von Trapp , 30 . " My father died when I was 11 and I grew up with my mother , step - father and my little sister , " she said . " My mom never changed hers . My step - father and little sister shared a last name , so I grew up in a house with three different last names . It was confusing and it got a little stale having to explain to everyone . " But when she met her now - husband Dan , she realized , " Getting married is about the unbreakable bond of oneness . " " The only thing that really matters is the love between us , " said von Trapp . " It is about joyously pledging our hearts and lives together forever . . . A simple name change is an additional and relatively easy way to add to the expression of that emotion . " The couple ' s wedding ceremony , held on a mountaintop on the farm where they now make their home , was so special that von Trapp now promotes their property , Bliss Ridge , as a wedding venue . Now , one year into marriage , she realizes , " The importance of carrying on my dad ' s name faded after all . " " It ' s just a name , a word , " said von Trapp . " The importance of having the same name as my other half , no matter what it was , was paramount . " Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/International/Celebrity/oprahs-school-girls-hold-graduation-opening-years-ago/story?id=15349416 | Oprah ' s Academy for Girls to Hold Its First Graduation The former talk show host talked about her beloved students and her future . By ENJOLI FRANCIS Jan . 13 , 2012 & # 151 ; — Jan 11 , 2012 6 : 05 PM Oprah Winfrey is set to graduate the first class of her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls on Saturday , a 10 - year journey that has been filled with tears , trials and triumph , she told ABC News ' Diane Sawyer . " I ' ve learned so much . . . . I would do it differently but the fact that we are here is a triumph , " Winfrey said in a wide - ranging interview that touched on her own future in TV . " This has been a journey of 8,000 miles , " she said this morning . " Tomorrow , for me , is about celebrating the journey this has been . " Watch " World News " tonight at 6 : 30 ET to see Diane Sawyer ' s interview with Oprah Winfrey . In January 2007 , the talk show host opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls on 52 acres in the small town of Henley - on - Klip , south of Johannesburg , South Africa . It took $ 40 million and six years to build . At the time , Winfrey called the school - - a promise to herself and to former South African President Nelson Mandela - - " the fulfullment of my work on Earth . " Of the nearly 3,000 applicants , 152 of the country ' s brightest young girls were selected to attend the boarding school . 72 students will be graduating on Saturday and the school currently has around 400 students . Winfrey said today that despite their traumatic backgrounds - - pocked with poverty , AIDS , rape , disease and death - - the students pushed forward and succeeded . All of them are headed to college , with 10 percent bound for a U.S. university . " I ' ve just never seen a more resilient or brilliant group of girls , " she said . " I mean they have a heart of brilliance . They ' re just so open and gracious . . . . I ' m such a proud mother . They have taken this moment , this opportunity , and seized it in a way that I could only dream of . " " I will be celebrating that [ at Saturday ' s graduation ] , " Winfrey said . " I will be trying to take that all in and looking into the eyes of their parents who will for sure know that this poverty cycle , that the cycle of poverty , has been broken with their daughters . " ' I Promise I ' ll Make You Proud ' Winfrey , whom the young women affectionately call " Mom Oprah , " said that one young woman named Bushadi was attending Wellesley in Massachusetts . Winfrey said that Bushadi , who still sleeps with her mother in a tin shack when she returns home , had written about her township in her college essay . " Bushadi is the one girl who in the interview [ five years ago ] stopped the interview and said . . . . ' I would just like to say that if you allow me to come to this school , I promise I ' ll make you proud , " she said . " She has . I mean every single moment . Not a moment let down . " She said she has few concerns about the young women as they started a new chapter in their lives . " My biggest worry is their biggest worry . … Many of them will say they ' re worried about actually discipling themselves . They ' re worried about not having the structure and the support . … My biggest worry is that maybe we gave them too much support and not allowed them to be able to actually function in the world . " " My biggest worry is that they are so proud that they will be afraid of being perceived as not being smart enough and therefore will not ask questions . … That they wo n ' t ask for what they need . " Winfrey , who after 25 years ended " The Oprah Winfrey Show " in May 2011 , also touched on her struggling cable network OWN and her new weekly primetime show , " Oprah ' s Next Chapter . " She said that building the network was like " trying to turn a ship around in the middle of a , you know , small canal " and acknowledged that if she could start over , she ' d make some adjustments . " If I had to that all over again , I would not make the mistake of making the big announcement , " she said . " I would try to quietly build one night at a time . " " Is it a challenge ? Yes , but it ' s also I think an incredible opportunity to be able to maintain a connection with the audience and create what I consider to be programming that is mindful and not meaningless to you , " Winfrey added . School Faces Some Challenges Winfrey ' s school has presented her with its own challenges as well . In November 2007 , allegations of sexual and physical abuse by a school matron arose . The school matron was dismissed and then charged with molesting several girls . Winfrey flew to South Africa , apologizing to the students and parents and praising the girls who ' d come forward to report the abuse . The matron was acquitted in October 2010 . The school went on to flourish despite the early setbacks , becoming an even stronger learning institution as they grew over the years . Today Winfrey shared some of the lessons she ' d learned since opening the school , including the importance of patience . " What I learned in this process is that you do nothing alone and that you can have a lot of big ideas and a lot of big dreams and vision , but unless you have the infrastructure and the people , the team of people , to work with you , nothing ever gets done , " Winfrey said . " But through every single difficulty I have said to myself the investment is in leadership . It ' s in the leadership of these girls . " Click here for Oprah . com Click here to learn more about the weekly OWN show , " Oprah ' s Next Chapter " Comments 0 | [
"Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls",
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http://abcnews.go.com/International/galapagos-volcano-eruption-threat-wildlife-small-compared-man/story?id=31311857 | Galapagos Volcano Eruption ' s Threat to Wildlife Is Small Compared to Man - Made Issues Man - made threats pose far greater danger , experts say . Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By EVAN SIMON and LEONARDO MAYORGA May 26 , 2015 10 : 43 AM The eruption of a mile - high volcano on one of the Galapagos Islands this week has triggered concerns for the fragile and world - renowned ecosystem on the remote islands . But volcanic activity is n ’ t the biggest threat to the region made famous by Charles Darwin ’ s studies on evolution , according to wildlife experts . Galapagos Island Volcano Erupts , Threatening Fragile Ecosystem WATCH : Galapagos Island Volcano Erupts “ Volcanism and eruptions are a normal part of the evolutionary ecology on the Galapagos Islands , ” Steve Walsh , the director of the Center for Galapagos Studies at the University of North Carolina , told ABC News . “ We seem to be excited about a volcano , but the Galapagos are under siege by a lot of different things . ” " There are far more human - induced threats to the species of the Galapagos , " said Hugo Arnal , the World Wildlife Fund ' s director for Ecuador Experts list invasive species , overfishing , pollution , overpopulation and unsustainable tourism as more significant threats . ( Layne Kennedy / Corbis ) Tourists photograph a giant tortoise eating fruit in the forest in the Galapagos Islands on June 11 , 2013 . The Galapagos consist of 13 major islands formed by volcanic eruptions that occurred millions of years ago . Since Charles Darwin ’ s arrival in 1835 , the Galapagos have been called a “ living laboratory of evolution ” because of wildlife found only on these islands . Giant tortoises , pink iguanas , red - footed boobies , and thousands of other unique species can only be found there . For the first time in 33 years , Isabela Island ’ s Wolf Volcano erupted on Monday , shooting rivers of lava down its slopes and filling the night sky with a red glare . Technicians at the Galapagos National Park determined the lava is flowing southeast and seems to be sparing the northern section of the island where the world ’ s only population of pink iguanas lives . “ The population of the pink iguanas , yellow iguanas and land turtles are in the northeast and are out of danger , ” said Danny Reuda , director of ecosystems at the Galapagos National Park Service , the Ecuadorian agency responsible for managing the Galapagos . ( Stephen Frink Collection / Alamy ) A Galapagos shark is seen tangled on a long line monofilament in the Galapagos Islands in an undated image . There is no human population near the volcano . Puerto Villamil , the nearest town , is located 115 kilometers to the south . “ There is some loss of vegetation , but it ’ s an opportunity for other species to grow , ” Reuda said , calling the eruption a “ natural process . ” He added that officials would not interfere with the lava flow , which is beginning to freeze . ( Getty Images ) Sea lions lounge on South Plaza Island in the Galapagos Islands on Nov . 30 , 2010 . People may be a bigger threat than lava , experts say . Census data shows more than 26,000 people live on the islands , a UNESCO world heritage site . Unbeknownst to many tourists , the islands do not have widespread public sewage systems , according to the World Wildlife Fund . Sewage is left to seep into the ground and the sea . With the spike in tourism , the Galapagos ' pristine landscape is in danger of being transformed . " There has been an explosion in the number of hotels and restaurants , " said WWF ' s Arnal , who argued that the increase in tourism is the main driver for expanding trade between the archipelago and the continent , creating more chances for invasive species to reach the pristine islands . ( Mark Moffett / Minden Pictures / Corbis ) A herd of feral goats gathers near a giant tortoise in the Galapagos Islands on June 15 , 2004 . Introduced plants and animals , ranging from cats to avocados , represent a huge threat to native species , which lack natural predators and are defenseless to invasive predators , according to the Galapagos National Park Service . At one point , an estimated 100,000 feral goats lived on Isabela Island and devastated the ecosystem through overgrazing . The park service eventually was forced to adopt a radical eradication plan involving helicopter - mounted machine guns and radio collared “ Judas ” goats used to locate herds . The plan was deemed a success in 2005 when the last feral Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/International/watch-kim-jong-pilot-plane/story?id=27926088 | Watch Kim Jong Un Pilot a Plane North Korean state video released a new video of the supreme leader . By MEGHAN KENEALLY Dec 31 , 2014 9 : 52 AM Is there anything that the totalitarian leader of North Korea ca n ' t do ? The latest video released by North Korean state media shows Kim Jong Un as he appears to pilot a plane , cut with scenic video of some of the hermit nation ' s most picturesque mountainscapes . Very little information was released in conjunction with the video , giving no explanation as to how the 33 - year - old leader apparently learned to fly what appears to be an airplane . A few notable portions of this video hint that it could be staged , including the fact that the exterior of the plane is never shown . The entire video is shot with a camera that alternates between above Kim Jong Un ' s shoulder , as if someone is standing behind him looking at the controls , or sitting next to him , where a co - pilot is seen in other portions of the video . According to the North Korean media , the plane is a Antonov AN - 148 , a regional aircraft built by a Ukrainian company . The clip is paired with patriotic , marching band - style music . In addition to the person holding the camera , there are at least two other uniformed pilots seen behind and next to the Supreme Leader , who appears in his trademark all - black ensemble . This video is one of the latest to be released showing Kim Jong Un active and moving since he went out of public view for 40 days . There was no official reason given for his absence but it was reported to be due to an undisclosed illness . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/dental-dog-treats-claim-effective-brushing/story?id=22941952 | New Dental Dog Treats Claim to be Just as Effective as Brushing Some dental chews help prevent tartar , say veterinarians . ( Getty Images ) Proponents of dental dog treats claim that regular chewing can increase the health of a pet ' s teeth without manual brushing . By JOANNA PRISCO March 17 , 2014& # 151 ; — Mar 17 , 2014 9 : 26 AM Owning a dog comes with many responsibilities , from brushing their fur to brushing their canines . Unfortunately , while many pet owners are diligent about good grooming , they do n ' t regularly tend to Fido ' s teeth . As with humans , lack of dental care has its repercussions . According to the American Veterinary Dental Society , " more than 80 percent of dogs develop periodontal disease by three years of age . " To stem the tide of tartar , various dog treats have appeared in recent years , such as Greenies Canine Dental Chews and Natural Balance Dental Chews , that purport to positively impact a pooch ’ s oral health . But do they actually work ? READ : New Pet Food Options Take a Page From Human Food Trends " They can certainly have a positive impact , " says Dr . Michael Tuder , owner and director of four animal hospitals in Hudson County , N.J. " If that ’ s the only thing an owner will do , at least it ’ s something . The way these dental treats are produced , they have a matrix that allows them to microscopically rub against the teeth and remove debris . " Recently another product appeared on shelves , Milk - Bone Brushing Chews dental treats , that representatives claim , if fed daily , are “ clinically proven to be as effective as brushing a dog ’ s teeth twice per week based on the reduction of tartar and bad breath . ” The chews were released following the first clinical trials to determine the baseline efficacy of brushing a dog ’ s teeth , says the company . " The Veterinary Oral Health Council ( VOHC ) recommends daily brushing for optimal effectiveness , twice daily even better , " says Dr . Jan Bellows , DVM , a board certified veterinary dentist in Weston , Fla . and a paid consultant for Milk - Bone . " While daily brushing is the gold standard for a dog ’ s oral care , I know that brushing a dog ’ s teeth is not exactly an easy or pleasant task for the pet or pet parent . " In those cases , the chews can " improve a dog ’ s dental health , helping to prevent dental disease , " says Bellows , who is also president of the American Veterinary Dental College . Shaped like a bone with a 75 degree twist , " along with nubs and ridges designed to help clean down to the gum line like the bristles on a toothbrush , " the chews also tout themselves as a low - calorie option . READ : 6 Pet Safety Tips for the Extreme Cold " With every treat comes calories , " says Tuder , who also recommended checking the mineral content of treats for potential conflicts . " A pet owner needs to consider , ' will the treats impact the balance of the diet for the medical effect they are trying to achieve ? ' and then consult with their veterinarian . " Another concern of note to pet owners is the product ' s origin and safety . " An ideal dental chew or diet must be digestible , effective in decreasing tartar , and good tasting , " says Bellows . " Pet parents should avoid feeding their dogs bones , hoofs , antlers , nylon toys and any product without the Veterinary Oral Health Council ’ s Seal of Acceptance . They may taste good to the dog but may cut the gums or break teeth . " Pet owners should also note that even seemingly harmless homemade treats and toys can cause potential damage to a dog ' s teeth . " Large ice cubes can also fracture teeth and should be avoided , " says Dr . Alexander M . Reiter , head of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine . " Tennis balls are a popular toy for many dogs ; however , they are very abrasive to teeth because they collect tiny particles of dirt and sand and will wear down the teeth and occasionally cause pulp exposure . " Reiter also recommends scheduling a professional examination to ensure optimum oral health in man ' s best friend . " Your pet should have an annual oral examination performed by a professional to document the presence of abnormal conditions such as periodontal disease , fractured or decayed teeth , tumors , ulcers , etc . , " he says . " Ultimately , there is no replacement for daily toothbrushing and periodic professional treatment at your vet . " Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/screenagers-documentary-examines-impact-screens-tech-kids-development/story?id=36703516 | ‘ Screenagers ’ Documentary Examines Impact of Screens and New Tech on Kids ’ Development Filmmaker struggled with " how to get my kids to not be on screens all the time . " By FELICIA PATINKIN Feb 4 , 2016 4 : 48 AM Navigating a child ' s access to screens and technology has become one of the most difficult parenting issues today , and the mother of teenagers is examining the issue in a new documentary called “ Screenagers . ” Dr . Delaney Ruston struggled with the dilemma facing many American families : How much tech was too much for her children , Tessa and Chase . She explores the issue in her film , telling ABC News , " I was completely struggling with how to get my kids to not be on screens all the time . " In the film , Ruston asked her daughter , Tessa , what she would do if she had a smartphone . “ I ’ d be cool . . . and be able to look busy in awkward situations , ” the girl replied . Track Kids ' Fevers on Smartphones With New Hi - Tech Thermometers Kids Use of Smartphones , Tablets Does n ' t Have to Come With Big Bills Tessa said all her friends had smartphones and she ’ d feel more connected . The film explores the science of how use of the devices affects young minds . “ When you are distracted by a device , you ca n ’ t have the conversations that would lead to the development of empathy and a sense of self , ” Sherry Turkle , a professor of psychology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , said in the film . Nicholas Carr , author of the book “ The Shallows : What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains , ” said in the film tstudies indicate that dopamine – a pleasure - producing brain chemical - - seems to be released whenever people find or seek out new information . “ If you carry around a smartphone , you are always pulling it out and glancing at it because you want that release of the pleasure - producing chemical , ” he said . Children spend an average of nearly 6.5 hours per day on screens , not including screen time for classroom or homework , and “ Screenagers ” finds plenty of parents who share Ruston ’ s struggle ; from parents who are frustrated by teen selfie culture to those who think their children spend too much time playing video games Ruston found the best way to manage her own family ' s screen use was having boundaries , including a contract designed by the entire family to govern screen use . “ We do n ’ t have cellphones in our bedrooms at night . Not at the dining room table . And also when we are in the car , ” Ruston told ABC News . It is n ' t always easy . Tessa says she wishes she had unlimited access but understands that the rules are there for a reason . Ruston said it ’ s “ still a struggle at times , ” but added , “ Now we feel like a group that is doing this together . And that ’ s been really helpful . ” Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/paul-ryans-wife-11-facts-janna-ryan/story?id=16997172 | Paul Ryan ' s Wife : 11 Facts About Janna Ryan Janna Ryan , a D.C. lobbyist turned small - town mom . By AMY BINGHAM August 13 , 2012 , 2012 — Aug 13 , 2012 2 : 00 PM intro : Janna Ryan has been a congressional spouse for 14 years , but outside the Wisconsin district that has elected her husband , Paul Ryan , to the U.S. House of Representatives seven times , she is unknown . While Ryan made waves across the country with his budget plans , his wife kept him " grounded " in his hometown of Janesville , Wis . , said state Sen . Dave Craig , who worked in Ryan ' s district office for a decade before his election to the Wisconsin Senate . " Janna has been the definition of balance for Paul , " Craig said . " She has always been Paul ' s rock to make sure he ' s grounded . " But over the next 84 days , as the pair heads off to swing states across the United States as the prospective second couple , Janna Ryan ' s low profile is becoming high profile . From her small - town roots to her K Street resume , here ' s 11 things you probably do n ' t know about Janna Ryan . quicklist : 1 title : More people attended Ryan ' s first rally as Romney ' s VP pick than live in her hometown text : Janna Ryan is a small - town girl in every sense of the word . She grew up in the tiny town of Madill , Okla . , where the population is 3,781 . If every single resident of her hometown had attended her husband ' s first campaign rally as a vice presidential candidate Sunday , the Madill crowd would have accounted for hardly a third of the crowd . quicklist : 11 title : She was a K St . lobbyist before marrying Paul Ryan text : Janna Ryan , then Janna Little , left her small - town roots for the nation ' s capital to earn her law degree from George Washington University . After graduation , she worked as a tax attorney and lobbyist for PriceWaterhouseCooper and then for Williams & Jenson . During her three years as a lobbyist , Ryan fought primarily for health - related clients , such as Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance company and the American Physical Therapy Association . " She is a very bright individual , " Craig said . " As a former tax attorney , she is a really good sounding board for a member of Congress . " She left her K Street life behind after she married Paul Ryan in 2000 , when the couple moved to her husband ' s hometown of Janesville , Wis . quicklist : 2 title : She ' s a stay - at - home mom text : Unlike many congressional couples , the Ryans never moved up to Washington , D.C. , after Ryan was elected to Congress , deciding instead to stay in Janesville . " They wanted to make sure their kids had the experience Janna and Paul did , " Craig said , " that they have an upbringing with a backyard , be able to kick a ball around , throw a ball around in the backyard . " She is how a stay at home mom raising three kids : 10 - year - old Elizabeth " Liza " Anne ; 8 - year - old Charles " Charlie " Wilson and 7 - year - old Samuel " Sam " Lowery . Craig , Ryan ' s former congressional staff member , said it was not uncharacteristic of Janna to bring the kids by Ryan ' s congressional office in Wisconsin ' s first district , even if Ryan was n ' t there . " She is certainly a extremely supportive political spouse , " Craig said . " She knows the first district and the first district knows her very well . " quicklist : 3 title : She is older than her husband text : Compared to the other wives in the presidential race , Janna Ryan is a young ' un . But compared to her husband , she is the old one . Janna Ryan is a year older than her husband , whom she married at the age of 31 . quicklist : 4 title : She already has a fan site text : Minutes after news leaked that Mitt Romney was planning to announce Ryan as his running mate , a college sophomore scooped up the website url for Janna Ryan ' s name . Within hours JannaRyan . com was live with biographical information about the prospective second lady . " She brings an impressive resume to the table , " said the site ' s founder , Matt McKnight , a sophomore at Ohio University . " She had a successful professional career and strong family values . " McKnight , who said he ' s a big Romney - Ryan supporter , said he initially bought the domain simply because it was available . " I wanted to make sure it did n ' t get into the hands of an opponent , " McKnight said , adding that he ' d be happy to turn the site over to the Romney - Ryan campaign in exchange for a ticket to the inauguration . quicklist : 5 title : She ' s an outdoorsy type text : Growing up in Oklahoma , Ryan picked up a taste for the outdoors , one that she shares with her husband , an avid bowhunter and catfisher who has been known to go noodling while visiting his wife ' s family in Oklahoma . Ryan accompanies her husband on his bowhuning trips and tags along on some of his fishing adventures , said Craig . Ryan chose one of their favorite fishing spots , Big St . Germain Lake in Wisconsin , to pop the question . In the couple ' s wedding announcement Paul Ryan commented that she " shared some of his love of the great outdoors . " quicklist : 6 title : Her mother was a three - time cancer survivor text : Janna Ryan ' s mother , Prudence Mae Little , was first diagnosed with melanoma when Janna was 4 years old . After winning her first battle with melanoma , and then beating breast cancer and ovarian cancer , Little died of advanced melanoma in 2010 . quicklist : 7 title : She went to the same college as Hillary Clinton text : Wellesley College , a seven - sisters school outside Boston , can claim Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and Madeline Albright , ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer and correspondent Cokie Roberts among its famous alumni . If Mitt Romney wins the White House , another name will be added to that impressive list : Janna Ryan , who would take Jill Biden ' s place as the second lady of the United States . Ryan studied Spanish at Wellesley , which U.S. News ranked as the nation ' s sixth best liberal arts college in 2012 . quicklist : 8 title : She worked for a Democratic congressman text : She may have married a Republican , but Janna Ryan got her start in Washington working for a Democrat . After graduating from law school , Ryan went to work as a congressional aide for Oklahoma Rep . Bill Brewster . Her cousin , Rep . Dan Boren , is also a Democrat from Oklahoma . qucklist : 9 title : She is a millionaire text : When Janna Ryan ' s mother died in 2010 , she inherited a trust fund worth between $ 1 million and $ 5 million , according to Rep . Paul Ryan ' s financial disclosure forms . The trust is the Ryan ' s largest asset and bumps the Ryans ' net worth to between $ 2 million and $ 7.7 million , the Los Angeles Times reported . quicklist : 10 title : Politics is in her blood text : Janna Ryan ' s family has strong ties to Oklahoma politics . Her mother was appointed by the governor as a founding member of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission and the Oklahoma Council of Campaign Compliance and Ethical Standards , according to her obituary Her grandfather , Reuel W . Little , helped found a third party – the American Party - in Oklahoma during the 1968 presidential race so to help former Alabama Gov . George Wallace get on the state ' s presidential ballot , according to The Oklahoman . Reuel Little ran for governor in 1970 but received only 4 percent of the vote . Four years later after his failed bid , Little ' s son - in - law David Boren waged a successful bid for the governor ' s mansion . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TedKennedy/story?id=8416284 | Ted Kennedy Was Surrounded by Crying , Praying Family Priest says Kennedy was ready " to go to heaven . " By MARK MOONEY and RUSSELL GOLDMAN Aug . 26 , 2009& # 151 ; — Aug 26 , 2009 5 : 41 AM Members of the Kennedy clan were summoned to the family ' s compound in Hyannis Port Tuesday night to say tearful farewells to the man remembered today as an icon of American politics but known to them as Uncle Teddy . In keeping with a family tradition , they gathered around the bed of Sen . Ted Kennedy to pray . The Rev . Patrick Tarrant , who was present with the family during those final hours , said he was impressed by Kennedy ' s spirituality and faith in his last moments . The priest said family members were crying and that in his final moments Kennedy was " a man of quiet prayer . " " The truth is , he had expressed to his family that he did want to go , " Tarrant told WCVB , ABC News ' Boston affiliate . " He did want to go to heaven . He did want to die . . . He was ready to go . " There was a certain amount peace - - a lot of peace , actually - - in the family get - together last night . I could n ' t help but think that the world does n ' t know that part of the senator at all , " Tarrant said . He said Kennedy ' s wife Vicki , his children and other family members were there . " They were there and they were very prayerful and reverent and of course , crying , " Tarrant said . " Of course they were aware that the very sick , the sense of hearing is the last thing to go . So , whatever is said around the sick bed is always heard by the patient . . . and they were very well aware of it . They let him know how much he was loved and cared for and missed . It was quite an experience , for me . " Watch ABC News ' special : " Remembering Ted Kennedy . " Click here for ABC News ' complete coverage of the life and legacy of Ted Kennedy The Roman Catholic priest , who presides at Our Lady of Victory Church and has ministered to the family for years , was called to Kennedy ' s bedside when he took a " serious turn for the worse " between 9 and 10 p.m. Tuesday . Kennedy died about 11 : 30 p.m. comforted by his family , he said . " I was there last night when he died and the whole family were praying . They ' d been praying all day , and it was a wonderful experience for me . I do n ' t see it that often , " Tarrant said . " It ' s commendable . " The reverend said he had seen the Kennedy family ' s religion at a death bed scene before and recalled how Ted Kennedy led a similar vigil at the bedside of his sister Eunice just two weeks ago . " I could n ' t help but think that the world does n ' t know that part of the senator at all , " he said . Flags were lowered to half staff across the country as Americans mourned the death of Sen . Ted Kennedy , the last remaining member of the country ' s most illustrious and ill - starred political dynasty . Officials prepared for an elaborate and emotional farewell to Kennedy . He will lie in repose at the John F . Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston on Thursday and Friday , followed by a funeral at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica , also in Boston , on Saturday . He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetary Saturday evening . The death of the 77 - year - old senator ended a year - long bout with brain cancer . Much of the country had been holding its breath as the senator battled for his life in recent days , too ill to return to Washington to join the debate over health care reform , one of Kennedy ' s most passionate issues over the past 30 years . Word of Kennedy ' s death came early today , prompting an outpouring of praise lauding the brother of assassinated President John F . Kennedy and presidential contender and former Attorney General Robert F . Kennedy as one of the most influential politicians of the last century . President Obama said in a statement that he and first lady Michelle Obama were " heartbroken " to learn of Kennedy ' s death , calling the Democratic senator " our dear friend . " " An important chapter in our history has come to an end . Our country has lost a great leader , who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States senator of our time , " Obama said in a written statement . Obama interrupted his vacation at Martha ' s Vineyard today to make a public statement in which he called Kennedy , " one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve this democracy . " The president said legislation Kennedy fought for affected millions of Americans , " including myself . " In one of the many dramatic moments of his long career , Kennedy came out late in the bruising 2008 Democratic presidential primary and endorsed Obama over Sen . Hillary Clinton , D - N.Y. , with a roaring speech that typified the last " liberal lion " of the Senate . " The torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans , " he declared , invoking echoes of the Kennedy family ' s golden years of Camelot . Strategizing With Obama Right Up to the End A few hours after Kennedy died , the family issued a statement that said , " We ' ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives , but the inspiration of his faith , optimism , and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever . " Kennedy had battled his brain cancer since first being diagnosed last May , remaining active up to his final days . He strategized with Obama and Connecticut Sen . Chris Dodd on the health care reform bill , and even pressing for a new law in Massachusetts that would allow the governor to quickly appoint a successor instead of waitiing for a special election . Sen . Robert Byrd , a Democrat from West Virginia , praised his longtime friend and said any healthcare bill should be named in his honor . " I had hoped and prayed that this day would never come . My heart and soul weeps at the lost of my best friend in the Senate , my beloved friend , Ted Kennedy , " Byrd , the longest serving senator in history , said of Kennedy , the third - longest serving senator . ABC News ' Dr . Tim Johnson said Kennedy had the worst kind of brain cancer , but he " outlived his prognosis by a few months . " Johnson said Kennedy " died gradually over a few days . " The family had hoped that Kennedy would live long enough to see health care reform passed and to see his memoir come out in October , according to ABC News ' Senior Washington Correspondent George Stephanopoulos . The last time Kennedy was seen in public was on Aug . 3 , when he was wheeled out for a final sailing trip on the waters off his beloved Cape Cod . " He was a quite extraordinary person , " Bob Shrum , a lifelong friend and former Kennedy press secretary , told ABC ' s " Good Morning America " today . " He had an indomitable spirit that really saw him through this illness and made him perhaps the greatest senator of the last 100 years . " Shrum recalled one of Kennedy ' s last hurrahs , saying it was difficult for Kennedy to leave the hospital and go to the Democratic National Convention last year . Shrum said he prepared brief remarks for the ailing Kennedy to deliver , but Kennedy rejected them . " I ' m not coming to the Democratic convention to speak for 30 seconds , " Kennedy growled . Shrum said that more than 2,500 pieces of legislation have Kennedy ' s name on them , and more than 300 became law . " He really accomplished more than many presidents do , " he said . Shrum Kennedy ' s determination to fight for health care reform even while dying was typical . " He could weigh in on the phone … he was talking to the president , " he told " GMA . " " It was the cause of his life and he fought it all the way to the end of his life . " Kennedy Praised by Foes , Including George H.W. Bush " His basic instruction was to keep pushing forward … I think he believed and we believe that there ' s forward momentum here , " Obama ' s senior adviser David Axelrod told " GMA . " Even political foes praised Kennedy . Former president George H.W. Bush , a Republican , issued a statement calling Kennedy a " seminal figure " and offered his condolences on behalf of himself and his wife Barbara . " While we did n ' t see eye - to - eye on many political issues through the years , I always respected his steadfast public service , " Bush said . Calling him by the family nickname " Teddy , " California Gov . Arnold Schwarzenegger , a Republican who is married to Kennedy ' s niece Maria Shriver , lauded Kennedy ' s work on health care . " Teddy taught us all that public service is n ' t a hobby or even an occupation , but a way of life , and his legacy will live on , " Schwarzenegger said . Nancy Regan , wife of former President Ronald Regan , said the two men respected each other despite their divergent political views . " Ronnie and Ted could always find common ground , and they had great respect for one another . In recent years , Ted and I found our common ground in stem cell research , and I considered him an ally and a dear friend , " Regan said in a statement . Kennedys Prepared for Public Service Kennedy ' s life began as one of nine children of Joe and Rose Kennedy , who groomed their children for public service , even the presidency . His mother ' s famous motto was , " To whom much is given , much is expected . " It took a while for Ted Kennedy , the youngest of the famous brothers , to live up to that standard . He was kicked out of Harvard College for cheating , though he was later readmitted and graduated . It was the first of several incidents that tarnished Kennedy ' s early reputation . He was elected to the Senate in 1962 , taking over the Massachussets seat after his brother John became president . He survived a plane crash that broke his back , endured the assassinations of his brothers , and bore the mantle of the family ' s last hope for a presidential dynasty . Those hopes were dashed in 1969 , however , when Kennedy veered off a bridge in Chappaquiddick , killing young Kennedy volunteer Mary Jo Kopechne . Kennedy ' s failure to save her or report her death for 10 hours haunted his career and was considered partly to blame for his failure to wrest the Democratic nomination from President Jimmy Carter in 1980 , his last attempt to win the presidency . While often crafting key legislation on civil rights and education , Kennedy ' s problems continued with a reputation for drinking . It was n ' t until he met his second wife Vicki , whom he married in 1992 , that he settled down and solidified the legacy that has formed around his nearly 50 years in the Senate . " This is a man who I think should be seen as a story of redemption , " Newsweek ' s Jon Meachem told " GMA . " " It makes it more interesting , and I think it ' s more accurate . " " I think you can see the last 40 years to let the ' better angels of his nature , ' as Lincoln said , win out , " Meachem said . World Leaders Mourn Ted Kennedy Leaders from around the world today mourned Kennedy , many of them praising the Irish - American politician for his role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland . Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen described Kennedy as " a great friend of Ireland , " thanking him for using " his considerable influence in the world ' s most powerful parliament for the betterment of this island . " " In good days and bad , " Cowen said , " Ted Kennedy worked valiantly for the cause of peace on this island . . . Today , America has lost a great and respected statesman , and Ireland has lost a long - standing and true friend . " In the United Kingdom , Kennedy was mourned by Prime Minister Gordon Brown , who called Kennedy " the senator of senators . " " Sen . Edward Kennedy will be mourned not just in America but in every continent , " Brown said . Britain honored Kennedy with a knighthood in March of this year . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ncaa-march-madness-2015-2016-presidential-candidates-join/story?id=29735979 | NCAA March Madness 2015 : Possible 2016 Presidential Candidates Join Our NCAA Bracket Pool A little more competition among potential White House hopefuls . . . By CHRIS GOOD , VERONICA STRACQUALURSI , A.J. FEATHER , AND STACY CHEN Mar 19 , 2015 9 : 50 AM When in the course of human events a person , who is considering a 2016 presidential campaign , watches the NCAA basketball tournament , it becomes necessary for that person to participate in a joint ABC News / ESPN bracket pool . Well , " necessary " might be pushing it , but 14 of the potential 2016 presidential candidates have done just that . In partnership with our sister network ESPN , ABC News reached out to every major politician who ' s said he or she is looking at a run for the White House . The result : Our official NCAA bracket pool for possible 2016 aspirants , live and viewable at ESPN . com - - in the same format we and everyone else uses for ESPN bracket pools with our friends . See the ABC / ESPN 2016 Potential Candidates ' Pool here , and see the ABC / ESPN 2016 Potential Candidates ' NCAA Women ' s Pool here In this bracket challenge , the stakes could be presidential . See below who picked whom in the men ' s pool , and what it might mean for the future of the White House and the country . NCAA March Madness 2015 : Kareem Abdul - Jabbar on Kentucky ’ s Challenge to ‘ Live Up to the Hype ’ March Madness : Paul Ryan , GOP Lawmakers Pick 2015 NCAA Brackets NCAA March Madness 2015 : The Evolution of Obama ' s Bracket Picks JEB BUSH - - VIRGINIA The GOP ' s 2016 frontrunner shies away from the NCAA frontrunner , Kentucky , and picks the University of Virginia to upset the Wildcats and win it all . Through the most jaded political lens , it could be considered a play for Virginia ' s coveted swing - state votes in the general election - - but we know the former governor is n ' t looking that far ahead just yet . Filled out my bracket last night . Picking @ UVAMensHoops to win it all ! In SC today if you want to lodge complaints . . . pic . twitter . com / lKKDdH1RJL — Jeb Bush ( @ JebBush ) March 17 , 2015 BOBBY JINDAL - - LOUISIANA STATE Standing by his home state until the end , the Louisiana governor picks LSU to advance as a nine - seed and win it all over Kentucky . The nationally known governor throws a potential bone to Iowa voters , picking Northern Iowa to upset Louisville in the second round . Gov . Bobby Jindal ' s NCAA bracket : LSU all the way pic . twitter . com / K6znEBUcR3 — Chris Good ( @ c_good ) March 19 , 2015 LINDSEY GRAHAM - - KENTUCKY Staying true to his Southern roots , the South Carolina senator sends two teams from his neighboring state , North Carolina , and two teams from Kentucky to the Final Four . In the end he puts all his faith in the state of Kentucky - - home of a potential 2016 rival and fellow senator , Rand Paul - - and has Kentucky and Louisville playing for the title , with Kentucky winning it all . @ LindseyGrahamSC ' s favoring 2 states in the NCAA Tournament , w / 2 Kentucky teams & 2 NC teams in his # FinalFour pic . twitter . com / lB3AttO2LL — A.J. Feather ( @ AJFeather ) March 19 , 2015 SCOTT WALKER - - WISCONSIN Unsurprisingly , Gov . Walker chose his home - state team to win the tournament . But he also stays true to the Midwest , and possibly makes a play for the hearts and minds of Iowans , by putting the Iowa State Cyclones in his Final Four . MARTIN O ' MALLEY - - MARYLAND Staying true to his state , the former Democratic governor of Maryland - - and the lone Democrat participating on our bracket challenge - - Martin O ’ Malley picked the Maryland Terrapins to win it all . @ GovernorOMalley staying true to his state roots , picks @ umterps to win it all . # MarchMadness # MarchMadnessBracket pic . twitter . com / aSOFQrGIgw — Veronica Strac ( @ VeronicaStrac ) BEN CARSON - - KENTUCKY The neurosurgeon played it safe and showed a steady hand in sticking with top - seeded picks to make it to the Final Four . The potential Republican candidate is going with the heavily favored Kentucky Wildcats as his champion . CARLY FIORINA - - VIRGINIA The one - time Senate candidate and former Hewlett - Packard CEO puts her numbers game to the test with carefully calculated picks . Baylor is the lowest seed she sends to the Final Four , with UVA winning it all . TED CRUZ - - KENTUCKY Although the Texan senator tweeted out a congratulations to all the Texas teams that made the tournament , Cruz opted out of picking any of his home - state teams to reach the Final Four . Cruz also sided with sports analysts and picked the undefeated Wildcats as the winner . JOHN BOLTON - - KENTUCKY The former U.N. ambassador puts his geopolitical pragmatism to use in this bracket that includes three one - seeds and a two - seed in the Final Four . A Yale alumn , Bolton picks his alma mater ' s rival , Harvard , to win its first - round game . JIM GILMORE - - VIRGINIA The former Virginia governor picks a homer bracket , with his home state ' s UVA team going all the way . Gilmore makes the popular selection of putting Iowa State in the Final Four . Virginia Gov . @ GovernorGilmore picks his home state ' s team UVA for the win : # marchmadness pic . twitter . com / JBkzt4dRLN — Stacy Chen ( @ stacyytchen ) RICK SANTORUM - - WISCONSIN The former senator and onetime GOP presidential runner - up played it safe , carefully picking the higher seeds in most games . However , like other possible 2016 hopefuls , he does appear to be favoring Iowa - - whose caucuses he won in 2012 - - putting the Cyclones in the Final Four . He also made sure to represent Pennsylvania , with Villanova also reaching the semifinal round . BOB EHRLICH - - KENTUCKY The former Maryland governor sticks with the frontrunner in this field , picking the Wildcats over Duke in the title game . Ehrlich might be an early underdog to the 2016 frontrunners if he enters the race , and he likes some upsets in the tournament this year , with UCLA and Davidson both advancing . GEORGE PATAKI - - KENTUCKY In what could be construed as a naked play for support from Iowa caucusgoers , the savvy former New York governor has Iowa State reaching the title game , before the overwhelming odds prevail with a Kentucky victory in Gov . Pataki ' s bracket . MIKE HUCKABEE - - ARKANSAS Last , but certainly not least , the 12 - seed darling of the 2008 presidential race declined to submit an actual , pool - worthy bracket , but he shows out for his home state of Arkansas with what might be the biggest homer NCAA bracket ever tweeted . Just filled out my bracket for the NCAA tournament . Pretty sure I nailed it . # gohogsgo # woopigsooie pic . twitter . com / vUE5cZ2qgx — Gov . Mike Huckabee ( @ GovMikeHuckabee ) March 17 , 2015 ABC ' s Shushannah Walshe , Arlette Saenz , and Liz Kreutz contributed to this project Comments 1 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pastor-president-obamas-spiritual-advisor-faith-white-house/story?id=18856712 | President Obama ' s ' Pastor ' Witnessed Faith in White House Pastor to the President : Obama ' s Spiritual Advisor on Faith in the White House Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By DEVIN DWYER WASHINGTON , April 2 , 2013 — Apr 1 , 2013 9 : 47 PM For four years he was a spiritual adviser to the leader of the free world . Now , Joshua DuBois , a 30 - year - old Pentecostal minister , is moving on from politics and bearing witness to the power of Christian faith inside the White House he served . President Obama is " a deeply faithful president and did n ' t need a whole bunch of help cultivating that faith , " DuBois said in an interview with ABC News recently outside St . John ' s Episcopal Church , where the Obama family worshipped on Easter . Watch the ABC / Yahoo ! " Power Players " interview with DuBois . " He begins his morning with a devotional that I send him every day . He worships at churches … as often as he gets a chance to , but he also lives out his faith in the way he serves this country , " he said , " prioritizing the poor and vulnerable and making sure to spend time with his own family . " DuBois ' account sheds new light on a president whose practice of faith has been relatively private and subdued , particularly in comparison to the more outwardly public religious displays of many of his predecessors . Until he stepped down earlier this year , DuBois was the only ordained member of Obama ' s inner circle , a role that won him the informal title of " pastor in chief " and " Obama ' s man of God . " He was also one of the youngest and longest - serving members of the first Obama administration , tapped at 26 to run Faith - Based and Neighborhood Partnerships , an office established by President George W . Bush to coordinate government outreach to faith - based groups . DuBois has become perhaps most widely known for his practice of emailing the president daily devotionals , which Obama recently described as a " snippet of Scripture for me to reflect on " by BlackBerry . But occasionally , DuBois revealed , the president would - - of his own volition - - request suggested Bible readings " for his personal use or as he ' s reflecting on important issues to the nation . " " He spent a lot of time thinking about the Book of Job and Job overcoming trials , " DuBois said of his most frequently recommended reading for the president , an Old Testament prescription for suffering that is considered among the most eloquently written parts of the Bible . " We also spent a lot of time in the prophets , particularly the prophet Isaiah , " he added . " But we reflects on some theologians as well , like C.S. Lewis and Howard Thurman , " the African - American author and civil rights leader . Private scriptural reflection aside , DuBois said President Obama views his " Christian walk " as extending beyond the traditional measures of faith , such as church attendance , evangelization and religious ritual . " I think that he considers spending time with his daughters and tucking them in at night , and reading them a good night story , and being there for his wife as much as possible and being a mentor and a friend to so many in the White House and comforting the nation in times of need " as outgrowths of that walk , he said . Instead of going to church every Sunday , Obama would occasionally summon pastors to him , according to DuBois . The private Oval Office prayer sessions , with some pastors dialing in by phone , were rarely listed on his public schedule . Pastor Joel Hunter of Northland Church in Longwood , Fla . ; Bishop T.D. Jakes ; Rev . Sharon Watkins ; and Bishop Vashti McKenzie were regular attendees , DuBois said . Newtown Shooting a Test of Faith The biggest test of Obama ' s personal faith came late in his first term , when a gunman massacred 20 children and 6 others at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown , Conn . , in December . Obama described the shooting and its aftermath as the worst days of his presidency . It also proved spiritually challenging , DuBois said , including an emotionally wrenching visit to Newtown to meet privately with families of the victims . " Seeing the strength of those families face to face in those quiet moments , seeing [ not only ] the depth of their pain , but also the height of their resilience was something that I ' ll never forget , " said DuBois , who accompanied the president on the Dec . 16 , 2012 , trip . " I will also never forget what it took for the president to be a comforter over and over again to folks that had experienced unimaginable loss , " he said . " He poured out his heart both in his public speech and behind the scenes in his private conversations . " Obama meditated on 2 Corinthians 4 : 16 - 5 : 1 " during and after Newtown " to draw strength as a " comforter , " DuBois said . The Bible passage reads in part : " Do not lose heart . Though outwardly we are wasting away , inwardly , we are being renewed day by day . " Responding to Obama ' s Skeptics While some critics have questioned the depth of Obama ' s religious convictions and his identity as a Christian , DuBois said the skepticism never appeared to unsettle the president ' s spirituality behind the scenes . " People are going to believe any range of things about any leader of the country , " DuBois said . Obama has been dogged by conspiracy theorists who invoke his upbringing in Southeast Asia to claim he ' s a closet Muslim . Other critics have exploited his ties to controversial former pastor Rev . Jeremiah Wright to suggest he harbors anti - American sentiment . " All the president can do is live out his Christian walk every single day , " DuBois said . " The detractors will do their detracting , but at the end of the day it ' s about his relationship with God and that relationship , from all that I can tell , is strong . " One sign of that faith , according to DuBois , as Obama ' s establishment of a new White House tradition of a prayer breakfast to mark the Easter holiday . " The White House had marked other religious holidays for diverse communities before , but never a day specifically focused on the Resurrection , on what the story of Jesus , the death and resurrection of Jesus , meant for the president and for the world , " he said . This year ' s prayer breakfast will be held Friday . Faith - Based Partnerships Later this year , DuBois plans publish a book for leaders based on the devotionals he shared with Obama ; it will be called " The President ' s Devotionals . " This fall , he will also begin teaching a course on multi - faith leadership at New York University and launch a new consulting firm , " Values Partnerships , " to help state and local governments partner with faith - based groups to tackle social challenges . " We think that there are great synergies between the private sector and the faith and non - profit community and we ' re going to help pull those together for both public good and private impact , " he said . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-breaks-past-presidents-mlk-day-activities/story?id=52356012 | Trump breaks with past presidents on MLK Day activities By Karen Travers Kateri Jochum Jan 15 , 2018 , 3 : 48 PM ET Jonathan Ernst / Reuters WATCH Trump pushes back : ' No , I ' m not a racist ' Email President Donald Trump ' s schedule today marks a break in presidential tradition . Though it is n ' t unusual for Trump to visit his golf course while spending time at his Mar - a - Lago property in Florida , the timing of it today , on Martin Luther King Jr . Day , shows a break from the actions of past presidents . While Trump urged Americans last Friday to observe the Martin Luther King Jr . holiday with acts of civic work and community service to honor the life of the civil rights legend , it does n ’ t appear he ' ll be doing the same , with no public events listed on his schedule . The White House did n ' t immediately respond to requests for further details on how Trump spent his day . President Trump denies making ' s - - - hole ' comments , says he ' s ' not a racist ' Rep . John Lewis on not meeting with Trump : Martin Luther King Jr . ' would have taken the same position I did ' MLK III calls out Trump on alleged immigration comments Past Republican and Democratic presidents have done some form of commemoration for King ' s life of service on the holiday during their time in office . President Bill Clinton , Vice President Al Gore tear down a wall to begin renovation of the Regency House , a senior health center , Jan . 18 , 1999 in Washington . more + In 1994 , then - President Bill Clinton signed legislation to designate the federal holiday as a national day of service . He also did volunteer work himself in subsequent years , including a day he spent painting the walls at a Washington , D.C. , high school in 1998 and joining AmeriCorps volunteers in painting a senior center in 2001 . Brooks Kraft / Corbis via Getty Images President George W . Bush helps volunteers paint a mural at a high school during the Martin Luther King Jr day of service in Washington , Jan . 15 , 2007 . During his eight years in office , then - President George W . Bush participated in service events , invited African - American clergy to the White House for lunch and attended church and cultural services honoring King . President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama help paint a mural depicting Martin Luther King Jr . , at the Jobs Have Priority Naylor Road Family Shelter , Jan . 16 , 2017 in Washington . more + And former President Barack Obama and his family made it an annual tradition to participate in some type of service event , from working at a soup kitchen to painting a mural at a family shelter . President Barack Obama participates in a community service project at Leckie Elementary school in celebration of the Martin Luther King , Jr . Day of Service and in honor of Dr . King ' s life and legacy , Jan . 18 , 2016 in Washington , DC . Hundreds of demonstrators , including many from the Haitian community , greeted Trump today in West Palm Beach . They called for the president to apologize for his controversial comments reportedly made during a recent Oval Office meeting on immigration reform . " Mr . Trump , we want him to know what he said was not who we are and he needs to apologize , " Byrnes Guillaume , organizer of the protest , told ABC affiliate WPBF . " It was unbecoming of a president . " ABC News ' Meghan Keneally contributed to this report | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-cabinet/story?id=43478002 | A look at Trump ' s Cabinet picks Here are Trump ' s selections for his Cabinet and White House staff . Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By ABC NEWS Mar 3 , 2017 9 : 48 AM President Trump ' s Cabinet selections include one African - American man , one Hispanic man and three women - - one of whom is Taiwanese - American and another , Indian - American . Here is the full list of Trump ' s Cabinet picks : Secretary of state Rex Tillerson - Confirmed Feb . 1 ( Evan Vucci / AP Photo ) ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson delivers remarks on the release of a report by the National Petroleum Council on oil drilling in the Arctic , in Washington , March 27 , 2015 . Tillerson , a former CEO of ExxonMobil , is the first secretary of state without government or military experience . He has a decadeslong business relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin , which has raised eyebrows among Democratic and some Republican lawmakers . The vote to confirm Tillerson was the tightest vote for a secretary of state in at least 60 years . Click here to learn more about Tillerson . Attorney general Jeff Sessions - Confirmed Feb . 8 Sen . Jeff Sessions , R - Ala . , gets off the Senate subway as he arrives for the Senate Republicans ' policy lunch , Jan . 27 , 2016 in Washington . Sessions was first elected to represent Alabama in the Senate in 1996 and was re - elected three times . He is a longtime Trump supporter who campaigned with him throughout the election . After a contentious confirmation process , the Senate voted 52 - 47 to confirm Sessions , with West Virginia Sen . Joe Manchin as the lone Democrat to vote in favor . Click here to learn more about Sessions . Education secretary Betsy DeVos - Confirmed Feb . 7 ( Carolyn Kaster / AP Photo ) President - elect Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos pose for photographs at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster , New Jersey , Nov . 19 , 2016 . DeVos , an education activist in Michigan and a major GOP donor , was confirmed to serve as education secretary after Pence cast a tiebreaking vote in the Senate . It was the first time a vice president broke a tie to confirm a Cabinet nominee . to learn more about DeVos . Secretary of health and human services Rep . Tom Price - Confirmed Feb . 10 ( J . Scott Applewhite / AP Photo ) House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price , R - Ga . , joined at left by Vice - Chairman Todd Rokita , R - Ind . , on Capitol Hill in Washington , March 16 , 2016 . Price is the first health and human services secretary with a medical background since Dr . Louis W . Sullivan , who served under George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1993 . A Republican congressman from Georgia until his appointment , he is a strong critic of the Affordable Care Act and will likely help the Trump administration with its efforts to repeal and replace the health care bill . Click here to read more about the selection of Price . Secretary of transportation Elaine Chao - Confirmed Jan . 31 ( Carolyn Kaster / AP Photo ) Former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao arrives at Trump Tower , Nov . 21 , 2016 in New York , to meet with President - elect Donald Trump . Chao previously served as labor secretary for President George W . Bush and was the only Cabinet official to serve through all eight years of his presidency . She made history as the first Asian - American woman to serve in a U.S. president ' s Cabinet . to learn more about Chao . Secretary of the treasury Steven Mnuchin - Confirmed Feb . 13 ( Evan Vucci / AP Photo ) Steven Mnuchin , national finance chairman of President - elect Donald Trump ' s campaign , walks in the lobby of Trump Tower , Nov . 14 , 2016 , in New York City . Mnuchin worked for 17 years at Goldman Sachs , where he served as the chief information officer . He founded the investment firm Dune Capital Management and the entertainment financing company RatPac - Dune Entertainment . to learn more about Mnuchin . Secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross - Confirmed Feb . 28 President - elect Donald Trump meets with Wilbur Ross at the clubhouse of Trump National Golf Club , Nov . 20 , 2016 in Bedminster , New Jersey . Ross is a billionaire investor and the founder of the investment firm W.L. Ross and Co . He has been described as the king of bankruptcy for his work restructuring failed companies and was a key economic adviser to Trump during his campaign . to learn more about Ross . Secretary of defense Retired Gen . James Mattis - Confirmed Jan . 20 Retired Marine Corps Gen . James Mattis speaks during the DIRECTV and Operation Gratitude day of service at Caesars Palace , July 23 , 2015 in Las Vegas . Mattis retired from the Marine Corps in 2013 after a storied 41 - year career that included leading U.S . troops in Afghanistan , Iraq and in Kuwait . He most recently served as the head of U.S. Central Command . Congress passed a special law to exempt Mattis from the requirement that commissioned officers be out of active duty at least seven years before serving as defense secretary . Within hours of Trump ' s being sworn in as president , the Senate confirmed Mattis in a 98 - 1 vote as secretary of defense . to learn more about Mattis . Secretary of housing and urban development Dr . Ben Carson - Confirmed March 2 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump shakes hands with former presidential candidate Ben Carson as he receives his endorsement at the Mar - A - Lago Club on March 11 , 2016 in Palm Beach , Florida . Carson , a retired neurosurgeon , was a Trump rival during the 2016 Republican primaries . He has never held elected office bor worked in government . to learn more about Carson . Secretary of homeland security Retired Gen . John Kelly - Confirmed Jan . 20 ( Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP Photo ) In this photo taken Jan . 8 , 2016 , Gen . John Kelly speaks to reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon . Kelly was a four - star general and the head of the U.S. Southern Command . In addition to leading troops overseas , he is known for his strong knowledge of border issues and the drug trade in South and Central America . to read more about Kelly . Secretary of the interior Rep . Ryan Zinke , R - Montana - Confirmed March 1 ( J . Scott Applewhite / AP Photo ) Rep . Ryan Zinke speaks during the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland , July 18 , 2016 . Zinke is the former House representative from Montana and a retired Navy SEAL . He ' s the first interior secretary from Montana . to learn more about Zinke . Donald Trump Jr . , an avid hunter and outdoorsman , was involved in selecting the interior secretary , including telephone calls and meetings with candidates , according to a source familiar with the process . Secretary of energy Rick Perry - Confirmed March 2 ( Kathy Willens / AP Photo ) Rick Perry smiles as he leaves Trump Tower , Dec . 12 , 2016 , in New York . Perry , a former Texas governor , is leading the federal agency he once said he wanted to eliminate but could n ' t name in his famous " oops " moment during a 2011 GOP primary debate . to learn more about Perry . Secretary of veterans affairs David Shulkin - Confirmed Feb . 13 In this Jan . 9 , 2017 file photo , David Shulkin , currently Veterans Affairs Undersecretary for Health leaves a meeting with President - elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York . Trump announced Wednesday , Jan . 11 , 2107 , that he will nominate Shulkin as Veterans Affairs secretary . Shulkin served as undersecretary of health for the VA under the Obama administration . Shulkin is the first VA secretary in the agency ' s history not to have served in the military . to learn more about Shulkin . Secretary of agriculture Former Georgia Gov . Sonny Purdue - Announced Jan . 19 Former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue speaks to the media in the lobby of Trump Tower , Nov . 30 , 2016 , in New York . Perdue , 70 , a Republican , served as the governor of Georgia from 2003 to 2011 . He worked on Trump ' s agricultural advisory committee during his presidential campaign . to learn more about the selection of Perdue . Secretary of labor Alexander Acosta - Announced Feb . 16 United States Attorney Alexander Acosta speaks to the media , Feb . 27 , 2007 , in Miami , Florida . Acosta is the chairman of the board of U.S. Century Bank and dean of Florida International University law school . Acosta formerly served on the National Labor Relations Board and was assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice ' s civil rights division under President George W . Bush . If confirmed , Acosta would be the first Hispanic to serve in Trump ' s Cabinet . There have been several other picks for Cabinet - level positions : Chief of staff Reince Priebus - Appointed Nov . 13 . This is the only Cabinet - level position that does not need Senate confirmation . Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus speaks in National Harbor , Md . , March 4 , 2016 . The selection of Priebus as Trump ' s chief of staff was the first Cabinet - level announcement . Priebus was the chairman of the Republican National Committee until his appointment . to read more about him and his role in Trump ' s campaign . Ambassador to the U.N . Gov . Nikki Haley - Confirmed Jan . 24 South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley speaks during the 2016 National Lawyers Convention sponsored by the Federalist Society in Washington , Nov . 18 , 2016 . Haley , the child of Indian immigrants , brings diversity to the nascent administration but had little international experience as governor of South Carolina . to read more about Haley . Small business administrator Linda McMahon - Confirmed Feb . 14 Former Republican Party Senate candidate Linda McMahon speaks to the media at Trump Tower in New York City , Nov . 30 , 2016 . Linda McMahon is a co - founder and former CEO of WWE . Before Trump ' s Dec . 7 announcement that she would be his pick to lead the Small Business Administration , she was an adviser to global businesses as part of APCO Worldwide ' s International Advisory Council . She was a top donor to Trump throughout his campaign . She ran for the U.S. Senate seat in Connecticut in 2010 and 2012 , losing both times . Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt - Confirmed Feb . 17 ( Behar Anthony / EPA ) Scott Pruitt , Attorney General of Oklahoma , arrives in the lobby of the Trump Tower in New York City , Nov . 28 , 2016 . Pruitt formerly served as the Oklahoma attorney general and has been a critic of the agency Trump tapped him to lead . Pruitt ' s views on environmental issues appear to largely mirror Trump ' s rhetoric on the campaign trail , including framing the Environmental Protection Agency as a too - powerful government bureaucracy pursuing an ideological agenda based on what Pruitt considers dubious science . to learn more about Pruitt . Then there are other senior positions : CIA director ( non - Cabinet agency position ) Rep . Mike Pompeo , R - Kan . - Confirmed Jan . 23 ( Julia Schmalz / Bloomberg via Getty Images ) Representative Michael " Mike " Pompeo , a Republican from Kansas , pauses during an interview in Washington , Sept . 20 , 2013 . Pompeo , who supported Sen . Marco Rubio during the GOP primaries , represented Kansas ’ 4th Congressional District . to learn more about Pompeo . National security adviser ( non - Cabinet senior position ) Lt . Gen . H.R. McMaster - Announced Feb . 20 ( Susan Walsh / AP Photo ) President Donald Trump shakes hands with Army Lt . Gen . H.R. McMaster at Trump ' s Mar - a - Lago estate in Palm Beach , Fla . , Feb . 20 , 2017 , where he announced that McMaster will be the new national security adviser . The position of national security adviser became vacant after Michael Flynn resigned on Feb . 13 . McMaster , a West Point graduate who was awarded the Silver Star during the Gulf War , was chosen by Trump to replace Flynn . The position of national security adviser does not require Senate confirmation , but when three - star generals like McMaster change jobs within the service they do need the approval . to learn more about McMaster . ABC News ' Jonathan Karl , Tom Llamas , Ali Rogin , John Santucci , Candace Smith , Katherine Faulders , Benjamin Siegel , Alexander Mallin and Meghan Keneally contributed to this report . Comments 867 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/hillary-clinton-discusses-monica-lewinsky-marriage-24066099 | Hillary Clinton Discusses Monica Lewinsky and Her Marriage | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/2015-nba-finals-storylines-follow-warriors-cavaliers/story?id=31503145 | 2015 NBA Finals : 5 Storylines to Follow With the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers The Warriors want their first title in 40 years ; the Cavaliers ' first ever . Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By SUSANNA KIM Jun 3 , 2015 12 : 57 AM ET The 2015 NBA Finals kicks off tonight between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers with teams and players hoping to make history . When the Warriors host Game One in Oakland , California , at 9 p.m. ET , neither side can necessarily claim to be underdogs . Two - time NBA champion LeBron James , 30 , leads his hometown Cavs and this year ' s league MVP Stephen Curry , 27 , is the Warriors ' star shooter with basketball running through his blood . Golden State Warriors Reach NBA Finals for First Time Since 1975 Riley Curry Is the True Champion of the 2015 NBA Playoffs Here are five storylines driving the drama of this year ' s NBA Finals : 1 . Steve Kerr wants another title after the Bulls Steve Kerr and Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls celebrate after defeating the Utah Jazz to win the NBA Championship at the United Center in Chicago , 1997 . Warriors coach Steve Kerr , 49 , may be the team ' s rookie coach , but he ' s also a five - time NBA champion who was a major player alongside Michael Jordan for the Chicago Bulls Chosen by the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the 1988 NBA draft , Kerr played for the Cleveland Cavaliers for the next three years . He then joined the Orlando Magic before joining the Bulls in 1993 . Since the glory years of the Bulls , the 2014 - 2015 basketball season has been quite a year for Kerr , who holds the record for most NBA regular season wins as a rookie coach . 2 . Can LeBron be a champion in Cleveland ? LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers stands on the court during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks during the 2015 NBA Playoffs , May 26 , 2015 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland . King James is back home with the Cavaliers after a four - year hiatus in Miami and he is eager to help bring Cleveland ' s first NBA title . The only other year besides this year that the Cavaliers have been Eastern Conference champions was back in 2007 . The city of Cleveland seems to have forgiven the bitterness that resulted from " The Decision " back in the 2010 off - season and is eagerly hoping to forget it entirely with a championship victory . 3 . Curry ' s daughter steals the show ( Noah Graham / NBAE via Getty Images ) Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and his daughter Riley speak at a press conference after Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena in Oakland , Calif . , May 19 , 2015 . Two - year old Riley Curry made a splash when she showed up for her dad ' s news conference after game one of the Western Conference Finals , demanding her dad be quiet and peeking under the table skirt . She made a second appearance during the news conference after the Warriors beat the Houston Rockets in Game Five to advance to the NBA finals . Fans wanted more . She had fun handing a staffer her gum and singing Drake ' s chorus in “ Big Sean - Blessings . ” Between making appearances on the cable show of Curry ' s wife , Ayesha , " Cookin ' With the Currys , " online fans ca n ' t get enough of Riley ' s cuteness . 4 . Golden State vies for first title in 40 years The World Champions of basketball Golden State Warriors pose for a team portrait in Oakland , Calif . , 1975 . After injury scares for Steph Curry and Klay Thompson during the Western Conference Finals , Golden State fans are ready for their first NBA championship victory in 40 years , when Golden State beat the Washington Bullets to win the title in 1975 . In a major upset that year , the Warriors swept the Bullets in four games with the help of Jamaal Wilkes and Rick Barry . Thompson is the son of former NBA player and two - time NBA champion Mychal Thompson . Curry is the son of Dell Curry , a 16 - year veteran of the NBA through the Utah Jazz , Cleveland Cavaliers , Charlotte Hornets , Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors 5 . Star players you may not know ( Getty Images ) Andrew Bogut shoots a free throw in the second half against the Houston Rockets during game two of the Western Conference Finals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs , May 21 , 2015 in Oakland , Calif . Besides the star players with recognizable names during this year ' s NBA Finals , there are foreigners with flair . There ' s Australian Warriors player Andrew Bogut , who joined the Warriors in a multiplayer trade in 2012 . The 30 - year old is a 7 - foot - 1 center who is a key member of the team ' s defense . Draymond Green is another player who has been noted as one of the team ' s keys to success . Alongside LeBron James are three former Knicks players : J.R. Smith , Iman Shumpert and Russian Timofey Mozgov , also a 28 - year old center . Formerly a player for the Russian National Team under Cleveland ’ s coach David Blatt , Mozgov will block or rebound to his heart ' s content at more than 7 feet tall . Comments 16 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/lebron-james-back-cleveland-joins-cavaliers/story?id=24493464 | LeBron James Re - Joins the Cleveland Cavaliers James is headed back to his the Cavaliers Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By MEGHAN KENEALLY Jul 11 , 2014 9 : 26 AM LeBron James has announced that he is going back to his home state of Ohio and re - joining the Cleveland Cavaliers . The NBA superstar wrote in a piece for Sports Illustrated that he is " going home . " " Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball , I was a kid from Northeast Ohio . It ’ s where I walked . It ’ s where I ran . It ’ s where I cried . It ’ s where I bled . It holds a special place in my heart , " James wrote in the Sports Illustrated article . Five Things to Remember About LeBron ' s Last ' Decision ' " If I had to do it all over again , I ’ d obviously do things differently , but I ’ d still have left . Miami , for me , has been almost like college for other kids . " " I always believed that I ’ d return to Cleveland and finish my career there . I just did n ’ t know when . " The announcement will inevitably boost ticket sales at the Cavaliers but fans did n ' t even have to wait until today to start buying back into the franchise . An NBA source told ESPN that the Cavaliers sold $ 1 million in ticket sales on Wednesday when James ' ' decision ' was pure speculation . The team has also confirmed that they will not be raising season ticket prices after the acquisition of James . Fans had spent the past few weeks reading the proverbial tea leaves ever since he became a free agent and had been weighing his options about what NBA team he would sign with . LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during a game against the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Playoffs on May 7 , 2010 in Boston , Massachusetts . Chris Bosh , Dwyane Wade , and LeBron James of the Miami Heat look on during a game against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Arena on March 16 , 2014 in Miami . James - - whose personal tagline touts his Ohio roots by saying he ' s " just a kid from Akron " - - started his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers as the first draft pick in 2003 . He stayed with the team until 2010 after declaring free agency and announcing his move to Miami in a highly publicized ESPN special " The Decision . " Five Things to Remember About LeBron ' s Last ' Decision ' He stayed with the Heat until becoming a free agent at the end of this season , but it did not appear that he turned his back on the Florida team completely . James was reportedly scheduled to meet with Heat head coach Pat Riley Wednesday before announcing his latest decision . LeBron James # 6 of the Miami Heat gets a pick from teammate Udonis Haslem # 40 against the Indiana Pacers at the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on May 24 , 2014 in Miami , Florida . The free agency period expires at midnight Thursday though the status of that meeting remained unclear early Wednesday evening . James was in Las Vegas Tuesday ahead of the start of his eponymous skills academy program that began today . Though James ' decision is gaining the most attention , James is not the only NBA star who is floating in free agency at the moment . His Heat teammates Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade are also up in the air . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/ardi-fossil-brings-us-closer-common-ancestor-humans/story?id=8716359 | ' Ardi : ' 4.4 Million - Year - Old Fossil is Oldest Human Ancestor " Ardi " fossils from Ethiopia are 4.4 million years old . By NED POTTER Oct . 1 , 2009 — Sep 30 , 2009 3 : 16 PM Scientists today told the world what they know about Ardipithecus ramidus - - " Ardi " for short - - the oldest pre - human species yet found . Ardi lived 4.4 million years ago in what is now Ethiopia . " This may be the most important specimen in the history of evolutionary biology , " said C . Owen Lovejoy , an anthropologist at Kent State University in Ohio , in an interview with ABCNews . com . Lovejoy was one of more than 40 researchers from around the world who analyzed the Ardi fossils . Ardipithecus is not the long - sought " missing link " - - the ancestor that scientists say humans and apes have in common - - but comes close . And it helps show that both human beings and apes have evolved from something , about six million years ago , that did not look much like either . " Six months ago , we would have said our common ancestor looked something like a chimp , " said Tim White of the University of California at Berkeley , a senior researcher on the project . " Now all that has changed . " What we found in Ethiopia at 4.4 million years ago is the closest we ' ve ever come to that ancestor along our own line , " White said . The most complete skeleton , out of more than 30 found , was female , about four feet tall . They discerned the sex from the shape of the pelvis , which was wide enough for her to have borne a baby in her womb . There are older specimens from other locations , but they are not complete enough for the analysis that has now been applied to Ardipithecus . Walked Upright , but Feet Like a Chimp The scientists said the fossils show that Ardipithecus walked upright , and that her teeth resemble modern human teeth more closely than they do those of a chimpanzee . Curiously , though , her feet were capable of grasping , something chimps need in order to climb in trees . She would have been able to climb trees , but she probably did not swing from branches the way modern chimps do . The back of her skull is small , indicating she had a small brain . The Ardipithecus bone fragments came from a layer of rock beneath the Afar region of Ethiopia . Afar is now desert , but the scientists said it was woodland 4 million years ago . They found fossilized wood and seeds around the Afar bones . The fossil hunters , from Ethiopia and the United States , sent the bone fragments they found to a team in Japan . There , 3 - D computer models were made of each piece , and the pieces were digitally reassembled , a bit like a jigsaw puzzle . ' Missing Link ' ? African Fossil Brings Paleontologists Closer The first fragments were found in 1992 , and more in later years . It took this long , said Lovejoy , to put the pieces together so that a detailed description could be published . The results are online in this week ' s edition of the journal Science Ardipithecus is 1.2 million years older than Lucy ( Australopithecus afarensis ) , the famous pre - human fossil found in Africa in 1974 . Lucy , like Ardi , walked upright and had a small brain , but was clearly closer to modern human beings - - probably not capable , for instance , of climbing routinely in trees . So what would life have been like for a primitive being more than four million years ago ? Scientists say they can deduce a fair amount from Ardi ' s skull , jaw , hands , legs and pelvis . The teeth , for instance , suggest that Ardipithecus was probably an omnivore - - eating anything , plant or animal , that it could find . It did not have the pointed teeth found in modern chimpanzees , useful for eating fruit . Darwin Would Be Pleased The shape of the large canine teeth in the front of the jaw is important . Male teeth were not larger than females ' . It provides clues about social structure , suggesting that the males of the species did not fight each other for the females ' attention . Instead , said Lovejoy , " It is likely that the males went looking for food and brought it back to the females , possibly in return for sex , though that ' s another story . " He added , " This was probably a species for which male aggressiveness was not something that led to evolutionary success . " Scientists have believed since Charles Darwin ' s time that apes and human beings have common origins . But they have been hampered by the lack of fossils to trace the evolutionary path . White and Lovejoy said that is why Ardipithecus is so important . " This , " said Lovejoy , " fills a huge gap . " Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/dell-xps-13-ultrabook-review/story?id=15921866 | Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook Review Can Dell ' s XPS 13 take on Apple ' s MacBook Air ? By JOANNA STERN March 14 , 2012 & # 151 ; — Mar 14 , 2012 1 : 14 PM " So you have a MacBook Air , " a man sitting next to me on a flight from New York to San Francisco says to me as he gestures at the laptop stuffed in my seat pocket . I do n ' t actually have a MacBook Air , at least not on the flight , but he is n ' t the first person in the last couple of weeks to mistake Dell ' s new ultrabook for Apple ' s ultrathin laptop . The ultrabook - - a term coined by Intel to describe a new category of thin and light Windows laptops - - bears a striking resemblance to Apple ' s MacBook Air in both physical design and features . And that ' s exactly the point , except Dell ' s charging $ 300 less for similar features . Thanks to Intel ' s push , the XPS 13 is the fourth ultrabook to be released in the last couple of months . They look to go toe - to - toe with Apple ' s leading laptop , with a thin design , fast boot times , and promises of long battery life . ( Toshiba , HP , Acer , and Lenovo have all released ultrabooks in the last couple of months . ) However , where the others have fallen short - - notably on the balance of price , design , and quality - - That fellow sitting next to me did n ' t just mistake the XPS for an Air because it ' s so thin - - 0.7 inches thick at its thickest point . It also has tapered edges and the entire top lid is covered in a similar silver aluminum . The laptop sure does look incredibly similar to the Air from some angles , but there are some distinct design differences , notably under the lid . Dell has used a 13 - inch display with a very thin frame , which gives the laptop a smaller footprint than Apple ' s 13 - inch Air and lets it weigh 2.99 pounds ( the Air weighs 2.96 pounds ) . Because it ' s so thin , there ' s no room for a DVD drive , but the XPS 13 does have two USB ports , a headphone jack , and a MiniDisplay port for hooking up an external display . It is disappointing that there is no SD card slot , which always makes it While the screen does have a shrunken frame , it is n ' t a great quality display . It has lower resolution than the MacBook Air and the viewing angles are quite limited . That means I was n ' t able to see what was on the screen when it was pushed back slightly in my airplane seat , or from the side when I wanted to watch a quick video clip with my friend . The most surprising thing to me during testing was how extremely well built the laptop is . While Dell has typically released very plasticy machines , the XPS 13 ' s mix of aluminum , magnesium alloy , and carbon fiber makes it not only one of the best made Dell laptop I have seen in years , but one of the best on the market . Another major difference in design comes with the black rubbery palm rest and trackpad . I really preferred the feel of the surface to the metal on other laptops , but the trackpad itself is where the XPS begins to suffer from some usability issues . Dell has integrated the mouse buttons into the trackpad , the way Apple and several Windows laptop makers have . But the navigating experience is not as smooth as it is on Apple ' s laptop and can be fustrating . For example , using two fingers to scroll is jumpy , and while On the other hand , the keyboard is extremely comfortable . The rounded keys are backlit , which allowed me to type this review right from my dimly lit seat on the back of the plane . It would have been nice , however , if the shortcuts for volume , screen brightness , etc . along the top keyboard row did n ' t require you to hold down the Function button . The $ 999 model of the XPS 13 has a Core i5 processor , 4GB of RAM , and a 128GB solid - state hard drive . The drive is much faster than typical hard drives , booting the laptop in just 28 seconds and letting it resume from sleep in just four . I found both of those features to be incredibly useful when I needed to get online right away at an airport or as soon as I got the office . On top of that , the laptop is very fast once you are up and running Windows 7 . Everything was very responsive as I simultaneously wrote this review in Microsoft Word , checked a number of websites in the Google Chrome browser , and listened to music in iTunes . Dell has done a nice job not polluting the machine with trial software . In fact , out of the box , the only thing that appears on the desktop on the screen is the Recycling Bin shortcut . But one ' s satisfaction does n ' t last long enough because of a weak battery . In typical use , I only got about five hours of battery life , which was n ' t quite long enough to get me through the entire flight from New York to San Francisco . In a more rigorous test , where I looped an HD video , I got four hours and seven minutes of battery life . The MacBook Air lasts over six hours on similar tests and in general use . Dell ' s XPS 13 I also noticed that the fan on the machine can get very loud at times . While it kept the bottom and keyboard cool , the fan interfered with a video I was watching . The XPS 13 is extremely well built , the keyboard is very comfortable , and it ' s very thin and light . And for $ 999 , it ' s certainly a good value for those looking for an attractive and fast Windows 7 laptop . But the aforementioned glaring issues really do hold it back from being the best thin and light laptop on the market . If you want a better trackpad and screen and longer battery life , you ' ll probably want to have the MacBook Air in that seat pocket , even if it Comments 5 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/ipads-release-date-rumors-apples-tablets/story?id=20574747 | New iPads : Everything You Need to Know About Apple ’ s Next Tablets Waiting on Apple ' s next tablets ? Here ' s what we know so far . ( Sonny Dickinson ) Purported photo of the iPad 5 . By JOANNA STERN Oct . 15 , 2013 & # 151 ; — Oct 15 , 2013 7 : 25 AM ET It ' s been about three and a half years now since the first iPad was introduced . It may not seem that long ago , but when you consider that since that day in January 2010 , Apple has introduced four versions of its slate as well as a smaller sibling , you can see just how far the tablet has come . At an event on Oct . 22 , Apple is expected to add to that stack of tablets with its fifth - generation iPad as well as unveil some improvements to its iPad Mini . So , what does the future of the iPad look like ? Here are some features we expect the next versions of the popular tablets to have based on industry chatter . ( sonnydickson . com ) Purported photos of the fifth generation iPad in space gray . Fifth - Generation iPad New Design It appears the biggest changes to the next generation iPad will be cosmetic . Apple ' s bigger tablet is going to look a lot like its smaller tablet , according to various leaked photos posted by Australian Apple insider Sonny Dickinson Chinese supplier website sx - box . com and reports from the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Like the iPad Mini , the photos show a much thinner design , with rounder edges and a narrower frame or bezel around the 9.7 - inch screen . According to sx - box . com , which got its hands on the purported case of the tablet , the new iPad will measure 7.2 mm thick - - 2.2 mm thinning than the current iPad . Those same photos show a relocated speaker to the bottom of the tablet and the microphone now on the top of the device . According to Dickinson ' s site , the iPad will also come in a new space gray color . No word if the ever - so - popular gold will make its way to the tablet . New Guts What the leaked photos of the case do n ' t show is the home button , which is said to likely be home to Apple ' s new TouchID fingerprint sensor found on the new iPhone 5s . Like with the phone , you ' d be able to log into the tablet with just a tap of a finger . Also said to make its way over from the iPhone 5s is Apple ' s latest 64 - bit A7 processor and M7 motion co - processor . There are also some rumblings of a better 8 - megapixel camera . The 9.7 - inch Retina Display is n ' t expected to change . iPhone 5s Review : A Great Phone With Some More Forward Thinking Needed iPad Mini What the next generation of Apple ' s smaller tablet will look like is less clear . While the design is likely to stay the same to match the new larger iPad , there are strong rumors that the smaller tablet will get a higher resolution Retina Display . DisplaySearch The Wall Street Journal and others have reported that the better screen has been in production and will arrive on the tablet . ( Apple ) Apple ' s invitation to its Oct . 22 event . However , those rumors are met with resistance . Reuters reported that the Retina Display iPad Mini will not roll out widely this holiday season because of supply constraints . Economic Daily News has reported the same . Whether the Retina iPad Mini arrives or not , it is very likely that Apple will update the Mini ' s processor to the A7 and also give the camera a boost . Both the iPad Mini and the fifth - generation iPad will run Apple ' s iOS 7 , which was released for the tablets last month . But , of course , this all remains an educated guess until next week , when we will have the official details of what Apple ' s next tablets will look like . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/snapchats-best-friends-emoji-decoded/story?id=30137209 | Snapchat ' s New Best Friends Emoji Decoded What the new symbols tell you about your relationships . ( Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg via Getty Images ) The Snapchat app is displayed for a photograph on an Apple Inc . iPhone 5s in Washington , Feb . 18 , 2015 . By ALYSSA NEWCOMB Apr 7 , 2015 8 : 42 AM When Snapchat nixed its best friends feature in January , some avid users of the ephemeral messaging app freaked out about the change . Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel said in January the old best friends feature was eliminated because " a few higher - profile friends wanted to keep their usernames private , " however he promised it would eventually be back in a new form - - and he kept his word . Users can now expect to see friend emojis populating their Snapchat contacts . Snapchat Update Makes Some Teens Freak Out Snapchat Settles With FTC Over Claims It Deceived Users About Disappearing Messages How Hackers Got Private Photos Without Ever Breaching Snapchat ' s Servers The cute symbols can be another way for power users of the app to measure their relationships with their friends , but decoding the symbols takes some getting used to . Announcing the new feature by using photos of Beyonce with various celebrities , Snapchat provided its own nifty explainer of what the cute symbols mean about users ' social patterns . Here ' s a look at what some of the most common emoji mean for your Snapchat life . Gold Heart You two are mutual best friends . Congratulations . Simple Smile You like this person and Snapchat them frequently but they ' re not your best Snapchat pal . Smirking Emoji Ah , unrequited love . See this and it means you send many snaps to this friend but get little in return . Sunglasses Emoji You and this person are in quite the Snapchat love triangle , sending more snaps to a third person than any of your other friends . Fire Emoji If you see this next to a friend ' s name , it means you two are on a hot streak , messaging each other several days in a row . Comments 5 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Story?id=5009270&page=1 | U.S. Prison Population Hits All - Time High : 2.3 Million Incarcerated DOJ report reveals record numbers in prisons last year . By PIERRE THOMAS and JASON RYAN The Justice Department has released a new report showing the nation ' s prison and jail population reached a record 2.3 million people last year . The report notes that in the 10 largest states , prison populations increased " during 2006 at more than three times ( 3.2 percent ) the average annual rate of growth ( 0.9 percent ) from 2000 through 2005 . " The new report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that in the first half of 2007 the growth rate slowed , but prison admissions growth outpaced the number of prison releases . The report provides a breakdown , noting " of the 2.3 million inmates in custody , 2.1 million were men and 208,300 were women . Black males represented the largest percentage ( 35.4 percent ) of inmates held in custody , followed by white males ( 32.9 percent ) and Hispanic males ( 17.9 percent ) . " The United States leads the industrialized world in incarceration . In fact , the U.S. rate of incarceration ( 762 per 100,000 ) is five to eight times that of other highly developed countries , according to The Sentencing Project , a criminal justice think tank . Some of the key factors for the record imprisonment rate include : Race : Black males continue to be incarcerated at an extraordinary rate . Black males make up 35.4 percent of the jail and prison population — even though they make up less than 10 percent of the overall U.S population . Four percent of U.S. black males were in jail or prison last year , compared to 1.7 percent of Hispanic males and .7 percent of white males . In other words , black males were locked up at almost six times the rate of their white counterparts . Immigration : Is it an emerging crime trend or is this the result of more local police and federal targeting of illegal immigrants ? Non - U.S. citizens accounted for nearly 8 percent of the jail population at midyear 2007 , the new Justice Department report noted . " From mid - year 2000 through midyear 2007 , Hispanic men ( 120,000 ) represented the largest increase to the custody population , " it said . Locking up these prisoners comes with huge economic costs . The Sentencing Project estimates that cost to be $ 60 billion per year for federal , state and local prison systems . Many states , facing budget crises , are struggling to pay for their corrections systems . As a result , many state programs are being slashed , with some states looking to release certain convicts early . No fewer than eight states have recently contemplated releasing prisoners early . Others are planning to push some categories of newly convicted criminals into rehabilitation programs . Kentucky , California , Rhode Island , New Jersey , South Carolina and Vermont are among the states wrestling with these issues . " The unrivaled growth of the United States ' incarcerated population over 30 years casts a great burden on this nation , " said Marc Mauer , executive director of The Sentencing Project . " The country ' s $ 60 billion prison budget results in less money for education , health care and child services . Communities need the resources to prevent crime by investing in youth and families . " In California , the governor had considered a massive plan to release tens of thousands of prisoners , but recently decided against the proposal . Local jail officials continued to reduce the inmate population by approving early releases where appropriate . In Kentucky , where they have been facing a billion - dollar deficit , corrections officials told ABC News they are looking at a variety of measures to reduce their state prison population , including early release of some non - violent offenders and expanding the home incarceration plan which allows inmates to be released for substance - abuse treatment and to seek employment . In Michigan , it costs $ 2 billion to run the corrections system . An increasing number of state leaders say they really ca n ' t afford to pay that kind of money . " Our efforts to grow Michigan ' s economy and keep our state competitive are threatened by the rising costs in the Department of Corrections , " Gov . Jennifer Granholm recently told The Detroit News . " We spend more on prisons than we do on higher education , and that has got to change . " According the News , the Michigan Corrections Department already devours 20 cents of every tax dollar in the state ' s general fund and employs nearly one in every three state government workers , compared with 9 percent of the work force 25 years ago . Comments 1 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/terrifying-walk-worlds-longest-footbridge/story?id=25890109 | Take a Terrifying Walk Along the ' World ’ s Longest Footbridge ' Would you brave this bridge ? ( Europics / Newscom ) The world ' s longest pedestrian suspension bridge , the SkyBridge , near Sochi , Russia . By GENEVIEVE SHAW BROWN Oct 1 , 2014 10 : 58 AM At more than 1,400 feet , it claims to be the longest suspension footbridge in the world . Combine that with a height of almost 680 feet off the ground , and visitors are in for one terrifying walk . Oh , and there ' s a bungee jump in the middle ! Russia ' s recently - opened SkyBridge stretches above the Krasnaya Polyana valley . Americans know the area as Sochi , host city of the most recent Winter Olympics ( Europics / Newscom ) The world ' s longest pedestrian suspension bridge , the SkyBridge , near Sochi , Russia . Extreme sports fans can speed along a zip line more than 500 feet high . Known as the Trollwire , riders are strapped to a zip wire horizontally side by side and reaches speeds of 70 mph . The world ' s longest pedestrian suspension bridge , the SkyBridge , near Sochi , Russia . There ' s no age or weight requirement for walking the bridge . It ' s built to " withstand a 9 - magnitude earthquake , hurricane wind , rain , snow and ice at one time , " according to its web site . It can take up to 30,000 people at a time . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/ticket-prices-crazy/story?id=18631475 | When Ticket Prices Go Crazy And What You Can Do Here are six ways you can save on flights . By RICK SEANEY , CEO of < a href = http : / / www . farecompare . com / target = " external " > FareCompare < / a > March 1 , 2013& # 151 ; — Mar 1 , 2013 12 : 48 PM intro : You go to the grocery store and pick up a loaf of your favorite bread for $ 2.39 . You buy it week after week and the price does n ' t change much , beyond a few cents for inflation . So why are airline tickets so nutty , so wildly fluctuating ? And what can you do about it ? Let ' s quickly dissect the most recent " airfare hike attempt " and I ' ll give you some answers along with six tips to help you save money on your next flight . For more travel news and insights view Rick ' s blog at farecompare . com Last week , I reported Delta attempted an airfare hike and within a few days I knew it would succeed . Now a hike like this is different from the usual price tweaking that goes on among airlines on a day - by - day basis ( and sometimes close to an hour - by - hour basis ) because airlines are always testing our willingness to pay more . You can see these normal price fluctuations anytime , just by checking out a particular fare on a Tuesday for example , then checking the price again over a weekend . Sometimes those weekend price jumps are insane ! When that happens , just return again on Tuesday , the cheapest day for airfare shopping . Hikes are a different species altogether because they ' re usually much broader , often affecting domestic fares across - the - board , although sometimes a hike is aimed at a specific type of passenger . That ' s how this latest hike played out : Delta raised fares only on tickets purchased within seven days of departure , which essentially targets the last - minute business traveler . It was nothing radical ; the hike varied from just $ 4 to $ 10 round - trip ( depending on the route ) but these things do add up by about 5 percent - nearly three times the annual rate of inflation ! Still , so far this year , the airlines have n ' t been having a whole lot of luck with hikes . United tried a couple of broad - based price - raising attempts in January but they failed ; either competing airlines refused to join in , or if they did , they soon bailed out . Delta tried to raise business fares earlier this month as well , but that first attempt in February did n ' t pan out . Now , they ' ve met with success . Fortunately , since it targeted road warriors whose bosses typically buy their tickets , most of us dodged an increase . It could have been a broader hike ; that ' s what JetBlue wanted . It raised fares for leisure travelers as well as business passengers but other airlines did n ' t match so they stand alone on certain routes at higher prices , which is a tenuous position when airlines who are even $ 1 more than their competitors are on page 20 of comparison shopping sites . So why ' d the business hike succeed ? Because the airlines figured those travelers or their companies would pay . So many factors come into play that it ' s hard to say definitively why they ' d pay but the price of oil has n ' t gone crazy lately and the economy continues to recover and demand is steady , all of which helps . There are other intangibles , too , but face it , airlines raise prices first and foremost when they think higher prices will be accepted by consumers but they must also must What can you do to keep costs low ? Let me count the ways - but here are six we can start with ( and you can see more here ) . 6 Quick Ways to Save on Flights quicklist : title : Compare prices earlier text : Sounds so basic , right ? Yet so many travelers procrastinate and have loyalty to a single airline and the result is they often pay more . Do n ' t be among them . quicklist : title : Shop on Tuesdays text : After analyzing my current and historical airfare pricing data , I can say Tuesday is almost always the cheapest day to shop . Optimal time is right around 3 p.m. eastern . quicklist : title : Fly on the cheapest days text : On domestic flights , that would be Tuesday or Wednesday ( and Saturday is runner - up ) . The cheapest days to fly for international travel are usually Sunday through Wednesday . quicklist : title : Fly to the right airport text : Heading to Chicago ? Look to see if Midway prices are cheaper than O ' Hare . If Southern California is in your sights , LAX may be the cheapest airport , but you might want to check Long Beach and Burbank , just to be on the safe side . Bigger metropolitan areas often give you a choice , and more options generally mean better prices . quicklist : title : Consider connecting flights vs . non - stops text : If you can put up with a little inconvenience , you can save as much as 60 percent by accepting a stop or two compared to a direct flight ( though I do n ' t recommend this for families traveling with young children ) . quicklist : title : Use a carry - on text : Pack light and you ' ll save the $ 50 round - trip fee on all but a handful of airlines no matter what the airfare costs . The opinions expressed by Rick Seaney are his alone and not those of ABC News . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/US/colo-marijuana-businesses-embrace-drug-center-dea-crackdown/story?id=22686105 | Colo . Marijuana Businesses Embrace New Drug at Center of DEA Crackdown in Calif . Wax is a drug more powerful than marijuana and is legal in Colorado . By CHRIS R . MURPHY and GEOFF MARTZ Feb . 26 , 2014& # 151 ; — Feb 26 , 2014 12 : 12 PM While Drug Enforcement Administration agents in California are cracking down on the popular new drug known as “ wax , ” people in Colorado are rushing to embrace it . Wax , the ultimate distillation of marijuana , is so potent that it is said a single hit will keep a person high for more than a day . “ There is no weed out there that possesses the punching power that the wax does , ” an undercover DEA informant who asked to remain anonymous told ABC News ’ “ Nightline . ” “ And it ’ s like smoking 20 joints of the best grade of weed that you have into one hit of the wax . ” Making the drug is risky . Butane , a substance so flammable that any spark can set off an explosion , is used to strip out the THC , the chemical in marijuana that gets a person high . But law enforcement says the process of making wax is not the only thing dangerous about it . “ We have seen people have an onset of psychosis and even brain damage from that exposure to that high concentration of THC , ” said Gary Hill , assistant special agent in charge at the DEA ' s San Diego office . “ Our concern is that this is going to spread before we get it under control . ” But a thousand miles away , in Colorado , wax is legal . Anyone over 21 can walk into a recreational marijuana dispensary and buy it right off the shelf . There ’ s even a three - day contest , named the X - Cup , held in broad daylight in Denver , to see who can make the most potent batch of the same drug upon which DEA agents are cracking down in California . The contest also serves as a new kind of trade show for budding entrepreneurs trying to position themselves in the new legal wax marketplace , and they come from all walks of life . “ Nightline ” met some of the contestants in November at the first annual X - Cup hosted by Thurlow Weed . “ I do n ’ t smoke like those guys in there either , to be honest with you , ” Brodie Hill told “ Nightline . ” Hill moved his whole family from Texas to Colorado to try to get into the wax business . His wife , Melissa Sled , uses the products her husband makes . “ It ’ s a mom - and - pop business , ” Sled told “ Nightline . ” Emily Rodriguez and Selena Salazar were the only two women to enter the X - Cup . The two hoped to make their mark on the wax industry by winning the competition . “ We do this outside because we do n ’ t want it to explode , ” Emily Rodriguez told “ Nightline ” while making a batch . “ We do n ’ t want to blow ourselves up . ” Jay Hood , who was the winner of best THC in the contest , recognized that wax can be dangerous . “ I ’ ve seen some guys pass out , ” Hood told “ Nightline . ” But , he added , “ The American dream is definitely getting closer and closer . It ’ s the new gold rush . ” For now , in Colorado , the DEA has decided to allow state - regulated marijuana businesses to operate despite federal law , creating what is sure to be a huge tax windfall for the state . “ We catch ourselves in a rock and a hard place , ” Gary Hill , the DEA agent , told “ Nightline . ” “ We want to enforce federal laws , but we have times when state laws make it difficult for us to be able to enforce the federal laws , as well . ” Comments 229 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-trial-jury-reach-verdict/story?id=29417925 | Jodi Arias Trial : Why Jury Could n ' t Reach a Verdict There was one holdout , which led to a mistrial . By MEGHAN KENEALLY Mar 5 , 2015 11 : 18 AM All but one of the jurors tasked with deciding convicted killer Jodi Arias ’ fate wanted to sentence her to death , they revealed today after the judge declared a mistrial . There was one female juror who refused to sentence Arias to death for killing her boyfriend Travis Alexander , leading to an impasse and the hung jury . “ Eleven of us strived for justice for Travis , but to no avail , ” one of the jurors said in a group audio news conference this morning . “ We absolutely thought [ the punishment ] should be death . ” The jurors , with the exception of the holdout , spoke about their feelings on the case but did not want their names or faces revealed . Jodi Arias Trial : Judge Declares Mistrial After Hung Jury Prosecutors Do n ' t Regret Seeking Arias Death Penalty Again The apparent holdout , who was initially an alternate juror , seemed to come in with more knowledge about the case than others , having told the other jurors that she had seen “ bits and pieces ” of the Lifetime movie about Arias that aired after the initial trial . “ I think she came in and expected to see a monster in there because of what she saw on TV and the news and when she came in and saw it was n ’ t , ” one female juror said . ( Tom Tingle / Reuters ) Tanisha Sovenson , sister of Travis Alexander , sobs as she hears a hung jury verdict in the Jodi Arias sentencing phase retrial , in Phoenix , March 5 , 2015 . A male juror said he was angry with the holdout . “ I feel that the one holdout had her mind made up from the beginning and what angered me was the biggest thing that angered me was that she alluded that the death penalty would be a form of revenge , ” he said . They also revealed they sent a note to the judge requesting the consideration of an alternate to remove the holdout but that was denied , the jurors said . The group was not always committed to sentencing Arias to death , with one juror explaining that during their initial deliberations they were split down the middle . But that evolved and led to all but one in support of capital punishment . Now , Judge Sherry Stephens is tasked with deciding whether Arias should be sentenced to life in prison or life in prison with the possibility for parole in 25 years . “ We really feel like we made a huge effort into trying to get what we believe was deserved , and I can not say enough how sorry I am , ” one female juror said , breaking into tears mid - sentence . The jurors who addressed the media appeared sympathetic to Alexander and his family , saying that “ like they put Travis on trial , [ and ] focused on that rather than the reason we were there . ” All told the cost of the prosecution and Arias ' public defense team was nearly $ 3,000,000 according to the Associated Press . Tensions seemed high throughout the news conference , with several moments where jurors broke down in tears . “ I was emotionally struggling for five months , ” one person said . “ We ' ve had nightmares , ” one female juror said . “ I think every single one of us has had nightmares and I hope they go away . ” Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/US/john-dalys-fiancee-asks-us-supreme-court-dismiss/story?id=31039375 | John Daly ' s Fiancee Asks US Supreme Court to Dismiss Ex - Wife ' s Lawsuit Sherrie Miller claims the PGA legend ' s fiancee caused " alienation of affection . " By ABC NEWS May 14 , 2015 10 : 30 AM Professional golfer John Daly is at the center of a legal love triangle , with his ex - wife taking on his new fianceé in a court battle that has now gone all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court . Sherrie Miller , the fourth wife of two - time major champion Daly , is suing the woman she says broke up her marriage seven years ago . Miller claims Anna Cladakis , Daly ’ s caddy , was also his mistress , causing Miller , “ alienation of affection and intentional infliction of emotional distress . ” Miller filed her lawsuit in Mississippi , one of only six states where the so - called “ alienation of affection ” law exists . Neither Miller nor Cladakis nor Daly live in Mississippi but Miller claims Daly and Cladakis had some trysts in the state . Cladakis is now fighting back against the lawsuit , asking the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out Miller ’ s Mississippi case , arguing the state has no jurisdiction . " Florida and Tennessee , where the parties lived , abolished the cause of action for alienation of affection decades ago , ” an attorney for Cladakis told ABC News in a statement . " If the decision of the Mississippi Supreme Court is left intact , Mississippi will be permitted to police residents of other states in matters in which it has no legitimate interest . ” Daly and Miller ’ s divorce was finalized in 2010 . In a 2013 episode of “ Dr . Phil , ” Miller described a moment as their marriage ended . “ I had taken down all his jerseys that he has framed and I was just going to lay them all flat in the driveway so when he drove up in his Hummer he would run over all of them , ” she said on the show . Daly announced his engagement to Cladakis on Twitter in December . In a statement to ABC News , the golfer says he “ ca n ’ t wait ” to take the stand in the case . “ Ca n ’ t wait to get on stand in Supreme Court in Mississippi and tell them that Anna is the greatest woman in my life , ” Daly told ABC News . In a statement to ABC News from her attorney , Sherrie Miller believes the U.S. Supreme Court will side with her and “ looks forward to her day in court to establish Ms . Cladakis ’ responsibility for the break - up of her marriage . ” Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/US/las-vegas-shooting-mother-father-dead/story?id=50229707 | Las Vegas massacre : Portraits of the 58 victims The Sunday night shooting left 58 people dead . Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By EMILY SHAPIRO and JULIA JACOBO Oct 6 , 2017 6 : 46 AM Among the 58 killed in a mass shooting in Las Vegas Sunday night was a special education teacher , a kindergarten teacher and a nurse from Tennessee who saved his wife ' s life . Slideshow : Shooting at Las Vegas concert Here is what we know about the 58 victims of the massacre : Laura Shipp ( Facebook ) Laura Shippone , of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Las Vegas resident Laura Shipp , 50 , died in the shooting , her brother , Steve Shipp , confirmed to ABC News . Laura Shipp was originally from Thousand Oaks , California , but moved to Las Vegas five years ago , Steve Shipp said . Laura Shipp had attended multiple days of the country music festival , according to a GoFundMe account set up in her honor . Her son also works in Las Vegas , according to the GoFundMe page . Quinton Robbins Thanks for roasting me , seeing scary movies with me even though you hate them , buying me breakfast burritos at 11 o ' clock at night , letting me win against you in golf clash , taking me fishing and not getting mad when I dropped your pliers off the boat , still liking me even though I broke the sunroof in your car the second time we hung out , helping me improve my golf swing , taking me to go sit in the car and watch lightning and talking about life , making me the worlds best A post shared by Ally Plumlee ? ( @ ally_lynn_ ) on Oct 2 , 2017 at 4 : 21pm PDT Quinton Robbins , 20 , of Henderson , Nevada , died a few hours after the shooting , according to his girlfriend , Ally Plumlee . Plumlee wrote on Instagram , " I love you more than life . you got hurt trying to protect me and I have no words . . . I love you so much and I know I ’ ll see you again . " Bailey Schweitzer ( Infinity Communications and Consulting , Inc . ) Bailey Schweitzer , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Bailey Schweitzer , a 20 - year - old from Bakersfield , California , died in the shooting , according to ABC affiliate KERO - TV . Her employer , Infinity Communications and Consulting , Inc . , in a statement described her as a " ray of sunshine " in the office . " No one could possibly have a bad day when Bailey was around , " the company said . Neysa Tonks ( Technologent ) Neysa Tonks , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Victims Neysa Tonks leaves behind three sons , according to her employer , Las Vegas - based technology solutions company Technologent . Technologent described Tonks as a " great mother , colleague and friend . " Carrie Barnette ( Handout ) Carrie Barnette , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Carrie Barnette , a member of the culinary team for Disney California Adventure for 10 years , died in the attack , Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement . Disney is the parent company of ABC News . Another Disney cast member , Jessica Milam , was seriously injured in the shooting , Iger said . A senseless , horrific , act , and a terrible loss for so many . We mourn a wonderful member of the Disney family : Carrie Barnette . Tragic . — Robert Iger ( @ RobertIger ) October 3 , 2017 " Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the tragic events in Las Vegas - – the victims of violence , the witnesses , and the friends and families mourning loved ones , " Iger said . Dorene Anderson ( Facebook ) Dorene Anderson , second from left , is pictured with her husband and two daughters . Anderson was one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Dorene Anderson was visiting Las Vegas with her husband and two daughters when she was killed , her friend , Marie English , told ABC News . English said Anderson was the treasurer for the Cowbell CREW , a nonprofit based in Anchorage , Alaska , that supports local hockey teams . English described Anderson as " very friendly and genuine , " saying she had a " kind heart . " Jennifer Parks ( Anaverde Hills School ) Jennifer Parks , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Jennifer Parks , a teacher at Anaverde Hills , a public school in Palmdale , California , also died in the attack , the Westside Union School District announced . Parks had just entered her third year of teaching kindergarten at the school , the district said . " She was always enthusiastic , energetic , committed and dedicated to her students , her colleagues and was so proud to be a teacher . Her spirit was something to behold , " the school district said . " The students who were instructed by her knew what it was to love learning as Jennifer gave them the sense of wonder , curiosity and excitement about all they did . " The district added , " Our team of crisis counselors are at the school to assist students , staff and family from this terrible event impacting those at Anaverde Hills School or elsewhere within the school district . " Chris Roybal ( WLS ) Chris Roybal , was one of the people killed when a gunman opened fire at a country music festival in Las Vegas , Oct . 1 , 2017 . Chris Roybal , 28 , a veteran who served in Afghanistan , was among the victims , ABC Chicago station WLS reported . Rhonda LeRocque ( Facebook via AP ) This undated photo shows Rhonda LeRocque , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Rhonda LeRocque , a wife and mother to a 6 - year - old girl , was among those killed , her mother , Priscilla Champagne , told reporters . LeRocque , an active Jehovah ’ s Witness , worked as a nanny , and loved to cook , bake and travel , her mother said . LeRocque and her husband dreamed of moving to Hawaii . Champagne said when she was called with the news , “ I was devastated . I was in shock . No mother deserves to get a phone call like that about their baby . ” “ She was enjoying country music and they were going to . . . take their baby girl to Disney , " Champagne said . " She was a beautiful person , " the mourning mother said . " She was perfect in every sense of the word . She was a perfect mother , a perfect daughter , perfect granddaughter , perfect sister , perfect wife . She was perfect . This is a tragic loss for this family . ” Derrick “ Bo ” Taylor ( CDCR ) Derrick “ Bo ” Taylor , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Derrick “ Bo ” Taylor , a 29 - year veteran of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation who led inmates fighting wildfires , was killed in Las Vegas , according to the Las Vegas Review - Journal . Taylor was at the concert with his girlfriend , who also died , according to the paper . Denise Cohen ( Facebook ) Denise Cohen , , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Denise Cohen , a mother of two sons , died at the concert along with Taylor , her boyfriend , the Las Vegas Review - Journal reported . Cohen loved country music and traveling , the paper said . " Everyone who knows her will tell you she was a happy , free spirit , " her sister , Kristal Vogel , said , according to ABC station KGO Keri Galvan ( Facebook via AP ) This undated photo shows Keri Lynn Galvan , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire on Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Thousand Oaks , California resident Keri Galvan - - a mother of three - - was killed in the Las Vegas attack , her employer , Landry ' s , Inc . , said in a statement . Galvan had worked for Mastro ' s Steakhouse for almost a decade , the statement read . She leaves behind her husband and children , ages 10 , 4 , and 2 , according to a GoFundMe page set up by her sister , Lindsey Poole . Brian Fraser Brian Fraser , a resident of La Palma , California and vice president of sales for Greenpath Funding , was killed in the shooting Sunday , Greenpath said in a statement on Facebook . " Fraser impacted everyone who crossed his path with his infectious energy , " Greenpath said . Fraser was an alumnus of California State Polytechnic University in Pomona , California , the school said in a statement . Andrea Castilla Andrea Castilla died in the Las Vegas attack , her brother , Adam , confirmed . Her family , who was with her at the concert , called her a " beautiful soul . " Sonny Melton This undated photo shows Sonny Melton , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Sonny Melton , R.N. , was killed in the attack , his employer , Henry County Medical Center in Paris , Tennessee , said . According to White House press secretary Sarah Sanders , he died shielding his wife , Dr . Heather Melton , who survived . " When the bullets began raining down , Sonny shielded her from danger , giving up his life to save hers , " Sanders said at Monday ' s press briefing . Thomas Gee , CEO at Henry County Medical Center , said in a statement , “ The thoughts and prayers of the entire HCMC family are with Sonny and Heather ’ s families . ” Heather Melton , an orthopaedic surgeon , told NBC affiliate WSMV her husband saved her life . " He saved my life . He grabbed me and started running when I felt him get shot in the back , " she said . " I want everyone to know what a kind - hearted , loving man he was , but at this point , I can barely breathe . " The medical center said it has " provided counselors for any staff affected by this horrible incident . " " This event is a traumatic life experience for those there and those that are a part of the HCMC caring community , " the medical center added . " If you are struggling to understand this event or other types of losses , HCMC has staff available at Lake Haven Behavioral Center . HCMC will be offering information and mental health tips to our partners , families and our community throughout this month as we all begin to cope with this tragedy . " Sandy Casey ( Manhattan Beach Unified School District ) Sandy Casey , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Another victim was identified as Sandy Casey , a special education teacher in Manhattan Beach , California . Michael Matthews , superintendent of Schools at the Manhattan Beach Unified School District , said several other members of the school community were at the concert , including a principal and school psychologists . " This is unbelievably sad and tragic , " Matthews said in a letter to families . " We wanted to let you know so that you can be prepared to support your children and to help them process this information . As you can imagine , this loss is impacting many of our staff members deeply , and while we collectively grieve , we will be working to provide support to everyone affected . " Matthews said counselors will be available to provide support for students , teachers and parents . Denise Burditus ( Facebook ) Denise Burditus , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . West Virginia resident Denise Burditus died in her husband ' s arms . Tony Burditus wrote on Facebook that he lost his wife of 32 years , who was a mother of two and soon - to - be grandmother of five . Susan Smith ( Simi Valley School District ) Susan Smith was killed while attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas when a man opened fire on concertgoers , Oct . 1 , 2017 . Simi Valley Unified School District employee Susan Smith was also killed while attending the concert . Smith had worked at the Vista Elementary School in Simi Valley , California , for three years and the school district for 16 years , a spokesperson for the school district told ABC News . Lisa Romero - Muniz ( Lisa Romero / Facebook ) Lisa Romero was killed , Oct . 1 , 2017 , during a mass shooting at a country music concert in Las Vegas . Lisa Romero - Muniz , a discipline secretary at Miyamura High School in Gallup , New Mexico , also died in the attack , the school confirmed . Rachael Parker ( Manhattan Beach Police Department ) Rachael Parker was killed while attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas when Stephen Paddock opened fire on concertgoers , Oct . 1 , 2017 . Rachael Parker was among two employees from California ' s Manhattan Beach Police Department who were shot , according to a police press release . Parker , a records technician , died in the hospital , police said . " She was employed with the Manhattan Beach Police Department for 10 years and will be greatly missed , " the press release read . The other department employee who was shot - - a sworn police officer - - suffered minor injuries , police said . Dana Gardner ( WLS ) Dana Gardner , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Dana Gardner , 52 , a mother of three , also died in the attack . Gardner ' s daughter , Kayla , was with her during the shooting but was not injured , Gardner ' s sister , Amber Harton , told ABC News . Charleston Hartfield ( Nevada Office of the Military ) Sgt . 1st Class Charleston Hartfield of the Nevada Army National Guard was one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Charleston Hartfield , a Nevada Army National Guard Sgt . 1st Class and a Las Vegas police officer , was attending the concert when he was shot and killed , the Nevada National Guard said . “ Charleston Hartfield lived to serve the public and protect his family , " Brig . Gen . William Burks , the adjutant general of the Nevada National Guard , said in a statement . " He is the epitome of a citizen - soldier . ” Brig . Gen . Zachary Doser , commander , Nevada Army National Guard , said in the statement , “ Sgt . 1st Class Hartfield epitomizes everything good about America and those who wear the uniform representative of the most powerful Army in the world . " Hannah Ahlers Hannah Ahlers , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Another victim was Hannah Ahlers , a 35 - year - old mother of three from Murrieta , California , according to WLS . Jordan McIldoon ( CTV ) Jordan Mcildoon , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Jordan McIldoon of Maple Ridge , British Columbia , was killed in the mass shooting , CTV reported . Angela Gomez ( Riverside Unified School District ) Angela Gomez , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Riverside Polytechnic High School in California confirmed that Angela Gomez , a former student who graduated in 2015 , died in the shooting . Jessica Klymchuk This undated photo shows Jessica Klymchuk , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Victim Jessica Klymchuk was an educational assistant , librarian and bus driver at St . Stephen ’ s Catholic school in Alberta , Canada , according to her employer , the superintendent ’ s office of the Holy Family Catholic Regional Division . Alberta Minister of Education David Eggen tweeted , " I ' m devastated to learn that one of the victims of last night ’ s mass shooting in Las Vegas was an EA , librarian & bus driver for @ HFCRD37 [ Holy Family Catholic Regional Division ] . " Erick Silva Erick Silva one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Victim Erick Silva , 21 , lived in Las Vegas and worked for the Contemporary Services Corporation , according to his stepsister , Daisy Hernandez . Christiana Duarte Christiana Duarte , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Christiana Duarte of California was among the victims , her family said . Duarte , 22 , was with her brother ’ s girlfriend at the time of the shooting , according to the Daily Breeze According to the Daily Breeze , Duarte graduated from the University of Arizona and worked as a fan services associate for the Los Angeles Kings . The Kings will honor Duarte and the other victims as a part of the team ' s first regular season game on Thursday . Michelle Vo ( New York Life ) Michelle Vo , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Michelle Vo of Pasadena , California , was among the victims , according to her employer . “ Like all Americans , we are shocked and saddened at the terrible tragedy that has unfolded in Las Vegas , " a New York Life spokesperson said . " Our grief is deepened by knowing that a member of the New York Life family , Michelle Vo , an agent in our Greater Pasadena office , was among those killed . During this terrible time , our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and loved ones . ” Brennan Stewart ( Family handout ) Brennan Stewart , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Las Vegas resident Brennan Stewart was also killed in the attack , as he shielded his girlfriend and helped others to safety , his family said in a statement . Stewart was the " kind of guy who always put others before himself , " the statement read . He played the guitar and loved country music , rarely missing an opportunity to attend a country concert , his family said . He also loved the Atlanta Braves , the San Francisco 49ers and hunting , according to the statement . " We had hope and were desperately searching for him all night and day until we got the news , " Stewart ' s friend , Jeremy Jones , said . " Brennan was a best friend of mine . He is one of two brothers , and I have been best friends with him and his brother for 20 years . " Austin Davis ( facebook ) Austin Davis LV victim Austin Davis , 29 , was among the victims , according to a GoFundMe page established by his friend , Katelyn Hood . Hood wrote that Davis ' parents headed to Las Vegas the moment they heard their only child was potentially hurt . " Not being able to find him in the chaos , they ended up waiting 20 + hours in the hospital to even know if their son and loved one was alive , " she wrote . " Their bond as a family is unlike anything I ' ve ever witnessed . . . . . Their pride and joy to every extent . They raised the best son . " " Austin met his high school sweetheart 9 years ago , Aubree , " Hood wrote . " My heart hurts for them more than words can describe . Austin was my best friend , my sons god father . " John Phippen This undated photo shows John Phippen , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . John Phippen , a father of six , was among the victims , ABC station KABC in Los Angeles reported Phippen , 56 , of Santa Clarita , California , was in the crowd with his adult son , Travis , who was injured , KABC reported . KABC reported that " Phippen had been supporting three of his children , between the ages of 15 and 24 , since the death of his second wife three years ago . " Paul Nagyivanyi told KABC that Phippen was a " once - in - a - lifetime friend . " Tom Day Jr . Tom Day Jr . is pictured with his daughter Kelsey - Lee Day , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Tom Day Jr . died in the shooting , said one of his daughters , Kelsey - Lee Day . His four children were with him at the concert , according to The Los Angeles Times . " He was the best dad , " Day ’ s father , Thomas Day Sr . , said , The Times reported . Melissa Ramirez Melissa Ramirez , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Victim Melissa Ramirez graduated from Cal State Bakersfield in 2014 . CSUB President Horace Mitchell said , “ We are terribly saddened to learn that we lost a member of our CSUB family in this senseless act of violence . Our entire CSUB campus community is heartbroken , and we send our deepest sympathies to Melissa Ramirez ’ s family and friends . ” Flags at CSUB were lowered to half staff in her honor . Stacee Etcheber Stacee Etcheber one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Victim Stacee Etcheber , mother to a 10 - year - old boy and a 13 - year - old girl , was at the concert with her husband Vinnie Etcheber , a San Francisco police officer , ABC station KGO reported Vinnie Etcheber told his wife to run as he helped victims , said the officer ' s brother , Al Etcheber , according to KGO . " She probably did n ' t run too far , she probably turned right back around and wanted to be there with her husband that ' s just the person she was , " Al Etcheber said , according to KGO . Stacee Etcheber was missing after the concert ; the family later learned she died . Steve Berger ( EFS Advisors ) Steve Berger , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Victim Steve Berger was a father of three from Minnesota , according to ABC affiliate KSTP " Steve was the most humble guy , " his father , Richard Berger , said , according to KSTP . " Just a great father . " He was in Las Vegas with friends to celebrate his 44th birthday , KSTP reported . Kurt Von Tillow Kurt Von Tillow , a husband , father and grandfather from northern California , was among the victims , according to ABC affiliate KXTV in Sacramento . He was with his wife at the time , who was not injured , KXTV said . His family told KXTV he loved golf and was very patriotic , always wearing red , white and blue . Carrie Parsons Carrie Parsons , 31 , a Seattle woman who loved country music , was on a girls trip when she died at the concert , according to ABC affiliate KOMO in Seattle She worked as a recruiter and recently got engaged in Hawaii , KOMO reported . Victor Link ( Family handout ) Victor Link , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Victor Link , 52 , of California , had just returned from a Europe trip with his fiance when he headed to Las Vegas , according to the Orange County Register Link is survived by his adopted adult son , Christian Link , who in a Facebook post promised to accomplish the goals he had set with his dad , the Orange County Register reported . Link ’ s family said in a statement , " Victor was a loving fiance , proud father , loyal son , protective brother , supportive uncle and kind friend . . . . While we mourn the loss of a great man , we also celebrate the wonderful life he led . " Heather Alvarado This undated photo shows Heather Alvarado , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Utah resident Heather Alvarado , a mother of three children ages 4 , 7 and 14 , was among the victims , according to the Salt Lake City Tribune . According to the Las Vegas - Review Journal , Alvarado ' s husband , a firefighter , released a statement through the Cedar City Police Department , saying his wife " always saw the good in others . " “ She spent her whole life serving others in her family and community , " he said , according to the newspaper . " She was happiest when she was together with her family , especially her children and she would do anything for them . ” Lisa Patterson ( Obtained by ABC News ) This undated photo shows Lisa Patterson , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire on Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Victim Lisa Patterson of California was a mother of three , a family friend said . She was a " constant presence " at the local girls softball league , where she and her husband , Bob , " spent endless hours donating their time and energy to help the girls of our community , " according to a GoFundMe page . Cameron Robinson Cameron Robinson , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Cameron Robinson , 28 , who worked as a management analyst for the city of Las Vegas , attended the concert with his boyfriend , according to The New York Times . Robinson died in his boyfriend ' s arms , The New York Times said . Tara Roe ( Sophia Models ) Tara Smith Roe , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Victim Tara Roe , 34 , of Canada , was in Las Vegas with her husband and another couple , her aunt Val Rodgers said , according to CTV . Roe was a model and also worked as an educational assistant for a school district , CTV said . " She was a wonderful mother and our family is going to miss her dearly , " Rodgers said , according to CTV . Calla Medig This undated photo shows Calla Medig , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Victim Calla Medig , 28 , of Canada , took time off from her job at a Moxie ' s restaurant to attend the music festival , her boss Scott Collingwood said , according to CTV . " She was kind of a rock and , as of Thursday , she would have been our newest manager , " Collingwood said , according to CTV . " A lot of us around here have super heavy hearts and we already miss her . " Bill Wolfe Jr . ( Family handout ) Bill Wolfe Jr . , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Bill Wolfe Jr . of Pennsylvania was among the victims , according to the Shippensburg Police Department . The police department said in a Facebook post , " It is with the most of broken hearts , the families of Bill Wolfe Jr . and his wife Robyn share that Bill has been confirmed to be among the deceased . . . . Please continue to hold our entire family as well as those affected across the nation in your unending prayers . " According to ABC station WPVI in Philadelphia , Wolfe coached for Shippensburg Little League and Shippensburg Greyhound Wrestling . WPVI said the little league board said in a statement , " His leadership , enthusiasm , and care and concern for these children will be greatly missed and certainly never forgotten in this community . " Candice Bowers Candice Bowers , a mother of three , is among the dead , her friend said . " Candice left this world doing what she loved , dancing to country music among loved ones , " a GoFundMe page said . " She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her . " Jordyn Rivera ( CSUSB ) Jordyn Rivera , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire , Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Jordyn Rivera , a fourth - year student at Cal State San Bernardino ' s Health Care Management program , was among the dead . CSUSB President Tomas D . Morales said in a statement , " I personally got a chance to know her when we spent time together last summer in London during the summer abroad program . As one of her faculty members noted , we will remember and treasure her for her warmth , optimism , energy , and kindness . " " This is a devastating loss for the entire CSUSB family , " Morales said . " In this time of grief , our thoughts and prayers are with Jordyn ’ s family , friends and all who knew her . " Adrian Murfitt ( Avonna Murfit via AP ) Adrian Murfitt , was one of the people killed when a gunman opened fire at a country music festival in Las Vegas , Oct . 1 , 2017 . Adrian Murfitt , 35 , a commercial fisherman from Anchorage , Alaska , was among those killed , his friend Ian Anderson told ABC News . Murfitt ' s best friend , Brian MacKinnon , wrote on Facebook that Murfitt died in his arms , according to the Alaska Dispatch News . " He was always happy , " MacKinnon said , according to the Alaska Dispatch News . " He was just a top - notch friend . " Rocio Rocha Guillen Victim Rocio Rocha Guillen was a mother of four , including a 1 - month - old baby boy , a family member said . She is also survived by her fiance , according to a GoFundMe page . " Her greatest accomplishment was being a mother as she would always say , " the GoFundMe page said . " She was a supermom , always working hard and juggling everything to be the best mom to her 4 children . " Nicol Kimura ( GoFundMe ) Nicol Kimura , one of the people killed in Las Vegas after a gunman opened fire on Oct . 1 , 2017 , at a country music festival . Nicol Kimura , 38 , of southern California , was among the victims , the Orange County Register reported . Friend Ryan Miller wrote on a GoFundMe page , " Our close knit group of 7 was in attendance together at Route 91 , up from Orange County , California . We scattered after the shooting began and were reunited , less one , many hours later . " According to the Orange County Register , Miller said Kimura " had the most infectious laugh and personality . . . . She was always loving and considerate to her friends . Her spirit will live on with us forever . ” Chris Hazencomb Chris Hazencomb , of California , spent his 44th birthday with his mother four days before he was killed , the Las Vegas - Review Journal reported His mother , Maryanne Hazencomb , who took her son off life support Monday , said her son “ evidently saved [ his friend ] from getting hit so she could raise her two boys with her husband , " the paper reported . Brett Schwanbeck Brett Schwanbeck , a father and grandfather , was at the concert with his fiance when he was fatally shot , family friend Carla Dawn told ABC News . " Brett was a great man that was funny , generous , kind , loving and so full of joy ! " Dawn wrote on a GoFundMe page . " He would drive 500 miles to help you if you needed it . He loved his family dearly and cherished lake trips , family gatherings , hunting , camping and spending time with his kids and grandkids . He was so loving and this tradegy is so difficult on everyone close to him . " Las Vegas shooting : What photographer backstage during Jason Aldean ' s performance saw when gunfire started Survivors of Pulse , Virginia Tech share messages of hope after Las Vegas shooting Jack Beaton The 54 - year - old Jack Beaton was a resident of Bakersfield , California and married father of two children , according to his obituary published in the Bakersfield Californian . Beaton ' s 23rd wedding anniversary was the day of the shooting and he was in Las Vegas celebrating with his wife , Laurie . Jennifer Irvine Jennifer Irvine , 42 , was a lawyer in San Diego and a graduate of the University of San Diego and California Western School of Law , according to ABC affiliate KGTV . " It just does n ' t seem real to me at all , " Irvine ' s friend Sarah Whyte told KGTV . " I ' m at a loss for words to be honest with you . " Carly Kreibaum Carly Kreibaum was from Sutherland , Iowa and had gone on vacation to Las Vegas with friends , according to The Associated Press . The 33 - year - old was a mother of two and had attended Wayne State in Nebraska . Kelsey Meadows Kelsey Meadows was a substitute teacher in her hometown of Taft , California and just 27 years old . Her death was confirmed by her brother , ABC affiliate KERO . Her alma mater , Fresno State University , released a statement saying flags would be flown at half staff in her honor . " We have received the devastating news that Fresno State alumna Kelsey Meadows was one of the victims who lost her life as a result of the Las Vegas shooting Oct . 1 , " the statement read . " We are saddened by this tragic loss of such a promising young life . " Patricia Mestas Patricia Mestas , 67 , was a native of Menifee Lakes , California and was attending the concert with her friend and son when she was killed , according to ABC station KABC . Mestas was the oldest person to die in the massacre . Austin Meyer Austin Meyer was attending the concert with his fiancee , Dana Getreu , according to KSBW . The 24 - year - old was celebrating his birthday two weeks prior and his recent move to Reno , Nevada . The Oct . 1 shooting is the deadliest in modern U.S. history . Besides the 58 fatalities , 489 people were injured . Police said that after the shooting , the lone suspect was found dead when authorities stormed his Mandalay Bay hotel room . ABC News ' Dominick Proto , Teri Whitcraft , Zunaira Zaki , Jessica Puckett , Esther Castillejo , Mya Green and Emilie Richardson contributed to this report . Comments 0 | [
"Las Vegas massacre",
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http://abcnews.go.com/US/location-adam-lanzas-body-mass-shooters-unknown/story?id=18100476 | The Location of Adam Lanza ' s Body , Like Most Mass Shooters , Is Unknown The graves of most mass shooters remain a mystery . By SHUSHANNAH WALSHE Dec . 31 , 2012& # 151 ; — Dec 31 , 2012 6 : 54 AM The body of Adam Lanza , who carried out the Newtown , Conn . , school massacre , has been claimed but the whereabouts of the corpse remains unknown . The body was claimed by Lanza ' s father , Peter Lanza , according to a family spokesperson . Adam Lanza , 20 , killed himself after he shot his mother and then slaughtered 20 first graders and six school staffers at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec . 14 in one of the worst school shootings in American history . The funeral home wants to remain anonymous and geneticists at the University of Connecticut have agreed to a request from the state medical examiner to study his DNA in what seems to be a first of its kind study . But like many of the mass murderers before Lanza , what happens to his body will likely be unknown . James Fox , a professor of criminology at Northeastern University and a mass shooting expert said in these types of cases " the grave is not marked because the family is afraid the grave will be defaced . " " When there is a funeral for the perpetrator it is private , " Fox said . " Press is not kept apprised of when it is or where it is for the same reason . " Fox said it ' s often also because the " families do n ' t want the attention . " " Families are often blamed , " Fox said . " If they did n ' t have a role in creating the dysfunction , people feel they should have seen something and intervened . It ' s not fair to blame them . They are not to blame , but it ' s the truth . " That is reportedly what happened to the two who were the first to become infamous for a school attack : Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris who committed the Columbine High School shooting . At the time , U.S. News and World Report covered Klebold ' s funeral . " Only a handful of people came to say goodbye to Dylan Klebold , " the magazine reported in May 1999 . " His long , skinny body fit awkwardly into the cardboard casket where it would lie until cremation . His hands were folded on his chest , and stuffed animals surrounded him . " The article said that the stories told from those attending made it seem as though his " life had ended at age 12 , not five years later in a murderous rampage . " The Roanoke Times reported at the time that the Virginia Tech Shooter Sueng - Hui Cho ' s body was released to his family and he is reportedly buried in Fairfax , Va . , but no other details of his burial were ever made public . Recent confessed serial killer Israel Keyes ' family held a funeral for him earlier this month in the small Washington town of Deer Park , according to the Associated Press . He killed himself in his Anchorage , Alaska , jail cell after confessing to murdering eight people . His immediate family attended , but his burial was also in an undisclosed location in Washington State . Like rampage shooters , serial killers are often buried in unmarked gravesites . At the time , the Associated Press reported that Ted Bundy requested in his will for his body to be cremated and his ashes scattered over Washington State ' s Cascade Mountains in an undisclosed location . ABC News ' Aaron Katersky contributed to this report Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/US/prison-living-hell-pedophiles/story?id=90004 | Prison Is ' Living Hell ' for Pedophiles By MICHAEL S . JAMES Aug . 26 , 2003 & # 151 ; — Aug 19 , 2015 11 : 45 AM In prison , fellow inmates derisively call pedophiles " chesters , " " tree jumpers " and " short eyes . " Prison can be a menacing place for child molesters like the former Roman Catholic priest John Geoghan , who was killed in his cell Saturday — or for other alleged pedophile priests working their way through the criminal justice system . " If you take out a sex offender like this former priest in Massachusetts , maybe the person who took him out thought he ' d make a name of himself , " said Margot Bach , a spokeswoman for California Department of Corrections . " Taking [ a pedophile ] out would gain [ the killer ] a lot more respect among the other inmates . " In fact , Goeghan ' s accused killer , Joseph Druce , " looked upon Father Geoghan as a prize , " and plotted his killing for a month , John Conte , district attorney for Worcester County , Mass . , told reporters Monday . Though prison officials in some Northeastern states question the idea of an automatic social hierarchy among prisoners based solely upon their offenses , most agree that if there is one , child molesters and informants — derided as " snitches " — occupy the lowest rungs . ‘ They Usually Do n ’ t Make It ’ Such offenders , including Geoghan , often are placed into protective custody with other prisoners seen to be under a threat . " Once their crime has become known , they usually do n ' t make it " without protective custody , said Lt . Ken Lewis , a corrections officer and spokesman at California ' s Los Angeles County State Prison . " There ' s a lot of [ pedophiles ] that can successfully make it … as long as they do n ' t brag about their offense . " If they do talk , " they ' ll get beat up , " Lewis added . " In some places he may even get his throat cut . " That potentially could mean a lot of inmates at risk . At the end of 2001 , about 83,000 state prison inmates , or about 6.8 percent , were male sex offenders who had committed a rape or sexual assault against a minor under age 18 , according to Allen Beck , chief of corrections statistics for the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics . Just 56 state and federal prisoners out of a population of about 1.3 million were actually killed by other inmates during the yearlong period between July 1999 and June 2000 , and it was unknown how many were pedophiles , Beck said . But unpopular prisoners also can be harassed in other ways . " [ Child sex offenders ] are at risk of being murdered , having their food taken , having their cells defecated and urinated in , " said Leslie Walker , a prisoner ' s rights activist with the Massachusetts Correctional Legal Society . " Their life is truly a living hell . " ‘ Who ’ s Running This ’ Prison ? Part of the reason pedophiles can be so reviled is that some inmates are parents , and many were themselves sexually abused as children , some say . Druce ' s father told The Boston Herald that Druce frequently had been molested . Some reports have described Druce , 37 , as a member of the neo - Nazi hate group Aryan Nation . In particular , Druce — who is serving a life sentence for killing a gay man who picked him up as a hitchhiker in 1988 — " has a long - standing phobia , it appears , towards homosexuals of any kind , " Conte said . With such a background , critics — including Walker and Kazi Toure , an ex - convict and prisoner support worker who still visits Massachusetts prisons — are asking how Druce could have been placed in protective custody so near to the frail , 68 - year - old Geoghan at the maximum - security Souza - Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley , Mass . Walker cited " a culture of looking the other way in prison . " Toure , co - director of the American Friends Service Committee ' s Criminal Justice Program in Cambridge , Mass . , said he , too , was suspicious . " For this guy who is in prison for killing a gay person … he ' s seeing Geoghan every day , so this stuff has got to be coming up inside of him , " Toure said . " We ' re spending all this money [ on high - tech prisons ] , and the guy got killed , and they want to blame it on the crazy guy ? Who ' s running this ? " Michael Shively , a former Massachusetts corrections official , said even though Geoghan was in protective custody , it was impossible to completely guarantee his safety given that the other inmates who require protection are drawn from a difficult and dangerous population . " To put together a group of people where it looks like no offender is a threat to another offender is almost impossible when you ' re drawing from that pool , " Shively said . Local Variations The pool of prisoners in protective custody can vary from state to state , and does not automatically include all child molesters and informants , officials and aid workers said . California prison officials described a good deal of racial and gang affiliation among that state ' s prison population and a crime - based hierarchy among inmates — with certain murderers at the top of the heap . Ironically , they said killing someone either at the top or the bottom of the totem pole will garner respect for the killer among fellow inmates — so child molesters and high - profile killers both tend to be given protective custody unless they ' re deemed tough or discreet enough to get along in the general population . But things are different in other parts of the country , said Ed Ramsey , a spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Corrections , and a former corrections officer at a maximum - security prison in the state . Ramsey does not see a clearly defined " hierarchy of crimes " among Connecticut inmates , nor large amounts of self - segregation along gang and racial lines . Therefore , he said , the state evaluates candidates for protective custody on a case - by - case basis — considering those who legitimately feel endangered , or who the institution sees as potential targets and therefore threats to maintaining order . Such targets might include inmates in high - profile cases or jailed former law enforcement officers . In a further effort to maintain order , Connecticut officials do segregate suspected members of certain gangs , including the Aryan Brotherhood , within the prison system , Ramsey said . Toure said although Massachusetts inmates may mock or scorn pedophiles , he does not see a strict hierarchy of crimes in the state ' s prisons that would lead to violence . " I left Walpole [ a maximum - security prison in Massachusetts ] in ' 87 and there was n ' t a P.C. [ protective custody ] unit anymore … because that stuff was n ' t happening anymore , because people were n ' t killing other people because of sex offenders or anything like that , " he said . " It had died down . " But Toure said hate can fuel violence if it festers , and as prison services for inmates are cut due to budget constraints , inmates with personal issues can lash out at others who personify their problems . He said the Geoghan killing might be a case in point . " They do n ' t give [ Druce ] any counseling or any programs to help him deal with any problems that brought him in prison , " Toure claimed . " Then , they put him in protective custody … with John Geoghan , who ' s in jail for child molestation . " ABCNEWS ' Dan Harris contributed to this report . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/US/robert-durst-alleged-victim-susan-berman/story?id=29665261 | Robert Durst : What You Need to Know About His Alleged Victim Susan Berman Susan Berman , a journalist , met Durst at UCLA . Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By EMILY SHAPIRO Mar 16 , 2015 9 : 44 AM The HBO series " The Jinx : The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst " ended Sunday night , a day after Robert Durst was arrested on a capital murder warrant issued by Los Angeles police in relation to the death of Susan Berman . While the arrest and series finale may have provided answers to some of the mysteries surrounding Durst , there are still questions about who killed Berman , the woman at the center of the new arrest . Who was the woman who was friends with Durst and was later gunned down in her home 15 years ago ? What was their friendship like ? Did Berman know what happened to Durst ' s wife , Kathleen Durst ? Real Estate Heir Robert Durst Appears in Court Robert Durst Says on HBO ' What the Hell Did I Do ? Killed Them All Murder Investigation Reopened As HBO Airs Robert Durst Documentary ' The Jinx ' Berman grew up in Las Vegas , the daughter of a gangster . Both of her parents died while she was a child . She later became a journalist , living in New York and Los Angeles , where she befriended Durst - - a New York real estate heir - - at UCLA . ( Orleans Parish Sheriff ' s Office ) Robert Durst was arrested in New Orleans , Saturday night , March 14 , 2015 . According to a New York magazine feature , Berman had several phobias and was paranoid about dying . " She could n ' t cross bridges or drive on certain streets , she could n ' t eat in a restaurant without interrogating the waiters or summoning the chef ( panicked that she would die from one of her countless allergies ) , " New York Magazine reported , " and she could n ' t go above the third floor in a building unless accompanied by ' a big strong man ' and assured that the windows were ' hermetically sealed " ' ( her biggest phobia was that she would hurl herself out a window ) . ' " Berman referred to Durst as her " brother , " according to the article . At her wedding in 1984 , Durst even gave her away . Berman ' s marriage ended in divorce . While she never had children of her own , she considered the son and daughter of an ex - boyfriend her adopted children . According to New York magazine , Berman had considered asking Durst to have a child with her . In the year before her death , Berman was out of money . When she asked Durst for a loan , he gave her $ 50,000 as a gift , New York magazine reported . Berman ' s death had been under investigation since her body was found in her home on Christmas Eve in 2000 , the Los Angeles Police Department said Sunday , and remained unsolved for 15 years . According to the New York Times , Berman was shot in the back of the head . " As a result of investigative leads and additional evidence that has come to light in the past year , investigators have identified Robert Durst as the person responsible for Ms . Berman ' s death , " the LAPD said Sunday . Durst was arrested the day before the last episode of " The Jinx " aired . In Sunday night ' s finale , Durst asked himself off - camera " What the hell did I do ? ” before answering , " Killed them all , of course . " While Durst has long denied killing Berman , some believe he had a motive - - allegedly wanting to silence her about the 1982 disappearance of his first wife , Kathleen Durst , another death for which he has been investigated but was never charged , investigators said . Berman was about to meet with investigators in New York about the disappearance of Kathleen Durst before she died , the New York Times reported . Berman provided Durst ' s alibi , according to New York magazine . " Susan lived by a mob - like code of loyalty , " New York magazine reported . " She would never , no matter how desperate , rat out a friend , even if she did know something incriminating . " Kathleen Durst was officially declared dead in 2001 , and Durst has said he has no idea what happened to her . Durst was also charged in the 2001 killing of a neighbor in Galveston , Texas , but he claimed self - defense and was later found not guilty . Durst , who participated in 25 hours of interviews for the HBO series , declined to comment to ABC News about the series . As a result of this weekend ' s arrest , Durst ' s brother Douglas Durst said in a statement : " We are relieved and also grateful to everyone who assisted in the arrest of Robert Durst . We hope he will finally be held accountable for all he has done . " HBO said in a statement , " We simply can not say enough about the brilliant job that Andrew Jarecki and Marc Smerling did in producing The Jinx . Years in the making , their thorough research and dogged reporting reignited interest in Robert Durst ' s story with the public and law enforcement . " Chip Lewis , Durst ' s attorney , told ABC News in a statement , " We will waive extradition in an attempt to expedite the process of getting into court in LA to answer and defend against the charges . " Comments 0 | [
"Robert Durst"
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http://abcnews.go.com/US/space-shuttle-challenger-explosion-25th-anniversary/story?id=12781669 | Remembering the Challenger : 25 Years Ago , Space Shuttle Exploded After Liftoff 25 years ago today , space shuttle blew up after liftoff Copy and paste to share this video Copy and paste to embed this video By KAREN TRAVERS , JESSICA SMALL and HELEN ZHANG Jan . 28 , 2011 & # 151 ; — Jan 27 , 2011 3 : 48 PM Just before noon on January 28 , 1986 , people watched with excitement as the space shuttle Challenger lifted off from its Florida launch pad - - but that excitement and hope soon turned into horror . Just seventy - three seconds after liftoff , Challenger exploded , killing all seven astronauts on board . One of its crew members was Christa McAuliffe , a school teacher from New Hampshire who had won a national competition to become the first teacher in space . The goal was to boost interest in space exploration among American school children , many of whom were watching the Challenger ' s launch live on television or in person . " We were all outside and the kids were all standing around and all of sudden we saw the smoke break into the Y shape , " said Kari Anna Roy , who was in fourth grade at an elementary school in Lutz , Fla . " The teachers immediately knew something was wrong and rushed us back inside . " Roy said it took a while for her and her fellow classmates to grasp what happened . " There was a teacher on board and we had been very excited about it and talking about it in school for a long time , " she said . " It was a pretty devastating kind of thing especially for a school and we had all directly seen it happen right there . " Kevin Baron , now a reporter for Stars and Stripes , said that his Orlando elementary school watched every shuttle launch . " We were in the lunchroom when the principal came in to tell us to turn on all the TVs , " Baron said . " We walked outside into the field and the smoke trail was still coming down . We spent the rest of the day in school watching TV . " Jen Vargas also watched the launch from her Orlando elementary school . " It was right before lunch , we were standing out there watching the shuttle go up . Usually it just goes straight up and it kind of veered off to the right . A lot of kids were confused , I was confused , " she said . " We were crying and upset because we knew we had just seen the astronauts walk out and wave into the crowd and everything , and then we see them go up and the explosion happened . The Challenger Disaster , 25 Years Later The horrifying image of that massive fireball in the sky was replayed endlessly on television and burned into Americans ' memories . President Ronald Reagan was scheduled to deliver his State of the Union Address that night , but the White House postponed the speech and instead the president tried to comfort a grieving nation . " We will never forget them , nor the last time we saw them , this morning , as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and slipped the surly bonds of earth ' ' to touch the face of God , " Reagan said in what was perhaps the most memorable speech of his presidency . Reagan also spoke directly to the nation ' s school children . " I know it is hard to understand , but sometimes painful things like this happen . It ' s all part of the process of exploration and discovery . It ' s all part of taking a chance and expanding man ' s horizons , " he said . " The future does n ' t belong to the fainthearted ; it belongs to the brave . The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future , and we ' ll continue to follow them . " The Challenger explosion not only dealt a major blow to the nation ' s psyche , but also to NASA . The shuttle program was grounded for nearly three years in the wake of the disaster as NASA investigated its cause . Ultimately , the investigation proved that the disaster could have been prevented . John Pike , a national security analyst and space specialist , said NASA still has not recovered from the Challenger disaster . " I think it ' s clear that NASA today is a consequence of the Challenger accident , because prior to the accident NASA had a confidence about where it was going and its ability to get there that it simply does n ' t have today . " NASA has no idea where it ' s going and is tremendously confused about how to get there . " In 2004 , after America lost a second shuttle , Columbia , President George W . Bush announced the retirement of the aging shuttle fleet by the end of the decade - - after nearly 30 years and more than 100 missions - - and the development of a new , more modern space exploration vehicle . The Challenger Disaster , 25 Years Later " Our current programs and vehicles for exploring space have brought us far , and they have served us well , " Bush said . " It has been used to conduct important research and to increase the sum of human knowledge . " Last year , President Obama announced a new direction for the nation ' s space program , scrapping plans to send another astronaut back to the moon and instead focusing efforts on reaching Mars . Obama came under considerable fire in recent weeks for his decision to cancel the Bush administration ' s plan to send an American manned mission to the moon for a seventh time . Obama insisted he was 100 percent committed to NASA ' s mission and future . " For me , the space program has always captured an essential part of what it means to be an American - - reaching for new heights , stretching beyond what previously did not seem possible , " Obama said last April to an audience of several hundred astronauts , engineers and members of the NASA community at the Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral , Fla . " And so , as president , I believe that space exploration is not a luxury , it ' s not an afterthought in America ' s quest for a brighter future Just two or three more space shuttle launches remain - - Discovery , which is scheduled to launch on Feb 24 ; and Endeavour , which is scheduled for April 19 . A launch of Atlantis is timelined for June but is not yet funded . Astronaut Mark Kelly , the husband of Rep . Gabrielle Giffords , is scheduled to command the Endeavour mission . Just as President Reagan promised in the hours after the tragedy , Americans still remember the Challenger and its crew . This week , the seven astronauts were honored at memorial services at Johnson Space Center in Houston and at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia . Today , there are nearly 50 Challenger Learning Centers worldwide , where hundreds of thousands of school children are encouraged to reach for the stars . Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/US/st-patricks-day-things/story?id=13157282 | St . Patrick ' s Day : 5 Things You ( Probably ) Did n ' t Know Five things you ( probably ) never knew about St . Paddy ' s . By by BRIAN BRAIKER March 17 , 2011 — Mar 17 , 2011 9 : 25 AM As we prepare to honor the patron saint of Ireland by donning green and drinking too much , it feels only fitting to pull the curtain back a bit on March 17 . So without further ado , here are five things you probably did n ' t know about St . Patrick ' s Day . Eire go brach ! 1 . St . Patrick , the Apostle of Ireland , was born in the year 387 at Kilpatrick , near Dumbarton . Which is in Scotland . Making Ireland ' s patron saint . . . Scottish . As a teenager , he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and enslaved as a shepherd for several years . He attributed his ability to persevere to his faith in God . 2 . His birth name was actually Maewyn Succat - - it was n ' t until he was in the Church that it was changed to Patricius , or Patrick . 3 . Green may be the national color of Ireland , but the color most associated with St . Patrick is blue . The Order of St . Patrick was established in 1783 as the senior order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Ireland . The color associated with the honor needed to differentiate it from the Order of the Garter ( dark blue ) and the Order of the Thistle ( green ) . So they went with a lovely shade of sky blue . 4 . Patrick used a three - leafed shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to pagan Irish , forever linking the shamrock with him and the Irish in the popular imagination . He would tie shamrocks to his robes , which is why we wear green today . ( The shamrock was also important in Celtic mythology because of its three leaves - - a sacred number to the Celts . ) 5 . The very first St . Patrick ' s Day parade was held in the U.S. The Irish have been celebrating the feast of St . Patrick since the ninth century , but the first recorded parade anywhere was in Boston in 1737 . The parade was not Catholic in nature , though , because the majority of Irish immigrants to the colonies were Protestant . Ireland did not have a parade of its own until 1931 , in Dublin . Even today , 18 out of the 20 largest St . Patrick ' s Day parades are in Comments 0 | [
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http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/05/mitchell-guist-star-of-swamp-people-reality-show-dead-at-48/ | Home > Entertainment Mitchell Guist , Star of ' Swamp People ' Reality Show , Dead at 48 May 15 , 2012 By KEVIN DOLAK Kevin Dolak More from Kevin » Homepage Editor Follow @ kdolak via GOOD MORNING AMERICA ' Swamp People ' Follows Gator Hunters in Louisiana ABCNEWS . com Next Video Star - Studded Premiere for " The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon " Auto Start : On | Off history . com Mitchell Guist , who stars on the reality television series " Swamp People , " died while on a boat in a Louisiana swamp country , according to a local sheriff . Guist , who was 48 , died Monday after he fell while on a boat on the Intracoastal Waterway near Pierre Part , Assumption Parish Sheriff Mike Waguespack confirmed . " Swamp People , " which airs on The History Channel , chronicles the lives and adventures of alligator hunters in Louisiana ' s Atchafalaya swamp country . " We are extremely saddened to report that our friend and beloved member of the " Swamp People " family , Mitchell Guist , has passed away , " The History Channel said Monday . " Mitchell passed on the swamp , doing what he loved . We appreciate your respect for the Guist family ' s privacy and hope you join us in sending our thoughts and prayers to his brother , Glenn , and the rest of the Guist family . " Sheriff Waguespack said that Guist died after he was taken to the Teche Regional Medical Center after he fell while on the waterway around 9 a.m. Monday , according to initial reports . Guist ' s cause of death or the fall is still unclear at this time , though Waguespack said that he appeared to have had a seizure . 911 calls indicate that locals on the scene went to extreme lengths to try to revive Guist with CPR . WAFB - TV reported that witnesses asked for ambulances or a helicopter . " You say he ' s in cardiac arrest ? " the 911 dispatcher asked " Yes sir , we ' re blowing and pumping the guy ' s chest right now … It looks like he may have had a heart attack , " the caller said . The History Channel said that Guist would have turned 49 on Friday . Join the Discussion | [
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http://abeautifulmess.com/2014/01/concrete-countertop-diy.html | 1 / 31 Concrete Countertop DIY D.I.Y. Project Home Decor Kitchen By Laura Gummerman “ I ’ m sorry , did you say I could make my own concrete countertop ? ? ” Yes I did ! In gathering our ideas for the new studio space , we realized that we would finally have a chance to try our own concrete countertop DIY . We loved reading about this DIY countertop last year and were so impressed that we wanted to try it ourselves . Here ’ s what we did : Supplies : Ardex Feather Finish ( we used two bags ) fine / medium / coarse sandpaper hand orbit sander ( optional but really helpful ) several sizes and widths of putty knives and drywall knives disposable containers to mix concrete concrete sealer painter ’ s tape paint roller and brush NOTE : We shopped locally for our sealer and were told that there were n ’ t any food - safe concrete sealers available . We chose to go ahead with the sealer they recommended , knowing we ’ d always use cutting boards to protect food from the counter surface . However , upon further research we have found a few sealers that say they are food safe ( like this one ) . First I sanded the surface of the existing formica countertop with a coarse sandpaper ( the cement will hold better to a rough surface ) . Next , I wiped the countertop clean with a damp rag and let dry . I found it really helpful to use painter ’ s tape a little above where the top of the backsplash meets the wall tile . This helped save the tile and the grout from the sanding and the color of the concrete . We also took out the sink so I could get under the lip of where the The back of the Feather Finish said to use a 1 part water to 2 parts dry cement ratio when mixing smaller amounts , and I used a disposable plastic cup to mix this ratio in my paper bucket . I suggest only doing 1 cup water and 2 cups of dry cement per batch so that you can spread it all before it dries ( any more and it tends to harden before you can use it ) . I used a small and a wide putty knife as well as a large drywall trowel . It was nice to have a mixture of tools When you come to a right angle ( like where the backsplash meets the counter ) it helps to use a wide putty knife and pull the wet cement up from the countertop on the backsplash part and towards yourself away from the wall on the countertop . Pulling the cement in the opposite directions helps give the corner a cleaner look . The hardest part of this whole job was the rounded angle on the top of the backsplash . I had to use the small putty knife to put small amounts of wet concrete on the rounded edge , smooth it out the best I could , but honestly , I shaped most of that area during sanding . If you ’ re ever in doubt , put too much concrete on - you can always sand off excess later , but you ca n ’ t add more without mixing another batch . I let the first coat completely air dry for 24 hours and then sanded that coat down with a medium sandpaper before adding another coat . You do n ’ t need to get the surface very smooth at this point , you just want to sand down anything that ’ s sticking up a lot higher than anything else . Use a shop vacuum to clean up the extra dust and mix your concrete to add another layer . I ended up doing three layers of concrete leaving at least 24 hours of dry time between each layer . After the final layer I spent several hours ( yes , several hours ) sanding the surface as smooth as possible . I used a coarse sandpaper first and then repeated the process with a much finer grade . I would suggest using thin gloves for this much hand sanding . I did n ’ t use any and my fingertips were not happy about for a few days ! I was able to use a hand sander for some of the initial sanding , but I had to be careful with it since it sometimes it seemed too strong and would create divots instead of smoothing them out . I also I used three coats of a water - based satin finish sealer . This sealer package recommended applying the sealer with a short nap roller and a brush for tighter areas , and that seemed to work really well . The sealer was the consistency of thinned skim milk , so you have to be careful not to splash it everywhere as you roll it on . Once the sealer was dry , we re - installed the sink and we were done ! You can see that the sealer darkened the countertop a bit , but I really like the dark contrast with the white tile and yellow cabinets ( white kitchen accessories like these really look pretty against the grey ) . So far it seems to be holding up and appears totally waterproof as well ( although if water sits on the surface for a while the area turns dark and lightens back up when it dries ) . I have to say that this was a rather physically demanding project ( I ca n ’ t even tell you how sore my arms were after the final round of sanding ) , but it was totally worth it . Even the contractors working in the house were impressed that I was able Credits / / Author : Laura Gummerman , Photography : Laura Gummerman and Elsie Larson . Print Your Own Recipe Cards ! How to Sew a Denim Rug Unpaper Towel DIY ( They Are Reuseable ! ) | [
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http://abetlaminati.com/en/decori/meg-wood-noce-ellero-630/ | 01 STANDARD COLOURS WOOD METAL CONCRETE 630 Noce Ellero Standard characteristics Thickness 2 3 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 mm Size 305 x 130 cm 420 x 130 cm 420 x 161 cm Finish Sei Due Sei Climb 781 Frassino Frisia 1384 Frassino Maggiore 771 Cambridge Oak 780 Rovere Burgundi 779 Grey Oak 782 Brown Oak 769 Olmo Rustico 778 Rovere Gardena 649 Santos Chiaro 631 Teak Plissè 604 Colony 633 Limba Gold 630 Noce Ellero 1389 Noce Iseo 1387 Smoked Wood 634 Limba Noir 772 Rovere Moena 768 Douglas Cenere 674 Eucalipto 1388 Zebrano Grigio 770 Yale Oak 758 Bamboo Peach 759 Bamboo 754 Padouk Soft 756 Padouk 755 Red Bubinga 749 Bamboo Gold 717 Okoumè Abricot 719 Okoumè Orange 718 Okoumè Rouge 748 Bamboo Dark | [
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http://abffventures.com/ | At the heart of our company is its commitment to creating dynamic platforms and content to showcase black talent and prove that diversity is good business JEFF FRIDAY CEO Corporate Impact 0000 0000 AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL The 23rd annual American Black Film Festival hits Miami Beach this June 1216 httpabffventurescomwpcontentuploads201812HotinHollywoodABFFjpg 319 480 ABFF Ventures httpabffventurescomwpcontentuploads201711logoABFFVenturespng ABFF Ventures 20181219 162228 20181220 144600 AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL STORM OVER BROOKLYN Storm Over Brooklyn premieres on HBO Summer 2019 produced by Lightbox ABFF httpabffventurescomwpcontentuploads201812StormOverBrooklynhomejpg 319 480 ABFF Ventures httpabffventurescomwpcontentuploads201711logoABFFVenturespng ABFF Ventures 20181218 162628 20181220 125425 STORM OVER BROOKLYN ABFF HONORS Get ready for our annual awards Gala The American Black Film Festival celebrates Hollywood November 2 2019 httpabffventurescomwpcontentuploads201707ABFFHONORShomejpg 319 480 ABFF Ventures httpabffventurescomwpcontentuploads201711logoABFFVenturespng ABFF Ventures 20170721 123941 20181219 161408 ABFF HONORS SUBSCRIBE NOW TO RECEIVE ABFF VENTURES UPDATES | [
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http://abilenetx.gov/city-hall/departments/community-services/parks-recreation/recreation/events | Home Living About Abilene Public Notices History Information City Services Events Calendar News Fire News Police News Mobile Apps Why I ABI Abilene Academy Abilene Academy Application Welcome Eat Stay Play About Abilene Local Links Transportation Moving to Abilene Doing Business Doing Business Fee Schedule Permits Vendors Bids and Proposals Hotel Occupancy Tax Form Conflict of Interest Code of Ordinances City Hall About the City Financial Transparency Facilities Boards and Commissions Board Meetings Calendar Boards Agendas and Minutes Meet Confer City Council Council Meetings Calendar Agendas and Minutes Contact City Council Watch a Meeting ATN Live Video City Council Meetings Boards Commissions Special Meetings Conferences ATN Programming Departments Animal Services Community Services Library Parks Rec Seniors Zoo Economic Development Facilities Capital Improvements Finance Fire General 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Sign Up For Email lists CodeRED Severe Weather Alerts Community Services Library Parks Recreation Parks Recreation About The Recreation Department Events Daddy Daughter Dance Classes Camps AfterSchool Athletic Leagues Facilities Adaptive Recreation Volunteer Senior Services Aquatics Facility Rental Use Current Projects Parks Bucks How Do I Adventure Guide Zoological Gardens City Hall Departments Community Services Parks Recreation Recreation Events View the latest Parks and Recreation Adventure Guide Upcoming Special Events Winter Break Camp 2018 Recruiting all boys and girls 613 years old for our Winter Break Camp This Olympicthemed camp will be December 26 to January 4 excluding January 1 due to New Years Day This Olympian adventure will be from 700am to 600pm at Cobb Recreation Center and itll be 50 per child The excitement includes arts and crafts a field trip to the Family Life Center gym games like our Olympic Competition Day daily lunch snacks and special guests from Grace Art and the Library Register at wwwabilenetxgovsignup to get your little athlete on board Ballroom Dancing Saturday January 26 Saturday February 23 at 700pm Join us for a grand evening of ballroom dancing We will have a mix of dances such as the foxtrot waltz tango and more The dance will be held at Sears Recreation Center January 26 and February 23 from 700pm900pm 5 per person at the door Catch the Groundhog Half Marathon Saturday February 2 at 700am Ready to Race Catch the Groundhog Half Marathon will be Saturday Feb 2nd at 7 am The course is down and back starting and finishing at Elmdale Baptist Church 233 Elmdale Rd S The route will be down Elmdale Rd turning right onto Potosi Rd and then turn back around for the halfway point Registration online will be 35individual 40team 2 people runningwalking together not a relay Registration is open through Thursday January 31 at 500pm Day of registration will cost 5 extra and will last from 6630 am Packet pick up will be the morning of the race from 6645 am The first 50 people to register will get a free tshirt from the race Daddy Daughter Dance 2019 Thursday February 7 at 700pm The dance will be Thursday February 7 2019 from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Abilene Convention Center Tickets are 12 per person and are available to girls ages 3 through 13 and their dads or male role models The Daddy Daughter Dance will have a sock hop theme and everyone is invited to shake rattle and roll the evening away Doors will open at 630 pm for formal pictures by a professional photographer who will have print packages available for purchase To buy tickets to the dance go to wwwabilenetxgovsignup beginning November 23 Tickets will be available for purchase until 7 pm the night of the dance If you purchase your tickets before December 15 a commemorative invitation will be mailed just in time for Christmas and will make the perfect stocking stuffer Visit wwwabilenetxgovdaddydaughter for more information or send questions to parksandrecabilenetxgov Trout Derby 2019 Saturday February 9 at 1000am Cast a line and go fishing at our FREE Trout Derby event Saturday February 9th The funpacked event will be held at Cal Young Park from 10am2pm and we will have other activities like casting knot tying and so much more Well even have hot dogs chips and hot cocoa provided for you There will be a limited amount of rods and loaner tackle available for youth For more information about the Trout Derby please call 3256766445 SteamnWheel Bike Race 2019 Saturday March 16 at 1000am Join us for the 26th annual SteamNWheels Bike Race where riders can choose from three course routes to choose from 12 32 and 48 miles The first 150 riders that register will receive a complimentary long sleeve event tshirt Day of registration will begin at 8am until 930am with the fee increasing to 45 per rider Packet pickup will be available on race day beginning at 8am Register at wwwabilenetxgovsignup Other Special Events Winter Special Events Winter Break Camp Daddy Daughter Dance and Krewe of Barkus Dog Parade Spring Special Events Steam N Wheels Bike Race Spring Break Camp Evening Easter Egg Hunt and Mayors Hike Summer Special Events Abilene Outdoor Adventures Movies in the Park Party in the Park Parks and Recreation Month Dive In Movies and Summer Camp | [
"Recreation Adventure Guide"
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http://abolition.e2bn.org/slavery_45.html | British Involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade For well over 300 years European countries forced Africans onto slave ships and transported them across the Atlantic Ocean The first European nation to engage in the Transatlantic Slave Trade was Portugal in the mid to late 1400s Captain John Hawkins made the first known English slaving voyage to Africa in 1562 in the reign of Elizabeth 1 Hawkins made three such journeys over a period of six years He captured over 1200 Africans and sold them as goods in the Spanish colonies in the Americas To start with British traders supplied slaves for the Spanish and Portuguese colonists in America However as British settlements in the Caribbean and North America grew often through wars with European countries such as Holland Spain and France British slave traders increasingly supplied British colonies The exact number of British ships that took part in the Slave Trade will probably never be known but in the 245 years between Hawkins first voyage and the abolition of the Slave Trade in 1807 merchants in Britain despatched about 10000 voyages to Africa for slaves with merchants in other parts of the British Empire perhaps fitting out a further 1150 voyages Historian Professor David Richardson has calculated that British ships carried 34 million or more enslaved Africans to the Americas Only the Portuguese who carried on the trade for almost 50 years after Britain had abolished its Slave Trade carried more enslaved Africans to the Americas than the British the most recent estimate suggests just over 5 million people Estimates based on records of voyages in the archives of port customs and maritime insurance records put the total number of African slaves transported by European traders to at least 12 million people The first record of enslaved Africans being landed in the British colony of Virginia was in 1619 Barbados became the first British settlement in the Caribbean in 1625 and the British took control of Jamaica in 1655 The establishment of the Royal African Company in 1672 formalised the Slave Trade under a royal charter and gave a monopoly to the port of London The ports of Bristol and Liverpool in particular lobbied to have the charter changed and in 1698 the monopoly was taken away British involvement expanded rapidly in response to the demand for labour to cultivate sugar in Barbados and other British West Indian islands In the 1660s the number of slaves taken from Africa in British ships averaged 6700 per year By the 1760s Britain was the foremost European country engaged in the Slave Trade Of the 80000 Africans chained and shackled and transported across to the Americas each year 42000 were carried by British slave ships The profits gained from chattel slavery helped to finance the Industrial Revolution and the Caribbean islands became the hub of the British Empire The sugar colonies were Britains most valuable colonies By the end of the eighteenth century four million pounds came into Britain from its West Indian plantations compared with one million from the rest of the world Who benefited from the Transatlantic Slave Trade In the Transatlantic Slave Trade triangle ships never sailed empty and some people made enormous profits This Slave Trade was the richest part of Britains trade in the 18th century James Houston who worked for a firm of 18thcentury slave merchants wrote What a glorious and advantageous trade this is It is the hinge on which all the trade of this globe moves Between 1750 and 1780 about 70 of the governments total income came from taxes on goods from its colonies The money made on the Transatlantic Slave Trade triangle was vast and poured into Britain and other European countries involved in slavery changing their landscapes forever In Britain those who had made much of their wealth from the trade built fine mansions established banks such as the Bank of England and funded new industries Who profited British slave ship owners some voyages made 2050 profit Large sums of money were made by ship owners who never left England British Slave Traders who bought and sold enslaved Africans Plantation Owners who used slave labour to grow their crops Vast profits could be made by using unpaid workers Planters often retired to Britain with the profits they made and had grand country houses built for them Some planters used the money they had made to become MPs Others invested their profits in new factories and inventions helping to finance the Industrial Revolution The factory owners in Britain who had a market for their goods Textiles from Yorkshire and Lancashire were bought by slavecaptains to barter with One half of the textiles produced in Manchester were exported to Africa and half to the West Indies In addition industrial plants were built to refine the imported raw sugar Glassware was needed to bottle the rum West African leaders involved in the trade who captured people and sold them as slaves to Europeans The ports Bristol and Liverpool became major ports through fitting out slave ships and handling the cargoes they brought back Between 1700 and 1800 Liverpools population rose from 5000 to 78000 Bankers banks and finance houses grew rich from the fees and interest they earned from merchants who borrowed money for their long voyages Ordinary people the Transatlantic Slave Trade provided many jobs for people back in Britain Many people worked in factories which sold their goods to West Africa These goods would then be traded for enslaved Africans Birmingham had over 4000 gunmakers with 100000 guns a year going to slavetraders Others worked in factories that had been set up with money made from the Slave Trade Many tradespeople bought a share in a slave ship Slave labour also made goods such as sugar more affordable for people living in Britain Back | [
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http://about-france.com/religion.htm | Religion in France ► You are here France French life Religion About - France . com - the reliable guide - France as it really is Religion in France - past and present Go to ► Historical background Religion in France today Islam Protestantism in France Christian cultural heritage of France See also : Great medieval cathedrals in France ( with information about the Notre Dame de Paris fire ) . 12th century fresco in the Basilique St Julien , Brioude , Auvergne Historical background For most of the past thousand years , France has been one of the principal " Catholic " countries of Europe . From the time of Charlemagne until the emergence of Protestantism in the sixteenth century , France was one of the main powers in a continent where Catholicism was - except in orthodox areas - the only mainstream form of Christianity . After that , most of France , and particularly the French monarchy , maintained the Catholic faith while many other parts of Europe , including England , Switzerland , the Low countries , and much of Germany and Scandinavia , adopted differing forms of Protestantism . After the French Revolution in 1789 , religion in France was brought under state control , discouraged as anti - revolutionary , and monastic orders were abolished . But in 1801 , Napoleon signed a Concordat with the Vatican , which restored much of the church ' s former status . For most of the nineteenth century , France was officially a Catholic country ; but in 1905 the landmark law was passed , establishing the Separation of the State and the Church . Since then , while Catholicism has remained the predominant religion in France , the Catholic church is constitutionally just one among many religious structures in the country . The " secular " ( in French laïc ) state recognises the right of individuals to practice whatever religion the wish , and in today ' s France , Catholicism exists alongside Protestantism , Islam , Buddhism , Judaism and a number of fringe cults . . Religion in France today Today , while Catholicism has far more adepts than any other religion or religious denomination in France , the time when the vast majority of Frenchmen considered themselves to be Catholics is now long gone . Slightly less than half of the French population now call themselves Catholics . An Ipsos / MORI poll in 2011 showed that 45 % of French people claim to be Christians - most of them Catholics - while 35 % claimed to have no religion , and just 3 % proclaimed themselves as Muslims . Church attendance in France is among the lowest in the world , with surveys showing that only about 5 % of the total population , i.e. less than 10 % of those who are nominally Catholics , now attend weekly mass . . . . Yet it is an undeniable fact , underlined by former president Sarkozy , that France remains a country whose " culture " is catholic . With laicité or secularism seen today as one of the cornerstones of the identity of the French republic , it follows that the position of religion in public life is very limited , notably compared to its role in public life in Britain or the United States . While politicians in Britain or the USA often go out of their way to be photographed in the presence of religious leaders , and great national events , particularly in Britain , are marked by religious ceremonies , this is not the case in France . Even when they are practising Christians – and any member of the French government in 2013 – French public figures in recent times have generally tended to keep the fact out of the public eye . In recent decades , one fairly unique exception of a leading French politician who was also well known as a practising Catholic was Jacques Delors , former Socialist finance minister and later President of the European Commission . Delors ' daughter Martine Aubry , until recently First Secretary of the Socialist party , was brought up in a strong Catholic tradition but is no longer a practising Catholic . And under the Fifth Republic , three Prime Ministers , Maurice Couve de Murville , Michel Rocard , and Lionel Jospin , have been Protestants - though this was never much In the state education sector , religion and religious matters are frequently considered taboo subjects ; however , in recent years this sidelining of religion has been questioned in the face of the increasing number of Muslims in modern France . While there are no religious education classes in French state schools , and no acts of worship , national programmes now state the requirement to make pupils aware of the religious aspects of French history art and culture . For parents who want their children to receive religious education , this can be achieved outside school hours in the state sector , or by sending children to be educated in private schools , most of them run - at least in principle - by the Catholic church . About 18 % of France ' s school children are in " confessional " schools , most of them Catholic ; the figure rises to 40 % in Brittany . At high school level almost a quarter of students are in private schools , and Catholic high schools still tend to The exception of Alsace In spite of France ' s asserted republican unity , the relationship between the state and the church is different in the region of Alsace and the department of the Moselle . Here , priests are paid by the state , and religious education is part of the curriculum in state primary schools and middle schools ( collèges ) . Paradoxically , or perhaps because of this , Alsace is now the region of France with the lowest proportion of schoolchildren educated in the private ( confessional ) sector . There is also a faculty of theology at the university of Strasbourg - the only French state university to have one . When in 1882 Jules Ferry took religion out of the school curriculum in France , Alsace and the Moselle were at the time attached to Germany . These areas became French again in 1918 , but kept some of their own laws , including the concordat between the state and the church , dating back to the early nineteenth century . Protestantism in France Protestantism has a long history in France . In the Middle ages , before " Protestantism " as such was founded , a large area of southwest France rejected Catholicism and went over to a non - hierarchical type of Christianity known as Catharism . Catharism was stamped out in the 13th century by the bloody Crusade against the Albigeois – the only medieval Crusade not directed against Islam . At the time of the Reformation , many areas of France took up the Protestant Faith ; though discouraged , Protestantism was tolerated , and in 1598 , King Henry IV - himself a former Protestant converted by necessity to Catholicism in order to take up the crown of France - issued the Edict of Nantes , guaranteeing freedom of religion and conscience to France ' s many Calvinist Protestants , known as Huguenots . Many areas of France , notably in the southwest , moved over to Protestantism . Cities like La Rochelle became major bastions of Protestantism in a country that was officially Catholic . However in 1685 , Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes , and precipitated a mass emigration of Protestants from France . Though precise figures vary , it is estimaged that at least half a million Protestants left France in the ensuing years , to take up residence in Britain , North America , Switzerland and the Low countries : and among those that left were a large number of skilled workers - bankers , watchmakers , craftsmen , shipbuilders and many other professions - whose migration enriched the countries they emigrated to , while damaging the French economy . In the 18th century , notably after the death of Louis XIV , Protestantism slowly reestablished a presence in some areas ; it was finally officially tolerated again , on a par with other religions , after the French Revolution . Today , while there are Protestants in all areas of France , Protestantism remains most present in two areas , the Alsace and North - Franche - Comté area of eastern France , and the Cevennes hills in the south . The former area , close to Germany and Switzerland , was much influenced by the Protestantism across the border ; the latter was a mountainous area that even the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes failed to bring back fully into the fold of Catholicism . Islam in France There are no precise figures , but estimates suggest that there are between 6 and 7 million Muslims in France , about 8 % of the population . About a third of these , just over 2 million , are practising Muslims – compared to over 10 million practising Catholics . Most French Muslims are of North African origin , descendents of people from France ' s former colonies of Tunisia , Algeria and Morocco ; though in terms of nationality , many today are third or fourth generation French citizens . According to research by the sociologist Samir Amghar , reported by Le Monde newspaper , there are between 12,000 and 15,000 " Salafists " or radical Muslims in France ; but only a tiny minority of radical Muslims share the views of so - called " Islamists " . French Interior Miinister Bernard Casenave is quoted as saying that just about 2000 of France ' s Muslims share the views of the most radical forms of Islam – or 0.075 % of France ' ' s Muslims . The number of mosques in France has increased sharply in France since 2000 , and today there are over 2000 - most of them very discreet . As for education , according to the French ministry of Education , there are 30 Muslim schools in France , compared to 282 Jewish schools , and 8485 Catholic schools . Only two of the 30 Muslim schools are fully contracted into the state system ; the others are private schools . Most young Muslims in France are educated in non - confessional public schools . The wearing of the " burqa " or " niqab " , face - hiding veils worn in some Islamic countries , is forbidden in public places in France . This is part of public security legislation which outlaws the hiding of a person ' s identity in public places , by any means . In public schools ( but not in universities ) the wearing of " ostentatious signs of religion " is prohibited . This applies to all religions . Religion in French culture Christianity and the Catholic tradition have fundamentally marked French culture since the birth of the French nation . The finest monuments of medieval France were not its castles and palaces , but its great cathedrals , and in places , even its small churches . The finest artists and craftsmen of their day were hired to paint frescoes and altarpieces , create wonderful stained glass ( See slideshow : Bourges cathedral ) and carve the most exquisite sculptures inside and outside of churches ( See slideshow : Romanesque sculptures at Conques ) . Most medieval French music was written for and performed in churches , and much literature was a celebration of Christian faith . The great founding work of literature in the French language was the Chanson de Roland , the epic of a heroic fight of Christians against the Sarrasins , led by Roland , nephew of the emperor Charlemagne . Much medieval litterature was steeped in the religious tradition , and in France the popular medieval Arthurian legends were strongly in this tradition . French Renaissance art and literature are rooted in the Catholic culture of their age . Even the popular Rabalais , the greatest humourous writer of his age , was a Franciscan friar , before turning to a life of writing ; his famous novels , Gargantua and Pantagruel , best remembered as comedies , are also works that question the meaning of life , in an essentially Christian view . Until the age of Enlightenment in the 18th century , questions of Christian theology were the great issues that divided opinion in France , as in the rest of Europe ; but from the 18th century on , in France as elsewhere in Europe , thinkers of the Enlightenment moved the arguments on to new areas , replacing arguments about which form of religion was best , with discussions about the nature of man , the nature of authority , and of society . Yet the discussions of the Enlightenment were themselves born out of the great debates about religion , that began with Martin Luther and the Protestant schism . The great French The Revolution ' s attempt to replace Christian culture with a new revolutionary culture , failed ; and Catholicism - or reactions against it - dominated French art , litterature and music in the nineteenth century . While religion itself was not the theme of much major painting or literature ( though plenty of minor works ) , it did inspire many of 19th century France ' s great composers , notably Fauré , César Franck , Widor or Berlioz , who wrote major works of sacred music . In literature , Balzac , the century ' s greatest novelist , was la Comédie Humaine ( with its title nodding back to Dantë ' s Divine Comedy ) is that of life in a profoundly Catholic national tradition . In the twentieth century , the quest for national identity in France , following defeat in the Franco - Prussian war of 1870 , the ravages of the First World War and the rise of Communism in Russia , led to an upsurge of Catholic consciousness among French writers . Maurice Barrès , Léon Bloy , Paul Claudel , George Bernanos , Henri de Montherlant and François Mauriac are just half a dozen among the greatest French writers of the twentieth century , who were strongly inspired by their Catholic beliefs . There have also been great French Protestant writers , notably André Gide and Pierre Loti . But more important than the individual writers , musicians and artists whose works were directly inspired by personal religious beliefs , is the fact that French culture in general - even that of modern - day atheists - has always been , and still largely remains , firmly anchored in a Christian cultural and philosophical tradition that - in its modern form - owes everything to the ethos But more important than the individual writers , musicians and artists whose works were directly inspired by personal religious beliefs , is the fact that French culture in general - even that | [
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http://about.comenity.net/contact | Contact Us We ' re happy to help . General Questions . For your security , please do n ' t include personal account information in your communication . * All Fields Required I have read and understand the privacy statement Interested in doing business ? Go to Business Inquiries . For Media Inquiries please go here . Frequently Asked Questions . Were you wondering ? Wonder no more . See FAQs Other ways to get in touch . Comenity Bank PO Box 182273 Columbus , Ohio 43218 1 - 800 - 675 - 5685 Comenity Capital Bank PO Box 183003 Columbus , Ohio 43218 1 - 855 - 506 - 2496 | [
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http://about.dish.com/press-release/products-and-services/dish-releases-hopper-3-customers-nationwide | DISH Releases Hopper 3 to Customers Nationwide Eliminates recording conflicts with 16 tuners Delivers enhanced 4K experience Ultimate whole - home experience with support for up to seven TVs Since the introduction of our first - generation Hopper only four years ago , we have continued to invest in innovation . DISH has a history of being at the forefront of consumer entertainment technology , and I ’ m proud to say that Hopper 3 offers no exception . ENGLEWOOD , Colo . - - ( BUSINESS WIRE ) - - DISH Network L.L.C. today announced the availability of its award - winning Hopper 3 to customers nationwide . The third - generation of DISH ’ s whole - home DVR system , Hopper 3 features 16 tuners , delivers an enhanced 4K experience and supports up to seven TVs simultaneously . In the coming weeks , Hopper 3 will launch the Netflix app and integrate Netflix titles into its universal search results . “ Packed with industry firsts , Hopper 3 is the most advanced DVR in the world . It provides our customers with the innovative features they loved on our legacy Hopper DVRs , while additionally delivering the ultimate , conflict - free entertainment experience , ” said Vivek Khemka , DISH Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer . “ Since the introduction of our first - generation Hopper only four years ago , we have continued to invest in innovation . DISH has a history of being at the forefront of consumer entertainment technology , and I ’ m Hopper 3 delivers several industry - firsts designed to change the way consumers find , record , stream and watch content , including : 16 tuners – Hopper 3 contains 16 tuners , making it easy for viewers to watch shows in multiple rooms , view live programs remotely via DISH Anywhere and set multiple recordings , all at the same time and without the need to manage conflicts or cancel timers . 4K video – Hopper 3 decodes and outputs 4K video and comes equipped with a selection of 4K programming , including titles from Sony Pictures . 4K content from Netflix will also be coming to Hopper 3 in the near future . Support for seven TVs – Hopper 3 supports up to six Joeys simultaneously , powering a total of seven TVs at one time . The DVR is compatible with the standard Joey , Wireless Joey and 4K Joey . DISH is delivering enhanced connectivity options to drive the whole - home experience , including MoCA 2.0 and Gigabit Ethernet . Universal search with Netflix – Hopper 3 will soon feature the Netflix app and integrate Netflix titles into its universal search results . With this new functionality , customers who search for a TV series will see a list that incorporates episodes from Netflix , DVR recordings , on demand options and future airings , depending on availability of each . Sports Bar Mode – Another feature coming soon to Hopper 3 is 4K Sports Bar Mode , a multi - channel view that divides the TV screen into quadrants , each with the ability to display a different program in HD . Also newly available to DISH customers is the 4K Joey client , compatible with all HDMI 2.0 / HDCP 2.2 - compliant televisions . The 4K Joey plays back 4K ultra HD content and easily integrates with Hopper 3 to provide a whole - home solution for customers with multiple 4K televisions in their home . Qualified new and existing customers can receive one Hopper 3 at no upfront cost . The Hopper 3 system requires a whole - home DVR fee of $ 15 per month and $ 7 per month for each Joey , including the newly available 4K Joey . Technical Specs Hopper 3 is powered by a Broadcom BCM7445 quad - core ARM application processor at 1.5 GHz , 21K DMIPS . It contains a two TB hard drive for up to 500 hours of high - definition recording , or 2,000 hours of standard definition recording . For 4K viewing , the Hopper 3 can decode and output 60 FPS and 10 - bit color . It supports H . 264 and H . 265 and is compatible with HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 . It is the first DVR to support USB 3.0 . Hopper 3 is compatible with HDR10 / BDA 2.0 encoded streams . About the Hopper Introduced in 2012 , the DISH Hopper provides whole - home capabilities and includes innovative technologies like the PrimeTime Anytime and AutoHop features , as well as an industry - leading two TB of storage . DISH introduced its Hopper 2 in 2013 , adding Slingbox technology - driven DISH Anywhere functionality , making it possible for consumers to watch live and recorded content anywhere on Internet - connected tablets , smartphones and computers . The DISH Anywhere app includes transfers , which makes remote viewing possible when no Internet connection is available . Hopper 3 is the most advanced About DISH DISH Network Corp . ( NASDAQ : DISH ) , through its subsidiaries , provides approximately 13.909 million pay - TV subscribers , as of Sept . 30 , 2015 , with the highest - quality programming and technology with the most choices at the best value . DISH offers a high definition line - up with more than 200 national HD channels , the most international channels and award - winning HD and DVR technology . DISH Network Corporation is a Fortune 250 company . Visit www . dish . com Subscribe to DISH email alerts : http : / / about . dish . com / alerts Follow @ DISHNews on Twitter : http : / / www . twitter . com / DISHNews Contact : DISH Network Media Contact Chelsea Satkowiak , 720 - 514 - 6214 chelsea . satkowiak @ dish . com @ DISHNews | [
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http://about.healthcompanion.com/ | What is Health Companion ? Schedule a Demo A complete and long - term personal health record tool that can integrate personal health information from multiple sources , track health finance accounts , and make preventive health and wellness recommendations based on personal risk factors A highly interoperable secure communication and health information exchange platform for doctors and patients Go to healthcompanion . com A long - term personal health record for consumers A complete , certified Patient Portal and patient engagement tool for providers Preventive health and wellness engine for driving healthy behaviors Tools for managing health finances like HSA ' s and FSA ' s A complete , certified HISP , CA , and RA , for Direct messaging and secure health information exchange | [
"Health Companion"
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http://about.hm.com/en/About/facts-about-hm/about-hm/expansion-strategy.html | About the H&M Group H&M GROUP HOSTS TRANSPARENCY HACK IN LOS ANGELES Read more H&M foundation H&M Foundation reaches beyond the H&M group ’ s value chain and complements our sustainability work . Its mission is to drive long - lasting positive change and improve living conditions by investing in people , communities and innovative ideas . H&M foundation Our brands | [
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http://about.usps.com/handbooks/el307/el307c3_007.htm | 333 Postal Service Responsibilities 333.1 Overview The Postal Service is responsible for ensuring the competitive nature and validity of the selection process while at the same time providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with known disabilities when applicants request such accommodation . Examiners , including testing vendor staff , or district Human Resources staff should ensure that applicants are given an opportunity to request a testing accommodation by one of the following methods : Online or By contacting one of the following : The testing vendor . The examiner . The district Human Resources staff . The district manager , Human Resources . Any person who accepts applications or has contact with applicants must be able to recognize requests for accommodations . An applicant does not have to use any special words such as “ reasonable accommodation ” or “ Rehabilitation Act . ” You must refer applicants requesting reasonable accommodation to the examiner or person responsible for the examination or selection process . Throughout this process , the Postal Service must engage in an interactive process to clarify what the applicant needs and identify an appropriate reasonable accommodation . In cases where the competitive nature and validity of the test are not likely to be affected ( e.g. , site accessibility ) , the examiner or district Human Resources staff member works out what accommodation , if any , to provide . When there is a question as to whether providing a requested accommodation would preclude the valid assessment of the applicant ’ s qualifications , the examiner or district Human Resources staff member must forward the request to the Headquarters manager , Human Resources , for final determination . Once the applicant ’ s makes his or her desire for a testing accommodation is known , the testing vendor , examiner , district Human Resources staff , or district manager of Human Resources must do the following : Contact the applicant to discuss the testing process and the job ( s ) to ensure that the applicant is familiar with what is required . Obtain any needed documentation from the applicant regarding the disability and the need for accommodation . Determine if you can provide an accommodation without further consultation ( i.e. , the accommodation would not affect the competitive nature or validity of the examination ) . If accommodation is feasible , offer it to the applicant . Note the accommodation provided on the Time Record Sheet when the examination is administered . If you can not determine an accommodation for a locally administered test , submit all requisite documentation to the Headquarters manager , Human Resources . Upon receipt of a response from Headquarters , offer a recommended accommodation ( if any ) to the applicant and submit approval ( Authorization to Modify Test Administration ) with the Time Record Sheet when you give the examination . If the applicant does not accept the accommodations that you can provide , document the rejection and the reasons for the rejection . If reasonable accommodation is possible but the Postal Service can not provide that accommodation on the regularly scheduled test date , you may schedule the applicant for an alternate test date as soon as practicable . Ensure that you make appropriate arrangements to provide the needed accommodation . See Exhibit 3 - 1 for detailed information on possible testing accommodations for applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing . 333.2 Accommodations That Do Not Affect the Competitive Nature or Validity of the Selection Process 333.21 Overview You or the test vendor can make some accommodations locally without consultation if they do not affect the competitive nature or validity of the selection process . See 333.22 and 333.23 for examples of accommodations that you can usually make locally without prior approval from Headquarters . 333.22 Accessibility Accommodations of Testing Site A request for accommodation that involves accessibility of the testing site includes , but is not limited to , the following : Access to the test site . Assistance inside the testing site . Providing alternative seating arrangements as needed ( e.g. , you may need to seat an individual in a wheelchair at a table rather than at a student desk ) . In some cases , it may be necessary to schedule a separate session to ensure that you test the applicants in an accessible site . 333.23 Other Testing Accommodations The following are other types of accommodations that you may provide without consultation with Headquarters . The testing vendor must document any accommodation provided on the Time Record Sheet consistent with the Directions for Conducting ( DFC ) . Alternate test dates . Individual sessions . Individual monitors . Frequent breaks ( between test parts only ) . Special lighting . Special seating arrangements . Sign language interpreter only for oral components of exam and administration ( additional detailed information regarding possible testing accommodations for deaf or hard - of - hearing persons is provided in Exhibit 3 - 1 and in the DFC for the specific test ) . Use of hand signals or flash cards to give driving instructions during road tests . Communication accommodations for non - signing applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing to relay administrative instructions for testing ( e.g. , UbiDuo , written communication ) . Miscellaneous personal assistance ( e.g. , turning pages , marking answers ) . Implementation of any one or a combination of these measures may be appropriate for individual applicants depending on the following : Their needs . The nature of the selection procedures or examination material used . The essential functions of the job sought . If the requested accommodation is not on the above list , see 333.3 333.3 Accommodations That May Affect the Competitive Nature or Validity of the Selection Process The Headquarters manager , Human Resources , must review and approve a proposed accommodation that may affect the competitive nature or the validity of the selection process . This includes any deviation from standardized testing procedures prescribed in the examination DFC . In circumstances where there is a question about whether providing a proposed accommodation would interfere with the valid assessment of the applicant , the examiner or district Human Resources staff member must consult the Headquarters manager , Human Resources . Supporting documentation must describe the specific accommodation requested and be sufficient to establish the following : The applicant , in fact , has a disability as defined by federal law . The disability interferes with the valid assessment of the knowledge , skills , or abilities covered by the test . An appropriate professional or expert source provides a diagnosis , if any . | [
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http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2016/pr16_009.htm | Forced Price Reduction to Worsen USPS Financial Condition by $ 2 Billion Per Year Postal Service Exigent Surcharge Pricing to End April 10 February 25 , 2016 Download PDF WASHINGTON — Absent Congressional or court action to extend or make permanent an existing exigent surcharge for mailing products and services – including the Forever stamp - - the Postal Service will be required to reduce certain prices on Sunday , April 10 , 2016 . This mandatory action will worsen the Postal Service ’ s financial condition by reducing revenue and increasing its net losses by approximately $ 2 billion per year . “ The exigent surcharge granted to the Postal Service last year only partially alleviated our extreme multi - year revenue declines resulting from the Great Recession , which exceeded $ 7 billion in 2009 alone , ” said Postmaster General and CEO Megan J . Brennan . “ Removing the surcharge and reducing our prices is an irrational outcome considering the Postal Service ’ s precarious financial condition . ” An order from the Postal Regulatory Commission ( PRC ) requires the 4.3 percent exigent surcharge to be reversed after the Postal Service has collected surcharges totaling $ 4.6 billion . As outlined in a notice filed with the PRC today , that amount is expected to be reached by April 10th . Postal Service prices for Mailing Services are capped by law at the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers ( CPI - U ) . However , the law does allow for exigent pricing ( price increases beyond the CPI - U cap ) due to extraordinary or exceptional circumstances . That was the case when the Postal Service sought and ultimately received approval for the current exigent pricing , citing the severe effects of the Great Recession on Postal Service mail volume . However , the PRC did not accept the views of the Postal Service concerning the extent of the harm resulting from the Great Recession , and the PRC strictly limited the period of time that the Postal Service could continue to collect the exigent surcharge . While the Postal Service has experienced rapid growth in package volume over the past few years , it is not nearly enough to offset the decline in revenues from Market - Dominant products , especially First - Class Mail . Brennan added that the Postal Service ’ s current pricing system , where products that generate roughly 76 percent of its revenues fall under the statutory price cap , is fundamentally unsuited to the Postal Service ’ s current business environment in which First - Class Mail volume continues to decline and the network costs required to provide universal service continue to rise . According to Brennan , “ our current pricing regime is unworkable and should be replaced with a system that provides greater pricing flexibility and better reflects the economic challenges facing the Postal Service . ” The surcharge removal means these First - Class Mail prices will be adjusted to the following : Current Mandated Reduction • Letters ( 1 oz . ) 49 cents 47 cents • Letters additional ounces 22 cents 21 cents • Letters to all international destinations $ 1.20 $ 1.15 • Postcards 35 cents 34 cents Commercial prices will also decrease . A complete listing of the new prices , effective April 10 , is available at www . usps . com The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage , products and services to fund its operations . # # # Please Note : For broadcast quality video and audio , photo stills and other media resources , visit the USPS Newsroom Reporters interested in speaking with regional Postal Service public relations professionals should visit this link Follow us on twitter . com / USPS and like us at facebook . com / USPS . For more information about the Postal Service , visit usps . com and usps . com / postalfacts Download Adobe Acrobat Reader › Media Contacts Katina Fields katina . w . fields @ usps . gov 202.268.6229 | [
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http://about.usps.com/news/state-releases/nv/2012/nv_2012_0730.htm | National News Local News Testimony & Speeches Broadcast Downloads Events Calendar Photo Gallery Service Alerts Las Vegas Post Office Offers Passport Application Services July 30 , 2012 LAS VEGAS — Need a passport or passport card ? Applying for one is easy and convenient at the Las Vegas Post Office , according to Postmaster Craig Colton , who offered some passport tips that can save applicants time and money . “ I recommend you come in as early as possible to apply for your passport - at least six weeks prior to departure , ” said Colton . Applicants are encouraged to print and complete their applications ahead of time by going online at usps . com / passport . Do not sign the application form , as the passport acceptance clerk must witness the signing . Customers may also obtain a form at any passport office . Application forms , information on the costs and how to apply for a passport book and / or passport card can be found at usps . com / passport or travel . state . gov / passport . U.S. citizens may also obtain passport information by phone , in English and Spanish , by calling the National Passport Information Center toll - free at 1 - 800 - 487 - 2778 In 2011 , the Postal Service accepted more than 5.7 million passport applications at more than 6,000 retail locations nationwide . Once a passport has been obtained , holders will need a safe way to carry it - USPS Passport Wallets . These fashionable wallets , available in black or brown leather , retail for just $ 17.99 and let passport holders carry everything important in one place – passport , cash , another ID , and up to seven credit cards . The wallets are available at passport acceptance offices and at usps . com / shop What is needed for a passport : Bring in proper proof of U.S. citizenship or naturalization . This must be either : a state - issued certified birth certificate , available by contacting the State Department of Health of your state of birth ; a previous official passport ; or a naturalization certificate , if you are foreign - born . ( Please note : a hospital - issued birth certificate is not acceptable . ) Bring in one officially - acceptable state or government photo ID . This can be either a driver ’ s license , a military photo ID , or a state - issued photo ID . Workplace IDs and regular photos are generally not acceptable , and temporary ID is not accepted . The passport book application requires two recent identical photographs , which the Post Office will take for a fee . The photos must meet specific passport requirements . Customers can go to or call 1 - 800 - ASK - USPS to get the location of passport Post Offices nearest them and their passport customer service hours . All applications are sent to the U.S. State Department for final processing and approval . # # # A self - supporting government enterprise , the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation – 151 million residences , businesses and Post Office ™ Boxes . The Postal Service ™ receives no tax dollars for operating expenses , and relies on the sale of postage , products and services to fund its operations . With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government , usps . com ® , the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $ 65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent Download Adobe Acrobat Reader › Nevada Media Contacts Marilyn Fenimore 702 - 361 - 9544 | [
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"Las Vegas",
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http://about.usps.com/news/state-releases/or/2014/or_2014_0519.htm | ZIP Codes in Portions of Beaverton and Aloha to Change July 1 Changes come as result of population growth in area May 19 , 2014 In order to provide efficient and cost - effective mail delivery now and for the future , the U.S. Postal Service is creating two new ZIP Codes in the Beaverton / Aloha area , effective July 1 , 2014 . The new ZIP Codes are 97003 and 97078 . The new ZIP Code 97003 impacts some addresses in the current 97006 area , while some 97007 addresses will be changed to 97078 Please see below for descriptions of the new ZIP Code boundaries as well as the attached maps . ) All postal customers affected by these changes are being notified by mail . If a customer does not receive written notification in the next week , they are NOT affected by these changes . The changes come as a result of the overall growth in mail deliveries that has accompanied population growth in the communities of Aloha and Beaverton . The Postal Service encourages affected customers to use their new ZIP Code and notify family , friends , business customers and business associates beginning July 1 ; however , mail with either ZIP Code will be delivered for one year following the change . Individuals should include their new ZIP Code on any reply mail where the sender requests updated or corrected address information . Customers in affected areas should also use their new ZIP Code when reordering stationery such as letterhead , envelopes , promotional literature , forms , and business cards . No other action is necessary on customers ’ part , as magazine publishers , financial institutions , insurance companies and utilities typically use computerized customer mailing lists , which update address ZIP Codes on a regular basis . The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage , products and services to fund its operations . Description of boundaries for new ZIP Code 97003 Northern Boundary : SW Jenkins Road running east to west from SW Murray Boulevard , converges into west Baseline Road and ending at SW Cornelius Pass Road . Western Boundary : SW Cornelius Pass Road from west Baseline Road to SW Tualatin Valley Highway . Southern Boundary : SW Tualatin Valley Highway running west to east from SW Cornelius Pass Boulevard to SW Murray Boulevard . Eastern Boundary : SW Murray Boulevard from SW Tualatin Valley Highway to SW Jenkins Road . Note : All addresses on the boundary roads listed above will retain their current ZIP Code – none of them will be assigned the new 97003 ZIP . Description of boundaries for new ZIP Code 97078 Northern Boundary : SW Tualatin Valley Highway running east to west from SW Murray Blvd to SW 229th Avenue . Western Boundary : SW 229th Ave . from SW Tualatin Valley Highway to SW Rosedale Road then west to SW River Road then south to SW Farmington Road . Southern Boundary : SW Farmington Road running west to east from SW River Road to SW Murray Blvd . Eastern Boundary : SW Murray Blvd from SW Farmington Road to SW Tualatin Valley Highway . Note : All addresses on the boundary roads listed above will retain their current ZIP Code – none of them will be assigned the new 97078 ZIP . # # # Please Note : For broadcast quality video and audio , photo stills and other media resources , visit the USPS Newsroom at about . usps . com / news / welcome . htm For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional , please go to about . usps . com / news / media - contacts / usps - local - media - contacts . pdf Follow us on twitter . com / USPS and like us at facebook . com / USPS . For more information about the Postal Service , go to usps . com and usps . com / postalfacts Download Adobe Acrobat Reader › Oregon Media Contacts Peter Hass phass1 @ usps . com ( 602 ) 223 - 3649 | [
"ZIP Codes",
"Beaverton and Aloha"
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http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2009/pb22265/html/info1_004.htm | Flat - Rate Package Options If It Fits , It Ships ® . Priority Mail ® service offers a variety of Flat - Rate Boxes and Envelopes that ship for the same price to any domestic address , regardless of how much they weigh or how far they ’ re going . Prices vary by product , as shown in the table below . Our Express Mail Flat - Rate Envelope eliminates the need to weigh contents and calculate postage for anything that can fit into the Flat - Rate Envelope . With flat - rate shipping , there ’ s no need to weigh anything that can fit ( up to 70 pounds ) if it is shipped domestically . All USPS Priority Mail and Express Mail packaging material is available free of charge at Post Offices ™ or may be ordered online at no additional cost and shipped to any home or business . Domestic Priority Mail Flat - Rate Packaging Information Package Price Size Priority Mail Flat - Rate Envelope $ 4.95 12 - 1 / 2 " x 9 - 1 / 2 " Priority Mail Small Flat - Rate Box $ 4.95 8 - 5 / 8 " x 5 - 3 / 8 " x 1 - 5 / 8 " Priority Mail Medium Flat - Rate Box ( FRB1 ) $ 10.35 11 " x 8 - 1 / 2 " x 5 - 1 / 2 " Priority Mail Medium Flat - Rate Box ( FRB2 ) $ 10.35 13 - 5 / 8 " x 11 - 7 / 8 " x 3 - 3 / 8 " Priority Mail Large Flat - Rate Box $ 13.95 12 - 1 / 4 " x 12 - 1 / 4 " x 6 " Priority Mail Large Flat - Rate Box ( APO / FPO / DPO ) $ 11.95 12 - 1 / 4 " x 12 - 1 / 4 " x 6 " n Two - to three - day delivery . n Delivery to Alaska , Hawaii , Puerto Rico , Guam , or the U.S. Virgin Islands at domestic prices . Domestic Express Mail Flat - Rate Packaging Information Package Price Size Express Mail Flat - Rate Envelope $ 17.50 12 - 1 / 2 " x 9 - 1 / 2 " Our fastest service for time - sensitive letters and documents . Available 365 days a year to most locations , including Sundays and holidays for an additional fee . One price regardless of weight or distance , up to 70 pounds . Packaging is free . Get the packaging , labels , and forms you need for a well - stocked mailroom free of charge at USPS . com Expedited Shipping , Mailing and Shipping Services , 8 - 13 - 09 | [
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http://about.usps.com/publications/pub100/pub100_003.htm | Publication 100 - The United States Postal Service - An American History 1775 - 2006 > The history of the United States PostalService > The Postal Service Begins The Postal Service Begins Three weeks after the battles of Lexington and Concord , the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in May 1775 to plan for the defense of the colonies against British aggression and “ to take into consideration the state of America . ” 4 The conveyance of letters and intelligence was essential to the cause of liberty . A committee , chaired by Benjamin Franklin and including Samuel Adams , Richard Henry Lee , Philip Livingston , Thomas Lynch , and Thomas Willing , was named to consider the creation of a postal system . The committee reported back to Congress on July 25 , 1775 . The Continental Congress agreed to the committee ’ s recommendations on the following day , creating the position of Postmaster General , and naming Franklin to it . Richard Bache , Franklin ’ s son - in - law , was named comptroller , and William Goddard was appointed surveyor . Under Franklin and his immediate successors , the postal system mainly carried communications between Congress and the armies . Postmasters and post riders were exempt from military duties so service would not be interrupted . Benjamin Franklin served as Postmaster General until November 7 , 1776 . He was in office when the Declaration of Independence created the United States in July 1776 , making Franklin the first Postmaster General of the United States . America ’ s present Postal Service descends from the system Franklin placed in operation . | [
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http://aboutbibleprophecy.com/s43.htm | Sychar Go to List of places in the Bible Sychar is a town in Samaria , which is a region of Israel , where Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman . The conversation is very important to the study of Jesus Christ . The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus stopped in Sychar to rest . There , he meets a woman who has come to a well - Jacob ' s well - to draw water . During the first century , women were often treated as second - class citizens , but Jesus , even though he is tired , and even though there was great animosity between Jews and Samaritans , treats the woman with great respect and evangelizes to her . Jesus informs her that he is the Messiah . The conversation is recorded in John 4 : 5 - 42 . Please support our site Proof of the accuracy of Bible prophecy See how the Bible accurately predicted the history of the Holy Land , the future of the world , the fall of empires and the rise of a Messiah . Sychar appears in 1 Bible verse : John 4 : 5 . × Sychar + Leaflet | © OpenStreetMap contributors Next Bible place : Syria Go to : Map of places in the Bible Go to : List of places in the Bible Questions ? Comments ? Your email address ( optional ) Send » about - jesus . org : Interactive map of Biblical places that Jesus visited | [
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http://aboutlifting.com/are-humans-omnivores-what-should-humans-eat/ | Are Humans Omnivores – What Should Humans Eat 26 July , 2013 George " Ironthumb " Romasanta Fundamental Principles Lifting Nutrition Lifting Weights and Burning Fat Follow @ AboutLifting We will now clear the confusion of so what must PEOPLE really eat ? Should we eat purely protein and fats like on ketogenic diets ? Must we eat mostly grains ? Should we avoid eating vegetables and focus on meat instead ? Hit Like to download our FREE Audiobook 9 Step Guide to BIGGER CHEST ( Link will appear above ) note : If you already Liked Aboutlifting The link is already above highlighted in yellow like Just to set the scope of this one – we did not consider here the diet of a stagnant person since as a humanbeing – you were n ’ t created to become immobile and stagnant ; otherwise we should have been born without limbs like krang – and we will only exist in pure consciousness and intellect and basically be like plants ; human PLANTS ! SO in all cases we must strive for physical activity – even if your artificial , corporate life makes it hard for you to do so . And the way to do that I guess will be up to you since only you can know what your schedule is like – and that is even if you do n ’ t strive to lift weights at all ; there are bunch of other physical activities you can do as a non - lifter to induce mobility . So going back to our main topic about the “ perfect diet ” – yes there are what we call “ specialized ” diets ; the likes of “ Atkins ” , “ Vegan ” , “ Ovo - vegetarian ” , “ Pescetarian ” , etc . Those diets serve a specific purpose or belief ; but basically when it comes to what types of food are WE supposed to eat just remember this statement below : Follow @ AboutLifting YOU ARE AN OMNIVORE Yup , that ’ s the “ drama to end all dramas ” about diets and confusion about which type of foods must we eat . As far as I know when animals are classified according to their natural consumption and way of feeding ; you would arrive at 3 basic types of animals ( according to that criteria ) : 1 ) The Carnivores 2 ) The Herbivores and … . . 3 ) The Omnivores Carnivores are those whose bodies require a majority consumption of meat – if you feed a carnivore with 80 % carbohydrates – you can expect a dead ( or a malnourished ) carnivore within a matter of months or even weeks . Carnivores are not that hard to spot ; just look for canines and sharp teeth which is basically for the purpose of masticating meat and catching prey . Do you happen to have sharp teeth that look like these : I guess not , unless you happen to be a lycant or a vampire – in that case I do n ’ t know if the Ironthumb system would work for you since our system is designed for humans – in that case , I am very sorry for the inconvenience So since we do n ’ t belong to the carnivore class – then the vegan diehard folks must be right , we must be herbivores . Herbivores have a diet consisting mostly of plants and well . . herbs , of course . Feeding hefty amount of meat to a herbivore would guarantee indigestion and a dead herbivore . There are some people who argue that we are indeed herbivores like this guy : – Let ’ s see about that : I challenge them to survive long years in the wild without any taking in meat at all not even insects . If they can then they can tell me that we are indeed herbivores . Plus the evolving brain – the HUMAN BRAIN requires a more complex diet ; requiring us to include animal meat into our diet . Take a look at all of the scientific evidences stated in this article : • “ Comparative analyses of archaeological bone assemblages from Olduvai Gorge and Koobi Fora and of various modern bone assemblages with known taphonomic histories reveal direct evidence of early hominid butchering and marrow - processing activities ” between 2 and 1.5 Myr ago . • The Expensive - Tissue Hypothesis “ suggests that the metabolic requirements of relatively large brains are offset by a corresponding reduction of the gut . ” No matter what is selecting for relatively large brains in humans and other primates , they can not be achieved without a shift to a high - quality diet unless there is a rise in the metabolic rate . Therefore the incorporation of increasingly greater amounts of animal products into the diet was essential in the evolution of the large human brain . Dr Eades discusses this at great length in Are we meat eaters or vegetarians ? Part II . Article link here So we are OMNIVORES after all . And guess what the perks of being an omnivore is ? FREEDON OF CHOICE AND VARIETY ! ! Between enjoying that perk and limiting myself to either all meat or , NO MEAT diet ; I guess I choose the former and enjoy the perk . And what does that mean to all of our lifting folks out there ? Well simply being human requires that we eat a wide variety of foods in our diet more so is being a bodybuilder . You can not live on meat alone , and you can not live on LEAVES alone as well ! Yes there are diets that you can try on special occasions like a “ cleansing ” diet consisting only of vegetable juices of you ’ re sick , or a ketogenic diet consisting only of meat and eggs and no carbs if you ’ re having a hard time losing fat ( Keto gets thumbs up from the Ironthumb ) . note : If you ’ re doing keto , increase your water intake and take some fiber to help with bowel movement . But none of those diets must be taken permanently as a staple diet . The perfect diet for optimal energy and longetivity is the “ complex ” diet containing a good amount of carbohydrates , protein , dietary fats , vegetables , fruits , and micro and macro nutrients . The QUALITY approach What you need to do however is instead of eliminating an entire group of foods from your diet ( like eliminating carbs or meat totally ) ; you SHOULD instead strive to eat only “ high quality ” foods from each type of foods . For example for meats : Strive to only choose “ organic ” meats – or meats that you are sure were actually FED grass and not injected with chemicals ( as much as you can ) . And if I were you I ’ d eat more beef and lamb than pork . And with carbs you must avoid “ bread ” as much as possible and take instead rice as a staple . Personaly my diet consists of more than 65 % rice . And about potatoes – try to get some sweet potatoes instead . Another thing : Instead of buying cool aides ; get yourself some carrot or tomato juice instead . NOW it ’ s your turn to share : - Personally , do you believe that humans are supposed to be herbivores or omnivores ? - Can you tell us what your diet looks like ? Eat your eggs , people ! A - Lifter - Do n ' t forget to leave your comment / feedback below . If this article was helpful , I am sure our book Real Talk Muscle will help you even more in your quest for muscle gain . Check it out you can read the first few chapters as well George " Ironthumb " Romasanta on Google+ STEROIDS Alone CAN NOT Guarantee Results Weight Lifting , Building Muscle - Advanced Tips George " Ironthumb " Romasanta For this Author there are only 3 things that make life worth living : 1 ) God , 2 ) Family , and 3 ) LIFTING WEIGHTS ! He does n ’ t “ work out ” ; he TRAINS – hard and smart , using the most basic principles that seem to simplify the complicated . He knows that every “ great ” and “ expensive ” program is just a byproduct of the most important fundamentals of science and conditioning which he knows by heart and he lives to share with you all . As a Registered Nurse Google+ Find me on Google+ Ironthumb Are Humans Omnivores fundamentals How To Build Muscle How to gain muscle Lifting weights burning fat nourishment Weight Lifting , Building Muscle – Advanced Tips STEROIDS Alone CAN NOT Guarantee Results | [
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"Ovo-vegetarian"
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http://aboutunemployment.org/eligibility-length/Minnesota/ | How Long Do I Have to Work For to Collect Unemployment in Minnesota ? Minnesota has two methods in determining eligibility for unemployment insurance , but considered whichever method results in the higher amount . Either a total base period earnings of $ 2,400 is used or 5.3 % of Minnesota ’ s Average Annual Wages ( AAW ) [ rounded to the lower $ 100 ] is used . As of May , 2013 the AAW of Minnesota is $ 47,370 5.3 % of this is $ 2,510.61 Therefore , to qualify for unemployment insurance in Minnesota , your total base period earnings must have been at least $ 2,500 . You also must have worked during at least one quarter of the base period . Minnesota ’ s regular base period is different from the majority of other states . The last four completed calendar quarters are used provided that the effective date of the unemployment insurance claim is not during the month before the fourth completed calendar quarter ( whereas most states use the first four ) . MN offers both an extended base period and an alternate base period . The alternate base period considers the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters . The extended base period is available for those who qualify . To qualify , you must have received worker ’ s compensation [ due to being disabled / injured / sick ] . If you qualify , then your base period may be extended up to four quarters . The amount your base period can be extended [ up to four quarters ] depends upon the length of time you spent receiving worker ’ s compensation . In Minnesota an employer or employing unit is covered under unemployment insurance if it paid at least $ 1,500 in wages during any calendar quarter in the current or previous calendar year . Further , an employer / employing unit is also covered under unemployment insurance if it paid wages to at least one employee and employed said worker at least one day per week during the 20 weeks of the current or previous calendar year . | [
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http://aboutworldlanguages.com/Javanese | Javanese By Irene Thompson | Updated April 20 , 2016 by Irene Thompson Sugeng rawuh – Welcome Javanese is a member of the Malayo - Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family . Its closest relatives are Malay Sunda Madura , and Bali . It is the second most spoken Austronesian language after Indonesian , and the fourteenth most widely spoken language in the world . Javanese is considered to be one of the world ’ s classical languages , with a literary tradition that goes back over a thousand years . The oldest inscription in Javanese dates back to 804 AD . Status Javanese is the spoken language of over 75 million people in the central and eastern parts of the island of Java , in Indonesia ( Ethnologue ) . It is also spoken in Malaysia , the Netherlands , and in Singapore ( Ethnologue ) . In addition , there are Javanese settlements in Papua Sulawesi Maluku Kalimantan , and Sumatra Javanese is also spoken in Suriname and New Caledonia . It was originally spoken there by Javanese plantation workers brought from Indonesia by the Dutch . Their descendants still speak a variety of Javanese that differs from the one currently spoken in Java . Although it not an official language of Indonesia , Javanese is recognized as a regional language in three provinces of Java with the largest concentrations of speakers of Javanese , namely , Central Java , East Java , and Yogyakarta where it is taught in schools , used in religious practice and in electronic and print media . Javanese is also used as a literary language in Madura Bali Lombok , and West Java . Javanese is used as a spoken and communal language in suburban and rural areas of Java , and in some parts the urban communities . Indonesian is used in media such as TV , newspapers and magazines , while Javanese is used only on certain programs on the radio or television and in certain newspaper columns . Dialects Top There are three main dialects of Javanese that are more or less mutually intelligible . Each consists of sub - dialects . The principal differences among dialects have to do with pronunciation , and , to a lesser extent , with vocabulary . Western Javanese is spoken along the northern coast of West Java . It is influenced by Sunda Central Javanese is considered to be the prestige dialect , and serves as a basis for standard Javanese . Eastern Javanese is spoken across the majority of the East Java province . It is influenced by Structure Top heading bg = ” # D9D9D9 ″ color = ” # 222222 ″ ] Sound system [ / heading ] A typical syllable in Javanese consists of a nasal consonant ( / m / , / n / , / ng / ) + an approximant ( / y / , / r / , / l / , / w / ) + vowel + consonant . Only voiceless stops can occur at the end of syllables in some dialects . Vowels Like Malay and Indonesian , Javanese has 6 vowel phonemes , i.e. , sounds that make a difference in word meaning . Front Central Back Close i u Mid e ə o Open a / ə / = a in about Consonants An interesting feature of Javanese phonology are retroflex consonants which are articulated with the tip of the tongue curled up and back so the bottom of the tip touches the roof of the mouth . Some scholars believe that these consonants are the result of the influence of Indo - Aryan languages . Consonants in parentheses occur only in loanwords . Bilabial Dental Alveolar Postalveolar Retroflex Palatal Velar Glottal Stops voiceless p t ʈ k ʔ voiced b d xx ɖ … .xxx g Fricatives voiceless s ( ʃ ) ( ʂ ) h Affricates tʃ voiced dʒ Nasals m n ( ɳ ) ɲ ŋ Laterals l x Trill r Approximants w j / ʈ , ɖ , ʂ , ɳ / are retroflex consonants with no equivalents in English . / ʔ / = sound between the vowels in uh - oh / ʃ / = sh in shop / tʃ / = ch chop / dʒ / = j job / ɲ / = first n canyon / ŋ / = ng song / j / = y yet Grammar Javanese is an agglutinative language in which grammatical relations are expressed by prefixation infixation suffixation circumfixation encliticization reduplication Nouns Nouns are not marked for number , gender or definiteness . These categories are usually inferred from context , unless there is an important distinction to be made . Plurality can be conveyed by reduplication of a noun , e.g. , rumah ‘ house ‘ and rumah - rumah ‘ houses ‘ ; w ong ‘ person ’ and wong - wong ‘ people ’ . Definiteness can be represented by the demonstrative pronouns si sang . Indefiniteness can be indicated by the numeral sak ‘ one ’ ( abbreviated to se - ) , e.g. , sebuah rumah ‘ a house ’ . Words such as ‘ male ’ or ‘ female ’ can be used to indicate gender . Quantifiers normally consist of a numeral followed by a classifier . There are dozens of classifiers , some for small round objects , other for stick - like objects , etc . Pronouns Javanese is rich in pronouns . Personal pronouns are marked for person . Most pronouns are marked for familiarity and formality . There is an inclusive 1st person plural pronoun , i.e. , one that includes the addressee , and an exclusive 1st person pronoun , i.e. , one that excludes the addressee . In all formal situations , personal names , kinship terms , or titles are used in place of 2nd person pronouns . Verbs Verbs are not marked for person or tense . These categories are inferred from context or expressed by adverbs , time words or clauses . There is only one true tense marker in the language , namely the future marker . Mood ( indicative , imperative , subjunctive ) and voice ( active and passive ) are marked by affixes , adverbs or other auxiliary words . Word order The typical word order of Javanese is Subject - Verb - Object . However , other word orders are possible , depending on emphasis and style . For instance , words constituting the focus of a sentence ( part of the sentence that contains the most important , or new information ) usually appear in initial position . Modifiers normally follow the noun they modify . Quantifiers usually precede nouns . Registers ( styles ) Javanese speech registers vary from one social context to another . Different social contexts require different registers , or styles . Each style has its own vocabulary , grammar , and even intonation . This is not unique to Javanese . Other Austronesian languages . as well as East and Southeast Asian languages such as Korean Japanese Thai , also use registers that vary from one social context to another . There are three registers in Javanese : Ngoko ( informal ) It is used between friends and close relatives . It is also used by persons of higher status when addressing persons of lower status , such as elders addressing younger people or bosses speaking to subordinates . Madya ( polite informal , neutral ) This is an intermedial register that is neither informal nor formal . It is used in informal situations such as between strangers on the street . Krama ( polite formal ) It is used between individuals of equal status in formal situations . It is also used in formal announcements and public speeches . In addition , Javanese uses humilifics and honorifics to indicate sensitivity to status as defined by age , social position , and other factors . Humilifics are used when one talks about oneself , one has to be humble . Honorifics are used when one speaks about someone of a higher status or one to whom one wants to show respect . Ngoko Aku arep mangan . ‘ I want to eat . ‘ Madya Kula ajeng nedha . Krama neutral Krama humble Kula badhe nedha . Dalem badhe nedha . Honorific question ( speaking to a person of higher status ) Bapak kersa dhahar ? ‘ Do you want to eat ? Literally , ‘ Does father want to eat ? ’ Reply ( 1 ) to person of lower status , expressing one ’ s superiority Iya , aku kersa dhahar . ‘ Yes , I want to eat . ’ Reply ( 2 ) to person of lower status , without expressing one ’ s superiority Iya , aku arep mangan . Reply ( 3 ) to person with the same status Inggih , kula badhe nedha . The use of these different styles is complicated and requires knowledge of the Javanese culture . Most Javanese do not master all the styles . They usually learn ngoko and the basics of madya . Young Javanese have problems with learning this social stratification of language . Vocabulary Most Javanese vocabulary is Austronesian in origin . As in other languages , native Javanese roots are bisyllabic . New words are formed by reduplication and compounding . For example is nuwun sewu ‘ excuse me ’ which literally means ‘ ask a thousand ’ ( nuwun ‘ ask ’ + = sewu ‘ a thousand ’ ) . The vocabulary of Javanese has been enriched by numerous borrowings from other languages . One of the earliest sources of borrowing was Sanskrit from which an estimated 25 % of the vocabulary in Old Javanese literature was derived . Today , many Sanskrit words are still in use , particularly in formal speech and writing . Javanese has also borrowed words from Arabic Dutch . Most Arabic loanwords have to do with Islam . Below are some common words and phrases in Javanese . Good day Sugeng Goodbye Pamit Thank you Matur nuwun Please Mangga Excuse me Nuwun sewu Yes Inggih No boten / mboten Man Lanang Woman Wadon Child Anak Below are Javanese numerals 1 - 10 . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 siji loro telu papat lima nem pitu wolu sanga sepuluh Writing The Javanese literary tradition that emerged in the 8th - 9th centuries continues in the present . For the most part , Javanese is written in two scripts . The earliest known writing in Javanese was in the Kawi script which was based on the Brahmi script of ancient India . The name kawi in Javanese means ‘ language of the poets ’ and is an indication that it was a literary language , influenced by Sanskrit . Its use was prohibited under the Japanese occupation of Indonesia during World War II ( 1942 - 1945 ) . Today , it is mostly used by religious scholars . Javanese ( Characan or Caracan ) script The Javanese alphabet is a syllable - based writing system in which each consonant has an inherent vowel / a / . This vowel can be suppressed or changed to a different one through the use of diacritics that can appear above , below , in front of , or after the consonant . Variants of this script are also used to write Sundanese Madurese Balinese Sasak . Below is a sample of Javanese script ( from Wikipedia ) . Modified Roman alphabet Today , Javanese is written with the Latin alphabet , introduced by the Dutch in the 19th century . It has gradually replaced the Javanese script . In addition to the standard letters of the alphabet , four digraphs are used : ng to designate the velar nasal / ŋ / ; ny to represent pre - vocalic palatalized / ɲ / ; th dh are used to represent retroflex / ţ / and / đ / respectively . Take a look at Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Javanese . BAB : 1 Saben uwong kalairake kanthi mardika lan darbe martabat lan hak - hak kang padha . Kabeh pinaringan akal lan kalbu sarta kaajab pasrawungan anggone memitran siji lan sijine kanthi jiwo sumadulur . Article 1 All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights . They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood . Difficulty Language Difficulty How difficult is it to learn Javanese ? There is no data on the difficulty of Javanese for speakers of English . Posted in : Editors Picks Home Page language Malayo - Polynesian | [
"Javanese",
"Malayo-Polynesian",
"Austronesian language"
] |
http://aboutworldlanguages.com/families | families Language Families Most languages belong to language families . A language family is a group of related languages that developed from a common historic ancestor , referred to as protolanguage ( proto – means ‘ early ’ … Full article Featured Language Family NaDene Language Family The Na - Dené ( also called Athabascan or Athapascan ) language family includes 47 distantly related languages that are spoken over a large area spanning from northwestern Canada and Alaska south to the Rio Grande . With 180,000 speakers , it is the second largest language family in North America in terms of number of languages and the number of speakers after the Uto - Aztecan language family . The name Athabaskan comes from the Cree name for Lake Athabasca in Canada . The Dene - Yeniseian hypothesis proposes a genetic relationship between the Athabascan - Eyak - Tlingit Full article Our Most Popular Dravidian Language Family The Dravidian language family is one of the largest language families in the world . The vast majority of linguists believe that the Dravidian language family is completely unrelated to any other language family . The family includes 73 languages spoken by over 222 million people in southern India , Sri Lanka , certain areas of Pakistan , and in Nepal . Commerce and emigration have also spread Dravidian languages , particularly Tamil , to Burma , Indonesia , Malaysia , Fiji , Madagascar , Mauritius , Guyana , Martinique and Trinidad . The only Dravidian … Indo - European Language Family Indo - European is a family of languages that first spread throughout Europe and many parts of South Asia , and later to every corner of the globe as a result of colonization . The term Indo - European is essentially geographical since it refers to the easternmost extension of the family from the Indian subcontinent to its westernmost reach in Europe . The family includes most of the languages of Europe , as well as many languages of Southwest , Central and South Asia . With over 2.6 … Pidgin Languages Pidgins are “ on - the - spot ” languages that develop when people with no common language come into contact with each other . Nobody speaks a pidgin as their first language . Usually a pidgin language is a blend of the vocabulary of one major language with the grammar of one or more other languages . The major languages are usually the languages of the former major colonial powers , such as English , French , and Portuguese . For example , the establishment of plantation economies in the Caribbean , with large groups of … Semitic Branch Semitic languages constitute a the most populous branch of the Afro - Asiatic language family . They are spoken by more than 500 million people across the Middle East , North Africa , and the Horn of Africa . They are believed to have evolved from a hypothetical common ancestor called * Proto - Semitic whose place of origin is still disputed : Africa , Arabian Peninsula , and Mesopotamia are the most probable locations . The Semitic branch can be divided into East , West ( or Central ) , and South ( or Ethiopic ) Semitic . The Chadic Branch The Chadic branch of the Afro - Asiatic language family consists of about 195 languages spoken south of the Sahara desert in an area stretching from the south of Niger , across northern Nigeria , northern Cameroon and Chad . Chadic languages are so called because of Lake Chad . Chadic languages are the most distant branch of the Afro - Asiatic language family because they were the earliest to separate from the common ancestor . They form the most variegated branch of the Afro - Asiatic language family . There are significant differences among the Western . Eastern , | [
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http://aboutworldlanguages.com/navajo | Navajo By Irene Thompson | Updated March 4 , 2015 by Irene Thompson Yah aninaah – Welcome Navajo ( Diné Bizaad ) , also known as Diné , belongs to the Athabaskan branch of the Na - Dené language family . Most of the Diné homeland is in northern Arizona , but it also extends into southern Utah and northwestern New Mexico . It is the largest language of the Na - Dené language famil y . Status With some 170,000 speakers , Navajo is one of the few North American Indian languages with a growing population of speakers ( Ethnologue ) . According to the 2010 census , there were only 7,600 monolingual speakers of Navajo . In urban areas , younger Navajos tend to shift to English . It is the policy of the Navajo Nation to work towards the acceptance of the Navajo language in all areas of contemporary Navajo life and to promote its use in education in pre - school and K - 12 . Dialects Top There are some slight regional variations in pronunciation and vocabulary among the varieties of Navajo spoken in Arizona , New Mexico , and Utah . Structure Top Sound system Vowels Navajo has four vowels which can be either short or long . Vowel length makes a difference in word meaning . It is written as a double vowel in the table below . Vowels can also be nasalized . Nasalization is produced with the soft palate ( velum ) lowered , allowing air to escape through the nose during the production of the sound Nasalization also makes a difference in word meaning . It is marked by a tilde in the table below . Front Central Back Close i , ii , ĩ Mid e , ee , ẽ o , oo , õ Open a , aa , ã Consonants Navajo has a rich inventory of consonants . Among the most salient features of Navajo consonants are the following : There is a three - way contrast between plain , aspirated , and ejective stops and affricates . Aspirated consonants are produced with a puff of air upon their release and are marked by a raised [ ʰ ] . Ejective consonants are produced by raising air pressure in the mouth , so when the consonant is released , there is a noticeable burst of air . They are marked by an apostrophe . There are labialized velar stops and fricatives . These are produced with a simultaneous rounding of the lips and are marked with a raised [ ʷ ] . There is a voiceless lateral fricative Use of tones . Bilabial Alveolar Lateral Postalveolar Palatal Velar Glottal plain labialized Stops plain p t k kʷ aspirated tʰ kʰ kʰʷ ejective t ’ k ’ Fricatives voiceless s ʃ x x ʷ voiced z ʒ ɣ ɣʷ ʔ lateral ɬ Affricates ts t ɬ tʃ tsʰ tɬʰ ʃ ʰ ts ’ tʃ ’ Laterals l Nasals m n Approximants w j / kʷ / is similar to qu in quick / ʔ / = sound between the vowels in uh - oh / ʃ / = sh in shop / tʃ / = ch in chop / ʒ / = s pleasure / dʒ / = j job / x / has no equivalent in English / ɣ / has no equivalent in English / ɬ / has no equivalent in English / j / = y in yet Tones Navajo syllables are marked by one of four tones : high , low , rising , and falling which are indicated in writing in the following way : high low rising falling áá aa áa aá Grammar Navajo is an agglutinating polysynthetic language . However , many of its affixes combine in much the same way as in synthetic languages . Navajo tends to have more verbs than other parts of speech . For instance , Navajo verbs are used for adjectival functions . Nouns Navajo nouns are not marked for number . For example , tl ’ izi means both ‘ goat ’ and ‘ goats ’ . The exception is kinship terms . The number distinction is represented by the verb . There are only indefinite articles . Their absence assumes that the noun is definite . There is no grammatical gender . Even third - person pronouns are not marked for gender , i.e. , there is no difference between ‘ he ’ and ‘ she ’ . All nouns are divided into classes based on animacy , namely , supernatural beings > humans > large animals > small animals > inanimate objects . Entities with a lower level of volition can not act upon entities with a higher volition level . Thus , if an animal bites a person , the event is described as the person letting him / herself be bitten by the animal . A so - called fourth - person pronoun ( in the form of a prefix ) is used in this instance . If two third - person participants are of hastiin ashkii bi - ztal ‘ man ’ ( object ) ‘ boy ’ ( subject ) ‘ kicked ’ ( verb ) ashkii hastiin yi - ztal ‘ bo ’ ( subject ) ‘ man ’ ( object ) ‘ kicked ’ ( verb ) Verbs Navajo sentences are built around verb stems . The verb stems are based on about five hundred verb roots . Each root has a basic meaning that can be extended through the use of affixes ( mostly prefixes ) . Verbs are composed of a verb stem and a set of prefixes . There is a hierarchy in which the prefixes are ordered . Stringing up prefixes can result in very long verbs . It is theoretically possible to have ten prefixes preceding a verb root . Verbs have pronominal prefixes that mark both subjects objects Verbs are marked for tense , aspect and mood . There is a large number of aspectual modal , and tense distinctions marked by verb stem alternations and prefixes . Navajo has classificatory system for verb stems that classifies objects by their physical characteristics , in addition to describing the movement or state of the object . For instance , the English verb give is expressed by eleven different verbs in Navajo , depending on the physical properties of the object . Word order The normal word order in Navajo sentences is Subject – Object – Verb . Vocabulary Like other Na - Dené languages , Navajo tends not to borrow words from other languages . Instead , it uses native elements to create new words . For instance , the Navajo word for telephone is béésh be hane ’ é which literally translates as ‘ instrument , with it talking takes place ’ . Below are a few basic words and phrases in Navajo . Hello yá ’ át ’ ééh ( literally ‘ it is good ’ ) Goodbye hagoónee Thank you ahé he no nidaaga OK hagoshii man woman asdzáán sun shá moon tlehonaa ’ éí water tó Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available . Click here to visit our frequently asked questions about HTML5 video . Below are Navajo numerals 1 - 10 . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 tʼááłáʼí naaki táá ’ dį́į́ʼ ashdla ’ hastą́ą́ tsosts ’ id tseebíí náhást ’ éí neeznáá Writing Navajo was an unwritten language prior to the middle of the 19th century . However , by the beginning of the 20th century , a number of religious texts , grammars , and dictionaries were compiled by missionaries , each of whom used a different writing system . As a result , there were many ways to write Navajo . In 1939 , a standardized alphabet was designed , and during the following decade , a number of bilingual primers , children ’ s books , and a dictionary were published . The new standardized alphabet was not popular among a e i o ą ę į b ch ch ’ h k k ’ kw l ł m n d dl dz g gh h kw ł sh t ’ tl tł tł ’ ts ts ’ w y z zh Take a look at Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Navajo . Long vowels are written with double letters , e.g. , ee represents long / e / . áá = high tone ; aa = low tone ; áa = rising tone ; aá = falling tone . Nasal vowels are marked with a cedilla , e.g. , ą represents nasal / a / . Łáaʼii Góneʼ Biyiʼ Yisdzohígíí Bilaʼashdaʼii tʼáá ałtsoh yiníkʼehgo bidizhchįh dóó aheełtʼeego ílį́į́go bee baahóchįʼ . Eíí háníʼ dóó hánítshakees hwiihdaasyaʼ eíí binahjį́ʼ ahidiníłnáhgo álíleekʼehgo kʼé bee ahił niidl . Article 1 All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights . They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood . Did You Know ? Navajo Code Talkers The Navajo language was one of the keys to the U.S. victory in the Pacific . Early in the war , the Japanese began using English - speaking soldiers to intercept American communications . In response , the U.S. military began using codes so complex that it took hours to decode a message . Philip Johnston , a World War I veteran and the son of a missionary , was raised on the Navajo reservation and spoke Navajo fluently . He came up with the idea of using the Navajo language , little known outside of the Navajo reservation , as a code . The Marine Corps followed Johnston ’ s suggestion and put out a call to the Navajo people . Twenty - nine Navajo men responded to the call and enlisted as radio operators in the Marine Corps in early 1942 . Their efforts , and those of several hundred additional Navajo Iwo Jima . The Navajo Code Talkers created messages by first translating Navajo words into English , then using the first letter of each English word to decipher the meaning . Because different Navajo words might be translated into different English words for the same letter , the messages were extremely difficult to decode . In fact , the Japanese were never able to crack the code . The code remained classified until 1968 . Since then , the Code Talkers have been given long - overdue recognition . The Pentagon opened an exhibit honoring their role in 1992 . The surviving Navajo Code Talkers Dictionary was declassified and is available on the Internet . You can also listen to interviews with the some of the surviving Navajo Code Talkers Difficulty Language Difficulty How difficult is it to learn Navajo There is no data on the difficulty of Navajo for speakers of English . Posted in : Editors Picks Home Page language Na - Dené | [
"Navajo",
"northern Arizona",
"Ethnologue"
] |
http://aboutworldlanguages.com/niger-congo-language-family | Niger - Congo Language Family By Irene Thompson | Updated March 27 , 2013 by Jon Phillips The Niger - Congo language family is one of the largest language families in the world and the largest one in Africa in terms of its geographical spread across most of sub - Saharan Africa , number of speakers , and the number of languages ( 1514 ) . Almost all of the most widely spoken languages of sub - Saharan Africa belong to the Niger - Congo family , and about 600 million people ( 85 % of Africa ’ s population ) speak a Niger - Congo language . There is no consensus among scholars about the origins and historical development of the Niger - Congo languages . The earliest evidence of a Niger - Congo language dates back to Portuguese records of the 16th century . However , few grammars were published prior to the 19th century although the first known grammar of an African language ( Kongo ) was written by an Italian missionary in 1659 . A number of dictionaries and grammars appeared in the 19th century . They were written mostly by European missionaries who often lacked the linguistic training necessary to analyze languages that had little in common with their own . With a few exceptions , the resulting descriptions forced these languages into an ill - fitting Latin straitjacket . Determining the number of languages in this family is complicated by the fact that it is often difficult to decide , in the absence of written historical records , whether two language varieties are two dialects of the same language or two separate languages . There are several problems in classifying languages of the Niger - Congo family — a very large and extremely diverse group of languages that have been splitting from each other for thousands of years . First and foremost , is the lack of historical records that date back more than several hundred years . Second , very limited knowledge about a great many of the languages makes it extremely difficult to reconstruct their common ancestry . The Niger - Congo language family is usually divided into several major branches that are estimated to have split from the ancestral language some 5,000 years ago . Some of the branches are closer to each other than others because they split from the ancestral language at different times . The majority of languages in these branches have small populations of speakers , with a significant percentage of them averaging only several thousand people . Large numbers of languages are often found clustered together in relatively small geographic areas . The table below lists the most populous languages of the Niger - Congo family belonging to some of its different branches . Benue - Congo ( 961 languages ) Swahili 773,000 1st - and 30 million 2nd - language speakers Tanzania Yoruba 19.3 million 1st - and 2 million 2nd - language speakers Nigeria Igbo 18 million Nigeria Shona 10.6 million 1st - and 1.8 million 2nd - or 3rd - language speakers Zimbabwe Zulu 9.5 million 1st - and 15.7 million 2nd - language speakers South Africa Nyanja ( Chichewa ) 7 million 1st - language and 400,000 2nd - language speakers Malawi Kinyarwanda ( Rwanda ) 7.3 million Rwanda Xhosa 7.2 million South Africa Luba - Kasai 6.3 million 1st - and 700,000 2nd - language speakers Democratic Republic of the Congo Gikuyu ( Kikuyu ) 5.3 million Kenya Southern Sotho 4.9 million Lesotho , Botswana , South Africa Rundi ( Kirundi ) 4.8 million Burundi Tswana 4.4 million Botswana Umbundu 4 million Angola Northern Sotho 3.7 million Tsonga 3.2 million Ganda ( Luganda ) 3 million 1st - language and 1 million 2nd - language speakers Uganda Lingala 2 million 1st - language and 5 million 2nd - language speakers Democratic Republic of the Congo , Republic of the Congo Mbundu 3 million Angola Kamba 2.4 million 1st - language and 600,000 2nd - language speakers Kenya Tiv 2.2 million Ibibio 1.5 to 2 million Swati ( Swazi ) 1.7 million Swaziland Ndebele 1.6 million Zimbabwe Soga 1.3 million Uganda Tumbuka 1.3 million Guinea Nyamwezi 1.2 million Tanzania Koongo 1 million Democratic Republic of the Congo Chokwe 1 million Atlantic ( 64 languages ) Fula 12 million Niger , Nigeria , Cameroon , Chad , Mali , Benin , Guinea , Senegal Wolof 3.6 million Senegal Serer - Sine 1.2 million Senegal , Gambia Themne Sierra Leone Mande ( 71 languages ) Pular 2.9 million Guinea Bambara ( Bamanankan ) 2.8 million Mali Maninkakan , Eastern 2 million Mende 1.5 million Sierra Leone Mandinka Senegal Jula 1.2 million 1st - language and 3 - 4 million 2nd - language speakers Burkina Faso Soninke 1.1 million Mali Tura - Dan - Mano 1.1 million Liberia , Côte - d ’ Ivoire Susu Ebira Edo Nupe - Nupe - Tako 800,000 Igala 800,000 Gur ( 96 languages ) Mòoré 5 million Bourkina Faso , Ghana , Togo Senari Côte - d ’ Ivoir , Burkina Faso , Mali Dagaare , Southern Ghana Dagbani Ghana Baatonum 560,000 Benin Kwa ( 80 languages ) Akan 8.3 million 1st - and 1 million 2nd - language speakers Éwé 3.1 million 1st - and 500,000 2nd - language speakers Ijoid ( 10 ) Izon Kru ( 39 languages ) Bété 446,000 Côte - d ’ Ivoire Dida 203 , , 000 Côte - d ’ Ivoire Adamawa - Ubangi ( 158 languages ) Zande Gbaya 580,000 Central African Republic Creoles Kituba 4.2 million 1 - st language and 800,000 2nd - language speakers Sango 404,000 1st - language and 1.6 million 2nd - language speakers Central African Republic For a complete listing of all Niger - Congo languages consult Ethnologue Status The colonial regimes that had governed much of the African continent left a lasting imprint on the status of the languages of the African countries . In post - colonial Africa , indigenous languages have rarely been constitutionally accorded official status . By and large , the only official languages accorded this position in post - colonial Africa are the colonial languages . A survey of African countries in which Niger - Congo languages are spoken shows that all of them list English French , or Portuguese as their official or co - official languages despite the fact that the majority of their populations speak indigenous languages . The languages listed below and many others that are not listed here are taught in primary and secondary schools . Only a few are used as a medium of instruction at the university level . Some are used in the electronic and print media , and many have a thriving literature . Portuguese Koongo Mbundu Chokwe Mbunda Kwanyama Benin French Botswana English Tswana Burkina Faso Burundi Rundi Cameroon Sango Congo Lingala Kituba Luba - Kasai Congo Swahili Côte d ’ Ivoire Gabon Gambia , regional languages : Northern Kissi Guinea Kpelle Eastern Maninkakan Pular Susu Toma Guinea - Bissau Swahili Lesotho Southern Sotho Liberia Malawi Nyanja ( Chewa ) , Tumbuka French , Bambara ( Bamanankan ) Bomu Tiéyaxo Bozo Toro So Dogon Maasina Fulfulde Arabic Mamara Senoufo Kita Maninkakan Soninke Koyraboro Senni Songhay Syenara Senoufo , Tamasheq , Xaasongaxango Mozambique Namibia , regional languages : Diriku Herero Kwangali Kwanyama Lozi Mbukushu Nama Ndonga Niger Arabic Fulfulde Gourmanchéma Hausa Manga Kanuri Tamajaq Zarma Edo Efik Adamawa Fulfulde Hausa Idoma Igbo Central Kanur i , Yoruba Rwanda Kinyarwanda Balanta - Ganja Jola - Fonyi Mandinka Mandjak Mankanya Noon Pulaar Serer - Sine Wolof Afrikaans Ndebele Northern Sotho Swati Tsonga Venda Xhosa Zulu Swaziland Togo Éwé Kabiyé Zambia Mbukushu ( Chewa ) Dialects Top Do you know some information on dialects of the Niger - Congo language family ? Let us know and we ’ ll add them here ! Structure Top Sound system It is difficult to make generalizations about the sound systems of the Niger - Congo languages due to their diversity , their large number , and the fact that little is known about a great many of them . Vowels Niger - Congo vowel systems share several distinguishing features : Syllable structure Syllables in Niger - Congo languages typically end in a vowel or nasal consonant . Consonant clusters are rare or nonexistent . Vowel harmony Most Niger - Congo languages have two sets of vowels : one set is pronounced with an advanced tongue root [ + ATR ] , the other set is pronounced with a retracted tone root [ - ATR ] . Advanced tongue root is produced by moving the base of the tongue forward during the pronunciation of a vowel . This adds a breathy quality to the vowel . Only one of these sets can occur in any given word . This phenomenon is called vowel harmony . Nasalization Most Niger - Congo languages have a small set of nasalized vowels . Nasalized vowels are pronounced with the velum ( soft palate ) lowered , so that some air escapes through the nose as well as through the mouth . Consonants Consonants in many Niger - Congo languages share several distinguishing features : Prenasalized consonants In some languages , there are prenasalized consonants , e.g. , in the word ndizi ‘ banana , ’ the first consonant nd is pronounced as one sound , not as two . Labial - velar stops These doubly - articulated consonants are produced with a simultaneous labial and velar closure , e.g. , [ gb ] in the name of the language Gbaya In addition to these features , Bantu languages such as and , have a variety of click implosive ejective consonants Tones Most of the Niger - Congo languages are tonal , with some exceptions such as . The properties of the tonal systems vary considerably . In some languages tones are used to represent grammatical categories , while in others they are used to distinguish between otherwise identical words . Listen » Voyager ’ s Greeting in Sotho Listen » Voyager ’ s Greeting in Ganda Voyager ’ s Greeting in Nyanja Grammar It is difficult to make generalizations about the grammatical systems of the Niger - Congo languages due to their diversity , large number , and the fact that little is known about a great many of them . On the whole , however , Niger - Congo languages are agglutinative , i.e. , grammatical functions are expressed by adding prefixes and suffixes to lexical stems and roots . Noun phrase One of the most notable characteristics of some Niger - Congo languages is the system of noun classes . The number of noun classes ranges from 3 to 25 depending on the language . Classes may have phonological , morphological , syntactic and semantic correlates . Nouns in Benue - Congo languages , for instance , are assigned to classes on the basis of their singular and plural forms that are marked by one prefix or suffix in the singular and another in the plural . Noun modifiers , e.g. , pronouns , adjectives , numerals and sometimes even verbs , are also marked with the same prefix or suffix as the noun . There are exceptions , such as Mande languages that do not have noun classes . Verb phrase Verbs in Niger - Congo languages are highly inflected . Many notions that are expressed by words in English are realized as prefixes and suffixes . Niger - Congo verbs use various prefixes and suffixes to mark person , tense , aspect , and mood . Suffixes are also used to derive passive , causative , reciprocal , and prepositional forms . Word order The usual word order in Niger - Congo languages is Subject - Verb - Object . In some languages , the subject may be part of the verb . Certain Gur languages are characterized by a Subject - Object - Verb sequence . Vocabulary Niger - Congo languages have enriched their vocabularies by borrowing from languages with which they have had contact . For instance , have borrowed a significant number of words from contact with Arab traders and through the influence of Islam . , on the other hand , borrowed from neighboring Khoisan languages and Afrikaans . Most Niger - Congo languages have numerous loanwords from , and . The latter is the most recent major source of borrowing Because these languages have split from their common ancestors a very long time ago , their vocabularies have evolved to the point that even the most common words , such as the numerals below , show few resemblances . However , they tend to share some common derivational processes such as compounding Numbers in selected Niger - Congo languages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Benue - Congo moja mbili tatu nne tano sita saba nane tisa kumi ení èjì èta èrin árún èfà èje èjo èsán èwá otu aboa ato anô ise isi asa asato iteghete iri Shona motsi piti tatu china shanu tanhatu chinomwe rusere pfumbamwe gumi nye bili ne hlanu isitupa isikom bisa shiyan galombili shiya galolunye ishumi nye b ’ ini thathu ne hlanu thandathu sosixhenxe sosibhozo solithoba solishumi moko mibale misato minei mitano motobo nsambo mwambe libwa jomi Kinyarwanda limwe kabili gatatu kane gatanu gatandatu kalindwi umunani icyenda icumi mwe biri ta : nu tandatu indwi umana : ni i - ce : nda i - cumi mongwe - fêla bababêch babar aro bab anê babat lhano babara taro bashupa bafêromenô êmêbedi bafêra monô ole mongwe leshome u - mongga pedi tharo nne hlano tshela shupa seswai senyane leshome Mande Bamanankan ( Bambara ) kelen fila saba naani duuru wooro wòlonfla segi kòno_ntò tan Atlantic Fulfulde go ’ o d ’ d ’ tat nay jow joweego ’ o joweed ’ id ’ joweetat joweenay sappo Kwa deká eve eto ene ató adé adré enyí enyíde ewó Writing Most Niger - Congo languages were unwritten prior to the 19th century when European missionaries started to create writing systems , dictionaries , and grammars for these languages . The missionaries used the letters of the Latin alphabet to represent sounds of Niger - Congo languages that had no counterparts in Indo - European languages . As a result , some of the alphabets they created were not well - suited to represent Niger - Congo languages , particularly those that have tones , breathy and creaky vowels , clicks , prenasalized , ejective , and implosive consonants . Today , many Niger - Congo languages are written in various versions of the African reference alphabet which was first proposed in 1978 by a UNESCO - organized conference held in Niamey Niger . The alphabet was revised in 1982 . The conference recommended the use of single letters rather than digraphs and diacritics for the orthographic representation of the phonemes , i.e. , sounds that differentiate word meaning . An exception is the N ’ Ko alphabet that was invented in 1949 in Guinea by Solomana Kante for writing in Malinke . It is mainly used by speakers of Malinke Bambara , and Jula in Guinea , Senegal , Burkina Faso , Mali and Côte - d ’ Ivoire . The N ’ Ko alphabet contains 26 symbols , including 7 vowels , 18 consonants , and one semivowel . There are also characters for the numerals 1 - 10 . The N ’ Ko alphabet is written from right to left in horizontal lines , nasalization is indicated by diacritics below the vowels , length and tone are indicated by diacritics over the vowels . Here is a sample text in N ’ ko . It bears visual resemblance to the Arabic script . Even today , there are scores of Niger - Congo languages that remain unwritten . Difficulty Language Difficulty How difficult is it to learn Niger - Congo languages falls between Category I Category II level of difficulty , while belong to Category II in terms of difficulty for speakers of English . There is no data on the difficulty of any of the other Niger - Congo languages . Posted in : Atlantic - Congo Bantoid Editors Picks family Home Page Niger - Congo | [
"Niger-Congo Language Family",
"Africa"
] |
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